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

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 More.  It

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. 

“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.

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