NEW YORK — January 21, 2021 — We all watched as Kamala Harris stood where no woman, and no Black or South Asian woman, has ever stood before in U.S. history. It was a milestone moment for millions of Americans who have yearned to see faces that resemble their own at the highest levels of our democracy.

A new film released last night by Girl Up, the gender equality youth initiative of the United Nations Foundation, in partnership with Refinery29 and Ogilvy captures this history-making moment through the eyes of girls who watched as the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants was sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States, becoming the highest-ranking female politician in American history. ‘Today We Rise’ illustrates the immeasurable impact that the images of Vice President Harris taking her oath of office, administered by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor—the first Latina to serve on the nation’s highest court—will have on generations to come. Watch the film here (additional assets available).

‘Today We Rise’ was filmed and produced by a volunteer network of photographers and cinematographers during the inauguration in over 30 households across the country. It was edited immediately after the inauguration ceremony, going live within hours of the event.

The film will be featured in a personal essay by Refinery29’s Global Editor-in-Chief Simone Oliver as she reflects on what this moment means to her as a Black woman and Howard Alumna as well as for future generations of young girls, including her daughters.

Melissa Kilby, Girl Up Executive Director, said: “This moment is about hope and possibilities. It's about infinite potential – not just that of Madam Vice President Kamala Harris, but of every girl, everywhere. Girls seeing her taking the oath will grow up to remember the moment they first believed they could do anything – because of what they saw her do.”

Simone Oliver, Global Editor-In-Chief at Refinery29, said: "I’m not naive to think the swearing in of Madam Vice President Kamala Harris was the antidote for a nation in need. It was about representation and showing our girls what’s possible and that possibility offers hope."

Daniel Fisher, Global Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy, said: “It is hard to sum up the impact this moment will have around the world in words, so we wanted people to experience it through the faces that will shape the future. Vice President Kamala Harris may be the first woman to hold high office in the US, but she won’t be the last. The inauguration was a huge moment in history, so it’s an honor for Ogilvy to have collaborated with Girl Up to make this film and we’re so grateful to everyone who donated their time to help us capture this inspiring event.”

CREDITS

Girl Up

Melissa Kilby, Executive Director

Beth Nervig, Director of Communications and Digital Media

Jennifer DaSilva, Advisory Board Member, Girl Up and President, Berlin Cameron

Agency - Ogilvy

Daniel Fisher – Global ECD

Alvaro Rivera — Creative Director / Creative

Luca Corteggiano – Creative Director / Creative

Sally Miller – Executive Producer

Vanessa Manley – Project Manager

Pumie Msengana – Global Client Director

Cristina Diago – Strategist

Production

Giovanni Messner – Director/Editor

Dannel Escallón – Cinematographer

Daniel Addelson – Additional Photography

UNIT Studios London – Post House

Music - “Dream”

Jack Bennett – Composer

1107 Studios – Label

Andrew Stafford @ Big Sync Music – Music Supervisor

About Girl Up

Girl Up is a global leadership development initiative, positioning girls to be leaders in the movement for gender equality. With resources in five languages and more than 4,000 Girl Up Clubs in over 120 countries, we’ve trained 75,000 girls of all backgrounds to create tangible change for girls everywhere. Girl Up provides leadership training and gives girls tools to become gender equality advocates and activists. Through our programs in STEM and storytelling, girls broaden their social impact skill set to better prepare them for success in whatever their futures hold. Our girl leaders create real policy change at local and national levels, raise millions of dollars to support programs for girls around the world through our United Nations partners, and build community-based movements for social change. Girl Up was founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010 and continues to work across a global community of partners to achieve gender equality worldwide. Learn more at GirlUp.org.

Media Contacts: Ogilvy / David Ford / david.ford@ogilvy.com

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