Celebrating the Oakwood Cemetary Chapel Exhibit Called "To Elevate"

May 2021

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Celebration of Our Black Community

Celebrating the Oakwood Cemetery Chapel Exhibit called To Elevate featuring Huston-Tillotson University page 6 News • Community • Lifestyle • Food and Drink • Health and Wellness • Active Living (55+)

V I E WPO I N T Celebrating has been hard this last year or so. Many families did not get together for major holidays, birthdays, or just hanging out with friends. Most gatherings have been through the computer. It’s not the same. But we can’t always be gloom and doom, we have to find a way to celebrate milestones in our lives, even simple things like putting on regular clothes versus sweat pants. Finding the small things to celebrate is something we wanted to do with this issue.

This issue is about celebrating. We are celebrating our beauty and lifestyle, a historical exhibit of Huston-Tillotson University, and more. We are moving ahead with getting back to our new

normal. It will not be easy. One thing to celebrate is getting back out into the community. It is scary but we need to find things to celebrate. We have to move on in some type of way. Despite our circumstances, life offers us something we can be happy about or celebrate. We may have to celebrate differently but we need to celebrate.

What are you celebrating in your life?

Are you taking time to celebrate your family, friends, and all that is important in your life? #ujima #ujimamagazine #magazine #mayissue #news #lifestyle #celebration #happiness #expression

Embrace Your Community Damita Miller-Shanklin EDITOR IN CHIEF Damita@Ujimamagazine.com

Ujima Magazine is a free news publication. Visit UjimaMagazine.com. For Advertising Opportunities email UjimaMagazine@gmail.com

Understanding Arthritis Sources: Mayo Clinic, Arthritis.org, Healthline.com Arthritis can be painful. Some people may think it’s an “old person” issue but that is not the case. What is Arthritis? It is the inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.

Ujima and Friends Podcast is another way to reach out to people around the world and share our voice. This podcast is about Ujima Magazine stories, people we interview, and our take on different issues and topics.

The podcast is hosted by Damita MillerShanklin and Eliza Edwards. We hope you join us by listening to us talk about stories and our take on different topics. We have chatted about health and beauty, voting, hope for our future, and organizing our work. But we have many exciting topics and interviews to come.

Please go to our podcast page at https://www.podpage.com/ujimamagazine-and-friends/. You will find all of our episodes in one place. Subscribe to our site, so you will know when a new episode is uploaded.

There are about 8 types of arthritis, however, the most common three are: 1. Osteoarthritis - also called degenerative arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. It affects about 27 million people in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis - is a type of autoimmune disease in which your body attacks healthy joint tissue. Common symptoms of RA include morning stiffness and joint pain, typically in the same joint on both sides of your body. Joint deformities can eventually develop.

3. Juvenile arthritis - affects about 300,000 children in the United States have JA, according to the Arthritis Foundation. The most common type is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This is a group of autoimmune disorders that can impact children’s joints.

If you notice you have morning stiffness, joint soreness, nodules under the skin, and numbness, you may want to speak to your doctor to see if you have arthritis and decide on a treatment.

We hope you join take a listen in the future.

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BEAUTY AND LIFESTYLE

STRESS & SKIN

By Contributing Writer, Jacquie Parish

We have all heard how stress can affect your whole body, this includes your hair, nails, and skin. What is stress? Websters Dictionary describes it as: a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

How does stress affect our skin? Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. It can also make it harder for skin problems to heal.

Have you ever noticed that you may break out more when you’re stressed? This is because stress causes your body to make hormones like cortisol, which tells glands in your skin to make more oil. This is why oily skin is more prone to acne and other skin problems.

Our inner being is just as important as our outer appearance. In order to have healthy skin we must have a healthy regimen such as a wholesome diet, know how to manage our stress and have a skincare routine. All three of these things play a vital role in having healthy skin.

You won’t be able to avoid stress completely, however you can try ways

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4. Practice stress management techniques, such as breathing exercises, yoga, or prayer/meditation.

5. Get enough sleep. 8 hours each night is ideal.

6. Set boundaries.

Learn to say no.

7. Seek professional help.

to handle it better. Here are some tips to helping ease stress: 1. Don't neglect your skin. You are never too young to take care of your skin.

2. Exercise regularly. It's good for your skin and the rest of your body.

3. Self-care. Take time out for yourself. Do something you enjoy, even if you only have 10 minutes.

Journal, read a book, take a bath, take a walk, sit and just enjoy the present moment.

Believe it or not the above-mentioned tips on how to handle stress do work wonders and it spills over from the inside to your skin.

Don’t let stress overtake your life! Learn how to manage it so it doesn’t manage you!

Contributing Writer Jacquie “ooh” Parish is the contributing writer for the Ujima Magazine. She is the creator of the Glow Collection by Jacquie ooh which is an organic skincare product line. You can find the Glow Collection

by Jacquie ooh at the Tarrytown Pharmacy in Austin, TX and on their online store at www.jacquieooh.com.

