2015
Girl Up
leadership
summit
July 13-15, 2015 | Washington DC
Stand Up. Speak Up. Rise Up.
CONTENTS
Girl Up Annual leadership summit | JuLY 2015
2 Welcome Message
Girl Up has been anticipating the Leadership Summit this entire year
and now it’s finally here. Read a special message from Girl Up Director,
Melissa Hillebrenner on how your voice can change the world.
3 Speakers
Read through this fantastic lineup of speakers and prepare to be
blown away by powerful figureheads from the U.S. government, UN
agencies, media outlets and corporations.
5 Agenda
We’ve got a packed three-day schedule that will leave you feeling
breathless and inspired! Let’s make every moment count!
14 Workshops
Girl Up recruited the best and brightest leaders – including our very
own Teen Advisors – to lead workshops throughout the summit. Read
these descriptions to preview the workshops ahead of time.
19 Thank You
We have some incredible sponsors and partners. Turn to this page
and give them a round of applause!
20 Staff
We have to admit our team is pretty awesome. Go ahead and stalk the
Girl Up staff this summit.
July 13, 2015
Welcome!
Not to brag, but I think this is going to be the best Girl Up Leadership Summit ever. I am really
excited about the inspirational speakers, the hands-on workshops, and the jam-packed lobby
day we have scheduled for all of you. Oh, and did I mention First Lady of the United States
Michelle Obama will be here in person? As I said, best Leadership Summit ever.
But mostly I am really excited about all of you who have come to Washington, D.C. to participate.
We have such a great group of Girl Up leaders here, and each of you bring unique experiences
and understanding to the summit. You will be able to learn as much from each other, as you will
learn from the speakers on stage.
One thing I know all of you bring to Girl Up is passion. Passion for making a difference. Passion
for helping the hardest to reach girls living in the places where it is hardest to be a girl. So our
goal throughout this summit is simple: give you the knowledge, skills, and tools you need to
harness that passion, and change the world.
This year’s theme is Stand Up. Speak Up. Rise Up. On day one you will “Stand Up” as an
advocate for girls, learning more about Girl Up and hearing from speakers about the importance
of feeling empowered. On day two we will teach you the skills you need to “Speak Up” and get
results. And on Wednesday, all of you will “Rise Up” and storm Capitol Hill, taking the Girl Up
message to your Members of Congress.
At last year’s Leadership Summit you lobbied for passage of the Girls Count Act, a bill that will
help ensure every girl (and boy) is registered at birth. Thanks to your efforts, that bill became law
earlier this year. Clearly, you are all pretty powerful when you raise your collective voice. I don’t
know about you, but I’m excited to see the impact you have this year!
As a campaign of the UN Foundation, Girl Up has had tremendous success changing policies
and raising funds to support United Nations programs that help adolescent girls around the
world. But without the support of all of you and your hard work, Girl Up would just be a handful
of people sitting in an office dreaming about a better world.
Thank you again to all of our participants, speakers, mentors, partners, and sponsors for
making this summit possible. Girls are powerful. Let’s show the world just how powerful!
High five,
Melissa Hillebrenner
Director of Girl Up
2
Speakers
First Lady Michelle Obama
Ann Shoket
Media Executive,
Trailblazer
Gerry McClure
CEO,
Starlift Games, Inc.
Annie Plotkin
Fellow,
Global Citizen Year
Gilda Menchu
Guatemalan Adolescent
Rights Activist
Aaron Sherinian
Chief Communications
and Marketing Officer,
United Nations Foundation
Allie Kline
Chief
Marketing Officer,
AOL, Inc.
Dr. Anju Malhotra
Principal Advisor, Gender
and Development,
UNICEF
Belise Bwiza
Rwandan Youth
Advocate
Congresswoman
Betty McCollum
(MN-04)
Celia Buckman
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Gloria Samen
Emcee,
Girl Up
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
Janet Diaz
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Juan Enrique
Quiñónez Schwank
Social Policy Specialist,
UNICEF
Kathryn Dickey Karol
Vice President,
Global Government &
Corporate Affairs,
Caterpillar, Inc.
