The Tea Blend: May 21, 2026

Written By Jayde I. Powell

A blend of opportunities, events, reads, and more.

Opportunities

  • Fenty Hair is inviting TikTok Shop creators to join their TTS Creator Challenge for a chance to win the new Fenty Beauty Oversized Unisex Hoodie and Sweatpant Set. Post at least 3 shoppable videos, or go live twice with eligible Fenty Hair bundles, to hit $1,000 in GMV and qualify. Challenge runs May 12th through June 16th.

  • Planoly and Skills Gap Advocate have launched Planoly Business School, a 6-week accelerator for creators and small business owners ready to turn their content into a sustainable business. The cohort is limited to 30 and costs $599, with grants and financing available. Apply now.

  • Pull Up A Chair is a free 4-week virtual creative lab for creatives ready to stop watching from the sidelines and launch projects of their own — covering storytelling, audience-building, research, strategy, and more through interactive sessions and personalized 1:1 mentorship. Applications close May 22nd.

  • BET Next Gen is BET’s inaugural multi-track leadership development program offering hands-on experience across communications, marketing, production, social media, talent relations, and more — including a Brand Creative track exclusively for HBCU students. Participants will contribute to major BET tentpoles, including the 2026 BET Awards. Applications close May 22nd.

  • ADCOLOR Leaders is now accepting applications for its 2026 program — a curated leadership development experience in Los Angeles for creative industry professionals with 15+ years of experience. Apply for your chance to be one of 30 selected participants. Applications close May 22nd.

  • Jayde’s Chronically Online Creator Program — powered by Creator Tea Talk — is selecting 12 creators from our community to attend the Chronically Online Virtual Social Media Summit for free on June 30th, plus an exclusive 50% discount code to share with your audience. Applications open May 20th and close May 27th. Apply now!

  • The Black Women Photographers x Nikon Grant Fund awards a $2,500 cash grant and a Nikon Z6III kit to one Black woman photographer per quarter. Applications for Q2 close June 5th — apply now.

  • Famous Amos’ Ingredients for Success program invites Black small business owners to apply for a chance to win $50,000, along with access to mentorship, educational resources, and networking opportunities. Applications close June 1st.

  • Google and Kickstarter have launched the Next Wave Fund, a joint initiative offering early-stage tech startup founders a $10,000 pledge, hands-on campaign guidance, Google training, and marketing exposure. Applications are open now on a rolling basis.

  • The Entreprenista Evolve Grant is a quarterly $5,000 grant for U.S.-based women founders with revenue-generating businesses who are ready to scale. Applications are open now.

  • Sprout Social is looking for creators to join their Cannes Creator Connection — a cohort of storytellers to serve as their eyes and ears on the ground at Cannes Lions, with opportunities for paid content partnerships and exclusive access throughout the festival. Apply to be considered.

  • ● Create & Cultivate is looking for ambassadors to join their Festival Ambassador Program ahead of their flagship two-day festival on September 19–20, 2026 in Los Angeles — the world's largest festival for women in business, featuring 4,000+ attendees, 150+ speakers, and programming across business, culture, leadership, and the creator economy.

  • Sprout Social is accepting nominations for their inaugural Social Intelligence Awards — recognizing organizations using social data to drive real business impact across five categories, including Best in Social Intelligence, Predictive Edge, and Infinite Care. Winners receive a custom award, swag, a featured case study, and a 1:1 strategy session with Sprout’s executive leadership team. Nominate yourself or your team by June 30th.

  • Business Insider associate editor Megan Forrester is seeking freelance writers to pitch first-person lifestyle stories across topics like Gen Z living, hobbies, travel, culture shock, and downsizing. Stories start at $230 for a 600-word piece. Submit your pitch now.

  • Nominations for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list are now open for the 2027 list. If you’re 29 or younger and making moves in your industry, submit your nomination today.

events  

  • The Publish Press is hosting Press Publish LA — The Hollywood Creator Summit on May 28th at the Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles — a curated one-day summit for 500 creators, storytellers, and media entrepreneurs exploring what it means to build at the intersection of creator culture and Hollywood. Hosted by Colin & Samir. Apply now to secure your spot.

