BEAUTY Raeka Panda

BY RAEKA PANDA

The dawning of Ayurveda stretches deep into antiquity. It is said to be an eternal science passed from the creator to the ancient Indian mystics through meditation.

India has been a legendary land of spices, precious gems and rich textiles, and has always been a tempting prospect for traders and invaders alike. Despite invasions by Genghis Khan and the Mongols in the 13th century, the conquest of much of India by the Mughals in the 16th and 17th centuries and the direct rule by the British Crown from 1858 to 1947, the practice of Ayurveda survived. Its influence continues through generations of the South Asian diaspora.

Thus we are privy to this ancient tradition that has shaped everything from our heritage to our self-care rituals, especially in the case of beauty.

Here is one of India’s most popular beauty rituals that you can try from the comfort of your home.

“HALDI” NOURISHING FACE PACK Turmeric on the skin can help reduce dryness while increasing radiance and glow. Honey’s antioxidants, antiseptic and antibacterial properties also make this ingredient a go-to for fighting acne and other common skin problems. This face pack will also open your pores and get rid of blackheads while keeping your skin hydrated.

Traditionally a bride uses this method before the wedding so she can radiate her wedding day with her beauty.

Ingredients 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder One tablespoon of milk One teaspoon of honey

Method 1. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder, one tablespoon of milk and one teaspoon of honey to form a paste. 2. After the paste is ready, apply this pack all over your face and neck. 3. Keep it on for 10 to 15 minutes. 4. Rinse with warm water.

Pro Tip: If you want to avoid the mess or staining, try one of Raeka Beauty’s turmeric peel-off masks. Raeka products are free from parabens, sulfates, SLS and synthetic fragrances.

BY SABRINA LEBOEUF PHOTOS BY RUDY AROCHA

St. Louis remembers August 2014. It was the month police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown on Canfield Drive in Ferguson. His body remained uncovered on the pavement for four hours, and the crime sparked several nights of protests afterward. The nation’s eyes were on Missouri.

Ada-Renee Johnson, a new mother, an HR thought leader and strategist and a St. Louis native, watched it all unfold on her television from her home in Hayward, California, a city in the San Francisco Bay Area. It still felt close. From her couch, she recognized the images of her hometown, the streets and people who contributed to the person she had become, broadcasted on national news outlets.

“I am what I’ve experienced,” Johnson says.

It was the place where she fell in love with roller skating and glided with smooth grace every Sunday at Saints Olivette Family Roller Skating Center. Saturdays were for skating at The Palace. When she came of age, Johnson drank beer and visited the Clydesdales at the Anheuser-Busch headquarters and ate toasted ravioli dipped in marinara sauce at Busch Stadium.

Each May, she celebrated the Annie Malone May Day Parade by marching in the procession or sitting on the sidelines to see the local dance teams and the high school bands. The following month brought Juneteenth festivities.

Back in Hayward, the television announced Brown had graduated from Normandy High School eight days earlier. Johnson’s mother was the principal there, and though she didn’t know him personally, she had handed him his diploma. This was really close.

Johnson turned to look at her son, Kade, running around in his bouncer. The carefree 1-year-old had just learned how to walk right as another boy had his life taken away from him. Johnson knows the color of her son’s skin will precede him wherever he goes. As he grows up, she will need to work with her husband and her own father to teach Kade the importance of showing up as a strong Black man, unafraid. He has a voice and the power to use it, no matter where he is or the situation.

“Heritage is the past, but it’s also the present,” Johnson says. “So what I’m experiencing now as an adult, as a mother, as a wife, I am defining heritage every day, but I’m also responsible for building that heritage for my children.”

Today, Johnson’s building heritage for her children in Austin, Texas. Her family moved here in 2016, after relocating to Nebraska and giving birth to her daughter, Knox, for her new job at Google Austin. The state lacked Missouri’s four seasons, but with a family where everyone was born in a different state, Texas was to be a point of commonality. The Johnsons were going to plant their roots and reconnect with old ones—Ada’s grandmother was born and raised in San Antonio.

