'Facing the Future"

Ferguson Report Card event assesses impact of Michael Brown/Ferguson uprising 1 year later

By Walter Pritchard, Soaring High Media
Greater St. Mark Family Church and AGN Television presents the “Ferguson Report Card: Facing the Future,” a charity event that takes a closer examination and assessment of Ferguson at the August 9, 2014 one year anniversary historic death of Michael Brown Jr.

 The two-day event, this Saturday and Sunday, will feature a gospel concert, a community forum where a host of grass roots voices will speak on the year long journey that dramatically captured the attention of America, and national civil rights leader, the Rev. Al Sharpton. The focus is to address the impact of the shooting and the new paths toward social and economic justice are being forged.

The Ferguson Report Card will be on the campus of Greater St. Mark Family Church, 9950 Glen Owen Dr. (at Chambers Rd.), St. Louis, MO 63136, and is free and open to the public.

Host pastor, the Rev. Tommie Pierson, said Greater St. Mark Family Church is proud to present the world premiere of The Ferguson Report Card: Facing the Future. Pierson said the weekend represents of local agencies coming together and presenting action plans addressing joblessness, community policing, senseless murder, the power of the vote, stronger families and the better education of our youth.

“August 9th 2014 - the shooting death of unarmed Michael Brown - forever changed the St. Louis community and the world,” Pierson said. “Since the shooting we have witnessed marches, protest and the eruption of violence spurred by a generation of those who felt discarded by this nation.

“One year later on the eve of the death of Michael Brown, we take time to remember from whence we came and decide where we are going as American citizens who deserve equality and the right to thrive together,” he said.

The weekend remembrance will also include the launch of St. Louis- and Atlanta-based broadcast media group, Access Granted Network (AGN). The live video taping of events will be available for viewing on digital and online portals later in the month.

Saturday’s line-up includes the “Raise the Praise Concert” kicking off at 2 p.m., featuring Greg O’Quinn, Jesse Prather, Terry Bradford and Tracey Smith. Master of Ceremony will be national known comedian, “The Clean Comedy Guy” David Graham. The music will also feature the sounds of hip hop artist, Thurro Rootz.

A panel of representatives from the community will join in on the Ferguson Report Card forum at 3 p.m. Saturday. Scheduled speakers are: Dr. Christi Griffin, The Ethics Project; Adolphus Pruitt, NAACP St. Louis City; Deb Krause, Eden Theological Seminary; Bishop Henry Phillips, Power of Change Church; Tiffany Anderson, Jennings School District; Rev. Frederick McCullough, Restoration House; Pastor Renita Lamkin, St. John AME-St. Charles; Veta T. Jeffery, Missouri Office of Administration; and E. Lance McCarthy, Ferguson 1000 Jobs.
On Sunday, Sharpton, a MSNBC-TV commentator and founder of the National Action Network, will deliver a message beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a Unity March and candle-light vigil at Canfield Green Apartments, the sight of the deadly killing.

For more information about the Ferguson Report Card: Facing the Future, contact Pastor Tommie Pierson at Greater St. Mark Church, 314-868-7967. Attached is an e-flyer.

For more information about AGN Television, visit www.AccessGrantedNetwork.com.