Our Networking Guide To Navigate This Summer's Biggest Conferences
American Black Film Festival: June 13 - 17, 2018
If you are an actor, filmmaker, or just have the love of black cinema, the 22nd annual American Black Film Festival is the place for you. It's held in Miami every year and is a place our favorite celebrities attend each year to talk about their new projects. "For African American women, I think regardless of if you're in the industry or not, it's a festival that offers an array of celebrity panels, workshops, networking opportunities, parties, and screenings that can help with career enhancement, personal growth, and just a genuinely good time! You would benefit most if you're someone who is interested in all the above while also looking to be in an environment that promotes sisterhood, black excellence, and creativity," Alaina Pinkney, founder of Electric Heart Media explained.
Alaina Pinkney
Networked Her Way to A Job & A Husband
Alaina started attending ABFF in 2012 and met her husband the first year she attended. "I met my husband here the first year we both attended and it just proves that being in a room with people who look like you, talk like you, and have similar goals as you, is a great space to meet and connect with people who are on your path," she shared.
She started as a volunteer that year because she is a screenwriter who wanted the opportunity to meet other black artists at the conference and now works as festival staff. "The networking I've been able to do by repeatedly coming every year and continuing to grow relationships with people I've met here in passing has helped open personal doors for myself and my marketing and branding company Electric Heart Media, LLC. People that I've met through ABFF have led me to global opportunities to work with some amazing brands and companies on incredible projects. ABFF is one of the most respected festivals around and to be associated with that type of excellence has given me access to people and areas in the industry that would have taken me longer had I tried to knock on doors on my own," Alaina continued.
Heighten Your Social Presence
Besides having your business cards on deck, Alaina suggests being active on social media throughout your time at the festival.
"Get your social media game up so you can easily add people and be easily found since social networking is just as important nowadays as exchanging phone numbers."
I believe networking at any festival requires a level of openness and accessibility that only comes when you're in a mindset to meet, greet and repeat. You have to be approachable for people to inquire about what you do, who you are, and what you can offer. You need to use your voice to approach and greet people without fear; a level of freedom that can turn any conversation from a hello to a how can we help each other.
Mind Your Social Cues
When mingling in a room of celebrities and gatekeepers in your industry, it's important to understand etiquette and body language. "I think if you're a writer, an actor, a director, make a plan of attack using the ABFF schedule to plant yourself in the right rooms to meet the right people and make the right connections so you can leave the festival feeling satisfied and fulfilled. Know the right time to strike and always read body language and recognize social cues that people are giving. I've seen a lot of hungry filmmakers push their ideas on people who are clearly uninterested or just not present in the moment. It goes back to my statement about seeing these people again if you attend other festivals and events. Sometimes you need to build slow, build trust, make the initial connection, and then treat life like a chess game and make strategic moves to reach your target long after," explained Alaina.
"Know the right time to strike and always read body language and recognize social cues that people are giving."
Places to Network
Alaina suggests visiting Betsy Hotel, Nikki Beach, Loews South Beach Hotel, and Nautilus Hotel throughout the festival for activities and run-ins with celebrities or Black Hollywood's tastemakers. Plan to use those hotels as spots to schedule lunch, dinner, or drinks with people you meet at the festival. "There's plenty of talent workshops and opportunities and networking lounges that you can easily find a new tribe of other creatives or enthusiasts if you set your sights on being on the right places that best serve your goals at the festival. The festival parties and post-panel/workshops are the best gateway locations to find yourself surrounded by like-minded people who are on a similar journey as you."
Click Next Page to learn tips & tricks about navigating ESSENCE Fest:
- How to Network Effectively at Conferences - YouTube ›
- HOW TO NETWORK AT CONFERENCES ›
- Pro Tip: How To Maximize Networking At Conferences ›
- How to network at conferences even if you're not a natural — Quartz ... ›
- 6 Secrets to Better Networking at Conferences | Dave Kerpen | Pulse ... ›
- How to Network at a Conference: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow ›
- 5 Ways to Make Conference Networking Easier ›
- 21 Networking Tips That Will Rock Your Next Conference ›
- How to Network at a Conference: 101 Tips From Marketing's Best ›
- How to Make Networking at Conferences Feel Less Icky ›
- Why Conferences Are the Best Place to Network - The Muse ›
- Networking Conferences Statistics ›
- Top Conferences for Networks and Communications ›
Brittney Oliver is a marketing communications professional from Greater Nashville. Over the past three years, Brittney has built her platform Lemons 2 Lemonade to help Millennials turn life's obstacles around. Her platform is known for its networking mixers, which has brought over 300 NYC young professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives together to turn life's lemons into lemonade. Brittney is a contributing writer for Fast Company and ESSENCE, among other media outlets.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Taraji P. Henson Sheds Light On Her Work To Destigmatize Mental Health Within The Black Community
Since 2018, actress Taraji P. Henson has used her platform to advocate for mental health within the Black community. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the co-founder of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) spoke to Verywell Mind about her work to destigmatize mental health in the Black community.
For Henson, her journey with mental health hasn’t been an easy one to share publically, however, The Color Purple star says she hopes her speaking out about her experience will empower others to share their stories and receive support.
“I broke my silence to free someone else to share their story and ultimately get the support they need. It wasn’t easy, especially when you’re in the public space, but it was worth it,” she reflects. “When I get DMs on social media from people who have actually received the free therapy and resources my foundation offers, it fills my heart more than anything I’ve done as an artist.”
Henson’s foundation, Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF), named after her grandfather, is dedicated to providing culturally competent therapy referrals and wellness resources while, “chipping away at that mistrust by offering culturally relevant, barrier-free services in traditional trusted spaces like barbershops, HBCU campuses, and with providers and practitioners who practice cultural humility,” she says.
According to a study by the National Mental Health Association, 63% of Black individuals perceive a mental health issue as indicative of personal “weakness” — a stigma that can consequently, lead to individuals feeling ashamed of their mental health condition and fear discrimination based on it.
With this in mind, the award-winning actress stresses that strength can be found in vulnerability; and advocates for breaking the cycle of suffering through transparency.
“Cultural humility in caring for BIPOC communities. We all show up in the world with cultural norms and historical contexts that are often missed,” she says. “What services may work for one group can actually be detrimental to another at that goes even deeper into layers of experiences and zip codes. We are not a monolith.”
She continues, “Vulnerability is your strength, not a weakness. We have to break the cycle of suffering so that we can live healthy whole lives without being shackled to our trauma. There are free services out here whether it’s therapy or yoga or African dance that can help you at least start your journey to healing. Joy is our birthright and you deserve that.”
Despite the ongoing challenges in advancing mental health efforts for marginalized communities, Henson maintains her motivation through the significant progress achieved over time.
“We still have a lot of work to do, especially given the cuts in funding to DEI initiatives. The progress we’ve made in such a short period of time, keeps me fighting for us.”
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Featured image by Greg Doherty/WireImage