  • Aspire is hosting The Affiliate Era: How Creators Became the New Sales Channel, a virtual webinar on May 28th at 11am PT / 2pm ET unpacking how top brands are treating affiliate as the connective tissue between creator content and revenue. Register now.

  • Canva is hosting Canva Community Connect: New York on May 28th from 8–11pm at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn — a free evening of creative workshops, Canva feature showcases, food, drinks, activations, and community for NYC-area Canva enthusiasts. Register now.

  • CultureCon is bringing their CultureCon Cafe — a traveling night café for creatives who believe their next opportunity is one conversation away — to Detroit on May 28th, Philadelphia on June 4th, and Los Angeles on June 10th. Get your tickets now.

  • Adobe is hosting creative events in Chicago on May 27th and New York on June 10th — evenings designed for skill-building and fellowship within the creative community. Register now.

  • Jerrica Long is hosting the Greenlight Yourself Mixer on June 2nd in Los Angeles — a free, curated evening mixer from 5:30–8:30pm for creators, filmmakers, writers, producers, and entertainment executives building momentum and community. Registration requires host approval.

  • Measure Studio is hosting a Social Media Exec Dinner on June 2nd in West Hollywood — an intimate private dinner for social media leaders from top brands and media companies, with great food, drinks, and peer conversation. Limited capacity and registration requires host approval.

  • Canva is hosting Canva Connect: Enterprise — The Age of Creative Velocity on June 4th in New York City — an evening diving into their State of Marketing and AI 2026 report, the latest Canva Enterprise product updates, and practical strategies for turning AI speed into a real creative advantage. Networking, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres included. Register now.

  • YouTube Creator Collective is hosting a Summer Game Fest 2026 Watch Party on June 5th at 7:30pm ET in Atlanta — an exclusive watch party experience for creators. Register now to secure your spot.

  • Goodie Nation is hosting Goodie Nation House x ATL — Summer of Soccer Edition on June 17th at Retreat by The Gathering Spot in Atlanta — a curated experience for creators, athlete-creators, storytellers, marketers, and industry leaders during World Cup week. Noelle Lucas is leading the featured panel conversation, The New Front Row: How Creators Are Rewriting Sports Fandom. Complimentary admission, limited capacity. Register now to secure your spot.

  • Our very own Jayde I. Powell is hosting the Chronically Online Virtual Social Media Summit on June 30th in celebration of Social Media Day — a full day of virtual conversations for brand marketers, agency professionals, creators, and influencer marketing pros. Register now to secure your spot!

NEWS & READS

REPORTS & RESOURCES

  • The Influencer Marketing Factory’s 2026 Brand Deals Report — produced in partnership with Modash — analyzes over 300,000 sponsored posts across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, revealing that one-off collaborations still dominate the industry, TikTok leads in ad disclosure, and YouTube is the strongest platform for long-term creator-brand relationships.

  • Snapchat’s Snapchat Generation Report is a two-volume deep dive into how Gen Z connects, creates, and shapes culture — covering everything from real-time behavior to how they’re reinventing holiday shopping. Download both volumes now.

  • Business of Fashion’s Building Cultural Relevance on TikTok is a knowledge report exploring how fashion, beauty, and media brands can leverage cultural capital and creator partnerships to grow their own fan communities on the platform.

  • Social Media Examiner’s 2026 Social Media Marketing Industry Report is a free 44-page annual survey of 385,000+ marketers revealing how professionals plan to shift their paid and organic activities, video strategy, content mix, and AI adoption over the next year.

  • #paid’s Creator Signals Report is a biannual intelligence report surveying 150,000+ creators across North America on their upcoming life milestones, spending plans, travel, content styles, brand affinities, and cultural moments — built to help brands get ahead of culture before it peaks.


JOBS & GIGS

Jayde I. Powell http://www.twitter.com/jaydeipowell
Next

The Tea Blend: May 11, 2026