Are you joining us for the 3rd annual Rock the Red: Bold. Fashion. Awareness. show this Saturday, March 24 from 6-9pm? Rock the Red brings together our passion for social justice and our love of fashion, while commemorating National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Rock the Red will also showcase the newest fashions by upcoming designers and boutiques from around the city of Chicago, as well as a very special guest host!

Actress, comedian and motivational speaker, Kim Coles, will be presiding over the festivities! Kim will also help us honor the recipient of the Ultimate Red Pump Rocker Award. This year, we’ve chosen Sister Yaa Simpson for her tireless work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

So join us for a fantastic evening where we bring together social justice and fashion to Rock the RED BOLDLY, FASHIONABLY while being AWARE of the impact of HIV/AIDS on our community.

Tickets are $30, and you can get them at http://rockthered2012.eventbrite.com. At the door, they’ll be $35.

Also, join us for the afterparty in the same venue following the show. Free entry for anyone who buys a ticket to the show.

Rock the Red Team

* Producer & Stylist: Benjamin Cottrell (Benjamin Cottrell Designs)
* Coordinator: Fisayo Ogundimu (One Look Events)
* Music: DJ Bonsu (@DJBonsu)
* Clothing Designers: Khojo Dresses, CLEONS Clothing Company, Borris Powell Designs, StudioAlade, Shavonne Dorsey, GOCA
* Accessories Designers: MOTO (bags), D’Haute Jewelry
* Makeup: Crystal-Eyez Makeup, Andrea Samuels Makeup, Freedom Mau Wright
* Hair: Dee Desalu
* Photography: ChuckStr Photos, Dare2Dream Photography, Cadence Gamache Photography
* Videography: DntBooMe Video Productions , Omen Media

Event Details
What: Rock the RED: Bold. Fashion. Awareness. fashion show
When: Saturday, March 24, 2012
Where: Society Art Gallery (2140 W. Fulton St.; Chicago, IL 60612)
Time: 6 – 9:00 p.m. (6 p.m.- Cocktail Hour; 7 p.m. Show begins)
Afterparty begins at 10pm at the same venue, and goes til 2am! Tickets to the show is all you need to get into the afterparty.

About our Host: Kim Coles

Kim Coles has starred in numerous hit television programs including her five-season turn as the unforgettable “Synclaire” on FOX’s ground-breaking comedy series Living Single, Frasier, Six Feet Under, In Living Color, One on One and the uproarious TBS comedy series, 10 Items of Less and The ivillage for NBC. She has been a guest co-host for various shows, including The View and Good Day Live.

Kim also adds author to her list of credits with her Best-selling book, I’m Free but it Will Cost you: The Single Life According to Kim Coles. With her latest venture, she’s taking that same guiding spirit and empowering people, combining comedy and inspiration with Open the G.I.F.T.S., a transformational program designed to inspire her fans to discover their own true G.I.F.T.S. so they can share them with the world. You can follow Kim on Twitter at @KimColes and join her Facebook page!

Thanks to Our Sponsors

The Red Pump Project (is DEFINITELY) > AIDS

 The Greater Than AIDS campaign is the result of a partnership between the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Black AIDS Institute. The campaign utilizes both the influence of African-American entertainers and a call for individual and community accountability in order to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the African-American community.

For National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), Greater Than AIDS has enlisted various African-American actresses to lend their voices to the issue. Actresses include Essence Atkins, Tamala Jones, MC Lyte, Naturi Naughton, and National NWGHAAD Spokeswoman Vanessa Williams. Watch these ladies unite for the cause in the below video:

Thank you again to the team at the Kaiser Family Foundation for designing these badges (and three others) for us! We honestly don’t know which one to use first! To learn more about Greater Than, including their plans for NWGHAAD, please visit GreaterThan.org.

Event Details

What: Rock the RED: Bold. Fashion. Awareness. fashion show
Who: The Red Pump Project (@redpumpproj), with host Kim Coles (@kimcoles)
When: Saturday, March 24, 2012
Where: Society Art Gallery; 2140 W. Fulton St., Chicago, IL 60612
Time: 6 – 9 p.m. (6 p.m.- Cocktail Hour; 7 p.m. Show begins)

Tickets are $25 regular and $50 VIP (early bird). On March 1, 2012, regular tics will be $30, and $60 VIP (if any remain). VIPs receive designated seating, complimentary drinks during cocktail hour and a gift bag of goodies. Get them at http://rockthered2012.eventbrite.com.

