Beauty /

GET READY FOR VALENTINE’S DAY: ERBORIAN, BAN, AND JOHN FRIEDA HAIR CARE

It’s all about the prep when it comes to a great Valentine’s Day look. Feel and look your best for date night or a girls night out with these essential products from Erborian, Ban, and John Frieda Hair Care.

Erborian BB Shot Mask ($8, Erborian.com)

Bring your skin to life with this instant beauty-boosting sheet mask that acts as a true concentrate for a flawless complexion. Delivering results comparable to those of serum, it immediately helps to plump skin with moisture, smooth and refine skin’s texture and illuminate the complexion, leaving you and your skin ready to take on the night.

Erborian Glow Crème ($42, Erborian.com)

Glow Crème offers a luminous blur effect and a fresh complexion in a simple step. Enriched with licorice extract, this multi-benefit crème helps to brighten, beautify and moisturize, while also helping to smooth the skin. Subtly pearlescent, your skin will illuminate with an ultra-radiant glow effect leaving you feeling date night ready.

Ban Purely Gentle Roll-On Deodorant ($10, Amazon.com)

Throw this roll-on deodorant in your purse for that quick touch up you need before your plans. This formula glides on clear and clump-free, leaving your skin feeling smooth and instantly refreshed. It’s made with a gentler formula, that provides 24-hour protection against underarm perspiration even for those with sensitive skin.

John Frieda Day 2 Revival Dry Shampoo ($9.49, Amazon.com)

Save time and instantly refresh second-day hair without leaving a visible residue. This lightly scented dry shampoo quickly absorbs oils and reactivates style leaving hair looking and feeling clean.

John Frieda Day 2 Revival Wave Refresh Spray ($9.49, Amazon.com)

Give yesterday’s waves a spritz with this refreshing spray that contains a unique blend of Acai and Avocado Dry Oil. This will add texture and grip to-day 2 hair, making getting ready for valentine’s day that much easier.

 

Beauty /

Dove & Kelly Rowland Hair Anthem Inspires Girls Everywhere To Rock Their Hair

Tyrelle Davis and Faith Fennidy, both 11- years old, made headlines when they were sent home from school because of their hair extensions. Eleven-year-old Jorja Orrick was bullied for having short hair, which prompted her sister Sarah to cut her own locks in solidarity. With real stories like these and a history of helping young girls build self-esteem, Dove was inspired to join forces with Kelly Rowland to write and produce an original song titled, “Crown” — a power anthem that aims to break down the narrow definition of beautiful hair and encourage girls to feel confident in wearing it how they choose. The resounding call: “Wear it proud. #MyHairMyCrown.”

“Growing up, I felt many of the pressures young girls face today when it comes to embracing their hair, but my mom would always tell me that your hair is your crowning glory and you should wear it proudly,” said Kelly Rowland. “This song is very personal to me and, having met many of the real girls who inspired it, I am incredibly proud to be partnering with Dove to spark this conversation and encourage girls everywhere to love their hair.”

Dove has long been committed to celebrating all hair types and styles through campaigns such as Love Your Curls and Love Your Hair. To further these efforts, the brand conducted a survey to better understand how to inspire hair confidence in young girls. The study found that 65 percent of young girls view their hair as a form of self-expression, however, nearly 50 percent say their hair can make them feel self-conscious. The brand also discovered that 71 percent of girls look to music as an influential factor in their lives, which inspired the brand to reach girls through this medium with the creation of “Crown”.

“Dove wants all young girls, and women, to have the confidence to wear their hair any way they choose and to see their hair as a source of confidence, not anxiety,” said Piyush Jain, Unilever Vice President of Marketing and General Manager of Hair Care. “As a brand, we are committed to celebrating all hair types, especially for young girls who start thinking about their hair’s appearance as early as age 7. Working with Kelly Rowland to produce ‘Crown’ allows us to share that message in an exciting way that we believe will resonate with girls everywhere.”

To help spread the anthem’s inspiring message, the brand will make a cameo during “E! Live From The Red Carpet: The 2019 Grammy Awards” ahead of the biggest award show in music on February 10, 2019. The special two-minute, a televised spot will feature clips from the music video for “Crown”, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, and a special message from Kelly Rowland to inspire people everywhere to join in the #MyHairMyCrown conversation.

