An evening for justice-minded Angelenos to gather, sing, connect, and be inspired
Join the Mass Choir
Bring your ensemble or yourself to sing for Justice with singers from across L.A.
Teens and kids will be led in a special piece by Kayo Anderson! Join as a group or on your own.
See below for more information.
Fulfilling The Dream For Food Equity
February 8, 2025
6:30 Organ Concert 7:00 Feature Event
Proceeds benefit members of L.A.’s food equity coalition
Every February for the past seven years Angelenos have filled The Cathedral to sing, listen to one another, and recharge for the year ahead. These are people whose lives, work, and art feed on justice, equity, and inclusion. So often their work feels isolating. In the “Fulfilling The Dream” concert they find themselves among friends. They find a place for their voice to connect in song with others. They find the pleasure of like-minded purpose for the sake of community. This year The Cathedral will deepen our partnership with Creating Justice L.A. as they continue to help lead the event. As development director for Creating Justice L.A., Kayo Anderson, put it, “Come and recharge the love that flows from you like nature. Come renew yourself.”
The “Fulfilling The Dream” concert is an evening for justice-minded Angelinos to gather, sing, connect, and be inspired. This annual collaborative event, hosted by The Cathedral, partners each year with a local justice-minded organization whose members are on the ground, doing the work. This year The Cathedral will partner with a coalition of organizations who are helping to ensure food equity across L.A.
Event Director and Creator David Harris shares that “The Dream that Dr. King laid out for society-wide justice, equity, and inclusivity is far from fulfilled. Organizations across the city work tirelessly to chip away at the gross injustices still plaguing our communities. The Fulfilling The Dream concert was created so that these leaders can come together and share their load, plug in, and find new projects to support.” Each year features and financially supports the ongoing efforts of select organizations. To date the concerts have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local groups while strengthening ties across the L.A. justice community.
Food Equity in Los Angeles
This year we partner with a broad coalition of organizations who are addressing food equity in L.A. The need is great, as are the growing number of people who are joining the effort to offset the challenges. These include Creating Justice L.A., Immanuel Center, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, The Islamic Center, and The Cathedral’s Food At First and Community Gardens and Urban Farm programs. Food equity resources include sourcing food, creating and growing food, and ensuring that people have access to healthy and affordable food. Resources from the 2025 concert will go to supporting organizations devoted to the equitable access of food for all Angelenos.
If you represent an organization in the food equity struggle and would like to join us the 2025 Fulfilling The Dream coalition, please write to David Harris dharris@fccla.org.
Join the 2025 Mass Choir
One of the main goals of the “Fulfilling The Dream” annual concert is to bring justice-minded singers together from around the city to share their voices on music that has inspired movements. This evening of collaborative singing led by different conductors is a way for whole choirs and individual singers to gather with a large ensemble, celebrate, and meet other singers who want to contribute their voices to bringing justice, equity and inclusivity to Los Angeles. The choir rehearses on Saturday, February 8th from 3:00-5:30 before the concert to sing a few well-known songs. A light dinner will be served after the rehearsal. No preparation is needed, but the music is available ahead of time for those who would like to prepare. Singers of all ages are welcome. Kids and teens will be featured in a special piece led by Kayo Anderson. Please email Music Director David Harris (dharris@fccla.org) with questions and to RSVP for yourself and your ensemble so we know how to plan for you.
“It was said that as Dr. King traveled to different towns and cities, and met the local leaders and foot soldiers on the ground, he knew that they were ready to truly participate in a non-violent movement when he heard them singing.”
~September Penn, The Power of Song, Inc. from the 2022 “Fulfilling The Dream” concert
2022 MLK Planning Committee
Judge Bob Ward (The Cathedral), Rebecca Wink (VOX Femina LA), Brandon Harris (Rowland HS and The Cathedral), September Penn (Angeles Mesa Pres./The Power of Song Inc.), Bernard Brown (The Cathedral), Rev. Michael Lehman (The Cathedral), David Harris (The Cathedral), Chester McCurry (The Cathedral)
DC6 Singers Collective
2025 “Fulfilling The Dream” Guest Artist
We are thrilled to be led in 2025 by the talented leaders of the DC6 Singers Collective. They will share with us their musical knowledge, powerhouse vocals, and passion for justice. DC6 will anchor a story of food equity with songs that will engage, challenge, and heal.
The DC6 Singers Collective is an exceptional vocal ensemble based in Los Angeles composed of gifted A Cappella, Gospel, and R&B singers. Their music is a perfect blend of passion, energy, and charisma, making them a delight to watch and hear.
