Williams also announced the launch of the Arise And Shine Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that aims to advance the professional development of underserved and underrepresented women and girls. The E.S.T.E.A.M Project will be the pilot program under the new nonprofit.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On Sunday, October 1, 2023, Actress, Author, and Entrepreneur Malinda Williams celebrated her 5th year of elevating, empowering, and uniting women of color at the Arise And Shine Women's Empowerment Brunch. This year's milestone celebration took place at the Sheraton Universal in Los Angeles, California, and included the announcement of her new philanthropic endeavor, The Arise And Shine Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) with a mission to serve as a conduit of information, inspiration, and empowerment of women in all walks of life.
Malinda Williams, founder of the Arise and Shine empowerment events series, embarked on this journey five years ago to offer a supportive hub to connect accomplished women. From exchanging ideas to fostering relationships, the Arise and Shine brunch serves as a bridge in the opportunity gap for Black women. "My whole life and career, I have been uplifted by and stood on the shoulders of many powerful women. These past few years have illuminated that connection to community is more important now than ever," said Malinda Williams. "I am honored to collaborate with so many brilliant minds who understand the value of community, sisterhood, and using our resources to empower and give back to others."
As guests arrived at this year's event, they strolled down a beautiful pathway adorned with stunning rose blossoms and inspirational messages. Soon after, the room filled with love, laughter, and a gathering of like-minded women. Before diving into the main topic of discussion, Malinda took a moment to acknowledge and honor her "village" – her husband, son, mother, father, and two sisters, all of whom were present. To their surprise, she presented each of them with a bouquet of flowers and offered a flower to every guest in the room. Malinda and special guest, media executive Amy Dubois Barnett, engaged in a fireside chat, followed by an open discussion on AI, Algorithms, and the Impact of Technology On Our Culture. The discussion highlighted the importance of promoting more Black women in technology and STEAM fields and explored ways Black Culture can fearlessly leverage technology for community advancement.
Malinda also proudly announced the establishment of The Arise And Shine Foundation, the non-profit arm of Arise And Shine, co-founded with her sisters Leslie Williams-Dunn and Lisa Williams-Sorensen.
The foundation's pilot program, The E.S.T.E.A.M Project, slated to run in Summer 2024, is an HBCU development and coding camp designed around three pillars: upskilling core competencies in technology, fine-tuning soft skills for business success, and facilitating connections for industry mentorships. Students will learn to code using Apple's Everyone Can Code curriculum.
In addition to coding, The E.S.T.E.A.M Project will further prepare and empower young women to be future leaders through lessons in cultivating wellness, creative thinking, esteem building, and problem-solving.
The program will begin accepting applications in the Spring of 2024.
Hallmark Mahogany will return as the Premiere Partner and Sponsor under the leadership of Alexis Kerr. "Mahogany is immensely proud to sponsor the Arise and Shine event, which uplifts Black women and celebrates the power of amazing creatives like Malinda Williams," said Alexis Kerr, Vice President - Mahogany Brand Leader Hallmark Cards, Inc. "Our commitment to telling our own stories and affirming the soul-strengthening narratives of our sisters remains steadfast, and we are proud to celebrate her 5th anniversary."
About Arise and Shine Foundation
Founded in 2023 by actress, author, and entrepreneur Malinda Williams, the Arise And Shine Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps fulfill Malinda's vision to be a conduit of information, inspiration, and empowerment to women in all walks of life. The foundation partners with educational institutions, corporations, and the community to implement and support programs that advance the personal and professional development of underserved and underrepresented women and girls. The work is led by Malinda along with founding members and sisters Lisa Sorensen, a communications specialist and wellness advocate, and Leslie Williams-Dunn, retired Senior Director of Technology for Johnson & Johnson. Additionally, a team of highly accomplished, passionate women from varying professions are aligned in support of the cause. This dynamic group collaborates to bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and excellence to achieve the goals and mission of the organization. To learn more, visit The Arise and Shine Foundation.
About Hallmark Mahogany
For nearly 40 years, Hallmark Mahogany has built a relationship of trust with the Black community by honoring, celebrating, and supporting emotional connections among Black families, friends, and other loved ones. In December 2021, Mahogany introduced Mahogany.com, a lifestyle destination where Black women can trust that their unique stories will be told, their truths will be heard and honored, and their collective culture celebrated through the vibrant spectrum of their individual experiences and launched its e-commerce site in September 2022.
Contacts:
Arise And Shine Foundation press:
Lisa Sorensen
[email protected]
Phone: 323-310-1917
To support The Arise and Shine Foundation's vision, visit: donorbox.org/ariseandshine
SOURCE The Arise And Shine Foundation Inc.
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