Additionally, Dove Global Self-Esteem Ambassador, Jess Weiner, and Dove Self-Esteem Educator, Dre Brown, will lead an impactful workshop specifically designed to address topics around expressing self-confidence through embracing and celebrating all hair types. Kelly Rowland will reveal the curriculum and serve as a mentor during the workshop with young people from a local Boys & Girls Club. Dove is the largest provider of self-esteem education in the world. Through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, we have reached 29 million young people with a goal to reach another 20 million by 2020. Dove is encouraging young girls and women from all over to join in spreading this anthem far and wide. Head to YouTube and Vevo to watch and share the music video and exclusive behind the scenes content featuring the real girls who inspired the song.

Debuting February 6, 2019, the single will be released on Universal Music’s Island Records UK and available to stream on all streaming platforms.

About Dove Hair offers a wide range of solutions that provide deep nourishment and repair to meet women’s specific hair needs, whether it is dry, frizzy, in need of volume or damaged. The range includes shampoo, conditioners, treatments and styling products.

About Unilever United States, Inc. Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. In the United States, the portfolio includes brand icons such as Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Caress, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Love Beauty and Planet, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Pure Leaf, Q-tips, Schmidt’s Naturals, Seventh Generation, Simple, Sir Kensington’s, St. Ives, Suave, Sundial Brands, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TAZO, TIGI, TONI&GUY, TRESemmé and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Unilever employs approximately 8,000 people in the United States – generating more than $9 billion in sales in 2017. Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan underpins the company’s strategy and commits to:

● Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being by 2020.

● Having the environmental impact of our products by 2030.

● Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020. The USLP creates value by driving growth and trust, eliminating costs and reducing risks. Globally, the company’s sustainable living brands grew 46% faster than the rest of the business and delivered more than 70% of the company’s growth in 2017.

For more information on Unilever U.S., its brands, and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan visit: www.unileverusa.com

Celebrity /

CHLOE X HALLE ON ESSENCE MAGAZINE NEW DIGITAL COVER

ESSENCE, the number one media, technology and commerce company serving Black women, announces its first-ever digital cover. It was announced today by ESSENCE Chief Content Officer MoAna Luu. The inaugural cover, featuring Grammy-nominated sister act and Grown-ish stars Chloe x Halle, launches on Wednesday, February 6th. The launch follows the musical duo’s outstanding Super Bowl LIII performance of America the Beautiful.

Each month, ESSENCE’s digital cover will showcase a sleek, eye-catching design as well as an interactive rollout. The cover reveal will live on ESSENCE.com’s homepage as a premium featured article and touted across all of ESSENCE’s digital and social platforms. Other offerings include exclusive custom video content, such as “Uncovered” which will feature behind-the-scenes interviews; “B-side,” a game featuring cover talent; social media take-overs and more. In addition, content will also be included in ESSENCE’s monthly print newsstand edition.

“We are thrilled to have stunning sisters Chloe x Halle to grace ESSENCE’s inaugural digital cover,” said Luu. “The launch of our new digital covers is a natural progression for us, as ESSENCE’s platforms continue to reflect what is new and next in our community. It will allow us to capture the spirit of the global community of multicultural women by sharing their stories and building a platform for their voice.

We will be able to elevate our audience’s experience with a vibrant, fresh and bold new look. We are excited to be able to connect with today’s Black woman as one global community—from the United States, Africa and across the Afro-diaspora.”

In the cover story Dream Catchers—written by ESSENCE’s Fashion and Beauty Director Julee Wilson—the sisters share their reaction to their first-time Grammy-nomination, the success of the runaway hit series Grown-ish and their unbreakable bond. The cover story—shot against the stunning backdrop of the Mojave Desert—was photographed by Djenaba Aduayom and styled by Zerina Akers.

Halle tells ESSENCE: “We still feel like we’re dreaming about the Grammy nominations. We’re forever grateful, and we know that no more matter what happens, this honor, it will stay with us for the rest of our lives—and it just inspires us to keep going…”

For more on ESSENCE’s inaugural digital cover, visit ESSENCE.com.

About Essence Communications Inc.

Essence Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 17 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned, technology-driven company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.

