In its third year, the event will see leading women’s groups take to the fashion show catwalk and raise funds to raise awareness for survivors of domestic violence.
The P7 Walk with Purpose on September 17 will feature P7 Divas (Powerful 7), women leaders in their communities and professions, many of whom are survivors of domestic violence. The fashion show is the centerpiece of the party, which begins with a casino game and includes a performance by R&B singer, songwriter and harpist her Tulani, a headline fashion show, and a live DJ and dancing he party that lasts until midnight.
Silence No More founder and organizer Lisa Jones told her that the P stands for strength and represents not only status but also giving, solidarity and harmony between models.
“They became sisters,” she said. “When we need each other, we have a group girlfriend chat. Different ages, different nationalities, there is a bond….It’s just amazing, amazing energy.”
Jones is the founder of Silence No More. Silence No More is a platform for collaboration between organizations, institutions, community his members, elected officials, and real-time victims and survivors, allowing survivors to live for two full years after leaving abuse. The goal is to build a system that maintains Partner.
Each year, P7 Divas vote for the nonprofits they support. This year’s event will benefit Women Giving Back, a Stirling-based organization that provides clothing for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Both organizations help prevent survivors from returning to their perpetrators. In many cases, the control that the perpetrator seeks over the victim includes control over money and other resources, which can make it difficult to leave.
Jones said fashion shows are all about mission, not just glamor.
“What was important to me was that they weren’t volunteering just to be seen. I wanted them to do the work. No one knew I was in a fashion show, until I was actually on stage,” she said.
But the P7 divas are there for a mission, as is New York City-based costume designer Ahua Sam.
Sam recalled meeting Jones years ago at an event serving children with autism through fashion and art. For Sam, who studied design from an early age and self-taught her sewing to create what’s in her mind, her talent and art have always been useful tools, and she’s inspired by her own style. was a tool for the liberation of
“Years ago I was a victim myself. As soon as I had the courage to walk away, even though it took me a long time, I realized that everything started to brighten,” she said. “Because I’m free, my creativity has been further enhanced.”
The first year she worked with other designers on the show. However, she later decided to take on the entire show herself, despite her workload of designing multiple outfits for multiple models, which allowed her to express her artistic vision for the show. can be placed on stage with Jones.
“We knew that if we narrowed down some of these things, it would be more focused,” Sam said.
And she said it becomes “easy” when you love what you do.
“The love behind what you do gives me so much more joy when you’re making a piece like that. And for a cause like this, it’s my heart “Ever since I started designing, and because it’s a gift, I’ve always said that when you have a gift, it’s not just for you.” It’s about making people happy and making people smile.”
According to Solitaire Carroll, many of the models have been participating since their first year. She is the founder of One Sparrow, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the Haitian community, offering hands-on instruction in gardening and farming, pop-up her health her clinics, health education, and the United States. conducting its first college preparatory program in She comes from a generational immigrant family and was the beneficiary of last year’s fashion show.She also collaborates with her Silence No More, whose mission is to help her non-profit organization lift people out of poverty. He said it was a good fit for the activity.
“Many of the root causes of homelessness and economic inequality, especially for women, are domestic violence,” Carroll said. “Whether that’s why they don’t leave, whether that’s why they stay, whether it’s why they’re in poverty now, because they left but didn’t have the resources, many If so, do they need re-education…they need help to get a new job, they need help, their children need help getting back on their feet. ”
She said it is also important to learn more about domestic violence, both as a resource for victims, as well as how to recognize and become sensitive to it and dispel preconceived notions about it. I got
“Whether homelessness, domestic violence, inequality or economic inequality, I truly believe that education is the answer to many of the situations we face in society. .
Jones says the P7 Divas have had an impact they can’t even suspect.
“Our hope is that other women will speak up and they are,” Jones said. I don’t think so, I really don’t know, there are a lot of women who separate me because of them.
The P7 Fashion Show fundraiser begins at 5pm on Saturday, September 17 at 21586 Atlantic Blvd in Sterling. Tickets are available at p7phasethree.com.
Reporter Alexis Gustin was interviewed for this article.
