Storytellers Lab a HBCU Partnership To Cultivate BIPOC Content Creators
The StoryTellers Lab
& hopefully The Tom Joyner Foundation https://tomjoynerfoundation.org
Storytellers Lab a HBCU Partnership To Cultivate BIPOC Content Creators
The StoryTellers Lab
& hopefully The Tom Joyner Foundation https://tomjoynerfoundation.org/
The Storyteller’s Lab is an immersive 9-month program designed to equip students with the essential skills to master the art of storytelling. Through dynamic workshops, comprehensive resume reviews, impactful masterclasses, and invaluable mentorship, participants are prepared for roles across creative, storyteller, and tech careers in the entertainment industry, creating a strong pipeline for trained talent. The program centers on three core pillars: Skill Development, Mentorship & Networking, and Cultural Empowerment.
STATE of the HBCUnion ADDRESS
A perfect opportunity to discuss the status of our HBCUs in today's political climate, topics on Endowments and Alumni Giving / membership, to gather and reflect on our progress, acknowledge our challenges, and look forward to the future of our beloved Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Friday,
STATE of the HBCUnion ADDRESS
A perfect opportunity to discuss the status of our HBCUs in today's political climate, topics on Endowments and Alumni Giving / membership, to gather and reflect on our progress, acknowledge our challenges, and look forward to the future of our beloved Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Friday, August 1, 2025
12p - 2p
The Oak Bluffs Public Library
56r School St, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
Currently for Programming we have:
Keynote Speaker / Guest: Dr. J / President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston https://g.co/kgs/9TH7KVM of Norfolk State University
https://g.co/kgs/bwgBQ9j
Paula J. Harrell is a San Francisco native and founder of P. Harrell Wines. She is the daughter of an immigrant mother from Panama and an American military father, who raised her and her four siblings and built a series of thriving residential care facilities in San Francisco. https://pharrellwines.com/
Paula describes her passion: ”Th
Paula J. Harrell is a San Francisco native and founder of P. Harrell Wines. She is the daughter of an immigrant mother from Panama and an American military father, who raised her and her four siblings and built a series of thriving residential care facilities in San Francisco. https://pharrellwines.com/
Paula describes her passion: ”The creation of P. Harrell Wines has emerged from my long standing passion and appreciation for wine, from the smell of freshly picked grapes after a successful harvest to sampling wines in barrel, and ultimately indulging in the enchanting wine culture with others. I love all things wine because it is one of those simple pleasures that seamlessly intertwine people from ALL walks of life, no matter the color, gender, or background, creating genuine friendships & connections.”
EAT
EXPERIENCE
SHOP
Lobster Rolls
Mon. 7/28 6p - 8p
Menemsha Beach Sunset! 8:04p
(on your own time - nothing is mandatory)
https://www.mvy.com/2024/10/26/marthas-vineyard-best-sunset/
Things to Bring:
• You
• Sweater
• Blanket / Chair
• Snacks / picnic blanket (optional)
• A camera
• Phone / Battery Charger
• Bluetooth speaker
• BYOB [ cups/ cooler ]
How to get there:
http://sandpiperrental.com/.../a-locals-suggestions-for.../
http://www.vineyardtransit.com/pages/vta_schedule/one_day
From Ocean Park take the Route 9 on the hour to the Airport and transfer to the Route 6 at :25 past the hour.
Upon arrival at the Grange Hall, disembark and walk next door to the Town Hall and catch the Route 4 at :40 past for Menemsha.
To return from Menemsha, take the Route 4 at :01 past the hour (either 8:01pm or 9:01pm) to the West Tisbury Town Hall and transfer to a Route 6 at :38 past the hour.
At the Airport, transfer to the Route 7 for Ocean Park at :55 past the hour.
What a relaxing way to end the day! THIS IS MUST SEE!
You can grab a bite to eat from Menemsha Market which has the best lobster rolls on the island! The food from Larsens' is even better!
Just be sure to bring wine if you want to have some because you can't buy it there.The kids play on the beach and the adults wait for sunset.
