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Courtesy of JES<\/p>\n
The Jefferson Educational Society (JES) has announced that acclaimed journalist, author, and television personality Elaine Welteroth will join former First Lady Michelle Obama for a special moderated conversation during the 2026 Global Summit.<\/p>\n
The event, titled \u201cA Moderated Conversation with Michelle Obama,\u201d is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Erie Insurance Arena. The appearance is part of the Jefferson Educational Society\u2019s annual Global Summit, one of the region\u2019s premier speaker series that brings nationally and internationally recognized leaders and thinkers to Erie.<\/p>\n
Welteroth brings an impressive resume to the stage. An award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, television host, former Project Runway judge, and founder of the nonprofit organization birthFUND, she is widely recognized for breaking barriers in the media industry. She became the youngest-ever editor-in-chief of a Cond\u00e9 Nast publication when she took the helm of Teen Vogue, where she expanded coverage to include issues of diversity, culture, and social justice.<\/p>\n
In addition to writing the advice column \u201cAsk Elaine\u201d for The Washington Post, Welteroth serves as a cultural ambassador for Michelle Obama\u2019s \u201cWhen We All Vote\u201d initiative, which seeks to increase voter participation among young people and underrepresented communities.<\/p>\n
Welteroth is also the author of the bestselling memoir \u201cMore Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are No Matter What They Say,\u201d which earned an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. More recently, she launched birthFUND, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to safe maternal healthcare and birth resources for families nationwide.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Global Summit will feature 19 in-person events and more than 25 speakers, continuing JES\u2019s mission of fostering thoughtful conversations on issues impacting communities around the world.<\/p>\n