BIOGRAPHY
In 1983 Yvette Jarvis became the 1st African American to play in
the Greek Women's Basketball League. Playing for the Panathanaikos Club, she led
her team to two consecutive 3rd place wins in the Greek Championship. Yvette
also had the distinction of being the first salaried female athlete in Greece.
Yvette's winning spirit carried over into many other fields and first time
achievements in Greece.
In September 1983, Yvette landed her 1st major advertising campaign
as model spokesperson for the Madison Cosmetics Co. Yvette became the central
figure in 8 major television campaigns, spanning a four-year period. The first
of which won first place for "Concept" in International competition.
As the 1st African American to speak Greek on national television, her name
became a household word.
From 1983-1991,Yvette travelled throughout Europe and the U.S. as a
fashion model wearing the apparel of major fashion designers such as: Calvin
Klein, Armani, Versace, Gianfranco Ferre, Valentino, and many others. In 1985
she opened up her own small company that bore her name, producing pret-a-porter
apparel for wholesale distribution throughout Greece.
The late eighties found Yvette's adventurous spirit and creative
talents once again embarking on a new career. After completion of 2 years of
intensive vocal training at the National Academy of Music in Athens, Yvette
began to sing professionally. Yvette quickly became a sought after talent on the
Greek night club scene and has performed with many of the Greek stars. In the
summer of 1992, Yvette & the T.N.T. Band toured 26 cities in Greece under
the sponsorship of Southern Comfort. In 1996 & 1997 sponsored by Rothmans
International, Yvette toured 22 cities and 14 military installations with the
"No Limits Tour" for Peter Stuyvesant., In 1998 she performed at the
World Premiere of the Ferrari Watch, held in Santorini.
From 1999 until 2002, Yvette performs at the exclusive Supper
Club Piccolo Mondo
Ambassador Nicholas Burns to the United States, Athens,
commissioned Yvette to sing at the World Trade Fair ( Ä.Å.È.
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held in Thessaloniki, September of 2000. America was the Honorary Country.
Ambassador to the United States, Athens, Nicholas Burns
commissioned Yvette to present the musical program for the July 4th,
2001 celebration held at the American Embassy.
Ambassador to the United States, Athens, Thomas Miller
commissioned Yvette to perform at the Memorial Service held in memoriam of the
victims of the September 11th bombing attack in New York. December
11, 2001
Veteran’s Association Memorial Service for September 11th
Victims, November, 2001. Performance given by Yvette
In 1990 Yvette was offered the chance to once again be 1st and
co-host a music video program "Beat Box". Jumping at the chance,
Yvette became the 1st African American to host a National TV show (1990-1992).
Her biggest television break was yet to come. While performing in a club she was
approached by a producer and asked if she would like to co-host a new and
innovative program. "Myths and Realities", an entertaining portrayal
of Athenian night clubbing, celebrity happenings, fashion and gossip. Yvette
co-hosted the show up until her eighth month of pregnancy, thus becoming the 1st
pregnant TV hostess and an active spokesperson for Breast feeding and Pre-Natal
care (1994-1996).
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From 1994-1996
Yvette starred in the smash hit weekly sit-com, "The Pink Cloud"
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1997-1998
co-host of " Morning Coffee", a morning talk show.
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In 1998
she was hostess of a Variety Game show called, "Color the Night"
Yvette a native New Yorker and Boston University recipient of a
Baccalaureate degree in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology, (Magna Cum Laude),
has never forgotten her background and continues to affiliate herself with
Family and Women's organizations. A frequent guest on TV talk shows panels, she
is an outspoken advocate for the plight of the Immigrant in Greece, Women's
issues, Parenting etc.
MEMBERSHIPS & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
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Programs
chairwoman for The American Women's Organization of Greece (2 yrs.)
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Christmas
Bazaar chair for the American Women’s Organization of Greece - 2002
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Advisor to the
Parenting Schools of Greece
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Founding
Member, of the Cultural Awareness Program, a program being designed for visible
minorities in Greece
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Board member
for Democrats Abroad (2yrs)
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Planned and
Organized ELECTION WATCH NIGHT 2000 for the Democratic Party
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A member of
the Euro-American Women's Council, she serves as Director of Women's issues on
the President's Executive European Advisory Board.
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Member of “
Open Horizons”, a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose aim is to
strengthen public awareness of the need to support human rights and the
fundamental freedoms of a tolerant and open society
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Organized and
Fundraised for the first “World Arts Festival on Human Rights” held in
Athens, in March 2001
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Vice
President of E.N.O.W.
(European Network of Women), Greece
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Member of the
Drafting Committee for the Declaration, presented to the U.N., E.U., and to
Sweden as Pres.of E.U. As drafted, by representatives of the 15 member Countries
participating in the 1st Conference on the “Integration of the
African Experience” held in Sweden, May 3-6, 2001
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Elected to the
General Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organizations, representing Health and
Welfare
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Member of
Fyllosia, Friends of Theotokoy, Institute for the Mentally Challenged
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Adviser to the
1st Children’s Peace Olympiad held in Delphi and Olympia, July 2001
Presently Yvette is preparing a television show on Multi-Culturalism. She feels there is a tremendous need to present the positive side of the Foreigner who lives in Greece. Ideally her aim is to get people to meet their new neighbours before passing judgement on hearsay alone! The program will include portraits of successful foreigners, a panel discussion on current events ie. Legislation, Immigration, Education, Family and Social issues and a Cultural presentation including. Music, Dance, Art and Cuisine. The programs aim will be to inform in an entertaining way foreigners and Greeks about their changing neighbourhood. For the first time, Yvette will co-produce and host the show. Yvette’s dream is to someday produce and host a show in English for foreigners residing in Greece and for the Greek Diaspora whose first language is English!