Alexander Williams: Rainwater for the Mind, Body and Soul

VIEWPOINT ~ BLACK MEN CHANGING OUR COMMUNITY

Black men. What are they up to these days? How are they moving our community forward? I see black men teaching our young men how to treat women, how to take care of their children, how to get educated, and be a full citizen of our communities.

Black men get a bad rap in our society. We all know about the constant killing of our men and boys, the idea that black men are less than or can’t do the right thing. Not to say there are not men like this in all cultures, it hits

hard for black men. But we know better. We know black men are educated, loving, caring and making a difference in their communities. As a black women we support our black men and help them reach their goals.

This issue is about black men who are innovative, educating our young people and more. I understand the importance of black men to our communities. Telling the stories of Black men Is important to our history and who we are as a culture.

Damita Miller-Shanklin Editor-in-Chief

GAIN YOUR SPEAKING VOICE AT TOASTMASTERS

By Damita Miller-Shanklin

Toastmasters is a network of people that meet and learn how to speak to let go of the fear of speaking in public. I had a chance to speak with Jamaul Finley, who is President of a Toastmasters group. This is our conversation.

Ujima: What is Toastmasters and why is it important?

Finley: To be honest, there's not a lot of Toastmaster people of color and minorities that are President of a Toastmasters club. So to me, it's definitely a big deal for us and for me, so I don't take it too lightly. But on top of that, it's just a really good organization. Toastmasters is an organization aimed at professionals and everyday people to help them get over the fear of public speaking. And most people who come to toastmasters come for a specific life event, hence the name Toastmasters.. But it's grown into

more of a professional development tool for people in management, executives, and anyone who really wants to hone the craft of speaking. It's been a really great hub of resources, training, community and network. As well as existing speakers, aspiring speakers, or just people who want to be able to effectively communicate better.

Ujima: If I was to attend a Toastmasters meeting, what would that look like?

Finley: Toastmaster meetings, they all follow a very specific format so that if you do go to different groups or times, you're very familiar with how things work. Our initial meeting starts with just an opening, we greet any new guests, and go over a little bit of club business. And then every meeting we have two speakers that speak. They will give a five to seven

minute speech on a topic of their choice. And there's some guidelines they can use for topic ideas and different types of speeches that help really hone in on special skills. But a typical meeting is fun, you're on your feet, and a lot of laughing.

Ujima: Why did you join Toastmasters?

Finley: I have a goal to speak as a Minister and/or Pastor. Toastmasters is going to give me an opportunity to capture people's attention every single week for at least five to 10 minutes, and get that feedback. What's kept me there is the people , the opportunities for growth, and leadership not only within the organization, but within the community. Toastmasters is connected to a lot of top level organizations in Austin, who send executives there for training. We also have National Championships where people can speak.

BUILDING UP, NOT TEARING DOWN

by Jacquie Johnson, founder of Jacquie ooh

Black men have been beaten down since the beginning, subjected to mental and physical torture during slavery and now at the hands of their jobs, the media, and even the police. This constant beating is literally exhausting.

Throughout history, black women have always been a source of stability and support for our men. We are mothers, wives, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters. From us comes life and it’s in our nature to birth hope and promise in the lives of our men. If we don’t support or uplift our black men who will.

Mainstream media many times portrays the black man as someone who stays in trouble, has nothing going for himself, and doesn’t take care of his family. While there are some who may not be doing what they’re supposed to be doing, there are many who are taking care of business and they should be appreciated and honored. It is up to us to let our men know that they are powerful beyond measure. We understand what they go through daily because of the color of their skin. Many of us were raised by a black man, have raised a black man or have one living in our home so we see daily the struggles that they face. And if you are a boy mom like me, we’re constantly praying for them and sharing knowledge with them on how to handle different situations to keep them alive.

I believe every black man has a story about how his grandmother, mother or wife “held him down” to make and keep him great. We have heard the phrase many times that, “behind every successful man is a woman”, that statement is very true. When we support our black men, we are supporting our community. We’re showing up and letting them know how much we need them and love them. And we’re

showing up to let them know that they matter and their lives matter.

What are some ways we can uplift instead of tearing down our black men?

1. Make sure your cup is full: you can’t pour into someone if you are empty. Take the time to be whole and happy yourself so that you can graciously pour into someone else.

