Up and coming designer fashions will hit the runway during BFW 2014
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The wait is over as Birmingham Fashion Week announces the Emerging Designer semi-finalists for BFW 2014. Twelve applicants were selected from college students and post grad students across the state of Alabama who applied for the highly sought after chance to show off their talent as a fashion designer on a nationally recognized runway. See the designs up close as BFW 2014 welcomes an additional runway night dedicated to Emerging Designers, kicking off Tuesday, April 22.
“The designs submitted this year are phenomenal,” states Heidi Elnora, Co-Founder of Birmingham Fashion Week. “Providing a platform for fashion design students to showcase their ideas is what makes Birmingham Fashion Week. It is an honor for us to launch their dreams into reality.”
The field of semi-finalists will be narrowed down from the 13 semi-finalists to the finalists who will compete during the finale runway show on Saturday, April 26, for the chance to win the coveted 2014 Emerging Designer title. The winner will receive a grand prize package including a guaranteed spot at BFW 2015’s runway show, a television appearance, editorial piece, photo shoot with a BFW professional photographer including hair and makeup, as well as a $1000 scholarship.
Emerging Designer Semi-Finalists
Ragan Creel, University of Alabama (Hometown: Meridian, MS)
Elle Darby, University of Alabama (Hometown: Florence, AL)
Jennifer Nina Evans, O’More College of Design (Hometown: Nashville, TN)
Lindsey Gilchrist, Auburn University (Hometown: Dothan, AL)
Mallory Hardiman, University of Alabama (Hometown: Columbia, TN)
Courtney King, University of Alabama (Hometown: Columbus, GA)
Lauren Ledford, Auburn University (Hometown: Birmingham, AL)
Nikki Manuel, University of Alabama (Hometown: Birmingham, AL)
Megan Mitton, University of Alabama (Hometown: Shreveport, LA)
Elahe Saeidi, University of Alabama (Hometown: Tuscaloosa, AL)
Kailey Smith, Auburn University (Hometown: Florence, AL)
Emily Waters, University of Alabama (Hometown: Southside, AL)
Tour poised to dispel myths, encourage dialogue and promote storytelling around African Americans in the making of America
CHARLOTTE, N.C.(BLACK PR WIRE) – As the nation commemorates the Civil War Sesquicentennial and the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) announces the extension of its national African American history celebratory tour through 2014, featuring renowned exhibition, The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, Where Art and History Intersect.
The Kinsey Collection chronicles more than four hundred years of the contributions made by African Americans in American history. The collection includes artifacts and works of art demonstrating the artistic, historic, and cultural contributions and progress of African Americans. The exhibition features documents, artifacts, and photographs dating from 1600 to the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Jim Crow years, and the Civil Rights Movement.
The exhibition has been seen at the Smithsonian Institution and 14 other venues, but never before in Atlanta or Houston. As part of Wells Fargo’s 2013 celebratory tour honoring the 150th anniversary of The Emancipation Proclamation, it traveled to leading African American museums including the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco, the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Charlotte, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore.
This year, the exhibition will contain more than 130 items, featuring never before displayed artifacts, including: a first edition of Solomon Northrup’s 12 Years a Slave, the basis of the Academy Award-winning film; W.E.B Dubois 1st edition copy of his ground breaking book Souls of Black Folks; and the earliest known African-American marriage record dating back to 1598.
Through these objects, The Kinsey Collection seeks to dispel myths and promote dialogue about the role of African Americans in the making of America. Wells Fargo invites visitors of the collection to contemplate the items displayed and to reflect on the progress that African Americans have made in civil rights and social justice, as well as consider the work remaining to achieve equality.
“Wells Fargo is excited to extend our national tour in collaboration with the Kinsey family. We are committed to sharing the stories of African Americans to recognize the heroes, and their collective experiences, which have helped define the American story,” says Lisa Frison, Wells Fargo, vice president, African American segment manager.
The role of African Americans in the art and culture of early America was far richer than commonly thought – a contribution that has endured and flourished. At the same time, the end of slavery with the Civil War did not end the exploitation, violence, and neglect of the previously enslaved and their descendants. Only through strength and commitment to social justice did African Americans secure their civil and human rights as a result of the Civil Rights Movement and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Bernard Kinsey, avid collector, philanthropist, and educator, began this collection over 35 years ago with his wife, Shirley, and son, Khalil. Bernard was inspired to begin his collection after viewing an original bill of sale of William Johnson sold for $550 in 1832.
