The Leadership Institute held Orlando’s inaugural Women’s Empowerment Conference at the Rosen Centre, with Senior Director Angela Faulkner serving as MC and Attorney Vennia Francois as Event Chair. The event inspired over 500 attendees with a powerful message on women’s rights.
The event kicked off with a welcome reception, bringing together local politicians, community leaders, and out-of-town guests for an evening of networking and celebration.
Notable among the attendees was Congressman Cory Mills, who energized the audience with a speech emphasizing the essential role of men as protectors and allies in the fight for gender equity.
Mills’ powerful words, “Boys by Birth, Men by Age, and Gentlemen by Choice,” resonated deeply, reinforcing the event’s theme of mutual respect between men and women.
Event Chair Attorney Vennia Francois and Keynote Speaker Riley Gaines led the discussion on defending women’s sports at the 2024 Leadership Institute’s Embracing Womanhood Conference. Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News.
Keynote speaker Riley Gaines, a 12x All-American swimmer and outspoken advocate for maintaining single-sex spaces in women’s sports, took center stage. She was joined by other prominent figures, including detransitioner Chloe Cole, Florida Congresswomen Laurel Lee and Kat Cammack, Florida State Senator Erin Grall, State Representatives Rachel Plakon, Karen Gonzalez-Pittman, and Kaylee Tuck, former State Representative Deborah Tamargo, Orange County School Board Member Alicia Farrant, Event Chair Attorney Vennia Francois, South Dakota State Senator-Elect Amber Hulse, and Moms for Liberty Co-Founder Tina Descovich. Each speaker delivered compelling messages about the urgent need to protect women’s rights, particularly concerning Title IX, women’s sports and spaces.
The Leadership Institute also hosted panel discussions on five critical topics:
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- Women’s Voices in Leadership
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- Parental Rights
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- Defending Women’s Spaces
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- Civic Engagement in the Real World
- Gen Z: The Voices of Future Leaders
A key concern voiced by the speakers was the threat posed by changes to Title IX, which could jeopardize women’s opportunities in sports and compromise safety in private spaces like locker rooms and bathrooms. Gaines warned, “If men are allowed to enter female sports, female sports will no longer exist. If men are allowed in women’s private spaces, those spaces and women’s safety will cease to exist as well.”
In a nod to the historic women’s suffrage movement, attendees wore white and purple sashes emblazoned with the hashtag #XX≠XY, underscoring the importance of preserving women’s rights. Purple, symbolizing unity, was a dominant color throughout the event, along with a resounding call for courage.
Gaines reminded the audience, “Being courageous doesn’t mean you’re free from fear; it means standing up for what’s right in spite of it.”
The event also featured personal stories of resilience and empowerment. Hollywood actress Roxanne Hoge shared her story of overcoming adversity, encouraging women to stand firm in their beliefs and rise above challenges. Performances by artist Stefan Otto, dancers, and inspirational films, such as “Sacred Journey of Womanhood” by actress and producer Jenny Rosario, added emotional depth to the event.
Vendors lined the venue, offering patriotic apparel, athletic wear, and motivational merchandise. A special highlight was the meet-and-greet with Riley Gaines, where young women had the chance to receive personal advice and take photos with the champion athlete.
Photo by Florida National News
The conference concluded with the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, and a color guard ceremony, driving home the message that this is not just a partisan issue, but an American issue. Organizers echoed suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett’s words: “Courage calls to courage,” as Orlando’s women stand united in protecting women’s rights and spaces.
