FEBRUARY 2023 “EMBRACE YOUR COMMUNITY” @UjimaMagazine.com
JASMINE PAUL: Generational Wealth Starts With You.
What Are You Teaching The Next Generation?
What Will Be Your Legacy?
What does legacy mean by definition? It is “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will and/or the long lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past or of a person’s life.
The use of the word “legacy” has become popular in the last couple of decades. I hear in conversations people speaking about leaving a legacy to their children being a family business, home or something as simple as an antique that has been in the family for generations. The generational wealth and legacy has become important to Black
families. So the question remains, what will be your legacy?
When I think about my legacy, it will be Ujima Magazine. I’m proud of this because my BA in Social Work will not be remembered as much as the pages of people whose life, history, and legacy will be remembered. The hope is when I’m gone, some generation will use my legacy as a history lesson and learn about the people that pushed our community and our culture forward.
This issue will look at different ways our legacies will become part of our history as we celebrate Black History Month.
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OUR WOMEN, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
by Jacquie Johnson, founder of Jacquie ooh
The conversation surrounding influential moments and people in black history often focuses on the contributions of men — leaving the vital efforts of black women by the wayside. That's why it's important to make sure black women's contributions are always part of our conversations about history. While some are more wellknown than others, lack of mainstream recognition doesn't make these women's efforts any less significant to our country's progress.
Everyone knows that Harriet Tubman freed the bodies and minds of enslaved people. School also loves to throw in a little something about Rosa’s intentional stand against injustice. And we recently witnessed Kamala Harris who made modern history as the Vice President of the United States of America; and Ketanji Brown Jackson who was confirmed as the first African American woman to serve as a justice of the United States Supreme Court. While these women’s contributions to history are incredibly important, there are countless other black women whose stories aren’t as widely known but deserve honor, respect, and reverence.
As we celebrate Black History Month, we thought we'd look at some black women who have made or is still making history in the realm of fighting for the rights of working people, fighting for our rights as a race of people, helping to build thriving communities, still fighting for voting rights and so much more. The battles these women have fought and are still fighting should make these women household names. Black women today are at the forefront of battles for the rights of African Americans, building on the work of our ancestors and the women who trailblazed before them. Check out several women past and present who are making history and have made history right in our own backyards.
Mandy Price
Mandy Price is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as the CEO and co-founder of Kanary’s Inc. Kanary’s is a technology platform that fosters collaboration between companies and employees on DEI in the workplace. Kanary’s allows individual contributors to anonymously rate, review and submit surveys on diversity and inclusion at their current and former employers. https://www.kanarys.com
Dr. Adena Williams Loston
Dr. Adena Williams Loston serves as the 14th President of St. Phillip’s College, our nation’s only college to be federally designated as both a Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution with three military base sites, four early college high schools and five P-Techs serving
more than 13,000 students. Dr. Loston was named one of the Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders in 2021.
https://www.alamo.edu/spc/about-spc/leadership/ president/
Christia Adair
In 1918, when she was 25 years old, Christia Adair went doorto-door organizing for women's right to vote in Texas. This effort was to pass a bill where women would be able to vote like men. When the bill passed, Adair went to the polls for the first time. The memory of what happened stuck with her the rest of her life. Ms. Adair stated how she remembered her and other black women dressing up like the white women to go and vote, however when they got to the polls they couldn’t vote. She stated she remembered receiving all kinds of excuses on why they couldn’t vote. Finally, the question was asked by one of the women so we can’t vote because we’re “Negroes” and the response was YES, Negroes don’t vote in primary in Texas. Ms. Adair stated that after experiencing that, her long career began as a civil rights leader in Houston. Because of efforts by her, by other African American women leaders and even a U.S Supreme Court case, black women in Texas would eventually win back their right to vote, decades after the state ratified women's suffrage.
https://www.womenintexashistory.org/biographies/ christia-adair/
Today, I challenge you to look around you and write a list of women right in your own circle who are making history. Then reach out to these women and let them know how you appreciate them for what they are doing for their families, communities, and others around them. Take it a step further and pass the list along to your children; and share the struggles and victories of these women so that they can appreciate their history! And as you hear of black women who are making strides in your communities document it, before you know it you will have your own book on black women and their contributions to your communities. What a great legacy to pass along to your children and others in your family!
