Meet the Black Woman Behind the Afrikana Film Festival in Richmond, VA

When you think of film festivals, what regions immediately come to mind? While Richmond may not be a place that’s currently on the film radar, Afrikana Film Festival founder Enjoli Moon is working to transform that image.

“The Afrikana Film Festival is a concentrated celebration of black culture that allows Richmonders a chance to come out and see people they haven’t seen in a while and have conversations that are on their minds and hearts,” says Moon. “It’s also an opportunity to introduce people to Richmond. We have filmmakers that are coming from everywhere and they have a chance to see the richness of our city and the beauty of our people. It’s a great opportunity for cultural connectivity.”

This year marks the five-year anniversary of the multi-day Afrikana Film Festival. Attendees have a chance to experience three to four days of black cinema presented throughout the Richmond downtown arts district.

“Afrikana is not like any other festival,” says Moon. “Conversations are a huge part of the festival. There’s always a conversation after a film to have an engaging dialogue with the audience about the thematics of the film. You’ll also be able to enjoy a full day of film, networking parties, and a trolley ride that takes filmmakers around the city to see historical Black Richmond.”

How did Moon come up with the idea for the Afrikana Film Festival? “The vision came out of nowhere but it was the strongest sense of clarity I ever had,” says Moon. She didn’t travel around to other film festivals because she didn’t want to be intimidated or influenced by what everyone else was doing. Moon wanted to do something that was authentic to what she represented and the historical relevance of the city she was in.

All film festivals aren’t created equally and all founders don’t have the same resume of credentials supporting their work. Moon isn’t your traditional film festival founder. She had no background in film or money at her disposal. But thinking about service over film allowed the Afrikana Film Festival to be well received.

“The skills that I brought to the film festival that has been most beneficial are my commitment to hospitality and service,” says Moon. “I think about people in a way that allows me to anticipate their needs. This has been a huge part of my success.”

In addition to making an impact through the Afrikana Film Festival, Moon is the co-host of Richmond’s elegant international sensation event, Dîner en Blanc. It’s described as a magical event that brings guests together from diverse backgrounds to “experience the beauty and value of the city’s public spaces by participating in the unexpected.”

Moon spends the majority of her time as a curator at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University. She also serves as the chair of the Black RVA committee—a platform designed to elevate black businesses throughout Richmond. Her goal is to make space for people who have arrived and growing connections with those who are already in Richmond.

For anyone else wanting to create something new or do something different, Moon offers these words of wisdom: “Don’t let the fact that you don’t have enough resources or a certain background stop you. Learn as you go. You become an expert by doing.”

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Muslim Lawmakers to Host Virtual National Iftar Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, public health crisis has put a halt on all large scale events and gatherings for the foreseeable future. As Muslims around the country begin to fast for the holy month of Ramadan, lawmakers have decided to come together in a virtual event to celebrate with their fellow Muslims amid the viral outbreak.

Muslim political leaders including Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have joined together with the Muslim Advocates for a national virtual event for Iftar on May 12. The event will also feature remarks from Imam Khalid Latif, Imam W. Deen Shareef, artist Aisha Fukushima and more.

“The unprecedented convergence of a global pandemic and Ramadan highlights all the ways American Muslims are overcoming hardship to honor their faith and their communities,” said Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera in a press statement. “I hope that The National Iftar can provide a valuable public service to help keep us all connected and inspired during Ramadan while also staying home.”

Iftar is the evening meal that Muslims end their daily fast with at sunset. They break their fast at the time of the call to prayer and is the second meal of the day that is followed by suhur, the meal Muslims eat at pre-dawn.

“Though the pandemic has forced us to rethink how we celebrate Ramadan, I hope we can start a new tradition with this virtual National Iftar,” said Honorary Co-Chair Rep. Rashida Tlaib. “This event is an opportunity for all Americans to join us as my fellow Muslim colleagues in Congress and I observe Ramadan. We will uplift the stories of American Muslims who are working to help their communities during this pandemic and share why it is important to continue to show up for others.”

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Muslim Lawmakers to Host Virtual National Iftar Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, public health crisis has put a halt on all large scale events and gatherings for the foreseeable future. As Muslims around the country begin to fast for the holy month of Ramadan, lawmakers have decided to come together in a virtual event to celebrate with their fellow Muslims amid the viral outbreak.

Muslim political leaders including Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have joined together with the Muslim Advocates for a national virtual event for Iftar on May 12. The event will also feature remarks from Imam Khalid Latif, Imam W. Deen Shareef, artist Aisha Fukushima and more.

“The unprecedented convergence of a global pandemic and Ramadan highlights all the ways American Muslims are overcoming hardship to honor their faith and their communities,” said Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera in a press statement. “I hope that The National Iftar can provide a valuable public service to help keep us all connected and inspired during Ramadan while also staying home.”

