Melanated (Apr 2022)

Melanated April Musings

Congratulations!!! We’ ve made it to the end of the semester! Let’ s celebrate the Class of 2022. In just a few weeks, you will have a master’ s degree! Have you thought about it? Let that sink in, YOU are on the cusp of securing a whole new degree!

Melanated wants you to realize how much effort you put in, how much time, commitment, and care you had to exhibit to get here. This was not any passive accomplishment We juggled coursework, field work, other jobs, or had families to take care of This was no simple task, and it’ s easy to forget about the struggles faced as we think about next steps While planning for your future, also revel in the glory of your accomplishments!

We showed strength and capability, even if that meant we had to miss a few classes, take time off, or take a leave of absence.

We are here now! Don’t take your efforts lightly. Getting through this semester alone was a strenuous task For those not yet graduating, please also recognize the accomplishment of making it this far! Whether you ’ re one semester, one year, or more into the program, you are doing great work and should celebrate yourself! Time flies and we want to make sure we make the right steps. But, don’t put too much pressure on yourself In preparing for the future, never forget that you are qualified and worthy! Your presence is priceless and whatever your next steps are, you will thrive in it

Spotlight: Seyi Segun (She/Her)

BY MISHAEL SIMS (SHE/HER)

students were asked to do, and a friend who attended CSSW solidified my desire to go here when she told me about the school's focus on anti-Black racism

What has been the highlight of your time at Columbia? Is it too cheesy to say, Melanated? I studied Print Journalism and French in undergrad. I also briefly wrote for my school's newspaper Working for Melanated helped quench my artistic thirst. It was fun thinking about what we were going to do with each edition and I loved the team I got to work with Melanated has such a wide reach, and I am grateful that I got to use my voice in this way

PHOTOCREDIT:

SEYISEGUN

Seyi Segun is a graduating MSW student She hails from Silver Spring, MD by way of Lagos Nigeria Since Melanated's inception, Seyi has served as its Chief Editor She has been a member of the Action Lab for Social Justice since 2020, and she is the current president of Columbia University's chapter of the Association of Black Social Workers

Why Columbia? For a couple of reasons, really From the beginning, Columbia was my top choice. Most other social work schools had a micro and macro track, whereas Columbia had these four different areas I had worked for several years before going back to school, so Columbia afforded me the opportunity to apply everything I had previously done while increasing my toolbox I appreciated the level of introspection

Which professors/administrators were the most impactful during your time at Columbia? If I had to name a few, I would say Ada Mui, Folusho Otuyelu, Maria Astudillo, Ovita Williams, Susan Witte, and Yeskia Montoya. Dr. Mui inspired my interest in serving older adults I took her dementia course and it made me examine whom I was not considering in my work Dr Otuyelu was my first Nigerian-American teacher and my Foundations professor I loved the fact that I didn't even have to tell her how to pronounce my name Also, she continuously encouraged my writing. Professor Astudillo was by Human Behavior in the Social Environment teacher. She has a great mind and such a thoughtful approach to her teaching. I can't really say anything other than I admire Dr Williams and Dr Witte immensely. Their dedication to action, humility, and intelligence are profound They're my sheros! Last but not least. Yesika Montoya Yesika was an amazing support system throughout the program. She helped me choose my track, supported me last semester when I wasn't feeling it, and just always checked in on me I could tell that she genuinely cared about my well-being.

How do you feel the MSW program has changed you? I am leaving Columbia with a renewed sense of confidence This isn't because Columbia is an ivy, but because I believe that I am fundamentally living out what I was destined to do. I no longer doubt that I am called to use my voice to spread and inspire compassion. Also, I am no longer ignoring the call of leadership Columbia has asked that I do a lot of introspection, and I feel that it showed me areas of my life where I needed growth and healing.

What are some of your fondest memories of the MSW program? I have too many to count. Most of them revolve around me finding something hilarious and having to turn off my camera due to uncontrollable laughter I really should be called giggles.

What do you hope to do with your MSW? The question of the century for all graduating students Philosophically, I can say to impact lives and inspire compassion around mental disorders Also, I don't say this with any type of grandiosity I want to help whoever is in my own sphere of community I think that's where a lot of us get it wrong If everyone helped who was in front of them, no one would go untouched and we wouldn't develop cults of personality around specific individuals Anyways, I digress Ultimately, I want to write, practice, and advocate This comes in the shape of Social Behavior Change

Communication (SBCC) I hope to author narratives around the experience of having a mental disorder from different cultural and lived perspectives. I will only write about the communities to which I belong as I am not here to catch the cultural imperialism vibe

Advice for incoming Black students? Be open but pick your tribe wisely Social work school is a lot of soul work The desire to befriend everyone is very tempting You can still treat people with dignity and compassion without them being in the front row of your life I say this not to throw shade, but to thank all the people who have made my time at CSSW so meaningful A lot of stuff will come up during your time in the program that will be beyond what you are studying Your tribe will carry these things with you and you want to ensure that you have the right community supporting you

Advice for the Black graduates? You are magic; never forget that. I dare you to challenge the idea of imposter syndrome You might not feel that you fit in (what I think imposter syndrome really is), but you belong there. Period.

