4. May 2026
Built With Purpose: How ROOTED, Divinely Melanated & Top Flight Defense Inc. United to Create Real Community Impact
Some partnerships are business.
This one?
This one is alignment.
Because when you look at ROOTED from the outside, you see:
- fashion
- vendors
- music
- culture
But what you don’t see right away…
is the foundation of women, service, sacrifice, and purpose that this entire experience is built on.ROOTED didn’t come from comfort.
It came from a realization.
That waiting for opportunities…
was never the answer.
So Adrianna “Piinkii Promiis” Seabourne, a Black woman, creator, entrepreneur, and veteran…
made a decision:
👉🏾 “I’m not waiting for a door… I’m building one.”
Not just for herself—
But for:
- creatives who feel overlooked
- entrepreneurs trying to be seen
- a community that deserves ownership, not just participation
ROOTED was born as a cultural experience…
But it’s evolving into something much bigger:
A new chapter isn’t just unfolding for the ROOTED Juneteenth Cultural Experience…
👉🏾 It’s being built with intention.
As we prepare to elevate one of Chicago’s most dynamic Juneteenth fashion shows and cultural day experiences, we are proud to officially welcome Top Flight Defense Inc. and its founder, Cassandra Taylor, as our fiscal partner.
And this isn’t just a partnership.
This is a power move.
A strategic alignment rooted in:
- honoring Black heritage
- uplifting women veterans
- and investing in the next generation of creatives
👑 Who Is Cassandra Taylor?
Cassandra Taylor is the definition of leadership that doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off.
A 28-year retired Army veteran from Maywood, Illinois, she brings a lifetime of service, discipline, and purpose into everything she builds. With a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Management, a Master’s in Human Resource Management, and an MBA in Healthcare Management, her foundation is as strong as her mission.
After her military career, she founded Top Flight Defense Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by women veterans—for all women—focused on mental wellness, health awareness, and community empowerment.
But her impact doesn’t stop there.
From performing the national anthem at major sporting events to being recognized as a 2023 VA Center for Women Veterans Trailblazer, a Women of Excellence honoree, and one of Chicago’s Veterans 23, Cassandra continues to lead with purpose, presence, and power.
🔥 Why Top Flight Defense?
Top Flight Defense exists to do more than support—it exists to activate women.
Their mission is centered on encouraging women veterans to step fully into their ability to impact their communities, while also bringing awareness to health, healing, and growth for women as a whole.
Their vision?
👉🏾 To partner, uplift, and restore confidence
👉🏾 To help women rise beyond limitations
👉🏾 To create pathways for personal and professional expansion
And that aligns perfectly with ROOTED.
Because ROOTED isn’t just about showing up…
👉🏾 It’s about ownership
👉🏾 It’s about community
👉🏾 It’s about making sure everybody eats, elevates, and expands
🌿 The Divinely Melanated Connection
ROOTED was never meant to stand alone.
It was built in collaboration with Divinely Melanated—a Black-owned creative brand rooted in self-love, spirituality, and cultural expression.
Known for its “Custom Made EVERYTHING” approach, Divinely Melanated creates handcrafted pieces that don’t just represent culture…
👉🏾 They celebrate it
👉🏾 They honor it
👉🏾 They embody it
By joining forces with Top Flight Defense, that cultural expression is now backed by:
👉🏾 structure
👉🏾 support
👉🏾 and scalable community impact
🚀 What Makes ROOTED Different?
Let’s be clear…
ROOTED is not just an event.
👉🏾 It’s a movement.
On June 18, 2026, ROOTED will bring together Chicago’s:
- rising designers
- entrepreneurs
- artists
- influencers
- and cultural leaders
For an elevated Juneteenth experience centered around:
👉🏾 Black excellence
👉🏾 economic empowerment
👉🏾 creativity
👉🏾 and ownership
From a luxury fashion show to a curated vendor marketplace, live content creation, and a high-energy day party—ROOTED is designed to be experienced, not just attended.
Because we don’t just celebrate freedom by remembering it…
👉🏾 We celebrate it by building something of our own
By creating spaces where:
- creatives get seen
- businesses get supported
- entrepreneurs gain exposure
- and the community is poured back into
Our philosophy is simple:
👉🏾 Everybody eats.
👉🏾 Everybody elevates.
👉🏾 Everybody expands.
🌱 Investing in the Next Generation
This partnership doesn’t just impact the present…
It’s building the future.
Through the ROOTED Youth Creator Initiative, a portion of ROOTED’s proceeds will directly support young creatives ages 17–24 by providing:
👉🏾 funding
👉🏾 mentorship
👉🏾 exposure
👉🏾 and real opportunities
This isn’t performative.
This is pipeline building.
And with Cassandra’s deep commitment to mentorship and Top Flight Defense’s dedication to empowerment, this initiative is in the right hands to truly create change.
🔗 A Shift in Power
With Top Flight Defense as our fiscal sponsor and Divinely Melanated as our creative foundation, ROOTED is evolving into a multi-layered platform that blends:
👉🏾 culture
👉🏾 commerce
👉🏾 community
👉🏾 and opportunity
This collaboration allows us to:
- properly structure and manage funding
- create real sponsorship opportunities
- support emerging talent
- and build something that lasts beyond a single day
Cassandra, through Top Flight Defense, will oversee sponsorship funding, ensuring it flows back into ROOTED’s mission—after administrative support—so we can continue elevating culture and community the right way.
👑 The Invitation
So the question is…
👉🏾 Are you ready for the shift?
Because this is bigger than a fashion show.
Bigger than a vendor market.
Bigger than a party.
This is:
- honoring our heritage
- uplifting women veterans
- investing in youth
- and building a legacy of ownership
🔥 CALL TO ACTION
Pull up. Show love. Be part of something real.
Secure your ticket. Support the movement.
Help us create a space where every voice is seen, heard, and celebrated.
rootedjuneteenth.com