Merging the Rainbow Fashion Show puts youth front and center with a focus on pride and self-acceptance

Louisville, KY – On Saturday, March 28, 2020, join the young people of Louisville Youth Group (LYG) and artists from IDEAS xLab’s Our Emotional Wellbeing for Merging the Rainbow, a Fashion Show at Unity of Louisville at 2pm.  

The Fashion Show was created through a collaboration between the artists and young people starting in 2019, designed to embody self-acceptance, confidence, pride, originality, and peace – focus areas selected by the youth.  

“I had no self-confidence before this – but being in a fashion show is giving me a chance to accept my body as it is,” said Eden, a participant at Louisville Youth Group. “We’re finally stating our presence, and it feels really liberating.” 

“We’re excited to be part of something in the community, showing that we are here,” shared Eden’s sibling, Ezra. “Collaborating with the artists has been great, I’ve gotten to show my skills as a writer, to people I wouldn’t normally show.”  

The Fashion Show is part of Our Emotional Wellbeing, a two-year initiative designed to measurably impact the hope and belonging of 12-20-year-olds through an arts-based collaboration.  

“We look forward to showing the city what LYG has to offer, how we turned our pain into our power through art and collaboration,” said Our Emotional Wellbeing artists Talesha “Tala” Wilson and Jasemine “Jazzy J” Reed. 

 “So far, we’ve engaged over 90 young people through our collaboration with Louisville Youth Group and two after-school programs at Meyzeek Middle School through Our Emotional Wellbeing,” said Josh Miller, co-founder + CEO of IDEAS xLab. “Following the creation of the iMovie (at Meyzeek, premiering April 9) and the Fashion Show, we’ll collaborate to develop a Belonging Through Creative Arts Playbook that condenses our learnings into a replicable approach, that will be released at the Youth Wellbeing Summit in Fall, 2020.” 

Supporters of Our Emotional Wellbeing include Sutherland Foundation, Brown-Forman, the Kentucky Civic Engagement Table, Gheens Foundation, an Arts Fund Grant from Louisville Metro Government, and media sponsor The Voice of Louisville. Additional support for the Fashion Show from Target and Butchertown Grocery Bakery.  

“It’s been a joy working with and learning from IDEAS xLab and the collaborating artists,” said Carter Hatchett of Louisville Youth Group. “I’ve noticed a shift in the youth when it comes to self-esteem, leadership and confidence in themselves. This is much bigger than a fashion show and has had a life-changing impact on the youth.” 

Learn more about Our Emotional Wellbeing and the Merging the Rainbow Fashion Show: ideasxlab.com/oew