RocktheRedBold.Fashion.Awareness.

The Red Pump Project Presents

T H U R S D A Y M A R C H 2 5 , 2 0 1 0 6 P M - 9 P MTHE BOTTOM LOUNGE 1375 W. LAKE ST. CHICAGO, IL 60607

info@theredpumpproject.com EMAIL

@RedPumpProj TWITTER

www.theredpumproject.com WEB

www.facebook.com/RedPumpProject FACEBOOK

A Letter From The Founders

Determined to combine our love of shoes with our passion for fighting AIDS, we launched The Red Pump Project one year ago. Within that time, we’ve been blessed to meet and gain the support of so many individuals and organizations committed to fighting HIV/AIDS in communities across the country.

The little idea we had has blossomed into a movement beyond our expectations and we feel extremely blessed. We would like to thank ALL the bloggers who have joined us to “Rock the Red Pump” and to dedicate posts to the issue of HIV/AIDS on women, ALL of the women around the country who donned their favorite pair of red shoes for the occasion, and of course, all the individuals who are living strongly with HIV/AIDS and not letting it beat

them down.

We will continue to do work online and on the ground to empower those who

are living with the disease to live well with it, and for those who

aren’t infected to maintain that status. We will continue to “Rock the Red Pump” to

represent the strength and courage of those affected with

HIV/AIDS.

Now that we’re one, we are no longer crawling. The Red Pump Project is now walking and running. It is our hope you stick with us as we prove that:

Awareness is always in style.

Karyn & Luvvie(THe ReD PumP PRojecT fouNDeRS)

About The Red Pump Project

The Red Pump Project began when Luvvie Ajayi and Karyn Watkins decided to commemorate the

2009 National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). Their desire to get conversation

started about the issue of HIV/AIDS gave way to them designing a Red Pump badge and putting out a call for bloggers to “Rock the Red Pump” on march 10th

in honor of the day. Their initial goal of 100 bloggers was reached and surpassed when 135 bloggers

participated and displayed the widget on their website or even wrote articles discussing HIV/AIDS and its

effect on women on NWGHAAD.

The Red Pump Project is now a national initiative that is doing work on the ground and online to ensure

that women are empowered with knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the issues surrounding it. There are

40 Red Pump ambassadors in 40 states around the country “Rocking the Red Pump” to raise awareness

about this epidemic. The goal is to get at least one ambassador in every state.

Tasasha, Denise, Venita, Luvvie, Kenya, Karyn, jenna, Dominique, BrittanyTeam Red Pump

About Rae Lewis-Thornton

emmy Award Winning AIDS Activist Rae Lewis-Thornton rose to national acclaim when she told her story of living with AIDS in a cover story for essence magazine. In addition to the December 1994 cover story for essence magazine, Rae has been featured in countless magazines and newspapers. As a contributing editor for WBBm-TV, Rae won the covenant emmy Award for an ongoing series of first-person reports on living with AIDS. Prior to Rae’s motivational speaking career, she was on her way to a promising political organizing career. Rae was forced to retire from politics in 1993 as a result of her health.

Rae Lewis-Thornton was licensed as a Baptist minister in july 2000 at fellowship missionary Baptist church, in chicago, Illinois by the Rev. clay evans. She received a master of Divinity degree from mccormick Theological Seminary in june 2003 and was the recipient of the Arthur Hays fellowship in church History. Rae Lewis-Thornton is currently a PhD student at the Lutheran School of Theology at chicago. Rae is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In November 2002, ebony magazine named Rae Lewis-Thornton one of America’s 57 most Intriguing people of 2002. She has received hundreds of awards for her work in HIV/AIDS over the last fifteen years. Rae is currently working on her anticipated life story, unprotected, A memoir.

“I made a promise sixteen years ago that I would be a voice for the voiceless, face for the faceless, bring hope to the hopeless and tear down barriers and stand with DIGNITY, as a Woman living with AIDS.“

Rae just launched her blog “Diva Living With AIDS.” Visit www.raelewisthornton.com to read more.

