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Hello, Friends!
September is a special month for us at Ujima Magazine, as we celebrate another great milestone! Can you believe it’s been since September 15, 2008, that Ujima first launched in print? The excitement I felt then is still the same feeling I experience every time I see our finished issue each month.
If you’ve been with us on this journey, you already know our story. Our mission to tell the vibrant and powerful stories of the Black community remains as strong as ever. Our commitment to highlighting our “everyday heroes” is the heartbeat of Ujima. This is who we are, a niche digital community magazine, dedicated to uplifting and celebrating our community. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this milestone and jump into this special issue dedicated to Ujima. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to my amazing team, our talented contributing writers, and the wonderful collaboration with Madelyn Patterson.
Together, we’re ready to propel Ujima forward in the digital space!
Thank you for your continued support, and for sharing our stories with your friends and family. Let’s raise a toast to another year of great stories, new connections, and being a proud part of the Austin community!
Cheers to many more years of Ujima! �� �� �� ��
Embrace Your Community Damita
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Healing Herbs: Let the Plants Support You
By Christina Gobert, Contributing Writer
When you think of supporting yourself, what usually comes to mind? Most people may say talking to someone, getting a massage, having a relaxing day. Well by the time you finish reading this article, it is my hope that you will consider adding herbal medicine as an additional form of support for whatever you may be facing.
Herbs are mother nature’s medicine. It is said that there is a solution available for everything through herbs. Many of us are familiar with herbs through their use in seasoning our food, but they have an even greater use. We can utilize herbs to support us through physical ailments and states of dis-ease. We can utilize herbs to provide minerals throughout the body and even detox and cleanse specific organs. We can also use herbs to support our mental health. See below for a list of common herbs and their uses. I will also include the Spiritual
attributes of each herb as mentioned in Spiritual Herbalism by Karen M. Rose.
Nettle Leaf: Nettle Leaf is one of my favorite herbs. It is highly nourishing and nutritive, providing many minerals as evidenced by its naturally green
Ujima Magazine: Celebrating 16 Years of Building Community
By Jacqueline Johnson, Contributing Writer
Ujima Magazine marks a significant milestone this year as it celebrates its 16th anniversary. Founded with a mission to uplift and empower, the magazine has been a beacon of light for the community, providing a platform for voices often unheard and stories often untold. Over the past 16 years, Ujima Magazine has not only chronicled the achievements and challenges of the community but has also played an active role in shaping a narrative of unity, resilience, and progress.
The magazine’s journey began with a vision to create a space where the richness of Black culture could be celebrated, and where community issues could be addressed with the depth and nuance they deserve. Through its diverse content, ranging from articles on social justice, health, and education to profiles of local heroes and emerging talents, Ujima Magazine has become a vital resource and a trusted voice within the community.
Central to Ujima Magazine’s success is its commitment to the principle of collective work and responsibility, a core value in African American culture. The word "Ujima" itself, derived from Swahili, means "collective work and responsibility," reflecting the magazine’s dedication to fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. Over the years, Ujima has organized and supported countless community
Contributing Writer, Jacqueline “ooh” Johnson
events, workshops, and initiatives that bring people together, strengthen bonds, and inspire action.
As Ujima Magazine celebrates its 16th anniversary, it continues to look forward, staying true to its mission of building and empowering the community. The magazine remains a testament to the power of storytelling and the impact of a shared vision. Here’s to 16 years of Ujima and to many more years of making a difference in the lives of those it serves.
Jacqueline Johnson, a proud Texan, currently resides in Denton, TX, alongside her spouse. She is a newly “empty nester” with your last daughter to leave the nest to attend college. With two grown sons residing in California and two grandsons, and her newly married daughter and son-in-love, Jacqueline is the visionary behind Jacquie ooh, an online resource hub committed to equipping women with the tools they need to think well and live well. Additionally, Jacqueline has spearheaded the development of the Glow Collection by Jacquie ooh, an exceptional line of all-natural skincare products. Designed to provide your skin with a nourishing gourmet experience, this collection embodies her passion for holistic well-being. Jacqueline is also very involved in her community where she volunteers and is the precinct chair in her county, she recently formed a nonprofit for mom’s called, Mom’n It. She is the author of: “Glow Through It” 21-Day Devotional Journal for Women, “Dare to Sparkle” Entrepreneur Guide plus Dream Big 4-Day Devotional and her newest book, “ooh girl yes! Self-Care Coloring Book and Things.” And, most recently her remarkable show, “Motivational Monday with Jacquie ooh” received the 2024 Telly Award for being an exceptional online talk show. For more information on Jacquie ooh please visit www.jacquieooh.com
National Alzheimer’s Day
By Damita Miller-Shanklin
We are celebrating this month but there is something I did not want to forget. National Alzheimer’s Day is September 21. The reason I didn’t want to forget is because this disease is a personal story for me.
