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The BWFN September Mixer Was #BlackGirlMagic Personified

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credit: James Pray
THE BWFN SEPTEMBER MIXER WAS #BLACKGIRLMAGIC PERSONIFIED
A few scenes from the BWFN September Mixer at Red Martini in Atlanta
On Tuesday, the Black Women Film Network (BWFN) hosted its monthly mixer at Red Martini Restaurant & Lounge in Atlanta. Over 300 women (and men!) gathered to exchange resources, contacts, love and positive energy — proving that sisterhood is still at an all-time high!
Special thanks to Kiana Dancie and Georgia Dawkins from “Sister Circle Live;” author Zane; stylist Sybil Pennix; authors Sereniti Hall and Brenda Lee; cinematographer Deidra Tyree; talent manager Sirnette Dickerson; DJ Bomshell Boogie; realtor and philanthropist Gwen Boyd Moss; event promoter Faven Ressom; celeb MUA Shantell Simms; BWFN members Naylon Mitchell, Judi Rogers, Denise Armstrong and Kelley Jackson; Stream ATL; and BWFN Board Members Tomika DePriest, Larry Cooper and Natana Denzmore.
Check out a few pics below
Blogger Janet Montgomery (left) and broadcast journalist Summer Jackson-Cole (right) gave the camera life!
Author Zane (left); BWFN Board Members Larry Cooper and Tomika DePriest (center); celeb MUA Shantell Simms (right)
 
BWFN Chair Saptosa Foster (left) welcomes guests along with a shout out to the awesome DJ Bomshell Boogie (right)
Sister Circle TV Host Kiana Dancie offered gracious remarks (left); Veteran stylist and fashion guru Sybil Pennix was in the building as well (right)
Business cards were exchanged all night (left); Author Sereniti Hall — whose book “A Treacherous Hustle” inspired the hit TV One film “When Love Kills” — paused for an interview with Stream ATL (right)
Amazing turnout!
 

Denise Armstrong with son Kwame Waters and lifestyle guru Judi Rodgers (left); Saptosa kicks off the business card drawing (right)
BWFN Member Naylon Mitchell won a limited edition 20th Anniversary BWFN t-shirt (left); Tomika DePreist, Natana Denzmore, Shayzon Prince and Larry Cooper celebrate Shayzon’s win of a $100 MasterCard (right)
Sirnette Dickerson and Gwen Boyd Moss are too cute (left); These young divas had a blast! (right)
 
Promoter extraordinaire Faven Ressom is oh-so-chic (left); So many fab ladies were there (right)
 
Black girls are lit!

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BET MEDIA GROUP HONORED BLACK LGBTQ+ TRAILBLAZER WITH A POWERFUL NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

FROM BOB THE DRAG QUEEN’S GROUNDBREAKING RECOGNITION TO HOPE GISELLES’S INSPIRING REMARKS– THE 3RD ANNUAL BET BLACK + ICONIC SOIREE HIGHLIGHTED THE BRILLIANCE AND IMPACT OF BLACK LGBTQ+ LEADERS

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(New York, NY)– May 28, 2025 – The 3rd Annual BET Black + Iconic Soirée made its Washington, D.C debut with inspiring evening celebrating the past, present, and future of black LGBTQ+ excellence. The 2025 theme, “Excellence Ascending,” paid tribute to cultural change makers leading with authenticity, courage and purpose.

Hosted by entertainment journalist and Access Hollywood anchor Scott Evans, the Soirée gathered trailblazers across activism, arts, business, and media for a powerful evening of storytelling , performance, and legacy-building.

Highlights from the BET Black + Iconic Soriée Included:
  • Ashlee Davis, J.D. received the Executive Realness Award for her trailblazing work in civil rights leadership, including her legacy of impact across government and corporate sectors.
  • Hope Giselle, a powerful advocate and author was named Emerging leader for her unrelenting work championing visibility and inclusion for Black trans communities.
  • Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, was honored as Active Advocate for her decades of leadership advancing reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ rights.
  • Ashlee Marie Preston, a nationally recognized activist and media strategist, accepted the Creative Visionary Award, saluted for using her voice to shift narratives and build intergenerational coalitions.
  • Bob the Drag Queen, Emmy-winning entertainer and global icon, received the Culture Trailblazer Award, closing the evening with a heartfelt speech about identity, freedom, legacy.
  • The Center for Black Equity and the Take Resource Center each received $5,000 through the BET Thrive Fund Recognition, honored for their work advancing Black LGBTQ+ wellness, equity and community organizing.

The night also featured a soul-stirring medley performance by Broadway powerhouse Avery Wilson, fresh off stage from The Wiz revival. Presenters included Eva Marcille (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Carter The Body (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Bryan Terrell Clark (Diarra from Detroit, BET+), and Arrington Foster (The Family Business, BET+), each bringing star power and heartfelt tributes to the evening’s honorees.

“From the very beginning, we knew this couldn’t be just another event,” said Tiyale Hayes, EVP of Insights and Multiplatform Analytics and Co-Lead of Social Impact at BET, During his opening remarks. “It had to an intentional space to uplift stories too often silenced and celebrate contributions that have shaped the world in powerful ways.”

The evening also spotlighted Gilead Sciences, a long standing partner of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée. Gilead’s Rashad Burgess, Vice President of U.S. Advocacy and Health Equity, emphasized and the importance of equitable healthcare access, visibility, and long-term impact for Black LGBTQ+ communities.

Additionally, the event welcomed Truth Initiative as a new partner of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée. Dr. Kendrick Dartis, Vice president of Outreach and Engagement, addressed the urgent issue of tobacco use in Black and LGBTQ+ communities and emphasized the need for culturally relevant cessation support. He also announced a $5,000 BET Thrive Fund donation, sponsored by Truth Initiative, to Us Helping Us– a D.C.- based non profit dedicated to advancing health equity.

BET Black + Iconic Soirée stands as defining moment in the 45th anniversary year of the media group– underscoring its mission to center Black culture, honor its LGBTQ+ communities, and drive meaningful, measurable impact.

Join the conversation using #BlackAndIconic and relieve the nights most powerful moments on BET’s official social channels. The Televised premiere date and time will be announced at a later date.

ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ:PARAA;PARA), is the worlds largest media company dedicated too entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Back audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international. For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements visit bet pressroom.com.

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