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community

Celebration of Justice

By Damita Miller-Shanklin On April 20, 2021, around 3:30 pm in my office with the door closed, I held my breath afraid of what the verdict would be for the man who murdered George Floyd. The death of Mr. Floyd changed my life the second I watched him die in front of my eyes with a white man’s knee on his neck. I had not seen anyone die before and the impact has stayed with me since that day.

I watched the trial every day as I worked. The testimony of the prosecution witnesses made me very sad. Being able to see the different angles this crime was committed was just overwhelming. But despite the very clear “guilty” outcome, I was very cautious as to the fact that the man who was a murderer would still not serve a day in jail and walk out of the courtroom with that side smile he seemed to think made him seem powerful. Back to the verdict, I sat down and waited for what would change everything we know about justice good or bad.

When Judge Cahill said “guilty” the first charge, I said, “Yes.” Then the second guilty and then the third and final guilty brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t really show my emotions because I was still at work. But I was so happy and felt so relieved. Mr. Floyd did not know his life would be a gamechanger for the Black community. I felt we needed this justice because while we are trying to heal as a community and nation, we still have daily shootings of our black and brown men, women, and children. When will the killing stop? I hate Mr. Floyd had to lose his life for us to say “Black Lives Matter’’, you can’t just take life and breath from another person and walk away.

Well, we have to continue the fight and celebrate the justice we received, and move forward because there are a lot more people that need justice.

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Lifestyle

I Need A Black Counselor

Brunch, the Evolved Party

By Damita Miller-Shanklin

By Damita Miller-Shanklin Sources: Jaynay Johnson, Contributor Forbes.com

Many people are having hard times right now. Life changed in a blink of an eye a year ago. There are times when you may find you need someone to talk to about what is going on. You may be stressed about work, children, or a marriage. There are many things you may need help working through.

There have been discussions lately about not being able to find black counselors. Finding a counselor can be a game-changer for someone. Not to say a white counselor can’t help but it’s something about talking with someone who looks like you and has a perspective that is more possibly relatable. To help find a black counselor, apps have been developed to help you locate a counselor.

The apps are as follows: 1. Ayana App - uses detailed questionnaires to connect members with compatibly licensed therapists based on their background, needs, and identities. Its therapy packages include daily texting support, phone calls, and virtual meetings from more than 200 clinicians.

2. Shine App - a self-care app that helps people “rest, heal, and grow through difficulty.” Its offerings—including more than 600 guided meditations, morning inspiration texts, customizable mental health tool kits, and community forums.

3. Minds of Culture - is for those wishing to integrate therapy into their faith-based lifestyle. Mental health. By incorporating religion into mental health practices, it aims to show the two are complementary.

You will find informational blogs and videos, a bible, a Black therapist directory, a mood journal, and more.

For the complete list, visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestheculture/2020/07/07/thesemental-health-apps-are-geared-toward-people-of-color/?sh=4c4fecbc2 2e4.

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There was a time you met your friends for brunch at a nice restaurant. You order mimosas and eat delicious food. I remember those times. But now, “Let’s do brunch” takes on a new meaning these days.

I enjoy brunch with friends. Lately, brunch has been virtual. They can be just as fun. If you have wanted to try a virtual brunch but need some help, this is what I did for my brunch with friends. First I should say, I can’t cook so I planned a little differently.

1. I set a date and sent out the invitations with a RSVP request.

2. I decided my food theme and researched restaurants that could deliver.

3. The day of the brunch, I had all the food delivered to each person at the same time, with a bottle of champagne and I had mailed the gifts prior to the day.

4. We had such a good time. The food was good, we laughed and talked and then opened the gifts.

To end our fun we poured our champagne and toasted to our friendship.

The fun thing about doing a virtual brunch is you can do anything and any type of theme. So, gather your girlfriends or your family and try the virtual brunch. You will enjoy it.

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feature story

To Elevate

By Damita Miller-Shanklin Other Source: AustinTexas.gov

The Oakwood Cemetary Chapel has a new exhibit called To Elevate. It is a digital story map featured online from April through June 2021. I had the opportunity to speak with Alan Garcia, who is an Austin native and historian, and an Exhibit Assistant at the Oakwood Chapel and the George Washington Carver Museum, Genealogy, and Cultural Center. We had a great and informative discussion. Here is our discussion about the exhibit.

Ujima: How did the digital exhibit of To Elevate Oakwood Cemetary Chapel come about? Was it set up to be a digital exhibit due to Covid-19 or a new way of showcasing your work?

Alan: It was a little bit of both. We had a small version that launched last year before the pandemic hit. It was a collaboration with the African American Geneology Conference. Along with the Austin History Center and the Austin Public Library, we had a small exhibit in the chapel and were able to tour graves of some Huston-Tillotson alumni buried in the Oakwood Cemetary. The pandemic expanded our research. We looked at Black-owned funeral homes with connection to HustonTillotson. But it was decided to celebrate education and share the names of people who were associated with HT. Ujima: What is the primary focus of the To Elevate exhibit?

Alan: The primary focus of the exhibit is to celebrate the history and the legacy of HT. Share the major players and those that promoted and grew the college. There are people who presided over the school, some lesser-known names of faculty, and those buried in the cemetery. There are 20 sections in the exhibit that tells the history of Huston-Tillotson and Samuel Huston College and the two merging into Huston-Tillotson. The great part of this digital exhibit is now people whose bios or photos were only on paper now are digital and their stories can be told.

This exhibit is the most up-to-date whose-who that built up HT and nurtured the school into what it is today.

Ujima: How can the community take part in the exhibit?

Alan: The way to participate is to go to the Oakwood Cemetary Chapel homepage. You will find story maps created to replace the in-person activity tours. You can take the tour on your own.

You can see a person’s area of influence, their work, plot, and landmarks that have their name.

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Courtesy Huston-Tillotson University Archives, Austin, TX, USA

Ujima: What were the challenges and collaborations on this project?

Alan: We owe a lot to our co-worker Gregory Ferrar who was connected to HT. We also worked with the library and their archives and found photos of students that have never been seen before on the campus. Mr. Ferrar also had a personal history with HT because his great great grandfather was the first president of HT. The collaboration with HT and the public library has given a chance to upload photos, bios and have an online presence for alumni and instructors at HT. The exhibit shows how the legacy roots run deep and the information is hard to find. I plan to continue growing this who’s who list and find more names.

Ujima: What is the social media challenge for the exhibit?

Alan: The social media challenge is a way to celebrate HustonTillotson by asking former students or alumni what does Huston-Tillotson means to them. Austinites, HT alumni, and all who care about African American legacies are invited to answer that question and share online using the hashtags #HT2me #BlackandEducated #HBCU and tagging @HustonTillotsonUniversity @HTAA_Austin and @AustinCityParks.

For more information and to view the exhibit, visit AustinTexas.gov/ToElevate Ujima: How can people follow you?

Alan: You can find us on our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/search/posts/?q=oakwood%20cemete ry%20chapel

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FOR SENIORS | ACTIVE LIVING MARY LINNEN | EDITOR

SLOWLY TRYING TO COME OUT OF COVID AND PLAN A FUN DAY !!!

Today’s seniors appear to want more adventure, and plenty of stimulation, and a chance to learn new things and enjoy life with family. There are things we can do and still be safe.

INDOOR PLANTING Courtesy of www.ambius.com

If planting is something you want to do and it has to be inside try these tips for beginners. This could be fun How do you care for indoor plants?

1. Keep potting soil moistIt's important to make sure soil is not too wet nor too dry.

2. Make sure the plant pot has drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.

3. Place your plant near a light source, whether it's natural or artificial.

Good Luck!!

Let’s explore some ideas to be ready for the warmer weather and hopefully more gatherings with friends and family.

Walking Clubs Walking around the community is an easy way for a senior to keep active, and can be a good avenue to making friends. Try to find a club that may even arrange transportation so that club members can walk in a nearby park or on a walking path.

Gardening Clubs Gardening is a superb way to go outside and stay active and connected to others. Digging in the dirt and planting and weeding can help seniors relax and unwind.

Check with your community center or with your church to see if they

are planning any future gardens .

Art Classes For seniors who have worked hard all their lives just to make a living, retirement can open the door to newfound creativity. Watercolor and acrylic painting are all ways to relax with or without a group.

These are a few ideas to consider to get your celebration days started. There is always card games as well as puzzles that can be done in a group or solo.

All of this depends on where we are with Covid19 and if you have been vaccinated. You must feel comfortable being out and around other people and that is a choice you have to make. Discuss it with your family or with your doctor.

ANOTHER GROUP ACTIVITY TO PLAN! Pool workouts. This has a low impact on your joints and muscles.

Check the Covid rules before you start.

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food

Fresh Corn Salad Source: foodreal.com

INGREDIENTS ● 2 cups cooked corn, fresh or frozen (see Note) ● 1-2 avocados, cut into 1/2inch cubes ● 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved ● 1/2 cup finely diced red onion DRESSING: ● 2 tablespoons olive oil ● 1/2 teaspoon grated lime zest ● 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice ● 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

● 1/4 teaspoon salt ● 1/4 teaspoon pepper INSTRUCTIONS Combine the corn, avocado, tomatoes and onion in a large glass bowl. Mix together the dressing ingredients in another bowl, pour over the salad, and gently toss to mix. Chill salad for an hour or two to let flavors blend.

This will be delicious! Enjoy