Pompano leader unites community through Gospel Music
From Staff Writer
Idella Grissett is relishing her new role as the Community Development Liaison for the Creative City Collaborative, which manages the Pompano Beach Amphitheater (The Amp) and the upcoming Cultural Arts Center.
Grissett is spearheading an exciting initiative to help local charities and churches raise funds through tickets sales for one of the biggest Gospel events to hit South Florida. The Festival of Praise is a spectacular, creatively-themed presentation that will look to inspire, celebrate, and promote inclusion in the community.
“This amazing spiritual event has the power to bring our community together through the joy of music and the opportunity to help our local churches and charities,” said Grissett, who has developed important relationships with numerous church leaders in the North West Community.
Grissett is offering churches and charities the opportunity to raise $20 per concert ticket sold for their worthy causes. She is also collaborating on an exciting preevent reception that will include numerous dignitaries, celebrities, and honor the church/charity that sells the most tickets, with a VIP experience.
Pastor Gary McCloud, president of the Black Clergy, has been duly impressed with Grissett’s commitment to her community. “Idella is doing a tremendous job. Not only is she instrumental in bridging the gap in the community, but she has developed relationships with community leaders and pastors like myself. She is a catalyst in making the city more exciting and appealing and al-lowing us the opportunity to become a true hot spot and Florida’s Warmest Welcome.”
As well as Pastor Gary McClamore, president of Pompano Beach Concern Citizens states, “Ms. Grissett is a great asset in that the concepts and ideas she brings has allowed us to bond as a community. She has allowed us to be identified as one whole community and no longer divided, causing us to come together as one.”
Her dedication to community and church is part of Grissett’s DNA. She is the granddaughter of Bishop Ralph Grissett, and the great granddaughter of Alex & Addie Holloway, one of the co-founders of Mt. Calvary, one of the three oldest African-American churches in Broward County.
Pointing to her proud heritage was never enough for her. Since graduating from Blanche Ely High School and then Morris Brown College in Atlanta, she has forged her own leadership role working along-side attorney Marian Parker –Executive Director of the SCLC, and the Rev. Dr. Howard Creecy, Jr., former Southern Christian Leadership Conference president.
Now focused on her new mission, she is garnering the support of all who work with her, including District 4 Commissioner Ed Phillips who said, “Idella’s contribution is filling a void in the community by providing programs and cultural arts that speak to the identity of the community at large. Because of the star power and national notoriety of the per-formers at this show, it should play a role in helping to inspire hope and faith, which inevitably brings about the spirit of inclusion in our community. Personally, by the number of ministers who indicated their support, I think the influence of this endeavor will reach beyond the borders of Pompano, and perhaps. Indeed, in fact even beyond Broward County.”
“Ms. Grisset has been a fresh and needed voice in the community of Pompano and she is making sure that it is being heard and represents the people who have not been heard, stated publisher of the Westside Gazette, Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
The Festival of Praise Concert will be held at The Amp on Oct. 15, and will feature multiple GRAMMY®, Dove and Stellar Award-winning recording artists Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell, and Hezekiah Walker. Tickets are available through local churches or at www.pompanobeacharts.org.
For more information about this special event and how your church/charity can participate please contact Idella at (954) 234-1252 or email idella@ccc-arts.org.
