Lifestyle Sophisticated Settings March 22 2014

March 22, 2014 - March 28, 2014, The Afro-American

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Jean E. Merrick and Dr. Marco Merrick The 43rd Annual Nite in Kappa Vegas was hosted by the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation of Metropolitan Baltimore, March 7, at Martin’s West, Baltimore.

Recognized as one of the most popular fundraising events in Baltimore and the Chapter’s premiere social event, the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity brothers were on hand to greet their supportive guests for a wonderful evening of dancing, delectable cuisine, and a memorable chance at the gaming tables.

The fraternity celebrated the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Baltimore Alumni Chapter and the historic centennial founding of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

The Annual ”Nite in Kappa Vegas” fundraising events supports programs such as The Guide Right Mentoring program, the awarding of scholarships, Feed the Needy initiative and many other worthwhile programs and services for the youth and the Baltimore community.

Joan Brown, Dr. S. Dallas Dance, Eloise Coles

Photos by Dr. A. Lois De Laine

Dr. Brenda Bowe Johnson and Sheila Rolack Sen. Nathaniel McFadden and Rachel McFadden

Essence Fisher-Hobson and Turner Roscoe

Carolyn Tutman, Howard Tutman Jr., Sheila Jessup, Darolyn Milburn Angela Gibson, Herb Brown, Deanna Brown, Michael Day

Braxton Street and Raianna Davis Robert and Gladys Rice

Loretta Byers, Alex and Joan Brown

Robert and Darlean Williams Dr. Mabel Murray and Teddy Murray

Owen and Barbara Lee

Lydia McCargo Redd, Sam Redd, Elizabeth Williams Kirk Hemphill, polemarch, Baltimore Chapter, Darrel Walker, Charles Thomas, Christine Jenkins, Ken Bradley

George Jackson and Ada Bacetty Cynthia Dukes and John Dukes

Darryl Day and Amy Smith

Ray Bowen III, Pat Bowen, Ray Bowen IV, Joan Bowen, Dr. Raymond Bowen II

Seated, Carolyn Cunningham, Diane Hardison, Roz Mitchell. Standing, James E. Thomas, Dr. J. Laws Nickens Jr, George Mitchell Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Senator Nathaniel McFadden, Alice Pinderhughes

Arica Ferguson, Pamela Brown, Jessi Parks, Crystal Powell Russell Neverdon Sr, Dr. Charlene Cooper Boston, Stanley Mitchell

Yvonne Wynn, Vernard Wynn, Chevauyn Whitman, Carol Spencer Carter

Sara Bragg Gray, Dr. M. Guy Bragg, Gladys Wade Bragg

Schanbette Smith, Sheila C. Bennett, Carolyn Blakeney, Linda Hopkins

Susie Smith and Faye Burnett

March 22, 2014 - March 28, 2014, The Afro-American

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Contestants in swimsuits Three of the contestants in evening wear

The Mrs. DC America Pageant, which recognizes beautiful married women for personal, professional, and community achievements, crowned Meredith Egwuatu on Mar. 8 at the Jack Morton Theatre in Northwest, Renée Starlynn Allen, sponsor for Alita Washington, DC. Taylor-Gregg and Revonda Holloway, supporting diva’s in the audience Egwuatu, 27, is the Director of Business Development at an IT consulting firm, and will go on to compete at the Mrs. America pageant, with a platform of “Empowerment through education of Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering.” The first runner up was Mrs. Georgetown, Laura Clark and second runner up was Mrs. Alita TaylorMrs. Dupont Logan Circle, Dr. Allena Kennerly . The Distinguished Gregg receiving Circle receives the Director’s Director’s Award for “Exemplary Leadership In and Around an award Leadership Award The Community,” went to Mrs. Northwest, Alita TaylorGregg. Alita, 46, is the President, of the Federal Triangle Chapter (FTC), of Federally Employed Women (FEW). The pageant’s Executive Producer/Director, Raquel Riley Thomas. Pageant Host and Announcer, Kristen Berset, Sports Anchor, WUSA 9, and Rick Bernstein, The Voice of DC 20.

Samentha Moore, Mrs. Navy Yard, receiving the Congeniality Award

Kristen Berset, pageant host and WUSA9 News; Jana Sedlakova, international model and entrepreneur; Raquel Riley Thomas, executive producer/director; Deborah Tillman, “America’s Super-Nanny”, Lifetime TV and Lt. Col. Myles Caggins III, US Army TV spokesperson

Dr. Allena Kennerly, Mrs. Logan Circle, being presented with the Fitness Award and 2nd place runner up

Panelists and attendees

Porscha Manson, Ivy DeShield and Nicole Marie Jacks

Najeema Davis Washington (right) discussing the 21st Century Black Woman

Najeema Davis Washington, Lottie Joiner and Dr. Chic Smith

Alita TaylorGregg at the microphone

Meredith Egwuatu, Mrs. West End was crowned Mrs. DC America

Contestants in black Photos by Kipp Burgoyne Photography

Panelists: (standing) Tanya Ballard Brown, acting supervising

editor for Digital Media Arts,

NPR; April Watts,

moderator, Radio One

on-air personality;

Christine Johnson, chief

convener and Lottie

Joiner, facilitator,

senior editor, The Crisis

magazine (seated)

Dr. Natalie Hopkinson,

writer and fellow, Deborah Bond and

Interactivity Foundation Angelique Gaston Cecelia and contributing editor, The Whettstone with

Root; Jesse Solomon, director, her father, David Arts in Praxis and Dr. Chic Whettstone

Smith, faculty advisor, Howard

University.

Angelique Gaston making a point Macco Lovelife, Anissa Donicio and April Watts

Ora Wiseman and Lottie Joiner Photos by Rob Roberts

Who better to shape the Black woman narrative than Black women themselves? Enters Conv3ne, a platform created by social entrepreneur, Christine Johnson dedicated to curating and producing solution–fueled forums. SISTAH21: An Exploration of the Complexity of the 21st Century Black Woman held at the WEWORK in

Northwest, Washington, DC, was an evening that included: one of a kind networking; 3.0-style exploration; an open floor engagement of attendees with guest panelists and some soulful tunes by SISTAH21 resident hypewoman Deborah Bond, aka DJ QueenZeb. Guest moderator was April Watts, Radio One on-air

Ivy DeShield

personality. Lottie Joiner, senior editor, The Crisis magazine was the co-curator and facilitator.

This gathering of women from throughout the DC Metro area affirmed that Black women are the most examined, critiqued and criticized figures in American media. And the drumbeat continues….