Second Annual PositiviTEA benefitting Legacy's Grace Project

Legacy Counseling Center once again is teaming up with El Centro College’s distinguished Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing programs to present the second annual PositiviTEA, an afternoon tea and fashion show celebrating the special talents and gifts of the Grace Project women who are living with HIV and AIDS. Showcasing the new 2014 Pantone color of the year, "radiant orchid," this year's PositiviTEA features an exciting spring fashion show with clothing from Devine Occasions (http://www.devineoccasions.net/), a Dallas-based online fashion boutique specializing in chic ladies apparel such as church suits and embellished dresses. The fashion show also features several gowns from Dallas designer and El Centro alum Edgar Gomez, a Venezuelan born designer of custom luxurious evening wear. "Fashion provides an amazing way to drive new energy into all of our lives," said El Centro College fashion marketing program coordinator Marilyn Sullivan. "By helping produce PositiviTEA, our El Centro students are learning firsthand how they can positively influence the lives of others here in Dallas and around the world while gaining understanding about the fashion industry and its impact on society." PositiviTEA table sponsors will also receive a couture fitting with Dallas fashion designer Nicolas Villalba for a one-of-a-kind male or female custom shirt made from a personal choice of luxury fabrics. The sponsorship includes one-on-one consultation, one original shirt design, and a shirt fitting with a gourmet picnic at the studio once the piece is complete. Phil Krampetz and Kyle Stewart of The Cultured Cup (http://www.theculturedcup.com/) return to PositiviTEA to provide a special selection of unique teas. This year's event moves to Royal Sixty, a new restaurant by Wendy Krispinin in the Dallas Design District's International Design Center, featuring a French Colonial-inspired menu ranging from Crepes to Vietnamese Salad to Chocolate Pot du Creme. The Grace Project (http://www.legacygraceproject.org/) provides mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and health education for HIV-positive women. The program also hosts the annual Grace Project HIV+ Women's National Conference, a one-of-a-kind three-day event exclusively for HIV-positive geared towards personal growth, empowerment, connection, and inspiration. The conference includes discussion groups, workshops from health care professionals, team-building challenges and many other unique activities. "There are over 4,000 women in the North Texas area who are HIV-positive," said Melissa Grove, executive director of Legacy Counseling. "The Grace Project provides a unique opportunity once a year for women from not only here in Dallas but around the country to meet, develop friendships and learn more about their disease. Most importantly though, they begin to understand that they are not alone and that there is hope." Celebrating its 45th anniversary, El Centro College (http://www.elcentrocollege.edu) is located in the heart of downtown Dallas and is a vibrant, urban community college that is fully committed to a seamless educational process and life-long learning. The Fashion Marketing program at El Centro College is a nationally renowned vocational education curriculum that specializes in the business side of fashion – combining modern business principles with ambition, creativity, and enthusiasm. Contact Melissa Grove (214) 520-6308, ext. 302 ***@legacycounseling.org