2. Don’t tear down, build up: it is true that life and death lie in the power of the tongue. Black women are intelligent creatures and have the witty ability to cut anyone down with words. But does this edify? Positive words and encouragement are critical in the life of our black men. It may be the only positive thing they ever hear.

3. Be that shoulder: men often must put on a tough guy persona outside of the home. They don’t want to cry or appear weak. Create an environment where your man feels comfortable enough to be emotionally vulnerable with you.

4. Be a safe place: in addition to being comfortable with vulnerability, creating a safe space for black men enables him to truly be himself and release the weight of the world off his shoulders.

5. Really listen to what he has to say: it is important that we give our men room to talk, vent, and release whatever it is that they are going through. This ensures that they don’t hold on to harmful thoughts and habits.

For the last 5 ways Johnson discusses how to uplift our black men, see the full article on our website.

Contributing Writer, Jacquie “ooh” Johnson

Jacquie Johnson is a native Texan who resides in Denton, TX with her husband and two daughters. She has two older sons who reside in California, and one grandson. Jacquie is the founder of Jacquie ooh an online resource hub for women. Her goal is to provide resources to help women think well and live well. She is the creator of the Glow Collection by Jacquie ooh, an organic skincare line where she provides gourmet food for your skin. Jacquie is heavily involved in her community where she has been sworn in as a precinct chair for the Democrats of Denton County. She is also an author to two books: Glow Through It 21 Day Devotional Journal for Women and Dare to Sparkle Entrepreneur Startup Guide+Dream Big 4 Day Devotional. For more information on Jacquie “ooh” Johnson please visit her website at www.jacquieooh.com.

If we don’t support or uplift our black men who will.

A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR JACOB GROVEY

By Damita Miller-Shanklin

Grovey moved to Austin over ten years ago. He has been here long enough that he considers himself an Austinite. He started writing in elementary school. It started because of an assignment from his teacher. One of the greatest teachers was his third grade teacher, Mrs. Armstrong. “What always sticks out to me and what I always tell people is when she wanted us to do a writing assignment about poetry, she said,” if you like rap, you like poetry. So if you don't want to write a poem, write a rap verse. That is the moment that will always be my turning point.”

Grovey chose to make the transfer into publishing books when his niece was born. The Adventures of Austin is inspired by her. He did not want her to grow up how most of the people in the black community do, which is to not see themselves ever represented in the books they read. I said,”let me write this book for my niece so she will see herself in the book. She sees it. She loves it. She takes it to school. So now she says that’s her book.” Grovey releases books, not just for his niece, but for other kids who want to see themselves also.

Grovey does write adult books as well. The first book he actually released before the children's books was a collection of poetry called My World, My Words, Confessions of a Cluttered Mind. He did this because he deals with a lot of stuff just like we all do. But many times “we don't like to express our pain, especially in the black community. You want to act like you're always strong, everything is always good. You're never dealing with any issues.” He went on to say what he dealt with was his heart break when he had to deal with losing people around him and he had his own suicidal thoughts. “I had to put it out there because if I'm dealing with it, somebody else is dealing with it.However,they might not be willing to express themselves or they may feel that they are alone.” Grovey has made himself an open book and let other people know they are not alone. He always hoped that would be the starting point to get people to open up so they can feel better and seek the help that they need.

When asked what is the book club? Grovey explained it is basically anybody who supports any of my projects. Whether they purchase one or all of my books, they are members of the book club. He likes to show love to those who show love to him. So on his website, there is a dedicated section for the book club and you will see all

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SHE SPEAKS WELLNESS: ONE BREATH, ONE MOMENT, ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Our emotional wellness is tested every day. As you look around, there are times when life can be difficult. We must quickly recognize how these experiences can impact us positively or negatively.

It is time that we look at our wellness holistically. The SAMSHA defines wellness in eight dimensions: emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational, and social. I have encountered women who have had challenges with more than half of these areas. For example, we may have lost our job (occupational); which may cause depression (emotional); which may contribute to medical challenges (physical), which then creates isolation (social). Which could create a distance between you and God, affecting our spiritual health. Before you know it, you are wondering, how did I get here? Do you see how this works? Do you know how the vicissitudes of life can spiral down so quickly?

