Trending...
- Preliminary.online Introduces Short-Term Job-Readiness Courses with Employer-Verified Certifications
- Winners Announced for Asia Pacific Business Awards 2024-2025
- 'Public Speaking Without Panic' Launches to Help Leaders Speak with Confidence
Now in its Fourth Year, the Three-Day Event, to be Held in Detroit, Celebrates and Analyzes Diversity in the Footwear Industry
DETROIT, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Black Footwear Forum (BFF) today announces featured speakers and panels for this year's event, to be held at Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design (PLC) in Detroit, September 16-18, in partnership with the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA).
"Since its first year, the Black Footwear Forum has evolved into a major industry gathering to celebrate, inspire and acknowledge Black creatives globally who are responsible for the culture of our industry," PLC Founder and President D'Wayne Edwards said. "This year it's happening in the only city in the US designated a UNESCO City of Design—Detroit, Michigan."
At the 2022 BFF, attendees, executives, industry leaders and the community of Detroit will gather for three-day FREE event of celebrations, conversations, and networking as BFF continues to highlight, strengthen, and support Black professionals globally in the footwear industry.
"I can't think of a better city than Detroit, a better place than the Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design, and a better time than now for the BFF to reconvene in-person after a multi-year hiatus," said FDRA President & CEO Matt Priest. "Excitement for this event has been off-the-charts as registrations and corporate support continue to roll in. BFF Detroit will be the highlight of our year."
Thursday, September 15 officially kicks off BFF with the first of many community activations for Detroit residents. A collaborative partnership between MERIT's FATE Program and PENSOLE alumni, who are designers for some of the top brands in the industry, will conduct a PLC footwear design workshop at the PLC | FDRA | BFF Lounge by StockX in downtown Detroit. This workshop will also be open to the public, who can meet with other Black design leaders from the top brands.
Friday, September 16 will start at University Prep Elementary School for a session called "Kids Are Ready For Design" by A Kids Company About and will feature College of Creative Studies graduate and award-winning designer, entrepreneur and educator Jason Mayden (https://akidsco.com/products/a-kids-book-about-design). Following will be the BFF VIP dinner for staff, speakers, and sponsors, at the Detroit Pistons Performance Center, overlooking the Pistons' practice facilities. And the evening will close with a mixer for all attendees at the PLC|FDRA|BFF Lounge by StockX in downtown Detroit.
More on Michimich.com
Saturday, September 17, BFF will begin with opening remarks from PLC President and founder D'Wayne Edwards and Terrence Floyd, activist founder of We Are Floyd and brother of George Floyd, followed by a variety of talks and panel discussions. A schedule of featured panels and speakers, with more to be added in the weeks leading up to the event, is as follows:
Tappedin: Speaking about the new roads that have been paved for women in the footwear industry
Blacklight: Role Models / Hometown Hero
Black Genius: The importance of role models
Storytellers: Speakers share personal projects, or projects of which they are most proud
Tappedin: Career Pathways + storytelling
Blacklight the Industry: A Conversation about protecting your IP
Free Game Topic TBD
Dinner and Mixer
Sunday, September 18th the forum will close with the BFF Black Women's Brunch and Adidas S.E.E.D Creator camp downtown at the PLC|FDRA|BBF Lounge by StockX, downtown Detroit.
More on Michimich.com
All downtown events are free and open to the public all four days.
Other guests scheduled are:
The 2022 Annual Black Footwear Forum (BFF) in Detroit is a free event thanks to corporate partners including The Athlete's Foot, Caleres, Carhartt, College for creative Studies, Detroit Pistons, Designer Brands, Foot Locker, Gilbert Family Foundation, Logitech, MillerKnoll, NIKE, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, Rack Room Shoes, RG Barry Brands, Target, Steve Madden, Bedrock, Wolverine Worldwide, GM, Adidas, VF Corp, StockX, Ford, PEPSICO, and more.
Register to attend at: www.blackfootwearforum.com or follow us on Instagram @pensolelewis for updates and event coverage.
