CultureCon is BACK and it’s FREE!

Date: June 7-13

Venue: A virtual experience.

Cost: Free.99

CultureCon is a conference curated for up and coming talent in the music, film, art, marketing, and tech industries. They are redefining what creatives look like.

Confirmed speakers so far: Michael B Jordan, Chole X Halle, Quinta Brunson, Regina Hall, Lucky Daye, and so many more.

What to expect with your ticket?

-Access to conversations on Culture Stage and Creative Workshop Stage -Access to CultureCon Week events, screenings and Talk Backs -75 Speakers Across Panels, Creative Genius Talk + Fireside Chats -Access to Office Hours Sessions -Access to Skill-Building Breakout Sessions throughout the day -CultureCon Exclusive Content + Screenings -Networking with Creatives From Around the World -The opportunity to opt-in to our global directory -Online Exhibitions + Digital Activations for the Culture -Access to Small Businesses Market where you can shop Black-owned brands -Exclusive CultureCon Merch Collabs -Video on-demand following the event *Some content will be subject to capacity.

Hampton Roads Young Professionals meetup to lean in and discuss race in the workplace for collaborative event, Water Cooler Conversations

April 18 | Hampton Roads, Virginia

On Thursday, April 15th, Hampton Roads Young Professionals gathered virtually to discuss race in the workplace but it wasn’t your typical conversation.

Water Cooler Conversations, a virtual kickback with Hampton Roads Young Professionals was an event hosted by The Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals, tHRive, The Connect 757, and The Black Systemic Equity Project Inc. This event was a year in the making and was presented right on time to the community. As young professionals, we’ve been invited to the DEI trainings and see all of the company initiatives being established but what does that mean in the day to day within our teams. We were determined to create a space to make these conversations less uncomfortable and more informative for all of us.

The event was moderated by Aleea Slappy Wilson, Norfolk’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer who provided so much insight, energy and empathy in guiding our conversations. Throughout the night attendees were able to rotate between breakout rooms, all held on our favorite pandemic platform, Zoom. Attendees had the option to choose from the following topics:

  1. Cultural Norms/Microaggressions led by Antione Hines, Founder – The Black Systemic Equity Project Inc.
  2. Checking Our Privilege led by Tom Marsden – President of tHRive, Young Professionals of the Hampton Roads Chamber
  3. 2020 Summer of Racial Justice, Allyship, & Legislation – Zakkiyya Cunningham, Personal & Professional Chair, Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals
  4. Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Workplace led by Verlaine Quinniey, Founder of The Connect 757 – Social Network for Black Professionals in Hampton Roads

The feedback has been phenomenal and attendees are looking forward to participating in more collaborative conversations.

Water Cooler Conversations

We’ve talked about diversity, now let’s talk to each other! We’ve seen the posters in the breakrooms and have been lectured to about DEI. But what does that look like in real-time around the water cooler?

This event is about more than DEI. It’s about how we, as young professionals, can move the conversation past the formal trainings & required workshops to the water cooler. How do we learn to talk to each other better?

The Connect 757, tHRive, Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals , and the Black Systemic Equity Project present, Water Cooler Conversations, a candid talk with local young professionals about race in the workplace. Engage in a laidback discussion on how we as young professionals can work to make conversations around race in the workplace less uncomfortable and more informative for everyone!

Join us for a night of open conversation, leaning in, and networking!

Let’s change the narrative! Grab your ticket and share with a friend!

Virtual Wine Tasting With Local Favorite, Vintner’s Cellar Winery Of Yorktown

THIS weekend was the last weekend to grab your tasting kits for our Virtual Wine Tasting with Vintern’s Cellar Winery and The Pack Roadtrip Travel Club this evening! This will be our SECOND virtual wine tasting of the year and we are excited to learn about a local favorite.

You can order your kit HERE and pick it up from the Cellar Winery any Saturday! Kits are created for two but after all, we are still in a pandemic right? So, if you decide not to share, like Auntie Tabitha would say, “that’s your business.”

We are excited to sit down with Brandon Johnson, the new Owner of Vintner’s to learn how he acquired the local winery and of course learn about the wines that we will be sampling. As always, we’re networking differently but you’ll be able to meet other like minded professionals in the area. Although it is to late to have your kit ordered for tonight, you can still join the conversation and learn more about Brandon.

This event is hosted by The Connect 757 and The Pack Roadtrip Travel Club.

It’s MEAC Season! Enjoy it safely at Town Point Park!

I overheard on the radio that they were giving away tickets to MEAC this year but I was wondering how this was going to take place and be COVID-19 compliant. Fast forward a few days, and I saw it online that MEAC lovers will be able to enjoy the championship while still abiding by CDC guidelines. I think it is super dope that Festevents and Visit Norfolk teamed up to bring the MEAC 50th Anniversary Championship Watch Party to Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk on Saturday, March 13th. The park will open at 12 noon and the game begins at 1pm.

We love to see COVID compliant events and this one seems to be allowing groups of 4 per 10ft circle with a limit of 250 people max. The men and women’s games will be streamed in the park on the jumbo screens. This event is ticketed and can be purchased through their website HERE. It will be an event for sure with a live DJ, food, bar, and restrooms on site. Lawn chairs and blankets are recommended and it’s open to all ages. Y ‘all know we love picnic style events.

Let’s look at the cost! For $85 you get a really nice package for the family or for you and 3 friends! the package includes (4) tickets, (4) t-shirts, (4) masks, (4) commemorative bottles, (4) boxed meals and (4) drink tickets.

For more information, check out Festevents or contact:

Destinee Wright, wrightd@themeac.com
757-951-2055