Kula V. Fofana
Liberian Adolescent
Rights Activist
Elizabeth Plank
Senior Editor,
Mic
Linda Yaccarino
President of
Ad Sales,
NBCUniversal
Megan Grassell
CEO and Founder,
Yellowberry
Monique Coleman
Actress,
Global Youth Advocate
Natasha Madorsky
Emcee,
Girl Up
Pamela Agnone
Vice President
Retail Services,
United Nations
Federal Credit Union
(UNFCU)
Peter Yeo
Vice President for Public
Policy and Advocacy,
United Nations
Foundation
Rosemarie Ryan
Co-Founder,
CO:
Sarah Mesbah
Youth Champion,
G(irls) 20
Shelley Zalis
Founder,
IPSOS Girls’ Lounge
Simone Cowan
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Susannah Wellford, Esq.
President and Founder,
Running Start
4
Agenda
Sunday, July 12 - Registration
Location: The W Hotel, The Great Room, 515 15th St NW Washington, DC 20004
5:30-7:00 pm
Registration
7:00-8:00 pm Zumba
Altitude, The W Hotel
Instructor: Marisol Sharma
Monday, July 13 - Stand Up
Location: The W Hotel, The Great Room, 515 15th St NW Washington, DC 20004
Standing up is about making yourself known. It’s about building up the confidence and courage
inside yourself to seize the moment. Through today’s programming, gain an understanding of
adolescent girls’ true power, witness how Girl Up is uniting girls to change the world and learn
how you can be part of it.
7:45 am
Registration Opens
8:30 am Breakfast
9:00 am Welcome
Gloria Samen and Natasha Madorsky, Emcees, Girl Up
Melissa Hillebrenner, Director, Girl Up
9:20 am The Power of Adolescent Girls
Every day, more than 600 million adolescent girls go about their daily lives.
For many, being a girl is not easy. Girls in the developing world constantly
face unique challenges that they must overcome. Hear the stories of girls
facing extraordinary circumstances and learn firsthand how Girl Up’s work
with the UN and Let Girls Lead ensures that every girl is able to live up to
her true potential.
Kula V. Fofana, Liberian Adolescent Rights Activist
9:40 am Table Reflections with Mentors
10:00 am Behind the Scenes with Girl Up
Hear from Girl Up staff on why our jobs are the best ever and our favorite
memories from this past year.
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
10:45 am Break
11:00 am Be You
Select from one of the workshops below. Descriptions are provided
for each workshop on page 14 of the program. Recommendations are
provided for which age is best suited for each workshop.
Studio 1 and 2 are on Floor L
Altitude and POV are on Floor R
• Be You Beautifully (Studio 2)
Recommended for girls entering 5th-8th grade
• Flip the Script (Altitude)
Recommended for girls in high school
• How to Brag (Studio 1)
Recommended for girls entering college or already enrolled
11:45 am
Lunch
Sponsored by Emma Willard School
Table Dialogue with Mentors
12:15 pm
Girls Stand Up: Creating Global Change
Megan Grassell, CEO and Founder, Yellowberry
Celia Buckman, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Sarah Mesbah, Delegate, G(irls) 20
1:00 pm
Empower Yourself, Empower Others
Ann Shoket, Media Executive, Trailblazer
Annie Plotkin, Fellow, Global Citizen Year
Belise Bwiza, Rwandan Youth Advocate
1:15 pm
Break
1:30 pm
Girl Up: All You Need To Know
These workshops are pre-assigned. Check your nametag for
your workshop. Descriptions are provided for each workshop
on page 15 of the program.
• Girl Up: Your First Steps (Studio 1)
• Back to School with Girl Up (POV)
• Taking Girl Up to the Next Level (Altitude)
• Make Girl Up Campus Your College Experience (Studio 2)
6
2:30 pm
Power Up Break
Sponsored by CAVA Mezze Grill
3:00 pm
A Global Perspective on Girls
Dr. Anju Malhotra, Principal Advisor,
Gender and Development, UNICEF
3:20 pm
Girl Up Around the World
Gilda Menchu, Adolescent Rights Activist in Guatemala
Juan Enrique Quiñónez Schwank, Social Policy Specialist,
UNICEF Guatemala
Janet Diaz, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
4:05 pm
Table Reflections with Mentors
4:25 pm
TOGETHER. STRONGER.
Gloria Samen, Teen Advisor, Girl up
Kathryn Dickey Karol, Vice President of Global Government
and Corporate Affairs, Caterpillar, Inc.
