GLOW

On Tuesday, October 4th, the Center for Women, Gender, and Global Leadership (CWGGL) celebrated its first anniversary. Established in October 2021, the Center aims to be an interdisciplinary global center of excellence for Black women and gender issues, feminist activism, and global leadership. For the past year, CWGGL has worked to create a space at Howard University for the next generation of Black women leaders by creating opportunities and programs for students to be gender-conscious and aware of the tremendous intellectual contributions of Black women in leadership within the United States and across the globe. 

In celebration of the anniversary, the Center hosted the inaugural Global Leadership of Women Summit with a fireside chat featuring Her Excellency Monica Geingos, the First Lady of the Republic of Namibia, and Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, Distinguished Professor of Law at Columbia University, and moderated by Dean Danielle Holley, Howard Law School. 

“We launched the Center during the pandemic, and I had a few choices: slow down and wait for the pandemic to end before beginning activities or launch the Center and begin building a foundation and a brand, I chose the latter. It was a harder road to take, but I like hard challenges. The journey so far has not been easy, but it has been worth it. As we gather today to celebrate our one-year anniversary, we have many reasons to celebrate., including developing a new Minor in Women, Gender and Sexualities Studies, preparing a book manuscript for publication on women at Howard, and our partnership with UN Women.” said Dr. Jarpa Dawuni, Director of the Center. 

"While there's a lot to be proud of at Howard University, we have to keep pushing," President Frederick stated at the Summit. "74% of undergraduate students at Howard are women, and the leadership needs to reflect that… We [need] programs like [the Center] that flourish. We [need] opportunities that continue to open up for everyone. And it's not just about equality. Women are overrepresented at Howard University and should be overrepresented in every aspect of the University as well." 

The theme for the Summit focused on the future of Black women's leadership, how to eliminate or minimize the barriers Black women face in their personal and professional lives, and how women continue to disrupt unproductive and unfair practices and policies that impact them.    

"Part of empowering women requires that all people recognize the overt and subtle ways these discriminatory cultures thrive in all systems of human development. We're charged with empowering girls and women to think of ourselves as deserving and fortunate and to become agents of change in communities, industries, and the global society," Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy, HU EVP, COO, stated at the Summit.     

During the powerful chat, H.E. Geingos and Professor Crenshaw detailed how their childhoods shaped them into the strong Black women they are today. H.E. Geingos shared how being born as the

middle child in a big family taught her the tools and skills needed to build the right relationships and show up at times when she is overlooked; it has also helped her thrive throughout her career as a Black woman attorney and First Lady. Similarly, Professor Crenshaw shared moments of her childhood, like advocating for monopoly rules that put others at a disadvantage, and her parents' passion for creating equitable housing opportunities for poor communities by decentralizing ghettos and developing scattered sites across the city, which prepared her for her advocacy work today. 

“This Summit is a bold statement on behalf of agent making, an idea that the future of Black women in leadership begins with Black women bolstering the global campaign to defeat stigma at home and beyond our gates. Young women don't be afraid to walk into any space you belong, and together we will deliver on all of the firsts that have not yet been accomplished by us. I believe in the intrinsic power that we have. Walk in that confidence. We didn't come all the way from Africa to lose our grit. We Belong!" - Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy 

This event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors, partners, and advisors.    

Missed the Summit? Click here to watch and join in on the conversation.