One on One w/ Allyson Felix | July 22, 2018

We are switching up the format with a one-on-one conversation that gives you the opportunity to hear first-hand from those who have made a positive impact within the curl community and have a unique story all their own. It offers the chance to dive a little deeper and get to know the person behind the name - and their backstory - with the hope that you will leave inspired, feel empowered and discover something new. Stories will be shared, experiences told, and then it’s your turn to ask the questions with a Q+A to follow. Our second guest is the uber-talented ALLYSON FELIX.

ABOUT ALLYSON

Allyson Felix was born on November 18, 1985 and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Allyson had a phenomenal prep career breaking Marion Jones’ high school 200-meter record and later went on to set a world record in the under-20 category. She is the first individual to go from high school directly to the professional ranks. Felix emerged as the new American Female sprinter to watch and has never looked back. She is a 4-time Olympian and has won a total of six Olympic Gold Medals. Recently, Allyson won her 16th medal from the IAAF World Championships and became the most decorated athlete in World Championship History. She is also a 4-time Jesse Owens Awards Winner and 2-time Los Angeles Sports Council Sportswoman of the Year (2007, 2009).

Allyson has accomplished a great deal on the track, but still made time to graduate with an elementary education degree from USC, be very involved as an athlete ambassador and board member for Right to Play, and served for 8 years on President Obama’s Fitness, Sport, and Nutrition Council. Allyson is also an avid lover of natural hair and takes pride in wearing her curls. Being a role model for many young girls, she hopes that they can see the beauty in the diversity of their own hair and have a passion for it.

This a FREE event but you must RSVP for entry. There will be light refreshments + give away! Space is limited.

THE TIMELINE

• 3:00pm - 4:00pm - Arrival window, check-in, mingle, grab a snack
• 4:00pm - 4:45pm - One on One with Allyson Felix discussing curls, confidence + career
• 4:45pm - 5:15pm - Q/A + give away 

LOCATION

• CTRL COLLECTIVE | 833 S. Spring St. 4th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014

**PARKING: There are paid parking lots located on either side of CTRL Collective (817 S. Spring + 843 S. Spring). Please note that validation and hosted parking are NOT AVAILABLE at this time.

Arrive early and read street parking signs for a chance to obtain street parking. Parking is free on Sundays.

**ENTRY: Upon arrival, buzz in at the door. Take the elevator to the 4th floor where Ctrl Collective is located. Note: There is both elevator and stair access. Once you exit you will immediately check in at the front desk. CurlTalks will be taking place on the upper level of Ctrl Collective. Please note that due to limited space entry is not guaranteed.

Curls+Comfort | October 26, 2017

CurlTalks is turning one! Woohoo! Can you believe it? It's been ONE FULL YEAR since the very first CurlTalks! We have discussed relevant and important topics surrounding natural hair, have had amazing women share their personal stories, made lasting connections and introduced 3 new formats! I am excited for what 2018 holds and I hope you are too!

Join us! We are wrapping up the year with a chill and informal get together NEXT THURSDAY at COMFORT LA starting at 7:30pm. We will be taking over the ComfortLA Backyard so come through anytime between 7:30-10pm. Grab a plate, a celebratory cupcake, meet new curl friends, chitchat and hang out. If you joined us in January for The Bowl, we may do a mini-version, so come with curl questions!

Interested in the raffle? We will be giving away tickets to AFROLICIOUS HAIR EXPO around 8:30pm! NO RSVP NEEDED. SEE YOU THERE!

The Platform | September 27, 2017

WHAT IS THE PLATFORM? We are switching up the format once again to bring you The Platform. One voice. One stage. One story at a time. Every one has a personal story to tell, or an experience/perspective to share or something inspiring they want others to know that they have learned along their natural hair journey. Each Platform will be tied to a 'curl theme'. There will be 5 ladies given 7 minutes to each share their personal stories on The Platform.

CURL THEME #1: DISCOVERY 

Throughout our natural hair journeys we have all discovered something within ourselves - something we didn’t realized before. Discovery can be transformative and it can also provide life lessons. Maybe we discovered who we really are, discovered a new perspective on the world, how we are perceived by the people around us. Maybe discovery through the journey has opened our eyes to see things in a new way and has shaped our experiences. Join us for the first Platform as these women share their personal stories of discovery.

