#YouBelong, A Day Of Inclusion & Connections In Water Mill

On Saturday, August 14, in Water Mill, Fyli — a female founders mastermind with a focus on creating an ecosystem of support for leaders — brought together a diverse group of community activists, next gen impact experts, creatives, and entrepreneurs for an event titled #YouBelong, to celebrate diversity and inclusion, while rebuilding culture and reframing new mindsets.

Along with partners Nova Impact and James Lane Post, attendees were given the opportunity to share their unique perspectives and to form new friendships and partnerships. The Fyli community of female entrepreneurs met with guests from world-renowned businesses, angel investors, venture capital funds, and family offices.

“Our goal was to bring a diverse event to the Hamptons as it is known as a ‘privileged’ location and make sure there was ample representation between cultures, ages, and industries,” said Jaclynn Brennan, the co-founder of Fyli.

“We were honored to spend the day celebrating with such an inspiring group of female entrepreneurs, creatives, and those looking to support the day’s mission. Attendees were able to make meaningful connections through powerful conversations, all while celebrating community, art, and togetherness,” said Christine Prydatko, the event host and co-publisher of James Lane Post.

The event kicked off with a guided meditation by Donna D’Cruz, followed by the “Great Awakening Panel” made up of strong, empowered women focused on how to support other under-represented founders. The moderators, Olivia Dell and Chelsea Toler, the co-founders of NOVA Impact, led the panel discussion around mentorship, tips, and tricks on how to inspire other trailblazers and what challenges and fears they have faced in the workforce.

“As a woman in the investment space, I’m passionate about demystifying what it means to find agency in investment and beyond. We structured the event and our panel to focus on understanding how these incredible leaders in business, who happen to be female, found agency and what they’re doing to ensure that the path to leadership remains clear for future generations. We know that the infrastructure of society has perpetuated an unjust distribution of agency and will continue to highlight outliers paving the way to a more equitable and sustainable future,” said Dell.

The panel included Netta Jenkins, the co-founder of Dipper and VP Global Inclusion of Unqork; Nadya Okamoto, the founder of August and PERIOD; and Kimberly Hatchett, the executive director, private wealth advisor at Morgan Stanley, Private Wealth Management.

“This was such a beautiful and inspiring event to join — especially as my first in-person panel since the global pandemic. The last year has been one of so much overdue cultural reckoning with the need for further diversity and inclusion in all industries, and we’ve all been thrust into our own journeys of un-learning and learning,“ said Okamoto. “We often talk about how we can create a more thoughtful future of women’s leadership and empowered young women, and being on this panel and at the event felt like a real step and experience of that future.”

“I look around this event and see such a diverse crowd in the Hamptons. It is my responsibility to press that elevator button to see more people that look like me sit with me in the work place and have a voice in this world,” said Kimberly Hatchett.

“My experience as a speaker for Fyli was absolutely amazing. The audience were engaged and empowered. This event was intimate which allowed for many to feel comfortable to make meaningful relationships. I have never attended an event that embodied love and belonging. Every single person I interacted with spewed love and support,” said Jenkins.

The panelists shared deeply personal stories about how they overcame their own challenges and struggles, how they experienced hate and prejudice in their own personal and professional lives and how they reframe those experiences to fuel their careers and advocate for others.

James Lane Post hosted the panel discussion “Working Toward A More Inclusive Tomorrow” with leaders within the Hamptons community including Minerva Perez, the executive director of OLA of Eastern Long Island, Aiyana Smith-Williams, the executive director of the Shinnecock Nation, and Patricia Assui Reed, the founder of Matriark in Sag Harbor. The panel was led by James Lane Post’s co-publisher and managing editor Bridget LeRoy.

“No matter where you are in life you should try to use your privilege, even if it’s a small amount that you have, to try to help others that are less privileged . . . Giving back is huge for me,” said Assui Reed. “With Matriark we are supporting women-owned businesses . . . The idea is to help them thrive but to also give back and donate to women and girl’s focused communities.”

“I focus on indigenous communities whether it be my nation or others indigenous communities,” said Smith-Williams. “The Shinnecock Nation is the only federally recognized tribe on Long Island and essentially what that means is that the United States recognizes the nation on a government-to-government basis, but there are a lot of other indigenous people on Long Island that don’t have that same privilege . . . I really try to bring voice to those nations, because I understand what it means to be a state recognized tribe.”

“The work that OLA is doing is work that benefits and strengthens the entire East End,” said Perez. “We do focus on five East End towns. Since the pandemic we’ve found that there’s a lot of work that we didn’t even realize we could do that we’re doing in relation to health equity, mental health, and mental health support for adolescents.”

“The day led to conversations that are important both globally and locally. Each panelist is a leader within this community and is working toward a more inclusive tomorrow,” said Jessica Mackin-Cipro, editor and co-publisher of James Lane Post. “We want to highlight those giving back and pushing for positive change, and we hope to continue these conversations.”

Throughout the day guests enjoyed food from Calissa Restaurant in Water Mill, beverages from Vide, Montaukila, Voss, Troop, La Crema, and picnic style seating by Wisp and Wild. Isaac Boots’ Torch’d Shoppe provided an outdoor lounge, complete with Out East Rosé, with a meet and greet with the celebrity fitness trainer, who has recently launched the East End Fund for Children, partnering with seven local non-profits that help children.

Following the panel discussions guests enjoyed a happy hour hosted by Pomp & Whimsey. Throughout the day a Garden of Wonders hosted activations by Sundays Nail Bar, Mind Body Soul Market, Nannacay, Musings Magazine, and Sara Joy. Artists Amanda Flowers and Listen displayed artwork for guests.

Sponsors included Sara Joy, Vide, Omnifique, Marco, and Studio Misfit.