This was my second year hosting Black Women in Creative Spaces and I’m still on cloud 9 from the love and support that continues to be shown.

Black Women in Creative Spaces is all about celebrating black women who are creating major spaces for themselves and traveling their own paths. It brings together women of all ages, socioeconomic statuses, career fields, and experience levels to network, build community, and potentially created partnerships.

#BWICS is such an important event for me. I created it in 2019 in an effort to find my people, and as it’s continued to grow I’ve had the pleasure of seeing so many other black women find theirs as well.

This year’s event was held at Tech Hill Commons and featured three amazing panels and over 20 vendors.

The topics I chose for the panels this year were:

• Turning Your Creative Passion into a Career with Roots

• Corporate-Creative Life Balance

• Marketing/Branding that Connects

I thought these three topics would be the most useful because though many of us are working our way toward full-time entrepreneurship it’s not yet our reality. These three topics cover the reality of women who are side hustling like a boss while still killing it in their day to day life.

My panelist were 12 incredible women who inspire me so much and making major waves in their industries:

Monchiere Holmes- Jones, Chief Brand Curator at MOJO Marketing + PR

Danielle McGee, Founder of Black Business Boom

Nekasha Pratt, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Lanae Jackson, Brand Strategist Nissan North America and creator of Simply Lanae

Carla Tarkington, Senior Master Stylist + YouTube Creator

Jasmine Dary, Founder of Twisted Corks

Money Mitra, Money + Mindset Coach and Consultant

Elisheba Israel Mrozik, Award Winning Tattoo and Fine Artist and owner of One Drop Ink

Brittany Cole, Founder of Career Thrivers

Brynn Plummer, Vice President, Inclusion & Community Relations at Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Natalie Fletcher, Author, Collaborator, Consultant, Strategic Motivator

Nikole Reed, Chief of Staff, VP INFINITI Americas and Chief of Staff and Creator of Nikki's Notes

I couldn’t have asked for a more talented, honest, forthcoming, and empowering group of women to share the stage with. They gave out so much knowledge and dropped valuable gems that I could see the audience jotting down.

The vibe overall for the event was straight up sisterhood. Everyone was bigging each other up and sharing information. The laughs were loud. The smiles were big. the joy was real.

From the event, I was able to create what I call the Black girl phone book. It is a list of black, female-owned businesses in middle Tennessee. If you’re interested in listing your business in the phone book or would like to have access please email me at tiffbperkins@gmail.com.

Check out the recap video below and visit my Facebook page for photos.