This is a favorite beach on the island to watch the sunset. The water is calm and you can find marine life near the shore line.
It's a great place to watch the sunset with the adoring crowd.
Just to note the beach each is rocky and not the greatest swimming beach, however is fun for kids to explore to catch crabs and small fish with their nets.
The sunsets are breath taking .
Come very early when coming over to see the sunset.
There is limited parking, and very often it is impossible to find a parking spot.
The "sunset crowd" begins to gather a good 2 hours before the sunset.
BUT - there's also a 2 hr time limit on parking in the adjacent lot, until around 6 or 8 pm. (sorry, I don't exactly remember).
The police DO watch and ticket cars! There are also remote parking lots. The best choice - take the bus there. You can get there from almost anywhere on island, and all-day bus pass (use as many times and distances as you like) costs only $8, and is much cheaper than a parking ticket!
You can get there by car or bus... Cabs travel to there but it may cost you $50... and the bus is more entertaining and serves as an informal tour guide. 🙂
The cuisine is fresh out of the water shellfish, lobsters, clams, oysters etc... Bringing your own alcohol is welcomed and recommended as they only sell water there..most families set up a picnic area on the beach and eat dinner and play board games until the sunsets... Very relaxing and beautiful 🙂
The crowd usually applauds and sings America The Beautiful
Public restroom are near by and near by shops have take out.
The sunset is awesome and it's the best place to appreciate God's glory!
See ya there!
DATE: Tuesday, July 29th
12p - 1p Storytellers Lab: Filmmaker Reflection Workshop with Taylor K. Shaw-Omachonu, Founder of BWA Studios & Head of Film at Kickstarter
Calling all College Students & / or those interested in the Film Industry!
Event Overview:
Set against the calming backdrop of the ocean, this 60-minute workshop blends, storytelling, and creative strategy.
Led by Taylor K. Shaw https://www.taylorkshaw.com/, Founder of award-winning animation studio BWA Studios and Head of Film at Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/, students will gain insights into identifying their unique story then funding their creative work through community and crowdfunding—while also reconnecting with themselves in a peaceful setting. https://variety.com/2025/film/news/kickstarter-indie-producer-taylor-k-shaw-film-outreach-1236326952/
Film & Storytelling Session
5p - 7p Opening Remarks @ The Martha's Vineyard Museum from Sheryl Wesley, Founder & Producer of Legacy Week along with ParamontTV's HBCU initiave The Storytellers Lab introducing The Power of Images: A Journey Into a World on the Edge of Change with HBCU alumnae Glenda Jones showing photos from her time in the Omo of the various people, as they go through their daily life. This will provide a broader view of the Omo valley people and the environment. Prior to the start of the presentation of the Hamer indigenous people, she will share with the audience her history and experiences attending her HBCU, Central State University.
SPEAKER: Glenda E. Jones (with guests Sheryl Wesley founder of HBCU Legacy Week and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios Storytellers Lab Initiative Students)
DESCRIPTION: Celebrate Legacy Week on the Vineyard with an inspiring evening honoring Glenda E. Jones, a 1968 Central State University graduate and visionary photographer. Her powerful images of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley tribes capture cultures on the brink of change, bridging generations and preserving heritage.
The program opens with remarks from Sheryl Wesley, founder of HBCU Legacy Week and a passionate advocate for preserving Black history and culture. Sheryl will also introduce students from Showtime/MTV’s Storytellers Lab—rising voices continuing the mission of authentic storytelling.
For Jones, storytelling is a form of activism — a way to honor the past and shape the future. Her work inspires young creatives, especially from HBCUs, to use their voices and their lenses to capture the beauty, resilience, and truth of underrepresented communities.
Immediately following the program, enjoy an exclusive wine tasting featuring P. Harrell Wines as we reflect on the power of storytelling to honor the past and inspire the future.
Wednesday, July 30th
4p - 6p A’Lelia Bundles presenting Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance seekers.
