Fri 2/18 @ 8:30-10AM
The Greyt Big Talks are monthly breakfast events that feature a lecture by a local entrepreneur or artist sharing their story and hopefully inspiring others.
It moves around to different locations and this month, it’ll be at a location that doesn’t usually see much action early in the morning: the Beachland Ballroom. But it’s an appropriate locale for the speaker, Nwaka Onwusa, who joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as its chief curator about two years ago.
She hit the ground running: when the Black Lives Matter protests broke out in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, she created the exhibit It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage Hope and Empowerment in response virtually overnight: “literally a month, which is unheard of,” she said. “We felt in the wake of the social justice movement happening that it was necessary and times, and because the Rock Hall was one of the lucky museums able to open during the time of closing, we felt it was our duty.”
She’s also developed and created myriad other exhibits, including Woodstock at 50, All Eyes on Me: The Writings of Tupac Shakur and Funk Photographs 1972-1982: A Love Letter to the Music. On the side, she models for Cleveland-based designer Valerie Mayan of the Yellowcake Shop, located at 78th Street Studios (see photo!)
The event also offers a light breakfast and coffee, original art by local designers, live music and elevator pitches on various community projects. It’s all filmed to share online as well.
To register to attend the free program go to thatsgreyt.com/greyt-big-talk-w-nwaka-onwusa.