About the Black Footwear Forum (BFF): The Black Footwear Forum, formally known as the African American Footwear Forum (AAFF), invites footwear industry professionals and supporters to share stories and ideas and to create a dialog around the influence, leadership, and passion provided by blacks in the global footwear industry. This forum encourages collaboration to establish industry goals in the development of black talent at all levels. Surrounding the Forum are regional and national events that provide connecting conversations for black footwear professional brands to share concerns and solutions to help shape the conversation while bridging the gaps across the industry.
About PLC: Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design is the pipeline for career education and professional development in the creative industry. We bear the torch, leading the way to creative vision and progress. At Pensole Lewis College, we work at the crossroads of making the industry better, developing unconventional educational experiences and creating ingenious products. Offering a new path to break into the world of product creation, we prepare and empower the largest talent pool of creatives to enter the industry to make it better for the next generation.
About FDRA: Founded in 1944, FDRA is governed and directed by footwear executives and is the only trade organization focused solely on the footwear industry. It serves the full footwear supply chain and boosts the bottom lines of its members through innovative products, training and consulting on footwear design and development, sourcing and compliance, trade and customs, advocacy, and consumer and sales trend analysis for retailers selling shoes around the world. FDRA also runs the footwear industry's weekly podcast Shoe-In Show featuring leading footwear executives and experts discussing key business trends. In all, FDRA supports nearly 500 companies and brands worldwide, representing 95% of total U.S. footwear sales, making it by far the largest and most respected American footwear trade and business association.
Contact:
John McIsaac
[email protected]
SOURCE Pensole Lewis College
DETROIT, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Black Footwear Forum (BFF) today announces featured speakers and panels for this year's event, to be held at Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design (PLC) in Detroit, September 16-18, in partnership with the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA).
"Since its first year, the Black Footwear Forum has evolved into a major industry gathering to celebrate, inspire and acknowledge Black creatives globally who are responsible for the culture of our industry," PLC Founder and President D'Wayne Edwards said. "This year it's happening in the only city in the US designated a UNESCO City of Design—Detroit, Michigan."
At the 2022 BFF, attendees, executives, industry leaders and the community of Detroit will gather for three-day FREE event of celebrations, conversations, and networking as BFF continues to highlight, strengthen, and support Black professionals globally in the footwear industry.
"I can't think of a better city than Detroit, a better place than the Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design, and a better time than now for the BFF to reconvene in-person after a multi-year hiatus," said FDRA President & CEO Matt Priest. "Excitement for this event has been off-the-charts as registrations and corporate support continue to roll in. BFF Detroit will be the highlight of our year."
Thursday, September 15 officially kicks off BFF with the first of many community activations for Detroit residents. A collaborative partnership between MERIT's FATE Program and PENSOLE alumni, who are designers for some of the top brands in the industry, will conduct a PLC footwear design workshop at the PLC | FDRA | BFF Lounge by StockX in downtown Detroit. This workshop will also be open to the public, who can meet with other Black design leaders from the top brands.
Friday, September 16 will start at University Prep Elementary School for a session called "Kids Are Ready For Design" by A Kids Company About and will feature College of Creative Studies graduate and award-winning designer, entrepreneur and educator Jason Mayden (https://akidsco.com/products/a-kids-book-about-design). Following will be the BFF VIP dinner for staff, speakers, and sponsors, at the Detroit Pistons Performance Center, overlooking the Pistons' practice facilities. And the evening will close with a mixer for all attendees at the PLC|FDRA|BFF Lounge by StockX in downtown Detroit.
