Health is Wealth
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
4:15PM – 5:00PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
President and Co-Founder, Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH)
President & Founder, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, Inc.
Founder & CEO, Black Health Matters
CEO and Co-founder of Culina Health
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This conversation will explore the deep ties between financial well-being and physical health, addressing the economic cost of health disparities, how preventive care functions as financial planning, and why investing in health is one of the most powerful drivers of long-term wealth.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
4:15PM – 5:00PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
To Doula or Not to Doula: Rethinking Maternal Care
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
2:00PM – 2:45PM
Stage
Premier stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Nothing found.
Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women—a crisis rooted in systemic inequities. In this moving talk, maternal wellness advocate and doula Latham Thomas explores how the growing embrace of doulas is reshaping maternal care and offering a pathway to saving lives. With stories from the front lines of birth work, she reveals why having a doula is more than a trend—it’s a vital intervention that centers women’s voices, restores trust, and reclaims agency in one of life’s most vulnerable moments. Thomas makes a powerful case for reimagining maternal health so that every woman, especially Black women, can give birth with dignity and thrive beyond it.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
2:00PM – 2:45PM
Stage
Premier stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Silent Warriors — The Black Male Healthcare Crisis
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
3:30PM – 4:15PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Nothing found.
Music executive and entrepreneur Matthew Knowles brings a deeply personal perspective to the urgent conversation around Black men’s health. After surviving his own battle with breast cancer, Knowles has become a passionate advocate for awareness, early detection, and proactive care. In this intimate fireside chat, he opens up about his journey, the stigma that too often keeps Black men from seeking help, and the collective work needed to confront a health crisis that claims far too many lives. His message is clear: protecting our health is protecting our future.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
3:30PM – 4:15PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Redefining the Black Family On-Screen
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
1:45PM – 2:30PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Nothing found.
Trailblazing filmmaker Mara Brock Akil has long pushed Hollywood to expand its vision of Black life. With her record-breaking Netflix series Forever, she shattered stereotypes by centering the story of an affluent Black family—challenging the limited narratives that too often dominate film and television. In this intimate conversation with author and activist Jodie Patterson, Akil reflects on her creative journey, the cultural impact of Forever, and her mission to evolve how Black families are portrayed on screen.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
1:45PM – 2:30PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Asians Got Next
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 8
Time
11:15PM – 12:00PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Nothing found.
Chef, writer, and cultural provocateur Eddie Huang has never shied away from challenging stereotypes or pushing boundaries. From his groundbreaking work as a host on Vice TV to his storytelling across food, film, and television, Huang has helped carve space for Asian voices in mainstream culture. In this candid fireside chat, he reflects on his journey, the shifting landscape of representation, and why Asians are claiming their rightful place at the center of pop culture’s next chapter.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 8
Time
11:15PM – 12:00PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Rise of Citizen Journalism
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
10:15AM – 11:00AM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Journalist, Author, Documentary Film Producer
CEO, Omnicom PR Group
Nothing found.
In an era where anyone with a smartphone can break news, traditional media and grassroots voices are colliding in powerful ways. MSNBC’s Joy Reid sits down with Chris Foster, CEO of OPRG, to explore how citizen journalism is reshaping public discourse, challenging institutions, and redefining trust in information. Together, they’ll unpack the opportunities and risks of this shift—and what it means for the future of storytelling, accountability, and democracy.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
10:15AM – 11:00AM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
From the Block to Broadcast: Holding on to Your Voice While Scaling Your Reach
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
3:30PM – 4:15PM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Nothing found.
From neighborhood stages to Saturday Night Live’s iconic platform, Kenan Thompson has built a career defined by both longevity and authenticity. In this inspiring talk, he reflects on how Black creatives can expand their influence without losing the essence of where they come from. With warmth and wit, Kenan shares lessons from his journey—how to navigate bigger stages, balance mainstream success with cultural responsibility, and ensure your voice remains your own. This is a story about resilience, ownership, and the power of staying true to your roots while speaking to the world.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
3:30PM – 4:15PM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Stream or Die — People as Media
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
11:15AM – 12:00PM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Radio Host, The Breakfast Club
President of Production & Creative Development, The Black Effect Podcast Network
Nothing found.
The microphone is no longer reserved for the few—it belongs to everyone. In this provocative talk, cultural commentator Charlamagne Tha God unpacks the explosive rise of podcasting and the democratization of media, where everyday voices compete with legacy institutions for our attention. What happens when everyone becomes a pundit, a personality, a platform? With humor and sharp insight, Charlamagne explores the power and pitfalls of this new ecosystem—how it’s amplifying diverse perspectives, reshaping influence, and redefining truth in real time.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
11:15AM – 12:00PM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Navigating the Nomenclature
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
10:15AM – 11:00AM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Nothing found.
Marriott CMO Julius Robinson and BET CMO Kimberly Paige join Jerri DeVard for a candid conversation on driving growth in a climate where language is shifting, DE&I is under fire, and the corporate lexicon itself can become a battleground. How can today’s leaders stay authentic, resilient, and impactful while navigating these high-stakes changes?
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
10:15AM – 11:00AM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Telling the Truth in an Age of Misinformation
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Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
9:15AM – 10:00AM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators

Aaron Walton
CEO, Walton Isaacson
Nothing found.
In a world where headlines travel faster than facts and algorithms often reward outrage over accuracy, how do we hold onto truth? Journalist Don Lemon takes the stage to explore the urgent challenge of navigating misinformation in our hyperconnected era. Drawing from his own experiences covering pivotal moments in history and confronting falsehoods in real time, Lemon reveals why truth-telling is both more difficult—and more necessary—than ever.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
9:15AM – 10:00AM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013