She and her husband, Brandon Johnson, visited San Antonio as part of their church’s marriage retreat in July 2017. The couple explored the city in their free time, but solely breathing the air was enough for Ada. The family began a tradition of taking the kids to San Marcos for new cowboy boots to fit their ever-growing feet. When Kade turned 5, his dad took him to his first Longhorn football game, and, even though the Johnsons already said “y’all” before coming to Austin, Knox picked up a Texas twang. Ada’s still working on her queso-making skills, but she knows where to get the good stuff.

Beyond eating tacos on Tuesdays and wanting to teach her kids how to roller skate, Johnson defines heritage for her family through her work. She hopes to set an example for other professionals so they can get it right for her children in the future.

She’s specifically on a mission to dispel a myth that the technology industry isn’t open to Black people or women. According to Google’s 2020 Diversity Annual Report, women make up 32% of their workforce. As for race and ethnicity, Black Googlers represent 3.7% of the workforce. Both statistics have increased 0.4% from the 2019 report. To help diversify both Google’s landscape and the tech industry as a whole, Johnson makes herself available to others— whether as a facilitator at the Capital Factory’s annual Women in Tech Summit, a panelist for Persian Women in Tech or a speaker at her alma mater, Spelman College. Her main goal is to build confidence in others to apply for jobs in technology and to show up as their full selves in the workplace.

“Look, I have a degree in English literature, and I work at one of the biggest tech companies,” Johnson says. “Here’s how I use my degree, here’s why my degree is needed in this space and here’s why you are needed in this space. It’s the intersection of your faith, your person, your experiences and your exposure that impact the company.”

When Ada shows up to work, she’s always her complete self. Rather than having separate calendars for work and her personal

life, she schedules out everything together—meetings, gym time managed by others. She understood her own likes and dislikes and picking up her kids—to clearly present herself as a working as well as the importance of listening to her team members and mom and set the boundaries she needs. She’s an active member in helping them navigate their careers. She realized that she is an Google Employee Resource Groups, including the Black Googler influencer of people. Network, Women@Google and the Inter Belief Network. As the “The sky’s the limit for Ada,” Garrison says. “She’s navigated daughter of a military family, she also regularly partners with the Google’s biggest challenges, but also has aligned herself to work Google Veterans Network. Even her love for roller skating comes that’s meaningful and fulfilling for her.” into play. She knows how to skillfully fall and pop right back up. Almost two years later, as part of Black Googler Network,

“Who shows up as a Christian at work?” Johnson says. “I do, Johnson went on to participate at the Dynamic Young Women’s and we have T-shirts to prove it. My faith very much leads how I Workshop, an event dedicated to empowering young women in respond to people in situations.” Austin with the mindset and skills to navigate the technology

Right after she arrived at Google industry. She spoke on a panel about Austin to manage a team of sourcers, she was tapped on the shoulder by Google’s Director of Global Recruiting Channels, “” navigating the tech space as someone who did not grow up in tech. Each conversation felt like ones she’d had Greg Garrison, and asked to be the head of diversity staffing. She disregarded the idea My faith very much as a child with family members. She wanted to be that same extended of changing roles. network for these young women. She reasoned that she had a commitment to the position she originally leads how I respond “I have an obligation to young women coming up around me,” came for, and even though people throughout her life predicted her to lead to people in situations. Johnson says. “If I don’t get it right for them, they won’t be able to get it right rooms of people someday, as an introvert, for my daughter.” she never envisioned that for herself. On Feb. 8, 2019, she witnessed an

The opportunity was brought to her a second time. Then a third. example of the impressive young women who would set the stage Each time, she declined the offer. Brandon wondered why she kept for the future at the inaugural Elevate: Diversity & Inclusion saying no and encouraged her to accept the position. Conference. The event was created by University of Texas at

“I don’t know that she realizes the true potential that she Austin MBA students Ashley Fox and DeAndrea Staes to discuss possesses and the true power that she has,” Brandon says. strategies for transforming diversity and inclusion efforts into an

Ada then realized why she kept saying no. She felt afraid that organization’s core values. she would not be the best person for the job. With this epiphany, Similar to other speaking engagements, Johnson imparted she decided to take on the new role. If she was going to be a her wisdom and knowledge unto the participants, but this time cheerleader for others, she needed to advocate for herself as well. felt different. She watched as two young women, Fox and Staes, She became responsible for leading a team of 21 people, all with identified a gap in recruiting underrepresented groups for MBA the common goal of diversifying Google’s landscape, specifically in programs and filled it. She saw two young women propose an tech. idea without ever considering “no” as an answer.