Instead of ignoring them, take the time to slow down, breathe, and reevaluate your wellness. It is okay to not feel well every now and then - eat your favorite ice cream sprinkled with chocolate. However, do not stay there. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That means we can still have gratitude for our weaknesses. When you are at peace, you have more joy. With joy, you have good health. With good health, you are now ready to face any challenges. These are opportunities for growth, gratitude, healing, and restoration.

Therefore, we must recognize all aspects of life’s wellness instead of bypassing others. It will take one breath, one moment, one day at a time.

Reference: SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) – Eight Dimensions of Wellness: https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/s ma16-4957.pdf

Alexander Williams

Aura Rainwater

Water is the Fluid That Connects Us All

By Damita Miller-Shanklin

Willams is a transplant from Northeast Brooklyn, New York. He has been here for about ten and a half years. He has seen the growth of Austin. When he got here in the beginning he got the lay of the land, because he wanted to know our community. From there, he buried himself in East Austin. For three years, he was really heavily in deep with his passion for the adolescent population. After seeing the mishandling of the adolescents he was leaning towards helping our youth something different. But not the traditional nonprofit that just addresses bad behavior, but life skills and how to help them reach their self- actualization and self- realization because they're right on the fence. Williams started to have children and decided to be the stay at home dad. He was the CHO. The Chief Home Officer. During that time, he was a heavy meditator. He is into the spiritual part of things. Everything is connected in his eyes. He came out of meditation one morning, and looked at his water filter. This water filter was supposed to be great at the time. It dawned on him that water is the freshness and pureness of what is needed. It’s the fluid that connects us all. Everybody, everything on this planet is connected through water.

Williams started Aura Rainwater in 2018. He did all of the research and regulations and so forth before he hit the market. Because when he hit the market, he wanted to have all of what he needed to run a water business without question. Williams started to reminisce back to his reading and research with Dr. Masaru. Emoto. He was a Japanese scientist that studied water for 40 plus years. And what he discovered was that water basically inherits the frequency that we give it. So if you put the experiment that Emoto did, over a 1000 times by average people as well as institutions, is he took water, put it into a glass and said I love you and instantly froze it and studied the crystals and the crystals came out harmonious they were beautifully formed. He took the same water and spoke words like I hate you, you're stupid and frozen and the crystals were distorted and crooked. So that's the frequency part. Williams got really heavily into his work and believed in his research. He does believe water is alive and water has memory. So that's some of the premise as well.

What does he mean by memory? So water is that element, right? Whenever they go into space, they're looking for water? Where can we find it? You know, where's the ice? We're made up of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and water.

When it rains the natural cycle of the earth filters the water, and then evaporates. When the rain comes down, it has all the properties that are needed. That's why the grass grows greener. That's why animals in the wild go and they drink the water. But what we get as humans, we get the aftermath, we get the water that goes through the ground and gets into the aquifers. And then they pump it up. And they have to take it through miles and miles of pipes to get through treatments and add something to it and take it away and make things palatable for us to drink. And by the time we get it to our tap in our home or even in the bottle, it has no nutritional value, it's just completely dead. At Aura, since we harvest rainwater directly from Mother Earth, we're partners with her. We like to say that water is really alive.

Williams came to the idea of putting the rainwater in a bottle after dealing with his research to keep the water as pure as possible. He wanted to find out what was the purest water out there. Williams grew up on rainwater and having roots in Louisiana it just all came together that morning when he was meditating. Williams says, “As I was drinking the water, it was like rainwater. It's alive, it is empty, we can shape it to what we need.” We took the frequency and we actually embedded it into the water. So you're actually drinking structured water, because the rainwater is blank. Remember, the water is clean and it comes down as blank. And now we could actually structure it the way that we needed.”

The Aura facility is 56,000 square feet. After Williams captures the rainwater, And as that rain comes down for every inch of rain that falls they collect roughly 23,000

Feature story continues on p6

“Everybody, everything on this planet is connected through water.”

gallons of water. And when they collect the rainwater, it goes into a few huge holding tanks. From there, they take it through a trade secret process that makes the difference between the taste of the water overall. The way Aura does their process is “we mimic mother nature as much as possible. In doing so we keep the water structured and whole meaning, it's alive.” William stated. So unlike the water that comes to our tap, the Aura water goes through treatment, removal and stripping and the water is completely healed. It is then moved around to their holding tank. And from there they go into the bottling process, and they deliver the product.

