The ThYck Troupe Organization is a nonprofit that provides training, performance opportunities, and community for full-figured women pursuing careers in the performing arts. Founded in 2009 by artistic director Tressa Thomas, the organization's mission is to empower curvy women, promote size acceptance, and create art without boundaries. The troupe has gained media exposure and supported its work through fundraising events.

1. THYCK TROUPE ORGANIZATION, NFP
HOME OF THE THYCK TROUPE OF CHICAGO™ PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY.
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2. Our Purpose
“It is my desire to establish the country’s first artistic consortium for curvy
women that aspire to share their talents in a world often plagued by negative
stigmas and biased physical judgements.
Within an environment that encourages creativity and ‘out-of-the-box’ risk-
taking, we are providing top-notch industry resources, talent showcases and
creating new, innovative art with no boundaries relative to physicality,
ethnicity, socioeconomic background or age.”
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TRESSA THOMAS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: THYCK TROUPE ORGANIZATION, NFP
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3. Our Mission
To train, mentor, inspire and empower full-figured women
pursuing careers in the performing arts;
To promote size acceptance, while educating and
encouraging members toward healthier life choices and
habits;
To provide performance showcase opportunities in a wide
spectrum of artistic genres;
To foster relationships with like-minded performing arts,
wellness and women’s empowerment organizations
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4. POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS
IL GOVERNOR PAT QUINN | IL SECRETARY OF STATE JESSE WHITE | IL STATE REP RITA MAYFIELD
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6. Timeline
1st Meetup Group Meeting --
December 2009
1st ThYck Troupe Model Call --
April 2010
1st ThYck Troupe Performance --
June 2010
Non-Profit Incorporation (IL) --
April 2011
501(c)3 approval --
February 2012
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7. Locations
Institute for Cultural Affairs:
4750 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago
A Non-Profit Co-Op Space
Lake County:
Talent Forum of Libertyville
Dance Rehearsal Studio
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8. KAREN | A. JENE | BRIGGETTA | SUSAN | TIFFANY | JESSICA
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9. Founder
Tressa Thomas:
A seasoned professional singer, actress, model and filmmaker - based in Chicago,
IL - Tressa began singing at age three. She had her own band at age five, and by
age seven, had more than forty-five live performances to her credit.
Her feature film debut was the Robert Townsend film, ”The Five Heartbeats", which
afforded her the opportunity, at the age of 12, to record with Grammy-Award
winning R&B vocalist Patti LaBelle, on the film's best-selling soundtrack.
Tressa's other credits include Flat Liners, Message In A Bottle, NBC's made for
TV movie The Little Richard Story, JET, EBONY, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter,
The LA Times, The Chicago Tribune and Plus Model Magazine.
Tressa recently released her first single, "ThYck Glow", which is available on iTunes, Rhapsody and Amazon.com.
A graduate of Columbia College Chicago, Tressa’s degree in Film has also been put to good use, with producer
credits on three short films that traveled the festival circuit between 2005 and 2010.
Currently, Tressa manages the day-to-day activities of the ThYck Troupe™, all while continuing to share stages
and make television appearances with the likes of Hip-Hop Legend COMMON, Kathy Najimy, Diana DeGarmo,
Academy Award® winner and B.E.T. host Mo’Nique and many others.
Tressa seeks to bring her experience and success in the entertainment industry to other plus size artists.
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10. Areas of Focus
Vocal Performance
Acting / Monologues
Spoken Word Poetry
On-Camera Hosting
Dance
Runway Modeling
Multimedia Production
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11. Supplemental Workshops
Health (Heart, Kidney, Liver, Breast, etc.)
Entrepreneurship
Fitness & Wellness
Beautification / Self-Image
Mentoring / Big Sister
Community Outreach
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12. THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR
ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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13. Recent Appearances
NBC’s “The Morning Blend” Eileen Fisher / Bloomingdale’s
Full-Figured Fashion Week WCIU’s Fashion Express w/ Aleah
TOYOTA’s Creative Lounge Expo For Today’s Black Woman
The Fuller Woman Expo Ashley Stewart
The Curvy Revolution Lane Bryant
Boutique Larrieux (Milwaukee) Fashion Bug
Coldwater Creek
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14. IN ADDITION TO OUR NUMEROUS MEDIA APPEARANCES, CURRENTLY TTOC IS SELF-PRODUCING AN
ONLINE LIFESTYLE SERIES ENTITLED THYCK TV™ - FILMING ON LOCATION IN CHICAGO. AND THERE’S
PLENTY MORE ON THE WAY, INCLUDING A SELF-PRODUCED DOCUMENTARY THAT CHRONICLES OUR
JOURNEY FROM 2009 TO PRESENT!
COMPANY WEBSITE NON-PROFIT WEBSITE
THYCKTROUPE.COM THYCKTROUPE.ORG
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15. Specializing in a demographic that is
close to our hearts and part of our daily
lives, ThYck TV™ is a show for and about
the lifestyles of Full-Figured men and
women living in Chicagoland and the
surrounding areas.
Whether it be fashion, entertainment,
food, health & fitness, wellness,
beautification and all things between,
ThYck TV™ promises to highlight lesser
known resources and further promote
prominent ones!
WWW.THYCK.TV -- COMING SOON!
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16. OUR 2012 FUNDRAISER - THE ABSTRACT OF THYCK - WAS AN EVENING OF FASHION, LIVE MUSIC &
QUAINT SHOPPING! SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDED OBISOULSTAR, THE SOUL PEOPLE, LAS BOMPLENERAS
AND OUR THYCK TROUPE PERFORMING ARTS MEMBERS! ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THYCK TROUPE’S
DOCUMENTARY FUND, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES.
FOR MORE, VISIT: DATE & LOCATION
WWW.THYCKTROUPE.COM APRIL 28, 2012 - GROSSINGER CITY AUTOPLEX
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17. Organization Supporters
TOYOTA’s Creative Lounge Eileen Fisher / Bloomingdale’s
Talent Forum of Libertyville GlobalGrind.com
EXAMINER (Chicago) E’LON Couture Cosmetics
The Seneca Hotel - Chicago State Farm Insurance (Streamwood, IL)
The Pampered Chef Flirty Girl Fitness (Chicago)
107.5 WGCI (Chicago) Grossinger City Autoplex (Chicago)
Plus Fashion Week +Chicago Bennett Boots (Sydney, Australia)
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18. Contact Us
FACEBOOK.COM/THYCKTROUPE Address:
454 N. Peterson Road
Libertyville, IL 60048
TWITTER.COM/THYCKTROUPE
PH: 847-582-0555
EM: info@thycktroupe.org
YOUTUBE.COM/THYCKTROUPE Websites:
ThYck Troupe of Chicago™
www.thycktroupe.com
ABOUT.ME/THYCKTROUPE Non-Profit Site (General Info):
www.thycktroupe.org
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