People are often unaware of the hidden talents circulating their workplace. Many employees at various corporations and organizations have special talents outside of what they bring to their job. Art Sanctuary is dedicating a night to showcase those talents.
Art Sanctuary in South Philadelphia will host its fundraiser “Black Professionals Got Talent” Thursday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. The staff gathered a few of the city’s Black nonprofit leaders and corporate executives to put on a show for an audience.
The talent will consist of vocals, instrumentals and poetry. Of the performers is Mellanie Lassiter, corporate contributions manager at PECO.
Lassiter is also the Art Sanctuary board chair and is enthused to perform in front of a few of her colleagues for the first time. As a daughter of a preacher, Lassiter grew up singing in choirs and was given her first solo at the age of nine.
“I’ve never sang at PECO, and I have at least 10 co-workers coming on Thursday,” she said.
Lassiter has been involved in gospel choirs and enjoys singing gospel and R&B music.
“I like to sing gospel — this is going to be my R&B debut,” she said.
The night will include performances from Romona Riscoe Benson, president & CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia; Malik Boyd, president of PB Marketing, LLC; Dawn Chavous, executive director of Students First PA; Patricia A. Coulter, president & CEO of the Urban League of Philadelphia; A. Bruce Crawley, president of Millennium 3 Management; David Hardy, CEO of Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School and Patricia Washington, vice president of Cultural Tourism for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC).
The performers will showcase their talents on the drums, piano, saxophone and vocal talents.
“Art Sanctuary is really excited about it — and hopefully it is something we can do a series around,” Lassiter said. “They have these great hidden talents they get to highlight.”
Lassiter believes the “hidden” talents makes individuals well rounded and it is positively shown through their work at their jobs.
John Barber, CEO of Come Kleen Productions, will emcee the showcase. Along with the featured talent, Urban Guerilla Orchestra, a music band with jazz and R&B funk style, will be the house band performing.
The event is set to be lively and entertaining, while business men and women will get the chance to show how dynamic they can be. Tickets for the show are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. To reserve advance tickets, call (215) 232-4485.
