Kuumba Kickback

Creating with Kids

Creating can be an important tool for understanding yourself and the world around you, which is why we should encourage and cultivate the creative interests of the young among us. What does it look like to support the creative endeavors of the children in your life? How can we be intentional about supporting the next generation of creators? This is a conversation for anyone with children they love in their life.

WATCH HERE!

Kuumba Kids

Join us for a book reading of “What if” by Samantha Berger and some collaborative creative activities for all ages. There will be prompts to create in the preferred medium of each child and older kids will have the option to help use digital tools to design our Kuumba Kids Art Gallery! Registration required!

Dreaming in the Dark Live!

Dreaming in the Dark is a podcast created by Black fantasy scholars Bezi Yohannes and Ravynn K. Stringfield that brings the stories we wished we had as children to the forefront. Named after Toni Morrison’s Playing in the Dark, our podcast celebrates the creations that center those usually written in the margins of the fantastic. Join them for a special episode live from the Kuumba Kickback!

WATCH HERE!

Divesting From White Fandom

Find a fan of color and they'll tell you a story of exclusion or an uncomfortable fan experience. Fandom can often be an unwelcoming space to people of marginalized identities. This panel discusses the caveats of trying to make white spaces accessible and welcoming, and when it may be more or equally beneficial to put that energy into creating new and inclusive spaces for fans to commune and nerd out.

WATCH HERE!

Creating Community

Creating community can be difficult but rewarding work, especially when developing spaces for marginalized people. Founders and managers of different online communities come together in this panel to discuss triumphs, pitfalls, and their love of creating community!

WATCH HERE!

Book Talk: Ships and Sails!

Though not required for a good story, a solid romantic plot can certainly enhance one. The best ships leave us pining along with the main character, suffering through a slow burn, or—in the case of a series—waiting eagerly for the next installment. Get ready to set sail as we explore this panel of authors' favorite romantic tropes and ships, what makes them work, and how they inspire their work. All aboard!

WATCH HERE!

Untitled Eliyannah Yisrael Film Q&A

When her brother, Mikkey, leaves his restaurant in her charge to take advantage of an opportunity out of town, Kimmy learns the hard way what leadership and life are all about. Come get an early preview of the unfinished film and join the Q&A with the director of the film Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael.

Neurodiversity in Fandoms

We all know what it’s like to find a character we can identify with, especially when we’ve historically been kept out of the narrative. This panel is taking a nosedive into the neurodivergent world in our fandoms. We’ll be discussing neurodiverse characters, the feeling of finding representation, and which fandoms are openly celebrating neurodivergency in their work. The way we think may be different, but the pride we get from being represented is the same!

WATCH HERE!

The Business of Creation

The creative journey can be fulfilling and exciting. But what happens when you bring money into it? This panel will discuss the business side of creating, diving into monetization, managing finances, handling taxes, pitching your brand, and more!

WATCH HERE!

Redefining Historical Fiction & Romance Representation Ourselves

Despite the popularity of Bridgerton and other historical and romance fiction on the page and on the screen, there is still a considerable gap of representation of Black fans and creatives in the conversation to move the genre forward. Even though many Black creatives have paved the way to represent themselves in these genres, there are still people who question the "historical accuracy" or "realisticness" of Black historical fiction and romance. Join BGC community members and historical fiction author Kaia Alderson for a discussion on finding community with fellow Black fans and sharing their favorite historical and romantic fiction as well as their own creative endeavors!

WATCH HERE!

Things We Imagine Live!

Things We Imagine is a YouTube series powered by Black Girls Create and For All Nerds and hosted by Porshèa Patterson-Hurst and Bayana Davis exploring BIPOC fantasy in books, movie/TV, fashion, comics, music, and more! Join us live at the Kuumba Kickback to add to your BIPOC fantasy index!

WATCH HERE!

So You Want to Start a Podcast

Starting a podcast can seem overwhelming, but it is actually quite manageable! Come to this panel to get tips and tricks on how to start and sustain your podcast.

WATCH HERE!

Game Night

Come kick back and play Mario Kart with other attendees! Join us in the Discord game room for guaranteed laughs and friendly competition. (Kids are welcome to play along with adult supervision.)

Creators Circle

Creator Circles are time blocks set aside to create in community! We use a work sprint structure that allows for focused work time and sharing and interaction. During this special Creator Circle event, we will design vision boards to capture our creative goals and aspirations. Connect with others in a small group setting and manifest your creative dreams! The Creator Circle is capped at 25 people.