EMPOWERING WOMEN: Broadening the Definition of Beauty in Fashion and the Media

On the heels of adding author to her list of titles with the release of her debut book, The Art of Dressing Curves, celebrity stylist Susan Moses is now adding the distinguished position of advocate to her resume with the launch of Empowering Women NYC, a platform to advocate for the equal representation of ALL women in fashion, beauty and the media. The groundbreaking organization officially launched on Monday, May 9th with the “Body Inclusivity & Diversity Summit,” held in the most fitting of locations, the United Nations.

Susan gathered over 300 of fashion, beauty and the media’s top thought leaders and influencers to openly discuss how to be “agents of change,” and how to continue to democratize the industry that has slowly began changing its antiquated standards of what is deemed beautiful at the UN’s Prestigious Delegates Dining Room.

Guests of the inaugural Empowering Women NYC luncheon were first treated to the showing of the spring capsule collection of the Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant collection which was held out on the terrace. The models for the show included the who’s who of the Curvy Girl lexicon including models Ashley Graham and Candice Huffine, bloggers GabiFresh and Nicolette Mason and Orange is the New Black’s Danielle Brooks, who served as the designer’s muse and closed the show.

Following the show, the afternoon’s epic agenda continued with the attendees listening to an eclectic mix of stellar speakers and panelists hailing from the fashion, beauty, creative and media worlds. Some of the diverse class of speakers included:

• Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief, Glamour Magazine
• Linda Heasley, Chief Executive Officer, Lane Bryant
• Jill Scott, three-time Grammy Award Winning Singer, Songwriter and Actress
• Sherri Shepherd, Comedian, Actress and Host of The View
• Emme, the first plus supermodel, Body Positive Activist
• Ashley Graham, Model, Designer, Body Activist
• Mikki Taylor, Author &  Editor at Large, Essence Magazine
• Brian Beitler, Chief Marketing Officer, Lane Bryant
• Christian Siriano, CFDA Designer
• Danielle Brooks, Actress and Star of Orange is the New Black and Broadway’s Color Purple

Lane Bryant served as the afternoon’s title sponsor with other notable brands including Bond NO 9, MSA Models, True Model Management, Beauty Blender, Mattel, Decade Citizen, Yandy.com (whose Chief Marketing Officer Charley Clemens was on hand to fete the launch of Empowering Women NYC), EMME, Glamour Magazine, Ashay Media and Kusmi Tea.

When asked about her vision for Empowering Women NYC, Founder Susan Moses responded, “It’s imperative that we continue to nurture the value of all women equally regardless of size, age and ethnicity in fashion, beauty and the media at large.”

For more about Empowering Women NYC, visit http://susanmoses.com/empowering-women-nyc/.

For more about the Art of Dressing Curves, visit: http://susanmoses.com/the-art-of-dressing-curves/.

ABOUT SUSAN MOSES

Susan Moses is a celebrity stylist who has styled for numerous magazines, television shows, films, and red carpet events. Her clients include Britney Spears, Queen Latifah, Brandy, Kathy Bates, Wynonna Judd, Jill Scott, and many others. She is a former stylist for Mode magazine, was named one of the “Six Plus Fashion Power Players on the Rise” in Ebony, and has appeared on HSN to help the network’s plus-size audience dress. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. For more information about Susan Moses, visit her website, www.susanmoses.com.

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DEBUNKING THE MYTH

BROOKLYN, NY – JULY 26, 2011 – Super Hussy Media Founder and Filmmaker,  Aiesha Turman, announced today the return of her feature film, The Black Girl Project (www.blackgirlproject.com) to its birthplace, Brooklyn, a welcomed stop on its national tour. The return to Brooklyn heralds the one year anniversary of the film’s debut. To celebrate, Turman has teamed with the Launched Ladies Creative Agency (www.launchedladiescreative.wordpress.com), to screen the documentary as well as lead  a panel discussion of the themes touched on in the film on Wednesday, August 17th at Brooklyn Commons (located at 388 Atlantic Avenue).

“I’m overjoyed about partnering with the Launched Ladies Creative Agency once again, for the screening of the Black Girl Project in Brooklyn,” said Turman. “It is our goal to not just leave this as a completed film, to build a movement to help empower young women and girls.”

