Move over little red ribbon, and make way for the stylish new red tie.
An initiative of Mpowerment Detroit, the Red Tie Affair is a youth health advertising campaign featuring role models for youth photographed in red ties. The campaign includes, among others, photos of business mogul Denise Illitch, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, Grammy-Award winning vocalist Dwele and newscaster Charles Pugh, the 2008/09 Red Tie spokesperson.
The 2009/10 media campaign will kick off this Friday, Feb. 27, with the second Red Tie Affair gala at the Motor City Casino's Sound Board. In addition to introducing 20 new ad campaign participants, the evening will feature a special performance by legendary gospel group The Clark Sisters.
The campaign and gala are the brainchild of up and coming event planner Michael Matthews, Jr., 22, who has been a member of Mpowerment Detroit for four years.
"I never considered myself a troubled teen, and I thought that was who organizations like Mpowerment Detroit were for," Matthews, who heads up Eventful Bliss Productions, admitted. "But after a friend of mine who works with the organization invited me down to one of their meetings, I fell in love with the idea of what the organization did. Their main focus was HIV/AIDS prevention, but they focused, as well, on self-esteem and health care and so many more issues."
Matthews created the Red Tie campaign to bring about greater awareness of the agency's important work.
"I believe small organizations can't reach the numbers they're trying to because of lack of funds and lack of visibility," he said. "So Red Tie is a chance for me to give small non-profits the platform to do the good work they do on a larger scale."
Dwain Bridges started off as a volunteer with Mpowerment Detroit about five years ago. Today he is the agency's project coordinator. Bridges said he is grateful for the exposure the campaign offers.
"I feel it lets the community know that we exist and we're fighting the fight," Bridges said. "We're reaching youth across metro Detroit. We even have folks who come from Canada to learn more about this epidemic and sexual health, and then they empower others to do the same. Now is our time to really reveal ourselves and let people know, 'Hey, were here, and this is the work we've been doing for over five years – saving lives, reaching out to youth and empowering them.'"
Pugh, who will emcee Friday's gala, said the agency's work is critical.
"Mpowerment Detroit is so vital to the health and life of this community," he said. "I have seen, first hand, the life-saving dialogue that happens during the group's weekly discussions. Raising awareness is one of the first steps to reducing the number of HIV/AIDS infections in our community.
"Growing up in Detroit instilled in me a love and pride for this city and its people," Pugh continued. "My hope is that this campaign will highlight our need for increased HIV/AIDS education, prevention, treatment and research right here in our state."
Matthews said he sees possibilities for the campaign to continue for years to come.
"I believe that one reason that I'm HIV-negative is because of Mpowerment Detroit," he said. "This is an organization that I believe saved my life. So just being able to help Mpowerment Detroit do for others what it did for me is reason to stick around."
Red Tie Affair
6 p.m. Feb. 27
Motor City Casino
http://www.RedTie4Youth.org
$75
