

AI & The Culture + Hartbeat: Black History Month Vibeathon
Black history isn’t just something we remember —
it’s something we create.
AI & The Culture, led by Shirley Vernae Williams and King Willonius, together with Hartbeat, welcomes you to the Black History Month Vibeathon — a one-day cultural build experience in Los Angeles that brings together Black creatives, innovators, and technologists to imagine and build the future with AI.
This isn’t a typical hackathon — it’s a Vibeathon.
It’s where culture and creativity meet AI tools, storytelling, music, and collaboration.
Come create.
Come connect.
Come shape the future.
🔥 What to Expect
🎤 Opening Conversation
“Black History x AI Futures”
A live discussion exploring creative agency, representation, and the future of Black culture in AI.
🛠 The Vibeathon Build Session
Collaborate together in creative tracks:
Sound of Liberation – AI-powered music explorations
Digital Griots – Short stories + visual narratives with AI
Culture Tools – Prototype community-centric AI experiences
Creators of all backgrounds welcome — no coding experience required.
🎬 Demo Showcase
Teams pitch and present their work.
Community vote and spotlight celebration.
🎶 Closing Vibe
Networking. Creative collisions.
🏆 Opportunities & Prizes
Feature in AI & The Culture Newsletter
Spotlight interview in Conversations in Code
Sponsored mentorship sessions
Future accelerator / collaboration paths
Creative spotlight on partner channels
🌍 Why This Matters
Black creators have historically shaped global culture — from sound systems to visual trends online. Yet AI is rapidly reshaping how culture is produced, shared, and monetized.
The Vibeathon reasserts control.
We shape the culture — not just the code.
👥 Who Should Attend
Creatives exploring AI tools
Filmmakers, musicians, designers, and storytellers
Technologists who prioritize culture
Students, founders, and future builders
Anyone passionate about Black futures and innovation
📸 Media & Documentation
Event documentation will be captured.
Select works may be featured in future content across AI & The Culture and partner platforms.
🤝 About the Hosts
AI & The Culture is a Black-led creative tech community investing in cultural innovation at the intersection of AI, storytelling, and community building.
Hartbeat is a global entertainment company known for premium storytelling and cultural experiences.
What Is a Vibeathon?
A culturally grounded AI build experience where creatives collaborate to create:
AI-generated music projects
Short films + visual experiments
AI-powered storytelling
Fashion concepts + digital art
Cultural data storytelling
Experimental tools for community use
Less “code sprint.”
More “culture sprint.”