(From left to right) Jeffrey Aron, board member, All Stars Project; Martin Begun, awardee, managing partner of Reiter/Begun Associates; Dr. Lenora B. Fulani, developmental psychologist; Roscoe Brown, awardee, director of the Center for Urban Education Policy, university professor at the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York; Neshama Carlebach, singer; Gabrielle L. Kurlander, president and CEO, All Stars Project; Howard Teich, attorney and member of the advisory board of the New York Board of Rabbis; Reverend Roger Hembrick, director, Green Pastures Baptist Church Choir; (front row seated) Dalmar Nation, Edward Auguste and Femand Auguste of Tru Destiny, All Stars youth performers.

The All Stars Project announced its newest initiative Together and Giving Back at a benefit concert by Neshama Carlebach, a leading superstar in Jewish entertainment, and the Green Pastures Baptist Church Choir directed by Reverend Roger Hembrick, on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at the ASP’s performing arts and development center.

Together and Giving Back is bringing together African American, Latino and Jewish youth to create new performances and to give back to their communities. “This concert is dedicated to a new spirit, brought about by people from the Jewish community and the Black community who believe deeply in and have done the hard work of creating something new together,” said Gabrielle L. Kurlander, president and CEO, All Stars Project.

The initiative was launched earlier this year with the help of Howard Teich, attorney and member of the advisory board of the New York Board of Rabbis, who earlier this year received the All Stars Project’s “2008 Bridge Building Award for Leadership in Community Relations.” Organizations partnering with the All Stars Project in Together and Giving Back include Congregation Rodeph Sholom, the Ramaz School, affiliated with Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, and the MetroWest Jewish Community Center/ Project Kavod.

At the benefit reception, the All Stars Project presented the “Harmony through Understanding” Lifetime Achievement Award to two distinguished leaders, Martin Begun and Roscoe Brown.