NEW ORLEANS, JULY 4, 2022– The ESSENCE Festival edition of the iconic Black Excellence Brunch was held on Sunday, July 3rd, 2022, and was sponsored by Hallmark and Cantu at the historic Treme Market Branch in New Orleans, La. The brunch honored the princess of Hip Hop & R&B, Ashanti. The Black Excellence Brunch is one of the most anticipated and exclusive brunches during the weekend of ESSENCE Festival. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic the private brunch came back to New Orleans with a bang! Notable guests in attendance included Jordin Sparks, Melinda Williams, Major, and others!
As guests arrived at the Black Excellence Brunch they were greeted with a glass of champagne and entered an authentic New Orleans trolley photo activation. The founder of the Black Excellence Brunch kept the tradition by leading the Second Line experience with the sounds of the One Shot Brass Band. Guests enjoyed networking, music, and an amazing New Orleans style brunch with signature cocktails provided by Herradura Tequila. The Black Excellence Brunch also presented awards to rapper Dee-1 with the Culture Award, Pinky Cole received the Trailblazer Award, and singer Ashanti was honored with the Icon Award. Ashanti and Trell Thomas wrapped the event with a fireside chat about Ashanti’s impact on music, her new book, and new ventures in the tech industry.
“We are thrilled to honor Ashanti at this tentpole Black Excellence Brunch. She is a living legend and shining example of Black Excellence. She has broken barriers, blazed trails for others and her influence continues to inspire across generations“, says Black Excellence Brunch founder, Trell Thomas.
Founded by Trell Thomas, the Black Excellence Brunch is an empowering event series established to connect young people of color from all walks of life. While being a South Carolina native, Thomas modeled the event after his childhood in the south to embody the tradition of Sunday Dinners. After years of celebrating black culture in Los Angeles, California, in 2019, he decided to bring it down to the south in New Orleans, Louisiana during the ESSENCE Festival.
“ESSENCE is the mecca of Black Excellence and we are honored to bring the prestige, all while celebrating New Orleans culture at the Black Excellence Brunch.”
For more information about The Black Excellence Brunch, please visit here.
About Black Excellence Brunch
In August of 2018, communications professional Trell Thomas decided to create a community that celebrated the excellence of young black professionals. Trell, a seasoned entertainment/media expert, saw an opportunity to introduce entrepreneurs, clothing designers, stylists, actors, etc. to one another via a family style brunch modeled after “Sunday Dinner”. The brunch features soul food, a discussion and the opportunity for millennials to gain insight from seasoned professionals while fellow-shipping with other successful black and brown colleagues. @BlackExcellenceBrunch
About Trell Thomas
Trell Thomas is a media expert and activist. His work spans from career beginnings on the Obama Presidential Campaign in ‘08 to overseeing talent relations and communications within some of the biggest brands in Viacom. Trell has a great appreciation for sharing narratives of diverse communities and bringing stories of excellence to the forefront through various events he hosts. Trell’s mission is to empower people of color and spread positivity through black excellence. He is the founder of Black Excellence Brunch and has used this event series to connect young people of color from all walks of life.
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