We Speak Events
Jazz In The Gardens: Film, Music, Art & Culture Conference Has Returned For Another Year
The 13th Annual Jazz in The Gardens presents FMAC: Film, Music, Art and Culture providing professional development and networking opportunities for those passionate about art and culture, to include artists, musicians, poets, filmmakers, artist management, community and economic development professionals, students, educators, and others working in the arts and cultural space.
This conference will change the way people view South Florida’s film, music and art scene by exposing them to some of the best artists across diverse genres and highlighting a wide array of homegrown talent. FMAC @ JITG is a multipurpose event that will educate, showcase and celebrate the diverse art forms and artists in and around South Florida.
FMAC is an action packed one-day conference of intimate discussions with prominent figures in the arts, covering a wide-range of topics by industry > Filmmakers will obtain insight into developing ideas, making films and finding distribution options > Musicians will be inspired by industry professionals who understand the ins and outs of music and how to help them connect with their audience > Artists will obtain insight on how to monetize their art and maximize their reach. > Leaders will explore how art can be used as a catalyst for social change and economic development > Music, Film and Art lovers will benefit from a variety of experiences including interactive art exhibits and installations, performance art stations and Q&A sessions > Other aspects of the FMAC conference include preliminaries for Poetry in the Gardens with finals held at the new Starbucks in Miami Gardens
We Speak Events
Atlanta Screening of The Alabama Solution Brings Together Panel of Advocates, Leaders, and Community Voices
ATLANTA, GA — Community leaders, advocates, and residents gathered in Atlanta for a special screening of the Oscar-nominated HBO documentary The Alabama Solution, an evening centered on film, dialogue, and community engagement around issues of justice and incarceration.
Hosted at 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road NE, the event brought together organizations and community members for a formal evening of reflection and conversation following the powerful documentary. The film, co-directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman and co-produced by Alex Duran, offers an intimate and unfiltered look into Alabama’s prison system.
At the heart of the documentary are the voices of justice-impacted individuals Melvin “Bennu” Ray and Robert “Kinetik” Council, whose experiences shed light on the realities inside the prison system while challenging viewers to consider deeper questions about accountability, dignity, and reform.
Following the screening, a panel discussion brought together leaders and advocates working in justice reform and community outreach. The conversation was moderated by Bridgette Simpson of Barred Business, who guided the dialogue with panelists representing several organizations committed to addressing issues within the justice system.
Panelists included Gerald Griggs of the NAACP, Kimberly Jones of Fork the System, Octavious Holiday of the Positive Outreach Development Society, Kevin Marshall of The Marshall Law Group, LLC, Kathryn Hamoudah of the Southern Center for Human Rights, and Christopher Willars of The Life Unit Inc.
Each panelist offered insight shaped by their work in advocacy, legal reform, and community engagement. Their perspectives highlighted the far-reaching effects incarceration can have on families and communities, while also emphasizing the importance of awareness, accountability, and continued dialogue around the issues presented in the film.
The screening was supported by several organizations dedicated to justice and civic engagement, including One for Justice, Dream.org, Barred Business, the Southern Center for Human Rights, The Life Unit, the Center for Civic Innovation, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and the Free Atlanta Abolition Movement.
The evening also served as a moment of connection for those in attendance, including family members and advocates whose lives have been impacted by the justice system. Through film and conversation, the gathering created space for reflection and for communities to engage with the realities highlighted in the documentary.
As conversations continued after the screening, the event underscored the power of storytelling to bring people together, raise awareness, and encourage deeper consideration of issues that often remain unseen by the public.
As momentum continues to grow around conversations sparked by the documentary, organizers are encouraging community members to take an additional step by supporting efforts aimed at protecting justice-impacted individuals from discrimination.
Advocates are currently inviting the public to sign a virtual petition card supporting the establishment of a statewide Protected Class Ordinance in Georgia, which would help ensure justice-impacted individuals are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and opportunity.
You may find and share the virtual petition here:
Statewide Protected Class
https://www.theprotectedclassnetwork.org/sign-our-petition
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