274 A(WEAR)NESS RUNWAY PROJECT DEBUTS FEB. 12 AT MTSU

A(WEAR)NESS RUNWAY PROJECT DEBUTS FEB. 12 AT MTSU
Free Event Features the Meaning of Awareness Ribbons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 8, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina E. Fann, 615-898-5385 or gfann@mtsu.edu

(MURFREESBORO)—MTSU’s June Anderson Women’s Center and the student organization Women in Action are co-sponsoring “The A(wear)ness Runway Project,” a free and open event that combines education, awareness and fashion, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building on the MTSU campus.
The event, which is also part of the university’s Black History Month celebration, is designed to bring awareness of the different colors represented by ribbons for breast cancer, heart disease, domestic violence, sexual assault and AIDS.
“It will give you some real face-to-face visuals of what we have to deal with,” says Gabrielle Williams, co-president of Women in Action.
The group hopes to make more of a connection with individuals by giving each cause an identity. Data and facts have more impact when they are personal, organizers said.
Statistics and prevention methods will be available at the event for issues like breast cancer, AIDS and heart disease that affect people in every demographic, especially African-American women. Many lose their lives because they do not know the warning signs of these diseases.
“This is our way of telling the story for those who can’t,” says Williams, who also is a sophomore electronic media communications major and student employee at the JAWC.
By the end of the night, organizers say they hope to enrich the audience by making them more aware of each cause via a project that shares knowledge in an unconventional setting.
Williams notes that Women in Action deals with many of the same issues as the JAWC. Terri Johnson, director of the JAWC, also serves as advisor for Women in Action.
Women in Action has been inactive recently, and co-sponsoring this first-time event is a way to reintroduce their group to the university, Williams said, adding that she wants everyone to know that “we’re still here.”


IN BRIEF:

MTSU’s June Anderson Women’s Center and the student organization Women in Action are co-sponsoring “The A(wear)ness Runway Project,” a free and open event that combines education, awareness and fashion, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building on the MTSU campus. The event, which is also part of the university’s Black History Month celebration, is designed to bring awareness of the different colors represented by ribbons for breast cancer, heart disease, domestic violence, sexual assault and AIDS.

For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: This release was written by Danielle Harrell, a senior majoring in advertising/public relations at MTSU. We request your use of her byline if you use the release in its entirety.

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