To make up for her insecurities, she tapped into her past “If a college student can notice a gap and fill it, as a working experiences on the volleyball and basketball courts. She played professional, I have to be able to do the same. And I have a both sports throughout college and was well aware of the responsibility to teach my children to do the same thing,” difference in her confidence levels when playing volleyball games Johnson says. vs. leading work meetings. As an athlete, Johnson focused on the Ada and Brandon want to teach Kade and Knox that the sky’s skills she had been taught and felt confident that she couldn’t be the limit; their ceiling is their children’s floor. However, they outplayed. She needed to recreate this mindset in her career and have tougher lessons to share as well. position herself as a subject-matter expert. In May, just before Kade turned 7 years old, Knox took notice

She read case studies, took a coding course and talked to of the television playing in the background and asked, “Why software engineers to find out how recruiters could effectively won’t he get off his neck?” communicate with potential candidates. However, after asserting She was referring to a video of George Floyd’s murder. On May herself and working with her team to break down barriers, 25, 2020, he died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as police officer Johnson had another realization. Her leadership didn’t inherently Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. come from her expertise. It came from her experiences of being The revelation of the video led to protests across the United States

and a discussion in the Johnson family household. Kade wasn’t a baby in his bouncer anymore. It was time for the talk.

Knox received a brief explanation about the video, but there was a deeper conversation with Kade. He asked if his white friends would still be his friends when school returned. The question brought tears to Ada’s eyes. “Who would have thought in 2020 this would be the question that a 6-year-old boy is asking?”

As Kade’s parents, Ada and her husband had to give their son an honest response. They didn’t know what conversations Kade’s white friends were having, but they hoped he wouldn’t end a friendship just because a friend was white.

Soon after, Alisha Lagarde, mother to Kade’s friend Brooks, reached out. Brooks and Kade had done Zoom calls over the past few months, but, being second-graders, it just wasn’t the same as hanging out in person. Lagarde asked about the Johnson family’s quarantine practices before proposing a COVID-safe play date. Johnson agreed. Her son needed to see that his white friend was still his friend.

Lagarde opened the door to her house to find the Johnsons wearing their masks. There was a moment of awkwardness as to how they would navigate their first play date together during the pandemic, but Largarde quickly dispelled those feelings; she welcomed them inside and invited them to swim in the pool. The boys jumped in the water together.

Johnson and Lagarde chatted about their lives and their faith. Their children attend St. Austin Catholic School together even though the Johnsons are members of Greater Mt. Zion Church and Largarde is Jewish. When Johnson found out, she had to know if Lagarde made good challah bread. (Growing up, Johnson’s church would celebrate Thanksgiving service with the synagogue around the corner.)

All the while, the mothers watched their sons rejoice in their play date. It was a reminder of their youth and innocence despite the ongoing world around them.

“We’re going to play together, bringing our differences together in a shared space,” Johnson says. “I thought it was amazing because it meant more for me than he knows now.”

BY BRIANNA CALERI PHOTOS BY KYLIE BIRCHFIELD

Talk to anyone who knew Austin in the ’80s. In the past four decades, the population has nearly tripled. It’s been just long enough that those who stayed have to spin yarns to their Austin-born children and grandchildren about an adolescent city, barely bigger than present-day Corpus Christi. They chuckle or shake heads at their colleagues from New York and Los Angeles and remind them, “It wasn’t always like this.” So many residents left as the outsiders flowed in that Austinites born here are reluctantly saddled with the moniker “unicorn.”

