[GIVEAWAY] 20th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival: The Year of Empowerment Kicks Off July 3-6 in New Orleans, LA

ESSENCE #NowPlaying Thursday
ESSENCE will kick off the 20th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival weekend with its ESSENCE #NowPlaying concert, a special night of music featuring legendary Hip-Hop artist Nas; R&B crooner Trey Songz; as well as R&B/soul songstresses K. Michelle and Jazmine Sullivan. ESSENCE #NowPlaying concert is taking place at The Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Thursday, July 3 leading in to the 20th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival weekend in New Orleans, LA.

ESSENCE Empowerment Experience
The 20th Anniversary ESSENCE Empowerment Experience Stage participants are among today’s most influential newsmakers, national leaders, activists, artists, entrepreneurs, celebrities, journalists, educators, and experts:  Alicia Keys (with a debut ESSENCE Empowerment appearance discussing Black women and HIV/AIDS), Rev. Al Sharpton, Steve Harvey, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Iyanla Vanzant, Yolanda Adams, Van Jones, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Compton Mayor Aja Brown, and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

Plus, ESSENCE commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with special tribute moments throughout the weekend to past, present and future leaders and trailblazers in fields ranging from education to the environment, as well as conversations on the impact of the Act within the context of issues today including voting, education and the environment, etc.

As part of ESSENCE’s Year of Empowerment, the brand is also partnering to present a variety of new community initiatives and forums, including Empower U, NOLA For Life, #YesWeCode Hack-A-Thon and Tech Village, and PowerMoves Pitches.