BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Culture Creators marked its 10th anniversary with a star-studded Leadership & Innovators Brunch, honoring movers and shakers across music, comedy, film and business. Founder Joi Brown presided over the event—honoring Jermaine Dupri, Druski, Missy Elliott, Jason Lee and others—and underscored the organization’s mission to build community, create opportunities and widen the table for cultural leaders.
“It’s all about community; it’s never about one person,” Brown told Nitecast Media. “Our culture transcends sports, film, fashion, business, you name it. And everyone has a role to play in it. And I tell you, every time I do this, every year, it’s the volunteers that show up repeatedly because they love it. It’s the people like you who come every year to support it. We can’t do this without you. We can’t do this by ourselves. We don’t operate in a silo.”
The tenth-anniversary brunch doubled as both celebration and blueprint. Brown framed ‘The Culture Creators’ longevity as the result of intentional inclusion: creating seats for others, asking for help and sustaining a volunteer-driven engine that keeps the organization connected to industry and grassroots networks alike.
“One thing I’ve learned over the years is not to be afraid to ask for help and not to be afraid to create seats for other people, right? Because if I can eat, we should all be able to eat. And so I think that’s what has sustained us,” she said.
The day’s tributes reflected the breadth of contemporary cultural influence, with Missy Elliott, Druski, Jermaine Dupri (So So Def), Jennelle James (Abbott Elementary), and Jason Lee (Hollywood Unlocked) to name a few honored for amplifying Black culture through new media platforms.
When asked who she still hoped to honor in future editions, Brown named three high‑profile figures whose careers and philanthropic footprints align with The Culture Creators’ ethos.
“I have been after Queen Latifah for like five years. I just think that she’s the epitome of a culture creator,” Brown said. “Oh my God… Rihanna—I’m a fangirl, so that’s like, if I can hear Rihanna, I might faint,” she added, smiling.
She also cited philanthropy executive MacKenzie Scott as a nontraditional but essential honoree.
“We have allies. We have people who are helping us drive businesses and make a change. I would love to talk to her and bring her to the table because she’s made such a huge impact… she deserves to be recognized.”
Over the past decade, The Culture Creators has grown from a networking idea into a seasonal cultural hub—hosting panels, awarding industry innovators, and creating pathways for emerging talent. The brunch’s intimate format has often opened doors for mentorship, deals and collaborations, and Brown stressed that the organization’s volunteers and partners make those outcomes possible.
The impact that ‘The Culture Creators’ have made in the last 10 years has been nothing short of remarkable. Elevating their awards brunch will expand cultural awareness to uplift, guide, and motivate, and will only be a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience that Joi Brown and her team continue to display for our culture and legacy.
