Bishop T.D. Jakes
And Codeblack Entertainment Highlight Awareness For America’s Missing Persons
of Color
Woman Thou
Art Loosed!: On the 7th Day Will Help Bring National Awareness to This Crisis
Bishop T.D. Jakes,
senior pastor at The Potter's House of Dallas, Inc. and Codeblack
Entertainment, announce their joint support of the Black and Missing
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that brings awareness to missing persons
of color.
According to recent
statistics, persons of color make up an estimated 40 percent of missing people
in the United States. Of that 85 percent were Black - far
greater than their approximately 13 percent share of the U.S. population and yet
they were the subject of fewer than 23 percent of all news reports.
The collaboration
was created as a campaign to support the April 13 theatrical release of Woman Thou Art Loosed!: On the 7th Day,
produced by T.D. Jakes and distributed by Codeblack Entertainment.
The film's plot
elements deal with the impact of abduction on an African-American family.
Outreach offered at The Potter's House along with the vital information and
awareness championed by the Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. created an opportunity
to form a relationship to address the issue of abduction in the film and the
lack of media coverage when persons of color are reported missing.
Black and Missing
Foundation, Inc. (BAM FI) was established as a non-profit organization, by a
veteran law enforcement official and public relations specialist,
whose mission is to bring awareness to missing persons of color, provide vital
resources and tools to missing person's families and friends and to educate the
minority community on personal safety.
"African
Americans are unlikely to receive a national alert or to be featured in the
media when their loved ones go missing," said Bishop T.D. Jakes. "In
an effort to bring awareness and help turn the tide on these daunting
statistics, Codeblack Entertainment and The Potter's House are helping to bring
this issue to the forefront."
To do just that,
The Potter's House has created a multi-tiered relationship. BAM FI will be
featured at the popular MEGA TOTZ and MEGA KIDZ conferences held June 29th and
30th and July 19th-21st, respectively. At both conferences, the foundation will
be able to present safety workshops as well as provide child identification
kits so that families are prepared in a crisis.
The Potter's House
Center for Counseling and Behavioral Health has joined the efforts and will be
listed as a resource for BAM FI clients and will be open to serve individuals
and families referred by the trailblazing foundation. Additional efforts will
increase awareness through scheduled posts and campaigns via Facebook, Twitter
and in-house correspondence to all five churches under The Potter's House
umbrella.
Additionally,
Codeblack Entertainment will help further awareness, education and support of
BAM FI through a variety of traditional, non-traditional and social media
marketing efforts.
"It is so
important to educate our community on this issue, especially since an
overwhelming number of missing persons in the United States are of color,"
said Derrica Wilson, co-founder, Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. “We are so pleased that The Potter’s House along
with Bishop T.D. Jakes and Codeblack Entertainment will use their platform to
help find our missing men, women and children.”
The Foundation
asserts that relationships with organizations are key, but that any effort can
help bring a loved one home.
"Together we
can find the thousands of individuals missing from our communities and bring
them home or provide much needed closure for their families," said Natalie
Wilson, co-founder, Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. "We can all play a
part-big or small- in addressing this issue."
To learn more about
Black And Missing Foundation, Inc. and for profiles of missing individuals,
throughout the nation, as well as news, information, and tips, please visit BAM
FI's web site: www.bamfi.org.
Film synopsis:
Woman Thou Art Loosed!: On the 7th Day
is a compelling story that unites love, suspense and faith into one
heart-wrenching package. David (Blair Underwood) and Kari (Sharon Leal) Ames
seem to have the perfect life until their young daughter is kidnapped, and over
the course of seven days they begin to uncover secrets about their past that
threaten to rip their marriage and lives apart.
Pastor,
Entrepreneur and Filmmaker, T.D. Jakes proudly presents the second installment
in his thought-provoking Woman Thou Art Loosed! film franchise entitled, Woman Thou Art Loosed!: On the 7th Day.
This dramatic thriller stars Golden Globe® Nominee Blair Underwood (Madea's
Family Reunion, Set It Off) and Sharon Leal (Why Did I Get Married Too?, This
Christmas). Also starring Nicole Beharie (American Violet), Nicoye Banks (NBC's
"Law & Order"), Emmy Award® Nominee Pam Grier (2012, The Man with
the Iron Fists, Just Wright), Reed R. McCants (Civil Brand) and Jaqueline
Fleming (2012, Contraband; HBO's "Tremé").
Directed by
award-winning filmmaker Neema Barnette, Woman Thou Art Loosed!: On the 7th Day
underscores the impact of secrets, lies and deception on the lives of the
featured characters.
Produced and
distributed by Codeblack Entertainment and executive produced by T.D. Jakes for
T.D.J Enterprises.
Key Links:
Official Film
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGP4ON7SkOI
Official Film Site:
www.tdjakeswtalmovie.com
Official Film
Facebook: facebook.com/WomanThouArtLoosed7thDay
Black & Missing
Foundation, Inc Facebook: facebook.com/bamfiorg
Black & Missing
Foundation, Inc Twitter: @BAM_FI
Black & Missing
Foundation Inc’s :30 PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMmBQW4wLYQ&sns=em
About Black and
Missing Foundation Inc.:
Black and Missing Foundation, Inc (BAM FI) is a
501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to bring awareness to
missing persons of color; provide vital resources and tools to missing person's
families and friends; and to provide educational training on personal safety.
BAM FI offers a free clearinghouse, which highlights profiles and information
on missing persons of color, nationally. Visit www.bamfi.org for
more information.
About Codeblack
Entertainment:
Launched in 2005 by entertainment industry veteran
Jeff Clanagan, CODEBLACK Enterprises LLC is a global new media &
entertainment content company focused on connecting with diverse
African-American and urban audiences wherever they are. CODEBLACK proudly delivers
its content across the globe through television, motion pictures and a wide
range of digital media. Visit Codeblackentertainment.com more information.
About TDJ
Enterprises:
Bishop T. D. Jakes is a charismatic leader,
visionary, provocative thinker, and entrepreneur who serves as the senior
pastor of the 30,000-member church The Potter's House located in Dallas. Under
the T.D.J. Enterprises umbrella, a for-profit organization, are film, music,
bestselling books, and other products helping disseminate a faith-based message
to a wide audience. Visit http://www.tdjakes.com
for more information.
About The Potter's
House:
Located in Dallas, The Potter's House is a 30,000-member
nondenominational, multicultural church and humanitarian organization led by
Bishop T. D. Jakes, twice featured on the cover of Time magazine as
"America's Best Preacher" and as one of the nation's "25 Most
Influential Evangelicals." The Potter's House has five locations, The
Potter's House of Dallas, The Potter's House of Fort Worth, The Potter's House
of North Dallas, and The Potter's House of Denver and a Spanish language
church, Casa de Fe. www.thepottershouse.org.
(March 9, 2012)