The third annual GU Summit invites industry powerhouses Reginae Carter, Aoki Lee Simmons, Coco Jones, Jayda Cheaves and more to tackle crucial topics and offer professional advice through workshops and panel discussions

(Black PR Wire) NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ESSENCE Girls United, the premier destination for young Black women, will host its third annual summit on November 5 at the Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center in Atlanta, GA. ESSENCE Girls United (GU) is a multimedia platform that provides access, resources, and opportunities to a global audience of Gen-Z and Millennial women, empowering them to pursue and achieve their wildest dreams. The theme of this year’s summit is “Forever the Blueprint” - a celebration of Black girls and gender-expansive youth that continues to be the blueprint for progression, tenacity, and resilience. The Girls United Summit is brought to you by major sponsor The Coca-Cola Company®, along with supporting sponsors, SheaMoisture, Ford and American Airlines.

This year’s GU Summit will be hosted by Reginae Carter and feature panelists Aoki Lee Simmons, Jayda Cheaves, Kaleah Slay, Paige Audrey-Marie Hurd, Jessie Woo, Jamesa Bailey and more. Panelists will lead workshops and discussions throughout the day covering the crucial topics on most Gen-Z and Millennials’ minds, such as career paths, personal relationships, mental health, social activism, gender identity and more. For the third year in a row, GU Summit serves as a safe space for young Black women, girls, and gender-expansive youth to come together and fellowship about topics and issues that are impacting them the most, from cultural identity to education and reproductive rights.

“Our purpose is to always encourage and support the incoming generations of Black creatives and forward thinkers who both define culture and whose impact is significant to global culture,” Rechelle Dennis, Co Creator of ESSENCE Girls United. “The GU Summit allows us to connect and guide young Black women towards their goals with confidence, while creating a safe space for community building, empowerment and growth.”

This year’s GU Summit is making its return to Atlanta for a full day of panels, workshops and amazing activations including:

• Slay Your Life: Tips and Tricks
• The Reel You: Embracing Authentic Content Creation
• I Am The Bar: Cultural Identity, Confidence & Hollywood
• DND: Protecting Your Peace Through Black Girl Friendships
• The Quickie: Speed Mentoring Sessions with corporate executives
• Musical performance
• Gaming station & tournament
• Mocktail bar and food trucks
• and much more!

Participants will have the opportunity to create and expand their network with other like-minded young Black women to support and empower each other as they pursue the pinnacle of their dreams and create an impact in their communities.

In the evening, ESSENCE Girls United will host an invite-only dinner sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company® and supporting sponsor Ford. Hosted by Coco Jones, the dinner will honor women who have continued to be the blueprint in the culture during unprecedented times and have excelled in their fields of education, activism, entertainment, content creation and entrepreneurship. Honorees include Trinitee Stokes (Education), Chelsea Miller (Activism), Olamide Olowe (Entrepreneurship) and Jayda Cheaves (Content Creation).

ESSENCE Girls United Summit can be attended in-person at the Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center in Atlanta, GA or virtually. To register to attend, visit GirlsUnited.ESSENCE.com/GUSummit2022 or join the conversation via social media on @ESSENCEGU and #GUSummit.

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Essence Communications Inc. is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand's multi-platform presence in/ publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

Source: Essence Communications Inc.