A diverse group of successful women who all grew up or lived in the Bronx gathered for the first annual Women’s Empowerment Summit 2017, extending March’s Women’s History Month into April.

The panelists came from high positions in government, with a surprise televised appearance from Merryl Tengesdal, an astronaut who grew up in the northwest Bronx. She was introduced by her cousin, Gwendolyn Thomas-Steed, a member of Community Board 7. The civic panel hosted the event at Lehman College’s Lovinger Theater on April 8.

On hand panelists included Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, New York City Public Advocate Leticia James, and Deputy Bronx Borough President Aurelia Greene, whose career in male-dominated politics began as a community activist.

“It was a very, very challenging time,” Greene, 82, said. “You have to realize that the late ‘60s and ‘70s was a time when women were not regarded as humans really. We were not allowed to own property, we were not allowed to have any kind of executive job and to become a legislator was simply impossible.”

She added, “But my work in the community made me very popular, because I was all over the place doing a lot here in the Bronx.”

According to a release announcing the event, the gathering was intended to “inspire, educate and empower women with a better future through life-long learning. The goal is to provide the best resources and role models to help many transform their lives and aspire to achieve their highest potential.”

Clark, who was sworn in to her current position a year earlier on the same stage at Lehman College, told the crowd, “It’s important that we support each other and encourage each other. The biggest problem women have, or people have in general, is they think they can do everything themselves, and that’s a mistake.” She added, “A good leader is somebody that can work with other people, that can delegate responsibilities, so that you can get the best result possible.”

Phyllis Bowdwin of University Heights was most impressed with Leticia James. “She was very, very dynamic, she woke the place up,” Bowdwin recalled. “She talked about looking out for others, what she was doing in her role as Public Advocate. Her presentation was very effective. She made some really good points in terms of advancement for women, equal pay for women, and domestic violence.”

Adaline Walker-Santiago, chair of Community Board 7, said she conceived the event, which members supported. “[They] loved the concept of having women share their most valuable secrets from successful women from our community,” she said. “We all agreed this was long overdue. What was different about this event was that these women came to share their most valuable secrets of success,” she concluded.