ACRIA & SAKS FIFTH AVENUE HOST LUNCHEON FOR LEAP FOR GIRLS ACRIA’s Executive Director Benjamin Bashein, Saks Fifth Avenue SVP & Fashion Director Roopal Patel, and Julia Sherman, author of Salad for President: A Cookbook Inspired by Artists, hosted an intimate luncheon celebrating ACRIA's Leadership Empowerment and Awareness Program (LEAP) for Girls. Part of ACRIA’s newly launched Love Heals Youth Education Program, LEAP for Girls trains a new generation of community educators and activists in East Harlem, Central Brooklyn, and the Bronx—NYC communities of color experiencing the highest incidence of HIV. LEAP for Girls equips young women by strengthening their leadership abilities—including public speaking, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills—and educating them about self-esteem, HIV prevention, and sexual health. To date, over 650 young women have graduated from LEAP for Girls who, have in turn reached nearly 15,000 of their peers through community action projects. Additionally, by supporting LEAP for Girls alumnae as they go off to college (and they are often the first in their family to do so) the program helps young women strengthen their sense of self. ACRIA’s expansion into the important field of youth education began in 2017 with the acquisition of Love Heals: The Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education. The three-course menu at this exciting first-ever event focused on seasonal salads and was designed by Julia Sherman, multimedia artist, photographer, blogger and, most recently, author of the newly published cookbook Salad For President: A Cookbook Inspired By Artists (Abrams Books, May 2017) containing more than 75 recipes with contributions and interviews by artists and creative professionals like William Wegman, Tauba Auerbach, Laurie Anderson, and Alice Waters. To learn more visit saladforpresident.com. To see more images of the event, click here. Tagged: Event, LEAP for Girls, Education 0 Likes Share Newer Post 10,000 People participate in AIDS Walk San Francisco Older Post ACRIA Welcomes the Legendary Dionne Warwick as our Goodwill Ambassador FOLLOW US NEW YORK 307 WEST 38TH STREET | NEW YORK, NY 10018 TELEPHONE: 212.367.1000 EMAIL GIVE@ACRIA.ORG