This weekend, Howard University will host the “Transformation to Triumph Black Women’s Summit,” a three-day, hybrid summit designed to uplift and empower Black women and others who have been impacted by layoffs, furloughs, and major life events. The summit includes workshops designed to provide new tools and insights to help attendees in career transfers, complimentary coaching sessions, and continuing education credits for social workers. Above all, it will provide a space for networking and community-building. 

The idea for the summit came about following entrepreneur, Sprouts Consulting founder, and Howard graduate Geneva Greene’s (Ph.D. ’25) many discussions with colleagues. 

“Something that’s been my passion, or a common thread along my journey has been supporting marginalized communities, particularly Black women — advocating for our experiences, whether in the workplace, outside of the workplace, in different spaces,” she explained. “And so, as I noticed the numerous news stories about the number of Black women impacted by these job layoffs, furloughs, etc., and spoke with women daily in the DMV who have been impacted, it’s so personal. So, a colleague said, ‘what can we do?’ And the summit and the community around transformation to triumph came about.”

Each day of the summit is built around a central theme. Day one, “Evolution,” will be entirely virtual and focus on examining the current moment and discussing the impact on Black women. It will also focus on gaining new career skills and “confront narratives shaped by loss, disruption, and resilience, transforming them into sources power.” 

Day two, “Transformation,” will focus on reflecting on the past and clearly envisioning the future, with particular emphasis on forming and strengthening personal and global networks, with sessions including “From Pivot to Power: A Practical Networking Lab” and “Financial Clarity Is Power: How Black Women Build Businesses and Freedom on Their Own Terms.”

The final day, “Triumph,” will be a celebration of Women’s History Month and honor “the resilience, brilliance, and collective power of Black women.” Sessions over the course of the day are intended to bring  joy, healing, forward momentum, and affirmation to those in attendance. 

We’re encouraging each other, supporting each other, and reimagining a future where we can be successful together. 

Building a broad community that spans across generations and borders is core to the entire summit.

“We are launching a community to demonstrate the power of collective action, the power of community in navigating challenges,” explained Greene. “Also, we’re encouraging each other, supporting each other, and reimagining a future where we can be successful together. Maybe our future doesn’t look like what we thought it would. I feel like I’ve gone down this path, and I’m now at a place where I can help others to travel on this journey as they come face-to-face with the fact that, ‘Hey, my life’s not what I thought it would be. Now what do I do? Could it turn out better than I thought?’” 

There needs to be an opportunity of transparency and also just reciprocity of building this community.

That community aspect has been evident from the very start of the summit, with organizer backgrounds ranging from entrepreneurship to social work to the federal workforce, and beyond. For social worker and Howard Ph.D. student Mewelau Hall, this diversity of skillsets is essential to letting mentorship thrive. 

“Coalition building, community building is really important to really put people in a position to want to learn and be mentored,” Hall said. “That’s another tool, the willingness and receipt of mentorship is an opportunity to trade ideas and get inspiration, especially in a place where a lot of attention is in social media and news, but away from the community.”

Of course, a community can’t be maintained with just a single summit. Hall emphasized the need for clear, continuous feedback loops, and hopes Transformation to Triumph will be the spark of a long-lasting effort. 

“There needs to be an opportunity of transparency and also just reciprocity of building this community,” she said. “I am from a union organization, community organization background. I’ve always been taught to work yourself out of a job, and the best institutions are flourished when you build great leaders. I say that to say I would one day would be proud to see this continue.”

Transformation to Triumph will run from Feb. 27 to March 1. Learn more about the summit on their Instagram page, learn how to earn professional development credits on the School of Social Work website, and register to attend the summit today!