Over 6,000 women have descended on the Los Angeles to attend this year’s United State of Women summit.
What once started as a day-long event held at the Obama White House in 2016, has now evolved into a massive two-day extravaganza that will explore the current state of women in 2018.
With over 350 speakers and special guests, there have already been some awe-inspiring moments with black women shining. Here are just three from day one:
An Interview with Our Forever First Lady
Former First Lady Michelle Obama, the main attraction of the two-day event, sat down to be interviewed by actress Tracee Ellis Ross. And as expected there was a smorgasbord of great moments. For one, Obama believes that as women we need to shake things up more for the next generation.
“So many of us have gotten ourselves at the table, but we’re still too grateful to be at the table to really shake it up,” she said. “That’s not a criticism, because for so many, just getting to the table was so hard, so you’re just holding on. But now we have to take some risks for our girls . . . just holding onto our seats at the table won’t be enough to help our girls be all that they can be.”
And Obama confirmed —again—that she would not be running for president.
This All-Black Women’s Panel Was Everything
The crowd was here for all the black girl magic that graced the mainstage when former Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth moderated a conversation between Senator Kamala Harris, actress and activist Yara Shahidi and activist Brittany Packnett on Saturday.
“Most of us have been in many situations…where we are the only one that looks like us,” Harris told the audience. “I want everyone to look around the room and see the numbers, and remember that when you are in that room, we are in the room with you.”
More Funding For Black Women Entrepreneurs
One of the most exciting pieces of news from the summit came from venture capitalist Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital. Hamilton announced that her firm would be investing $36 million specifically towards black women!
Yes, you read that right!
Backstage Capital has committed to invest in black female founders $1 million at a time.
“They’re calling it a ‘diversity fund’,” Hamilton tweeted. “I’m calling it an IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME fund.”
We are here for ALL. OF. IT!
You can livestream more events from the summit here.