Celebrities Celebrate Sisterhood at WBLS/WLIB’s Circle of Sisters in NYC

Circle of Sisters’ Delivered a Day of Unity, Entertaiment & Sisterhood

Daytime EMMY AWARD nominated talk show host Wendy Williams, Bobby Brown, Devon Franklin, Rev.  Al Sharpton, David & Tamela Mann, EnVogue, Naturi Naughton, Cynthia Erivo, Kenya Moore & Remy Ma – were all  upfront, candid and informative

The Annual Circle of Sisters EXPO closed with the highest number of attendees, 40,000, to date at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, Saturday, September 29, 2018.

“We are amazed each year and this year was no different – more celebrities, attendees, shopping opportunities and simply a stupendous Saturday for all. Every year, we commit to making Circle of Sisters bigger and better than before. This year was beyond all expectations,” says Charlie Morgan, Senior Vice President/Market Manager WBLS/WLIB. “From the panel discussions to the music performances, star-studded gospel concert and vendor marketplace, Circle of Sisters was a success. It was truly memorable event for the community.”

Circle of Sisters remains the largest EXPO in New York City celebrating and uniting women of color. Highlights of the day included Daytime EMMY AWARD nominated talk show host Wendy Williams returning giving a keynote, a special Ask Wendy segment and receiving special recognition from WBLS/WLIB and a proclamation presented by Ingrid Martin-Lewis, Senior Advisor to the Brooklyn Borough President, Office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.

Singer and entrepreneur Bobby Brown kicked off the day and shared his thoughts with an up close and personal interview with WBLS’s very own Déjà Vu and iconic R&B group EnVogue and the amazing Vivian Green rocked the performance stage with an amazing performance.

The day was filled with today’s hottest celebrities from the stage and screen – actors, performers and music artists. From TONY Award-Winning Cynthia Erivo to Power’s Naturi Naughton to R&B singer and Real Housewife of Atlanta’s Kenya Moore as well as renowned preacher, author, producer Devon Franklin and our favorite couple David and Tamela Mann — all gave the community ‘honest and real’ conversation. From relationship advice to delving into the State of Black America, rap artist Remy Ma joined Rev. Al Sharpton, WBLS’ Raqiyah Mays and Ann Tripp to set a framework for the community.

The 2018 EXPO also featured a sold-out Metro PCS Gospel Explosion, with performances today’s leading gospel artists Bebe Winans, Byron Cage, Koryn Hawthorne, Charles Jenkins, Brian Courtney Wilson and Maranda Curtis.

This year topics on sisterhood, relationships and social advocacy were front row, not to mention hundreds of vendors selling everything imaginable — all under one umbrella allowed for a New York City “must-do” experience.

A Few Quotes from Panel Discussions

#BlackGirlMagic

Don’t take no for an answer. Believe in yourself and have your own personal value—that’s how you will last in this industry for a long time.” – EnVogue

“To have black girl magic, it’s really recognizing that magic that’s in yourself first.” – Naturi Naughton

“Don’t let the brown [skin], don’t let the dark eyes, don’t let the natural hair stop you.” – Bernice Holmes

State of Black America: How to Make Our Voices Heard in this Political Climate

“None of us would have existed had it not been the backbone of our black women. Black women stood up and brought us back every time. We have got to be involved. We have to be sensitive to where we are—where we are with our voting rights, where we are with health care, where we are with gender rights?”  – Al Sharpton

“When I first began, my main objective was to just be good at rapping … but as time goes by, you start to realize that people are actually listening to you and you have things you want to say outside of music.” – Remy Ma

“It’s not easy. There’s not a short-term solution to handle things. You have to get into the trenches, you have to raise your voice as loud as you can even if sometimes you don’t understand what you’re fighting.” – Ashley G. Sharpton

Dating, Marriage, Love & The Internet: How to Make it All Work

“There’s too much of a stigma put on how you meet a person. God may use online dating more than he may use the church to bring you the right person because people can hide in church … find the person, however God brings them to you.” – DeVon Franklin

“The worst mistake you can make is to get married before you know yourself.” – Charreah K. Jackson

“The most important thing [about online dating] is honesty. You have to be honest” – Kenya Moore

Living in The Gospel

“Let’s stop talking about what God can do and walk in what you can do. We should come to the table with everything he’s given us and let’s challenge each other in the church, so that we can use our skills, our talents for God to multiply that through obedience.” – Dr. Stacie NC Grant

“We have to forgive debts for our debts to be forgiven. That’s the only way.” – Brian Courtney Wilson

“You have to have time for God” – Maranda Curtis

Circle of Sisters (COS) is the largest expo for women of color in New York City with more than 40,000 attendees. Produced and hosted by WBLS-FM/WLIB – AM and Emmis Communications, COS hosts a variety of panel discussions, seminars, gospel concert in addition to nearly 300 vendors and small businesses selling unique items and services. The EXPO is accented by an avalanche of captivating elements in which participants can attend informative and empowering panel discussions led by authors, field experts, political figures and some of the biggest names in entertainment.

Link to photos HERE

Photo Credit: Hayden Greene

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