She`s the Way - salto

She’s the Way
Summit
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Arrival/Registration 10AM
3022 Broadway - 130 Uris Hall Room 301
Columbia University -New York, NY 10027
SHE’S THE WAY
SUMMIT
The future success or failure of our world depends on the youth and how prepared, equipped and
ready they are for the responsibilities that lies ahead of them…they must be educated, spiritually
balanced and they must keep their traditions alive…otherwise they are doomed to fail…the
preceding generation must do their part by leading lives worth emulating…
"She’s The Way" is a global movement promoting, mentorship and education amongst the
young women of Africa from the most oppressed and marginalized areas.
The "She’s The Way" Summit is a gathering where extraordinary, real women will share their
stories of personal and professional success with younger women who are trying to "find
their way."
The goal in creating this gathering is to foster understanding of life’s blueprint through
moral courage, embracing internal beauty, finding the value in traditions, and becoming an
active participant within the global women's sphere.
The inaugural “She’s The Way” Summit is scheduled to be held on December 1st 2012 at
Columbia University. The event is free of charge and is expected to be up to 500 young
women of African descent from all over the United States for this enriching, educational
experience.
The Summit is organized by MacDella Cooper and Amanda Annan – and is sponsored by
Soft Sheen Carson and Essence Magazine.
The young people are ambitious and want to be and active participant in the global arena on all levels.
They have dreams and hopes of becoming equal players on the global platform but they are lacking
access to formal education, resources and mentorship. “She’s The Way” was created to serve as the
link between a young woman and a mentor.
RUN OF SHOW
10am to 11am Registration & Red Carpet
11am – 12pm Opening Remarks
By the organizers: MacDella and Amanda Anna
Acknowledgement of our Partners & Sponsors
Recognition of the Young ,Notable, and Inspiring Females
12pm to 1pm Panel #1 - Beauty
The Truth about Beauty - the myths and the truths. Internal vs. external beauty.
The depiction of beauty today. Remarks by: Tai Beauchamp
1pm-2pm Lunch Break 30 or 45 minutes break. All Guests to be seated by 2pm
2pm-3pm Panel #2 - Morality, Religion & Spirituality
Morality, Religion and Spirituality in today's social arena - The fear factor.
How has Religion/Spirituality gotten you through your journey?
First Remark by: Timberlyn Whitfield
3pm-4pm Panel # 3 – Traditions
Finding Value in Traditions: Sexuality, Love, Marriage and Families
4pm-4:30pm: Afternoon Break
4:30pm – 5:30 Panel # 4 - Women’s War Against Women
The situations surrounding women - why do we dislike each other?
Especially young women. First Remark by: xxx
5:30pm-6:00pm Questions & Answers (and the Conclusion)
THE ORGANIZERS
MacDella Cooper
Founding Chair, MCF
Thanks to her extensive business, political and diplomatic relationships all over the world, Ms. Cooper sits
on the Board of Directors for several charities including the Segal Family Foundation and Red Cross Tiffany
Circle. She has received several awards for her philanthropic efforts including American Red Cross
humanitarian Award, The College of New Jersey Humanitarian Award, The Victor E. Ward Community
Service Award, The Momentum Women’s Award, The Spirit of Friskies Award, and The Archbishop of
Michael K. Francis Achievement Awards. Prior to founding MCF in 2004, Ms. Cooper was the Marketing and
Events Coordinator for Jones Apparel Group, where she alongside the Creative Services team developed
comprehensive marketing strategies for the Ralph Lauren, Anne Klein, Jones New York and several other
fashion brands including Eredi Pisano and Duca Sartoria. She also directed the marketing and event
planning initiatives for the New York Independent Film and Music Festival.
Amanda Annan
Model, Actress and Entrepreneur
Amanda Annan was born into a family of intellectuals, politicians and diplomats. However, at the age of 16 she
decided to choose a totally different path and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Within a year
Amanda had been head hunted by the top makeup artist Susie Sollis. Susie persuaded Amanda to put her acting
career on hold and introduced her to an agent at the world famous Unique Model Management agency.
Within two weeks Amanda was shooting her first campaign for Vidal Sasoon. This campaign was distinctive
because it was the introduction of Vidal Sasoon products to the ethnic populace. Even at the start of her
career Amanda was breaking down barriers. Shoots and runway assignments in London, Paris, Milan and
New York followed.