FUN FACTS

Hometown: Silver Spring, MD | Lagos, Nigeria

Zodiac: Aquarius

Favorite Pastime(s): Watching pranks, dancing, singing, writing, reading

Favorite Vacation Spot: Bujumbura, Burundi

Book Recommendation(s): Siddhartha by Herman Hesse or Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Favorite Author: Khaled Hosseini

Favorite Movie: Hotel Mumbai

Favorite quote/adage: "Do not engage in unprofitable conversations " --My Dad

If everyone helped who was in front of them, no one would go untouched and we wouldn't develop cults of personality around specific individuals.

What's Happening in the Lab

BY CHANTEL PLUMMER (SHE/HER)

ABSW-CU Elections

On May 4th, the Association of Black Social Workers-Columbia University chapter will host its 2022-2023 elections from 1-2:15 PM. All roles are to any current Columbia student, so long as you're committed to the National Association of Black Social Workers Codes of Ethics, Please click here for information on each role! You should come prepared to run for the role in which you are interested. Zoom details are as follows: Meeting ID: 857 274 4532 Passcode: 918123

Action Lab Student Advisory Role

The Action Lab currently has three Student Advisor positions open! As a Student Advisor, you will have administrative oversight over the lab's 11 initiatives, You will learn to facilitate meetings, write grants, engage with senior-level personnel, acquire graphic design prowess, and collaborate to effect grassroots change Our current advisors come from various CSSW tracks: Advanced Clinical Practice, AGPP, and Leadership Management and Social Entrepreneurship for Social Justice (formerly known as SEA) We hope you will consider actionizing your desire for change The Action Lab Student Advisor role is the perfect opportunity to implement what you are learning in the classroom for the wellbeing and joy of your peers Please click here to express your interest!

April 2022 Debrief

On April 20th, 2022, Action For Black Lives held a discussion on reparations with Dr. Jovan Scott Lewis. This discussion serves as installment three of ABL's Forum Series Dr Lewis, Associate Professor and Chair of Geography at UC Berkeley, was appointed to the California task force on reparations. Dr. Lewis engaged us all in a powerful conversation and challenged us to think about the various ways in which repair and justice can be had, recognized, and imagined for people of the African diaspora

Pathways to a Ph.D. Panel Discussions

On April 20, 2022, Ph D candidate Mandi Spishak-Thomas hosted Part I of the Action Lab's Pathway to Ph.D. series. The conversation included current Columbia Ph D students and students from other doctoral programs such as the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago. The students provided their insights and perspectives on their Ph.D. journey as well as advice on the process Part II of the discussion was held on April 27 featuring professors from Columbia, Rutgers, and the University of Wisconsin

UpliftingBlackArtists: Kimberly M. Becoat

Urbania

Kimberly M Becoat | Black Contemporary Mixed Media Artist

URBANIA is the subject of the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) solo exhibition open until June 19, 2022. Find out more about Kimberly and her work here.

“Urban

Acrylic, painted collage, collage elements on strathmore paper 30 x 43.5 in

“Quenepas

Acrylic, sumi inkdrawing, on strathmore paper 38 x 48 in

Acrylic

40 x 30 in

“Exonerated

Acrylic, collaged painted graphix sheets on strathmore paper 38 x 48 in

Repartee” (2022)

y Plátanos en la Ciudad” (2022)

“They Give Us Concrete Gardens” (2018)

sand mix painted and collaged, and gold leaf on paper

– Central Park Jubilee” (2022)

Artistic Highlight: Peyton Nicole Booker

What We're Currently Reading: Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon

Peyton Nicole Booker, professionally known as Peyton, is a singer-songwriter hailing from Houston, Texas Peyton is a classically trained vocalist and violinist whose talents were nurtured by her late grandmother, Theola Booker, who was nominated for a Grammy on her work for renowned gospel musician Reverend James Cleveland

Peyton names several artists including Prince, Amel Larrieux, Kanye West, and Erykah Badu as her influences throughout her musical career Peyton was signed to Stones Throw Records following interest sparked by her track "Sweet Honey" This single was featured on season 3 of Issa Rae’ s hit HBO series Insecure So, if you haven't already, kick back and tune into the soft, sultry sounds through which Peyton continues to bless our ears and our hearts

Black Skin, White Masks is that book that many of us have heard of and always say we'll get to later If you still haven't read it, you are missing out on the literary genius of Frantz Fanon.This Martinique-born ethnopsychiatrist provides us with a psychoanalytical view into the mind of the colonized Black Skin, White Masks illustrates the stranglehold of whiteness on the perception of how Black colonized subjects see themselves, specifically Black French subjects who lose their cultural roots and embrace the identity of the colonizer. Fanon shows us that the psychological seeds of inferiority are intentionally sowed whether or not whiteness admits it As he talks about the psyche of the Black and colonized, he also juxtaposes it to white fear that is rooted in the fear of successful Black people For those of you who are French speakers or can read in French, we recommend reading the book in French as a translation never captures everything

PHOTO CREDIT: WWW TARGET COM

PHOTO CREDIT: RIOT MUSE

Job Opportunities

Senior Associate, Policy, Mental Health & Justice Partnerships | Washington, D.C. (Hybrid)

(BA or equivalent experience required, an advanced degree in public policy, with particular focus on mental health or other relevant field preferred. Limited time frame; good for someone taking a year off before starting another degree). Still, shoot your shot

The Pew Charitable Trusts is looking for a Senior Associate to join its Mental Health and Partnership portfolio. You will use your expertise to provide technical assistance related to mental health policy. You will provide research support and facilitate conversations with stakeholders around mental health and the criminal justice system. Looking for strong writing skills and the willingness to travel. Apply here!

