Special Guests

Our special guest this year include Daniel D, David G. Jacobs, Christopher Dennis, Rodney Monroe and Leap of Faith Dance Company, Damian Johnson and Tunesha Crispell. See more information about these special guests below.

Daniel D, Violinist
Musical Guest, MLK National Holiday Celebration

Talent is a gift, and Daniel D. discovered his early in life. Since he first drew a  bow across the strings of a violin at 12 years old, he has newly released his first Album 'Play For Me'.  He is a 2009 Apollo Winner, Charlotte Music Award Recipient, and B.E.T. 106&Park Spotlight Performer.  Daniel D. has performed before Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, at Jessie Jackson’s birthday party, and  as one of the opening violinist for Jamie Fox and Kanye West on BET 106 & Park.  That notable audience is no accident.  Davis makes his violin sound unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Upon first seeing him live, your jaw will drop. High fives and awed, wide-eyed looks to the people around you will follow. Then you start to groove - fully captivated until the moment he lowers his instrument and takes a bow. Raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Davis graduated from that city’s esteemed School of the Arts in 2007, immediately setting off on a nationwide tour with T-Bone Ministries. Davis’ faith lies at the core of his music, and his melodic improvisations accompany a soaring gospel arrangement as exquisitely as in his covers of “Billie Jean” or Kanye West’s “Stronger.”

A seasoned entertainer at just 20 years old, Davis is equally comfortable performing for an audience of 50,000 at the University of South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium as he is playing at his family’s church on Sunday. He’s studied at New York’s Juillard School of Music, won the U.S. Air Force’s Wide Talent Search competition, and his fiddle-laden remix of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech has contributed to regular invitations to perform throughout the country at special events. At home in Charleston, he’s been a featured artist at the Spoleto USA festival each of the last two years.  Despite his successes, Davis remains a humble young man. Daniel is the first to tell you that the pure joy of playing music far surpasses prestige or recognition. “Every opportunity to play offers new enlightenment and a chance to learn,” says Davis.  "I love performing and I love playing — period."

David G. Jacobs, MD FACS
2010 MLK Medallion Award Winner

David G. Jacobs, MD is currently the Associate Medical Director for Trauma Services at the F.H. "Sammy" Ross Trauma Institute at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Professor of Surgery at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He received his undergraduate education at Williams College, his medical education at Cornell University Medical College , and his surgical training at the University of Pennsylvania, and at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  He then completed a Research Fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and a fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) in Baltimore, Maryland.  Dr. Jacobs’ current position includes the education of medical students and surgical residents, clinical research, and the clinical practice of general surgery, surgical critical care and trauma surgery. He has a broad range of interests in clinical surgery including endoscopy, surgical infections, geriatric and abdominal trauma, surgical nutrition, and quality  improvement in surgical and trauma patients.  He has a number of publications in these areas as well as in the areas of organ donation and the prevention of interpersonal violence, reflecting his belief that today’s surgeons must involve themselves in the  ethical, social and political issues that so greatly affect the overall health and well-being of the patients for whom they provide care.

Christopher Dennis, Vice President / Market Data Operations Manager
2010 MLK Keeper of the Dream Award Winner

Christopher Dennis is a Market Data Operations manager for Bank of America. In this role, Dennis provides day-to-day support of financial infrastructures, which allow over 15,000 traders to consistently and reliably receive data that enables them to make informed business decisions. He has been recognized for strong commitment to maintaining high levels of operational improvements that meet organizational objectives by relying upon a unique combination of business savvy and intuitive management skills. Dennis also serves as a Master Sergeant of the South Carolina McEntire Air National Guard, where he manages the Ground Radio communication shop for the entire base.

Dennis joined Bank of America in May 2000 as an Analyst on the Market Data team. Being an effective and well rounded team player, in 2002, Dennis was promoted to Team Leader, and shortly thereafter to Manager of the Charlotte Market Data Operations Team.

Dennis attended Central Carolina College where he obtained an Associates Degree in Engineering Technology; and later earned an Associate Degree from the Community College of the Air Force in Electronic Theory. In 2008 he received an additional degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

In addition to his employment with Bank of America, Dennis serves as President of the Lockwood Home Owner’s Association; in which he has implemented financial programs and other viable resources for the community to offset the impacts of gentrification. Other community and civic memberships include Faith Soldiers Word Ministries Church, 2008 Urban Financial Services Coalition President, Speaker for the Charlotte Neighborhood Symposium “Gentrification”, Motivational Speaker for Upward Bound program, Arts & Science Council Team Leader, Bank of America Volunteer Network (Team Captain for March of Dimes and AIDS Walk participant), 2008 Black Professional Group (BPG) Affinity Mentoring Program, and Leadership Charlotte Class XXX, Lead Team for Leadership Charlotte Class XXXI, and 2009 North End Partners Board Member.

Dennis resides in North Carolina where he enjoys reading, speaking poetry, spending time with family, working with youth, and putting God first.

Rodney D. Monroe, Police Chief of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police
Guest Speaker, MLK National Holiday Celebration

Rodney D. Monroe was appointed Police Chief of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department on June 16, 2008 by City Manager Curt Walton. Chief Monroe leads the largest municipal police department in the state of North Carolina with 1,650 sworn and 450 civilian members. He brings to this position the knowledge and experience of nearly thirty years in the law enforcement profession. 

