Tomorrow Talks | Giving Voice to the Unspoken: Courageous Conversations

As we prepare for the 14th Annual Tom Tom Festival (April 22–26, 2026), whose theme is COURAGE, the Tomorrow Talk series invites us to explore what courage looks like—in our personal lives, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our society.

Silence keeps systems intact—but courage changes them, and in this Tomorrow Talk, Kate Byrne of Women Advancing convenes Gail Burrell Gerry, author of Here to Stay, Natasha White of Broken Crayons Can Still Color, and Jenny Lynn Walding, founder of milkmade Innovations, Inc., for a candid, intergenerational conversation about the courage to name what has been hidden, challenge what has been normalized, and give voice to experiences that fall outside polite narratives—drawing on leadership journeys connected to the coeducation of the University of Virginia, the protection of an innocent person on death row, and the exposure of taboo health issues facing mothers and women—while launching the Women Advancing 2026 All Women Summit: Speak. Lead. Thrive., a three-part journey that continues at Tom Tom and culminates in the October Women Advancing Summit: Whole Women Across Generations, because the future doesn’t just need better strategies—it needs braver voices.

/// TICKETS ///

Tickets are offered at GA ($30) and Scholarship ($15).

*Attendees will be notifiied if location is changed*

/// ABOUT TOMORROW TALKS ///

The Tomorrow Talks are a year-long series that picks up critical themes from our April Festival and continues the conversations to create impact in Charlottesville. Each session is facilitated with an emphasis on participation, connection, and new collaborations. Tomorrow Talks begin with a connection exercise or meditation, and proceed into a presentation and breakout activities. They aim to impart knowledge that is practical and relevant to people's lived experience; combining academic or theoretical insights, alongside pragmatic tools, and experiential and somatic learnings.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Tom Tom Foundation