The 2021 GIVEN Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Forum took place from Wednesday, June 9th through Sunday, June 13th at the Catholic University of America. The annual GIVEN Forum is designed to help young adult Catholic women, with a heart for mission and an aptitude for leadership, identify their particular gifts and find practical pathways to put them in the service of the Gospel. Each Forum applicant proposed an Action Plan–her unique initiative to activate her God-given gifts in the Church and in the world.

We are so grateful to the 2021 Sponsors and Exhibitors! You can watch the 2021 talks on our YouTube channel!

Young Adult Women

Religious Sisters

Lay Mentors

Dioceses Represented

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Meet some of the young women attendees and mentors
who were present at the 2021 GIVEN Forum! Learn about their
Action Plans and how the Forum impacted their lives.

OSV Challenge

At the 2021 Forum, GIVEN was proud to announce that an agreement has been made with the OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation that three Action Plan projects from the 2021 GIVEN Forum cohort will move into the semi-final round of the 2022 OSV Challenge. These three women will be awarded $10,000 in seed money by GIVEN benefactors and then will take part in the OSV Challenge Accelerator and compete to be a finalist with a chance to win a $100,000 prize for their Action Plan.

Teamwork makes dreams work! OSV Institute + GIVEN Institute making the world a better place. Left to Right: Matt Smith, Director of Strategic Alliances for OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation. Rachel Ullmann, Executive Director of GIVEN.
Shannon Ochoa, GIVEN ’16, Co-Founder of Eden Invitation, Winner of the 2020 OSV Challenge. Anna Carter, GIVEN ’16, Co-Founder of Eden Invitation, Winner of the 2020 OSV Challenge. Samantha Kelley, GIVEN ’16, Founder of FIERCE Athlete, Semi-Finalist of 2020 OSV Challenge

“I came away from the 2021 Forum with an abiding gratitude for the women of the Church. I highly recommend this Forum to any young woman in your life who is looking to share her gifts with the church. I ask, too, for your prayers, as I work to carry out my action plan — a retreat for artists — within this next year"

Lindsey,
Artistic Specialty

"Excellent. A truly filling week, where I was able to encounter God and hear His voice. It was profound — I have never been surrounded by so many incredible Catholic women, women speaking truth and empowering one another not to shrink, but to stand tall in their giftedness. It was so unique — I have never experienced the closeness, glory, and sheer delight of being so enveloped by Catholic femininity. It was a joy."

Kathleen,
Care for the human person specialty

"Amazing. As soon as I learned about GIVEN in 2018, I knew I had to attend. I was determined to attend the Forum and I'm so grateful I did. I grew in my faith, appreciation for my unique gifts, my ability to evangelize and my determination. I also gained a deeper appreciation for consecrated vocations."

Jensen,
Secular Professional Specialty

"The 2021 Forum was beautiful!! Being with so many young women on fire for their faith and bringing their gifts forward into the world was inspiring. My heart and my mind are full!"

Maryanne,
Entrepreneurial Specialty Mentor

"It truly was such a welcome gift for my heart to witness the women at the 2021 Forum. In anticipation of the panel, I had been thinking a lot about my 2016 Forum and the years since, and I continually come back to how much better and how much greater His plans really are. I know I'll be unpacking the grace for the weeks and months to come."

Laura,
2016 alumna & 2021 panelist

What’s next?

Save the date for 2022 Forum

Applications open on November 1 for young adults, mentors and volunteers

GIVEN will welcome over 125 young Catholic women and their lay and consecrated mentors and volunteers for five days of faith formation, leadership training and community building. This flagship event promises to be fruitful!

2022 GIVEN Forum

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OSV Challenge

What’s next?

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