All-Star Gospel Celebration to kick off NBA All-Star weekend

The Madam Walker Legacy Center will be transported back to the 1920s Harlem Renaissance as the 17th annual All-Star Gospel Celebration (ASGC) kicks off the NBA All-Star weekend. The award celebration and gospel concert will kick off a jam-packed weekend of parties leading up to the anticipated game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Feb. 18. Honoring NBA players, legends, community leaders and hometown heroes, the ASGC includes performances from Grammy-Award winning musical artists, NBA chaplains and celebrity guest appearances on Indiana Avenue Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. “What better way to kick off than with an inspirational story of just highlighting people and talking about insurmountable circumstances and how you can survive,” said Tomeka Holyfield, creator and executive producer of ASGC. In 2005, Holyfield set out on a one-woman operation to start the first gospel-themed concert to take place ahead of the NBA All-Star Game. Her goal was to create an event with longevity that would inspire and uplift the local communities hosting All-Star Games. However, the event grew to become the official NBA All-Star Weekend kickoff event and has been celebrating local legends in each hosting city every year since. “What we do is we highlight NBA players, NBA legends,...