To Purchase Tickets Click here If you are interested in sponsorship please see our sponsorship package.   Sponsors                               VFW Post 8195          Desmond Hodge              Sarah Teagle                L.C. Henderson                   DJ Tony

Schedule of Events   Friday, October 22, 2010 Meet and Greet 8:00 pm - Until VFW Post 8195 4414 Pembroke Road Hollywood, FL 33021   Dinner available for purchase   Saturday, October 23, 2010 Workshops 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm VFW Post 8195   $20.00 per Class per person $30.00 for both Classes per person   Steppin’ 4 Life Charity Ball 8:00 pm - 2:00 am Club Tropical 211 SE 1st Avenue Hallandale Beach, FL 33009   Sunday, October 24, 2010  Brunch 11:00 am - 4:00 pm VFW Post 8195   $40.00 per person  (includes Ball & Brunch)

 

What is Stepping you ask

 

Chicago-style steppin' is an urban Ballroom couples dance with roots in the neighborhoods of the city it was named for. There are steppers in every major city in the United States and their numbers are growing as the dance sweeps the nation. The history of the dance is rich and the community spans from border to border. In other parts of the country they call it Jazz dance, The Cakewalk, The Ringshout, The Jitterbug, The Swing. It is uniquely historical to the African American community. While the typical Steppers are urban professional or working-class African-American men and women, Steppin' brings together people with a wide array of personalities, perspectives, and passion for this dance-art. Steppin' is a culture that includes the steppers' clubs, fabulous clothing and the dance itself.

 

What is the purpose of this event

 

Steppin 4 Life is the first annual signature Ball for Empower "U", Inc. a nonprofit HIV/AIDS service organization. Our goal through this event is to raise money to help saves lives - those impacted by HIV/AIDS.

 

Steppin 4 Life is a weekend of food, fellowship and fun for Steppers. The weekend begins with a "Meet & Greet" on Friday, October 22, 2010. On Saturday afternoon, there are workshops facilitated by Step Masters from across the country. Step moves learned in the classes can be displayed at the 1st Steppin' 4 Life Ball, which will including a sit down dinner, wine & spirits, and Steppin' ALL night long. This will mark the start of one of the largest HIV/AIDS charity balls for the Black community in Miami/Broward. On Sunday, the weekend will conclude with a brunch and because Steppers LOVE to dance, a farewell party. All weekend long, there will be style, high rollers, soulful Steppin' and an incredible cross-section of philanthropic African American men and women.

 

Benefiting Agency:  Empower “U” Inc.

 

The mission of Empower "U", Inc. is to empower, educate, and promote better health care choices for individuals and families infected with and affected by health disparities, particularly HIV/AIDS spectrum disease, and populations at risk for HIV infections. When Empower "U", Inc. accomplishes it mission, all person living with HIV/AIDS will have equitable access to care thus live longer, healthier lives, and new HIV infections will be eliminated.

 

Background: Empower "U", Inc. was founded in 1999 by two women living with HIV/AIDS. Their objective was to give people living with HIV/AIDS an opportunity to be involved in HIV/AIDS services at the community level. The founders believed this would increase the self-efficacy of the African American PWA by taking an active role in HIV/AIDS health education and health promotion. Since its inception, Empower "U", Inc. has gained a reputation of finding and connecting to care people living with HIV infection who are newly diagnosed, lost to care and are from the most difficult and disenfranchised population in Miami-Dade County. Empower "U", Inc. focuses its’ efforts in the following service areas: Free Confidential HIV Testing,  Targeted Outreach, Coordinated Case Management, Peer Support, Housing Services and Prevention Services.

 

 Empower "U", Inc. is one of the first African American HIV/AIDS community based service organizations founded and managed by people living with HIV/AIDS in Miami-Dade County in an effort to address the disparities in communities of color.

 

For more information please visit www.empower-u-miami.org.