‘Talk To Me Chatham:’ Women Tell Their Stories

CHATHAM – What is your story? 

"Talk to me Chatham," a networking opportunity for women to be held on Aug. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Atwood House, will showcase the stories of 14 local women and provide an opportunity to build connections with others.

 Kathleen Butler Smith, founder of Morphmom, a networking community for women, believes that we learn so much from hearing each other's life stories. When it comes to figuring out what path to take on our journey through life, knowing what has worked for others and hearing their stories can unlock a host of possibilities. 

 Smith will host the event, which features 14 successful local women including photographer Kim Roderiques, bestselling author Anne LeClaire, Shana Grogan, founder of The Grateful Mug, Nancy and Nicole Sheridan of Emerald Hollow Therapeutic Riding Center and Jo-Ellen Erickson, co-founder of Witches on the Water.

 Other speakers include Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, Emmy Award-winning writer and Broadway producer Dani Davis, bestselling author Adrienne Brodeur, co-founder and executive director of The Family Table Collaborative Jeni Wheeler, artist and The Nines Art Gallery co-owner Lauren DiFerdinando, personal trainer and nutrition coach Sabrina Tavalone, and Tracy Dart and Christi Pringle, co-founders of the Found Collection.

 Smith understands the power of stories from personal experience. Employed as an assistant prosecutor in Hudson County, N.J., she stopped working following the birth of her second child. 

"I always planned to go back, but then life happens, I had three kids and too much time had passed," she recalled. Away for 12 years, she had lost confidence in her abilities and grew frustrated and discouraged.

 As she read stories of other women, she realized she was not alone. There were "many women who found themselves in a similar position struggling to discover their next step, be it work related, volunteer based or simply rediscovering their passion," she wrote. Sometimes the next step was illness or divorce.

 "All these women have figured it out, and I could provide 'the library of stories,'" she realized. Coining the term "morphmoms" for women who have been able to transform themselves in this way, in 2012 Smith launched Morphmom.com as a platform to promote and support women and their remarkable stories. As she noted on her website, "Morphmom is dedicated to educating, inspiring, empowering and connecting women to help them discover their next step. It is a resource for women trying to decide what to do tomorrow, next week or next year." 

 Although Smith's original idea centered on moms going back to work, over the years the idea itself has morphed to sharing all women's stories on how they took the next steps in their lives. Smith has been a contributor to Huffington Post, hosted a podcast, and post-COVID she moved to Instagram Live online. 

 The program in Chatham is a format she has used successfully in other areas, most recently in the Hamptons in Long Island. Smith will moderate four panels to share stories, "how they did it, what worked and what didn't," to inspire others. Light refreshments and cocktails are included.

 "This is not the usual event where you go sit in a chair and then leave," she stressed. "We are not just listening, we are 100 percent connecting."

 Smith is so grateful for the women who have agreed to speak. "These are such generous women, willing to be vulnerable and share their journey, what worked and what didn't."

 Tickets are $65 at www.morphmom.com/capecod-event. Attendance is limited to a total of 50 to ensure an intimate setting where discussion and exchange of ideas is paramount. 

"We focus on local women and promote what they are doing," Smith said. Following the session, all participants are subscribed at no additional charge for the online community membership to continue to network locally and across the country.