YWCA Greater Atlanta’s annual Conversations forum creates space for individuals from all sectors to have honest dialogues about the interconnectedness of race and gender and how inclusivity creates a more compassionate environment for all.
Conversations 2025: Women Being Bold in Dialogue and Brave in Action
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
**Check-in and networking begins at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
This year’s theme, “Women Being Bold in Dialogue and Brave in Action,” centers powerful voices leading the charge for a more equitable future, unapologetically, courageously, and collectively.
Our Conversations forum is a space to reflect, connect, and reimagine what is possible when women use their voices to challenge systems, amplify truth, and take action. We’ll explore how inclusivity and intersectionality can drive societal transformation and build a more compassionate, just world.
This year’s featured speakers include:
Ruha Benjamin
Professor, Department of African American Studies, Princeton University
Founding Director, Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab
Ruha Benjamin is the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, founding director of the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab, and an award-winning author. Her influential works include Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code, Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want, and most recently, Imagination: A Manifesto. Dr. Benjamin is a 2024 recipient of the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Fellowship, among numerous other accolades, and is known for her deep insight into the intersections of science, technology, race, and justice.
Stephanie Davis
Advocate
She served as the Chair of the Board of Motherhood Beyond Bars and, recently, the Coalition for Trafficking in Women, and currently serves on the board of the Southern Center for Human Rights. Her career as a professional feminist included being the founding director of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, the Policy Advisor on Women’s Issues to Mayor Shirley Franklin, and the director of Georgia Women for a Change
Errin Haines
Founding Mother and Editor-at-Large, The 19th News
Errin Haines is an award-winning journalist focused on the intersection of race, gender, and politics. As Editor-at-Large at The 19th News, a nonprofit newsroom centering the voices often left out of political discourse, she brings a critical lens to national issues through a Black feminist perspective. Haines is a frequent contributor on MSNBC and NPR, and her reporting has helped redefine how mainstream media covers marginalized communities.
Moderator: Beverly Guy-Sheftall
Founding Director, Spelman College Women’s Research and Resource Center
A trailblazer in the field of Black feminist scholarship, Beverly Guy-Sheftall is a renowned author, activist, and educator. As the founding director of Spelman College’s Women’s Research and Resource Center, she has shaped generations of scholars and activists. Her legacy is grounded in lifting up the voices of Black women and interrogating the systemic barriers they face, making her the perfect guide for this year’s timely discussion.
Thank you to our 2025 Event Sponsors!
Flashback to 2023: Under the dedicated leadership of our co-chairs, Dr. Cynthia Neal-Spence and Sarah Irvin, and with the meticulous efforts of the Conversations committee, our 10th annual Conversations event inspired attendees to take action. Last years Conversations event featured a poverty simulation activity, facilitated to provide participants with a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities. Additionally, an engaging open-floor conversation was moderated by Condace Pressley, the Director of Community and Public Affairs at WSB-TV, adding depth and perspective to the discussions.
Sponsorships
DISTINGUISHED PARTNER – $15,000
This sponsorship level offers visibility at one annual signature event of your choice: Salute to Women of Achievement or Conversations Forum on Race and Gender. Sponsor benefits include:
This sponsorship level offers visibility at the Conversations Forum on Race and Gender. Sponsor benefits include:
Corporate logo on electronic invitations and event promotional materials
Corporate logo and listing on YWCA Greater Atlanta website
Recognition on YWCA Greater Atlanta social media platforms
Recognition as Sponsor in opening remarks
1 Table of 10 at Conversations Luncheon (including the provided moderator)
AFFILIATE PARTNER – $10,000
This sponsorship level offers visibility at the Conversations Forum on Race and Gender. Sponsor benefits include:
Corporate logo on electronic invitations and event promotional materials
Corporate logo and listing on YWCA Greater Atlanta website
Recognition on YWCA Greater Atlanta social media platforms
1 Table of 10 at Conversations Luncheon (including the provided moderator)
COMMUNITY PARTNER – $5,000
This sponsorship level offers visibility at one annual signature event of your choice: Salute to Women of Achievement or Conversations Forum on Race and Gender. Sponsor benefits include:
Corporate listing on electronic invitations and event promotional materials
Corporate listing on YWCA Greater Atlanta website
Recognition on YWCA Greater Atlanta social media platforms
1 Table of 10 for the Conversations Event (including the provided moderator)