Our Sponsors

So far, these are our show sponsors:

Be a sponsor for Rock the RED

We’re currently seeking sponsors for our show. Your organization can lend a hand in our efforts by making a donation – either monetary or in the form of product or services. As a sponsor, you’ll have a great opportunity to increase its visibility in the Chicagoland area, in front of over 250 professionals. You will also receive recognition across the web, through our very active social networks and in our eNewsletter.

More importantly, you will be helping us to continue the work we do in our communities where the presence of HIV/AIDS has made a significant impact, devastating the lives of children, women, other minorities and their families.

If you’re interested and would like to receive our sponsorship package, please email us at info at redpump dot org.

Today, we launch our fourth annual Rock the Red Pump™ bloggers campaign, in recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), which is March 10th annually. The campaign’s goal is to generate conversation in blogosphere about the issue of HIV/AIDS and how it affects women. In the 50 days leading up to NWGHAAD, we ask bloggers to place one of our 5 badges on their websites to represent the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease. Then on NWGHAAD, people across blogosphere dedicate their posts to talking about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Well, this year, we’d like to paint blogosphere red on March 9, 2012, a Friday. And then on March 10th, we’ll be having events in cities across the country (details to come on those!).

Last year, with the support of BlogHer, the largest community of women who blog, over 1,250 blogs were involved in the campaign. This year we are raising the bar (with their help once again)! Not only do our badges feature a custom illustration from Veronica Miller, but we are also challenging ourselves to “Rock the Red Pump” on 2,500 BLOGS on March 9, 2012!

Whether you are a first-time participant or an “old” pro, we thank you for supporting this movement! There are also other ways for you to demonstrate your involvement in the 50 days leading up to March 10th.

• Sign up to “Rock the Red Pump” and embed one of our five custom badges in the sidebar of your website and/or blog.

• Dedicate a post to the important issue of HIV/AIDS and women on March 9, 2012 (We’re choosing to paint blogosphere FIERCE on this day because March 10 is a Saturday this year). Need some statistics to get started? Check out our HIV/AIDS 101 page.

• Participate in our weekly #RedPumpDiaries Twitter discussions on a variety of important sexual health topics

• Snap a photo in your favorite pair of red shoes and share with us via our Facebook page, Twitter, and/or Tumblr.

• Spread the word and tell a friend!

Thank you for your support and we look forward to joining us to “Rock the Red Pump” in 2012! Official hashtag: #RocktheRedPump! SIGN UP FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

SIGN UP TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN HERE

Help us spread the word! Tweet

Rock the Red will also showcase the newest fashions by upcoming designers and boutiques from around the city of Chicago, as well as a very special guest host!

It’s our pleasure to announce that actress, comedian and motivational speaker, Kim Coles, best-known for her role on the hit show “Living Single” will be presiding over the festivities! Using laughter and love, Kim will also be helping us honor the recipient of the Ultimate Red Pump Rocker Award, who will be chosen for their work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

So join The Red Pump Project on March 24th for a fantastic evening where we bring together social justice and fashion to Rock the RED BOLDLY, FASHIONABLY while being AWARE of the impact of HIV/AIDS on our community.

Event Details

What: Rock the RED: Bold. Fashion. Awareness. fashion show
Who: The Red Pump Project (@redpumpproj), with host Kim Coles (@kimcoles)
When: Saturday, March 24, 2012
Where: TBD, Chicago, IL
Time: 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m.- Cocktail Hour; 7 p.m. Show begins)

More information on the show, designers and sponsors will come on January 30, 2012! Tickets will also go on sale then.

So join us on March 24th for a fantastic evening where we bring together social justice and fashion to Rock the RED BOLDLY, FASHIONABLY while being AWARE of the impact of HIV/AIDS on our community.

Be A Sponsor for Rock the RED

We’re currently seeking sponsors for our show. Your organization can lend a hand in our efforts by making a donation – either monetary or in the form of product or services. As a sponsor, you’ll have a great opportunity to increase its visibility in the Chicagoland area, in front of over 250 professionals. You will also receive recognition across the web, through our very active social networks and in our eNewsletter.

More importantly, you will be helping us to continue the work we do in our communities where the presence of HIV/AIDS has made a significant impact, devastating the lives of children, women, other minorities and their families.

If you’re interested and would like to receive our sponsorship package, please email us at info at redpump dot org.

