"Bridging our Future" 2015 series on Education begins

For 2015 Vox Culture shifts gears as it turns its focus from 2014's Proclaiming Humanity to this years feature cause, education. The theme for our eduction series, "Bridging our Future," begins in January and will extend to November of this year. Officially partnering with HISD, Vox Culture will be specifically tackling literacy in HISD schools with the primary focus and case study being Lee High School. 

Be sure to follow our newsletters and see the latest happenings of the year via our facebook page to see the progess that is being made. If you would like to be a volunteer and help mentor some of the students that we will be working with - in the areas of guidance, college applications, and literacy, please contact humeira.akbar@voxculture.org.

New Year, New Resolution on Education

Happy New Years!!! I hope everyone’s holidays have been filled with friends, family and loved ones. I know mine was, a lot of consuming especially during the Christmas time, more than I anticipated. On Christmas morning I even felt my stomach still digesting from the night before. Sadly, it is back to reality and time to put those New Years Resolutions into work, right? On behalf of Vox Culture, we once again would like to thank everyone who attended and participated at our end of the finale event, Proclaiming Humanity: Beauty in Courage Fashion Show benefitting the Tahirih Justice Center. This year we will be working with the Houston Independent School District, with our emphasis on education. We would like to proudly announce that we will be working with the kids at Lee High school focusing on literacy. 

-Crystal

November Newsletter: Finale of Proclaiming Humanity

a. Beauty in Courage: Tremendous Success
b. 2015 Cause of Focus & Partner/Benefactor: Education & HISD

Our grand finale for the Proclaiming Humanity series, Beauty in Courage, was a massive success and capped off a year addressing the issue of domestic violence in our community, together with our partners and benefactors, the Tahirih Justice Center! Get a sneak peek as to what is in store for 2015!
==

a. BEAUTY IN COURAGE: TREMENDOUS SUCCESS

On Monday, November 17, Vox Culture hosted its grand finale event to a year dedicated to focusing and raising awareness on domestic violence in Houston and around the world. Featuring an evening of fashion, arts, entertainment, and socializing, Beauty in Courage was dedicated to putting a spotlight on Vox Culture's partner for 2014, the Tahirih Justice Center - with part of evening's proceeds benefiting them as well!

The event took place at Mr. Peeples with an after-party being hosted at Majorca Bistro and Tapas. Special thanks for support on this event go out to a number of businesses, community leaders, artists, and volunteers for making this an amazing night and amongst the most successful Vox events ever, with a overall total of 200+ people partaking!

To see pictures and a list of individuals, designers, performers, artists, and sponsors who we would like to thank, please click here!

b. 2015 CAUSE OF FOCUS & PARTNER/BENEFACTOR: EDUCATION & HISD
The next issue that the Vox Core Team has recently voted to tackle for 2015 is Education. It is also our pleasure to announce that our partner and benefactor for the coming year will be the Houston Independent School District (HISD)!

More details will be announced in the coming month. The goal of the year will be to address creativity through literature/reading and help play a role in addressing the low rates amongst some schools in the district, specially amongst minority and immigrant populations in Houston. Stay tuned and keep an eye out for the December newsletter!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend!

Beauty in Courage Event

Monday we hosted our grand finale event in Proclaiming in Humanity: Beauty in Courage with a fashion/social mixer and artist bazarr that benefitted the Tahirih Justice Center. The show opened with a performance by Sugar Joiko, followed by the fashion show. The designers that were featured were Rammy Kaur, Emelia Natalicchio, Virginia Colao, Umair Khan, Elle Milady, Damari Rubio, and Danny Nguyen. I would say my 2 favorites from the show were Emelia’s and Danny’s designs. I felt Emeila’s pieces were catered towards my style, elegance with a hint of grunge chic. Danny’s gowns were stunning with his meticulous detail and use colors. After the show Rocko Stedy performed followed by the auction and raffling of items. Overall the event was a success and many of our guests had a great time. 

The runway

Booth being set up

-Crystal K

October Newsletter: "Beauty in Courage" on 11/17!

a. 11/17 Beauty in Courage
b. Purchase Beauty in Courage Tickets
c. Support/Sponsor Beauty in Courage
d. Donate to Tahirih Justice Center

The grand finale event for our Proclaiming Humanity series on domestic violence is just around the corner! See the details to Beauty in Couragebelow, who all is involved, how to get your LIMITED tickets, how you can help support the event, or show your support for Tahirih Justice Center!

==

a. 11/17 BEAUTY IN COURAGE
Beauty in Courage, is 20 DAYS AWAY! Be sure to follow the Vox Facebook page for the latest announcements! 

