Miss Black Kentucky USA: Twenty-seven ladies will compete for the titles of Miss, Ms., and Talented Teen

Photo Credit: Terrence Humphrey

United Crown Productions is excited to announce the date of Miss Black Kentucky USA. On
Sunday, October 15th, at 3:00 pm at Memorial Auditorium our community will witness the
crowning of three women who will represent Kentucky in Miss Black USA 2024.

After a successful restart in 2022, Kentucky will have six (6) in the talented teen division, eight (8) in the Miss. division and thirteen (13) in the Ms. division competing for the crown. Each looking forward to the experience along with the activities leading up to the October 15th event.

Tickets are now on sale, and you can purchase them on Eventbrite. We have provided a link for promotion. Miss Black Kentucky 2023.

Last year’s winner in the Miss division, Miss Ariel Thompson went on to win Miss Black USA in Washington, DC and will reign for the next 12 months.

Dr. Ashley Anderson, Executive Director of Miss Black Kentucky USA says “I am so happy to give women of color the opportunity. It is more than just a pageant but a chance for these young ladies to showcase themselves. This is something the community can be proud of because we are helping prepare our future leaders. The contestants are free to be who they are as they embrace their heritage. I invite you to come out and support them as they compete for scholarships which will help with their future career goals.”

To be a sponsor and/or if you would like to set up an interview with Dr. Anderson and/or last
year’s winners please contact VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications.com.
Stay tuned for additional information and the names of the contestants and the counties and/or cities they represent.

Kentucky native announces a scholarship fund to help aspiring artists

ERICKA NICOLE MALONE ENTERTAINMENT WILL AWARD FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS TO KENTUCKY STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE ARTS

(Los Angeles, California) Louisville, native and 2023 NAACP Image Award winner Ericka Nicole Malone of Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment, LLC, announces the creation of the Ericka Nicole Malone Essay Writing Mentorship which includes four scholarships ranging from $250 to $5000. The scholarships are for high school seniors and current college level students majoring and/or minoring in arts in a Kentucky accredited school.

Ericka Nicole Malone says “I am excited to announce this opportunity. It is important that I give back to my hometown and the first people to believe in my writing ability which has given me so many chances to create produce and direct films you can see today.  Kentucky has a lot of hidden gems and I honestly believe that there is so many creative writers in the community that just need a chance.  With these scholarships, someone wanting to follow their dreams will now have a chance to fulfill them and that is what made me create this initiative so I can follow them along their career.” 

The Ericka Nicole Malone Scholarship can be used for tuition, school fees, books, housing, and food. To be eligible for the scholarship individuals must reside in Kentucky, have at least a 2.5 grade point average, (GPA), on a 4.0 grading scale, already enrolled in the College of Arts and/or accepted into an accredited college institution, performing arts school, trade or vocational school that has an arts program.

As part of the consideration process. You need to submit an essay, (up to one thousand words) on what you want to pursue in the arts and why this scholarship is important. Submit your essay to info@vippcommunications.com. Your deadline is August 4, 2023. Recipients will be announced on August 22, 2023.

Malone attended the Youth Performing Arts School, (YPAS), graduate of Manual High, a JCPS school is a successful writer, director, and executive producer. He latest award-winning project is “Remember ME: The Mahalia Jackson Story” starring Ledisi, Columbus Short, Janet Hubert, Keith David, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Keith Robinson.

ERICKA NICOLE MALONE ENTERTAINMENT is a production company focused on the development, production/co-production and distribution of film, television, and animated projects nationwide. 

To setup an interview via phone and/or zoom, contact Sherlene Shanklin at VIPP Communications at sshanklin@vippcommunications.com or by calling 502.341-7306.  To read learn more on the Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment go to www.erickanicolemalone.com.      

KCAAH announces 2023 Juneteenth Weekend Heritage Experience

Louisville, KY–The Heritage Center invites you to celebrate with us during the 2023 Juneteenth Weekend Heritage Experience, featuring “The Fannie Lou Hamer Story,” doors open at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, and the Juneteenth and Father’s Day Jazz Brunch featuring the Ansyn Banks Legacy Quintet with guest vocalist Karen Chavis and host Marjorie Marshall at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 18 at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage (KCAAH), 1701 W. Muhammad Ali. 

The Fannie Lou Hamer Story is an award-winning 90-minute one-woman stage play performed by Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye. The play is riveting storytelling, celebrating an unsung hero who became a catalyst for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

General admission for The Fannie Lou Hamer Story $25.00/Limited V.I.P. Seating ($30.00). 