“The Kinsey Collection strives to give our ancestors a voice, name, and personality, enabling the viewer to understand the challenges, obstacles, triumphs, and extraordinary sacrifice of African Americans who’ve greatly contributed to the success of this country,” says Bernard Kinsey.
The exhibition’s combination of original documents, rare books, paintings and other works of art, early photographs and modern sculptures creates a unique and diverse experience, bringing history to life through art and artifacts. As visitors walk through the exhibition, they are fully immersed in a story of struggle for freedom, equality, and expression in American history – leaving the experience both educated and inspired.
In addition to the traveling exhibit, Wells Fargo launched the Untold Stories: Our Inspired History campaign as a social extension of the tour. The campaign features a three-part short film series narrated by celebrity influencers, Jordin Sparks, Lauren London, and Lance Gross, taking viewers through specific points in history highlighting artifacts from The Kinsey Collection. The campaign also includes multiple video vignettes featuring prominent lifestyle bloggers sharing their personal stories.
For more information on the Untold Stories: Our Inspired History campaign, please visit www.wellsfargo.com/kinseycollection.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Donald Staffo, Elizabeth Caver and Litia Godinet were awarded for their excellence in research at the second annual Stillman Research Symposium, which was recently held in the Cordell Wynn Humanities and Fine Arts Center on the College campus.
Dr. Staffo was presented with the Faculty Research Award for a lifetime of contributions to his field. He has authored 10 books, 117 scholarly articles, and a health and fitness column that appeared in 21 newspapers and three national magazines. In 2013, he was inducted into the National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s (NASPE) Hall of Fame.
Promising Researcher Awards were presented to Caver and Godinet. This award goes to students whose oral or poster presentations are judged to be creative, innovative, and demonstrating strong potential for future research.
Caver was awarded for her oral presentation, Alcohol addiction linked to Dopamine synthesis pathway: Fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster a model system. She collaborated with Karen Salanquit, Dr. Mary Jane Krotzer, Dr. Janis O’Donnell and Dr. Anathbandhu Chaudhuri.
Godinet, who was awarded for her poster presentation on the overweight epidemic among American Samoans, worked with Laquita Clifton, Dr. Mary Jane Krotzer and Dr. Anathbandhu Chaudhuri.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Mary Jane Krotzer, assistant vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Krotzer serves as the Principal Investigator for the LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation), MERIT (Mentored Experiences in Research, Instruction, and Teaching), and MHRC (Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center) collaborative grant programs with the University of Alabama at Birmingham. For 12 years, she served as the Pre-Health Professions Advisor, assisting many students in gaining entry into medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy, and chiropractic schools.
The day-long symposium featured a diversity of topics including links between the adipokinetic hormone and the circadian clock; the effects of dopamine on the reproduction of fruit flies; factors that play a role in accepting or declining an ethnic identity; the Influence of media on the self-worth of African-Americans; the effects of dopamine on the reproduction of Drosophila melanogaster; the poetics of pathology; and solutions for safe patient handling and movement.
“The Stillman Research Symposium, which was the brainchild of Dr. Peter Millet, recognizes, celebrates and encourages research amongst faculty and students,” said Dr. April Kendrick, an assistant professor of psychology and chair of the conference planning committee.
Crimson and cream will dominate the scene at the upcoming Spring dance being sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Birmingham Alumnae Chapter. Dubbed a “Spring Fling” or “Party with a Charitable Purpose,” this event will be held Friday, April 11 from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight at Boutwell Auditorium downstairs, and will feature Chris Coleman, a renowned, charismatic disc jockey, who is sure to keep the evening lively and full of excitement. However, the sure hit of the evening will be the captivating, classy Delta Stroll, choreographed by Shina Miles and performed by members of the Birmingham Alumnae Chapter.
The Spring Fling is coordinated by the Chapter’s Local Projects Committee and its purpose is to raise funds for scholarships for local high school students and Miles College students, as well as, to fund other community service projects the sorority undertakes, such as the UNCF, Sickle Cell Foundation, American Cancer Society, Delta GEMS, Delta Academy, and EMBODI.
