Reality Show Star Shelby 'Soullow' Lowery to Appear at Sexual Abuse Awareness Gala

DECATUR, Ga. - April 25, 2017 - PRLog -- In America every 96 seconds someone is sexually abused. In DeKalb County alone there were 173 reported rape crimes in 2015, per the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's crime report. It is The Let Your Voice Be Heard Foundation's mission to help lessen these occurrences and combat the epidemic through education and community involvement.

In honor of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April and the celebration of the organization's fifth year of advocating, The Let Your Voice Be Heard Foundation will be hosting its annual sexual assault awareness gala. Fondly entitled The Bling event this year, LYVBH has partnered with the locally and independently owned jewelry company Taylor-Made Accessories to provide guests with a gala experience like no other. "Registered survivors and attendees will be loaned out selections of 'bling' in order to shine brightly as we highlight and honor survivors," explains the foundation's founder, Kenni York. The gala occurs on April 29, 2017 at 6pm at the Atlanta Friends Meeting Hall located at 701 W. Howard Ave. Decatur, GA 30030.

In order to stress the importance of community involvement and having the courage to speak up and speak out, LYVBH has invited several dynamic public figures to participate at this year's gala including Shelby 'Soullow' Lowery as seen on OWN's Iyanla Fix My Life following his own admission of being a victim of child sexual abuse. Though child sexual abuse rapantly plaques our communities, it is often difficult for males to speak up about being violated. For his bravery in speaking up and speaking out in such a public and transparent manner, Soullow will be celebrated at the gala as a special honoree.  View Soullow's testimony here: https://youtu.be/gxFd2aiECs4



Other distinguished guests include actress Chere Turner from TV One's Fatal Attraction and Ann Casas of Marsy's Law, Georgia.

The keynote speaker for this prestigious event will be DeKalb County's Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor-General, Dionne McGee. Her involvement, on behalf of the DeKalb County Solicitor-General's office, exemplifies the prominence of officials, on both the county and state levels, coming together with the community to make an impact and effectively begin to impart change. Deputy Chief McGee has an extensive background with regards to working to strengthen communities within Atlanta and DeKalb County and addressing issues that are pertinent to the citizens. In 2012, she established McGee Law LLC, specializing in DUI, Criminal Defense, Family Law and Personal Injury.  Through her firm, she hosted monthly "Coffee and Conversations" where she connected civic leaders with concerned citizens to discuss various issues plaguing our schools and communities. Deputy Chief McGee has served as an Assistant Solicitor in the City Court of Atlanta, Executive Director of Legal Services for the State Personnel Administration of Georgia, a Senior Assistant Solicitor in DeKalb County State Court, and now leads the Special Victims Unit and oversees Community Outreach via her current position as the Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor General for DeKalb County.

Guests at The Bling Event can also expect to be entertained by several local talent acts, receive a full course, catered meal, and plenty of opportunities for photos and media interviews. The evening will be hosted by Atlanta entertainment royalty: DJ Sed the Saint and Comedian Kia Comedy.

"Our goal this year is to celebrate survivorship and really drive home the importance of raising your voice against sexual violence at a time in our nation's history where it seems to be sensationalized and normalized even by those in high, influential positions," states Kenni York. "It's a heavy topic, but we're presenting the event in a tasteful, entertaining manner."