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 a new 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
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SHE SPEAKS WELLNESS
There is continuing to be an exchange of views about faith, the black community, and mental wellbeing. Some in the faith community ask why we only talk about African Americans when the church should focus on all people? I agree. We are all citizens of the Kingdom of God, and believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. We should also know that 3 John 1:2 states, "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as our soul is getting along well." “We believe that John's prayer was that the physical health of this saint might prosper in the same way that his spiritual health was prospering.”
Therefore, the black community should not overlook the disparities which may contribute to exacerbating mental health. Studies have found that our faith and spirituality can significantly improve the quality of life.
● According to the Health and Human Services
Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress.
● According to NAMI, negative attitudes, and beliefs towards people with mental health can be particularly strong within the Black community.
Now let's break bread at the table and speak about issues that can support and heal our congregations; to reduce the stigma of mental health from a spiritual aspect by encouraging healing and education. Let’s talk about what the bible say about it? What can we do about it?
“Being strong is when we can admit that you are weak. Encourage healing by recognizing that we have flaws.” Sarah Jakes Robert
To listen to the She Speaks Wellness - Women, Faith, and Health panel discussion go to https://www.facebook.com/ironsharpensiron63
The Importance of Financial Literacy for Black Families JASMINE PAUL
By Damita Miller-Shanklin
I met Jasmine Paul at the Marketplace event at the Carver Library. There were vendors selling their products. My interest in Paul’s business is the financial literacy aspect for children. This is the conversation we had about her company and how she assists children in learning how to manage money.
When I think about growing up I didn't have anyone to tell me about money management,how to use money or to save money. How was financial literacy presented to Paul at a young age? Her home was like most family homes. Her parents are immigrants who migrated to this country and she was taught money does not grow on trees. You have to get an education and work very hard to just get a quarter or half of what someone else might have. So, though her parents didn't directly talk to her about money she feels they indirectly spoke through their examples. Paul was with her grandmother quite a bit. She had her own seamstress company, she still does to this day, for over 40 years. This is where Paul observed her grandmother interacting with customers and
Paul observed her grandmother interacting with customers, taking care of money and doing bank runs and putting money away.
taking care of money and doing bank runs and putting the money away. She took Paul to the bank to open an account for her and she remembers having this booklet where you saved your money.
Paul feels her parents showed her you do have to put money away for a rainy day. That's very important. Her dad did one thing she feels all parents should do: he got her Visa bucks. Visa at the time had these Visa bucks debit cards. It was strictly for teenagers, and middle schoolers, and he loaded it with her allowance and she used that money for the things she wanted.
However, once that money was gone, it was gone. This showed Paul you have to work to earn an
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income and then once the money is gone, “don't put things on credit when you can't afford it.”
Paul became aware of how young people handled money through her own experience as a college student. Even though she had great examples growing up, “I lost my mind in college.” she said. The good thing is she knew how to work. She had been working since around fourteen as a DJ. “I knew how to work. I knew how to make a dollar. I just didn't know how to save or invest.” At one time she was working three jobs. She was making money but she was also spending money. For example, she did Spring Break twice in Europe. Then she found herself in student loan debt and she found others around her with student loan debt as well. She asked the questions: what's wrong? Why is this happening? She started doing research and found through the Council of Economic Education more than one in six students in the US do not reach the baseline of proficiency when
it comes to financial literacy. Nearly a quarter of millennials spend more than they earn. And 67% of Gen Z have less than three months worth of emergency funds. Whatever we learned as kids will translate into adulthood. And so if you don't learn anything as a kid, you're going to make a ton of money and then spend a ton of money. In order to change the direction of your financial future, you will need to make sacrifices. Because Paul was working on getting out of debt, she began to help her friends. They began telling others but then Covid hit. That’s when Paul thought, “all these kids are at home, who's talking to these kids about money? This is the perfect time.” Paul works with ages five through eighteen as well as adults. Her books are primarily for ages five to nine, but she has helped as young as four. She worked with twins who budgeted to save over $300 after reading A Boy, A Budget, and a Dream and she has worked with people at the age of 80 who are trying to figure out retirement.
