Mission
Our library is transitioning into an academy.
Gals Guide showcases hard-earned wisdom found in books, visual arts, and shared stories from women past and present. Our mission is to share women’s achievements and lessons learned to strengthen women’s voices and make the world a more equitable place. Turning history into action and reflection, Gals Guide provides hybrid classes, courses, and workshops about women’s history to build a compassionate future.
Gals Guide is online and seeking a new physical location in Moorhead, Minnesota. Our lending library will transition to a resource library.
Projects & Services
Learning Themes
Gal’s Guide appreciates the different ways people learn. That’s why we offer podcast episodes, book clubs, fun events, and hold space open for difficult conversations. In 2026 our learning theme is Personal & Collective Well Being
Previous yearly learning themes have been Rebel Gal Era, and Women Around the World.
Podcasts
The Gal’s Guide podcast features a round-table discussion where each guest picks a woman of history to talk about that fits into our monthly learning theme.
Yearly Anthology
Gals Guide Press publishes a yearly collection of stories, poems and essays.
Writing Workshop
Gal’s Guide organizes and hosts a 12-week workshop in the fall or winter.
Gals Guide Library
We ran the first independent women’s history lending-library in America. Gal’s Guide Library was open to the public in Noblesville, Indiana from 2020-2025.


Meet Our Staff
Dr. Leah “Riwo” Leach (she/hers) – Executive Director, Podcast Director, Academy Head Mistress, Director of Instructors, 42@galsguide.org
Bonnie Just-Fillenwarth (she/hers) – Head Librarian bonnie@galsguide.org
Katie Young (she/hers) – Book Club Director katie@galsguide.org
Amber Jones (any/all) – Podcast Editor – info@galsguide.org
Jackie Donegan (she/hers) – Ireland Community Library – jackie@galsguide.org
Cathy Sutton (she/hers) – Anthology Assistant – anthology@galsguide.org
Basil Leach (he/him) – Marketing & Storytelling Lead – info@galsguide.org
Planning Committee – Leah Leach, Jackie Donegan, Bonnie Just-Fillenwarth, Kate Young, Robert Pyatt, Joshua Leach, and Debbi Sponsler


Meet Our Board
Katie Young President katie@galsguide.org
Term ends January 2028
Bonnie Fillenwarth, Vice President bonnie@galsguide.org
Term ends January 2028
Robert Pyatt, Secretary
Term ends January 2027
Dr. Leah “Riwo” Leach, Treasurer 42@galsguide.org
Term ends January 2028
Jackie Donegan Board Member at Large
Term ends January 2027
Lori Cates Hand, Board Member at Large
Term ends January 2027
Lindsay Zehren, Board Member at Large
Term ends January 2028
Nocona Canady-Flatt, Board member at Large
Term ends July 2028
The Gal’s Guide board is a strategy board with a few members also working as staff. Applications are reviewed in January, April, July, and October.

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