By Ariyana Griffin
AFRO Staff Writer
agriffin@afro.com
CultureCon, a unique homecoming gathering for creatives, returned to Brooklyn, New York, Oct. 5-6 for its seventh annual convening. CultureCon offers a vibrant platform for Black and Brown entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders and creatives to connect.
Thousands of patrons from diverse industries such as fashion, entertainment, technology and more gathered at this year’s convention. Many attendees were excited to hear from guest speakers such as fashion stylist Law Roach, actor Morris Chestnut, rapper Remy Ma and actress Yara Shahidi, among many others.
Morris Chestnut emphasized the importance of telling Black stories through movies and shows as he discussed his newest role on Hulu’s “Reasonable Doubt.”
“Everyone who’s watching the show, please continue to watch because I feel it’s an extremely quality show done by us,” said Chestnut. ” I’m telling you, I have not been on a show that has this many people of color in pivotal positions and pretty much across the board on the show.”
The weekend-long event was jam-packed with activities, workshops, panels and a creative job fair along with numerous opportunities to mingle, take photos and have a good time. Above all, it was a place where attendees were motivated and inspired.
“Meeting a lot of Black creatives in this space and seeing how excellence is so diverse has inspired me to look at how I create and approach creativity with a new lens of community and inclusion,” Florida native Jordan McNear told the AFRO.
For the first time, the convention established a theme: “CultureCon goes to Camp.” It invited everyone to be adventurous while also taking a moment to relax and enjoy the present. Many panel discussions focused on wellness, mental health, and the different ways poor mental health can manifest for creatives, such as writer’s block, burnout and more.
“When it comes to just prioritizing yourself, I think it’s also important to remember that self care is a form of productivity,” said Minaa B., a licensed social worker and mental health educator. “It’s not just tied to the system of work – taking care of yourself also is a productive mentality and a lifestyle that you should have.
“Don’t neglect yourself in exchange for doing things for others or doing things to engage in the system of work,” she added.
This year’s presenting partner was Max, formerly known as HBO Max. Major partners were McDonald’s, Verizon, Amazon Prime, Shea Moisture, Netflix, Gucci Changemakers, Jordan Brand, Uber and many more.
Each year, the conference continues to grow, providing a space for people to be authentically themselves while also learning tips on how to maneuver in the industry.
“Seeing so many people of color in the same space was very beautiful and encouraging. I had a good time,” Kathie Pilet shared with the AFRO.
For more information about CultureCon, visit theccnyc.com and follow them on Instagram @culturecon to get information for next year’s convention.
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