One of the things about my job working for a not-for-profit organization is that in addition to working with those who have nothing, we also spend time with those who have everything, trying to convince them to help in any way that they can – time, money, energy, in-kind donations, etc. Personally, I never know what the heck to wear to anything, because you never know if you will be overdressed wearing jeans and a t-shirt (not that I wear jeans, anyway…so leggings, I guess) or if you will be underdressed wearing sequins and heels.
Recently, Educate Tomorrow had the chance to participate in a ball called A Black & Red Affair. It was hosted (put on? sponsored? given? thrown?) by Jim Berry, who is the local CBS anchor in Miami. (http://cbs4.com/bios/jim.berry.cbs4.9.375565.html). The event was thrown by the South Florida Steppers, which is a Chicago-style step dancing organization that Berry is a major participant in. How does this relate to my job, you wonder? Well, I guess a couple weeks back (before I got here…this even happened the weekend after I got to Florida), Jim Berry made it possible for several of our foster youth to come and take stepping classes with the South Florida Steppers, and then invited them to this event so they could show off what they learned.
That is me and Jim Berry below.
The event was thrown at the Ten Palms restaurant at the Gulfstream Park, which is a race track/casino/hotel/conference center in Hallandale Beach (North Miami). It was decorated for Christmas (more pictures of that to come), and the building was lovely.
This is Jim Berry dancing with one of the foster youth we work with.
Wow, who is that super-pasty white girl? She looks so out of place.
Oh wait.
That’s me. My self-tanner has all worn off. Sigh.
This is Christianne, a Haitian woman I bonded with over the fact we were both short and couldn’t see the emcee when he was speaking. We got to talking and she told me about her life in Haiti and moving to the United States (she moved in with her daughter, who was the one who brought her to the event that night). She was a fascinating, beautiful woman. And just the sweetest lady ever.
This is Virginia, the executive director of the organization that I work for. She’s amazing!
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