AUGUST 2020 | T HE DIVERS I TY & I NC LU SION ISSU E | A PU B L ICATION OF TH E B U SIN E SS TIMES COM PAN Y
“Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” – Winston Churchill
If recent market volatility drove you to make investment decisions out of fear, you’re not alone. Uncertainty about your future financial independence can make you anxious and confused, unsure of who to trust and what to do next. And sometimes, questionable investment decisions get made. There is a better way. At Convergence Financial, we work with our clients to build investment plans and make decisions based on facts, objectives and goals. Not fear. Talk to us today and learn how we help clients stay committed to long-term investment goals, especially during times of heightened market volatility.
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Committed and authentic for the greater good of our company, and more importantly, our clients.
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Vice President and Trust Officer Jenny and I have our own responsibilities, strengths and weaknesses. By encouraging and supporting one another, we enhance each other and more importantly, our clients benefit from working with a cohesive, high performing team. And they’ve learned to count on us to cheer them on toward their professional and personal goals. We work hard, and we have joy. There is just nothing better to witness, as well as being a part of The Trust Company!
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AUGUST 2020
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Letter from the Publisher
I
ON THE COVER
The Journey To Inclusion
can honestly say that we have likely never worked harder on any issue than the one in your hands at this moment. Sure, we’ve had photoshoots go south, writers not finish stories on time, or have had to pull and replace a story with something more timely at the last minute, which have all caused our blood pressure to elevate. This was a different kind of “hard.” As the long-serving president and publisher in our company, I often receive emails from readers with compliments and suggestions for improvement. We love hearing how stories have affected people positively and the compliments that come with it. And, we take every criticism seriously. Our journey towards creating and maintaining a culture of diversity and inclusion started several years ago. Unfortunately, we had a class of 20 Under 40 that only included white members. When I first heard this feedback, I was defensive. Didn’t they know it was a nomination process followed by applications without photos or a question about their race? After taking it personally, I listened. That was the beginning of our journey. We realized that we needed to do more to get nominations from minority communities. We needed to build relationships with new people and be proactive about seeking them out. We decided to create an advisory board to allow us to have a wider way to reach people and to learn about new and interesting stories we wouldn’t otherwise have known about. We intentionally included Black people to ensure we had their voices included. We thought we were doing well. We certainly were doing more than we had before, and we were making every effort to make change happen in our publication. But it would prove to fall
“It made me realize that we can never not be diligent.” short, again. After our June issue and during the BLM protests, there was a big spike in emails to me about the lack of diversity in our magazine. It was true. That issue didn’t have much to offer in diversity. It made me realize that we can never not be diligent. But, I was very happy to be able to reply to them about this issue and ask them to email me after reading it. Please know that every word and photo has been carefully chosen. We sought out writers, photographers, artists, and business owners from lots of diverse backgrounds to feature. Where we didn’t find Black contributors for stories focused on Black issues, we reviewed the work with our Black advisors. Every treatment to the cover photo was met with discussion and actively decided upon. And, while I feel good about the decisions we made, I’d love to hear how you think improvements should further be made as this is a process we are committed to beyond this issue. That’s the way we get better.
I watched, finger on the shutter, in anticipation as Lieutenant Mike Hestir stepped off the sidewalk toward protest organizers Markiez Smith, and his brother, Christopher Walkins Jr; something was about to happen. Mike linked arms with Markiez and Christopher — that’s not what I expected. At that moment, I hesitated for what felt like a long time. I thought about the complexities and potential backlash this photograph could elicit. The scene makes it feel like our community is coming together to address racism and police violence. Is that what is happening in Columbia? Other cities show violent scenes of police spraying tear gas and shooting rubber bullets at peaceful protesters. Warnings are all over social media about protester safety, and photos being used to track down and/or arrest protesters. How do I cover this moment with journalistic integrity while protecting vulnerable populations? I knew the photo had the potential to be very divisive. I questioned whether I’m the right person to accurately depict this movement; I still go back and forth on it. Documentary is often perceived as objective, but the truth is each frame is inherently interwoven with bias. I thought a lot about the complexities of race and my position as a white documentarian in that moment and after. Photo by Megan Casady. Story by Casady as told to Cassidy Shearrer.
AUG UST 2020 | T HE D IVE RS ITY & INC LUS IO N IS S UE | A PU B LICATION OF TH E B U SIN ESS TIM ES COM PAN Y
All my best,
ERICA PEFFERMAN PUBLISHER
In an effort to create fundamental change within our process of sourcing stories and artwork, COMO Magazine is looking to broaden the perspectives we feature by expanding our pool of contributors. If you’re interested in contributing, email Fran@comomag.com.
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President Erica Pefferman
Erica@comomag.com
Senior Vice President Fran Patrick Fran@comomag.com
EDITORIAL Publisher Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com
Editor Fran Patrick
Fran@comomag.com
Department Editor Hannah Kueck
Hannah@comomag.com
Contributing Editor Emma Bentley Editorial Assistant Kim Ambra
DESIGN Art Director Cassidy Shearrer
Cassidy@comomag.com
Senior Graphic Designer Jordan Watts Jordan@comomag.com
Graphic Designer Sadie Thibodeaux Sadie@comomag.com
MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Director of Sales Bonnie Hudson Bonnie@comomag.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Keith Borgmeyer, Megan Casady, Anthony Jinson, Sadie Thibodeaux
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Emma Bentley, Prince Chingarande, Nicole Flood, Liz Goodwin, Katie Perry Harris, Jessica Jainchill, Jessica Vaughn Martin, Kermit Miller, McKenna Neville, Christina Pham, Alyssa Shikles, Michelle Terhune, Jennifer Truesdale
Operations Manager Amy Ferrari Amy@comomag.com
T U R K EY TACOS
INTERNS Christine Pham, McKenna Neville, Alyssa Shikles
OUR MISSION
To inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that reflects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.
CONTACT
Business Times Holdings, LLC 300 St. James St., Suite 103 Columbia, MO 65201 (573-499-1830) • comomag.com @wearecomomag /wearecomomag @wearecomomag
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Magazines are $5.95 an issue. Subscription rate is $39 for 12 issues for one year or $69 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag. com or by phone. COMO is published every month by Business Times Holdings, LLC, Copyright Business Times Holdings, LLC, 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
ON T H EM E
Who inspires you to learn about social issues?
JJ Carlson Director of Web Development
Arun Kumar SEO Strategist
Tiffany Schmidt Account Manager
Prince Chingarande Account Manager
My father, who through all my years taught me that getting to know the individual will, in turn, show you their heart and soul.
I look up to Lincoln as a torchbearer of social justice and fairness. The transformational leadership and initiatives taken by him not only shaped the lives of the socially unequal in America, but spread these noble values across the world.
I have a number of friends who are extremely active regarding a wide range of social justice issues. Seeing their activism has been especially inspiring and has encouraged me to absorb and reflect out as much as I can!
I'm not really inspired by anyone, but rather by my desire to see a fair and equitable world.
AUGUST GRAND OPENING LeanKitchenCo.com/columbia
FEATURES
91 BLACK IN COLUMBIA Accounts of Black life in Missouri’s fourth largest town.
AUGUS T 2020 | The Diversity & Inclusion Issue
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Editor’s Letter
STYLE Show Your True Colors
CELEBRATIONS
LIVING
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FRIENDS & FAMILY The Road to Refuge
ART & CULTURE Portraits with a Voice
21 PET FRIENDLY The Farmer’s Top Employee
23 WELLNESS Hemp, Health, and How To Get Started
24 HOMES A Life of Luxury and Community
65 COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Jaime and Tony Palmer
WORKING 69 CLOSER LOOK
70 BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS
73 MOVERS & SHAKERS
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GOURMET Potato, Potahto
LOCAL GOVERNMENT Ballot Access: Mailing It In
Goodwill Excel Center
80 NONPROFIT
54 ADVENTURES IN ADVOCACY Mother-daughter duo Jen and Jordan Reeves advocate for the disability community.
SPOTLIGHT DeafLEAD
83 BUSINESS UPDATE Home Access Remodeling
87 PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Loreli Wilson
106 THIS OR THAT Michele Towns
61 155 YEARS OF BLACK FREEDOM Bringing awareness and a culture of inclusion to Columbia.
94 WHAT’S NEW IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA? Explore what’s being built and discover new favorites downtown.
Living
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A LIFE OF LUXURY AND COMMUNITY
SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS
Making home in the inclusive community at Linkside.
What the various Pride flags mean to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
31 POTATO, POTAHTO A day of taste testing piledhigh fries from 44 Stone Public House, Seoul Taco, and El Oso.
Living
ART & CULTURE
Portraits with a Voice The WE Project gives Columbia’s marginalized community a chance to speak up. BY A LYS S A S HI K L E S
W
ith the rise of extremism and violence following the 2016 election, Valérie Berta decided enough was enough. It was time for action, time to give the marginalized communities within Columbia a chance to be seen and heard. She would fight discrimination the best way she knew how — by picking up her camera. “I thought, what can I do to help?” Valérie explains. “And I thought, well, what do I know how to do best? I’m a photographer, and I know how to take pictures. So, let’s try to use that as a tool to fight back.’” Thus, The WE Project was born, a project stemming from Valérie’s effort to shed light on diversity in Columbia and encourage radical inclusion. An online gallery and social media account, the project showcases a series of portraits of local residents who are marginalized due to race, sexual orientation, disability, and more. However, the project is more than a collage of faces. Behind every photo is a story. The WE Project not only gives participants a chance to be seen, but it also gives them a platform to speak up. Each participant has the chance to tell their own story in their own voice through whatever means they can best express themselves. Whether they present a one-line quote, write an essay, share poetry or artwork, speak through a video, or share song lyrics, the way they articulate their story is entirely up to them. “That’s all I encourage people to do — to give their voice in their words and tell me their story is authentic,” Valérie says. “It’s important. And that’s the point of the project, right? To put their story out there and help in any way I can to broadcast their message.” The result is an inspiring compilation of diverse stories from a diverse collection of sources, ranging from members of the LGBTQ+ community to refugees to people experiencing homelessness. The combined
messages support The WE Project’s mission — to represent “a world of radical inclusion and equitable representation.” Perhaps the most powerful impact of the project is how it connects people, allowing them to relate to and become increasingly aware of the reality that many marginalized people have to live with every day. Valérie saw the effect in real life after hearing that a woman in a grocery store approached one of the participants after recognizing her froWm The WE Project’s social media. The woman started crying and told the participant that her courage to share her story had touched her. To Valérie, this was exactly the reaction she needed to know that her work was having an influence. Valérie has felt the power of the project herself. “For me, the impact has been personal in a way that’s kind of like teaching,” she says. “You learn just as much from them as they do from you. Through their interaction with me and by just being human, they’ve impacted me.” For Valérie, the purpose of The WE Project should expand past the screen. In the future, she wants to host participants at her home for structured discussions designed to foster intersectional dialogue. At these community-oriented meetings, the participants will get to discuss their stories and the personal statements they’ve made, creating an atmosphere of open conversation and learning. The social activism work of The WE Project is ongoing and will continue as long as discrimination and racism are present, Valérie says. Diversity needs to be acknowledged and celebrated, and that is the source of Valérie’s passion. “There is no other way for me to be in the world than to be human and to care,” she says. “You don’t take anything else away when you die but the results of your actions and your words.”
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AUGUST 2020
Living
PET FRIENDLY
The Farmer’s Top Employee How a working dog makes a farmer’s life easier. BY JESSICA JAINC H I L L
M
ost Columbians start their work day by grabbing their keys as they head out the door. However, when Ben Voeller heads out the door, he calls for a 12-year-old chocolate-colored border collie named Lacey. Though Columbia is a thriving city, many farmers live in the countryside on the edges of city limits. Ben is one such farmer, and each day his job of herding obstinate Angus cattle and wily boer goats is made that much easier because Lacey works by his side. As Ben moves his livestock to new grazing grounds, he calls on Lacey for help using commands such as “come by” to circle left, “push” to move forward, or “away” to circle right. Ben says: “I might use her to push them out of an area or hold them in an area while I put out feed. Sometimes I will open a gate and drive through with a tractor, and she’ll watch the gate to keep anything from leaving that area. Border collies are primarily gathering dogs. They want to bring the stock to you, so it’s difficult to get her to keep them in the pen because now it’s her instinct to bring them to me. It was a fairly long process to get her where I could depend on her to do her job.” When working with cattle, Lacey energetically bounds back and forth, chasing unruly young cows down and keeping them in a tight formation. Ben doesn’t believe his livestock operation is big enough for Lacey to add monetary value to his farm, but he admits that his life would be harder without her. “In the middle of winter, [if] you’re going through the gate and if you have to get on and off, it’s a big help having her watch gates,” he explains. Lacy watching gates is especially helpful to Ben when on the other side of the gate has a herd that could run out of the pasture while his back is turned. Still, occasionally, animals do escape. Ben says, “Probably the biggest help is having a few animals getting out and [her] gathering up stray animals that I would have oth-
“She is your friend, too, not just a dog that works.” erwise had to get with my four-wheeler — that just doesn’t work well with a four-wheeler.” However, at $3,000 to $10,000, one might question if a trained border collie is worth its cost. “It just depends on [a farmer’s] budget,” Ben says. “It is all relative to how much help
you feel the dog is to you. My operation is to the point where if I lost my dog, it would set me back. There are times where I’ve thought I would be better off without this dog, but most of the time, I think, ‘Boy! If I hadn’t had that dog, this would have really been a nuisance.’” In addition to Lacey’s hard work, Ben appreciates the bond they have together. “I think there are some that say [work dogs] are not pets. They’re working dogs, but that’s not the way I’ve treated them,” he says. “I think the more loyal the dog is, the more it looks up to you, the more it wants to work for you. Their instinct is to please. You can just see that by the way she’s looking up at you. She is your friend, too, not just a dog that works.”
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AUGUST 2020
Living
Hemp & Health: How to Get Started What you need to know about Mid-Missouri’s hemp and CBD scene, and how it could work for you. BY LIZ GOODWIN
I
n the ever-expanding health and wellness industry, two new products are taking their time in the spotlight — hemp and CBD. People are adding these ingredients to everything from banana bread to bath bombs, but there is a considerable amount of confusion around the substances. Kristen Williams and Jill Hartman, two business owners and experts in Mid-Missouri’s hemp and CBD industry, are focused on educating Missourians who are curious about what CBD can do for them and how it all works.
WHAT IS CBD? CBD — which is short for cannabidiol — is a compound found in cannabis plants. Cannabis plants have subspecies that include both the hemp plant and the marijuana plant; marijuana also contains varying amounts of the compound THC, the psychoactive ingredient that causes a high. Hemp, and the CBD that is extracted from it, is federally legal because the plant only contains 0.3% of THC. Kristen Williams, the CEO and creative director at the local hemp and CBD shop Hempsley, says the confusion between CBD and THC was a common conversation topic for her at the beginning of her journey.
“When I first started doing this, people would always ask me if CBD would get them high,” Kristen says. “But most people know now that it doesn’t.” Kristen explained that CBD works in the body by activating the endocannabinoid system. This system in the body is responsible for keeping your body a balanced, well-oiled machine. The human body produces natural compounds that work with your endocannabinoid system, but if you are deficient in cannabinoids, this can throw your system outof-whack. Kristen says that CBD can act as a supplement to keep your endocannabinoid system up and running. “If you are potassium deficient, your doctor might tell you to eat bananas,” Kristen said. “CBD is kind of the same to support your system.”
HOW CAN CBD HELP ME? When it comes to ailments or problems that CBD can treat, most are about pain and other symptoms that signal the body is out of equilibrium. Jill Hartman, one of the owners of another local hemp and CBD store, Hemp Hemp Hooray, says pain is one of the top symptoms CBD can alleviate. “The most common things we see people seeking it for are pain, anxiety, inflammation, stress, and sleeping,” Jill says. “[CBD] attaches to those internal receptors and helps alleviate those symptoms you might be having.” There are many different ways you can take CBD. Jill says the quickest way to feel the effects of CBD is by smoking it, but you can also eat CBD infused gummies, drop some CBD oil under your tongue, or use topical lotions. “It doesn’t matter what form of CBD you take,” Jill says. “It will end up targeting all of
WELLNESS
“When people can understand how CBD and cannabis are working in their bodies, they can understand how to use it and become more accepting of others.” – Kristen Williams, CEO and creative director at Hempsley the same symptoms. It’s just important that you’re using a high-quality product. I usually tell people that making sure it’s organic is a great place to start.”
CBD IN MID-MISSOURI As CBD and hemp products have exploded around the country, both Jill and Kristen say they have been impressed with the level of curiosity and support around the Columbia area. People from all walks of life are coming in to learn more and investigate how CBD works. “CBD is a fairly new product, and people are curious,” Jill says. “Whether they buy a product or not, we just want to let people know how great CBD is and how natural it is for your body.” Kristen says, “When people can understand how CBD and cannabis are working in their bodies, they can understand how to use it and become more accepting of others.”
