Alencia Johnson Discusses Flip The Tables with Joy-Ann Reid

MahoganyBooks and the DC Public Library in partnership with the DC Public Library Foundation are excited to host social impact leader, political commentator, and debut author Alencia Johnson for an inspiring conversation celebrating the release of her groundbreaking book,

In conversation with MSNBC's Joy-Ann Reid, the two will explore the power of disruption, finding your courage, and navigating ourselves in the midst of so much happening in the world.

Don’t miss this chance to engage with Alencia and be part of a movement that’s flipping the status quo.

A big thank you to our partners and co-hosts at the DC Public Library and the DC Public Library Foundation for your generous support of this event.

About the book: Flip The Tables

From cultural critic and social impact leader Alencia Johnson comesFlip the Tables—a guide for everyday disruptors ready to find their courage, shake up the status quo, and create a better world from exactly where they are.

We all crave lives of meaning and purpose but figuring out how to start can feel overwhelming. The truth? Your unique gifts and perspectives are needed—right now. It just takes a little courage to tap into them.

In Flip the Tables, Alencia guides readers through three key stages of disruption:

• Disruption of Self– Break down barriers and confront the fears that hold you back from stepping into your boldest, most authentic self.
• Disruption of Vision– Radically reimagine what’s possible for your life and the world around you.
• Disruption of Community– Use your courage and fresh vision to make an impact—becoming the light needed in a dark world.

Flip the Tables is the playbook for those who want to create change—right where they are. Full of personal stories, real-world examples, and actionable tools, this guide helps readers ignite transformation by starting with their own lives.
Alencia draws from her experiences—overcoming insecurities, fighting for women’s rights, and advising top leaders and four presidential campaigns. Through behind-the-scenes insights and inspiring movements, she shows readers how to live with purpose, joy, and the belief that greatness lies within.
Because the world doesn’t just need disruptors—it needs you.
About the author: Alencia Johnson is an award-winning social impact advisor and cultural commentator. She founded 1063 West Broad—a media and social impact consultancy leading at the intersection of culture, impact, and purpose. She has advised the presidential campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren and President Barack Obama, in addition to her work with leading advocacy groups, entertainers, brands and corporations. She is regularly seen on MSNBC, CNN, and ABC, and has been featured in NPR, Washington Post, ESSENCE, Glamour and more. Alencia is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

About the moderator: Joy-Ann Reid is the host of “The ReidOut with Joy Reid,” which airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on MSNBC. She is also a political analyst for MSNBC.

Reid is the author of several New York Times best sellers including “The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story” (Harper Collins, 2019); “Fracture: Barack Obama, the Clintons and the Racial Divide” (William Morrow/Harper Collins, 2015); and “We Are the Change We Seek: The Speeches of Barack Obama” (Bloomsbury, 2016), which she co-edited with Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne. Reid most recently published “Medgar & Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story that Awakened America,” which debuted in February 2024 at #1 on The New York Times best-seller list.

Previously, Joy hosted the MSNBC show “AM Joy,” offering distinctive analysis and insight on the news every weekend morning. She also previously hosted the weekday program “The Reid Report.” From 2011 to 2014, Reid served as the Managing Editor of theGrio.com, a daily online news and opinion platform devoted to delivering stories and perspectives that reflect and affect Black audiences, while also serving as an MSNBC contributor. She has worked in local and national TV news, talk radio and as a press secretary during two presidential campaigns, including Barack Obama's Florida campaign in 2008. Her columns have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Miami Herald, New York Magazine and The Daily Beast. Reid and her husband Jason own a documentary film production company. They reside in Maryland and have three children.

• 2:30 PM - Doors Open | 3 PM Conversation Begins
• Event guidelines are subject to change.
• Non-refundable but tickets can be transferred.
• Only books purchased at MahoganyBooks will be signed.
• For reasonable accommodations, please contact the Center for Accessibility at 202-727-2142 or [email protected]. For ASL or tactile interpretation, please allow at least seven (7) days notice.
• Books will be pre-signed.
• Non-refundable event however tickets can be transferred.
• Parking is limited. Ridesharing highly encouraged.
• Masks optional.
• Photographs may be taken during the event WITHOUT FLASH.
• Please note, books not picked up at the event can be retrieved at our National Harbor location for two weeks after event day. Afterwhich, they will be donated to a local organization.
• Please tag us and use #mahoganybooks, #blackbooksmatter #flipthetables on social media

-- Let's have an amazing afternoon,
The MahoganyBooks Team

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street Northwest, Washington, United States