20 24 YEAR IN REVIEW
A Letter FROM OUR FOUNDERS
The Burns Brothers ended 2024 on a high note. We reaffirmed strong relationships with existing clients and went further by ticking off many bucket list collaborations, working with inspiring leaders, incredible brands, and trailblazing organizations. And last year, as in years previous, we’re proud to share that we saw the work we did for our clients not only better their bottom line, satisfy their stakeholders, and raise their public profile, our efforts also left a positive impact that can be felt among communities and demographics who have been traditionally overlooked, underestimated, and misunderstood.
The Burns Brothers became even more engrained in our DC community, working with businesses in the area, small, Black-owned enterprises, and DMV artists through our own local DC business, HQ DC House. While we grow, we continue to take risks and bet on our brand, our team, and the demand for what we believe we do best: bringing people together.
In this vein, we’ve extended our reach beyond DC, with HQ Kenya House and HQ Global Network—launching next year. Our organization also gave back more than ever last year, and we are excited to report that we achieved another milestone: scaling up our philanthropic arm, Icon To Ican, so that it has a definitive nationwide presence. In 2024, we focused on defining our key service offerings and strengthening our business lines. In 2025, there’s no doubt that many changes are coming to DC and our nation. While we cannot predict the future, we can forecast that you will be able to count on The Burns Brothers to continue driving change and soaring to new heights.
THE BURNS BROTHERS AN
INTERNATIONAL TEAM
OUR FAMILY OF BRANDS
The Burns Brothers is a family of culture-focused companies dedicated to creating a more inclusive world. We help our clients develop authentic relationships with diverse communities through cutting-edge marketing, development, and community solutions grounded in insights and understanding that accelerate business results.
AARP’s Black Aging Summit
Aging While Black, Black Aging Summit, was a series of events designed to explore and address issues faced by Black Americans who exist at a unique intersection of race, age, and economic disenfranchisement. Styled organized the event, Hosted at HQ DC House, and procured event speakers and facilitators who discussed prospects for future economic mobility, workforce development, and entrepreneurship opportunities for seniors— while identifying actionable policy changes across various systems such as healthcare, housing, and financial services.
Amazon BBA Connect and Cultivate LA ,mmmmmmm
This year, Styled by The Burns Brothers teamed up with our partners at Amazon to throw events in key American cities, such as Atlanta, DC, New Orleans, and LA, all to support and uplift the Black sellers on their platform. Through their series of dinners, networking events, and a specially themed brunch, Amazon gave their sellers a chance to receive mentorship, share peerto-peer knowledge, and unite with investors, advisors, finance experts, and other internal Amazon stakeholders.
We partnered with the American Heart Association to curate an event that brought together stakeholders from various legislative caucus foundations, as well as healthcare professionals and fundraising experts who serve the key constituencies that AHA works with.
ASJ- Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington
On September 24th, a powerful march and rally united 2,500 people—crime survivors and advocates for justice from across the nation. This gathering served as a platform for survivors of violent crime and families of victims to share their stories, raise awareness, and fight for change. Styled by The Burns Brothers worked to create for Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) a multi-day program, which consisted of a Staff Dinner, VIP & Welcome Reception, March to the Nation Mall, Candlelight Vigil, Keynote Speeches, Concert, and Visits to Lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Raben X TBB
Democracy House @ The Democratic National Convention
We partnered with Raben to curate Democracy House, a 5-day activation at The Wit, Chicago. Consisting of 60 events total, Styled and Raben executed events featuring household names in political, civil, and labor rights activism, such as The Reverend Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, Senator Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Adam Schiff, Congressman Jamie Raskin, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Maya Wiley, and Dolores Huerta.
The White House’s 2024 Juneteenth Concert
Styled was tasked with producing the White House Juneteenth Concert for a second year in a row. 2024 focused on the history of the Juneteenth holiday from emancipation all the way up to present day. The event featured talented performers and presenters, the likes of Roy Wood Jr., Kirk Franklin, Gladys
Knight, Mekai Curtis, Patina Miller, Trombone Shorty, Doug E. Fresh, Raheem DeVaughn, Anthony Hamilton, Brittney Spencer, Patti LaBelle, and Charlie Wilson.
The LA Party
The office of Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove reached out to Styled to deliver another edition of The LA Party. Hosted at The Line Hotel, The LA Party brought together 1,000 DC Congress members, executives, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation board members, and their friends to close out the Congressional Black Caucus’ 2024 Annual Legislative Conference. The night’s performers were DJ Ryan Kersey and a special guest performer: hip-hop veteran Wale.
United States of Culture @ TAO Chicago
Styled by The Burns Brothers, Atlas Strategy Group, and the Kairos Democracy Project teamed up to throw The United States of Culture Party at the TAO Nightclub in Chicago. Hosted during the closing of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, The TAO Party brought together a total of 800 guests to mark the occasion.