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A Life of Luxury and Community Making home in the inclusive community at Linkside. BY JESSICA VAUGH N MA RT I N | PHOTO S BY KE ITH B OR G M EYE R
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AUGUST 2020
Living
HOMES
A
ccording to Wayne McCoy, living at Linkside by Old Hawthorne is akin to driving a luxury car — minus the price gouging. “I relate it to a new Corvette,” Wayne says. “You buy a new Corvette. It’s $60k for a tremendous well-developed machine. To get anything comparable, you’re going to be well over $100k in the foreign market. I think Linkside is comparable; it’s a Corvette price at the Lamborghini level.” You can trust Wayne’s judgment here — he knows his way around cars and around houses too. He’s moved more than 30 times in the last four decades, bouncing around from homes that he would build, live in for a bit, then sell. His background in construction, melded with his love for fixing up classic cars, led him to bump into Linkside developer Bob Hurdle, who just happens to share the same passions. “I met him at a Corvette event — both of us like Corvettes, and we had a conversation,” Wayne says. “I’d see him in Kansas City, or Arizona, or Florida at another auction.” So when Wayne and his wife, Mary, were ready for their next move, he reached out to his fellow car enthusiast. “We talked to Bob and negotiated on what we wanted, plus he had some rental garages there, so I took a three-car rental garage, gutted it, and added air conditioning and heat — everything for my fun time with cars,” he says. In August of 2019, the couple officially began to call Linkside home. The McCoys chose to purchase a “veranda” home, a single-family detached property, instead of a “villa,” which is, in essence, a condo. Whether it’s a villa or veranda, each home is constructed to provide an easily accessible floor plan that can carry its owners happily from one phase of life to the next. Each home has two to three bedrooms, large closets, kitchens, and living spaces, all of which are customizable to each tenant’s personal taste.
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Living
HOMES
Each Linkside home is constructed to provide its owners with seamless transitions from room-to-room and through each stage of life. Whether it’s the zero-entry showers, wide hallways, or open, bright kitchens, the expertly-crafted elements work together to create a welcoming, comfortable space well suited for every Linkside lifestyle. The community itself is filled with individuals in a variety of different phases of life. “People get the wrong idea that it’s like an old folks’ home, but it’s not,” Wayne says. “It’s an inclusive neighborhood. They list the neighborhood as over 55, but they’ve eliminated the word ‘retired’ because I think about one-third of all the tenants at Linkside are still employed.” Ultimately, he says, the community is what you make it. “I think the big thing is that people can decide that it’s a retirement community with folks with walkers and canes, but it’s conducive to others, too,” he adds. “My nextdoor neighbors, the husband is 70 and the wife turned 55. So we always joke that she’s now legal to be there! All kinds of ages and backgrounds [live here].” If full-time employment isn’t what’s keeping tenants occupied, they’re likely using one of the many amenities included within the community. A concierge service is available at the clubhouse, which also boasts a dining room and activity center. The clubhouse is open to use anytime and has flat-screen TV,
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Living
HOMES
During [the early stages of the pandemic], we would have neighborhood gatherings around a traffic circle here.
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Living
HOMES
pool table, fireplace, and meeting room. And, of course, the well-manicured 18-hole golf course is a beloved attraction. Though the move to Linkside was a downsize in terms of total property size, Wayne says it has afforded him plenty of space. “We went ahead and glassed-in our veranda, so it gives us a place for our exercise bike and some furniture,” Wayne says. This space serves as a playroom for their grandson, too. “We also have a Thomas the Train track [on the veranda]. In the old house, we had a whole garage bay of Thomas the Train.” Though the garage is no longer a train station, it is still Wayne’s personal play space. In addition to the purchase of his home, he’s rented out a three-car garage space on the property where he can continue his mechanical hobby. “The only thing I gave up is that I had a six-car garage [at our previous home], and here I have a two-car garage on-site, and two blocks away I have a three-car [garage].” Before moving in, the quality of construction was what most attracted them to the property. But as soon as they arrived, they discovered another perk of the neighborhood: the neighbors. “On a daily basis, you have neighbors offering [to help] if you need something,” Wayne says. “We have a 91-plus-year-old neighbor across the street. She was the first resident there, and she’s like 4 foot 4 — a very petite lady. Our moving truck pulls up, and she says, ‘You guys need any help unloading?’” Even the COVID-19 pandemic, Wayne says, couldn’t hinder the neighborly feel. “During [the early stages of the pandemic], we would have neighborhood gatherings around a traffic circle here,” he says. “We would sit six feet apart. It was a bring-your-own beverage and bring-your-own snacks. I took my ruler and we measured six feet apart — of course, that was a novelty thing, to joke about that. One time, everybody in the neighborhood was there except for two people who were out of town.” In a time when we all feel far apart, this community has shown that it’s possible to stay close together — from a safe distance, of course. “There are people of different ages, and we all get along real well,” Wayne says. “We have people from Florida, from Texas, from all over. Different walks of life, different political affiliations, but we’re neighbors. We had a neighbor who had back surgery on Monday, and I think by Tuesday when she got home, she probably had four or five phone calls from neighbors seeing if she needed anything. It’s a caring community.”
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AUGUST 2020
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Living
GOURMET
A day of taste testing piledhigh f ries f rom 44 Stone Public House, Seoul Taco, and El Oso. BY HANNAH KUECK PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEITH BORGMEYER
I
’ve always considered myself a potato connoisseur, especially when those potatoes are in the form of fries. Curly or crinkle-cut, sweet potato or golden potato, if food could be a love language, fries would be mine. So when I was tasked with trying unique, piled-high fries from local restaurants, I knew that this — eating and writing about fries — was my true purpose in life. My day of snacking on various fries wasn’t a typical day for me. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been staying with family in Kansas City, so my fry day was my excursion for the week. I woke up to the blinding sun shining in my eyes, grabbed my notebook, and headed out the door for my drive to Columbia.
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44 STONE PUBLIC HOUSE My fi rst stop in my fry-seeking adventure was to 44 Stone Public House. After scanning the menu for approximately one minute, I found the fries I had set out to try: the Seoul Disco Fries, made of Korean-bulgogi marinated steak, cheddar cheese, pink pickled slaw, sriracha aioli, and of course, thick, seasoned french fries. I paired my Disco Fries with a glass of water so I could swiftly differentiate between the multitude of flavors, but after a short conversation with Executive Chef Levi Grantham, I learned that you can never go wrong with pairing this appetizer with a Shiphead ginger wheat from Logboat. Then, my fries arrived. While watching my waiter carry my dish to my table, several thoughts flew through my mind. My initial reaction was whispering to myself, “Oh my goodness, that’s a mountain.” The loaded fries were piled high, exceeding the depth of the dish they were served in and topped with a snippet of parsley. I then proceeded to look around to make sure it was mine, but with no one else in the restaurant yet, I concluded that it was indeed. The dish was almost too beautiful to bite into, with all of the different colors and strategically layered ingredients, but after mentally preparing myself to bite into the mountain, my taste buds were instantly just as satisfied as my eyes were. With my spoon, I scooped up my fi rst fry, making sure to get a little bit of every ingredient. The melted cheddar cheese created a long,stringy tail as I began scooping up my pile, which is how I knew it was going to be delicious. Every layer of the Disco Fries offered a different flavor. The pinkish pickled slaw gave me a sour-but-sweet flavor, which worked in perfect unison with the sweetness of Korean-bulgogi marinated steak. The steak was so tender it practically melted in my mouth. The thick seasoned fries added the right amount of salt and crispiness. With every bite, I got to experience the power each ingredient brought to the mini-meal. Th is dish consisted of unexpected combinations, but the rich flavors harmonized with each other and gave my taste buds (and my stomach) the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. After making it only one-third of the way through my dish, I had to opt-out of finishing and get a box to go. Both I and my still-hungry stomach were disappointed in my progress, but my taste buds were infinitely satisfied. Besides, we still had two other local restaurants to try.
FRENCH FRY BINGO Shoestring
Chips (British)
Smiley Potatoes
Standard Cut
Cheese Fries
Potato Wedges
Carne Asada Fries
Side Winding
Tater Tots
Belgian Frites
Boardwalk Fries
Waffle Fries
Do you want fries with that?
Potato Tornado
Steak Fries
Sweet Potato
Chili Cheese Fries
Pommes Souffles
Curly Fries
Garlic Fries
Poutine
Crinkle Cut
Home Fries
Loaded Fries
Cottage Fries
SEOUL TACO My next stop was to Seoul Taco, where I needed to taste test the new gogi and waffles dish made with sweet potato waffle fries, queso (which I forgot to put on mine), kimchi, green onions, Seoul sauce, black sesame seeds, and whatever protein you choose — I chose tofu as I knew I would be eating too much meat during the rest of my fry escapades. Because of the pandemic, I was unable to sit in the restaurant to try these fries, so I got mine to go. And then I dropped them. No gogi and waffles were harmed, but the harsh fall altered the presentation significantly. The dish was bright with various red tones, and the smell of the Seoul sauces made my mouth water. The gogi and waffles meal was much spicier than the fries I had at 44 Stone, but not overwhelmingly so. The fries, too, had a good balance of spicy and sweet from the sauces and sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries were well-seasoned and delectable, and they offered a nice crunch to the dish. The pickled kimchi was a new food for me, but it added freshness to the fries and even more spice. I’m still dreaming of the sweet potato waffle fries mixed with Seoul sauces.
Living
GOURMET
National french fry day is july 13
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EL OSO After eating two different hefty fry dishes, I was ready for a nap. But nonetheless, I persevered and made it to my fi nal fry destination: El Oso. During a long walk back to my car from Seoul Taco, I called in my order to try the restaurant’s house special, the Vegas Fries. Th is specialty consists of shredded cheese, cheese dip, guacamole, and pico de gallo, all served on a bed of crinkle-cut fries. For protein, I had the choice between chicken and steak, so I decided to try this dish with chicken. Nearly half asleep at my desk, I picked up my fi rst fry smothered in melted cheese and dipped it in the fresh toppings. The pico de gallo and guacamole made these fries the freshest dish I had tasted during my adventurous day of fries. My taste buds were dancing in my mouth with joy from the combination of freshness and spiciness. After I walked back to my car, I was burning up from the sun, the tomatoes in the pico de gallo cooled me down perfectly while the seasoned chicken made my tongue buzz from the spice. The salted crinkle-cut fries balanced all of the flavor profi les. I would have never expected to pair salty fries with Mexican cuisine, but the duo was a refreshing and satisfying way to end my fry day. After consuming too many fries to count, I climbed back into my car — with my leftover fries — to venture back to Kansas City. The delicious fries from the day, of course, were still on my mind. Take it from me though: Do you and your stomach a favor and don’t try them all in the span of three hours.
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the average American eats about 29 pounds of fries every year
Chiropractors that treat you like family. Chiropractic care is an amazing option for addressing many conditions including the desire to have improved vitality and optimal health. Our team is made up of individuals that want your life to be better. We want to be your complete health and wellness provider in Columbia and vicinity. These amenities are complementary to our members: • Massage tables available before or after adjustment
• Ample parking
• Email, text, or phone appointment reminders. You can also reply to our text messages and our office will receive your reply.
• Beverage Station with Nutrientinfused fruit water, hot chocolate, Keurig coffee station, Orange Tiger Family cups (take some home for the family!)
• Posture training instruction at key points in your care plan
• Make an appointment through the website, by texting, or by calling
• Family friendly – with a dedicated toy room for your children to enjoy
• Convenient hours, including early mornings, lunch breaks, and evenings
• Free WiFi
Feel like yourself again.
tigerfamilychiropractic.com | 573.443.1414 3700 Interstate 70 Dr SE #110, Columbia, MO
Wearing something new while you FaceTime a friend can be the best part of the day!
MY SISTER’S CIRCUS Now carrying embellished masks!
573-443-5618 • 1110 E. Broadway, Columbia Independent Distributor of LipSense
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AUGUST 2020
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PROS KNOW
Marc Schumer
Ross Kulik
Beth Arey
Anne Tuckley
Jake Baumgartner
Nate Anderson
THE TINT GUYS
TLC MORTGAGE
TRACY AREY REAL ESTATE
ANNE TUCKLEY HOME
BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE
ROST LANDSCAPING
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As Good As New By Marc Schumer Find more at windowtintcolumbiamo.com
P
icture this: you’re in your beautifully decorated living room watching TV on your light-brown leather sofa. You lean against one of your blue throw pillows when you notice that it’s not nearly as ocean blue as it was the day you purchased it. When you realize this, you also realize that your leather sofa is starting to crack and reveal the thin, white lining underneath the leather material. What could be causing this? I’ll tell you — the sun. Unfiltered, the bright sun will shine into your home windows and can expose and damage your possessions. Fabrics, woods, and even family pictures or the cover of your favorite magazine will fade. Leather will crack and dry out more quickly than usual, and your hardwood floors can fade too — all because of the sun. Redoing your hardwood floors is a feat in itself. You’ll risk having to redo the entire floor, rather than the section that has been damaged, and the cost can be unruly. This problem can easily be solved, and your wallet can be saved. Through what exactly? You guessed it — window tinting. Llumar Vista Window Films offer a long-lasting solution and protection for your home. With these window films (which have a lifetime transferable warranty), you won’t have to worry about
fading and damaging your favorite throw pillows or cracking in your leather couch. Instead, your home, and the accent pieces you choose to put in it will stay looking fresh like the first day you bought them. Installing Llumar Vista Window Film will offer you loads of benefits. The UV rays that come from the sun can quickly make your new furniture look aged. With the special
Llumar Vista UV film, your newly tinted windows will block more than 99% of the UV rays that try to pass through your windows, providing both your belongings and your family protection from these damaging rays. Are you ready to keep your furniture looking brand new? Give The Tint Guys a call. We’ll do an on-site consultation to help find the perfect window tint to fit your needs.
Marc Schumer
THE TINT GUYS, A DIVISION OF SOUND PERFORMANCE INC Marc and his wife, Shelly, have been in business in the same location serving Columbia and the surrounding areas for nearly 20 years. Their original focus on personal connection, expert service, and value-based products stands as true today as it did in 2001. They truly enjoy bringing solution-based options with competitive pricing to all of Mid-Missouri. They split their time between their work-family and their six kids and one grandchild. 1310 INDIANA AVE., COLUMBIA, MO 65203 573-874-9203 | WINDOWTINTCOLUMBIAMO.COM
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Is Now the Right Time to Refinance? By Ross Kulik Find more at tlclender.com
T
he simple truth is this — COVID-19 has turned everyone’s lives upside down. Schools, businesses, non-profits are all reeling as they find ways to adapt to this temporary normal. And the housing market is no exception. But within that uncertainty exists some opportunity. As states are beginning the process of “reopening” their economies, more people are thinking of taking advantage of current historically low-interest rates to refinancing their home. Recently, mortgage rates hit another historic low with 30-year fixed-rate loans averaging 2.98 percent and 15-year fixed-rate loans averaging 2.48 percent, according to Freddie Mac. One important question to ask is: “How much equity do I need for a refinance?” Equity is simply the difference between your home’s value and what you owe on your existing loan. A property worth $500k and $250k left on your loan equals 50% equity If you have less than 20% equity, lenders may require you to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI). Once you are above 20% equity, you can usually refinance to remove PMI. The more equity, the better. The number “needed” varies from one case to the next. It’s a good reason why we suggest reaching out to us at Total Lending Concepts, so we can help determine your best next steps.
SHOULD I REFINANCE NOW? It’s the question so many are asking right now. And even with low interest rates, the answer isn’t necessarily a definitive “yes.” If you are planning to move in the near future, the cons may outweigh the pros. And it’s also important to remember that when you refinance, you are actually getting an entirely new loan. So you’ll have to go through the qualification process to ensure
your financial position and credit score is where it needs to be. Refinancing could save you tens of thousands of dollars and reduce your monthly payment in the process. Or it could end up being more trouble than you are prepared to deal with. You won’t know until you ask, and we are ready to answer your call at Total Lending Concepts. Learn more at tlclender. com or give us a call at 573-303-3844.
Ross Kulik
TOTAL LENDING CONCEPTS Ross grew up in St. Louis, but calls Columbia, MO home. He is married with two wonderful daughters and two sweet dogs. Over the last 20 years, he has counseled numerous families on how to purchase and refinance their homes. As you may know, the mortgage industry has changed immensely. How do you know who will best help you through this process with honesty and integrity? Ross’s repeat customers say that he made their transactions effortless, and they appreciate his honest and straightforward approach. When Ross is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and biking on the many trails and parks in and around his hometown.
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What’s Stopping You? 2. OUR HOME NEEDS SMALL REPAIRS, BUT THERE’S SO MANY THAT IT’S OVERWHELMING.
By Beth Arey Find more at tracyarey.com
I
t’s a seller’s market more than EVER, and we are ready to sell your home! What’s stopping you from listing yours? Here are some common roadblocks homeowners run into:
1. WE’RE READY TO SELL, BUT WE DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START. We offer low-pressure, zero-commitment consultations that allow us to develop a specialized plan for your property. The plan will include preparing your home for listing as well as the marketing steps we’ll take to sell it fast!
