The Helene Gayle Global Development Symposium, hosted at George Washington University’s Jack Morton Auditorium, will include a lively debate on the global impact of #MeToo.
WASHINGTON (October 9, 2018) – The global poverty-fighting organization CARE will honor its former president and CEO, Dr. Helene Gayle, this evening at the 2018 Helene Gayle Global Development Symposium in Washington, D.C. The annual event brings together thought leaders in the humanitarian and development communities to discuss the challenges we face globally and the solutions we can achieve together, particularly for women and girls. This year’s event, “Her Story: The Worldwide Impact of #MeToo,” will include key influencers from the public and private sectors and important voices from the Global South.
“The stories we’ve heard over the last year from Hollywood and Washington, D.C. have moved and inspired women across America,” said Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of CARE. “But the #MeToo moment has the potential to turn into a global movement. At CARE, we believe when you invest in women and girls, you create the conditions for change more broadly.”
In addition to Michelle Nunn and Dr. Gayle, featured speakers include:
- Raj Kumar, President and Editor-in-Chief of Devex (moderator)
- Henriette Kolb, Manager and Gender Secretariat, International Finance Corporation
- Emily Bove, former Executive Director of Women Thrive Alliance
- Carla Koppell, Distinguished Fellow, Georgetown University Institute for Women, Peace and Security
- Ekene Osakwe, CARE Nigeria; 2016/2017 Humphrey Fellow, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University
The event, hosted at George Washington University, will explore the impact of the #MeToo Movement in the lives of women and girls around the world, debating the roles of institutions and grassroots organizations in the growing movement to end gender-based violence. In the process, it will celebrate Dr. Gayle, CARE’s President Emeritus, and her ongoing contributions to women and girls globally.
“We know that gender-based violence is one of the biggest obstacles to unleashing the potential and economic power of women,” said Nunn. “As we honor Dr. Gayle’s legacy at CARE, we call on policymakers and world leaders to prioritize the needs of women and girls – unleashing their potential will not only save lives, but it can end extreme poverty and achieve social justice for all.”
Dr. Gayle led CARE for almost a decade until July 2015. She now serves as the president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. Before assuming leadership of the Trust in October 2017, Dr. Gayle was the inaugural CEO of McKinsey Social Initiative, a nonprofit that builds partnerships for social impact. Dr. Gayle’s career includes leading roles at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with a primary focus on HIV/AIDS. It was under Dr. Gayle’s leadership at CARE that the organization came to understand the importance of empowering women and girls in all of CARE’s work. This focus continues today as the organization recognizes it cannot achieve lasting change without focusing on the barriers that keep women and girls from realizing their full potential.
About CARE:
Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year, CARE worked in 94 countries and reached more than 80 million people around the world. To learn more, please visit www.care.org.
Media Contact:
Nicole Ellis, +1-202-595-2828, nicole.ellis@care.org; Ari Goldberg, +1-240-678-9102, ari.goldberg@care.org