Style Me Successful Day to be Held Jan. 11

Bridgeport, CT – Empowering Through Beauty, Inc. (ETBINC), the Bridgeport, CT based non-profit, will host its second annual community outreach event, “Style Me Successful”, on January 11, 2015 from 2 - 7 PM at Norma F. Pfriem Urban Outreach Initiative, Inc., 877 Park Ave, Bridgeport, CT.

“We had such a great response to our first Style Me Successful” event in 2013 that we wanted to do it again, and bring the same opportunities to low income and unemployed individuals and their families as they begin the new year,” says Tanisha Akinloye, founder and CEO of the organization that has served the community’s disadvantaged women and girls since 2010.

Attendees can take advantage of job training resources and opportunities courtesy of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services based in Bridgeport. WellCare Health Plans, Inc., providing Medicare and Medicaid managed care health plans for 2.2 million members, will also be present to assist seniors needing assistance with their medical needs. ETBINC will provide the self-care and personal development contributions that have made them so prominent, including haircuts, makeovers and beauty products. And volunteers such as students Caleigh and Lynden Steele and nurse Tam Jackson will be on hand to help, while free photography and food is offered to all guests.

“We hope that providing a free event for those less fortunate will be a key factor in drawing people to this event,” says Akinloye. “We understand that it's not easy trying to take care of your family and keep a sense of self in unfortunate situations.  At our last event we provided over 350 services and everyone was very appreciative and thankful.”

Akinloye gave up a successful, upscale beauty salon and hairstyling practice in order to launch ETB after bearing witness to the harsh realities of many of the women who visited her Bridgeport salon over the years. “I wanted to give back,” she says. And give back she has.

Since 2010 ETBINC has worked in seven shelters across Connecticut and hosted myriad special events. In partnership with businesses like Norma F. Pfriem Urban Outreach Initiative, Inc., Visions of Beauty Salon of Stratford, CT and Phillip Bruce Salon of Westport, CT, ETBINC has provided over 650 services to women of all ages, including hair coloring, haircutting and styling, hair treatments, manicures, facials, as well as educational workshops on hair and makeup application, résumé writing, job training, self-empowerment workshops and seminars. At their 2013 outreach events ETBINC fed over 420 attendees, provided job readiness workshops and resources, as well as 427 haircuts, hair styles, and makeup applications.  According to Akinloye, 99% of her clients say they have more confidence because of ETB, more than half have either been interviewed for jobs or hired, while 1.3 have recovered from drug abuse and graduated from their programs.

“We all need self worth and dignity in our lives,” she says. “And we all have a chance to give it to someone who does not have it.”

ETBINC receives no grants and is funded solely through individual donations. If you would like to make a financial or product contribution to ETBINC and “Style Me Successful,” or volunteer for the event, please contact Tanisha Akinloye at tanishaakinloye@gmail.com or call 203.767.9264

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Submitted by Fairfield, CT

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