This Year Marks the First In-Person Summit
If you want a one-stop-shop to talk about all things girls, look no further than the Girls United brand! On October 9th, GU hosted its 2021 Girls United Summit presented by CBS Original The Equalizer and sponsored by American Airlines and McDonald’s, and it was the place to be! The first in-person event from the girl power incubator covered the hot-button issues on everyone’s mind in one event, including relationships, mental health, career outlook, social activism, and gender identity. Created by ESSENCE, most known for its 51-year-old magazine, Girls United has created a space for young girls and women of color to discuss important issues affecting them, learn about helpful resources and opportunities, and to be inspired by the hard work of those who look like them.
Girls United lined up a solid list of leading ladies as panelists and contributors of this year’s GU Summit. The Summit was hosted by rapper and actress Jazz Anderson. Other guests included Marsha Barnes, Founder of The Finance Bar; Tammy Bins, a Boeing 737 First Officer; actress and poet Ernestine Johnson; singer and songwriter KeiyaA; Chelsea Miller, who is an organizer and co-founder of Freedom March NYC; DJ Miss Milan; McDonald’s Owner/Operator Danesha Smith, Cierra Thompson, the executive director of Miss Black International Ambassador Pageant, and many more! To top things off, leaders representing Girls United were also leading efforts. They included GU co-creators Rechelle Dennis and Sophia Dennis, plus associate editors D’Shonda Brown and Brooklyn White.
The features of the summit kept participants engaged all day! With the Boss Up Workshops, you could level up any area of your life. They included Entrepreneurship 101: How To Start Minding The Business That Pays You; GU Sister Circle: What I Wished I Knew About Money In My 20s; Life In 4K: How To Create The Content Of Your Dreams; Embracing and Releasing Emotions; and Paying Homage to Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ Icons. While the summit was streamed online, those who attended in person enjoyed a mocktail bar, aura photography and reading experience, plus a customizable jewelry bar!
Be on the lookout for the next Girls United Summit in 2022! You can surely expect great people, great conversations, and a great time! Watch the replay of this year’s GU Summit on demand at www.essence.com/gusummit!
