The Arts Empowerment Project

???? RAFFLE ALERT! It’s almost showtime! In just 2 days, Natalie Frazier Allen and Isaac Aoki will shine on the stage in Charlotte Ballet’s Dancing With The Stars of Charlotte Gala! ?? From today until midnight on Sunday, March 2nd at 11:59 p.m., you can enter our fabulous “Feeling Lucky” fragrance raffle! ??? Two lucky winners will be announced on Tuesday, March 4th. Check out the amazing prizes you could win: ?? Louboutin “Loubimar” Eau De Parfum from the Loubiworld Fragrance Collection (Retail Value: $320)?? ? La Perla “Let The Dance Begin” Eau De Parfum (Retail Value: $340)??and ?? A Ticket Charlotte Ballet’s Performance of ‘Carmen’! ? HOW TO ENTER:?? 1?? Comment on this post & tag a friend!?? 2?? Vote via the ?? link below. When filling out the voting form, use your Instagram handle instead of your first name. ?? https://lnkd.in/dEaPazK7 ?????Each donation is a raffle entry and a VOTE for Natalie & Isaac. The more you vote the higher your chances are of winning!! * The raffle winner who makes the highest donation will receive the La Perla perfume, along with a ticket to Charlotte Ballet’s performance of ‘Carmen’. Let’s make this happen! Vote and enter the raffle today! ????? #DWTSCharlotte #Raffle #theartsempowermentproject

?? 4 Days left to cast your VOTE! ?? Support Natalie Frazier Allen and our mission with your VOTE! Each graceful movement she makes is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children in our community. It’s a staggering fact that nearly 42% of kids in North Carolina, including those in Mecklenburg County, have faced trauma. This puts them at a higher risk for mental health challenges, substance abuse, and unfavorable life outcomes. YOU have the power to make a difference! ?? Every vote you cast for Natalie strengthens our commitment to providing high-quality arts programming for these vulnerable children. Vote NOW and be a part of their brighter future! ?? $1 = 1 Vote ?? gala.charlotteballet.org #supportnatalie #theartsempowermentproject #danceforchange #empoweringyouth

??Dancing For A Cause: Support Natalie and our mission with your VOTE! ?? As the Founder and CEO of The Arts Empowerment Project, Natalie Frazier Allen is not just taking the stage—she’s dancing for a cause. With each twirl and step, Natalie is raising funds and awareness towards our mission, dedicated to broadening horizons through high-quality arts programming for the children that need it most in our community. YOU can make an impact! ?? Every vote for Natalie is a vote for the future of countless children who rely on our programs. Cast your VOTE TODAY! ???? $1 = 1 Vote ?? gala.charlotteballet.org Charlotte Ballet #charlotteballetgala #theartsempowermentproject #empoweringyouth

?? This Black History Month, we celebrate Boris “Bluz” Rogers, a spoken word artist whose powerful voice and journey have profoundly impacted Charlotte! ???? From his beginnings in high school, where his love for poetry bloomed at age 15 to becoming the 2008 LEAF Festival Poetry Slam Champion and leading SlamCharlotte to national victories, Bluz exemplifies the transformative power of art in our lives. His work as host of “Spoken Word Fridays” on Power 98fm has reached millions, using poetry to raise awareness on important issues while connecting with the community. Bluz is a father and a beloved community member who continually demonstrates that self-expression can be both healing and inspiring. ???? With a book, multiple CDs, and performances at renowned events, Bluz continues to elevate the art of spoken word while shaping the narrative for future generations. Let’s honor his contributions and celebrate the vital representation he brings to our community! ??? #BlackHistoryMonth #BluzRogers #SpokenWord #TheArtsEmpowermentProject

