Lisa McKenzie is the Founder and Executive Producer of You Night Empowering Events, a program whose mission is to help women embrace life beyond cancer.  Lisa's passion for exploring opportunities to empower women is what drives her daily ambitions.  After going through a particularly dark period in her life, Lisa wanted to share with others powerful tools that she used to free herself from depression, and power through adversity.  Lisa draws inspiration for her programs from her personal relationship with God, and His promises for our well-being.  Lisa's mom is a breast cancer survivor, and after witnessing the harsh changes that her mom endured, and after witnessing how two of her friends faced numerous traumatic experiences after they were diagnosed with cancer, Lisa set out to create a sisterhood designed around empowering  group experiences, where the members and community "lifted one another up" (hence, the formation of Lisa's Non-Profit 501c3 program called "We Lift You Up" fund).  Since the inception of the organization in 2013, Lisa has created a variety of empowering group experiences that incorporate powerful tools for emotional health. Lisa partners with area hospitals and physicians to offer this critical part of the cancer survivors' healing journey (emotional and mental healing). What results is that survivors discover inner strength that they can channel for better health outcomes.  To date – because of sponsorship support and donations -- You Night has gifted hundreds of women (in the Greater New Orleans area and in cities across America) with You Night Program Experiences (Runway Empowerment Program, ScART Scar Art Painting Experience and Story Crafting). Engaging women in empowering, life-affirming experiences has resulted in a very active sisterhood of survivors.  In 2013, Lisa was a finalist in the “BIG IDEA” – for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.  That same year she was a finalist in the Urban League’s “Women in Business Challenge” and a $10,000 grant winner for the Salesforce Challenge.  In 2017, Lisa was awarded the InnovateHer Challenge winner for the state of Louisiana;  You Night was named “Most Glamourous Event” by St. Charles Avenue Magazine,  was named “Best Charity Event” by the Edge of the Lake Magazine reader poll,  and was featured in a national Capital One commercial viewed by millions.   Lisa is the 2021 Astella's Oncology C3PRIZE finalist and recipient, and is a member of the Cancer Advocacy Group of Louisiana.  Lisa is also member of the Delta Gamma sorority, and many of the programs she implements in the You Night curriculum draw on the positive sisterhood and leadership aspects learned from being a Delta Gamma.


A Note from Lisa McKenzie, Founder: I believe that God's hands are all over our program, as we are witnessing mightily on a daily basis the blessings we can freely give and receive simply by LOVING ONE ANOTHER. Cancer does not discriminate based on age, shape, size or ethnicity, and neither does You Night. We are brought together under unfortunate circumstances but, with God's promises, we can learn to trust Him and stand strong together to help weather the storm. I have many favorite Bible versus, but this one has a particular important meaning to me. I pray this over our You Night sisters daily. Psalm 91: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. God bless each of you and thank you for the love you show to those in need.

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