What Went Down at the First Annual Teen Vogue Summit

When I arrived at the first annual Teen Vogue summit in Los Angeles, I was immediately blown away by the energy surrounding me.

There were people from all walks of life, each of whom was buzzing with anticipation. Some of the attendees, I would later learn, had raised money to attend the event by asking friends and relatives to sponsor them. Others were there thanks to Teen Vogue scholarships or as representatives of their companies. Everyone present had made an active commitment to be part of this summit, where they would have the chance to cross paths with not just each other but also a host of social influencers and creatives who were invited to appear on panels throughout the day. Most notable among them were television star and emerging social activist Yara Shahidi, Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Cullors, and congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Each attendee brought a perspective that was both unique and universal. For example, at a panel sponsored by Sundance, a young woman asked about the ways in which filmmakers of color can push for more representation through their platforms. Olive Peace, a Sundance fellow, responded by explaining that her presence in that room was an act of resistance against a White, male-dominated film industry. “As a Black filmmaker, every film that I make is deeply tied to my Blackness,” she said. “At the end of the day, I can’t separate the two.” Peace’s words, along with those of other content-makers, creatives, artists, and social changemakers inspired me to think about the ways in which I can collaborate with people outside of my creative community.

When Jessamyn Stanley, an influential yoga instructor and body image advocate, took the stage, she addressed the importance of a movement in yoga centered around the experiences of people of color. “When I first started doing yoga, I never felt comfortable because I was a Black woman whose body type didn’t look like the other people’s in class,” she said. “And on top of that, I was a queer woman.”

She posed a question to the audience: “What can we do to create more inclusive spaces in the worlds that we live in?”

Some responded by asserting that inclusion begins with understanding our place in the world and the power we each have to impact change. But it was Stanley’s closing words that brought the entire room to a halt. “If we’re not creating the change that we want to see, then we’re not doing anything,” she said.

For Jaidah Sizer, an undergrad at Howard University majoring in cinematography and film/video production, this sense of duty was contagious. “I learned that it doesn’t matter how old you are: If you’re passionate about something, that drive will pull in a group of supporters, and you will be remembered,” she said. “If you want to get noticed, being authentic will separate you from everyone else. Seeing so much positivity and compassion in one room made me want to do better by the world.”

For entrepreneur and author Tanaya Winder, this spark came after attending a poetry-writing workshop with Jhené Aiko. During the workshop, Aiko spoke about releasing a MAP — movie, album, and poetry book — for her next her project. “Society tries to put us into these boxes where we are forced to compartmentalize ourselves,” said Winder. “But why not be a triple threat? Why not hone your hustle to exist in different forms? It gave me the idea to do something similar.”

While Winder enjoyed some of the breakout sessions, she was most excited about the opportunities to interact with other attendees. “Those conversations with fellow entrepreneurs and innovators fed my soul, she said. “It was an exchange of passions and an opportunity to learn more about each other's heartwork.”

That’s why Winder hopes the second annual Teen Vogue summit – an event everyone with whom we spoke is eager to attend – features more opportunities to explore what’s next.

“How can we continue building with each other?” Winder asks. “It would be great to attend sessions that allow us to find others who are seeking to create similar paths to change, innovation, and creation.”