Tickets to the event are $25 each and $250 for a reserved table of 10. The attire is casual chic. Contact Bertha Bradford, Local Projects Committee Chair, at 205-706-1770 for more information or to purchase tickets. Gloria Dennard and Betty Underwood are the committee co-chairs.
The 45th Annual Parker Alumni Day will be held Friday, May 9, in the school auditorium. The day which is celebrated on Friday before Mother’s Day each year, was established by prinicpal Edward B. Thompson, an alumnus of “The Herd” as a day for the alumni to visit their Alma Mater. Alumni from all classes are welcomed by the S.G.A., JROTC, as well as other clubs and organizations. The “FOURS”
are the featured classes this year 1904,1914, 1924,1934,1944,1954,1964,1974,1984,1994, and 2004. Alumni classes will present scholarships to deserving seniors, and the Perpetual Pride Award will be presented by alumni faculty to one senior who exhibits pride through excellent scholarship, good character, and service to the school and community. There will be Entertainment performed by present students and alumni from various classes. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast is at 9 a.m. in the courtyard of the school. Program begins at 10 a.m.
For more info email us parkeralumniday@gmail.com
The Gallup poll has come out with their ranking of the most conservative and most liberal states in America.
Last year we were ranked as the most conservative in the country. We lost that mantle to Wyoming this year. In fact, we fell dramatically to number ten. In past years either Alabama or one of our sister southern Bible Belt states took home the title. This year the Western states made inroads into our group in the top ten rankings.
The most conservative states are always located in the South and West, while the most liberal states are found on the East and West coasts. Thus the label that we like to bestow on Californians is that both they and their philosophy are from the left coast.
Following number one Wyoming in order of conservatism are Mississippi, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Arkansas, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and number ten Alabama.
The ten most liberal states are Vermont, Massachusetts, Delaware, New York, Hawaii, Oregon, Maine, California and New Jersey. Not surprisingly, the top ten liberal states all voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and in 2012, while all of the top ten conservative states voted for the Republican nominees in the past two presidential elections.
This same Gallup poll ranked the states on their Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning propensities. As you might expect, the conservative states rank high as Republican havens and the liberal states rank high as Democratic enclaves. There are more Democratic-leaning states than Republican. That probably explains why Barack Obama is President.
Wyoming, which was ranked the most conservative state, also came in as the most Republican state in the nation. We ranked number nine in the country in Republicanism. Our sister southern state of South Carolina likes to boast of being America’s most Republican state. However, they were ranked number ten, just behind us.
The most Republican states in order are Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota, Idaho, Kansas, Alaska, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Oklahoma, Alabama and South Carolina. The most Democratic states are New York, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maryland, Vermont, California, Illinois, Delaware, New Jersey and New Mexico.
Gallup also ranked the states in order of who was the most and least religious. We came in third in the country when it comes to religion. The only two states more religious are the Mormon state of Utah and our sister Bible Belt state of Mississippi. In fact, Mississippi edged out Utah for number one.
The ranking of the most religious states in America are Mississippi, Utah, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Kentucky. The South dominates when it comes to religion. No wonder folks refer to us as the Bible Belt.
The ten least religious states are Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Connecticut and Hawaii. You can safely say the people in the Northeast are not very religious.
What this all tells you is that you do not have to be a profound intellectual political scientist to analyze American politics. If you live in the Midwest or South, you are likely to be a religious, conservative Republican. If you live in the Northeast or on the West Coast you are probably not very religious and you are a liberal Democrat.
In the meantime, our Alabama legislature is determined to prove that they are the most conservative legislative body in America. As this year’s legislative session winds down they are finishing their four-year mission to rid the state of immigrants and abortions and making sure that folks can carry a gun anywhere they want.
These strident and meaningless stream of ultra right wing initiatives are designed to placate Alabama’s conservative electorate. They may be passed with the intent to become Alabama law. However, they are automatically outlawed by the first federal court, usually after a cursory few hours of review.
The anti-immigration measure passed the first year of the quadrennium was laughed out of court right away. This year’s anti-abortion bill is so blatantly unconstitutional that a sixth grade civic student would know that it will never be administered.
This charade is great political year pandering. They also want the rest of the country to know that Wyoming and Mississippi are not more conservative than us. They figure we need to send them a message.
