Grace Baptist Church felt different that weekend. Not just busy. Not just full. But purposeful. From the moment the doors opened, the energy of legacy, ambition, and love for our children filled every hallway and handshake. The second annual Grace HBCU Weekend wasn’t just an event; it was a reminder to our young people of who they are and where they come from.
Saturday, February 21, 2026, set the tone. The sanctuary transformed into a bridge between dreams and opportunity. More than 25 HBCUs showed up, not just with brochures, but with belief. Parents leaned in with hope in their eyes. Students lit up when someone finally said, “Yes, you belong here.” The Ice Cold Experience Drumline shook the room like a heartbeat, reminding everyone that culture is power. The Financial Aid panel broke down barriers, and the Young HBCU Alumni spoke truth about resilience, identity, and survival with grace.
You could feel that this weekend was carefully held, envisioned by Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and brought to life by Dr. Candace Phaire, Deacon Clinton Myke, and Sakai Brown. This wasn’t programming for show. This was people who understood that representation isn’t symbolic, it’s necessary.
Sunday sealed it.
HBCU Sunday and Youth Sunday weren’t performances; they were affirmations. The pews became a runway of pride, Divine Nine letters, school colors, Black power statements stitched into fabric and spirit. Every outfit told a story. Every smile carried possibility. When the drumline performed again, it felt ceremonial. Like a declaration: Yes. This is who we are. This is where we’re going.
![The Ice Cold Experience Drumline [Black Westchester]](http://blackwestchester.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_6709-1024x768.jpeg "Where Legacy Meets Purpose: Inside Grace HBCU Weekend 17")
I didn’t just attend Grace HBCU Weekend.
I witnessed investment.
I witnessed community choosing its future out loud.
I witnessed elders planting seeds and youth standing tall enough to receive them.
And that, right there, that’s sacred work.
Larnez Kinsey is a writer for Black Westchester Magazine, a public-health advocate, and a seasoned New York State civil servant with two decades of service, including the last ten years as a Security Hospital Treatment Assistant in a maximum-security forensic psychiatric facility. With deep expertise in crisis management inside one of the state’s most demanding environments, she brings unmatched frontline insight into trauma, safety, human behavior, and the systemic gaps that influence community outcomes.
A lifelong supercreative, Larnez is also the Co-Founder and CEO of BlackGate Consulting Group, where she uses her multidisciplinary skill set to drive transformative change for businesses, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. Her work bridges policy, protection, and healing, grounded in a clear understanding of cybernetic ecology, New York’s cultural landscape, and the interplay between mental health and community resilience.
Larnez is additionally a co-host on Black Westchester Magazine’s flagship shows, People Before Politics and The Sunday Rundown, where she elevates community voices and engages in conversations that challenge systems and amplify truth.
She also serves as the Economic Development Chair for the Yonkers NAACP and is a Reiki Master Teacher, integrating holistic wellness with strategic advocacy. Through every role, Larnez remains committed to empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and moving resources to the places where they can create the greatest impact.
