Prom attire drive empowers local youth
Nonprofits Meera Empowerment and You’re Our Unity provide free dresses and suits for students
By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Meera Empowerment and You’re Our Unity organized their fourth annual Prom Dress and Suit Drive on April 26 at Sewanhaka High School.
The public event was open to both residents and nonresidents in need of prom attire. Guests browsed racks of dresses and suits, shopped tables of shoes and jewelry, and received free beauty consultations from a Mary Kay consultant to help them prepare for their big day.
LeShawn Walker, founder and CEO of You’re Our Unity—a socially conscious outreach program that hosts workshops and seminars about self-love, peace and change—said she began hosting the prom giveaway in Valley Stream four years ago. Two years ago, she began partnering with Selene Ferdinand, founder of Meera Empowerment.
Walker said the decision to collaborate came naturally, as both nonprofits share a mission to encourage self-confidence and empowerment among youth in the community.
“Once I saw the wonderful work she was doing, it was a no-brainer,” Walker said. “Like, let’s just come together to celebrate our youth, celebrate their accomplishments and make sure they’re highlighted and represented.”
Selene, 12, a pageant participant, said she feels fortunate in life but understands that not everyone has the same opportunities. That understanding, she said, inspired her to start her nonprofit—to bring her own positive experiences to others in the community.
“Our motto is life skills through service,” Selene said. “It helps out all the youth and makes sure they know they’re never too young to make a difference.”
Meera Empowerment also offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, Selene said, such as events at the Ronald McDonald House, where volunteers teach young ambassadors how to cook.
No detail was overlooked at the prom giveaway. Maria Rodriguez, a beauty consultant for Mary Kay, provided free beauty consultations to students. She emphasized the importance of skincare as prom approaches.
Rodriguez, who works in social services and frequently hosts beauty workshops for teens, said giving back is essential.
“The more you give, the more you receive,” she said.
The Sewanhaka Parent Teacher Student Association also supported the event. Nikki Long, the PTSA’s vice president of events and fundraising, said her role is to secure funds outside the school to help finance scholarships and events like the prom giveaway.
“We just try to find a medium to help and assist with what they need,” Long said.
She added that planning for the event began more than four months ago, and
the team chose Sewanhaka High School as the location after noticing many attendees at last year’s giveaway were students from the school.
The PTSA also provided volunteers from the Sewanhaka Key Club. Long, who has a background in visual merchandising, instructed the volunteers to organize the dresses by color to help students more easily find what they were looking for.
“It’s a very important time of year for them,” Long said. “And it’s expensive. If we can give dresses and shoes and accessories, we want to be part of that.”
Caleb Rodriguez, 18, attended the event with his aunt, Nadia Espaillat. Both said prom can be costly.
Caleb, who lives in the Bronx, and Espaillat, who lives in Westchester, traveled more than an hour to Elmont after receiving an email about the event from
Caleb’s school, United Charter High School for the Humanities in Riverdale.
“Parents are struggling,” Espaillat said. “I want to make sure he’s able to participate in things that are for all high school seniors.”
She said they were happy to support the event, especially for students from single-parent households.
“It provides a sense of fulfillment,” Caleb said. “It allows me to see how things are done for people who are struggling financially.”
The event also inspired Caleb to consider ways he could give back to the community in the future.
Walker and Selene said they plan to continue partnering on future projects, including Walker’s “You’re Our Unity” show, available on the Strong Island TV YouTube channel. The show features community organizers and leaders discussing social change. Selene co-hosts
Messages of empowerment were placed throughout the cafeteria where shoes and accessories were arrayed, encouraging positivity and self-confidence.
the youth edition.
Walker is also planning a tea party for teens ages 14 to 18 in July. The event will be a strength-building class focused on self-actualization and self-discovery. More information will be shared on her website, YoureOurUnity.com, and Instagram page, @YoureOurUnity.
Selene said her next major event is her annual fashion show, scheduled for the last week of July. Since this will be her fifth year organizing the event, it will be held as a gala, giving youth attendees the opportunity to model and speak to the audience.
“It’s really a show of everything we’ve been building up,” Selene said. More information will be available on the organization’s Instagram account, @MeeraEmpowerment.
