Master of Ceremonies
Larry Wilmore
Emmy Award winner Larry Wilmore has been a television producer, actor, comedian, and writer for more than 25 years. He can currently be heard as host of Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air on The Ringer Podcast Network. The show which premiered in 2017, features Wilmore’s unique mix of humor and wit as he weighs in on the issues of the week and interviews guests, in the worlds of politics, entertainment, sports, and beyond. Larry is currently in development on the comedy series Lately for ABC, a behind the scenes look at the upstairs-downstairs dynamics of the people who work at a late-night talk show. He can also be seen in the Paramount+ film Jerry and Margo Go Large alongside Bryan Cranston and Annette Benning.
Special Guest
Michael Beckwith
Michael Bernard Beckwith, a man who embodies many of the core principles upon which the Ryan Gordy Foundation is built.
Widely recognized for his teachings on the science of inner transformation and
unity, Dr. Beckwith embraces a practical approach to spirituality utilizing meditation, affirmative prayer, and Life VisioningTM, a spiritual technology he developed for conscious evolution, authentic living and living your life purpose. These practices teach us to take the experiences of inner peace and
awakened awareness into our everyday lives.
A highly sought-after meditation teacher, conference speaker and seminar leader, Mr. Beckwith is founder and CEO of Agape International Spiritual Center, a trans-denominational community highly regarded for its cultural, racial, and spiritual diversity and inclusivity. He has addressed prominent audiences at the UN General Assembly, TEDx and Oprah Winfrey Network’s (OWN) SuperSoul Sessions, and appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, OWN’s SuperSoul Sunday and Help Desk; Dr. Oz; CNN, The Oprah Show; Larry King Live; Tavis Smiley; and his own PBS Special, The Answer Is You.
As co-founder and president of the Association for Global New Thought, he hosts conferences featuring harbingers of world peace including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and had the distinguished honor of presenting to Nelson Mandela the Gandhi King Award. Further, he serves on the Advisory Board of Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Center for the Study of
African American Religious Life (CSAARL), Center for the Study of African American
Religious Life.
Three of his books, ‘Life Visioning’, ‘Spiritual Liberation’ and ‘TranscenDance Expanded’, have received the prestigious Nautilus Award.
Special Guest Performer
Isis Chanel
Isis Chanel is a singer/songwriter born in Detroit, Michigan, where she draws inspiration from the city's rich musical heritage, particularly the Motown and Techno sounds. Her music blends elements of R&B/Soul, Pop, Funk, and House, creating a unique and infectious sound that is both modern and nostalgic. Isis composes all of her music from lyrics to production, and her smooth and soulful vocals are the centerpiece of her songs, conveying a wide range of emotions with effortless grace. Her unique sound and poetic storytelling resonate with audiences around the world.
Entertainment Mogul & Entrepreneur
Vassal Benford
Vassal Benford is the Producer for The Ryan Gordy Foundation Gala and is an entertainment mogul, entrepreneur and a highly accomplished and celebrated 57x platinum record producer. His full service multi-media entertainment company spans across Estate and Sports Entertainment, Film/TV, Music, Concert Events and 4D Immersion Technologies. Benford has played a major role in the success of many top artist careers and executive produced the hit film series After and After we collided, two top streaming
movies on Netflix.
