Seeing residents from your area and the community itself thrive is what majority of people dream for. However, what ultimately makes that dream a reality is being right at the frontline for change. It’s the premise for what Broccoli City has been building in being a part of raising awareness about sustainability in Black communities.
Over ten years strong, the Black-owned social enterprise’s co-founders Brandon McEachern, Darryl Perkins, Jermon Williams, and Marcus Allen have brought over 20 million millennials and Gen Zers together for the cause of creating opportunities for progress through the heart of music, art, and social impact.
The mission has birthed one of the nation’s biggest entertainment events: Broccoli City Festival. After briefly being placed on pause due to the pandemic, the Washington, D.C.-based music festival is back on May 7 and May 8 for its eighth annual event. Broccoli City Festival’s lineup features some of the DMV’s very own, including Wale, Ari Lennox, and Rico Nasty. Other top artists that are set to hit the stage are 21 Savage, Lil Durk, Gunna, Summer Walker, Wizkid, and more.
Ahead of the star-studded performances, Broccoli City will be hosting the Broccoli Conference (BroccoliCon), where advocates for change gather for panel discussions, fireside chats, workshops, networking events, and more. The conference has been consecutively only virtual since 2020, but now attendees will be provided access to equitable job opportunities across industries either virtually or in person at the Gathering Spot in D.C. on May 5 and May 6, according to a press release shared with AfroTech.
“We are excited to be back with great mission-aligned partners like AARP, Converse, Diageo, Indeed, JP Morgan Chase, Live Nation Urban, Wasserman Music, Sirius XM Radio, YouTube’s Future Insider Program and more,” McEachern said in a statement. “What I’m most happy about this year is our focus on jobs. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with top companies and potentially land their dream job while acquiring a deeper understanding of how to better serve their communities.”
In addition, participants will also have the opportunity to learn more about wellness, inclusive technology and innovation, leadership and professional development, and financial literacy.
To learn more about BroccoliCon, click here.