This a FREE event but you must RSVP for entry. There will be light refreshments + give away! Space is limited.

THE TIMELINE:

• 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Arrival window, check-in, mingle, grab a snack
• 7:30pm - 8:15pm - The Platform (4-5 ladies taking the stage to share personal stories)
• 8:15pm - 9:00pm - Curly Q+A/ Open Discussion

THE LOCATION:

Maker City LA @ The Reef (The Gold Room) // Located at 1933 S Broadway #1148, Los Angeles, CA 90007

• There is ample metered street parking available after 6pm. Parking in the The Reef lot is available for $5 a car. Please note that validation and hosted parking are NOT AVAILABLE at this time. Carpooling is suggested.

OUR STORYTELLERS:

As a Corporate MBA Financial Analyst and Lifestyle Insta-Blogger, Chavanna Chanel has both business acumen paired with a love for lifestyle & beauty. Her mission is to share her experiences and knowledge to make all aspects of lifestyle & beauty both aspirational and attainable. Chavanna has been natural for over 5 years during which she has big chopped twice. Realizing that beauty can also be a beast, she believes it’s always best to keep a simple regimen and minimal amount of products. 

Danielle N. Salmon is a thirty year-young restaurant lover who happily reviews restaurants both locally and internationally. While she has a master’s degree in psychology and has worked for marketing agencies, she wasn’t living out her passion. Spending the majority of her time in restaurants she realized what she wanted to do and as a result she created Follow My Gut, a restaurant discovery website that introduces people to new eateries — as well as some they may have forgotten. Through personal stories alongside vivid photography in each review, Danielle helps people find the best places to eat. Often seen with a growing frohawk and a quirky attitude, Danielle takes her followers into restaurants with her in hopes that they will find favorite eateries along the way. When Danielle isn’t reviewing restaurants she tries to convince herself to go to the gym, but usually opts for ice cream and Sex and the City reruns instead.

Jaqueline Ashley is an educator and nonprofit leadership consultant with a passion for youth development and civic engagement. Her natural hair journey began 5 years ago and since then she has turned her love for natural hair into becoming a natural hair contributor and co-founder of a natural hair meetup group, iSlay Naturals. She uses her platform to educate others on the importance of social change and progression, and inspiring women of color to embrace their natural beauty.

Yvette is an L.A. native; she's an artist, a curly girl advocate, a part-time writer for Mitu and HipLatina, and the Co-founder of Gal.chem.ism, a digital and IRL intersectional platform for WOC. She specializes in consulting, experiential marketing, and tech events for diverse communities. She’s been natural since 2012 and is writing and recording her new experiences with 3A-3C curl care on instagram.

Ericka Taylor is a lover of all things beauty related, her first and primary love however, is the beauty that is naturally curly or textured hair. Over the past 8 years of her personal journey in learning about her own hair texture she also discovered a passion to educate and inspire other women to love, appreciate and care for their own hair. Her love for all things beauty related has motivated her to begin working on personal branding and partner with other groups and organizations who are also geared towards empowering women to love their own "Taylormade beauty". 

Last year, Ericka participated in the 2016 Miss Naturalista USA pageant were she won the title, Ms. California Naturalista USA. In 2016, she also co-founded iSlay Naturals, a natural hair meet up group for naturals based in the Inland Empire and surrounding areas. For the past two years has co hosted the natural hair talk panel at the KJLH Women's Health Expo the and she continues to host and produce several other gatherings and events created to educate, inspire and empower women to embrace their natural hair and natural beauty. Most recently, Ericka is working on building her YouTube channel and increasing her audience on her social media platforms in order to add her personal touch to the natural hair community. 

Ericka is also a natural hair stylist and does personal consulting. 

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

Entry: Upon arrival, you will enter into the building on the lobby level. Take the elevators to the 11th floor. Upon exiting the elevators make a left turn and then a right turn down the hall to the GOLD ROOM. There will be directional signs to help guide you.