Order of Show

Opening Cocktail Reception

WelcomeDanielle Noel Riley, miss Black Illinois

BOLD FASHION

Featuring the designs ofmelanie Lyke of Rockett mansionKortnee Quiza of Verse BoutiqueAmber johnsonKahindo mateeneNew’d chicago

Intermission

A Year in Red PumpLuvvie Ajayi and Karyn Watkins, founders of The Red Pump Project

Presentation of the Living Legacy Award to Ultimate Red Pump RockerHonoree: Rae Lewis-Thornton

FASHION AWARENESS

Featuring the designs ofcrystal B. DesignsSpirit AfricaBlack market caviar

Closing Remarks

(oRDeR of DeSIGNeRS SuBjecT To cHANGe)

Shoes: eidia Lush, Sensual Steps

Accessories: Pretty Afrika, found objects, Ashley S. Drapes

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Rock The Red Team

ACCeSSORIeSAshley S. Drapesfound objectsPretty Afrika

CLOthIngAmber johnsonBlack market caviarcrystal B. Designs Kahindo mateeneNew’d chicagoRockett mansionSpirit AfricaVerse Boutique

hAIRDee Desalu

MUSIC Dj Bonsu

PhOtOgRAPhYGraffiti PhotoT. Will Photography enlair Photography

ShOeSeidia LushSensual Steps MAke-UPRashida B (The B Spot)Arie jonesLYB Artistry

SPeCIAL thAnkS tOAramide esubi (Stylist)Shauna S. (coordinator)

MOdeLSAmber Lewis Andrea Harvey chloe ogundimuLatithia jacksonjoshua VaughnLatrice Harrisomar Koite Laterra HillNinah SnipesRemeka SullivanTillia mccullum Rita Barnes Rolake BalogunTyrus GarrettTamara cooperVaughn j

Many Thanks FroM

The Red Pump Project

I Rock The Red Pump Because...

“most women don’t take enough pride in their bodies to not have unprotected sex with a person whose HIV status is unknown.”

“Women are being more infected because we don’t believe it can happen to us. We need to love ourselves more than we love him.”

“Together we’re building a sisterhood created to support, uplift, & educate each other.”

“People, especially women, need to remove the veil of secrecy, shame & guilt. A future death is certain from trying to hide the past.”

“Women are being infected because we think respecting his ego is more important than respecting our bodies.”

“my childhood mentor has the disease but never lets it have her.”

“Because all too often women place less value on themselves than others and give up their right to live for the sake of acceptance.”

“To combat my own ignorance, my own fears and my own misconceptions. Awareness starts with self.”

“No one should have to loose a loved one to care about helping someone else avoid making a mistake.”

“At the end of the day, we are ALL affected one way or another. I rock the Red Pump for those with the disease who cannot.”

“I am a woman and every 35 minutes a woman in the uS test positive for HIV.”

“Historically we haven’t been taught /raised to value ourselves. We, as women, put others first and it’s killing us.”

“for my childhood friend who passed away 15 years ago and for all of those that refuse to know their status.”

“I want my daughter to discuss HIV/AIDS openly and intelligently and not rely on hearsay or misinformation.”

”We are better than statistics. our women are the most passionate, beautiful, giving, and caring people on the planet. HIV is stealing

those women from us.”

“I tagged a family member in the Red Pump badge on facebook. She told me her mom’s birthday was today and she died of AIDS ten years

ago.”

(These quotes were gathered from women across the country on Twitter during National Women and Girl’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, march 10, 2010.)

RocktheRedBold.Fashion.Awareness.

The Red Pump Project Presents

T H U R S D A Y M A R C H 2 5 , 2 0 1 0 6 P M - 9 P MTHE BOTTOM LOUNGE 1375 W. LAKE ST. CHICAGO, IL 60607

info@theredpumpproject.com EMAIL

@RedPumpProj TWITTER

www.theredpumproject.com WEB

www.facebook.com/RedPumpProject FACEBOOK