Accessories /

Macy’s Honors American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women

Macy’s and the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement has teamed up this February, American Heart Month, to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity to women’s overall health, and to provide easy, accessible tools and resources to inspire women to get active. Macy’s has raised more than $69 million for Go Red for Women since the movement was launched in 2004, and every dollar raised helps fund lifesaving research and awareness that adds more time to women’s lives.

“As the number one killer of women, this cause is near and dear to our hearts, affecting customers and colleagues in our local communities. By providing different ways for our customers to give back, together we are helping women of all ages and backgrounds live longer, healthier lives.”

Throughout the month of February, Macy’s will give colleagues and shoppers the opportunity to help raise awareness and funds in a variety of ways.

Make Good Cents for Go Red for Women

Through Macy’s charitable round-up program, Make Good Cents, customers are invited to round-up their in-store purchase to the nearest dollar (up to $.99) and donate their change to Go Red for Women from Friday, Feb. 1 through Thursday, Feb. 28. Funds raised will be used to support education, resources, and tools for women to improve their health and well-being through physical activity.

Merchandise That Gives Back

Throughout the month of February, 10 percent of the purchase price of Macy’s exclusive red dress will benefit Go Red for Women. The limited-edition dress, by Calvin Klein ($119), will be available in select stores and on macys.com/GoRed.

Macy’s colleagues are also invited to wear red in-store to celebrate National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 1. To further celebrate, Macy’s Herald Square will help to light the night sky by turning its lights red.

“Through Macy’s commitment to supporting women’s heart health, we have contributed more than $69 million to Go Red for Women since 2004,” said Sam Harrison, vice president of giving and volunteerism at Macy’s. “As the number one killer of women, this cause is near and dear to our hearts, affecting customers and colleagues in our local communities. By providing different ways for our customers to give back, together we are helping women of all ages and backgrounds live longer, healthier lives.”

The American Heart Association’s® Go Red for Women® Red Dress Collection®, Supported by Macy’s

As a platinum sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection, Macy’s helps shine a spotlight on the issue of heart disease in women. The Red Dress Collection has kicked off New York Fashion Week since 2003 and will be staged this year on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. at The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The star-studded event will feature strong and inspiring female celebrities, as well as Macy’s own colleague and heart disease survivor, Emily Straley. These powerful women will walk the runway in gowns created by both world-renowned and up-and-coming designers. Two of the red dresses featured on the runway will be created by designers in fashion incubator programs, which are housed at Macy’s locations and develop the next generation of fashion trendsetters. The designers-in-residence featured are Madelange Laroche from Philadelphia Fashion Incubator and Rakan Shams Aldeen from Chicago Fashion Incubator.

About Macy’s

Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M), delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 650 locations in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy’s offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy’s is known for such epic events as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows, and celebrity appearances. Macy’s flagship stores — including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California — are known internationally and are leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy’s helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $52 million each year, plus 153,000 hours of volunteer service, to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.

Beauty /

L’Oréal Paris Partners With Vogue To Introduce The 2019 Hair Color of the Year

Silver hair is here to stay. L’Oréal Paris, the company that invented hair color, and Vogue, the authority on all trends, announced Silver as the 2019 Hair Color of the Year today. The hue was selected by the brand’s color designers after extensive analysis of hair color trends, search data and inspiration drawn everywhere from fashion runways and city streets to social media and travels to all corners of the world.

L’Oréal Paris is debuting a versatile assortment of silver shades ranging from Silver Blonde to Smokey Silver to Silver Blue. These new silver shades come from their top collections – Superior Preference, Feria, and Colorista Makeup, allowing people to easily achieve 2019’s most coveted color at-home.

“Not only has silver hair been a top color trend on the runways and it is the ‘it’ color for women of all ages, we love what the color stands for – it symbolizes charisma, ethereal energy, power, focus and it is beyond chic,” says Orrea Light, Vice President of L’Oréal Global Marketing Product Development and Beauty Innovation. “As the world’s #1 selling hair color brand*, we are thrilled to now bring this color trend to people everywhere in an accessible way. Whether someone’s desired result is sophisticated, daring, fun, or all three, they can find their perfect metallic match within the esteemed houses of Preference, Feria or Colorista.”

