When Meaghan Barakett, GSS ’16, founded her NYC-based nonprofit One Girl, Inc., in 2012, it marked the grassroots beginning of a thriving community. Barakett, a young woman passionate about social justice advocacy and holistic health, sought to share these values with like-minded individuals. When she couldn’t find the community she envisioned, she created it.
“Community is so important to all of us for so many different reasons, especially in New York,” Barakett said. “Most of us, at some point, ask ‘Where do I find my tribe?’…and sometimes you have to create it. My role was to create a community and, then, in that community, give the space to dive deep and ask important questions, like who am I? What is meaningful to me and the communities I serve? And how do I want to show up in the world?”
Barakett (right) and Vanessa Molina speaking at last year’s Women in Charge event.
One Girl was the ideal intersection of personal inquiry, social impact, and community involvement. Barakett and a team of volunteers held professional and personal workshops, attended charity events, and even organized a service trip to Guatemala. But this was just the beginning.
Twelve years later, Barakett has expanded One Girl to a team of five, including fellow Fordham GSS graduate Kara Byron, GSS ’19. The two were introduced by Fordham GSS Dean Debra M. McPhee, Ph.D., who saw similarities in their goals and values.
“We were able to connect on this idea of what really matters and life perspective,” Byron said of her relationship with Barakett. “That mutual shared connection of Fordham is amazing. It felt like a very natural fit for us to be doing something together.”
Now, the pair is preparing to host One Girl’s sixth annual Women in Charge conference, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Fordham’s Law School’s Costantino Room.
Women in Charge: A Space of Empowerment and Inspiration
The Women in Charge conference is One Girl’s flagship event. Launched in 2016, the event provides an interactive experience for the One Girl community to network, exchange ideas, and learn from remarkable women who drive positive change within their industries and communities. Fordham GSS provides space on campus for the event, and the Fordham GSS Institute for Women and Girls serves as an official partner.
Attendees at last year’s Women in Charge event pose for a photo.
As the event grew in popularity, so did its impact. Increased ticket sales attracted higher-profile panel speakers. Women-owned businesses participated as vendors, showcasing food, accessories, beauty products, and more.
“It was evolving each year,” Barakett said. “That became our signature event.”
This year’s program includes two industry panels (Women in Wellness and Women in Impact), professional workshops, networking opportunities, and an intention-setting session led by Sarah Platt-Finger, Director of Chopra Yoga at IIN and co-author of the book Living in the Light: Yoga for Self-Realization, with Dr. Deepak Chopra.
“Our goal is to highlight female trailblazers in these respective industries who are doing meaningful and impactful work,” said Byron, who now manages Social Impact and Operations at One Girl “and women who are setting the stage for what wellness could look like, and the different types of practices that they’ve embedded in their lives that they’re then sharing with their communities.”
A Membership by Women, for Women
Barakett and Byron said that this year’s Women in Charge event also serves as a preview of One Girl’s new membership offering. Introduced this year, the membership creates a distinct community committed to self-discovery through a holistic approach.
Throughout the years, Barakett said, long-time followers of the One Girl community have inquired about a membership program. This new offering is a comprehensive response to the demand.
Attendees at last year’s Women in Charge event.
“We really wanted to focus on giving people something back,” Barakett said. “When we get to know the members within our community, we are able to create a ripple effect by providing them with the space, the resources, and the experiences to then go out and serve their communities.”
Members gain access to various benefits, including fireside chats with industry leaders, mind-body practices, professional workshops, networking opportunities, and more. This is in addition to free access to the organization’s yearly highlight, Women in Charge.
“When we think about membership-based subscriptions in the wellness space, we’ve seen that the workshops and events, a lot of times, are often one-offs, and they’re not really built into more of this continuous, programmatic opportunity for people,” Byron said. “We created this membership that gives consistent offerings in the space of self-discovery, mental health, and social impact.”
The Fordham Network Effect
As a member of Fordham’s Board of Trustees, Barakett serves on the Mission and Social Justice Committee, focusing on the University’s values and mission as a Jesuit institution. The goals discussed in those meetings align closely with One Girl’s mission—and it’s not by mistake. Barakett truly believes in Fordham and its ability to shape future leaders. She thinks that strength is rooted in the people who make up the University.
“It’s the people that are there, like Debra [McPhee], like [Fordham President] Tania [Tetlow],” Barakett said. “I’m a huge fan of Tania Tetlow. I’m proud to be an alumni, and I’m proud to be on the Board of Trustees.”
Kat Garcia (left) and Brittany Lo (right), speakers at last year’s Women in Charge conference.
Like Barakett, Byron has an entrepreneurial drive of her own. After graduating with her Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree in 2019, Byron launched her own business, Moments by Kara, where she curates meaningful moments through planning and producing thoughtful and engaging events, programs, and impact initiatives for clients. Byron’s work impressed McPhee, who connected her with Barakett when One Girl needed an events and experiences expert.
“This is the beauty of the relationships we’ve built at Fordham,” Byron said. “There’s so much value in the feedback, the guidance, the advice, and the support that has been nurtured by these relationships.”
Barakett and Byron’s Fordham education committed them to community well-being. This collective impact is one of the many reasons the Fordham alumni network sticks together.
“It’s not only when you want or need something, but also about how you connect with others and how you show up for people,” Byron said. “The relationships come back to do greater good for the community.”