There is a financial workbook that Paul has written titled The Wealth Playground Workbook: A Financial Literacy Activity Workbook. The wealth playground series came about because Paul loves history, spelling and English. She has found when it comes to financial literacy and money, it's so intimidating and scary for people. “I wanted to make the World's Playground fun because money is fun.” says Paul. “Learning about money should be fun. It's a part of you and it's a part of your journey.” Paul wanted it to be fun for kids. And
so the Wealth Playground is a series of different life skills. The stories are about a group of kids who are just trying to have fun so she has Joey, who is the main character in the first book. He is the brother to Cass, who is the main character of the second book. And so there's several other characters throughout the series, but it's to teach kids that it's okay to have fun but it's also okay to manage your money. There are exercises from A Boy’s Budget and A Dream. There's a goal setting worksheet at the end of the book. There's also multiplication that is within the story and supplemental workbooks available.
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Paul shares with parents that it's never too late to discuss money. She finds that parents do not want to share with their kids about money because they themselves are not great at money. But she thinks it's important to share because kids are going to make the same mistakes you do. She’s finding in her research a lot of families are desiring to leave generational wealth, and legacy. They want to pass something down to their children. And Paul says, “really focus on your situation. Your kids have an opportunity to grow up and they will live their life and be able to have a job and work and build their wealth.” She goes on to say it is important for the parents to
figure themselves out about their retirement and about their legacy planning, understand what it looks like for them, and then have that conversation with your child.
Paul has visited several schools and organizations, whether it's virtual or in person, where she talks about the book, and then does exercises from the book about financial literacy and helps the kids understand what it means to save, set goals and grow their money. Financial literacy comes down to having more conversations about money. There may be sacrifices in order to get your finances in order. Show children by example how to save and invest. Open an
account with their allowance and teach them how to save and spend without overspending. Lastly Paul shares that there is no magical time to start learning more about financial management and education. In her workshops people always justify not getting their finances in order. She has heard their finances are okay, I'm just going to wait until I get my money right or they will wait until they get their new job. Those excuses will not work. It is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. You will see it’s about discipline. It's all about doing those small habits of financial change over and over until it gets to the point where you don't even think about it.
Learn more about Jasmine and her books at thewealthplayground.com
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If you don't learn anything as a kid, you're going to make a ton of money and then spend a ton of money.
THIS IS HISTORY!!
Hakeem Jeffries is the first Black elected official to lead ANY Party in Congress in American history.
WHAT WILL THEY REMEMBER?
most people relate that to houses, land or something worth a sum of money. A Legacy may be of one's faith, ethics and core values. Legacies often tremendously impact, encourage and leave pathways for future generations.
We all have a story of “What My Grandma Would Say.”
This is a historic occasion and we wanted to express our gratitude to Jeffries as he leads House Democrats into the future. Congratulations
Being that it’s Black History Month a lot of people are talking about the legacy and the advice they want to leave to their children and grandchildren.
I try to share this on a regular basis. Having a relationship with your grandchildren starts when they are little babies. When you use the word legacy,
Showing your work ethics, making sure they understand why you take responsibility for your actions to correct your mistakes. Encourage them to get an education or stay employed.
Always be there for them to teach compassion and forgiveness.
Above all the greatest legacy is to show the power of putting God first.
If asked, what would Granny say? “Keep Praying”
p8 UjimaMagazine.com active LIVING
Mary Linnen Editor
And Then This Happened…
Madelyn Patterson, Ujima’s Marketing Director, is utilizing all tools available to showcase the magazine and invite people to use the magazine as a marketing tool. If you have a business, a project or an event that you want to get more people in the community to notice and participate, Madelyn is the person to talk with.
If you missed her on We AreAustin on CBS Austin, here is the conversation she had with the host, Chelsey Hernandez where she spoke about our collaboration with her company Gone Mad Productions.
https://cbsaustin.com/features/we-areaustin/ujima-magazine-highlights-every-da y-heroes-in-atx
Fruit and Cheese
Source: sugarandcharm.com
EASY TO MAKE AND VERY TASTY
Looking for a healthy snack or something for your next party! Fruit and cheese trays are my first choice.
Cheese is nutritious, it’s packed with protein calcium, vitamins A and B12. And tastes so good with fruit.
The best berries are strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. Also red and green grapes are tasty with cheese. The cheese should be four different types soft and semi soft and aged , and new. Wash the berries, cut your cheese into cubes, triangle or slices.
Arrange the large items first and add the fruit by color. Actually you can add nuts and crackers. Some things can be placed next to your platter. This is always a hit at any gathering.
This is easy to make and very tasty. Actually this can be made in a small amount for you only!!
Enjoy!
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