With decades of experience in the real estate world, we’ve learned that this is one of the most common things stopping people from listing their homes for sale. Because of this, we’ve whittled down a list of the best handymen and professionals to work with you in spiffing up your property.
3. I’M NOT SURE HOW TO MAKE OUR HOME “LOOK GOOD.” No worries here! We will work directly with you to depersonalize your home for
professional listing photos and marketing pieces. If your property is empty, we also offer options for staging.
4. THE WHOLE PROCESS SEEMS DAUNTING. We’ve got it streamlined! With our years in the industry, we’ve seen it all. We’re here to walk through the entire process with you. You will never have to worry about feeling lost during any step. If listing your home has been on your mind, get in touch with us! We’ll go over all of your options and get you set up for sale!
Beth Arey
TRACY AREY REAL ESTATE Beth enjoys learning about the clients she serves and creating the reality of achieving homeownership! Competitive by nature, she shines best when working with buyers. The best part of her day is when she’s able to tell her client that their offer has been accepted! Within the brokerage, she is Tracy Arey Real Estate’s broker, buyers’ agent, and transaction coordinator. Her family is the core of who she is; between Tracy and her, they have four children, two daughters-in-law and two granddaughters. Tracy and her are so proud of their kids’ accomplishments and the people they have grown up to be! Did you know that Beth received two degrees from the University of Missouri and taught elementary school at both Shepard Elementary School and Columbia Independent School?
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Live Positive By Anne Tuckley Find more at AnneTuckleyhome.com
L
ife is complicated. It is particularly complicated now. Dramatic and unsettling changes in one person’s life are impactful. When you magnify that by the entire population of the world, they can seem insurmountable. This, justifiably, can lead to feelings of anger or depression, and those feelings can ruminate and create deeper problems. Now more than ever, it is important to focus on the good. Small, seemingly insignificant behaviors that are positive in nature when implemented daily can lead to large scale positive shifts. The following are the seven areas I recommend focusing on daily. You can break it down into one per day, or spread out as frequently as desired.
PHYSICAL
Get moving. Physical activity releases endorphins, which impact your mood, and exercise increases your energy. You don’t have to do anything crazy. Take a walk, garden, work on your flexibility through a yoga video, tackle that design project, or dance with your kids. Even enjoy some romantic time with your partner.
FINANCIAL
Don’t let your long-term goals become further out of reach. Transfer some money, even change, into a savings or retirement
account, switch to a higher interest checking or savings account, pay off that credit card debt, and sell your unwanted items.
EMOTIONAL
Keep your emotional health in check. Schedule time with a therapist or call a friend or other loved one to chat about how you are really doing right now. Reduce stress by simplifying your surroundings. Purge things you don’t need to remove clutter from your mind and your space.
SOCIAL
Stay connected. Schedule a virtual game night or dinner night with friends, chat with the neighbors, play with your kids, or reach out to those friends you haven’t connected with for a long time.
INTELLECTUAL
Stimulate your mind and try something new.
Read a new book, research that housing project, play games, do a puzzle, or take an online course.
CHARITABLE
Give back. Buy dinner or groceries for someone in need, donate money or goods to a local charity, get take-out from a local restaurant, or foster a pet.
PERSONAL Do something for you. Give yourself a pedicure, swap massages with your partner, enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of coffee on your porch, or simply lock yourself in your room for 10 minutes of uninterrupted alone time. Also, freshen up your space. I recently painted my dark gray bedroom a nice creamy white, and switched the bedding to white Linen. It is now such a serene, fresh space.
Anne Tuckley
ANNE TUCKLEY HOME Anne has been in the interior design industry for over 20 years and has resided in many metropolitan cities from NYC to Houston while honing in on her skills. Her specialties are interior design and home staging, with a focus on unique perception. Anne graduated with a BFA in fine art with a concentration in design and illustration. She has extensive experience in designing new construction as well as remodeling and conceptualizing out-of-the-box ideas. She ensures cutting-edge design and superb customer service. 108 CORPORATE LAKE PLACE, COLUMBIA, MO 65203 573-639-1989 | ANNETUCKLEYHOME.COM
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A Productive Change By Jake Baumgartner Find more at baumgartners.com
W
ith the COVID-19 pandemic still being present in our society, going back to work, or your kids return to school for the fall semester might look a little different this year. It’s time to move away from your kitchen table and into your new home office. Having an office space in your home (that isn’t your kitchen table) has several benefits. Even though it’s not a big move, the shift from your kitchen to an office will eliminate the distractions caused by your family or pets. You will be more productive and focused in this new space. And, an office space will help you separate your work life from your home life — something a lot of us struggle with. Are you ready to update your home office? At Baumgartner’s, we’ve got you covered. Start with your desk chair. If you have a good and comfortable desk chair, you’re more apt to do better work. Having a quality desk chair will help with posture, energy levels, and focus. We have over hundred desk chairs for you to choose from, and we have chairs to fit all home decor styles. From mid-century modern to farmhouse chic, you won’t have to sacrifice looks or comfort for your desk chair. When it comes to a desk, size matters. Having a large desk will allow you to spread
out. So on those days when your desk is flooded with papers, you won’t have to feel overwhelmed by the mess. At Baumgartner’s we have a wide selection of desks to choose from. Splurge on an L-shaped desk, or switch it up with a two-piece desk. And for your kids, we have writing desks that will be a perfect fit for homework time. Don’t forget about storage! Even though your desk will have drawer storage, it’s not
enough. For all of the books and files in your possession, you need some shelving to help your organization. Try a bookcase or a credenza in your space to help you stay organized throughout your long days of work. Are you ready to update your home office? Whatever your project, we’re here to help. Visit our showrooms in Columbia and Auxvasse and let our staff help you find everything you need for your office.
Jake Baumgartner
BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE Jake essentially grew up in the furniture industry as he is the fourth generation involved in Baumgartner’s Furniture. Working very closely with his father, Alan, Jake has been devoted to the stores full-time since 2004. His greatest enjoyment, however, still comes from working closely with the customers. He is married to Sarah and they have two active boys, Noah and Laine. Jake received his degree in finance from Saint Louis University. 573-256-6288 BAUMGARTNERS.COM
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Working with Slopes By Nate Anderson Find more at rostlandscaping.com
I
t can be intimidating when thinking of ways to landscape your sloped property. Designing and building on a hillside can be very challenging. Despite the challenge, some of the most interesting projects I have worked on were on slopes. Having grade changes to your landscape adds depth and creates opportunities for a unique design. Your property’s biggest downfall can become its greatest asset. By properly utilizing walls, stone, or plant materials, you can tame your slope in a way that is both functional and attractive. Retaining walls are a great way to help manage your property’s slope. They can be used to create more usable yard space, or to level off an area where you want to install a patio and create an outdoor room. Retaining walls are the obvious answer for most people when considering how to handle their yards slope, but many homeowners don’t like the idea of a big concrete retaining wall in their backyard. The good news is that there are other alternatives. For one, man-made concrete block retaining walls have come a long way in recent years. There are many colors and styles to choose from, from very rustic to very modern. There are also numerous natural stone products available that come in equal thicknesses making them easy to stack. If you don’t like the idea of one larger retaining wall, you may
be able to create two or more smaller retaining walls giving the area a terraced look. Terraced walls create perfect pockets for landscape beds and plant materials. By mixing in plant materials you will help soften the look of the retaining walls. Another option to consider is the use of large natural stone boulders. Boulders can be used in the same way a small retaining wall would be. You can use them to create a flat spot where you want a patio installed, for example. There are also natural stone slabs that are quarried at 6” thicknesses that work great when used as a staircase. Stone is a great option when you want to keep your landscape looking natural, and a stone staircase adds a safe way to get from point A to
point B. If you are not looking to create a flat spot but rather just prevent erosion, you can install a mix of boulders and plant materials on a hillside to help stabilize the soil. It is best to plant things with deep roots in these areas and research which plants are best suited for the location. When taking on your outdoor projects, it is always best to consult a professional. This is especially true when it comes to building something structural like a retaining wall. Proper construction methods must be used to ensure the longevity of the installation. Hiring a qualified designer from a reputable landscape company is a great way to start getting ideas on how best to manage your sloped property.
Nate Anderson
ROST LANDSCAPING Nate Anderson has been a resident of Columbia for seven years, and he has been working in the landscape industry for just as long. Nate is a designer/estimator for Rost Inc. While working on his degree in plant science and landscape design, he was working as a foreman at Rost Landscaping, where he oversaw landscape construction projects. He credits much of his inspiration to his “early years” where he got to be a part of the construction of many beautiful landscapes. He is passionate about creating unique and functional outdoor spaces and still considers himself to be very hands-on. While not at work, Nate and his wife are gardening, hiking, kayaking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. 573-445-4465 | ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM
Show
Y our What the various Pride flags mean to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride is about the celebration of all the beautiful identities in the LGBTQ+ community, which is accompanied by an array of various expressions. We all know the iconic rainbow Pride flag that represents the gay communities around the world, but Pride flags go beyond this rainbow-striped symbol. Each sector of the LGBTQ+ community is represented by their own flag — from asexual to transgender to genderqueer and non-binary — and while Pride flags are inclusive to all members of the LGBTQ+ community, they all mean something different to those in each represented community. BY CH R I STI NE PHA M | PHOTO S BY K E I T H B O R GM EYE R
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AUGUST 2020
True
Colors A Few of the Many Pride Flags
GENDERQUEER
INTERSEX
AGENDER
LESBIAN
AROMANTIC
PANSEXUAL
ASEXUAL
POLYSEXUAL
BISEXUAL
PROGRESS
NON-BINARY
DEMISEXUAL
TRADITIONAL
GENDERFLUID
TRANSGENDER
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Vera Elwood Librarian at Central Methodist University Queer
“For me, placing my mini Pride flags above my desk signaled not only my own sexuality (although a lot of my teens just assumed I was a really good ally), but also that I am a safe person to talk to. I had multiple teens tell me they only decided to trust me once they saw the flags above my desk. While I love my Pride flags as a way to be proud of my own identity, I use them far more frequently to signal a ‘safe haven’ of acceptance.”
Selena Martin Artist Lesbian
“It was not so much as a flag that helped me, but the sitcoms and comedians that helped me. I feel like the kids are going to be just fine. I am really happy to see things on social media where there are younger people who are lesbians. They know who they are, and don’t have a complex about it because they can see it on other media that is not obscure.”
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AUGUST 2020
Living
ST YLE
Meagan Nolte
Senior Publication Strategist at Influence & Co. Bisexual
“I grew up not knowing what bisexual is. Having a flag I relate to and being able to see other people with it is a warm feeling. It’s like a found-family when you see someone with the same flag as you. I think of Pride as an appreciation and celebration of the people before us, until now.”
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Shane Stinson
Instagram Influencer Transgender
“I think the flag is so important because it allows you to show pride in something about yourself. It allows you to signal to others to say, ‘This is who I am,’ and it allows you to build community with others. There is an homage to the trans flag [on the Pride flag], but people try to lump all of these identities together, and that is not the case. It has been critical for me to say, ‘Yes I am included in this rainbow of identities, but I love being able to grab onto something that is mine.’”
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AUGUST 2020
LEVEL UP THE FUN! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND BACK TO NORMAL HOURS 10AM-10PM SUNDAY TO THURSDAY | 10AM-MIDNIGHT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
LASER TAG
ROPES COURSE ARCADE
BOWLING Columbia’s newest Family Fun Center is NOW OPEN! Book your event at LevelUpTheFun.com or in person. Columbia Mall | 2300 Bernadette Drive, Ste 228 | (573) 615-0443 COMOMAG.COM
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REMODEL REWARD RECEIVE UP TO A
2,000
$
rebate* with the purchase of select Café appliance suite combinations.
We have a Modern Glass Collection Display on the Showroom Floor! Rebates are not available at any of the big box stores! 1104 E Broadway • 573.874.3333 • D owntownAppliance.com
*Purchases from Lowe’s®, The Home Depot® and Best Buy® are not eligible for this rebate promotion. Eligible purchases must be made at an authorized GE Appliances Reseller between July 1 and December 31, 2020. No more than one appliance from the Countertop Microwave/Over-the-Range Microwave category will be eligible for rebate. For example, if you purchase two eligible microwaves, only one will be considered for rebate. Depending on the number of models purchased and following rebate approval for eligible qualifying models, a rebate will be issued on a Visa Prepaid Card. Up to seven (7) eligible Café Appliances must be purchased on one sales receipt. See page 3 of this form for speciic models. This rebate cannot be combined with any other GE Appliances package rebate.
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AUGUST 2020
Living
FRIENDS & FAMILY
The Road
to Refuge How refugees are making Columbia their new home after theirs were destroyed.
BY J E N N IF E R TR U E SDA L E
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ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS, 79.5 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide by the end of 2019, whether by war, tyranny, or genocide. For most of us, it’s almost impossible to imagine living in a war-torn country, watching helplessly as our homes, families, and daily lives are destroyed, leaving us no choice but to flee to another country to start our lives over from scratch. But this is the reality that thousands of refugees like Caritas Habimana and Noe Rusaysa, two refugees that escaped their home countries and came to Columbia, face every year.
From Refugees to U.S. Citizens Cari Habimana came to Columbia in 1996 to escape her war-torn home country of Rwanda. She fled to Kenya during the Rwandan Civil War and genocide, where she waited to be granted permission to enter the U.S. Th is is also where she was reunited with her husband and three children, from whom she was separated for five months during the war. When they arrived in America, Cari and her family spoke no English. In addition to having to learn the language, American culture, how to drive, her children’s new school system, and how to fi nd work, she was also overcoming the trauma of losing family in the genocide and being forced from her home. Twenty-six years later, Cari is now a U.S. citizen, and she actively serves the vast East African refugee community in Columbia, which is estimated to be in the hundreds. Cari works as an in-home caregiver for Help at Home and is an interpreter for CPS, Family Health Center, and the Columbia Housing Authority. She speaks six languages, including French and Swahili, which makes her able to speak to and translate for the majority of refugees coming from East African nations like Rwanda, Eritrea, Burundi, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. "When you get here, you don’t know how to read your mail. You don’t know how to apply for food stamps — it’s a problem,” Cari says. “So that’s what I wanted to do: help them get what they need to have, to fi nd jobs, stuff like that.” Cari also is a deaconess with Christian Fellowship Church, which has an active refugee outreach ministry. Cari learned about some of the other refugees in town when she saw some walking from the Gerbes on Broadway, carrying things on their heads. The East African refugees, most of whom are overcoming the shared trauma of fleeing their homelands, have formed a community and support each other. “We get together a lot,” Cari says with pride. “All of the refugees know each other. When we lose someone, or someone gets married, we get together. And we put money together for them. It’s really amazing.” Cari moved to Georgia with her husband for a time, but moved back to Columbia because, she says, Columbia is the best and has been very welcoming to refugees like her.
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AUGUST 2020
“We don’t know the mannerisms, we don’t know the
expectations
in America, so bear with us. We are learning, and we are becoming Americans.”
Living
And while Columbia is home now, Cari has been able to return to Africa a few times to visit her family who survived the genocide. But one of the times she went back was to claim the bodies of her family who did not survive, in order to keep them from being buried in mass graves. Noe Rusaysa came to Columbia in 2008, escaping war in his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo with his three young children. "If you’re coming here, it’s because you’re escaping confl ict back home," Noe says. He and his family were in much the same boat as Cari was when they arrived in Columbia. "Learning English and learning to drive were challenges,” he says. “Columbia is home now. It was hard to overcome barriers — you have to learn the culture, how to make friends, and the language." Noe is now a U.S. citizen and has had two more children since arriving here. He is an energetic parent and stays busy while working at Big Tree Medical.
