Home6th Annual Conference
NYC 2019
Engaging today's girl
to empower tomorrow's woman
Participating Schools
Thomas A. Edison High School
Delta GEMS
Girl Scouts of America
Girls Who Code
Academy for Scholarship & Enter HS
HS for Fashion Industries
Bronx Engineering & Technology Academy
Williamsburgh Charter HS
Academy of Finance & Enterprise
BOSS
Thomas Edison HS
New Dorp HS
Clara Barton HS
George Washington HS
El Puente Academy for Peace & Justice
Francis Perkins Academy
Academy of Innovation & Technology
Mott Haven Bridges Academy
Bronx DCA
Academy Careers in TV & Film
James Madison HS
Institute of Health Professions, Cambria Heights
Francis Lewis HS
Brooklyn STEAM Center
Academy for Health Careers
ACORN
August Martin HS
Automotive HS
Boys & Girls
Brooklyn Studio
Edward R. Morrow HS
Queens Tech
Ralph McKee
Rockaway Collegiate
Rockaway Park
School for Tourism/Hospitality
STAR
HS Ent Bus & Tech
UA Emergency Management
Williamsburg Art/Tech
HS of Sports Management
Lab School
HS for Economics & Finance
School for Tourism & Hospitality
Susan E. Wagner HS
University Neighborhood
Williamsburg HS of Architecture & Design
Young Women's Leadership School, East Harlem
HS of Economics & Finance
Construction Trades Engineering & Architecture
Transit Tech
Benjamin Franklin HS for Finance & IT
Chelsea HS
Brooklyn Academy for Global Finance
HS for Health Professions
Young Women's Leadership School, Astoria
City Poly Early College
US School for Business Young Women
Brooklyn Academy Software Engineering
Bronx Academy of Software Engineering
HERO
PTech
Bayside HS
John Adams HS
LIC HS
Richmond Hill HS
HS for Arts/Business
HS for Math/Science
HS Telecommunications
Hillcrest HS
Inwood HS
John Dewey HS
Manhattan Early College Academy
Multicultural HS
Ft. Hamilton HS
Lincoln HS
Wagner HS
PTech
Girls Rite of Passage
Energy Tech
City Poly
Flushing HS
Forest Hills HS
JK Onassis HS
Manhattan Business Academy
Shawn Carter Foundation
Girls for Gender Equity
KAVI
Legal Outreach
2019 Keynote Speaker - Dr. Jessica Clemons
NYC-Based Psychiatrist
Dr. Jessica Clemons, a NYC-Based Psychiatrist, has recently been recognized by Forbes as a leader in making mental health and wellness a part of the current zeitgeist. Dr. Clemons received her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and is currently completing her residency training at New York University. While her work is primarily in providing direct clinical care, her mission is to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.
Her work in mental health advocacy consists of using social media, primarily Instagram via @AskDrJess to host Weekly Live Q/A sessions to educate her following, as well as engage with them in real life events, specifically #BeWell, her community based conversation series featuring artists, musicians, and activists intended to inspire attendees and normalize conversations about mental health.
Her efforts have gained national attention including being selected to provide the first live televised therapy session on VH1, “In Session Live: With Dr. Jess”, recognition as the first spotlight story for Beyonce’s WeGood Black History Month campaign, as well as the attention of NYC Department of Mental Health, the American Psychiatric Association and several global brands.
Conference Speakers
Tara Bellevue
Managing Director of Network Engagement, NAF
I was a little girl from South Carolina with big dreams and an adventurous spirit. Future Teachers of America, Debate Club, French Club, Marching Band and the Math Club were all indicative of my future endeavors. I graduated high school wanting to be a business executive. I obtained a degree in Business Administration, and worked as a Marketing Communications Manager for an international
telecommunications company. With a shift in the economy, I pursued a Master's Degree in Secondary Education with a focus on business education and mathematics. This led to a series of opportunities to shape the minds of young people as an award-winning teacher, building level administrator, district level administrator and First Woman of Color President for Business Teachers Association of New York State. I have had the pleasure of working for the largest school district in the US where I was responsible for aligning operating policies and procedures to federal legislation, state grant funds and NYSED policies. Currently, I am the Senior Managing Director for Network Expansion for NAF and split my quality time between New York City and West Palm Beach with my family. Through Today's Girl, Tomorrow's Woman, I am thrilled to be able to dedicate myself to engaging and empowering all young women.