Ebru Özseçen
Artist, Architect and Creative Director for “She’s the Way”
(born 1971, Izmir), who lives and works in Munich, Germany, graduated from the Interior Architecture
and Environmental Design Department, School of Architecture, Bilkent University, Ankara, in 1994.
She received her master’s degree from the Department of Fine Arts and the Institute of Economics and
Social Sciences, Bilkent University, in 1996. Her work embraces a range of artistic practices,
encompassing urban interventions, sculpture, objects, photography, video, film installations, and
drawings. Utilizing her experience in the fields of architecture, design, and contemporary art, Özseçen
explores the psychological and sociological relationships between space and the body.
Ilaria Esposito
Youth and Human Rights Activist
Ilaria Esposito is CNGEI Delegate for Youth Policy and WAGGGS (World association of girl guides and girls
scout) External Representative as currently Member of the Advisory Council on youth of the Council of
Europe(Advisory Council on Youth of CoE), which enables youth organizations to share their experiences
and perspectives, provide opinions and input on all youth sector activities. It also ensures that the voice
of young people is represented at this level and that young people and youth organizations can fully
participate in Council of Europe activities, making the decisions which directly affect them.
THE MODERATORS
Keli Goff
Author, Blogger, and Political Analyst
"A breath of fresh air” is how viewers describe blogger, author and political analyst Keli Goff. Since
emerging as one of the most popular political commentators of the 2008 election, Keli has appeared on
more than 100 national and international news programs including: “The CBS Early Show,” CNN’s
“Anderson Cooper 360,” “The Joy Behar Show,” FOX News Channel’s “Fox and Friends,” BET’s “The Truth
with Jeff Johnson,” for which she was a contributor, and MSNBC’s “The Dylan Ratigan Show” where she had
a weekly segment. Keli is the author of the novel The GQ Candidate (Atria, hardcover July 2011/paperback
June 2012), which was designated a recommended summer selection by The Los Angeles Times and MORE
Magazine.
Timberly Whitfield
Host of New Morning on Hallmark Channel
Considering that Timberly Whitfield grew up in Africa in a household without any television, her choice of a TV
journalism career might seem ironic. But Timberly's innate curiosity, organization, ebullience, and extraordinary
drive have helped her carve out a successful yet diverse path in the industry. For six seasons and 541
episodes, Timberly hosted the award-winning, magazine-style television series New Morning with Timberly
Whitfield. Timberly's impressive credits include co-hosting The History Channel's Field Trips USA and Year by
Year for Kids, and interviewing celebrities (ranging from Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow to classical
performing artists) for A&E Television Networks' Breakfast with the Arts.
Tai Beauchamp
CEO, The BluePrint Group, Style Expert & TV Personality
Ms. Beauchamp began her career as a beauty and fashion editor at O, The Oprah Magazine in 2000,
after interning at Good Housekeeping and Harper’s Bazaar. After two and a half successful years at
O, she was recruited to serve as the beauty editor of what would become Suede Magazine. She then
moved on to become the youngest and first African-American Beauty Director at Seventeen Magazine
where she helped spearhead the title’s practice of putting real girls on its pages.
Katrina Robinson
Strategist and Legal Advisor “She ‘s the Way”
THE LIST OF PANELIST
Alsion Roach
CFO, Greylock Capital Management
Alsion Marie Roach was born and raised in Burkeshire Hall, St. Catherine, Jamaica, a small under-developed
community with no electricity. She attended Redwood Primary and Guy’s Hill High school’s before migrating to
the United States. Alsion is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Alsion Roach Group, LLC (ARG), and
the CFO and Director of the board of Greylock Capital Management and Greylock Capital Associates. She
founded ARG to target and address the significant capital raising needs of emerging markets business and
projects over $100 million dollars.
Amini Kajunju
President & CEO of the Africa America Institute (AAI)
A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ms. Kajunju is the first African woman to ever serve at the helm of
the oldest nonprofit organization of its kind in the United States. Ms. Kajunju joined AAI in October 2012 from
the New York-based Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO), a non-profit organization whose mission is to
educate, train and inspire under-resourced entrepreneurs in the Tri-State Area of New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut. She served as executive director for 10 years, and under her leadership the organization’s
programming and served more entrepreneurs than any other institution of a similar size in New York City. In that
capacity, Ms. Kajunju helped to start AngelAfrica, an organization engaged in promoting private sector
development in Africa and networking opportunities for African professionals in the Diaspora.
