Rawlings-Blake to join A-list celebs in New Orleans this weekend
Baltimore’s mayor is part of a star-studded cast of musicians, media figures and elected officials at the Essence Festival
Above: The singer Nas headlined last night at the Essence Festival, where Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is among the speakers.
Nas, Mary J. Blige, Prince, Jannelle Monae, Lionel Ritchie, Tank, Erykah Badu . . . and Stephanie Rawlings-Blake?
Yep, Baltimore’s mayor will be down in New Orleans this weekend with a star-studded cast for the 20th Annual Essence Festival, which features not just big-name musical talent but “iconic thought leaders” as well.
As part of the event, sponsored by Essence magazine, Rawlings-Blake is scheduled to speak tomorrow morning at the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center.
Also scheduled to discuss empowerment, gentrification and the African-American experience are Bishop T.D. Jakes, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Mayors Kasim Reed (of Atlanta) and Aja Brown (of Compton), Rev. Al Sharpton, Melissa Harris-Perry, Steve Harvey, Robin Roberts, Roland Martin, Soledad O’Brien, Terry McMillan and many others.
The four-day festival is advertised as “a party with a purpose” and the largest annual gathering of “African American music, culture and inspiration” in the nation.
Last year, more than 540,000 people came to New Orleans for the festival, according to the organizers, which is about 470,000 more than ever came from outside of Baltimore for the Grand Prix.