4th Annual “Mimosas with Melody” convened Celebs, Business Influencers, and Community Leaders
men’s panel
Celebrities, business influencers, and community leaders descended upon the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta on Saturday for edition IV of Mimosas with Melody hosted by Reality TV Star and businesswoman Melody Shari Rodgers. The luxurious black-tie affair, themed “A Time for Change,” was punctuated by an appearance by actor, author, and U.S. Senate candidate Hill Harper, who is campaigning for a senate seat in the state of Michigan. The event also served as a fundraiser.
Among special guests were actress and model Claudia Jordan, businesswoman Courtney Adeleye, actress and singer Drew Sidora, who received the “Woman on the Rise Award”, businesswoman Dr. Chanita Foster, beauty and hair mogul Tamika Gibson, who received the “Woman on Purpose Award,” celebrity stylist J. Bolin, financial investor Chris Sain, celebrity publicist Ivan Thomas, and other community and business leaders.
Discussion topics centered on how to improve unity within the black community, relationships, entrepreneurship, and leveraging the power of the black dollar, among other topics – moderated by Claudia Jordan. For the first time in the Mimosas with Melody series, there was both a women’s and men’s panel. However, the highlight of the evening was the keynote speech by Harper.
Rodgers, known as the star of OWN’s #1 show Love & Marriage: Huntsville, was excited about the small change to the programming. “It is typically an event about inspiring women, but this time I believed it was time to inspire our entire race,” she said. “My good friend Hill is running for the U.S. Senate, so this year I made it a co-ed event to include our first ever men’s panel. It’s all about like-minded people coming together to show support and unity.”
Harper is in the midst of a daunting Democratic primary race for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat against rival and front-runner Elissa Slotkin. The acclaimed actor (The Good Doctor, CSI: NY), author, philanthropist, and Harvard Law School classmate of President Barack Obama is on a mission to help “fix America’s broken system” by addressing poverty, labor, and the middle class.
“There are 100 people (in the Senate) who determine where $7.3 trillion dollars go every year,” he said. “This is not the government’s money. This is our money, but we don’t claim it because we don’t collectively put people in office who deliver for us. They make promises but they don’t deliver. I will deliver for you.”
For more information on Hill Harper’s campaign and to donate, visit hillharper.com. To keep up with Melody Shari, follow her on Instagram here.
