​Lifetime's highly anticipated gospel biopic Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, will premiere Saturday, April 3 at 8:00pm ET/PT. An impressive list of Broadway stars including Tony® nominee Joaquina Kalukango (Slave Play), Jason Dirden (Fences), Olivia Washington(The Butler) and Rob Demery (Lovecraft Country) join the film which is directed by Tony® Award-winner Kenny Leon and stars Tony Award nominee, SAG and Grammy® Award winning actress Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black) as the gospel legend and civil rights trailblazer.

​In the movie, Dirden stars as Russell Roberts, the dashing, music-loving Reverend who falls for Mahalia when they first meet in the late 1940s while Kalukango takes on the role of Mildred, Mahalia’s talented and opinionated, long-time pianist. Washington portrays Estelle, a piano teacher Mahalia meets at church who goes on to become her life-long friend and Demery stars as the influential civil rights leader.
 
Born in New Orleans, Mahalia Jackson began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, melding her music with the civil rights movement. Her recording of the song “Move on Up a Little Higher” sold millions of copies, skyrocketing her to international fame and gave her the opportunity to perform at diverse settings including in front of a racially integrated audience at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and at John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball. An active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, Jackson sang at numerous rallies, including the March on Washington in 1963 alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in hopes that her music would encourage and inspire racial equality.  

​From Rock’n Robin Productions and Lincoln Square Productions, Mahalia is executive produced by Robin Roberts and Linda Berman. Danielle Brooks and Kenny Leon are co-executive producers. Leon directs from a script written by Bettina Gilois and Todd Kreidler.

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Its being reported that actor/producer, Tyler Perry, has donated $100,000 to the legal defense fund of Kenneth Walker (the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead in her apartment in March by Louisville police).

A GoFundMe page was created on Nov. 10 to raise money for the upcoming legal battle, with a goal set at $100,000. Perry helped Walker to surpass it with his donations on Sunday, which came in waves – first $10,000, then another $10,000, followed by $50,000 and $30,000, according to Variety.

2020 has definitely brought with it some financial stresses that we did not anticipate.  Many people are struggling financially, particularly some of our friends in the arts.   

Americans for the Arts
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource and Response Center 
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Arts Education Partnership
COVID-19 Resources  
Status of Arts Education Provisions in State Reopening Plans
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National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Coronavirus Resources
State Arts Agencies & Regional Arts Organizations Contacts
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For Freelance Artists
COVID-19 & Freelance Artists
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AIGA
Community Resource Hub

Alliance of Artists Communities
Blog post on COVID-19 Preparedness for Residencies

Alternate ROOTS
COVID-19 Resource Page

American Alliance of Museums
Information for the Museum Field

American Association of Community Theatre
COVID-19 Response
Resource Roster

American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association
Survey on Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Country Tourism

Art House Convergence
list of resources for art house cinemas and theaters

Artist Relief
Funds for Artists

A.R.T./New York
Resources for Responding to COVID-19 in New York City

Arts Extension Service - UMass Amherst
AES Resource list during COVID-19

ArtsReady
Information During the Impact of the Coronavirus

Artwork Archive
Financial Relief Resources for Artists During COVID-19

Association of Art Museum Directors
Museums and COVID-19

Association of Performing Arts Professionals
Emergency Reposnse Page

Backstage
COVID-19 Resources for Actors, Creators + Performing Artists

Billboard
Coronavirus Resources

Chamber of Commerce
Coronavirus Small Business Issues and Solutions Guide

Center for Cultural Innovation
COVID-19 Resources

CERF+
The Artist’s Safety Net

Chamber Music America
COVID-19 Resources for the Chamber Music Community

Chorus America
Blog Post
On June Conference & Other Registrations

Common Field
COVID-19 Resources for the Artist Organization Field

Creative Capital
Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak

CultureSource
COVID-19 Response Resources

Dance/USA
Resources for Preparing for the Potential Impact of the Coronavirus
Coronavirus and Your Insurance Program
Dance/NYC Coronavirus Dance Relief Fund

Documentary Producers Alliance
COVID-19 Resources

Drama League
COVID-19 Resource List

Dramatists Guild
COVID-19 Resources

Early Music America
COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations

Film Festival Alliance
COVID-19 Pivoting & Planning Calls for Festivals

Grantmakers in the Arts
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Arts Funding

