ENSPIRE Magazine

Carvd N Stone x Milwaukee Film announce partnership to highlight Black Press
2026-02-26 18:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | The Oriental Theatre., 86th Street and 18th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11214, United States
Carvd N Stone is officially announcing its partnership with Milwaukee Film to present Voices of the Black Press, a FREE screening of the documentary “The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords”, followed by a live post-screening talkback with local Black journalists and media during Black History Month 2026.
Voices of the Black Press is a FREE event being held on February 11, 2026, starting at 6:30 p.m. at The Oriental Theatre.
The documentary highlights the critical role Black-owned newspapers and journalists have played in documenting history, advocating for justice, and amplifying voices often ignored by mainstream media. Following the screening, attendees will be invited into a moderated conversation connecting the film’s themes featuring local Black journalists and media.
The post-screening talkback will be moderated by Nyesha Stone, Founder of Carvd N Stone, and national journalist Dawn Montgomery, the Culture Critic of the Black Press USA, and will feature the following panelists:

Shannon Sims, Former TMJ4 Anchor

Tannette Elie, President, NABJ Milwaukee

Earl Arms, Host of Black Nouveau on Milwaukee PBS and Media & PR Strategist at Northwestern Mutual

Kim Shine, Senior Digital Producer, Radio Milwaukee

Kayla Lewis-Allen, Owner, Full Circle Enterprises

Carrie Mahone, Co-host of Jammin with Juice

Hair Education Beauty Summit Returns to New Jersey with $60K+ in Prizes, Celebrity Judges, and Industry Leaders
2026-05-03 - 2026-05-04 | Meadowlands Expo Center, 355 Plaza Dr, Secaucus, NJ, 07094
The Hair Education Beauty Summit (HEBS), one of the fastest-growing beauty trade shows dedicated to hair professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives, will return to New Jersey on May 3–4, 2026, at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus. The two-day summit is expected to attract more than 2,500 attendees, featuring vendors, major competitions, celebrity judges, and top industry educators from across the country.
HEBS 2026 will also feature live entertainment and special guest appearances throughout the weekend, highlighted by a special appearance from hip-hop icon Jadakiss. The entertainment component adds to the summit’s high-energy atmosphere, celebrating culture, creativity, and innovation across the beauty industry.
The weekend will officially kick off with HEBS’ Annual Black Tie Yacht Party, an exclusive networking experience held on the Hudson River overlooking the skyline of New York City. On Saturday, May 2, the elegant evening brings together beauty professionals, industry leaders, influencers, and creatives for a night of celebration, connection, and culture in a sophisticated black-tie setting. The annual event has become a signature tradition of the summit, setting the tone for a weekend dedicated to education, artistry, and collaboration within the beauty community.
This year’s summit introduces the largest prize pool in event history, awarding over $60,000 in total prizes through its premier Crowned Icons Competition, which recognizes excellence across hair, nails, makeup, fashion, and overall presentation. First-, second-, and third-place winners will be awarded in multiple categories.
The summit will also debut its first-ever Braiding and Loc Competitions, spotlighting textured hair artistry, technical precision, and innovation. Featured categories include the Neatbraid Precision Challenge, the Neatbraid Extension Mastery competition sponsored by Vivace by KISS, as well as the Loc Retwist & Style Challenge and the PureO Loc Retwist Dominion Challenge, providing textured hair professionals with a dedicated platform to showcase their creativity, craftsmanship, and expertise. These competitions provide textured hair professionals with a dedicated platform to showcase their technical skill, creativity, and artistry.
“The Hair Education Beauty Summit was created to provide a powerful platform for beauty professionals to display their talent, enhance their knowledge, and build valuable industry connections,” said Nicole Shuler, CEO and Founder of HEBS. “Our mission is to empower artists at every level by creating opportunities for education, visibility, and career advancement. HEBS continues to grow each year, and 2026 will be our most impactful summit yet.”
HEBS 2026 will feature a lineup of celebrity judges and industry leaders, including award-winning hairstylist Terrence Davidson, known for styling celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, and celebrity hairstylist Derek J., recognized for his appearance on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta. Additional appearances include celebrity hairstylist and licensed cosmetologist Janel Sealy Smith, celebrity barber Andy Authentic, barber Danny “The Success Addict,” and Jassi Rideaux, television personality from Real Housewives of Potomac and CEO of Rideaux Hair.
Beyond competitions, attendees will experience high-energy halftime showcases blending beauty and fashion, live demonstrations, educational sessions, and networking opportunities with leading brands and innovators shaping the future of the beauty industry.
The global beauty industry continues to experience strong growth, with projected revenues expected to exceed $703 billion in 2026, according to Statista. Events like HEBS play a vital role in providing education, resources, and community for barbers, hairstylists, cosmetologists, salon owners, students, and beauty entrepreneurs navigating this rapidly expanding market.
The summit is supported by sponsors including PureO Natural Products, LocN, and Vivace by KISS, reinforcing HEBS’ mission to uplift professional beauty entrepreneurs and textured hair specialists.
Registration, competition sign-ups, vendor opportunities, and event details are available at www.TheHEBS.com. Follow HEBS on social media @haireducationbeautysummit for updates and announcements.