The event will begin with a cocktail reception the film’s return to Brooklyn followed by the screening of the hour-long film.  A panel discussion and informal Q&A session focusing on the central themes of the film follows where the audience will get to speak with Aiesha Turman and featured participants from the film.

“Launched Ladies Creative Agency wholeheartedly supports the empowerment of women,” said Kree Cason, co-Founder and co- Creator of LLCA. “The Black Girl Project is an eye-opening powerful vehicle of education and discovery; using Brooklyn as a backdrop we are proud to present the screening and post dialogue of The Black Girl Project along with the filmmaker and director, Aiesha Turman.”

Produced by Turman’s Super Hussy Media (www.superhussy.com), The Black Girl Project (BGP) focuses on one core question: “who are you? “That one question spawned another, then another and yet another, but the one initial question is at the heart of the film.

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit (www.blackgirlproject.org) of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women.  The film screening will also serve as a fundraiser for the Black Girl Project organization. To purchase tickets, visit:

For press inquiries, email Tamara Walker at tamara@nyprdiva.net or visit www.blackgirlproject.com.

 

ABOUT BLACK GIRL PROJECT

The Black Girl Project aims to address the challenges girls face in their daily lives, in addition to helping girls build a strong sense of self, develop healthy relationships and take care of their bodies and minds. Black women and girls are under siege within their own communities and society at large. Not only are they more likely to contract HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they are at high risk for physical and sexual assault, and death from curable/manageable ailments such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. In addition, they are more likely to be living at or below the poverty line.

The Black Girl Project addresses the critical worldwide problem of low self-esteem, lack of education, poverty rates and issues specific to black adolescent and pre-adolescent girls regardless of ethnicity. The Black Girl Project is designed to foster positive self-esteem, critical thinking, leadership, academic achievement, community service and entrepreneurial skills among girls, ages 8 to 17, in the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Europe — wherever there are black girls in need.

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women. For more information about the Black Girl Project, visit: www.blackgirlproject.org.

ABOUT SUPER HUSSY MEDIA

Super Hussy Media is independently owned, written, edited and designed by filmmaker and writer, Aiesha Turman. A strong believer in the empowerment of young women and girls, particularly those of color, Aiesha created Super Hussy as a means to explore black life as it related to the female gender across place, class, time and sexuality. The site focuses on projects that are intensely personal and through them, hopes to shed light on the contradictions, triumphs, perils and beauty that is black womanhood.

Utilizing traditional and emerging media as tools for investigation, Super Hussy Media engages in frank dialogue surrounding the issues of race, class, gender, spirituality and sexual orientation and the roles they play in the lives of black women and girls through the use of women and families, both historic and contemporary. By illuminating the hardships, struggles and complexities of black womanhood, Super Hussy Media seeks to change the paradigm through which black women are viewed and ultimately, how they view themselves.

For more information, visit: www.superhussy.com

 

ABOUT THE LAUNCHED LADIES CRATIVE AGENCY (LLCA)

Launched Ladies Creative Agency is dedicated to providing creative solutions and ideas for entrepreneurs across a diverse spectrum of fields. Founded by Kree and Krystal Cason along with Basyah Prabhu, LLCA fosters strong relationships with its clients, which includes but are not limited to chic boutique owners, independent designers, make-up artists, and stylists. Launched Ladies Creative Agency offers an array of services from marketing, event planning, management and more. The agency provides each client with a personalized package tailored to his or her needs. LLCA was founded on the platform of helping guide emerging entrepreneurs to a mainstream presence and financial success.

For more information, visit www.launchedladiescreative.wordpress.com.

CREDITS

Conceived + Directed By 
Aiesha Turman

Primary Participants
Chanel Jones
Courtney James
Netchem Hairston
Aurelia Spence
Amanda Rivera
Tiffany Coley
Paige Padgett
Melissa Henry

Additional Photography
Nasheim Williams
Netchem Hairston

###

DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE

Jypsea CEO, Meca McKinney, Teams with Habitat for Humanity to
Create a 5-Week Design “Camp” for Kids

WILLINGBORO, NJ—MAY 4, 2011—New Jersey-based accessory designer, Meca
McKinney of Jypsea ~Eclectic Handcrafted Leathergoods
(www.jypsea.com), announced that she is teaming with Habitat for
Humanity to teach a five-week intro-to-design class for kids.  Taking
place in Trenton at the Habitat for Humanity Recreation Center
(located at 601 North Clinton Avenue), the 5-week class takes place on
Tuesday evenings. The first class took place on May 3rd.

