Our Mission
The Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - Sunday, June 23, 2024
New York City, USA
The festival takes place over a her-larious (5) five-days during the historic Juneteenth week. We will showcase some of the best, brightest, and funniest black women, those who identify as women, and those from the LGBTQ community.
Our Mission
Founder Joanna M. Briley on Sheri with her fellow BWIC Laff Fest comedians.
“The Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest was born out of rage. For decades of being left out, unseen, and overlooked by the comedy industry, Joanna M. Briley decided it was time to turn the proverbial rage into hilarious punchlines.
The “BWIC Laff Fest, will be held June 19-23, 2024 which also coincides with the annual celebration of Juneteenth. The symbolism of this special holiday lends itself to why we created this 5-day event: to highlight and celebrate our “Freedom to be Funny” while also nurturing our spirit through self-care and mental wellness workshops. Comedy is therapy for many who attend. How to replenish our creative energy on stage while balancing our mental health challenges offstage is the key to success for funny Black women.
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Empowerment
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Advocacy
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Community
• Empowerment - encourage and educate each performer on their journey as comedians. Unlocking their full potential through workshops and showcases that build and develop their skills in real time.
•Advocacy - provide services for mental health and wellness outreach in person/tele therapy with funding from grants and sponsorships.
•Community - foster a foundational approach to building strong networks in every aspect of the country. We can build a strong legislative framework to help our communities in every region.