( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) Beta Theta Achievement Foundation’s Dazzling Fundraiser Blends High Fashion, Culture, and Purpose
ENSPIRE Contributor: Blake Edwards
Photo Credit: ALFREDSHOOTS, LLC
The second annual Black Excellence Social, hosted by the Beta Theta Achievement Foundation, took place on Saturday, August 2, in Denver. The evening was, in the words of celebrity stylist Wouri Vice, “a dazzling celebration bursting with style, energy, and purpose.” A fundraiser for the nonprofit, the event raised money to provide scholarships, grants, and other forms of aid to deserving college students.
The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization, aligned with the ideals of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., with many of its members having pledged across Colorado colleges and universities. That alignment of community, culture, and education was on full display, as the Denver crowd turned out in style and joy so remarkable that word of the celebration traveled all the way to Upscale in Georgia.
Monique Dinwiddie and Michelle Trail
Fashion has long been a vessel of expression in Black communities, and this year’s Social was no exception. Whether stuntin’ in traditional African attire, rocking sharply tailored European-inspired suits, or draped in custom gowns, attendees came to shine. Jackets and ties in every color of the rainbow, dresses with intricate woven details, and couples in coordinated looks gave the night an unmistakable elegance.
Monique Dinwiddie, who attends the event each year with her husband Cliff (a Foundation member), turned to Wouri Vice for expert guidance in selecting her look. She radiated in a 3D floral lace dress by Bronx and Banco, paired with Deltan rose sandals, a D’Margeaux purse, and finished with Melinda Maria jewelry and a Gucci watch. Her best friend, Michele Trail, stunned in a sharply tailored structural mini dress from Zhivago, paired with Valentino T-strap mules, a Balmain purse, and a Nordstrom necklace—an outfit that nodded to menswear with an edgy flourish.
Vice praised both ensembles, noting that the event’s fashion reflected intentionality, individuality, and pride. “The 2nd Annual Black Excellence Social was a dazzling celebration—bursting with style, energy, and purpose,” he said.
TV host and style expert Lloyd Boston, known for Men of Color: Fashion, History, and Fundamentals, was particularly impressed by the gentlemen’s looks. He singled out several standouts:
Christian Williams (Foundation member): “This look speaks of the English gentry style. Timeless, understated, with a bit of cleverness via the bold plaid pants. The details were clearly considered—down to the rarefied monk strap shoes.”
KyLee Duley and Lauren Vicknair: “A similar-hued suit done two ways—both with smooth edge and cool styling. Nothing beats the support of fellow men of style in social spaces, validating the longstanding tradition of fashion as a survival skill among men of color.”
KyLee Duley and Lauren Vicknair
Malik Charles (Kappa Alpha Psi member): “The audacity of Taupe”—a phrase once used to describe Barack Obama’s pale suit—“perfectly applies here. A bold, confident choice that pays off amidst a sea of expected dark attire.”
Couple in traditional African attire: “This nod to traditional African dress for her and for him feels artful, sophisticated, and bespoke. The textural dimensionality of the fabric feels regal and celebratory.”
Even down to the details, fashion told a story—Cliff Dinwiddie’s ornate Christian Louboutin shoes with resplendent tassels turned heads as much as they inspired conversation. Fashion scholar and Foundation supporter Elena Romero, author of Free Stylin’: How Hip-Hop Changed the Fashion Industry and Fresh, Fly, Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip-Hop Style, summed up the evening’s spirit:
“From zoot suits to Sunday’s best, Black men in America have long used fashion as a language of dignity, defiance, and distinction—transforming community gatherings into stages of style and personal expression. Every wardrobe choice is intentional, embodying Black joy, resilience, and pride.”
Couple in traditional African attire
Black excellence begins with dignity, and this celebration showed how self-expression through fashion helps reclaim and retain that dignity. The Social exemplified sophistication and flair—whether through traditional African garments, bold summer suiting, or contemporary couture.
But above all, the night carried a greater purpose: raising funds for the Beta Theta Achievement Foundation’s mission of empowering students with scholarships and resources. Packed with proud, fashionable Black voices united for a cause, the second annual Black Excellence Social was a reminder that style and substance can—and should—walk hand in hand.
View photos from this event here.
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