NIRO / DESIGN CENTER / ABOUT US

It is the mission of NIRO Design Center to excite, encourage, educate and empower through fashion. NIRO Design Center was established by two designers, the creators of NIRO Couture, and established women’s wear line and retail store. Inspired by their personal experiences as teenagers having a wealth of artistic abilities and no forum to express them, they decided to create an art program that would give young adults an outlet to turn their creativity into a profitable career and/or business.

NIRO Design Center, creators founded their program with an "out-side-of-the-box" approach of mixing core-skills development, therapeutic services, fashion and design training, entrepreneurship and business development in a way no other has done before. Participants are excited to learn about all the components of the fashion industry, while continuously being encouraged to set and reach their short-term, long term, personal, professional and behavioral goals.

The NIRO Design Center community is one that empowers individuals to love themselves, embrace their differences, and to strive for the very best emotionally, academically, and spiritually. Our New York style design studio, interactive curriculum, and an on- site retail store will help to pave a positive path for all participants involved. We pride ourselves in creating a healthy working and learning environment that feels like home.

Rondelynn Bell, Co-Founder
" An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life"

I am able to view the importance of community on all sides; I was a teenaged mom who leaned on my community to help me get through high-school, obtain housing, and eventually obtain employment; I was also a front line worker in a community agency who assisted young people and adults with the sae process; I am now an adult who is striving to make changes in the same community that will lead to better education, more opportunities to learn and develop, and a greater employment outlook for the people.

I have over twelve years experience providing supportive, coordinating services to adults & at-risk-youth. My ability to develop professional and trusting relationships with service users and providers accompanied with my strong background working with in diverse communities have afforded me the opportunity to assist a great deal of individuals in reaching their personal and/or professional goals. I am Able to provide advocacy, training, mentoring and consultation to the individuals, groups and/or family units.

Naimah Spann, Co-Founder
"Fashion is Fantasy if you have it use it and spread the creativity around the world."

Fashion and creativity has been a huge part of my existence for as long as I can remember. Being the only child my imagination and creativity ran wild, which eventually matured into a career in fashion. My career began when I was sixteen with the development of NiRO. Since then I have had the opportunity to dress the likes of many famous faces, develop the NIRO Brand and give back to my community. My design experience afforded me the opportunity to create NIRO Couture the collection and retail store. This is a brand that encompasses eclectic clothing with a modern flair. NIRO Design Center was developed out of my love for fashion and ache to share it with the world. NIRO Design Center gives individuals the opportunity to learn vocational skills, empowerment tools and entrepreneurial training to build a successful life. I love my life!! Everything is fashion and I am in the center of it!!

Jennifer Wilder-Jackson, MSW, Vice President of Operations
In nearly fifteen years of service to the Greater Hartford community I have assisted countless people attain resources; getting energy assistance, finding housing after a fire, graduating from high school, enrolling into college, obtaining employment, or realizing career goals. She has worked for various social service agencies designing programs, policy and managing major grants. As the Vice President of Operations for NiRo Design Center, I am charged with providing direction for core agency infrastructure including: finance, grant compliance, human resources, professional development, technology, and facilities. I received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Connecticut School of Business in Marketing and have recently completed my Masters of Social Work in Administration at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.

Tyrese M. Bolden, Public Relations Coordinator
"I believe wholeheartedly in the power of the spoken word. If you speak it then you believe it and so all there is left to do is achieve it."

I graduated from Central Connecticut State University were I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication with an emphasis in Promotion and Public Relations; I also have a minor in Psychology. In my ten years as a promotion/public relations coordinator I’ve had the privilege to work for many wonderful companies, organizations and agencies. Most notable for me has been my time spent at Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Warner Brother Records and now NIRO.

As the Public Relation Coordinator for NIRO I am responsible for keeping the public informed. I handle organizational functions, such as media, community, consumer, industry, and governmental relations. I understand the attitudes and concerns of the community, consumer, employee, and public interest groups in which we have the honor to serve. In addition, I am responsible for establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships between NIRO and representatives from print and broadcast journalism.

Funding for this program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Assistance in administration of this grant program provided by the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

NIRO
95 Pratt Street
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 724-NIRO (6476) Fax: (860) 987-9730