Nov 12, 2023 | Books, Business
PALM COAST, Fla. – Nov. 8, 2023 – PRLog — A new non-profit organization, United We Art, has launched in Palm Coast with a purpose; bring together the City of Palm Coast, the arts community, and residents by establishing an arts district in Town Center.
Town Center, a mixed-use cityscape of businesses, entertainment, housing, and entertainment is the ideal place to host performances, displays, creative expressions, and more.
The groundwork for this movement was set by the Palm Coast Arts Foundation (PCAF). “Our mission echoes the sentiments of unity and creativity. We aim to foster economic vitality and offer unparalleled cultural experiences through a harmonious blend of art, education, and commerce,” remarks Lisa Love, President and CEO of United We Art. This initiative resonates with the City of Palm Coast’s 2022 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes a resilient local economy.
“Though we’re passionate about elevating Palm Coast’s art scene, our role is one of planning and vision. The actual event coordination will be overseen by the city,” says Ms. Love. The city envisions a diverse palette of visual and performing arts events.
As Palm Coast flourishes, Ms. Love believes the artistic blueprint must evolve accordingly. “Our growth should be complemented by a rich tapestry of art that caters to all sections of the community,” she adds.
Ms. Love’s expertise spans over three decades in the insurance sector, where she championed transformational strategies, operations management, and efficient processes. Her seasoned perspective promises to guide United We Art through Palm Coast and Flagler County’s artistic evolution.
PCAF, over the past two decades, has been a beacon of artistic endeavors. From hosting the Jacksonville Symphony, curating the Palm Coast Arts Festival, to pioneering Shakespeare in the Park and Violectric, its legacy is well-established.
Some notable milestones from PCAF include the Creative Bazaar Arts & Crafts market, 17 Turtle dedications, and a plethora of family-centric musical events.
In collaboration with the city and The Arts District Advisory Group, United We Art has charted a phased strategic blueprint. Initially, the focus will be on amplifying the existing PCAF infrastructure, transitioning it into a city venue, complete with a permanent roofing solution and an expansive parking area.
Ms. Love assures that while immediate plans are set, the long-term vision remains adaptive, always pivoting to the community’s evolving needs.
Member of the Board of Directors include:
Walker Douglas – Douglas Property and Development, Inc.
Amelia Fulmer – Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center at Flagler Auditorium
Awilda Hamilton – Emerita Professor, Higher Education Administration
Chelsea Herbert – 4C’s Trucking and Excavating
Howard Holley – TouchPoint Innovative Solutions
Nick Klufas – AWS Certified Solution Architect, specializing in long term consulting and implementation contracts.
Lisa Love – LovE Creative Designs. LLC
Sam Perkovich – Parkside Reality Group
United We Art can be reached via www.unitedweart.art. Those interested are encouraged to subscribe to United We Art’s newsletter on the website.
Apr 3, 2023 | Books, Business
Philly Youth Foundation Seeks to Raise Over 300K To Fund Programs and Initiatives Dedicated to Youth Development
PHILADELPHIA – March 31, 2023 – PRLog — Founded by Super Bowl LII Champion Rodney McLeod and Erika McLeod, the Change Our Future Foundation will host its annual Sneaker Ball fundraiser, Where Fashion Meets Philanthropy on Thursday, June 22nd from 8:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. at Vie by Cescaphe located in the heart of Center City at 600 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Sponsored by Aetna, Titos Handmade Vodka, and Staples, with a sneaker heaven powered by Glausangeles, this highly anticipated upscale gala will provide youth with back-to-school supplies for the upcoming school year. All proceeds will support Change Our Future’s 2024 programs and initiatives that directly impact youth and families in the community.
“Our annual sneaker ball fundraiser is an event we look forward to each year, says Erika McLeod, co- Founder of Change Our Future. “It is a night filled with excitement and love to share the passion behind our work in the community as well as engage with new and current supporters. It is without a doubt a party, to celebrate the success of our students, the future leaders of our nation, and encourage others to get behind our mission in helping us change the future. Laced with the vibes of the sneaker culture, mixed with the vibrancy and heart of the Metro Philadelphia community, this year’s black-tie gala will feature an award ceremony, luxury sneaker vendors, fashion entertainment, a live and silent auction, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, celebratory cocktails, interactive activations, and the Taste of Philadelphia experience.
In partnership with Philadelphia Style Magazine, this year’s event will feature a one-of-a-kind pop-up sneaker museum showcasing some of the rarest, classic, and excusive sneakers donated by local boutiques, this curated evening dedicated to supporting our youth through philanthropy, will raise funds to give the youth throughout Metro Philadelphia, the City of Indianapolis, and Prince Georgia County, Maryland a promising future and a strong foundation for future success.
