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Stellar Sunday
a fresh uplifting half hour series featuring the biggest stars in gospel music reflecting on their songs, motivations, and aspirations, including contemporary, urban, hip-hop and traditional gospel music artist. -
Black Music Honors
A two-hour event that acknowledge's legendary African American artists who have made significant musical contributions to African American culture and American music worldwide.
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Christopher Gude
Christopher Gude, is an Area Vice President for the Western Market Area. After working two summers as a college intern and State Farm agent team member, Christopher began his State Farm career in and consistently moved up the corporate ranks. He was appointed vice-President agency/sales in the Eastern Market Area in 2012 and assumed his current role in 2017. Christopher served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Maryland Industry Automobile Insurance Association (MIAIA) and on the Board of Trustees for the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund (Maryland Auto). Christopher and his wife, Sandy, are the proud parents of three children: Myles, Max and Jadyn.
Kamau Murray
Kamau Murray is the founder of the XS Tennis and Education Foundation. Kamau participated in Chicago Park District tennis programs as a child and subsequently was awarded a tennis scholarship to Florida A&M University where he received a full scholarship earning his BA and MBA. Kamau Murray began offering tennis coaching to 5 children in 2004. As the need for a program of its type became increasingly evident, XS Tennis was founded in 2008. Murray’s initial five students have gone on to win national championships, IHSA state championships, two Junior Olympic Gold medals. From 2008 -2017, 100% of graduating seniors have received college tennis scholarships to prestigious universities. As a child Kamau dreamed of going to the US Open. Although he never got that chance, for the past 6 years Kamau has given 100 children the opportunity of a lifetime. In an unlikely sequence of events, Kamau’s community work and reputation for transforming tough, inner city kids into college tennis players caught the eye of WTA touring professional Sloane Stephens. In 2017 40 inner city youth not only got a chance to attend the US Open, they got a chance to witness Kamau coaching Sloane Stephens to her historic 2017 US Open title, and see their south side coach become only the 3rd African-American coach to win a grand slam in its 95 year history. In 2014 Kamau walked into city hall with an “idea” to build a world class tennis facility on the south side and take tennis out of the country clubs, and into the community. Well in a year where 3 of the 4 US Open Semi Finalists were African-American, it is proving to be more than just an “idea”. The new $15MM XS Tennis Village is only the 3rd facility to ever be built in a low income census track area.
Korey “XROSS” Dean Sr.
Korey “XROSS” Dean Sr. is the founder & Executive Director of The Man Up Club, a 501c3 non - profit mentor leadership organization for African American males ages 12-24. Korey Dean, Sr. earned his Bachelor of Science with a dual degree in Sociology and Youth Studies from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities.) He continued his professional development for 15 additional months thereafter as a graduate of the Devos Urban Leadership Institute. As the visionary of The Man Up Club, the organization mentors young men in four areas: Life Skills, Social Skills, Academic Discipline, and Civic Responsibility. The three primary goals of The Man Up Club are to guide young men in completing a high school diploma, keep them out of the prison pipeline, and help them enroll in college or a career-specific trade school. The Man Up Club has several community chapters in the Twin Cites metro area including middle and high school chapters and several national supporters and partners. Dean aka XROSS (pronounced cross) is also a Grammy Nominated Pioneer of Christian Hip Hop. He is also CEO of 1 Way Entertainment, a Christian hip hop record label and production company that produces positive and inspirational urban content via music, video, and film. He is Founder and Producer of Godflow, which is the largest National Urban Youth Hip Hop Outreach Open Air Festival along with Sang Choir Gospel Fest, the largest traditional gospel event in Minnesota. He is a national motivational speaker and has served with Hall of Fame Coach Tony Dungy’s All Pro Dads and Prison outreach. Korey “XROSS” Dean Sr. has been married to Mariaha Dean for 21 years and is the father of 5 children, all of which work along side of him in some capacity to build his dream known as Urban Ministry Enterprise, to transform and redefine urban culture for the good.
King is the proudest.
