On Saturday, August 29, 2026, the premier upscale summer experience Positive Vibes Only(PVO) returns to New York City for its highly anticipated Brunch & Pool Party at the Ravel Hotel in Long Island City
Bringing together more than 2,000 young professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and influencers, the annual flagship event has cemented itself as a staple of East Coast summer culture. Reaching sold-out status across all sections two months in advance, the experience combines high-energy poolside curation with a deeper, purposeful mission: promoting mental wellness within the Black community
In an exclusive interview with The Nas” Nworu, Chidubem “Chi” Ude, and Dayo Okeniyi opened up about the origin of the brand, the art of event curation, and how they seamlessly blend celebration with community empowerment
Founded in 2018 by a trio of co-founders with distinct backgrounds in healthcare, finance, and visual design, PVO was born out of a desire to break down long-standing stigmas surrounding mental health
“It’s a lifestyle brand that focuses on promoting mental wellness to our community through our culture in a cool way,” explained the co-founder with a background as an occupational therapist, who served as the initial brainchild for the concept. “The traditional way of promoting mental health hasn’t always been the easiest. You’re dealing with taboo, like, ‘Oh, I feel weak if I go speak to a therapist.’ So we created a series of events—parties, dinners, brunches—that had that undertone of promoting mental health, but in a fun, joyous way to reach our community.”
To the founders, joy sits at the center of the wellness spectrum
“I look at mental wellness as a spectrum,” he added. “On the far left, you got anxiety, you got depression. On the far right, you got joy. To me, this PVO pool party is the far right of mental wellness. It’s celebrating Black joy, Black excellence in a safe space for us, by us.”
Taking over the Ravel Hotel, the 2026 NYC Brunch & Pool Party features elevated activations, custom design, and top-tier brand partnerships:
- PVO Vendor Marketplace: Showcasing 20 Black-owned businesses, providing entrepreneurs direct access to thousands of tastemakers and consumers.
- Charitable Giveback: PVO is partnering with Sneak Peek Sessions, a Black woman-founded non-profit, to utilize event proceeds to distribute free BetterHelp therapy vouchers to community members in need.
- Sponsorships & Hospitality: Featuring a complimentary one-hour open bar sponsored by Martell for early arrivals, alongside complimentary brunch offerings.
- Interactive Activations: Featuring life-sized PVO branded games—including a custom basketball court activation—and premium video booths with dedicated directors.
- Creator Network: An exclusive roster of 30 micro-influencers and TikTok creators selected from over 300 applicants to document the event.
From high-grade production to carefully selected venues with vibrant natural lighting, PVO places heavy emphasis on the visual and emotional landscape of every gathering
“We’re very keen on the aesthetics,” shared the co-founder managing financial and New York event operations. “Everything is designed to make you feel good, and that’s the wellness part. It all ties back into mental wellness. We want to make you feel good in every way possible.”
A former guest and celebrity attendee once captured the essence of the event best, describing it as feeling like an authentic “celebration of Black excellence”—a sentiment the team strives to reproduce every year
“It’s just about creating safe spaces for us,” concluded the co-founder directing brand design and visual communications. “Doing that with a certain level of finesse and attention to detail where people can come in and feel like they can truly be themselves and not be policed… It’s completely undiluted Black experience. New York is the Oscars for us. It’s the Super Bowl for us, and it sets the tone for everything else we do globally.”
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For additional PVO Community Partner opportunities, sponsorships, collaborations, upcoming events, media opportunities, and more, please contact:
Kim, P.R.PVO Global PublicistCEO, Empress Links PR Agency📧 Empresslinkspr@gmail.com@Empresslinks
