Melanated (Sep 2021)

September Musings

There is a saying that goes, "eyes too big for one's own appetite. " With the beginning of a new school year, opportunities proliferate All of us spent the last 18 months indoors, and let's not forget the exorbitant tuition costs that propel us to overindulge on opportunity

It is also fair to say that most of us are "gogetters" and want to make an impact in whatever spaces we are in and many of us are yes people (yes, we went there)

For this month, our focus is B A L A N C E Look at your schedule and ask yourself, "Does what I am taking on truly promote my wellbeing? Do my classload and engagements allow me to be fully present and to make the impact I desired when stepping into that space? Am I breathing?"

Even in a culture that is finally promoting self-care, it still feels like more of an ideal than a practice.

Let our message serve as a guide for the rest of your semester: b a l a n c e is the key to success Your wellness manifests, for the better or worse, in everything that you do Not every opportunity is meant to be pursued! Hear that again. Not every opportunity is meant to be pursued.

You got this, fam. You know you do. Don't be an impediment to your success by busying yourself into oblivion and breakdown Sending you love light ✨

National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month

September 15th to October 15th marks National Hispanic Heritage Month. This year ’ s theme is “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope”.

Making up another integral part of the African diaspora, Latinidad illustrates the resilience of a people who have (and continue to be) persecuted for deciding to exist and making their story part of what we know as America, per our context Okay, that was a bit longwinded but the African diaspora wouldn't be what it is without Latinx heritage

Latinidad gave us Celia Cruz, Santeria, Candomble It gave us Paulo Coelho Gabriel Garcia Marquez Carolina Herrera, Isabel Allende, and last but not least Simon Bolivar The aforementioned names are just a few of the well-known faces that are part of the

beautiful Latinx tapestry

There is so much bravery and richness in this community. Intergenerational movements asking Latinx governments for better proliferate. Such movements ask their elected officials to do what they swore when they took their oath of office They ask their governments to honor the sacrifices made evident by the skeletons upon which their countries now stand.

Like any other marginalized group, we stand with the Latinx community in their struggle for representation, freedom, and the right to take up space, We celebrate Latinidad not only this month but in the struggle that persists.

Spotlight: Jasmine Rivera-Hackley (She/Her)

BY SEYI SEGUN

Why Columbia? That’ s a good question. I chose Columbia because I really appreciated the program's variety Even though I knew that I was going to pursue the Advanced Clinical route, I valued the other options as there are so many avenues you can take in social work,

their brains during breaks. As they spoke of their social work journey, I was fascinated and knew that was what I wanted to go back to school and study

How is your final year going so far? So far, I am really enjoying it I definitely have quite a bit on my plate. I enjoyed a long summer but I was itching to come back and pursue my courses. I am excited about everything I will be doing this school year and love all of my professors,

Where do you see yourself Post Columbia? My dream is to be a psychotherapist I want to get my LMSW and then accumulate my clinical hours for my clinical license (LCSW)

Any advice for a Black incoming student? Don’t be afraid to reach out. As a Black student, it can feel very isolating at times There may be times where you ’ re the only one in your classes and it's something that you definitely notice However, there is a community at the university

FUN FACTS

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Power Word: Ascension

Currently Reading: Just as I Am by Cecily Tyson

Show Recommendation: Pose

Favorite Food: Anything with carbs

Favorite Vacation Spot: Italy

Favorite Pasttimes: Napping

When did you know you wanted to be a social worker? Prior to coming back to school, I worked for a day program for adults with developmental disabilities and absolutely loved it there. There were clinical social workers and I remember picking

Favorite Movie: Titanic

Favorite Artist: H E R

Favorite Song: Higher Love by Kygo and Whitney Houston

Next Vacation Spot: Mexico

Jasmine Rivera-Hackley is a second-year MSW student at the Columbia School of Social Work She is currently the Social Media Chair for the Association of Black Social Workers (Columbia Chapter)

PHOTO CREDIT: JASMINE RIVERA - HACKLEY

What's Happening in the Lab

BY CHANTEL PLUMMER

This gave rise to the first Columbia University chapter, ABSW-CU ABSWCU aims to uphold the core values of social work and will continue to advocate for the Black community in the areas of social work education, research, and practice. ABSW-CU will work in conjunction with CSSW’ s Black Caucus and invites Black-identifying students, faculty, and other community members to continue this work

The group ’ s interest form link can be found in their bio on IG @abswcu.

