This past March, in honor of Women’s History Month and our continuous effort to celebrate underrepresented communities, we hosted the first inaugural REPRESENT Brunch, a new event dedicated to honoring emerging Black women & non-binary people in the music industry.
A range of artists, music creatives and executives were in attendance as we gathered in the spacious outdoor patio of Alta Adams, a Black-owned restaurant located in the historic West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. Guests were greeted with cocktails provided by Red Bull and invited into a warm and welcoming atmosphere decorated with lush florals by Bia Blooms, a Black female-owned floral design studio.
One of the best parts of the brunch was having the opportunity to highlight three talented individuals – R&B songstress Fana Hues, IJEOMA Founder and recently appointed Capitol Music SVP Rebecca “Dimplez” Ijeoma, and enigmatic pop artist Starmaxx, also our co-host for the brunch. Each honoree received a custom Bia Blooms bouquet along with a $500 donation to the charity of their choice. Our very own Jamilla Johnson (Social Media and Creative Content Manager, AWAL) led the flower ceremony and took time to introduce the guests of honor and their unique accomplishments one by one, awarding them for their tireless efforts, personal growth, and creative contributions to the industry.
The energy was felt, connections were made, and flowers were given – and that’s, in essence, the purpose of REPRESENT. “The feeling of someone creating a space for you is something not everyone has the opportunity to experience,” shared Kelshe Woodard of AEG as she expressed gratitude for the event. Barbara Smith of Freeform who was also in attendance said, “The AWAL REPRESENT Brunch was an incredible event. To be able to meet women and non-binary people of color from all different parts of the music industry was invaluable.” We are extremely grateful to have created such a memorable experience for so many. Head over to our YouTube to see a recap of the day.
At AWAL, we know the journey is just as important as the win, and this brunch allowed us to come together and celebrate the journey of underrepresented communities who are putting in the work, tearing down barriers, and building their legacy brick by brick. Whether you’ve had many career successes or are working towards your first, we want to remind you to stop and smell the flowers, celebrate how far you’ve come, and raise a glass to whatever is next!
Learn More About The Charities Chosen By The Honorees:
Fana Hues chose Aim4TheHeart which strives to instill emotional literacy in the youth through training in the arts. Learn more here.
Dimplez chose Afghan Refugee Relief, whose mission is to help incoming Afghan refugees focused on helping refugees, asylum-seekers and humanitarian parolees resettle in America. Learn more here.
Starmaxx chose R.O.A.D, a trans led grassroots org invested in advancing the social and economic well-being of African Descendants, with an urgent focus on queer, same-gender loving, transgender, and non-binary people, and ultimately the entire community. Learn more here.
