K&G Fashion Superstore wants to help local African-American men reach their career goals by ensuring they are dressed for the part. So the company launched a three-month series of seminars – “Suit Up to Win: Mind, Body & Soul” – celebrating and supporting Baltimore’s Black men.
The initiative was announced during a luncheon March 31 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture and brought together a bevy of Charm City’s local residents, business leaders and community figures. Former Atlanta Falcons football player and Baltimore native Keion Carpenter was the event’s guest speaker. Carpenter, head of the local nonprofits The Carpenter House and For My Kidz, believes the new initiative is important because it gives young male minorities paradigms of well-dressed and successful individuals.
“We have a problem with these young kids wearing their pants hanging down, so if they see positive Black role models that can dress up, it gives them some hope and it shows them that you can still be cool in a suit,” Carpenter told the AFRO during the event. “I think this initiative is great. Young brothers need to see it and that’s what I support. I’m all about giving these kids every advantage that they need to be successful in life and it starts with your appearance.”
The first workshop April 9 focuses on physical, financial and spiritual fitness. During this segment, experts in the fields of business, health and fitness and spiritual wellness will speak to participants about their respective fields.
The following week, K&G will host an in-store good grooming event offering participants personal grooming consultations and personal services. In this session, services such as free manicures, shoulder massages and haircuts will be provided to selected men that purchase a suit or tuxedo.
Subsequent events will announced at a later date. In addition to the workshops, the company will also give away over $1 million in K&G instant rewards and gift certificates.
“Not only do we provide affordable clothing to our customers, we also have a strong desire to give back that same value to our communities,” K&G President Mary Beth Blake said during a speech at the luncheon. “We considered many ways in which to give back, and we decided that this type of recognition and assistance was what we wanted to do.”
For more information on the “Suit Up to Win: Mind, Body & Soul,” visit: www.kgstores.com.
