Join us on Wednesday, March 30, for our 6th annual Power of Voice Celebration to benefit Girls Leadership. Celebrate the impact of our honorees and make sure every girl knows her power.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
6:30–9:30 PM
Tribeca 360°
10 Desbrosses St., New York City
To inquire about last minute ticket sales, please contact Jazmine White at jazmine@girlsleaderhip.org or 866-744-9102 ext. 712
Dress code: Festive Attire
HONOREES
Valerie Jarrett, CEO, Barack Obama Foundation
Susan Reid, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Morgan Stanley
Eden Espinosa, Actress, Singer, Songwriter
Scroll down to learn more about our honorees!
MC
Alicia Menendez
Student Speaker
Kaila
SPONSORS
Presenting
Champion
Benefactor
Gold
Benan Ellis
Leigh Fisher Savar & Avi Savar
Silver
Coni Frezzo & Ed Sannini
Michael & Jennifer Glassman
Renae Griffin
Sachin Sondhi, Deloitte
If you’d like to become a sponsor, please complete this form or email anne@girlsleadership.org.
BENEFIT COMMITTEE
Renae Griffin, chair
Krystal Folk
Coni Frezzo
Pat Gillette
Kristi Rowe
If you can’t join us, please consider donating here.
While NYC rules no longer require proof of full vaccination, for consideration of all guests and their loved ones, please attend only if you are fully vaccinated and boosted within the last 180 days. We will check vaccination status at the door. As an alternative, we will also accept a negative PCR test within the last 24 hours. Masks are requested while not actively eating or drinking.
SPECIAL THANKS
MEET OUR HONOREES
Valerie Jarrett is Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of the Barack Obama Foundation. She is also a Senior Distinguished Fellow at The University of Chicago Law School. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, published in April 2019. She serves as Board Chairman of Civic Nation, Co-Chair of The United State of Women, and is a One Million Black Women Advisory Board member. Jarrett serves on the boards of Walgreens Boot Alliance, Inc.; Ralph Lauren Corporation; Lyft, Inc.; Sweetgreen; Ariel Investments; The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts; The Innocence Project; Sesame Street Workshop; and the Economic Club of Chicago. Jarrett also serves on the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Advisory Board member and is a senior advisor to ATTN.
Ms. Jarrett was the Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama from 2009–2017, making her the longest serving senior advisor to a president in history. She oversaw the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and Chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls. Ms.Jarrett has a background in both the public and private sectors. She served as the Chief Executive Officer of The Habitat Company in Chicago, the Commissioner of Planning and Development for the city of Chicago, Deputy Chief of Staff for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and she practiced law for ten years in the private and public sector. She also served as the director of numerous corporate and not-for-profit boards including leadership roles as Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Stock Exchange, Chairman of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees, Vice Chairman of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees, Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Chair of Chicago Transit Board. Ms. Jarrett has also received numerous awards and honorary degrees, including TIME’s “100 Most Influential People” Award.
Jarrett received her B.A. from Stanford University in 1978 and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1981.
Susan Reid is a Managing Director and Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion and the Institute for Inclusion at Morgan Stanley, and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Susan works closely with the Firm’s leaders in the design of the Firm’s diversity and inclusion strategy with emphasis on hiring, retention, development, and advancement of key talent.
Susan has 25 years of human resource experience across a broad range of industries including financial services, telecommunications, and higher education. Susan joined Morgan Stanley in 2008 as a Human Resource Business Partner supporting the Investment Management division. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Susan held a number of roles at various companies, including Human Resource Business Partner, and Head of Campus Recruiting and Diversity at Marsh and McLennan Companies, Head of Campus and Diversity Recruiting at Bell Atlantic, Head of Recruiting at RR Donnelley’s financial services division, and Head of Employment at New York University. Prior to transitioning to Human Resources, Susan was an Assistant Director in Student Services at New York University where she developed and led programs to retain and advance academically gifted students of color.
Susan serves on the boards of the Morgan Stanley Foundation, Storefront Academy Charter Schools, iMentor New York City’s Advisory Board, and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council.
Susan has a degree in Economics and Political Science from New York University and lives in Harlem, New York.
Eden Espinosa is an actress, singer, and songwriter most recognized for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Elphaba in “Wicked” on Broadway, in Los Angeles, and in San Francisco.
Eden has originated many roles including the title character in “Brooklyn the Musical,” Sadie Thompson in the world premiere of “Rain” at the Old Globe Theater, and Tamara De Lempicka in the world premiere of “Lempicka” at Williamstown Theatre Festival, directed by Rachel Chavkin.
She has appeared as Flora in “Flora the Red Menace,” Maureen in the closing company of “Rent” on Broadway, and Eva Peron in TPAC and Studio Tenn’s production of “Evita.” Other credits include Marry Flynn in “Merrily We Roll Along” at the Huntington Theatre in Boston, Daniela in Kennedy Center’s “In The Heights,” and Anita in West Side Story for the BBC PROMS at the Royal Albert Hall.
Her television appearances include shows such as Law and Order, Ugly Betty, and Elementary. Voiceover credits include Cassandra in the Disney Channel’s Tangled the Series, Robot Chicken, MAD TV, Elena of Avalor, and Titan Maximum. Eden’s debut album, Look Around, charted in the Pop iTunes top 50 between Adele and Katy Perry.
Most recently, she has dedicated her time to launching AFECT, an organization established to dismantle systemic racism and inequality in the theater industry.
MEET OUR MC
Alicia Menendez anchors MSNBC’s “American Voices with Alicia Menendez” Saturday and Sunday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. ET. She is also the author of “The Likeability Trap” and host of the “Latina to Latina” podcast.
Menendez joined MSNBC in October 2019. Prior to joining the network, Menendez served as correspondent on “Amanpour & Company” on PBS and formerly hosted a nightly news and pop culture show on Fusion called “Alicia Menendez Tonight.” Her reporting and interviews have appeared on ABC News, Bustle, FusionTV, PBS, and Vice News.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Menendez has been called “Ms. Millennial” by The Washington Post, “journalism’s new gladiator” by Elle, and a “content queen” by Marie Claire. Menendez is on Twitter at @AliciaMenendez.
MEET OUR STUDENT SPEAKER
Kaila, Girls Leadership Girl Advisory Board Community Engagement Chair
Grade: 12
Hobbies: Soccer, snowboarding, hanging out with friends, baking, and traveling
The change I want to make in the world: I want people to be more aware that social issues are intersectional and I want people to understand how important this is to understanding the world around us.
MEET OUR AUCTIONEER
Regan Solmo is a passionate and accomplished philanthropic consultant and editorial advisor. She is a Network Partner with Creative Capacity Network, a dynamic consulting team that provides C-suite level coaching and guidance to nonprofit organizations. Regan specializes in working with nonprofit leaders and their boards to craft and execute clear strategic, communication, and development plans to ensure their missions’ continued health and sustainability. Her current clients include POWarts, Into Action Lab, and Moment. She is also a strategic advisor to CANVAS, Perfect Earth Project, and the Bonnie Youth Club, and is an editorial consultant for Palmer, L’Officiel, and Kahani magazines.
As the first-ever Chair of the New York Board of Girls Leadership, Regan built and led one of the organization’s most successful outreach and fundraising efforts. She was also Chair of the Development Committee of Girls Leadership’s National Board, and served two terms on the Board of The New York Women’s Foundation.
Regan spent 25 years in the magazine publishing sector in senior editorial roles, most recently for 10 years as Executive Managing Editor of Condé Nast’s W Magazine.
She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son.
MEET OUR PERFORMERS
Batalá New York is the premier all-women, Black-led, drumming ensemble, bringing high-energy performances to the people of New York City through an engaging blend of cultural education and joyous entertainment.