Marsha Iverson
NYC & Yonkers Field Associate, CTE Technical Assistance Center of New York
I grew up at a time when many young women were not encouraged to pursue higher education. And, as a little girl, I rarely played with dolls. Rather, I had an imaginary class and would admonish my mom not to "step on my students" when she entered my room. I was fortunate that my parents encouraged me to pursue my dream to become an educator. For over 50 years (yes, that's not a typo!), I have loved every day. Now as a grandmother, I hope my grandchildren take advantage of all their opportunities and follow their dreams. I encourage you to follow your dreams! Explore your options! Be persistent! Seize opportunities!
Meshelle
"The Indie-Mom of Comedy"
Innovative, Independent with Individuality are the words that best describe MESHELLE “The Inidie-Mom of Comedy”. MESHELLE is a serial monogamist, mother of 3, and sought after comedienne who has appeared in numerous TV shows.
A graduate of Bowie State University and a former Temple University Doctoral level student; MESHELLE is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a 2010-2012 Open Society Institute Community Fellow. As an Alumni Fellow of this noted social justice organization, MESHELLE implemented Goaldiggers The Sankofa Project, connecting inner city teen girls of African descent to education and tools to gain college access.
As an advocate for girls & women, MESHELLE’s inaugural literary offering, “101 Things Every Girl/Young Woman of Color Should Know” is available exclusively at saveourgirls.com and is currently utilized in many schools & programs. MESHELLE’s writing has been featured in The UTNE Reader and URBANITE Magazine. She served as Host/Writer of the Award Winning Educational Series, “Sex Smart for Teens”.
MESHELLE’s One-Woman Show, “Diary of a M.I.L.F” (Mom I’d Love to FOLLOW), directed by Rain Pryor, has received multiple awards and her comedy album, “Funny As A Mother…” debuted January 2016 and can be purchased on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, and Spotify and heard on Pandora Radio on The MESHELLE Radio Station.
Panelists
Zara Adamou
Medical Student
Weill Cornell Medicine
Sheener Bailey
Shawnee Benton Gibson
Janelle Boyd
Founder
Dezire2Inspire
Ms. Full Figured USA 2018
The Pen of a Ready Writer Publishing
Danielle Brown
Samantha Camy
Pamela Capellan
Medical Student
Weill Cornell Medicine
Theoria Cason
Title IX Training & Education Coordinator & Co-Investigator
Cornell University
Legal & Compliance Analyst
TPG Sixth Street Partners
CEO
Spirit of a Woman, LLC
Director of Partnerships
ESSENCE Communications
Brooke Clare
Ayana Comrie
Jordan Davis
Community Health Rep
NYU Langone
Tami Forman
Founding Executive Director
Path Forward
Capacity Development Consultant
Construction Engineer
MTA-Metro North Railroad
Ann-Marie Foster
Shantel Gamble
Victoria Hathaway
Assistant Director, Diversity Recruitment
Columbia Business School
Janella Hinds
Vice President for Academic High Schools
UFT
Health Coach/Education Consultant
Brave Heart Health Coaching
Senior Vice President/Executive Director
Phoenix House of NY/LI
Sharmayne Jenkins
Chantaya King
Asia Maddrey
Founder/CEO
The Lightbulb Experience
Tiffany Martin
Assistant Principal
NYC Department of Education
School Social Worker
Director
Reinvention Solutions
Ayisha McHugh
Mari Miceli
Vikas Mittal
Managing Director
Accenture
Victoria Monteiro
Investment Banking Analyst
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Assistant Vice President
Metro North
Law Student
Columbia Law School
Ayeisha Morrison
Eseosa Odigie
Deborah Parchment
Executive Director
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center
Jennifer Poon
Associate
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Medical Student
Weill Cornell Medicine
Assistant Manager of Administration
Metro North Railroad/National Black MBA Association
Alberta Quick
Joanne Rodriguez
Chelsea Scott
Strategy & Operations Consultant, Deloitte
Founder, Read Between the Wine Book Club
Sr. Manager - Network Engineering & Operations
Verizon
Associate Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Compliance
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Women of Today Honorees
Dr. Jessica Clemons
NYC-Based Psychiatrist
Holly Wallace
Managing Director & Senior Advisor
Merrill Lynch Investment Management Company
Janella Hinds
VP Academic High Schools, UFT
Secretary-Treasurer, NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Gloria Zarate
Audit Manager, KPMG
Lab Facilitator, NAF Future Ready
Viktoria Slutskaya
Senior Recruiter, Oppenheimer Funds
NYC NAF Advisory Board Member
NAF Alumni - John Dewey High School
