The Courageous Awards: A Night of Strength, Survival & Sisterhood in Atlanta
Written by: CamilReign
Atlanta City Hall glowed in hues of purple last night as guests, survivors, and advocates came together for The Courageous Awards, an evening dedicated to honoring domestic violence survivors during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Hosted by media personality and entrepreneur Karlie Redd-Lewis, and featuring special guest Yandy Smith-Harris, the event was presented by TLJ Agency in partnership with Councilmember Andrea Boone. The night celebrated resilience, courage, and the power of community.
Guests arrived dressed in varying shades of purple — the color of domestic violence awareness — filling the grand hall with a visual symbol of unity and hope. The evening began with a red-carpet arrival, where media outlets and special invited guests shared words of encouragement and solidarity with survivors.
One of the evening’s honorees, Jelisa Raquel, founder of Media Girls Network, reflected on what it meant to share her truth:
“Even though I feel like I’m winning an award that no woman wants to win… being brave enough to share our stories helps someone else who may be hiding something they’re going through in private. That’s the real reason why I wanted to come here and share my story,” said Jelisa.
Another honoree, Robin Copeland, expressed that her healing journey has become a beacon of hope for others:
“Everything I went through was for the next woman coming behind me. Me having a testimony and being able to survive domestic violence just shows the next woman that you can break through,” said Copeland.
When asked what message she wanted to send to those still struggling, Robin added,
“You are enough. Don’t be afraid to speak out — your voice is your power. And as a community, we can support survivors by doing more events like this — reaching out, coming together, and reminding people it’s okay to use your voice.”
From heartfelt speeches to emotional survivor testimonies, The Courageous Awards was more than an event — it was a reminder of the power that comes from shared strength and compassion. Each honoree’s story echoed a unified message: you can rise, heal, and inspire others to do the same.
As guests departed into the night, the purpose for the purple stood as a symbol of resilience — and a call to continue the fight against domestic violence beyond the month of October.