Held annually on July 4, the Peachtree Road Race was postponed to Thanksgiving Day in hopes the COVID-19 pandemic would subside enough for large gatherings. When it became clear an in-person event would not be possible, race organizers Atlanta Track Club announced the race would be held virtually over the course of four days from November 26-29. Race packets began shipping via UPS and will be arriving at participant’s homes.

​Beckie Dominick’s appropriately and optimistically named “Keep On Keeping On” will grace the front of the shirts delivered to all participants of the Virtual Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. The shirts, which were printed for the traditional July 4 running of the race, were sent back to the printer to add a message on the back of the shirt that reads “Peachtree: An Atlanta Tradition 2020 Can’t Stop.” It marks the first time a printing appears on the back of the shirt since the 1986 Peachtree.
Dominick, a graphic designer from Gainesville, Georgia received the news over Zoom on Tuesday. “I think every time I see someone wearing the shirt, I’ll think ‘oh my gosh! I did that!” Dominick said. Dominick, who recently moved to Georgia from Florida is a first time entrant in the contest. She also plans to complete her first Peachtree on Thanksgiving weekend. Dominick will be awarded $1,000 for her winning design.

​That won’t stop 90-year-old Bill Thorn of Tyrone, Georgia. He’s the only person to complete every Peachtree. In honor of his streak, Thorn was the first participant to receive his shirt, hand delivered by Race Director Rich Kenah on Tuesday morning. “For y’all to even think about me under these circumstances, I just can’t get over it,” Thorn said.

When We Speak TV is so excited to share with you the great work of another guest on When We Speak TV!  Our friend, Speech Thomas' documentary, 16 Bars, is now available on Prime Video.

Inmates in Virginia attempt to transcend their cycles of addiction and incarceration through an unlikely artistic collaboration behind bars with Grammy-winning hip hop artist Todd Speech Thomas.

​The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) annual ELEVATE public art festival recently partnered with Facebook to install five new murals, which are a part of this year’s festival — presented digitally on the ELEVATE website, Facebook, and YouTube from October 4 to 10.

With 2020 marking a pivotal election year, Facebook launched the “Voting is Voice” campaign and set a goal to register 4 million new voters during the largest voter drive in U.S. history. Facebook’s partnership with the OCA and ELEVATE was a natural fit as the festival will explore the concept of social justice and equity through this year’s programming.

​For the “Voting is Voice” campaign, five artists from across the U.S. created original artwork commissions in response to the prompt “Voting is Voice.” Within this theme, each artist explored voting as a powerful tool of the personal and collective voice, the importance of a diversity of voices to a healthy society, the powerful impact of personal narratives as vehicles for change, and our collective responsibility to acknowledge and amplify a broad spectrum of voices. These five murals are a part of Facebook’s push to increase voter engagement and participation during this election year.

Each mural will feature the artist’s bio, Q.R. codes, and URLs that direct viewers to Facebook and Instagram’s Voting Information Center, where they can find more information on the 2020 U.S. election and a quick and easy way to register to vote.

In addition, the murals encourage public interaction through compelling, relevant design & digital features that create multiple levels of access for every member of the community.

​​WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ACTOR JERMEL HOWARD ON WHEN WE SPEAK TV

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.

The 74th annual Bronner Bros. Int’l Beauty Show (BB) returns with an all-new virtual format to provide salon pros the education and skills needed to adapt and evolve during COVID-19. The tech-powered platform is designed to meet the unique needs of barbers, stylists, and cosmetology students in the growing multicultural industry. Hosted on September 26th & 27th, the event will feature more than 60 master classes and 100 exhibitors from around the world. This is the nation’s first and largest virtual beauty show of its kind.
​To register, visit bronnerbros.com.

​As the impact of COVID-19 ripples through the multicultural beauty community, salon professionals, manufacturers and suppliers are facing unforeseen challenges. Due to the pandemic, BB cancelled the company’s in-person event for the first time in its history.

​The virtual Show’s agenda is dedicated to continuing education and celebrating the culture. Programming includes classes taught by some of the industry’s foremost artistic teams, global educators and business experts. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the virtual platform to sharpen their skills. 

​Other virtual Show highlights include:

• Digital Marketplace: Attendees can connect with exhibitors to preview and buy new products and services. Sponsors and partners include Allied Beauty Association (ABA) Canada, Andis, EAP Heat, and UPS, among others.
• Master classes:  Classes for barbers and stylists at all levels; Learn the latest techniques on cut, color, weaves, natural haircare, barbering and more.
• Business panels: Interactive discussions on topics such as safely re-opening your salon or barbershop, disaster proofing your business, and maintaining your health behind-the-chair.
• Competitions: Live streams featuring some of the industry’s top talent as they battle for cash and prizes on the virtual main stage.
• Charles Gregory Tribute:  Special presentation honoring beauty industry legend and icon, Charles Gregory. He was best known for revolutionizing the industry with his ready-to-wear cuts. For more than three decades, Mr. Gregory served as a master educator and judge for the BB Show and BB® Professional.

​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. 

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.