Iftar is the evening meal that Muslims end their daily fast with at sunset. They break their fast at the time of the call to prayer and is the second meal of the day that is followed by suhur, the meal Muslims eat at pre-dawn.

“Though the pandemic has forced us to rethink how we celebrate Ramadan, I hope we can start a new tradition with this virtual National Iftar,” said Honorary Co-Chair Rep. Rashida Tlaib. “This event is an opportunity for all Americans to join us as my fellow Muslim colleagues in Congress and I observe Ramadan. We will uplift the stories of American Muslims who are working to help their communities during this pandemic and share why it is important to continue to show up for others.”

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/3fbNCst

Black-Owned Specialty Coffee Brand Expands Into Whole Foods and Amazon

At a time when black businesses are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, a black-owned coffee company announced a major distribution deal with Whole Foods Market and Amazon.

Blk & Bold, which claims to be the first-ever black-owned nationally distributed coffee and tea brand, has officially launched in Whole Foods Market and Amazon as of late April.

“The seemingly overnight shift of the retail landscape and store operations have no doubt impacted the flow of emerging brands entering and expanding in the market. This is also why the alliance with Whole Foods and other key retailers continues to showcase the support and belief in BLK & Bold as a coffee brand,” said the Blk & Bold co-founder and CEO Pernell Cezar in a statement to BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Blk & Bold launched in 2018 after Cezar and his childhood friend Rod Johnson each left their careers in higher education fundraising and retail merchandising. They launched BLK & Bold coffee from their headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.

Blk & Bold

The brand, which had a test run of 15 locations in Whole Foods as of mid-April, is expected to continue its expansion into Whole Foods Midwest Region to over 31 locations to Nebraska, Illinois, and Iowa markets.

The product lineup consists of three whole bean coffees with features ranging from medium and dark roast blends, single-origin light roasts, and fair trade or direct trade sourcing integrity.

In conjunction with the Whole Food expansion, BLK & Bold is making its products available on Amazon.com after launching its official Amazon storefront last month.

With every cup of coffee sold, the brand donates a portion of the proceeds to several different non-profit organizations and social causes, including the eradication of youth homelessness and food insecurity.

“As our national and regional retailer partnerships grow, so do the opportunities for anyone to participate in supporting at-risk youth, the demographic in most need,” said Johnson. “Creating a pathway for everyday consumers to become contributors to the most vulnerable communities is as personally fulfilling as it is motivating for BLK & Bold’s growth.”

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Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, Issa Rae, and Yvonne Orji Team Up With Budweiser to Stress the Importance of Check-ins

After weeks of social distancing, Budweiser teamed up with a collection of black athletes and stars to revamp their iconic “whassup” commerical to remind people to check in with their loved ones.

The original “whassup” ad debuted back in 1999, becoming a pop culture phenomenon that created a widely-used catchphrase. Now, more than two decades later, Budweiser has reimaged the commercial with a modern-day twist as the country comes to grips with the coronavirus crisis and social isolation.

The campaign’s first episode launched on April 23, featuring NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade, his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, retired NBA star Chris Bosh, WNBA star Candace Parker, and DJ D-Nice.

The second ad in the campaign was released Wednesday, starring Wade and Union, along with actors Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Emmy Raver-Lampman, and Broadway star Daveed Diggs. In the ad, the celebrities chat about living in isolation before yelling out “whassup.” Afterward, Union asks the group how they seriously feel about the pandemic. Budweiser says the goal of the campaign is to connect people with each other in order to stave off isolation and loneliness.

“My wife and I wanted to partner with Budweiser because we believe the message is crucial,” said Wade in a statement sent to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We both remembered the original ‘whassup’ ads and love the idea of bringing them back as a genuine PSA to connect with each other. We encourage everyone to take a moment out from their day to check-in with their friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”

As part of the campaign, Budweiser will make a donation to The Salvation Army for essential support of those in need due to COVID-19.  The Salvation Army launched a nationwide hotline in April in response to rising levels of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the pandemic.

“Thanks to modern technology, we’re able to remain virtually connected in ways that otherwise we would not have been able to within the current distance-mandated climate,” said Monica Rustgi, Vice President of Marketing for Budweiser. “In times like these, something as simple as a hello, or in this case ‘whassup,’ means a lot.”

According to Rustgi, the spot serves to remind people of the power of human connection, especially in times of crisis. “Following the unbelievable success of the original ad campaign, we found this to be a meaningful opportunity to revisit the original spot’s simplicity and focus on human connection in a time when people may be feeling hopeless, uncertain, and alone,” she said. “Our hope is that by getting people to check in, we can play a small part in bringing the world closer together during these trying times.”

Watch Budweiser’s latest ad below.

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