HBCU Women's Leadership Summit

Camryn, a woman wearing a pink blazer with a decorative pattern, sits laughing at a table at the H B C U (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Women’s Leadership Summit. The woman on her left is wearing a blue shirt and yellow blazer. There are other women at the table and at other tables behind them

Empower. Impact. Lead.

Are you a dynamic HBCU woman passionate about creating social change and making a significant impact in your community? Join Running Start and Xceleader for the HBCU Women's Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. This summit is designed for students who are interested in holding public office, advocacy, and driving social and community impact.

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Running Start does not currently have an application open for the next HBCU Women's Leadership Summit. Sign up to be notified when the next application is open.

Azaria, a woman wearing a green turtle neck vest over a white long sleeve shirt, stands at a table presenting in a room full of people at the H B C U Women's Leadership Summit. Everyone in the room is sitting at circular tables.

Why attend?

Empower Your Leadership: Develop essential leadership skills in a supportive and empowering environment.

Make an Impact: Learn the importance of HBCU women in student government and community leadership roles.

Network: Connect with 75 like-minded HBCU women from across the country, building a strong and supportive network.

Action Plan: Leave with a concrete plan to run for office or lead impactful initiatives in your community.

Summit Highlights

Workshops and training sessions led by experienced leaders in politics, advocacy, and community development.

Networking opportunities with fellow HBCU women leaders and mentors.

Interactive sessions to map out your network and assemble a team to support your leadership journey.

"The summit truly boosted my confidence as a Black woman. It taught me that nothing is impossible and that I'm not the only one that has faced adversities."

- 2022 alum

A group of eight women stand together in front of an H B C U Summit banner. They are all smiling and holding up their pinkies (which is a sorority hand sign.)

“When I was a freshman at Howard University, I was 17 years old and trying to figure out, ‘What am I going to do on this incredible campus?’ [Running Start] facilitator Tasha Cole was the first person to tell me I should run for office. I had that experience ... and took it very seriously. And just at 17 years old I decided to run for office in Washington, DC, and became the youngest person ever elected in DC.”