W+GRA Women’s Summit

The 2024 Women + Girls Research Alliance (W+GRA) Women’s Summit provided a university and community-engaged space for transformative conversations around issues impacting women and girls in the Charlotte metro area. In its first in-person Summit since the pandemic, UrbanCORE’s W+GRA also featured their SEED Grant recipients and the amazingly impactful research they’re doing.

Between guest speakers, panelists, and nearly 175 attendees, W+GRA Executive Director Dr. Michelle Meggs says a few themes emerged, including encouraging communities for women and girls with a focus on mentorship and sponsorship and “pushing back on the messages on social media that impact the self-esteem and self-worth of women and girls.” Dr. Meggs added the transformative conversations from this year’s Summit will help guide the direction of future SEED Grants, programming, and partnerships.