Tag: Essence Fest

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FLY Events Last Night in NYC

Fly Events: McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Experience at 25th Essence Fest

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McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden movement was lit at the 25th Essence Festival! The (em)power-packed weekend was full of activities to uplift and inspire up-and-coming entrepreneurs everywhere. With appearances by actress/businesswoman La La Anthony, entertainer Luke James, reality television starsCynthia Bailey, Tamar Braxton and Trina Braxton, vocal powerhouses Jazmine Sullivan and Kierra Sheard, the always-suave actor/host Terrence J and more, some of the culture’s brightest stars came out to support the Black & Positively Golden movement, which celebrates Black excellence through empowerment, entrepreneurship and education.

BLACK & POSITIVELY GOLDEN WELCOME BREAKFAST: McDonald’s kicked off the explosive weekend with an exclusive Black & Positively Golden Welcome Breakfast. The intimate event was hosted by McDonald’s Head of Cultural Engagement and Experiences Lizette Williams — the spearhead behind the brand’s largest African American-focused campaign in 16 years — and New Orleans franchisee Henry Coaxum.

WE SHINE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PANEL: Actress and self-made businesswoman La La Anthony moderated McDonald’s We Shine Entrepreneurship Panel before a crowd of thousands. She interviewed rising moguls, Dana Chanel (Sprinkle of Jesus, Founder), Nicole Walters (The Monetized Life, Founder & CEO)and Jewel Burks-Solomon (Part Pic, Founder), alongside McDonald’s franchisees Jade Colin and Tanya Hill-Holliday. At 29, Colin is McDonald’s youngest owner/operator, while Hill-Holliday is the brand’s first female owner/operator in Philadelphia.

EMPOWERING MUSIC PERFORMANCES: R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan brought down the house Saturday with some of her classics. Gospel music vocalist/actress Kierra Sheard left it all on the stage Sunday afternoon. Thousands of fans gathered at the Black & Positively Golden Booth for both performances to rock out to some of their favorite tunes.

BLACK & POSITIVELY GOLDEN LATE NIGHT PARTY: After a long day of empowerment, McDonald’s hosted its Black & Positively Golden Late Night Party — the official Essence After Party. Celebs, such as actor/singer Luke James; reality television stars Cynthia Bailey, Tamar Braxton and Trina Braxton; actorTyler Lepley; and social media star Karlton “@notkarltonbanks” Humes, sparkled at Club XLIV as attendees and Hiplet-style dancers showed off their best moves to the sounds of DJ Rashida and DJ B-Hen.

BLACK & POSITIVELY GOLDEN SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATIONS: To close out the weekend, McDonald’s empowered the next generation of leaders by supporting college education. In partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the organization’s national ambassador and HBCU alum Terrence J, McDonald’s presented two, $10,000 Black & Positively Golden Scholarships to well-deserving incoming HBCU freshmen.

Photos Courtesy of McDonald’s 

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FLY Events Last Night in NYC

Brandy Performs at Coca-Cola Stage during Essence Festival 2019 [Photos]

Coca-Cola activation at the Ernest Morial Convention Center during the 25th Essence Music Festival on July 6, 2019, in New Orleans, LA. (Erika Goldring Photo)

Check out photos of Brandy performing a medley of her hits at Coca-Cola’s stage during the 2019 Essence Festival! 

Photo Credit: The Coca-Cola Company

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FLY Events Last Night in NYC

Fly Events: ESSENCE Festival Welcomes Stars from “The Lion King”

JD McCrary (voice of Young Simba), Shahadi Wright Joseph (voice of Young Nala) from Disney’s “The Lion King” were on hand at ESSENCE Festival 2019 this weekend at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. They celebrated the movie’s upcoming opening by singing “Can’t Wait to be King” on the ESSENCE Centerstage. Additionally, the Great Street Stephen Full Gospel Choir under the leadership of Pastor Debra Morton and GRAMMY®-nominated, Stellar Award-winning gospel legend Bishop Paul S. Morton performed “The Circle of Life” with Tshidi Manye (Rafiki in Broadway’s “The Lion King”). Tamron Hall helped facilitate the festivities.

Check out more photos below Courtesy of Disney.

