“This is a time for us to work together, put resources behind the things that we believe, and recognize how urgent the situation is.”

— Monica Aleman,  
International Program Director, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice International (GREJ-I), 
Ford Foundation

Held over the course of two days, the inaugural Free Future summit brought  global organizers, political leaders, poets, journalists, and academics together around an issue of vital importance: the right of women, girls and gender-nonconforming people to live lives free of violence. 

Watch highlights 
from the event

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Tarana Burke on sexual violence

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Amanda Nguyen on the criminal justice system

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta on movement building for gender equality

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Rebecca Cokley on the lack of legal protections people with disabilities face

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Dr. Sima Bahous on the importance of eradicating gender-based violence

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Sarita Gupta on expanding our definitions of gender-based violence

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Cyrus Veyssi on recognizing the violence many folks experience in their families

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Kasha Nabagesera on American accountability in Uganda

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Brittany Packnett Cunningham on centering survivors

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Darren Walker on the anti-rights movement worldwide

Tarana Burke on sexual violence: “The problem in this country is that we do not see sexual violence as a social justice issue. And it is.

Her Excellency The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone on risking losing an election to fight for gender equality
Hilary Pennington on a free future where women, girls and non-binary people are believed, funded, listened to, and liberated.

Watch the Program

See below for timestamps

MORNING PROGRAM

 01:08:22 Opening Film 

  • Liliane Laborde-Edozien, Director

  • Tynesha McHarris, Voice Over, Co-founder, Black Feminist Fund

01:10:42 Opening Remarks 

  • Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation 

01:15:46 Why We Gather: An Exercise 

  • Priya Parker, Facilitator, Strategic Advisor, and Author of The Art of Gathering 

32:08 Why This Moment Matters: A Conversation 

  • Monica Aleman, International Program Director, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice International
    (GREJ-I), Ford Foundation 

  • Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation 

  • Elaine Welteroth, Award-winning Journalist, NYT-Bestselling Author, and Television Host 

52:33 After You Go Viral: Building Long-Term Change in Global Movements 

  • Tarana Burke, Founder and Chief Vision Officer, me too. International 

  • Aminata Kamara, Co-Lead, Resourcing Resistance, Purposeful  

  • Mariam Mangera, Provincial Rep on the National Steering Committee, #TheTotalShutdown Movement 

  • Paola Ramos, Journalist and Author (moderator)

01:19: 52 Free Future Spotlight:

  • H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone
     

01:33:29 Life in Conflict Zones: A Poem. Ukraine

  • Amber Tamblyn, Author and Activist 

01:39:45 In All Our Interests: Why GBV Is Everyone’s Issue

  • Fatima Goss Graves, President, National Women’s Law Center

  • Anita Hill, Professor

02:00:32 Present and Future Threats: Violence and Organized Misogyny Online 

  • Elisa Lees Muñoz, Executive Director, International Women’s Media Foundation

  • Cyrus Veyssi, Multimedia Creator and Creative Director

  • Jessica Valenti, Founder, Abortion, Every Day (moderator) 

02:21: 22 Life in Conflict Zones: A Poem. South Sudan

  • Mahogany L. Browne, Poet and Executive Director, JustMedia 

02:25:25 Making Us Visible: Justice for Disabled Survivors 

  • Catalina Devandas,  Executive Director, Disability Rights Fund 

  • Maryangel Garcia-Ramos, Executive Director, Women Enabled International 

  • Rebecca Cokley, U.S. Disability Rights Program Officer,  Ford Foundation (moderator)

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

11:36 Free Future Spotlight 

  • Hilary Pennington, Executive Vice President of Programs, Ford Foundation

14:56 Dangerous to Exist: The Rise of Violence Against LGBTQ+ People

  • Kasha Nabagesera, Founder and Executive Director, Kuchu Times Media Group

  • Geeta Misra, Executive Director, CREA

  • Joy Chia, Executive Director, Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice (moderator)

32:05 Life in Conflict Zones: A Poem. Iran

  • Beau Sia, Poet

36:09 The Stories We Tell: Narratives Around Violence

  • Charles Blow, OpEd Columnist, The New York Times

  • Roxane Gay, Author, Editor, Professor

  • Connie Walker, Investigative Journalist and Host, Gimlet Media

  • Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Host and Executive Producer, UNDISTRACTED (moderator)

59:09 Missing. Murdered. Not Forgotten: Global Violence Against Indigenous Women

  • Connie Walker, Investigative Journalist and Host, Gimlet Media

  • Tarcila Rivera Zea, Indigenous Activist and President, CHIRAPAQ

01:12:04 Violence At Work: Breakthroughs and Backlash

  • Sarita Gupta, Vice President, US Programs, Ford Foundation

  • Sara Ziff, Founder and Executive Director, Model Alliance

  • Ellen McGirt, Editor in Chief, Design Observer (moderator)

 01:27:40 What the World Owes Survivors

  • Amanda Nguyen, Founder and CEO, Rise

  • Samantha Barry, Editor in Chief, Glamour (moderator)

01:39:56 Free Future Spotlight

  • Martín Abregú, Vice President, International Programs, Ford Foundation

01:42:30 The Role of the State: “This Is An Emergency”

  • Dr. Sima Bahous, Executive Director, UN Women

  • Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Ambassador-at-Large, U.S. Department of State

  • H.E. Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations

  • Monica Aleman, International Program Director, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice International (GREJ-I), Ford Foundation (moderator)