Curls + The Workplace | July 27, 2017

I think we can all agree that natural hair is here to stay. In the workplace however, natural hair isn’t always accepted. Ever heard the idea that natural hair is “unprofessional”? Ever battled with the notion to just conform to existing workplace standards? Or have you ever been on the receiving end of workplace commentary from your employer or coworkers about your hair? Not all of us have been in these situations. Some of us have had positive experiences, which is progress, but for others of us why does this still come up as an issue? Clearly natural hair in the workplace is still a hot topic and one that has yet to fully be embraced across the board.

We'll hear from an AMAZING panel of ladies as they join us for a chat to discuss curls + the workplace. They will share their personal experiences, perspectives, backgrounds and expert knowledge on the topic. Ever wonder what rights you have when it comes to your natural hair in the workplace? You’ll find out.

Come connect, meet new curl friends, get inspired and join in on the conversation!

This a FREE event but you must RSVP for entry. There will be light refreshments + give away! Space is limited.

THE TIMELINE

• 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Arrival window, check-in, mingle
• 7:30pm - 8:30pm - Panel Discussion
• 8:30pm - 9:00pm - Curly Q+A

LOCATION

• CTRL COLLECTIVE | 33 S. Spring St. 4th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014 (Additional details at the bottom)

OUR PANEL

BROOK SITGRAVES | Raised on the mean streets of Cleveland, OH and an NCAA athlete at UC Berkeley, Brook traded in her spikes and love of photo finishes, discovering a new, but equally rewarding passion for writing and producing. Her short film, "Firefly," was selected as a part of Film Independent's 2015-2016 Project Involve Fellowship. She is a producer on documentaries: One Day I Too Go Fly and Naija Beta and she produces and co-hosts a podcast, Short & Sweet. Happily in year two of her natural hair journey, she's still baffled at the amount of time and conditioner required. She swears there've been rumors of a "wash'n'go," but she'll believe it when she sees it.

Twitter | Instagram-Podcast | Instagram

DR. VALYNCIA C. RAPHAEL, J.D. is the Director of Diversity, Compliance, and Title IX Coordinator at the Cerritos Community College District in Norwalk, California. There, she coordinates the College’s comprehensive equity, diversity, inclusion initiatives for over 23,000 employees and students. She also leads the College’s prevention of and response to gender and sex based discrimination, which includes responses to sexual harassment, stalking, sexual assault, and dating/domestic violence. Prior to this role, Dr. Raphael spent over a decade in Madison, WI where she played softball at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and earned her undergraduate, law, and doctorate degrees. Her PhD is in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, with research interests in equity issues in intercollegiate athletics. Earning dissertation of the year in her program, Dr. Raphael used intersectionality and critical qualitative methods to study the identity development and experiences of Black women competing in country club intercollegiate sports at a predominantly white institution. The study, titled Expanding the Single Story: Black Female Athletes Playing Country Club Sports at a NCAA Division I Predominantly White Institution, found 7 key findings. Most notably, all of the study participants, shared personal reflections of how their hair is tightly bound with their identity, and enabled deep reflection of the trials and triumphs of their sport and educational experiences. 

Dr. Raphael is a curly 3c natural since birth, except for an unfortunate texturizer mistake in law school. She is the oldest of four children, a proud US-born Trini and resides in Long Beach with her brother Glen and fiance Alex. 

Twitter

TRACY SANDERS is an attorney, author, and speaker in Los Angeles, California. She earned a Juris Doctor degree at the Syracuse University College of Law in 2002, Master of Public Administration degree at the University of South Carolina in 1998, and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree at the University of South Carolina in 1995. Tracy enjoys yoga, traveling, and community service.

She is particularly interested in community service initiatives to help young people achieve their education and career goals. Tracy has made TV appearances on networks such as ABC, FOX, MSNBC, WE, and TLC.