A'Lelia Bundles—author of New York Times Notable Book On Her Own Ground, former ABC News Washington, DC, deputy bureau chief, and an Emmy Award–winning producer—for a discussion of her new book Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance.
About Joy Goddess
A vibrant, deeply researched biography of A’Lelia Walker—daughter of Madam C.J. Walker and herself a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance—written by her great-granddaughter.
Dubbed the “joy goddess of Harlem’s 1920s” by poet Langston Hughes, A’Lelia Walker, daughter of millionaire entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker and the author’s great-grandmother and namesake, is a fascinating figure whose legendary parties and Dark Tower salon helped define the Harlem Renaissance.
After inheriting her mother’s hair care enterprise, A’Lelia would become America’s first high profile black heiress and a prominent patron of the arts. Joy Goddess takes readers inside her three New York homes—a mansion, a townhouse, and a pied-a-terre—where she entertained Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Paul Robeson, Florence Mills, James Weldon Johnson, Carl Van Vechten, W.E.B. DuBois, and other cultural, social and intellectual luminaries of the Roaring Twenties.
Now, based on extensive research and Walker’s personal correspondence, her great-granddaughter creates a meticulous, nuanced portrait of a charismatic woman struggling to define herself as a wife, mother, and businesswoman outside her famous mother’s sphere. In Joy Goddess, A’Lelia’s radiant personality and impresario instincts—at the center of a vast, artistic social world where she flourished as a fashion trendsetter and international traveler—are brought to vivid and unforgettable life.
Praise for Joy Goddess
"This is a story of Black wealth and talent, and the universals of love, legacy, death, taxes, inadequacy, resilience, and hair—in other words, the things that belie Joy. The life of A’Lelia Walker, though a figure of extraordinary singularity, covers the map from New York to the Midwest to Tuskegee to Paris to Jerusalem and encompasses an equally wide expanse of human experience. The movie script practically writes itself!" —Diane McWhorter, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama, the Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution
"Joy Goddess is a satisfying journey through family dynamics, cultural movements, and the complexities of being a public, known, celebrated Black women like A’Lelia Walker, who many saw, knew, and admired but, as this beautifully written, tightly told story makes clear, few understood. A’Lelia Bundles’ biography is about one woman, but in the telling, becomes a startlingly engaging, vitally important story of an era that you will not want to put down." —Dr. Noliwe Rooks, author of Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children
"Joy Goddess is a remarkable biography. A'Lelia Bundles brings A’Lelia Walker’s story to life with such grace, clarity, and beauty. By shedding new light on Walker’s extraordinary life, Joy Goddess enriches our understanding of the complexities of race, gender, and class during the Harlem Renaissance.” —Dr. Keisha N. Blain, co-editor of the #1 New York Times bestseller Four Hundred Souls
Bios
A’Lelia Bundles is the author of New York Times Notable Book and bestseller On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker. A former ABC News Washington, DC, deputy bureau chief and an Emmy Award–winning producer, she participated in residencies at Yaddo and MacDowell while writing Joy Goddess. Visit her website at ALeliaBundles.com or on Instagram at @ALeliaBundles.
Thursday, July 31st
530a Invitation: Sunrise Sip & Sea
Start your day with intention during HBCU Week on Martha's Vineyard!
You're invited to a unique and uplifting experience: Sunrise Sip & See at the iconic Inkwell Beach.
While sunsets often get all the fanfare, there's a powerful magic in witnessing the dawn and setting a positive tone for your day.
Join us to intentionally greet the new day with a breathtaking sunrise over the ocean. This is a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and embrace the quiet beauty of the morning.
What to expect:
• A stunning sunrise view
• Time for quiet meditation
• Uplifting morning affirmations
• The chance to connect with others in a peaceful setting
• A discussion on the incredible benefits of starting your day with the rising sun, setting you on a positive path forward.
Bring: Your favorite morning beverage (BYOB) – perhaps coffee, tea, or juice – and a comfortable mat or towel if you wish to meditate.