Each class session is two hours long. Meca works personally with
students to learn basic patternmaking, leather cutting, the use of
hand tools, and design techniques such as appliqué and making fringe.
Over the course of the 5-week session, Four projects will be
introduced which can be completed with the allotted class period.
Participants will be able to make memorable, lasting gifts for their
parents—just in time for the holidays with Mother’s Day in May and
Father’s Day in June.

Habitat for Humanity of Trenton works with members of the city’s
community to build affordable housing and to create healthy vibrant
and self-sufficient communities. In addition to constructing homes,
Habitat for Humanity works with volunteers and professionals alike to
bring classes and other programs to enrich the city of Trenton.

For more information about joining Meca McKinney’s class, call
609.393.8009 or visit http://habitatta.org.

SPREADING THE WORD: New York-based Filmmaker and Educator Brings Breakout Documentary Film to Phoenix

PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 3, 2010— With successful screenings in New York and Washington, DC, Brooklyn-based  filmmaker and educator, Aiesha Turman, is taking her documentary film, The Black Girl Project (www.blackgirlproject.com) west…. Next stop…Phoenix, Arizona. Teaming with Phoenix-based social organization, Urban Soulcial (www.urbansoulcial.com), the screening, open to members  of the  group, will take place on Saturday, December 4th.

“Teaming with Urban Soulcial is a great way to reach as many Black girls and their allies as possible in the Phoenix area,” says Turman. “We, as a community need to focus on embracing and uplifting our young women and show them that their lives are just as valued as that of their counterparts so that they too can and realize their full potential.”

Produced by Turman’s Super Hussy Media (www.superhussy.com), The Black Girl Project (BGP) focuses on one core question: “who are you? “That one question spawned another, then another and yet another, but the one initial question is at the heart of the film.

Hosted by Urban Soulcial founder Courtney Crosslin, The Black Girl Project event will begin with a screening of the film followed by an open discussion between the audience and director via LiveStream (http://www.livestream.com/haveawonderful).  Questions will also be fielded from the general public simultaneously via with Ms. Turman (@blackgirlproj) and Ms. Crosslin (@urbansoulcials) following the movie. The social media based event gives participants a chance to ask the filmmaker questions around some of the themes touched on in the film as well as allowing past audience members and those interested in viewing the film to share their thoughts as well. The hash tag for the event will be #BGPinAZ.

“The Black Girl Project is perfect for an Urban Soulcial event,” said Crosslin.  “We created Urban Soulcial to support creatives like Aiesha and bring awareness to projects such as hers. We’re honored to bring this film to Phoenix and hope it sparks discussions that ripple out into the community beyond one night.”

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit (www.blackgirlproject.org) of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women.  The film screening will also serve as a fundraiser for the Black Girl Project organization. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit http://blackgirlprojectphx.eventbrite.com/.

 

ABOUT URBAN SOULCIAL

Urban Soulcials are semi-private affairs that cater to an ultra-niche audience (think dinner parties with a cultural twist and an element of surprise). An Urban Soulcial is an avant-garde event that will revolutionize the way you connect, soulcialize, shop and play. Urban Soulcials create one-off experiences in intimate settings.

For more information about Urban Soulcials, visit www.urbansoulcial.com.

 

ABOUT BLACK GIRL PROJECT

The Black Girl Project aims to address the challenges girls face in their daily lives, in addition to helping girls build a strong sense of self, develop healthy relationships and take care of their bodies and minds. Black women and girls are under siege within their own communities and society at large. Not only are they more likely to contract HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they are at high risk for physical and sexual assault, and death from curable/manageable ailments such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. In addition, they are more likely to be living at or below the poverty line.

The Black Girl Project addresses the critical worldwide problem of low self-esteem, lack of education, poverty rates and issues specific to black adolescent and pre-adolescent girls regardless of ethnicity. The Black Girl Project is designed to foster positive self-esteem, critical thinking, leadership, academic achievement, community service and entrepreneurial skills among girls, ages 8 to 17, in the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Europe — wherever there are black girls in need.

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women.

For more information about the Black Girl Project, visit: www.blackgirlproject.org.

