Staff Report

MIAMI – Building on the momentum from Black Tech Week’s Women’s Innovation Brunch last February,the organization is presenting Grit, Grits + Glitter, a “creative makers”brunch to connect creatives, entrepreneurs and techies. The event will feature a panel of creative entrepreneurs as they share their moments of grit and glitter on the path to becoming successful business owners.The session will also offer workshops on starting up and staying up as an entrepreneur, monetizing your personal brand, catapulting your brand and knowledge through entrepreneurship, creativity and personal branding.

Attendees will hear from Vanessa James, Amber KempGerstel and Monique Malcolm.

James is a seasoned multimedia Samurai connecting communities through her voice and passions for travel, music, lifestyle and culture. A bilingual triple threat, James has been tapped by brands like JetBlue, AT&T, General Motors, IHeartMedia and more to curate events, voice their campaigns, serve as a host and much more. James has an extensive network of colleagues with whom she collaborates on new media projects, content creation, digital and social media, brands.

Kemp-Gerstel is the founder of Damask Love, a blog all about doable DIY. In her five years of blogging, Amber has partnered with Canon, Cricut, Martha Stewart, Home Depot, The Container Store, Home Goods, Coca-Cola, Minted and Shutterfly. She has been featured on Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Apartment Therapy and in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. Damask Love was named one of the Top 17 DIY Blogs by Domino Magazine and Top 10 DIY blogs by Better Homes and Garden’s Magazine. Amber currently works as an on-air craft expert on the Home Shopping Network and most recently,Amber was named Ultimate DIY Star by The Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family Show. She has also appeared on Lifetime Network’s The Balancing Act and in HGTV Magazine.

Malcolm will teach entrepreneurs and bloggers how to“Pimp their Brilliance” online by leveraging what they already have (experience, knowledge, and skills) to obtain something greater (a sustainable business, more flexibility, and freedom in their lives). In 2009, she launched her first business, Antisparkle Apparel, a clothing and accessories line for geeks.Currently, she facilitates workshops, teaches online courses, designed a planner, and speaks at events around the country.