Noe Rusaysa
The Journey to Columbia Every year, under obligation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the president, in coordination with congress and federal agencies, determines how many refugees will be permitted into the country. Most refugees go to developing countries, but tens of thousands come to the U.S. each year. Refugees are different from immigrants, who decide to relocate to another country willingly, and even from asylum seekers, whose refugee status has not been verified. Refugees are extensively screened by the U.S. State Department before being allowed to enter the country, and the process can be lengthy. Once granted refugee status, refugees do not have a choice as to where they settle in the U.S. Instead, the government contracts with nonprofit and faith-based organizations to settle them. One such organization is Refugee and Immigration Services of Catholic Charities of
Caritas Habimana
FRIENDS & FAMILY
Central and Northern Missouri. Th is refugee resettlement office is located in Columbia and is the social services outreach arm of the Diocese of Jefferson City. Columbia, Springfield, St. Louis, and Kansas City are the four Missouri cities that accept refugees. About 2% of refugees coming to America settle in Missouri. Refugee and Immigration Services provides refugees with initial housing, household goods, help with employment, English language training, and extensive case management to help refugees navigate their new homes. These services are provided for three to six months. After the initial settlement period, City of Refuge, a Columbia nonprofit, steps in to help refugees. "City of Refuge steps in after about three to six months, when RIS has stopped their settlement services and the refugees have their fi rst jobs and are left to be more independent, which we found takes a lot longer,” says Lori Stoll, refugee care coordinator for City of Refuge. “We’ve found that the help they need is probably life-long. Also, they have trauma. With trauma, you don’t keep a lot of short-term memory, so your learning curve is a lot bigger." Lori says that the refugees’ language barrier prevents them from having many employment choices, and when they do fi nd a job, they often work seven days a week or in 10 to 12-hour shifts — it’s not easy. “Most of us have an uncle or a grandma somewhere we can call when we’re down on our luck and need help, but these folks, their families are over in a refugee camp starving, and once they get their job, they’re sending all of their extra income back home to their sister or grandma instead of using it to heal here,” Lori says. “That’s why we get out of bed. People don’t really get it until they know a refugee and learn their story." For the last several years, City of Refuge has served about 800 refugees in the community, including some who are now U.S. citizens. As more refugees settle in Columbia, Cari asks for residents’ patience. “We don’t know the mannerisms, we don’t know the expectations in America, so bear with us,” she says. “We are learning, and we are becoming Americans. Communication is hard for us, and we make mistakes, but we’ll get there."
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Adventures in Advocacy Mother-daughter duo Jen and Jordan Reeves advocate for the disability community. BY KATI E PER RY HA R R I S | PHOTO S BY A NT HO NY J I NS O N
Jen Lee Reeves learned early on not to make assumptions about her daughter, Jordan. Jordan, now 14, was born with a left arm that stopped just above the elbow. Jen was the first one to notice. The doctor said Jordan was fine, and from the very beginning, her family knew, indeed, that Jordan was born just right. It’s a parenting lesson that applies to all families. “It’s important not to guess what your kid can and can’t do,” Jordan says. “They’ll figure out what they can do, and there are so many ways to figure things out.” The Reeves have done more than figure things out. Together, this motherdaughter duo has become advocates for the disability community, and their journey has taken them on many adventures, all while remaining grounded in their life here in Columbia.
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Becoming an Advocate When Jordan was born in 2005, Jen reminds us, the internet was not what it is today. Still, with her journalism background, Jen was intent on researching and learning as much as she could about limb differences. “When you’re a new parent with a new experience, and you’ve never experienced a disability before, it can feel very isolating,” she says. “As a journalist, I felt like why not report about what I was learning and try to find more resources.” That process led to the start of Jen’s blog, Born Just Right. Jordan’s family says she’s “just right,” and she was born with “just” a right hand — a play on words. “I’ve realized that the power of using the internet is about learning from the entire disability community,” Jen says. “We learned from other kids too, and learn from people who are in it every day.” The advocacy continued in daily life, as Jen learned to step back and let Jordan discover how to do things herself, from putting on socks and shoes in preschool to sharing a book with elementary school classmates that encouraged everyone to ask questions about Jordan’s left arm. The Reeves family also made sure that Jordan had plenty of opportunities, like camps across the country, to travel and meet other kids with differences. It was at one such camp when she was 11 that Jordan’s life began to take a different direction. At a camp called Superhero Cyborgs in San Francisco, she was invited to join kids with limb differences to learn about design. They were asked a question: “If you could build something for your little arm that helped you become a superhero, what kind of superhero would you be?” For Jordan, the answer involved glitter. A lot of glitter. Partnering with industrial designer Sam Hobish after the camp was over, Jordan and Sam continued to work on and refine her design for a prosthetic arm with a unicorn horn that shoots out glitter. The name: Project Unicorn. And the glitter? “Glitter brings a lot of joy,” Jordan says. The camp exposure made Jordan realize how interested she was in STEM and designing. “Project Unicorn showed me a whole different world,” Jordan says. “This brought such a positive look onto disabilities. Kids have fun, and it adds more diversity into the design world.”
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The Adventure Begins Project Unicorn was shared on social media, and from that point on, the Reeves’ world exploded with glitter. The adventure was about to get bigger. “We had no idea what we were doing,” says Jen. “I didn’t think it would be something that would catch attention. It was cool to share it, and then Jordan naturally identified that this was a way to talk about disability.” Jordan was invited to present her design idea at Maker Faire Bay Area, one of the largest events in the country for design. More opportunities followed, from speaking engagements at TEDx to the Rachel Ray Show, where she presented her invention to the team from Shark Tank. “We’re good at traveling, and we like adventures,” says Jen. Jordan has learned how to work and then shut it off, she adds. “She’s so much more aware of what she needs to decompress.” All the while, Jordan was attending school in Columbia and enjoying her regular life with her friends and family, including an older brother, Cameron, and dad, Randy, and the family’s two beloved dogs. How does Jordan balance regular life with these amazing experiences? “I separate the public work from school,” she says. “That’s not what I’m known for at school.” It was at school that Jordan first became inspired to write a book. She credits her fifth-grade teacher at Fairview Elementary, Renee Wilcoxson, for inspiring a love of reading that gave her the confidence to tackle writing. “How does she do that?” Jordan asks in amazement — teachers clearly have superpowers, too. One day, after reading “Wonder” and wanting a book that was about more than a disability, Jordan came home and said she could write a book.
In the early mornings and after school, Jordan and Jen worked together and had half of their book written when they submitted it to publishers. “Born Just Right” was published in 2019 and tells the story of Jordan’s journey of becoming an inventor and advocate. The adventures didn’t end with the book launch. Jordan was featured on the first episode of the Disney+ series “Marvel’s Hero
Project,” a new documentary show that shares the positive impact young, real-life heroes have on their communities. At the end of the episode, Jordan is surprised by the presentation of a new Marvel comic — starring herself as the superhero. “She’s not a hero because she has a disability,” Jen says. She was initially hesitant about such a large brand placing a label on Jordan without
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“It’s important not to guess what your kid can and can’t do. They’ll figure out what they can do, and there are so many ways to figure things out.” — Jordan Reeves context. But after the year-long process of working on the show, they’re pleased that the episode brings further attention to Jordan’s work and hopes it inspires other kids that they too can work to create change.
Creating Change For The Future It’s the desire to make positive changes in the world that led to the founding of their nonprofit, Born Just Right, with a mission of building creative solutions that help kids with differences live a more enjoyable life. The foundation believes that giving kids design and STEM knowledge empowers them to create their own solutions. Jen balances her work at MU with running the nonprofit. During a typical summer, Jen and Jordan would be traveling to Cambridge to work on Born Just Right’s BOOST workshops to teach kids design. This summer, during
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the COVID-19 pandemic, the workshops will be remote. Jen sees a silver lining in a wider audience the virtual workshops can provide. “There are a lot of kids interested in design,” she says. “Our workshops help kids learn how to design with others and with different perspectives. Bringing real people into the design process changes design.” It’s a life lesson that applies not only to kids with disabilities. “The magic of design is realizing you have a voice, and input is something every kid can learn,” Jen says. Jordan will start her freshman year at
Hickman High School this fall, and she’s excited to meet new people and wants to try her hand at acting. Her own design work continues, and she’s working with designer Sam Hobish again on a new project to create other cool designs. By her own admission, she’s moving into a more practical phase of design, past the sparkle, but whatever she does, it’s sure to involve her own brand of magic. “It’s been a wild ride, and it’s not over,” Jen says. “Jordan is going to continue to teach us, and I will continue to run the organization as best I can.”
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JUNETE E NTH
155 Years of Black Freedom Bringing awareness and a culture of inclusion to Columbia. BY PR I N CE CH I NGA R A ND E | PHOTO S BY B E T H B R A M ST E DT
O
n June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived on the island of Galveston, Texas, with over 2,000 federal troops and announced a federal proclamation that declared all enslaved Black people free. This day became commonly known as “Juneteenth,� and would be celebrated to commemorate the liberation of the last enslaved Black
people in America and the nascence of recognizing Black individuals as full human beings with hopes, fears, dreams, and most importantly, human rights. Today, Juneteenth maintains the same spirit, but it has also taken on a new meaning. Between March and May, the nation witnessed the murders of Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, Tony McDade,
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JUNETE E NTH
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JUNETE E NTH
and George Floyd, among many others, all at the hands of racism. Consequently, many Black individuals and allies rallied in the streets for the Black Lives Matter movement to protest the loss of these innocent lives, demand radical change in law enforcement systems, and initiate discourse on Black liberation and granting Black people authentic, unequivocal human rights. Given this context, Juneteenth has taken on new meaning — it has now morphed into a holiday that is not just a fête, but also a form of protest in defense of Black lives. In Columbia, there were a number of events that celebrated Juneteenth and also educated the community on the history of the event and the general plight of Black people in the community. One of these events, CoMo Celebrates Juneteenth, was hosted at Karis Church. The event was three parts. It began with a walk through Heritage Trail. This was followed by an in-person drive-through portion in Karis Church’s parking lot. The scene was vibrant, featuring people enjoying soul food made by local vendors. Families, with their enthusiastic children, contorted their bodies to the sound of “Cupid Shuffle.” Thereafter, there were a series of speeches given by Adonica Coleman and Nikki McGruder, co-organizers of the event, and Mary Ratliff, president of Columbia’s NAACP chapter. All three speakers addressed the importance of celebrating Black liberation and harkening to voices in the community that are demanding change and demanding that Black lives to be acknowledged and respected. The drive-through segment ended with a recitation of Frederick Douglas’s famous speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” The final portion of the event was a series of online content and included an in-depth panel discussion with local pastors, moderated by Adonica, that discussed the history and meaning of Juneteenth.
INCEPTION
The idea to host a major Juneteenth event began with CoMo Small Great Things, a book club of diverse women, and of which Adonica and Nikki are members. The book club dwells on literature about racial issues, so naturally, the conversation about Juneteenth and what the community could do to celebrate the event became a point of discussion.
“We talked about the importance of working with our allies and wanted to make sure that it was a celebration where we could also show why it is important that those positioning themselves to be allies celebrate [Juneteenth] too.” — Nikki McGruder
“We have a book club that has been meeting for three years . . . We were having a conversation about the latest book we’d read, and one of the white ladies said, ‘Why is the onus always on Black people in town to actually get things going? If we’re trying to seek racial reconciliation, we should be the ones doing the work,’” Adonica says. “That’s when Juneteenth came up in the conversation, and they offered to take some of the responsibility of planning the event, offering to get more community members involved, including local churches.”
PLANNING THE EVENT
While celebration was the central phenomenon, the event made it a priority to also educate the community and bring awareness to the context of Juneteenth. Nikki says: “I think it’s important to know that the group I’m in has been having conversations around race for a long time. So, we wanted to make sure that we provided a celebratory aspect along with education.” She adds, “We talked about the importance of working with our allies and wanted to make sure that it was a celebration where we could also show why it is important that those positioning themselves to be allies celebrate [Juneteenth] too.”
Education was also a priority because, after taking stock of general sentiments regarding the holiday, organizers realized that the public — especially the non-Black public — doesn’t know much about Juneteenth. Adonica says: “For Nikki and I, we didn’t know about Juneteenth until we were fully-grown women, and we’re both Black women in our forties. So, we wanted to involve different people and have several voices and make the event interactive.” The process of planning CoMo Celebrates Juneteenth was not without its challenges. With the COVID-19 pandemic upending event planning, the organizing team had to adapt to the times and create an event that would celebrate and educate people about Juneteenth while keeping their health and safety a priority. “We submitted our plans to the health department and had consistent communication with them about what things to consider to make sure everyone was safe,” Adonica says. The team drew inspiration from Karis Church’s Easter service, which was a drivethrough gathering that encouraged social distancing. In addition, there were also masks sold at the concessions table at the event’s entrance.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Reflecting on CoMo Celebrates Juneteenth, it is evident that the event was a success — it was able to bring together Columbia’s community in solidarity, maintain health and safety regulations, and also give people invaluable knowledge about the importance of Juneteenth and advocacy for Black lives. As of June 19, 2020, Mayor Brian Treece proclaimed Juneteenth Celebration Day an officially recognized holiday in Columbia. “I think one of the greatest feats for that day was coming together to do the in-person aspect and keep it according to the plan that we put together for the health department. So people started off their day the right way, and then they were able to go to their respective places to enjoy the rest of the content virtually,” Nikki says. With regards to next year, the goal is to enlarge the Juneteenth celebrations by collaborating with more community entities, including the city council. The educational content will still harken to the history and relevance of Juneteenth, and it will extend to include the contributions and success of Black people within Columbia and the nation at large.
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Living
COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Jaime and Tony Palmer Jaime and Tony Palmer share their favorite qualities about each other and their favorite family traditions. HOW DID YOU MEET? Tony: At the greatest university in the
country that I like to call home — the University of Missouri. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE? Jaime: Dinner at Murry’s. It remains a
favorite after getting engaged there 13-plus years ago. WHAT DO YOU ADMIRE MOST ABOUT YOUR PARTNER? T: I wanted to fi nd a woman who had the
WHAT MAKES YOUR RELATIONSHIP UNIQUE? J: Though we have some differences in our
upbringing, the most important parts are the same — we both have a strong faith in God and have amazing families that have supported and encouraged us.
respect one another and share a mutual faith in God that bonds us. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT TO WORK ON TOGETHER? T: Raising our boys — a project in progress. J: I don’t know if dinner is a project, but this
qualities of my mother — someone who was strong, independent, loving, caring, and confident — and I found all these qualities and more. She may be tougher than my mother, but don’t tell her that.
FAMILY TRADITION?
pandemic has really upped our cooking-athome game. Tony is the grill master, but I provide strong support in the side dish arena.
T: Playing family games like “Settlers of Catan,” “Monopoly,” chess, farkle, etc.
HOW DOES OUR ISSUE THEME OF
J: His effortless ability to make people feel
J: Candlelight Christmas Eve service —
loved. He’s incredibly warm, kind, and attentive, even with complete strangers. His hugs are somewhat famous among those who know him. WHAT’S SOMETHING YOUR PARTNER DOES TO MAKE YOU SMILE? T: When she sings Shania Twain to me, or
when she has a dance party with the boys.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE
witnessing our boys light their little candles among a huge group singing Silent Night is tear-worthy. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE TWO OF YOU? T: Many more years together, watching our children grow up, and growing old together . . . old and wrinkled.
J: I love seeing Tony play with our boys, nieces
and nephews, or other kids. Little ones see him as a big jungle gym. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY? T: Going to Mizzou games and watching my boys play sports. J: We’re a food-loving bunch, so going out for
a family dinner or an Andy’s Frozen Custard treat is high on the list year-round.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO A LASTING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP? T: No relationship is perfect, but with love and commitment to one another for better or worse, we know we’ll cross the finish line together. She loves me despite my shortcomings and flaws, and I love her in all her beauty and perfection. J: Remaining committed to one another
through bad days and good. We love and
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PLAY INTO YOUR RELATIONSHIP? T: Given the strong roots that we come from, we make sure that we instill within our boys the same message that Dr. King, as well as our parents, instilled within us — not to judge people by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, and to love everyone as Christ loves us. Although our country is in a cycle of division that continues to repeat itself, we’re choosing love as the foundation in our home. J: The diversity of Columbia’s population is one of the major reasons we put down roots here after we married in 2008. We wanted to live in a community that strives to be inclusive of all and values differences, and Columbia has been that place for us. Unfortunately, it’s clear now more than ever that our country has much work to do. As we raise our biracial sons in this broken land, I pray they will one day inherit a better world with justice and equality.
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Working
78 GETTING BACK ON TRACK How the Goodwill Excel Center gives adults a second chance at education.
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Working
CLOSER LOOK
AUGUST 2020
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QuarkWorks began as a dream of three MU grad school students — Bryan Pratte and his two friends Brett and Brandon. “We were interested in building something,” Bryan says. They began making video games, but after some time, found their way into building apps for Silicon Valley startups. About nine years ago, they created QuarkWorks — a company that started out of the love for building new things. Currently, it helps businesses build better software. QuarkWorks has helped build apps for companies like Roots N Blues, Eventbrite, Reddit, and Houseparty. By working alongside clients, it helps grow, accelerate, and scale businesses with its services. In the future, QuarkWorks hopes to take everything it has learned and build its own product. At the end of the day, “We really love building things,” says Bryan. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun.”
A year ago, Joan Smith created Lawn Cheers — a local company producing hand-made yard signs in a hot garage. “I’m retired from the university,” she says. “I’ve always been a ‘crafter’ — I used to make yard signs for Christmas.” After visiting a group in Arkansas creating similar signs, Joan fell in love with the idea. Now, she makes whimsical, unique yard signs as a business: creating them, dropping them off, and picking them up. Joan makes signs for all occasions — birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, etc. “I’m hoping people will see our signs and appreciate them for their uniqueness and the hard work behind them,” she says. Lawn Cheers is fairly new and still building itself up, but Joan would love to chat about ideas for signs with anyone. “We’d love to bring joy to the world one yard at a time,” she says.
