Leading Women Defined 2012: Dorothy Height Luncheon

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay is honored, plus more.

Leading Ladies - BET Networks’ Leading Women Defined summit kicked off on March 19 with its annual Dr. Dorothy Height Luncheon. This year, award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay was honored with the 2012 Butterfly Award, which celebrates entrepreneurs and leaders in the Black community. Keep reading for more highlights. —Britt Middleton.  (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Leading Ladies - BET Networks’ Leading Women Defined summit kicked off on March 19 with its annual Dr. Dorothy Height Luncheon. This year, award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay was honored with the 2012 Butterfly Award, which celebrates entrepreneurs and leaders in the Black community. Keep reading for more highlights. —Britt Middleton. (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

Opening Address - Jeanine D. Liburd, executive vice president, corporate communications and public affairs for BET Networks, introduces the day’s festivities.  (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Opening Address - Jeanine D. Liburd, executive vice president, corporate communications and public affairs for BET Networks, introduces the day’s festivities. (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

Thoughtful Address - Debra Lee, BET Networks chairman and CEO, gives the welcoming remarks before introducing filmmaker Ava DuVernay.  (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Thoughtful Address - Debra Lee, BET Networks chairman and CEO, gives the welcoming remarks before introducing filmmaker Ava DuVernay. (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

Shining Moment - “Some people love to read; some people love to sing; I love film,” DuVernay told the audience of African-American women executives, lawyers and leaders who gathered for the three-day event. (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Shining Moment - “Some people love to read; some people love to sing; I love film,” DuVernay told the audience of African-American women executives, lawyers and leaders who gathered for the three-day event. (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

Deep Discussion - Award-winning filmmaker, TV producer and author Crystal McCrary engages the attendees.   (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Deep Discussion - Award-winning filmmaker, TV producer and author Crystal McCrary engages the attendees.  (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Great Minds Come Together - DuVernay, who was the first African-American woman to receive the best director award at the Sundance Film Festival, swaps insights with McCrary.   (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Great Minds Come Together - DuVernay, who was the first African-American woman to receive the best director award at the Sundance Film Festival, swaps insights with McCrary.  (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

Seeing Things Clearly - McCrary, who is the author of the best-selling novels Home Court Advantage and Gotham Diaries, is pictured at the luncheon. She was also the co-creator and executive producer of the NAACP Image Award-nominated BET documentary series Leading Women and Leading Men.  (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Seeing Things Clearly - McCrary, who is the author of the best-selling novels Home Court Advantage and Gotham Diaries, is pictured at the luncheon. She was also the co-creator and executive producer of the NAACP Image Award-nominated BET documentary series Leading Women and Leading Men. (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

Poignant Message - Lee and DuVernay stay focused on the discussion. DuVernay is best known for the 2008 hip hop documentary This Is the Life and the Hurricane Katrina documentary entitled Faith Through the Storm. (Photo: Phelan Marc / BET)

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Poignant Message - Lee and DuVernay stay focused on the discussion. DuVernay is best known for the 2008 hip hop documentary This Is the Life and the Hurricane Katrina documentary entitled Faith Through the Storm. (Photo: Phelan Marc / BET)

Tender Moment - DuVernay, this year's Butterfly Award recipient, shares a moment with a guest during the luncheon.  (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)

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Tender Moment - DuVernay, this year's Butterfly Award recipient, shares a moment with a guest during the luncheon. (Photo: Phelan Marc/BET)