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FLY Events Last Night in NYC

Fly Events: The Black Excellence Brunch Honored Ms. Tina Knowles-Lawson with Facebook During Essence Festival

On Sunday, July 7, 2019, Facebook and the Black Excellence Brunch partnered together to honor Ms. Tina Knowles-Lawson. The event took place during the 25th Anniversary of Essence Festival in New Orleans, LA at The Treme Market Branch. Over 100 guests attended the event honoring Ms. Tina and celebrating Black Excellence.

During the Brunch R&B Group, June’s Diary serenaded the audience and guests were treated to a discussion with Ms. Knowles-Lawson. Ms. Knowles-Lawson said,

“When I was growing up we did not have anything like this. I love this. I would like to see this picked up and continued nationally to honor us.”

Ms. Tina Knowles-Lawson poses with Black Excellence Brunch founder, Trell Thomas. [Photo Credit: Anthony Whiting ]
The Facebook sponsored event which featured a Facebook and Instagram Stories installation, where guests took photos and videos to share their stories of black excellence – and empower their communities to consider their own excellence. Trell Thomas,

“It was a pleasure to work with Facebook on honoring a mentor and friend. Our guests really enjoyed attending and we are looking to many more Black Excellence Brunches.”

Photo Credit: Anthony Whiting

About Black Excellence Brunch

In August of 2018, communications professional Trell Thomas decided to create a community that celebrated the excellence of young black professionals. Trell, a seasoned entertainment/media expert, saw an opportunity to introduce entrepreneurs, clothing designers, stylists, actors, etc. to one another other via a family style brunch modeled after “Sunday Dinner”. The brunch features soul food, a discussion and the opportunity for millennials to gain insight from seasoned professionals while fellow-shipping with other successful black and brown colleagues. @BlackExcellenceBrunch

About WACO Theater

The theater center is a space (W)here (A)rt (C)an (O)ccur. The mission of this organization is to empower people to gain the skills and ability to identify necessary and pursue their dreams no matter who they are or where they came from. Waco Theater opened in November of 2017 by Richard Lawson and Tina Knowles-Lawson.

About Trell Thomas

Trell Thomas is a media expert and activist. His work spans from Career beginnings on the Obama Presidential Campaign in ‘08 to overseeing talent relations and communications with some of the biggest brands in Viacom. Trell has a great appreciation for sharing narratives of diverse communities and bringing stories of excellence to the forefront through various events he hosts. Trell’s mission is to empower people of color and spread positivity through black excellence. He is the founder of Black Excellence Brunch and has used this event series to connect young people of color from all walks of life.

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FLY Events Last Night in NYC

The 2019 ESSENCE Festival Draws More Than Half A Million Attendees For Historic 25th Anniversary Celebration

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: A view of the audience during the 2019 ESSENCE Festival Presented By Coca-Cola at Louisiana Superdome on July 07, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

The 2019 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola® attracted more than half a million attendees to New Orleans this Fourth of July weekend (July 4-7) for an historic 25th anniversary celebration representing one of the largest gatherings in the event’s history. Forever First Lady Michelle Obama commanded the main stage at the sold-out Superdome on Saturday, July 7 for her first ESSENCE Festival headline appearance. Throughout the weekend, seven 2020 Presidential candidates joined Power Stage segments at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to directly engage the influential audience of Black women in attendance and share plans and policies to address some of their most pressing issues. In addition, the debut of the ESSENCE Global Black Economic Forum connected attendees with accomplished leaders and chief executives including Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Chase Consumer Banking CEO Thasunda Duckett, Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey, and TDJ Enterprises CEO TD Jakes, among others.

“The 25th anniversary ESSENCE Festival represented a truly transformative global homecoming celebration for Black women and the Black community,” said ESSENCE Chief Executive Officer Michelle Ebanks. “This year’s extraordinary turnout reflects ESSENCE’s uniquely powerful engagement of Black women around personal empowerment, community, and culture as only ESSENCE can. With the debut of 10 new Festival experiences, activations at more than 40 venues across New Orleans, and engagement with more than 300 small businesses and local vendors, we have redefined the Festival as the largest and most impactful destination at the epicenter of Black culture.”