4:45 pm
Closing
Elizabeth Plank, Senior Editor, Mic
7:00 pm
Difret Film Screening
The W Hotel, Great Room
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
Tuesday, July 14 - Speak Up
Location: The W Hotel, The Great Room, 515 15th St NW Washington, DC 20004
Now it’s time to speak up. Not only are you fighting for girls around the globe, you are
persuading others to join you. Skills-based workshops in the morning and UN-led workshops
in the afternoon will give you the necessary tools and ideas to make your voice heard, while
awe-inspiring speakers will offer you unique advice and avenues for putting your plan in action.
7:30 am
Breakfast
8:00 am
Welcome
Gloria Samen and Natasha Madorsky, Emcees, Girl Up
8:05 am
Having a Voice at the Table
Rosemarie Ryan, Co-Founder, CO:
Shelley Zalis, Founder, The Girls’ Lounge
Simone Cowan, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Linda Yaccarino, President of Ad Sales, NBCUniversal
8:30 am
Your Toolbox: Skills for Every Girl Up Leader
These workshops are pre-assigned based on skill-level. You’ll have the
chance to rotate through each session throughout the day. Check your
nametag for your schedule. Descriptions are provided for each workshop
on page 16 of the program.
Beginner
Advocacy (Studio 1)
Intermediate
8:30
am
Fundraising (Altitude)
Advanced
Community Mobilization (POV)
Beginner
Fundraising (Altitude)
Intermediate
9:15
am
Community Mobilization (POV)
Advanced
Advocacy (Studio 1)
Please proceed to the Great Room immediately after your
workshop to have time to make it through security in time.
8
11:00 am
Girl Up: Let Girls Learn
As part of the U.S. government’s commitment to Let Girls Learn, First Lady
Michelle Obama and the Peace Corps have formed a powerful collaboration
to expand access to education for adolescent girls around the world.
Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States
Panel, Let Girls Learn
11:50 pm
Global Goals are Good for Girls
Aaron Sherinian, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, United Nations Foundation
12:15 pm
Lunch in Workshops
Sponsored by Coastal Studies for Girls
Get your lunch in your next session.
12:30 pm
Your Toolbox: Skills for Every Girl Up Leader (Continued)
These workshops are pre-assigned based on skill-level. Check your nametag for your schedule.
Beginner
Community Mobilization (POV)
Intermediate
12:30 pm
Advocacy (Studio 1)
Advanced
Fundraising (Altitude)
1:20 pm
Love What You Do, Do What You Love
Intro: Pamela Agnone, Vice President, Retail Services, United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU)
Panel:
Allie Kline, Chief Marketing Officer, AOL, Inc.
Gerry McClure, CEO, Starlift Games
Susannah Wellford, President and Founder, Running Start
Bernadette Francis, Campaign Coordinator, Girl Up
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
2:00 pm
Power Up Break
Sponsored by KIND
2:30 pm
Understanding the UN
Select from two topic areas below. Workshops will begin at 2:30 pm and 3:15 pm. Space is limited.
• Elevating the Voices of Refugee Girls (Altitude)
• The Pervasiveness of Gender Based Violence (POV)
Recommended for high school age and up
• Working to End Child Marriage (Studio 1)
• Protecting Girls Against Trafficking (Studio 2)
4:00 pm
Speak Up Activity
Monique Coleman, Actress, Global Youth Advocate
4:25 pm
Lobby Day Training
Inuki Pantin, Director of Policy and Advocacy, United Nations Foundation
Julie Willig, Senior Grassroots Officer, Girl Up
5:00 pm
7:30 pm
Call to Action
Ice Cream Social at the United Nations Foundation Office
Location: 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
12th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
Co-chaired by Teen Advisors Simone Cowan and Sydney Baumgardt
10
Wednesday, July 15 - Rise Up
Location: The W Hotel, The Great Room, 515 15th St NW Washington, DC 20004
This is it. This is the moment when we collectively rise up to march on Capitol Hill. Using what
you have learned, meet with your members of Congress to inform them of issues affecting
adolescent girls and what should be done about it. With your head and your heart, make this
giant advocacy leap knowing that 225 other girls will be there to support you!
