Party With a Purpose: Fonda Brewer Turns Celebration Into Community Impact

The Chronicle News
15 hours ago
5 min read

Summer Breeze Productions combines fellowship, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and service while creating elegant events that uplift Greater Lansing.

When Fonda Brewer organizes an event, the music, atmosphere, and fashion are important parts of the experience. However, the impact that remains after the final song is even more important. That philosophy guides Summer Breeze Productions, the Greater Lansing company behind Fall to Black: A Black & Bling Affair. The event will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at The Venue by Eleven 11 Events in Lansing.

Fall to Black will offer an evening of live entertainment, dancing, light hors d’oeuvres, and social connection. Guests are encouraged to wear black attire and add their own interpretation of bling. The celebration will also deliver a clear, nonpartisan civic message, “Your Vote. Your Voice. Your Power.” Summer Breeze Productions does not tell guests how to vote, but it encourages every eligible voter to participate and make certain that their voice is heard.

The event will also provide direct community support. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to an organization serving women veterans. The contribution is intended to recognize women whose military service and post-service needs are not always given adequate attention. In this way, Fall to Black brings celebration, civic participation, and community responsibility into the same space.

A Celebration Rooted in Friendship

The history of Summer Breeze Productions began on July 24, 2019, when Brewer hosted an all-white birthday celebration for one of her closest friends. Her friend was originally from Lansing and later moved to California. The event produced a phenomenal turnout and created an atmosphere that Brewer and those around her wanted to experience again. What began as a personal celebration would eventually become a lasting tribute to friendship and community.

Brewer’s friend died from complications related to COVID-19 in 2021. Following his death, the white parties took on a deeper meaning and were held in honor of his memory. The gatherings allowed friends and community members to celebrate the joy he brought into their lives while continuing a tradition connected to him. His memory remains part of the foundation upon which the Summer Breeze experience was built.

DJ Jazzy J later encouraged Brewer to expand the concept beyond hosting an event. He proposed creating a party with a purpose that could celebrate and support the many micro nonprofit organizations serving underserved communities throughout the Greater Lansing area. The idea stayed with Brewer because smaller organizations often perform essential work without receiving the visibility, funding, or recognition afforded to larger institutions. That conversation helped transform a meaningful social tradition into a broader model for community engagement.

Summer Breeze Productions formally developed its Party With a Purpose model in 2023. Brewer and her business partners, Michelle Williams Miles, Miranda Burton-Hinton, and DJ Jazzy J, began creating events that combined entertainment with intentional community support. Their approach allows guests to enjoy an elegant evening while learning about organizations that are addressing local needs. Purpose is therefore not an occasional addition to the company’s events, but a central part of their design.

Two Events Connected by One Mission

An Evening in White continues the spirit of the original 2019 celebration and honors the memory of Brewer’s late friend. The event also provides a platform for recognizing community organizations and the people who lead them. The 2026 Soul Train Elegance Edition honored the S.M.A.C.K. Organization and continued Summer Breeze Productions’ commitment to celebrating organizations that uplift others. Through this combination of remembrance and service, the annual white party connects personal history with public impact.

Fall to Black serves as the organization’s autumn celebration and carries a distinct seasonal focus. Because the event takes place shortly before Election Day, its message emphasizes voter awareness, participation, and the power of individual voices. The event remains nonpartisan and does not endorse a candidate, party, or political position. Its purpose is to remind community members that civic participation is one way to advocate for themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods.

The two events have different themes, but they share the same foundation. An Evening in White is rooted in remembrance, summer fellowship, and recognition of a selected community organization. Fall to Black combines an elegant fall gathering with civic engagement and support for women veterans. Together, the events demonstrate how Summer Breeze Productions uses celebration as a pathway to awareness, connection, and service.

The Entrepreneur Behind the Experience

Brewer’s ability to connect presentation with purpose also shapes her work outside Summer Breeze Productions. She is the owner of Fonda’s Opulent Closet, a fashion resale business inspired by her longstanding interests in thrifting, personal style, and discovering distinctive pieces. Brewer launched the company during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed it from a small venture into a business with a national customer base. She now sources designer resale clothing and new fashion discoveries, hosts live shopping shows, and ships items to customers beyond Michigan.

Fonda’s Opulent Closet is built around the belief that fashion can have a second life. Brewer recognizes that clothing sitting unused in a closet may still hold financial value for its owner and personal value for another customer. Her live shows create an interactive shopping experience that blends sales, styling, conversation, and community. In 2026, Brewer was invited to take on a leading role within her resale platform community, a recognition she describes as becoming the “queen of the live shows.”

Brewer extended that knowledge into Closet to Cash, a secondary venture that helps other women understand how resale can generate income. She wants women to recognize that their taste, experience, and existing resources can become economic assets. For some participants, resale may provide additional money for groceries, household expenses, or unexpected needs. For others, it may become the foundation of an independent and sustainable business.

Brewer also serves the public as Delta Township supervisor. Her work in business, community events, and local government reflects a consistent emphasis on participation and access. Each role allows her to connect people with information, opportunities, or platforms that may otherwise remain beyond their reach. Across these endeavors, Brewer’s work reflects the principle that individual talent becomes more powerful when it is used to strengthen the larger community.

Black, Bling, and a Bigger Message

Fall to Black: A Black & Bling Affair will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The event location is The Venue by Eleven 11 Events, 5660 West Saginaw Highway in Lansing. Tickets are $45 following the conclusion of the early-bird period. Guests can purchase tickets through Eventbrite.

Sponsorship opportunities range from $500 to $3,000. Sponsorship benefits may include VIP reception seating, light hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, and recognition connected to the evening’s mission. Businesses and organizations that participate will help Summer Breeze Productions promote civic engagement and support women who have served in the military. Sponsorship and event questions may be directed to Fonda Brewer at 517-410-2998.

Summer Breeze Productions has established its identity in the space where elegance and community impact meet. Brewer and her partners want guests to enjoy themselves while remaining connected to the needs, organizations, and decisions shaping Greater Lansing. Fall to Black offers the community an opportunity to gather with style while supporting a meaningful cause. It is an invitation to look good, feel good, and do good before the evening is over.