Introducing the Inaugural "Black Visionaries Brunch"

It is no mystery that systemic barriers have plagued the Black community for many years. These societal issues are what drive many to take on roles that create for financial sustainability while sometimes putting their passions second. In the year 2022, having more than one “hustle” has evolved, allowing people to find avenues to merge multiple passions and even create new streams of revenue from a new-to-market idea.

As a multi-passioned person myself, I’ve made it a personal mission to champion those who stay committed to bringing their visions into reality. I remember watching Sweet Life on HBO Max last summer and feeling inspired by the first episodes Legacy Table theme. The cast members came together for an evening and discussed their futures and how they planned to establish a legacy for themselves. All I could think to myself was, “this is exactly what I want to do for my folks,” because there is no reason why multiple spaces like this shouldn’t exist. Shortly after, I was honored to receive the Billy Davis Award from the 4A’s MAIP fellowship, which included a financial stipend that allowed me to bring this dream to life.?

It was the divine timing of both experiences that led to the birth of the Black Visionaries Brunch. This invite-only event featured a guest list of ambitious, hard-working black professionals who are multi-hyphenates as their skill sets check off much more than one box. Attendee occupations range from ad agency producers/Personal fashion stylists to Account Supervisors/podcasters or even tech sales representatives/beauty-skin care bloggers. While some attendees were tied to communities like ADCOLOR FUTURES , 4A’S MAIP , Verizon AdFellows , this was a completely new audience for other guests. This is the inaugural class of Black Visionaries, a group of “doers” who focus on the actions needed to bring their visions to life.

To get over the awkward feeling of introductions, attendees engaged in an ice breaker activity including improv of scenes from Black household TV shows (think Fresh Prince or Martin ). Once the ice melted, the event transitioned to a grouped table setup, where each attendee answered the question: “What do you want your legacy to be?” The intention of this question was to prompt attendees to manifest their visions by saying them out loud and confidently to a group of strangers (because it’s much easier to tell your friends). During the discussion, attendees began offering guidance and tips to each other on how to bring their visions to life while others found ways to partner and have already started the process.

Attendees of the event left with a new community of like-minded individuals, reaffirming that they are not alone in their journeys. The Black Visionaries Brunch served as a platform to set intentions for the remainder of the year with a unique sense of accountability. While a brunch is always a great environment for meeting others, this is just the beginning for the Black Visionaries brand and its mission to serve the community. Being a professional doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on your passions, as your creative endeavors are equally as important. There is no proper time to be a “creative,” because it’s a 24/7 lifestyle for many of us.

We would also love to thank all of the amazing businesses that helped to bring this initiative to life:?

• Host: Black Visionaries
• DJ: Ernst Luly (DJ SimbaZilla )
• Event Decor & Balloon Artistry: Vivacious Ballons & PaperThinCreations
• Catering: Chantes Catering
• Venue: Studio Eleven
• Photography: Kelvin Medina

For any further inquiries around partnerships or sponsorship please reach out to [email protected]. Also, follow us on Instagram @BlackVisionariesLead .