Jackson Free Press

JACKSON—The Ninth Annual JFP Chick Ball will be held at Hal & Mal’s in downtown Jackson on Saturday, July 20; doors open at 6 p.m. The event is raising funds for the Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl and raising awareness about sex trafficking in Mississippi.

The Center for Violence Prevention educates and protects victims in Mississippi from domestic-violence and sexual assault. Sandy Middleton, CVP's executive director, said that human trafficking and domestic violence share the perpetrators' need for power and control over victims.

“In some cases, (trafficking) comes along with domestic violence,” Middleton said. “If you’re treated like a slave, and you’re sold (or) forced to have sex for money, that’s trafficking.”

Recently, Mississippi passed a law increasing the punishment for anyone convicted of trafficking minors to 30 years in jail and a possible fine of $500,000.

Chick Ball volunteers have spent the past few months organizing and gathering donations of art, jewelry and gift cards from the Jackson area’s boutiques, restaurants and artists for the auction. This year, the event includes a raffle for a chocolate pearl necklace from Carter’s Jewelers valued at $499, sure to capture any woman’s heart.

This year's Chicks We Love will be acknowledged at the event at 7:45 p.m.

• Melody Musgrove, director of the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education

• Kim Dubuisson, executive assistant to CEO, Trustmark National Bank

• Kelly Englemann, clinic provider and owner, Enhanced Wellness

• Serena Rasberry Clark, AvantGarde Strategies, LLC

• Dr. Beverly Hogan, president, Tougaloo College

• Jane Sanders Waugh, co-founder and general manager of Professional Staffing Group, LLC

• Angela Cockerham, state representative, Mississippi House of Representatives

• Dr. Shunda Garner, physician, family practice

• Sherri Flowers, attorney, Sherri M. Flowers Law Office LLC

• Dr. Vonda Reeves-Darby, gastroenterologist, GI Associates and Endoscopy Center

• Karyn Inzinna Thornhill, lobbyist, Inzinna Consulting

• Vicki Slater, attorney, Vicki R. Slater

• Lindsey Cacamo, director of media and community relations, Schwartz & Associates, P.A.

• Lily Womble, founder of JustUs

• Maggie Wade, anchorwoman, WLBT-TV3

Tickets for the Chick Ball are $5 and will be available at the door, and anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to attend. For $15, guests can purchase tickets to the Chick-A-Boom VIP section.

There is no dress code for the ball and anyone attending can feel free to dress up or down for the occasion. You're sure to see sequins and boas along with shorts and jeans.

The raffle for the Men of Character begins at 8:35 p.m. Bidders receive services in the men's areas of expertise. The following men are included:

• Terry Sullivan, fitness guru, LivingRIGHTnow

• Christopher Mims, strategic communications expert

• DJ Young Venom, disc jockey

• Kerry Thomas, singer/songwriter

• Luis Bruno, chef, Bruno's Adobo

• Israel Martinez, business owner, Lingofest Spanish Learning Center

• PJ Lee, chef, Hal & Mal's

Many local restaurants will provide food for the event, and the entertainment includes a variety of bands, and the burlesque dancer from the Jackson Free Press Best of Jackson Awards, Jezabelle von Jane, is back to perform for Chick Ball.

Make sure to peruse the booths set up at the ball to purchase Chick Ball pins or take a picture at Josh Hailey’s photo booth.

The entertainment line-up for the night is:

6 p.m. - Silent Auction opens/welcome

6:05-6:30 p.m. - Opposite Day (teen band)

6:35 p.m. - Spoken Word

6:40-7:05 - Static Ensemble

7:10 p.m. - Spoken Word

7:15-7:40 p.m. - Caroline Herring

7:45-8:05 p.m. - Best Dressed/Chicks We Love

8:05-8:15 p.m. - Chick Ball Heroes of the Year Award

8:20 p.m. - Jezabelle Von Jane (Burlesque of the Magick City Sirens)

8:35-8:45 p.m. - Men of Character presentation

8:45-9:10 p.m. - Pam Confer and Jazz Beautiful

9:15-9:40 p.m. - The Untitled Melody Project

9:45-10:10 p.m - Wink and the Signal

10 p.m. - Silent Auction ends

10:15 p.m. - The Amazing Lazy Boi Band featuring Maya Kyles (closes out)

10:30 p.m. - Silent Auction pick-up/payment

The JFP will accept additional sponsors, auction donations and volunteers for the fundraiser through Friday, July 19. A range of sponsorships is available, starting at $50; sponsors are automatically admitted into the VIP section.

For more information contact the JFP at 601-362-6121 ext. 23 or email [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter at #jfpchickball and like our Facebook page at facebook.com/jfpchickball.

AVAILABLE for interviews about the event and sex trafficking: Sandy Middleton and Donna Ladd.