About the Summit

The Young Women's Health & Leadership Summit is a day created by young women of San Francisco, for young women of San Francisco.

Every year our Youth Steering Committee works together from August to March to organize a Summit for 300 young women from over 20 high schools in San Francisco. Summit participants come from public, alternative, and charter high schools and they represent the diversity and complexity of young women in the Bay Area.

Designed to uplift, inspire and empower, The Young Women's Health and Leadership Summit has launched a movement of young women coming together to learn about important health and life options that are often not discussed in school. The goal of the Summit is to provide resources and information on a wide range of health topics so that young women ignite change in their communities and make wise decisions about their personal health, well-being and future endeavors.

The Summit is coordinated by the CoE with collaboration from the SFUSD. Congresswoman Jackie Speier participates in the Summit as often as she can and makes a special effort to meet with the Youth Steering Committee to hear their hopes for the Summit and dreams for their lives.

Each year, the Youth Steering Committee completes a survey of their school communities to identify the most pressing health issues to be addressed at their summit. The community survey results indicate far too many young women are victims of domestic violence, infected with sexually transmitted diseases, and suffer from low self-esteem or depression. We know young women today face serious challenges. The Summit focuses on empowering and inspiring young women with resources and knowledge so they have the information and support to combat many of these issues personally, and in their communities.

Summit Archives

Explore past Summit themes & photo galleries below