More on Michimich.com
- Top 5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make When Applying for SBA Loans
- Michigan Computer Supplies Expands Reach into Livingston County with New Brighton Service Offerings
- $18 Price Target Issued in New Research Report After $34 Million Revenue Forecast from Acquisition; $101.5 Million Net Revenue in 2025; NAS DAQ: IQST
- West Dentistry Welcomes New Oral Surgeon to Enhance Patient Care
- Delta Industrial Provides Custom Flatwork for Factory Floors
Saturday, September 17, BFF will begin with opening remarks from PLC President and founder D'Wayne Edwards and Terrence Floyd, activist founder of We Are Floyd and brother of George Floyd, followed by a variety of talks and panel discussions. A schedule of featured panels and speakers, with more to be added in the weeks leading up to the event, is as follows:
Tappedin: Speaking about the new roads that have been paved for women in the footwear industry
- Jazerai Allen-Lord, award-winning and internationally acclaimed sneaker strategist and designer
Additional speakers TBA
Blacklight: Role Models / Hometown Hero
- Cheresse Thornhill-Goldson, Design Director, Adidas S.E.E.D.
Additional speakers TBA
Black Genius: The importance of role models
- Kevin Carroll, author, speaker, performance coach, founder of Katalyst
Storytellers: Speakers share personal projects, or projects of which they are most proud
- Tyrel Kirkham ,Vice President, Brand & Marketing Strategy for the Detroit Pistons
Additional speakers TBA
Tappedin: Career Pathways + storytelling
- Garry Thaniel, General Manager, Sneakers, eBay
Additional speakers TBA
Blacklight the Industry: A Conversation about protecting your IP
- Jason Mayden, designer, educator, and entrepreneur author of "A Kids Book About Design"
Additional speakers TBA
Free Game Topic TBD
- Hosted by James Whitner, American fashion entrepreneur; owner of streetwear boutiques Social Status, A Ma Maniere, and A.P.B.
Additional speakers TBA
Dinner and Mixer
- Downtown at the PLC|FDRA|BBF Lounge by StockX
Sunday, September 18th the forum will close with the BFF Black Women's Brunch and Adidas S.E.E.D Creator camp downtown at the PLC|FDRA|BBF Lounge by StockX, downtown Detroit.
More on Michimich.com
- American Plastic Solutions Launches FAQ to Provide Tailored Plastic Fabrication Solutions
- AdviCoach of Southeast Michigan Helps Business Owners at Every Stage
- The AML Shop Launches New Financial Investigations Unit, Appoints Director to Lead the Initiative
- Raidium révolutionne le diagnostic de la Sclérose en Plaques en partenariat avec l'Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild
- New Podcast "Spreading the Good BUZZ" Hosted by Josh and Heidi Case Launches July 7th with Explosive Global Reach and a Mission to Transform Lives
All downtown events are free and open to the public all four days.
Other guests scheduled are:
- Matt Priest, President & CEO, FDRA
- April Walker, fashion icon, creator, author, educator
- Jeffrey Henderson, footwear designer and founder of AndThem
- Portia Blount, VP of Apparel, Reebok
- Scoop Jackson, author, and award-winning journalist, for ESPN
- Sydney James, interdisciplinary artist
- Jessica Smith, Director of Strategy, Adidas
- Alexander John, International footwear designer
- Lauren Guthrie, VP Global Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Action, VF Corporation
- E. Scott Morris, Chair of Footwear, Pensole Lewis College
- Ashley Comeaux, VP of Product Design, Allbirds
- Damien Hooper-Campbell, Chief Impact Officer, StockX
- Liz Connelly, Sr Manager, Design Education & Growth, Adidas
- Che Pope, Grammy-winning producer, WRKSHP
Additional speakers TBA
The 2022 Annual Black Footwear Forum (BFF) in Detroit is a free event thanks to corporate partners including The Athlete's Foot, Caleres, Carhartt, College for creative Studies, Detroit Pistons, Designer Brands, Foot Locker, Gilbert Family Foundation, Logitech, MillerKnoll, NIKE, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, Rack Room Shoes, RG Barry Brands, Target, Steve Madden, Bedrock, Wolverine Worldwide, GM, Adidas, VF Corp, StockX, Ford, PEPSICO, and more.
Register to attend at: www.blackfootwearforum.com or follow us on Instagram @pensolelewis for updates and event coverage.