In 2010, Kelli Winarski and her husband, David, started Family First Chiropractic. After graduating from chiropractic school together, they found they could best serve the community by starting a husband-and-wife practice. “Columbia is a great place — it’s the best of both worlds. It’s big enough to have entertainment, but it has a small-town feel,” Kelli says. Thus, this family practice began in the heart of Missouri. “People don’t come for pain, they come to get their life back,” says Kelli. If the pain someone is experiencing keeps them from doing something important, Family First wants to help. At Family First Chiropractic, “We adjust kiddos and whole families,” she says. For the future, they’re working on settling into their new office space, saving money, and growing to add more doctors. Kelli says it all: “We want to come together to create a better community.”
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Briefly in the News AU GUST 2020
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GIVING BAC K
U.S. Cellular Donates Tablets to Organization As part of U.S. Cellular’s ongoing commitment to local communities, the company has donated Samsung tablets to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri. Tyree, Dashawn, and Jaden of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri were three among 18 to receive a tablet to help keep them connected during the stay-at-home orders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Tablets were used to complete school assignments, join their class via Zoom, participate in mentor meetings, and take part in one-on-one sessions with their respective Big Brother or Big Sister.
Working COM M UNITY
EDUCATION
Missouri River Relief Camp Goes Virtual
Columbia College to Resume In-Person Classes
Missouri River Relief pivoted to a virtual camp experience this summer. Watershed Expedition at Home is the organization’s innovative answer for cancelled in-person summer camps: Missouri River Relief invited youth from across the community to join a month-long watershed expedition. Watershed Expedition at Home consisted of a 4-week combination of Camp in a Box and Virtual Camp for fourth through seventh graders and eighth through twelfth graders in July that brought the fun of a camp to families' homes.
“Our goal is to bring our incredible staff, instruction, and the community that families love at Missouri River Relief to children at home! We believe our families and campers need camp more than ever.” — KRISTEN SCHULTE, EDUCATION DIRECTOR OF MISSOURI RIVER RELIEF
BRIEFLY
Columbia College plans to welcome students back to campus for the fall semester for in-seat classes. Social distancing, mask-wearing, deep cleaning, and several other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be implemented. In-seat instruction is set to begin on August 31 with a virtual option for some classes, and will continue until Thanksgiving break, which starts on November 20. Classes will then transition to an all-virtual platform through the remainder of the semester, including finals. G IVING BAC K
Hy-Vee Joins Partnership to End Summer Hunger Hy-Vee, in partnership with Kellogg’s and Keurig Dr. Pepper, announced its End Summer Hunger campaign to provide food for children and families in need. During the month of July, for every qualifying purchase at a Hy-Vee grocery store, one meal was donated to Feeding America food banks in Hy-Vee’s eightstate region. The program’s goal was to donate 1.5 million meals. NEW LEAD ER SHIP
The Salvation Army Welcomes New Officers The Salvation Army transfers officers every few years, and Columbia will be welcoming a new regional command and a new set of corps officers in July. The previous officers have served in Boone County for the past three to four years. Major Jack Holloway and Major Nancy Holloway have served as the regional command for Central Missouri since July 2016, and Lieutenant Carmon Camp has served as the corps officer for Boone County since July 2017.
COMMUNITY
Boone County Historical Society Launches Online Collection The Boone County Historical Society has launched a free, open-access, digital online collection. The collection includes 2,500 vintage portraits of Boone Countians scanned from glass plate negatives produced between 1910 and 1936, as well as thousands of pages of the earliest Boone County court records from 1821 through 1840. This was made possible through donations, grants, and thousands of hours of work put in by volunteers.
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AUGUST 2020
DON PROSE
Coil Construction announced that team member Don Prose recently earned his project manager professional certification. Don joined the Coil team in 2011 as a project manager and has worked on both new construction and remodels, overseeing projects from conceptual design through their successful completion. Don graduated from MU with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and he is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
NIKKI MCGRUDER
Nikki McGruder, director of the Inclusive Impact Institute, is joining University of Missouri Health Care as the director of diversity and inclusion. Nikki will serve in the newly created position effective starting in August. As director of diversity and inclusion, Nikki will advance the health system’s efforts to encourage diversity in all its forms. Since May 2018, Nikki has served as director of the Inclusive Impact Institute, an innovative organization aimed at strategically creating diverse and inclusive communities through collaboration, education, and engagement.
M AT T H EW B R I D G E S
Klingner & Associates has welcomed Matthew Bridges to its Columbia office as a mechanical/ electrical designer. Matthew joins the firm with eight years of experience working directly with HVAC equipment and
providing design for air handling units, energy recovery units, and dehumidification systems. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Evansville and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
the role of one of the co-executive directors. Arin Liberman started at True/False in 2011 as the education outreach coordinator and assistant box office director. Since then, she has held many other roles, and she will now join Barbie and Camellia as co-executive director. Together, the women have 30 years of combined experience within the organization.
ANN MERRIFIELD
S A R A H S PATA F O R A
Ann Merrifield, formerly with Columbia College, has joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri as their executive director as of June. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to provide children facing adversity with strong, enduring, and professionally supported one-toone relationships that change their lives for the better forever. With her background of working with atrisk youth, business development, fundraising, and constituent engagement, she is excited about this new opportunity.
Optimized CFO & Controller Services announced the addition of a new staff accountant, Sarah Spatafora. As the staff accountant, Sara will be responsible for accounting and financial duties for Optimized CFO’s clients. She also will work on bookkeeping and payroll outsourcing. Sara holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in business management from MU. She previously worked in public procurement and finance for more than five years and worked on small business bookkeeping and payroll for more than eight years for multiple industries.
PROSE
MCGRUDER
BRIDGES
R AG TAG F I L M S O C I E TY
The Ragtag Film Society’s Board of Directors is proud to announce a progressive change in leadership. Barbie Banks started volunteering with the True/False Film Fest in 2011, and later joined the RFS CORE in 2013. She has held several leadership positions and will now serve as one of the new co-executive directors. Camellia Cosgray stumbled upon True/False in late 2008. She has made continuous strides for the organization working as an operations director and fest director. Now, she will take on
TRUE NORTH
True North of Columbia is proud to announce its 2020-21 officers and new additions to its board of directors. Kate Boatright will serve as president; Wendy Wiederhold, vice president; Jon Class, treasurer; and Ashley Emel, secretary. Lee Russell is past president, and Laura Crouch serves as president emeritus. True North also welcomes new board members Jeri Doty, Kristein King, Mike Middleton, and Ahoo Tabatabai.
MERRIFIELD
S PATA F O R A
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2 6 TH A N N U A L
ATHENA INTERNATIONAL
AWARDS BANQUET Thursday, September 24, 2020 • 5:30-7:30pm Stephens College • Kimball Ballroom $35 per person • Cocktail attire encouraged
Re gi ste r o n l i n e : Columb ia M OC ha m b e r.com Presenting Sponsor: The Trust Company; Awards Sponsor: Providence Bank; Gold Sponsors: Burrell Behavioral Health, Cumulus Media, Dave Griggs Flooring America, Veterans United Home Loans; Dinner Catering Sponsor: Fresh Ideas Food Service; Video Sponsor: KOMU 8 & Mid Missouri's CW; Location Sponsor: Stephens College; Beverage Sponsor: Les Bourgeois Vineyards; Design Services Sponsor: Columbia Marketing Group; Printing Services Sponsor: Shelter Insurance Companies - Main Office; Media Sponsors: Columbia Daily Tribune/Tribune Publishing Co., The Columbia Missourian, COMO Magazine, KRCG CBS 13
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Ballot Access: Mailing It In The continuing debate on voting procedures during COVID-19. BY KRCG 13’S KERMIT MILLER
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ay back in January, long before the coronavirus became the yardstick by which everything legislative was measured, the majority of Republicans in Jefferson City had two must-do items on their agenda. One, of course, was to pass a budget. The second was to create a new ballot question that would undo Missouri Constitutional Amendment 1 — the ethics and redistricting measure adopted by voters just two years ago. For over two decades, and certainly since the advent of the internet, ballot access has been a point of intense debate in Missouri. Conservatives have pushed for and won tight controls, including a requirement for photo identification, claiming anything less is an invitation to voter fraud. Progressives have countered that the record bears little evidence of that fraud, and have demanded, without success, a move toward early voting and no-excuse absentee voting. Neither side has demonstrated the slightest interest in compromise. Then came the coronavirus. The unprecedented intrusion of COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of American life, and elections are no exception. The risk of spreading the disease prompted Governor Mike Parson and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to push back the spring municipal elections by two months to allow time to plan out how to keep polling places from becoming disease factories. And despite their best efforts at sanitization, those elections ultimately attracted a statewide voter turnout of less than 10%. With the August primaries and the November general election looming, lawmakers recognized the polling practices status quo would not suffice. They produced Senate Bill 631, a shortterm fix to allow people suffering from — or just scared of — the virus to vote without leaving their homes.
Legislative Democrats clearly wanted something that would open the door to a permanent loosening of ballot restrictions, possibly even a full mail-in ballot system. Republicans wanted as little slack in the rope as was absolutely necessary. Ultimately, SB 631 would say people with COVID-19, people caring for someone with COVID-19, and people at high risk for getting COVID-19 (including everyone over age 65) had sufficient reason to get absentee ballots. The majority Republicans recognized they simply could not disregard public fear with a "show up or miss out" attitude toward election day without paying a political price. But they were not going to open the flood gates to an unrestricted mail-in ballot. They eventually settled on language to allow people outside the parameters noted above to vote by mail on the condition they would have their ballot signatures notarized before sending them in. Ballot access advocates have described the notary requirement as a roadblock. Don Calloway, of the National Voter Protection Fund, described it as a "formula for intentional voter suppression" when combined with voter photo identification requirements and the loss of funds at the local level for poll watchers and election judges. State Auditor Nicole Galloway, Governor Parson's presumed Democratic opponent on the November gubernatorial ballot, declared:
"It is irresponsible for politicians to define who is at risk and who is not. We simply do not know enough to do that." But in signing SB 631 into law, Parson called it "a safe and secure way to vote while still safeguarding our elections and ballot process." Civil rights groups did not agree. They took the law to court. The ACLU, the NAACP, and the League of Women Voters combined forces to challenge SB 631. Their lawsuit argued four different issues, ultimately asking Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem to allow all eligible voters who were confining themselves to avoid the coronavirus to have unfettered access to the ballot. Beetem tossed the suit, writing, "The Court takes very seriously the health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that Plaintiffs allege in their Petition, but the relief Plaintiffs seek is not limited to COVID-19 and goes far beyond the health concerns they raise." Beetem said the law did not provide that "every Missouri voter has a constitutional right to cast an absentee ballot for any reason without any signature verification, in any future election," and the petitioners were not entitled to that kind of relief. That sent the case down High Street in Jefferson City to the Missouri Supreme Court. During that June 15 video conference hearing, ACLU Deputy Director Sophia Lin Lakin raised additional concerns about the notary process.
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“As Governor Parson and Respondent Ashcroft have both publicly acknowledged, requiring a person to appear before a notary during this public health crisis jeopardizes their health and the health of their families and fellow citizens, including the notaries.”
JOINED FORCES TO BETTER SERVE COLUMBIA
– AC LU D E PUTY DI R ECTO R S O PH I A L I N L A KIN
Kermit Miller anchors the 6 and 10 p.m. news for KRCG 13. You can reach Kermit at kmiller@krcg.com
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"As Governor Parson and Respondent Ashcroft have both publicly acknowledged," Lakin argued, "requiring a person to appear before a notary during this public health crisis jeopardizes their health and the health of their families and fellow citizens, including the notaries." The judges questioned whether Governor Parson's executive order providing for notarization without personal contact applied to the balloting process and, thus, solved the problem. Lakin responded that, even in that case, the ballot would have to travel back and forth between voter and notary, compromising the ballot security at the heart of the debate. She also suggested the voter would face the payment of a notary fee, which could be construed as an illegal poll tax. But the core issue before the higher court was whether SB 631 really protected people not specifically at risk from COVID-19, but who are simply worried about getting it by showing up at a polling place. "The problem with this argument," suggests Missouri Solicitor General D. John Sauer, "is that the phrase 'fear of' is not in the statute and, therefore, the court would have to engraft language into the statute that really is not there." On June 23, the Supreme Court sent the case back to Judge Beetem, saying he was wrong to dismiss it and was premature to rule on certain merits without trial. Beetem will hear arguments July 8, after this writing, and the losing side likely will want to go back to the Supreme Court. By the time this article gets into print, with the August primary election just a few days away, it should be a done deal. Either way it goes, Missouri voters could be thinking about whether to continue less restrictive voting protocols on a permanent basis.
at tor ne ys at l aw EDITOR'S NOTE: In the print version of the June 29, 2020 Voices article about redoing the Clean Missouri amendment, the word "undoing" was inadvertently left out of the paragraph citing a quote from redistricting expert Yurij Rudensky. The online version of the article was subsequently corrected, and the sentence was edited to clarify that Rudensky is attached to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU.
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FOCUSING IN BUSINESS LAW SERVICES
(573) 777-8823 | evans-dixon.com/columbia-office.aspx Disclaimer: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
Your House. Your Shelter. ®
Mike Messer
908 Rain Forest Pkwy., Ste. C Columbia, MO 65202
573-442-5291
MMesser@ShelterInsurance.com
We’re your Shield. We’re your Shelter. COMOMAG.COM
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Getting Back on Track How the Goodwill Excel Center gives adults a second chance at education. BY JESSICA JAINCHILL
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H
alf a million Missourians do not have a high school education. Unexpected pregnancies, sicknesses in the family, financial difficulties, or a variety of other reasons push thousands of high schoolers forego their education. As these teenagers move into adulthood, the lack of a degree often puts them behind the curve in the employment market and makes it harder or impossible to pick up a college education. In Columbia, the Goodwill Excel Center is fighting to give adults without a high school degree a second chance at their education. The Goodwill Excel Center is a free high school for adults for ages 21 and up, and the organization has branches in St. Louis, Poplar Bluffs, and Springfield. Recently, a local branch opened in the former Columbia Daily Tribune building in downtown. Already, the building has gotten a refresh. Mark Arens, a Goodwill Excel Center executive, says, “The Tribune building is very much an iconic building in Columbia, so I think it is neat how that space has been transformed to look almost like a college setting.” Mike Reynolds, a retired public administrator and school director at the Goodwill Excel Center, adds: “We have six full-sized classes, a full-sized caf-
Working
1902 Goodwill is founded in Boston.
CELEBRATIONS
eteria, a science lab, Google Chromebooks, and a Chromebook call. Each of our students has their own lanyards. They feel like it’s a second home, and if they arrive early, we have a cafeteria where they can study.”
A Program Fit For Every Student
1915 Goodwill adopts the name Goodwill Industries.
1918 Missouri Goodwill is established.
2001 Metropolitan Employment and Rehabilitation Service and Missouri Goodwill Industries merged to form MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries.
2018 Goodwill Excel Center program is launched in Missouri.
2020 Goodwill Excel Center program is launched in Columbia.
This college setting helps adults get high school diplomas even after their teenage years are over. On top of this, the Goodwill Excel Center makes sure adults can fit their education into their busy work lives. Mike says: “Our life coaches motivate students and encourage them to stick with each one of their classes. If they’re eligible, we can reimburse [students] for bus passes. We provide a free daycare on site for our students. We offer a certified preschool program. Our goal is to prevent as many roadblocks as possible from a student earning their high school diploma.” The Goodwill Excel Center’s program is even willing to meet students at their individual academic points. Whatever a student’s academic background is, the Goodwill Excel Center’s program identifies the level the student needs to start at to be successful. “Many [adults] need to go back and refresh skills that may have atrophied over the years. We do have a curriculum to refresh people up,” Mark says. For students who may not need a refresher, the Goodwill Excel Center’s program also allows students to complete only the academics they didn’t finish in high school. Mark explains that “each one of [our] students is on a different path. We may have someone that only need[s] one or two classes. . . . It depends on what [a student’s] high school transcript looks like. The goal is to give every student that coveted high school diploma.”
Early Success Already, the Goodwill Excel Center has achieved pleasing results. At their most recent graduation, 600 people filled the auditorium to watch 65 graduates walk across the stage and receive their high school diplomas. Mark says the program has “graduated 149 individuals total, including 45 that graduated in March.” Though this number may not seem like much, it is significant considering that Columbia’s Goodwill Excel Center branch has only been open since January of this year, and the entire program only started in October 2018. For the Columbia community, the Goodwill Excel Center’s success means many positive things for the local economy and Columbians looking to support their families better. “[The Excel Center] is an opportunity to reduce unemployment,” Mike explains. “I think it’s a win-win.
