#CultureConNYC2018

An Event For. Us. By. Us.

I don't remember if it was this most recent summer or the one before, but I began to follow The Creative Collective NYC (@theccnyc) on Instagram. I think it was because of Blavity (@blavity) and them giving the page a shoutout that I decided to see what they were about. Once I scrolled through a couple of pics I immediately fell in love with their concept. They are an "underground" community generating networking circles for creatives of color. They instilled this system of support and a dialogue for creatives to connect with one another. I quoted the word underground before because I believe that their most recent event has put them on the map.

#CultureCon is an annual conference where creatives of color learn from and share with other creatives so they can build on what they love to do...create great and unique content. Whether its photography, a YouTube channel or a blog this space was safe to share and learn from. This year the conference included artists, editors, directors, CEOs and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. I'll get into name dropping later. To show you how they're coming; last year they had the pleasure of having the legendary director Spike Lee come and drop gems for the young creatives of today.

An event like #CultureCon is definitely a push for young creatives. It is, in my opinion, a safe space for creatives to share their wins and woes throughout their creative journey. It is hard to talk about writer's block, for example, with my friends who work in a field of STEM. They just look at me like huh...

Then I'm more frustrated than before and have gotten nowhere in my work. Thankfully I have more creative friends than the scientifically inclined ones. Moving on, this conference has personally helped me look at the ones before me and show that these jobs are real and can make you money. As a singular (part-time) creative in a household where bills need to be paid, my dreams and aspirations need to turn into real life coins eventually. Support is cute and all, but if you have no one to share that dream with then the drive will be clouded with "reality".

I was blessed with a free ticket to the event, thank you so much The Creative Collective NYC. Their initiative to give young, broke creatives like myself a chance to enjoy such a great event shows how much they care. I obviously came late to the function and missed the first group of speakers (because ya girl doesn't understand the concept of time), but once I settled in I was glued.

The first segment I got to see was called Hurry Up and Fail moderated by Natasha Alford (TheGrio.com). The panel of speakers included Sharifa Murdock (SharifaSays.com), Darryl Perkins (Broccoli City Fest), Enitan Bereola (The Bereolaesque Group) and Tyla - Lauren (@tylauren). The panel discussed many trials and tribulations about being creatives who are on the rise. Enitan for example told us how his now best seller, Gentlewoman: Etiquette for a Lady, from a Gentleman, was created behind depression.

The moderator shockingly dropped the biggest gem for me, "Failure usually comes when you're doing something you're not supposed to do." That piece of wisdom proved to me that this blog and that conference was meant to be. Many people have told me to start a blog because my voice should be heard, but I just ignored them. Not because I didn't believe them, I just didn't believe in myself. When I tell you, since this blog I have nothing but great things happen to me. Before this I was in the biggest rut of my life. Talk about down and out. But, I'm here, so let's praise for that.

I was so elated that I knew half of the panel off bat. I have been following Darryl Perkins since my DMV friends from college put me onto Broccoli Fest. Then there was Ty Lauren. An influencer that looks like me. You don't understand how many times I roll my eyes at work when people say they follow an influencer, I see their page and don't see myself in them. The panel opened my eyes to new people that now motivate me to work harder. Sharifa Murdock recently had her own festival, Envsn Fest, where women of all walks of life came together to embrace, uplift and enjoy each other under the realm of creativity. Enitan brought life out of me. He gave me hope that my writing skills will bring me the best the world has to offer.

"You only fail if you stop." - Darryl Perkins

The next discussion was Bringing Culture to Work, where the panel discussed how to basically bring your blackness (or any race of color) to work. Julian Mitchell moderated the panel including Patrick Walsh (Vice President of Marketing, Footlocker), Nana Bediako (Creative Strategist, Facebook), Farah Sheikh (Brand Manager, Squarespace), and Andrew McCaskill (Senior Vice President of Global Communications, Nielsen). I read the title of the discussion and was internally turned off. I thought, 'This has nothing to do with my creativity and how it is going to enhance my creative skills.' I was completely wrong because it helped me understand that creativity gets you in the door, but there will be people to second guess how you even got someone to open the door for you. These people motivated me to come with my best foot forward and make the doubters take this black girl magic whether they like it or not.

"Your full self makes you unique and different from everyone else." - Patrick Walsh

There was the discussion, Netflix Films: From Script to Screen, moderated by Sylvia Obell (Buzzfeed). The discussion was between Tahirah Gooden (Netflix Coordinator, Strong Black Leads) and Wayne Horton (Netflix Coordinator, Strong Black Leads) where they talked about writers and creators in the industry of streaming. I got to learn a lot about how creatives of color, whether actors, writers,or producers, have been on the back burner. They shed light to the fact that there is more than Tyler Perry, Will Packer, and Shonda Rhimes in today's industry.

"Everything doesn't have to be ratchet or revolutionary. There is an in between." - Jesse Williams

Sylvia stayed around to moderate another discussion, "I am Here" with Deray Mckesson (Civil Rights Activist, Black Lives Matter) and Colman Domingo (If Beale Street Could Talk, Assassination Nation) went through the topic of how black men are more than what is portrayed on the screen. I knew that through experience of going to an HBCU, but they explored how creatives today can make that idea a regular thing. I fell in love with the mind of Colman Domingo, his ideology was so cool to me. He spoke on how black men are not monolithic but he actually walks the walk as well.

