Connect with us

In Da House Media

Kym Whitley to Host Special Needs Network 17th Annual Evening Under the Stars | Sneaker Ball

Events

Kym Whitley to Host Special Needs Network 17th Annual Evening Under the Stars | Sneaker Ball

Thursday, 19th of October 2023 at 6PM Pregame Reception

Location: The Beehive • 1000 E 60th St., Los Angeles, CA 90001

BENEFITING SPECIAL NEEDS NETWORK’S CENTER FOR AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
AT THE JACQUELINE AVANT CHILDREN AND FAMILY CENTER

Special Needs Network works at the intersection of social justice and disability rights. Our mission is to raise awareness about the unique ways that race, gender, and class impact people with disabilities, particularly African Americans, Latinx, and others in the BIPOC community. By confronting structural racism, anti-Black bias, and other forms of systemic disparities, SNN works to impact public policy while providing education and resources to individuals with special needs and their families. 

SNN serves as a link between underserved communities and mainstream developmental disability organizations and governmental institutions, which often fail to address issues specific to these communities. SNN envisions a world where all marginalized people have opportunities to live full lives that honor their individual cultures, traditions, norms, and abilities. 

Founded in 2005, Special Needs Network, Inc. SNN grew out of the struggles of Areva D. Martin, Esq. after her son Marty was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. 

Special Needs Network, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Federal Tax ID #05-0617904. Visit www.snnla.org for more info.

Celebrity photographer and disabled Vietnam veteran Jerome Dorn embodies the very definition of resilience. Born in Philadelphia, the fifth of seven children, Dorn stayed focused throughout his youth, eventually obtaining his degree in Criminal Justice. Dorn has worked with the Philadelphia Police Department, Department of Justice, World Wide Detective Agency, and several other high profile security groups. Throughout his successful career, Dorn wrestled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, an aftereffect of his military service. Battling the pain and debilitating effect of PTSD, Dorn found comfort behind the camera. Photography proved to be not only therapeutic, but life changing as well. Dorn picked up his first camera in 1970 while serving in Vietnam and knew instantly that behind the lens was where he belonged. His shooting style and photographs were special, generating a buzz in the industry. In 1985, he began his career in photojournalism, working in a variety of genres. Dorn’s credentials include fashion, lifestyle photography, photojournalism, and celebrity/red carpet coverage. Working with MSNBC, Jet Magazine, and major publications in Philadelphia and around the country, Dorn has had the honor of capturing the images of hundreds of notable celebrities and politicians including President Barack Obama, George Bush Jr, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Maya Angelou, Jesse Jackson, Rihanna, Snoop Dog, Will Smith, and Tyler Perry. Photography has sent Dorn around the globe, inspiring his passion for civil activism. In 1995, Dorn assembled and led a group of forty-two men to the Million Man March. Together, they spent five days walking from Philadelphia to Washington DC. In his travels, Dorn observed a common theme amongst the youth of the world. Many of the children he encountered seemed lost. Understanding that opportunities for at-risk youth are minimal, Dorn was inspired to make a difference. Established by Dorn in 2011, InDaHouseMedia was built on the idea that there is room in the house for everyone. With InDaHouseMedia, Dorn’s mission is to provide the future generation with positive direction through sports, music, and photography.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Events

To Top