This year’s Genesis Motors America “Because We Met” event placed the spotlight on two of Atlanta’s crown jewels: Spelman College and Morehouse College. Together known as SpelHouse, the institutions represent more than a century of academic excellence, cultural leadership, and the spirit of connection. It was on these historic campuses that powerhouse vocalist Avery*Sunshine and her husband, guitarist and producer Dana Johnson, first met—a love story that became the centerpiece of the evening.
The “Because We Met” series, a partnership between luxury automaker Genesis and Rolling Out magazine, has always placed HBCUs at the heart of its storytelling. The inaugural edition celebrated Clark Atlanta University, highlighting the power of community. The following year, the focus shifted to Howard University, amplifying the stories of its influential alums. Now, with Spelman and Morehouse in the spotlight, the series underscores how HBCUs continue to shape legacies of love, leadership, and aspiration.
Genesis: From Underdog to Luxury Standout
Genesis is no longer the industry’s best-kept secret. Once a nameplate under Hyundai, the brand has confidently spun off into a true luxury contender. Some may recall the Hyundai Genesis sedan, the ambitious flagship that laid the groundwork for what Genesis has become today. I’ll admit, I was hesitant about whether the luxury arm could survive in a competitive market dominated by established European and Japanese players. But I can confidently say: I was wrong.
Genesis has not only survived—it has thrived. The brand now speaks directly to the North American consumer’s senses of luxury, aesthetics, and technology, while still offering tremendous value compared to pricier British and German counterparts. Their design language seamlessly blends past and future, while their interior and exterior detailing rivals that of far more expensive marques. Genesis is no longer the underdog; it’s rewriting what accessible luxury can look like.
In many ways, Genesis’s rise parallels that of HBCUs themselves: both were underestimated at their inception, yet both have created undeniable centers of excellence.
A Night at SpelHouse: Rolling Out x Genesis
That connection came to life at this year’s event, hosted by Rolling Out founder Munson Steed and presented by Genesis Automotive.
The evening began with Morehouse alum and V103’s The Debonair DJ PNUT, who set the tone for the night before introducing the Spelman College Glee Club. Their stirring performance grounded the program in culture, artistry, and tradition—setting the stage for what was to come.
The spotlight then turned to Avery*Sunshine and Dana Johnson, who shared how their relationship began at SpelHouse. Although Avery is from Chester, Pennsylvania, and Dana is from Oakland, California, it was Atlanta’s HBCU culture that brought them together. Their reflections on love and partnership became a mirror for Genesis itself: when seemingly unlikely elements meet, something extraordinary is created.
Because They Met
On stage, Avery and Dana compared their relationship to the comfort of sliding into a perfectly designed vehicle: easy, natural, and built to last.
They also revisited their early career hustle—traveling up and down the East Coast after college, persuading record stores to carry their albums, and even performing in people’s living rooms. Those experiences shaped not only their careers but their perspective on what it means to travel well. It gave them a definite opinion about cars and comfort, making their reflections during a Genesis-sponsored event especially fitting.
Avery also shared a deeply personal memory: how she and Dana would often eat at Eats, a local spot on Ponce de Leon in Atlanta, where Rolling Out magazines were always stacked in the dining room. The two would flip through the pages and dream aloud about one day being featured—imagining how incredible it would be to grace the cover.
That dream became reality most emotionally. At the close of the evening, Munson Steed and Rolling Out surprised Avery and Dana with a framed Rolling Out cover featuring the couple. The moment was spiritual, heartfelt, and the perfect full-circle reminder of how love, faith, and persistence transform dreams into reality.
A Room Full of Influence
The spirit of community extended beyond the stage. The audience included business leaders, artists, and cultural influencers, among them actress Terri J. Vaughn and renowned chef and TV host Jernard Wells (Savor the City). Wells even shared with me that he’s opening a new restaurant in Metro Atlanta soon—another story worth watching.
What stood out most was how the event truly embodied its theme: “Because We Met.” Connections were made, stories were shared, and new legacies began to take shape. Genesis and Rolling Out provided not only a platform but a cultural bridge, much like HBCUs have done for generations.
Final Thoughts
Credit must be given to Munson Steed and the Rolling Out team, who once again curated an evening that was as meaningful as it was memorable. By weaving together luxury branding, authentic Black love stories, live HBCU performances, and the enduring legacy of Spelman and Morehouse, they elevated both Genesis and the community it aims to serve.
Rolling Out met its audience where culture lives and gave us a night to remember. And just as Avery*Sunshine and Dana Johnson said of each other, we too are all better—because they met.
