The Board of Advisors is very pleased to announce that Kristen Williams has been accepted to join the Board of Advisors of the Winston-Salem Ambassadors.

Kristen graduated from UNCG in 2006 with a BS in Commercial Recreation and Travel. While working at a resort in coastal North Carolina, she completed 500hrs of Yoga Training in 2011 and soon quit her job to travel abroad and teach yoga full time, K10Yoga was born!

While traveling her mission grew and became more clear. “How could we create brave space for people from all backgrounds to come home to themselves… A place for people to explore the thoughts roaming through their hearts door and provide a moment to listen to what it has to say?” After all, this was the space yoga held for her from day one.

Landing back in Winston Salem in 2012 Kristen worked locally, teaching yoga and building wellness programs. It was in 2015 K10Yoga School was born offering both a 200hr and 300hr yoga teacher training program built around the idea that new teachers find their authentic voice and teach the yoga that moves them to be their best self and be of service to the world around them. With more and more students, and new teachers feeling drawn to this method that brings in overall wellness from a trauma informed perspective, the thought arose of how to make yoga more affordable. Kristen felt that from the outside looking in, yoga is expensive and therefore feels inaccessible to people, herself included.

In 2017 K10Yoga CoOp was born as a place for people to come together, a place for new teachers to gain more experience and discover their voice. Additionally, no class would be more than $10 and the goal was to offer more affordable yoga on a sliding scale, and classes truly open to any body. In effort to continue with the mission of creating conditions for people to gain access to the benefits of yoga, Kristen began an online yoga program that people can now access at home! Kristen is planning Winston Salems first Yoga Festival for 2019 and looks forward to continuing to work with alumni and the community to grow and expand yoga for all.

The Board of Advisors is very pleased to announce that Paul Stephens has been accepted to join the Board of Advisors of the Winston-Salem Ambassadors.

Paul Stephens is the Director of Ticket Sales for the Winston-Salem Dash Baseball Club.  A native of Kankakee Illinois and a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Paul enjoys spending time with his pup, Wayne, and cheering on his Green Bay Packers.  Paul also serves on the Boards of the Forsyth Educator Partnership, the Sergei Foundation, and Winston-Salem Under 40.

Mackenzie Cates-Allen, President of the Winston-Salem Ambassadors says of Paul, “he’s a really great guy, very genuine. I have enjoyed working with Paul and with the Winston-Salem Dash over the last two years very much.”

The Board of Advisors is a one-year term, a great way to see if an Advisor is a good fit with the organization and/or a great introduction to a nonprofit Board. For more information about the Board of Advisors of the Ambassadors, please click here.

(Shared with permission of The Winston Cup Museum, from their post)

Winston-Salem Fashion Week (WSFW) may be one of the best-kept secrets in this town. But if Nikita Wallace and Winston Cup Museum owner, Christy Spencer have anything to do with it – it won’t for long.

It is coming up on the fourth year for this fun event that showcases up and coming designers looking for exposure and a break in the competitive fashion industry. This year, for the first time, all 13 designers are North Carolinians. Wallace even has a waiting list of designers wanting to exhibit if anyone drops out.

How WSFW got its start

Wallace had the opportunity to move and work in the fashion industry in New York City. Over time, she landed a job with a company that worked with new/emerging designers looking to get exposure for their brand, get their garments in retail outlets and have them showcased during fashion week. This experience taught Wallace about what emerging designers needed to give their careers a jump start.

In 2007, Wallace moved to Winston-Salem and put her career in the industry on hold to focus on raising her children. Eventually, she went back to school at Salem College where she encountered the fashion talent of many young students at the school. This inspired her to put her industry knowledge to use and create the first Winston-Salem Fashion Week in 2015. 

The selection process

Although Wallace currently works part-time in the food industry, the annual Fashion Week event is her focus. It takes working with a team throughout the entire year for the event to fully come together. The process starts with Wallace doing a social media post in a couple of places to create a casting call for designers at the beginning of the year. Interested designers who respond submit portfolios and are interviewed, with Wallace having final decision on who is selected. Once she has her group of designers, she and the WSFW Management Team start planning the event starts planning the event with each of them and their design style in mind.

The event – September 21-30

Fashion week is actually more than just a one-day event. It truly is a week of activity. The weekend before the main fashion show, Wallace and her team hold an opening night event, similar to how they do it New York before fashion week. This year, the Winston Cup Museum is going to be the venue for the Opening Night Reception, which is free to the public. Attendees can meet the designers, who will all be on hand, and get a sneak peek at some of the fashion from models.

“I had driven past the museum so many times and wondered what the space was like, thinking it was just a garage or place where racecars were stored. I think the backdrop of the cars and memorabilia will give a different vibe to what fashion is all about,” shared Wallace.

How Christy Spencer got involved

“I love the idea of tapping into unknown and local designers and local artists and allowing them an outlet to showcase their talent. When I met Nikita over coffee last year, I was already excited to hear about WSFW. However, meeting her in person put my enthusiasm through the roof, as she is so vibrant and passionate about the mission for WSFW.  You can’t help but get excited right along with her!   

Nikita and I were introduced by a mutual friend, Mackenzie Cates-Allen, who is the brainchild and President of the Winston-Salem Ambassadors – which is another organization I have a passion for myself. Mackenzie told me that she had met someone that I needed to meet – and the rest is history.