International Association of Blacks in Dance
IABD Emergency Fund

International Documentary Association
Applying for Federal Coronavirus Relief as a Filmmaker

Kickstarter
COVID Artist Resources and Funds

Lawyers for Good Government
Nationwide Small Business Legal Clinic Project

League of American Orchestras
Coroavirus resource page
Webinar: Your Orchestra and COVID-19 Federal Relief (4/1: 1:00pm to 2:30pm EST)

Lifetime Arts
Supporting Creative Aging Programming during COVID-19 Crisis

Mayors’ Institute on City Design
Resources for cities responding to the COVID-19 crisis

MusicCares®
MusicCares COVID-19 Relief Fund

MusicCovidRelief.com
Benefits made available by the CARES Act

NALAC | National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures
Arts Resources & Field Survey

National Alliance for Musical Theatre
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National Art Education Association (NAEA)
Tools for distance learning/preparing for the 2020-21 school year

National Association for Music Education
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National Black Arts
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Apply to Artist Project Fund

National Performance Network
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NDN Collective
COVID-19 grant opportunities for Indigenous organizations and artists

New York Foundation for the Arts
Emergency Resources - includes national level resources

OPERA America
COVID-19 Resource Hub

Poets & Writers
Resources for Writers in the Time of Coronavirus

State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education
Arts Instructional Resources

Sundance Institute
Curated COVID Resources & Emergency Funds

Theater Communications Group
COVID-19: Prepare, Mitigate, Recover

The Recovery Village
Resources for Substance Abuse Treatment During Coronavirus

TYA/USA
TYA Response to COVID-19

University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine
Arts & COVID-19 Response

Western Governors’ Association
Coping with the Realities of COVID-19

WomenArts
Emergency Funds - All Art Forms ​

KEYWORDS
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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.

When We Speak TV has spoken with many entrepreneurs and business owners over the years.  Recently we spoke with our friend, Barry Adams, President of Peachtree Awnings in Norcross, GA.  During the conversation, we asked Barry about the best business advise he's ever been given.  Check out his response.

For the full length version of this interview, go to:  What Do YOU Speak: Barry Adams, owner of Peachtree Awnings

​In response to the immense toll of the combined forces of COVID-19, recent racial unrest, and the intense economic instability currently facing many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, Burnaway will award ten grants of $500 ($5,000 total) to Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color in the South. You can contribute to this fund here.

BIPOC artists living and working in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia are eligible to apply for this grant. While all BIPOC artists in our coverage region are invited to apply, special consideration will be given to Black and Indigenous artists.

Applications are due by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday, July 12. Grantees will be notified by Wednesday, July 15.

Can you find Jermaine Sain singing in this video?
Happy Birthday (Gospel Style)

Few bands arouse a crowd into a collective shake like Flow Tribe. The six-member band’s onstage chemistry reflects a seamless combination of soul and movement that hits the audience within the first few notes. Virgin listeners and avid fans alike are drawn in by the distinctive sound that feels both familiar and original. Outfitted for each performance in colorful, carefully selected suits, it’s clear their focus is sharp and the party has begun. This is the work of professional musicians who’ve found their passion, and are living a dream where everyone’s welcome.

Second line brass and Cuban-Caribbean rhythms meld with R&B, soul, rock, and hip-hop beats in high-energy performances that turn every show into a celebration. New Orleans is influence itself, the unparalleled free and easy city weaving its way into track after track of original scores that make up a single definition of sound, which Flow Tribe has dubbed “backbone-cracking music.”

K.C. O’Rorke (vocals, trumpet), John-Michael Early (harmonica, washboard, vocals, keyboard), Russell Olschner (drums), Chad Penot (bass, vocals), Bryan Santos (guitar, timbales), and Mario Palmisano (guitar) are native New Orleanians and high school pals who’ve been writing music and playing live shows since the band’s inception in 2004. 

​Post graduation, they went their separate ways, but after Katrina, each returned to their hometown, inherently becoming active members in the rebuilding of a community that’s stronger than ever. Flow Tribe may well be the city’s next music ambassadors.

With two full-length albums and several EPs under their belt, the crew is currently building Downman Sounds, a studio in New Orleans East where they expect to cut their next record. The Tribe can be found crisscrossing the US just about every week of the year, from Key West to California, including regular performances at the notable New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest and Voodoo Fest. Look for their next project to be released in early ‘17, a full length album entitled “BOSS” produced by New Orleans’s own Mannie Fresh.