• Date: Thursday, July 31st, 2025
• Time: Arrive before sunrise (exact time will be shared closer to the date to ensure we catch the first rays!) apprx 5:37a
• Location: Inkwell Beach, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard
Let's make a "big deal" out of the sunrise and embrace the positive energy it brings!
We look forward to sharing this special moment with you.
5p - 6p The House That Wouldn’t Let Go
DESCRIPTION: The House That Wouldn’t Let Go
Join designer, preservationist, songwriter, storyteller, and part-time Island resident, Dawn Carroll for an unforgettable evening of music, memory, and rediscovered history, as she shares the powerful story of a house that once echoed with the footsteps of legends—and nearly vanished into silence. A story that started in Boston.
Once home to Woogie Harris, Pittsburgh’s first Black millionaire, this Hill District residence was far more than a house. Listed in the Green Book, it doubled as a speakeasy and sanctuary for icons like Joe Louis, Roberto Clemente, and Lana Turner. It also sheltered Mary Cardwell Dawson, the visionary founder of the National Negro Opera House, who broke barriers and opened stages for Black artists across the country.
Forgotten by time and nearly lost to decay, the house called out to preservationist Jonnet Solomon—and to Dawn Carroll, who was so moved by its story that she wrote 15 original songs with Grammy- nominated Jon Butcher. Dawn knew before the first song was complete, the project would evolve from an album to a stage production called “If the Walls Could Talk”. The first public reading kicked off 2025 Black History month and received standing ovations.
Songs for Mary is their journey: a mission to save a house, honor the legends who passed through it, and awaken the music that still lives within its walls.
It’s more than a performance—it’s a revival, a reckoning, and a tribute to Black brilliance that refuses to be forgotten.
Friday, August 1st
Fireside Chat: Brother’s, Y'all Alright? Cigars, Cocktails & Conversations about The Power of Place
Highlighting the current state of Black Men’s health & wellness.
This is a pouring session. A chance for us to pour into each other: hope, inspiration, accolades.
RSVP A MUST
Hosted by: The Hon. Ludwig Gaines, Howard U. graduate
Facilitated by: Panelists: Gregory J. Vincent https://www.talladega.edu/uploadedFiles/File/vincent-bio.pdf served as the 21st President of Talladega College located in Talladega, Alabama / pending Dr. O'Shan Darius Gadsden* Chair, Psychology Department Chair & Associate Professor at Hampton University.
Welcoming Remarks by: Geraldine White, [ former ] Head of Diversity & Inclusion in North America for Publicis & Ti-Shea Meadows, Vice President, Operations, Channel Planning, & Culture, Paramount.
Suggested spirit [ Black Woman Owned ] New England Sweetwater
https://newenglandsweetwater.com/
o 7-8p open for a nightcap for the ladies
o Additional libations will be available
o Bring your favorite cigar / complimentary cigars will be offered while supplies last
o Location details will become available after rsvp.
Topics:
The panel and discussion are designed to provide a holistic experience for Black Men to impact them to their core & give them tools & strategies they can implement to better their lives and those around them. It is our duty to create a space for Black Men to build community, legacy, health, and wealth.
WORKING [ relevant ] TOPICS:
Courtney Vance brings Black men’s mental health issues to light
• https://baystatebanner.com/.../courtney-vance-brings.../
Black men are a hidden segment of caregivers. It's stressful but rewarding, too
• https://www.npr.org/.../caregiving-black-men-dementia-stress
• Relationships
• Sex
• Men's [ mental / physical ] Health
• Family Head [ family structure / Spirituality / finances ]
• Self Care / Love
• Pour Into You session - affirmation exercises
Friday, August 1st
Vineyard Haven 1st Friday's
10a-2p
We hold an artist market on Beach St Ext (the dead end where the Black Dog Tavern is) from where local artists sell their art.
5-8p Owen Park for the evening festivities:
9p - 11p
Sunday, July 27 - Saturday, August 2nd
IF you drive... ferry reservations USUALLY open in Jan/Feb FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS! Check @steamship authority https://m.steamshipauthority.com/ [MV Ferry] for updates! At some point I will be having a MV 101 "webinar" for First Time visitors!
