Gladys Knight on Giving Back

Gladys Knight shares the importance of 40th Anniversary of the Essence Magazine and how she is giving back.

Back Stage at Essence Music Festival 2010

It goes without saying, although I'll say it anyway, one of the highlights of being on the press junket for the Essence Music Festival Presented by Coca-Cola is having access to the concerts.  But aside from being able to see Janet Jackson blow up the Louisiana Superdome, Mary J. Blige steal the show on the last night of the festival or LL Cool J "rock the bells" like we were back in the 80's, I also had the pleasure of being able to ask questions in the press room of some of my favorite artists who were performing during the music festival.

Over and over again, one theme seemed to ring true for everyone that was interviewed.  Each person talked about giving back to our community and reaching back for the younger generation of musicians.  In the clip below, Gladys Knight talks about the significance of this year's 40th Anniversary of Essence Magazine and her new business venture.



For the ladies... the coolness of LL Cool J on giving back and his new distribution deal...



Raphael Saadiq talks about being a mentor and a good role model...

2010 Essence Music Festival Presented by Coca-Cola is committed to African American Women!

The 16th Annual 2010 Essence Music Festival Presented by Coca-Cola kicked off yesterday in New Orleans. This is arguably the country's largest gathering of African-Americans celebrating Black cultural, achievements and music. It is during this festival that we celebrate who we are and what we do! The focus of the Essence Music Festival is often on the performances which are the largest gathering of black musical talent in the world. However, there is also a major emphasis on reaching out to African American women and helping them to live a positive and inspired life. Leading this charge of encouraging and empowering African American women are “The Lady Power Brokers”, as I like to call them. They include Michelle Ebanks, President, Essence Communications, Inc, Angela Burt-Murray, Editor-in-Chief, Essence Magazine and the woman coined as the “God Mother” of the Essence Festival, Ingrid Saunders Jones, Senior VP, The Coca-Cola Company and Chair, the Coca Cola Foundation.

Coca-Cola is the exclusive presenting sponsor for the Essence Music Festival, a role they’ve held for the close to two decades. Coca-Cola’s goal is “to promote moments of happiness while specifically reaching out to African American women and moms. Recognizing that all women are beautiful, Coke colored the town of New Orleans red declaring this “Red Weekend!” in a movement to celebrate our beauty, independence and fun nature. The programs this weekend are designed to not only entertain us but to encourage us to cultivate our minds, bodies and spirit. We as women often neglect all three of these aspects of ourselves so I am inspired and impressed by the company’s commitment to not only giving us healthier beverage options, such as DaSani water and their recently launched Gold Peak Tea line, but also in their concern for our complete well being. I had a chance to speak with Ingrid Saunders Jones who is an inspiration to women everywhere in her grace, style and philanthropic commitment to sustainable communities. Come back to my blog to hear more from my interview with Ms. Jones as she shares her deep commitment to the Essence brand, the tie-in with Coca-Cola and her pride of being an African America woman.

If you are in New Orleans, stop by Coca-Cola’s Happiness Stations throughout the Convention Center featuring R&B artists, dance teams, a celebrity chef, Coca-Cola commemorative bottles honoring Essence Magazine’s 40th Anniversary and much, much more!