Texas Rising ft. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett
During the Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conference, Styled honored Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a dedicated public servant and the representative for Texas’s 30th Congressional District. The event saw the Congresswoman receive her award surrounded by loved ones and stakeholders ready to collaborate on initiatives that would benefit the great state of Texas.
AKA Founder’s Day ft. Ava Duvernay
This was a celebration of the First and The Finest. On the 108th anniversary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., HQ DC Hosted numerous sorors in our House for a Founders Day celebration.
Atlas Strategy Group & Black to San Francisco: Black Mayor’s Event
Black to San Francisco, Atlas Strategy Group, and The Burns Brothers held a private dinner reception in honor of The U.S.’ most distinguished mayors at HQ DC House. Held during the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the event honored the contributions of elected officials who demonstrated exceptional leadership in furthering economic justice and advancing education, especially at our nation’s HBCUs.
World AIDS Day with Gilead Sciences
On February 6th, Gilead Sciences came to HQ DC to commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with a discussion geared at uniting the community and addressing the important work that’s still left to do in the fight against the virus. Afterward, guests were treated to the musical stylings of Raheem Devaughn and Goapele.
Yellow
HQ DC House had the lively team from Yellow light up our space for a Bright Sparks conversation and mixer. Founded by recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Pharrell, Yellow is a nonprofit working to even the odds through education. The conversation was titled The Expansion, Impact & Legacy Of Black Excellence.
Bonita Amplifies Experience Launch
The Bonita Project, a Latinx-owned media agency, kicked off their nationwide Bonita Amplifies Experience with a networking mixer at HQ DC House. Their first event outside of NYC, they came to the DMV to host and celebrate Black content creators during Black History Month. The event was sponsored by Urban Decay Cosmetics.
Charrisse Jackson-Jordan Conversations in the Champagne Room Taping
Charrisse Jackson-Jordan from Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Potomac chose HQ DC House to host the launch party for her new podcast “Conversations in the Champagne Room.”
The podcast is a part of the ALIVE Podcast Network family and features real conversations, pulse-checking, and healing out loud.
HQ Travels Takes Tulum
HQ Travels, HQ DC House’s travel group, took their first trip to sunny Tulum, Mexico, for an Adult Spring Break trip! Members were treated to many amazing experiences while they stayed at their luxury resort, including spa treatments, cultural tours, authentic Mexican mezcal tastings, ziplining, ATV riding, a refreshing dip in a real cenote, and so much more.
American Pride Rises ft. Stacey Abrams
HQ DC House was the venue of a lively happy hour put on by American Pride Rises (APR) and their Founder, Stacey Abrams. APR is a network of organizations committed to protecting pathways to the American Dream, pushing policies that protect our civil, gender rights, labor, and voting rights, and fighting unethical attacks on DEI initiatives. The event featured speakers Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and actress Erika Alexander.
Kairos Conversation
We welcomed back Kairos Democracy Project and Atlas Strategy Group for a KAIROS Conversation during CBC week. The speakers emphasized the essential connections between health, justice, and economic opportunity.
Porsche
HQ DC House members always get exclusive access to the latest drops from our friends at Porsche Arlington. We partnered with the luxury car dealer for the unveiling of their brand-new 2025 Macan Electric. Guests gathered at The Cove, a 40,000 sq. ft. oasis that provided picture-perfect cabanas, cozy outdoor seating by the waterfront, tropical drinks, and delicious food.
Ugandan Independence Day with Black Professionals in International Affairs & Ministry of Foreign Affairs Uganda
HQ DC Uganda Independence Celebration
Uganda observed its 62nd independence anniversary on October 9th, 2024, and HQ DC House had the honor of hosting H.E. Robie Kakonge, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uganda to the United States, esteemed guests, and many members of the Ugandan diaspora for a moving celebration.
Black Tech Collective’s Tech Talk Series
The Black Tech Collective and HQ DC House continued their partnership this year, hosting the Tech Talk Series. For Black History Month and Women’s History Month, they held a conversation highlighting how Black-women-built tech initiatives are empowering their communities through entrepreneurship, for Artificial Intelligence Appreciation Day, They brought in award-winning AI experts, and for Cybersecurity Awareness Month they discussed cybersecurity’s importance during the 2024 Presidential Election.
Versace Private Shopping Experience
Always ready to be the stand-out fashionistas wherever they go, our HQ DC House members took advantage of a private, after-hours shopping experience at none other than The House of Versace. They were delighted to get exclusive access to all the cult favorite prints, ready-to-wear, accessories, and statement pieces the Italian house is known for.
Cross House for Amazon Prime
The long-awaited Alex Cross series by James Patterson finally made its debut on Amazon Prime, and HQ DC House was lucky enough to team up with Prime Video to host an exclusive screening of the show. The event also featured a Q&A with executive producer Ben Watkins and stars Aldis Hodge and Isaiah Mustafa.
