In these trying times, SAINt JHN doesn’t want anyone to go hungry. That’s why the Guyanese-American artist joined forces with WhyHunger at a pop-up dinner in New York City’s Phoenix Palace in support of the global nonprofit’s Hungerthon. This educational and fundraising campaign addresses the root causes of hunger in America and rallies to advance everyone’s right to nutritious food. You can support the cause by purchasing SAINt JHN-limited-edition merchandise, which he designed exclusively for Hungerthon, available at Hungerthon.org.
Kawhi Leonard Gets Zen
Kawhi Leonard may be fighting a sprained ankle, but that didn’t stop him from striking a (yoga) pose on the Clippers court. In partnership with OUR OWN Wellness Spaces, a classroom retrofit initiative, he hosted students from Inglewood High School and Ánimo City of Champions Charter High School in a guided wellness event at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome, home of his LA Clippers. Designed to help youth reconnect and restore balance through intentional movement and mindfulness, this is a personal mission for Leonard, who wants to promote a calmer mindset and healthy habits among young people.
Justice Smith Makes Magic
What does it take to be a Horseman? Just ask Justice Smith, who added sparkle and sheen to the premiere of Now You See Me, Now You Don’t in New York City. As one of the newest players in the film franchise, it’s all about putting on a good show. “I play Charlie Geese. He’s a big fan of the original Horseman, and he’s a huge magic nerd, so he knows everything there is to know about magic, specifically magic history,” Smith shared with EBONY. While he doesn’t mind the spotlight, his onscreen persona “is a bit more behind the scenes,” he revealed. Now You See Me, Now You Don’t opens in theaters on November 14.
Naturi Naughton Feels the Love
Naturi Naughton also brought the sparkle at the “Love of a Lifetime” event in Los Angeles, where she celebrated her latest film, Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers. The two-part TV event, based on the book by the late author, features the Power alum as Debra, a Type A doctor who’s caught up in the challenges of modern-day relationships. The film airs on Lifetime on November 15 and 16.
Jakim Noah is NOMAD
NBA All-Star Joakim Noah has found new life off the court. In his new series, NOMAD, he travels around the globe to uncover how basketball connects people and cultures. The former Chicago Bulls player and NBAT2, which produced the series, hosted a premiere at Vault Gallerie in Chicago, where the first episode takes place. The intimate evening reunited Noah with fellow former player Derrick Rose, as well as friends, fans and other Chicago b-ball legends.
Jessica Lia Berry’s New York Debut
Jessica Lia Berry got bubblicious for the New York debut of I’m Still Not That Girl, her one-woman play about a young woman whose mother has passed, who now has to figure out how to navigate life without maternal guidance. The writer, actress and producer celebrated her production with a party at Chez Josephine, a restaurant honoring another one-woman stage phenom, Josephine Baker.