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Event Spotlight: N.Y.C. Black Pride
N.Y.C. Black Pride
We are excited to host NYC Black Pride's upcoming SONGS FOR MARSHA TOO: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION at HELEN MILLS Event Space & Theater on Tuesday, August 14th, 2018.
Read our exclusive Q&A with NYC Black Pride's director, Lee Soulja, below and mark your calendars so you can come show your support!
What is NYC Black Pride?
NYC Black Pride is a five day festival of multicultural events targeting LGBT people of color. These events are executed in collaboration with other community based organization such as Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and Gay Men of African Decent (GMAD).
What prompted the creation of Black Pride in NYC?
The rise of Black Pride in NYC and other major cities around the country began in the late 1990s. It served primarily as a way to give voice to and culturally celebrate Gay Pride. In NYC, Black Pride resonates deeper than any other city across the country because the overall movement of Prides and Stonewall originated here. It was LGBT people of color that were at the forefront of that movement. In particular Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Storme Delarverie were the key figures. That true history has literally been whitewashed and/or forgotten. So the need for Black Pride became increasingly more important. On June 28, 1997, the first Black Pride event took place in NYC.
Who are you in the community?
Under the direction of Lee Soulja, NYC Black Pride is no longer solely just a once a year celebratory event. It has over the last decade grown to become a voice of visibility and a source of support for the LGBT community of color all year round.
Why is it so important?
Black Pride is so vitally important because we are the only ones acknowledging, celebrating and historically archiving the contributions of LGBT people of color. In order to breakdown stigma and end discrimination against the LGBT community, we have got to tell and document those stories of our major contributions to the world.
What are you most proud of accomplishing so far?
NYC Black Pride was not the first Black Pride in the country, BUT we are surely the ones leading the change of the movement for the next generation. We have changed the narrative that Prides are nothing more than a bunch of parties. I am proud to say that we are advocating for the needs of the community to the Local and State government.
“NYC Black Pride was not the first Black Pride in the country, BUT we are surely the ones leading the change of the movement for the next generation.”
What are you hoping to accomplish next?
We are working toward opening a Center for Black Pride. This would be a cultural and educational center that would house and archive LGBT people of color history. It would also be a safe space for the youth to gather, learn and empower themselves.
How can we get involved and/or show our support?
If you are interested in attending one of our events or supporting the organization, please contact us through our website: http://www.nycblackpride.com or on any of our social media pages!
Check back here after August 14th for pictures of their event - or follow us on Instagram or Facebook!
Winter Round-Up
Welcome to 2018! After a hectic holiday season, we’ve stepped into the New Year energized for a full schedule of festivities. Below, we recap three fun events hosted in our event space and theater.
BrownGirlsLove POWER Day
In early January, Christina S. Brown, founder of LoveBrownSugar, cultivated a day filled with inspiring speakers, workshops, panels, makeovers, and more. Their event, produced alongside Toyota, focused on providing resources for millennial women's success in today's world. You can read more about the day over on their blog, as well as peruse photos from the event. Below are a few of our favorites!
United Airlines Olympic Campaign Kick-Off
In anticipation for the 2018 Winter Olympics, United transformed our event space into a wintry ski lodge that left us awestruck. From the larger-than-life depictions of Team USA athletes and United employees, to the amazing 3D photo backdrop created by Wasabi3D, the evening was a non-stop celebration. United unveiled their commercial campaign, themed "Superheros", to an excited crowd of influencers, press, and internal team members.
The amazing team of vendors responsible for this incredible evening include Momentum Worldwide, C2 Imaging, DCI, Wasabi3D, and Pinch Food Design.
All photos used with permission from United Airlines
Vote Run Lead
Vote Run Lead, the brilliant organization that empowers and trains women to run for public office, hosted their post-Women's March event with us on January 20th. Following the march, a group of over 200 women and men met in our event space for an afternoon filled with panels, networking, and dancing!
All photos used with permission from VoteRunLead. Check out their website to learn more.
