Ebonie Trice: Mission Accomplished

Ending 2022 Strong

I say this every year, and I will repeat it, this year is flying by very quickly. This is the time when we all begin evaluating our year and start planning for the new year.

I find it exciting to look ahead, change what is not working, and improve upon what is working. Something to remember as you plan ahead — consider both your personal goals as well as your business and/or passion goals.

This is our last issue for 2022. We will be celebrating the holiday season and enjoying time with friends and family.

Our feature story is with Ebonie Trice, of Mission Accomplished. She is doing great work with the homeless and during this holiday season, her efforts will go a long way.

Ujima wishes you a great (and safe) holiday season.

Damita Miller-Shanklin Editor-in-Chief Damita@ujimamagazine.com

Acts of Kindness

Source: United Way

Weall know from childhood that we should be kind to others.

As adults, we should continue to be kind and caring because it’s the best thing to do. Acts of kindness are shown the most during the holiday season. If you are looking to share some love and kindness, here are a few ideas:

● Do something nice for your neighbor such as bake them cookies or help carry groceries

● While in the coffee drive-thru, pay for the person behind you

● Volunteer at your favorite charity

● Say hello and smile when you greet a stranger

● When someone lets you in front of them in traffic, wave to say thank you

These are just a few things you can do to show kindness. How will you show kindness during this holiday season?

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

By Damita Miller-Shanklin

Do you remember a song titled “The Futures So Bright. I Gotta Wear Shades” by Timbuktu 3? When I sat down to write about the new year that song comes to mind. Why? Because I worry about the future. This year of 2022 has seen a lot of changes — Women Rights, the Insurrection, and so much more. However, our Black communities still struggle with equal pay, racism, affordability, and continued injustices, which became even more apparent during the recent COVID-19 global pandemic.

I’m looking for 2023 to take shape in a new and positive way. I have been very cautious about living my full life due to the uncertainty from Covid-19 and the on-going new variants. I have been out and about on occassion; but mostly I have stayed close to home too. I’m determined to have a bright future.

The things I want to do more of is:

• Finish reading a book

• Start journaling again

• Take a well overdue vacation

• Sketching and art projects

What will you do to create a new year of happiness in 2023? Let’s make 2023 a good year.

Happy New Year!!

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEW YEAR–ARE YOU READY?

“I’m determined to have a bright future.”

SHE SPEAKS WELLNESS You Are the Hero of Your Own Story

YOUR STORY

All of us have a story to tell. Your family history, experiences, failures, and success shapes you.

“Be the hero of your own story. Show the world the quality of your character, the strength of your resolve, and the size of your heart by finishing strong.” – Gary Ryan Blair

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) says, “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”

YOUR CHARACTER

Character shapes who you are. God can take a hopeless situation and turn it into good. Romans 12:2 (MSG) says “Do not become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You will change from the inside out. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity. God brings the best out of you, developed well-formed maturity in you.”

YOUR RESOLVE

The dictionary describes resolve as making a firm decision and to persevere. Do not give up your breakthrough is one step away.

YOUR HEART

Regardless of the mistakes made. Open your heart. “Create in me a clean heart and renew in me the right Spirit.” – Psalm 51

FINISH STRONG & FINISH WELL God created your inward parts and knitted you together in your mother's womb. You are fearfully, and wonderfully made. He gives you hope and a future. What story do you want to tell?

Minister Sonya Hosey, Founder of She Speaks Wellness, a program of Moore 4 Sisters Ministries (501c3)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Author Aaris Epps

Aaron’s Actions, A Little Book About the Bigness of Compassion

Reading should start early. Growing up my mom read to me every night. She did not like Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss because I would ask her to read it almost every night. This is a fond memory for me.

This is where Author Aaris Epps enters the story. Since she was a kid, she has always been a big reader. Her mom surrounded her and her siblings with books. She always wanted to be a children's author. But nothing inspired her more than her son. She was blessed and fortunate enough to have a baby boy in 2016. Just living with him and seeing the world through his eyes, “That was the final push that said, quit talking about it, be about it, and get it done.”

