ESSENCE Festival Empowerment Stage Speakers List – Angela Rye, Iyanla Vanzant, Ava DuVernay & More!
By Rachaell Davis ·

This year, ESSENCE Festival is proud to bring you face to face with some of the many influencers in our communities who are leading the charge for change on every level.

ESSENCE Festival 2017 ticket packages are on sale now! For more info about tickets, accommodations and the latest news, visit our Festival page here

Free and open to the public, the ESSENCE Empowerment Experience Stage will serve as the intersection of passion and purpose, bridging the gap between this generation’s most prominent voices in leadership. These trailblazers and icons will be on hand to facilitate conversations that will put the intersectional voices of Black women at the forefront. Scroll through to get a first look at our ESSENCE Festival Empowerment Experience speakers 

01
Iyanla Vanzant
02
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
03
Ava DuVernay
04
Rev. Al Sharpton
05
Angela Rye
06
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson
07
Clone of Tamron Hall
Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images
08
Dr. Cissy Houston
09
Phaedra Parks
10
April Ryan
11
Tamika D. Mallory
12
Soledad O’Brien
13
Symone Sanders
14
Tina Knowles
15
April Reign
16
Luvvie Ajayi
17
Mary Pat Hector
18
Cleo Wade
19
Mary J. Blige
20
Kenya Moore
Kenya’s lip adds the perfect splash of color to her white dress.
Jason LaVeris
21
Mayor Sharon Broome
22
Sybrina Fulton
23
Mayor Mitchell Landrieu
24
Patrisse Cullors
25
Mikki Taylor
26
Catherine E. Pugh
27
Cheryl Creuzot
28
Charles Divins
29
Asha Bandele
30
Doug McMillan
Doug McMillan
31
Marc Morial