A Diva State of Mind

In July, I introduced you to #HashtagLunchBag, a movement that started in LA with the goal of feeding the homeless (click here to read about the movement.) After taking a hiatus in October, #HashtagLunchBag DC returns this Sunday, November 24th. At 11am, volunteers will gather at Lima (1401 K Street NW) to prepare lunches. At noon, volunteers will hit the streets of DC and distribute the lunches to the homeless. If you signed up before, you don’t need to sign up again. If you are interested in participating and haven’t signed up, please sign up here!

All volunteers are asked to bring $10 cash donation to cover the cost of food. Lunches will be distributed to homeless shelters and those on the streets.

I participated when #HashtagLunchBag DC launched in August. It was truly a blessing to come together with so many volunteers and make lunches for those in need. If you are seeking to give back to the DMV community and your time permits, I highly recommend participating!

My chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc is hosting its Annual 3-N-1 Community Impact Drive. For 6 weeks, we are collecting baby items, toiletries and school supplies to benefit four organizations that serve Montgomery County residents: Crossway Community, Helping Hands Shelter, Family Services, Inc. and Neediest Kids Fund. Once the items are collected, my chapter will assemble the items in gift baskets and deliver them to each organization.

Last year, I participated in assembling and distributing the baskets. The directors of these organizations were so grateful and appreciative of the donations they received. We were able to distribute 200 baskets, but I know with your help we’ll be able to surpass that number!

If you work and live in DC, Maryland or Virginia, than the entire DMV is your community. It’s important that we do what we can to support the community in which we work and play.

Donations can be dropped off at the four locations listed on the flyer. If you want to make a donation but are unable to drop them off at any of the sites listed, please contact me directly at [email protected] and we’ll make arrangements to have your donations collected.

 Please share this with any family, friends, co-workers, etc that live in the DMV area!!!

Stanley Young needs our help! He and his family lost their home to a fire two weeks ago. They are currently living in hotel but time is running out; on August 13th the family has to leave the hotel and could possibly become homeless. Stanley Young is an unemployed construction working with eight kids.

Please check out his story below:

To support Stanley, Hip Hop artist NAS created a campaign on Crowdtilt to help raise money for the Young family. It breaks my heart that Stanley and his family could become homeless.  The campaign goal amount was originally $20,000 but since so many people have responded in a short period of time, the goal amount was raised to $50,000. ANY donation amount will be helpful! Please click HERE to see NAS’ message and to make a donation.

PLEASE SHARE THIS! You don’t have to live in the DMV to help!

I first saw #HashtagLunchbag on Instagram two months ago; someone I follow had posted a picture of them and their friends assembling lunch bags to distribute to the homeless in LA. Of course I loved the idea; the holidays aren’t the only time people could use a helping hand.

When I heard that #HashtagLunchbag was going to happen in DC, I knew I wanted to participate.  It’s a simple and fun way to get together with others and serve the community!

#HashtagLunchbag was born on Christmas Day 2012 in a Los Angeles apartment with just a small group of friends.  The intent was simple: to deliver a hearty & balanced meal prepared to the local homeless community.  Everyone chipped in a few bucks, took a trip to the grocery store, purchased a few goodies, invited some friends over to put everything together, put on some tunes, and then hit the streets, all while having the time of our lives doing it! 

This gesture among friends took on a life of it’s own. Everyone shared the adventure via social media tagging #HashtagLunchbag on each status update and photo upload. After awhile, people started hitting up the creators of #HashtagLunchbag asking what it was and how they could be included “the next time.”  They knew they were on to something big!

#HashtagLunchbag is now becoming a national movement.  This Sunday, #HashtagLunchbag will take places in Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York. 

#HashtagLunchbag is coming to DC very soon and volunteers are needed. If you’d be interested in joining the movement in DC, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/1c0Q1QU

For more information about #Hashtaglunchbag and to find out how to bring this to your community, visit www.hashtaglunchbag.com. Follow on twitterhttp://www.twitter.com/hashtaglunchbag.

“Remember, there is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end” - Scott Adams

SNOBSWAP & Dewdrop are delighted to announce Swap In The City charity swap party and fashion show on Thursday, May 9th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The dynamic duo invites fashion enthusiasts to swap designer clothing and accessories and enjoy a fashion-focused event to help end domestic violence.

Swap In the City will rally DC’s emerging fashion giants for a fun-filled evening of social shopping and style sneak peaks. Attendees dropping off their luxury swaps will be greeted with complimentary cocktails and treats, a wealth of style tips from local experts, and a fashion presentation by Kolton J and D’Milikah.

Closing the night with a high-end clothing swap, event-goers will walk away with coveted, designer goods for a noble cause. All unswapped items will be donated to the Goodwill of Greater Washington and a portion of the event ticket proceeds will benefit Becky’s Fund, a non-profit that aims to foster awareness, encourage advocacy, promote activism and create support for victims of domestic violence.