Ebanks continued, “Lastly, in honor of us embodying all that Black excellence and culture represent – beyond entertainment and beauty, we were thrilled to reveal the Festival’s official rebrand to the ‘ESSENCE Festival of Culture,’ with a mission to inform, inspire and uplift Black women and provide a holistic approach to how we offer and deliver Black culture in every way.”

Additional highlights of the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival include:

Live broadcasts of Power Stage ‘Presidential Spotlight’ and “Candidate Conversations” segments on MSNBC and CNN, featuring keynote addresses from Senator Michael Bennett, Senator Cory Booker, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senator Kamala Harris, Former Representative Beto O’Rourke, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. In addition, exclusive live to tape segments on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Rev. Al Sharpton.

New, stand-alone consumer experiences including the ESSENCE Global Black Economic Forum, ESSENCE Fashion House, ESSENCE Wellness House, ESSENCE After Dark, and ESSENCE Passport25, among others, as well as the return of reimagined live content platforms and experiences including Beauty Carnival, Entertainment All Access, business & career summit E-Suite and ESSENCE Honors.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: Teddy Riley and Pharrell Williams perform onstage during the 2019 ESSENCE Festival Presented By Coca-Cola at Louisiana Superdome on July 07, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: Teyana Taylor performs onstage during the 2019 ESSENCE Festival Presented By Coca-Cola at Louisiana Superdome on July 07, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Over 100 performing artists across the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Many of the biggest names in the entertainment industry including Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, H.E.R, Nas, Pharrell, Patti LaBelle, Teyana Taylor and others performed at the event’s concert series and dozens of others across ESSENCE’s Center Stage and All-Star Gospel Celebration.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: Zendaya attends onstage during the 2019 ESSENCE Festival Presented By Coca-Cola at Louisiana Superdome on July 07, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

More than 300 influencers, leaders, creators and celebrities participated in the Festival’s daytime experience – featuring powerhouse speakers Rev. Al Sharpton, Ava Duvernay, Yara Shahidi, Tyler Perry, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Marsai Martin, Valerie Jarrett, Iman, Common, Mona Scott-Young, Miles Brown and Iyanla Vanzant, among many others.

Photos Courtesy of Essence

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FLY NEWS

Fly News: Chance The Rapper Added To Essence Fest Lineup As A Headliner

chance-the-rapper-gq

Grammy-winning artist Chance The Rapper will join Diana Ross, Mary J. Blige, John Legend and others as a headliner of Time Inc.’s ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola, taking place June 30–July 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

After recently making history as the first streaming-only artist to win multiple Grammys in top categories such as Best Rap Album and Best New Artist, Chance The Rapper will make his ESSENCE Festival debut and round out the full performance lineup for the festival concert series of more than 40 acts, including new additions: No Limit Records’ Mystikal, Mia X and Silkk; BJ the Chicago Kid; Daley; Elle Varner; Emily Estefan; Gallant; Kelly Price; Leela James; and Rhonda Ross.

The full weekend concert lineup is as follows:

2017 Mainstage Artists
Diana Ross, Mary J. Blige, Chance The Rapper, John Legend, Ari Lennox, Chaka Khan, India.Arie, Jazmine Sullivan, Jill Scott, Master P, No Limit Records’ Mystikal, Mia X and Silkk, Monica, Rhonda Ross, Solange and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

2017 Superlounge Artists
BJ the Chicago Kid, Daley, Doug E. Fresh, Elle Varner, Emily Estefan, Gallant, Jhené Aiko, June’s Diary, Kelly Price, Lalah Hathaway, Leela James, Lizzo, Michel’le, Moses Sumney, PJ, Sir the Baptist, Remy Ma, Ro James, Shaggy, Teyana Taylor, The Jones Girls Featuring Shirley Jones, Tweet, Yuna

Weekend ticket packages are on sale now with prices starting at $126. For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE Festival®visit EssenceFestival.com.

Media applications for the festival are now open. To apply for media accreditation to the nightly concerts, visit the following link: HERE.

Join the festival community: Follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2017 ESSENCE Festival on Facebook.

The 2017 ESSENCE Festival is presented by Coca-Cola and sponsored by Ford, State Farm and Walmart.