Twenty Virgin Islanders will benefit from tickets to attend CultureCon this October, thanks to the efforts of Kickin It, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering homegrown creatives. Through its growing partnership with the conference, Kickin It has secured these tickets to ensure Virgin Islands talent can access the largest conference of its kind for creatives of color.
This milestone marks a significant increase from the 5 tickets in 2023 and 10 in 2024, demonstrating the growing impact of both organizations.
CultureCon, which takes place on October 4th and 5th in Brooklyn, New York, is a weekend packed with summits, panels, discussions, and networking opportunities for creatives and entrepreneurs across a variety of mediums and industries. This year’s theme is “Take Space,” a powerful message that resonates deeply with Kickin It’s mission.
Kickin It Founder Kyra James has been committed to making CultureCon accessible to creatives from the territory since attending herself for the first time in 2022. Recognizing the financial barriers of travel, Kyra has made it her mission to secure free tickets annually to help reduce costs for local talent.
”We are incredibly proud to continue our partnership with CultureCon. This increase in tickets is a testament to our community's growth and CultureCon's commitment to supporting creatives of color worldwide. It means a lot to have creatives from the Virgin Islands included in an event that welcomes 10,000 attendees from across the globe.
Kyra JamesFounder, Kickin It
The tangible impact of this initiative is echoed by past attendees. “Attending CultureCon with Kickin It was such an invaluable experience,” said a past attendee. “Being surrounded by so many beautiful black creatives felt electric! Not only were the speakers, presenters, hosts, and participating brands fantastic, but the networking opportunities were also a highlight of the experience. I am forever grateful and thankful to have been given the opportunity to be in that moment. I learned so much about myself and left feeling renewed and ready to step into all the greatness that I am and can be.”
For the first time this year, Kickin It will also provide travel stipends for three creatives from the British Virgin Islands. This initiative aims to further alleviate travel expenses and ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent deserving creatives from attending.
In a move to foster broader regional collaboration, Kickin It is also partnering with Industry 360, a regional organization focused on Caribbean creative development. Together, they will distribute an additional creatives from other Caribbean islands, promoting community building and peer-to-peer connection.
This year’s CultureCon will feature over 200 speakers, including headliners such as Kerry Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Jennifer Hudson, Jesse Williams, and Michael Ealy. By providing these opportunities, Kickin It aims to invest in local talent, support the development of the orange economy, and provide resources for creatives to sharpen their skills and find inspiration.
For more information on how to apply for a free ticket, please visit kickinitvi.com/culturecon.
