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Kuumba Kickback

The Kuumba Kickback is a free digital convention hosted by Black Girls Create, to celebrate fandom and creation while centering the experiences and interests of people of color. The event took place from October 15-17, 2021.

Schedule

(Times are in Pacific)

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM YouTube

Quick Quills Live!

A #QuickQuills writing sprint with a twist! Bring your writing tools and ideas and join members of the BGC team and special guest Amparo Ortiz as we write, talk about our own personal writing processes, and gas each other up!

WATCH HERE!

Amparo Ortiz Amparo Ortiz (she/her)
Porshèa Patterson-Hurst (she/her)
Bayana Davis Bayana Davis (she/her)
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM YouTube

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!

Odochi Ibe Odochi Ibe (She/Her)
Charnelle Charnelle (she/her)
Mx. Talia Franks Mx. Talia Franks (they/them)
Robyn-Renée Jordan (she/they)
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM YouTube

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!

Tatiana King (she/her)
Joelle Monique Joelle (she/her)
Gretchen Carvajal Gretchen Carvajal (she/her)
Candice Wicks-Davis Candice Wicks-Davis (she/her)
Tai Gooden (she/her)
Bayana Davis Bayana Davis (she/her)
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM YouTube

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!

Maryum Styles Maryum Styles (She/Her)
Kaia Alderson Kaia Alderson (she/her)
Stacie C. (she/her)
Mel Perez Mel Perez (she/her)
Amanda-Rae Prescott (she/her)
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM YouTube

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!

Porshèa Patterson-Hurst (she/her)
Bayana Davis Bayana Davis (she/her)
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM YouTube

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!

Jesse Blount Jessie Blount (she/her)
Brittany Shropshire Brittany Shropshire (she/her)
Mx. Talia Franks Mx. Talia Franks (they/them)
Mel Perez Mel Perez (she/her)
Connie Gibbs Connie Gibbs (she/her)
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Discord

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.)

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Discord

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.

Speakers

Bayana Davis (she/her)

CEO & Co-Founder, Black Girls Create

Candice Johnson (she/her)

CFO/COO, QuirkChat

Candice Wicks-Davis (she/her)

Founding Partner, Edutainment for Equity

Connie Gibbs (she/her)

Director of Content Strategy, Black Girls Create

Delia Gallegos (she/her)

CFO & Creative Director, Black Girls Create

Donnalie Jamnah, “DJ” (she/they)

Community Programs Manager, Black Girls Create

Dr. Crystal Bobb-Semple (she/her)

CEO/Founder, Plato Learning

Gretchen Carvajal (she/her)

Creator of BRWNGRLZ.COM

Ikera Davis (she/her)

Director, Young Gifted & Black

Jessie Blount (she/her)

Podcast host at Hashtag Ruthless Productions

Joy Piedmont (she/her)

High School Teacher

Kishana Taylor, Ph.D. (She/Her)

Postdoctoral Associate/Virologist

Mx. Talia Franks (they/them)

Writer, Editor, and Podcast Host

Nicole Hill, “Niq” (They/She)

Community Moderator, Black Girls Create

Odochi Ibe (She/Her)

Deputy Editorial Director - Journalist

Polly Irungu (She/Her)

Founder, Black Women Photographers

Porshèa Patterson-Hurst (she/her)

Director of Strategic Partnership, Black Girls Create

Ravynn K. Stringfield (she/her)

Scholar (Ph.D. candidate in American Studies) & Writer

Robyn-Renée Jordan (she/they)

Chief Community Officer, Black Girls Create

Tai Gooden (she/her)

Contributing Editor/Writer for Nerdist, Candlemaker

Tatiana King (she/her)

Host/EiC, For All Nerds

Check out panels from Kuumba Kickback 2021!