Over the weekend, thousands of Black and brown creatives and young professionals flocked to Brooklyn Navy Yard for CultureCon 2023. Among these attendees was a resilient group of Virgin Islanders, eagerly soaking up inspiration and insight.
Powered by The Creative Collective NYC, the two-day conference provided many opportunities to gain career insight, which ranged from valuable networking opportunities to sitting in on fireside chats with industry trailblazers like Issa Rae, Teyana Taylor, Jarrell Jerome, Marsai Martin and more.
”This being my first year at CultureCon, I didn't really know what to expect. But I will say the weekend exceeded what I could've possibly imagined. Being in attendance at one of the biggest conferences for BIPOC creatives was nourishing enough for my creative soul. But to add the fact that I get to share the environment with other Virgin Islands creatives — some long time friends and some I'm meeting for the first time — the vibes were immaculate. I would do the weekend all over again if I could.
Omari GrahamAttendee
Highlights
Issa Rae, the creative genius behind HOORAE Media and all the incredible companies under it’s umberella, like Raedio and ColorCreative, delivered powerful takeaways during her fireside chat. She emphasized the transformative power of collaboration and shattered the myth that going it alone is a badge of honor.
Rae stressed the importance of ensuring that collaborations are mutually beneficial and rooted in a shared vision. This resonated deeply with our commitment to fostering a thriving creative community in the Virgin Islands, where artists put each other on to collaborative opportunities.
Source: Arturo Holmes / Getty
Later that day, we heard from another creative genius, the multi-talented Teyana Taylor. During her time on stage, she addressed what people have been referring to as a pivot from music to creative direction. She shared with us that she has always loved helping people and has been doing it behind the scenes for years. Now that she has stepped back from making music, she gets to tap into that side of herself more. We posted a snippet of this conversation on Twitter (and she retweeted us! 😆)
Following a filling day of sessions and workshops, Kickin It hosted a dinner for Virgin Islands creatives at a beautiful restaurant in Brooklyn. It presented the perfect opportunity to link up with other Virgin Islands based creative organizations like VI Crawl and ElevateWi, that flew to New York for the conference as well. The evening brimmed with connection, shared dreams, and communal support.
”CultureCon 2023 was by far an incredibly exhilarating experience. To be in rooms with so many like minded, talented individuals spanning various industries spoke to the true power of collaboration. The impactful presentations and sessions from leaders in the industry provided much needed insight.
I particularly enjoyed being able to meet and interact with the Virgin Islands delegation. Together, I see us curating a culture in the Virgin Islands where creatives are leading the way and excelling.
Ronn GrantAttendee
”Having the opportunity to experience CultureCon with creatives from home was one of my favorite highlights of this trip. The link up was surreal and the chance to connect and converse about our dreams, goals and aspirations in our respective fields/passions was appreciated. This trip was refreshing mentally and it allowed my imagination to run wild and free, amongst like minded individuals that look just like me. The creative industry is filled with so many different avenues and I’m grateful to be able to witness it and gain insight on how to continue growing a brand/ business all while sharing my passion with my community. Thank you Kickin It for creating these opportunities and providing an experience worthwhile.
Neiva WeeksAttendee
”As someone who kickstarted their creative career in radio, recording a two-minute podcast about one of my greatest creative inspirations, Angie Martinez, at the Spotify booth was an absolute highlight.
The most powerful lesson I took away from this experience was the importance of showing up as my authentic self, recognizing that there's something uniquely valuable within me that cannot be replicated.
CultureCon left an indescribable impact on my spirit, and I wholeheartedly believe that any creative soul would benefit immensely from attending this event. I am extremely grateful to Kickin' It for affording me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A big heartfelt THANK YOU for making it all possible! I will forever cherish the incredible weekend and hold these memories close to my heart.
Elanie Jno-BaptisteSt. Croix, USVI
This trip was made possible through complimentary tickets generously provided by The Creative Collective NYC. We eagerly anticipate offering more opportunities like this to the creatives in our community.
As we move forward, inspired by CultureCon, we’re determined to nurture our creative ecosystem with the same vigor and energy we found in New York.
”Kickin It is excited and prepared to put in the work to be the change we want to see in our local creative industry. We look forward to establishing deeper relationships with companies, businesses and other organizations in the Virgin Islands whose interests and goals align with ours. Our impact will be stronger together. My hope is that community members will see what we're doing with the little we have and imagine the amazing possibilities we can achieve together with their support.
Kyra James DouglasFounder, Kickin It
To learn more about Kickin It’s efforts and how you can help, contact us at hello@kickinitvi.com