HQ Kenya House is the premier cultural hub and membership-based communal space in East Africa. Join our vibrant community of professionals, innovators, and tastemakers and indulge in our space, where business meets leisure in style. Membership at HQ Kenya House offers a blend of high-end amenities, tailored areas for both work and leisure, and access to exclusive events. Our House serves as the ultimate platform for those seeking to elevate their circle and prioritize growth.
Tatu City, Kenya
Conveniently situated 20 minutes north of Nairobi in a carefully planned and artfully constructed development
A brand new, state-of-the-art facility adorned with modern, sleek, comfortable, and elegant furniture, décor, tapestries, and amenities
Spaces
• Event Activation Spaces
• Lounge Areas
• VIP Areas
• Collaboration Spaces
• Business Center
• Kitchenette & Bar
• Conference Room
• Flex Lounge
Icon Awards Awards
In September, Icon Talks and The Burns Brothers held the latest edition of the Icon Awards, where we honored Americans who have shown themselves to be true leaders and changemakers through their important contributions to the culture and our communities. Our awardees were Congressman Maxwell Frost, Valeisha Butterfield, Dr. Dante Simpson, Mehcad Brooks, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Larenz Tate, and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
Thanksgiving Drive Internal.....
9th Annual Thanksgiving Meal & Giveaway
This holiday season, we were proud to host Icon To Ican’s 9th Annual Thanksgiving Meal & Giveaway.
On November 24, we gave away coats, blankets, food, and toiletries to Texan families in need—with help from special guest Lil’ Jay.
GAE Program 2024 brought major success for The Growth Alignment Experience (GAE), Koi Collective’s premiere program, which empowers individuals from diverse backgrounds to excel personally and professionally.
We delivered GAE to 100 employees at UBS, expanding the program’s reach from 2023. Through a combination of workshops, coaching sessions, personalized support, and a comprehensive communication strategy, we invested in high potential future leaders in our client’s organization. Our tenure’s success was cemented when UBS’ GAE was renewed for 2025, granting us the opportunity to work with yet another 100-member employee cohort and an additional group of 85 managers.
Newsletter
We produced a series of newsletters for Lockton that showcased inclusive initiatives taking place in their franchises across the globe. The newsletters featured stories from five continents, from North America to Asia/ Pacific, inspiring employees to start their own projects and build community by sharing their culture with one another with the entire company.
Koi Collective created three in-depth MDO courses for Lockton on the topics of identity covering, psychological safety, and habit formation. During the MDO training, we conducted live training sessions for an audience of over 75 employees and provided comprehensive training materials, including daily behavior prompts, journaling pages, facilitator guides, and corporate how-to documents.
Video courses
Koi Collective was tapped to create two videos for Lockton, which reached over 1500 employees. The first was a Breaking Bias onboarding video, which addressed unconscious bias and its impact on the workplace. Breaking Bias went on to be incorporated into the onboarding process for all new employees (over 100).
The next video, Commonalities and Differences, featured one of Lockton’s leaders discussing their personal experiences with diversity and inclusion, opening the topic for discussion to the company’s thousands of employees.
Koi Collective developed and launched the Allyship Program, which provided daily actionable steps for employees to champion inclusivity. Over the course of three months, our team hosted fireside chats with diverse leaders and facilitated dialogue through scenario circles, all with the aim of empowering employees to be advocates for their fellow coworkers. This program was delivered to over 75 Intuition staff members.
Executive Training
We worked with Cerris again in 2024 to develop and deliver an Executive Training program focused on the power of empathy and psychological safety in leadership. 25 Cerris leaders were trained in the aforementioned valuable skills, along with communication and how to lead with vulnerability and authenticity. Team dynamics were reportedly strengthening thanks to the Executive Training Program.
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91 Days to a Better You Allyship In-A-Box comes with 91 cards exploring topics such as: Foundations of Allyship Active Listening
• Building Empathy
• Actions versus Outcomes Moving to Active Allyship Speaking Up
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The card decks include QR codes that unlock lots of exercises, including daily actions, micro-learning videos, and journaling activities.
WASHINGTON DC’S FIRST ASIAN TAPAS COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE
Led by The Burns Brothers & Chef Tim Ma, KATA brings a fresh, modern approach to DC’s dining scene.
Whether you’re looking for a night out with friends, an intimate dinner, or a special event, KATA promises an unforgettable culinary adventure that goes beyond the ordinary. We’re transforming the dining landscape with a fusion of Asian-inspired tapas and inventive cocktails in a vibrant, immersive setting.
STEP INTO KATA, WHERE SLEEK DESIGN & CULTURALLY RICH ATMOSPHERE MEET
Our space is thoughtfully curated to create a vibrant yet intimate setting, perfect for enjoying tapas and cocktails. KATA’s venue provides the ideal backdrop for any occasion, blending energy and elegance in every corner.
TBB 2024 PLAYLIST
