The annual WNBA-NYC Networking Party has traditionally been a great way to connect with old friends, meet new acquaintances and most notably, have fun. This year, the Covid-19 pandemic propelled the new Co-VPs and Directors of Programming (Carissa Chesanek and Melissa Wyse)
to find interesting and creative ways to connect members via zoom.
This year, authors, agents, writers, and book enthusiasts were vitually whisked away (drink in hand) into breakout rooms to enjoy the company of old friends and new members. In each breakout room attendees were greeted by a WNBA-NYC board member who served as a facilitator. The facilitator suggested questions which allowed for an easy flow of conversation within each breakout room for about 10-12 minutes. Shortly after, the process was repeated and attendees had the opportunity to break away three times during the evening—each time with a new ice breaker question, a different facilitator, and new faces.
When attendees were not in breakout sessions, they gathered in the main zoom room for trivia. Questions were posed, answers were ranked by the Directors of Programming, and finally the top three answers were shared with the entire group at the end of the event. In the final segment of the event, attendees reveled in the answers while voting on 1st and 2nd place winners. The event ended on a spirited note with the promise of future event gatherings via zoom.
The well-organized unprecedented zoom event served to delight members, announce new happenings (such as the release of one member’s novel!), and forge new connections. Mara Anastas, WNBA-NYC Membership Chair made a generous offer to connect members to others in their field stating: “somebody here knows somebody.” The evening was an opportunity to experience the first- ever WNBA-NY Zoom Networking Party, but it is definitely not the last.
Upcoming Events
The next WNBA-NYC virtual event is taking place this Thursday, November 19th! Growing Forward: How to Navigate the Next Steps in Your Career during COVID is a timely seminar featuring the following experts.
Bianca Bancroft — Senior Recruiter, DEI Lead for HarperCollins Publishers.
Michele Cobb — a recognized expert in the audio publishing industry, Publisher of both AudioFile Magazine and MMB Media LLC.
Amy DiGiovine is an advisor at Harvard’s Office of Career Services, focusing on Arts, Entertainment, Media, Advertising, Journalism, Publishing, Fashion, Sports, & Pre-Law.
Amy Gallo is an expert in conflict, communication, and work place dynamics. She is the author of the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, a how-to guidebook about handling conflict professionally and productively.
Register for the event here!
Dr. Patricia G. Lespinasse is a writer and literary scholar. She is currently an Associate Professor of African American and African Diaspora Literature and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department of Africana Studies at SUNY, Binghamton University. She teaches courses in Blues Literature, Caribbean Literature, Africana Studies, and Race, Gender & American Film.
