Sunday, September 22, 2024
The excitement was building! The expectations were growing! Our hearts were pounding!
It was time for the much anticipated and long-awaited Laik Experience’s dazzling Emerald Green Gala!
This year’s theme was “Take Flight,” it sought to empower young girls by promoting self-esteem, community service, kindness, environmental awareness, and authenticity.
Imagine an assembly of beautiful women all adorned in stunning green dresses. Why green? Green symbolizes balance, renewal, growth, harmony, peace, and freshness. These words express the incredible positivity that surrounds this annual event.
Lights, camera, action! It’s Gala Time! It is time to highlight women’s many contributions to bringing positive change and spreading hope nationwide.
The energy was too high to measure as you entered the Orchard Ballroom of the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort. How can so much upbeat energy be gathered in one place simultaneously? It may not happen often, but the Emerald Green attendees took full advantage of it. Music swirled around us as seating began, each finding our word. (Earlier in the year, all Gala participants were asked to carefully think about a word that would represent how we would take flight and leave all our fears, worries, and hesitations behind. Our word was supposed to reflect our goals and what we hoped to achieve in life).
We sat at tables with encouraging messages purposely positioned as our pensive words added a special touch.
We were welcomed by our Gala host, LaShanda Pitts, who reminded us how hard it is to have a bright future when you’re focused on the past. The rear-view mirror is called that for a reason. That’s why it’s small. Constantly looking back at what is behind you is not the way to make a path forward. Packing the baggage of the past and repacking it repeatedly will not put you on the road to freedom and success. Looking ahead is so much better than looking at and focusing on what we’ve already been through. Reflect, but don’t dwell. You can’t keep looking back if you want to move ahead. LaShanda sincerely asked us to move forward!! She reminded us to stay encouraged, even though we may not be at our best, and to celebrate the small successes in life. They do count!!
We were swooned by fantastic entertainment, including sensational DJ Purple Lettuce from Los Angeles, California. Her passionate music had us swaying our feet and moving to the beat. Comedian Courtney Haynes got us started with the laughs. She has appeared at the Flappers Comedy Club with Jay Leno and has been on stage with DL Hughley and friends. Courtney brought that same “over the top” energy to the Gala. The ultimate R&B band, Monique Renee and Friends, had us dancing to the music and not wanting to leave the dance floor. The hits just kept on coming…old and new!! The atmosphere was electric!
We enjoyed a fabulously elegant buffet that was indeed a dining experience. The buffet offered an unlimited mix of traditional and deliciously healthy foods, and we indulged in a lavish feast that went beyond anything we could have imagined.
Now, did someone say limitless mimosas!! Yes, they did, and we had them! This magical elixir was just what we needed to help keep the atmosphere lively and upbeat.
Artist Mary Thomas showed off her creativity with a live painting of the Emerald Green Gala experience. This enhanced the ambiance of our event and left us in awe. Live painting provided visual appeal and captured the essence of this special celebration. The grand finale of this remarkable live painting session was noteworthy. Carolyn Dixon, Laik Experience Founder’s mother, was beautifully honored on canvas, and after presenting the portrait, Mary and our Gala host/Laik Experience Founder, LaShanda Pitts, told us of the plans to hang this splendid painting in a California art Museum.
Gala honorees received awards for their service and commitment to the community. Our honorees included these fantastic women:
Classy Living Award recipients…
*Carrie Madrid is the founder and president of The CARE Project, Inc., a Riverside-based nonprofit, Certified End of Life CareDoula, Podcast Host, Author, Senior Conference Coordinator, and Breast Cancer survivor.
*Carolyn Dixon—Pastor, long-time philanthropist, adoring wife, and supportive mother.
*Vickie Lobo – CEO and Founder of Knock Knock Angels, wife, committed mother, proud grandmother, full-time realtor, and cancer survivor.
Access Taken Award recipients…
*Vanessa Parker is the CEO of Divas in Defense, an innovative entrepreneur, a Balsam International partner (Kuwait), a devoted wife, and a fantastic mother.
*Teia Acker Moore, owner of Resilient Magazine, is the founder and CEO of her consulting firm. She is a dynamic entrepreneur, speaker, and passionate author.
Keep Going Award recipients…
*Dawn Sneed- President of the Lady Chapter of Melanated Masters Golf Club, Black Women Golf California member, collaborator with Progressive Parenting, Founder of Naturally Equipped, account manager, and marketing expert.
*Rheina Ale – Head Basketball Coach at Bishop Montgomery High School (Torrance, CA), varsity standout for the Lady Knights (Del Rey League MVP and CIF selection), Female Athlete of the Year (senior), and All-WCC performer and starter for the Dons (San Francisco).
*Alia Thompson – a staunch healthcare professional(pharmacist), caring wife, loving mother, avid volunteer, and a dedicated giver to the community.
Our honorees engaged, inspired, and helped elevate us to where we knew we had a purpose and a plan for our future.
Vanessa Parker was the keynote speaker for the afternoon. Everyone embraced our #takeflight theme, and Vanessa reminded us how important it is to stay focused on our goals. We were “Ready for Take Off.”
She delivered great takeaways.
*Be clear on your destination
*Invest in your journey
*Find your gate
*Make sure you have the right team on board
*Clear the runway
*Focus forward
After hearing her message, we were all ready to take flight!
We listened to a beautiful tribute to our Classy Living Award recipient, Carolyn Dixon (mother of LaShanda Pitts – Gala host and founder of Laik Experiences.)
Carolyn stressed the importance of giving back to the community. When LaShanda was young, Carolyn made a significant decision. For Christmas, she decided that they would support a family in need, both financially and spiritually. Food and clothing would be provided, and LaShanda and her family’s generosity and acts of selfless kindness expressed their belief that December 25th was a day to spread much-needed love and aid those less fortunate. LaShanda continues this heartfelt tradition to this day. Carolyn Dixon taught her always to put others first and ensure she had an unwavering sense of community. LaShanda credits her mother for being able to create organizations like Classy Living Society, Laik Experiences, and other philanthropic endeavors. At an early age, LaShanda was taught what being part of something bigger than yourself means.
After an enchanting afternoon of exciting selfie challenges, welcomed hugs, enormous smiles, delectable food, silky mimosas, fabulous backdrops, and so much more, we were full…full of energy, full of a renewed pledge to make a positive impact in our communities, and full of a desire to reset our goals and objectives.
Please support our beautiful Sponsors here: The Emerald Green Dress Gala – LoveLaik
Written by Avis Pitts