Follow @redpumpproj

Several program topics will specifically address HIV/AIDS within the Black community, in recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day which is observed on February 7th annually.

The Pump-a-Thon will kick-off on Friday, February 10th at 9a CT and end on Saturday, February 11th at 9a CT.  The overall goal is to raise $10,000 via pre-event pledges, pledges collected during the webcast, and via sponsorships. Supporters will have the opportunity to make donations and also place a pledge donation per hour. Money raised will go to support  Red Pump’s 2012 programming.

The webcast programming will alternate between pre-determined topics, interviews, and unscheduled dialogue guided by online audience feedback and comments. Throughout the 24 hours, Karyn and Luvvie will be joined by local Chicago personalities, community leaders, and their peers.

Scheduled Topics:

* HIV/AIDS Stigma within Faith-Based Communities
* Talking about Smart Sex Practices with Teens
* HIV/AIDS 101
* The Role of the Hip-Hop Community in HIV Education
* Building a Consensus Among Black Women and the MSM Community
* HIV/AIDS in the Media: Are We Telling the Right Stories?
* We Are One: A Discussion about the Global Impact of HIV/AIDS
* You Rock: Spotlight on Organizations and Individuals Leading the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
* Becoming Your Biggest Advocate: Fighting For Your Health

Sponsorship Opportunities: There are many ways that companies can get involved in this webcast: sponsored segments (below), meals, product mentions, and in-kind donations. We can also create custom sponsorship opportunities for organizations and businesses who are interested.

Sponsored Segments

* Cupcakes and Condoms – A late night discussion about ways to keep things spicy in the bedroom while staying safe. The session will be lead by a local “sexpert” and will be attended by 8-10 women. (60 minute segment)

Specifically seeking in-kind sponsorship from: Dessert Businesses (two sponsorships available), Condom Manufacturers (one sponsorship available)

* He Said, She Said – A “battle of the sexes” roundtable in which four men and four women square off on topics about ranging from getting tested together to discussing condom use. (90 minute segment)

General sponsorship of overall segment (one $400 sponsorship available)

* Awareness is Always in Style™ – Staying true to Red Pump’s personality, there will be two segments focused on the hottest red pumps and stylish businesses that support the fight against HIV/AIDS. (Two 30-minute segments)

Specifically seeking sponsorship from: Beauty/Fashion Companies with an active role in the fight against HIV/AIDS (two $250 sponsorships available)

* Lunch ‘n Learn: HIV/AIDS in the Media – Viewers are invited to join us as we invite a local community leader to join us for an educational conversation about a to-be-determined topic related to HIV/AIDS. (60 minute segment)

Seeking in-kind sponsorship from: Restaurant/Catering Company (one sponsorship). Also, seeking one $400 sponsorship.

* Coffee and Conversations – On Friday and Saturday morning, Karyn and Luvvie will go through hot topics pulled from the Internet and provide their thoughts. They will also discuss Red Pump news and events.

Specifically seeking in-kind sponsorship from: Restaurant/Catering Company (two sponsorships available)

Benefits of sponsoring one of the above segments includes:

* Two mentions during the sponsored segments
* Logo and website displayed on-screen
* Mention in program guide next to sponsored segment
* Pre-webcast and post-webcast mentions via Red Pump online channels

Meals

There are opportunities available to provide dinner and snacks (including late-night treats). These sponsorships are in-kind and will receive recognition during the webcast and in pre- and post-webcast promotion.

Product/Business Mentions

The Red Pump Project appreciates the support of many companies and businesses. If you have a product or business that you would like us to share with our audience, we are more than happy to partner on the opportunity. Mentions range in cost from $25-$75, depending on the time slot. To ensure the integrity of the webcast, there will be no more than two product/business mentions per hour and Red Pump reserves the right to decline those mentions which are not in line with the goals of the organization or the Pump-a-Thon.

In-Kind Donations

In-kind donations are always welcome to assist us with accomplishing the goals of the webcast. These opportunities vary and more information will be provided closer to the date of the event.

We’ll be releasing more information about the Red Pump-a-Thon in upcoming weeks, and we hope you tune in for one (or more) of those 24 hours!

If you have any questions on the information above and/or would like to secure a sponsorship, please contact Karyn Watkins at karyn at redpump dot org.