The 2019 Hair Color of the Year collection includes:

  • FERIA SMOKEY SILVER:  The L’Oréal Paris Féria franchise is known for its bold and vivid colors and always being on the cutting-edge of “what’s next” in hair color artistry. Custom blended by master colorists for the daring trendsetter, new Feria Smokey Silver is formulated with multi-faceted icy silver and a deep smokey undertone to create an edgy & metallic shade of silver.
  • SUPERIOR PREFERENCE SOFT SILVER BLONDE: Since 1973, L’Oréal Paris’ Superior Preference has proven itself time and time again as the gold standard in hair color – delivering luminous multidimensional hair color that lasts. Now, the brand debuts its modern take on a classic blonde shade with Soft Silver Blonde. This shade is a mix of warm blonde and delicate cool silver tones for a “wearable” and sophisticated silver look.
  • COLORISTA HAIR MAKEUP SILVER BLUE: For the trendsetter who only wants silver hair for 1 day,  try makeup for your hair. New Colorista Hair Makeup Silver Blue is a gentle gel-cream formula mixed with icy silver makeup pigments for a vivid silver blue color payoff without the long-term commitment.

“While other aspects of beauty can surely make an impact, nothing quite compares to the effect of that perfect statement-making color. I have seen a big uptick in client requests for silver this year and love that L’Oréal Paris makes it easy to achieve at home,” says Jonathan Colombini, L’Oréal Paris Hair Color Consulting Colorist and Stylist. “The best part about the lineup is that it’s color any way you like it – not only are they the shades of the moment, but they span different formulas and application techniques, which means there is a silver for every lifestyle.”

The 2019 Hair Color of the Year will come to life through Vogue.com, Vogue and L’Oréal Paris’ social & digital channels, in Vogue magazine’s February Issue and during New York Fashion Week. People are encouraged to show off their own silver hair by tagging @lorealhair and using #HairColoroftheYear.

*Based on Nielsen data for units of L’Oréal Paris brand hair color sold in 2018.

About L’Oréal Paris:

The L’Oréal Paris division of L’Oréal USA, Inc. is a total beauty care brand dedicated to empowering women by offering luxurious and innovative products and services available in the mass market.  The brand’s signature tagline, “Because I’m Worth It,” was born in the United States in 1973 to celebrate the beauty and intrinsic self-worth of women, and for more than 100 years, L’Oréal Paris has been providing women around the world with products in four major beauty categories: hair color, haircare, skincare, and cosmetics. With L’Oréal’s invention of hair color in 1909, the brand continues to serve as a leading innovator of hair products across color, care, and styling with brands such as Superior Preference, Féria, Colorista, Elvive, the Ever Collection, and Elnett Satin Hairspray. L’Oréal Paris provides scientifically-advanced skincare products that are tested to address individual skin concerns through its renowned brands Revitalift, Pure-Sugar, Pure-Clay, Age Perfect, and Sublime Bronze. L’Oréal Paris’ iconic cosmetics include best-seller Voluminous Lash Paradise, as well as the Infallible, True Match, Colour Riche, Voluminous, and Visible Lift collections. For more information about L’Oréal Paris and to receive personalized advice, expert tips, and exclusive content, please visit www.lorealparisusa.com or follow on Instagram (@LOrealMakeup, @LOrealHair, @LOrealSkin, @LOrealMen, Snapchat (@LOrealMakeup), Twitter (@LOrealParisUSA), Facebook (@LOrealParisUSA), and Pinterest (@LOrealParisUSA).

Accessories /

Tunic Dress With Embroidered Bishop Sleeves #OOTD or #WIW

Let’s be clear, I am an avid Amazon shopper.  I order everything from groceries to electronics.  Lately, due to the cold weather, I have been fascinated with their women’s clothing department.  I think it’s because number one, the order comes to my doorstep, number two, there’s a variety of merchandise and sizes, and number three I don’t have to wait in line.  If you follow me on Instagram then you probably know that I share an outfit (or Outfit of The Day hashtag #OOTD) on Sunday afternoons.

This is the day I dress up for church, brunch or family activities.  Either way, Sunday afternoon is my general target day to share outfit inspiration.  Last week I was in a jam because I had no idea what to wear the upcoming Sunday and my fingers instantly typed Amazon.  I found this beautiful Tunic Dress with Mesh Bishop Sleeves!  This dress was appealing because the sleeves are detailed and dress length perfect for a cold day.  I decided to wear it with black tights for added warmth and traditional black heels.

Oh!  The dress price was amazing, basically under twenty dollars.  What is your favorite Amazon find?  I am considering making a section on this site for Amazon finds only!