LinkedIn | Website

CODIE ELAINE OLIVER is a wife, mom, and filmmaker. She is the director and co-creator of the upcoming docuseries Black Love (@BlackLoveDoc). Codie's a proud graduate of Howard University and the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. Codie's curly hair journey began in college after having relaxers all her life and it was still a decade until she truly had the confidence to fully own being a curly girl. That meant that her curls weren't just for parties or vacation, but she remembers the day she consciously wore her hair natural at a new job. She hasn't looked back.

Instagram

ADDITION DETAILS

• **PARKING: There are paid parking lots located on either side of CTRL Collective (817 S. Spring + 843 S. Spring). Please note that validation and hosted parking are NOT AVAILABLE at this time.

  Arrive early and read street parking signs for a chance to obtain street parking (free after 4 PM on weekdays).

  **ENTRY: Upon arrival, you will be buzzed it and will immediately check-in on the lobby level. Ctrl Collective is location on the 4th floor. There is both elevator and stair access. CurlTalks will be taking place on the upper level of Ctrl Collective (pictured above)

One on One w/ Felicia Leatherwood | May 21, 2017

We are switching up the format with a one-on-one conversation that gives you the opportunity to hear first-hand from those who have made a positive impact within the curl community and have a unique story all their own. It offers the chance to dive a little deeper and get to know the person behind the name - and their backstory - with the hope that you will leave inspired, feel empowered and discover something new. Stories will be shared, experiences told, and then it’s your turn to ask the questions with a Q+A to follow. Our first guest is the uber-talented Felicia Leatherwood.

ABOUT

With over 26 years of experience, Felicia Leatherwood is the world’s leading celebrity stylist and inspirational beauty speaker in regard to natural hair. She conducts hair care workshops for audiences around the globe under the brand and slogan “Loving Your Hair with Natural Care”. The Loving Your Hair brand of workshops is in response to the thousands (literally) of questions received from people desperate for answers about their tresses. Felicia’s solutions and work have garnered her the “Hair Whisperer” title, as she is known for miraculously restoring health, beauty and vitality to her clientele’s hair. Leatherwood’s styles have been featured on such high profile acts as Oscar Award nominees Viola Davis (actress) and Ava Duvernay (“Selma” director), megastar Will Smith, Grammy winner/R&B superstar Jill Scott, “Iron Man”/”Empire” star Terrence Howard, “Mad Men” star Teyonah Parris, “Black-ish” star Anthony Anderson, “The Color Purple” composer and Grammy/Tony Award nominee Brenda Russell, Maybelline supermodel Tomiko Fraser, actresses Nicole Ari Parker, Kim Coles and Kimberly Elise as well as a host of entertainment executives, rising stars and beauty entrepreneurs. Her magazine cover and editorial spread exposure include Vogue, Variety, Essence, Elle, Ebony and more.

Her candid delivery has made Felicia an audience favorite among today’s leading hair experts and speakers. Whether online, on FOX’s hit show “The Real” or in person, Leatherwood’s message is rooted in the idea of holistic health and fundamentally loving yourself --- a true inside out approach to hair care. It is from these experiences that the idea of a specialized hair solution began to form.

THE TIMELINE

• 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Arrival window, check-in, mingle, grab a snack
• 5:00pm - 6:00pm - One on one with Felicia
• 6:00pm - 6:30pm - Q+A

LOCATION

• CTRL COLLECTIVE | 833 S. Spring St. 4th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014

**PARKING: There are paid parking lots located on either side of CTRL Collective (817 S. Spring + 843 S. Spring). Please note that validation and hosted parking are NOT AVAILABLE at this time.

Arrive early and read street parking signs for a chance to obtain street parking. Parking is free on Sundays.

**ENTRY: Upon arrival, buzz in at the door. Take the elevator to the 4th floor where Ctrl Collective is located. Note: There is both elevator and stair access. Once you exit you will immediately check in at the front desk. CurlTalks will be taking place on the upper level of Ctrl Collective.

