News
September 11, 2018YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, Inc. Announces Call for Artist’s Written Submission for the 4th Annual BraVa! Fundraiser
YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, Inc., in collaboration with The Arts Center of the Capital Region announces open call for written submissions from artists for YWCA-GCR’s 4th Annual BraVa! Fundraiser, emceed by Tamani Wooley, on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 5:00pm – 7:30pm at the Arts Center of the Capital Region. D. Colin, Poet. Visual artist. Performer. Educator. will be the inaugural featured artist!
We invite writers to submit poems, monologues, essays or songs on the subject of the places brasseries have in their lives begininning Monday, September 10, 2018 through Monday, October 15, 2018. Submissions will be reviewed and selected by a juried-panel and writers will be chosen by Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Each piece is limited to 750 words and can be submitted through https://artscenterofthecapitalregion.submittable.com/submit/124183/brava-a-unique-event-benefiting-women-2018.
Last year’s event showcased fifteen talented writers from around the Capital Region whose pieces touched on the subject of bras from many viewpoints which range from the poignant to the hilarious. More than 200 bras were collected at the event and were provided to those in need at YWCA-GCR and in the Greater Capital Region community.
BraVa! was created by author, editor and teacher Marion Roach Smith, who taught memoir writing at The Arts Center and Malissa Pilette-McClenon, former staff member at YWCA-GCR. “When we were discussing holiday needs for the residents, Malissa told me that bras are always in desperately short supply,” Roach Smith said. “This struck a powerful chord with me and we decided right there to do something about it. Once a year we gather to tell stories about the roles of bras in our lives. The results of that night are the collected bras that allow women in need to go out in public with dignity. Consider that. Would you leave the house without a bra and go register your children from school or yourself to vote? Would you go pick up your medications or do the grocery shopping? Of course not. Give a bra and give someone the freedom to go back into her life.”
Since BraVa! was created, it has illustrated the necessity to provide bras to women and girls in need. Through the annual BraVa! fundraiser and other YWCA-GCR events, the organization has collected more than 2,000 bras to give away for free to women and girls who call YWCA-GCR home and those in need in the community.
“I am excited about the 4th Annual BraVa! fundraiser! It is an honor to announce that BraVa! has expanded to Western NY! Happening the same day and time, our YWCA Western NY sister association will be hosting their inaugural BraVa! event! I am proud that a vision to expand the event to fulfill more women and girls in need of an essential garment has come to fruition. There will be more women and girls going into public with dignity! Make sure to #PurchaseABraForHer” said, Daquetta Jones, YWCA-GCR Executive Director.
BraVa! will sell out this year. Admission to the event is $35 and a new bra with tags (preferably in women’s or girl’s large sizes) and tickets are now available online at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=zoldmqdab&oeidk=a07efjvuhmnacfd9bde.
Those who cannot attend the event but would like to support the cause can drop off new bras year-round at YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, Inc., and before the Friday, November 2, 2018 Brava! event at 21 First St. Troy, NY. The logo and artwork for BraVa! were designed by artist and educator Paul Miyamoto and his design class at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
