Peggy Houston-Shivers Presents Benefit Concert for Allen Temple CME

A benefit concert will be held May 20, at 6 p.m. for Allen Temple CME Church. The event will be at Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th. On February 7, 2015 the church was severely damaged by two electrical fires causing major damage to the roof and interior of the building. The 100-year-old church was built in 1912, and purchased by Allen Temple in 1961.

Allen Temple CME church is noted for its outstanding community outreach programs:  Resurrection Alcohol/Drug Abuse program, Emergency Food and Clothing center, Balm In Gilead HIV/AIDS Education project, Allen Temple Homeless Outreach program, One Church-One School Mentor Program and social justice advocacy.

The concert will be presented by Peggy Houston-Shivers. Shivers grew up in Portland and graduated with a B.S degree in education from Portland State in the late 1950s. She was the only African American in the Portland State University Music Department. Peggy has a master’s degree from Ball University in guidance counseling. She taught in Portland Public Schools and San Francisco School district before moving to Spain with her husband, Clarence Shivers, where they lived for 10 years. She advanced her studies in vocal performance at La Escueala Superior de Canto in Madrid, Spain. The couple later settled in Colorado Springs in 1979, and have been very active in their community.  Clarence was a well-known artist and sculptor. Noted for being one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, he created a statue of an airman which stands in the Honor Court at the United States Air Force Academy.

Shivers has been guest soloist with the Colorado Springs Symphony, The Colorado Springs Chorale, The Tabor Concert Series, and the Fine Arts Center to name a few.  She her late husband, established the Shivers Fund at Pikes Peak Library District.  Monies from the fund support the African American Historical and Cultural Collection and provide grants to support educational opportunities and classical concert series for youth.  For many years she produced and was segment host of the “Involvement Show” at KKTV.  

Shivers has served on numerous boards such as Colorado Symphony, Dance Theatre, Urban League, AAUW and NAACP. She was honored by a local charter school named the Shivers Academy of Arts and Technology.

All proceeds from the concert will go to Allen Temple CME Church restoration.  Her evening performance will include “The Celebration Multicultural Ensemble,” a choral group she founded.  The mission of the group is preserving the rich history and heritage of the Negro Spiritual through education and performance. The focus is to create a musical experience  including representation from diverse cultures regardless of  religious belief, political preference, ethnic background, gender or age. 

Shivers is the mother of one son, Hugh Flake II, and two step-daughters Karen and Saundra Shivers. Her mother was the late Lurlene Anderson and her brother is Larry Anderson, retired Portland Police Officer.

For more information, contact (503) 852-1758 or visit https://www.tickettomato.com/event/5512/an-evening-of-song#buy-tickets.