About the Black Footwear Forum (BFF): The Black Footwear Forum, formally known as the African American Footwear Forum (AAFF), invites footwear industry professionals and supporters to share stories and ideas and to create a dialog around the influence, leadership, and passion provided by blacks in the global footwear industry. This forum encourages collaboration to establish industry goals in the development of black talent at all levels. Surrounding the Forum are regional and national events that provide connecting conversations for black footwear professional brands to share concerns and solutions to help shape the conversation while bridging the gaps across the industry.
About PLC: Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design is the pipeline for career education and professional development in the creative industry. We bear the torch, leading the way to creative vision and progress. At Pensole Lewis College, we work at the crossroads of making the industry better, developing unconventional educational experiences and creating ingenious products. Offering a new path to break into the world of product creation, we prepare and empower the largest talent pool of creatives to enter the industry to make it better for the next generation.
About FDRA: Founded in 1944, FDRA is governed and directed by footwear executives and is the only trade organization focused solely on the footwear industry. It serves the full footwear supply chain and boosts the bottom lines of its members through innovative products, training and consulting on footwear design and development, sourcing and compliance, trade and customs, advocacy, and consumer and sales trend analysis for retailers selling shoes around the world. FDRA also runs the footwear industry's weekly podcast Shoe-In Show featuring leading footwear executives and experts discussing key business trends. In all, FDRA supports nearly 500 companies and brands worldwide, representing 95% of total U.S. footwear sales, making it by far the largest and most respected American footwear trade and business association.
Contact:
John McIsaac
[email protected]
SOURCE Pensole Lewis College
Filed Under: Business
0 Comments
Latest on Michimich.com
- Retired Hobbyist Launches Bold Weekly Album Project Using AI Songwriting Tools
- DimHum Launches Revolutionary CrowdShipping Service
- Eolian Signs New Information Exchange Agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense for Technology Innovation
- Infinite Health Introduces Cutting-Edge Regenerative Medicine for Wound Care with Trip Goolsby, MD
- Top Dentist Concord CA, Smile Makers Dental Care, Celebrates 500 5-Star Reviews
- Bio-Inspired Technology-Dynamic and Adaptable for unknown real-world environments
- 'Public Speaking Without Panic' Launches to Help Leaders Speak with Confidence
- Michael Reafsnyder opens solo exhibition at Scott Richards Contemporary Art in San Francisco
- Valley Sleep Therapy Expands to Prescott with New Location at Crossings Road
- $17.4 Million Total Revenue for First Half of 2025 (up 31.8% YOY) for Global Wet Trades Services Provider with High Value Bitcoin Investments
- $12.8 Million Net Revenue for 2024 for Cloud-Based Crowdsourcing Recruitment and SaaS-Enabled HR Solutions Provider: Baiya International Group Inc
- Rocket Companies Completes Acquisition of Redfin
- Hire Virtue Announces Executive Sponsorship Opportunity for Houston Hiring Blitz & Job Fair on August 6, 2025
- Inked & Maxim Model Teisha Mechetti Turns Heads—And Builds Community Impact
- Plan to Launch Silo Technologies' Cybersecurity Pilot Program for Ultimate Nationwide Deployment via Exclusive Partnership: Stock Symbol: BULT
- Robert Michael & Co. Real Estate Team Celebrates Industry Recognition and Showcases Premier Central Florida Listings
- NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK RELEASE: "Mommy, Where Is My Daddy?" by Tracy L. Gray
- UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP AND THE UCLA HERB ALPERT SCHOOL OF MUSIC ESTABLISH THE BERRY GORDY MUSIC INDUSTRY SCHOLARSHIP TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF A MUSIC PIONEER
- AI-Based Neurotoxin Countermeasure Initiative Launched to Address Emerging National Security Needs: Renovaro, Inc. (N A S D A Q: RENB)
- The Naturist World Just Shifted — NaturismRE Ignites a Global Resurgence