Mary J. Blige is back with her Strength Of A Woman Festival and Summit for Mother’s Day weekend. The Atlanta event, will feature artists including, Lauryn Hill, Coco Jones, Muni Long, and Summer Walker.
As a part of the festival Blige partnered with Pepsi to present opportunities for Black women. Pepsi is donating $200,000 towards the inaugural, PepsiCo x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Scholarship. The fund will support organizations that empower Black women as well as students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Inside The Festival’s Donations
The Strength of a Woman Scholarship will fund local organizations that exemplify the summit’s programming pillars. The organizations selected, empower women in the areas of wellness, technology, finance, and the creative arts. They include Silence the Shame, City of Refuge, Right Hand Foundation, and Earth Girl ATL.
The scholarship fund will also support a Black female student currently attending or planning to attend an HBCU. The recipient of the scholarship will be announced during the Pepsi’s HBCU tour in the fall.
Female-run, Black-owned restaurants will be in the spotlight as a part of the festival and summit. Pepsi Dig In is the brands platform aimed at driving access, business grown and awareness for Black-owned businesses. Dig In will provide complimentary food from a selection of local Black female-owned restaurants. Summit attendees will get to try signature dishes from Atlanta eateries including Ms. Icey’s Kitchen, Gocha’s Breakfast Bar, Twisted Soul, and Local Green Atlanta. The effort will bring these businesses to the forefront during one of the city’s biggest weekends.
The Sole Purpose
Blige’s annual festival has proven to uplift women’s voices. She’s devoted to increasing visibility for Black women businesses. For decades, Black women have felt represented due to Blige’s music and persona. Now, the singer, songwriter continues to use her platform to help others reach financial freedom.