Culture

Why Chicago matters to the Soul Train story-and why the awards’ return is significant. Some cultural moments feel bigger than an event. The return of the Soul Train Awards to Chicago is one of them. Chicago has long been one of the most influential cities in Black music and culture. From soul and gospel to house, R&B and hip-hop, the city has helped shape the sound, style and movement of generations. That makes Chicago a fitting homecoming for Soul Train. Long before Soul Tra

On September 11, 2001, Keithroy Marcellus Maynard was one of the firefighters who ran toward the World Trade Center. But before he became one of the names remembered from that day, he was a son, a husband, a father and a young Black man building a life around service. Born in Montserrat, Maynard moved to New York as a teenager. His father, Captain Reynold White, was an FDNY firefighter and member of the Vulcan Society, an organization dedicated to advancing Black firefighters

CHICAGO - Leadership doesn’t always look the same. It can mean improving a neighborhood, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, strengthening health systems, protecting the environment, or helping people have a greater voice in their communities. For 155 people around the world, that work will now include the Obama Foundation. The Foundation has introduced its 2026–2027 class of Obama Leaders, bringing together changemakers from 64 countries and territories across Africa,

Culture Loft has released its August issue, bringing together stories that celebrate the people, ideas, and experiences shaping Black culture today. The issue features Miko Branch on the cover, offering readers a closer look at her journey, perspective, and the legacy of Miss Jessie’s. Inside, readers will also find Dion Dawson, founder of Dion’s Chicago Dream, and Jay Rush Jennings, alongside editorial coverage of the Black Women’s Expo in Chicago. From entrepreneurship and

Black Women’s Expo 2026: A Celebration of Community, Conversation & Culture For more than 30 years, the Black Women’s Expo has created a space where entrepreneurship, culture, wellness, education, and community intersect. Founded by Merry Green, the expo has grown into one of the country’s most recognized celebrations of Black women, providing a platform where businesses, leaders, creators, and change-makers can connect and thrive. The 2026 Black Women’s Expo returned to Chic

How founder Yani Milaun transformed a love for creativity, nostalgia, and design into a home goods brand built around self-expression. Home is more than a physical space. It’s where memories are created, where creativity comes alive, and where we find comfort after the world asks so much of us. For Bronx native and creative entrepreneur Yani Milaun, that belief became the foundation for building Tsunami Supply, a home goods brand designed to help people create spaces that ref

Jay Rush Jennings continues to evolve as an artist with the release of his latest single, “On Me,” featuring Keyiara and Baby Blue of Pretty Ricky. Rooted in what Jay describes as his signature “Street-Soul” sound, the record blends a smooth melody with contemporary R&B influences, creating a track that feels relatable. The collaboration adds another layer bringing together distinct voices that complement one another. Whether you’re discovering Jay Rush Jennings for the first

By Deola Gaiter, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Culture Loft Magazine Some moments are bigger than an event, they become memories that stay with you forever. Covering the official Watch Party and Opening Day of the Obama Presidential Center was one of those moments. The Official Watch Party Upon walking into the official Grand Opening Watch Party at Midway Plaisance Parkway, the atmosphere immediately felt familiar. It was as if a family reunion, a neighborhood barbecue, and a su

Every year on June 19, we celebrate Juneteenth, a day that marks freedom, history, resilience, and the continued progress of Black Americans. While many people know it as a holiday filled with cookouts, music, festivals, and family gatherings, Juneteenth carries a much deeper meaning that deserves to be remembered and honored. Juneteenth dates back to June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas were finally informed that they were free, more than two years a

Monica Simmonds is an Experiential Marketing, Community Engagement, and Social Impact Strategist and Principal Consultant of Solomon Simmonds Enterprises. She partners with retail, pharmaceutical, CPG brands, and national nonprofits to design and execute high-impact community activations across multiple cities nationwide. Her work lives at the intersection of brand and community where strategy becomes experience, and experience becomes measurable impact. But at home, her most

After a decade away, Beyoncé isn’t just returning to the Met Gala, she’s redefining her place in it. For 2026, she steps in as co-chair alongside Anna Wintour, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams, leading a night themed “Fashion Is Art.” Her last appearance was 2016. But Beyoncé has never been an artist who simply “attends.” She arrives with intention, or not at all. This moment signals more than a return. It’s a shift. In an era where fashion leans heavily on spectacle, Beyonc