Ms. Lauryn Hill, Summer season Walker and Muni Lengthy will probably be among the many all-star lineup when Mary J. Blige and Pepsi convey the Power of a Girl Competition and Summit again to Atlanta this 12 months. The second annual occasion, in partnership with Reside Nation City, will happen Could 11-14.
Highlights of the upcoming pageant and summit embrace two nights of music at Atlanta’s State Farm Area. In celebration of Hip-Hop 50, a particular “MJB B-Sides” set will function not often carried out hits by the nine-time Grammy Award winner and pals — together with Jodeci, Busta Rhymes, Jeezy, Jadakiss, Methodology Man and DJ Drama — on Could 12. The next night will probably be an R&B showcase starring Hill, Walker, Lengthy, Fortunate Daye and Coco Jones. Bookending these evenings will probably be a Metropolis Vineyard efficiency by Glasper on Could 11; Could 14’s lineup features a gospel brunch and live performance adopted by that night’s closing occasion, The Objective Ball. This newly established pageant occasion in honor of the LGBTQAI neighborhood will function a particular efficiency by Saucy Santana. Comic-actor Mike Epps will headline a comedy night time showcase that Sunday as effectively.
Making the announcement in tandem with the Wednesday (March 8) world celebration of Worldwide Ladies’s Day, Power of a Girl founder Blige stated in an announcement, “Having the chance to proceed to uplift, encourage and construct amongst a neighborhood of girls is the rationale why we created this pageant. I’m so grateful for all the assist from our performers and contributors and, after all, Reside Nation City, Pepsi and our further companions who’re dedicated to celebrating and creating neighborhood for Black girls.”
In step with its debut final 12 months, the Power of a Girl Competition and Summit will even current impactful and empowering programming for BIPOC girls. These workshops will handle topics resembling wellness, know-how, monetary literacy and wonder. Returning and new sponsors embrace Mielle Organics, CVS Well being and Twitch.
Along with Blige, the all Black and women-helmed pageant and summit staff consists of her longtime enterprise associate Nicole Jackson, vp of MJB Inc., and Ashaunna Ayars, founder/chief advertising and marketing officer of The Ayars Company. “The recognition and affect of the [2022] inaugural Power of a Girl Competition and Summit efficiently confirmed how and why Black girls are the blueprint for cultural relevancy and inclusion,” said Jackson in a press launch. “Having the ability to look again and see the worldwide attain the pageant had by our livestream and billions of media impressions is affirmation that we’re filling a void within the pageant area. Mary, Ashaunna and myself are overjoyed to be again in Atlanta once more and stay up for continued enlargement in our programming and partnerships.”
Added Kent Montgomery, senior vp, PepsiCo Business Relations and Multicultural Improvement, in the identical launch, “The Power of a Girl Competition and Summit is a testomony to the facility of amplifying Black girls and their voices – beginning with Mary, somebody whose imaginative and prescient and presence has been instrumental in its success. As a model and firm rooted in celebrating tradition and uplifting communities, we’re thrilled to point out our assist and proceed to offer new methods to raise the pageant expertise for friends all through the expanded weekend of actions, all whereas highlighting and supporting the outstanding girls of the Atlanta neighborhood.”
Presale tickets will turn out to be out there at midday ET March 8; normal on-sale begins on March 10. For ticket info, go to: www.soawfestival.com.