Last year Change Our Future’s 2nd Annual Sneaker Ball raised over $150,000 and donated more than 200 sneakers and school supplies to Blue Babes Foundation, and the Philadelphia Police Department. “We are proud of the foundation’s significant growth over the past three years,” says Rodney McLeod, Founder of Change Our Future. “Our goal to expand the foundation’s presence and its programs remains on the forefront. We recognize the issues plaguing our youth extend beyond our local communities and now more than ever our kids need us! With the help of our supporters we can continue to spread the mission and make change across our nation.”
Past attendees include Philadelphia Eagles Jalen Hurts, Jordan Mailata, Darius Slay, Miles Sanders, Jason Avant, Connor Barwin, and Brian Westbrook, Pennsylvania Senator, Anthony Williams Hughes, and Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, City of Philadelphia.
Attendees are asked to bring a new or gently used pair of sneakers and school supplies. Change Our Future will distribute these donated items to several schools and organizations in Philadelphia. To date, Change Our Future has served thousands of youth in the Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Prince George County Maryland area through various initiatives including youth development, education, health and wellness, and community development.
For additional information and to purchase tickets to the 3rd Annual Sneaker Ball, Where Fashion Meets Philanthropy, visit Changeourfuture.org. For sponsorship inquires, email sneakerball@changeourfuture.org. For press inquiries contact Katrina Highsmith at Katrina@thehighsmithgroup.com, or call 678-373- 9279. Follow the conversation on social media using #COFSneakerBall23.
Jul 28, 2022 | Business
GRC for Intelligent Ecosystems (GRCIE), a nonprofit that specializes in training underserved populations for cybersecurity and GRC careers, is pleased to announce partnerships with two workforce development organizations.
According to GRCIE (pronounced Gray-see) Founder and Executive Director Jenai Marinkovic, GRCIE will be collaborating with the Western Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) to provide career training for enrollees in its Adult Career Training Program. In a similar collaboration, GRCIE will partner with 2nd Chance Lifesavers of Birmingham, Alabama in their effort to launch a brand new Young Adult Career Training Program.
Both, WMCAT and 2nd Chance pride themselves in helping people who struggle economically due to under and unemployment in their communities. By working with GRCIE, each will be able to offer their target audience – people motivated to break out of a cycle of poverty – an intense 7-month tuition-free program in cybersecurity. The goal is, of course, to produce skilled workers who can finally enjoy sustained economic security.
The GRCIE program that WMCAT and 2nd Chance will take advantage of is the NextCISO Academy, headed up by Founder and Deputy Director Melissa Elza. It is a state-of-the-art remote learning program that is delivered through virtual reality/metaverse. Elza notes, “We simulate real-world scenarios for performing GRC tasks in virtual reality to help students practically apply their learnings in the Apprenticeship and eventually their future companies. As a result of this innovative training, students are ready to make an impact on day one.”
Pleased with the partnership plans, Marinkovic commented, “When we started during the pandemic, our classes were comprised of students spread across the country. Partnering with other nonprofits at the community level only makes sense. We are excited about the opportunity to have a real economic impact in both of these communities.” Elza added, “We’ve been seeing survey after survey telling us about the diversity problem in technology, but you don’t really see any actual solutions to that problem. We’re doing our part to tackle it head on.”
Other organizations involved in these collaborations include The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), which offers GRCIE students their globally recognized certificate in cloud computing (the CCSK), and Tiro Security, a boutique company specializing in Cybersecurity and GRC solutions, which provide career coaching and job placement services. Both, CSA and Tiro have been working with GRCIE since its inception in 2020, offering their services, including mentorship, free of charge to program students. Kris Rides, Tiro’s CEO, sits on GRCIE’s Board of Directors and was instrumental in helping GRCIE get started.
GRCIE is open to working with corporations, institutions, and organizations across the country to help build a new pool of cybersecurity professionals. The need is great and growing daily. At the same time, GRCIE’s goal is to diversify that pool. Currently, there is a distinct lack of females and minorities employed in cybersecurity jobs, a fact that GRCIE intends to change. In doing so, they are, at the same time, helping underserved communities transition to prosperity by offering the opportunity to attain sustainable careers.
For more information about GRCIE, please visit its website (https://www.grcie.org) or contact them at (hello@grcie.org). Founders Marinkovic and Elza are especially eager to speak with both businesses and philanthropic organizations looking to improve society through cybersecurity channels. They are also hoping to work with government entities towards altering the trajectory of underserved individuals and communities.
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