The People's Ball

The People’s Ball returns to the runway to celebrate fashion, personal style and inclusivity. Dress up in the clothes that make you feel your most beautiful and authentic and walk the runway in Central Library's iconic lobby.

The free event, held on the eve of the Met Gala, offers an alternative to expensive, exclusive galas and showcases the diverse styles that make up New York City's urban runway.

In honor of the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the 2026 People’s Ball will celebrate the enduring legacy of American fashion, with a special segment honoring pioneering model and activist, Bethann Hardison; award-winning creative director, costume designer, and entrepreneur, June Ambrose; and Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo), an internationally celebrated Native American fashion and textile designer known for blending Indigenous artistry with contemporary couture. 

The evening will feature a performance by legendary Tony Award® winner and three-time Grammy nominee, Melba Moore and DJ sets by DJ Fritzo.

Co-curated by Souleo. Specially commissioned honoree awards created by artist Beau McCall.

Pose on the Plaza starting at 6:00 pm (doors at 6:30 pm). 

Please Sign Up for a Library Card Here!

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PARTICIPANTS

Souleo is an acclaimed creative, curator, writer, impresario, consultant, and muse. Souleo has collaborated with noteworthy institutions and brands, including the New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Brooklyn Public Library/Center for Brooklyn History, Museum of Arts and Design, Columbia University, Newark Museum of Art, Nordstrom, and AARP. Souleo's work has been widely covered in outlets including the Associated Press, NY Times, The New Yorker, ESSENCE, and PBS. For more information: SouleoUniverse.com or IG: @souleouniverse Photo by Abigail Ekue

 

 

A pioneering model and activist, Bethann Hardison founded Bethann Management and transformed global fashion by championing diversity and inclusion through the Black Girls Coalition (1988) and the Diversity Coalition (2013), eventually earning her the CFDA Founder’s Award and the NAACP Image Award for her documentary Invisible Beauty (2023). Formerly Executive Advisor for Gucci and Kering, currently, Bethann serves as Founder & Chair of her 501(c)(3) foundation and as a member of the CFDA's Board of Directors. Photo by Brigitte Lacombe

 

 

djFRiTZo, an OB (Original Brooklynite), credits the BPL for keeping him off the streets, whenever he wasn't breakdancing as a youth, and getting him into Cornell University, and later, Howard University Grad. School. The diversity of these experiences is woven in the tapestry of his music, mixing classic sounds and fresh beats, bringing together people from all generations, all cultures, on one dance-floor. You can catch him everywhere in NYC, with residencies at legendary Pianos, Abe's Pagoda, and at a local joint near you. Follow him on IG: @djfritzo

Ariel Polanco is a New York based actor, dancer and speaker. He grew up in the Bronx, the son of hard working immigrant parents, who taught him how to have a strong work ethic and to bravely step out into the unknown and create his own path. He is an example of how arts education can transform the lives of students in the inner city. Ariel was first introduced to the arts in grade school, where he began performing and continued his development at a performing arts high school in New York City.

His curiosity and hunger for artistic growth led him to internships with the Actors Studio, training at HB Studios and current work with the Russian Arts Theater & Studio. He has also expanded his abilities through dance with the Vissi Dance Theater, a contemporary dance company, where he has been a principle dancer for the past decade.

Ariel’s artistic endeavors has taken him from a small neighborhood in the Bronx to large stages in Italy, Turkey, and Japan to name a few. He has successfully delved into public speaking through Toastmasters International, where he won the prestigious Humorous Speech Contest for New York State.  Ariel sees every challenge as an opportunity to grow as an artist as he continues on the path to dare greatly.

 

Melba Moore is a legendary Tony Award® winner and three-time Grammy nominee. Born in NYC and raised in Newark NJ, Ms. Moore stepped into the industry as a session singer for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. This led to her Broadway debut in the legendary musical Hair, where she would succeed Diane Keaton for the lead role . Moore went on to play recurring roles in several hit Broadway shows, including her Tony Award-winning role of Lutiebelle in the musical Purlie. Her iconic music career includes the hits: “You Stepped Into My Life" and "Love's Comin’ At Ya." Ms. Moore was recently honored with a Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Her new memoir, "This Is It - Marvelous & Getting Better," is available on Amazon Books. 

June Ambrose is an award-winning creative director, costume designer, and entrepreneur who has built a career creating culture-shifting moments through fashion and style. From designing costumes for Hype Williams’ Belly to styling videos for hip hop heavyweights like Missy Elliott, P Diddy, and Jay Z, June has left an indelible mark on fashion and created the blueprint for many of the trends we see today. June has also changed the industry itself through her fearlessness and willingness to challenge the status quo—whether she was creating opportunities for other stylists of color, building bridges between luxury European fashion houses and hip hop artists, or pioneering the celebrity brand collaboration, she has shaped the industry and created opportunity when there was none. She’s an industry titan with an eye toward global impact and legacy, which she has achieved across the course of her 25+ year career.

 

 

 

Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo) is an internationally celebrated Native American fashion and textile designer known for blending Indigenous artistry with contemporary couture. Founder of PMWaterlily Designs and a professor at Parsons School of Design, she gained global recognition as first runner-up on the hit television show, Project Runway (season 11) and later All Stars. Her designs have appeared at New York Fashion Week, Santa Fe Indian Market, and in Vogue and The New York Times. Her accolades include the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Arts and Design Award (2014) and the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in Art (2023). Michaels is also a passionate advocate and activist, collaborating with organizations such as the Indigenous Fashion Initiative and the Preservation of Native Culture and Natural Resources. 

Beau McCall—proclaimed by American Craft magazine as “The Button Man”—creates visual and wearable art by hand-sewing clothing buttons onto mostly upcycled fabrics, materials, and objects. His artworks, which offer commentary on topics such as pop culture and social justice are held in the permanent collection of numerous public institutions including the Getty Research Institute (Los Angeles, CA); Museum of Arts and Design (New York, NY); The Museum at FIT (New York, NY); Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA); Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK); and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York, NY). In 2024, McCall debuted his first-ever retrospective and exhibition catalog titled, Beau McCall: Buttons On! at Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton, MA). The exhibition is currently on a nationwide tour. In McCall's words, his artistic practice is rooted in the belief that, “With a teeny tiny button you can create, you can have a voice, and you can inspire.” For more information: BeauMcCall.com