By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
AARP is celebrating sisterhood with new energy.
Sisters from AARP, a free digital newsletter that celebrates Generation X and Baby Boomer African American women, has announced its “Sisterhood is Beautiful” essay contest.
Subscribers can submit stories that describe the moment that transformed a friend into a cherished sister-friend. Claire McIntosh, the editor in chief of Sisters from AARP, told NNPA Newswire about the newsletter.
Asked whether the year-old publication turned out like she’d envisioned before launch, McIntosh said that she isn’t motivated by a vision so much as by an energy. “There is an energy of affirmation and affinity among Black women. That vibe of sisterhood emanates so beautifully, and Sisters from AARP is a place to plug into that and connect with one another. Where that energy takes us is an adventure,” McIntosh said.
That energy is going to take two lucky winners to New York City.
The top essay entered in the contest will win a girls’ trip to New York City inspired by the beauty of their friendship.
The weekend trip begins on Friday, Nov. 15.
The winner and her sister-friend will receive a makeover by celebrity artist Sam Fine, who has worked with several A-list African American actresses and vocalists.
Essays of up to 350 words are welcomed from contestants starting on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The last day to enter is Friday, Sept. 6.
“Black women value and celebrate the essential friend who becomes family and is there for us through life’s highs and lows,” McIntosh said.
“Over the past year, our readers have come to know our site as a place for African American women to share real talk and tips – on style, health, sex, money, and more. We’re celebrating our first anniversary by showcasing the friendships that sustain our community,” she said.
With over 100,000 readers, the Sisters from AARP newsletter is sent to subscribers every Tuesday and features entertaining, informative and inspirational content created for black women by black women.
“We knew this publication would connect women in a real way because it has a sister publication called ‘The Girlfriend,’ which has done so,” McIntosh said.
“We’re very proud of it, and we thought Sisters from AARP would be equally well-received. We put a lot of heart into it,” she said.
The contest allows the publication to celebrate black women and their friendships further, McIntosh said.
“If you ask anybody who’s your best friend, who’s your sister-friend, they know immediately who that person is because there’s a heart connection,” McIntosh said.
“The special one-on-one connection that we have with our very dear friend is wonderful. So, Sisters from AARP wants to be that kind of friend to our readers, and this is an opportunity to celebrate together,” she said.
“The women can enter to win a fabulous girls trip to New York. They love our beauty content. They love our style content. This is just one more way of providing something extra special and to celebrate their beauty and to celebrate their connection.”
After the newsletter’s successful first year, McIntosh said readers of the Sisters for AARP could expect even more over the next 12 months.
“More style, more beauty, finance, and career success. More relationships, love, sex, marriage and health,” McIntosh said.
“You know, us black women like to stay informed, and we love to stay connected, and we love anything that speaks to our culture, our ambitions, our passion. Sisters will continue to explore those interests in every weekly issue, creating a real place to share,” she said.
For more information, visit www.sistersletter.com, and https://www.facebook.com/thesistersletter/.
