Before George Floyd, before Breonna Taylor, before America knew about Black Lives Matter, there was Michael Brown, Jr. On August 9th, 2014, in Ferguson Missouri, Darren Wilson, a white officer, fatally shot an unarmed Brown, and in the days that followed protest, anger, frustration and fear took over the city and its community. Six years later, a new story emerges, one filled with hope, love and beauty. Through interviews from community members, including Dorian Johnson, who was with him that day, and Michael Brown’s father, "Ferguson Rises" illuminates the stories from within the city since that time, including the dreams and desires of its citizens to move beyond the limited and all-too-common narratives of racism and division in the media. The film reveals the humanity within the people of Ferguson, who represent all of us, and the communities in which we live. — Deborah Rudolph

Here’s to Life is proud to support "Ferguson Rises" Academy Awards Oscar campaign, and welcome the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival Audience Awards winner Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, along with Grammy Award winning artist, Aloe Blacc.

“When things happening in the world seem so terrible and dark, it’s so easy to get stuck in all the negative,” he says. “But I try to do whatever I can to help people out of that. I want my music to be the light.”

That’s one of this episode’s guests, Aloe Blacc, talking not only about a Grammy Award winning career which has sold millions of albums globally, but also his commitment to hope, love and beauty in the form of an Oscar qualifier “Ferguson Rises” and its committed director, and our other guest, Mobolaji Olambiwonnu. Perhaps, on a spiritual plane, these two artists - the filmmaker and singer - understand the art form of their crafts where community, curation of the human spirit and creative expression are one.

Ferguson Rises is about tragedy, transcendence and hope. It's the story of a father's grief and a small town that gave rise to a global movement. Ferguson Rises is a powerful reminder that, while specifics may differ, the fight for human rights is universal.

This episode on Here's To Life:
•  Crafting positive purpose and social transformation through art and pain
•  How Aloe Blacc's song "The Other Side" spiritually frames the film
•  Pushing for change and making it to the other side of trauma
•  The inspiration behind Aloe Blacc's powerful hit song "The Man"
•  The story that has never been told... until now

CREDITS:

Guests: Mobolaji Olambiwonnu and Aloe Blacc
Host and Producer: Tori Reid
Executive Producer: Patrick A. Howell
Co-Executive Producer:  Tori Reid
Writer: Patrick A. Howell
Post Production: Cutting Edge Editing
Add'l Post Production: We Edit Podcasts
Voiceover Artist: Vïntóry Blake Moore
Advertising Sponsor: Vivreau Water Systems
Advertising Sponsor: Hilton Sacramento Arden West
Ad Voiceover Artist: Ginger Levert
Logo Photography: Bobby Holland
Photo credit for Mobolaji Olambiwonnu: Zack DeZon
Photo credit for Aloe Blacc: Reid Rolls

Music:
"Twelve Years" by Fabien Tell
Vivreau Ad Music - "That's What Left Us Behind" by Christian Anderson

a Victory & Noble production
@ 2021 Victory & Noble LLC  All Rights Reserved.

Official Trailer for "Ferguson Rises"

Here's to Life with Tori Reid is a show about living your best life, living it out loud and always using the reservoir of the spirit to fill in life's valleys and mountain tops. Find more of our shows at www.HerestoLifeEveryday.com, also find out more about our host Tori Reid on Instagram at www.instagram.com/iamtorireid.