Tracee Ellis Ross Honored by Student Leadership Network at the 2018 (Em)Power Breakfast in New York City

On Tuesday, October 16, 2018, the Student Leadership Network (SL Network) produced their annual (Em)Power Breakfast, a gathering of 700 guests to celebrate more than 2,500 girls who are impacted by The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLS) in New York City. The event honors the organization’s students and their achievements, as well as business and philanthropic leaders for their commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty through equalizing education.

Ayana Gilbert, a 9th-grade student at TYWLS of East Harlem, opened the program with her original poem “What is Beautiful.” Following, Founder and President Ann Tisch welcomed guests to the event and urged the crowd to continue to support girls’ education and Student Leadership Network’s mission to empower a diverse pipeline of young people, by providing them with access to educational opportunities that prepare them to become global change agents.

Executive Director, Jemina Bernard, announced the organization’s official name change from Young Women’s Leadership Network to Student Leadership Network. She then introduced students from several affiliates from around the country, including the schools in Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; Wilmington, NC; and Rochester, NY to walk the stage and introduce themselves to the audience.

Laura Rebell Gross, head of Girls’ Education at the organization, highlighted the stellar work and support her team provides to the schools in New York City and nationwide. She counts the four core areas of focus: leadership, health and wellness, STEM and early college and career awareness as the work that provides the platform for the students’ success. Since 2001, TYWLS has helped garner more than $123 M in scholarships and financial aid for students going to college, and nearly 100% of students graduate each year. TYWLS students graduate from college at nearly four times the rate of their peers.

Sophia Fiallo served as the student emcee for the event and shared her personal experience attending TWYLS and how it has changed her life for the better. “The (Em)Power event gives us the chance to showcase our amazing young women. They often share their compelling stories about their families, their struggles, and their victories. I don’t want anyone to ever forget how accomplished and driven our students are,” says Ann Tisch.

Actress and philanthropist Tracee Ellis Ross joined the event, via Skype, and was interviewed by fellow Brown and TYWLS of East Harlem alumnae Jo’Nella Ellerbe and Geetanjali Gunanathan. Tracee chatted about the importance of finding mentors and how she came to be inspired to serve as a voice for women in today’s world. Bruce Mosler, Chairman, Global Brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield, was interviewed by Ianna Gilbert, TYWLS of Jamaica student. Bruce was impressed by Ianna’s passion for the sciences and explained how he balances the pressure of working at Cushman Wakefield while serving as the co-chair of the board of The Intrepid Museum where Ianna interned in the past. Valerie Radwaner, Deputy Chair at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, was interviewed by Javeria Amir, a 12th-grade student at TYWLS of East Harlem and inspired the crowd with the following powerful statement: “Do not be afraid to be the only girl in the room. When I enter the room, I sit in the very front row.”

Past (Em)Power Honorees have included: Tory Burch (Fashion Designer and Philanthropist), Idina Menzel (Tony Award-winning Broadway star), Susan Lyne (Gilt Groupe), Judith Rodin (The Rockefeller Foundation), Jill Beraud (PepsiCo), Thelma Golden (The Studio Museum of Harlem), Yara Shahidi (Actress and Philanthropist) and more!

Jemina R. Bernard, Executive Director, Student Leadership Network shares, “At the end of the day, our annual (Em)Power Breakfast is a celebration of the 9,000 students we impact across our 5 NYC based Young Women’s Leadership Schools and 15 national affiliates nationwide. I can’t think of a better way to honor and celebrate their achievements than by having them emcee the event and interview our honorees. They embody all that gives us hope for the future of our city, country, and the world!”