Leaders, Legends, & Trailblazers
Join us for the Harlem World Magazine Festival (The HWM Festival) where we feature conversations, screenings, meals, and performances with a lineup of Harlem “leaders, legends, and trailblazers,” as guests for our subscribers.
The HWM Festival will be an annual event inspired by our Harlem World Magazine Summit organized in partnership with event guru Kay Lucas in 2020.
The plan is that the Festival will be held in venues in and around Harlem, New York, bringing together those in the world of Harlem each year with the plan to become a major draw for cultural icons, advertisers, and sponsors alike.
The Festival includes a launch campaign of the HWM Cares program which launched in 2020 as H.Y.P.E. in collaboration with Columbia University in Harlem where we recruit and train Harlem’s next generation of publishers. We use this event to help raise money annually through the Harlem World Magazine Festival.
The Harlem World Magazine Festival (The HWM Festival) will also be experienced around the world virtually through its website, HWMFestival with additional performances, Festivals including Arts, Business, and Philanthropy panels, Fire Side Chats, an HWM Cares Fundraiser, and the new HWMStore where visitors can shop with exhibitors and vendors online as well as watch activities from the stage in an interactive platform on the site.
Saturday, November 15, 2025, 12-6 pm
“Health Is Wealth”
HWM FEST ’25 at Aloft Harlem & Zoom
Opening Words (12 -12:05 PM)
- “Agape” Clem Marshall, ancestry educator & writer
Speaker (12:05-12:45 PM)
- “Past, Present & Future” Peggy Dodson, WE-ACT
On-Going
Art Auction & Exhibit Fundraiser For HWM Cares
The Art Fundraiser & Exhibit will feature the best of Harlem World Magazine covers, premium photographs, posters, and images from HWM photographers to raise funds for the relaunch of HWM Cares, on HWM Store, and GoFundMe. To top it off there will be a physical Exhibit of premium prints sold at Aloft Hotel in Harlem.
Red Carpet (12:45-6 pm)
An ongoing Red Carpet, a Step-and-Repeat wall, is open to the public from 12-6 pm. HWM Photographers will be on hand taking photos with Rudy Collins, Seitu Oronde, Udo Salters, etc., and others during The Festival at the Aloft Hotel in Harlem.
The Panels (1 PM – 4 PM, Live & Zoom) at Aloft Harlem
Art (60 min.)
1 pm
Hosted by Gwen Black, Artist, and Founder, Savona Bailey-McClain, West Harlem Art Fund and Voza Rivers, Harlem Arts Alliance “Oral Harlem History Marathon,” with NYC Records Department, Harlem Cultural Archives, and the public recordings.
2 pm
Brandice Daniel, Harlem Fashion Row, Kay Gayner, National Dance Institute, The Africa Center and Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI)
Business (60 min.)
3 pm
Hosted by Lawrence King, Robb Pair, Harlem Lofts and Regina Lewis, Harlem Business Alliance, “The Harlem History Museum,” NYC Gov. Archives, Harlem Cultural Archives, and Harlem History Archives
4 pm
Barbara Askins, 125thBID and Nokia Evans, Harlem Park To Park
Philanthropy (60 min.)
5 pm
Hosted by CC Minton, HWM President & Board Member, Adriano Espaillat, Congress Member and Senator Cordell Cleare, Senator
6 pm
Brotherhood Sister Sol and Police Athletic League P.A.L., “Oral Harlem History Marathon,” with NYC Records Department, Harlem Cultural Archives, and the public recordings
Building on The Past (60 Min)
HWM Cares Black Excellence in Journalism Award with NYABJ in Harlem
- The Charles Tisdale Award In Journalism
Off-Site Locations 6-8 (To Be Announced)
Performances 6-8 pm
- “Post Harlem Renaissance Podcasts Series,” with Harlem Writers Guild
- “The Art of Harlem Style,” with Etu Evans at Aloft Harlem
Experiences 8-10 pm
- “The Harlem Food Tour” with Taste Of Harlem
- “The Fashion & Artisanal Show,” Doorstep, HWM Store at Aloft Harlem
- “Harlem Nights,” The Gregory Buruss Band, TapInto News hosted by CC Minton
- “Collage & Cocktails” Recycle Workshop with HWM founder, educator, and visual artist, Danny Tisdale.
- The Harlem Family Feud HWM Cares. Fundraiser event features two opposing Harlem professional industry teams who compete to answer the most popular answers from Harlem History questions.
- The HWM Golf Classic + HWM Cares. Fundraiser event featuring Harlem professional teams compete in a mini-tournament in the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course, NY.
Harlem Summer Visitors Guide (November 2025)
We’ll create a visitors guide that will be distributed throughout the Festival and the fall with a directory, features, categories, and more.
Ticket Information
- General Admission: $49
- VIP Experience: $99 (includes priority seating, exclusive meet-and-greet, and local artisan gift bag)
- Student & Educator: $29
What to Expect
- Thought-provoking discussions on local issues, arts, and culture
- Live interviews with notable local figures
- Exclusive readings and performances
- Networking opportunities with fellow attendees and [Your Magazine Name] staff
- Local food and beverage tastings
Stay Connected
[Social media icons]
[Email signup form for festival updates]
Partners
Our Sponsors
Our Media Partners
This page is updated frequently we’re updating this page regularly.
Reserve your space now at hwmfest@hwmfest.com
For more information go to hwmfestival.com, 646.216.8698
@hwm/festival
#hwm/festival
Thank you
Note: This page is ONLY used as a mock-up of an idea (source).