Williams collects the rainwater off the roofs. When it comes off, they are there with their piping, think about it as a gutter around our home. And when that water runs off, it usually comes down, goes through the gutter and then goes into the ground. They catch that water before it hits the ground. They are able to keep up with their supply and demand because the facility has a 65,000 gallon tank which is a lot of water. They have a couple of those and an end process that they pull from. Williams states they have roughly ten 20,000 gallon tanks that just collect. And it's continuously moving. So we do have enough water to supply for a long time. What people should know about Aura water is the taste. The best comment Willams received was about the taste. According to feedback people can really taste the difference from the most prestigious water that's out there versus the Aura Rainwater. Hands down, Aura's taste is soft, while rainwater is naturally soft and smooth from some of the comments that they have received. It's also refreshing. It has been said that when you drink Aura Water, you really get an experience. When they ingest it, you know it's made for us. “You can really feel it throughout, you know that it's getting to where it needs to go. So it's very hydrating.”

Williams does consider Aura Rainwater a specialty water in the

functional water space. It is a new space where they are taking water and adding things to it like oxygen, or functional things that help the body function, and that's why they call it the functional water space. Aura falls in that category because we're rainwater, we're not the traditional water that comes from the ground. And all of the benefits that rainwater provides the body helps the body function a lot better than traditional water.

The Aura Rainwater is available for individual customers. Their sales and marketing has been more direct, meaning, they go directly from factory to consumer, whether that's B2B or B2C via an ecommerce site, so it gets directly to the customer. And the reason he chose that route is because they don't want it to sit with a distributor on a shelf somewhere. Williams is very strategic about where the water is placed. You can find it at some health locations, specialty grocers and healthy food eateries. Williams next goal is to market their five gallon service. He finds that the price point is better for individuals. As a company, we are moving away from plastic bottles, the bottles that we have now. They are moving into a compostable bottle, in which you can just toss it in your trash and you know it'll break down with no problem. But we want people to really utilize their own water bottle, and get in the habit of hydrating themselves. So the five gallon home and business delivery is where we're focusing and really want to push that product in that market.

Williams wants everyone to know about their core values. Mind, Body, Soul, and Conservation is a big thing for Williams.. The mind and body kind

goes together hand in hand, because of the hydration piece, and the soul part, which is the spiritual aspect. Indigenous people and our ancestors always praise water, no matter what. Because it is life. And conservation, really, teaching conservation, especially from an environmental stewardship is what we are, but especially in the black community, because we have environmental injustice, period. Conservation is an initiative Williams is serious about. He is pushing out a campaign, which is their hydrate, hydrate and elevate campaign for elementary school kids. A lot of those kids are dehydrated.

Williams did a study two years ago, at Austin ISD Blackshear Elementary School. In observing the class, he asked the teacher, when did the kids get water breaks? The answer was the children don't get water breaks. Williams was told the kids go to the bathroom but they don’t break for water, like a hydration break. Williams says.” No wonder the kids can't learn anything, you know, they are severely dehydrated.” He teaches students how to read their hydration levels. As part of the literacy mentoring program at Austin’s Norman and Sims Elementary. Williams goes there and reads to the students once a month. He also takes a case of Aura Rainwater. After reading, they talk about hydration, and they get a chance to hydrate and elevate.

And lastly, Williams talks about how a lot of our diseases black people have are due to dehydration. It’s a direct link, and there's a lot of studies out there. When we dehydrate, our blood pressure rises because it has to fortunately push that water in and pull it back out. So it's working double overtime. That's the cause of hypertension. You know, something just as simple as that could bring it down if we were properly hydrated.

https://www.aurarainwater.com/ order your water or learn more about the company.

People can really taste the difference from the most prestigious water that's out there.

of the people who have taken the time out to support his projects. “I'm grateful for each and every one of them. That's why I want them to have their own section.”

Grovey shares his thoughts about the importance of representation. A lot of times people like to put us in a corner, they think we're only one kind of person, that we only have one story, and they (the people who are in control) seem to think our stories are not relatable. “Whether it be relatable to us or relatable to others, I think we can only tell a certain story in order for other people to connect with. We all let people know that we tell multiple stories because we have multiple things going on. We're many different people.” says Grovey.