Mike Reynolds
It’s an opportunity that doesn’t necessarily cost the taxpayers of Columbia anything, and each of our students has the chance to be a better citizen and contribute to society.” Mark adds: “Our goal is to remediate poverty and get people in the workforce. Our goal is certainly graduation, but our overarching goal is for that person to graduate and be at that thirteen [or] fourteen dollars an hour mark and be able to support their family.” However, the Goodwill Excel Center understands that sometimes returning to the classroom can be a daunting challenge. While the education is free, sometimes students come from backgrounds that make it difficult for them to re-enter high school. “What [students] are doing takes courage,” Mike says. “It’s very brave to step into the classroom when you’ve been out for 30 or 40 years. I celebrate that fact, and we encourage them to get that high school diploma.” Even after students receive high school diplomas, the Goodwill Excel Center’s volunteers work hard on encouraging students toward college or better jobs. As Mike says, the Goodwill Excel Center thoroughly follows their motto of offering “a hand-up, not a handout.”
GOODWILL EXCEL CENTER 101 N. FOURTH ST. 573-499-1220 MERSGOODWILL.ORG
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Defending the Vulnerable A Columbia nonprof it advocates for the deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and deafblind. BY MCKENNA NEVILLE | PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSON
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s a child, Columbia local Dr. Stephanie Logan could not have imagined where her life was headed. “I still have to pinch myself every day when I wake up,” she says. Stephanie is the mom of five beautiful children, the partner to an amazing wife, and the executive director of Columbia nonprofit DeafLEAD. “I have been privileged to work with the most incredible people, and collectively, they have changed my life.” DeafLEAD exists to provide individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing with comprehensive, unified, and continuous support by enhancing socio-emotional development, effective communication, and leadership through education within the state of Missouri. Beginning as a summer substance abuse prevention and education camp for deaf teens, DeafLEAD was able to grow into what it is today with the help of The Department of Mental Health and The Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. By providing the seed money to establish a nonprofit, these organizations gave DeafLEAD the ability to run the camp, while also providing crisis intervention and mental health services. These services are a constant theme for DeafLEAD, partially because of Stephanie’s staggering life story.
STEPHANIE’S STORY Like many in the deaf community, Stephanie’s journey has not been an easy one. At the age of 23, while attending the University of Georgia, Stephanie contracted spinal meningitis. A combination of the high fevers and medication resulted in a total hearing loss in both of her ears. “Up until that point in my life, I had never met a deaf person and I had never seen sign language. I was lost. I couldn’t lip read. I didn’t feel comfortable talking. It was like starting all over again learning how to communicate,” she says. During this dramatic communication shift, Stephanie began going to speech therapy at Gallaudet University — a university for the deaf — in Washington, DC. At Gallaudet, she learned American Sign Language. “I went from being suicidal to thriving once I started learning ASL,” she says. Throughout this time in Stephanie’s life, she was
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also receiving specialized mental health services from a counselor focusing on deaf culture. A few years after finishing her degree at the University of Georgia with the help of deaf interpreters, Stephanie applied for a job posting at a nonprofit agency serving the deaf — DeafLEAD — in Missouri. “I interviewed for the position and was offered it,” she says. “Once I got here, the agency consisted of one small room with nothing in it, and I was the first employee.” Early on, Stephanie’s goal was to find funding to provide crisis intervention services statewide in the deaf community. “A major part of my first year at DeafLEAD was traveling across the state of Missouri and meeting with deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and deafblind individuals and determining what they identified as the greatest needs that needed to be met,” Stephanie says. It took time to learn all the nuances of Missouri’s deaf community, but over time, she was better able to decipher what was essential and needed from DeafLEAD. DeafLEAD has gone from one employee to nine employees in both Columbia and St. Louis. Currently, they provide crisis intervention services along with mental health services personal, legal, and medical advocacy; a crisis hotline and texting services; video call crisis services; crisis interpreting services; technical assistance; information and referral; and programming for deaf youth centered around drug and alcohol prevention and awareness. “Perhaps most importantly, we are given the privilege to stand with individuals as they make difficult choices for themselves and their families,” adds Stephanie.
MAKING AN IMPACT NOW AND FOREVER During the COVID-19 pandemic, DeafLEAD has worked hard to ensure its services continue to be as accessible as ever — if not even more so. “We have provided education about COVID-19, self-care, and meeting the mental health needs in ASL to the deaf community, and we have used social media as a platform for folks to access that education,” Stephanie says. The pandemic may be disrupting the world, but DeafLEAD has maintained consistency in its services. “I continue to see the impact every
DeafLEAD Mission Statement:
DeafLEAD exists to provide individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing with comprehensive, unified, and continuous support by enhancing socioemotional development, effective communication, and leadership through education within the state of Missouri.
Founded: 1995 Board Members: • Tricia Garcia president
• Chris Fulcher vice president
• Katie Engelbrecht secretary
• Kristin Rugen treasurer
• • • • • •
Crystal Call Monica Crews Quin Gresham Sharon Liebman Nicole Shields Kim Williams
Staff:
• Dr. Stephanie Logan executive director
• Becky Beck
clinical services coordinator
• Wendy Logan
volunteer coordinator
• Teresa Brisley
crisis line coordinator
• Cory Rickabaugh crisis interpreter and case manager
• Crystal Anderson crisis interpreter and case manager
• Nicole Hohtl
administration assistant
• Stephanie Taksel
St. Louis services coordinator and crisis intervention specialist
• Beatrice Church
St. Louis victim advocate
Working
Back row, left to right: Corinne Liedtke, Ashley Pappineau, Bea Church, Dr. Stephanie Logan, Becky Beck, Leigh Ann Clayton, Stephanie Taksel, Cory Rickabaugh, Heidi Rich Front row, left to right: Wendy Logan, Charlie Logan, Teresa Brisley, Nicole Hohlt
day in the lives of our consumers, the volunteers, the part-time and full-time staff, and our families.” Stephanie has heaps of plans for DeafLEAD in the coming years. “I work to be open to what is the greatest need in the community,” she says. “I really want to expand our interpreting services for deaf victims of crime. One of the greatest barriers for deaf individuals receiving services when they’re victims of crime is the communication barrier. Often, nonprofit organizations cannot afford to hire interpreters to meet the needs of the individuals they are serving.” DeafLEAD has changed countless lives, including Stephanie’s. Recently, Stephanie celebrated 25 years with DeafLEAD. As she reflects on the past quarter-century, she says, “I can’t stop thinking about all of the amazing people I’ve had the privilege to work with and the services that have been able to be provided through DeafLEAD.”
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
This organization looks the way it does today due to a deep personal trauma in Stephanie’s life. Remarkably, she has taken that trauma and turned it into a platform to defend the vulnerable. “What I once believed was the worst thing that could have ever happened to me turned out to be the greatest blessing,” she says.
DEAFLEAD 2505 W. ASH ST. 573-445-5005 DEAFINC.ORG/DEAFLEAD/
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MORE THAN YOUR BANKER It’s the hard times that bring out people’s true character. During this season of uncertainty, our bankers are working hard to help our community stay strong, safe and well. If you need someone to talk to about your financial situation, we are here to help. Call 888-547-6541 to talk.
#LiveWellB ankWellStayWell
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DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA’S CONTEMPORARY HOTEL Perfectly located in the heart of downtown Columbia, The Broadway is just a quick walk to the college and university campuses. Dining, nightlife, and entertainment are just around the corner making The Broadway the ideal spot to stay in Columbia. 82
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1111 E. Broadway | Columbia, MO 65201 | The BroadwayColumbia.com
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BUSINESS UPDATE
If We Renovate It, They Can Stay Home Access Remodeling reconf igures spaces to keep seniors and people with disabilities in their homes. BY MICHELLE TERHUNE
“A few years ago, Columbia residents Chuck and Michelle Dobbins started talking about getting older as they watched family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and strangers aging in Mid-Missouri. The growing senior market looked like a solid space to invest their time and money, perhaps paying it forward to a time when they, too, might be unable to live safely in their own home. “We were interested in investing in some type of senior living facility, but discovered we didn’t have the financial resources to enter that market,” Chuck says. “While researching this opportunity, we discovered that most people prefer to remain in their current home as they age, and they needed contractors who could modify it to make that possible,” he says.
In fact, a survey conducted by AARP Research in 2018 found that three out of four adults ages 50 and older want to remain in their homes as they age. But many are unable to, as they find themselves needing assistive devices like wheelchairs and walkers while living in houses not designed to accommodate them. So, instead of building a facility people could move into, Chuck and Michelle started building a business that would keep people out of them, opening Home Access Remodeling in the spring of 2017. “The Columbia market was being served by fragmented providers — stairlift and walk-in tub companies, remodelers, and other contractors,” Chuck says. “We founded Home Access Remodeling to do it all, and that’s important
because we handle smaller jobs, not big commercial jobs. We go into homes where people aren’t used to strangers being there, and those people like having one company they can trust to come inside and do it all,” he says.
NO JOB TOO SMALL Home Access Remodeling tackles everything from small jobs, like installing a grab bar or two, to redesigning a house to install building ramps and ceiling, porch, and stair lifts. They also build custom walk-in showers and install roll-under sinks, cabinets, and cooking ranges. Chuck says they can handle any type of remodeling project, but all their jobs involve improving accessibility or addressing fall risks. Chuck and his team also provide accessibility
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project design, and if someone can’t afford to hire them to do the job, they offer tips and advice at no charge. The company is designated as certified aging-in-place specialists by the National Association of Home Builders. “There are a lot of considerations with accessibility design that not every contractor knows,” Chuck says. “Does a ramp need a transition plate? Does a walkway provide enough space to turn a wheelchair? Are railings in the right spots and at the proper heights? Those are the kind of things we routinely address.” Items needed to make a home accessible are often far more functional than attractive. Chuck and his team pride themselves on trying to do both, with painstaking trim and finishing work above doors to accommodate ceiling-lift equipment and custom tiling for magazine-worthy walk-in showers.
ACCESSIBILITY ALSO APPLIES TO PAYING FOR IT If you take a look at the technology and fi nishes on the Home Remodeling Access website’s photo gallery, you’ll probably wonder how much the company’s services cost. But Chuck says you might be surprised by the cost and by the resources available to help pay for the work. “Our customers pay for our work using four broad payment sources,” Chuck says. “First is cash out of pocket. Second is the state of Missouri’s Medicaid waiver. Th ird are grants for disabled veterans from the Veterans Administration. And fourth are other third-party resources designed to assist older, lower-income individuals or individuals with disabilities.” Most customers use the VA grants and Missouri Medicaid waivers. The company has also worked with organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association and Multiple Sclerosis Society, and with workers’ compensation insurers for injured workers. “We’ll help customers figure out if they qualify for financial assistance,” Chuck says. Chuck runs Home Access Remodeling full-time while Michelle continues to work in human resources with the Missouri Department of Conservation. The company employs four other people: Cameryn Dix, operations director; Lonny Snyder, construction manager; Sam Snyder, construction apprentice; and John Dean, market manager for the company’s reach into the Kansas City metropolitan area.
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“Our focus is on the Mid-Missouri market,” Chuck says. “But there are more people in the greater Kansas City area and more demand for our services, so we’re now expanding into that market.”
ACCESSIBILIT Y IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Home Access Remodeling has stayed busy. Chuck says inquiries about potential projects have dropped by about 40%, but his company has spent the time catching up on a backlog of projects. “What we do is on the ‘need’ side, not the ‘want’ side,” Chuck says. “People calculate the bigger risk: having their home be safe and accessible or not having it while we wait for things to go back to normal.” Besides continuing its remodeling work, Home Access Remodeling is looking to tackle new challenges in the future.
“Michelle and I have been looking at homes offered in the area’s 55-and-older communities. You might be surprised how few are designed and built with wheelchair accessibility features,” Chuck says. “I think that most people who move into one of those places do so believing they’ll be there forever, but they aren’t built for that. These communities market themselves to healthy, active older adults,” he says. “Who knows? Maybe those are the types of places that will need us someday.” Until then, Chuck and his small-but-mighty team continue to offer Mid-Missouri residents a chance to stay at home. After all, there’s no place like it.
HOME ACCESS REMODELING 4505 AVONDALE PL. 573-818-3174 HOMEACCESSREMODELING.COM
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BUSINESS UPDATE
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We’re happy to welcome our new associate attorney, Rob Temple, to the team.
NATHAN JONES ERNIE UELIGGER
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
C E L E BRATI NG 4 Y EA R S O F BEI NG YO UR TRUS TED LAW F I RM .
2412 Forum Blvd, Suite 101, Columbia | 573-874-1122 | Fax: 573-340-1465 | NathanJonesLaw.com
I don’t just see a customer.
I see you. While other insurance companies just see a customer, I see a neighbor in my community. I’m here to get to know who you really are so I can help life go right. LET’S TALK TODAY.
Phyllis Nichols, Agent
573-443-8727 | phyllis.nichols.g15k@statefarm.com 1006 West Boulevard North | Columbia
1706814
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State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Bloomington, IL
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PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW
Loreli Wilson Director of Inclusion & Social Impact Programs, Veterans United Home Loans PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSON
JOB DESCRIPTION
In my role, I oversee diversity and inclusion and community initiatives for Veterans United Home Loans. WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB
Veterans United’s diversity and inclusion program was custom-made for the VU culture. When we create programs, we get to dream up and implement ideas that work with the culture of the company. Our team’s efforts directly help others — I couldn’t imagine a more fulfilling duty. WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS THE DIRECTOR OF INCLUSION AND SOCIAL IMPACT
Even though I’ve been working on diversity and inclusion at VU since 2012, I don’t always have all the right words, and I don’t know everything there is to know about diversity and inclusion. No one ever will. As our society grows and changes, the concepts and language of diversity evolves and becomes broader. We should all strive to learn and grow alongside others. Everyone’s life experience is different, and it’s important to empathize with others’ experiences, hear them, believe them, and support them how they choose to be supported.
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THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING YOUR PROGRAMS AND DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
George Floyd’s death has shaken our country and opened many hearts and eyes to issues that many people were unaware of before. A lot of folks are really passionate about fighting for racial and social justice right now. But once the dust settles, it could be easy for many people to slip back into their normal daily routines. The challenge for me is to keep this passion alive, work toward sustainable change, and ensure that we don’t fall right back into the old habit of out-ofsight, out-of-mind. We all need to make lifelong commitments to fight racial and social injustice and economic disparities.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT YOU
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY
Most people don’t know how to pronounce my name. I mostly hear Lorelei, like from the “Gilmore Girls,” but it’s actually pronounced like Lora-Lee. It’s a combination of my parents’ names put together, Lorna and Eli, but in the Philippines, they pronounce “Eli” like “Ellie.”
My husband, Eric, is also a part of the VU family as the external affairs manager. I’m proud of his incredible work in the area of legislative and regulatory relations. We have two kids, Lincoln, 10, and Arden, 8. There are a lot of conversations in our house about “Fortnite” and “Animal Crossing” lately.
WHAT LED YOU TO PURSUE THIS ROLE IN DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY
My parents immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1970s. They were both very active in the local Filipino American Cultural Society. As fi rst-generation born Americans, my brothers and I had two ways of living: at home, we were immersed in the Filipino culture, and
Biking on the trails with my family is one of my favorite things to do. I wouldn’t consider us “bikers” because we haven’t gotten to the level of padded biking shorts, but we’re working our way up. GREATEST STRENGTH
I’m strategic and persistent.
“I grew up trying on several different identities because I couldn’t understand where I fit and how to reconcile those two aspects of my life. The world is changing, and being able to work to help others feel comfortable in their own skin without repercussion, to ensure fair practices, and provide support to diverse communities is a job I grew up to do." YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL
The goal for anyone working in diversity and inclusion is to be so effective you work yourself out of the job. HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY
I want to be a part of systemic change. Our work can change minds and hearts, but we also need to impact systems to build longlasting and sustainable change.
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outside of the house, we tried very hard to fit into a predominantly white community. I grew up trying on several different identities because I couldn’t understand where I fit and how to reconcile those two aspects of my life. The world is changing, and being able to work to help others feel comfortable in their own skin without repercussion, to ensure fair practices, and provide support to diverse communities is a job I grew up to do.
GREATEST WEAKNESS
I can over-analyze anything, which sometimes gets me stuck in my analysis paralysis. But, I’ve surrounded myself with trusted people to shake me loose after getting stuck in my own brain. BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED FROM A MENTOR
I’ve gotten great advice in the past. One of the most recent and impactful pieces of advice was: “Don’t say I think before a statement. Your statement is more powerful without it.” QUOTE YOU LIVE BY
“If not me, then who? If not now, then when?” WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN
Eat all the foods around town with my family. Food makes me happy. And great food makes me dance. FAVORITE HANGOUT SPOT IN COLUMBIA
I should say “anywhere but home” since we were quarantined for a few months, but in reality, I’m more of a homebody and love being home. When I do go out, it’s Katfish Katy’s a little outside of town, or hitting up one of my favorite restaurants: Mama Chims with the family or Flyover for date night. YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY
I’m on the board for the Inclusive Impact Institute, the Flourish Initiative, and Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation. Each one provides me with a perspective on how to enhance the community we live in.
