The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra hosted the inaugural HBCU AccessFest at Woodruff Arts Center which allowed young adults to explore opportunities in higher education at HBCUs, develop their career paths, and build their networks.

AccessFest held various fairs to help young adults develop their careers and further their educations. The HBCU College Fair allowed students to speak with recruiters and find out what they need when it comes to applying to institutions like Howard University, Spelman College, Savannah State University, Tennessee State University, and Florida A&M in attendance, to name a few.

The career fair featured a variety of companies in attendance such as Aspire TV, Delta Airlines, Atlanta Braves, Truist Bank, UPS, and The Woodruff Arts Center, to provide young adults with the opportunity to gain insight into their desired industries.

AccessFest also provided families with a resource fair that gave them insights into growth they could foster in their community outside their careers and education.

In attendance, organizations such as The Emerging 100 of Atlanta, Protect the Vote Georgia, and the HBCU Alumni Alliance provided information that students could utilize and apply to their journeys.

Throughout the evening, AccessFest held panels discussing the journey and visions of some local Black-owned businesses and community organizations such as Aspire TV, Atlanta Influences Everything, and Shift from Engagement to Empowerment.

Aspire TV started the panels by discussing “See and Be Seen” surrounding taken-up space in Black media. C’Vonzell Dondrico shared his thoughts on representation in media.

“You must show up as your authentic self… I didn’t show up asking for what I needed. I came to add value,” Dondrico said.

They went on to discuss the lack of Black representation in media and how to continue having an impact as a collective.

The next group to hold their panel was Atlanta…