(Top row l-r) Casey Santos, Tyler Merritt, S-Wrap, Rick Martin, Rhonda Cammon, and Rashad Rayford. (bottom row l-r) Monica Fawknotson, Michael Eric Dyson, Marcus Whitney, Marcia L Dyson, Lokelani Alabanza, Darrell Freeman, and Cathy Bender.
“Conversations at OZ,” an annual fundraiser celebrating the art of conversation with community leaders and vibrant personalities, will take place online on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 7 pm. One of the most dynamic annual benefits in Nashville, the event invites guests to engage in insightful dialogue on a range of contemporary topics, including arts and culture, social issues, business and government. This year’s prominent lineup of conversation hosts includes authors, activists, and speakers Marcia and Michael Eric Dyson; Oscar Award-winning screenwriter Callie Khouri; actor, author, and activist Tyler Merritt; Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, Mayor John Cooper and 31 more.
“We look forward to bringing community members together again for one of the city’s most anticipated events,” said Tim Ozgener, Co-Founder and President of OZ Arts Nashville. “The funds raised by this event allow us to continue enriching the Greater Nashville landscape by presenting bold new artistic works and accessible engagement opportunities for local students, artists and audiences.”
Building upon the success of last year’s virtual edition, the 2022 fundraiser offers the opportunity to connect with prominent figures online for intimate and engaging discussions from the comforts of home. Participants will gather virtually for a warm welcome from OZ Arts before joining their small group and chosen conversation host.
Of special note are the following hosts and their topics: Lokelani Alabanza, Owner, SATURATED Ice Cream – Ice Cream & Nostalgia; Rhonda Cammon, Founder and Owner, Perfectly Cordial – Fruit, Libations, and Miami Culture: The Birth of a Beverage Company; Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Author and Marcia L. Dyson, President, Women’s Global Institute – CRT, BLM, MLK: America and the Acronyms of Black Progress; Monica Fawknotson, Director, Metro Nashville Sports Authority & Cathy Bender, Chair, Metro Nashville Sports Authority – The Making of a Great Sports Destination City; Darrell Freeman, Entrepreneur – How to Make Millions from Nothing; Rick Martin, Director of Compassion Forward, Asurion and Casey Santos, Chief Information Officer, Asurion – Lifting our Community through Technology; Tyler Merritt, Actor, Activist, Author of “I Take My Coffee Black” and founder of The Tyler Merritt Project – Only You: Changing The World With Your Significant Story; Rashad Rayford, Founder of Elevate Your Vibe, LLC and S-Wrap, Hip-Hop/Spoken Word Artist & Transformational Speaker – Your Story Unlocks Innovation; and Marcus Whitney, Founder and Managing Partner, Jumpstart Nova – Launching the First Black Healthcare Venture Fund in America.
Also among the total of 37 are Jessica Averbuch, Kelly Bonadies, Jeremy Boreing, Clay Bright, Lisa Ferrelli, Rob Forster, Tom Gannon, William J. Gonzales, Jen Hidinger-Kendrick, Dr. Alex Jahangir, Josh Joseph, Matt Kisber, Ken Levitan, Amanda Little, Allison Moorer, Dee Patel, D. Patrick Rodgers, Butch Spyridon, Holly Sullivan, and Vadis Turner. Please go online to the OzArts website for details on each conversation host’s topic and availability.
Reservations are open until 6PM CST on Wednesday, February 23. All proceeds support OZ Arts’ mission to create innovative and accessible artistic opportunities for artists, audiences and students in Middle Tennessee and beyond. If you are attending the online event and have any questions, please contact OZ Arts at info@ozartsnashville.org or (615) 350-7200. To learn more about upcoming performances, please visit https://www.ozartsnashville.org/.
