Written by Ebony Isis Booth for Tractor Brewing, she is founder of Burque Noir, on the Board of Directors for YWCA, and Communications Coordinator at Harwood Art Center.

The YWCA of New Mexico firmly believes in all self-identified women’s access to quality health care, which includes testing for breast cancer. Women’s Health Equity is a 19-year program offering low-cost, life-saving, breast cancer prevention screening to uninsured and underinsured womenOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the YWCA-New Mexico will be hosting its annual Toast To Ta-Tas on October 29, 2016 at Tractor Brewery. Toast for TaTas is an annual event during Breast Cancer Awareness month where YWCA New Mexico partners with local breweries, committed to giving back to the community, to raise money for the Women’s Health Equity program to provide cancer screening for low-income women. Beyond that, the YWCA is also committed to providing quality community engagement opportunities through diverse program based fundraising events. In order for the YWCA to meet new members and potential donors who share our values and mission, we have chosen to get creative with the way we do outreach.

The city of Albuquerque is teeming with artists who are attuned to YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women, so it was not difficult to find six of the city’s premier visual artists to participate in this year’s Toast to Ta-Tas event where artists transform male and female model’s torsos into works of art using body paint. Confirmed artists include Sparrow, Celeste Garcia, Reyes Padilla, Erin Vega and James Montoya. Tractor Wells park will collect a $5 suggested donation at the door. All proceeds will go to benefit YWCA’s Women’s Health Equity Program. DJ Mello will spin vinyl for the artists, models and guests to groove to while the magic happens with body paint and upper torso of our amazing “Toast to Ta-Tas” Models. Watch the process with a Tractor draft. Once the paint is on the bodies, each artist will auction an original piece of their artwork that you CAN take home without prosecution, or persecution. How awesome does that sound? When you think about it, there really isn’t a better way to bring, art, activism, women’s health and beer together. Raise a glass, to the Ta-Tas! You just might save a life.

The YWCA is on a mission. If you support us in our quest to eliminate racism and empower women, then YOU should become a member today!