Action Lab Initiative Updates

As we all get acclimated and pace ourselves for this academic year, the Action Lab is doing the same! We’ re excited as we shift into high gear on our initiatives. Here’ s some of the work we ’ ve been doing across the Lab

Action Lab Highlight: ABSW-CU

Last year, one of the leaders of the Action for Black Lives (ABL) Initiative, Ethelyn Pugh (MSW 21), sprung into action when she observed an advertisement for the NYC Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW). After researching the history of the NABSW, Pugh joined forces with a few other MSW students including ABL Co-Founder Natosha Dobbins, Ashley Cole Jr, Tiffany Hutton, Mariame Kante, and Seyi Segun in a concerted effort to apply to NABSW

Ebony Towers (racial justice podcast) released two new episodes last month. Catch up on all episodes here: https://soundcloud.com/user-32260463

Melanated is looking for Black students who would like to be interviewed and/or contribute to the newsletter through our letter’ s series or sharing their artistry (poetry, singing, photos, short stories, etc)

Uplifting Black Artists at Columbia: Chelsea Crawford (She/Her)

I Am

By Chelsea Crawford | MSW 2022 | Columbia School of Social Work Biracial Caucus Leader

I’ m in class

I’ m at a wedding

At the plaza hotel

The only black people here are the performers, the waitstaff, the help

I’ m at Drybar

Full of white women having their hair done by Black women

I’ m at Starbucks

The white manager is yelling at The otherwise all Black staff

I’ m at my friend's house

They make comments about noses and lips

And the ghetto folx down the street

I’ m at my doctor

About to have surgery

In the moments before she cuts me open

She says ‘ can you believe all this BLM crap?!”

I’ m with my ex-partner

He tells his favorite joke:

“Did you know Chelsea’ s part black? I have blacks in my family tree too – they’ re still hanging there. ”

Why do I date him for another year?

Then I’ m leaving in tears

Reminded each day of people waking up

To my family’ s pain

Triggering a flood of memories and experiences

I’ m in my car

A little girl

Asking my white dad why we always get pulled over when mommy is in the car

He tells me “racism sweetie”

I’ m in my home

And my mom is crying

She is the only mom in the neighborhood not to be invited to the holiday parties

Again

I’ m yelling at my mom

Asking her why she can ’t be like the other moms in the neighborhood

I’ m crying with my mom

Telling her I love her

And that I will never doubt her pain

again

I’ m in your house

I’ m in the store

I’ m in the school

I’ m in the community

I’ m in the gym

I’ m on the street

I’ m in my backyard

I’ m in my own mind

You are always there reminding me

Artistic Highlight: Fashion Designer

What We're Currently Reading: The Shadow System by

Sylvia A. Harvey

fashion designers are not a new phenomenon However, their work is usually hijacked (yeah, we said what we said) When we see designers like Rogers, our imaginations flourish Rogers has dressed the likes of Michelle Obama, Regina King, to Tracee Ellis Ross While he is a fixture in the New York fashion scene, his artistry can also be found on some of the most famous catwalks globally

Although Christopher John Rogers' pieces are probably too expensive for most of us (unless you got it like that), he is still for the people In May 2021, he launched a wallet-conscious line with Target. Fam, we love to see it!

Award-winning journalist, author, and speaker, Sylvia A. Harvey, gives us eyeopening accounts of families impacted by the carceral system in her book The Shadow System. Ms. Harvey starts us off on a journey of her childhood and her family’ s experience while her father was incarcerated Through in-depth research and reporting, she also illuminates the ways in which mass incarceration affected three families across the United States Ms Harvey discusses how the “shadow system” of laws and regulations within the justice system dehumanizes the incarcerated while placing financial strains on families from which the system profits

Check this out, Ms. Harvey is also a Columbia alum! So take the time to delve into this important work. You will be glad you did!

PHOTO CREDIT: SYLVIA A HARVEY

Job Opportunities

VP, Institutional Funding - Covenant House (NYC Based)

(Posted 5+ days ago; BA required +8 years of experience in grant writing and working with foundation and government funders. Bi-lingual English/Spanish preferred) Shoot your shot. The VP is responsible for maintaining and growing Covenant House International’ s foundation and government sources of support for youth and young families facing homelessness Responsibilities include identifying and stewarding foundation and government funding opportunities; writing and reviewing proposals, reports, and other submissions; ensuring accurate tracking and timely adherence to proposal and reporting guidelines, deadlines, and responsibilities. Click here for more information

Special Assistant, Bureau of Early Intervention | NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (NYC Based)

(Posted 12 days ago. Masters or Doctorate Required in the health sciences or public health. Shoot your shot Great growth opportunity for those interested in educational development, early intervention (EI), and policy. Candidate will develop scientific research utilizing a familiarity with NYS and NYC Early Intervention legislation and regulations as well as policies and procedures He/She/They will research and support executive staff in reviewing new scientific research guidance, legislation, advancement policies, and regulations There seems to be opportunity to learn. Click here for more details

