Faith, Love & Success Panel (L-R): Derek and Sofia Luke, Wayne and Myesha Chaney,
Faune Chambers Watkins and Derek “Fonzworth Bentley” Watkins, Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin
The Sixth Annual Merge Summit was held August 21-23, 2014 at the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. This one of a kind event integrates faith and entertainment providing an opportunity for men and women of faith to interface, learn and partner with leading executives and talent in the entertainment industry. Nearly 75 of the industry’s top entertainers and executives led more than 20 interactive panel discussions, workshops and Master Class sessions covering music, television, film, creative development, branding and new media. The Summit, co-founded by Dr. Holly Carter and Robi Reed, chaired by Traci Blackwell, was presented in association with Walgreens, Wellness Interactive, Inc. and Entertainment One.
Acting Panel (L-R): Hosea Chanchez, Nate Parker, Robi Reed, Dr. Holly Carter, Common, Bre’ly Evans,
Traci Blackwell, Charles Michael Davis, Brandon T. Jackson
Celebrity and notable participants included Anthony Anderson (ABC’s “Black-ish”), Laurence Fishburne (ABC’s “Black-ish”), Tracee Ellis Ross (ABC’s “Black-ish”), Meagan Good (“Think Like A Man Too”), DeVon Franklin (SVP of Production, Columbia Pictures), Boris Kodjoe (BET’s “Real Husbands of Hollywood”), Common (Rapper/Actor), Lala Anthony (“Think Like A Man Too”), Terrence Jenkins (E! News), Michelle Williams (Singer/Actress), Pastor Paula White (Paula White Ministries, Orlando), Erica Campbell (Mary Mary), Brandon T. Jackson (“Tropic Thunder”), Derek Luke (“Baggage Claim”), Clint Culpepper (President, Screen Gems), LisaRaye (VH1’s “Single Ladies”), Mikki Taylor (Essence Magazine), Dondre Whitfield (ABC’s “Mistresses”), Yvette Nicole Brown (NBC’s “Community”), Jonathan Butler (musician), Bishop Charles E. Blake (West Angeles Church of God In Christ), Lynn Whitfield (Emmy Award-winning Actress), Suzanne de Passe (de Passe Jones Entertainment), Hosea Chanchez (BET’s “The Game”), Fonzworth Bentley (BET’s “Lift Every Voice”), Harry J. Lennix (NBC’s “The Blacklist”), Mali Music (RCA Records recording artist), Bishop Lester Love (The City of Love Church, New Orleans), Edwina Findley (Tyler Perry’s “If Loving You Is Wrong”), Bre’ly Evans (actress/comedian), and the cast of Oxygen’s “Preachers of L.A.,” among others.
“The It Factor” Panelists (L-R): Erica Campbell, Yvette Nicole Brown, LisaRaye McCoy
(L-R): Traci Blackwell, Lynn Whitfield, Michelle Williams, Robi Reed, Lala Anthony, Dr. Holly Carter
ABC’s “black-ish” Screening and Q&A with Cast and Creators (L-R): Traci Blackwell, Kenya Barris, Larry Wilmore, Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony Anderson, Robi Reed, Laurence Fishburne, Shaun Robinson
