This time it about singer/actor Quan Howell.  For those that don't know, Quan has been a guest on When We Speak TV, years ago....and someone that we definitely consider as family.
Most of you may know the song that he lead with Sounds of Blackness......."Hold On, Change is Coming".  He was also in some of Tyler Perry's early plays like, Madea's Family Reunion.

Anyway, we recently saw on Quan's social media that he is in the new movie, For The Love Of Money, directed by Melvin Childs.  For The Love of Money is based in Atlanta but being filmed in Oklahoma City.  

We don't know much about the movie right now but we know that it stars some big names. It features Katt Williams and Keri Hilson as the leads, as well as, D.C. Young Fly, LisaRaye McCoy, Keith Sweat, Rotimi, Lyfe Jennings, and Jason Mitchell.

​The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) powered by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, announced today the partnership with iN-Hale Entertainment and All Tea No, Shade Productions in support of the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7, 2021 with the theme of “Stigma Gotta Go.”
​“Stigma and shame are 2 parallel social ills that continue to fester in communities of color all across this country and play a role in the increasing number of new HIV diagnosis among Black Americans” stated Imara Canady, Chair, Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC). “It is our hope that through sharing this powerful production that we continue the critical work that BLACC has been doing for close to a decade in breaking down the mis-conceptions, lack of awareness and ignorance around a myriad of issues that feed into stigma, and further divide us as a community. We truly build community by each of us showing up fully as who we are, and each of us respecting the diversity that exists within our community.” According to the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC), African Americans make up close to 14% of the U.S. population, but close to 50% of new HIV diagnosis.
 
The partnership presents the filmed dramatic reading and special virtual event on Monday, February 8 AT 5:00PM PST / 8:00PM EST of George Matthew Johnson’s Amazon Best-Book of the Year 2020 and critically-acclaimed novel, All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto, recently optioned by Gabrielle Union and Sony TV for television. The short film, which is directed, adapted and produced by Nathan Hale Williams is a filmed dramatic reading of three chapters of the book performed by Jenifer Lewis (“Black-ish”), Dyllón Burnside (“Pose”), Bernard David Jones (“The Mayor”) and Thomas Hobson (“Sherman’s Showcase”). The three-part virtual event will feature live performances, a virtual art installation curated by African American contemporary art dealer/curator, Rodney LoveJones and music featuring Black artists. The evening will conclude with a roundtable discussion moderated by Tai Beauchamp with the goal of moving out the fear that creates stigma and replace it with love through the event while also having a sobering discussion that needs to be had.  
 
For more information on the virtual event, please CLICK HERE .

​All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto is the bestselling and award-winning debut book by George Matthew Johnson - an award winning non-binary writer, author and activist living in New York City. Johnson's memoir-manifesto, explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, “Nanny” (played by Lewis), to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys. Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing appeals directly to young adults. The book was selected as one of 2020’s best by Kirkus, Amazon and Goodreads. Johnson identified as he/him when the book was written.  

BET pays tribute to those that continue to stand up, speak out, create, and lead the culture through sports, politics, music, film, TV, social media, business, advocacy, and activism....and they call it The BET 100 of 2020.

Some of the top innovators on the list include:

Click Below To View Each List:

Jermel Howard is a passionate major network Actor, Author, and writer. His guest-star/co-star appearances have been on award-winning Television shows and films to include:

• Law & Order
• NYC 22
• Golden Boy
• Major Crimes
• Netflix hit series Orange Is The New Black
• Person of Interest
• Marvel's Luke Cage
• Starz Power Season 4
• Trap Queen
• All Eyez On Me
• Roxanne, Roxanne
• The First Purge
• Lifetime's Salt N Pepa biopic

Singer/Actor Terrell Carter is hitting us with a triple announcement!!!!
First, he announced the release of Kiss Me For Christmas on BET+, then he hit us up with the news that he is in the UMC Original series A House Divided: Season 3, and now he has new single that will be available on December 28th called HERO

Not only was Terrell Carter in the hit show, Empire and the Christmas movie, Kiss Me For Christmas, but Terrell is also on A House Divided Season 3.

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 
​
Arts Education Partnership
COVID-19 Resources  
Status of Arts Education Provisions in State Reopening Plans
​
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Coronavirus Resources
State Arts Agencies & Regional Arts Organizations Contacts
​
For Freelance Artists
COVID-19 & Freelance Artists
​
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
COVID-19 Resources

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

National Association for Music Education
NAfME COVID-19 Resources & News

National Black Arts
Donate to the Artist Fund
Apply to Artist Project Fund

National Performance Network
Statement and Resources

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
covid-19 resources - resources for artists - film festival alliance - covid 19 resources for arts organizations  - cares act - resources for musicians - filmmakers - resource hub for artists - resource hub for creators - Jermaine Sain - When We Speak TV - covid support for artists - artist relief grants -  help for artists - covid grants for artists​

Tyler Perry Studios hosted its #TPSGiving food giveaway drive-up event where volunteers in protective equipment were handing out the non-perishable food items and gift cards to people in need. ​

In recognition of World AIDS Day, December 1, Atlanta-based, Horizon Theatre, the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the world’s largest provider of HIV/AIDS services, bring to the virtual stage Love, M., a powerful story about mothers, sons, and AIDS activists during the early days of the AIDS Crisis.
​The free virtual premiere will star actor and activist Lamman Rucker from the television series Greenleaf and actor and Broadway icon Terry Burrell.
​The live virtual premiere on Tuesday, December 1, will begin at 7 PM (EST).  

​The evening will include a pre-show welcome, the play, and, in partnership with rolling out Health IQ, a post-show conversation, moderated by award-winning journalist Patrick L. Riley with guests, Lamman Rucker, Gabriel Maldonado, CEO of TruEvolution and former Obama appointee to the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, mental health professional Dr. Shalondra K. Crawford and George M. Johnson, journalist and author of All Boys Aren’t Born Blue. Audiences can go to the Love, M. show page HERE to join the evening’s festivities via Horizon Theatre’s website, Facebook, and YouTube channel. After the premiere, the production will be available on demand through December 31. 

KEYWORDS
Horizon Theatre - Lamman Rucker - World Aids Day - Patrick L. Riley - Atlanta actors - TruEvolution - All Boy's Aren't Born Blue - Dr. Shalondra K. Crawford - television series Greenleaf - Terry Burrell - Horizon Theatre Company - Jermaine Sain- When We Speak TV - AIDS - HIV - Love, M - powerful stories about mothers - Gabriel Maldonado  

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.