See you next week.
Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears weekly in more than 70 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Pinson Valley High School Theatre Department will present the award winning ’60s rock and roll musical, Hairspray, on April 17th, 18th and 19th at 7 p.m. in the PVHS theatre.
Hairspray tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart as she sets out to follow her dreams. Tickets are $6 for students and seniors and $8 for adults and are available at the door. Don’t miss Hairspray at Pinson Valley High School April 17th, 18th, and 19th at 7 p.m.!
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will host two concurrent exhibitions: Courage: The Carolina Story that Changed America and “Para Todos Los Niños (For the Children) from April 8, 2014 to June 14. Both exhibits commemorate the 60th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education and are on loan from the Levine Museum of the New South of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Courage” is a groundbreaking exhibit that tells the powerful grassroots story of the Rev. J.A. De Laine and the other brave citizens of Clarendon County, S.C., who, with the help of NAACP lawyer and future Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, brought the first lawsuit in America challenging racial segregation in public schools. Combined with four other national lawsuits, the result was the 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown vs Board of Education, which ruled that racial segregation of schools was unconstitutional, subsequently initiating massive change in race relations in the U.S. “Courage” will be on display in the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery.
In conjunction with Courage, BCRI is also displaying Para Todos Los Niños: Fighting Segregation before Brown v. Board about the 1946 U.S. Court of Appeals case, Mendez v. Westminster School District, which ended school segregation for Mexican Americans. Like Courage, it tells a compelling grassroots story of multi-racial lawyers and activists who worked in then-rural Orange County, Calif., almost 10 years before the Brown decision. This exhibit was created by the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance and will be on display in the Vann Gallery.
“Both exhibits tell the story of ordinary people – people outside the traditional power structure, without wealth and often with little classroom education – who worked together to forever change America,” stated Ahmad Ward, BCRI Head of education and Exhibitions. “Through personal histories, photographs, reproductions of letters and documents, artifacts and interactive components, visitors can get a sense of the inequalities during that time and how ordinary people can make a difference.”
During the two exhibitions’ stay, BCRI will sponsor related programs and conversations regarding education equity in the 21st century as well as the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Call 205-328-9696 x 234 or www.bcri.org for more information.
City of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Sites Confirmed on Department of Interior’s World Heritage Site List
The City of Birmingham’s Civil Rights sites were recently confirmed on the short list (14 nominees) for the Department of Interiors’ possible submission for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site designation. The City is currently preparing its full admission package and is expanding it to include Civil Rights sites from around the state. A team of experts are being assembled to present the most cohesive and historic group under the one admission. The goal is to be ready to present to the full World Heritage Committee in 2016.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, island, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, as part of the United Nations.
“I am excited that the City of Birmingham is being considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Such a designation would solidify Birmingham’s place as a site of historic and cultural significance around the world. This designation would emphasize Alabama’s rich civil rights history and the role it played as a catalyst in the world’s pursuit of social justice,” said Congresswoman Terri Sewell.
“We are working to establish Birmingham as an international destination for Human Rights. The World Heritage Site list is step one to that goal. Birmingham has a rich Civil Rights history. The peaceful protest model first perfected in Birmingham during the Civil Rights movement has been duplicated a cited around the world. We continue to embrace our past to build our future. This sort of designation will bring in more visitors from around the world and that translates into cultural tourism and a significant economic impact,” said Mayor William Bell.
“My staff will be working with the Birmingham Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the State of Alabama Department of Tourism, the Governor’s office and Congresswoman Sewell’s office to make this happen. We will be calling on the local universities and colleges to provide supporting materials as we make the case that the Civil Rights Legacy born here in Birmingham and throughout the State of Alabama is worthy of this nomination,” the Mayor continued.
The World Heritage Site program catalogues, names, and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. Under certain conditions, listed sites can obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund. The program was founded with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972. Since then, 190 states parties have ratified the Convention, making it one of the most adhered to international instruments. Only the Bahamas, Liechtenstein, Nauru, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste and Tuvalu are not Party to the Convention.
As of 2013, 981 sites are listed: 759 cultural, 193 natural, and 29 mixed properties, in 160 countries. By sites ranked by country, Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 49 sites, followed by China (45), Spain (44), France and Germany (both 38). While each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located, UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.
