CBW Gatherings | Lift as We WRISE Forum

Lift As We WRISE Forum

October 2, 2026 | Chicago, IL

The Lift as We WRISE Forum, hosted by Celebrating Black Women, will embody the principles we bring to every event: moving beyond conversation to solutions, trusting ourselves and each other, and creating a space and community that is safe for Black women.

Throughout the day, you'll have access to experts sharing knowledge on:

Social media and how to leverage it
Leadership coaching and whether it's worth it
Aligning your passion with your position

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Agenda

Morning Session:

8:00 – 8:30 AM

Registration, Breakfast & Fellowship

8:30 – 8:45 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:45 – 9:00 AM

Grounding Practice

9:00 – 9:45 AM

Opening Session — 1:1 Conversation with Carla Walker-Miller, moderated by Doseke Akporiaye: "Mentorship & Sponsorship"

9:45 – 10:00 AM

Break

10:00 – 11:00 AM

Leadership Roundtable — "Holding the Line"

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Facilitated Dialogue — Personal Wellness: "Filling Your Cup"

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

Afternoon Session:

1:00 – 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion with E'Lois Thomas, Ph.D. and Valarie Johnson-Brown — Financial Health: "Breaking the Silence on Money"

2:00 – 3:00 PM

Choice 1: The Entrepreneurial Spirit — How to Leverage Entrepreneurial Ideas in the Corporate Environment

Choice 2: Entrepreneurship — Built to Last

3:00 – 3:15 PM

Break

3:15 – 3:45 PM

Closing Keynote — Wawa Gatheru, Founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist: "Following Your Path in Abundance. Looking Towards the Future. Living Your Purpose With Tenacity"

3:45 – 4:00 PM

Closing Reflection & Send-Off

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What to expect

This industry-agnostic full-day session will cover four main areas:

Entrepreneurship

Addressing unique entrepreneurship barriers for Black women
Embodying the entrepreneurial spirit
Standing in your own light

Leadership

Representation is so important for Black women
Navigating the unique challenges for Black women leaders
Negotiating for yourself

Mentorship & Sponsorship

Know the difference—and why we need both
Understanding why sponsorship is critical and why mentorship may be less important within the Black women community

Personal Wellness