BOMESI Summit: My first all-expenses paid trip
“I’ve been following you and your platform for some time now. Always impressed with the growth.” Those were the words that appeared before a sentence that changed my whole trajectory: “We have our 4th annual BOMESI Summit coming up and I wanted to see if you were interested in attending, and possibly covering. If you are interested, we can cover flight and accommodations for the weekend.”
In nearly a decade of working in the production industry, no one had ever said that to me.
Although I’d long dreamed of the opportunity, the words felt foreign. FINALLY, I thought to myself. It was as if God sent this message right on time. After taking a day to reflect, I hopped on a Zoom call to confirm the details and ultimately said yes.
THE SUMMIT
BOMESI, formerly known as Black Owned Media Weekend, held its fourth annual summit in Detroit, Michigan from Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June 8. The 2025 theme, Unlocking the New Growth Market, brought together some of the most influential voices across media, business, and culture. Over three days, speakers from brands like Forbes, Nielsen, and The Shade Room poured knowledge and insight into attendees.
SPEAKERS
The lineup featured industry leaders such as Lynwood Bibbens of ReachTV, Nielsen’s Charlene Polite Corley, and Dr. Grouchy Greg Watkins of AllHipHop.com, among many others. View the full lineup here.
Ali Jackson-Jolley, Head of DEI Initiatives, Content & Communities at Forbes Media, spoke on a panel titled Mirrors and Bridges: Authenticity and Cultural Connection Onscreen and Off. She reminded the audience that diverse newsrooms are essential to real DEI progress and emphasized the value of Black media in sustaining business success: “We need to be careful who we give the keys to, because once we give the keys away, they have it.”
On Day 1, actor and filmmaker Nate Parker delivered a keynote on Black ownership, the creator economy, and disrupting Hollywood. He also spotlighted his work with MANSA, a Black-owned streaming platform amplifying Black storytelling worldwide. Afterward, I caught up with him to talk about pivoting from in front of the camera to behind the scenes, and what it means to be a self-starter.
Later in the weekend, Detroit native and television icon Judge Greg Mathis took the stage. His keynote touched on community leadership, equity in the entertainment industry, and creating opportunities for the next generation. One line that stayed with me:
“Fair is equal money for equal projects. Fair is equal money for equal work. Fair is Taraji P. Henson being paid the same as her contemporaries of another race.”
He also spoke about remaining grounded in his roots: “I use my ability to relate, to be able to access both the community and the hood — which I’m able to do. The hood loves me. I love the hood.”
Naturally, I had to ask how his childhood shaped the man he is today.
REFLECTION
From the panels to the one-on-one conversations, the entire experience was unforgettable. I left Detroit not only inspired but affirmed in the power of ownership, authenticity, and community. This trip flipped a switch for me: reminding me that I belong in spaces like this. I deserve opportunities like all-expenses-paid trips, and most importantly, I bring value to every room I walk into.
From that first unexpected email to my last conversations at the summit, the weekend reminded me why spaces like BOMESI matter: they create room for Black media, business, and storytelling to not just be celebrated, but centered.
