This Is Your Warning: Black Love Is About to Be Outside
by Khalilah Jones
Some events you attend.
Others become the one people keep referencing.
The 2026 Black Love Symposium & Soirée is firmly in the second category.
Saturday, February 7th 6-10:30pm at The Center at Belvedere.
Presented by Black Professional Network, Vinegar Hill, Chic & Classy Image Consulting, Knot Broken, and DREAM Clothing, this is a curated celebration of Black love in all its forms and it’s shaping up to be one of those nights. The kind where the room fills fast, the energy stays high, and the only regret is not securing your ticket sooner.
February is already doing the heavy lifting. Black History Month meets the Month of Love, and the result is a night designed to honor who we are, how we love, and how we celebrate. Fully. Joyfully. Unapologetically.
Let’s start with the Symposium.
This isn’t a sit-back-and-zone-out experience. It’s immersive. Visual. Grounded. Expect art from our featured artist That Gilly, portraits, and moments of reflection that feel relevant and rooted, not rehearsed. And just when you think the room has given all it has to give, Queen takes the floor with spoken word that will stop conversations mid-sip. If you haven’t experienced Queen before, you are in for a treat! The kind of performance you don’t scroll past and can’t stop thinking about afterward. Come prepared to feel something.
Then the tone shifts.
The fashion show, presented by Chic & Classy Image Consulting, is a standout moment for a reason.
Our marquee sponsor, JLS, is providing HBCU and Divine Nine apparel, bringing heritage, pride, and cultural excellence to the runway in a way that feels both nostalgic and now. This is storytelling in motion.
This portion of the evening also intentionally highlights initiatives from participating Divine Nine organizations, giving space to the work, service, and leadership that continues to shape our communities. Love with legacy. Purpose with presence.
Local contributors including EV Shanell, Vintage Vinegar Hill Clothing, Prolyfyck, and Heart & Soul Fitness add range, texture, and unmistakable Black creativity to the show. Every look is intentional. Every moment lands.
Dress code for guests? Elevated All Black.
Think polished. Think confident. Think “I understood the assignment.”
A true celebration of Black love has to start within, and Knot Broken makes that clear.
Their work centers Black women embracing their worth, prioritizing their well-being, and building lives rooted in stability, sustainability, and success. Through community connection, leadership development, access to resources, and advocacy, Knot Broken creates spaces where women are seen, supported, and empowered to lead with confidence.
Their partnership with this event reflects a shared belief that self-love isn’t soft. It’s strategic. It’s restorative. And it’s powerful enough to change families and communities. This night honors that truth without watering it down.
When the Soirée begins, the energy does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
The music hits. The room loosens. The dance floor fills like only DJ Reggie Wattz can do. This is where the celebration lives. Where connections happen naturally. Where joy takes over and nobody’s checking the time.
Food is thoughtfully curated by Chef G, desserts by Krissy Cakes, and drinks by Bartender P, because details matter and this event doesn’t miss them.
Contributing sponsors Blue Period Media, CAVA, and the Eta Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated – Uplift Our Local Community Initiative help round out an experience that reflects deep community investment and collective care.
This is not an oversized venue with unlimited space.
This is not an event you circle back to later.
This is a room people want to be in.
To see the full list of our gracious sponsors and partners, visit Black Professional Network on social media and tap in.
Tickets are available now:
Come dressed in elevated black.
Come ready to celebrate.
Come ready to feel the love in real time.
Because when the photos start circulating and the stories start being told, you’ll want to be able to say, “I was there.”
Consider this your cue.
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