Curls + The Journey | March 29, 2017

Throughout each of our natural hair journeys we have all experienced the highs and the lows. Some of us transitioned from relaxed to natural cutting off our straight strands little by little and some of us did the 'big chop.' Whatever the journey to rediscovering our natural curls, one thing we all have in common is our own unique paths, the stories that come along with it and the renewed self-discovery. Through our various experiences and interactions along our journey comes the emotional and social aspect and finding within us what those experiences really mean. We may ask ourselves - Did I make the right decision? Should I just go back to relaxed? What will by friends and family think of my natural hair? I just can't figure out what to do with it? What do I do next? Will I be able to fully embrace this new path? Join us for a panel discussion and Q+A moderated by CurlTalks founder, Brittany Dixon as we dig a little deeper and explore Curls + The Journey.

We'll hear from this AMAZING panel of ladies as they join us for a chat to discuss how through their personal experiences, perspectives and backgrounds they have been able to stay the course along their individual journeys. Come connect, meet new curl friends, get inspired and join in on the conversation! 

This a FREE event but you must RSVP for entry. There will be light refreshments + give away! Space is limited.

THE TIMELINE

• 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Arrival window, check-in, mingle
• 7:30pm - 8:30pm - Panel Discussion
• 8:30pm - 9:00pm - Curly Q+A

LOCATION

• CTRL COLLECTIVE | 33 S. Spring St. 4th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014

**PARKING: There are paid parking lots located on either side of CTRL Collective (817 S. Spring + 843 S. Spring). Please note that validation and hosted parking are NOT AVAILABLE at this time.

Arrive early and read street parking signs for a chance to obtain street parking (free after 4 PM on weekdays).

**ENTRY: Upon arrival, you will be buzzed it and will immediately check-in on the lobby level. Ctrl Collective is location on the 4th floor. There is both elevator and stair access. CurlTalks will be taking place on the upper level of Ctrl Collective (pictured above)

OUR CURLY GIRL PANEL

Taryana Gilbeau is a Los Angeles native who "technically" has always been natural but has straightened her hair since she was 5-years-old which had fried her curls straight. After graduating college, Taryana wanted a fresh start in life after experiencing self-doubt and confusion about what life after college would look like and the big chop was her first step. After contemplating the big chop for less than 24 hours, she walked down the street until she found a barber who was free to cut her hair and her natural journey began. Taryana founded Tees by T, a clothing line inspired by her love of travel and her signature afro. After traveling throughout Asia she saw how her curls activated dialogue with locals and wanted to promote more cross-culture communication throughout the world. She hopes to inspire more people to travel and eventually use Tees by T to sponsor kids from low-income areas to travel the world. Taryana is passionate about community outreach and loves to dance with her team, Roxstarz dance crew.

Website | Instagram | Twitter

Rachael Joseph co-authors on the blog La Rachelle and is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist from Toronto, Canada. She enjoys writing, attending food festivals, and anything that has to do with “Bob’s Burgers." Her natural hair journey never followed a straight path, but the experience was a means to an end revealing self-love, confidence, and creativity in the process. Navigating spaces while wearing natural hair is one of the defining moments of her journey. Rachael hopes that by sharing her story and experience, she encourages more naturals to learn to love their hair.

Blog | Instagram | Twitter

LaShon Renee transitioned from relaxed to natural hair in 2009 and has never looked back! Her blog, For the Love of Curls, showcases how she and other naturals celebrate life from a curly girl's perspective. When she's not blogging she's a full-time entrepreneur who enjoys a good meal, travel, seeking new adventures, and any reality tv show about food or fashion.

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Growing up in New York City, Kissa Starr developed a passion for fashion and individuality at a young age and always knew she would one day make a living pursuing her love as her own boss. Her dream manifested when she launched her company Buttafly Unlimited in 2000, a collection of inspiring tees and accessories. Buttafly Unlimited's most recognized statement tee "I Love My Hair" , which was inspired by her experience with her grandmother when she did the big chop at 20 years old, has been seen on celebrities like Alicia Keys, sold in boutiques and museum gift shops in New York, London, Atlanta, Brazil and Japan; and collaborated with natural hair care brands such as Carol's Daughter and Eden BodyWorks.

