This is year’s theme is “Sexy, Stylish and Safe” and will include a fashion show, Red Pump Award ceremony (honoring a community activist), live music and entertainment and gourmet fare courtesy of Celebrity Chef Jay Jones, Executive Chef of Chateau Noir, LLC.

The evening will be hosted by T. Strong (StyleMayvin.com, Fox Charlotte, Creative Loafing, Paper Dolls Radio), V101.9 Radio Personality Chirl Girl and Emmy-award winning spoken word artist Bluz.  Power 98’s DJ Yasmin Young will provide the soundtrack for the evening along with a live performance from Charlotte’s newest soul band, Soulful Descent. We also have several very special invited guests.  An event to remember—and not to be missed.

This year, one of The Red Pump Project founders, Luvvie Ajayi, will also be in attendance!

So join us for The Red Pump/Red Tie Affair in Charlotte on December 1, 2011!

Event Details

When: 12.01.11
Where: The Harvey B. Gantt Center at Levine Center for the Arts (551 South Tryon Street)
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Attire: Cocktail attire requested. Red pumps and Red ties are highly encouraged.

Tickets are $35 for regular, $55 for VIP. Get them at: http://2011redpumpredtieaffair.eventbrite.com

If you have any questions, email us at Redpumpcharlotte at redpump.org

The post 3rd Annual Red Pump/Red Tie Affair in Charlotte to Commemorate World AIDS Day appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Shoe Show is Red Pump Dallas’ annual shoe design/decorating competition and reception in honor of World AIDS Day. The purpose of the event is to display creative talent while meeting the need for increased attention to HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention efforts in our community!

Contestants buy an ordinary pair of shoes (any type) and decorate them with whatever their imagination can bring to life. The shoes are turned in to one week before Shoe Show and displayed at the reception to be voted on by Shoe Show attendees. During the voting process, attendees enjoy live performances and entertainment, art, vendors, networking, light food and beverages and FREE HIV testing.

The designer of the shoes with the most votes wins a grand prize (to be determined)! Once a winner is selected, one vote will be drawn at random and patrons will have a chance to WIN the shoe they voted for!

Participation in the contest is free, but the winner is chosen by popular vote, so contestants are encouraged to invite family and friends.

This year’s Shoe Show will be on Friday, December 2, 2011 from 8-11pm at Studio Ninety Two (3720 Canton St, Dallas, TX 75202). Tickets are $10, and can be purchased HERE.

Proceeds will benefit The Red Pump Project and The AFIYA Center.

Rock your red pumps or red tie to show your support!

To participate in Shoe Show 2011 please email RedPumpDALLAS@redpump.org!

To attend, get tickets at http://shoeshow2011.eventbrite.com

The post Red Pump Shoe Show in Dallas for World AIDS Day appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

1. Get on our mailing list so you can get all our updates about happenings around the country. We send out a newsletter quarterly, with increased frequency during the time of our “Rock the Red Pump” campaign. Still. We won’t spam you or clutter your inbox. This is a promise.

You might be seeing this in your inbox because you’ve signed up to get our blog posts delivered to your email. This is different from our mailing list. So… sign up!

2. Follow us everywhere you’re active. We’re on Twitter (@RedPumpProj), Facebook, Tumblr, Foursquare. We’d love for you to join our communities!

3. Rock the Red Pump™ on your blog. Be a part of our annual campaign to get bloggers to commemorate National Women and Girls’ HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, by placing a “Rock the Red Pump” badge on their sites to represent the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease. The 4th annual campaign kicks off January 2012. If you’re on our mailing list, you’ll be the first know!

4. Write a blog post for the Red Pump site about why you care about HIV/AIDS. Why do you “Rock the Red Pump?” Stories reach farther than statistics, and we want to hear yours. You can submit a post idea to info at redpump dot org.

5. Partner with The Red Pump Project for an event in your area for an HIV/AIDS awareness day. Please keep in mind that partnership with Red Pump is important when you choose to use our marks. We’re very open to partnering with organizations and individuals, so email us with what you have in mind!

6. Become an ambassador. We’re currently only looking for ambassadors in New York City and Washington DC. To learn more and apply, read our ambassadors page.

7. Come to THIS event below to learn more if you’re in Chicago:

The Red Pump Project invites you to Fab Five Fridays for a happy hour meet and greet on Friday, October 28, 2011 from 6-10pm, at Red Kiva (1108 W. Randolph; Chicago, IL 60607).

Red Pump is gearing up for an incredibly active six months, nationally, leading up to National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10, 2012). However, in Chicago alone, we’ll be having 3 major events and initiatives between now and March 2012, and we need help in ensuring their success.

If you’re interested in getting involved with The Red Pump Project, come to this happy hour and we’ll let you know what areas we can use your help in.

6 – 7pm – Complimentary Alizé cocktail tasting
7 – 8pm – How to get involved with Red Pump
8 – 10pm – Be merry!

