Check out various activations from Google, Fox Searchlight, FX, OWN and iOne Digital in New Orleans last weekend

Boss ladies from the Women’s Entrepreneurial Panel at The Chicory in New Orleans on June 30, 2017

Google made a big splash over the weekend with three signature events all hosted at The Chicory: a Women’s Entrepreneurial Luncheon (135th CEO Shante Bacon served as one of the speakers), a “Big Easy” Business Mixer hosted by radio personality Angela Yee, and a Black Women’s Leadership Dinner which featured an appearance by Chance the Rapper and a performance from Solange’s new neo-soul group “Ladies of King.“

Guests quickly filled the room for the Women’s Entrepreneurial Luncheon

Angela Yee welcomes the audience and later flicks it up with Mona Scott-Young and Shante Bacon at the Big Easy Business Mixer

Shante Bacon with Google staff after the mixer

(left)The setup at the Black Women’s Leadership Dinner was absolutely beautiful! (right) After dinner, guests got a chilling virtual reality experience of what it’s like to be a black man in America

Tamika D. Mallory, Symone Sanders, Nilka Thomas,

Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Gia Peppers,

Demetria Lucas D’Oyley, Shante Bacon and Janaye Ingram all SLAYED at Google’s Black Women’s Leadership Dinner

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Click to check out the Lethal Ladies Of Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women commanding the stage at the 2017 Essence Festival in New Orleans

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9n9wi9w7o4nnlmk/20170630_142358.mp4?dl=0

Fox Searchlight’s new documentary STEP was also on the scene at the Essence Festival. The

Lethal Ladies of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women were on hand for a “Welcome To Essence” Meet & Greet reception at the Le Meridien Hotel. Press and influencers such as April Reign (Creator of #OscarsSoWhite Hashtag), Henry Hicks (President-National Museum Of African American Music), Janaye Ingram (Women’s March/AirBNB Diversity Officer), and Lolita Toney (Executive Director-National Museum Of African American Music) were in attendance.

Additionally, the STEP cast participated in the Walmart Community Parade, performed a step exhibition on the main stage at the convention center, conducted a post-screening Q&A with radio and tv personality Bevy Smith and capped off the weekend with a flash mob performance at “Salon Conversations” presented by Michaela Angela Davis and My Black Is Beautiful.

Blessin Giraldo, Cori Grainger and Tayla Solomon pictured with ABC Radio’s Candace Williams (left) and the #OscarsSoWhite originator April Reign (right)

The ladies of STEP are all smiles at the “Welcome To Essence” Meet & Greet

Geri “Coach G” McIntyre, STEP Director Amanda Lipitz, Paula Dofat, Tayla Solomon, Blessin Giraldo share thoughts on the power of sisterhood at the 2017 My Black Is Beautiful Experience at the Essence Music Festival

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Dennis White, Angel Love, John Singleton, Angel Saunders and Wild Wayne at the Theatres at Canal Place in New Orleans

FX Networks previewed their new drama series “Snowfall” for an intimate group of press and influencers on Saturday. Co-creator John Singleton made brief remarks; Q93 radio host Wild Wayne intro’d the screening.

Angel Love (left) and Angel Saunders (right) are “Tank’s Angels”

Wild Wayne and John Singleton kick off the screening to a full house

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Nicholas L. Ashe, Tina Lifford, Bianca Lawson, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Ava DuVernay, Ethan Hutchison,

Rutina Wesley, Dondre Whitfield, Omar Dorsey and Timon Durrett of “Queen Sugar” arrive in the press room at Essence Festival 2017 in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2017

During Essence weekend, OWN brought the casts of “The Haves and the Have Nots,” “Queen Sugar” and “Greenleaf” to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center to interact with fans, screen clips, participate in interviews and discuss their respective shows on the main stage.

