Written by | Ray Cornelius 

The 2015 Merge Symposium Atlanta took place on Saturday afternoon at the dReam Center. The annual event, which is sponsored by Walgreens, integrates the faith and entertainment communities for a series of events that provide education, inspiration, empowerment and opportunity. Now in its sixth year, the Merge Symposium has expanded beyond Los Angeles to now include Baltimore, Chicago and Atlanta.

LisaRaye McCoy

This year’s Merge Symposium Atlanta featured over 12 workshops focusing on such topics as Brand Building, Acting, Screenwriting, Producing and Creating a Vision Board. All of the workshops and panels are led by industry professionals and leaders designed to help singers, actors, filmmakers and producers move forward.

Meagan Good

A number of stars from top-rated TV shows participated in today’s events including LisaRaye McCoy (Single Ladies); Tika Sumpter (The Haves and the Have Nots); Meagan Good (Minority Report); Ronreaco Lee (Survivor’s Remorse); Brely Evans (Being Mary Jane); and Charles Michael Davis (The Originals).

Egypt Sherrod and Kim Kimble

TV personalities Egypt Sherrod (HGTV’s Property Virgins) and celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble were part of a living discussion on brand building with former ESSENCE Beauty Editor Mikki Taylor.  Award-winning actors Harry Lennix and Jasmine Guy shared their pearls of wisdom along with R&B Diva Angie Stone, who’s been in the entertainment industry for over 35 years.

Roger M. Bobb and DeVon Franklin

Industry executives that took part in today’s discussion included TV and Film producer Roger M. Bobb; film executive and minister DeVon Franklin; filmmaker Rob Hardy; producer extraordinaire Lumuel Plummer; Turner Entertainment executive Valerie Wattz Meraz; and the CW’s Traci Blackwell. Also spotted in the audience was legendary casting director Robi Reed.

Check out more photos below:

An Artist Who Matters featuring LisaRaye McCoy, Angie Stone, Canton Jones, Jason Hughes and Bishop William Murphy moderated by Revolt’s Kelly G.

Angie Stone

 

Bishop William Murphy and LisaRaye McCoy

Angie Stone with her son and new music group DSquared Live

 

Canton Jones and Kelly G

You Inc.: Building a Marketable Brand featuring Kim Kimble, Egypt Sherrod and Mikki Taylor:

Egypt Sherrod with Kim Kimble

Egypt Sherrod with Kim Kimble and Mikki Taylor

Actors Worshop with Harry Lennix

The Actors Panel: Have “IT” featuring Meagan Good, Tika Sumpter, Jasmine Guy, Ronreaco Lee, Charles Michael Davis and moderated by Brely Evans

Meagan Good with Charles Michael Davis and Tika Sumpter

Meagan Good, Charles Michael Davis, Tika Sumpter,

Ronreaco Lee, Jasmin Guy and Brely Evans

Tika Sumpter

Group Shot

 

Tika Sumpter/Charles Michael Davis

 

Meagan Good and Robi Reed

#MergeTour2015

Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com