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Local Voices

CONNECTICUT'S OWN UNIQUE NON-PROFIT HOSTS 2nd ANNUAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH BEAUTY EVENT

Bridgeport, CT -- Empowering through Beauty (ETB), Inc., a Bridgeport, CT non-profit devoted solely to serving the community’s disadvantaged women and girls, is proud to announce their second 2013 Community Outreach Beauty Event and MoreIt will be held November 10, from 2pm – 7 pm at Norma F. Pfriem Urban Outreach Initiative, Inc., 877 Park Ave, Bridgeport, CT.

“Our events offer women and girls, who are unemployed and lack hope and dignity, a day of beauty and empowerment,” says Tanisha Akinloye, Trumbull resident, founder and CEO of the organization.  “It’s what makes them so unique because in just one day many hopes and dreams come true.”

Attendees will enjoy complimentary professional hairstyling, nail design, makeup application, as well as motivational speakers, housing opportunities and job resources.  Refreshments will be served and there will also be free giveaways.

Outreach and serving community have been ETB’s mission since Akinloye, a former professional hairstylist, founded the organization in 2010.  With four out of 5 U.S. adults now struggling with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, what ETB has to offer has never been more needed. 

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“So many have lost hope and their dignity due to the lack of housing and job training, as well as hunger and homelessness,” says Akinloye.  “With so much going against them their sense of self worth vanishes.”

Since 2010 ETB has worked in seven shelters across Connecticut and hosted myriad special events. In partnership with businesses like Norma F. Pfriem Urban Outreach Initiative, Inc., Visions of Beauty Salon of Stratford, CT and Phillip Bruce Salon of Westport, CT, ETB has provided over 650 services to women of all ages, including hair coloring, haircutting and styling, hair treatments, manicures, facials, as well as educational workshops on hair and makeup application, résumé writing, job training, self-empowerment workshops and seminars.  According to Akinloye, 99% of her clients say they have more confidence because of ETB, more than half have either been interviewed for jobs or hired while 1.3 have recovered from drug abuse and graduated from their programs.

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ETB’s August 2013 event saw 215 attendees receive meals and 120 professional makeovers from the Paul Mitchell School and Major League Barber Shop, two top-of-the-line beauty industry companies.  The Workplace Dept of Rehabilitation Services and Strive provided job readiness resources while HIV testing was provided, along with other opportunities for unemployed and homeless individuals.  Children who came to the event got their hair cut and styled right before school started.  

“Our attendees felt celebrated and renewed in mind, body and spirit,” says Tanisha.  “In one location we provide everything right at their finger tips, from a makeover to job training opportunities. It makes for a perfect mixture of success and beauty, and men and children are always welcomed.”

Tanisha works tirelessly to promote her organization’s mission.  In 2012 she was awarded the 49th Sojouner Truth Community Service Award from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc’s Greater Bridgeport Chapter.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization ETB can only continue its work with the help of volunteers and monetary donations.  The former are needed to perform hair and makeup services, administrative tasks and help with fundraising events. Those interested in making a donation can do so via http://www.empoweringthroughbeauty.org/ or mail to P.O. Box 81, Trumbull, CT 06611.   Funds raised go directly to educational seminars and workshops, housing assistance, job training and personal empowerment opportunities.

“I look in the eyes of many of those whose lives I touch and realize that could have been me,” Tanisha says.  “If it was me who was homeless, hungry, or lacking job training I would hope nobody would turn their back on me because of the way I look and feel. “

For more information visit www.empoweringthroughbeauty.org or call 203.767.9264


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