This confidence seemed well placed given the leadership provided by our partner, the Museum Business and Community Council, and the securing of Bobbi Brown as our keynote speaker.
Ticket and sponsor revenue, attendee feedback, and social media buzz confirmed our instincts. We had struck a positive chord among an audience wanting this kind of program to become a signature panel event at the Museum.
Fast-forward to the beginning of 2022, and the planning started in earnest. Led by Museum staffers Kristin Curry, Director of Institutional Giving, and Audrey Carmeli, Manager of Corporate Relations, the goal is to deepen our impact with a hybrid model this year. Thankfully, their first step to again bring the Business and Community Council’s partnership into the planning fold was achieved within a few hours of the outreach. Thank you, Newark Museum Business and Community Council President Thomas Goletz and Vice President Monique Jones and Council Member and Event Chair Nicole Alexander. We appreciate your signing on for a second year without skipping a beat.
We are grateful for the way the entire team is leaning all the way in. I am impressed that we have the complete speaker lineup already confirmed for April 27th. And I am thrilled that we are continuing the focus of Women, Power & Promise, but with a new perspective from women leaders across a wide range of creative disciplines. This year’s theme, Keys to Success, will delve into what success for our panelists in the 2020s looks like. The discussion will necessarily address issues of equity and inclusion for these women influencing our current art and culture space.
The evening will open with this year’s keynote speaker, Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage. Yes, that’s right, the same great, heartbreaking read deemed one of the best books of the year by NPR and an Oprah Book of the Month selection. A shout-out to our partner and Washington Street neighbor, Audible, for providing assistance with securing our keynote speaker and one of our panelists.
Adding further energy to our second annual convening is our powerhouse panel. Featured panelists include T.J. Newman, author of The New York Times bestseller Falling, Kristen Visbal, sculptor of Fearless Girl, and Melissa Walker, Founder and President of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. I am certain our audience will come away enriched and energized.
One last encouragement to join us on April 27. All funds raised through Women, Power & Promise: The Keys to Success support our wide-reaching educational programming at The Newark Museum of Art.
Getting inspired and giving back all in one afternoon. Just another example of women multitasking!
With gratitude,
Linda C. Harrison
Director and CEO
The Newark Museum of Art
