We Speak Events

OVER 45,000 ATTENDED THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE MUSICFEST

Published

7 years ago

September 16, 2019

(ATLANTA) – September 13, 2019 – Last weekend, tens of thousands descended upon Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park for the 10th Annual ONE Musicfest. During the two-day festival, attendees enjoyed live performances on three stages and a vendors village filled with local businesses, cocktail brands, interactive social media stations, food trucks, breast-pumping and hydration stations and so much more.
“Our 10-year anniversary was nothing short of phenomenal!” said OMF Founder, Jason Carter. “This year surpassed our expectations. The new venue proved to be the right location for ONE Musicfest and we look forward to Centennial Olympic Park as our home for years to come. Additionally, the feedback from patrons and the OMF Family has been overwhelming. Honestly, that’s what it’s all about. It’s about putting on for the culture and creating a safe space for progressive urbanites and artists to thrive.”
ONE Musicfest offered a diverse lineup for fans of many musical genres. Saturday’s performances included Gucci Mane, Tory Lanez, Rae Sremmurd, Summer Walker, Koffee, Queen Naija, Tobe Nwigwe and Greg Street’s “ATL Playlist” which featured Atlanta’s own Roscoe Dash, Rocko, Travis Porter, K Camp and Rich Homie Quan. Sunday’s line up included R&B performances by Ari Lennox, Teyana Taylor, Musiq Soulchild and Raphael Saadiq. Hip Hop fans witnessed the performances of a lifetime with sets from DMX, Wu-Tang Clan and KP the Great and his “Super Friends:” Monica, Lil’ Jon and the Young Bloodz, Waka Flocka, Usher, Pharrell, Lil Nas X and Crime Mob. This year also marked the first-ever “OMF HONORS,” where Atlanta music pioneers Jermaine Dupri and Dallas Austin were presented with commemorative plaques by Atlanta music manager-turned-Spotify executive, Chaka Zulu, on the main stage. From Usher to Three 6 Mafia to Ari Lennox to Raphael Saadiq, Wu-Tang and Tory Lanez, the energy throughout the day was infectious. “It’s Woodstock meets an HBCU Homecoming,” said a festival attendee. Follow the festival on social at @onemusicfest and visit onemusicfest.com for more information

We Speak Events

Atlanta Screening of The Alabama Solution Brings Together Panel of Advocates, Leaders, and Community Voices

Published

2 months ago

March 9, 2026

Justiz Walker

Michael Walker/@UmeekImages

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