A.P. Chaney is the director of artistic technique for Glowing Flavors in North America for The Coca-Cola Firm.
As a Spelman alumna, she hosted a panel known as, Boundless Conversations: The HBCU Expertise, on the 2023 Essence Festive of Tradition Coca-Cola stage alongside, Dr. Robyn Merrick, college president Bobbie Knight, and fellow co-host Chef Alex Hill.
Chaney opened up about her personal HBCU expertise, what is required for Black schools and universities, and the Sprite Hip-Hop 50 marketing campaign.
What are some excessive factors HBCUs are at present showcasing?
I believe one of the constructive and delightful issues about an HBCU is self-discovery. I come from Minnesota, which inherently will not be very Brown and Black. That’s why I deliberately selected Spelman and so quite a lot of instances my achievements outline me as a child varsity basketball homecoming queen. Once I went to Spelman, I had to determine who I used to be. I discovered that I used to be curious, I used to be artistic, and typically humorous, relying on who you ask. I believe an HBCU drives residence the right way to discover your personal id in a really secure place with like-minded different people. An HBCU is among the solely instances that I’ve been round that many goal-oriented, educated Black individuals. All of us have the identical aim, and I’ll by no means expertise something like that once more. That’s why HBCUs are so extremely necessary.
How is the 2023 Essence Pageant of Tradition shining a light-weight on HBCU tradition?
Essence at its core is highlighting Black girls and Black lady magic by uplifting and supporting. Then additionally simply having this HBCU panel and spend time in a second right here simply to speak about these tutorial establishments. It’s extremely necessary, and I applaud Essence, and I applaud the Coca-Cola Firm for doing this yr in and yr out, and likewise making time for HBCU dialog.
Because the director of artistic technique for Glowing Flavors in North America, what was it like orchestrating this occasion?
I’m the artistic director for Glowing Flavors, which is Sprite, Banzai, and a bunch of different superb manufacturers. Even simply working on the firm and being invited all the way down to symbolize the corporate, means a lot. Proper now for Sprite, we’ve a Hip-Hop 50 marketing campaign starring Latto, GloRilla, Rakim, and Nas. It’s so superb to be right here to rejoice hip-hop, Black girls, an organization that helps me, and a media entity that has been part of Washington since I used to be a baby. My mother used to get Essence magazines within the mail so to be right here means a lot.
What are some matters you touched on through the HBCU panel dialogue?
HBCUs want extra funding, simply straight-up interval, whether or not you’re a non-public or public establishment. Infrastructure got here up and wanted cash from alumni, the federal government, each federal and state. Ensuring that HBCUs get the funding that they want, so we are able to present nice meals and infrastructure to those who want it.
