#EssenceFest: Not Just A Party But Purposefully Planned Programing
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by More than one half million people travelled to New Orleans, Louisiana this 4th of July weekend for the 2015 Essence Festival presented by CocaCola. In 1995, Essence Fest began as celebration of the magazine’s 25th anniversary. That event was so overwhelmingly successful, Essence has organized the Festival every year since then. The mission this year, was to reach and engage an even wider audience than ever before; and it succeeded in doing so.
Michelle Ebanks, Essence Communications Inc. President, says “the entire daytime experience exists because the Essence leadership 21 years ago said we just can’t have a party in the SuperDome to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Essence Magazine – we’re Essence. We have to have programming that is free and accessible to all; programming that is relevant, inspiring, and purposeful.”
Yes, OurBKSocial did party in the Mercedes Benz SuperDome to the music of great performers throughout the weekend beginning on Thursday night, July 2nd. The entertainment lineup included, but was not limited to, LeCrae, Trey Songz, Kem, India Arie, Charlie Wilson, Common, Erykah Badu, Missy Elliot, Usher, Floetry, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. But During the day in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, we came together with others for some serious conversation and exploration that both empowered and uplifted.
Friday, July 3rd many gathered in the Great Hall for an empowerment experience. Secrets to Getting the Love and Life Life You Want was moderated by coach, editor, and educator Charreah Jackson. Producer and preacher DeVon Franklin and wife, actress Meagan Good of three years and actor Flex and wife, singer Shanice Alexander of fifteen years shared stories of pain, pleasure, and power. Both couples agreed that their faith and belief in God is the glue that keeps them together and satisfied. Franklin said to remember we are all works in progress. As such, he accepts his wife for who she is – right now. Alexander said she prayed for her husband and was quite specific about it – from his height to his complexion to his sense of humor. God gave her more than what she prayed for in Flex.
Later that evening, Fix My Life coach Iyanla Vanzant and educator Dr. Steve Perry presented A Special Session for Single Moms Raising Sons. To EMPOWERU this dynamic duo spoke truth to power. Did you know, many of the challenges sons encounter are due to mom’s issues? Mothers were reminded to clean up the unfinished business with their child’s father and with their own father. Validate your son by listening to him while being silent, asking probing questions, building up his self-esteem instead of tearing him down, and allowing him to figure things out without jumping in quickly and taking over.
Saturday, July 4th during the Day of Peace Mayor Mitchell Landrieu (New Orleans, Louisiana) Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson (Gary, Indiana) and Mayor Ras Baraka (Newark, New Jersey) joined forces to discuss Solutions in Our Cities. The panel discussion was moderated by CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien. Mayor Freeman-Wilson reminded the audience that the 2016 presidential election is coming up and it is imperative that we vote and vote for someone who is speaking directly to OUR issues.
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Later that day we explored Where Do We Go From Here? Black Lives Matter with Dr. Steve Perry, Louisiana Senator Karen Carter Peterson, Nicole Paultre Bell (Sean Bell’s former fiancé) Melanie Campbell (CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation) and Van Jones (Political Commentator). Through this open dialogue, it was determined that people of color must vote, then hold politicians accountable, change laws for our changing times and communities, set higher expectations for our children and for those who come in contact with them, and expect our churches to do more in our communities. Nicole Bell urged the audience to make Black Lives Matter a commitment NOT a trend.
On Sunday, the last day of the Essence Festival, OurBKSocial sat in on Tanisha A. Sykes’ financial workshop – Become a Cash Flow Queen. Throughout her presentation, Sykes shared much needed information on various money matters: FICO scores, investments, and savings. She left us with her Money Management Tips.
There were so many other wonderfully enriching Empowerment Experiences and EMPOWERU sessions: A Mother Daughter Journey, Hope Beyond Fibroids, Race & Reconciliation, How To Become A Social Media Ninja, #NoJudgementZone, Hurricane Katrina 10 Years Later and much more. Each participant we spoke to whether male or female, young or older, said they left their session a little wiser.
Rosanna a social worker from Atlanta, Georgia said, “what I learned this weekend is that instead of waiting for things to happen, I now feel empowered to change my life and change comes from within me.”
Kareena a teacher from Miami, Florida said, “I learned it’s OK to let my child fall as long as I support his getting up.
Carol an analyst from New York said she was going to take action by reading #DeadlyForce – a report which is a state-by-state survey on police use of lethal force and then get involved with her local politicians.
After this amazing Essence Festival Independence weekend, we can hardly wait to discover what Essence has in store for next year’s celebration.
