LifeBridge Health Celebrates Diversity with Fashion Show

by Sandra Crockett

Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital became many different worlds Friday afternoon as the Diversity Council presented its Fashion Parade. The colorful event was open to all LifeBridge Health employees (and family members), and several Levindale residents attended.

At the show, ten brave souls strutted their stuff around the packed room. Actually, they danced to the beat of Liberian, Indian, Jamaican, Bolivian and Estonian tunes. In the picture above are Victoria Shaw (Bolivia), Kris Jogi (Estonia), Carol Stewart (Jamaica) and Johnson Gaye (Liberia).

Johnson Gaye, a Sinai Hospital radiologic technologist, wore a traditional Liberian male black and white gown complete with headwear and snakeskin shoes. Johnson, whose wife and son joined him in their Liberian attire, treated the Levindale residents and others with a joyous dance to African music as he modeled his attire. It just might have been the showstopper.

There were a few models representing India including Pinky Patel, a coordinator at Courtland Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Home. Pinky dazzled in a hand-embroidered black and silver sari that is usually worn at weddings and for special occasions. And who better, we ask, to dress the part of young woman in a wedding reception dress than Pinky’s 20-year-old daughter Maryam Nisa.

Maryam, a nursing student at the University of Maryland, was simply gorgeous in an all white hand-embroidered dress from Pakistan and was carrying a beautiful, heavy scarf called a dupatta. Her friend Benita Ubawgu, also a nursing student, wore a fuschia-colored flowing and sparkling Indian party dress called pujabi shalwar kameeze, which is heavy with beautiful embroidery. Also representing India was Carolyn Bland, a coordinator form Courtland, who wore a three multi-colored dress that would be the life of any Indian evening party.

Representing Bolivia was Sinai pulmonary nurse Victoria Shaw, who was festive in a bright, multi-colored full skirt and a matching hat tilted jauntily on her head. Victoria also set up a small table that showcased additional traditional Bolivian wear.

And speaking of colorful, Kristina Jogi, graphic designer in the Marketing department is creative but usually a pretty sedate person. But you wouldn’t know it by looking at her bright attire! Kris was wearing a traditional folk costume from a region called Muhu, which is an island off the coast of Estonia in the Baltic Sea.

Not to be missed was Carol Stewart, radiology manager at Sinai, who made Jamaica proud. Not only did she sport the bright green, yellow and black colors of Jamaica, she proudly carried the Jamaican flag as she modeled for the crowd.

Valerie Brandenburg, human resources director at Northwest Hospital, and Beverly Carrington, R.N., infusion and cancer therapy nurse at Northwest Hospital, were the announcers. Great job! And here’s hoping everyone – and more – is up for doing another fashion show.