Press Contacts:
Rick Miramontez / Kendall Edwards / Bailey Everett
rick@omdkc.com / kendall@omdkc.com / bailey@omdkc.com
212 695 7400
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
PHOTOS AND VIDEO RELEASED
FROM
BTC’S
3RD ANNUAL
“BUILDING THE CHANGE” GALA
HONOREES INCLUDED
TARAJI P. HENSON
THOMAS SCHUMACHER
SUSAN FALES-HILL
AND
JESSICA MATTEN/INDIGENOUS FILM ACADEMY
New York, NY (March 12, 2026) – On Monday, BTC held its 3rd Annual “Building the Change” Gala at the Rainbow Room in New York City. This event celebrated entertainment professionals working in theater, film, television, cultural institutions, and music. Distinguished guests include Debbie Allen, J. Harrison Ghee, Kevin Boseman, Christopher Jackson, Amber Iman, Siedah Garrett, Jordan Tyson, Kristolyn Lloyd, Joshua Boone, Khaila Wilcoxon, and more.
To download photos from the event, click here.
To download video from the event, click here.
The evening honored Taraji P. Henson (Academy Award-nominated Actor, Producer, Author) with the Chadwick Boseman Change Maker Award, Thomas Schumacher (Tony Award-winning Producer and Author) with the BTC Visionary Ally Award, Susan Fales-Hill (Executive Producer, Writer and Arts Advocate) with the Poitier-Belafonte Award for Cultural Activism, and Jessica Matten/Indigenous Film Academy (President of 7 Forward Entertainment) with the Lynn Nottage Bold Beacon Award.
Special performances included Grammy Award winning and 2x Oscar nominated singer-songwriter Siedah Garret, Tony-nominee Christopher Jackson, and Tony-nominee Amber Iman.
ABOUT BTC
BTC was founded by T. Oliver Reid and Warren Adams during the Summer of 2019. They identified the disparity between the growing inclusivity onstage, versus the almost non-existence of Black professionals off stage. They invited their colleague, Reggie Van Lee, to join them as Co-Founder in their march towards dismantling the systemically racist and biased ideology in the theatrical job space. BTC officially filed as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in June of 2020.
BTC’s mission is to remove the “Illusion of Inclusion” in the American Theatre by removing barriers to access for those who have been historically marginalized and building a sustainable, ethical roadmap that will increase opportunities for the next generation of emerging talent.
For more information about BTC, visit their website https://buildingthechange.org/.
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