Oleta Adams Graces Stage at Sprint Artist Tribute

Saturday night, Kansas City renowned Oleta Adams was the feature artist during the Sprint Artist Tribute at the Marriott Hotel - Imperial Ballroom. What I knew most about Oleta was her famous "Get Here" ballad. Those were the days where I'm sure I could not have been the only one who got chills whenever the song came across the air waves. She did not disappoint me nor the few hundred guests who came out to hear her.

Just before she came on stage, the James Ward Band performed a few great hits. They even had the Latin "Luther Vandross" sing a couple of ballads. Yes, he did sound just like Luther. I can't forget about the "Spoken Word" talent by Taylor Brown.

Check out some of my favorite images as well as candid images of Oleta's personality. She is a wonderful entertainer.

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Oleta Adams Graces Stage at Sprint Artist Tribute

SCLC Urban Summit Thrives to Rebuid Black Community

This past Saturday morning, several hundred young and older Kansas City residents flocked to the ACE Collegium Campus to participate in the 5th annual Urban Summit. I was one of many who gathered as early as 7:45 am. Yes, that's really early for me on Saturday. Heck, I can't find myself getting out of bed that early during the week. Call me lazy.

Anyhow, I digress. Like the previous summits, the morning/afternoon workshops focused on topics such as:

• Restore and Rebuild a Community Through Economic Development
• Rebuild and Restore a Community Through Education
• Crime and its Devastating Impact on Pursuing Economic Development East of Troost
• Biggest Loser to Biggest Winner - Fit for the Journey in 2012
• Pursuing Housing and Neighborhood Stability on the Eastside of Troost

Youth workshop topics were:

• High vs. College - "So You Think You Want to Go to a HBCU"
• The Right Fit - Education as an Investment

While listening to Jim Nunnelly, I learned that were two college bound high school seniors were fortunate enough to acquire $40,000 in scholarships and another who acquired more than $30,000 in scholarships. WOW! And they say nothing good can come from our youth today. I'm thoroughly impressed.

The keynote speaker for the afternoon was SCLC national president, Isaac Newton Farris, Jr., nephew of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Above and below are some of my favorite photos from Urban Summit.

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SCLC Urban Summit Thrives to Rebuid Black Community

SCLC National President Isaac Newton Farris Visits Kansas City

2012 has come upon us and I haven't blogged about anything since the last day of 2011. Please excuse me but then again I shouldn't apologize because that time was spent resting, spending time with the family, planning for the new year and working on a month long project. This project will be documented in spurts or phases. There will be lots of time spent on the road, in front of my computer and editing photos.

The first phase of the project was photographing the SCLC Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Opening Reception at the Penn Valley Community College - Carter Gallery, Friday evening. The special guest for the event was the new elected national SCLC President Isaac Newton Farris Jr, nephew to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Click on his name to read his bio. While in Kansas City, he was also the keynote speaker for the Kansas City Urban Summit. Photo highlights to come later. In the interim, the posted photos are from the opening reception.

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SCLC National President Isaac Newton Farris Visits Kansas City