Consider the Following as You Plan

In Your Opening 

Sharing a little backstory about the significance of the park name (Lil Hardin Armstrong, jazz musician and Bronzeville resident) 

Our collective Why (Tommie, please be the one to speak to this)

Encourage people to explore different parts of the park to engage with the past, experience the present and dream up the future they want for Bronzeville, the Southside, and Chicago at large. (The archival walkway, the Ida Be Well Health and Wellness Stage, The Melanin Market, and our Resource Organizations, etc). 

1:45-1:55 | Before introducing Micah Collier and Alysha Monique for the Jazz Tribute, please thank all the barbers who donated their time to cut children’s hair at the festival. Encourage guests to follow them on social media and book with them in the future. 

Then thank New Community Outreach for coming and sharing their produce with us from their Garden To Table Program. Invite Sonia to come up and share about their program.

3:10-3:15 | We will need to thank Morning View Word Church for being a Hospitality Sponsor. They would like their podcast promoted in turn for their partnership. Please shout out their YouTube channel the View ENetwork: Living Out Our Daily Faith for content at the intersection of faith and everyday life.

Here are some descriptions of their content: 

The Flow: Culture Meets Faith Hosted by Dre Relentless and Rachel J this dynamic show for ages 15-30 mixes the best of Christian hip-hop with vibrant discussions on life and creativity. It’s all about inspiring the next generation to lead impactful lives grounded in faith!

Chat PKT: Conversations with Pastor's Kids— An honest series highlighting the unique experiences of pastor's kids. We explore the joys and challenges of growing up in the church, creating a safe space for meaningful dialogue and support.

4:05-4:15 | Miki and the DJ will take the lead on encouraging Divine 9 organizations to stroll based on what song is playing. 

4:40-4:45 | Either before or after the hip hop segment happens, be sure to thank Shaundric Mann, hip hop artist and owner of Callit.Coffee for curating the Hip Hop Segments. 

5:30-5:50 | Encourage people with the DJ’s help as well to line dance 

Before Music Segments: 

Share history related to each music segment – gospel started with mahalia jackson james cleveland and thomas a dorsey in Pilgrim Baptist Church before the gospel segment. Share some major names in each genre that come from Bronzeville or the southside. If the genre had pivotal turning points connected to Bronzeville, clue the audience in on that. (Particularly Jazz and its boom and the formation of Gospel.) 

During other segments: 

Creating moments for audience engagement and sparking joy – 

• Encouraging a dance off with a popular chicago dance as we approach the hip hop segment of the festival (see Diva Dance Giveaway details below)

• Gauge who has lived in Bronzeville the longest perhaps as we get closer to peak hours of the festival (3:30)

• A competition between people about Bronzeville trivia or history (perhaps during the earlier portion of the festival to spark engagement)

Please include calls for donations to support the event throughout the day.

Gifts to incorporate into moments:

• (2) LVL UP Coffee Gift Cards

• (5) Pearls Place Gift Cards 

• Haji Healing Care Package (Valued at $88) 

• Diva Dance Company Free Class 

For the Diva Dance giveaway: 

Create a moment with the crowd where you encourage a "dance-off" to get the audience to do a popular Chicago dance. Whoever wins the competition will then be gifted a "FREE" dance class at Diva Dance. Then promote Diva Dance Bronzeville’s opening weekend and encourage people to go to their noon class on Sunday (the following day) to support the studio. 

For Pearls Place: 

Rich Off Impact “Keez” has agreed to come up and share some of his favorite spots in Bronzeville. He then can giveaway a Pearls Place Gift Card to someone in the crowd. 

Closing out the show: 

After Jessica performs, she will conduct Thank Yous, Tommie can join her onstage for this. Please help her make sure to thank the following people: 

• John Anderson 

• The McCauley Family 

• Fuller Barnes LLC 

• The African American Firefighters and Paramedics Association 

• Therapy While Black, sponsored the Vendor Microgrant Competition

• Farrise Law Firm

• Signature Vibes

• Denard Bros 

Then Jessica will welcome the judges from the Microgrant Competition onstage and announce the winners of the competition. Tommie and Miki you can take a break on the side of the stage for this moment. But don’t fully exit. Once it ends, you’ll want to come back to either: 

1. Energize the crowd to exit, encouraging them to donate, take the survey, and follow us on IG. 

2. OR introduce Chance The Rapper to perform. 

Whenever the event is officially ending we will need you to promote Secret Garden Sessions with South Side Radio as a post-festival kickback people can go to to keep the celebratory vibes going. 

Influencer Collaborations Onstage

We have one influencer confirmed to attend: Keez @richoffimpact and are working on one more Josh Doss @doss.discourse 

We are engaging Josh Doss, political pollster to talk to the crowd about the power of civic engagement in creating the future we want for the southside. If he committed to attending, we would want him to come onstage and share for 2 minutes.