The Global Genius Society is a platform that was created so that everyone can showcase their talents. Whether they are a writer, a photographer, a dancer, or an actor, we all have our different stories. So the Global Genius Society is just a platform for us to share. In Grovey’s mind, if you're able to do anything creative. For example, if you're a dancer, and you're able to dance or you're able to choreograph a routine, that's genius! If you're a painter and you're painting something starting with a blank canvas, that's a creative genius to him. Grovey will receive your submission of your work and there's no fee to be on the site.

So what is next for Grovey? He says, “ I am trying to reach the world. I'm so into music. I like to compare myself to

when rappers put out mixtapes. I think of these books as my albums or my mixtapes. And I'm putting out as many as I can because one book or album may reach somebody that one of them didn't. So I know all of my work is not going to be for everybody. But I'm working to write one thing for everybody in the world. I'm trying to reach everybody.”

Lastly, Grovey would like people to remember The Global Genius Society. He doesn't want people to be afraid to share what it is that they like to do. Reach out to him if you write articles. And you haven't been able to create a platform, reach out to him, your photographer, whatever it is. He’s here for that. There is no charge to do it. Let him know what it is that they are trying to do. If a person just wants to share their work and get it out there to the world, reach out to him. As far as his books, Grovey wants people to know that he is always striving to get better. He is always striving to tell the stories that haven't been told or haven't been told enough. He’s always trying to paint us in a positive light. We have seen enough drug users and people that have been locked up. And that is no disrespect to anyone who writes that type of content. But there are other stories that need to be told. And he’s trying his best to write some of those other stories.

To order books or get in touch with Jacob Grovey to http://www.jacobgrovey.com/

Mary Linnen Editor

WHAT ARE RELAXING TECHNIQUES FOR MEN?

Men and women both have stress. Some studies show they are not handled the same. Here are six techniques that may work for men and women.

Six relaxation techniques to reduce stress.

• Breath focus. In this simple, powerful technique, you take long, slow, deep breaths (also known as abdominal or belly breathing). ...

• Body scan

• Guided imagery

When should men get a prostate exam?

According to the American Cancer Society, men and people who were assigned male at birth (AMAB) should have their first prostate exam by age 50. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, you should consider having your first prostate exam at age 45.

Additionally, Black men are at a higher risk for being diagnosed with prostate cancer. For this reason, healthcare providers often recommend that Black men have their first prostate exam around age 45.

Make an appointment with your primary physician and discuss your family history to get the best advice.

Information: Cleveland Clinic

Five Simple Steps to Maintain Your Beard

● Wash Your Beard: Your beard is hair. There are plenty of men’s grooming products to help you wash your beard. This can help eliminate yeast growth on the hair and hydrate your skin, preventing dandruff by eliminating irritated, dry skin.

● Condition Your Beard: After surviving the elements, your hair needs nutrients and repair. One of our beard grooming tips is to include conditioner after a shampoo, where you let it sit in your beard for several minutes to nourish the hair follicles properly.

● Dry Your Beard Gently: It is always tempting to dry your beard as fast

• Mindfulness meditation

• Yoga, tai chi, and qigong

• Repetitive prayer

https://www.health.harvard.ed u/mind-and-mood/sixrelaxation-techniques-to-red uce-stress

as possible, but if you do that, you will eliminate the shampoo and conditioner you applied. Take it slow, pat the beard dry, and let it dry naturally.

● Apply Beard Oil: When your beard is dry, apply beard oil. Beard oil is an extra layer of nourishment and moisture for your beard, helping it remain soft and healthy.

● Brush Your Beard: Combing your beard feels terrific, so why not do it daily? This clears debris, loose hair, and dry skin from your beard, leaving it healthier.

Beards for men seem to be very popular. Hope these tips will help with maintaining a healthy and handsome look.

www.judesbarbershop.com

Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

• 1 (12-oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

• 1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk

• 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened

• 2 cups milk

• 1 (5-oz) box instant French vanilla pudding mix

• 6 to 8 bananas, sliced

• 2 bags of vanilla wafers

Directions: Line the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Courtesy of Paula Deen (Her cookie choice is chessman cookies. )