Join us September 18 for Free Future 2025. 12:30 - 5pm ET
Our Money, Our Lives:
Economic Pathways to a Violence-Free World.
Join global dignitaries, business leaders, and changemakers for a series of powerful conversations exploring the link between economic practices and the work to keep women, girls and gender-diverse people safe from violence.
The event will examine economic triggers of violence—from wage inequality to climate disasters—and showcase innovative solutions from leaders worldwide.
Program highlights include:
Insights from two Nobel Peace Prize winners: former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Maria Ressa
A powerful discussion between Tarana Burke and FKA twigs
A performance by Tony Award winner Kara Young
Solutions and exclusive findings from activists, economists, dignitaries and much more
Program
Welcome to Free Future
12:30 pm
SOL
Founding Member, The MeteorAbigail Erikson
Chief, UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and GirlsMonica Aleman
International Program Director, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice International (GREJ-I), Ford FoundationCeliné Justice
Director, Pivotal Ventures1:05 pm
Act I: What It Takes to Prevent Violence
What Does The Economy Have To Do With Violence?
Fatimah Ya-Fanah Kelleher
Feminist Political Economist, Nawi Afrifem Macroeconomics CollectiveThe Triggers Of Violence—and The Solutions We Need
Reema Nanavaty
Director, Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA)Siphelele Chirwa
CEO, Activate Change DriversSarita Gupta
Vice President of U.S. Programs, Ford FoundationThe Power of Economic Independence
Asahi Pompey
Global Head of Corporate Engagement and Chair of the Urban Investment Group, Goldman SachsStephanie Mehta
CEO and Chief Content Officer, Mansueto Ventures2:20 pm
Act II: What It Takes to Address Violence
The Cost of Violence
Kara Young
Tony Award Winning PerformerYes, There Is Life After Violence—And Here Are The Economic Solutions We Need
Sonya Passi
Founder and CEO, FreeFromJeanne Frangieh
Founder and CEO, Himaya Daeem AataaOlga Hernandez Avila
Researcher and Human Rights Advocate, Centro Interdisciplinario de Derechos, Infancia y Parentalidad (CIDIP)Reena Ninan
Journalist and Founder & CEO, Good Trouble ProductionsThe Cost of Violence...at Work
Emily Nix
Associate Professor, USC Marshall School of BusinessSol
Founding Member, The MeteorMartín Abregú
Vice President, International Programs, Ford FoundationHow Women Wage Peace: Conversation With a Leader
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Former President, LiberiaMartín Abregú
Vice President, International Programs, Ford Foundation3:45 pm
Act III: A Future Without Violence
Abigail Erikson
Chief, UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and GirlsSarah Hendriks
Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results (Officer in Charge), UN WomenOur Technology, Our Public Spaces, and Our Lives
Amna Nawaz
Co-Anchor, PBS News HourNobel Peace Prize Laureate. Co-founder and CEO, Rappler.
Professor, Columbia University SIPA.Maria Ressa
The Future We Deserve
ArtistFKA twigs
Tarana Burke
Founder and Chief Vision Officer, ‘me too.’ InternationalCindi Leive
Co-founder and CEO, The MeteorClosing Remarks
Abigail Erikson
Chief, UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and GirlsMonica Aleman
International Program Director, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice International (GREJ-I), Ford FoundationCeliné Justice
Director, Pivotal VenturesPerformanceWomen of the World Brass
Speakers
Martín Abregú
Vice President, International Programs, Ford Foundation
Monica Aleman
International Program Director, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice International (GREJ-I), Ford Foundation
Tarana Burke
Founder and Chief Vision Officer, ‘me too.’ International
Siphelele Chirwa
CEO, Activate Change Drivers
Abigail Erikson
Chief, UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and Girls
FKA twigs
Artist
Jeanne Frangieh
Founder and CEO, Himaya Daeem Aataa
Sarita Gupta
Vice President of U.S. Programs, Ford Foundation
Sarah Hendrix
Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results (Officer in Charge),
UN Women
Olga Hernandez Avila
Researcher and Human Rights Advocate, Centro Interdisciplinario de Derechos, Infancia y Parentalidad (CIDIP)
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Former President, Liberia
Celiné Justice
Director, Pivotal Ventures
Fatimah Kelleher
Feminist Political Economist, Nawi Afrifem Macroeconomics Collective
Cindi Leive
Co-founder and CEO, The Meteor
Stephanie Mehta
CEO and Chief Content Officer, Mansueto Ventures
Reema Nanavaty
Director, Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA)
Amna Nawaz
Co-Anchor, PBS News Hour
Reena Ninan
Journalist and Founder & CEO, Good Trouble Productions
Emily Nix
Associate Professor, USC Marshall School of Business
Sonya Passi
Founder and CEO, FreeFrom
Asahi Pompey
Global Head of Corporate Engagement and Chair of the Urban Investment Group, Goldman Sachs
Maria Ressa
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Co-founder and CEO, Rappler.
Professor Columbia University SIPA
Sol
Founding Member, The Meteor
Kara Young
Tony Award Winning Performer
