Black History Month Champagne Brunch

The theme for Black History Month 2025 is “Pushing Boundaries Beyond Expectations” which emphasizes going beyond traditional practices, norms, or preconceived limits to uncover the truth, tell stories that matter, and create meaningful impact. This ethos often leads to groundbreaking work that reshapes the industry, influences public opinion, and brings attention to overlooked or underrepresented issues.

JAYNE KENNEDY is a pioneering figure whose contributions to sports broadcasting, acting, and advocacy have cemented her as one of the most influential African American women of her generation. She became a cultural icon through her multifaceted career and relentless dedication to breaking barriers. Jayne’s life’s journey reflects determination, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

REGINA JONES is a trailblazing force in media and music, celebrated as the co-owner and editor-in-chief of  ‘SOUL’ Newspaper. With an extraordinary vision and unyielding determination, she redefined the landscape of cultural journalism. Her work provided a platform for musical artists during their formative years, showcasing their talent to readers nationwide. ‘Soul’s publishing impact forced more mainstream magazines like Billboard, Rolling Stone, and others to do more in-depth coverage of the Black music and cultural scene of the 70s, 80s and beyond.

We are proud to bestow the honor of our Pioneer Award to JAYNE KENNEDY and the Trailblazer Award to REGINA JONES. They will join in a discussion about ‘SOUL’  and their latest projects, “Plain Jayne: A Memoir” and “Who In The Hell Is Regina Jones” documentary.

HOST: ERICA GIMPEL rose to international prominence with her debut role as “Coco Hernandez” on the groundbreaking hit series Fame. With over 100 credits to her name, Ms. Gimpel has starred in numerous primetime and streaming shows. Her recent projects include playing “Trish” on the CBS drama God Friended Me for two seasons, “Ellie Fielding” in Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches for AMC, and “Brittany Arrington” on the Netflix hit The Night Agent.

Ms. Gimpel’s notable film credits include Wayne Wang’s Smoke opposite Forest Whitaker, Hal Hartley’s No Such Thing opposite Helen Mirren, Eugene Ashe’s Sylvie’s Love opposite Tessa Thompson, and Vincent Grashaw’s Bang Bang opposite Tim Blake Nelson, which premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.

As a filmmaker, Ms. Gimpel is developing several projects through her company, Womans Paradise Productions. Her directorial debut short film, Have a Heart, was developed in the Sundance Collab Directing Core Elements Course and was selected for the 2024 VisionFest Film Festival Herstory block. Next, Ms. Gimpel will direct and star in her feature film script RISE, which will be shot in New York and Martha’s Vineyard.

Ms. Gimpel is the recipient of the LA Femme Film Festival’s “Innovative Award” and is an active member of the world peace organization SGI-USA, which is dedicated to promoting peace, culture, and education by honoring the inherent dignity of every individual.