Members will assemble in Scottsdale, Arizona, from May 21-24, 2026, at the Fairmont Princess Resort for the
“Jersey Gems Go West!” Themed Conference
Beginning May 21 through May 24, more than 1,000 registrants will assemble at the Fairmont Princess Resort for the 91st Conclave of The Girl Friends®, Incorporated. Founded in 1927 in New York during the Harlem Renaissance, The Girl Friends®, Incorporated, is one of the oldest and most highly respected social organizations of African American women in the country. Members serve their communities in many capacities — as authors, professors, doctors, lawyers, educators, business owners, U.S. Congress members, wives, and mothers, and more.
The top-tier sponsors for the 91st Conclave include Touch4Life, an Innovator Partner; New York Life, a Trailblazer Partner; Advocate Partners AMI MacDonald’s, Indelible, LOVENOTES, Dr. Tiffany Perkins-Munn, WOMEN LOVE POWER; and Leader Partners AARP, Google, Eve & Co, Harbourview, and Merrill. “Our Girl Friends are looking forward to convening in Scottsdale to conduct our national business, celebrate our civic engagement, and renew our bonds of friendship,” said Elizabeth Espy, 39th National President of The Girl Friends®, Incorporated. “In these challenging times, we wholeheartedly thank our sponsors for their support.”
New Jersey, the host chapter for this year’s Conclave, became the fifth chapter of The Girl Friends®, Incorporated in 1932 and last hosted a Girl Friends’ Conclave in 1977. “We are proud to host this annual gathering once again,” said Marjorie Rich, National Vice President and Conclave Co-Chair. “Our theme, ‘Jersey Gems Go West!’ aligns perfectly with the adventurous and radiant spirit of The Girl Friends. With Scottsdale’s desert beauty, serene landscape, and world-class hospitality, we have the perfect backdrop for executing our theme flawlessly.”
In a boost to the local economy, Girl Friends and their Boy Friend spouses plan to embrace the multitude of offerings in Old Town and the Kierland Commons; walk the galleries of the Museum of the West and Bella Fine Arts; find time for a spa or a golf game or two; and dine at dozens of local restaurants, including several that are African American-owned. Conclave Chair Dr. Lyn Hamlin noted that “this year the New Jersey Chapter will welcome more than a thousand registrants to the Conclave in Scottsdale, a sharp increase from the 28 who gathered in NYC for the first Girl Friends Conclave in 1933.”
About
Established in 1927, the organization was incorporated in 1938 under the legal guidance of Thurgood Marshall, husband of Baltimore Girl Friend Vivian Marshall. Today, The Girl Friends® Incorporated comprises more than two thousand members across forty-nine chapters, spanning twenty-six states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at TheGirlFriendsInc.org
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