And while you’re there, you’ll enjoy music provided by the Fab Five DJs of Chicago: Kwest_on, Joe Kollege, Niena Drake, GT, and 8Ball.

No cover. $3 domestic beers, $5 cocktails.

To RSVP for this, go to http://fabfiveredpump.eventbrite.com. If you have any questions, email us at info at redpump dot org.

If you don’t live in Chicago, but would still like to get involved with us, email us saying how you’d ideally like to help.

Soon, #8 will be “Buy Red Pump Merchandise.” We’re relaunching our online store in the next couple of months, and that is another way you can help support our organization.

We’d love to get you involved with our work so just let us know how you’d like to help!

The post How Can You Be Involved with Red Pump? Here’s 7 Ways… appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Attendees of “Rock the RED” were treated to the runway creations of Wanda Grace, Khojo Dresses, Fashion House Chicago and House of Cleons. Accessories for the models were provided by Pretty Afrika and Sunny Jeanne. 14 Custom Red Pumps were created by Eidia Lush in a final scene that had people oohing! Those shoes are actually available for order now! And 15% of proceeds are coming back to The Red Pump Project to support our work! See them here.

Eidia Lush even went a step further and gifted the Red Pump co-founders with the actual Red Pumps in the logo! SO AWESOME!

The night was also to honor Keyana Ray with this year’s Ultimate Red Pump Rocker award. Ray, a film/video student at Columbia College Chicago, penned a film about three African-American girls who must deal with the threat of HIV/AIDS. The film was then produced by Gina Price-Blythewood (Love & Basketball), and has been screened across the country.

The event capped off a very successful online campaign for the organization, which exceeded its goal of getting 500 bloggers to commit to “Rocking the Red Pump” on their blogs on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10. 1,200 ultimately participated and collectively use their sites as a vehicle to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and stimulate discussion around the issue.

Save the date for next year’s show” March 22, 2012!

We’d like to thank our sponsors for the event. Especially our top sponsors, Walgreens and Vocalo. This is the 2nd year they’ve supported “Rock the RED.”

Thank you to the Rock the RED Team:

Show stylist: Deedee Esubi aka The Sassy Peach
Music provided by: DJ Bonsu
Makeup by: Erin Yarbrough, Andrea C. Samuels (DVixen Makeup), Crystal-Eyez Makeup
Hair by: Dee Desalu, Zelda Opara
Photography: ChuckStr Photos, Dare2Dream Photography, Jeff White
Designers: Eidia Lush Shoes, Pretty Afrika, Khojo Dresses, Sunny Jeanne Givens, Wanda Grace, House of Cleon, Fashion House Chicago

View pictures here:

The post 2nd Annual “Rock the RED” Show was a Success. Thanks to You! appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Community groups across the country will be commemorating this day by hosting educational and fundraising activities for various related organizations. I’ve gathered a list of a few and posted the details below. For more information, make sure that you click the flier (where applicable).

Chicago

San Diego

Charlotte

Dallas

Washington D.C.

The Howard University Student Association will host their second annual World AIDS Day Benefit Concert, Six Degrees, featuring Marsha Ambrosius (formerly of Floetry). The proceeds from the event will be donated to Metro TeenAIDS. HIV/AIDS testing opportunities, as well as educational information on safer sexual health practices, will be available on-site. The event starts at 7p and general admission tickets are $20 ($10 for students).

To find more events in your area, you can visit www.worldaidsday.org or check out local community calendars. Another good resource is the #WAD2010 hashtag on Twitter. People will be sharing events and happenings in their cities, so you’re sure to find great information this way.

This article was originally posted on The Fabulous Giver.

The post 2010 World AIDS Day Events appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

If you’re in Charlotte, join them for The Red Pump/Red Tie Affair! Tickets are on sale on the event’s page on Eventbrite!

The post Red Pump Charlotte Shoot Ad for Red Pump/Red Tie Affair appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

In advance of the event, guests are invited to decorate a new pair of Red Pumps and enter into a contest. Attendees at the December 1st reception will then select their favorite and the winner takes home a designer messenger bag filled with goodies from local businesses! In addition to the contest voting, attendees can shop with various vendors, enjoy live performances, and even get tested on-site!

For contest rules, entry form and vendor/sponsor/general info, please email redpumpdallas@theredpumpproject.com or call our Dallas ambassador Shannon Gooden at (832) 660-7399.

Event details are below:

Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Duval’s Penthouse, 1700 Commerce Street 18th Floor (Dallas, TX)
Tickets: $10

The post Red Pump Dallas World AIDS Day Event: Shoe Shoe 2010 appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

On the evening of December 3, 2010, in commemoration of the 22nd annual World AIDS Day, Rush University Medical Center’s Section of Infectious Diseases and The Red Pump Project invite you to “Behind the Red Curtains: Monologues on HIV.” Happening at at Room 43, 1041 East 43rd Street in the Bronzeville community of Chicago, this event is to address the impact of HIV/AIDS—on individual lives, as well as the overall community—through performance art.