KCAAH Executive Director Aukram Burton believes: “When we think about Juneteenth, it must be remembered as a moment of clarity about our struggles and how far we have come. That is why the Heritage Center is proud to showcase a play about the life of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. Now is the time to truly examine the challenges we face as Black voters, and Fannie Lou Hamer was a powerful and passionate voice that needs to resonate, even today.”

In addition, the weekend experience will feature Ansyn Banks Legacy Quintet with Ansyn Banks (Trumpet), Dave Clark (Saxophone), Gabe Evens (Piano), Tyrone Wheeler (Bass), & Jonathan Higgins (Drums). Marjorie Marshall will host the performance and guest vocalist Karen Chavis will be invited to grace the stage with her angelic voice. General admission for the Juneteenth and Father’s Day Jazz Brunch is $40.00/Limited V.I.P. Seating ($45.00). 

Visit WWW.KCAAH.ORG to purchase tickets. For more information, contact Marjorie Marshall at 502-271-9228.

To setup an interview contact VIPP Communications at  booking@vippcommunications.com.

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TONIGHT: DERBY SOUNDSTAGE 2023 is a sure bet when it comes to entertainment KY Derby week

Featuring T.I. Trina, Jeezy and DJ Drama

(Louisville, KY) One of the hottest tickets in town biggest hip-hop to the Derby city.  We are now in the countdown to Derby Soundstage 2023, which is bringing some of the top Hip-Hop and R&B artists in the entertainment industry. 

Tickets are going fast for Derby Soundstage 2023 which will be held on Thursday, May 4th at Freedom Hall. Fans can see T.I., Jeezy, and Trina. Hosted by DJ Drama. 

We are excited to announce the opening acts for the concert.  Derby Soundstage welcomes B Simm, Suzie Tatyana, Paperboy Casino and DJ Slikk. 

The event’s producer, Elvis Colbert says ‘We are coming down the stretch and we are already in Louisville.  The excitement is building, and we can’t wait until Thursday.  This is going to be a great show.   We have a fantastic lineup, and we are giving local artists an opportunity to open for these hip-hop stars.  Come out and have a good time as we officially kick off Derby weekend.  You never know who will stop by to see Hip-hop at its best.  This is definitely the winning ticket for the Kentucky Derby when it comes to events.”

You can purchase tickets at all Ticketmaster locations. 

To obtain credentials to cover the concert and/or request an interview contact VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications.com or by calling 502.341.7306. Only credentialed media will be approved to cover this concert.  All non-credential media, blogger, streamer  and/or aspiring photographer we will consider if requested prior to May 4th

Derby Soundstage 2023 is presented by Real 93.1 and is produced by The Live Suite.  

To learn more about our featured artists:

T.I. is a three-time Grammy Award winning recording artist with anthems like ‘Whatever You Like’, ‘U Don’t Know Me’, to ‘Big Things Pop

T.I. has sold over 10 million albums in the U.S. alone.  The founding executive of Grand Hustle Records is also a successful actor, entrepreneur, and the host of a poplar podcast “expediTIously with Tip ‘T.I’ Harris. This will be T.I.’s first live appearance in Louisville since 2016. 

Jeezy is a Def Jam artist who released ‘Snofall’ which is now available on all streaming platforms. He’s recently been featured in Freddie Gibbs ‘Rabbit Vision’.  Over this ‘EnTrapreneur’s’ career Jeezy has had a #1 hit Billboard hit ‘Put On’, three top ten hits and 25 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 like ‘Love in This Club’, Soul Survivor’, ‘Leave You Alone’ and ‘Trap or Die’.

Trina is known as the ‘Da Baddest’ in hip-hop. She currently stars in the realty show, Love & Hip Hop: Miami.  XXL calls Trina the most consistent female rapper of all time.  Putting out hits like ‘Here We Go’, ‘B R Right’, and ‘Pull Over’ to name a few of Trina’s many hits. 

DJ Drama is a Grammy Award winning artist and co-founder of Generation Now of Atlantic Records that represents artists like Louisville native Jack Harlow and Lil Uzi Vert.  He gained recognition as T.I. ‘s official DJ under Atlantic’s Grand Hustle label. 

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Derby Soundstage 2023 featuring T.I., Jeezy, Trina, & DJ Drama

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky 

Tickets range from $65-$200.  You can purchase at any Ticketmaster location and/or ticketmaster.com.

The Live Suite  www.thelivesuite.com