He was the chief of the Richmond, Virginia Police Department from February 2005 to June 2008. His efforts there led to the lowest number of homicides in over twenty-five years. Under then Chief Monroe's leadership, the department regained its reputation as a leader in urban policing. Crime rates declined every year by approximately 10 percent during Monroe's tenure, and community policing initiatives were expanded. A recognized innovator, and practitioner of community policing, Chief Monroe is known to refocus police departments on crime fighting and crime prevention through a more accountable organizational structure, new technology, and an enhanced strategy of community policing.

A native of the Washington DC area, Chief Monroe served in the Washington DC Police Department for twenty-one years in a variety of assignments. He became a police officer in March 1979, and was promoted through the ranks, eventually serving as Assistant Chief of Police where he managed the department's 2600 member Patrol Services Bureau. He also led the Department's Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Office of Youth Violence Reduction.

Chief Monroe was awarded a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the National Executive Institute. He serves as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

Leap of Faith Dance Company
Entertainment, MLK National Holiday Celebration

Leap of Faith Dance Company (LOFDCo) was created to express through performance a love for dance and a love for God. Under the direction of Candra Davis, this senior company of Leap of Faith Dance Academy is made up of dancers ages 16 & up that have a heart to worship through dance and have been trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, liturgical and tap. The company sets out to draw in & minister to audiences that may have an appreciation for the art of dance but not know or have a relationship with God. The company also wants to expose other audiences that already have a relationship with God to another aspect of performing arts that interprets a love for God through dance and creative expression.

Damian Johnson
Guest Speaker, Memorial and Wreath Laying Celebration

A native of Buffalo NY, Damian and his identical twin brother Jermaine Johnson created and launched No Grease, Inc. in June 1997.  The company’s mission is to provide consumers with the opportunity to have multiple grooming needs met in one location with unequaled quality and fast service. This mission has made it one of the leading service providers of men and women’s personal grooming and cosmetology services in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The No Grease brand has developed into 4 locations, the newest here in uptown and a barber school called No Grease School of Tonsorial Arts.

Some of the honors they have received include the 2005 Black Political Caucus “Business Award” for their efforts in business and the community-at-large, the 2008 Lowe's Pride Business Service Award and released a book titled “Urbanpreneurship.” No Grease recognizes their success is not solely on talents and efforts, but Christian principles the company was founded and grounded in from the beginning.

Tunesha Crispell
Vocalist, Memorial and Wreath Laying Celebration, National Holiday Celebration

Tunesha Crispell has been blessed with a voice that transcends the barriers of language, nationality and tradition. She has become known as the “lady with the voice like light” because the mere sound of her voice brings the illumination of Christ to the hearts of all who will listen.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Tunesha grew up in a household where music was considered a second language. Both of her parents were singers and it was only natural that Tunesha would inherit her parent’s love of music and the melodic voice to go along with it. “Music comes from both sides of my family,” states Tunesha. “My mom sang with various gospel groups and my father was a secular artist in the 70’s up until the 9o’s. Till this day, if you pass them the mic, they’ll show us what’s up!”

Tunesha has worked with many gospel artists and has been featured on several of Stellar Award nominee, James Hall’s projects including We Are At War, A James Hall Christmas and Live at Lincoln Center in which you may recognize her voice on “God Specializes”, “Sweet Jesus Boy” & “Anything But Fail”. It was while working with James Hall that Tunesha realized it was time for her to pursue a solo career. “I never really thought of myself as being a solo artist,” says Tunesha. “I was comfortable being in the background, kinda blending in, but my experience with James Hall showed me that God had not called me to blend in, but to be different. He instilled the confidence in me that gave me the peace to go forth in what He was calling me to do.”
With a voice unlike any other in the gospel industry today, Tunesha Crispell is expanding the way gospel music is viewed and is a voice that will undeniably open doors for an emerging generation of gospel artists who are comfortable with the uniqueness of their talent. “I believe God has given me a unique sound, one that hasn’t been heard in Gospel music,” declares Tunesha. “There’s a richness, a smoothness in the simplicity of my voice that makes it enjoyable, but it’s the anointing that makes it powerful. With out God, it’s just another voice.”
With such artistic influences as Tramaine Hawkins, Lalah Hathaway, Ella Fitzgerald and Chaka Khan, it’s understandable why Tunesha’s first solo project, Just As I AM offers such a unique brand of gospel music. Just as I AM infuses the fundamental elements of gospel and jazz making this project not only life giving, but also a project that all generations can enjoy.

The first single, “Holy” which happens to be Tunesha’s favorite, was birthed out of enjoying a second honeymoon with her husband, writer and producer, Melvin Crispell. “While riding our mopeds in the valley of the mountains in Hawaii and admiring the beautiful scenery of nature, all we could do was look around and say, ‘Wow, look at what our God created,’ laughs Tunesha. “On our way back home, my husband wrote “Holy” out of what we had experienced with God in nature.”

Having touched the hearts of many both at home and abroad, Tunesha Crispell’s ministry of song is compared to the likes of Mahalia Jackson, Shirley Caesar, and Albertina Walker as they are considered the trailblazers of their time. The torch has been passed and the “lady with the voice like light” shall continue to shine.

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