The museum is the perfect place to have the Opening Night Reception because it’s really where Fashion Art meets Car Art! My husband, Will Spencer (car enthusiast and museum owner), has always stood by his belief that cars are mobile art. The museum is a fun place to host any event so having amazing clothing and fabulous people all gathered to celebrate creativity and fashion under the museum roof is going to be a serious fun event. We can’t wait!”

Among the local businesses that will be providing refreshments for the Opening Night Reception are Dewey’s Bakery and Foothills Brewing. Based on past attendance, Wallace expects over 300 people to mix and mingle on opening night. Candidate for US Congress and Winston-Salem Councilwoman, DD Adams, will be giving the welcome address.

On Thursday of Fashion Week, Wallace will be featured at Venture Cafe Winston-Salem. This free discussion will cover the impact fashion is having on the economic system as well as the sustainability of fashion in the community.

The actual fashion show occurs the weekend following opening night. Attendees to the two-day runway show will be treated to fashion from our North Carolina up and coming designers.

“It’s such a busy, fun, whirlwind weekend, “said Wallace. “We have over 350 people attend each day of the runway show.”

Fashion Week has proven to be instrumental in boosting the careers of the young designers who participate. Wallace shared that one designer from a previous show moved to New York and was featured in Vogue Italia and is presently dressing celebrities. Others have gone on to fashion weeks in cities, such as Charleston and have expanded their business as a result of the exposure.

“In the end, this event is helping to prepare these young, talented individuals for bigger platforms – and what I hope are exciting, successful careers. For me, it’s a thrill to be a part of that process.”

To learn more about the 2018 Fashion Week Winston-Salem held at Wake Forest’s Innovation Quarter and to purchase tickets, visit http://wsfashionweek.com/.

The Winston-Salem Ambassadors are thrilled to announce the FORMAL acceptance of Sandy High as an official Ambassador. Sandy was already acting as an amazing Ambassador for WFUBMC, so we made it official!

Dear Twin City fans, friends, residents and future neighbors,

One of the reasons the Winston-Salem Ambassadors was started was to help those who are new here! (New really meaning up to 3 years!) It is often very difficult to get acclimated, meet people, get the scoop on certain restaurants, coffee shops, events happening, etc. etc. etc. when you are “new” somewhere!

Everyone associated with the Ambassadors truly loves Winston-Salem, and we TRULY believe that Winston-Salem has something for everyone. A lot of what we do is make sure YOU know all that we have!!

Other than increasing your awareness of Winston-Salem, there is no agenda here. We aren’t here to sell you anything (except maybe the city as a whole!) and we just want to help you feel welcome. Because you ARE WELCOME! You are welcome here, we want you here and are happy to have you.

PLEASE let us know what we can do for you! We can’t help if we don’t know! There are several avenues for doing that, you can always email President Mackenzie at mackenzie@wsambassadors.org.

You can fill out the form to have coffee or lunch with one of the Ambassadors HERE!

You can volunteer with the Ambassadors (using any of your many skills) RIGHT HERE!

Want to volunteer specifically for our signature event, Second Sundays on Fourth? Our next one is September 9, you can volunteer HERE! We really need muscles for set up and tear down!

Or you can follow us on Facebook HERE! or Instagram HERE!, we post lots on Social Media.

We are here for you! Please let us know how we can help.

Many thanks!

-Mackenzie

Mackenzie Cates-Allen, President, Winston-Salem Ambassadors

#wsambassadors

#AlwaysWelcoming

#Moving #New #WelcometoWinstonSalem #betterTogether #newtowinstonsalem #movingtowinstonsalem #friends #ILoveWinstonSalem

One of the things that makes Winston-Salem SO special, in my humble opinion, is how local and small businesses support each other.

I had the privilege of meeting Jim and Dana Moody in 2013 when they bought the then Caffe Prada at 390 N. Broad St. Since that time, I have grown to know and appreciate these great hearted folks and all that they do for our community. Us Dash City folk love our coffee shops: they’re not only a huge source for business meetings and meet ups with friends and family, but a place to build community, camaraderie and relationships.

Dana and Jim and the laid back space at Broad and 4th have offered their space to the Winston-Salem Ambassadors multiple times. I have also attended a campaign kick-off party for a local there. Because Jim and Dana believe in community, they want to help build it up and it shows.

Today, July 15, 2018 was National Ice Cream day and these amazing people offered FREE gelato from 12-5 today. I took my oldest daughter, who was 4.5 and she enjoyed the birthday cake ice cream, a bright blue deliciousness. They also have a counter full of REALLY good baked goods, including some of the BEST brownies in the city, which I took partook of.

I just wanted to remind my fellow citizens to appreciate these treasures in our community! Shop small, shop local and it will pay off in dividends.

THANK you Dana and Jim for having such a great space and for ALL that you do for our city!

-Mackenzie Cates Allen, President, Winston-Salem Ambassadors

The Board of Directors and President Mackenzie Cates-Allen are excited to welcome Isaac Moore as the newest Board of Advisors member.

Isaac Moore is Director of Alumni Engagement and an Adjunct Professor of First-Year Experience at Winston-Salem State University. Moore brings a background in both higher education and corporate management to Winston-Salem. Most recently he was Senior Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. At Bucknell he led a team that designed and executed professional development and industry-related initiatives that engaged alumni at companies as large as Google and as far away as Asia and Europe. Prior to Bucknell Moore served in management roles at Susquehanna University, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and the Target Corporation.

Moore received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Administration and Certificate in Public Sector Human Resources from The Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Moore has also received additional training from the Project Management Institute.

Moore, a native of Pittsburgh, is an active volunteer and member of The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), The Association of Fundraising Professionals and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.