Together We Sing 2024 will pay tribute to the beloved Christian and Gospel recording artist Mandisa and feature performances by multi-platinum Stellar Award-winning legend Marvin Sapp, 2024 American Idol contestant Odell Bunton, Jr., Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and more.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and Project Unity today announce Together We Sing, the annual musical and special event fundraiser benefiting Project Unity’s signature community programs. In its fourth year, this incredible evening of inspiring gospel and classical music will inspire unity with multi-faith musical collaborations. Tickets for the performance start at $49 and are available now at dallassymphony.org or projectunity.net.
The annual Together We Awards will return with a special award presentation to United States Senator Reverend Raphael G. Warnock, for his work to unify multi-faith leaders across our nation to leverage the power of love and empathy for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Project Unity developed this honor to recognize champions who are working tirelessly to create new paths to confront and dismantle racism. Honorees will be celebrated during the Together We Awards reception at 6 p.m. and presented during the concert.
The soul-stirring performance will begin at 7 p.m., featuring multi-platinum Stellar Award-winning gospel recording artist Marvin Sapp; 2024 American Idol contestant Odell Bunton, Jr.; a special tribute to Christian and gospel sweetheart Mandisa, who recently passed away; a multi-faith musical moment; a special performance by the world-renowned Dallas Black Dance Theatre to music composed by DSO’s Vice President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact, Glyne A. Griffith II and Melvin Wellington Lightford; Hollywood-famed orchestrator and conductor Leon Lacey; the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; and the show-stopping 200-voice Unity Choir comprised of choruses from more than 20 religious and faith organizations.
Project Unity is pleased to announce its title sponsors and co-chairs from the Dallas business and philanthropy community for this year’s signature fundraiser, including:
Cheryl Alston, Dallas Employees’ Retirement Fund
Marena Gault, Dallas Symphony Association Board of Governors
Peter Gault, Dallas Symphony Association Executive Board
Carol Glendenning, Member, Clark Hill
Don Glendenning, Partner, Locke Lord
Tracey Nash-Huntley, Community Leader
David S. Huntley, Retired, SEVP and Chief Compliance Officer, ATT
Jill Scovell, Woodbine Development Corporation
Dupree Scovell, Woodbine Development Corporation
Title sponsors for the event include Communities Foundation of Texas, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Project Unity. Additional sponsors are listed here.
Together We Sing will benefit Dallas-based non-profit Project Unity, a collaborative effort of programming and events hosted in partnership with segments of the Dallas community including faith, business, civic, philanthropic, grassroots and government entities. Project Unity and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra have collaborated in multiple events, including Gospel Goes Classical in 2019, Together We Sing in 2023 and a Unity Concert presented at the Meyerson Symphony Center in 2020 that honored those who lost their lives to racial violence and injustice.
“We are very excited for our ongoing partnership with the DSO and to have the opportunity to bring performers and audience members of all backgrounds together to promote unity,” said Richie Butler, founder of Project Unity. “I can’t think of a better way to move forward in our mission of togetherness than through music.”
The partnership between Project Unity and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra blends community and music,” said Debi Pena, chief administrative officer of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. “We extend an invitation to everyone in Dallas to join us to witness the transformative force of music in fostering unity.”
Indomitable, Undeterred and more focused than ever!
At 94, Ms. Opal Lee was still giving it all she’s had to keep the pressure on and the awareness high that Juneteenth should be recognized as a federal holiday. Earlier this year, she ramped up her efforts once again with a plea for 3 Million signatures before the end of February, observed as Black History Month. The passing of Juneteenth as the 12th federal holiday, proved “it’s not just one little old lady in tennis shoes who wants this.” It’s time to celebrate friends, we made this happen, for Ms. Opal and for the culture! Ms. Lee will join President Biden and Vice-President Harris today as they sign the bill into law.
Last year, many blacks opted out of the annual 4th of July cookout and kickback to celebrate Juneteenth. We have to make this happen and get legislation happening under the Biden/ Harris administration to prove to the United States and the watching world just how dedicated they are to impacting social change by recognizing and making Juneteenth a national holiday. What began as a walk from Fort Worth to DC became a formal petition and is now the law of the land! Happy Juneteenth, everyone.
The addition of Juneteenth as the 12th federal holiday is bittersweet. It comes on the heels of many states banning the conversation of Critical Race Theory. How can you celebrate a holiday and ban the conversation of its causes and effects? This problematic juxtaposition makes the announcement of Juneteenth as a federal holiday more of a placation than an achievement. America has plenty of work to do but rightfully so, we pause today to honor this singular bright spot and celebrate the hard work of Ms. Opal Lee and those who supported her cause. This was not achieved alone, but only Ms. Opal Lee took the drastic steps of drawing attention not to her, but to her cause.
Nobody’s free until everybody’s free! -Fanny Lou Hamer
With the passage of voting laws that restrict voting access and privileges, the country seems to be experiencing a civil rights regression. Considering the passage of Juneteenth as a federal law, Americans have a glimmer of hope that the Biden/Harris administration may take states to task on this. As we celebrate the federal recognition of Juneteenth, we also celebrate the hard work, tenacity and wherewithal of Ms. Opal Lee to tackle what for years seemed to be an insurmountable issue.
We survived snowmageddon. It was a regular winter storm but what we didn’t know is how unprepared our electricity grid was for it. Lights were out and to make matters worse, plumbing was affected and caused flooding to homes and businesses across the state of Texas. I wasn’t able to return to a full day of work until Wednesday of this week and I felt every piece of the delay. SoulProsper Radio couldn’t update shows, I couldn’t record the SMG Report which was supposed to be in video format and we were unsure if our power would remain on.
Once we were at a consistent point of power, I got to work. Because of our week, I was in no mood to record so I did what came natural. I started writing and after hours of editing, a lost edit (it completely disappeared) and a few hours of sleep, I’m pleased to present this edition of The SMG Report. Do I hope you like it? I just hope you read it! I’ve compiled many stories and included them in this edition exclusively. These stories would normally be on our website, but I’m putting them in this edition as I try out a new format and formula for what we do at SMG. Thanks for reading and as always, send your feedback to us at: news@soulprospermedia.com. I can’t wait to hear from you! —‘Fred
This month’s edition of The SMG Report features a cover story of ShaVonne Banks-Davis and features a portion of the interview exclusive with Bishop J. Drew Sheard. We would hate to keep you waiting, so dive in to this month’s edition and be sure to send your feedback to us at: news@soulprospermedia.com.
