Outsiders Are In: Paving the Way as a Black Creative

Panel and Networking Mixer

EVENT DETAILS

Wednesday, February 1, 6–8 pm

Katie Murphy Amphitheatre

227 West 27TH St., New York, NY 10001

The entrance is located through the Pomerantz Center lobby on the corner of West 27th Street and Seventh Avenue

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITING LIST

Join President Joyce F. Brown and the Alumni Relations team for an evening of networking and conversation! As part of FIT’s Black History Month programming, the Black Retail Action Group and Black Student Union are partnering with us to host a panel featuring FIT alumni and other industry professionals and a networking mixer. 

Alumni are invited to attend the panel and stay for the networking portion of the evening, where current students can meet and speak with alumni. Light refreshments will be served.

The panel features industry professionals working in a variety of industries who will speak on their pathways to success and career journeys moderated by alumna Kiana Brooks. We hope to see you there!

Moderator

Kiana Brooks, buyer, handbags at Chanel, and member of the FIT Alumni Advisory Council

Kiana Brooks is a luxury fashion buyer based in New York City, with experience working at companies such as Prada, Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Dior. Through her continuous professional and personal efforts, she aims to advance the representation of minority groups in the fashion business. She is an FIT alumna, class of 2019, and serves on the FIT Alumni Advisory Council. 

Panelists

Marielle Bobo, editor-in-chief and senior vice president of programming at EBONY Media

Marielle Bobo is a publishing industry veteran with two decades of fashion and beauty media experience. Before joining EBONY Media Bobo was the editorial director at AC Brands and, before that, the fashion director of Essence Magazine. Widely known as a masterful creative director and stylist, she was tapped to support an extensive, internationally focused expansion of the brand's fashion content across its print, digital, video, social, and experiential properties. During her tenure, she launched the brand's Fashion House experiential series—a global platform for creatives of color. Bobo brought the unique mix of fashion shows, conversations, and masterclasses to New York, New Orleans, and Lagos in partnership with Target.

Before joining Essence, Bobo was the fashion and beauty director of Ebony Magazine and the executive director of style and special projects for Interactive One. She was a vital launch team member for CASSIUS, the company’s men-focused lifestyle platform. Bobo began her career as an agent at Wilhelmina Models. She soon transitioned to Allure Magazine as a market editor covering accessories and fashion. Later, Bobo joined the style department at Hearst Magazines' CosmoGirl and lent her expertise in various fashion and beauty editorial roles with Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), Vanity Fair, Glamour, and OK Magazine.

Bobo has appeared on various television outlets, including Good Morning America, Today, and Entertainment Tonight. She has also provided consulting services to many clients, including former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Fashion Education Initiative and Colombiamoda—one of Latin America's most influential fashion events.  

Alex Chimilio, creative director at Weatherproof Vintage

Alex Chimilio is an established creative director with over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry. He’s worked with companies  such as J. Crew, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, and Timberland. His deep appreciation for beautiful photography, ability to mix textures, play with cultures, and distinctive storytelling allows him to create a strong, cohesive visual language across a brand’s identity. He is also the co-host of the popular podcast Gatsby Fridays, about getting the best out of a creative life for professionals. 

Chimilio earned his degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. He has also studied graphic design at Pratt Institute, branding at the School of Visual Art, and film direction, fiction writing, and acting at The New School and New York University. 

He currently lives in New York City and works at Weatherproof Vintage, where he is instrumental in defining the company's identity to a large audience across multimedia platforms: in-house, retail, online, social, and outdoor.

Abi Ishola-Ayodeji, journalist and author

Abi Ishola-Ayodeji is an Emmy award-winning producer, brand builder, and storyteller. Her debut novel, Patience Is a Subtle Thief, was chosen as one of BuzzFeed’s best books of May 2022. 

As a journalist, she has written and produced for various platforms, including ELLE.com, PBS, Ebony.com, CUNY TV, and more. In 2017, Essence Magazine named her among its Woke 100 Women for launching Beyond Classically Beautiful, an acclaimed media platform and lifestyle brand that celebrates black women who defy traditional beauty standards.

As a first-generation Nigerian-American, Ishola-Ayodeji grew up in Miami Gardens, Florida, but treasures her brief stint in secondary school in Lagos. She moved to New York City in 2001 to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology and finished in 2004 with a degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications.

DeRay Mckesson, American civil rights activist

DeRay Mckesson is a civil rights activist focused primarily on innovation, equity, and justice issues. Born and raised in Baltimore, he graduated from Bowdoin College and holds honorary doctorates from The New School and the Maryland Institute College of Art.  

Mckesson has advocated for issues related to children, youth, and families since he was a teen. As a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter Movement and a co-founder of Campaign Zero, Mckesson has worked to connect individuals with knowledge and tools and provide citizens and policymakers with common sense policies that ensure equity. He has been praised by President Obama for his work as a community organizer, has advised officials at all levels of government and internationally, and continues to provide capacity to activists, organizers, and influencers to make an impact. 

Spurred by the death of Mike Brown and the subsequent protests in Ferguson, Missouri, and beyond, Mckesson has become a key player in the work to confront the systems and structures that have led to mass incarceration and police killings of Black and other minority populations. He is also the host of the award-winning podcast Pod Save the People, which creates space for conversation about the most critical issues of the week related to justice, equity, and identity. 

Mckesson frequently appears on national media outlets, including The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, NPR, MSNBC, and CNN, among many others. He has also been featured on the cover of The Advocate, Adweek, and Attitude Magazine. He has been highlighted in various publications, including Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview Magazine, VICE, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Baltimore Sun. He is a board member of Rock The Vote, was named one of the World’s Greatest Leaders by Fortune Magazine in 2015 and one of the 30 Most Influential People On The Internet by Time Magazine in 2016.

Ashley Stephenson, executive assistant to Dapper Dan and assistant buyer at Macy's

Ashley Stephenson is a talented and accomplished fashion industry professional with a strong track record of success. Born and raised in Harlem and holds a bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising and an associate's degree in Fashion Business Management from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Since 2017, Stephenson has worked as a merchant and buyer for top fashion brands and companies like Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Victoria's Secret, and Macy's. With experience in product development, production, buying, planning, and showroom management, Stephenson’s resume speaks for itself and boasts a well-rounded background within the fashion industry.

Since 2018, Stephenson has also worked with fashion icon Dapper Dan, serving as his executive assistant. In this role, Stephenson serves as his main point of contact and project lead for efficiency initiatives within his brand and cross-functional partners. She specializes in process improvement and drives the development and implementation of his brand’s overall strategy. With her extensive knowledge of fashion and business, Stephenson is known for her professionalism, attention to detail, and dedication to delivering top-quality results. 

Devan Lynne Wallace, senior public relations manager at Louis Vuitton

Devan Lynne Wallace, a Washington, D.C. native, is currently the senior public relations manager at Louis Vuitton. She has spent her career specializing in communications at some of the world’s most recognizable luxury fashion brands, including Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Bally, and Gucci. 

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