Impeccable Venues. Exquisite Catering. Timeless Memories. From weddings and corporate events to any of life’s celebrations, our venues and all-inclusive event management services are guaranteed to make your event a celebration you’ll never forget.
Elevate your experience. stephenscollegeevents.com (573) 303-4800 | Experiences@stephens.edu 1300 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65215
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COLUMBIA Accounts of Black life in Missouri’s fourth largest town. BY PR I N C E C H I N G A R A N D E
COMOMAG.COM
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I
arrived in Columbia on January 12 of 2015. I was 16 and had moved from Zimbabwe with my family. My arrival to Columbia
was important not only as my first in-person interaction with America, but also as the beginning of a life lived in an environment where race more frequently colors my interpersonal interactions. Up until then, this was a concept far removed from me. Columbia, like all towns in this country, functions on the hinges of racist structures. Therefore, to live here as a Black individual entails being aware of the political nature of your identity, but also the mere threat that your existence poses on hegemonic white spaces. While this experience is universal for Black individuals, it does not play out in identical ways. Black life is kaleidoscopic; it exists in spaces that are diametrically different depending
persistence, confidence, culture, dress, food, language, music, etc.”
What Does Blackness Mean to You? Melita Walker: ”Blackness, to me, means resistance and survival. Our ancestors resisted and survived through slavery and other inhumanities, and generations later, our people continue to resist and survive systemic racism and oppression. The quote that comes to my mind is Maya Angelou — ‘and still I rise…’” Carla London: “It means many things:
beauty, strength, battle, assumptions, power, and fatigue.” Keith McIver: “Blackness to me is
radical. That’s all it means: radical in culture, response, and language. It is so anti-American. Not in a bad way, but it is anti-American.”
on one's social positioning. Black individuals are not a monolith, but an amalgamation of all identities that exist simultaneously. This experience creates different stories unique to each individual. Therefore, to honor the uniqueness of each individual’s story and not fold all Black experiences into the same singular pile, I reached out to individuals in the Black community to get insight on what being Black in Columbia looks like for them.
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Black and Proud Carla London: “I am proud of my Blackness in so many ways — no chemicals in my hair, showing off my thick thighs and calves that were hidden for so long.” Kiessence Bassett: “I express my Blackness in every aspect of me:
Carla London
Chief Equity Offi cer at Columbia Public Schools
Keith McIver: “Knowledge: history,
politics, social research, social justice, culture past and present, literature, the arts (popular and traditional), awareness of international Black culture of the diaspora.”
Being the “Only One” at the Table Melita Walker: “Being a Black professional and educator in Columbia can be challenging because of the lack of Black professional organizations and support groups in the community. I know there are many Black professionals in the community, and I wish there was a way for us to get together to support each other. One of the challenges that comes with being an "only" or one of a few in an organization is the inability to truly connect with others.” Carla London: “It has been a mixed bag of challenges and triumphs. The biggest challenge has been the division within the Black community itself. With so much negativity brought upon us by each other, it makes for a less-thancompelling case for other races to see us as anything other than the separate groups of slaves in previous centuries who were encouraged to turn on each other. That was by design, and I believe
Erica Dickson
Assistant Supervisor of Student Services at Columbia Public Schools
that it still is. The triumphs are seeing our community start to grow in areas of listening to each other with empathy.” Keith McIver: “Understand the uniqueness of each city and region of the country. There are similarities, but individual characteristics: The Sharp End community and its rezoning is specific to Columbia, but was a similar story across Black communities in the U.S. Th is story is a challenge to understand when moving into Columbia. The local Black population thinks it should be well known, but it was faced often in the U.S. The triumph is that there is a plaque dedicated to telling the story.”
Whose Streets? OUR Streets!
for months and impacted many lives; however, we haven't seen or experienced any real systemic changes locally or nationally to the inequitable systems that Black Americans continue to fi ght against. I hope these protests lead to real systemic change. We already see changes in policing with the city canceling the SRO contracts ending policing in schools. Hopefully, our white allies will continue to fi ght with us and for us, and we'll see the changes we deserve.” Kiessence Bassett: “I think that there are many protests that have been performative. I mean, you can be out there every day, but what else are you doing? Also, I think that there is a lot of drama surrounding these protests, which divides us and allows for infi ltration that further hurts us. But at the same time, there are important conversations that are starting in response to the protests. I just hope that we can keep momentum.”
Erica Dickson: “Equal distribution of power and wealth.”
Melita Walker: “I'm hopeful that the
Melita Walker: “I want to see our school
local, national, and international protests will [bring] about real systemic changes. A few years ago, Black students at MU started the Concerned Student 1950 movement, which turned into a national protest related to race. Th is protest was meaningful and went on
system change. I want every school in the district to represent the demographics of the city, and not of the north or south of town. I want our students and families to know that they matter, and I want the school they attend to not mean they’re low achieving or poor. I want our
Director of Development at Columbia College
Carla London: “For it to be more of an integrated piece of Columbia. The Black history here is so rich and so powerful and needs to continue to be shared with each generation. Additionally, our community often feels like "two Columbias" — a Black one and a white one — so our city planners have to come into the 21st century and build neighborhoods with diversity in mind. Finally, the Black community needs to get their act together and support one another instead of tearing down.” Kiessence Bassett: “I would like to see a more supportive and restorative Black community — more unity between us is really important.” Keith McIver: “There is a socioeconomic
stratification in this college, medical town. We must address the lack of health care and access, lack of job opportunities, and inclusion.”
Erica Dickson: “[Protests] are an expression of the desire to see change. Moving forward, I would like to see the same momentum and energy be utilized to strategically break down the toxic systems that are currently in place.”
Keith McIver
community to embrace diversity and understand that it's our differences that make us so great!”
What’s Next?
Melita Walker
Principal at West Middle School
The above accounts give only a glimpse into what it entails to be Black and function in Columbia. Our experiences are colorful, vibrant, full of pride, and integrity. However, they are also characterized with the constant need to fight in favor of acceptance. To be Black may be ridden with struggle, but it is the richest way to live life.
#BlackLivesMatter
Kiessence Bassett Student at University of Missouri
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What’s New in
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Downtown? BY N I CO L E FLO O D
This month, we continue our development series with a look at downtown Columbia. From the completion of the new MU School of Music to additions to The Broadway Hotel, there are lots of exciting new developments Photo by Keith Borgmeyer
downtown. COMOMAG.COM
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A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERIES WHAT TO
JEANNE AND REX SINQUEFIELD MUSIC CENTER MU recently completed phase one of a new building for the school of music, with a grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Sinquefield Music Center on February 1 of this year. They began teaching classes there at the beginning of the past spring semester. “The current music program was spread out over six different buildings with no appropriate spaces for large ensemble rehearsals,” says Dr. Julia Gaines, director of the school of music. “The last music building was built in 1960, and we had outgrown that one within a decade. We’ve been working on trying to get a new building for literally decades.” In April 2015, the school announced a $10 million gift from donors Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield to go toward the $24 million total cost of the building. In all, donors contributed $16 million and the university $8 million to the overall project. Designs began in 2018.
“The Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield Music Center is not exclusively for students and faculty in the school of music, or even in the college of arts and science,” says Patricia Okker, dean of the MU College of Arts and Science. “It belongs to all of us, and I am excited to imagine the kinds of new community-university collaborations that will arise because of this beautiful facility. We are grateful to the Sinquefield family, whose generous support brought the long-held dream and vision of a state-of-the-art music center to life.” The 47,000-square-foot building houses acoustically appropriate rehearsal spaces, a recording studio, 21 classrooms and practice rooms, and the technical capability to live stream as well. “The primary spaces in the new building are acoustically designed rehearsal places — we’ve never had that before,” says Julia. “Now we have dedicated choral and instrumental rehearsal rooms. It’s really great to have walls with acoustical treatment that makes teaching and learning easier.” Th is facility is phase one of the music school project, as they had to retain some faculty and
DO
S I LVE R B A L L Silverball arcade, bar, and restaurant is located on South Ninth Street. Since September 2017, they’ve offered a fun atmosphere with pinball machines, arcade games, SkeeBall, Pop-a-Shot, air hockey, foosball, bubble hockey, and more. Grab a drink from one of the 18 frozen drink machines or their full bar, enjoy it with a slice of pizza or wings, and have a night of fun. They also feature an LED dance floor and DJ booth. R AG TAG C I N E M A Ragtag Cinema is Columbia’s nonprofit arthouse cinema that screens new-release indie and foreign films. The seating is comfortable, and Uprise Bakery is under the same roof, giving the theater a full bar, bakery, and delicious café — and any food or drinks you purchase from Uprise can come into the theater with you. This makes for a unique environment to take in a film. Stop by for their next showing on Hitt Street. TO P T E N WI N E S Top Ten Wines is located on South Ninth Street. For over 20 years, Top Ten Wines has been a downtown Columbia wine retailer. With over 2,500 bottles of wine, novice and experienced wine enthusiasts alike will find the perfect glass. You can visit their bar for a drink and a bite to eat or purchase a bottle to take home. They also have a full selection of other beers and spirits, and guests have the chance to join a wine club for ongoing recommendations and selections.
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classes in the original building. They look forward to finishing phase two in the future, which would bring the entire school of music under one roof. Julia adds that within the fi rst two weeks of the new building opening, there were students who immediately noticed a change in their ability to practice and perform. “It’s just been a game-changer for the school of music,” Julia says. “Our students have always been fantastic, but to now actually have the facilities to match their talent means we can show more people via technology. Our students are getting a better learning opportunity and learning how to operate in a 21st century world with the new technology. Th is should prepare them better for future jobs.” Th is all comes at a time when adapting to technologies is so important. They will be having concerts this fall, but they will be live-streamed or pre-produced; there will be nothing with a live audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “If we hadn’t had this facility, we would not have been able to do that. Th is facility has actually prepared us to be able to shift to use technology better. We’re trying to see this as a wonderful opportunity for these students to work on a pre-produced concert,” adds Julia. “They still will be learning how to make music and art even during a pandemic. Art has seen us through this. It’s clear our students and community see that as an amplified experience.”
WHERE TO
SHOP
DIGGS MEAT PACKING CO. BUILDING RENOVATION John and Tanner Ott, local businessmen of Alley A Realty, are working on a renovation on Rogers Street. Located next to Walt’s Bicycle Shop, the historic Diggs Meat Packing Co. Building will soon see new life. “We were approached with the option to purchase the building last fall, and since then, we’ve been doing some light demo work and evaluating the building to see what its next use might be,” says John. They’ve come up with preliminary designs for the outside of the 9,500-square-foot building. “Right now, we’re doing demo work and analyzing the property and determining what
direction we want to go with it,” says John. “At this point, we’re convinced it will be one restaurant that will take up half that space, and the other half could be a combination of retail and restaurant space, depending on what type of interest we get. There’s a strong possibility that we will do exterior work this fall, and over the winter and spring, we will begin work on the inside.” John adds that there is a grassy lot to the west of it, which is rare in downtown Columbia. He is evaluating the best way to use that space as well. “This area seems to hold a lot of promise for the downtown. It’s an exciting, vibrant location and has good pedestrian and vehicular access to it. It’s a busy corner, yet it has a lot of usable
TAL LUL AHS
A L PI N E S H O P
Melissa Alabach and Mary Stauffer opened Tallulahs in April 2011. Their love for cooking and entertaining was the catalyst needed for these friends to open their own shop. Tallulahs is a kitchen specialty shop located on Broadway in the heart of The District. They have everything from kitchen gadgets to serving dishes and items to make your next gathering a wonderful experience.
For more than 45 years, Alpine Shop has focused on a vision to see “generations transformed by discovery outdoors.” What began as a mostly climbing shop has evolved to serve almost all types of outdoor enthusiasts, whether you’re a backpacker, hiker, camper, paddler, cyclist, snowboarder, skier, or climber. Stop in to the Broadway location and gear up for your next adventure.
M Y S I ST E R ’ S C I R CU S Right on Broadway, you’ll find My Sister’s Circus. This women’s clothing boutique is “where fashionistas gather to fuel their need for style.” Looking for your must-have outfit for the season or a special event? Look no further. Fashion awaits you at My Sister’s Circus.
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WHERE TO
EAT CO L EY ’ S A M E R I CA N B I ST R O Since 2008, MU alum, chef, and owner Brian Coley has been proud to have his restaurant be part of The District in downtown Columbia. His guest-first and inviting approach has made Coley’s a downtown destination since they opened their doors. “Our approach is simple: we want to create items that we like to eat,” Coley says. Stop by South Sixth Street for a great meal! B A R R E D OWL The Barred Owl Butcher & Table is located on East Broadway. They bring what they call “seasonal, local ingredients and a whole-animal philosophy” to Columbia. Barred Owl focuses on sourcing local Missouri ingredients responsibly and making delicious food that changes with the seasons. In addition to their restaurant and bar, Barred Owl also has a butcher shop where patrons can purchase a wide array of steaks, chops, roasts, smoked meats, sausages, rendered fats, broths, salami, artisan cheeses, fresh-baked breads, condiments, wine, and more. B A N G KO K G A R D E N S Stop by Cherry Street for a delicious Thai experience in the heart of downtown. Whether it’s the No. 9 with curry sauce or phat Thai, you’ll enjoy the dishes from this locally owned and operated restaurant.
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space inside and out. We’re fortunate that the area has been developed with Logboat brewery, the Mule Barn, and of course, Walt’s Bike Shop. We’re fortunate that we’re surrounded by some great neighbors,” John says. “And the building has a lot of history as well. It’s the former Diggs Meatpacking building. Over the years, the Diggs family have been good stewards of the area.”
THE BROADWAY HOTEL The Broadway hotel has been a staple of downtown Columbia since 2014. It was recognized by Hilton Hotels and received its worldwide award for the best new DoubleTree development that same year. The hotel is currently in the process of adding a second tower to the property. The lot is cleared, and construction plans for the new seven-story building on Walnut are underway for this Fall. The hotel will be working with Paric Construction from St. Louis on this 14- to 15-month project and hope to open in early 2022. “That parcel is located due north of our existing hotel and just west of the Short Street garage. Our original hotel is 98,000 square feet. With our new tower, we’re adding 73,000 square feet with 80 additional rooms and suites, and over 8,000 square feet of meeting space,” says David Parmley, President of Broadway Lodging LLC. David adds that the new tower will almost triple the amount of meeting space the hotel has to offer.
“Currently we have 3,000 square feet of meeting space, and our largest meeting space will accommodate 150 people in banquet style seating,” he says. “Th is has limited our ability to host larger events. The new ballroom will seat up to 300 people. The existing space has been very popular, but this additional space will allow us to host more small- to medium-sized meetings, and I think attendees like the destination space of downtown Columbia.” “The hallmark of the property will be the large ballroom and reception area on the top floor that will feature panoramic views of downtown Columbia.” When completed, the two towers will be connected by 20-foot walkways on the fourth and eighth floors. Th is will allow guests to walk directly from the top floor of the new ballroom over to The Roof bar in the fi rst tower. “When we built the original tower, we wanted to create an upscale hotel that would serve as a gateway to downtown Columbia, act as an anchor to the North Village Arts District, and be a catalyst for future development in the area,” says David. “I think we’ve accomplished these goals and created a hotel that the city can take pride in. Guests at our property appreciate our hotel’s unique, vibrant boutique design and the convenient location, which provides them easy access to explore all of the exciting shopping, dining, entertainment, and nightlife that The District has to offer.”
BLACK
N COM
A DIRECTORY OF
BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN COMO
OWNED We are deeply upset with the atrocities that have been forced upon Black lives in this country. For hundreds of years, black lives haven’t been valued as they should be; they haven’t been afforded the dignity and respect they deserve. Countless times, we have seen images of innocent Black souls being mercilessly stripped away from their communities by those whose duty it is to protect them. We have witnessed how this has caused pain for Black people and left scars that can never be forgotten. But, enough is enough.
USINE Food & Drink
BUSINES Fashion
Personal & Business Growth Entertainment
Children & Family Care
Health, Wellness, & Beauty
COMO Magazine is our community. We treasure our position as an entity that can bring people together for the greater good. Therefore, we stand in solidarity with Columbia’s Black community. We see you. We hear you. We will fight with you. We will fight for you.
In this same manner, we would like to call on every member of our community to stand with the Black community. Whether you’re a health professional, business owner, artist, or church, we’d like you to join us in contributing to the safety and well-being of our Black community. One way we can do this is to support the Black-owned businesses and organizations throughout Columbia. Support Black artists and artisans. Designers and stylists. Leaders and entrepreneurs. Join us as we help strengthen Black economies and communities. Contribute funds, time, and energy to grassroots organizations in town. Celebrate Black history, culture, and our Black community right here in Columbia.
OWNED Home, Lawn, & Auto Care Transportation Miscellaneous
We are in this together, and we will overcome.
A DIRECTORY OF
FOOD & DRINK
Mrs. G's A Touch of Soul
Vibez Lounge
1301 Vandiver Dr., Ste. E mrs-gs-a-touch-of-soul.business.site/
19th N. 5th St. vibezloungecomo.com
Al's and Lena's Catering
Mrs. G's A Touch of Soul is a casual restaurant in Columbia that serves delicious soul food.
