I am sure there is a Seinfeld episode about this.  A solo woman walks into an art gallery wearing multiple layers of clothing carrying a huge backpack and two bags of items she bought along the way.  She proceeded to meet and mingle at the event.  Who is that woman?  Yes, that was me last night.  No, I was not treated that way.  I was welcomed and treated like an old friend.  I did check my coats and items at the coat check.  

This is what happens when you meet great people who tell you about fabulous events in New York.  My friend, Bo, is from North Carolina.  He is a dancer with the Heidi Latsky Dance Company.  Yes, I meet the coolest people.  He’s young, adorable and he understands when I wear my pearls with my workout clothes.  He’s a southerner.  He gets it when I say, “Shit.  Bless my heart.  Forgive me.  I have an awful mouth.” He told me about this event where he was performing, and he thought I would enjoy it.  The affair was several events wrapped into one.  You know when you are watching TV or a movie, and you see a scene set in a cool art space in New York City, and you wish you could be there. That’s where I was last night.  In a cool art space with kind cool people being beautiful and diverse.  And, celebrating it.  

I would not have made it in the door without the inviting energy of Lucho La Torre.  Not only is his spirit kind and welcoming, but he is also drop dead gorgeous.  I was about 15 minutes early, and he personally ushered me in and introduced me to people.  Lucho is a friend of the founder of Positive Exposure, Rick Guidotti, and his partner, Herb.  Herb is from the north, but he is a University of Alabama graduate who shared great memories of his time in the south from 1976 to 1980. War Eagle.  Also, at the reception area was an exquisite ivory beauty with auburn hair.  She looked very urban and moved with style.  She is definitely a mover and a shaker.  Suzanne Manning is another southern girl who is part of this movement.  She hails from Greenville, South Carolina and she is with the Greenville County Medical Society and Alliance.  Suzanne was instrumental in helping Rick publish his book for Positive Exposure.  

My world got even smaller when Rick told me that he was in my town of Decatur, Alabama in October 2015 where he served as the keynote speaker for the  Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity Awards Banquet.  What a pleasure to hear him speak highly of what our town of Decatur, Alabama is doing by opening  and engaging in dialogue about diversity in business in our community. 

I am an observer and I don’t want to speak for the organizations involved so I will share each website and what they are doing to combine art, fashion, and photography with diversity.  On a personal note all three organizations Positive Exposure, Diversability and Heidi Latsky Dance created a positive and welcoming vibe and an entertaining evening.  

Rick, the founder of Positive Exposure is an award-winning fashion photographer and a humanitarian.  He created “pop-up events” that make you want to be a part of all of these program advocates. Through art, narratives and community these three groups combine beauty and chic with the reminder that beauty is beauty if you are seeing it with your heart.  Rick was the man of the evening.  He orchestrated this event which grew out of his passion for advocating for “individuals with genetic, physical, behavioral and intellectual differences.”   

Beautiful photos adorned the wall showcasing models from various backgrounds and different levels of ABILITY.  Diverse ability.  Diversability was founded by Tiffany Yu to rebrand the way we look at people with disabilities.  Tiffany Yu empowers all who are in her presence.  She is a motivator, a leader and a shepherd in her community.   As Tiffany was being introduced to the audience they announced that one of her target areas is Montgomery, Alabama, my hometown.  Another Tiffany, Tiffany Johnson, is the representative in Montgomery spearheading the efforts of Diversability in Alabama.  What a kick to have Montgomery and Alabama be a part of such a progressive movement.  

Poised dancers in costumes of white fabric and clear vinyl whispered the message of purity and transparency on display last night.  The dancers were graceful moving statues throughout the evening reminding us that beauty is movement and stillness of the art. These performers were members of the Heidi Latsky Dance Company which was founded by, of course, Heidi Latsky.  I saw this adorable energy walking and mixing with the crowd as she drew people to her.  I thought, what a cute positive lady.  I want to hang out with her.  Later I realized it was Heidi Latsky.  Heidi is a dancer and choreographer of theatre, stage and film and is the artistic director of Heidi Latsky Dance. She combines diversity in dance and shared it with us last night.

Besides my friend, Bo, Heidi Latsky has other southern members.  As I was sitting and enjoying my surroundings and charging my phone with my portable charger, a young woman remarked that I was smart to do so.  When I spoke and responded to her, she said, “Where are you from?”  It must have been the proverbial, “Y’all.”  “Y’all  just don’t know how hard it is to keep my phone charged.”  Y’all is always a conversation starter.  The young woman, Caroline, is a dancer with Heidi Latsky Dance Company and is from Atlanta. That’s in Georgia. That’s the in the South.  Oh, how we southerners find each other! Caroline and I chatted a bit and with promises to meet for coffee.  I am sure we will get together.  Southern girls do that.  Keep our promises. We bid our goodbyes with a southern hug and a drawl, but not the continental hug and kiss on each cheek.  I save that for my NY or international friends.  Those of us from the south know we don’t do that two cheek kiss.  It would seem pretentious to do so to a fellow southerner.  

Last night was an unexpected blend of art, good company and a chance to be a part of a movement which reminds us that being different is the new norm. Different is good.  

Check out these sites below and support them!  It is your small world too!

http://positiveexposure.org/

http://www.mydiversability.com/

http://heidilatskydance.com/

http://gcmsa.org/