Join local author Tina Jones Williams and guests for this virtual conversation and Q & A on Zoom, co-hosted by Librarians Paul Sevilla and Jackie Martinez. Black Women Who Create online panel discussion. Moderated by Williams, the panel features an eclectic group of women that are passionate about their crafts, born in different decades, and of varying backgrounds. The group includes writers, visual artists, educators, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs. Each panel member will share her story, why she chose her current path, challenges, successes, and hopes for the future. The program will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 28. 2023, at 7 p.m. (PST). Access the program using the following Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87564722129.

About the panelists:

Tina Jones Williams (moderator) – Award-winning author Tina Jones Williams has written nine books that pay homage to the rich traditions in the African American community. Williams grew up in South Berkeley during the late 1960s. She was a member of the first desegregated class at Garfield Junior High prior to attending Berkeley High School. Williams is a past president of the San Jose chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and is a proud and active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Williams is also member of the National League of American Pen Women.

Dorothy Atkins – Retired banker, motivational speaker, artist, storyteller, and activist, Atkins championed diversity and Black Excellence when most companies were not receptive to discussions of these topics. She has made this her lifelong commitment through her art. A self-taught artist, Atkins has delighted art lovers with her simple style and use of color. She finds her voice in painting, using a variety of media to express herself, such as acrylic, oil, and more recently ink.   

Queen Ann Cannon – Professional Life Coach, specializing in Project Management and Conflict Resolution, Cannon is also the executive producer and host of “Peninsula View”; a community access television show that has won the BACE Award (Bay Area Cable Excellence Award) for producing an outstanding community television show.

Terry Cato – Executive producer and host of “Real Talk w/Terry”, a Bay Area lifestyle and relationship TV show and podcast, Cato is the author of “No Longer a Bridesmaid!”, a memoir that chronicles her seven years of preparation for finally becoming a Lady-in-Waiting (engaged) and then a bride. A dynamic woman of faith, Cato is an avid reader, as well as a gym and cooking enthusiast. 

Dr. Stephanie Johnson – A lighting designer working locally, nationally, and internationally for over forty years, Johnson is a second-generation theater worker, following in the footsteps of her mother Virginia E. Greene, who worked with the American Negro Theatre. Locally, Johnson has worked with Cultural Odyssey, Afro Solo, Oakland Theatre Project, Marin Theatre Company, TheatreFIRST, The Lower Bottom Playaz, and many other groups. Dr. Johnson is a professor at California State University, Monterey Bay, and a visual artist who has had two one-person shows in San Francisco. 

Shana Peete, JD –Prior to joining the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits (CEN) as Chief Executive Officer in 2019, Shana served as the founding executive director of a Tri-Valley nonprofit dedicated to offering individuals and families a hand up from poverty. She has a Bachelor of Science in international business and a Doctor of Jurisprudence. She practiced law for eight years prior to moving to the Bay Area. Her professional experience includes managing Excel Child Development Center, serving as a program coordinator for Read Aloud America, and managing a 30-person customer fulfillment team for Amazon.

Kendra Williams – Program Manager for Google YouTube and founder of Black and Brown In The Middle (B&BITM), a production company dedicated to creating opportunities to find purpose and healing for Black and Brown people through storytelling, Williams’ approach to storytelling goes beyond stereotypes, revealing the layers and nuance that make Black and Brown experiences unique. 

All Black History Month events are free and open to the public. Thanks to the support of the Friends of the Livermore Public Library. For more information, please call (925) 373-5505.