Brooklyn: The Trunk Show

Whether folks realize it or not, Brooklyn has become a force to be recognized and in fact, Brooklyn has become known as the new Fifth Avenue. The creative and business community within Brooklyn is growing by leaps and bounds. The Trunk Show gives those within and without the borough an opportunity to see just how great the shopping is in Brooklyn.

On Sunday, February 26th three exceptional women will join together to make Brooklyn aware of them and what they have to offer the borough. 

Each woman has directed her talent and energy toward the betterment of the community.  Katherine Baxter of Flow the Magazine, a new magazine catering to the world of celebrity, fashion and entertainment lifestyle, is about to present her magazine to the world in a few months and the Trunk Show to the business community on Sunday, February 26th at the Brooklyn Marriott, located at 333 Adams Street, between the hours of 11AM and 7PM.  The Trunk Show, a small business expo, offers New Yorkers in all the boroughs and the business community the opportunity to expand its ever growing entrepreneurial spirit and shopping aplomb by showcasing their wares and opening their wallets.  Entrepreneurialism is not just regulated to NYC — whether folks realize it or not, Brooklyn has become a force to be recognized and in fact, Brooklyn has become known as the new Fifth Avenue.

The creative and business community within Brooklyn is growing by leaps and bounds. The Trunk Show gives those within and without the borough an opportunity to see just how great the shopping is in Brooklyn. Those who attend will be treated to home, personal and fashion designs, designers and furnishings, clothing, health products, beauty companies which offer products on hair care, skincare and even a unisex beauty style spa complete with glam crews from well known cosmetic companies. A variety of services will be offered including manicures, massages, and facials. Business is thriving in Brooklyn and now folks never have to leave their community in order to shop.

“Flow The Magazine appeals to an audience age 25 and up. The magazine will be fresh and contemporary.  It will have celebrities in it but it won’t be exclusively celebrity driven.  It will have a variety of topics,â€? said Katherine Baxter who is the magazine founder and Trunk Show promoter. “The Trunk Show will introduce the public to the magazine’s contents but also to the community itself. The Trunk Show will be a small business expo. We are adding banking institutions, E Commerce businesses, etc. The idea is to put all these businesses together in one pot and let people come and sell their products to the public whether it be via fashion, art, music, or whatever. We hope to offer it at the Trunk Show,â€? explained Katherine.

In order to reach out to the community, Baxter partnered with one of the more deserving organizations within Brooklyn, Housing Works, Inc.  Housing Works (HW) Job Training Program has trained and employed over 250 homeless and formerly homeless men and women living with AIDS and HIV.  For over 13 years, HW has aided individuals with learning disabilities, chronic health issues, mental illness, the once incarcerated, and the homeless by giving them job training, education, job placement, housing, outreach and support. They uplift and aid through personal hygiene, nutrition, peer relations, psychological support, and vocational goals in order to uplift people and enable them to take over jobs in Clerical/Administration, Food Services, Case Management, Residential Aide, Retail, Computers, Technology, etc.

“Housing Works was founded in 1991 by Keith Tyler, Charles King, Virginia Shubert and Eric Sawyer.  It is a minority led non profit membership organization,â€? said Linney Smith, Senior Vice President of Prevention and Services at Housing Works. “Some of our clients are also on the board.  The agency provides housing, healthcare, case management and job training. We have social workers, paraprofessionals, doctors, psychiatrists, volunteers, etc., on staff.  We have 19 departments.

One-third of our staff is graduates of our job training program. We are funded by State and Federal and through our own business ventures. We have thrift stores, cafes, rug weaving/silk screening, apartment rentals, etc. Most of our clients are HIV Positive. Some are high school and college graduates, some are dropouts. But our graduates must pass tests at 6 grade math levels and 8th grade English. We teach social skills, critical thinking skills, and computer. We then have them work in the job they are eventually hired in.  Some have gone on to work outside the agency and throughout the country,â€? explained Ms. Smith.  “Housing Works does not try to judge the clients. We take the individual and work with them and the majority of the time we do see their lives change positively. We got involved in the Trunk Show because we wanted to capitalize on our presence in Brooklyn. We thought it would be nice to have some of the women who graduated from our program get a makeover. One such person is Diane Williams.â€?

Diane Williams became HIV positive in 1986. She had three children. Diane discovered she was HIV positive when her third child was born with full blown AIDS.  Her child died when 2.  “The death of my child changed my life dramatically.  I have become closer to my other children who do not have HIV or AIDS. Both my children are doing well. My son attends Bronx Science and graduates this yearâ€? said the proud mother. “To discover you are HIV Positive and that your child has AIDS is very painful. I was so depressed after my child died a nurse suggested I get into a program and told me about Housing Works. They had counselors there and bereavement programs.  I went through their training programs.  Since then I have become independent and filled with self confidence. I feel like a vital part of the community now.  I am very happy to be a beneficiary of the Trunk Show’s makeover.  In many ways, my life has been made over.  I am a different person thanks to Housing Works.  I am grateful for thatâ€? said Williams.

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