Focus

EVENTS Emerge! Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Fashion Show in Virtual Harmony

By Audrey J. Bernard

New York Fashion Week’s fall/summer collections are held in February during Black History Month and the Emerge! Fashion Virtual Runway Show, which was celebrating a decade of delivering fashions from top Black and African designers, was one of the first to sashay down the “Reimagined” virtual runway with a beautiful display of designs created by Black designers from the United States, London & Africa!

The Emerge! 10th Anniversary fashion extravaganza was hosted by Claire Sulmers of Fashion Bomb Daily, with special guest presenters Andre’ Leon Talley (former Vogue contributor), and Fern Mallis (creator of New York Fashion Week).

Emerge! 10th Anniversary designers unveiling their newest designs via creative vignettes included Terri Stevens of Funkinbeautiful Designs (Chicago), Scalo Designs (Johannesburg), Jesu’ Segun London, Orla Couture (Lagos, Nigeria), Haus of L.A. (Los Angeles, Chicago).

The virtual event also featured congratulatory remarks from fashion & style notables, an excellent performance by Yanna Cello, a nostalgic look back over the 10 year history of Emerge!, and special clips from Emerge! In addition, EMERGE! Design Talk, which covered today’s fashion challenges, featured London-based designer Ozwald Boateng, urban street wear designer Karl Kani & iconic model Pat Cleveland.

Each year the Fashion Innovator Award is presented to a fashion leader, visionary, and innovator who has paved the way for other artists in the industry and who has made a huge impact in the fashion industry. Fashion Bomb Daily’s Claire Sulmers presented the coveted award to celebrity stylist & “image architect” Law Roach for his impact

Dionne Williams, Terry Stevens Funkinbeautiful Designs

in shaping the global fashion industry. “Stylist and Image Architect, Law Roach, undeniably transforms celebrities into fashion icons and I am grateful to him for accepting this award,” stated Sulmers.

“I am so excited about the anniversary show,” says Dionne Williams, creator and producer of Emerge! Fashion Show. “When I created Emerge 10 years ago my purpose was to highlight the creativity and art that designers create for the runway. I am always at awe at the talent and gifts that designers bring to light.”

Sponsors for the show included AMBI Skincare, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, LAMIK Cosmetics & ORS Haircare and GFNTY. The virtual event streamed on GFNTV. com and on www.Emergerunwaynyc.com. GFNTV is a premiere online video network, which also streams live on various platforms including ROKU & Apple TV. (Photos courtesy Emerge!)

About Emerge! Brands

EMERGE! A Fashion Runway Show, EMERGE! Design Talk, and the Fashion Innovator Award are all brands of, or are created and produced by Dionne Williams of D. Williams Public Relations Group. These have become among the top emerging designer platforms during New York Fashion Week, and have been consistent in providing national outlets for emerging designers to showcase their work. Hundreds of designer submis-

Jesu'Segun

sions are reviewed by an elite designer committee, which selects some of the top designers from around the world to be featured and/or honored.

Queens Film Festival

qns blackstains

The Queens Underground Black and Brown Film festival is happening for the second year in a row, this time under the difficult conditions of the Covid-19 epidemic. In a virtual, live show on Saturday Feb 21, Adrienne Whaley and friends went through submitted movies both locally and from 15 countries. Check out the Queens Underground website at https://www. queensunderground718. com/# where filmmakers are invited to submit their films by March 15th for the next round of the festival. Filmmakers are invited in the genres of Movie Short, Music, Dance, Poetry or Comedy Video, Web Series Episodes, and Business / Organization Commercials. Although the focus is on Jamaica, Queens, and people of color, actually people from 15 countries of all colors, and with subjects of all colors were in films shown.

the behind the wallAnnotation

On Saturday, there were lots of movie shorts both from the live fim festival last year, and those submitted for April 16,17, 24 and 25. Joining Adrienne Whaley in the live comment gallery was B Elise, who is a singer/ songwriter and rapper, and itsb@Elise, and Kathleen and Dwayne, two young filmmakers. Later, there was a guest appearance by State Senator oooooooooooo Comrie. What Adrienne enjoyed seeing was a film, no matter how short, with a story. A short cam up “A Trip With Mom” of a young man’s Chinese American parents who are older, and the whole set of issues about taking care of and helping older parents.

The theme of the conversation was, how do artists do what they do? In order to make your dreams come true, what is key is just the fact of risk taking. Adrienne asks different directors and producers, when did you decide to become a filmmaker? You just have to start… some people never try to complete their dreams, and they suffer. The advice of various people on the panel was “start writing, start filming, even if it is on your smartphone.

Then the group watched the short “Family Box” which was a 2 minute short that showed the development of a family over time. A good trailer for a bigger film is key. You want to hide a lot, not to give away the story, that’s your business card. The movie poster is the other part of your business card… It’s powerful. Adrienne said that she gets movie poster that are just a photograph. You should have the title, director, and more info.

Adrienne confessed that “I am a serial entrepreneur.” Every business, profit or non-profit should have a 1-minute commercial. Then Kathleen described how she found the perfect videographer for her movie… She joked “I stalked him for a year!” The participants urged people to get into filmmaking, even if it is for their personal development. Be creative, recycle your shoes!