Aaron’s Actions, A Little Book About the Bigness of Compassion is biblically based. Parents will find biblical scriptures in the book. It's a book about compassion and kindness. You will follow a little boy, his mom and dad as they do practical things around their community, and learn about making a huge difference not only for their community but for the world. Compassion or kindness? They’re not owned nor exclusive to one group. They’re a shared value. Epps also pinned Aaron's Actions, A Little Book About Kindness because sometimes you can share a value with someone but may not share a religion. That’s why she felt it was very important to write a biblically-based book and then a non-faithbased book because again, compassion and kindness are shared values.

Below are the links to order copies to read with your child or grandchildren.

https://a.co/d/dMm2oV9 https://a.co/a4cJtaZ

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Taking Care of Our Community Through Partnerships

By Damita Miller-Shanklin

Ebonie Trice is the founder of Mission Accomplished. She moved to Austin from Indiana following her brother and his wife. She teased that a week after they got married, they announced they were moving to Austin, she said, “What? We didn’t talk about that!” Trice did move, found a job, and settled in. What was crazy, she knew she was coming to Austin, but she didn’t have a plan. “But I am so grateful to God that I am here. I think the best way to describe it is like a bird out of a cage.”

Mission accomplished, started in 2014. Trice was born and raised in a church where everything was about community. She remembers being outside of the church more than inside the church. They had a shelter, a food pantry, and clothing drives. There was a partnership with Disney. They would do away with items if the stitching was a little off but they could still be used. The church would get donations of furniture, toys, and all types of things. She participated in Vacation Bible School, a tent where they did their outreach, and a basketball league every summer in their community.

She started having conversations with different people and connected with organizations that were actually in the streets.

wanted to volunteer more, which she did. The conversations she was having were always about homelessness here. Then God placed on her heart to start an organization. She didn't know anything, but she did it. Trice reminds us that “God said he doesn't call the qualified.” She ended up starting Mission Accomplished. She started having conversations with different people and connected with organizations that were actually on the streets. They were actually helping individuals. And they were allowing us to have a conversation with them and say, “Hey, what is it that you need? What is it that you’re not getting?” Laundry was the

So when Trice got to Austin, in her new space, she

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biggest need. Trice found it kind of hurtful to hear that the churches would come in and do stuff temporarily. “That's not what I'm used to.” She did not hear a lot of the churches here doing a lot for those experiencing homelessness, especially those that look like us; the church that looks like us. She does see and hear about the white churches and she gets it, they may have more of the financial pieces of it. This is where she believes collaboration comes in, right? Because we as black people will get our hands dirty, like how she was raised. They started doing laundry on a Wednesday night. After work, she and the volunteers would go to different homeless camps. They pick up their clothes, wash them and take them back to them and it was just such a joy to do. But after the time changed it was too dark after work. So, they started doing their washing on Saturdays. However, she was still looking for a way to be more efficient for both her volunteers and the people she was serving. Mission Accomplished is all volunteer-led - no funding - and getting most if not all of their resources from the community. They provided this service until just before the pandemic struck. The volunteers started doing laundry kits and Trice started making partnerships with food pantries and different recreational centers.

look into getting a mobile trailer with a washer and dryer. She got it in June and started rocking and rolling. Trice and her volunteers are now able to help more people. One thing she likes about this process is they are there with the individuals instead of leaving and coming back. They are able to talk with the people they serve and find out what other services they need, such as a MAP card for medical care, vouchers, etc.

How can our community help Mission Accomplished? By donating. It costs to wash. Monetary donations will help when they need to assist someone with paying for their washing. These funds also cover the cost of gas, and propane for the trailer, disposable masks, gloves, trash bags, bottled water, Gatorade, snacks (granola bars, peanut butter crackers, etc.), and most of all the volunteers!!

One thing she likes is that they are there with the individuals ... are able to talk with them, finding out what other services they need.

Trice will finish the year strong because “we're gonna have another trailer. The goal is to have the trailer up and running by November. We will then have four locations. Two trailers, yep. So just the fact that in a year and a half we’ve grown with the connections that I’ve made this year and the confidence that I’ve gotten.” One thing Mission Accomplished wants to do is figure out how the organization can make its own funding. Trice would love to have a laundry facility where the unhoused individuals can run it, and also have access to a shower and a café.

Trice partners with many different resources that benefits the homeless person who comes to get their clothes washed. The volunteers continue to make laundry kits as well. The area that Mission Accomplished serves is North Austin, Grand Avenue towards Mopac. Transportation is a big issue for the homeless population. Trice decided to

“Homelessness is not a person but a situation.” – Ebonie Trice

To donate or learn more, visit https://missionaccomplished.org/our-story/ or you can reach Ebonie Trice at 512-588-3321.

Mary Linnen Editor

WHAT TO BRING TO VOTE!

Ways to Stay Safe While Holiday Shopping

Source: ARAG Legal Insurance Holiday shopping

will begin once the turkey has been eaten and the family is done with the football game of the day. The official Black Friday madness begins. But you have to be aware of your safety as you head out to the malls or shop online. There is always a certain danger with both.

Here are 5 ways to stay safe as you shop for that perfect gift.

You will be asked to show a photo ID to vote in Texas. Acceptable forms include:

• Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)

• Texas election ID certificate

• Texas personal ID card

• Texas handgun license

• US military ID with photo

• US citizenship certificate with photograph (doesn't need to be current)

• US passport

Make sure you vote and let your voice be heard this election!

1). Make sure you can carry the load of items you purchase. If you buy more than what you can carry in your car, you can become vulnerable to thieves.

2). Look for online identity theft when shopping on a website. Choose companies you trust and be aware of scammers who use bogus emails asking for personal information and deals that seem too good to be true.

3). Protect your credit card when you are waiting in line. Someone can get your information just by looking over your shoulder at your card.

4). Leave a paper trail of your receipts. Review your bank statements to verify the purchases you made.

5). If you shop with your grandchildren, especially teenagers, make sure you agree on a meeting spot and a time and ensure that everyone has a cell phone to use in case of an emergency or if something changes.

These tips are for the holiday season, but they can be used anytime you are out shopping at any time of the year. Happy Shopping!

https://tinyurl.com/fiveways-to-stay-safe

What is Your Favorite Holiday Pie?

Source: blackamericaweb.com

Pie is a staple during holiday meals. Many people like Pumpkin, Apple, and Cherry pie. My mother always fixed Sweet Potato Pies for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This tradition continues today.

There is an ongoing debate about whether Pumpkin pie is better than Sweet Potato Pie. I vote for the latter. Sweet potato pie has a long history with the Black community. “During the sixteenth century, Brits from Europe brought the tradition of making pumpkin pies for dessert to West Africa. The tradition was soon brought to America during slavery, where the African slaves transformed the dessert into something sweeter using yams, then sweet potatoes.”

As the holidays arrive and your family gathers, when you cut your piece of Sweet Potato pie, think about how your ancestors took the ingredients and made a delicious pie for all to enjoy.

TIME WELL SPENT A Tool to Organize and Be Productive

By Damita Miller-Shanklin

Howmany of you work on staying organized so you can be productive at work and at home? Trello has been a game-changer for me. I tried this system years ago, but I stopped using it because I didn’t put in the time to make it work for me. I have since re-visited Trello and now it is helping me keep up with my different systems of social media, article writing, one place for all communication with team members, assignments, and more. You can customize your boards to your needs. This is an app and a desktop program.

Let me know if you try it and your feedback or if you use it how it has changed your productivity and planning. It will be a great tool to plan for the new year.