4 Creative Ideas for Your Company Summer Party
As the weather warms up, it's time to begin planning your company Summer parties. There are certain elements we all expect at these events; namely good food, good drinks, and a great venue. When it comes to surprising your coworkers, however, it's easy to feel stumped.
Knowing how much pressure there is to stand out from other events, the HELEN MILLS team collected some fun ideas to help you as your plan not only your Summer parties, but any throughout the year.
Let's get started!
Company Movie Night
Does your team sometimes get burnt out on high-energy, loud parties? Why not switch things up and book a private movie screening for your crew? With 140 seats, the HELEN MILLS Theater offers an intimate, comfortable, and alternative way to spend your company outing.
With HD projection and 5.1 Cinema Surround Sound, you can offer your team a night at the movies without the exorbitant ticket prices, teens on their cellphones, and chatterbox neighbors commenting on every scene.
Set up snacks and drinks for guests to enjoy during the movie. Photo from this post.
Gif and Video Booths
Who hasn't attended a party with a photo booth? Whether it be a wedding, Mitzvah, or holiday party, we all have our signature "four poses" down to a science. Yes, photo strips are cute and retro, but in the age of ever evolving technology it's important to take advantage of all the latest and greatest gadgets.
Companies like OM now offer several different types of photo and video booths, offering guests a creative outlet to show off your killer party.
Edible Floral Arrangements
There's no denying that flowers are a beautiful way to instantly liven up the look of your event, but at the end of the evening you experience a crisis over what to do with your left-over arrangements. It isn't always reasonable to have your guests take the centerpieces home with them, and letting hundreds of dollars of flowers get thrown away can feel like a knife to the heart. If this sounds at all familiar, you should check out companies like Baked Bouquet, a "Bakery Florist" that offers sweet treats in the form of floral arrangements.
Baked Bouquet creates stunning creations that will have you guests asking, "These are cupcakes?!"
LED Furniture
You've spent time and effort on creating the perfect setup for your party, so why let your tables fade into the background? Our friends at Cerf carry a large selection of LED tables and more to help you create a vibrant affair.
Planning an Event? Contact Us to learn more about events at HELEN MILLS, or check out more recent events here.
Rock your Voice, Woman! Inspiring a Community to Be Heard
On Saturday, January 14th, HELEN MILLS hosted the LIVE Rock Your Voice, Woman! event.; a daylong seminar aimed at empowering women in finding their voices and transforming the world through their communities, businesses, and personal lives.
Rock Your Voice, Woman! utilized both the theater and event space to bring their message to life. The intimacy and versatility of the venue lent itself to the various aspects of the day’s agenda, and the program featured an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and vendor booths. Through this event, attendees engaged and connected with some of the biggest voices in women’s thought leadership.
The immersive experience guided guests in mapping out a path towards their own aspirations. By the end of the day, the voice of the female community was quite a bit louder!
The HELEN MILLS Event Space ready for arrivals! The hot pink wall wash and floral centerpieces set the tone.
Vendor booths provide literature and products to spark inspiration.
CEO & Founder of Rock It Out Woman, Christine Miskinis, takes the stage for a powerful presentation.
Guests participate in a Q&A session in the HELEN MILLS Theater.
After lunch, the event space transforms into three breakout sessions. Coaches capture the guests’ attention through engaging activities.
To the beats of DJ Bumi, women join hands and connect in celebration of their community.
Planning an Event? Contact Us to learn more about events at HELEN MILLS, or check out more recent events here.
Partners of the Rock Your Voice, Woman! event include:
Christine Miskinis, Founder Rock Your Voice Woman at RockItOutWoman.com
Vanessa Canas, Event Management at VanessaCanas.com
Monika Broz, Photographer at MonikaBroz.com
Bastille Flowers & Events at Bastille.com
Chef Angela Lowe at ChefAngelaLowe.com
Video & Social Media Publicity: Brooke & Jason Rash at TheSocialCircleMembers.com