A new era for Black women

July 13, 2023 Posted by Sophia Lafontant

Essence 2023 7 — Oxfam panel on "This is How We Win" featuring (l to r): Roishetta Ozane, Founder of the Vessel Project of Louisiana, Ashley Shelton, Executive Director of Power Coalition, Dr. Lekeisha Richardson, M.D., Louisiana, Shamyra Lavigne, RISE St. James Rise, Maria Harmon, Co-director/Co-Founder Step Up and Louisiana State Rep. Delisha Boyd Photo: Partee Photography/Kayland Partee

In late June, Oxfam partnered with Black Women's Roundtable and Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable to host the third annual symposium for Black women at Essence in New Orleans, LA. These photos capture a bit of the joy, power, and energy for the future of Black women.

It was standing room only at the events in New Orleans that kicked off "A New Era for Black Women," with a genuine sense of community and hope. Roughly 150 women wholeheartedly joined in envisioning an equitable and prosperous future where Black women--particularly those concentrated in low-wage jobs and/or impacted by climate change--can see a future where they thrive.

An external advisory council of 12 exceptional Black women leaders helped to strategically steer the program of this year’s symposium at Essence Fest.

All photos: Partee Photography/Kayland Partee

Our Leading Ladies (l to r): Cassandra Welchin, Convener of the MS Black Women’s Roundtable, Gina Cummings, Vice President of Alliances, Advocacy and Policy, Oxfam America, Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of National Coalition of Black Civic Participation and Convener of the National Black Women’s Roundtable and Mikhiela Sherrod, Director of US Domestic Programs, Oxfam America

Sharon Weston Broome, Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, LA, brought official greetings and a warm welcome to Louisiana.

Fireside chat (l to r): Heather McTeer Toney, Executive Director of Beyond PetroChemicals moderating a conversation between Elsa Majimbo, Comedian, Forbes 30 under 30, 15 times Chess Champion and Priscilla Sims Brown, President and CEO of Amalgamated Bank.

(l to r): Theresa Kennedy, Program Liaison, Gulf Coast Region, Joi Owens Norwood, Program Officer at Kellogg, Deepa Janha, management professional

Elaine Welteroth speaking about why Black maternal health is important (l to r): Dr. Lekeisha Richardson, M.D., Shamyra Lavigne, RISE St. James Rise, Elaine Welteroth, Washington Post Columnist, author and "Project Runway" judge, and Louisiana State Rep. Delisha Boyd

This is How we Win panelists(l to r): Ashley Shelton, Executive Director of Power Coalition moderator, Maria Harmon, Co-director/Co-Founder Step Up Louisiana, Roishetta Ozane, Founder of the Vessel Project of Louisiana, Dr. Lekeisha Richardson, M.D., Shamyra Lavigne, RISE St. James Rise, Elaine Welteroth, Washington Post Columnist, author and "Project Runwa" judge and Louisiana State Rep. Delisha Boyd

Members of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable

(l to r): Oxfam’s US Domestic Programs director Mikhiela Sherrod with Sisters on the Planet Ambassadors Kiah Morris of Vermont Commission on Women and A’Shanti Gholar, President and Executive Director of Emerge.

Kesha Coleman, Senior Manager at Keesha Harris and Associates and Oxfam’s Sophia Lafontant, Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships sharing their excitement for the symposium.

At the reception (L to r): Heather McTeer Toney, Executive Director of Beyond PetroChemicals meeting for the first time Priscilla Sims Brown, President and CEO of Amalgamated Bank and Sabrina Stratton, Senior Vice President/ New East Regional Director of Amalgamated Bank

The Fight for Our Lives: Our Democracy, Health, Wealth and the Planet panel (l to r): Alexis Anderson Reed, CEO, State Voices, Willie Jones, President and CEO, Dependable Source Corp., President, Women for Progress; Melanie Campbell, CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; Congresswoman Cori Bush, Missouri – District 1, United States Congress; Colette Pichon Battle, Vision and Initiatives Partner, Taproot Earth and Boma Brown-West, Chief Growth Officer at Healthy Building Network

Author bio

Sophia Lafontant

Sophia Lafontant is a Senior Advisor at Oxfam America currently living in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. Her areas of focus are strategic alliances and partnerships.

In her over a decade long career in international development, she has led Behind the Brands (a global campaign targeting the top ten food corporations), led advocacy efforts to support the people of Haiti following the Haiti earthquake of 2010, and educated and organized thousands of college students on a whole host of social justice issues.

When she isn't working, she loves spending time with her big Haitian family or traveling with her husband and daughters. She has a Master’s in Public Administration from American University and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from St. Edwards University.

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Politics of Poverty