To purchase discounted tickets for Swap In the City visit www.swapinthecityDC.eventbrite.com.

The plan was to host a Prom Queen Boutique with the Launched Ladies Creative Agency for DC area high school students in need of a prom dress and accessories.  The Prom Queen Boutique is a intimate boutique set up to cater to young deserving women to try on selected donated dresses, gowns, shoes and accessories along with hair & makeup consultations.

Although we weren’t able to connect with a DC high school or organization to make the Prom Queen Boutique a reality in DC, the boutique is taking place in Baltimore.  The boutique will cater to young women of Reginald F. Lewis High School.  Through the end of April, Katwalk Boutique is collecting gently worn prom gowns, cocktail dresses and accessories.

I know for some, Baltimore may be a hike, especially during the week. If you want to make a donation, stop by Katwalk Boutique this Saturday, April 27th. Between 2-8pm, shoppers will enjoy cocktails, preview the new spring collection, and receive a free makeup consultation by Motives for LaLa.  There will also be a silent auction to benefit the Prom Queen Boutique. If you make a dress/accessories donation that day, you’ll receive $25.00 toward a Katwalk Boutique purchase.

If you are able to make it to Baltimore to make a dress and accessories donation, I encourage you to do so! Hopefully I’ll be able to partner with organizations in the DC area next year to host a prom dress donation drive.

Like many large retailers, JCPenney is committed to giving back to the community and wants to encourage customers to do the same.  This year each month, the company will support a worthy cause by inviting customers to round up their purchases at the register to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the featured charity partner. Customers will also have the option to round up their online purchases when they shop at jcp.com.

You all know that I am a supporter of Dress for Success. I have volunteered with the DC affiliate for years and truly believe in the work they do to help improve the lives of women. This month, JCP is partnering with Dress for Success for this round up at the register initiative.  So far this month, JCPenney has raised $245,933.

Dress for Success provides professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in the workplace and in life. Worldwide, the organization has served over 650,000 women through more than 120 affiliates in 13 countries.

JCPenney has really stepped their game up in terms of its apparel offerings over the years. I found a few skirts at the store for a client last year and a friend recently purchase really cute tops.  If you plan on shopping this month, please consider making a purchase at JCPenney to support Dress for Success.  I know I will!

Learn more about JCPenney’s round up at the register initiative HERE.

It’s no secret; I’m a advocate for community service. I believe we all have a responsibility to do what we can to give back. So when the civic engagement and career boutique, Friends of Ebonie, contacted me to serve on the Host Committee for Defining Young Black Philanthropy, I was both excited and honored!

On Thursday, February 21st, The National Headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women will serve as the venue for Defining Young Black Philanthropy- DC. This will be an energetic evening bringing together politicos, changemakers, and philanthropists for a candid discussion about social accountability, responsibility and action.

From 6:30 to 7:30pm, attendees will enjoy complimentary cocktails and desserts and have the opportunity to meet and greet with Washington, DC area non-profit organizations seeking to connect through leadership, volunteer and donor opportunities. Non-profits confirmed to attend include: D.R.E.A.M. Life Inc., A Legacy Left Behind, Dreams Work, The MusicianShip, Black Benefactors, Michelle In Training.

A panel discussion and in-depth discussion on philanthropy, civic engagement and social influence will follow the mixer. This event serves as a great opportunity to network and learn more about how you can become involved in philanthropy.

Tickets are available for purchase; early bird ticket sales end on Wednesday. You can purchase tickets at http://dybpdc.eventbrite.com/. At the bottom of the registration page, please indicate that I referred you!

Hope to see you on February 21st!

Hosted by Nife O. of Skinny Hipster and fashion/beauty blogger, Naja of NajaDiamond.com, the POP-UP BEAUTY LOUNGE will transform the La Petite Marmoset showroom into a live fashion and beauty lounge.  Guests will enjoy cupcakes by Red Velvet Cupcakery, holiday hair consultations from celebrity hair stylist Adrin “Seven” Washington and more.  The lounge will also feature models donning holiday looks for those female guests whose schedules are overflowing with company parties and family gatherings.

The first 50 guests will receive a gift bag featuring products from the following sponsors: IMAN Cosmetics, African Pride hair care, Crux NY jewelery, Kiehl’s skin care (Georgetown), Plush Beautiq, Seven and Company, and Phyto hair care.

A portion of proceeds from sales at La Petite Marmoset will go to benefit the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp.  You may recall, the shopping soirée I hosted earlier this year also supported the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp. The camp encourages entrepreneurship in creative careers amongst young women in the DC metropolitan area.  

The event is FREE. RSVP http://popupbeauty.eventbrite.com/#