Higher 2025 Delivers Action-Focused Agenda For Women Of Color In Cannabis Industry

In a pivotal year marked by the erosion of equity programs and growing economic pressure, Higher 2025 will gather women of color from across the country in Philadelphia from June 27 to June 29. Now in its third year, the national conference is doubling down on its founding mission: to create sustainable, community-rooted systems that empower women of color in cannabis, wellness and entrepreneurship.

With this year's theme—"SOS: Saving Our Sisters, Saving Ourselves"—the event takes on renewed urgency. As political winds shift and support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives weakens, the message behind Higher is clear: Survival and success will come not from institutions but from the communities themselves.

"Higher 2025 is about action. We are not just talking about solutions—we are creating them," said Sheena Roberson, founder of Higher. "This conference is a strategic investment in ourselves, our businesses, and our futures. It's about creating the systems we need to operate independently, together."

Action Over Rhetoric

Unlike other industry expos or networking summits, Higher is intentionally designed as a hands-on, resource-rich experience. It blends political engagement with business-building tools, healing spaces and cultural expression, creating a multi-layered space for women of color to strategize, connect and heal.

The programming at Higher 2025 is tailored to meet the real needs of attendees, many of whom operate at the intersection of systemic exclusion and emerging industries like cannabis.

Key program areas include:

• The Higher Stage: A main platform for dialogue on policy, entrepreneurship and wellness, featuring leading voices from across sectors.
• The Business Hub: A resource center providing legal support, contract education and direct pathways to funding and development.
• The Real Estate Track: New this year, this track focuses on ownership, investment strategies and multigenerational wealth-building.
• The Agriculture Track: Also debuting in 2025, this track emphasizes land access, sustainable farming and cannabis cultivation as tools for self-reliance.
• The Tech Track: A forward-facing program exploring blockchain, AI and digital entrepreneurship for Women of Color entering high-growth sectors.
• The Wellness Pavilion: A dedicated space for mental, emotional and physical healing, facilitated by doulas, therapists and other wellness practitioners.
• Cultural & Creative Activations: Live performances, art and storytelling celebrate identity and community resilience.
• Nighttime Vibes: Social gatherings and curated networking events aimed at strengthening relationships beyond the boardroom.

Roberson, a longtime advocate for racial and gender equity in cannabis, sees this year’s event as a direct response to ongoing systemic rollbacks. For her, the path forward demands ownership—not just of businesses or land but of narratives, resources and community futures.

"This is not about waiting for change to come from outside forces," she said. "We are creating new economies, new networks, and new ways of being that reflect who we are and what we need."

A Movement Rooted In Reality

Higher 2025 arrives at a time when many women of color are being pushed out of formal equity programs, even as their communities bear the brunt of failed drug policies and underinvestment. The conference becomes more than an event in this environment—it is a declaration of intent and a site of collective problem-solving.

By emphasizing infrastructure and skill-sharing alongside healing and cultural celebration, Higher is shaping a model that others in the industry are beginning to look toward: one rooted not in performative support but in lived experience and practical tools for long-term survival.

Philadelphia, with its complex history and vibrant activist community, provides a fitting backdrop. The city has long served as a battleground for civil rights and economic justice. In 2025, it will again become a place where new paths are carved—this time by women of color determined to rewrite the story of who leads in cannabis and beyond.

Photo courtesy of Higher