( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) A Masquerade Of Empowerment, Honoring Jemele Hill & Kiki Shepard
ENSPIRE Contributor: Gabrielle Maya
The masquerade may be over, but the EmpowHer Institute‘s Pathmaker Awards Gala’s impact is just beginning! Held in Hollywood on Thursday, October 10th, the annual event served as a dazzling celebration of leadership, raising critical funds to directly benefit EmpowHer’s diverse programming for girls and women from marginalized communities. Over 200 attendees donned their finest masquerade attire for a night of empowering entertainment. Three-time Grammy-nominated artist Raheem Devaughn delivered a powerful musical performance, joined by the electrifying energy of dance group Raiz Brazil, the infectious beats of DJ Midi Riperton, and the captivating wit of actress Vanessa Estelle Williams, who served as the evening’s emcee. But the true heart of the event lay in recognizing the incredible work of the Pathmaker honorees.
Emmy-winning journalist and author Jemele Hill, actor and host Kiki Shepard, head of philanthropy at SoCal Edison Veronica Vazquez, and the University of Southern California’s Sea Grant Program were all celebrated for their dedication to supporting girls and women in need. The evening featured not only the awards ceremony but also a delightful gifting suite stocked with products from NYX and a dedicated EmpowHer-themed selfie station, ensuring guests were left with lasting memories.
EmpowHer Institute is a beacon of hope in Los Angeles, partnering with Title I schools to provide transformative programs for future female leaders. Imagine girls from Inglewood and Compton learning from marine biologists and working towards their scuba certification – that’s the reality EmpowHer’s innovative STEAM program makes possible.
The results speak for themselves. Over the past 12 years, 100% of EmpowHer’s middle school participants have gone on to high school, and every single high school participant has graduated and continued their education in college. This inspiring success is due in no small part to the tireless leadership of Dawn L. Brown, President and CEO of EmpowHer Institute.
Visit EmpowHer Institute’s website (https://empowher.org/) to learn more about their impactful programs and discover ways to get involved. You can also connect directly with CEO Dawn Brown, a staunch social justice and education champion. Let’s continue celebrating the Pathmakers who paved the way for a brighter future for girls and women.
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