Inaugural World Woman Summit to bring global experts to Arkansas

Submitted by World Woman Summit

Foundation will launch mentorship program to boost Arkansas’ single mothers

LITTLE ROCK – The The World Woman Foundation Global Mentorship Program (GMP), launching September 30, 2017 at the World Woman Summit, is geared toward the success of Arkansas' single mothers, by connecting them to corporate and public leaders.

The conference, to be held at the Clinton Presidential Center, will bring leaders from various backgrounds together to share methods for sustainable development.

"This initiative will inform, inspire and impact our society to embrace gender harmony as well as social and economic growth," says Rupa Dash, Co-founder and CEO of the World Woman Foundation. The World Woman Summit is presented by the World Woman Foundation, Dash Media, and with partners the City of Little Rock, Little Rock Convention Center, Johnson Law Firm, Inviting Arkansas, the Department of Arkansas Parks and Tourism, and Thoma Thoma.

“Forty-one per-cent of single mothers with children in Arkansas live below the poverty level. This program will assist in finding economic solutions through principles that help women thrive," Dash says. Specifically, the World Woman Foundation Global Mentorship program will provide a professional development and capacity building program for women 18 or older. It is intended to help bridge socio-economic inequalities and provide direct engagement in the World Woman Foundation Global Leadership Institute.”

"This conference will open a dialogue about how we can work together toward meaningful change in a world that needs solutions to women's unique challenges," says Melissa Thoma, Co-Founder and Principal of Thoma Thoma. Other themes at the inaugural World Woman Foundation Summit are access to economic development, clean water, health and violence against women.”

The pre-summit event for speakers and dignitaries will take place Friday, September 29th at ESSE Purse Museum in the SoMa (South Main) neighborhood of Little Rock. Founded by Anita Davis in 2013, ESSE is one of three purse museums in the world and celebrates the journey of the American woman through the lens of the purse and its contents. "We are so pleased to partner with the World Woman Summit by hosting the pre-summit event. We believe ESSE will serve as a fitting backdrop to launch the weekend's events and thoughtful conversations," said Davis.

Keynote speakers include:

• Anna Maria Chavez, former CEO and official counsel to former President Bill Clinton
• Ravi Karkara, Senior Advisor on Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy to the UN Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Women
• Erin Gavin, actor, known for her role as Marilyn Monroe in The Last Investigation
• Naveen Jain, Entrepreneur, Technology pioneer and Philanthropist
• Conference speakers will include:
• Maria Amor, Princess of Philippines
• Dr. Shawne Duperon, 6-Time EMMY® Winner &Project Forgive Founder, 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
• Warwick Sabin, Senior Director, U.S. Programs, Winrock International and Arkansas State Representative
• Dr. Srimathy Kesan, CEO and Founder, Space Kidz India
• Ceylan Rowe, CEO, Trendy Napkins & Commissioner for MetroWest, Massachusetts
• Dana Micucci, International Journalist and Award-Winning Author
• Linda Rowe Thomas, Fashion Designer
• Cara Brookins, Best-Selling Author
• Hope Brookins, Branding Expert
• Natasha Israt Kabir, Human Rights Activist and President of the Bridge Foundation in Bangladesh
• Elaine Orler, Founder and CEO, Talent Function
• Mandy Sanghera, International Human Rights Activist
• Monica Singh, UN Youth Ambassador
• Carol Sankar, Global Diversity Expert
• Sheila Robinson KISS, Bestselling Author & Speaker
• Dr. Michele Wright, Award Winning Success Expert
• Naomi Osemedua, International Social Media Influencer

Delegate passes for the conference tickets are $249 with advance registration; tickets will be $350 the day of the conference. Ticket prices include meals and free onsite parking.

Delegate passes can be purchased and more detailed information about the conference is available online.

About the World Woman Foundation: Founded in 2013, the World Woman Foundation is a non-profit organization whose aim includes mentoring programs for 1 million women and girls by 2020. WWF also seeks to create meaningful experiences through fostering women's business, entertainment, technology, and social entrepreneurship. A globally accepted organization with people across continents and cultures, it is discovering, creating and bringing together extraordinary resources for women. World Woman Foundation is the leading organization in the world to accelerate gender harmony in a bold new way to support the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.