Planning Committee

Rev. LK Linnard Harris Sr, a native of Richmond, Virginia, is married to Teresina Goodman-Harris whom he considers his bigger half.  Reverend Harris, has a long standing camaraderie with Rev. V.S. Bray as they served in the military together.

With an impressive array of accomplishments, there is little Reverend Harris hasn’t done. In fact, he believes it is better to ask him, “What haven’t you done?”
He has served as a police officer and substitute teacher, he has authored five books, and excelled as a mentor and motivational speaker. Not stopping there, he wrote, produced, and directed his first movie, “You Reap What You Sow”, starring Tommy Ford. He launched a television talk show titled “The Impact of Reality”. He also hosted a Radio Show talk show.  In addition, Reverend Harris even pursued a political career, running for the Virginia House of Delegates. His educational background is equally impressive, as he holds a doctorate degree in Christian Counseling and Humanities.

It is clear that Reverend Harris’s passion for helping others with relationships and relational values has led him to answer the call from God to be a fisher of men.

Clovia’s philosophy has been the driving force behind her multifaceted career that spans radio, journalism, non-profit leadership, and entrepreneurship.

As an esteemed radio personality for Urban One Inc, Community Clo, as she is affectionately known, has become a household name. Her genuine connection with the audience has earned her accolades and nominations from prestigious organizations, including the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, Marconi Award (2X nominee), YMCA Women of the Year, and the B.E.T Local Hero Award.

Clovia is the co-founder and executive director of Project Give Back to Community, Inc. This 501c(3) nonprofit organization reflects on her commitment to social impact. Notably, she leads Clo’s House Holistic Transitional Living, providing essential bed spaces for men returning from incarceration. She is also the CEO of a non-profit organization and serves as the President of Sarai Works, LLC, a company founded by her talented 17-year-old daughter, Kenya Sarai.

Saxsmo is a Richmond native and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1978. He attended Virginia State University and later transferred under a full scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee in 1984. Also with a full scholarship he received his Master’s in Jazz Studies at North Carolina Central
University 2011.

Saxsmo is the Founder/ Director/Coordinator of the Dr. Billy Taylor Jazz Studies Program at Virginia State University. Saxsmo was also Nominated for the Richmond
Public Schools Education Foundation Living Legacies 2015 Award. James Saxsmo Gates is also a former Board Member of the Richmond Jazz Society, former Board member of the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, present Board member of Richmond Cultural Works, present Board Member of The HBCU Jazz Education Initiative, Kappa Kappa Phi Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.

Gates has played and traveled extensively in the United States and abroad in performing with such notable artists as Joe Kennedy, Jr., Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Walter Davis, Jr., Walter Bishop, Jr., The Temptations, Dianne Reeves, Jimmy Cobb, Hod O’Brien, Larry Willis, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Alex Bugnon, Terrance Blanchard, Delfeayo Marsalis, Billy Kilson, Patrice Rushen, Steve Wilson, Lonnie Listen Smith, Steve Turre and The Main Ingredients, etc.

CW5 Phillip Brashear is the son of Carl and Junetta Brashear and was born in Honolulu, HI on 3 July 1962. He is also a 1980 graduate of I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, VA. Phillip is a retired Department of Defense civilian of the Defense Logistics Agency in Richmond, VA with over 39 years of service. He is also a retired CW5 Army helicopter pilot with over 41 years of military service.

Phillip is the third son of the late Master Chief, Master Diver Carl Brashear, the subject of the Hollywood movie, ‘Men of Honor’. Through his father’s legendary American Military Hero status, Phillip has had the opportunity to share his dad’s story on numerous occasions ranging from the staff at the White House and the Pentagon, various military organizations, church functions, museums, youth groups, and various local civic organizations. Phillip has also travelled internationally to represent his famous father. Phillip has represented the Army as well at events like the Essence Music Festival, college and university events, church organizations, and various civic and youth groups for his own extraordinary career as a helicopter pilot. Upon his retirement from his military career, Phillip was honored by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy as an Honorary Navy Chief. This honor has been given to only a few notable figures in American history like Hollywood actor Gary Sinise of the famed movie “Forrest Gump”.