The DC6 Singers Collective have collaborated on recordings and live projects with some of the biggest names in the music industry including CeCe Winans, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Michael Bolton, the San Francisco Symphony, and the LA Opera Orchestra, to name a few.
One of the things that makes the DC6 Singers Collective stand out is the range of versatility in their sound, in addition to their singular approach to gospel and Motown standards. They breathe new life into classic and contemporary standards, making them truly and extraordinarily their own. From the soulful sounds of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder to The Beatles and heartfelt ballads of Adele, the DC6 Singers Collective infuses each song with their unique enchanting flair, creating a musical experience that transcends generations.
For those who are interested in following their journey, the DC6 Singers Collective can be found on all major social media platforms. Their music will take you on a journey where melodies come alive, hearts unite, and the power of music reigns supreme. Join them on their musical adventure @dc6singers.
Watch the 2024 “Fulfilling The Dream” concert by clicking the link above.
Partnership With Creating Justice LA
Creating Justice L.A., their Center for Peace and Healing in Skid Row and Skid Row People’s Market, and their leaders Kayo Anderson and Pastor Cue continue in partnership for the 2025 Fulfilling The Dream. The Center is an L.A. organization creating community through compassion in the epicenter of L.A.’s housing crisis. They provide a place to belong, a home for curiosity and creativity, a business center, and free snacks and smoothies for all. Community lies at the center of peace and healing. Community not just for the Skid Row neighborhood, but for all Angelenos. The Center for Peace and Healing opens the daily opportunity for compassionate hearts to lift all of our neighbors toward equitable living. Healing LA’s housing wound will take everyone.
Pastor Stephen "Cue" Jn-Marie is pastor of The Church Without Walls in Skid Row. Every Friday, for the last 17 years, he has led services, prayed with, and fed people in the heart of Skid Row, Los Angeles – America’s homeless capital. He is a former Virgin Records rapper who left the music industry in 1994 to become a preacher, activist and organizer. His persistent organizational, lobbying, and one-on-one efforts for the people of Los Angeles continue to create impact across the city, and for people of The Row.
Kenneth “Kayo” Anderson is a multi-disciplinary artist, musician and photographer who hails from Detroit, Michigan where he grew up being influenced by some of the greatest musicians in the world. Today Kayo uses his artistic and development tools in service of the incredible people of Skid Row in Los Angeles. As the development director of the Peace and Healing Center (Creatingjustice.la) he creates spaces that promote healing, musical and artistic experiences, and community connection. Kayo invites everyone reading this to join him in creating equity for all Angelinos.
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After studying Music Education at Jackson State University, Kayo founded the Mosaic Singers, the musical wing of the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit (mosaicdetroit.org/). The troupe began with just 8 voices, but over the course of five years, they grew to an astounding 100 voices, and transformed into one of the most acclaimed and sought after youth choirs in the world. Under his direction, the student choir performed in 30 states, seven countries, and at prestigious venues such as the White House, The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, La Salle Sia in Singapore, Le Maison De Sclaves in Senegal and the Millennium Dome in England, among others. He and the choir collaborated in various ways with amazing artists such as Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Al Green, Sweet Honey In the Rock and many others. They were invited to give command performances for US Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and for acclaimed author Maya Angelou, who remarked that the Mosaic Singers were "the most amazing youth troupe I've ever seen."
After relocating to Los Angeles in 2011 Kayo continued his legacy of ushering deep community involvement. He formed the Leimert Park Youth Choir under the umbrella of the Harmony Project, a world-renowned arts organization that provides free arts training to over 2000 at risk youth in Los Angeles. His personal life path in Los Angeles has fed his deepening compassion for all people. Having experienced the California housing crisis from multiple angles, he has devoted his time, talents and unique vantage to building community by being IN community; tackling the houselessness crisis with art, purpose and lived experience. During his advocacy work, he founded the LA CAN Freedom Singers who recently appeared on Americas Got Talent! He continues to lead music around the city, singing and guest teaching with the Episcopalian Society, serving as minister of music at St. Mark United Methodist Church, and as the Artistic and Development Director of Creating Justice, LA. In this role, and as Minister of Music at The Row: Church Without Walls, he serves to manage the Creating Justice Peace and Healing Center alongside Pastor Cue Jn Marie who has revolutionized ministry in skid row.
