LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 9, 2014) - On Saturday, February 8, 2014, at the "It's Our Turn: Young Women's Conference at Brentwood School," there was an electric energy in the air as nearly 1,000 young women joined conversations about identity, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and more, with an impressive range of female leaders. Highlights of the more than 30 notable speakers included, Geena Davis, actor and advocate, who opened the conference with a compelling presentation of her research on women in media. A candid conversation between Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling, sharing personal experiences related to finding one's passion was memorable moment from the day. To close, Honorary Chair Maria Shriver participated in an intimate interview with two Brentwood School students about her role in creating The Women's Conference and her newest project, The Shriver Report. Coming from more than 90 different schools, the young women who attended can now share what they've learned with others in their own neighborhoods, thus encouraging even more young women to take charge of the future in powerful and positive ways.

Brentwood School seniors Leila Ardehali and Mackenzie Carlson, two of the student organizers, said, "As young women of this generation, we believe that we can continue the work started by others before us and lead the world into a time in which full equality is guaranteed for both genders. It's our turn to pursue our dreams without limits. It's our turn to have confidence in who we want to be. But most of all, it's our turn to allow ourselves to discover who that person is."

Dove Global Self-Esteem Ambassador Jess Weiner, along with Raining Jane, shared a remarkable message about empowering girls to take the power into their own hands to define their own beauty. Dove, a sponsor of "It's Our Turn," is proud to illustrate how beauty is being redefined through selfies and social media. Dove is committed to creating a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety and hopes to inspire all women and girls to redefine beauty and join the conversation #BeautyIs.

In 2012, an ambitious group of high school students at Brentwood School, a K-12 independent school in Los Angeles, CA, conceived of the first "It's Our Turn" conference. A new group of girls continued the mission to empower young women to take charge of the future in positive ways that influence and inspire others.

BRENTWOOD SCHOOL INSPIRES EVERY STUDENT TO think critically and creatively, act ethically, and shape a future with meaning. Through this conference, we hope to similarly influence students from all over Los Angeles.

Presenters included:
Honorary Chair: Maria Shriver
Special Guests: Mindy Kaling, actor and author, and Reese Witherspoon, actor and producer

Azure Antoinette, poet and spoken word artist
Lauren Berger, the Intern Queen
Jane Buckingham, CEO, Trendera
Geena Davis, Academy Award winning Actor; Founder and Chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
Madeline Di Nonno, CEO of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
Maggie Drake, enterpreneur and Co-Creator of Bandolier
Morgan First, Co-Founder and CEO of Second Glass
Angela Hucles, 2-Time Olympic Gold Medalist for the U.S. women's soccer team
Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director, Equality Federation
Ruby Karp, teen writer/comedian
Lisa Leslie, Former WNBA Star and 4-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
Dr. Kathy Magliato, cardiothoracic surgeon, Director of Women's Cardiac Services, St. John's Health Center, author
Raining Jane
Richard E. Robbins, writer, producer; director of "Girl Rising"
Kimberly Wolf, Shimmer Teen
Sweet Suspense
Sweety High
Alison Trope, Clinical Professor, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Jess Weiner, author and Dove Global Ambassador
Alexandra Wilcox, Leading Through Reading
Amie Williams, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Global Girl Media
... and a special video message from Diane von Furstenberg

The conference was made possible through the generosity of our sponsors:
The Diller - von Furstenberg Family Foundation, First Republic Bank, WME, Dove, Skechers, Two Rodeo, and The Princeton Review

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