By Lori Evans and Joy Sheffield
In Memphis, the story of progress has always included the leadership of women, especially Black women.
For centuries, African American women have long carried the weight of community advancement. We have organized, advocated, educated, built businesses and held families together. This often goes unrecognized, but is never without impact.
At the Junior League of Memphis (JLM), we understand that leadership is not abstract. It is personal. It is generational. And in a city like ours, it is deeply connected to equity and opportunity.
For more than a century, the Junior League of Memphis has worked to develop women leaders who create meaningful community change. Its members have gone on to serve as nonprofit executives, public servants, board members and community advocates throughout Memphis and Shelby County. Our impact is not confined to one neighborhood or sector; it is reflected in the institutions that shape daily life across this city and county.
But we also recognize an important truth: Leadership development must be inclusive and accessible if it is to truly serve the Mid-South.
That understanding is at the heart of the Develop HER Women’s Summit, now in its 11th year.
The 2026 summit will take place Friday, March 27, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Renasant Convention Center. The theme is “In HER Era,” with HER representing healing, empowerment and refinement. The guest speaker will be Egypt Sherrod, Emmy Award-nominated television host, real estate expert and designer.
The HER summit has grown into a powerful gathering space for women across the Mid-South — women building businesses, leading ministries, running nonprofits, navigating corporate careers, launching creative ventures and raising the next generation of leaders.
For many women, particularly women of color, access to professional networks, mentorship and leadership training has not always been equitable. Too often, talent exists without opportunity. Vision exists without visibility. Ambition exists without sponsorship.
Develop HER was created to help close those gaps.
The summit brings together hundreds of women for a full day of practical skill-building, honest conversations and meaningful connections. Through breakout sessions led by local leaders, the Develop HER Power Talk speaker series, networking opportunities and keynote inspiration, attendees gain tools they can immediately apply in their careers and communities.
But what makes the summit truly impactful is what happens beyond the stage.
It is the entrepreneur who meets a potential collaborator. The young professional who finds a mentor.The nonprofit leader who connects with a future board member. The woman who finally sees someone who looks like her leading at the highest level and realizes she belongs there, too.
Representation matters in Memphis. Visibility matters. Access matters.
When women, especially Black women, are equipped with resources, networks and confidence, the benefits ripple outward. Businesses grow. Households gain stability. Civic engagement deepens. Young girls see expanded possibilities for their own futures.
Economic empowerment and leadership development are not separate from community progress; they are essential to it.
The Junior League of Memphis is committed to continuing this work with intention. We are proud of our history, but we are equally focused on ensuring that our future reflects the full diversity and brilliance of the city we serve.
Memphis has always been a place where women rise against the odds. The Develop HER Women’s Summit is about making that rise more supported, more visible and more sustainable.
When we invest in women, we invest in families.
When we invest in families, we invest in neighborhoods.
And when we invest in neighborhoods, we strengthen Memphis.
That is not just empowerment rhetoric. It is a strategy for generational change.
The future of our city depends on leadership that reflects its people. Through Develop HER and our broader mission, we are committed to helping ensure that Memphis women are prepared, positioned and powerful enough to lead what comes next.
When Memphis women rise, all of Memphis rises.
Tickets for the summit and more information can be found at https://developherws.org/.
Lori Evans is the 2024-2026 president of the Junior League of Memphis, and Joy Sheffield is the 2026 Develop HER Women’s Summit chair.