Amy Sacco
Lifestyle Entrepreneur
Amy Sacco, New York’s most celebrated nightlife and restaurant maven, began her career in the hospitality
world with Lot 61 in February of 1998. Opened in an abandoned truck garage in West Chelsea, Lot 61
nestled into the area known for art galleries and leather bars by adopting the artistic feel of the community
and including works tailored for the restaurant. The team included Architect Rafael Viñoly and Interior
Designer Diana Viñoly, Art Curator Yvonne Force-Villareal and Executive Chef Arlene Jacobs.
Dionne A. Gumbs
Financial Advisor & Vice President, Bernstein Global Wealth Management
Dionne A. Gumbs is a Financial Advisor in Bernstein's New York office. She advises high-net-worth
individuals and families as well as endowments, foundations and nonprofits on how to grow, manage
and protect their assets. Drawing upon her broad experience and skills, Dionne and her team work to
develop sophisticated investment strategies and integrated wealth management solutions designed
to meet the needs a diverse group of clientele.
Hawa Berry Diallo
Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
As a philanthropist who believes in the spirit of giving and helping others, Hawa Barry-Diallo founded The
NIMBA Foundation. The NIMBA Foundation produces the Miss Guinea North America scholarship pageant,
to promote education among young Guinean girls in North America. The foundation has a comprehensive
program called GGWELP—“The Guinean Girls and Women Empowerment and Leadership Program.”
GGWELP helps guide and contribute to the education of young Guinean girls in Guinea, provide
scholarship funds and opportunities for the title winner of Miss Guinea North America, as well as create
sustainable micro-economic projects for underserved women in various parts of Guinea.
THE LIST OF PANELIST
Lisa James
Marketing strategist , HBO
Lisa James extensive corporate career began in cable television where she rose through the ranks in
advertising and marketing for such companies as Showtime Networks, Saatchi and Saatchi and HBO.
With her dedication & passion for the arts, particularly film, she has held numerous roles as a
videographer, filmmaker, publicist and marketing outreach in independent and documentary film. She
has attended colleges such as New York University and Hunter College for film and television.
She is a member of such organizations as New York Women in Film and Television and Women in Cable
and Telecommunications.
Gina Johnson
Financial Advisor, Johnson Financial
Reinalda Johns
Tartia (Reinalda) Johns, An international leader with more than 15 years’ experience as a supply
chain management consultant providing considerable expertise advising clients on strategic
sourcing in emerging markets, change management and supply chain re-engineering. Reinalda
works with top organizations and senior executives within oil and gas, financial services; and nonprofit sectors. Reinalda has been an active member of Lakewood since 1999 and joined the Life
Group Ministry at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas in 2009 where she received her certification
as a Life Group Leader. Reinalda is targeted to receive her certification as a Motivational Speaker
and Life Coach in 2013.
Rimma Doubinskaia
Agent, Izak Reality
International business woman, Rimma Doubinskaia, knows firsthand the difficulties in trying to achieve
success when all odds are against you. As a young woman in her native Ukraine, Rimma experienced
countless incidents of anti-Semite prejudice and sexism but she never allowed those experiences to
deter her from chasing her dreams. After graduating with a Degree from college as a Classical Pianist,
she moved to North America in the early 1990s to continue her education in an environment that was
more diverse. Ms. Doubinskaia continued her education with a focus in Economics and Business
Development at New York University. In 1999, she joined a brokerage firm on Wall Street as an equity
trader and later move into the real estate arena. Today, Ms. Doubinskaia, works at Izsak Real Estate –
is a New York based boutique Real Estate firm.
Sonya Pankey
Ralph Lauren
THE YOUNG, NOTABLE & INSPIRING FEMALES
Charreah K. Jackson
Relationship Editor, Essence Magazine
Georgie Badiel
Co-Founder, Models for Water Africa
Aris Magazine Model of the Year
Hananatu Tunis
Founder, ONE MILLION GIRLS & FashPhenomenon
Karen Koukou-Twaglee
Founder & Executive Director, The Power
to do something
Ms. Linda Arrey, MPH, MHA
Founder/President of Women In Leadership
Development & Empowerment, LLC (WILDE)
THE TEAM
A Huge thanks to our Sponsors
Soft Sheen Carson
Essence Magazine
MUI – The PR Company
Mambu Bayoh Photograpy
Media Partners Includes
Applause Africa
Cafe Lib
Face2Face Africa
Staff and Volunteers
Nicole Raneri
Ashlee Carrington