Sixty Women Writers and Professional Communicators Participate in First Event
A Facebook conversation between friends - Dr. Linnie S. Carter, president and CEO of Linnie Carter & Associates LLC, and Virginia Commonwealth University Professor Bonnie Newman Davis - spawned the idea for the first "Write the Power!" networking luncheon held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond in mid-November.
The idea for the event blossomed from Facebook, where Carter and Davis chatted about the large pool of talented women writers and communicators and the need to connect them with each other for networking purposes. After the online discussion, the two women met over lunch in June, developed the concept further and began planning the event.
Just five months later, more than 60 women writers and professional communicators from throughout the commonwealth of Virginia gathered to gain knowledge from local African-American women authors and professional communicators. The three-hour afternoon event featured entrepreneur, author and columnist Stacy Hawkins Adams; Alicia Aroche, associate director, University Career Center, Virginia Commonwealth University; Carter; Davis; Robin Farmer, a journalist; Carmen Foster, director, Community Affairs, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Lillian Lincoln Lambert, entrepreneur and author; and entrepreneur, writer and journalist Maya Smart. The topics included managing social media, securing speaking opportunities as authors, networking to achieve professional goals and starting your own business.
"The main goal of the event was to connect female authors and professional communicators," said Dr. Carter. "I believe it is important for women to work together and build diverse and effective networks to achieve their professional and personal goals and help other women to achieve theirs. I am proud to have been one of the hosts for this event and to help other women who make their living through writing and communicating."
According to the Nielsen 2010 Media Industry Fact Sheet, "Facebook reaches 56 percent of the active U.S. Internet universe with an average usage of six hours per month." "The fact that the concept for the networking luncheon was birthed on Facebook demonstrates that social media is a key part of business networking," added Dr. Carter. "We plan to host another networking event next year to continue to cultivate and develop women writers and professional communicators and to provide an opportunity to learn from one another."