9th Annual Empower the Dream Ecumenical & Scholarship Benefit

Event Description

The Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church of Portland, Oregon will host their Ninth Annual “Empower the Dream” Drum Major Ecumenical Service and Scholarship Fund-raiser Community Fellowship Program on Sunday, February 15^th 2015 at 2 p.m. It’s an empowering celebration of unity, love, hope and purpose-driven conviction that is open to all members of all faiths and the Portland community at large. Empower the Dream will honor and celebrate the valiant lives, the prudence visions and the communal contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Ms. Yolanda Denise King and Mrs. Rosa Parks. Scheduled on program is a soul-stirring line-up that includes the musical performances of talented local and out of state musicians and singers; The Reunion Community Gospel Choir and Band under the musical direction of Raymond Burell III, Gaylord Warren and Ken Berry, The Pacific Youth Choir of Portland under the musical direction of Mia Hall-Miller, Undaunted Ministries that includes the amazing vocal talents of Pastor Deborah Greenidge, Georgene Rice and Gerutha Greenidge; renown Jazz great, Shirley Nanette, Portland gospel singers and musicians; Pastor Arthur B. Carter Jr., Pastor E.D. Mondiane, Pastor Marcus Shambry, Ms. Wanda Faye Thompson, Darlene Warren, Pastor Gwendolyn Price, Sister Elizabeth  “Ann” Warren-Bowens, Brother Bobby Garnett, Ms. Carmel Bryant-Graham, Ms. Pamela Mitchell, and Ms. Marilyn Keller, and Los Angeles Recording Artist, Ms. Tracey Whitney. Empowering capsule presentations are also on hand that champions the message of empowerment, community service and giving by a host of local faith and community leaders that includes; Pastor and renown poet, Emmitt Wheatfall, Rabbi Michael Cahana of Congregation Temple Beth Israel, the Honorable, Senator Margaret Carter, Gale Castillo, Pastor Amanda Zentz-Alo of the Central Lutheran Church, and the Portland Chapter President of the Urban League, Michael Alexander One of the highpoints of this stellar program will be a special tribute honoring the community service dedication of the late city commissioner, Charles Jordan; the recipient of the 2015 Nelson Mandela Medal of Freedom Award that will be presented by motivational speaker, Mr. Lou Radja. To punctuate the power program of point and purpose, the dynamic keynote address will be given by the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Dr. Bernice A. King; the Chief Executive Officer of the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information contact the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church at 503-282-9496; J.W. Matt Hennessee, is Senior Pastor and Chairperson.