AVENTURA, Fla. – (March 1, 2011) – High school students from the Design and Architecture High School (DASH), who are members of the Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship program, recently were treated to a private educational tour of Aventura Mall and Nordstrom Aventura. 

Jacqueline Fletcher, Director of Turnberry for the Arts, highlighted the world-class art collection installed throughout Aventura Mall, including pieces by famed artists Jaume Plensa, Julian Opie, Louise Bourgeois, and more.  Fletcher explained to the students why each piece was chosen for Aventura Mall, underscoring the power of art and its impact on visitors to the shopping center.

The students are in a high school program at DASH (A Miami-Dade public magnet school for talented students) that is focused on the arts, fashion, industrial design and architecture.  In addition to Aventura Mall's art program, Fletcher also commented to the students on the shopping center's many design elements, including architectural concepts, store groupings, color choices and store logos.

At Nordstrom, the students learned first-hand about visual merchandising from Jerelle Thorne during a tour organized by Nordstrom Personal Stylist Carol Christmas. 

Adelsa Simon, the DASH liaison for Dash to Women of Tomorrow, noted:  “Our students had an extraordinary opportunity to see the breadth of opportunity and professions that stand behind a successful mall.  Our students have artistic talent and big dreams. They want to see how they can put their skills and talent to use in interesting careers.  This trip to Aventura Mall gave them a real glimpse into another world.  They saw shopping from the other side.” WOT DASH mentors, Bonnie Cypen Epstein and Elsie Howard, echoed Ms. Simon's comments.

"We are so grateful to Aventura Mall and Nordstrom, to Carol and to Jackie, and to the Women of Tomorrow team for giving our girls a day to remember and build on," Epstein said.      Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship program inspires, motivates and empowers young women to live up to their full potential through mentoring by highly successful women and scholarship opportunities. WOT is sanctioned by and partners with public schools in both Dade and Broward Counties and is poised for a national launch in 2011.  WOT mentees graduate high school at close to a 90% rate compared with county-wide rates of 60%.   For more information about Women of Tomorrow or to make a contribution to the scholarship program, please call Morgan deFranco, program coordinator at 305-371-3330.

About Aventura Mall
SOUTH FLORIDA'S LARGEST SUPER REGIONAL MALL

South Florida's #1 shopping destination among locals and international visitors, Aventura Mall ranks as one of the top five highest grossing malls in the country in sales per square foot.  Anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and Macy’s, Aventura Mall boasts 300 specialty stores, ranging from chic, internationally renowned names such as Herve Leger by MaxAzria, Burberry, Faconnable, Henri Bendel, Michael Kors and Hugo Boss to many of the most popular and recognized retailers, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Apple, Calvin Klein, Forever XXI, True Religion and Diesel. Aventura Mall is also home to 10 full-service restaurants and an exclusive contemporary art collection featuring 10 installations positioned throughout the shopping center.

Located at 19501 Biscayne Boulevard, the mall is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, Noon to 8 p.m. For more information call (305) 935-1110, visit online at www.aventuramall.com, join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AventuraMall or follow us on Twitter @AventuraMall.   Aventura Mall is owned and managed by Turnberry Associates.