Women’s & Girls’ Conference

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YWCA Northern New Jersey Women's Conference

2021 Women’s Virtual Leadership Conference

Carve out some “ME” time during Women’s History Month.

Hear honest stories from fearless women about their trials, triumphs and everything in between. Get ready to be inspired, energized and prepared to tackle any obstacle that’s holding you back.

Monday, March 1 • 10:00 – 11:00 am FREE • Via Zoom

Dr. Chris T. Pernell
Chief Strategic Integration and Health Equity Officer, University Hospital

A physician leader and social change agent. In her public health practice, her focus is health justice, community-based advocacy, and population-wide health promotion and disease prevention. She has worked with union leaders and frontline workers, and partners across NYC healthcare institutions. Her efforts are centered around workplace health strategies, worker empowerment, health equity, and health system transformation.

Dr. Pernell is a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine and holds an appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

• Thursday, March 11 • 10:00 – 11:00 am

Dr. Balpreet Grewal-Virk
Vice President, Community Engagement Northern Region at Hackensack Meridian Health

Balpreet K. Grewal-Virk, PhD, provides leadership and oversight to system-wide community health initiatives, including outreach and marketing, community partnerships and advocacy, and evaluation and research. Balpreet also leads the Health Awareness Regional Program (HARP) and serves public and private sector populations with multiple education and prevention programs. She is responsible for the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for Hackensack Meridian Health’s northern region. This includes collaboration and execution of local and network wide impact planning throughout eight New Jersey counties.
She is married to Yogi Virk for 20 years and has 3 children.

• Monday, March 15 • 10:00 – 11:00 am

Jeannine LaRue
Founder, LaRuelist Report and Senior Vice President of the Kaufman Zita Group

The Honorable Jeannine Frisby LaRue’s clients depend on her extensive contacts, relationships, and knowledge gained over a 40-year career that included policy, governmental, and political positions throughout the state. She joined KZG in 2011 after retiring from Rutgers University as Vice President of Public Affairs, where she served in the University President’s Cabinet and was charged with advancing the University’s goals of cultivating and maintaining relationships with key leaders in the public and private sectors.

Jeannine has long been a champion of issues affecting women and children. She convened the first ever Statewide Women’s Summit in 1992 and continues to be involved in organizing this event today.

• Wednesday, March 24 • 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Rachel Antonoff,
Fashion Designer

Rachel Antonoff is a clothing designer and the founder of Rachel Antonoff, a women’s Ready-To-Wear collection that was built on the belief that fashion should be fun and inclusive.

Raised in Northern New Jersey, Rachel began her career as a freelance writer for such publications as Teen Vogue, Nylon and Blackbook Magazine before going to work for the designer, Rebecca Taylor.

She left Rebecca Taylor in 2004 to launch her own collection, Mooka Kinney with partner, Alison Lewis. The brand was carried by Barneys and written up in The New York Times, Vogue, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle among others. In 2009, Mooka Kinney disbanded and Rachel launched her eponymous collection, Rachel Antonoff.

Since its launch, Rachel Antonoff has been stocked in Barneys, Nordstrom, Shop Bop and boutiques domestically and internationally. The company has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Elle, W, Women’s Wear Daily, Refinery 29 and Fashionista.com among others. The brand has completed a number of successful collaborations including co-branded collections with Bass Footwear, Archie Comics and Keds.

Rachel is a co-founder and sitting board member of The Ally Coalition, an organization founded to aid LGBTQAI youth without homes.