More than 700 folks were under water without having to get wet, thanks to this year’s “Black and White Party,” put on by the Pratt Contemporaries. Every year, the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s group of young professional supporters chooses a party theme based on a classic book found on the library’s shelves. This year, that choice was Jules Vernes’ “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”
As in past years, the Central Library was decked out in over-the-top themed décor and lighting. This year, it featured a “swimming”
mechanized version of a whale hanging from the central hall ceiling. Getting decked out was also a big factor for guests, who must
limit their attire to black, white or a combination of both, though touches of color based on the theme were allowed. In addition to gorgeous gowns and suits, many guests added some fun to their attire with costume touches.
From left - Scott Leo, retired real estate manager, Jackie Hershfeld, Baltimore Magazine event director, Michael Harrison, Baltimore City police officer, and Aaron Dante, NoPixAfterDark podcast host, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)Over 700 guests packed the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Library for the Pratt Contemporaries’ “Black and White Party 2025.” (Sloane Brown)
From left - Derek Dangerfield, George Washington University professor of public health, Darien E. Nolin, Total Health Care vice president of internal/external affairs, and Phillip Westry, attorney/FreeState Justice executive director, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)The Central Library’s main hall rippled with movement, as the crowd danced to DJ Kopec. (Sloane Brown)From left - Justin Drummond, Planet Fitness Ohana Growth Partners president, and Dominique Drummond, Monument Sotheby’s The Drummond Group founder, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)
From left - Hannah Murphy Buc, University of Maryland Bachelor of Sciences Nursing Program co-director, Dr. Megan Della Selva, Spring Grove Hospital Center psychiatrist, and Shannon Mangiameli, Amazon design and construction leader, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)A stage set up as an aquarium featured a dancer who looked like she was underwater at the Pratt Contemporaries’ “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” themed Black and White Party. (Sloane Brown)The centerpiece of the evening’s decor was an undulating mechanized whale hanging over the crowd. (Sloane Brown)
From left - Jacqueline Pearlstone, Amadeus Hospitality product manager, Bridget Faherty, University of Maryland College of Information assistant dean, Nick Faherty, Mativ national sales manager of water filtration, and Jon Linaburg, Jhpiego senior finance manager, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)Event co-chair Caitlin Haus welcomes the crowd, accompanied by Pratt Contemporaries’ board chair Matthew Lengel, and event co-chair Amanda Mfume, while DJ Kopec gets ready to kick off the dancing portion of the party. (Sloane Brown)No party - with a “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” theme - would be worth its salt without at least one food station serving up oysters. (Sloane Brown)
From left - Dr. Paul Sabundayo, Mercy Medical Center internist, Beulah Sabundayo, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health senior associate/Pratt board member, and Dave Valentine, Unitarian Universalist Association vice president of finance and investments/Pratt board member, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)From left - Patricia Dockery, Morgan State University associate vice president, Keisha Campbell, Morgan State University registrar, Tachelle Rich, Enterprise Community Development accounts payable coordinator, and Angelique Kopa, Baltimore County Public Library librarian, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)For Simone Jentsch, Akamai Technologies vice president, and Rob Jentsch, ADGN Education principal, the Black and White Party has special meaning - it’s where they met 10 years ago. They said they haven’t missed one since. (Sloane Brown)
From left - Taylor Beckham, Pepco Holdings assistant general counsel/event committee member, Amanda Mfume, Continental Realty Corporation head of investor relations/event co-chair, and Matthew Lengel, Johns Hopkins Care at Home pharmacy manager/Pratt Contemporaries board chair, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)Shimmery Sylvia Mackey swaying to the tunes on the dance floor. (Sloane Brown)From left - Ramon Rosario, US Space Force major, Chad Helton, Enoch Pratt Free Library president/CEO, Beatrice Wright, restaurant manager, and Sarah Mogol, Inform Strategies principal, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)
From left - Dr. Shreya Hessler, Bel Air licensed psychologist, Melanie Anderson, Rossville Elementary School first grade teacher, Shivonne Osho, Booz Allen Hamilton engineer, and Babatunde Osho, Infinera engineer, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)From left - Chris Elcock, GWWO Architects principal, Bryan Mack, University of Maryland Baltimore accountant, Dr. Michael Quinn, DC-based pediatrician, and Tony Clark, retired DC Metro train operator/supervisor, at the Black and White Party 2025 (Sloane Brown)
