LIVE in Atlanta

featuring the soul-stirring voice of Grammy Award-winning powerhouse vocalist and national Gospel recording artist, Leandria Johnson.

Atlanta, Georgia | July 7, 2017. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | JULY 1, 2017. Shawn Joyner Presents and Hannon Entertainment is proud to announce its upcoming concert with gospel music recording artist and pioneer ‘RICKY DILLARD & New G: LIVE IN ATLANTA’. This LIVE concert will be held at The dREAM Center Church (2600 H.F Shepherd Drive, Decatur, GA 30034) on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 7:00pm. This LIVE event will also feature the soul-stirring voice of Grammy Award winning powerhouse vocalist and national gospel recording artist, Leandria Johnson.

Attendee’s interested in being apart of this event, can secure tickets at: EVENTBRITE
General: $25
VIP: $35
*Includes admittance into First 1-3 Rows, VIP Giftbag, Private Meet and Greet, and all other special amenities.

VENDOR AND SPONSORSHIP
The live event will boast 50-125 VIP and Special Guest
VIP and Special Guest Red Carpet
VIP Private Meet and Greet Lounge
Social Media Product Placement and Engagement

To become a vendor or sponsor, contact:
The Bentley Didier Firm
Email | info@thebentleydidierfirm.com
ATTN: SPONSORSHIP/VENDOR
Deadline: August 20, 2017

MEDIA RELATIONS ATTN: SPONSORSHIP/VENDOR
Media Outlets interested in securing interviews, email:
The Bentley Didier Firm, ATTN: Ricky Dillard Media Request
Email | TaraYoungblood@TheBentleyDidierFirm.com

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ABOUT RICKY DILLARD
Ricky Dillard is an American gospel musician. He started his music career, in 1991, with the release of, Promise, by Muscle Shoals Records. His second album, A Holy Ghost Take-Over, was released in 1993 by Malaco Records. The next album, Hallelujah, was released by them in 1995. Crystal Spring Records released, 1996’s Work It Out, 2000’s No Limit, and Unplugged in 2004. With EMI Gospel, he released, 7th Episode, that came out in 2007. He released, Keep Living, with Light Records in 2011. His next release, Amazing, came out in 2014 with Entertainment One Music.
All of his albums charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. His No Limit album charted on the Christian Albums chart, and the album Unplugged charted on the Independent Albums chart along with the releases Keep Living, and Amazing that also charted on The Billboard 200. He was nominated at the Grammy Awards twice, the first time in the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album category at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards for Promise, and the second time would come at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in the category Best Gospel Album for Amazing.

ABOUT LEANDRIA JOHNSON
Le’Andria Johnson is an American gospel musician, singer-songwriter, and the season three winner of the BET gospel singing competition show Sunday Best.
Johnson’s Sunday Best coronation song, “I Shall Leap into My Destiny”, co-written by Johnson, entered the Billboard Gospel chart at number 1. Johnson’s post-Sunday The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson was released on August 23, 2011,[2] Music World Entertainment Gospel and Music World Music. The album debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Albums, number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Independent Albums, and number 24 on the Billboard 200. Johnsons’ second major-label album The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson, which included seven new songs was released on February 14, 2012. Johnson is the first Sunday Best contestant to receive a Grammy Award, which she won in 2012 for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance.

ABOUT SHAWN JOYNER PRESENTS
“Shawn Joyner presents…” is the latest venture of visionary businessman and event promoter, Shawn Joyner. For over 20 years and across several platforms, Shawn’s entrepreneurial endeavors are marked with a high level of quality and have developed a faithful following. From party promotions in Dallas and Atlanta to a successful, long-standing real estate practice to his nationally recognized FALLTACULAR Retreat, Shawn understands and responds to the high standards of the discerning consumer.
Having presented artists such as N’Dambi, Kimberly Nichole, Avery Sunshine, B-Slade and Tweet, “Shawn Joyner presents…” has rushed onto the scene and is poised to make its mark by being a leader in providing quality music entertainment.

ABOUT THE dREAM CENTER CHURCH OF ATLANTA
For more information about The dReam Center Church of Atlanta, please visit http://www.thedreamcenterchurch.org/ .
Follow The dReam Center Church of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @dReamCenterATL.

We Speak Events

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

Published

1 month 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