There’s a First Time FOR EVERYTHING

With chandeliers glistening overhead, uplights washing the walls in a pink glow and floral carpeting beneath their feet, Women’s Summit attendees stepped into a decidedly feminine space where they would be inspired by four keynote speakers and three student SHEtalks presenters; return after connecting with new friends they made in breakout sessions and evening activities; and leave empowered with a journal holding words of wisdom and ideas to employ in their schools, and memories of making history in Grand Rapids.

“This is my first time coming to something like this, and I love that it’s all women,” said Leeajhanae Wright, Henry Ford High School senior and student body president. “I love that we’re trying to bring out the women and we’re empowering and giving all the young girls strength and everything that we need to do to be successful young black women, or successful women in life, period.”

Leeajhanae said she liked that everyone was walking around with pink lanyards “so we all look like we are part of it.” The theme color could be seen everywhere. At each place setting, guests found berry colored journals provided by Michigan Virtual that they used throughout the event. After speakers shared their experiences and lessons, MASSP Executive Director Wendy Zdeb provided prompts and questions, encouraging everyone to record reactions and thoughts in those pink books – of which each woman would be her own author.

Ranging from Cat DiGioia’s practical tips from Franklin Covey’s “7 Habits” to news anchor Rhonda Walker’s truth-filled lessons learned on her way to TV, and from U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison’s emotion-provoking journey to the courtroom, to Theresa Flores’s harrowing experience as a sex trafficking survivor, adults and students were inspired by what women can overcome and achieve. After each presentation, the floor was open to questions from the audience.

Seated at a front table, with focus on Ms. Flores’s story, Leeajhanae raised her hand and asked a thoughtful and personal question that others amongst the nearly 350 in attendance may have been afraid to ask.

“I’m more so, like, a people person, so when I do talk or ask questions in front of a large group of people, it doesn’t really bother me because I feel like I gotta get used to it,” Wright said. “As the student body president, I’m always the voice of my class or my school … the voice of the students.

“So when I did speak to her, it was really nice to understand [her], because her story really, really touched me – like it hit home, so I could really definitely understand it. And it was just a really great opportunity to sit there and get a chance to listen to someone that has been through what she’d been through and to be able to ask questions like that, because not everybody is comfortable with asking certain types of questions – or answering them.”

In the end, 98% of the 96 summit goers who completed a post-conference survey said they would recommend attending to others. The keynote speakers all received highly favorable ratings, with Theresa Flores earning the highest marks with 85% finding her presentation valuable/very valuable. After the Honorable Dawn N. Ison shared her message, attendees lined up for photos with her – to tell her what hearing her speak meant to them as she took time to give everyone a personalized experience.

“If y’all keep empowering us all – young girls – then I feel like we will be great,” Leeajhanae said, “and I feel like in the future it will be all about girls, and girls will be running the world for real.”

Opening Day Two with a speech about how she made it to her role as a U.S. Attorney, the Honorable Dawn N. Ison wowed the crowd, provoking tears, inpiring women of all ages with anecdotes and wisdom. After her presentation, people lined up for photos or to chat briefly with her – she greeted each group and individual with enthusiasm and kindness.

With four dyamic keynote speakers, including TV reporter Rhonda Walker, students and educators were informed, entertained and engaged in general assembly sessions. Breakouts and evening events provided everyone the chance to design their own schedules with their own interests in mind.