Join us for the grand finale event to a year dedicated to focusing and raising awareness on domestic violence in Houston and around the world. Featuring an evening of fashion, arts, entertainment, and socializing, Beauty in Courage is dedicated to putting a spotlight on Vox Culture's partner for 2014, the Tahirih Justice Center - with part of evening's proceeds benefiting them as well!

Here are some of the evenings features:

• Mistress of Ceremonies: Ms. Jacquie Baly
• Red Carpet Correspondent & Fashion Show Entertainer: Rocko Stedy Narvios

Capsule Collection showcased by Texas fashion designers: 

• Danny Nguyen
• Umair Khan
• Virginia Colao
• Emilia Natalicchio
• Rammy Kaur
• Elle Milady
• Damari Rubio (collaborating accessory designer)​

Live Performances by:

• (Dance & Poetry) Son Kiss'd
• (Musical Performance) Sugar Joiko
• (Musical Performance) Rocko Stedy
• (Musical Performance) Kuumba Freeque
• (Aerial Arts) Kenali Kendrick​
• (Stilt Walker) Anna Vlada

Additional Featured Artists:

• (Photography) Jackson Potts II
• ​(Sky Trues - Custom Designer Eye wear Frames) George "Goldenboy" Phelps
• (H.E.A.R.T. Paintings & Live Painting) Chyna Wheatley 
• (M4 - Metal artist) Erin Massey
• Anu Srivastav
• Ami Mehta

Other features include: 

• Live auction including pieces from designers off the runway show
• Silent Auction & Raffle Prizes
• Special celebrity bags with ticket admission
• All ticket purchases include drinks and appetizers provided by Mr. Peeples

b. PURCHASE BEAUTY IN COURAGE TICKETS
Tickets for Beauty in Courage are now available for purchase! Tickets are available only online and are priced as the following:

• Regular Tickets
  • Single: $110.00  (Includes Fashion Show, Seat, Raffle Ticket, Lite-Bites & 2 Beverages provided at Mr. Peeples & RWB Vodka, and Valet provided by Advantage BMW)
  • Couple: $160.00  (Includes Fashion Show, Seat, Raffle Ticket, Lite-Bites & 2 Beverages PER PERSON provided at Mr. Peeples & RWB Vodka, and Valet provided by Advantage BMW) 
• V.I.P. Tickets
  • Single: $150.00  (Includes Fashion Show, Seat, Raffle Ticket, Lite-Bites & 2 Beverages provided at Mr. Peeples & RWB Vodka, and Valet provided by Advantage BMW + After-Party Ticket at Majorca Bistro & Tapas)
  • Couple: $200.00 (Includes Fashion Show, Seat, Raffle Ticket, Lite-Bites & 2 Beverages PER PERSON provided at Mr. Peeples & RWB Vodka, and Valet provided by Advantage BMW + After-Party Ticket at Majorca Bistro & Tapas)
• After-Party Tickets
  • Per person: $25.00 (Includes Lite-Bites & 1 Beverage, and Valet provided by Majorca Bistro & Tapas)

You can purchase your ticket selection via the Eventbrite link by simply clicking over this highlighted section. For further inquiries about tickets, please send a message to beautyincourage@voxculture.org.

c. SUPPORT/SPONSOR BEAUTY IN COURAGE
We have been overwhelmed by the amount of community support that we have received both from individuals as well as businesses here in Houston, for Beauty in Courage. With the support of these friends, Vox Culture has been able to put plenty together for what is sure to be a spectacular and impactful event, as we seek to close out the year, reminding ourselves as to why domestic violence is an issue that deserves all the attention possible.

However, there is still much to be done! If you would like to join our community friends and sponsor/support Beauty in Courage, you can click here to see the different levels we have available and what is offered to each. If you have any further questions about sponsorship, volunteering opportunities, or general questions, please send a message to beautyincourage@voxculture.org. 

d. DONATE TO TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER
If you cannot attend Beauty in Courage but would still like to show your support to the Tahirih Justice Center with a monetary donation, please note that the Eventbrite link for Beauty in Courage has such an option. Click here and scroll all the way to the bottom to enter an amount of your choosing. The amount that you enter will be donated to Tahirih by Vox at the conclusion of the event.

The Tahirih Justice Center is an innovative, efficient, and strategic national non-profit organization that works to protect immigrant women and girls from gender-based violence through legal services, advocacy, and public education programs. Tahirih’s efforts to manage high quality programs and operations have been recognized through several distinguished awards , including the 2007 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management. Click here to learn more about Tahirih and their efforts to overcome gender-based violence and achieve justice for women and girls in need.