Our Story
“Never doubt that you can change history. You already have.”
Founded in 2015 by Cheresa “Reese” LaFrances Purnell in partnership with Demoiselle 2 Femme, NFP (D2F), the Young Women Professionals League (YWPL) emerged as a pioneering initiative dedicated to celebrating and honoring young women aged 25-39 who were emerging leaders making significant strides in their respective fields. At its core, YWPL was designed to provide resources and support to the D2F College Connection program.
Nominations for this recognition were curated by the D2F Next Generation (NGen) Board, culminating in the inaugural 40 Under 40 Award Ceremony, a momentous event hosted in November of 2015.
Cheresa Purnell, then serving as Chair of the NGen Board, passionately engaged with inductees, fostering their development through a series of quarterly programs that featured enlightening GEMS (Great Examples Modeling Success) Talks and their dynamic A World of OppHERtunities Networking Events.
In 2017, following the dissolution of the NGen Board, Cheresa initiated a rebranding effort, transforming the organization into the 40 Under 40 Young Women Professionals League, assuming the role of Founder and President. Just a year later, the organization evolved further, shedding the “40 Under 40” from its brand name, and reemerging as the Young Women Professionals League (YWPL).
Since our inception in 2015, the League has achieved remarkable milestones. We have proudly inducted a total of 280 young women professionals through our esteemed 40 Under 40 Award Ceremony. Additionally, our unwavering commitment to supporting college students in their educational journeys has left a lasting impact. Through our quarterly networking events, we’ve connected and empowered hundreds of young women professionals, fostering personal and professional growth.
Our accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, as YWPL has been featured in prestigious publications such as Rolling Out, Jet Magazine, Ebony, N’Digo Magapaper, The Chicago Defender, The Chicago Citizen, Soul 106.3, Inspiration 102.3, and many more, further solidifying our reputation as a trailblazing organization.
As we move forward, we are committed to being more inclusive and intentional in our mission. In recognition of the diverse tapestry of our members and our broader community, in 2022 we made the decision to evolve our name to the Black Women Professionals League (BWPL). This name change reflects our ongoing dedication to celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black women in the professional world and beyond, and we look forward to continuing our journey of empowerment and growth together.
Location
Chicago, IL 60615
Contact
(773) 749-7351
info@bwplinc.com