The Silence No More Movement kicks off its fifth annual Red Affair fashion show supporting survivors of domestic violence September 21st at Carahsoft in Reston. The local P7 “divas” who stride down the runway in bespoke styles created for the event by designer Afua Sam of Studio D Maxsi, invest more than 60 hours in rehearsal time to put on a show that will rival any you’ll see during Fashion Week. Unlike those shows, this one benefits SNMM’s partnerships with county and community resources to help survivors, and real time victims of domestic violence, helping to coordinate services to them and their families across Loudoun County.
Loudoun Chamber Board Chair Angela Mitchell will MC the event that features black-tie casino tables. This year’s P7 “Sisterhood” features Board Members Carol Barbe (CEO of Backflow Technology), Solitaire Carroll (Deputy Dir. of Veteran Experience Services) and Gift Wyatt (fundraising account executive at Moore), plus customer service guru Erica P. Rowe, Chiropractor at New Energy Chiropractic Fatema Kolia, attorney Gazal Modhera, The Marketing Management Group’s Katie McGrath Schneider, FiftyLeven Winery owner and President & CEO of Purpose WorX LLC Kindra Dionne, Women Giving Back CEO Nicole Morris, Morven Park Executive Director and CEO Stacey Metcalfe, Sehr Khan, General Manager of Fitness Specialists Abby Lenderman, and Tiffany Levy.
In concert with many local organizations, SNMM CEO and event manager Lisa Jones says the non-profit takes a “hands-on” approach, offering two full years of personal support for women to keep them from returning to abusive environments. “This, in turn, can have a domino effect, lowering isolation, depression, embarrassment, financial loss, and generational abuse – ultimately saving lives,” she said.
Gift, board member, model, and volunteer, says, “We know that one in three women and one in four men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. If we think about the number of people that we encounter on a daily basis – whether that’s at work or as we’re going through our normal day to day lives – that statistic is incredibly frightening. The P7 Fashion Show is more than a fashion show. It’s an event that brings together the Loudoun Community and unites us against a common enemy.”
"The name The Silence No More Movement is so appropriate,” she added, “because that is our mission – to stand with survivors and victims and show abusers that we will not be silent and allow them to continue in the shadows.”
The love the group shows to each other and the fun they have behind the scenes speaks louder than words. We’re grateful for the back-stage view. Tickets and sponsorships are available at https://www.99percentcomplete.com/snmmp7redaffair.