7:30 am
Breakfast 7:45 am
Advocacy Preparation 8:15 am
Buses Depart for Hill
9:30 am
Capitol Hill Meetings
12:00 pm
Lunch Reception on Capitol Hill
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04)
Peter Yeo, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy, United Nations Foundation
1:00 pm
Capitol Hill Meetings Resume
4:30 pm
Final Photo
4:45 pm
Buses Depart for Hotel
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
Stand Up. Speak Up. Rise Up.
12
Workshops
Workshop Leaders
Alex Intriago
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Anna McGuire
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Danielle Redman
Model,
ALDA
Claire Brito
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Dre Brown
DOVE Self
Esteem Project
Inga Eiriksdottir
Model,
ALDA
Lindsay Jenkins
Associate Protection
Officer, U.S. Protection,
UNHCR
Meredith Fineman
Founder,
FinePoint
Rachel Moynihan
Advocacy and
Communications Specialist,
UNFPA
Sarah Gordan
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Dr. Satvika Chalasani
Technical Specialist,
Adolescents and Youth,
UNFPA
Rebecca Ruvalcaba
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Ruhy Patel
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
Thandiwe Diego
Teen Advisor,
Girl Up
*Ginette Azcona (No photo)
Research and Data Specialist,
UN Women
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
Be You
Monday, June 13, 11:00 am
Choose one workshop to attend. Recommendations are provided based on age.
Be You Beautifully (Studio 2)
Led by an expert Dove Self Esteem Educator, join this workshop to build confidence and
navigate real life experiences to transform yourself inside and out.
Dre Brown, Dove Self Esteem Educator
Recommended for girls entering 5th-9th grade
Flip the Script (Altitude)
Feminists unite! Elizabeth Plank challenges gender norms daily. As an MSNBC correspondent
and Senior Editor for Mic, she works hard to put girls’ and women’s stories at the top of our news
feed. Now, she wants to hear from you! Join this workshop aimed at eliminating the “confidence
gap” between men and women. Use your high school experience to inform the discussion and
brainstorm the best confidence boosting measures.
Elizabeth Plank, Senior Editor, Mic and supported by the women of ALDA
Recommended for girls in high school
How to Brag (Studio 1)
Never shy away from an opportunity to showcase yourself again! PR maven Meredith Fineman
demonstrates her expertise in women’s leadership and professional development training in this
workshop aimed at college students. Gain hands-on experience on “how to brag” and asking for
what you want and leave knowing the best ways to call positive attention to your achievements,
passions and interests.
Meredith Fineman, FinePoint
Recommended for girls entering college or already enrolled
14
Girl Up: All You Need To Know
Monday, June 13, 1:30 pm
These workshops are pre-assigned. Check your nametag for your workshop.
Girl Up: Your First Steps (Studio 1)
Learn how the Girl Up campaign got started and what role you can play in bringing Girl Up back
to your community. Discover how to start your very own Girl Up Club from experienced Girl Up
Teen Advisors, including how to recruit members, plan activities and navigate the online Girl Up
Community.
Anna McGuire, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Sarah Gordon, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Jonelle Kelly, Communications Officer, Girl Up
Back to School with Girl Up (POV)
Maximize your high school years! Grab the student body’s attention with your Girl Up Club. Learn
how to build a strong foundation! Host fun events throughout the year and keep connected with
Girl Up reports and the online Girl Up Community.
Rebecca Ruvalcaba, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Ruhy Patel, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Dayna Geldwert, Digital Producer, Girl Up
Taking Girl Up to the Next Level (Altitude)
You’ve already wowed with your Girl Up Club and now you’re ready for more! Join this
workshop to discover new featured challenges for the coming school year. Hear lessons
learned from experienced Club Leaders and ask advice from Girl Up staff. Get a behind the
scenes look at Girl Up Clubs in action.
Lindsay Schrier, Intern, Girl Up
Rachel Wisthuff, Senior Grassroots Associate, Girl Up
Make Girl Up Campus Your College Experience (Studio 2)
Connect with your fellow Girl Up Campus leaders to learn how you can integrate Girl Up on your
college campus through mentoring, attention grabbing events and being part of the political
process. Offer your own suggestions as we build a Girl Up focus group for Girl Up Campus.
