I’ll always have love for emPower Magazine. The Editorial Director, DeShuna Spencer, took me aboard as an Marketing/Editorial intern when I first moved out here to the DC area. Knowing that I was searching for a full-time job, she kept my skills active until it was time for me to move on. For that, I will forever be grateful. Even though I parted from emPower physically, my heart was still there — watching and waiting for the next big move.

So, here it is. Those phone conversations, emails and Busboy & Poet talks with Deshuna about creating a happy hour devoted to non-profit organizations and charities has finally paid off! I was so excited to receive the invite for the event. Since I’m currently unemployed, I reached out to offer my marketing assistance with the event. I mean, yes, I’m applying for jobs but that gets so old day in and day out. I needed a spin. Next thing you know, DeShuna and I are back at it– promoting and getting the word out.

But of course, you know I had to announce it on my blog! Check out the info and I hope to see you all there. Its for a really great cause and I hope you also take the time out to check out the online magazine to see what its all about.

About emPower Magazine: emPower (knowledge. vision. power.) is an online magazine that offers commentary and articles on social, economical, health, political, educational and environmental issues facing people of African descent.
Follow emPower: @empowermagazine

Start your month off right by networking for a good cause!

On the first Thursday of every month, emPower magazine is hosting an emPower HAPPY HOUR at Tabaq Bistro to further our mission, which is to not only discuss social issues, but also challenge our readers to take action.

Each month, you have the opportunity to support a different non-profit organization in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. Attendees can give in two ways:
•    By drinking (10 percent of the beverage proceeds will go to the non-profit)
•    By bringing non-monetary donations (depending on the needs of the organization)

July Non-Profit Recipient: Books for America

Mission: To promote literacy, life-long learning and understanding by distributing donated new and used books of all types and other forms of educational media to organizations serving disadvantaged communities and individuals. Recipients include adult and youth literacy programs, youth centers, transitional homeless shelters, hospitals, inner-city and rural schools, military bases, assisted living communities for seniors, veterans hospitals, women’s shelters, and hospices.

Non-monetary request: one (1) new or used book in very good condition

Date: July 1, 2010

Admission is Free

-Ms. Parker
My Motto: People Helping People

Happy Monday! I know most of us are still recovering from the amazing 10 day festival, Digital Capital Week. I can’t believe how most of us kept going like the Energizer Bunny, partying hard from Sunday to Sunday! I hope you all had a great time, but I need your energy again this week.

Please come out this Wednesday (June 23) and support this great cause. Social Good (#socialgood), right?? Let’s do this! Gia love the chi’lin (children) and I hope you do too!

(information courtesy of www.adivastateofmind.com)

Capital Partners for Education provides DC youth with private high school scholarships, adult mentors and academic support services for all four years of high school.  In CPE’s 17-year history, the organization has helped nearly 400 students get on a path towards college. Without the support from CPE, many of these students’ talents would be unrealized. Our students face numerous obstacles on their path to college, including limited family income, unsafe neighborhoods, and a lack of positive role models.

Despite these challenges, our students are earning academic distinction, giving back to their communities through service and most importantly and are becoming the first in their families to attend college. Not only do 99% of all CPE graduates enroll in college, they graduate college at 5.3 times the rate of their DC public school counterparts.

Please join me at the Mix It Up Fundraiser Happy Hour at Midtown Loft on June 23rd from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

Ticket price includes top shelf open bar, hors d’oeuvres and great raffle prizes. Contributions are tax deductible.

$50 – Sponsor (1 raffle ticket) : Sponsors the cost of one CPE student’s
participation in our Career Pathways program for one year

$75 – Cum Laude(5 raffle tickets) : Sponsors a CPE mentor/mentee match for one
year

$150 – Magna Cum Laude (10 raffle tickets) : Sponsors the cost of textbooks and
uniforms for a CPE student who could otherwise not afford them

$200 – Summa Cum Laude (15 raffle tickets) : Fulfills an Emergency Fund Request
to cover school-related expenses for a CPE family experiencing temporary
financial insecurity

To purchase tickets to the event, please visit http://bit.ly/mixitup
Designation: Mix It Up Event

You can also find out more information about the organization, the event and ways to donate on CPE’s website: www.cpfe.org.

By supporting CPE, you can help us continue to provide life changing opportunities to motivated, !low-income students who would likely not graduate and enroll in college if not for our program’s support. I hope you and your friends make it!!!

I hope to see you all there!!!

Midtown Loft
1219 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC

If you can’t purchase tickets in advance, they are available at the door for $55 and include top shelf open bar and hors d’oeuvres

I am just tickled for being able to help bosslady (Amanda Miller Littlejohn) and Margie Newman (Flack Rabbit) with this event in such a short amount of time. We had a very nice crowd show up with attendees from USATODAY, Washington Post, TBD, and even a young lady who just moved to DC less than a week ago from Canada (she found us on Google, lol). We took over the patio at Corner Bakery Cafe, mingling, laughing and sharing our DCWeek event stories. I want to thank everyone who came out and supported the event. We hope the coffee helped to continue on with the evening events for DCWeek. Yay!

Check out the pictures here.

-Ms. Parker
My Motto: People Helping People