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Hillary Clinton to Speak at BET's Leading Women Defined Summit

Power-packed lineup includes Kamala Harris, Erykah Badu and many more.

Presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is busy trying to win the White House for the Democratic party, but she's taking time out of her busy campaign schedule to help BET Networks celebrate Black women doing big things in the world.

Tonight (March 1), Clinton will address the Leading Women Defined Summit (LWD), presented by COVERGIRL. The vision of BET Networks chairman and CEO Debra Lee, the seventh annual summit will bring together the nation’s most prominent African-American women during Women’s History Month to help set a national agenda and actionable solutions surrounding prominent issues impacting the Black community. 

"We are so excited to have Hillary Clinton join us for this important and much-needed discussion. Black women are the driver of the Black vote and we are honored the summit will provide a platform to engage in constructive dialogue on the issues that matter to us the most,” said Debra Lee, Chairman and CEO of BET Networks.

This year's summit, themed "Your Story, Our World," will feature intimate conversations with Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Erykah Badu and U.S. Senate candidate Kamala Harris. Bozoma Saint John, Head of Global Consumer Marketing for Apple Music & iTunes, will receive the Butterfly Award during the Dorothy Height luncheon for her unwavering commitment to service and leadership. Attendees will also engage and inspire local women through a volunteer session and career development workshop with the Miami affiliate of Dress for Success Worldwide.

Presenters include Judith Browne Dianis, Co-Director, Advancement Project; Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Direct Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Education Fund; Justine Skye, Recording Artist; Jonelle Procope, President & CEO, Apollo Theater; Beverly Bond, Founder of Black Girls Rock!; Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor of Baltimore; Latham Thomas, Founder, Mama Glow; Debra Martin Chase, Emmy-Nominated Producer; and many more. Past panelists include First Lady Michelle Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Diahann Carroll, Queen Latifah, Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, Soledad O’Brien, June Ambrose, Kelly Rowland, Star Jones, Gabrielle Union, MC Lyte, Sheila E, Robin Roberts and Issa Rae

Leading Women Defined runs March 1-4 in Bal Harbour, Florida.

(Photos from left: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images, Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BET)

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