Accessories /

Meghan Markle’s Polished Look: Top Knot Bun and Black Givenchy Dress

Meghan Markle was seen yesterday visiting the Association of Commonwealth Universities.   The Duchess of Suxxex wore an all-black ensemble with traditional nude pumps!

Meghan changed her hair for the event by wearing a top knot bun.  It was stated that her dress was from the high-fashion designer Givenchy.

 

 

 

 

Beauty /

Valentine’s Day Date Night Prep

Prepping for Valentine’s Day can be a chore, but with the help of these date night essentials, you’ll be out the door and fully prepped in no time! These easy to apply, fast acting formulas will make your date night prep a breeze!

  • Curél Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer (Target.com; $10.99): No time to moisturize? Don’t sweat it. This in shower wet skin moisturizer is the ultimate time saver. Simply apply on wet skin with the water turned off, and feel instantly moisturized just moments later. When used daily, you can end dry skin for good!
  • Jergens Brilliance Flawless Effects Moisturizer (Amazon; $11.99): This skin-perfecting moisturizer will give you all the confidence to wear that little red dress this Valentine’s Day! Going a step further than hydration, this moisturizer instantly perfects skin by blurring imperfections and improving overall skin tone on the spot.
  • Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in Pink Blink ($4.99;Target.com): The perfect date night pink, with the ultimate perk- 60-second drying. Simply apply one coat, dry, and be on your way!
  • Josie Maran Vibrancy Paint Palate ($42.00; Josiemarancosmetics.com): For the final touch, and ultimate ease, add some color to your look with this multipurpose palate. Each blendable shade is perfect for eyes, lips,
Lifestyle Tips /

#Lifestyle How To Start A Budget When You Are In Debt: Financial Freedom

I’m going to let you into my secret about budgeting.  Budgeting doesn’t necessarily translate into restriction, you but when viewed from a different perspective it is freedom. Yes! Budget is freedom. Having a fancy dinner on weekends or take outs just for ease may be what you want now but it’s something you are doing unconsciously and may regret it at the end of the month. Budgeting gets you focused on what you want from life and helps your dream become reality.

Maybe the debt you are facing now could be something you feel isn’t even important now. The life-and-death situation was just in your head. But now you are left with debt. It’s something that is stressing you out.

Featured Photo from Marie Claire

Stressing out isn’t going to help you out. What you need is a clear plan of action on how to pay off your debt. That’s where budgeting comes in. It will help you save money to pay off your debt, and still enjoy the better things in life.

Your Earning

Start by listing all your income sources along with them the amount you earn. This includes; wages, alimony, child support or any other income you have. Once you have this list, it is clear that how much money you make in a month and that’s a target to start with. You must now plan accordingly.

Realistic Spending Plan

The second step is to list down the expenses that you cannot forego. These are the necessary items such as utilities, grocery (take a step down if necessary), transportation or parking to work, rent or mortgage, medication and so on. This is where you focus on the definite expenses that cannot be neglected and expenses such as cable TV and other particulars that must be let go. Now you know the amount of money you are spending. Just create a realistic spending plan that you follow until you are debt free.

This plan is totally based on priority; you must prioritize your spending. Here are some tips that cut down the niceties from your monthly spending. First of all, you should consider forgoing expensive drinks or planning out weekends for some time. Use your mobile phones for calls only and cut down the extra packages you use for entertainment. Pay with cash. Don’t use credit cards!

Finding the Buffer

If the amount of money earned is 20% more than your realistic spending plan than that’s an ideal situation. You have that buffer needed for saving. But if it is equal or unfortunately less than you’re earning. then you need to either cut down your necessities or find one more source of earning. Find a business you are passionate about. If capital is what’s stopping you, then you can always get a loan with bad credit. But before you consider investing, make sure your business is low risk and its something you are passionate about.

Savings

Saving is the most important step as this will help you pay off your debt. For saving, you need to create a separate account. Do not touch this account, except in extreme emergencies. Needing a new dress for an office party doesn’t count as an emergency.

I’ll be honest with you, if you do not focus on your saving, then you will keep using your credit line to deal with your debt. The debt would still be there five or six years later. Not a fancy situation. And once you have enough money in your saving account, start looking for a financial planner. Invest for your future.