Rush and the Red Pump Project hope to improve HIV awareness; to underscore the need to link disease prevention, diagnosis and care; to reduce stigma and discrimination; and to encourage clinical trial participation as another option for care among women and minorities living with HIV.

“Behind the RED Curtains” performances will feature singing and HIV monologues ( spoken-word and storytelling). Confirmed performers include well-known Chicago natives: nationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Maggie Brown and two-time featured HBO Def Poetry Jam Chicago artist and social activist “Mama Brenda” Matthews. In addition, Dana Divine—composer, vocalist, and host of “Music of Love and Inspiration” Sunday mornings on 107.5 FM WGC—will serve as mistress of ceremonies for the evening. There’ll also be other performers besides those mentioned above.

Event Information

Behind the RED Curtains

December 3, 2010
6pm-7pm (Networking Reception) | 7pm-8:30pm Program

Room 43 (1041 E. 43rd St.)
Chicago, IL 60653

Women, Rock your Red Pumps. Fellas, Rock your Red Ties!


“Behind the RED Curtains” is free, with a suggested donation of $10. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Any proceeds will benefit a nonprofit, Chicago-area HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, or service organization (to be announced).

Space is limited. RSVP at redcurtains.eventbrite.com!

Join us as we take the stigma behind the RED curtains and talk about HIV from creative standpoints!
Direct inquiries to Craig Johnson, Community Health Promoter, Rush University Medical Center at craig_johnson@rush.edu or Luvvie Ajayi, Co-Founder, The Red Pump Project at luvvie@theredpumpproject.com.

About Rush University Medical Center (Section of Infectious Diseases)

The Section of Infectious Diseases at Rush University Medical Center brings together world-class specialists dedicated to developing and providing the latest treatments for its patients. The HIV Treatment Program at Rush serves more than 700 patients annually and has lead the way in delivering comprehensive patient care, including investigation, prevention, diagnoses and treatment. HIV research includes immune reconstitution, immunologic and virologic studies of progressive HIV infection, as well as effective treatment of HIV and co-infections. Doctors and scientists at Rush set the standard for excellence in patient care. For more information, visit www.rush.edu.

The post Behind the RED Curtains: Join Us To Commemorate World AIDS Day appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Mark your calendars Chicago! Bar AIDS is upon us on Thursday, August 26th. This year not only are pubs and bars throughout the city participating, but so are coffee shops and juice bars, to accommodate a broader clientele.

A portion of the proceeds at participating venues will go towards EdgeAlliance to help children, adults and families living with HIV/AIDS achieve a higher quality of life through housing, care and support services.

Click here to go to the EdgeAlliance website to find out which venues are participating.

Next Saturday, August 21st at the Harris Theatre, 205 East Randolph Drive, Millenium Park join Chicago’s most renowned, talented and exciting dance companies for what will be an awesome evening of dance rallying around one cause, on one stage! one spectacular, celebratory evening of dance – on one stage! Dance for Life is the only such event of its kind in Chicago, the largest in the Midwest, where such talented individuals come together on one stage, for one night, to help individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS.

The post Upcoming HIV/AIDS Events Around the Country appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

August 7, 2010 – AIM for Youth’s Back 2 School Community Kids Day in Atlanta, GA is FREE and open to the public. Up to 1,000 youth and their families will have the opportunity to receive free book bags and school supplies while participating in other various activities (such as free health, dental and vision screenings, diabetes, obesity and HIV/AIDS education) designed to bring awareness and education to major health issues affecting youth today. For more information click here.

August 7, 2010 – Baton Rouge, LA come out and join Restoring Hearts Outreach Center for the FREE Community Block Party hosted at Independence Rock, 7505 Independence Blvd. From 12:00pm – 2:30pm, enjoy good fellowship and good food. Most importantly, the event will be providing the community with knowledge about daily issues. Particularly, issues that affect young people. There will be workshops focused on peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and more.

August 7, 2010 – This event in Ontario, Canada aims to inspire Canadian students to get involved in their community while raising awareness about HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, Africa. Tsosa Molota is a community wide event featuring music, games, raffles, art and even sport. They are fundraising for Student Reach International’s project called Reach Lesotho. Click here to learn more.

August 7, 2010 – In Kelowna, British Columbia Loyal Hair Therapy is having a LUXE Summer Soiree. Proceeds from the evening benefit the Living Positive Resource Center. LPRC is a non-profit organization who’s goal is to give support, awareness, education and prevention programs for HIV/AIDS related issues. The event will feature international recording artist Kim Kuzma, a men’s underwear fashion show by Vancouver’s McKillop Underwear, Loyal Hair Therapy’s ‘Own It’ style competition followed by an evening of dancing to the sounds of DJ Polychrome. Learn more here.

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