 

ABOUT SUPER HUSSY MEDIA

Super Hussy Media is independently owned, written, edited and designed by filmmaker and writer, Aiesha Turman. A strong believer in the empowerment of young women and girls, particularly those of color, Aiesha created Super Hussy as a means to explore black life as it related to the female gender across place, class, time and sexuality. The site focuses on projects that are intensely personal and through them, hopes to shed light on the contradictions, triumphs, perils and beauty that is black womanhood.

Utilizing traditional and emerging media as tools for investigation, Super Hussy Media engages in frank dialogue surrounding the issues of race, class, gender, spirituality and sexual orientation and the roles they play in the lives of black women and girls through the use of women and families, both historic and contemporary. By illuminating the hardships, struggles and complexities of black womanhood, Super Hussy Media seeks to change the paradigm through which black women are viewed and ultimately, how they view themselves.

For more information, visit: www.superhussy.com

 

CREDITS

Conceived + Directed By 
Aiesha Turman

Primary Participants

Chanel Jones

Courtney James

Netchem Hairston

Aurelia Spence

Amanda Rivera

Tiffany Coley

Paige Padgett

Melissa Henry

Chenequa Snell

Additional Photography

Nasheim Williams

Netchem Hairston

###

BROOKLYN’S NEWEST QUEENS

BROOKLYN, NY –October, 2010— Amaris Acosta, the Executive Director of the Miss Brooklyn Scholar ship Organization (www.missbrooklyn.org) recently announced the crowning of four new queens that will represent the borough on the road to Miss America. Crowned on Saturday, October 9^th, at the Brooklyn Music School in Fort Greene, these four amazing ladies beat out a formidable field to take their titles in one of New York’s early preliminary pageants for Miss America. Introducing the new queens in the borough of Kings….

Christina Moore a native of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn is the new Miss Brooklyn for 2011. The Wagner College junior and Brooklyn Cyclones cheerleader is promoting a platform of “Performance with a Purpose,” Brining Sarcoma Awareness to Center Stage (which has her working with the Sarcoma Alliance). Christina brought poise, confidence and talent to the Brooklyn crown, which was passed on from outgoing queen, Mallory Hagan of Bedford Stuyvesant. Ironically, Moore competed against Hagan for the 2010 title.

Carmen Mendoza of Park Slope, Brooklyn is Miss Kings County 2011.  Pursing a Master’s Degree in Journalism from New York University, Carmen is an Executive Marketing Assistant with Ann Taylor Loft and is advocating a platform of “De-stigmatizing Getting Tested,” Carmen hopes to use her new title to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS by dispelling the stigma associated with getting tested and the social taboo of talking about safe sex.

Also earning titles at the pageant was Brittney Hollingsworth as Brooklyn’s Outstanding Teen and Lauren Mollela, Dutchess County’s Outstanding Teen. The “junior” division of Miss America, the Outstanding Teen competition promotes scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America’s teens. Brittney, a student at the Acorn Community High School,  will travel throughout the Brooklyn community speaking about her platform, “Y.E.S.—Youth Engaged in Service” while Lauren, a Millbrook High School student, will continue the tradition by promoting her platform of “Scoliosis Diagnosis and Treatment” throughout Dutchess County over the next year.

“These four ladies are a wonderful addition to the Miss Brooklyn family,” said Acosta. “We are excited to not only work with Christina, Carmen, Brittney and Lauren, but also to have two shots in each division of bringing the Miss New York title home.”

For more information about the Miss Brooklyn Scholarship Organization or their titleholders, please visit www.missbrooklyn.org.

CONGRATS TO AIESHA TURMAN AND THE BLACK GIRL PROJECT ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCREENING!

Congrats to Super Hussy Media filmmaker, Aiesha Turman, on a successful screening of The Black Girl Project in Washington DC this weekend. The event, hosted by The Saartjie Project, was sold out!

Call us overachievers. Call us perfectionists. The team at Black Girl Project needs your feedback. If you have attended either the New York or DC screenings, we want to know what you liked, think we can improve on and what you want to see more us. Please fill out the feedback form here.

Also, there’s talk of more screenings in New York and DC. We are working on coming to Phoenix, Philly and more in the near future.

Interested in bringing the screening to your city or town, email Aiesha Turman at  aiesha@blackgirlproject.com

Also, check out Aiesha leading the post-viewing discussion at the DC screening.