With so much outside influence rushing in, Austinites have had to defend their collective identity. Local businesses have had to compete with fads and chains from both coasts. Helping prop up those local businesses, the city’s economic development department is here to ensure they can expand without diluting the landscape’s essential character or leaving communities behind. It operates in six divisions—cultural arts, global business expansion, heritage tourism, music and entertainment, redevelopment and small business—that emphasize the importance of maintaining a unique and diverse identity.

Three women guard Austin’s cultural heritage on the department’s executive team. Director Veronica Briseño and Deputy Director Sylnovia Holt-Rabb have spent 20 years or more with the city, learning how it works inside and out. Assistant Director Susana Carbajal, the 2020 addition to the executive team, brings know-how from finance and federal government along with her own decade of Austin government experience. All three bring a natural edge: as moms, they tap into an endless lineage of passing culture down. As moms of color, they work to protect every voice and offer every opportunity. Through all its growing pains, Austin will make them proud.

Veronica Briseño sits at City Hall, eyes on a bench made of rainbow neon tubes. Pedestrians smile at the fluorescent oddity, and so does Briseño, at their simple joy. The bench, built by the same artists as the striped ATX sign outside Whole Foods (which became a tourist destination of its own merit), is just one of the few pieces Briseño visits. She also loves the stately owl sculpture in the Second Street District and mourns the loss by vandalism of the “Ganador,” a playful grackle in a luchador’s mask.

“The beauty of art is that it speaks to who we are as a city,” says Briseño. “It preserves that spirit and...it brings joy.”

As Austin’s economic development director, Briseño oversees initiatives that put public art on the street and in City Hall, redevelop neighborhoods and keep all the department’s objectives in check. While earning her master’s at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, Briseño started as the city council agenda coordinator. Without specifically pledging a lifelong career, she took opportunities as they came, as cities have no shortage of projects to work on. After 21 years, she only has two to go until she is eligible for retirement, but isn’t planning on winding down anytime soon.

For now, Briseño is invigorated by opportunities to ask her two decades’ worth of Austin allies for help. Every day, the executive team checks their calendars together, parse out a pandemic-size workload and work around their own newly homeschooled children. It’s nothing like working at City Hall, but the three are mindful about giving one another space. That kind of sensitivity—an understanding of what each one of them carries—is what Briseño hopes the team can bring to the city as three women of color. In hiring, she’s started asking about equity from a more personal perspective, hoping to find others who will not only champion equity, but relate to it.

Putting those ideals in action, Briseño is excited to work on the Colony Park Sustainable Community. Located in Northeast Austin and spanning over 200 acres, the area is under redevelopment for better sustainability, while providing affordable housing and maintaining the community beloved by its very involved inhabitants. She explains it’s not about building a new neighborhood, it’s about bringing an old one up to speed without leaving any residents behind.

“To me that’s heritage,” says Briseño. “We want to make sure we provide a way for people to stay in the neighborhoods they love and enjoy them.”

I inherited my passion for public service from my dad.

My business sense was inherited from my mom, who worked her way up from a receptionist to a senior director at Valero Energy.

The next generation. The young minds that can encapsulate the importance of supporting our local economy and run with it. My goal is that [my two boys] are raised with the value of community.

Our eclecticness. We are a Renaissance city, and I relate to that. Everything we do in economic development are areas I prioritize in my life: creativity, local business and community development space.

Sylnovia Holt-Rabb won’t say Austin is weird. She will say it has a great “secret sauce” that simmers as it keeps its cultural memories alive. A transplant from Florida who, nevertheless, started working for the city of Austin just one year after her current colleague Veronica Briseño, Holt-Rabb had a lot to learn about the area. When she started with Neighborhood Housing and Community Development, the headquarters dropped her right in the middle of the African American Cultural Heritage District on Eleventh Street.

There, she learned about the 1928 Master Plan, which established a “negro district” to aid in segregating the city’s residential areas. Austinites now may recognize the area and the organization that preserves it as Six Square, after the six square miles the district had covered. Holt-Rabb is proud to have maintained involvement in the area 20 years later, as it preserves and develops Black culture in a contractual relationship with the city of Austin.

