Sunday, February 9, 2025
12-2pm
Being a human in today’s world often feels like a juggling act—work, family, self-care, and everything in between. And the pressure to “balance it all” can lead to burnout, guilt, and exhaustion. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to do it all, and you shouldn’t have to do it alone.
Join us for brunch, community, and a candid roundtable discussion with some of Athens’ most dynamic women. This year, we’re focusing on the importance of building a support system—people and structures you can lean on without adding to your workload or piling on guilt.
Presented by Junior League of Athens, Pure Balance Pilates, Athens Parent Wellbeing & Align by Ali Hall
Grace Bagwell Adams is a dynamic academic and community leaderdevoted to advancing community wellbeing through innovative research and local engagement. Originally from Boiling Springs, South Carolina, Grace earned her undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from Converse College before going on to obtain both her Master’s in Public Administration and PhD in Public Policy from the University of Georgia.
Her research expertise includes impact evaluation, behavioral health, maternal health, and policy analysis. As a faculty member at UGA, she focuses on health policy and social determinants of well-being. Grace is also the founder and principal investigator of the Athens Wellbeing Project, a study of Athens, GA, where she collects and utilizes data that informs policies aimed at enhancing community life using a social justice lens.
Grace is a co-owner of The Studio Athens, where she serves as the Director of Adult Performance Companies, the Youth Tap Program, and leads adult performance companies, including Normaltown Tap and Modern Pin Ups. This role allows her to blend her life-long passion for the arts with her commitment to fostering creativity and connection within community.
Grace is also the wife of Clayton and mother to her two children, Bonnie (7) and Teddy (3). Her family and Christian faith is the fulcrum of her life that fuels her passion for all that she does in living, working, and playing in Athens.
With warmth, humor, and a touch of realism, Grace embraces the challenges and rewards of a multifaceted life, illustrating that perhaps "balance is BS," but passion and purpose are not. She hopes her story inspires women to find their unique equilibrium in nurturing both their personal and professional identities as parts of a whole.
Mokah-Jasmine Johnson is a public figure, motivational speaker, music artist, and successful entrepreneur with a deep commitment to advocating for racial and social justice. As an Executive Director, co-founder, and experienced educator, Mokah brings over 20 years of leadership to her work, alongside a Master’s Degree in Education Media Design and Technology.
Mokah leverages her extensive background in business and community organizing to guide and inspire emerging entrepreneurs, and women, to achieve their full potential.Her approach combines practical business strategies with a passion for uplifting marginalized voices, making her an influential figure in both the business and activist communities.
Together with her husband, Knowa D. Johnson, Mokah co-founded United Group of Artists LLC, where they have produced impactful events such as the Athens Hip-Hop Awards and the Athens MLK Day Parade & Music Fest. Her activism, sparked by her response to discrimination in Athens, Georgia, has led to significant victories.
Mokah is a published author, with titles like Spirit of an Activist: Stop Sitting on the Sidelines and Let’s Talk about the School-to-Prison Pipeline, which serve to educate and empower the next generation.
In 2020, Mokah expanded her advocacy into the political arena, earning endorsements from prominent figures like President Obama and Stacey Abrams during her campaign for Georgia House District 117. Through “Mokah Speaks to Inspire,” she channels her energy and life experiences to transform, educate, and empower others, with the ultimate goal of inspiring action and creating lasting changein her community—while living life to the fullest.
Kat Macías (they/them) is an organizer, facilitator, community builder and spiritual leader who has been involved in movements for liberation since 2011. Kat believes that the core of liberation work is vulnerability, trust, radical hope,and ultimately spiritual transformation. Kat is part of the Cuban and Puerto Rican diasporas and comes from a long lineage of spiritual seekers and leaders who have moved through Taino, Afro-Caribbean, Catholic, Pentecostal, and Mormon religion, practice, and traditions. Following in this legacy, Kat converted to Judaism and has played an important part in shaping Jewish communities including building communities like Lefty Shabbaton, the New Synagogue Project, JVP Havurah Network, the Radical Jewish Calendar, and Lefty Jews of Athens GA.
Kat is trained as a Community Organizer, Movement Chaplain,and Spiritual Directorand holds a M.Ed. in Adult Education with a focus in Social Justice Education. They work as the Managing Director of Tzedek Lab, a national multiracial network of Jews and allies taking collective action against racism, antisemitism, and white supremacy. Kat’s heart sings when they dance while cooking in kitchens, share a laugh and play with other adults, and when they are swept away in song. Kat welcomes collaboration as they are dreaming up FatATH, an Athens Fat Liberation community.
You know how professional women struggle with exhaustion, overworking, and anxiety?
Rebecca helps them to have more energy, feel calm, and enjoy life again even when it feels impossible. Rebecca Shisler Marshall is an integrative life and wellness coach, shamanic practitioner, with a PhD in cognitive psychology. Her work centers on women, using an integrative approach to anxiety and stress, nervous system regulation, holistic rest, and spiritual exploration.
As a person formerly addicted to stress who personally experienced burnout and its subsequent recovery, she understands firsthand the profound impact that well-being can have, not only on individuals but also on entire communities.
In addition to her academic training, she has also completed extensive training as a life and wellness coach, mindfulness and yoga instructor, reiki master, shamanic practitioner, and integrative change worker to further enrich her integrative approach to wellness.
Drawing upon a rich blend of scientific knowledge and the innate wisdom of the body, mind, emotions, and spirit, she published her first book, Whole Body Upgrade.