Mr. Charles Geter
Mr. Charles Geter, Brigade Recruiting Officer, MAJ, US Army (Retired) was a recruiting Operations Specialist for 4th Brigade ROTC (SC to DE and WV) since 2004; he has managed efforts to market to, identify, and recruit young people to become commissioned Officers in the United States Army (Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard). He has supported several Infinite Scholar Program (ISP) events helping to develop and pilot program to offer onsite Army ROTC scholarship opportunity to financially-disadvantaged students and students of diversity in high school. A graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and commissioned into the Army; he has also served the USt Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. He retired in 2018 after over 32 years of military affiliation and service. He prioritizes Faith, Family and Service; has worked with the Country Club Church of Christ for 26+ years as a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Coordinator, Choral Director, Fellowship, and Evangelism Ministry Leader. He currently serves as Education Ministry Leader guiding all spiritual and biblical education efforts within the congregation.
Dr. Ian Smith
Dr. Ian Smith is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books, SHRED: THE REVOLUTIONARY DIET, SUPER SHRED: The Big Results Diet, BLAST THE SUGAR OUT, The Clean 20, THE ANCIENT NINE, CLEAN & LEAN and eleven other books with millions of copies in print. His newest book—THE UNSPOKEN, is the first installment of his Ashe Cayne mystery series. He is currently the solo host of the nationally syndicated, Emmy award-winning television show THE DOCTORS. He is the creator and founder of the national health initiatives the 50 Million Pound Challenge and The Makeover Mile. He is also very active in charitable causes. Dr. Smith has also served on the boards of the American Council on Exercise, the New York Mission Society, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, The New York Council for the Humanities, and The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity.
Justin Kimpson
Justin Kimpson is national program manager of Ford Motor Company Fund’s Men of Courage program that has advanced positive narratives of Black men through grassroots initiatives in communities throughout the United States. He brings to his current position more than 15 years of diverse experience in the fields of philanthropy, education and workforce development. Justin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Morehouse College and a Masters of Education from Marygrove College. An active community member, Justin has participated in a host of volunteer and mentorship roles. He has served as an executive board member for Detroit Young Professionals, an organization dedicated to the development of the next generation of metro Detroit leaders. He is currently serving as a board member for Black Family Development.
Jalen Rose
Current ABC/ESPN analyst and former 13-year NBA star, Jalen Rose continues to show his versatility in the broadcast booth, in the entertainment world and as a philanthropist. Jalen’s most substantial outreach initiative to date is the establishment of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (JRLA). The Academy is an open enrollment, tuition free, public charter high school on the Northwest side of Detroit. The Academy currently serves over 400 ninth through twelfth grade students. The mission is to empower all scholars to develop the strength of character, skills, and knowledge needed to matriculate into, be great in, and graduate from college so that they have opportunities to be successful in the competitive world.
Hill Harper
Hill Harper is a humanitarian, an award-winning actor, best-selling author, entrepreneur, health and wellness ambassador/educator and philanthropist. Harper is perhaps most recognizable for his starring role in the CBS hit television drama CSI: NY where he played eccentric Dr. Sheldon Hawkes from 2004 to 2013 for which Harper won three NAACP Image Awards for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Marc H. Morial
Marc H. Morial is President and CEO of the National Urban League, the nation's largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization. In a distinguished professional career that has spanned 25 years, Marc Morial is one of the most accomplished servant-leaders in the nation.
Lamman Rucker
Lamman Rucker is an Actor, Educator, Activist and Entrepreneur who’s career platform has been used to influence, educate and ignite communities through artistic and academic innovation. He currently stars in OWN’s original scripted drama series, Greenleaf. He will also be starring in upcoming feature films This Love Wins and Albert & Paul.
Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley
Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley is the exciting, gifted and anointed senior pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church (ASBC) in Alexandria, VA. A courageous, dynamic, and visionary leader, he is only the eighth pastor in the church’s 217-year history of worshipping Christ while serving humankind.
