3rd NATURAL HAIR PARADE & FESTIVAL CELEBRATES WOMEN, YOUTH AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

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3rd ANNUAL NATURALLY ISIS NATURAL HAIR PARADE & FESTIVAL CELEBRATES WOMEN, ed YOUTH AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: ERYKAH BADU TO GRAND MARSHALL

Dallas, TX (September 4, 2013) – Recent trends to natural hairstyles, a sluggish recovery from the Great Recession and growing awareness about the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses are creating a potent environment for the 2013 Naturally Isis Natural Hair Parade and Festival in Dallas, Texas. The weekend of events opens on Friday, September 6th at 4:00PM with a Press Conference at Eden Lounge, located at 2911 Main Street in Deep Ellum.

On Saturday, Neo Soul artist Erykah Badu will serve as Grand Marshall of the Natural Hair Parade beginning at the corner of Lamar Ave and Forest Ave/M.L.K. and concluding at the U.S. Post Office on Grand Avenue. Ms. Badu will be joined by other supporters, celebrities and partners such as Yarbrough and Peoples, the City of Dallas, political activist and Dallas City Councilman Mr. Dwaine Caraway, Radio One stations 97.9 The Beat & 94.5 Soul, The Deep Ellum Foundation, acclaimed actress Ms. Irma P. Hall, and many more. The Naturally Isis Natural Hair Festival kicks off at 1:30 pm at The Pan African Connection, concluding at 7:00 p.m. The theme of this year’s festival is “The Empowerment of Women Globally”.

Naturally Isis – 2013 Natural Hair Parade & Festival from DigiBees on Vimeo.

Oprah Winfrey sports a huge 3.5 pound Afro wig on the cover of the September issue of O Magazine with the title “Let’s Talk About Hair”. That’s included in the mission of the parade and festival weekend as it raises awareness of the African beauty standards and ethnic aesthetic.

Isis Brantley, founder of The Isis Project and Spiritual Sister of Empress Erykah Badu, states “The purpose of the weekend’s event is to serve as a platform for community healing, economic empowerment and to develop an avenue to usher in love, peace and unification within the community”. The “Empowerment of Youth” is a key element.

Part of the proceeds from Saturday Evenings “A Party Under the Stars” will benefit the Lewis & Woods Scholarship fund for the training of young people in the natural hair care industry. With a 42% unemployment rate, highest of any statistical group, African American youth urgently need a viable and attainable vocation which will afford them an improved quality of life.

The Isis Project’s overall purpose is community development, natural hair education and to cultivate the labor of love for natural hair. The number of Black women who claim that they don’t use chemical relaxers or strengtheners has risen steadily since 2010. At the same time, sales of relaxers have dropped by upwards of 17% over the last five years according to research from Mintel. Hair can be a touchy subject for Black women.

Recently comedienne Sheryl Underwood has come under fire on social media for remarks about “nappy” hair on her CBS show, The Talk. On a repeat episode that aired on Aug. 30, she blasted “Afro” and ‘nappy” during a discussion with Heidi Klum. When the ex-wife of Seal said that she is saving their children’s hair Underwood responded with “Why would you save Afro hair?”. To raucous laughter from the audience she continued by saying that the hair of the children of co-host Sarah Gilbert’s (who is White) was “probably some beautiful, long, silky stuff”. The outrage from thousands of respondents on Twitter, blogs, and Black talk radio has continued to escalate and Underwood has been left trying to explain her remarks.

The 3rd Annual Naturally Isis Natural Hair Parade and Festival is a celebration for all to attend. The organizers are calling out for families, children of all ages, different cultures, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, vendors, bloggers, churches, bands, sororities, fraternities, and media outlets to join in and experience the celebration and share the knowledge. To learn more visit the website at www.naturallyisis.com

ABOUT Isis “Naturally Isis” Brantley: Long before the idea of a natural hair parade and festival came into fruition, Isis believed that people of African descent should celebrate the beauty of black hair in America (freely and openly), and by so doing, raise the conscious awareness of African beauty standards worldwide. Isis Brantley is known throughout the beauty industry as an advocate for the revitalization and proper caretaking of natural hair for people of color. As a custodian and patron of cultural beauty and awareness, Isis has served as a staple within the African Diaspora community for more than 30 years. Seen often as a revolutionary and iconic figure, Isis is known largely throughout the state of Texas as a result of her 1997 arrest for braiding hair without a license. By using the struggle to fuel her dreams, Isis started the Naturally Isis Institute of Ancestral Braiding and actively fought the Texas judicial system until 2007 when she was grandfathered. Now as a licensed ancestral braider, Isis uses her expertise to teach individuals, across the globe, the art of braiding, as well as the management and maintenance of natural hair. Isis is passionate about developing self-awareness in African American women and girls and works tirelessly to advance the knowledge and acceptance of natural hair as well as promote healthy lifestyle habits within the community.

For vendor, and sponsorship/partnership opportunities for the 2013 parade contact: isisprojectsponsorship@yahoo.com or phone: (214) 329-3820

Media Inquiries

Norm Bond at NORMBOND & Associates

e: norm@normbond.com

p: (215) 796-0206

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