Thursday, June 28, 2012

Tyra Banks goes up on Avenue D


On Avenue D yesterday, workers put up the sign for the Tyra Banks TZONE, which will be housed at the new Lower Eastside Girls Club Center for Community on Avenue D... Per the TZONE website:

The Tyra Banks TZONE at the Lower Eastside Girls Club will be a leadership development center within the Girls Club. Through a rich mix of career development workshops, mentoring, experiential learning opportunities, financial literacy initiatives and community-wide events, hundreds of preteens and teens will build self-esteem, achieve greatness in their lives, and prepare for life as entrepreneurs and change-makers in the world.

The New York Times wrote about Banks and the TZONE back on June 13.

"What I don't want to be is Tyra, the 'celebrity girl,' coming here and the girls being excited when they see me," she told the Times. "I want them to be numb to me. I can do normal work here and they can see me, to know that this is what a business is."

TZONE launched in 1999 as a series of summer camps to build self-esteem among young girls with the Lower Eastside Girls Club, the article noted.

Photo by Bobby Williams.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I was a kid, "T Zone" was what the teen magazines used to describe the oily skin down your nose and across your cheeks.

blue glass said...

why does she need such a big sign when she says "What I don't want to be is Tyra, the 'celebrity girl,' coming here and the girls being excited when they see me," she told the Times. "I want them to be numb to me. I can do normal work here and they can see me, to know that this is what a business is."
what nonsense!

glamma said...

anyone who has an issue with tyra banks laying down roots on AVENUE D in WHATEVER fashion she chooses to help disvadvantaged young women needs a SERIOUS reality check.

you go Tyra! and call it whatever the hell you want!

Wilfrid said...

I could swear Rosario Dawson opened the place (and is from the 'hood). Boo!

Shawn said...

A woman that makes her living on her physical appearance is certainly an odd choice for a role model for girls, but these girls need every single bit of help they can get.

Shouldn't we support any effort to help people less privileged than us?

Anonymous said...

I sent this link to a friend and this is the response I got:
"Wow, when I saw that subject line I was expecting Tyra to have done some bat-shit crazy ting, but it turns out the girl is reaching out & doing stuff. She is so fierce and brilliantly evil!!! However, I can't reallt know for sure bc i'm totally numb to her.
B*FIERCE!!!
XOX"

Anonymous said...

I am totally numb to Tyra Banks. Got your wish!