Instagram | Facebook

CurlTalks • The Bowl | Jan. 31, 2016

Happy New Year! To kick off the first CurlTalks of 2017 we are switching up the format and going to start things off with YOU in the driver seat! Drop a question in The Bowl and join us for a night of open discussion on a variety of topics surrounding our naturally curly hair. Since the q + a/conversation portion of each CurlTalks ends up being so informative, inspiring and insightful, anyone who attends will have the opportunity to be a part of the conversation from the start. If joining into the conversation isn't necessarily your thing, come anyway to listen to what is being shared! 

Come connect, meet some new curl friends and leave inspired!

How it works:

• When you arrive, drop a 'curl question' in 'the bowl' that you would like the opportunity to discuss. Questions can be on anything from hair tips, regimens, curl journeys, personal experiences, social issues surrounding curly hair etc.
• Questions will be pulled from the bowl, read allowed and the discussion will begin!
• To keep things moving, CurlTalks Founder, Brittany Dixon will moderate the discussion so we can get in as many questions as possible that evening!

This a FREE event but you must RSVP for entry. There will be light refreshments + give away! Space is limited.

The timeline:

• 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Arrival window, check-in, submit questions, mingle + grab a snack
• 7:30pm - 9:00pm - 'The Bowl' open discussion

The location:

Super Future Studios is located at 1646 North Spring St. Suite A, Los Angeles (DTLA), CA 90012

• There is ample unrestricted street parking available on either side of Barker Street. 
• The Main entrance is location on North Spring St. Look for the red door with the sign above that reads Kolor Boutique

Curls + The Standard of Beauty | Nov. 30, 2016

There clearly seems to be a standard of beauty in today’s society as seen through the media and in our day-to-day lives. Is this standard beginning to diminish? Do we still have work to do? Is there a new beauty standard beginning to take form inclusive of natural hair? Join us for a panel discussion and Q+A moderated by CurlTalks founder, Brittany Dixon as we discuss and explore CURLS + THE STANDARD OF BEAUTY. We'll hear from an AMAZING panel of ladies as they join us for a chat on what is means to be a curly girl in today’s society and how through their personal experiences, perspectives, backgrounds and professional platforms have been able to challenge that standard. Come join in on the conversation!

This a FREE event but you must RSVP for entry. There will be light refreshments.

THE TIMELINE

• 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Arrival window, check-in, mingle
• 7:30pm - 8:30pm - Panel Discussion
• 8:30pm - 9:00pm - Curly Q+A  

LOCATION

• THE SOCIAL @ SHARK PIG | 3191 Casitas Ave. Suite 154, Los Angeles, CA 90039

**There is street parking available on Casitas Ave. Parking also available in the main lot.**

OUR CURLY GIRL PANEL

Chelsea Johnson is a doctoral candidate in sociology and gender studies at the University of Southern California. As a sociologist of the body, her research explores how race, class, and gender shape the politics of style. Chelsea's natural hair journey began as an undergraduate at Spelman College, where she was confronted with conflicting understandings of black feminism and what black women should look like to survive “out there.”  This experience inspired her dissertation, which focuses on the natural hair movement as a challenge to Eurocentric standards for appearance across the African Diaspora. She has now traveled across the United States, Spain, France, The Netherlands, and South Africa collecting Black women’s hair stories. 

Website | Instagram

Charlese Antoinette is a costume designer and stylist who lives and works between New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans. She is a multifaceted designer specializing in costume design,  jewelry design, and wardrobe styling. She was born and raised in the suburbs of D.C., educated in fashion in the "illadelph" city of brotherly love and has travelled as far as Tokyo for inspiration. Her work is influenced by endless people watching, her love for the energy of New York City, the natural landscape of Los Angeles, art, architecture, her travels, cultural fashion trends and a never ending pursuit of happiness. Charlese's mother was a hairstylist and relaxed her hair when she was 5 years old. She went natural in college mostly due to not being able to afford getting her hair done on a regular basis. After going natural she realized her hair was really curly and coily and decided to keep it natural and get to know the hair she never knew.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

After being inspired to learn and have the courage to wear her kinky hair from online videos, Chelsea Hampton decided to share her findings and experience to help encourage others. Going from being “relaxed” her whole life to wearing her hair “as is” has helped with a personal growth journey in self-love and self-confidence that she didn’t even realize was needed. Sharing her routine and tips for better hair care so that there’s more information available to others has grown as a passion to encourage the beauty in self-acceptance in the kinky/curly hair community.

