Welcome to the Girls Empowerment Leadership Initiative – also known as GELI!

Get ready to UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL at the 2026 GELI Summit! If you’re a fierce female between 14-22, this is YOUR moment to shine. Learn new leadership skills, develop new connections, and build alliances to advocate for girls’ issues. Engage in civic leadership training that promotes the well-being of all girls throughout the Commonwealth! This isn’t just an event – it’s your launchpad to becoming an extraordinary change maker in policy, leadership, and community impact.

The MCSW GELI programming is an opportunity for girls to learn new leadership skills, develop new connections, build alliances for advocating for girls’ issues and concerns, and promote girl leadership throughout the Commonwealth. This program serves as an opportunity to engage with emerging leaders and nurture our pipeline of leaders. This initiative focuses on developing leadership and civic engagement skills through educational workshops, skill-building opportunities, and the opportunity to connect with peers across the state.

We hope you join us at this year’s groundbreaking GELI Summit!

Event Logistics

What: GELI Summit 2026
When: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Where: University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus Center
1 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01002

Time: 
9:30am: Doors open to the Public 
9:30am – 10:30am: Registration and Breakfast 
10:30am – 11:00am: Welcome Remarks & Scholarship Celebration
11:15am – 12:15pm: Session I  
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Session II 
1:30pm – 2:30pm: Lunch & Networking 
2:45pm – 4:00pm: Listening Sessions and Breakouts 
4:15pm – 5:00pm: Closing remarks & Call to Action 
5:00 – 5:30: Adjourn, load buses & student pick-up! 

Questions? Email: MCSWprograms@mass.gov.