 

Super Hussy Media filmmaker, Aiesha Turman, leads the post-viewing discussion at the Washington, DC screening of The Black Girl Project.The event was held at the Affinity Lab and hosted by the Saartije Project.

STAY TUNED!

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

New York-based Filmmaker and Educator, Aiesha Turman, Teams With The Saartjie Project To Bring Feature Documentary, The Black Girl Project, To Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 13, 2010— After a successful New York premier, Brooklyn-based  filmmaker and educator, Aiesha Turman, is taking her documentary film, The Black Girl Project (www.blackgirlproject.com) on the road. Next stop, Washington, DC. Teaming with DC-based artist collective, The Saartjie Project (www.thesaartjieproject.org), the screening will take place on Saturday, September 25^th at Affinity Lab (920 U Street, NW) beginning at 6:30 PM.

“It’s my hope to be able to reach as many Black girls and their allies as possible with this film and subsequent work,” says Aiesha Turman. “It’s vitally important that the lives of Black girls are valued just as much as the lives of their counterparts. It’s time that we, as a community-at-large, embrace and uplift our young women so that they can become the self-actualized individuals they deserve to be.”

Produced by Turman’s Super Hussy Media (www.superhussy.com), The Black Girl Project (BGP) focuses on one core question: “who are you? “That one question spawned another, then another and yet another, but the one initial question is at the heart of the film.

Hosted by Saartjie Project founder Jessica Solomon, The Black Girl Project event will begin with a screening of the film followed by an open discussion with the audience and a director “talk-back” with Ms. Turman.  Prior to the event, the public is invited to participate in a Twitter-based discussion with Aiesha (@blackgirlproj) and Ms. Solomon (@saartjieproject) on Wednesday, September 22^nd at 9PM. The social media based event gives participants a chance to ask the filmmaker questions around some of the themes touched on in the film as well as allow audience members from the New York screening and those interested in viewing the film to share their thoughts as well. The hash tag for the event will be #blackgirlprojDC.

“As The Saartjie Project is currently developing a new performance piece that explores the liberation of black women we find Aiesha’s documentary timely and necessary,” said Jessica.  “We are excited to bring The Black Girl Project to DC and are looking forward to an evening of beauty, dialogue and transformation.”

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit (www.blackgirlproject.org) of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women.  The film screening will also serve as a fundraiser for the Black Girl Project organization. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit http://theblackgirlproject.eventbrite.com/

ABOUT THE SAARTJIE PROJECT

Founded in 2008, The Saartjie Project is a Washington, DC-based artist collective producing and developing performance art through collaborative processes.  We are committed to working together consistently to develop a distinct body of work + practices reflective of who we are: black women poets, singers, performance artists, visual artists and dancers gathered to create dynamic art that explores the intersections of our experiences.

For more information, visit: www.thesaartijieproject.com.

ABOUT BLACK GIRL PROJECT

The Black Girl Project aims to address the challenges girls face in their daily lives, in addition to helping girls build a strong sense of self, develop healthy relationships and take care of their bodies and minds. Black women and girls are under siege within their own communities and society at large. Not only are they more likely to contract HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they are at high risk for physical and sexual assault, and death from curable/manageable ailments such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. In addition, they are more likely to be living at or below the poverty line.

The Black Girl Project addresses the critical worldwide problem of low self-esteem, lack of education, poverty rates and issues specific to black adolescent and pre-adolescent girls regardless of ethnicity. The Black Girl Project is designed to foster positive self-esteem, critical thinking, leadership, academic achievement, community service and entrepreneurial skills among girls, ages 8 to 17, in the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Europe — wherever there are black girls in need.

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women.

For more information about the Black Girl Project, visit: www.blackgirlproject.org.

ABOUT SUPER HUSSY MEDIA

Super Hussy Media is independently owned, written, edited and designed by filmmaker and writer, Aiesha Turman. A strong believer in the empowerment of young women and girls, particularly those of color, Aiesha created Super Hussy as a means to explore black life as it related to the female gender across place, class, time and sexuality. The site focuses on projects that are intensely personal and through them, hopes to shed light on the contradictions, triumphs, perils and beauty that is black womanhood.

