Dining with Deb™ on The Vineyard Elevates the National Conversation on Black Women’s Leadership

More than 300 executives, entrepreneurs, board directors, philanthropists, elected officials, and other influential women gathered on Martha’s Vineyard for Dining with Deb™ on The Vineyard, a National Leadership Experience founded by New Orleans native Deb Augustine Grant.

The annual gathering has emerged as a significant forum for professional women to exchange ideas, develop relationships, and explore strategies for creating lasting social and institutional impact.

This year’s featured conversation, “The Architecture of Black Women’s Power: Leading Beyond the Moment and Building What Endures,” brought together national leaders Glynda C. Carr, Bishop Leah D. Daughtry, and Jotaka Eaddy. The discussion examined how Black Women can strengthen institutions, expand economic opportunity, support democracy, and transform leadership into lasting influence.

Grant encouraged participants to consider the responsibility facing today’s generation of Black Women.

“Every generation of Black Women inherits a defining assignment,” Grant said. “Our generation is being called to protect, reimagine, and redesign.”

Beyond the leadership discussion, the Marketplace and Community Pavilion highlighted entrepreneurship, culture, health, and wellness. Participating brands included St. John, Journey XX, Caviar Dream, and The Tiny Tassel. Organizations such as The Amistad Center for Art & Culture and TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, also connected attendees with initiatives supporting cultural preservation, health equity, and community well-being.

Community investment remains central to Dining with Deb™. Previous efforts have included expanding the Martha’s Vineyard Black-Owned Business Directory, supporting a Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School College Tour through a partnership with The UPS Foundation, and assisting The Cottagers, Inc. This year, St. John donated 10 percent of its Marketplace sales to Historic Union Chapel.

“What happens at Dining with Deb doesn’t stay in the room,” Grant said. “Ideas become partnerships. Conversations become opportunities. Relationships become lifelong friendships.”