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In our digital age, in-person interaction is more important than ever. I spoke to Gaybrielle LeAnn Gant, Creator of Black Girls Brunch, about how she's creating space for Black women to convene and connect.
Noirnomics: Please tell us about yourself and your background.
Gaybrielle LeAnn Gant: I am an entrepreneur, event curator and fearless advocate for Black Women. I have a boutique consulting firm, Dream Māvyn LLC., where I have the privilege and honor to support the dreams and visions of Black women and women of color with their small businesses. I am also the Creator of Black Girls Brunch. I am just a little Black girl from Phoenix, Arizona who lives to inspire Black Women and women of color to live the lives of their dreams by living unapologetically and authentically! I recently graduated from Arizona State University where I received a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. I also received my Bachelor’s from Spelman College in 2010.
What is Black Girls Brunch?
Black Girls Brunch is a brunch series and intentionally curated safe space for Black women. Created in 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona, Black Girls Brunch quickly became one of the most highly anticipated events for multi-generational Black women and is now expanding to additional cities throughout the U.S. The goal of the Black Girls Brunch experience is to provide a space for Black women to connect, celebrate, and collaborate as we build community through sisterhood. At Black Girls Brunch, women enter as strangers and exit as sister-friends!
Why did you decide to create Black Girls Brunch?
My mother became really ill in 2016, so I began traveling back and forth between New York City and Phoenix to care for her. That transition was very hard for me and flipped my 29-year-old dreams and aspirations upside down. All of the plans, and things that I was building in New York suddenly seemed to come to a complete halt. I began to see the transition and additional responsibility as a caretaker as a loss. I had become accustomed to living in cities with Black cultural epicenters like Atlanta, NYC, and DC. Phoenix has a very small Black community and I felt that I was losing a connection to the culture and life that I had fallen in love with while living in cities with higher populations of Black residents.
I hosted the first Black Girls Brunch in February 2017. My desire was to create a space for networking, relationships, and development across sectors and generations, and to reduce the feelings and experiences of invisibility for Black Women locally, nationally and globally. I wanted to let the rest of Phoenix––and the world—know that we are here, and we are FABULOUS.
What's next for Black Girls Brunch?
We are taking the movement national! We are looking to continue developing an amazing experience for Black women in cities all over the U.S. and we aim to develop strategic partnerships in order to make a national and global impact. I believe partnering with global brands, affinity groups and other networks that value creating safe spaces for Black women is the greatest step forward and a beautiful path for expansion.
Our next brunch is this Sunday, September 15 in Washington, D.C.! You can buy tickets here. And we aim to expand to the following cities soon: Atlanta, NYC, Seattle, San Jose, Vegas, Portland.
All media inquiries: Keiona Eady, Press@blackgirlsbrunch.com
All photos courtesy of Deanna S. Reid, The Social Photog @thesocialphotog
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