March 15th 2024.
According to Troy Brown, co-founder of the Black Promoters Collective, an impressive 16,000 people were expected to attend the 2024 Jazz in the Garden music festival in Miami Gardens. This was a significant increase from the previous year, which was coordinated by Live Nation and only drew in half the number of attendees. Brown and his eight business partners, including Gary Guidry, Shelby Joyner, and William Ingram, worked closely with the City of Miami Gardens to make this festival a monumental success. Together, they managed to attract a staggering 41,000 people to the event.
The success of this partnership can be traced back to a chance encounter between one of the members and the city's vice mayor, Katrina Wilson. She recalls the moment vividly, "I was at a law school dedication at St. Thomas University and [Brown] walked in behind Will Smith. They pointed him out as a member of the Black Promoter Collective and I was intrigued. I asked what the collective was about and they explained that they organize concerts all around. I immediately knew that we had to work with them for Jazz in the Gardens."
From that moment, the planning for the festival began in full force. The weekend kicked off with various activations around the city, starting with a tasting event at city hall. This event showcased some of the culinary businesses that would be present at Jazz in the Gardens, including Popo's Seafood, known for their delicious conch salad and sticky wings. Other vendors included TJ's Southern Kitchen, Grillz on Wheels, Reeds C. Catering, and Reggae Beets Food Truck.
The city of Miami Gardens also hosted a Women's Impact Luncheon on International Women's Day, with the talented Fantasia as the keynote speaker. The event was attended by local dignitaries, members of Divine 9 sororities, and residents of Miami Gardens. Neki Mohan, who was also present, recalls the highlight of the day, "Fantasia Barino gave an inspiring speech to a group of young girls from an elementary school in Miami Gardens. She urged them to be confident, purposeful, and to put God first. It was heartwarming to see her hug and uplift these young girls, and there was not a dry eye in the room."
As the sun set on March 9, the Jazz in the Gardens opening party at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's DAER Dayclub was in full swing. Kid Capri, BoWeezy, DJ Tight, She-J Hercules, and DJ Nasty kept the partygoers dancing all night long with a mix of old school classics and new school hits.
Miami Gardens has a rich history as one of the Blackest cities in Florida, with the ninth-largest Black population in the country and the 65th globally. Former mayor Sheryl Gibson, who held office from xx-xx, had a vision of transforming the city into a thriving community, and she succeeded. Vice Mayor Wilson proudly shares, "We are proud to say that Miami Gardens has become a major hub for the Black community in South Florida."
In its seventeenth year, Jazz in the Gardens did not disappoint under the leadership of the Black Promoters Collective. The two-day event featured a star-studded lineup of global and national artists, including Babyface, Jaheim, Eric Bellinger, Tink, Omarion, Jeezy, Lil Kim, Jazmine Sullivan, Marsha Ambrosia, Tamia, and Davido. It was truly a weekend to remember, and the Black Promoters Collective is already gearing up for an even bigger and better festival in the future.
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