Clarence Key III, is a long time resident of Henrico County, VA and he is married to Sabrina Lewis-Key.  He is the father of five children and has eleven grandchildren.  Clarence is a native of Long Island, New York and he was raised in Southampton County, Virginia by his paternal grandparents.  After graduating from Southampton High School in 1985, Clarence attended Virginia Union University on a football scholarship where he majored in psychology.  He retired in April of 2024, after serving almost 28 years as a Richmond Police Officer/Detective.  He continues to work as an Investigative Contractor working missing persons/homicide cold cases.  Clarence has worked as an extra in several movie productions, filmed in the Richmond Region.  In his spare time, Clarence enjoys reading and learning about Ancient African History. He also enjoys spending time with family. 

Crystal Perry was born in South Bend, Indiana as Crystal Ann Wiley. She is a 24-year retired veteran of the Air Force. She produced Living as a Christian in a Hip-Hop World Skit, Confessions of the Soul, Longsuffering and Peace, and Rise Up monologues. She was the Stage Director for Drama in Da Church starring Ms. Melba Moore, Tony Evans, Christopher Williams and a host of other reputable actors. Her TV work includes I Am Homicide, “What the Toddler Saw” (Supporting) and “For My Man, Episode 213” (Featured). Her commercial work includes Medstar: The Varsenig (Principle), numerous industrial and national Voice Over roles. Crystal’s theater experiences include Drama in Da Church, Enola: Living in the Key B, The Power to Overcome, The Amen Corner, For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Not Enuf, Martin Malcolm and We…The Discussion, When Love is Not Enough, Martin: His Life His Love His Legacy, Lost Boys, When Love is Not Enough, I Deserve Better, Holy Night and Tis the Season To Be Crazy. Crystal is married (Wiley-Perry) to Rodney Perry into a blended family. She and Rod have three children, a daughter-in-love, six grand-children, and a large extended family. She is licensed to preach the gospel, and she has evangelized through preaching and praise dancing internationally! She has traveled to four continents, and she gives God the glory for divinely designing her to BE and to live life to the full!

Desirée Roots, former co-artistic director of community at Virginia Rep, has joined the leadership team of the newly established ATLAS Partnership. Roots’ previous position was eliminated during a recent restructuring of Virginia Rep. Founded nine months ago by Emily Cole-Jones, along with senior advisors Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway, ATLAS Partnership welcomes Roots as its program director. All three founders recently parted ways with Virginia Rep.

“It’s a joy to continue to work within the community that has always embraced me,” Roots said. “I feel like I’m coming home again.” Roots started her career with Miller and Whiteway at Theatre IV, a non-profit children’s theater they founded in 1975. Theatre IV later merged with Barksdale Theatre in 2012 to become Virginia Rep.
ATLAS Partnership, a nonprofit theater-based historical society, will focus on four major projects in the coming year: “Gabriel,” a new musical set to premiere in fall 2025 that commemorates the 250th anniversary of Virginia’s founding and tells the story of Gabriel, an enslaved man who led a significant slave rebellion in 1800; “Walking the Line,” a revival of a play from the late 1980s and early 1990s that addressed the crack cocaine epidemic, with an updated version focusing on the current opioid crisis and set to tour Virginia schools starting in the 2025-26 school year; “Plays & Playmakers,” a series of recorded panel discussions and interviews with Richmond’s foremost theatrical artists and leaders, produced in cooperation with the Library of Virginia; and “We the People,” a revival of a historical musical revue produced by Theatre IV in 1976, which will tour Virginia’s historical sites and schools starting on Independence Day 2025.

Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from George Mason University, and a Masters in Adult Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Education, both from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews is the author of the Forever Friends children’s book series and three pictorial history books. Her projects focus on empowerment, diversity and inclusion, and leadership.