Utilizing traditional and emerging media as tools for investigation, Super Hussy Media engages in frank dialogue surrounding the issues of race, class, gender, spirituality and sexual orientation and the roles they play in the lives of black women and girls through the use of women and families, both historic and contemporary. By illuminating the hardships, struggles and complexities of black womanhood, Super Hussy Media seeks to change the paradigm through which black women are viewed and ultimately, how they view themselves.

For more information, visit: www.superhussy.com

DEVIL AND SAINT: Brooklyn Filmmaker Aiesha Turman Set to Screen First Feature, The Black Girl Project

BROOKLYN, NY – AUGUST 4, 2010 — Saint. Sinner. Stigma. Enigma. Black Girl. Black Woman. Brooklyn-based educator and filmmaker, Aiesha Turman, announced today the screening of her first feature, The Black Girl Project (www.blackgirlproject.com) will take place on Friday, August 27^th at the Spike Lee Screening Room on the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University.

“In a culture where Black women and girls are either praised for their saintly accomplishments, stripping them of any other character except that of a martyr or mammy, or demonized and used as the scapegoat when explaining all the wrongs with the Black community and society in general, it is important to hear and see Black girls speak their truths,” says film director, Aiesha Turman.

The event will begin with a cocktail reception to celebrate the completion of the documentary followed by the screening of the hour long film.  A panel discussion and informal Q&A session focusing on the central themes of the film follows where the audience will get to speak with Aiesha Turman and featured participants from the film including Courtney James, currently a senior at The City College of New York, Paige Padgett, a Political Science major at Lehman College and Netchem Hairston who attends the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC).  The discussion will be moderated by Neycha Herford, a highly sought-after personality and lifestyle expert with a multidisciplinary background as a musician, transformational counselor, writer, speaker and new media journalist.

Produced by Turman’s Super Hussy Media (www.superhussy.com), The Black Girl Project (BGP) focuses on one core question: “who are you? “That one question spawned another, then another and yet another, but the one initial question is at the heart of the film.

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit (www.blackgirlproject.org) of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women.  The film screening will also serve as a fundraiser for the Black Girl Project organization. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, email Tamara Walker at nyprdiva@gmail.com or visit www.blackgirlproject.com.

ABOUT BLACK GIRL PROJECT

The Black Girl Project aims to address the challenges girls face in their daily lives, in addition to helping girls build a strong sense of self, develop healthy relationships and take care of their bodies and minds. Black women and girls are under siege within their own communities and society at large. Not only are they more likely to contract HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they are at high risk for physical and sexual assault, and death from curable/manageable ailments such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. In addition, they are more likely to be living at or below the poverty line.

The Black Girl Project addresses the critical worldwide problem of low self-esteem, lack of education, poverty rates and issues specific to black adolescent and pre-adolescent girls regardless of ethnicity. The Black Girl Project is designed to foster positive self-esteem, critical thinking, leadership, academic achievement, community service and entrepreneurial skills among girls, ages 8 to 17, in the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Europe — wherever there are black girls in need.

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women. For more information about the Black Girl Project, visit: www.blackgirlproject.org.BGP_Flyer 3_Layout 1 (1)

ABOUT SUPER HUSSY MEDIA

Super Hussy Media is independently owned, written, edited and designed by filmmaker and writer, Aiesha Turman. A strong believer in the empowerment of young women and girls, particularly those of color, Aiesha created Super Hussy as a means to explore black life as it related to the female gender across place, class, time and sexuality. The site focuses on projects that are intensely personal and through them, hopes to shed light on the contradictions, triumphs, perils and beauty that is black womanhood.

Utilizing traditional and emerging media as tools for investigation, Super Hussy Media engages in frank dialogue surrounding the issues of race, class, gender, spirituality and sexual orientation and the roles they play in the lives of black women and girls through the use of women and families, both historic and contemporary. By illuminating the hardships, struggles and complexities of black womanhood, Super Hussy Media seeks to change the paradigm through which black women are viewed and ultimately, how they view themselves.

For more information, visit: www.superhussy.com

CREDITS

Conceived + Directed By
Aiesha Turman

Primary Participants
Chanel Jones
Courtney James
Netchem Hairston
Aurelia Spence
Amanda Rivera
Tiffany Coley
Paige Padgett
Melissa Henry

Additional Photography
Nasheim Williams
Netchem Hairston
###