The SOFEI Group is thrilled to present C1B1 Summit 2024 on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM, at the Harborside Hotel in Oxon Hill, Maryland. This empowering event aims to close the ambition gap for women and girls of color by spotlighting trailblazing women who are shaping equitable cultures in their workplaces, businesses, communities, and beyond. Under the theme 'Bridging Faith, Confidence, and Authenticity among Women and Girls of Color,' the summit will inspire attendees to embrace their full potential and drive meaningful change in society."   

Summit Mission

Marian Wright Edelman states - You Can't Be What You Can't See.  The C1B1 Summit seeks to empower women and girls of color by fostering a culture of ambition, confidence, and authenticity by showcasing diverse role models and engaging in meaningful dialogue to inspire participants to break barriers, embrace leadership, and contribute to creating a more just and equitable future.

Why Attend?

The summit will focus on supporting the personal and professional growth of women of girls of color, and attendees will engage with women speakers, gain valuable insights, and access resources to drive success in their lives, careers, and communities via:

  •  Empowerment and Inspiration: Hear from thought leaders and women making impactful changes in their fields.
  • Actionable Strategies: Learn real-world strategies for personal development, career growth, and community leadership.
  • Networking and Community: Build meaningful connections with other women and girls of color; committed to excellence and empowerment.

C1B1 Summit Panelists

This year's panelists represent experiences and fearlessness in:


  • Advancing and elevating women's voices in corporate spaces
  • Organizing and building solidarity to mobilize justice on community, local, and federal levels
  • Building non-traditional careers and businesses
  • Authentic Living

Panel Topics

  • Black Femininity: Humanizing Our Experiences - Femininity is generally associated with modesty, gentleness, nurturance, sensitivity, sweetness, supportiveness, humility, empathy, devotion, and tenderness. However, society tends to devalue and repress Black women's identity and voices who display feminine traits while the voices and identities of non-Black women evolve. Panelists will start the discussion to ignite and liberate the human spirit within Black women and girls to strengthen their existence in a non-celebratory society.

  • Black Polity: Building Solidarity & Mobilizing Justice - Black polity is the collective struggle for people of color to gain power and influence to attain and maintain their rights as Black American citizens. Panelists for this topic will teach women and girls who perpetually experience social, political, academic, healthcare, and workforce injustices how to establish and build unity to mobilize justice for themselves and their communities.

  • Non-Conformist: Building Businesses & Careers on our Terms - The wage gap is resilient between Black women and White men, and this trend can prevent women of color from achieving economic stability. One of the ways to close the wage gap is to become a business owner. Learn how these panelists created businesses and careers on their terms to earn their worth.

  • Self Actualization & Self Love: Loving the skin I'm in (Luncheon Speaker) - Psalm 139:14 states, we are fearfully and wonderfully made; however, the images and content on social media may say otherwise about women of color and can lead to their discontentment, lack of confidence, or self-hatred. The luncheon speaker will motivate summit attendees to reconnect to and embrace the essence of their individuality and beauty.

Summit Agenda

  • 8:00 am - Check-in & Continental Breakfast
  • 8:45 am - Event Welcome
  • 9:00 am - Women & Politics Panelists
  • 10:00 am - Business & Careers Panelists

  • 11:00 am - Break

  • 11:15 am - Black Femininity: Colorism, Sexism, & Genderism

  • 12:15 pm - Lunch Break

  • 12:45 pm - Authentic Living (Keynote Speaker)
  • 1:30 pm - Closing Remarks