Vibez Lounge serves customers soulful, homecooked meals in a friendly space centered on community connection.
Munchi's Fish and Chicc'n
Xola’s Vegan On-The-Go
922 Business Loop 70 E. Munchi's Fish & Chicc'n
Catering Service Xola's Vegan On-The-Go
Al Buford and Lena Cheatman 1205 Rangeline St. Al Lena- Catering
Al's and Lena's is a casual catering and plate service that offers soul food and a family atmosphere.
Big Daddy's BBQ
Lloyd and Fontella Henry 1205 N. Garth Ave. Big Daddy's BBQ
Big Daddy's is a barbecue smokehouse known for a delicious array of meat and its own signature sauce.
Gabriella Allen
Dimetrious Woods
Erica Dickson
Munchi's offers a wide variety of city-inspired flavors through a menu of fish and chicken dishes.
Xola's is a catering service focused on providing vegan and vegetarian food to the Columbia community.
Papadoo's Soulfood & BBQ Joshua Williams Sr.
904 Business Loop 70 E. Papadoo's soul food & bbq
Bush's Catering LLC
Papadoo's is a restaurant serving a mix of soul food and cajun food.
1200 E. Walnut St. bushscateringmealprep.com
Plush Ultra Lounge
Bush's Catering is a small business that offers catering for any event with a variety of meals and appetizers to choose from.
904 Business Loop 70 E. plushlounge.net
Chris Bush
Evenflow Coffee Jarrell Johnson
evenflowcoffee.com
Evenflow Coffee is an online retail store for coffee and coffee-related merchandise.
Jamaican Jerk Hut
Rexroy Scott and Colin Russell 711 Vandiver Dr. Jerk Hut
Adrian Preyer
Plush is a relaxing lounge providing soul food, live music, and karaoke for a fun night out.
Quintilla's Kitchen Shannon Wilson
2700 Comstock Dr. Quintilla's Kitchen
Quintilla's Kitchen offers personal chef, event planning, and catering services for small to medium-sized events.
Jerk Hut is a Jamaican restaurant, food truck, and catering outfit housed in both Columbia and Jefferson City.
Scooter's Food Joint and Catering
Joy's Carry Out and Catering Service
Scooters is a food truck in Columbia serving a mix of foods, including chicken wings, Philly cheesesteak, and fries.
Joycelynn Linzie
2202 Paris Rd. Joy's Carry Out and Catering Service
Joy's Carry Out and Catering aims to please with delicious soul food for everyone, including vegetarian diets.
Mr. Murphy's Stuffed Potatoes Jheron Nunnelly
Food Truck Mr Murphy Stuffed Potatoes
Mr. Murphy's offers a variety of stuffed spuds, nachos, and salads made from scratch.
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R'Velle Fair
D'Auntre Prince
Food Truck Scooter's Food Joint & Catering
South Florida Style Chicken & Ribs
Gerald Mason and Kim Mason
1013 Park Ave. South Florida Style Chicken & Ribs
South Florida Style Chicken & Ribs is a flavorful barbecue restaurant and catering service.
FASHION Cauhz™ Clothing (Cultures All United Harmonizing Zoos) Ito Aviles
Online Store cauhzclothing.com
Cauhz™ is a clothing brand that sells tees, bags, and beanies, all while promoting peace, love, equality, and diversity.
Como Beach Matt Warren
Online Store comobeachclothing.com
Como Beach is an online vendor that sells bathing suits, sweatshirts, and more.
Freedom T's
Vernon T. Diggs
508 N. Williams St., Apt 101 freedomtsllc.com
Freedom T's is a print shop that screenprints custom and standard apparel designs for business, schools, and for personal use.
HAM Sports Gear Devin Griffin
3412 Grindstone Pkwy. hamsportsgear.com
HAM Sports Gear is a clothing brand that provides innovative gear for the athletes' sport and life.
Black-Owned Businesses in COMO
Monarch Jewelry
KT Moss Key Solutions
Paramount Marketing Group
1019 E. Walnut St. C Monarch Jewelry
kaytmoss.com
pmg-worldwide.com 573-777-2555
Kenneth Greene
Monarch Jewelry is known for its highcraftsmanship with its collection of customdesigned fine jewelry.
Vintage Collectible Retro (VCR) Antonio Rainey and Lamarr Holt 312A Nebraska Ave. Vintage Collectible Retro VCR
Vintage Collectible Retro offers customdesigned products and the ability to trade, sell, or buy vintage clothing.
PERSONAL & BUSINESS GROWTH
Kay T Moss
Kay is a solution strategist that continually supports individual and organizational leadership development.
Menifield & Associates LLC Angela Hooper-Menifield supervisoracademy.com
Menifield and Associates LLC works to build and equip supervisors and teams through professional coaching.
Noble Necessities LLC Tammy R. Nobles
tammyrnobles.com 573-821-5759
Noble Necessities LLC supports individuals and inspires entrepreneurs to ignite, pursue, and progress on their journey by providing empowerment and educational development.
W. Edward Shelton
Paramount Marketing Group Worldwide (PMG) is one of the largest event planning and entertainment providers in the Midwest. Their customizable services can cover specialty parties, corporate events, weddings, limousine services, and more.
CHILDREN & FAMILY CARE Nanny's Early Learning Center Diane Coleman
404 McBaine Ave. nannysearlylearningcenter.com
ENTERTAINMENT
Nanny's Early Learning Center works to give back to the community and support families by providing children with a nurturing environment and the highest level of care.
2685 Winding Trail Dr. arwtrainingfirm.com
Beatzworld Entertainment
Nora Stewart Early Learning Center
ARW Equity Advisors LLC works to help private, educational, and governmental institutions train and retain their employees.
djbeatz.net
ARW Equity Advisors LLC Dr. Della Streaty-Wilhoit
Castello Branco Fields Mikel A. Fields
DJ Beatz
DJ Beatz is an artist, producer, entrepreneur, and the official DJ for sporting events at Faurot Field.
816 E. Broadway, #201 castellobrancofields.com
The Chump Change Blues Band
Castello Branco Fields is a consulting company that collaborates with brands of all sizes to achieve success for clients that invest in strategy.
1702 University Ave. 573-442-4157 The Chump Change Blues Band
The Association of Missouri Mediators
James "Smitty" Smith
Cheryl Howard
505 E. Ash St. norastewart.com
Being the only Black-owned business in the county for 80 years, the Nora Stewart Early Learning Center prides itself on a proud past and a dynamic future as it provides kids with a strong academic foundation as well as a nurturing environment.
The Chump Change Blues Band is a blues band in Columbia that travels all around the United States to perform.
John Richardson momediators.org 573-313-8555
The Association of Missouri Mediators has training and tips for mediators who are working with people to resolve confl ict.
Henry Marketing Co. Mike Henry
henrymarketing.co
Mike Henry works to help professionals improve their practice with great marketing that converts.
Need to update your business's or organization's listing? Contact our department editor at hannah@comomag.com, and we'll add the updated information to your listing in our online directory.
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A DIRECTORY OF
HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY A Cut Above the Rest Barber and Salon Al and Deb Harris
203 N. Providence Rd. acutabovecolumbia.com
A Cut Above The Rest Barber and Salon is a total wellness care facility to suit your whole family's needs.
All Star Cuts
Lloyd Hayes II
3200 Penn Terrace, Ste. 111 jewell.771073@gmail.com
All Star Cuts is a barbershop that works with any texture and style of hair.
Artistry Salon
Bridget Williams
705 A Big Bear Blvd. artistrythesalon.com
Artistry Salon specializes in kinky and curly hair.
B. Fab Hair Studio & Cosmetics Brandi Harris
416 E. Broadway St. schedulicity.com/scheduling/MMERXQ
B. Fab Hair Studio and Cosmetics is a beauty salon that offers all things, hair, nails, makeup, blowouts, and more.
Chrystal L. Hair & Makeup Chrystal L. Graves
1201 E. Broadway, Ste. D chrystalhairandmakeup.com
Chrystal L. Hair and Makeup is a salon for all hair types using 100% vegan, gluten-free, and carcinogen-free products.
CoMo Hair Bundles and Body Oils LLC
Vivian Ganaway Spears 812 Hunt Ave., Ste. 1 comohairbundles.com
CoMo Hair Bundles offers hair extensions made from natural, unprocessed, 100% human hair, braiding hair, beauty products, and a selection of body oils.
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Cut N Up
Simple Solutions Fitness
1512 Business Loop W., #B Cut N Up W/ Deidra Hair Salon
3930 S. Providence Rd., Ste. B simplesolutionsfitness.com
Deidrea Freelon
Steven Mack
Cut N Up hair salon provides hair cuts for the whole family, and prides itself with expertise in chemical processing, dreads, sewn weaves, and more.
Simple Solutions Fitness is a personal trainer and a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
Diamond Cutz Barber Studio
Racheal Harris
Le'Quan Hord-Bush
1621 Towne Dr. Diamond Cutz Barber Studio
Diamond Cutz Barber Studio offers haircuts for adults and kids, lining, and enhancements.
YouNique Beauty Supply LLC Online Store youniqueluxuryextension.com
YouNique Beauty Supply is a hair supplier that offers customers hair extensions and customized wigs.
Sarah Brown
HOME, LAWN, & AUTO CARE
D'MMI Stylez Beauty Bar is a salon that offers a variety of beauty services, including cut, color, and weaves.
Auto Embassy
D'MMI Stylez Beauty Bar 3200 Penn Terrace, #111 sarahb@dmmistylezbeautybar.com
Maurice Doughty
Exclusive Cuts LLC
2424 Paris Rd. comoautoembassy.com
2300 Bernadette Dr., Ste. 624 Exclusive Cuts, LLC
Auto Embassy offers professional carwashing, interior detailing, and paint correction and protection.
Ernest Daniels II
Exclusive Cuts LLC is a family salon that specializes in hair cuts.
K'Bella Dior Beauty and Aesthetics Spa Kandis Hardin
206 Austin Ave., Ste. 202 kbelladiorspa.carrd.co
Kandis Hardin is a licensed esthetician who uses natural-based skincare in a fun and relaxing environment.
Me, My Hair, and I
Class It Up Cleaning
Ingrid and Charles Smith classitupcleaning.com
Class It Up Cleaning is a locally-based W/ MBE company, owned by a husband and wife power couple, leading the industry in providing quality commercial cleaning and janitorial services.
The Earth Matters Cleaning LLC Sharif Abdul-Hakim
2503 W. Ash St., Ste. B Me, My Hair, & I
1909 Dartmouth thumbtack.com/mo/columbia/housecleaning/earth-matters-cleaning-llc/ service/224113517541917848?project_pk=
Me, My Hair, and I is the salon for all of your hair care needs for weddings, haircuts, extensions, and more.
The Earth Matters Cleaning is a cleaning service for construction sites, commercial buildings, and residential buildings.
Pro Kutz Elite
Gaines Car Detailing and Moving and Delivery
Fran Tibbs
Lorenzo Shepard
1809 Vandiver Ste. 110 pro-kutz-elite-barbershop.business.site 573-424-7522
Pro Kutz Elite is an upscale, modern, and upto-date hometown barbershop.
Rodney Gaines
1401 C Illinois Ave. Gaines Car Detailing and Moving and Delivery
Gaines Car Detailing and Moving and Delivery offers car detailing, delivery services, and will move you wherever you need to go.
Black-Owned Businesses in COMO
J's Cleaning Solution Jessica Cason
511 E. Walnut, #10093 jscleaningsolution.services
J's Cleaning Solution offers commercial cleaning. All staff is Healthcare Cleaning Certified, and the company has a mission to limit damage to the environment.
Jazz It Up Cleaning Jasmine Buckner
3915 Olympic Ct. jazzitupcleaningllc.business.site
Jazz It Up Cleaning is here to help you with any size cleaning project, including floor cleaning, office cleaning, and even a postparty pick-up.
Maid EZ Cleaning Service LLC Teresa Crews
4182 W. Bethany Dr.
Maid EZ Cleaning Service offers a variety of cleaning services, including residential, commercial, carpet steam cleaning, and more.
TRANSPORTATION Concierge Services
Concierge Services is a corporate transportation service dedicated to getting you anywhere you need to go, anytime.
Smith and Parnell LLC
Taxi Terry LLC
Smith and Parnell LLC is a law fi rm that specializes in personal injury, criminal defense, and family law and divorce cases.
Terry Nickerson Sr. 312 Nebraska Ave., B Taxi Terry's
MISCELLANEOUS
The Nehemiah Group is a local construction company that offers restoring and remodeling.
Akilah Stanton Realtor
Robin D. Winn, Esq.
Akilah Stanton
BHHS Vision Real Estate Cecilia Young, Esq., Realtor
James Shelby
22 N. 8th St. ceciliayoung.myhomehq.biz ccyoungrealtor@gmail.com
Shelby's Security provides security for both residential and commercial spaces.
Cecilia Young is a real estate agent with a passion to make your home buying or selling dreams come true.
Woods Auto Spa
Dimetrious Woods
922 Business Loop 70 E. woodsautospa@gmail.com Woods Auto Spa
Woods Auto Spa is an auto detailing service that offers window tinting and other beautification services for your vehicle.
The Whitley Co. Marissa Whitley
816 E. Broadway, Ste. 202 thewhitleycompany.com
The Whitley Co. is here to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
700 Cherry St. smithandparnell.com
The Nehemiah Group
muchmow.com
1400 Forum Blvd., Ste. 1C shelbyswatch.com
David Tyson Smith and Malia Parnell
Taxi Terry is Columbia's premier taxi service that also offers wheelchair-accessible vans.
Akilah Stanton is a real estate agent that specializes in residential and commercial selling.
Shelby's Security
3700 Monterey Dr., Ste. A weichertft.com/agents/203236/ Martha+Tomlin-McCrary
Martha Tomlin McCray is a fi rst-tier real estate agent at Weichert Realtors.
2070 Old US 40 conciergesuv.com
3200 Penn Terrace, Ste. 113 akilah.findcolumbiamohouses.com
MuchMo“W� is a lawn care service that offers mowing, leaf and snow removal, mulching, and more all at competitive rates.
Martha Tomlin-McCrary
Stan Warren
MuchMo"W" LLC DJ Henderson
Weichert Realtors
Christine Woods LLC
Christine Woods, LCSW P.O. Box 85 christinemwoods.com
Christine Woods is an experienced therapist and health professional that offers a wide variety of services, including working with individuals, children and adolescents, and couples and families. Christine is also available to provide training and consultation.
Cracked Up Mobile
Mikel and Luana Fields 904 Elm St. #212 crackedupmobile.com
A mobile device repair shop offering cell phone, tablet, laptop, and game console repairs. Same day service on most repairs.
Drevon Ballenger
5260 E. St Charles Rd., Ste. B The Nehemiah Group
Winn Law Firm LLC
303 N. Stadium Blvd., Ste 200 thewinnlawfirm.com
Winn Law Firm LLC is a defense attorney that stands fi rm in human rights, civil rights, and equal protection under the law.
The Annalise Group Mikisha Ruffin
maisonannalise.com
The Annalise Group is a boutique distributor, branding, and e-commerce agency that helps up-and-coming European brands launch in the U.S.
Cornelliaspeaks LLC Cornellia Williams
cornelliaspeaks.com
Cornellia Williams is a professional motivational speaker and coach for life, career, and personal finance.
Despite our best efforts and research, we likely missed someone. If we didn't include your business or organization and you'd like to be listed, contact our department editor at hannah@comomag.com, and we'll update our online directory.
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Monarch Title Company, Inc. has worked with CMG for the past two years and because of their efforts we have had an increase in market share in each or our offices in Columbia, Jefferson City , Boonville, and Brookfield. We are proud of our association with this very professional and creative group, they are always proactively looking for new ways to market our business and our monthly investment with CMG has been a great return on our investment. I would highly recommend CMG for all your marketing needs. Chuck Bowman, CEO/President of Monarch Title Company
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Adventurer • CrossFitter • Kind • Introspective Empathetic • Fun • Driven • Teammate • Friend Gutsy • Responsive • Knowledgeable Crime Novel Enthusiast
THE BANK OF MISSOURI.................................................................................................. 82 THE BROADWAY HOTEL................................................................................................... 82 THE TRUST COMPANY...........................................................................................................8 TIGER FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC......................................................................................35 TLC MORTGAGE........................................................................................................... 36 & 39 TRACY AREY REAL ESTATE..............................................................................................40 TRUE FALSE FILM FEST...................................................................................................... 16 TRUE SON EXTERIORS.......................................................................................................60 UMB.................................................................................................................................................90 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI HEALTH CARE.............................................................. 3 WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES EYECARE......................................................................... 20
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Vision Real Estate 22 N. 8th Street Colmbia, Missouri 65201 Office: 573-449-6200 | Cell: 573-808-3460
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