As deputy director of the economic development department, Holt-Rabb supervises the cultural arts, music and entertainment and heritage tourism divisions. Overseeing such a wide range of initiatives, she understands the variety of approaches a city can take to preserving its heritage. It can happen by geography, as it did in Six Square or the Rainey Street area, previously the historically Hispanic Palm District. It can also happen by industry, as the city is exploring within hospitality. Holt-Rabb points out a promising change that, two years ago, allocated the full 15% hotel occupancy tax to heritage initiatives. It can even happen during legislative recesses or on hold with the city phone line; the music division features local musical artists in both spaces.

Holt-Rabb believes in preservation through immersion. She learned about the city by moving in. She got involved in the community through working with nonprofits. She grew accustomed to finding balance and making hard decisions as a single mother. Following metrics outlined in a 2016 cultural tourism plan, she is passionately ensuring new generations of Austinites have a culture to assimilate into that can’t be overwritten.

Holt-Rabb concludes, “As long as you honor [the past] and you keep...connecting with people that get born and raised here, I don’t think you would ever water it down.”

In high school I ran my baking business and after college had a bookkeeping business. I attended one of the best business schools in the country, Florida A&M

University School of Business and Industry.

I would love to pass my work ethic, business acumen and servant leader qualities to my son. He watches me do the #peopleswork. It’s a term coined by a previous EDD employee, and I use it every day.

Grant AME Worship Center welcomed a transplant in over 20 years ago. Huston-

Tillotson, an HBCU (historically Black college and university) is similar to my alma mater. There’s nothing like an HBCU homecoming.

In 2019, Austin-Bergstrom Airport was Fodor’s runner-up for Best U.S. Airport. With a great selection of local restaurants, an uncrowded security process and the occasional live music performance, it’s a reassuring and very Austin place to spend an hour or two waiting for a flight. Susana Carbajal, the newest addition to the economic development executive team, spent 10 years working on it.

Although travelers may not consider it while dragging bags and kids to the gate, the airport is a government entity owned and operated by the city of Austin. As assistant director of business development, Carbajal worked on everything from tenant management, to marketing, to governmental relations. Her two former career paths—in federal government and commercial law— converged to make her a great candidate to manage Austin’s first and last impression to visitors. “I think by building a small business community that is growing,” Carbajal says, “we’re able to provide our visitors, whether for leisure or for business...the local flare of Austin.”

In Carbajal’s first year as assistant director of economic development, her job is not so different. She focuses on the small business, redevelopment and global business expansion divisions. In short, she emphasizes, the team builds “complete communities.” Not only do they represent a general Austin-ness to outsiders, they honor the residents and make sure that local flavor is sustainably produced.

One underutilized area in proposals for redevelopment is the St. John’s site. The former location of a Home Depot and Chrysler dealership on I35 sits abandoned. The 19 acres await local businesses and creative groups, performance spaces and splashes of green to break up the concrete. Most importantly, the redesign must include affordable housing to avoid pricing out its predominantly Latinx and Black neighbors. The team also mitigates the risk of gentrification by ensuring community members are present for every step of the process, from seminars to meetings with the mayor. Businesses of all sizes throughout Austin can participate in trainings by the department, whether or not they are involved in redevelopment areas. The outreach even works on a global scale, bringing Egyptian fashion designers to Austin for a new exchange program announced this fall. A quickly expanding Austin has known for decades that people will come. But Carbajal is making sure the city remembers how to reach out.

From all the women in my family, of course! My sisters taught me to dream big, my mother taught me to never give up and my grandmothers taught me to be creative and resourceful.

Every business owner in

Austin who is wondering and worrying what tomorrow will bring. I say to them,

“Let’s dream big together!

How can we use this opportunity to transform the business landscape?”

The North Lamar International District. I love to travel and learn about cultures through art and food. I can visit businesses there and remember the tastes, sights and sounds of

Latin America, Asia and the

Mediterranean.