About this Event
Call And Response Book Signing with L. Michelle Smith
Friday, February 27th | 6–8 PM
In conversation with Cristina Steed
? Da Book Joint | Pen & Paper
Join us for an evening of conversation, culture, and leadership with award-winning author and executive coach L. Michelle Smith as she celebrates the release of her new book, Call & Response. Smith will be joined in conversation by marketing and communications leader Cristina Steed for a dynamic discussion on leadership, community, and the cultural roots that shape how Black leaders show up in the world.
About the Book – Call & Response
In collaboration with JVL Media, Call & Response is a powerful exploration of why so many high-performing Black business leaders credit their transformational leadership skills to their upbringing in the Black Church. Blending cultural study, applied neuroscience, and principles of positive psychology, Smith examines how qualities such as resilience, purpose, community-building, and distinctive communication styles were cultivated in this historic institution.
The book also explores the future of this leadership pipeline—addressing declining church attendance, the rise of virtual worship since the pandemic, and whether these traditions are being passed on to the next generation. Call & Response reveals the Black Church as a timeless source of empowerment, leadership development, and cultural preservation—and the “secret sauce” behind many of today’s most effective Black leaders.
About the Author – L. Michelle Smith
L. Michelle Smith is an award-winning author, Fortune 100 C-suite advisor, certified global executive and personal coach, and founder & CEO of no silos communications llc, a media, coaching, and consulting company specializing in developing high-performing leaders, with a focus on women and women of color. She is a contributor to HuffPost Voices and the executive producer and host of The Culture Soup Podcast® and Her Next Power Move. Her work has appeared in Fast Company, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Blavity, and The Griot, and she has spoken at SXSW, Essence Festival, Black Enterprise Women of Power, and for companies including Amazon, AT&T, Capital One, Audible, and the Dallas Mavericks. Call & Response is her fourth book.
About the Moderator – Cristina Steed
Cristina Steed is an award-winning marketing communications expert and founder of Agents & Strategies (A&S), a Black-owned, women-led communications and cultural consultancy. Her expertise spans brand strategy, crisis and issues management, DEI communications, and internal and external marketing. She has worked with brands including McDonald’s, AT&T, Nike Chicago, the City of Chicago, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Nielsen, and Dow Chemical Company, among many others.
Ticket Information
?️ Tickets that include a signed copy of Call & Response are available.
?️ A limited number of free general admission tickets are also available.
This is a conversation you don’t want to miss—about leadership, legacy, and the cultural foundations that continue to shape Black excellence across industries.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Da Book Joint, 6900 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 31.43