Marriage, marriage, marriage. Gotta love it, even after you’ve lost it. Marriage is one of those things ordained by God, but often messed up by man.
I remember vividly preparing for my first wedding more than a decade ago. (Yes, I did say first as I declare that divorce isn’t my final destination.) I recall meeting with florists, vendors, caterers, bridesmaids and the likes. I remember the excitement about the wedding, and not much focus the marriage. The wedding was one I’ll never forget. One of my regrets through my divorce was thinking of how my parents must have felt having invested so much money in a grand affair. I remember walking down the aisle smiling. I recall songs “tearing down the house.” I remember the ministers praying and declaring blessings. I remember the rings and I remember the doves released to the air in a beautiful swirl of white wings flapping.
All of the above is well and good if marriage came with a trouble-free guarantee. It doesn’t! I’ve learned in retrospect that by design, marriages are key targets for the enemy to fire his best shot. Afterall, he’s jealous, and can never have what’s been promised to man! But marriage takes more than a ring and a prayer. It takes work from the beginning, in the middle and until the end, regardless of the outcome.
Aside from the spiritual mandates, physical connection, and honoring of God’s united purpose marriage takes:
· Two people committed to God first.
· Two people committed to each other.
· Two people with hopes, dreams and goals that don’t have to match, but certainly have to mesh well together.
· Two people who love each other even when they don’t like each other’s actions.
· Two people who respect and support each other’s specific role in the marriage.
· Two people willing to submit to growth and change for the greater good of the union.
· Two people who are aware of, and accept that marriage is really not about the wedding.
· Spiritual counseling prior to the marriage (my first husband and I didn’t have this, even though he was a minister. Yikes!)
· Spiritual counseling and encouragement after the “honeymoon” has ended.
· Spiritual counseling throughout the marriage to prevent trials, and certainly when trouble has entered the house.
· A strong network of mature, godly supporters (not the “Girl, If I ‘was’ you I would” group, or “Man, you need to” crew.)
· Individual lives (friends, family, circles of influence) that support the marriage and don’t suffocate it.
· A healthy, committed way to openly communicate things that are pleasant, and not so pleasant, especially when it’s not so pleasant.
· Scheduled family prayer time.
· Scheduled time to discuss and handle family business
· Scheduled fun time.
· Spontaneous “FUN” time. (If you know what I mean.:)
Angela Scott Moore has sported many hats in her lifetime. She’s a former broadcast anchor/reporter/producer, a trained motivational speaker, fundraiser and marketing/PR expert. She spent nine years as a pastor’s wife working in full-time ministry before than union ended in divorce. A majority of her time in ministry was spent empowering women and girls. She’s an avid inspirational blogger and also a philanthropic community supporter who has served with more than 25 local and national organizations over her 15+ year professional career. Currently she’s working in the fields of Social Justice and Human Resources and operates the blossoming, full-service events planning venture Amazing Kreations with her business partner, offering media and event planning assistance at low or no cost to small organizations and businesses. Taking lessons learned from each phase of her ever-evolving life, Angela’s now donning the hat of a single woman on a single mission to use spoken and written words to motivate others to “thrive while they survive.” Contact Angela Scott Moore about speaking engagements at amazingkreations2@gmail.com, follow her blog at www.angelamooreblog.wordpress.com, on twitter at @AngelaMMoore316 or check out her facebook page for people experiencing separation or divorce at I’m More Than What Happened.
From left to right Darlene Higginbothan, Owner of The Real Model Connection; Models Staci Self; Diane Winkler; Barbara Strayner; Kay Yeager; Evelyn Glover; Colleen Adams; Billie Holleman; Ellen House; Justine Hawthorne; Linda Hutton
From left to right Darlene Higginbothan, Owner of The Real Model Connection; Models Staci Self; Diane Winkler; Barbara Strayner; Kay Yeager; Evelyn Glover; Colleen Adams; Billie Holleman; Ellen House; Justine Hawthorne; Linda Hutton
“The Club” was the scene for a Post-St. Patricks’ Day Fashion Show/Luncheon, with clothing provided by Chico’s (Summit). The large audience enjoyed a delicious menu and the latest Spring and Summer Fashions. Darlene Higginbothan, organized and emceed the event.