The anonymous person who nominated us left behind this awesome comment:

I would like to nominate the fabulous ladies of the Red Pump Project for the Best Cause Campaign Award! As a Chi-town resident, I am very familiar with what these women are doing to encourage other women to take a stand against HIV/AIDS.  As a black woman, we all know that we are the highest target for HIV/AIDS infections so we need to pay attention. My sister and I went to the Red Pump fashion show last year and to see it in person, it made me really want to get involved in HIV/AIDS research and awareness and most importantly get tested. Since the fashion show, I have seen the Red Pump Project on TV and even in ad campaigns around the city. What they are doing for Chicago and all major cities across the US should be recognized, more people need to get involved with Red Pump.

To vote for Red Pump, CLICK THIS LINK to view the entries for “Best Cause Campaign.” Then, log in with your Facebook or Twitter account and VOTE!

To view the other finalists, visit this page. You will see several posts representing the various categories. Click the specific award and then vote. All votes must be entered by January 16^th.

Thank you in advance!!!

On January 18, 2012, The Red Pump Project will launch its 4th annual Rock the Red Pump™ campaign. It’s an initiative to commemorate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), which is March 10th every year. In fact, that’s how Red Pump got started almost 3 years ago!

The Rock the Red Pump™ campaign’s goal is to generate conversation in blogosphere about the issue of HIV/AIDS and how it affects women. In the 50 days leading up to March 10th, Red Pump asks bloggers to place one of the campaign badges on their websites to represent the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease. Then on NWGHAAD, people across blogosphere dedicate their posts to talking about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Also, put on your favorite pair of red shoes on NWGHAAD and be fierce!

Our last campaign, we had a goal of getting 500 bloggers, but we more than doubled it and got over 1,200 blogs to Rock the Red Pump™! This year, our goal is to get 2,500 bloggers to join us in raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 50 days leading up to NWGHAAD. Well, this year, we’d like to paint blogosphere red on March 9, 2012, a Friday. And then on March 10th, we’ll be having events in cities across the country. Details to come on those!

We’re so excited to have BlogHer, the biggest community of women bloggers join us as a supporter for a 2nd year in a row!

Help is kick off our campaign on January 18, 2012! You’ll be able to sign up and grab a badge of your choice that day. We’re really looking forward to being 2,500 strong on March 9, 2012!

Official hashtag: #RocktheRedPump!

Follow @redpumpproj

• Fourth Annual “Rock the Red Pump” Blogger Outreach Campaign (Online)
• “In Her Shoes” Women and Girls Workshop (Chicago)
• Third Annual “Rock the Red: Bold. Fashion. Awareness.” Fashion Show (Chicago)

Additionally, the co-founders field various media interview requests and speaking engagements across the country.

Main duties will include developing media lists, fulfilling media requests for information, and keeping track of placements. Interns must have good organizational skills and the ability to adapt to new assignments and deadlines.

This is an unpaid three-month internship beginning January 19, 2012 and concluding on April 13, 2012. The hours needed may vary from week to week, but the average will be 5-10 hours/week. During the month of March, there may be a greater need to handle the increased amount of media and event inquiries.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create and update media lists
• Draft pitch letters for media outreach
• Assist with preparation of press kits for distribution
• Fulfill media requests for photos, press releases, and press kits
• Assist with compilation of media coverage reports
• Read and categorize media clips

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Public Relations or Journalism major or experience in a related field
• Ability to communicate professionally with the media
• Superior written and verbal communication skills
• Can manage multiple projects and be able to meet deadlines

For additional information and/or to submit your resume and cover letter for consideration, please email info at redpump dot org with subject “PR Intern.” All resumes must be received by Friday, January 13th.

This position can be done remotely from anywhere, so candidates don’t have to be based in Chicago, IL.

Come for an evening of good music (provided by DJ Niena Drake), drinks, conversations, games and charity. And bring gently-used to new winter gear you no longer want or need with you to donate. We’ll be collecting these things and donating to the Salvation Army and shelter.

We’ll also be having a complimentary Alizé Cocktail Tasting from 6pm-7pm.

Free cover all night, but we’re accepting a suggested donation of $10.

Bring gently-used sweaters, coats, hats and gloves to donate! 

Event information
When: Friday, December 30, 2011; 6-9pm
Where: Red Kiva Lounge (1108 W. Randolph, Chicago, IL 60607)
Who: Red Pump (@RedPumpProj), Blogging While Brown (@BWBConference), Swish Dreams (@SwishDreams) and Afrobella (@Afrobella)

Please RSVP at the Cocktails, Convos and Coats Eventbrite page

And many thanks to: