Events

Angela Yee opens up the ceremony for her ‘5th Annual – Angela Yee Day, 2023’ at Barclay’s Center, Brooklyn, New York

Barclay’s Center, Brooklyn, New York.— On Sunday, August 27th, 2023, Award-winning media personality and Host of Power 105.1’s, ‘Way Up With Angela Yee’ , Angela Yee, partnered with iHeartMedia and The Social Justice Fund to host the ‘5th Annual Angela Yee Day, 2023’ celebration and community giveback at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Gregg Bishop, Executive Director of the Social Justice Fund, stands along side Angela Yee in support of the community outreach and building initiative for Angela Yee Day, 2023

In 2018,  then Mayor of  New York City, Bill de Blasio declared August 28th to be known as “Angela Yee Day”, a day that commemorates and celebrates Yee’s Caribbean background and honors her Brooklyn roots.  For half a decade, the East Flatbush native, Yee, has been an active participant,  unyielding in her dedication to provide the community with essential  resources that include, but are not limited to, information for  educational support, access to organizations and spaces that promote higher learning and that assist students with their learning development through tutoring and mentorship. the event has attracted vendors that aid in developmental tools and that encourage students to broaden their academic goals, horizons and support systems. This annual event has also introduced the community to avenues that combat food insecurity and shortage, an aggressive problem plaguing the borough of Brooklyn, who was listed as the second highest rate for food insecurity in New York City based on the NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy annual 2022 report (Food Metrics Annual Report).  The event also encourages the youth and their caretakers to prioritize financial literacy by assisting them to uncover their financial planning goals, aid them in research and gaining access to grants, scholarships and additional resources that will fund their long term education goals.

Angela Yee and iHeart Media have successfully upheld the community focus on garnering holistic wellness, along with finding creative ways to integrate West Indian culture through song and dance, a significant part of Caribbean celebrations. “I am honored to continue to bring this free community event to Brooklyn every Summer,” says Angela. “We look for ways to give back to the community and the youth while having a great time!” 

The ‘event’ as Yee humbly states, is an impactful philanthropic offering to the city at best.  The five hour community giveback was held on the outdoor arena of Barclay’s stadium entrance court. Hundreds gathered and kept their focus on the center stage  where giveaways were provided to school aged children from K – 12th grade. Over 200 students received school supplies, including book bags and totes courtesy of The Lelievre Foundation. Barbers offered free hair cuts for the community and free hair braiding was available from the amazing stylists at Destiny Braiders and a giveaway from Jaj’s African Hair Braiding – Broadway. 

American Rapper, Scarlip, poses for the camera at the ‘5th Annual Angela Yee Day, 2023’ community event at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

Angela Yee poses with the youth for the ‘5th Annual Angela Yee Day’ at Barclay’s Center, Brooklyn, New York

Angela Yee Day also highlights and honors cultural traditions through live music and performances that give breath to Caribbean culture. Being held a week before New York City’s Annual Labor Day Parade (held Sunday, September 3rd, on Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York); Yee instinctively felt imperative to showcase performances from artists that represented Caribbean culture.  World renown Reggae, Dancehall, Soca and Afro-beats Artists have been known, since its inception in 20 18, to come and show support for this annual event. Past performers have included Bunji Garlin, Christopher Martin, Alison Hinds, Naomi Cowan and many more. The 2023 artist line up included performances from Macka Diamond, Ricky Blaze, Sheem Kulaj, London Hill, Young Devyn, Chinese Kitty, Home and Abroad, Ricky Blaze, GBM Nutron, Ayo Jay, and emerging Rap Starlit, Scar Lip.

Non-Profit Organization, I Will Graduate, performing community outreach for the youth in attendance to Angela Yee Day

Prior to taking to the stage, Dancehall Royalty, Kranium spoke with The Knockturnal to express how vital it was for him to show his support to the community of Brooklyn, “As far knowledge is concerned, in the Caribbean, we find good education to be important and as influential as soca music, [they are both] part of our lives in the Caribbean and [here] in Brooklyn, so its only right to come through and show love, and support for the community. So yes, I came to spread the love, and [I came to] spread dancehall [music].”

Kranium will be releasing his new single, “Vibes Weekend (Remix)” on September 1st featuring alongside artist, Rotimi.

Local talents also blazed the stage, the Chelsea Piers Dance Class performed live. To accompany the run of show, notable DJ’s that covered the live sets included DJ Nick Seale, DJ Danglez, DJ Suave, DJ Norie and Barbadian born Soca Artist, DJ Cheem who had this to say of his participation for Angela Yee Day, 2023, “I typically support Angela [Yee, as a DJ], day to day [but] I sang today. It always feels good supporting children and the next generation coming up. I also feel good spreading Soca music and Caribbean music worldwide, because there are people who may not know about it, or may not be familiar with Soca Music.”

Brooklyn Rapper, MAINO makes a special guest appearance at the ‘5th Annual Angela Yee Day, 2023’ event

DJ CHEEM performs live for the ‘5th Annual Angela Yee Day, 2023’ community event at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

When asked to share what advice he would offer the children before heading back to school, he added, “Stay focused. Stay in School and Follow Your Dreams…and stay offline ” he laughs and melodically adds, “…social media will corrupt your mind.” DJ Cheem recently released his new single, ‘Doggie’ with Yung Bredda.

Billboard Music and Grammy Award Winning  Singer-Songwriter, H.E.R makes a special guest appearance at the ‘5th Annual Angela Yee Day, 2023’ event

Special guest appearances included performances from Brooklyn Rapper-Songwriter, Maino and a surprise visit from the the brilliantly gifted Billboard Music and Grammy Award Winning  Singer-Songwriter, H.E.R who spread her good energy and support for Angela Yee, iHeart Media, the Angela Yee Day, 2023 event and the showcased artists who performed live.

Notable Vendors that sponsored “Angela Yee Day, 2023” included the U.S. Army, the education focused non-profit organization, ‘I Will Graduate’, Maxsip Telecom, the Social Justice Fund, Black Maternal Health Partners, Brooklyn Perinatal Network Inc, Caribbean Women’s Health Association, Haven Midwifery Collective, iHeartMedia, and Irth App: Irth is a project of Narrative Nation.