On Thursday, December 12 The Knockturnal joined an intimate gathering to honor the multifaceted rapper, actor, and philanthropist JoeyBada$$ who hosted in partnership with TresGeneraciones®Tequila, a celebratory dinner which marked the inaugural year of ImpactMENtorship. The evening radiated with warmth, connection and a shared commitment to the community.
Photo Credit: Emerald Knox
The exclusive dinner took place at Tatiana, the highly acclaimed New York City restaurant owned by Impact Mentor and celebrated Chef Kwame Onwuachi. Guests enjoyed a stunning four-course meal featuring signature dishes and specialty cocktails curated by Tres Generaciones, such as The Catalyst (Tres Hibiscus Margarita), Impact Paloma (Tres Piña Paloma), Kingside Classic (Tres ’73), and Brooklyn Brewed (Tresspresso Martini). Every sip and bite was a tribute to artistry and the transformative power of mentorship.
The evening brought together a powerful mix of mentors, mentees, and visionaries, including Grammy-nominated rapper Cordae, fashion designer Colm Dillane (KidSuper), Chef Jon Gray (Ghetto Gastro), CNN’s Sara Sidner, Billboard’s Carl Lamarre, and other luminaries like LaQuan Smith, DJ Coco, and Rox Brown. Each guest shared a connection to the values of ImpactMENtorship belief, perseverance, and a commitment to shaping a brighter future.
Photo Credit: Emerald Knox
Photo Credit: Emerald Knox
Joey Bada$$ spoke to gathered guests with genuine passion, reflecting on the journey that led him to create ImpactMENtorship.,“Lately, I began to ask the question a lot: Why start a mentorship program? Why did you do it? And you know, the answer is quite simple to me, necessity. We need programs like this,” he said.
He continued, “I think people sleep on the fact of how important it is, especially for communities of color, to have proper representation. I’ve been navigating this industry for the last 12 years of my life, and in every room and at every table I come into, the circumstances are the same. There are not enough people who look like me in positions of leadership. So this is my small contribution to the world, to make a difference, to create change.”
Photo Credit: Emerald Knox
Joey Bada$$’ personal story is deeply rooted in the power of mentorship. With gratitude, he credited his community, his village including his parents, Chef Kwame, and his own mentor, Sophia Chang, who helped shape his path. Through ImpactMENtorship, Joey aims to pay this forward, giving men of color opportunities to rise as future leaders, innovators, and creators.
The evening also celebrated Joey’s recent achievement as the first and youngest-ever Artist Scholar in Residence at the Gordon Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University, an honor that builds on his previous residency at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute. As he approaches his 30th birthday, Joey continues to strive not just in entertainment but as a changemaker and leader.
In collaboration with Tres Generaciones Tequila, the event reflected a shared belief in embracing the journey and passing down wisdom. As Joey shared, “What good is it if we don’t pass it down, if we don’t share what it is that we learn, if we don’t share that wisdom?”
As 2024 comes to a close, Joey Bada$$ and ImpactMENtorship, alongside Tres Generaciones, remind us of the power of determination, collaboration, and giving back. Together, they are building a legacy of excellence and paving the way for generations to come.
With a community of believers, dreamers, and doers gathered under one roof, the evening was a joyous celebration of purpose, passion, and possibility proof that when we support one another, we leave the world better than we found it.
Check out more details on the ImpactMentorship below!
https://www.impactmentorship.org