"When you're giving with your whole heart, the universe gives it right back to you." - Colman Domingo

Angela Yee (The Breakfast Club, Lip Service Podcast), Julee Wilson (Fashion and Beauty Director, Essence Magazine), and Lilly Workneh (Senior Editor, Huffington Post Black Voices) spoke on the topic of portrayal of women of color in media and how we (woc) control the narrative. The discussion was moderated by Latesha Williams (Co-Founder, Black Card Revoked). This panel dropped so much knowledge I filled up a whole page of quotable information. This discussion reminded me that even though I have received a lot of love and have gained greater opportunities that this is just the beginning.

"It's not what you know or who you know, it is about who knows you." - Lilly Workneh

A week before I received my ticket for the conference I was ready to give up on my blog because I had support but I didn't see it in the numbers. I wasn't getting as many visits to my site and I was like, "Well this is a waste." Then a couple of days later I get an offer to write for brand that embodies everything that I believe in. I actually had to miss the happy hour for #CultureCon to meet with the writers and creator but all is good now.

Lilly came back after lunch to speak with Wyatt Cenac (Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas) and Terrance Nance (Random Acts of Flyness) about "HBO Presents: Creatives in Conversation". The two friends spoke on how their success came from just staying within their creative walls. They didn't downsize their ideas and they didn't conform to what executives and financial backers wanted them to create.

A voice I love and sadly slept on for a while, Gia Peppers (On-Air Talent, BET, Essence Magazine, the NBA), got to speak to a talented photographer by the name of Tyler Mitchell. You might know him, he just took photos of some singer name Beyonce for this little ol' magazine called Vogue. When I tell you I was in shock someone like Tyler got to this point I am not lying. He got dismissed and turned down from so many of his dreams before his biggest work yet. If I walked in his shoes I know for a fact that I would cry and give up. He is so young and such an inspiration for me to legit keep working and keep my head up.

"Love the Art." - Tyler Mitchell

Uncle Charlamagne Tha God (The Breakfast Club, Brilliant Idiots) came and blessed my spirit y'all. He is legit my problematic fave. I think I know why but I'll leave it for another post. He had a conversation with Eboni K. Williams (Fox News Specialist) about mental health and his new book Shook Ones which goes into the topic of mental health and his experience with his own mental health. I think I was so glued to every word that he said I forgot to write that many notes. I was jotting down little notes of what I need to motivate myself and what I need to do with my mental health. I guess that was the reason he was there. Duh Autumn.

"I'm not adjusting my thermostat to make you comfortable." - Charlamagne Tha God

I believe this next creative drew in a lot of people, not me, but the masses. I felt the energy change when this person came to stage. First of all the sun started to shine brighter than before on this cloudy day. Y'all...John Legend ( youngest EGOT winner, periodt) came to #CultureCon2018. I was trying to act like I didn't care, but when he graced that stage I was full of so many emotions. My heart felt full, my mind seemed clear for knowledge, and for some reason I could see better than before. I might be over exaggerating but Mr. Legend, husband of Chrissy Teigen, was everything. He walked us through his life and how he met the people he met and how his life didn't align until he dedicated his life to music. I was like, 'Lord, I hear you perfectly clear.' He made being a creative seem cooler than it already was. Oh of course he was not speaking alone in this conversation, he was speaking to cousin, Alex Tyree (Creative Marketer, Spike DDB).

Now before I came to the event I was going over @theccnyc Instagram and I saw Remy Ma's (Rapper) name and I was a little confused. Just being completely honest. But her presence and stunning highlight brought light on how creatives' opinions matter. How you see the world and how you operate in this world matters when making content. Well great content if you ask me. She spoke with Stephanie Wash (Production Associate, ABC News) on her life, her marriage and how her new job on State of the Culture is molding her into a different woman everyday. By the end of the conversation I wanted more.

Nicholas Cannon (The GOAT tbh). I have watched this young man grow into a grow man since I was child. I literally followed his career. I just loved that he was different. He wasn't another Kenan or Kel, hell he wasn't a Cousin Skeeter either. He was himself. He interviewed Aaliyah in a dress and wig. He loves his craft and the industry he works in. My fave Kéla Walker (Social Media Influencer) spoke with Nick on how to take the industry by the horns and hustle with the best of them. I think because I follow him so much I knew more than any onlooker, but he dropped gems that I needed. Every time I hear him speak I get goosebumps a little bit. His mindset of how we are supposed to carry ourselves and present our work to the world is beyond amazing. Hate if you want, he is the king of putting people on because of talent and his platform. His work ethic has helped himself and others after him break the ceiling and shoot for the stars.

#CultureCon was an experience I would want to enjoy again. Hopefully next year I can go with friends. There was so much for young creatives of color to enjoy and learn from. The Culture Collective NYC, y'all did the damn thing with this event. I see your vision and I thank you for making such an event for us, by us.