The Moving Mountains organization celebrated 19 years of artistic development within Brooklyn youths on June 8. Fittingly, the gala took place at the Brooklyn Museum and was hosted by The Breakfast Club’s, Angela Yee.
The evening kicked off with a red carpet where Yee offered, “All the time there are going to be things in our way. We can overcome anything and get to the other side of the mountain and triumph.”
Photo by The Knockturnal
Proud of how well his pupils embody this belief, Moving Mountains founder and actor, Jamie Hector, gleamed, “All of the students who tried out for high schools that focused on the arts that tend to be very difficult to get into, came to us for training and 100% got in!”
Photo by The Knockturnal
During the soirée, keynote speaker and Harlem Children’s Zone Founder, Geoffrey Canada, echoed the nights theme: The Show Must Go On. Canada’s recollection of trusted adults seeing his potential and investing in him was the perfect segway to actor and Moving Mountains Board Member Michael Raymond presenting three students with a Ken Thompson Scholarship Award for their achievements. Future University of Connecticut alum Raquel Duverger, Brooklyn High School of the Arts senior Micah Wong and LIU Post’s incoming freshman, Jewel Davis were each acknowledged for maintaining their passion for the arts as well as education. At Moving Mountains, students delve deep into scene study, dance and/or music after auditioning for a spot in the program.
Since it takes a village, the evening also honored donors, sponsors and partners who make the Moving Mountains vision possible. Honorees included former NBA star Rod Strickland with The Visionary Leadership Award, New York Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky with The Humanitarian Trailblazer Award and The View co-host Sunny Hostin with The Power of Voice Award.
The evening closed with Platinum-selling artist Renée Neufville performing her latest track, “I Am,” that serves as a reminder that all things are possible. Since writing and releasing her hit single “Hey Mr. DJ,” as a 20 years-old Zhané member, Neufville has become a walking testimony of hard work and talent creating impact. “I am. Those are the most powerful words you can tell yourself,” Neufville shared with The Knockturnal. “There’s nothing you can’t do as long as you believe.”
