Special Guests to include (The Root Co-Founder) Dr. Henry Louis Jr.; Celebrity Chef Roblé Ali; (Bernie Sanders Press Secretary/CNN) Symone Sanders; (ESPN) Jemele Hill; (Teen Vogue) Elaine Welteroth; (EXTRA TV) AJ Calloway; (Google) Valeisha Butterfield-Jones; (MSNBC) Joy-Ann Reid; and (Senior Legal Correspondent for ABC & The View) Sunny Hostin
Monday, November 14, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Guastavino’s, 409 East 59th Street
Bomani Jones, the irreverent and prolific host of The Right Time on ESPN radio and co-host of ESPN’s Highly Questionable will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for this year’s gala (http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/11/bomani-jones-to-host-the-root-100-2016-gala/). The long-time sports journalist sits at #17 on The Root 100 list. From celebrity personalities who use their platforms to speak out about injustice to unheralded community leaders who toil tirelessly in the background—this year’s list includes influential African Americans who have been responsible for some of the year’s most significant cultural moments, social movements and big ideas. INFINITI will serve as the presenting sponsor of this year’s annual gala. The 2016 list includes:
Entertainment and Arts: (#1) Beyonce; (#3) Jesse Williams; (#8) Ava Duvernay;(#6) Leslie Odom Jr.; (#9) John Legend; (#11) Chadwick Boseman; (#15) Will Packer; (#21) Issa Rae; (#25) Kendrick Lamar; (#29) Daveed Diggs; (#30) Renee Elise Goldsberry and (#41) Ryan Coogler
Sports: (#2) LeBron James; (#4) Colin Kaepernick; (#5) Stephen Curry; (#10) Serena Wiliams; (#13) Cam Newton; (#24) Carmelo Anthony; (#26) Allyson Felix; (#35) Misty Copeland; (#34) Jemele Hill; (#46) Maverick Carter and (#60) Ibtihaj Muhammad
Business, Media and Politics: (#12) Ta-Nehisi Coates; (#16) Sage Steele (#22) Nia-Malika Henderson; (#32) Darnell Moore; (#47) Elaine Welteroth; (#52) Bozoma Saint John; (#66) Tristan Walker; (#68) Mychal Denzel Smith
Community: (#7) Charlene Carruthers; (#14) Diamond “Lavish” Reynolds; (#18) Jonathan Butler; (#19) Alicia Garza; (#20) Patrisse Khan Cullors; (#31) Erica Garner, (#53) Samuel Sinyangwe and (#71) Opal Tometi
For a complete list of 2016’s The Root 100 list visit TheRoot.com.
This is the eighth year for The Root 100 list of influential African-Americans and the first gala with the newly appointed managing editor Danielle Belton. “Though I’ve been a part of The Root 100 for several years this year is very special to me as new managing editor. Particularly, since our theme this year recognizes those influencers who use their platform for change. Every day The Root aims to champion change through our reporting and coverage of the issues, so it’s important for us to honor those who do the same”, says Belton.
Founding Publisher Donna Byrd says, “We’re excited to host The Root 100’s 7th annual gala. It’s an opportunity for us to celebrate the most influential African-Americans under the age of 45. We’re thrilled to have Bomani Jones as MC and celebrate the amazing change agents on our list. We look forward to a great event and appreciate the partnership with our incredible sponsors.”
SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor – INFINITI
Univision
Fusion Media Group
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
APARTMENT 33
INVOCATION
Rev Dr. Howard-John Wesley
SPEAKERS:
(#73) Luvvie Ajayi, NY Times Bestselling Author of I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual & founder of Awesomely Luvvie; (#49) Adam Foss, Former Assistant DA in the Juvenile Division of Suffolk County in Boston, MA and advocate for juvenile justice reform; and (#65) Symone Sanders, former national Press Secretary for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign and CNN Political Commentator
GUESTS & HONOREES
Celebrity Chef Chef Roblé Ali; EXTRA TV – AJ Calloway; (#52) Apple Head of Global Consumer Marketing – Bozoma Saint John; (#34) ESPN Co-host His and Hers – Jemele Hill; (#47) Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief – Elaine Welteroth; (#88) Google Head of Black Community Engagement – Valeisha Butterfield-Jones; DJ & Founder of Black Girls Rock – Beverly Bond; (#81) NY State Director for the Drug Policy Alliance – Kassandra Frederique; (#68) Journalist and Best-Selling Author – Mychal Denzel Smith; (#100) Social Entrepreneur Nicholas Richards; Director & Writer – Deborah Riley Draper; Author & Journalist – Farai Chideya; (#32) MIC Senior Editor & Correspondent Darnell Moore; (#53) Activist and Campaign Zero Founder Samuel Sinyangwe; (#96) HBCU Buzz CEO – Luke Lawal; Writer and Author – Demetria Lucas D’Olyey; and (#87) Founder Nomadness Travel Tribe – Evita Robinson.
WHEN
TODAY – Monday, November 14, 6:00 PM Green Carpet Arrivals, 7:00 PM Dinner
WHERE
GUASTAVINOS | 409 East 59th Street NYC
SOCIAL MEDIA
@The.Root
#THEROOT100
@InfinitiUSA
#INFINITI
#Q60
CONTACTS: DeDe Brown DeDeBrown@BrownGlobalGroup 917.328.9117; David Ford VP Marketing & Communication at Fusion David@Fusion.net 305.925.8882
About The Root
The Root is the No. 1 news, opinion and analysis website for African-American influencers. The Root, owned by Univision Communications, provides smart, timely coverage of breaking news, thought-provoking commentary and gives voice to a changing, more diverse America. Visit us at www.theroot.com, on Twitter @TheRoot and on Facebook.
About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in over 50 countries. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom and China. INFINITI plans to also expand manufacturing into Mexico by 2017. INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing.
###
