Local entrepreneur concludes Women’s History Month with empowerment summit

SALISBURY, Md. – Women supporting women was the philosophy that Ashlee Laughlin had when she formulated the plans for the first ever Celebrez la femme empowerment summit.

The determined entrepreneur said she wanted to take her seeds of experience and plant them in her native soil.

“I wanted to come back to my hometown and really empower the women. After years of being away and growing and learning, I wanted to pour that back into my local community,” Laughlin said.

Four women with Eastern Shore ties spoke at the summit.

Laughlin said choosing the panelists was the most important part in planning the event, because she wanted each woman to be able to relate to their audience.

“Every single panelist was hand selected,” Laughlin said. “I had a reason for each and every one of them, and I knew they could bring a perspective that would resonate with each woman in the audience.

One of those panelists, Anshia Crooms, said as women continue to march forward, shattering stereotypes and beating the odds is what shows the younger generation that success isn’t just possible, it’s limitless.

“I come from an industry that’s very male dominated, so for me, I didn’t have a female mentor that I looked up,” Crooms said. “I want to be able to be that connecter, to say, you know what, I learned this over here, let me teach you at the same time.”