White House Hosts Summit for Young Women Leaders
by Danyelle Carter
In celebration of Women’s History Month and in preparation for the White House Summit on the United State of Women, The White House Council on Women and Girls invited 180 emerging leaders to The White House United State of Young Women Forum on March 25th, 2016.
The day involved discussions by current and emerging young women leaders about some of the council’s key issue areas, including Economic Empowerment, Health & Wellness, Educational Opportunity, Violence Against Women, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Leadership & Civic Engagement.
The focus-group style forum gave young women the opportunity to share opinions and ideas to be implemented at the White House Summit on the United State of Women occurring on May 23, 2016 in Washington, DC.
The summit will bring together women to celebrate what women and girls have achieved, how we’re going to take action and making a powerful difference in the future.
Five takeaways from the forum include:
We have to do a better job at recognizing and recording what works on the national and international level--on college campuses and in communities when it comes to women and girls.
When we address conversations about women and girls, we must include all women, including trans and disabled--who are often left out of the question.
Be the uplifting woman you want in your life to younger women.
As a woman, change is terrifying when you’re ambitious but the key is to push past it, be courageous. People who become successful have the same fear, but learned to push past it. Form sister-ships and lean-in circles of who champion you.
When you put your voice out there sometimes it can be risky, it can take away things that are for survival. Have a backup plan even when you think it’s safe to speak up.
To learn more about the upcoming summit and how to get involved, visit http://www.theunitedstateofwomen.org