??A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Partners! ?? Yesterday, we welcomed our valued partners to a special Partner Appreciation Luncheon. We engaged in thoughtful discussions about our programs and explored how we can enhance our partnership for the benefit of the students we serve. The invaluable feedback we received is a testament to the strength of our collaboration, and we are excited to move forward with renewed energy and fresh perspectives. Thank you to everyone who participated! Your dedication and commitment mean the world to us. Together, we look forward to another year of creating transformative arts experiences for the children who need it most in our community!? Featured Partners: Jazzmine Rivers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas Hillary Merwin with Congregations for Kids Elizabeth Thomas-Hollier, MBA and Nina Ford Jackson with The Crown Jewels (NC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Kanesha Leak and Franklin Downing with Nazareth Child and Family Connection Joanne Rogers with Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery Pamela Broome with Niner University Elementary Linda Redice with StepStone Family & Youth Services Zarreah Dent with YWCA Central Carolinas Jeff Cravotta (??Thank you for taking some of these images!) Shante Burke-Hayer, Esq. #strongertogether #theartsempowermentproject #ittakesavillagetoraiseachild

To kick off this Black History Month, we celebrate Kendrick Lamar's historic Grammy wins, which spotlight not just his lyrical genius but also the profound impact of hip-hop in defining our cultural landscape! ??? As the first artist to secure the Best Music Video award three times and record wins for Best Rap Peformance, his recent five Grammys during the 67th Grammy Awards make him the most awarded rap artist in Grammy history, and demonstrates how he is reshaping the narrative for artists everywhere. ???? As an organization committed to breaking cycles of violence and trauma through the arts, we recognize the power of storytelling. ??? The success of "Not Like Us" is a major achievement and we align with the messaging in the song, which calls out predators --whomever they may be. We applaud Kendrick Lamar for uplifting this critical issue and the voices of youth, and for ausing the arts as a vehicle for awareness and tranformational empowerment. #BlackHistoryMonth #KendrickLamar #NotLikeUs #TheArtsEmpowermentProject

Starting Friday 1/31 until Sunday 2/2 at midnight, Publix Charities is providing a $10k match for the dance pair who raises the most funds via VOTES! Please vote TODAY for????Natalie Allen & Isaac Aoki???? in Dancing With The Starts of Charlotte! ???$1= 1 VOTE ??to vote: gala.charlotteballet.org #TeamSmokinAces ????

?? Only 30 days until the spectacular @cltballet Dancing With The Stars Gala! ?? Join me, Natalie Frazier Allen, as I take the stage with Isaac Aoki on Dancing With The Stars! ??? Together we are not just dancing; we are raising awareness, funding, and opportunities for The Arts Empowerment Project and the children we serve who need it most in our community. Want to make a difference? Vote for us or grab a ticket to see our live performance on March 1st! ??? ??gala.charlotteballet.org Are you in? Drop a ?? in the comments if you believe in the power of the arts! #DancingWithTheStars #CharlotteBallet #clt #theartsempowermentproject #nonprofit #CharlotteEvents

?? Meet Isaac Aoki, a rising star at Charlotte Ballet! Originally from Salt Lake City, he’s been dancing since age three and has an impressive background, including scholarships at top ballet academies. Isaac, like many of our children participating through our programs, first experienced art at a young age, setting the stage for the passions they would pursue later in life. As he shares, “My Dad gave me a hand-me-down Nikon D70 when I was fifteen years old and I’ve been photographing ever since...” Support the star pair and support our mission in providing quality arts programing for the youth we serve in out community. ?? Join @nfrazierallen and @iaokiphoto on March 1st for the live performance on @cltballet Dancing With The Stars Gala. Purchase tickets at gala.charlotteballet.org ?? Credit: Isaac Aoki Visit isaac2ebe.myportfolio.com for more works. #DancingWithTheStars #CharlotteBallet #SupportTheArts #CreativeSpirit #SupportYouth #DanceForChange #nonprofit #gala #nc #clt #theartsempowermentproject #youthempowerment #art #resilience #nonprofit #charlotteevents

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving.” - Martin Luther King Jr. Progress, no matter how small, is vital. Whether we run, walk, or crawl, the important thing is to keep moving forward in the pursuit of justice and equality. Today, we honor his legacy by continuing to take steps towards a brighter future for all. ??National Archives Catalog #together #ittakesavillage #mlkday #clt #nc #theartsempowermentproject #resilience #ifyoucantflyrun