Sunita Rao, Intern, Girl Up
Julie Willig, Senior Grassroots Officer, Girl Up
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
Your Toolbox:
Skills for Every Girl Up Leader
Tuesday, July 14, 8:30 am
You’ve got Girl Up under your belt, check. But, how do you actually get it done? Our Toolbox
workshop rotation puts you in the driver seat developing the fundraising, advocacy and
community mobilization skills you need to support girls around the world and get the support you
need to make it happen. Whether you’re just starting or an old pro, snag ideas, learn our “dos
and don’ts” and build your own power to speak up as a Girl Up leader. If not you, then who?
These workshops are pre-assigned based on skill-level. Check your nametag for your schedule.
• Advocacy:
Sarah Gordon, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Julie Willig, Senior Grassroots Officer, Girl Up
• Fundraising:
Alex Intriago, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Molly Gascoigne, Senior Development Officer, Girl Up
• Community Mobilization:
Claire Brito, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Thandiwe Diego, Teen Advisor, Girl Up
Rachel Wisthuff, Senior Grassroots Associate, Girl Up
Beginner
Advocacy (Studio 1)
Intermediate
8:30
am
Fundraising (Altitude)
Advanced
Community Mobilization (POV)
Beginner
Fundraising (Altitude)
Intermediate
9:15
am
Community Mobilization (POV)
Advanced
Advocacy (Studio 1)
Beginner
Community Mobilization (POV)
Intermediate
12:30 pm
Advocacy (Studio 1)
Advanced
Fundraising (Altitude)
16
Understanding the UN
Tuesday, June 14, 2:30 pm
Join in conversations with UN representatives to uncover challenges that adolescent girls face
around the world. Hear stories of girls who are confronting extreme circumstances and the ways
that the UN is supporting their needs, rights and future. Have the opportunity to learn more from
the experts on how the UN functions and how you can carve a similar career path.
Choose two of the four workshops to attend: 2:30 pm and 3:15 pm. Space is limited.
• Elevating the Voices of Refugee Girls (Altitude)
Lindsay Jenkins, Associate Protection Officer, U.S. Protection, UNHCR
• The Pervasiveness of Gender Based Violence (POV) Ginette Azcona, Research and Data Specialist, UN Women
(Recommended for high school age and up)
• Working to End Child Marriage (Studio 1) Dr. Satvika Chalasani, Technical Specialist, Adolescents and Youth, UNFPA
• Protecting Girls Against Trafficking (Studio 2)
Rachel Moynihan, Advocacy and Communications Specialist, UNFPA
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
Thank You for Your Support
2014- 2015 Teen Advisors
Alex Intriago
Amy Gong Liu
Anna McGuire
Celia Buckman
Claire Brito
Hayley Peacock
Ishana Nigam
Janet Diaz
Janet Ho
Jessica Bishai
Kennede Reese
Morgan Wood
Rebecca Ruvalcaba
Ruhy Patel
Sarah Gordon
Sarah Khimjee
Simone Cowan
Sydney Baumgardt
Thandiwe Diego
2015 Girl Up Leadership Summit Sponsors
PREMIER
PRESENTING
SUPPORTING
IN KIND
2015 Girl Up Partners
18
Staff
Melissa Hillebrenner
Director,
Girl Up
Amy Gilbert
Senior Entertainment Officer,
UN Foundation
Anna Blue
Deputy Director,
Girl Up
Bernadette Francis
Campaign Coordinator,
Girl Up
Dayna Geldwert
Digital Producer,
Girl Up
Grant Whitney
Intern,
UN Foundation
Inuki Pantin
Director, Policy and Advocacy,
UN Foundation
Jonelle Kelly
Communications Officer,
Girl Up
Julie Willig
Senior Grassroots Officer,
Girl Up
Lindsay Schrier
Intern,
Girl Up
Margo Jacobs
Director of
Development, Campaigns,
UN Foundation
Molly Gascoigne
Senior Development Officer,
Girl Up
Nina Roche
Intern,
Girl Up
Rachel Wisthuff
Senior Grassroots Associate,
Girl Up
Sunita Rao
Intern,
Girl Up
Vanessa Stair
Campaign Associate,
Girl Up
Girl Up Leadership Summit | July 2015
Notes
1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: (202) 887-9040 Fax: (202) 887-9021