Special to Iredell Free News

To commemorate the second annual Soulful Sunday Jazz fundraiser and the six-year anniversary of Speak Life & Live, community members from all across Iredell gathered at Jeffrey’s restaurant in Mooresville for a time of fellowship, music, and fun.

The Frank and Linda Johnson Family Trust sponsored this year’s Jazz event. 

Speak Life & Live’s mission is to empower individuals by providing them with adequate educational and social tools so they can navigate life, move towards positive change, and become resilient, independent people.

The nonprofit’s most extensive program, Mentoring and Tutoring, provides students at risk for disconnection from school a restorative space to receive academic support, identify and explore their values and goals and build a sense of self. Their program creates pathways of success for students to best engage and self-manage/alter disruptive behaviors and provides opportunities for students to learn and practice skills they need to navigate life and its challenges successfully.

Speak Life & Live programs would not be feasible without the help of the Board Chair Debra Turner Bailey, the Board of Directors, mentors/tutors, community partners, and sponsors.

Leslie Morrison and Saira Estrada, the organization’s co-executive directors, greatly appreciated everyone’s help this year. “We sincerely thank the Lead sponsor, Frank & Linda Johnson Family Trust, and the Hope and Supporting Sponsors,” they said in a news release.

Hope Sponsors

NAACP, Mitchell, A-1 Home Solutions, Gordon Iron & Metal Company, Chick-Fil-A, Lowes Home Improvement, Barry & Anna Gordon.

Supporting Sponsors

Belk, Bailey Services Building Stars of Charlotte Commercial Cleaning Solutions, Heritage Knitting, Energy United, Allen Smith, Barry & Anna Gordon; Partners: Millsaps Trucking, City of Statesville Department of Parks and Recreation