In honor of Women’s History Month, Howard University partnered with The SVE Firm to host a brunch reception, unveiling, “100 Women for Howard: A Legacy in Motion,” an initiative bringing together 100 influential women in sports and business to reshape the future of Howard Women’s Basketball.
An essential core to this initiative is the Mecca Made NIL Collective, which is designed to promote an influential foundation of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for athletes within the Howard Women’s Basketball program. By supporting this initiative, the contributions will empower athletes to build their brands, secure financial independence, and gain exposure that could pave the way for success beyond their collegiate careers.
April D. Taylor, CEO of The SVE Firm, reinforced the powerful impact of ”100 Women for Howard” initiative, while passionately emphasizing the vision of the university’s women’s basketball Head Coach Ty Grace and the team’s efforts to secure NIL opportunities for their athletes.
“This means the world to me. This means why I was created,” said Taylor. I do intentional work and this is intentional work. Coach was telling me ‘April, our point guard [freshman Saniyah King] teams are trying to get her.’ We need to raise some money for our collective and that’s the best way to do it—to bring together 100 women that want to support Howard Women’s Basketball, and I am one of those 100. This is just an honor to be here today.”
Just ahead of the Lady Bison’s thrilling faceoff against Norfolk State University Spartans (in which Howard was defeated 68-56) Mecca Made NIL Collective hosted a thoughtfully curated brunch reception on March 6 to celebrate this initiative, setting the stage for their final home game of the season.
With the MEAC tournament kicking off soon in Norfolk, Virginia, this event marked a memorable prelude to an exciting conclusion of regular-season play.
“It is not lost on me, the power of women in sports, and I saw that when I had the opportunity to speak with some of Howard’s incredible women on the basketball team,” said Mannone Butler, who moderated the panel at the brunch reception. “They’re special. They’re extraordinarily special clearly on the court, but I was able to get a window in terms of what they are about off the court. And so the well-roundedness of their scholar athletes is super special.”
The groundbreaking NIL initiative provided a unique opportunity encouraging supporters to get involved, directly impacting the future of Howard Women’s Basketball with exclusive perks and experiences within and beyond the event.
Donors who contributed $1,000 were treated to a VIP Experience, which included exclusive access to a reception featuring the Boss Moves Signature Wine Bar, a special gift, and recognition on the court during the women’s basketball game. These generous supporters also had reserved seating at the Howard and Norfolk State game along with the chance to show their support during the nationally televised game on ESPNU.
For those who contributed $250, the VIP brunch reception and reserved seating at the game ensured that they were fully immersed in the experience, complemented by a special gift as a token of appreciation.
Regardless of the level of contribution, all donors had the opportunity to connect with a powerhouse group of leaders in sports and business during the VIP reception, highlighting the collective strength of uniting to elevate Howard Women’s Basketball.
A dynamic, woman-led panel discussion added depth to the event, shaping a a positive yet empowering atmosphere, inspiring both current and future generations of women in sports and business.
The list of inspiring speakers included:
- Kim Stone, CEO of Washington Spirit
- Mannone Butler, head of programs and partnerships for the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition
- Morgan Faulkner, manager of community relations and events for the Washington Commanders
- Patty Medina, associate athletic director for American University, SA Development & Inclusive Excellence
- Erine Blaine, fan experience manager for the Washington Mystics
- Jaynel J., media correspondent for DC Now Events
These trailblazing women shared powerful insights, inspiring all attendees to expand on their professional impact, community empowerment, and the breaking of barriers.
Itt became more than just a reception promoting NIL, but a celebration of women making bold moves and driving change in the world.
Medina, highlighted the drive for inclusivity within the reception’s panel discussion, emphasizing the importance of allyship at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). She advocated that while the conversation welcomed all women, it’s important to continue uplifting and supporting women, especially at an event like 100 Women for Howard.
“We talk about allyship a lot and so I feel like that was my position on this panel, is to really hone in on the allyship of ‘hey minority women, we’re the minority women regardless of whether we’re Black, brown, or Asian,’” Medina said. “And so it’s important to really continue to elevate each other. And that’s why even at a place like American University, I’m like there aren’t many of us, and I wanna be the one to hire all of us. I feel like that’s where my intention was with this panel and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to do that,” said Medina.
Attendees, industry workers, and athletes also had the chance to connect with these women, as Q&A sessions and opportunities to connect were offered throughout the event.
King, the women’s basketball star freshman and 11-time MEAC Rookie of the Week King, opened up about the valuable takeaways she gained from the event.
“It meant a lot to me,” King said. “It was super inspirational. I met some amazing ladies today, I learned a lot of good things, just how I should carry myself and carry my career as I go forward,” said King.
Jasmen Walker, a runner with Howard’s track and field program, said it was refreshing to discuss women’s empowerment and how that furthers the growth of her journey in sports.
“I really liked the event because I like just women empowering each other and I think sometimes with women, it’s like they have to be against each other and I love that [a speaker] said ‘Lift as you climb,’ and I really took that from the event. Like that really stuck with me,” Walker said. “And also just learning from people that are in sports, because, personally, I’m a big sports fan and it’s just nice to see people are in higher up positions and they’re women in sports.”
Excellent piece. These efforts by women in sports needs to be recognized and applauded. The game is growing and HBCUs need this level of support.
Excellent piece. These efforts by women in sports needs to be recognized and applauded. The game is growing and HBCUs need this level of support. Thanks