Before the official opening

In many ways, the summit began before the official program. Even during breakfast, the room was already alive with conversation as old friends reconnected, new alliances began to form, and people eagerly exchanged news, updates, and hard-earned lessons. It had the unmistakable atmosphere of a committed community finally gathering in person — warm, animated, and ready to get to work.

Prayer, leadership, and the people holding the day together

Rev. Dr. Wallace Henry III, Senior Pastor of Inner Light Ministries United Church of Christ, opened the day with prayer. His 26 years of ministry, centered on education, dynamic preaching, and guiding people toward their divine purpose, set a thoughtful tone. He returned to pray at lunch, while Vicki Tiahrt closed the summit with prayer, giving the entire day a steady spiritual rhythm.

Valarie Molyneaux, founder and president of VITFriends, served as the quiet force guiding the summit. She introduced speakers with care, kept the schedule on track from the sidelines, and attended to every detail. She was ably supported by Millicent L. Meadows, a VITFriends co-founder and Hartford native, who played a central role in bringing the event to her hometown and enriched discussions with sharp, thought-provoking questions.

Welcome from Senator Doug McCrory

Welcome remarks were delivered by Senator Doug McCrory, Senate Chair of the Education Committee, who set a clear tone from the start: this would be a day focused not on awareness alone, but on practical civic engagement and the real work of advocacy.

Tonja Johnson on awareness walks and marches

The morning continued with Tonja Johnson of Beautifully Unblemished in Florida, who gave a practical masterclass on organizing vitiligo awareness walks and marches. Drawing from experience, she outlined the nine-to-twelve-month preparation timeline, permitting and insurance needs, medical support requirements, and realistic budgets that can reach $15,000 — handing attendees a genuine blueprint instead of mere inspiration.

Rob Consalvo on how legislation really moves

Massachusetts State Representative Rob Consalvo then shared an insider’s view of the legislative process. He explained how community concerns become bills, why winning over legislative aides is often the most important step, and the difficulty of advancing any measure when nearly 9,000 bills are filed in one session.

He noted with pride that Massachusetts still carries the only active vitiligo bill in the country, announced dedicated funding for VITFriends, and mentioned that several state officials living with vitiligo had expressed interest in co-sponsoring. Consalvo had to depart early and could not join the afternoon panel.

Yan Valle on history, memory, and advocacy

Yan Valle followed with a compelling historical reflection. Opening with the line “History has a dark sense of irony,” he drew powerful parallels between the turbulent years of 1975 and 1977 — when Congressman Parren Mitchell introduced the first National Vitiligo Control Act — and the present moment in 2026: wars in Vietnam and Iran, Watergate and political controversy, rising oil prices, and the symbolic return of a new Moon age. He reminded the audience how those earlier efforts were shelved and lost from public memory, and later rediscovered — and how that buried history was revived through the efforts of VITFriends. He also linked the American story to global efforts, including World Vitiligo Day initiatives at the UN and WHO. Check out the full story: From Lost to Found: 50 Years of the National Vitiligo Act.

VITI da Brute and the lunch-hour cultural interlude

Lunch provided a lively cultural interlude. Musical artist VITI da Brute, known for his 2025 release SKN Prophet and its themes of being born twice in flesh and purpose, performed two original songs — one dedicated to VITFriends — and reminisced about the 2016 Capitol Hill rally.

Alicia Roufs and the growth of #Lit4Vit

In the afternoon, Alicia Roufs — who founded a Minnesota vitiligo support group in 2015 and now serves as Vice President of Vitiligo Support at the Global Vitiligo Foundation — traced the growth of the #Lit4Vit campaign. What started as a simple idea at a car dealership has become an annual international movement, lighting hundreds of buildings purple on June 25.

She generously shared the tools and resources she has developed to help supporters expand the campaign across the United States, Canada, and beyond.

Vicki and Todd Tiahrt on lobbying and Medicare coverage

Vicki and Todd Tiahrt closed the formal training with a grounded, experience-rich session on lobbying strategies for vitiligo legislation and Medicare coverage. Vicki, who has lived with vitiligo for more than 40 years, offered deeply personal perspective. Todd, former U.S. Representative for Kansas’s 4th Congressional District from 1995 to 2011 and a former state senator, drew on decades of work in government relations and lobbying. He has long championed vitiligo research funding and once sponsored a congressional resolution for vitiligo awareness.

Panel discussion, closing message, and a very loud dinner

As the program concluded, the speakers gathered for a panel discussion featuring Tonja Johnson, Yan Valle, Alicia Roufs, Todd Tiahrt, and Vicki Tiahrt. Valarie Molyneaux closed this portion by presenting each speaker with thoughtful, memorable gifts in appreciation of their contributions.

Vicki Tiahrt left the group with a final, resonant thought: advocacy often begins with one person simply carrying their vitiligo proudly in everyday life.

The day ended with a spirited reception dinner at a nearby restaurant. Laughter filled the room, easily exceeding 100 dB — the volume of a live rock concert or a roaring motorcycle up close — creating an atmosphere of pure joy and renewed energy as participants reflected on the day and strengthened friendships for the road ahead.

Why this summit mattered

In the end, the 2026 Leaders Summit showed vitiligo advocacy growing up. It moved beyond simple awareness toward real skills, coordinated action, and shared purpose. Thanks to the steady leadership of Valarie Molyneaux and Millicent L. Meadows at VITFriends, and the generous support of the Incyte Ingenuity Award, attendees left better equipped, more tightly connected, and determined that this time — unlike fifty years ago — their efforts will not be lost to history.