Key Takeaways
- Chance the Rapper and Daymond John appeared alongside Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones and other leaders during the two-day convention.
- Organizers shifted to free general admission ahead of the event and refunded previously purchased tickets to increase community access.
- Held in May, the inaugural event drew more than 4,000 attendees from across the country.
Chance the Rapper, Daymond John, and local leaders helped bring business, music, technology, and community-centered programming to Newport News, Virginia, through NOODLE: The Thinkers Convention.
The inaugural two-day event took place May 22-23 at Victory Landing Park and The Yard District, with programming centered on entrepreneurship, wellness, science, media, technology, culture, and creativity. According to organizers, the weekend drew more than 4,000 attendees, speakers, and creatives from across the country.
Ahead of the event, NOODLE announced that general admission would be free, a move organizers said was made in partnership with John. “By removing the cost barrier ... we are ensuring that everyone in the community can benefit from this exceptional learning and networking experience,” a press release stated. Previously purchased tickets were automatically refunded while remaining valid.
The lineup blended live entertainment with thought leadership. Chance the Rapper appeared alongside Newport News Mayor Phillip D. Jones and John for a key conversation curated by Terrence J, while Vice Mayor Curtis D. Bethany III was also among the local leaders involved in the convention. Other names tied to the weekend included Aloe Blacc, CeeLo Green, Rhett & Link, Jermaine Dupri, Aisha Bowe, The D.O.C., Styles P, Fam-Lay, Maejor, James Fauntleroy, and more.
A convention built around access
While NOODLE included performances and culture-driven moments, organizers positioned the event as programming-forward. Founder and creator Antonio Dowe said, “NOODLE was a first-of-its-kind event for Newport News. There are many music festivals in this area, but not many that are programming-forward and music secondary.”
He added, “We brought in speakers from all over the country to be a part of NOODLE. From science and technology to health, wellness, entrepreneurship, and creativity, we had every avenue covered.”
NOODLE’s official site described the convention as a gathering of minds across business, technology, music, and media. General admission included access to talks, performances, vendors, and full-day cultural programming.