Through the pandemic and a national reckoning with racism the Black Church has been an essential space for healing, spiritual reflection and community action.

To honor and celebrate this institution, join Twin Cities PBS for an exclusive preview and panel discussion with local Black church leaders in advance of the upcoming series The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song, produced by Henry Louis Gates (Finding Your Roots, Reconstruction: America After the Civil War).

Panelists will discuss the historic and present role of the Black church and its influence in our communities. Our esteemed panelists include:

Reverend Elijah McDavid, Senior Pastor at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church – a dynamic congregation that sits as a beacon of hope in North Minneapolis and is committed to sharing love throughout the Twin Cities.

First Lady Andrea Thomas, Youth Director of Mount Olivet and Executive Director of Mount Olivet Lab School, the church’s chief outreach to community youth and families.

Deseria Galloway, an Anger Management Facilitator at Shiloh Temple International Ministries, who aim to offer progressive and innovative approaches to serving the community.

and Shayla Harris, award-winning Independent Director and Producer, and Producer/Director of The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song.

Moderated by Chanda Smith-Baker Chief Impact Officer from the Minneapolis Foundation and lifelong North Minneapolis community member.

Major corporate support for THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major support is also provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc., Ford Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers.

Thank you to our sponsors: Frederickson & Byron, P.A., TKDA and Rosemount Measurement Products Powered by Emerson.

The two-part documentary premieres on Tuesday, February 16 at 8 pm on TPT 2.