Promotions, Clothing Line, Party Bus and So Much More With Traxx Girls

AARP Georgia has made a commitment to working with small, local and diverse vendors for various services. Over the past six years we have worked with certified minority- and women-owned businesses as well as small businesses.

The Couch Concert Series, which originated in Georgia, is a good example of how we were intentional in increasing spending with diverse suppliers by utilizing minority- and women-owned entertainment businesses and artists. Through outreach work with the LGBTQ population, AARP Georgia Associate State Director Hillary Williams Thomas has been increasing the work with certified LGBTQ business enterprises, or LGBTBEs, as defined by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

Thomas serves on the board of directors for the only agency in Georgia that certifies LGBTBEs, the Out Georgia Business Alliance, which is an NGLCC affiliate. Through this work and conversations with AARP’s director of supplier diversity, Kimberly Marcus, Thomas was able to develop a plan for actively engaging LGBTBEs when looking for vendors.

Melissa Scott is an Atlanta-based self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur with several businesses, including a promotions company, a clothing line and a party bus company. She is able to balance all of her businesses while also being the founder and force behind the Pure Heat Community Festival, which draws over 30,000 people during Atlanta Black Gay Pride Weekend. The Georgia State Office first engaged with Scott through the Pure Heat Community Festival and over the years has used her different businesses to accomplish its work and goals for working with diverse businesses. Her party bus company stepped in and saved the transportation for the AARP Georgia Lobby Day in pre-pandemic 2020 when the contracted bus company could not pick up the volunteers around the state as planned.

This year, when AARP prepared for Gray Prideand Atlanta Black Gay Pride, Scott’s company was the perfect fit for these engagements. Through her business Traxx Girls, Scott was able to book the talent for both concerts, secure the location for the taping, hire the videographers and handle the editing of the footage. AARP Georgia was also able to engage Scott’s promotions company to give a push for the events.

Engaging with a company like Traxx Girls, which has strong ties in the LGBTQ community, made for a more authentic showing during the virtual festival. Traxx Girls was able to provide AARP with the same type of performers for the virtual Pride as can be found during live festivals. The diversity of Scott’s businesses makes her a valuable vendor for AARP as she has proven herself dependable and understands AARP’s needs.

AARP Georgia was able to show its commitment to the LGBTQ community through meaningful virtual programming and support of LGBTQ-owned businesses. Increasing our spending with diverse vendors helps our goal of working within and showing the value of our brand to diverse communities. It is a great way to add monetary value along with programmatic enrichment to the communities we strive to serve.

Learn more about AARP’s Supplier Diversity program.