Missing dresses for missing and murdered women -

Missing dresses for missing and murdered women - - The Colorado Independent

Posted: 24 Sep 2019 12:14 PM PDT

Denver police Cpl. Mark Moore listens as Amy Gray, volunteer coordinator for 350 Colorado, outlines her plan for the walking art tour and press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. The event is part of a week of action designed to bring attention to the climate crisis. (Photo by Rachel Lorenz for the Colorado Independent.)

Dresses meant to bring awareness to missing and murdered indigenous, black and migrant women went missing themselves from a 16th Street Mall art installation last week.

The International Indigenous Youth Council and Colorado Climate Strike Coalition planned the exhibit as part of a week of escalating actions meant to draw attention to the climate crisis and those hurt by it. Red and black dresses, 75 in total, were hung on the trees lining the pedestrian promenade Thursday night. By Friday, none remained.

A red dress hangs above the sidewalk on the 16th Street Mall in Denver on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. The dress is part of a project designed to highlight the systemic exploitation of people and the planet. (Photo by Rachel Lorenz for the Colorado Independent.)

Attached to each dress, on a long slip of white paper, was the name and age of a missing or murdered woman. Also attached to the dress was a card that explained the project and the connection between the exploitation of the planet and the exploitation of its people. Red dresses symbolized missing and murdered indigenous and migrant women while black dresses represented black women murdered while in police custody.

Renee Millard-Chacon and Amy Gray host a press conference beneath a black dress on 16th Street Mall in Denver on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. The dress is part of an art installation designed to increase awareness of missing and murdered indigenous, black and migrant women. (Photo by Rachel Lorenz for the Colorado Independent.)

But what was first assumed to be vandalism of an art installation turned out to be "an accident by the city," says Amy Gray of 350 Colorado. An employee working for the Downtown Denver Business District told the group Tuesday morning as they were rehanging the dresses that he and his fellow workers had taken them down as part of their responsibility to clean and maintain the mall. It's not clear what happened to them.

Renee Millard-Chacon of Womxn from the Mountain, a leader of Tuesday's tour and press conference, says they'll continue to collect and rehang dresses since their permit allows the installation to run through Sunday. As of midmorning on Tuesday, 11 dresses swayed among the leaves between Wynkoop and Blake.

WIN: Women in Nationwide Donates $5000 to Dress for Success New Orleans at PrimeTime - Furniture Today

Posted: 25 Sep 2019 11:40 AM PDT

This press release is submitted and shown here in its original form, unedited by Furniture Today.

The group also collected gently used clothing and handbags for the organization's boutique to support women in the workplace

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – WIN: Women in Nationwide welcomed more than 200 attendees to its inaugural event at PrimeTime in New Orleans last month, showcasing the strength and scope of female business leaders in its membership, the vendor community and its own organization.

In addition to a panel discussion that featured Amy Gardner, sales director for Whirlpool Corporation; Velicia Sutton, vice president and relationship manager for Wells Fargo CDF; Missy Hodges, vice president of appliance merchandising for Nationwide Marketing Group; and Lisa Jessup, executive director of Nationwide Florida; the WIN event also included a humorous and inspirational presentation from Jody Urquhart, author of All Work & No Say.

But the highlight for many WIN leaders was the opportunity to support Dress for Success New Orleans, an organization that provides women with professional attire and career development tools to help them secure employment and achieve economic independence. As part of its kickoff event, WIN contributed $5,000 to Dress for Success New Orleans, along with gently used clothing and handbags donated by PrimeTime attendees.

"The core mission of WIN is to support and encourage women to step into leadership roles within our industry, but we also want to support organizations in our communities that share our mission," says Jennifer Danko, vice president of technology at Site on Time, a Nationwide Marketing Group company, and a founding member of WIN. "Dress for Success does an amazing job of encouraging women in the workplace by providing clothing and development tools that can build confidence. I can't think of a better organization to partner with and support as part of our inaugural event in New Orleans."

Wells Fargo, which sponsored the initial WIN event at PrimeTime and contributed to the monetary donation, also presented Dress for Success New Orleans with leather portfolios and pens to help the organization's clients be better prepared for interview opportunities.

"Female empowerment is imperative to Wells Fargo and we're proud to work alongside WIN to support an organization like Dress For Success, which dedicates itself to that goal every day," says Chad Lyon, president of E&A Group, Wells Fargo CDF. "WIN was formed to advocate for women and, like Wells Fargo, recognizes that empowerment often starts with giving back."

Brianna Reddeman, director of programs for Dress for Success New Orleans, said the contributions from WIN and Wells Fargo would be felt long after PrimeTime ended.

"Dress for Success New Orleans serves over 400 women each year, many coming in for Interview Suitings, then returning once they gain employment," Reddeman explains. "On average, it costs us about $100 to outfit one woman for an interview and $500 to prepare a woman for a new career. Thanks to WIN: Women in Nationwide's generous $5,000 donation, we are able to help even more women lift themselves and their families out of poverty, by providing the confidence and tools they need to take that next step. More than half of our clients are single mothers and heads of their household, so by helping one woman become financially independent, you're also helping her children, family, and those that rely on and look to her for support and inspiration."

WIN: Women in Nationwide will be holding monthly webinars and networking opportunities at future PrimeTime events. To learn more or join the group, visit the Women in Nationwide (WIN) Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/womeninnationwide/.

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About Nationwide Marketing Group

Nationwide Marketing Group works on behalf of thousands of independent appliance, furniture, bedding, electronics, specialty electronics, custom installation and rent-to-own dealers helping them grow their businesses and thrive on their own terms. With more than 5,000 members operating some 14,000 storefronts, Nationwide Marketing Group is the largest buying, marketing and business support organization of its kind, representing billions in combined annual sales across the membership. For nearly 50 years, the organization has remained committed to the independent channel, empowering members with the scale, sophistication and efficiencies they need to compete while delivering the unmatched business intelligence, tools and resources required to win in an ever-changing business environment. To learn more, visit nationwidegroup.org.