You’re going to want to keep watching until the very last second of the upcoming 2021 Mira Awards gala on Thursday, April 22.

The gala has often had special musical guests who helped make “Tech’s Biggest Night” the one-of-a-kind, energetic experience we’ve all come to expect. This year, we’re pulling out all of the stops and bringing you something we’ve never done before!

Bringing stunning visual art to “Tech’s Biggest Night”

Starting at the first flourish of the gala’s opening video featuring our Mira Award nominees, artist Deonna Craig will begin creating an original abstract painting inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem, Still I Rise, which is also a nod to the gala’s theme of “Rise Up!” 

Dynamic visual artist and muralist Deonna Craig.

The finished work will be given to one lucky donor who helps raise funds for a new digital equity initiative launched by the TechPoint Foundation for Youth (TPF4Y). You get an entry into the drawing for every $50 donation made.

Indy’s premiere Hip-Hop group Native Sun.

Then, while Deonna finishes her “Mira Awards Masterpiece,” we’ll kick off our socially distanced afterparty and end the night with a unique performance by Native Sun, one of Indy’s premiere Hip-Hop groups, and Manon Voice who expresses her passions through her work as a poet, hip-hop emcee, speaker, educator and an advocate for Social Justice.

Inspiring spoken word artist and performer Manon Voice.
Manon Voice.

“We partnered with GANGGANG to find great artists who aren’t just great at what they do, but who are actively working to improve the social and professional environment for people in marginalized communities,” said TechPoint CEO Mike Langelllier. “We must all continue to actively work to ensure full inclusion and equity so everyone in our big tech family can rise to their full potential.”

GANGGANG Co-Founders Malina Simone and Alan Bacon made the cover of Pattern Magazine for the launch of cultural startup.

Photography by Polina Osherov; Style & Makeup by Temara Payton; Cover design by Lindsay Hadley

Gala participants will be encouraged to donate to TPF4Y’s Digital Equity initiative during the organization’s celebration of the 2021 Bridge Builder Award winner, Carlotta Berry. Dr. Berry is a highly regarded, internationally known engineering and robotics expert who is a vocal and relentless Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education advocate, especially for underrepresented students.

Want to help TPF4Y make digital equity a reality for Indiana students and get an entry (or entries) to take home Deonna’s painting? Donate $50 or more right now.