Director of Marketing and BrandNAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund (LDF), Inc. (NYC Based)

(Posted 3+ days ago; BA required +5 years of experience in brand marketing, partnership management, creative/content, consumer insights, and/or innovation) Shoot your shot. The Director will serve as part of the Chief Communications & Marketing Officer’ s strategic team to help define the scope and strategy for all marketing campaigns, partnerships and collaboration across the organization The Director will create and implement an innovative marketing strategy to drive awareness of and engagement with LDF Click here for more information.

Communications Coordinator, Environmental Health Administration | NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (NYC Based)

(Posted 15 days ago; Masters or Doctorate Required in the health sciences or public health. Shoot your shot Candidate should have strong writing and editing skills. He/She/They will help write and review documents for online publications such as FAQs, compliance guides, alerts, training curricula, newsletters, and data reports Candidate will also develop templates for blast emails and public presentations He/She/They will work with programs to develop, review and edit educational presentations, blast email messages, and social media content Click here for more details.

Black Columbia: Past and Present

BY CHANTEL PLUMMER

Let’s

take it back to 1912…

This was the year that George Edmund Haynes received a doctoral degree at Columbia University, making him the first African-American student to do so Haynes was an activist who dedicated his time and energy to addressing the impact of systemic racism on Black Americans in urban areas He published his dissertation, The Negro at Work in New York City, through Columbia University Press Haynes was a notable social work pioneer and educator. He is also known for being the Co-Founder and first Executive Director of the National Urban League, which still exists today The National Urban League advocates for economic and social justice for African-Americans and also denounces racial discrimination that persists throughout the United States

Now, fast forward to the present day…

See yourself on campus and envision yourself giving that nod of acknowledgment to your fellow brothers and sisters who are here, too It’ s not that attending a PWI defines and/or validates us and proves our talents and capabilities, but we chose to be here for a reason If that imposter syndrome kicks in or we feel ourselves getting anxious as we enter certain spaces, just remember that

I belong here I am a learner and contributor in my field

Finally, think about what can Columbia do for me? And, what can I do for Columbia to continue to improve in its treatment of Black and Brown students and employees?

PHOTO CREDIT: (Left to Right) www crunchbase com | IG – @columbia blsa

A Letter to My Older Self: Friendship

BY ANONYMOUS

You knew that I was in recovery You knew that friendships were sensitive things to me because I have experienced so much loss in that area What was beyond my control left me more alone than I could have imagined You knew, yet you did it. A friendship ended with a text message Cruel Vile Cowardly This is the thought I have every time the radio silence ensues When what I am experiencing becomes too much for my supposed friends really There is a part of me that wants to be jaded. A part that wants to say that friendship, specifically as an adult, are based on convenience.

To my older self, to my current self, never forget that you are immensely valuable. You are worth a thousand rubies and countless splendid suns To my older self, the behavior of other humans is not a reflection of your worth You are not an intimate object to be picked up and played with when it is convenient for those whom you call "friend. " Never forget: there are seven billion people on this beautiful planet you have the privilege of inhabiting

To my older self, finding your tribe takes time It is a privilege to be in your presence Your friends are not doing you a favor Don't sell yourself short To my older self, you are too full to be half loved. Don't take crumbs, love. Ask for the whole fucking meal because that is what you deserve

Know that you don't deserve this because you are you You deserve this because you are a human being A living thing A living thing put on this planet not by accident but with a purpose. Be strategic about whom you let into your life. Friendship means sacrifice. It is a noun just as much as it is a verb To my older self, you should be cherished Uplifted Celebrated. Loved. Treated with dignity. You are worthy.

To my older self, brand that last phrase in your brain Adulting truly is hard You have walked through fire. You walked through the fire that burns, but that which also gives life to powerful things like Sequoia trees and diamonds Remember that You are not being chosen, it is you who is doing the choosing; do so wisely. Build relationships with people and not just who they purport to be Choose friends who value human life Who lead with dignity Find those who are mature communicators Who are kind Who are honest Who have integrity. To my older self, you are going to be okay. Just breathe.

Production Team

Editorial & Design Team

Chantel Plummer

Senior Editor

Seyi Segun

Senior Editor

Contributors

Student Highlight

Jasmine Rivera-Hackley

Association of Black Social Workers-CU

What's Happening in the Action Lab

Chelsea Crawford

Uplifting Black Artists at Columbia

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!