When most people think about festivals, they think about the headliners. They think about the crowds.They think about the music.
And while all of that was certainly present at this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival, one of the most introspective, thoughtful experiences of the weekend wasn’t found on the main stage.
It was found in a conversation. A conversation about joy, wellness, community and self care.
A conversation about the things that sustain us when the music stops and real life begins.
In a cultural moment where burnout has become a badge of honor and “busy” has somehow become our default state, EBONY and Purina created something refreshingly different.
They created space. Space to reflect. Space to reconnect.
Space to ask a question that many of us haven’t asked ourselves in far too long:
What truly fills your soul?
Throughout the weekend, thousands of festivalgoers moved through an experience that felt less like a brand activation and more like a cultural invitation.
The beautifully designed EBONY pop-up space quickly became a destination within the festival itself.
Not because of flashy gimmicks or celebrity appearances. But because people were craving exactly what it offered: connection.
Visitors were invited to engage with a series of thought-provoking prompts:
- What is your soul story?
- Jazz fuels my…
- The artist who helped me listen differently is…
Simple questions. Profound answers.
I watched complete strangers exchange stories about family, resilience, joy, healing, first loves, creativity, and purpose.
Professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, and retirees all find common ground through music and memory.
For a moment, everyone slowed down.
And in today’s world, that may be one of the greatest gifts we can offer each other.
Just a few steps away, Purina was creating a similarly powerful experience, one rooted in another source of connection that often goes overlooked.
Our pets.
Purina created one of those spaces that naturally drew people in and encouraged them to stay awhile. Whether attendees were browsing adoptable pets through Petfinder, sharing stories over an Italian soda, admiring artwork, or simply connecting with fellow animal lovers, there was an undeniable sense of warmth throughout the space.
It wasn’t just a stop along the festival route. It was an experience that invited people to slow down, smile, and celebrate the companionship that enriches so many of our lives.
Pets don’t just live alongside us. They live through life with us. They witness our best days. They comfort us during our hardest moments. They celebrate our victories. They sit beside us through our losses.
And increasingly, they’re becoming part of larger conversations around wellness, emotional health, and community.
That truth became the centerpiece of one of the weekend’s discussions that I had a pleasure to lead at the Jazz 101 stage: Soul Care: Music & Pets Fuel the Soul.
Presented by EBONY and Purina, the panel brought together experts, advocates, and thought leaders to explore the profound relationship between people, pets, and emotional well-being.
Cat Small, Senior Specialist of Program Management and Marketing at Purina, brought insight into how brands can create meaningful pathways to connection while helping people better understand the value pets bring to our everyday lives.
Dr. Callie Harris, Veterinarian, offered a perspective grounded in culture, science and compassion, sharing how pets contribute to emotional wellness, reduce stress, and support healthier lifestyles.
Darris Cooper, Director of Training and Socialization at Zoom Room Dog Training, spoke powerfully about trust, companionship, and the transformative bond that develops between pets and the people who love them.
What began as a conversation about pets quickly evolved into something much deeper.
We talked about companionship, mental health, community, representation and yes, dare I say it, even dating!
We explored how relationships with pets are evolving across generations and communities. Visibility creates familiarity, familiarity builds trust, and trust opens doors for greater participation and understanding.
We also addressed some of the assumptions and stereotypes that can exist around pet ownership within our communities. Too often, conversations about pets focus solely on the financial responsibility, the time commitment, or the perceived barriers that come with ownership. While those realities are important and deserve honest discussion, the conversation also highlighted the extraordinary value pets bring in return.
But perhaps most importantly, we talked about joy. Not performative joy. Not social media joy.
Real joy.
The kind of joy that greets you at the door after a difficult day and asks for nothing in return.
Throughout the conversation, audience members nodded, laughed, shared stories, and saw themselves reflected in the experiences being discussed.
Because whether someone owned a pet or not, everyone understood the larger message.
We all need something that helps us stay grounded, reminds us to breathe, and reconnects us to ourselves.
And that’s what made this experience so impactful.
At a festival centered around music, a universal language capable of moving hearts and connecting generations, EBONY and Purina expanded the conversation beyond entertainment and into wellness, purpose, and humanity.
They reminded us that soul care is not a luxury.
It’s a necessity.
And sometimes the things that care for our souls are surprisingly simple.
A song.
A conversation.
A wagging tail.
EBONY and Purina created an experience that invited people to reconnect with culture, with community, with one another, and ultimately with themselves. The four legged bestie was an added bonus.
And honestly?
We need more of that.