On September 10th and 11th, 2020, Women Moving Millions holds its annual summit. The 2020 theme–The Power of Us–has particular resonance in a year blighted by pandemic, recession, and political struggle, and speaks to the ways we can do so much more when we work together.
The two-day virtual event offers sessions for WMM members only on September 10th, followed by an action-packed day open to invited non-members and prospects on September 11th. What’s more–the event is completely free!
Sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and PJT Partners, the 2020 summit will focus on community, connection, and collaboration as tools to working toward a more just and equitable world.
“This year’s first-ever Virtual Summit will bring together nearly 1,000 philanthropists, thought leaders, partners, and allies for powerful discussions exploring the intersections of climate, health, gender, and racial justice,” says Sarah Haacke Byrd, Executive Director of Women Moving Millions. She encourages participants to “reimagine with us a future that is more equitable, examine the role of philanthropy to support systemic change, and co-create solutions for collective impact.”
The event kicks off with a WMM members-only day, featuring discussions, seminars, and speaker presentations from noon to 3pm EDT. On September 11th, the floor opens to non-members, prospective members, and invited guests. Speakers include Mona Sinha, Board Chair of WMM, and Sarah Haacke Byrd, as well as a wide range of activists, philanthropists, media personalities, and more.
Holding up the summit theme of “The Power of Us,” the star-studded speaker list includes renowned author and activist Gloria Steinem, actress and television host Shaun Robinson, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Alicia Garza. A quick look at the full list of speakers and presenters promises a one-of-a-kind experience:
- Mona Sinha, Board Chair of Women Moving Millions
- Sarah Haacke Byrd, Executive Director of Women Moving Millions
- Gloria Steinem, Author, Activist, and Founder of Ms. Magazine
- Shaun Robinson, Television Host, Actress, and WMM Member
- Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Special Envoy to Mobilise International Economic Support for Continental Fight Against COVID-19 and Former Finance Minister of Nigeria
- Osasu Igbinedion, Host of the Osasu Show and CEO of TOS TV NETWORK
- Alicia Garza, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter
- Carol Jenkins, CEO and Co-President of ERA Coalition and The Fund for Women’s Equality
- Cristina Tzintzun-Ramirez, Founder of Jolt
- Esther Ramos and Maggie Juarez, young Latina leaders in voting and civil rights activism in Texas
- Purity Kagwiria, Director of With and For Girls
- Majandra Rodriguez Acha, Co-Director of FRIDA Feminist Fund
- Jamia Wilson, Executive Director of the Feminist Press at CUNY
- Dr. Ayana Johnson, Founder and CEO of Ocean Collectiv
- Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, Author and Vice President of Project Drawdown
- Adelle Onyango, Podcaster and Founder of the Adelle Onyango Initiative
- Nice Nailantei Leng’ete, End FGM/c Advocate, Amref Health Africa
- Janet Mbuga, Founder, Inua Dada Foundation, and Author
- Vicki Saunders, Founder of SheEO
- Komal Minhas, Resilience Educator and Entrepreneur
- Nancy Roob, CEO of Blue Meridian Partners
- Stacy Schusterman, Chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
- Delphine O, France (Ambassador)
- Dr. Nadine Gasman, Mexico (Ambassador)
- Sarah Hendriks, Director of Programme and Policy Intergovernmental Division at UN Women
- Tina Tchen, President and CEO TIME’S UP Now and TIME’S UP Foundation
- Ai-jen Poo, Director of National Domestic Worker’s Alliance
- Monica Ramirez, Founder and President of Justice for Migrant Women
- Darnell Moore, Director of Inclusion Strategy for Content and Marketing at Netflix
- Laverne Cox, Actress and Executive Producer of Disclosure
Among the high-profile panels planned for the event are a series of talks focusing on the impact of COVID-19 and what the world of feminist philanthropy can do to help. In particular, we’re looking forward to Women on the Frontlines: Essential Workers in Crisis, which features NDWA’s Ai-jen Poo, Justice for Migrant Women’s Monica Ramirez, and TIME’S UP’s Tina Tchen in a discussion on the impacts of COVID-19 on the already fragile economy of care.
“Today, in the midst of a global pandemic, the world is witness to COVID-19 exacerbating the systemic inequities faced by women and girls in every country around the world,” says Sarah Haacke Byrd. “The progress we’ve made in the fight for gender equality has proven fragile. The stakes have never been higher. The call for change has never been louder.”
Additionally, the WMM Summit will highlight unique multimedia offerings. Our Stories: In Vivid Color is “a multimedia initiative that includes a documentary film, creative incubator and user-generated story archive for girls, and gender non conforming youth of color at the intersection of racial justice, immigration rights, and gender equity.” On the entertainment side, actress and producer Laverne Cox will speak with Darnell Moore, Netflix’s Director of Inclusion Strategy for Content and Marketing, in a session titled Changing the Narrative: The Power of Representation in Film.
Women Moving Millions always pulls together an incredible roster of speakers, activists, movers, and shakers for their annual summit. As the first all-virtual, free WMM Summit, the 2020 event promises to connect and unite philanthropists, activists, and thought leaders without the barriers of location and access that typically restrict in-person events. We hope you will consider applying for an invitation, and attending this once-in-a-lifetime event!
For the full event agenda and invitation information, visit the WMM website at womenmovingmillions.org.
Related:
New ED, Board Chair of WMM Bring Financial, Legislative Power
Shaping the Shapers: How WMM Trains Women in Social Change
Lessons for Philanthropy from Black Women Leaders
Jacki Zehner Lets It Rip As She Exits Women Moving Millions Leadership
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