In April each day 16,17, 24, 25 will be a different block of movies, with live performers and vendors. Then they showed a favorite video from last year “Black Stains.” It was all black and brown and latin men, in a mechanics shop, dancing to the music. In a 10-min movie from last year “Cholo,” it was sort of reminiscent of Scarface. A young latin male drug addict, who knows that society sees him as a lowlife finds out that his sister was abused and murdered. Cholo searches the streets for the killer, and then gets a call that convinces him that his own dealer friends committed the crime. The film ends with a series of gun shots.

This year there will a lot of interest, works in progress and all. Otherwise,for more information and to submit films by March 15, see https://www.queensunderground718.com

AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL

The New York Urban League Centennial Celebration will be virtual elegance

By Audrey J. Bernard

The New York Urban League (NYUL) is One Hundred Years old! As one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the nation, the flagship affiliate of the National Urban League continues to challenge existing inequities of our society and the League’s work in the areas of economic development, education, and advocacy have impacted generations of underserved New Yorkers. Through direct service delivery, advocacy, referrals, community capacity building, information dissemination and technical assistance, the League accomplishes its mission to help people face and overcome barriers to full participation in American society.

Founded in 1919 to provide opportunities for Blacks migrating from the rural south to New York City, NYUL has helped workers and families gain access to jobs, schools, and opportunity. In addition, the organization has opened the ranks of many industries to Black workers and helped thousands of African American students become first generation college students.

Now 100 years later the League will celebrate its Centennial and the 55th Annual Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner Gala – virtually – filled with pomp and purpose! This year’s Centennial Celebration will take place Tuesday, March 16, 2021, and will be virtual elegance at its best! The gala will kick off with a reception at 6:00 pm, followed by the program at 6:30pm, and end with a celebratory after party with music by MC Lyte. The gala will raise funds to support new and expanded programming and community services to further the League’s mission and fund Whitney M. Young, Jr. Scholarships.

“During our celebration, we acknowledge esteemed honorees that have a steadfast commitment, dedication, and influence that have led the charge for advancing the rights of generations of underserved African Americans and salute their seminal work elevating communities, expressed Arva R. Rice, President and CEO, New York Urban League. “The Centennial Gala is a signature moment in the centennial celebration. The Gala will raise funds to support new and expanded programming and community services to further the League’s mission.”

The 2021 awards recipients include: Legendary sportsman Hank Aaron, Posthumous (Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, Civil Rights Advocate); Michael Dowling (President and CEO, Northwell); Raymond J. McGuire (former Vice

Hank Aaron Michael Dowling Crystal McCrary

Chairman, Citigroup, running for Mayor of New York City); and Daniel Schulman (President and CEO, PayPal) will receive NYUL’s most coveted honor – the Frederick Douglass Award. Film producer and social justice advocate Crystal McCrary will receive the Ann Kheel award, named for the civic leader and founder of the Frederick Douglass Awards.

The Centennial Gala will be co-hosted by Deborah Roberts, Senior National Affairs Correspondent, ABC and Al Roker, Weather and Feature Anchor, TODAY and Co-Host of Third Hour, TODAY. The gala will feature the popular Text-to Pledge hosted by Chuck Nice. Comedian Special Performances and Remarks will be provided by Keyon Harrold, Celebrated Jazz Artist, Spike Lee, Film Director, and The Hon. Andrew Young, Politician, Diplomat, and Activist. For more information please call event producer Dwight Johnson of Dwight Johnson Design at 212/889-4694.

Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. is Honorary Chair of the Centennial Celebration Gala and is joined by Honorary Committee members: Billye Suber Aaron l, Harry Belafonte, The Hon. Bill Bradley, Naomi Campbell, The late Hon. David N. Dinkins, Bethann Hardison, Iman, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Tonya Lewis Lee, Spike Lee, Hal Steinbrenner, Deborah Willis, David Winfield, Cole Anthony and Ella Anthony.

“The 55th Annual Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner Gala will enable us to commemorate our Centennial while acknowledging an esteemed roster of honorees who have a steadfast commitment and dedication to influence change and by advancing the rights of generations of African Americans. We salute their seminal work in empowering communities and changing lives,” said Ward Corbett, Board Chair, New York Urban League.

Members of the Board of Directors include: Ward Corbett, Chairman; Chadwick Roberson, Treasurer; Anwar Ismael, Secretary; Arva R. Rice, Bill Washington, Maja Hazell, Amal Alibair, Lloyd Chinn, Andrea Donkor, Douglas F. Eisenberg, Malcolm Ellis, Bryant Fields, Andrew Hall, Eric Lerner,

Raymond McGuire Daniel Schulman

Eu’nice McCoy, Barrington Rutherford, Helen C. Shelton, Darryl C. Towns, Teresa Wells. The Advisory Council includes the late Hon. David N. Dinkins, Bruce Gordon, Hon. H. Carl McCall, Raymond McGuire, and Victoria Rowell.

Gala sponsorships aid NYUL’s COVID-19 and educational response efforts, provide resources and virtual programming to those affected by COVID-19 and support the League’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which offers grants to students and families in the organization’s employment and youth services and other much-needed programs. In addition, the League is launching a Small Business Center to support African American business owners hit by the epidemic and creating a Diversity Lab to help corporations better show and serve the communities in which they do business.

“As our City and nation rise to the challenges of COVID-19, racism, and economic uncertainty, the New York Urban League’s work is more vital than ever before,” added Arva R. Rice, President and CEO, New York Urban League. “In our first century of fighting for social justice and racial equality, we have helped more than one million people achieve their potential. In this next century, we aim to improve upon that footprint and increase our engagement.”