Black Innovation in Motion Panel | Klaviyo x LiteWork Events
Join us for an engaging conversation with some of Boston's most inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs who are shaping the city's future.
Black Innovation in Motion highlights the work of Black creators, technologists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who embody resilience, excellence, and forward motion. For those attending in-person at the Boston office, stick around afterward for an evening of networking and delicious appetizers!
All guests must be 21+ to attend in person, and registration to attend the event (in person) closes on Tuesday, February 10th. **In person tickets are very limited- register for your spot today!!**
Event Agenda:
5:30 pm: Registration starts, Pre-panel networking in Boston HQ
6:00 pm: Welcome, Introduction to Klaviyo
6:15 pm: Panel discussion begins (if you're not at the Boston office, you can tune in remotely!)
7:15 pm: Networking begins in Boston office
8:00 pm: Event ends!
The panel is hosted by Klaviyo's BLACC Employee Resource Group in collaboration with LiteWork Events. Black Leaders for Advancing Community and Culture (BLACC) strives to empower and advance our global Black community at Klaviyo through building awareness, community, and leadership while championing equity at the forefront of all we do.
Food will be catered by Fete, a Caribbean- American restaurant, in downtown Boston, combining New England ingredients with bold Caribbean (Haitian) and Southern flavors to create a meal that’s enticing and fresh.
Arrival & Registration:
Please proceed to the lobby security at 125 Summer Street. When visiting the office, please bring a government-issued ID for easy check-in.
Then take the elevator to the 6th floor. You’ll check into our office by completing a form on our iPad.
Please arrive before 6:00pm, as you will not be able to enter after that time.
Parking:
There is a garage located underneath the building. For the GPS, please use - 125 Summer Street Garage.
Public Transportation:
Klaviyo's office is located across the street from South Station where many commuter lines end, buses arrive and the MBTA red line stops.
Please reach out to Ashley McDowell - 617.605.5194 if you have any issues entering the building.
Panelists:
Sidney Baptista
Founder & CEO of PYNRS
Born and raised in Boston, MA, Sidney is the visionary leader of PIONEERS Run Crew. Sid was inspired to create PRC after a visit to Washington D.C. where he was introduced to District Running Collective, one of the OG Black-led running communities in the country. Sid continues to travel the world meeting different running communities, always bringing a little bit of each encounter home to PRC. In addition to setting the vision of PRC, Sid is focused on building PYNRS Performance Streetwear, the first Black Owned performance running apparel company in the country.
https://pynrs.com/ & https://www.pioneersrc.com/
Daniel Francois
Co-Founder of KickBack Boston
Born and raised in Boston, MA, Daniel François is the co-founder and creative force behind KickBack Boston. Daniel was inspired to create KickBack as a space rooted in community, culture, and connection, offering people of color a place to gather authentically and unwind. Through thoughtfully curated experiences, Daniel continues to build KickBack into a platform that celebrates Black joy, creativity, and togetherness. In addition to shaping the vision of KickBack Boston, Daniel is focused on expanding its impact through partnerships, storytelling, and experiences that reflect the heartbeat of the city.
https://www.instagram.com/kickbackboston/
Lekisha Limage
Host of The Wake Up- SparkFM
Lekisha Limage (Kisha The Entertainer) is a Boston-based educator, host, performer, and cultural leader whose work sits at the intersection of education, entertainment, and community building. A longtime special educator in Boston Public Schools, Lekisha is known for creating culturally responsive, joy-centered spaces where people feel seen, connected, and empowered to show up fully.
In addition to her work in education, Lekisha is a professional step dancer and facilitator whose experience spans classrooms, global performance stages, universities, and large-scale live events. Her work includes performances at Paris Fashion Week, hosting on the TD Garden parquet floor, speaking at Bentley University, and leading community-centered conversations across Boston.
Rooted in her Caribbean heritage and a deep belief in Black people and Black possibility, Lekisha uses joy, culture, and conversation as tools for innovation, leadership, and collective growth. She believes that professionalism and authenticity are not opposites, and that Black leaders do not have to choose between being joyful, intellectual, political, and whole.
https://linktr.ee/kishatheentertainer
Quontay "Q" Turner
Founder of Emerald City Plant Shop
"...when she witnessed the high demand for all things plants early in the pandemic, the Mattapan native branched off on her own and sold a curated collection of tropical species at the Black Owned Bos. holiday market. Soon, she’d snagged a vacant space in Norwood Center and opened Emerald City Plant Shop—New England’s first Black-owned plant boutique. Fast-forward nearly a year, and Turner is amplifying other Black voices through her biz."
- Boston Magazine
Quontay Turner also known as "Q", is a multi-talented creative and entrepreneur from Mattapan. She has over ten years of experience in community organizing, event management, recruiting, and facilitating conversations and trainings around diversity, equity, and inclusion.