Kayo’s work has been featured in “The Wall Street Journal”, "The New York Times", “Swerve Magazine” and on Public Radio's and PBS "All Things Considered" and on NBC ‘s “The Today Show.” He was also one of the featured subjects of “And They Flew,” an Emmy award winning documentary. Kayo gives love to his family in Detroit, Spirit family, Creating Justice Family and you all: global family. WE ARE NOT SEPARATE! miss you mom! ❤️
The 2025 Fulfilling The Dream Mass Choir Leadership
Youth and Teens are invited to sing in a special feature led by Kayo Anderson. Ensemble directors, email FCCLA Music and Arts Director David Harris (dharris@fccla.org) with questions and to reserve your place in the choir. Please note the number of singers you’ll be bringing. Rehearsal from 3:30-5:30pm on February 3rd. Music will be sent to you.
Organist, John West
International performing artist John West received his Master of Music degree with Honors from the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. West has toured extensively throughout the world. His performance credits include solo appearances with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and a featured artist of American Guild of Organists Region IX Convention. In the fall of 1995, John performed as a featured vocalist in New York with ‘Patti LuPone on Broadway’. He is a featured organist at Walt Disney Concert Hall on the DVD documentary about the Glatter-Götz/Rosales Organ, and for the last 14 years he has performed with the Los Angeles Master Chorale at Disney Hall on the Festival of Carols concerts in December.
John is also very active as a musician in film, television and recordings. He got his first professional industry job as a staff writer and producer with Motown Records eventually working directly with founder Berry Gordy, Jr. His songs have been recorded by Nancy Wilson and Jennifer Holiday. His uplifting spiritual song “Heaven’s Hands” was used to open the Vienna Music Festival, Austria in May of 2011, performed with a full symphonic orchestra, soloist and 100 voice choir. He became an in-demand vocalist for TV and film and has worked as vocal contractor for such blockbusters as “Hairspray” and “Godzilla”. His vocal performances are most recently heard in the soundtracks of “Black Panther: Wokanda Forever”, Jordan Peele’s “Nope” and “Spiderman- No Way Home”. Television appearances include “The Academy Awards” and his latest solo appearance in 2020 on the HBO series “Perry Mason”.
Currently John is Music/Choral Director and Organist at Hollywood United Methodist Church. He has two solo organ compact discs, and choral and organ works have been published by Lawson-Gould and Augsburg Fortress.
Event Director, David Harris
David Harris (DMA) specializes in new music, American music, and the intricacies of communication in singing, writing, and conducting. Through his "compassion-focused, artist-centered" rehearsal process, David opens vocalists into discovery spaces that prioritize each individual's experience. His filtered listening initiative elevates sensory/listening awareness as a central tool for engaging the voice. He is the Director of Music and Arts at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles where he directs professional, avocational and children's choirs. Through his work at FCCLA he has created several music/justice initiatives, helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars for local charities by bringing music communities together. He has also led new initiatives to present classical choral masterworks with choirs and The Great Organs. He is an active performer and composer in L.A. As director of the professional ensemble Laude he recorded more than 300 tracks during quarantine including the premiere album and performance of Patrick Cassidy's "The Mass" in its organ/choir setting. He is also the Ensemble Director for the N.E.O. voice Festival, an annual festival that guides composers and vocalists to discover the vast potential of the human voice through the lens of science, compassion, and creation. David is the co-founder of VoiceScienceWorks, an organization helping vocalists learn to translate difficult voice science into immediately applicable tools.
Mass Choir Guest Conductor, Ernest H. Harrison
Dr. Ernest H. Harrison (Music Director & Conductor of GMCLA) joined GMCLA in December 2019 as Music Director and Head of Education and Outreach. Dr. Harrison received his Doctorate in choral music from the University of Southern California in May 2023. He is a former Associate Conductor of the National Children’s Chorus and Choir Director of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music’s Cantare Chamber Choir, and is also a member of the international choral ensemble Conspirare as well as a former Board Member of the Stonewall National Museum and Archives. In Fall 2023, Dr. Harrison began his tenure as Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology specializing in the music of the African Diaspora and Music and Social Justice at Cal State Polytechnic Pomona. His fields of study include early music, spirituals, gospel, jazz, and choral and vocal pedagogy. As an educator, Dr. Harrison is particularly passionate about the work he has done through community outreach, including choral clinics in the LAUSD school systems, presentations on healing through music, workshops through the AHJN network, and the Alive Music Project that provides free concerts to students all around the Southern California region. Dr. Harrison is a community minded educator who is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom and on the stage, increasing musical representation of all marginalized voices, especially those belonging to the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and creating and maintaining musical safe spaces for everyone who needs them.
