Michael (Wanz) Wansley, Seattle vocalist and long-time supporter and cheerleader of Solid Ground's work, will join us to help usher you through the hour of community brilliance and resilience this year! Wanz became a household name in the summer of 2012 when his booming voice and indelible, flashy persona helped earn the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis track on which he's featured billions of spins. With every “Thrift Shop” popped tag and spent $20 bill, Wanz solidified his place as King of the Refrain. Some of Wanz's earliest memories include performing for classmates, church choirs, and talent shows while growing up in Lakewood, WA. And that creative, centralizing impulse hasn’t diminished, even after winning two Grammy Awards, singing in the Seattle Opera Chorus performance of Porgy & Bess, and performing the National Anthem to tens of thousands of fans prior to games for the Seahawks, Sounders FC, and the Mariners. Wanz is joining us LIVE to rally in support of meeting basic needs and nurturing success for over 70,000 families across the region.
Our very own Phoenica Zhang, Corporate Engagement Partner, has been with Solid Ground for five years, working to connect individuals and organizations who are passionate about equitable change to our work! Before that, she helped coordinate our Community Food Education programming. We are thrilled to have Phoenica return after hosting last year's Virtual Lunch-In event, to help illuminate all the ways our communities have come together this past year!