Beyond the Page Recap: Celebrating Atlanta’s Women Authors
What a morning it was! On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Mind & Social’s Women’s Chapter (formerly UPWARD) hosted our first-ever Beyond the Page event at The Social Studio ATL—an inspiring gathering spotlighting the voices and stories of Atlanta’s women authors.
🌟 Featured Authors & Their Books
We were honored to host an incredible panel:
Bonita Hampton Smith, COO; Author of Dear White Woman, Dear Black Woman: A Tapestry of Letters for Hope and Healing
Jenna Banks, founder & CEO; Author of I Love Me More: How To Find Happiness And Success Through Self-Love
Jo Ann Herold, CMO; Author of Future Purpose
Monisha Longacre, founder & CEO; Author of Practical Productivity: A Guide to Surviving Life’s Juggling Act
Dr. Noni Carter, Financial advisor; Author of Womb Talk
Moderated by Shelley Hoffmann—a 3x Emmy-nominated marketing executive and Head of Branded Content at the AJC
Thank you to our sponsors Mari Arnold Photography for capturing the beautiful photos of the event and for Karen Diaz & BotOn Health for coffee and refreshments!
Didn’t get a chance to grab all the books at the event? Check out the links above to grab yours today!
🎤 Key Themes from the Day
1. Finding Your Voice
Each author walked us through their journey—how inner doubts were silenced when they leaned into their truth. Whether that meant addressing race, self-love, purpose, productivity, or personal empowerment, their stories reminded us that voice is power.
2. Writing as a Tool for Processing
From Jenna’s self-love affirmations to Bonita’s healing letters; we heard how writing and hearing these stories can be used as therapy—helping you process challenges and transform pain into purpose.
3. Connecting with Others Through Story
What resonated throughout the room was this: genuine connection happens when we allow ourselves to be seen. Each author used their narrative to invite readers—and fellow attendees—into a space of shared experience and growth.
💛 A Personal Note from Mind & Social
This event marked a major milestone for our Women’s Chapter. Seeing our community come together—to listen, learn, laugh, and reflect—reminded us why we do what we do. The energy in the room was electric, the stories were vulnerable, and the connections formed will carry far beyond the morning.
🗓 What’s Next?
If you missed this one, you’re in luck—we’ll be planning more events in the upcoming months where powerful stories meet purpose-driven leadership. Stay tuned—and join us as we continue to champion women.
Visit our events page for updates and make sure you are signed up as a Member (Free or our All-Access Membership) to receive weekly newsletters and be the first to know about the next event.
Want a say in our next event? Shoot us comment below on what type of event you’d like to see next! Business Speaker, Motivational Speaker, Networking Happy Hour, Panel, Round table or something else!
Like the photos? Check out www.mariarnoldphotography.com and make sure you tag her @mariarnoldphoto on IG !
Your friends,
Mind&Social
