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    The 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, also known as ESSENCE Fest, was held in New Orleans, LA, this weekend, July 3-5.

    ESSENCE Fest, which started in 1995 to celebrate ESSENCE Magazine’s 25th anniversary, expanded into the nation’s largest annual African American culture event. The well-known “party with a purpose” honors Black culture, music, empowerment and more over a massive three-day gathering.

    Concerts took place at the Caesars Superdome while panel discussions, a marketplace and other events were held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

    TravQue, Dr. Kimbrough and DJ Trauma at ESSENCE Fest. Photos courtesy of ESSENCE.

    TravQue, Dr. Kimbrough and DJ Trauma at ESSENCE Fest. Photos courtesy of ESSENCE.

    The festival spotlighted historically Black college and university (HBCU) culture, connection and community. Dr. Kimbrough, executive vice president, Research and Member Engagement, UNCF, was featured on a panel discussion titled “The HBCU Boom: Why Enrollment is Up”, along with HBCU alumni TravQue (Travis Eric Anthony Thompson), Brooklyn-raised actor and viral content creator, and DJ Trauma (Tayari McIntosh), best known as the official tour DJ for Dave Chappelle.

    “The panel was a great conversation about the renewed interest in HBCUs and the numerous reasons why this is happening,” Dr. Kimbrough said. “This was one of several HBCU-themed sessions during ESSENCE Fest, and there was great support by HBCU alumni and friends in these conversations.”

    On the Men’s Lounge SUEDE Stage, Dr. Kimbrough, TravQue and DJ Trauma discussed record numbers of students attending HBCUs, including UNCF-member institution Benedict College, which has increased retention and graduation of Black men, defying nationwide trends. HBCU executive leaders are being sourced from high tech backgrounds—Dr. Ayanna Howard, a renowned NASA engineer and AI pioneer, was recently named the 12th President of Spelman College. And the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act is currently being deliberated in Congress; this bipartisan legislation would authorize the largest federal investment in HBCU infrastructure in American history.

    For more than 80 years, UNCF has recognized and celebrated HBCUs. We are glad to see the rest of the nation catching up to the greatness of these institutions.


    Learn more about UNCF-member institutions.

    The post Record HBCU Enrollment Recognized at ESSENCE Fest appeared first on UNCF.

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