Arsht Impact Gospel Fest Miami

GRAMMY award-winning recording artist, Jekalyn Carr, began singing and ministering professionally when she was only fifteen years old. In less than a decade later, Carr has become one of the top-selling independent recording artists in Gospel music.

Jekalyn Carr has garnered ten Stellar awards wins, four GMA Dove wins, and two Billboard Music Award nominations. Carr's accomplishments on the charts include many Billboard number ones, for radio singles, albums, and digital singles. In her career, Carr has had seven songs reach top ten.

She was named one of EBONY Magazine’s coveted ‘Power 100’ at the age of thirteen, that highlights the most Influential people in the world. Carr also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the President of the United States. Carr was the first gospel artist to be inducted into the Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame. Carr was featured by Forbes, which highlighted her brand, from the music to a new beauty skin care line. In addition to her illustrious singing career, Jekalyn Carr is a sought-after speaker, conference host, and radio personality.

Sisters United is a Miami-based ensemble of four women joined together by a shared passion for glorifying God through song. Though each member brings her own distinct sound and ministry expression, they blend as one to create a worship experience marked by unity, strength, and grace.

Made up of two Senior Pastors and two Ministers, Sisters United is a reflection of true sisterhood, spiritual harmony, and a collective passion to minister to God’s people with excellence and authenticity.

Miami, Florida native Rashard Wright is a pastor, songwriter, and worship leader committed to building authentic, Christ-centered community alongside his wife, Courtney Wright. As the founder of Connect Church, he leads with a passion for discipleship, family, and worship that goes beyond the stage. Rashard has collaborated with artists such as Todd Galberth, Darrel Walls, and Psalmist Raine, as well as ministries like Change Church, contributing to the sound of modern worship. His breakout single, Build Your Home, has surpassed one million streams and continues to be sung in churches around the world. With a heart for both music and ministry, Rashard is focused on raising up people who are deeply connected to God, each other, and their purpose.

Corey P. Edwards is a multifaceted singer, songwriter, worship leader, producer, and musician currently serving as Associate Minister of Music at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, FL. He is the Founder/Executive Director of the Florida Fellowship Super Choir and was recently appointed International Regional Vice-President of Music and Worship of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. His extensive career includes serving as Minister of Music at Bible-Based Fellowship Church in Tampa under the late Rev. Dr. Arthur T. Jones, State Organist for the Florida General Baptist Convention, and collaborations with gospel luminaries such as Kirk Franklin, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Marvin Sapp, and Myron Butler. He has recorded and arranged for major gospel organizations including the GMWA Mass Choir and the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship International Worship Team.

In 2017, Corey founded the Florida Fellowship Super Choir — approximately 300 members strong — whose debut live recording was released in 2019 as Rejoice: Live in Tampa. In 2022, the choir won the $10,000 top prize in the Large Choir Category of the "How Sweet the Sound" National Gospel Choir Competition, hosted by Donald Lawrence. That same year, Corey launched international tours across Europe, including London and Italy. The founder of COED Music & Media Group and COED Ministries, he continues to expand his influence in gospel music production, worship arts, and ministry — driven by his greatest joy, his two children, Aiyana and Christopher.

Dr. Tammy L. Kernodle is the Park Creative Arts Endowed Professor and University Distinguished Professor of Music at Miami University (OH). She is an internationally recognized scholar and musician whose research focuses on African American music, gender studies in music, and the impact of race in American popular culture. Her scholarship has been published in various journals, reference books, edited volumes, and anthologies. Kernodle is the author of the biography Soul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams, which offers a comprehensive examination of the pianist and arranger’s six-decade career. Additionally, she has been featured in several award-winning documentaries, including "Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band," "Girls in the Band," "Miles Davis: The Birth of Cool," and most recently, "The Disappearance of Miss Scott," which chronicles the life and career of pianist Hazel Scott. Kernodle also serves as the Scholar-in-Residence and Curator for New World Symphony's I Dream a World Festival, celebrating the artistic contributions of Black composers and musicians.

Dr. Apostle Veryl Howard is a Global Peace Ambassador, speaker, author, actress, casting director, and producer known for her dynamic work in entertainment and ministry. She is the founder of Faith Management & Talent Inc., where she has built a strong reputation managing national recording artists and developing talent across film, television, and music. Her acting credits include a recurring role on the series Double Cross and appearances in BET’s The Wesley Christmas Story and The Wesley Christmas Wedding. She has also worked as a producer on projects such as the documentary I Am She, She Is Her, with additional film releases including The Seat of the Scornful and The Wealth of the Sinner. Alongside casting, marketing, and promotions work with major industry names and companies, she is also a successful author of multiple number-one books.

Beyond entertainment, Dr. Howard is widely recognized for her humanitarian and global ministry work. She is a recipient of numerous honors, including the Joe Biden Presidential Award, and serves as a Global Peace Ambassador to 193 countries. Her accolades include industry, humanitarian, and civic recognition, as well as induction into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. She continues her advocacy for youth, the sick, and seniors, regularly supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and teaches health and wellness as a Christian university professor. She has ministered internationally, including becoming the first woman to preach at the national stadium in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and has led outreach across Africa and other nations. Returning to modeling during Fashion Week in Milan and Paris, she continues to embody resilience. A survivor of serious trauma and illness, she credits her journey to faith and remains grounded in her declaration: “To God be the glory, who gives me the strength.”