Brothers Russell and Danny Simmons and their Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation will join with Talib Kweli, MTV's Sway and DJ Cassidy to gleam a golden light on the rising stars of the art world with the first ever Gold Rush Awards on Tuesday in New York City.

The honorees for this year's celebration and charity auction are DJ Beverly Bond, Founder of Black Girls Rock, Sonja Okun, founder of Exalt Youth Program, and Franklin Sirmans, writer and curator extraordinaire. Not only do the Awards recognize artists and those who are significant in the art community, but also those programs which embody social awareness.

"We are giving these awards to people who are making a difference in the community through the arts programs and projects they have created," says Russell Simmons. "We hope their presence will help focus more attention on the critical importance of art education and the development of creative skills in young people."

Hosted by MTV's Sway, there also be a silent auction and special performances by Talib Kweli, DJ Cassidy, and recipient Beverly Bond. Proceeds of the event go to support the Rush Arts Gallery and Corridor Gallery, where urban youth are exposed to the arts and established artists can showcase their work.

As filmmaker Lee Daniels gears up to take his latest movie, 'Push,' to the Sundance Film Festival next week, BlackVoices.com has obtained an exclusive image from the gritty drama -- sure to make everyone take notice in Park City Utah.

The eagerly anticipated film, based on the best-selling book of the same name, boasts an all-star cast including Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Kimberly Russell, and Sherri Shepherd of 'The View.'

Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe (pictured below in blue) is playing the starring role.

Daniels, who produced the critically acclaimed film 'Monster's Ball' (which netted Halle Berry her history making Academy Award win), has established a reputation of pushing the envelope with creative casting choices.

In 'Shadowboxer,' Academy Award winners Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Helen Mirren played assassins with hearts of gold. For 'The Woodsman,' Kevin Bacon battled his pedophilia past, as rappers Mos Def and Eve portrayed unrelenting police officers. And in 'Tennessee,' pop diva Carey plays a country & western singing waitress on the run.

For 'Push,' the super-sized comedienne Mo'Nique will be seen as she has never been seen before.

"Working again with Mo'Nique was like going home," Daniels told BlackVoices.com today. "We're family." In 'Shadowboxer,' the "Queen of Comedy" portrayed a narcotics abusing medical professional.

Though Mo'Nique, who plays the main character's mother, already has garnered a strong buzz, 'Push' actually tells the story of a confused, overweight African-American girl named Clareece "Precious" Jones.

Verbally and sexually abused by her family, her troubles lead to problems in school. Precious, as she is known, has no friends, no money, two kids (from her father), and she's illiterate. After being accepted into an alternative school where a teacher (played by Patton) helps her find an alternative path in her life. Along her journey, she comes across a concerned social worker (played by Carey) and a nurse (played by Kravitz) who shows her much kindness.

"Ever since I read the book, I saw Push as a movie," Daniels explained. "And finally after Sapphire saw my film, 'Shadowboxer,' she granted me the rights."