Taneshia Nash Laird to Moderate Panel on Black Creative Economy at 2025 How to Boston While Black Summit
Taneshia Nash Laird to Moderate Panel on Black Creative Economy at 2025 How to Boston While Black Summit
Boston, MA — May 2025 — Taneshia Nash Laird, Associate Professor in the Africana Studies Department at Berklee College of Music, will moderate a featured session at the How to Boston While Black Summit 2025, one of the region’s most influential gatherings for Black professionals, creatives, and community leaders.
Laird will moderate the session “The Business of Black Creativity: Ownership, Infrastructure, and Impact” on Saturday, May 31 from 10:45–11:45 AM at State Street’s Conference Center in Quincy, MA. The conversation will spotlight how Black creatives are transforming influence into infrastructure and creativity into capital—building systems that sustain cultural impact and generational wealth.
She will be joined by:
- Keithen Foster, a Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum music producer, composer, and founder of the nonprofit Covered By Music, which empowers Boston youth through music education and mentorship. His collaborators include H.E.R., Mary J. Blige, Brent Faiyaz, and Erykah Badu.
- Justin Rhodes, a Grammy-winning music producer and Berklee professor whose credits span artists such as Lecrae, Talib Kweli, and Black Thought. He is also the author of These Beats Ain’t Free and the co-creator of the hit web series House of Beats.
The session will explore topics including intellectual property protection, creative business models, collective ownership, and the evolving role of Black creatives in tech, media, and entrepreneurship.
“Black creativity drives global culture, yet too often without ownership or long-term benefit,” said Laird. “This session is about reimagining what’s possible—how we protect our work, fund our visions, and build legacies rooted in purpose and power.”
In addition to her role at Berklee, Laird serves as Executive Director of Project REAP, a national nonprofit advancing a more inclusive commercial real estate industry through education, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. She has built a national career at the intersection of cultural equity, economic development, and creative entrepreneurship.
For more details and tickets, visit https://summit.bostonwhileblack.com.
About the How to Boston While Black Summit
The How to Boston While Black Summit is an annual convening created by Boston While Black to connect, empower, and elevate Black professionals. Through immersive sessions, workshops, and networking, the Summit serves as a space for belonging, leadership, and bold conversation—enriching the personal and professional lives of Black Bostonians.