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Sola Bamishigbin is a Los Angeles-based actress in television, film, and theatre, voiceover artist, and writer. She appeared in recurring roles as Shirley on the final season of AMC's Emmy Award-Winning series Mad Men, and as Ayo on Stitchers on ABC Family. Other credits include Killer Women and Mistresses on ABC, Perception on TNT, Jane By Design on ABC Family, various commercials, and video games. 

Sola's theatre credits include Genevieve in Office Hour at South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, Pecola Breedlove in The Bluest Eye at the Miles Memorial Playhouse, for which she received an NAACP Theatre Award nomination for Best Lead Actress, Gail in the Robey Theatre Company’s production of The River Niger, Ariel in The Tempest (Santa Monica Rep) and other productions and readings in Los Angeles, at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore.

She got her first big chop 10 years ago, and hasn't regretted a moment of her natural hair journey yet.

Website | Instagram 

Curls, Coils + Confidence | October 26, 2016

We all haven't always had confidence when it comes to our natural curls but through our own experiences have learned to embrace them! Join us for a panel discussion and Q+A moderated by CurlTalks founder, Brittany Dixon as we discuss CURLS, COILS + CONFIDENCE. In today's society, the idea of natural hair still seems to be a 'hot topic' of discussion. We'll hear from a wonderful panel of ladies as they join us for a chat on what is means to be a curly girl and how through their personal experiences and perspectives had the CONFIDENCE to rock their natural curls and coils. Join in on the conversation.

This a FREE event but you must RSVP for entry. Light refreshments will be provided.

THE TIMELINE

• 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Arrival, check-in, mingle
• 7:30pm - 8:30pm - Panel Discussion
• 8:30pm - 9:00pm - Curly Q+A  

LOCATION

• ANNOUNCEMENT LA | 1499 E 4th Street, Suite 107, Los Angeles, California 90033

OUR CURLY GIRL PANEL

Creator, Keziah Okonkwo, was inspired to create a versatile, hair-friendly accessory to support her natural hair styles but much more a hair tie that would not damage her hair when using it. Between the standard bun for the gym, afros and up-dos for auditions, Keziah had only wished a hair accessory existed to transform her hair throughout the day. Thus, the SNAPPEE, Snap-Off Hair Tie was born!

Zahida Sherman is a black culture enthusiast and diversity and inclusion professional from Seattle, Washington who has been a featured on forharriet.com and blackmillenials.com. When she’s not at work, she's either watching reality TV, working out, or reading her favorite blogs. She has had her hair pressed, relaxed, blown out, big chopped, twisted out, braided out, teeny weeny afro'd, and has even worn extensions. But never a Jheri Curl. She's working on creating natural hair homemade treatments and is currently obsessed with avocado oil.

Evita M. Castine is a Director/Actor/Photographer from Naperville, IL she has won numerous awards for her work from film festivals and the industry at large. Her photo exhibit Mes Potos featuring Afro-Parisian creative has been featured in the phantom galleries in Los Angeles. As an image activist she is passionate about combating colorism and western notions of beauty creating images that feature women of the African Diaspora through her series “Cocky Fresh.” As a child, she asked her mother to shave off her hair, but when she refused, it sent her on a journey to understanding her hair leading her through a murky forest of socio political politics, generations of family dynamics, ferocious self acceptance and a passion to illuminate the raw authentic beauty of the African Diaspora.

Sarah ‘Duckie’ Mallard is a graphic designer and photographer by trade and is now the Founder and Creative Director of Duckie Brand Clothing. She is a California native but has lived all over the country and overseas which allows her to relate to all walks of life. Sarah’s hair is a reflection of her lifestyle and personality. It is colorful and dynamic, which is reminiscent of her clothing brand. She is adaptable to change and her style is attributed to her Northern Californian sensibility. Her hair styles allow her to go with the flow, sometimes it’s curly, sometimes it’s straight but its always a reflection of her authentic sense of self.