#robyn hatcher

Our highly-acclaimed public speaking workshop, “Speak Up and Speak Out: The Art of Public Speaking,” received extraordinary ratings raving about the practicality of the workshop, as well as how interactive it was - both with Robyn and other attendees. Similar to past years, many wished that they had more time! Participants all left feeling that the skills they learned with enable them to communicate and speak better in public. Robyn Hatcher, Owner of SpeakEtc., led a  dynamic and interactive session with  group exercises which encouraged everyone to practice their newly-learned skills and provide constructive feedback. Attendees asked many questions and shared their public speaking goals. Among the questions which were discussed included how to use your voice to overcome the biases that assertive  women face in the workplace - such as being called "aggressive" for speaking up; what is the best “power color," other than red; what is the appropriate dress on stage where you are the only woman with a group of men, the latter of which Robyn explained depends on what makes YOU feel confident and strong; and how to project your voice when you have a naturally high pitch.

As the evening came to an end, everyone left excited to utilize all that they had learned, whether it be in their next panel discussion, public speech, or every day conversation.

Conquer your fear of public speaking and become a more dynamic and confident communicator. Whether you have an upcoming speaking engagement or just want to give a presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your colleagues, this workshop is designed for you.

Our inspirational instructor, Robyn Hatcher, Founder and CEO of SpeakEtc, will lead an intensive session where you will practice and develop techniques to improve your public speaking skills, learn to communicate effectively with small as well as large groups and receive constructive feedback.

Join the hundreds of professionals who have become better and more confident speakers thanks to AWIB’s highly acclaimed "The Art of Public Speaking" workshop.

AWIB Members: Register here. General Admission: $50.00

Light refreshments served; limited seating

Despite the inclement weather, AWIB members and supporters attended our Speak Up and Speak Out workshop to improve their public speaking abilities.

STINKIN’ SHAME

Robyn Hatcher

“Mm, mm, mm, that’s a stinkin’ shame!” was a common chorus in the songs of my childhood. That tone seemed to be reserved for whenever an African-American individual was caught doing something stupid, violent or otherwise shameful.  “Mm, mm, mm that’s a stinkin’ shame” Meaning: ‘That fool just set back the whole black race.’

Watching the evening news was a breeding ground for the Stinkin’ Shame Chorus. I grew up in the sixties and seventies; a time when news reporting was taken more seriously. News anchors were authorities; they were the arbiters of what was good and right and what was bad and wrong. And almost every evening at 6pm a similar scenario took place in my family. An intelligent looking Caucasian reporter (because they were all intelligent looking back then - and Caucasian) started a story about an armed robbery, a riot, a murder, arson or some other horrific crime. We often watched TV with my mother’s family – aunts, uncles, grandmother. They were waiting- anticipating the moment when the photo splashed across the screen.  If the perpetrator was black, there was guaranteed to be at least one utterance of the Stinkin Shame Refrain. Sometimes the whole choir sang it. If the perpetrator of the crime turned out NOT to be black, there was an audible sigh of relief, often punctuated with someone saying what everyone else was thinking: “Thank God he wasn’t black.”

This, I believe, was the origin of both my shame about my racial identity and my aversion to watching or reading the news.  It wasn’t until the 2008 election of the first black president that I realized how much shame I had been carrying...."