We followed some of our readers around for the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend. Now, we’re seeing what they’re doing for the 2019 CIAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
Nepherterra Estrada Best, a Class of 1999 Johnson C. Smith University alum, chronicles her experience during this year’s tournament week.
Saturday, March 2
I kicked off my day at the CIAA Toyota Fan Fest. There were lots of free activities, including a barber station.
Then, we hit up the SHP CLT pop-up space, hosted by Dupp & Swat. Dope space, dope vibe, dope vendors!
The LaDiDaDi Day Party at Oak Room was lit! It featured Doug E. Fresh and friends.
Lots of laughs at the Funny As Ish comedy tour with headliner Mike Epps. It was the perfect way to end my CIAA week.
Friday, March 1
Living the CIAA suite life surrounded by good company! Always good to see my JCSU peeps! Benny Smith is the former JCSU PR director, now at Food Lion, and Myracle Stevenson is former Ms. JCSU ’16 – ’17.
Always good to see Jacinda and Fly Ty doing their thing!
Thursday, Feb. 28
The CIAA Minority Business & Leadership Symposium was amazing! It was a huge family reunion that brought together top multicultural business executives, emerging leaders and entrepreneurs from around the Southeast region and beyond.
It was refreshing to hear Kimberly Blackwell, CEO of PMM Agency, share her perspective about business. I caught this snippet of her talking about getting a recent call from Gucci.
It was so great to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.
Tuesday, Feb. 26
It’s always good to see Charlotte’s best and brightest media folks at the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists (CAABJ) CIAA Media Mixer tonight at Aloft Charlotte Uptown at the EpiCentre.
PR people need media people and vice versa! Gotta love it.
Monday, Feb. 25
I attended the private advance screening of Aretha Franklin’s concert film Amazing Grace, hosted by R&B singer Anthony Hamilton at AMC Northlake.
The movie was phenomenal. It was like a live concert. The movie was footage of the 1972 live recording of her best album.
