10th Annual UNITY Black History Month | Celebration of “Ladder Builders”

Join Raise Your Glass Promotions as we celebrate our 10th Annual UNITY Networking Mixer | Black History Month Celebration presented by PEPSICO and #CONNECTFORD!

We are proud to celebrate 10 years of amazing conversations and networking while supporting local small businesses and non-profit organizations.

Here are some of our event highlights:

Venue: Orlando Museum of Art* is a visual treat that will serve as a beautiful backdrop for our celebration

Reception: Heavy hors d'oeuvres from Oley's Catering, cash bar, live musical performance by Alvin Giles trio with songstress Daphne Cooper, and an iConnect BHM expo and "Ladder Builder" fundraiser

Program:

• Headliner Performances by EZINMA (“Beyonce’s violinist”) - classically trained with a hip-hop/soul fare. Check out her website: https://www.ezinma.com

• Special guest speakers and recognition of “Ladder Builders”

• Shawn Welcome, City of Orlando Poet Laureate spoken word "Ladder Builder" poem

• Check presentations to local non-profits**

Post Reception: Ezinma performance, Champagne Toast, DJ Emcee, Dessert Station & 360 Photo Booth

Special thanks to all of our sponsors. We value our sponsor partnerships and the great work they are doing in our community.

Reception sponsor: www.floridablue.com

Entertainment reception sponsor: www.orlandomagic.com

iConnect Black History Month Expo/Ladder Builder fundraiser* with representatives from:

• Meet leaders from local chapters of national non-profit professional associations such as the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, African American Chamber of Central Florida, Urban League and the Urban League Young Professionals. Local non-profit organizations and entrepreneurs will also be on-site sharing information and helping us to raise funds for three local non-profit organizations.

**Each of our UNITY partners is donating a prize for our Ladder Builder fundraiser to support three local scholarships: Bethune-Cookman University hospitality majors (in memory of Bob Billingslea), 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando (in memory of Ron Rogers) and the W. Daniel Mills Apprenticeship program at Orlando Shakes (in memory of Daniel Mills).  

Live music | Food | Cash Bar | Community Fundraiser (cash/credit card raffle tickets will be sold on-site). Bring your dance shoes and a smile!

Limited capacity, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) sponsor opportunities are available

*This event is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Orlando Museum of Art.

Help us welcome Ezinma, "Beyonce's violinist" to Orlando for her first Raise Your Glass Promotions performance. I first saw Ezinma in Nassau, Bahamas and I can assure you that will be dancing in your seats when you hear her slay the violin.

One of my favorite local band, Alvin Giles Trio, will kick off the night for us and set the tone for a high energy celebration. You can catch Alvin & Ezra at Eddie Vs and/or Jazz Tastings and they are available for hire.

Accompanying the band for the night is absolutey one of my favorite high energy, vocally amazing, artists, Daphne Cooper, who can also be found playing around town and is available for hire.

#supportlocalartists - we have for over 12 years.

Shawn Welcome, Poet Laureate, City of Orlando, will be performing an original "Ladder Builder" piece during the program.