The Detroit Writing Room Speakers Series
Our Speakers Series will be virtual in 2021! Each month, we host a lively panel talk focused on a theme. The intimate evening includes an opportunity to meet the panelists, ask questions and explore topics. Get tickets below!
Michigan Presses
Featuring panelists Gabriel Dotto of Michigan State University Press, Stephanie Williams of Wayne State University Press and Elizabeth Sherburn Demers of University of Michigan Press. Moderated by author Desiree Cooper.
DATE TBA!
The Business of Dreams
Featuring panelists Stephanie Steinberg of The Detroit Writing Room and Vanessa Shields of Gertrude’s Writing Room. Moderated by New York Writing Room coach and MarketWatch reporter Jillian Berman.
Interested in sponsoring a Speakers Series event? Email stephanie@detroitwritingroom.com.
Past Events
Virtual: Wednesday, July 21 from 7:30 - 8:45 p.m.
Detroit Broadcasters
Featuring panelists Roop Raj of Fox 2 News and Evrod Cassimy of Channel 4. Moderated by Channel 7 reporter and anchor Jennifer Ann Wilson.
Virtual: Tuesday, July 13 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Black Voices Series ft. Podcasters
Featuring panelists Shannon Cason of Homemade Stories, Erin Allen of Detroit Podcast Festival, Maxwell Griffin of Your Black Friend and Jeff Ponders II of Becoming Better. Moderated by Motor City Woman President Robin Kinnie.
Virtual: Thursday, April 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Detroit Poets
Featuring panelists Nandi Comer, Righteous Knowledge and SLo Smiff. Moderated by Detroit Writing Room house poet The Sound Yogi.
Virtual: Tuesday, April 20 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Sexual Assault Awareness Advocates
Featuring panelists Kimberly Hurst and Trinea Gonczar of Avalon Healing Center. Moderated by New York Writing Room coach Anna Medaris Miller. Guests will enjoy spoken word poetry from The Withdrawn.
Virtual: Wednesday, April 7 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Women Who Brew
Featuring panelists LeeAnn Darland & Tara Hankinson of TALEA Beer Co., Karen W. Hertz of Holidaily Brewing Company and Zahra Tabatabai of Back Home Beer. Moderated by New York Writing Room coach Anna Medaris Miller.
Virtual: Monday, March 8 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Detroit Bookshop Owners
Featuring panelists Maria Montoya of Book Suey, Susan Murphy of Pages Bookshop and Janet Webster Jones and Alyson Jones Turner of Source Booksellers. Moderated by Detroit Writing Room writing coach and author Anna Clark.
Virtual: Monday, March 1 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Romance Authors
Featuring panelists Sylvia Hubbard, Beverly Jenkins, Tana Jenkins, Lola Joy and Aliza Mann. Moderated by Detroit Writing Room coach and author Elizabeth Ann Atkins.
Virtual: Thursday, Jan. 21 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Future of Sports Journalism
Featuring panelists Gabriel Baumgaertner of The Guardian, author and podcast host Kavitha A. Davidson, Chantel Jennings of The Athletic and Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press. Moderated by New York Writing Room coach and The Athletic NFL editor Amy Parlapiano.
Virtual: Thursday, Nov. 12 from 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Breaking into Food Writing
Featuring panelists Serena Maria Daniels of Tostada Magazine, Brenna Houck of Eater Detroit, freelance journalist Brittany Hutson, freelance journalist Nargis Rahman, New York Writing Room coach Lizz Schumer of Good Housekeeping and moderator Dorothy Hernandez, Detroit Writing Room coach and Model D managing editor,
Virtual: Thursday, October 15 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Covering COVID-19
Featuring journalists Anna Clark, Roxanne Khamsi, Kristen Shamus of The Detroit Free Press and moderator Anna Medaris Miller, New York Writing Room coach and Insider senior health reporter.
Virtual: Thursday, September 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Seeking Justice for Cynthia Scott: Writing the Hidden History of Police Violence in Detroit
Featuring panelists Matt Lassiter of the University of Michigan Policing and Social Justice HistoryLab, U of M graduate student Nicole Navarro, Detroit Under Fire contributor Hannah Thoms and moderator Angela Dillard, author and U of M Afroamerican & African Studies professor.
Virtual: Thursday, September 10 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Detroit Chefs
Featuring panelists Omar Anani of Saffron de Twah, Erika Boyd of Detroit Vegan Soul, Rohani Foulkes of Nomadic Detroit, Maxcel Hardy of COOP Detroit and moderator Melody Baetens of The Detroit News.
Virtual: Thursday, August 27 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Rewriting the Beauty Standard
Featuring panelists Skinphorea Facial Bar founder Jessie Hayes-Stallings, The Lipstick Journey founder and author Anna Warner-Mayes, Paralee Boyd Salon founder Dana White and moderator Melissa Butler of The Lip Bar.
Virtual: Thursday, July 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Metro Detroit Influencers
Featuring panelists Zahra Assar-Nossoni (@thezahracoco), Perri Janelle (@perrijanelle), Yumna Jawad (@feelgoodfoodie), Emily Kay (@isntthatcharming), Ursula Mullen (@ursula.mullen) and moderator Cassie Kunze (@cassiekunze).
Thursday, June 18 from 5 - 6 p.m.
Automotive Journalists
This event presented by the Automotive Press Association features panelists Neal Boudette of The New York Times, Michelle Krebs of Cox Automotive, Todd Lassa of automobilemag.com, Mark Phelan of The Detroit Free Press, Alexa St. John of Automotive News and moderator Bill Vlasic of The Detroit Writing Room.
Friday, June 5 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Women in Wine
Featuring panelists Ping Ho of The Royce, sommelier Shelley Bynum of House of Pure Vin, Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon of Plum Market, Shady Lane Cellars winemaker Kasey Wierzba and moderator Jaclyn Misch of Tasting Grapes.
Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 7 - 9 p.m.
Michigan Children’s Book Authors & Illustrators
Featuring panelists Maria Dismondy, Jean Alicia Elster, Amy Nielander, Lisa Rose, David Small, Sarah Stewart and moderator Devin Scillian of Channel 4.
Thursday, Jan. 16 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Metro Detroit Podcasters
Featuring panelists Shannon Cason of Homemade Stories, Robin Kinnie of Motor City Woman, Zak Rosen of Graham Media Group, Joe Saul-Sehy of Stacking Benjamins, Becky Scarcello of The D Brief and moderator Jon Gay of Jag in Detroit.