Percy "Master P' Miller
Founded by the consummate philanthropist and former NBA coach and player Robert Pack in 2016, Team HOPE NOLA selects 20 at-risk male students whom they mentor and equip with the life skills necessary for success. The acronym for H.O.P.E. is Helping Our Players Excel, but that hardly does the foundation justice. Through the foundation, the young people are provided with access to resources including job training and scholarships opportunities. In addition, Master P and Pack make conscious efforts to keep them involved in enriching extra-curricular activities that build on the concept of young Black men working together as a team to create better futures for themselves, their communities and their families. Master P has even made the organization a family effort, getting his children involved with helping to give back to the community that raised him.
LaVar Ball
LaVar Christopher Ball, who is an American Businessman and former professional football player of the NFL. He is also the father of three basketball players, a professional trainer, a presenter for the docu-series aired on Facebook’s Watch called “Ball in the Family.” For a short time he established the Junior Basketball Association for high school students. He co-founded his Big Baller Brand in 2016 to design, manufacture, and sell clothing and shoes. It has most notably produced signature shoes for the Ball brothers—basketball players Lonzo Ball, LaMelo Ball, and LiAngelo Ball.
Dwayne Bryant
Dwayne Bryant is CEO of Inner Vision International, Inc. For over 22 years, Inner Vision International, Inc. (IVI) has empowered individuals from 3rd – 12th grade, college/universities and Corporate America to recognize their value as societal contributors and global citizens. Various curriculum has been developed under IVI, including: The Vision® curricula, a S.E.L. series for youth in grades 3rd -12th and The STOP™- Improving Police and Community Relations: book, workbook, drivers education manual and The STOP Challenge. IVI developed a powerful evidence-based Social Emotional Learning curriculum series that will serve as a national model to transform the life trajectory of urban youth. Through these curricula, youth cultivate student leadership skills by gaining essential education in the areas of Character Development, Social Emotional Learning and Life Management Skills.
Willie Moore Jr.
As a nationally syndicated Radio host, Speaker, and best-selling Author, Willie Moore Jr. has proven that innate charisma, abundant creativity, and a passion for empowerment can translate in the faith-based community and the general market. Outside of his entertainment career, Willie Moore Jr. is an advocate for adoption and foster care. As the President of the WILFLO Foundation Inc. (named after his forever family Willie and Flora Moore,) Willie brings awareness to the adoption and foster care system through school programs, scholarships for foster children, faith based multi-media films and television shows and his signature event “THE DAY OF THE A (Adoption)" Each year thousands of African American families sign up to be foster parents and/or adoptive parents through these efforts.
Ms Opal Lee
For over 40 years, Mrs. Opal Lee, along with the help of many others, has strived every year to keep and expand the celebration of our “Day of Freedom” June 19, 1865 (Juneteenth) when slaves in Texas found out they were free. Her vision for Juneteenth has grown from a single day community picnic at Sycamore Park to a multi-day celebration in downtown Fort Worth that includes a parade, breakfast of prayer, honors banquet, Miss Juneteenth Pageant, Health & Job Fair, 5K Run, Art Exhibit, Golf Tournament, Gospel Festival, food vendors, children’s play area and much, much more. She is part of the NJOF a national movement started by the late Dr. Ronald Myers to have Juneteenth declared a National Holiday much like Flag Day or Presidents Day. There are 47 states that recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. in 2016 at age 90, she started a walking campaign all across the nation to bring attention and awareness to the need for a National Day of Observance for Juneteenth. Since she knows she won’t be around forever, she is grooming enthusiastic young people to pass the torch to when the time comes.
Rear Admiral Keith Jones
Rear Adm. Keith Jones is the first-ever Supply Corps reserve officer to receive the Vice Adm. Robert F. Batchelder Award for excellence in operational logistics support. He is a qualified Expeditionary Supply Corps officer and Seabee combat warfare officer. Jones is currently assigned as deputy director, Logistics, Fleet Supply and Ordnance, U.S. Pacific Fleet with additional oversight of reserve logistics teams supporting U.S. 7th Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet, and Logistics Western Pacific/Task Force 73. His previous flag assignments were deputy commander, Naval Supply Systems Command; commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group; and reserve director, logistics programs and business operations, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N41). He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and a Master of Business Administration in Management from California State University Bakersfield.