(left)Tyler Lepley, Angela Robinson and Gavin Houston during their Center Stage moment on Friday, June 30 with

“OWN Tonight!” host Stacey Ike; (right) Cast members spend some time with their supporters immediately after

Timon Durrett, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Ava DuVernay, Dondre Whitfield, Rutina Wesley and Omar Dorsey seen backstage before DuVernay was honored at the Woke Women Awards on Saturday, July 1

“Greenleaf” cast members Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge and Deborah Riley Draper on Sunday, July 2

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Malcolm Lee, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, Larenz Tate, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kofi Siriboe and Will Packer arrive at the private screening of “Girls Trip” in New Orleans on June 30, 2017

Photos can be viewed/downloaded here: http://bit.ly/2tx1QPm

(Photo credit: J. Wiggins)

On Friday, iOne Digital and HelloBeautiful.com in partnership with NISSAN presented a private screening of the new film Girls Trip at The Theatres At Canal Place.

The cast attended including Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Larenz Tate and Kofi Siroboe. Directors Malcolm Lee and Will Packer introduced the film. Hello Beautiful editors Allison McGevna, Shamika Sanders and Keyaira Kelly were also on hand to welcome guests.

(left) Jada Pinkett-Smith and Queen Latifah; (right) Kofi Siriboe, Issa Rae and Larenz Tate

Hello Beautiful editors Keyaira Kelly, Allison McGevna and Shamika Sanders (left); “STAR” cast Ryan Destiny, Jude Demorest, Brittany O’Grady and Miss Lawrence (right)

Big Freedia and Karen Civil

Yandy Smith-Harris and Mona Scott-Young

Recording Artists Tank and Letoya Luckett

Recording artist Elle Varner and Celebrity Stylist Ty Hunter

We Speak Entertainment

Wendy Stuart Honored with Activism Award at Catskills Pride Awards Night

Published

1 month ago

June 11, 2026

Jimmy Star

Acclaimed performer, advocate, television host, and community leader Wendy Stuart, also known to many as Wendy Darling, was honored with the Activism Award at the 2026 Catskills Pride Awards Night held at The Eldred Preserve in New York.

The event celebrated individuals whose work has made a lasting impact on the LGBTQ+ community through advocacy, leadership, artistic achievement, and public service. Among a distinguished group of honorees, Stuart was recognized for decades of unwavering commitment to visibility, inclusion, and support for LGBTQ+ causes.

For many in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, Wendy Stuart has long been a familiar and respected voice in the LGBTQ+ community. Her activism dates back decades, including participation in the historic New York City Pride March and service as an original board member of Triversity, The Pride Center serving communities throughout the tri-state region.

Beyond her advocacy work, Stuart has used her talents in entertainment and media to amplify LGBTQ+ voices. As host of Triversity Talk and co-host of If These Walls Could Talk, she has provided a platform for activists, artists, community leaders, and changemakers whose stories might otherwise go unheard.

During the awards ceremony, attendees celebrated Stuart’s remarkable ability to combine entertainment with purpose. Her efforts as a member of the Imperial Court of New York have also helped raise awareness and funding for countless LGBTQ+ organizations and initiatives over the years.

Standing before an audience of supporters, fellow honorees, and community leaders, Stuart accepted the recognition with the same passion that has defined her career. The honor reflects not only her decades of activism but also her continuing commitment to education, advocacy, and community engagement.

The Activism Award serves as a fitting tribute to a woman whose influence extends far beyond the stage and television screen. Through her work as a performer, advocate, and media personality, Wendy Stuart has consistently demonstrated that visibility matters and that one voice can inspire meaningful change.

Her personal mission remains as powerful today as it has throughout her career:

“I advocate, I educate, I entertain. I’m blessed to do so.”

As Catskills Pride recognized its 2026 honorees, Wendy Stuart’s award stood as a celebration of a lifetime devoted to uplifting others, strengthening communities, and ensuring that LGBTQ+ voices continue to be heard, respected, and celebrated.

Other honorees at the event included actress Melissa Gilbert, community leader Paula Campbell, artists Barry Becker and Tony Coscia, and artistic achievement recipient Nonna Hall, making the evening a memorable celebration of leadership, service, and pride throughout the region.

Watch Wendy Stuart’s speech at the Catskills Pride Awards on Youtube here: