United State of Women Calls on Women to Take 1 Million Actions for Gender Equality

Los Angeles -- Today, as the first day of the United State of Women summit comes to a close, the organization announced its goal for women to take 1 million actions for gender equality in 2018. This announcement was paired with a commitment to support women changemakers, through hands on training, connecting allies, and creating content. This announcement followed a day of speakers, including Michelle Obama in conversation with Actor and Activist Tracee Ellis Ross, Actress and Activist Jane Fonda, Black Lives Matter Co-Founder and Author Patrisse Cullors, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris, Ai-jen Poo, Dolores Huerta, and many others, who called on women and girls to live the change they want to see and lead in their communities. The United State of Women will launch four new programs as part of this new organizing initiative: The Ambassador Program will support local leaders who are ready to step up and run United State of Women organizing projects in their communities. Selected activists will receive the tools, data and community sharing needed to set goals, organize and win concrete steps for gender equality in their local community. Summer Community Meetings will be hosted by Ambassadors nationwide to organize women and allies who want to take action for gender equality. USOW Digital Force Fellows will recruit budding content creators and pair them with media platforms looking to drive action, focused on the goal of owning the internet and social channels in support of gender equality. The Online Action Hub will track nationwide activity and connect activists. “United State of Women has grown from a single event into a force that is helping to grow the women’s movement and empower women leaders across the country,” said Valerie Jarrett, co-chair of United State of Women. “The momentum that led to today’s successful event will continue far into the future.” The summit, which brought together 6,000 women and allies from across the country, will conclude tomorrow with hands on training sessions hosted by community organizations across Los Angeles. The skill building and collaboration sessions will give participants valuable tailored to their specific goals. “When women lead, everyone wins,” said Tina Tchen, co-chair of United State of Women. “We are here to support women as they seek these wins, whether it is running for office for the first time, changing laws so that our society is more fair and inclusive, or to shatter a glass ceiling in their industry.” Featured speakers throughout the first day of the summit included Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, Tiffany Lopez, Jeanette Antolin of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team; Actress and Activist Connie Britton; Journalist and Editor Elaine Welteroth moderating a conversation with Actress and Activist Yara Shahidi, Activist, Educator, Writer, and Co-Founder of Campaign Zero Brittany Packnett, and U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and First Lady Amy Wakeland; Journey Jamison, Teen Gun Violence Activist, and Mei-Ling Ho-Shing and Tyah-Amoy Roberts, Parkland Student Activists; and many more. Learn more at www.theunitedstateofwomen.org/.