Updated List of Spending and Saving

Create an excel sheet for your spending and saving. Update it on a periodic basis. This helps you check which category has more spending in a month. You can then balance it by cutting your expenses in some other area. This check and balance will help you maintain your savings. Learning to manage your monthly expenses takes time, patience and a lot of compromises. But do not lose patience. Be persistent and you will see results for yourself.

Debt that Fits Your Budget

Ideally, you need to lower your credit utilization ratio so that your credit score increases. This is going to automatically lower your debt. If your credit utilization ratio is 10%, then you need to lower it. For this, you need to note down your credit limit and divide it by the number 10. This is your target which you need to achieve. Pay of as much as you can to get to this number. For this, you need to budget again.

Making a budget has many benefits. It transforms stress into a feeling of empowerment. It helps reveal the money you are wasting and direct your priorities. Not only does it direct priorities but creates a habit of saving and makes a person sensible enough to think ahead of time. Plan for the future.

Collaborative Post

Entertainment /

ESSENCE ESTABLISHES “THE PIPELINE: AN ECONOMIC INCLUSION INITIATIVE” TO GROW ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TECHNICAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN LOUISIANA

ESSENCE, the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women with a global brand reach of over 17 million, will partner with the City of New Orleans and the Urban League of Louisiana to launch The Pipeline: An Economic Inclusion Initiative.

The Pipeline is designed to increase the pool of Louisiana-based women and Black professionals pursuing careers and business opportunities in live events and technical production. This initiative will also create opportunities to connect existing production entrepreneurs to service contracts in the industry at both the corporate and governmental levels and give them access to networking, capital raising and opportunities for training and skills development. It will also include an internship program for youth who aspire for careers in media and live production and more.

In 2018, Essence Communications was acquired by Essence Ventures, an independent African-American owned company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color. As the brand celebrates its one-year anniversary of becoming 100% Black-owned again, ESSENCE is furthering its commitment to enabling sustainable opportunities for economic independence, social empowerment and wealth creation for Black women and their communities.

“Our Pipeline Initiative is so meaningful because we are establishing it in direct response to a critical void that we have identified while successfully building the ESSENCE Festival and other live experiential and content platforms for 25 years – the need for more Black professionals prepared to bid on large-scale live events and technical production,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of Essence. “This effort speaks directly to ESSENCE’s mission of serving our audience in every way—especially by empowering them to own their economic security. It will allow us to become a conduit for Black businesses and entrepreneurs to help them source targeted opportunities in a space where we are underrepresented. We thank the City of New Orleans, the Urban League of Louisiana and each of our partners for their vision and support in this important endeavor.”

As part of ESSENCE’s partnership with the Urban League of Louisiana, the Pipeline Initiative will launch with information briefings that will target potential bidders in key Louisiana cities featuring RFP training and more. The sessions will be held in New Orleans (February 5th), Baton Rouge (February 6th), Shreveport (February 7th) and Monroe (February 8th). To register or for more information, visit Essence.com/Festival/Pipeline.

In addition to the City of New Orleans and the Urban League of Louisiana, the Pipeline Initiative will partner with several other key community and business organizations, including New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC), Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and the New Voices Fund. In 2020 and beyond, the Pipeline initiative will also partner with Louisiana academic institutions to launch the Essence Live Production Academy. The Academy will feature a collection of e-training and live training modules for small businesses and will be instructed by leading industry professionals with a focus on key areas of technical production – audio, lighting, staging and live event management. 

“I am very excited about the collaboration between ESSENCE, The Louisiana Urban League, and the City of New Orleans for The Pipeline economic initiative,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “It’s a great way to create opportunities for talented women and Black professionals in the live events and production fields. With New Orleans being a hub for live events, we are being intentional about bridging the gap between opportunity and those who may have not had previous access to those opportunities.”

“We are grateful to partner with ESSENCE and the City of New Orleans to support The Pipeline,” said Judy Reese Morse, President, and CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana. “Our mission speaks directly to the power and importance of economic self-reliance for those we serve. This innovative collaboration brings the business, non-profit and government sectors together to deliver access and capacity building for small business entrepreneurs to grow and compete. The Pipeline is adding seats to the table, and our small business owners will be ready to join in and participate.”

 

About Essence Communications Inc. 

Essence Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 17 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned, technology-driven company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to