Part-Time Spanish Speaking Field Interviewer | Educational Alliance, NYC

(Apply ASAP, part-time job up to 12 weeks) Shoot your shot. Seeking a PartTime Field Interviewer to conduct qualitative interviews, data collection and reporting activities, while fostering strong working relationships between the project team and participants You will be interacting with participants to schedule and conduct 60-minute qualitative interviews You must be able to commit to working weekday evenings and weekend hours Preference for candidates who can speak Spanish.

Apply here!

Multi-Systemic Treatment-Substance Abuse (MST-SA) | Children's Aid Society (NYC Based)

(Master's degree required) Shoot your shot Responsible for providing shortterm treatment to families in the Family Assessment Program (FAP). It is a homebased intensive therapeutic model for families in the five boroughs where abuse and/or neglect has put the family at risk of having their children placed outside the home. The model works with the family’ s entire ecology to effect change and broaden support MST-SA works with families with children ranging in age from 11-17 years Apply here!

Product Manager, Developer Knowledge Assistance | Google (NYC

Based; Hybrid remote)

(BA or equivalent experience required, 4 years of product management experience with technical products needed) Still, shoot your shot Responsible for crafting Google's approach to leveraging the software engineering experience in the company, through change lists, CitC snapshots, code reviews, etc The ideal candidate will be able to work with cross-functional teams on technologies while driving product development

Apply here!

LessonsandAdviceforthe GraduatingClass

"Y'alldidTHAT!Nomatterwhatthenextchapter holdsfor you,graduationis abigdeal.Celebrate that.Celebrateyouandallthehardworkyouput in!Andgetsomegoodsleep!"-OmiMae

"You will find yourself in a job, project, meeting, SOMETHING that you may not understand why you'rethere.Learnandmakethe mostoftheexperience. Never question your belonging. You are more than worthy to be in the placesandspacesthatyouwill enter."-DavidM.Stephens,Director,CSSWAdmissions

"Always lookto bring someone along withyou. wMentoringisimportant.And,findyourniche!You on't be able to be anexpertineverything.Butyoucanbeanexpertinyourthing."-K.E.

Goodbye and Hello

BY CHANTEL PLUMMER (SHE/HER)

Transitions are not easy, yet they are a necessary part of life As one chapter ends, another begins An array of emotions may come up when saying goodbye to what was routine and familiar to us It is normal to feel so many things: fear, sadness, relief, happiness, anxiety The list goes on During this process, it is important to lean into those feelings and explore what is coming up for us as we say goodbye to not only a phase in our lives, but to the people within our spaces with whom we have interacted and built relationships

As we approach the close of this academic year, the Melanated team wishes to acknowledge and celebrate YOU for coming this far in your journey and for enduring what life has brought your way To the graduates, you are in the midst of a significant transition in your life which may not all hit you at once, as you prepare and plan for your future. We hope that you revel in this moment and partake in whatever rituals you can to honor and commemorate this stage in your lives. And remember, while you are saying goodbye to some people and places, you are also saying hello to new experiences and exciting possibilities Take all of the skills that you have mastered and continue to cultivate relationships. Also recognize that it will not be a firm goodbye on all of your current relationships, but more of a "see you later "

Melanated wants to thank everyone for their continued support and encouragement We also want to acknowledge and celebrate our Chief Editor, Seyi Segun, who is graduating.

Seyi has brought the idea of Melanated to life and has taught the team so much through her creativity and drive. Seyi will be sorely missed but best believe this is not a firm goodbye! But as we do say goodbye to Seyi in this space, we say hello to the continuation of Melanated and to any new talent that comes our way. Let's say, Goodbye and Hello.

Production Team

APRIL 2022

Editorial & Design Team

Seyi Segun (She/Her)

Chief Editor

Chantel Plummer (She/Her) Senior Editor

Kalea Woods (They/Them) Senior Editor

Mishael Sims (She/Her) Senior Editor

Want to Contribute to Melanated?

We're accepting short stories, poetry, art, photography, Op-Eds, and letters! All items should be under 400 words. Written pieces should be submitted as a Word document; photos in JPEG or PNG format; and video and audio as Mp4s and Mp3s respectively

We remain available to answer any questions you might have. Please submit your artistry here!

Contributors

Student Highlight

Seyi Segun

Action Lab for Social Justice

What's Happening in the Action Lab

Closing Piece

Chantel Plummer

Uplifting Black Artists

Kimberly M Beacoat