In a blend of entrepreneurship and community engagement, Moor’s Brewing is gearing up to mark its third anniversary with the Emancipation Ball.
This milestone celebration not only honors the brewery’s success but also serves as a platform for promoting Black excellence and empowerment in Chicago. In June 2021, Moor’s Brewing, owned by members of the Black community, was founded by co-founder and CEO Damon Patton and CFO Jamhal Johnson, marking both an anniversary celebration and Juneteenth observance.
Moor’s Brewing also launched the Care Moor Foundation for Civic Engagement. This foundation aims at promoting civic involvement through fundraising efforts and scholarship provisions.
Johnson said this celebration is designed for this sole purpose of emphasizing Black excellence through the achievement of another year in business.
“We aim to showcase our business alongside other Black-owned beers, wines, and spirits and collaborate with and highlight Black chefs, food curators, as well as dessert providers, utilizing Black-owned bakeries for our desserts and coffee bars,” Johnson said.
“By showcasing these outstanding companies and their impactful work, we emphasize and celebrate Black excellence.”
The funds raised from the celebration will go toward supporting the Lafayette Gatling Sr. Scholarship Fund and the Marcus J. Bradshaw Foundation. The MJBF will be granting the MFBF Care Moor scholarship to recipients selected by the Moor’s Brewing team in July. Moor’s Brewing also supports the AROSE Foundation and the Lotus Globe.
“We are awarding scholarships to entrepreneurs for students who are entering their freshman year of college,” Johnson said.
The Emancipation Ball will have nine food stations across the venue, enhancing the culinary experience for attendees.
Attendees can enjoy an open bar featuring a curated selection of premium drinks.
The selection at the open bar will include Alexandra James Whisky, Bull Young Bourbon, Disbəlēf Tequila, Love Corkscrew Wine, Michael Lavell Wine, Duo Vodka, and spirits from NG Distillery.
Moor’s Brewing is also celebrating its three-year anniversary with the release of its flagship beer called Moor’s Kölsch that will be released on Juneteenth.
DJ Envy from The Breakfast Club will be providing music and a local DJ named DJ Sean Mac will perform.
“We’re also in the final stages of securing another celebrity DJ. The event will be in a gala style,” Johnson said.
Johnson also plans to collaborate with local artists to enhance the ambiance and visual appeal of the event space.
Johnson said that in the previous year, the event showcased an art installation imbued with the vibrant essence of Hispanic and African-American cultures.
“We partnered with a prominent art collector from Englewood, collaborating closely with Hispanic muralists to bring these themes to life. Furthermore, the event featured the live artistic talents of Dana Topp Hope, who created a painting on-site, later purchased by one of the attendees,” Johnson said.
Johnson said that they will collaborate with a nearby t-shirt printing business.
General Admission tickets are priced at $100. For those seeking an elevated experience, the Single VIP ticket, granting exclusive benefits, is available at $115.00.
The VIP Admission for groups of four, providing a collective VIP experience, can be purchased for $440.00. Johnson said that the VIP package provides unique privileges such as reserved seating, a perk not available with general admission.
“The event will have three stations specifically allocated for VIP guests. While chefs will exclusively cater to the VIP section, most food vendors will be accessible to general admission ticket holders. VIP attendees will enjoy full access to all areas, including a riverfront patio where they will receive gift bags and complimentary swag items such as t-shirts,” Johnson said.
“As we look to the future of The Emancipation Ball, our aspirations center around three key pillars of our company: culture, community, and commerce.”
The Emancipation Ball will be held from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tuesday, June 18 at
Rockwell on the River, 3057 N. Rockwell St.
For more information and to purchase a ticket, visit the event’s web page. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-emancipation-ball-2024-chicagos-premiere-juneteenth-event-tickets-803921690417