Ferry port on the mainland is Woods Hole. There are 2 ports on the Island. [ you must say ON Martha's Vineyard...NOT in MV ] #1 Vineyard Haven and #2 Oak Bluffs.
A good start is www.weneedavacation.com for accomodations! This site strictly focuses on Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, and Nantucket. When booking MV DO NOT Stay on the mainland..... if you see Falmouth or Mashpee, or Woods Hole... those are towns on the mainland. You want to be ONLY on Martha's Vineyard!
Use 11 Circuit Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 as a point of reference for distance as far as your accommodations. You TYPICALLY do NOT want to be more than 15 min. driving from that address.
Here are towns to consider:
Airport Code is MVY do NOT think Martha's Vineyard is Boston
Ask Carleen Cordwell <carleen168@gmail.com> for rental information as an additional resource 5083333078
Summer months reservation portal opens in Jan / Feb of 2025 https://www.steamshipauthority.com/reservations The Martha’s Vineyard reservation-only phone line is (508) 477-7447. You can still purchase an airline ticket. Airport code is MVY https://mvyairport.com/ Book your ferry [ if you can] for Sat. July 26 - Aug 2 or Sun July 27 - Aug 3, 2025
1/2
Two Funny Mamas: Sherri Shepherd & Kym Whitley Martha's Vineyard #1 w/ Sheryl Wesley | Two Funny Mamas #202
https://www.youtube.com/live/AA1agTlzX64?si=R9DSVZLCNRocY1UB
https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2024/07/25/celebrating-hbcu-legacy-island
Fireside Chat: Brother’s, Y'all Alright? Cigars, Cocktails & Conversations about The Power of Place
The panel and discussion are designed to provide a holistic experience for Black Men to impact them to their core & give them tools & strategies they can implement to better their lives and those around them. It is our duty to create a space for Black Men to build community, legacy, health, and wealth.
WORKING [ relevant ] TOPICS:
https://www.mvtimes.com/2024/08/14/comradery-in-the-community/
Details
https://events.eventnoire.com/e/2025s-mv-101-know-before-you-go-2
I don't know Everything... but I know a lot! :)
Let's Talk This Through!
July 27th - August 2nd
https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2023/07/19/oak-bluffs-town-column-july-21
What Destinations are Black Travelers Targeting in 2022? | TravelPulse
The Vineyard Vibe – Your Travel Guide to "Afro-Centric "Martha's Vineyard
Fourth Annual Legacy Week from the HBCU returns - The Martha's Vineyard Times (mvtimes.com)
Beach Excursions and Black History: Martha's Vineyard and More (sistersletter.com)
HBCU Legacy Week on the Vineyard Martha's Vineyard Times Calendar (mvtimes.com)
https://www.mvtimes.com/2018/07/24/legacy-week-hbcu/
https://divagalsdaily.com/best-month-marthas-vineyard-august-week-in-july/
https://mvol.com/events/hbcus-legacy-week-vineyard/
Legacy Week is created to engage, empower, and highlight the bond and value of the alumni and students from all Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
This will be the week that will have fun filled activities for family, friends, and fundraising. We're offering the opportunity to reconnect, relax, and recharge. See the link of our events from Summer, 2017. https://prezi.com/sicxwe_wy8b_/legacy-week-on-the-vineyard-2017/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
We develop brand enhancement strategies and appropriate messaging between corporations and HBCUs by cultivating activities and forums that promote financial, mental, and physical wellness while also creating solutions for social challenges in our communities.
Sheryl Wesley (508) 289-1803 Info@HBCUBrandPartners.com
Facebook: Legacy Week on the Vineyard
Instagram: LegacyweekonMV
Twitter: LegacyweekonMV
For More Info on Martha's Vineyard, Log onto www.mvy.com
Martha's Vineyard Black Business Directory www.ExperienceMarthasVineyard.com
2 Chainz, HBCU Graduate, Alabama State University