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Icon City Entertainment Joins Forces With Southern Unity Movement for 25th Annual Bayard Rustin-Audre Lorde Breakfast

Atlanta, GA

Four black men smile and pose closely together on a street, wearing winter jackets and scarves. Trees and a crowd are in the urban background.
Pictured left to right Rustin-Lorde Breakfast co-founder Craig Washington, Guy Pace, and Aigner "Anye Elite" Ellis founder of Icon City Entertainment at 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Southern Unity Movement is proud to announce an exciting partnership with Icon City Entertainment to support the 25th Annual Bayard Rustin-Audre Lorde Breakfast. Scheduled to take place on January 20, 2025, at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta, this milestone event will celebrate the theme "Powerful Together: Unafraid and Ready for Change."


Group of people on stage with microphones, promoting "Powerful Together" event on Jan 20, 2025, in Atlanta. Bright colors and empowering text.

This collaboration brings together two organizations dedicated to fostering unity, advocacy, and cultural education within marginalized communities. Through this partnership, Icon City Entertainment will provide critical marketing support, with efforts including social media management through original content for Southern Unity’s TikTok and promotional coverage on IconCityNews.com. Additionally, Aigner Ellis, President of Icon City Entertainment, will be on-site in Atlanta to personally support the event alongside event organizers Maurice Cook and Darlene Hudson.




Elevating Advocacy & Celebrating Legacy  


For 25 years, the Bayard Rustin-Audre Lorde Breakfast has served as a platform for connection, education, and action, grounded in the rich legacies of its namesakes—Bayard Rustin and Audre Lorde. It brings together Black LGBTQ individuals, allies, and broader communities for intergenerational and multiracial dialogue, leadership training, and cultural education. A vital part of Atlanta’s MLK Day celebrations, the breakfast connects attendees with individuals and organizations driving change, culminating in their collective participation in the city's Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.


Icon City Entertainment’s Commitment  


This partnership builds on Icon City Entertainment’s history of advancing diversity, creativity, and community empowerment. Aigner Ellis, also known as musician and activist Anye Elite, sees this collaboration as a way to reconnect identity-based organizations with younger, social-media-savvy audiences while nurturing community ties.


“Across the country, many are cautiously optimistic about the economy yet unsure of where identity-based organizations fit within today’s social climate. I believe their purpose remains, but they must evolve, connecting not just with donors, but with allies and the youth as well. My hope is that we can help Southern Unity Movement rise to meet this moment,” shared Ellis.

About the Partnership’s Mission  


Two people smiling, posing together. One in a blue hat and blazer with pearls, the other in black with gold accents. Bright, indoor setting.
Picture left to right: Southern Unity Movement founder Roshelle "Darlene" Hudson with Anye Elite at The Gentlemen's Ball 2017 in Atlanta, GA

This collaboration perfectly aligns with the missions of both the Southern Unity Movement and Icon City Entertainment. Together, they seek to amplify education and advocacy efforts for Black LGBTQ individuals in the South, combat systemic inequities, and highlight pathways for empowerment across generations and identities.


The breakfast’s programming will include reflective sessions on Lorde and Rustin’s work, opportunities for networking, and a rallying moment to energize attendees for the afternoon parade.




Call to Action  


Join the movement and help amplify the impact of this vital event. Share this press release, spread the word on social media, and encourage your networks to engage with the values of unity and advocacy embedded in this year’s Bayard Rustin-Audre Lorde Breakfast.

For more information on sponsoring, attending, or supporting the breakfast, visit www.southernunitymovement.org.



About the Southern Unity Movement 


Logo for the Southern Unity Movement. Features abstract gray mountain and orange circle design with orange and gray text below.

The Southern Unity Movement works to build a more unified Black LGBTQ community through education, advocacy, and leadership programs. Their commitment to fostering intergenerational, multi-gender, and multiracial collaboration aims to improve the agency and well-being of individuals across the South.


About Icon City Entertainment  

Purple logo with a city skyline silhouette. Text: "Icon City Entertainment Organization Est. 2013." Simple, modern design on white.

Founded by Aigner Ellis, Icon City Entertainment champions diversity and inclusivity in creative industries. Through projects like IconCityNews.com, the organization amplifies authentic, underrepresented narratives. With expertise in event production, social media strategy, and digital marketing, Icon City connects communities and drives social change.

Let's stand together, inspired by the courage of Lorde and Rustin, to build a more equitable future. See you at the breakfast!


If you're interested in discovering how your organization or business can get involved in the 2025 Rustin-Lorde Breakfast or related Icon City projects, including the opportunity to start your own, please schedule a virtual coffee below:



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