WOW: Women of the World Festival

Conversations that celebrate women and girls around the world

Articles published at My LifeStyle Magazine and En La Escena TV.

Women of the World Festival (WOW) is one of those amazing events where people can gather together to participate in conversations that celebrates women and girls around the world. It is a festival where one’s can listen to stories, topics, panels and other activities focus on looking for gender equality and a better world for those who still have to face many injustices. The legendary Apollo Theater was for third time the home that opened its doors for this festival. A perfect place located in Harlem, a town that represents the latino and afro community.

For 4 days WOW feature a unique group of performances, workshops and discussions that exchange ideas about global issues related with culture, social boundaries, and gender. The idea is to show how empowerment, getting together and speaking out are the tools to make this world a better place to live, especially for women. The Apollo was the place where arts became the voice of those who want to have a meaningful discussion during the festival, thanks to Kamilah Forbes, executive producer of the theater, and Jude Kelly, founder of WOW and artistic director of southbank centre in London. Both of them make of this event an experience to not only remember but to keep working and persuading. Since the premiere of the festival in 2011, this became a global movement .

During this year the participants could experience for free the beautiful performance of the academy award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, who read a selections from the novel Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in a way that captured the public for her unique a beautiful style when telling a story. Also, new yorkers had the opportunity to listen to the leaders of the Women’s March on Washington, Tamika Mallory and Carmen Pérez, who join Jude Kelly and Kamilah Forbes in a conversation about why our feminism must be intersectional.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas was also part of the festival by having a conversation about cyber-bullying, which is one of the main issues on young people. Her own experience and her new role as the Change Embassador for Hack Harassment, were inspirational for those who assisted to the event.

There is no doubt that the world is having a change throughout these conversations, activities and more people getting involved and showing their power and their voice. We all can make a change! Keep participating in these conversations and try to inspire those who are around you.Women of the World FestivalWomen of the World Festival