This year’s ELEVATE Art Festival examines arts and culture through the lens of our changed reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have experienced racial unrest, economic recession, isolation due to social distancing, and a divisive political climate. The festival theme is Equity, Activism, Engagement, and through our programs we seek to provide hope, inspiration, and food for your soul. Join this year’s free virtual programs from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10.  It’ll be streaming live via Facebook, YouTube and website. Check elevateatlart.com for details.  Below is the music lineup.

This year’s ELEVATE Art Festival examines arts and culture through the lens of our changed reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, economic recession, and a divisive political climate. Dance performances being presented are dazzling, dreamlike, and defiant. They provide insight into issues that we, and our communities, are dealing with including inequity, food insecurity, and isolation, but also seek to inspire hope, resilience, and activism as we move forward. Join this year’s virtual programming from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10.

​Tyler Perry accepts the Governors Award at Emmys 2020.
​Watch highlights from 'The 72nd Emmy Awards' streaming on ABC and Hulu.

NEWS SOURCE:  Hatchett PR

​The City of Atlanta - Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will bring its annual ELEVATE public art festival to Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood from Sunday, October 4 to Saturday, October 10, 2020. This year’s festival events will be virtual. 

​• Musical performances by Kebbi Williams and The Wolf Pack, The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, Gritz and Jelly Butter, Tony Hightower, and Julie Dexter. 
​• Mural installations honoring civil rights leader Reverend James Orange and Black women activists from the West End community. 
• An online and in person voter registration event at the West End MARTA station. 
• A conversation with New York Times best-selling authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones, who frequently feature Atlanta’s West End community in their work.  
• The opening of Hammonds House Museum’s exhibition Elements of A Revolution. 
• A conversation between the executive directors of Atlanta Contemporary and Les Abattoirs/Toulouse to discuss challenges of promoting art during COVID-19, issues of gender equality and racism in their field. Since 1974 Atlanta and Toulouse have been Sister Cities. 
• A screening of the stirring new documentary, “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” an intimate account of the legendary U.S. Representative’s life, legacy, and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism. 
• An Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance of Lazarus created by acclaimed hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris. The ballet connects the past and the present in a powerful work that addresses racial inequities America faced when Mr. Ailey founded his dance company in 1958 and still faces today.
• Renowned artist Carrie Mae Weems, in collaboration with SCAD, will launch RESIST COVID/TAKE 6, a public art initiative raising critical heath awareness about COVID-19 and the ways racial inequities have manifested in the pandemic. 

By now, we're sure you've heard that Tyler Perry was named Hollywood's latest billionaire!

However, did you know that his latest series on BET+ called BRUH is coming back on September 10th?

​The cast of TYLER PERRY’S BRUH includes Barry Brewer as Jonathan “John” Watts, Mahdi Cocci as Tom Brooks, Phillip Mullings Jr as Mike Alexander and Monti Washington as Bill Frazier. 

Here's a piece of information you may not know....Our good friend, Chandra Currelley, stars as Alice in Tyler Perry's Bruh.

We have known Chandra Currelley for many years.  She is a huge supporter of When We Speak TV and this is not her first time working with Tyler Perry.  She's being in several of his productions like Madea's Class Reunion, Madea's Big Happy Family, and For Better Or Worse, just to name a few!!

When We Speak TV would like to take a moment to acknowledge that super strong and powerful woman named Syleena Johnson! 

Syleena Johnson Sings Her Song Freelance Lover During Album Release Party

When We Speak TV celebrates with Syleena Johnson in Atlanta for the release of her album Woman

Grammy nominated guitarist, Rod Harris Jr shares with When We Speak TV the joy of being a musician.  Rod has performed and recorded with countless artists and singers spanning multiple genres such as J. Holiday, Musiq Soulchild, Jagged Edge, Donell Jones, Lloyd, Syleena Johnson, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Monica, Jennifer Holliday, Dionne Farris, and many others.

​We had so much fun speaking with Rhonda Ross and she was super cool and down to earth!  We feel so blessed for this opportunity and hope that this interview inspires you!!!! 

​Here, in his first interview since finishing Star Wars and that unguarded address from a Hyde Park stage, John Boyega explains how both platforms inspired him to make a stand, but for very different reasons.  Click below to read more:

Many 2020 events have been either cancelled, rescheduled, or going virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic.....added to that list is the Riverfront Jazz Festival in Dallas, Texas.

The Riverfront Jazz Festival founded by Curtis King, President of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, is a multistage musical festival, that promotes, cultivates, and spotlights renowned musical artists from around the world as well as promising young artists from the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

​The perfect online platform for exhibitors around the world to meet, showcase their products and services, and connect with the largest minority-owned hair care customer base in the world. 

​The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) President and CEO H. Beecher Hicks III and Mayor David Briley signed lease that officially gives the museum control over the space the museum will occupy at Fifth and Broadway.

​​The 51st Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race will be held across the country and around the world as the race moves to a completely virtual event in 2020.

During her album release party, R&B singer, Syleena Johnson, utilizes lyrics from her song Woman, to explain how women can become stronger in America.

KEYWORDS
syleena johnson- syleena johnson woman album - strong woman - strong black woman - syleena johnson music - syleena johnson woman songs - when we speak tv

​We had so much fun speaking with Rhonda Ross and she was super cool and down to earth!  We feel so blessed for this opportunity and hope that this interview inspires you!!!! 

"I want this music to touch and soothe the soul of my fans during this difficult time in all of our lives," shares Tweet.

​If you live in the Atlanta area and you have not been to Nana's Chicken N Waffles, you are missing out on some seriously good food.  We got a chance to speak with owner, Kelli Ferrell. 

​Jermaine Sain, shares his childhood memory of calling the radio station and requesting "My Liberty", recorded in 1982, by Southeast Inspirational Choir with Yolanda Adams on lead vocals.  

Mike E Winfield has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, NBC's The Office, Nexflix Special Brad Paisley's Comedy Rodeo, The Straight Out Report on Logo TV, Fuse TV's Off Beat, Acting Out on MTV, and more!!!
During an interview with When We Speak TV, Mike discusses the power of words and recalls a time that lesbian lady swung on him during his stage performance. 

​Mike E Winfield Website
Mike E Winfield on Instagram
Mike E Winfield on Facebook
Mike E Winfield on Youtube
Mike E Winfield on Twitter

Actor Brad James (Tyler Perry's For Better Or Worse) joins Jermaine Sain (When We Speak TV) and Maureen Guest (Mbodyment Underground Radio) on the red carpet at the ATL Actors Awards, honoring actors, producers, and film industry personnel. 

​When We Speak TV was very familiar with Terrell Carter's career as a singer and his appearance in several Tyler Perry productions, but we had no idea that there was a more surprising personal life story. 

​Actor, Jermel Howard, speaks about growing in foster care, acting, auditions, and how acting changed his life.  Jermel Howard has acted in such shows and films as, Power, Luke Cage, Orange Is The New Black, and All Eyez On Me.