V TO THE TENTH Update
10/15/2008
V TO THE TENTH UPDATE
V TO THE TENTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS GIVEN TO 48 AWARDEES IN NEW ORLEANS AND THE GULF SOUTH
V-Day's 10th Anniversary - V TO THE TENTH - put a worldwide focus on Katrina Warriors, the women of New Orleans and Gulf South who have kept their communities alive with devotion, hard work, sacrifice, humor and wit. In conjunction with the V TO THE TENTH events that took place at the Louisiana Superdome and New Orleans Arena this past April, V-Day raised over $750,000 for groups in the region and established the V TO THE TENTH SPOTLIGHT fund to disburse the funds and provide support to women and girls in New Orleans and the Gulf South.
The fund embodies V-Day's ten-year model of empowerment philanthropy. V-Day believes that the people closest to the ground understand the needs of women and the cultural environment in which violence occurs better than outsiders do. One of the missions of the fund was to ensure that women in the Gulf South and in New Orleans were part of the decision making process of where the monies are awarded and, as such, the V TO THE TENTH Leadership Awards Committee included Carol Bebelle; Sara Blakely; Crystal Kile; Nsombi Lambright; Yvahn Martin; Colette Pichon-Battle; Dr. Kimberley Richards; Karel Sloane Boekbinder and Linda Usdin who jointly nominated and approved the awardees. Through the fund, awards are being given to women who are working to ensure an end to the physical, economic and environmental violence against women and girls in the region. These V TO THE TENTH Leadership Awards will provide economic and emotional empowerment to many women and girls who in turn will transform the lives of their families and those in their communities.
The V TO THE TENTH Leadership Awards will be given in December of 2008. V-Day is granting $400,000 to 45 women and three organizations: Metropolitan Battered Women's Shelter, The New Orleans Family Justice Center, Women with a Vision and the following women: Shari Bernius, Rev. Sally Bevill, Carol Burnett, Rosa Cartegena, Deborah Cotton, Lanor Curole, Angela Daliet, Mai Dang, Olayeela (Mama O) Daste, Deanne Depass Feaster, Asali Devan, Marva Fairley-Tanner, Dyan (Mama D) French Cole, Pat Glorioso, Shana Griffin, Sharon Hanshaw, Monique Harden, Caroline Heldman, Ms. Pat Henry, Andie Henson, Shaude Jackson, Pam Jenkins, Alice Craft-Kerney, Diem Nguyen, Baty Landis, Geneva Marney, Danielle (Lil' Bit) Miles, S. Mandisia Moore, Tommye Myrick, Jearleane Osborne, Sunni Patterson, Glenda Perryman, Amelie Prescott, Asia Rainey, Kathy Randels, Gwen Richardson, Eva San Martin, Denese Shervington, Wilma Taylor, Tanya Tetlow, LaShawn Traylor, Glenny Warzeski, Viola Washington, Mama Alma Watkins, Judy Watts.
FROM THE SUPERDOME IN NEW ORLEANS TO ATLANTA,
Swimming Upstream TO PREMIERE NOVEMBER 5 - 16, 2008 AT TRUE COLORS THEATRE COMPANY
V-Day and Ashe Cultural Arts Center, have partnered with acclaimed director Kenny Leon, artistic director of True Colors Theatre Company, to bring Swimming Upstream, a look into real-life stories from women who survived Hurricane Katrina, to Atlanta audiences.
The play was originally incubated and coordinated by Eve Ensler and Founder of the Ashe` Cultural Arts Center, Carol Bebelle. Together Carol and Eve worked with seventeen writers to produce a fluid piece of storytelling with humor and music that comes from the hearts of New Orleanians. It premiered to great acclaim and an audience of thousands at the Louisiana Superdome as part of V-Day's anniversary in April.
Swimming Upstream, a powerful and intimate production, transforms consciousness and moves people's hearts through the telling of raw, lyrical, soulful stories of women who have lived through the flood with grace, rage, humor and great resiliency. The Atlanta cast will feature Phylicia Rashad, Jasmine Guy, Shirley Knight, Kerry Washington and New Orleanian performers Troi Bechet, Asali Njeri DeVan, Anne-Liese Juge Fox, Karen-kaia Livers and singers, Michaela A. Harrison, GaBrilla Ballard, Leslie Blackshear Smith all of whom are also writers of pieces in the show.
An opening night gala celebration will take place on Thursday, November 6 and will include a Big Easy-inspired party featuring music and cuisine at the W Atlanta Midtown Hotel. The gala will benefit Ashe, V-Day and True Colors. The show runs November 5-16 at the 14th Street Playhouse.
Swimming Upstream at the 14th Street Playhouse, 117 14th Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, November 5 - 16; Tickets: $35 - $50 www.truecolorstheatrecompany.com or 404.733.5000.