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Suzanne De Passe, Israel Houghton and P J Morton Among Honorees

Dynamic, Intimate, Empowering – The 2022 Merge Awards celebrated and honored those who are making an impact in bridging the worlds of faith and entertainment. It all happened this past Saturday at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The platform celebrates and honors leaders, visionaries, and pioneers who are making a difference in their respective industries.

Founded by Dr. Holly Carter and Co-Founded by Robi Reed the powerhouse entertainment executives alongside Charwoman Traci Blackwell walked the purple carpet exemplifying all of the wisdom, creativity, royalty, and power the color stands for.

Blackwell shared with Sheen on the purple carpet, “I think Holly said something earlier that’s really important and that is really having the courage to sort of live your faith out loud and is not an easy thing to do. It’s a bold move and we just want to encourage people to do that.”

“Saying you’re a believer, saying that you love God is a bold thing to do particularly in the workplace and we just want to encourage people to share that with the world so we can encourage people to understand that God loves them,” she added.

“That’s right. And then the louder you say it, the more you find and see the people that are like you and believe the same thing,” said legendary Casting Director Robi Reed.

This year, The Merge Awards winners included Suzanne De Passe (Legacy Lifetime Achievement Award), James Dubose (R.O.S.E. Award), Charles D. King and Stacey Walker King (Trailblazer Award), Israel Houghton (Faith Music Award), P J Morton (Artist Of The Year), Morgan Debaun (Digital Tech Award), Adam Blackstone (Music Director of the Year), Angelica Nwandu and Stephanie Ike (Disruptor Award), and Romeo Miller (The Merger Award).

When The Merge Summit was established 13 years ago, the platform served to provide an opportunity for men and women to learn from the entertainment industry’s top artists and executives. At the intersection of faith and entertainment, the summit provides an experience unlike any other.

From its vibrant workshops, interactive panel discussions, masterclass presentations, and live entertainment – they designed a unique experience that educates, empowers, and inspires a diverse audience from around the world.

Merger Award Winner Romeo Miller took to the purple carpet this weekend to both inspire and share what to expect if you were in his masterclass at The Merge Summit. “God said if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you’ll be able to move mountains. That’s why I have it tattooed on my arm, Mark 9:23.  My master class would be trying to lead people to God. I saw my cousin die in front of me at the age of eight years old and since then I’ve known the importance of time. Today, being here at the Merge Awards – this is my Oscar. It’s about faith, it’s about educating our people and this is a beautiful thing for me,” said Miller.

Dr. Holly Carter would present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Suzanne De Passe but before she stepped onto the stage, Carter shared timeless advice from De Passe. “No matter what you do, don’t get used to a comfort zone. Never live your life in a box because you will be buried in that box,” said Carter.

Having discovered The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, De Passe shared a story with the audience about her cousin, stating, “Well, haven’t you retired yet? and I said, “Lose my number! I come from the school of Bill Withers, ‘Use me till you use me up.’ And that’s one of the reasons I  launched not only the Passe-Jones Entertainment, but also new opportunities and new businesses.

The event celebrated over 9 individuals honoring their accomplishments over the past year across the fields of film, music, tech, social influence, legacy, and more.  The event, produced by Wright Productions, garnered attendance from Essence Atkins, AJ Johnson, Pastor Toure Roberts, Alex Isley, Devika Parikh, Golden Brooks, and more.

For more information on The Merge Summit and The Merge Awards, visit www.MergeSummit.com.