Three Years of Sharing the Vibes
Beginning in 2022, the Share the Vibes Festival has been collaborating with local artists, leaders, and businesses to bring the community together for a day immersed in technology and music. The one-day festival celebrated its third year at the Vivarium in Milwaukee on July 13, 2024. Local DJ Lolo and Entertainment Journalist Noni Juice of 101.7 The Truth hosted the event, leading the crowd in thoughtful discussion around technology, music, and community.
Share the Vibes was founded by Devin Jenkins, who is originally from Fitzgerald, GA but lived in Milwaukee for 7 years. Jenkins had a goal to foster a fun and community environment for people to learn about technology and share vibes through music.
“I think people have a desire to learn. With an event like this, the important part is how do we make it flow in a way that it’s not disruptive to the overall energy of the day,” said Jenkins. “We’re learning how to structure this in a way where people still get the information [while] they’re still having fun.”
This year’s festival was sponsored by Educators Credit Union, US Bank, 101.7 The Truth, and Victoria’s Secret.
The festival featured a live podcast that discussed the use and place of AI in the music industry. The talk featured four panelists including Mwanje Thompson, an organizer of the festival. Crowd members were able to participate and add their own opinions on the topic during the discussion.
“It’s been three years and it’s been better and better and better,” said Thompson. “So I’m just super excited folks are here and are really enjoying the vibes.”
Milwaukee’s Talent on Stage
At the core of the festival is music. Share the Vibes has performances from emerging and established Milwaukee artists to give the audience a lively experience that covers a range of genres throughout the day.
This year’s festival featured local artists Troy Tyler, Jonah Denae, Big Fresh, and Jaecar. The emphasis on music is used to connect with attendees of all ages and helps open the conversation on the uses of technology in different industries we interact with.
“It’s just a bunch of knowledge getting passed around, we’re sharing vibes, sharing knowledge. It’s very supportive everybody wants to see everybody win,” said Big Fresh.
Lifting Up Community Businesses and Organizations
The festival welcomed local organizations like Mentor Greater Milwaukee. Mentor Greater Milwaukee works to increase mentor relationships in the city of Milwaukee by pairing youth with caring adults through mentorship programs in the city.
Milwaukee local businesses Sharrie’s Sweets and Eats and Jay Gourmet Catering brought an essential part of the festival, the food.
Sharrie’s Sweets and Eats serves various housemade desserts from cheesecake to banana pudding. Jay Gourmet Catering serves a menu of unique dishes and bold flavors, earning him second place in the Men Who Cook Competition held by the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce.
“I think food is a big component. Food has always been since the beginning of time a way to draw people together. Food has always brought people together,” said Sharrie Agee, owner of Sharrie’s Sweets and Eats.
Watch Carvd N Stone’s Share the Vibes Festival video interviews here.