Alzheimers’ is a national day to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. My personal story is about my mother. She was a big part of Ujima and she supported my dream and she was proud of me.
My mother has Alzheimer’s and the journey has been difficult. My sister and I took care of her but if you are a caretaker, there comes a time when you have to find support that works for your loved one. I miss my mother because the beautiful lady I visit each week is not the woman who taught me to think for myself, have God in my life and treat people right. But I know my mother is there and she knows my sister and I love her very much.
If you are caring for a parent, sister, or husband, you may want to think about the following things to look for. Of course, consult with their doctor.
• Memory loss that disrupts daily life.
• Losing track of dates or knowing current location.
• Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks.
• Repeating questions or forgetting recently learned information.
(National Institute on Aging)
So as Ujima celebrates, I remember my mother and the disease that has changed my life forever.
Miranda, CA
By Aubrey Edmond, Contributing Writer
Last weekend my boyfriend and I decided to abandon civilization and drive up into the mountains for a few days. We drove six hours from the bay to northern California down windy roads that pushed the limits of my boyfriend’s Mazda. My boyfriend and I travel together often, but we rarely go on drives like this. This is the longest drive we’ve done alone together since I’ve only been driving for less than a year, and I knew he was happy that I could finally help him out with the driving. Driving has been making me nervous recently. I get this feeling that I’m losing focus and that terrifies me. I no longer seem to know what I’m supposed to look at, what I’m supposed to pay attention to. It’s seemed like such a chore recently, the only barrier between me and exploring the outside world. It feels like everyone else on the road is out to get me, not even by their own accord, but because they’re probably more unfocused than I am. Even though I feel myself shrinking into my own world a bit when I’m driving, I still have the reflexes of a cat, I’ve got nine lives to spare.
Miranda, California is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s breathtaking, all the redwood forests and rivers and rolling hills. We really wanted to see the stars in a way we’d never seen them before, but the moon was too bright to see more than we normally could. I do well with disappointment, and I always try to find the beauty in things. This was no different: I relished in the beauty of the lazy summer night, surrounded by the mountains and the trees and the bugs and the animals, filling my lungs with crisp summer air.
Celebrating the Petals of Ujima Magazine
By Damita Miller-Shanklin
As I reflect on our past year, I want to discuss our evolution through the pedals of the sunflower. When Ujima was created I wanted it to stand for something strong but bright. I always loved the Sunflower. I loved the way it stands high, reaching for the sunshine and allowing the beautiful pedals to spread out and take in all the sun while allowing its beauty to shine. Ujima has stood tall and reached for the positive sunlight while sharing stories of brightness in our community.
Ujima’s Foundation-Our Center
I loved the way [the Sunflower] stands high, reaching for the sunshine and allowing the beautiful pedals to spread out and take in all the sun while allowing its beauty to shine.
Celebrating our 16th year anniversary, I wanted to reflect on our year and celebrate our journey. But many of you know our story so I wanted to use the sunflower and its beautiful petals to look back on a good year.
When I look at a Sunflower, I consider the brown circle in the middle our foundation. This is our center where I always return for guidance. The middle consists of our mission, our team members, Mary Linnen, Chiquitta Harris, Eliza Edwards and Madelyn Patterson. Our contributors Jacqueline Johnson, Minister Sonya Hosey, Aubrie Edmond, Christina Gobert, and Nikkia Scott. The center is where I return when I feel things are not going quite right or when I want to move forward. I look at the mission and rally the team for feedback.
The center is where, since 2008, has kept Ujima moving to tell stories of our “everyday heroes” and the people who make a difference in our community. The center is where the ideas grow, where the love for the community grows and where the importance of our black history and legacy lives.
Mind, Body and Soul Petal
This past year you may have noticed we did work around taking care of yourselves. We saw women were working hard taking care of their children, their parents, partners, and jobs. We notice you were not slowing down to care for your needs. We wanted to touch this topic throughout each issue. We provided feature stories that looked at movement through dance, exercise and healthy eating. The goal was to remind you, each month the importance of taking care of yourself and your loved ones. We did not forget the issue of our Mental Health. This is a priority each month to share a way to improve or look at your mental health through scriptures and everyday actions you can take from journaling, therapy or meditation. We hope this has led you to a better mindset.
Our Collaboration Petal
This petal is a growing development. We want this petal to grow into a big part of how we do business. We have started with a great collaboration.
Ujima and Gone Mad Production in the last two years have worked together to grow our presence in the Austin and surrounding
communities. Madelyn Patterson is the Founder of Gone Mad Productions. She has worked with CBS We Are Austin daily show to highlight our “everyday heroes” and people working to better our community each month. This has also been a springboard to work with our young people. They have been highlighted through sharing their businesses or community involvement through pageants, the Youthpreneur event, and more. This has been a great opportunity for both businesses and we help our community. Ujima wants to grow this petal with other businesses and agencies.
Our Contributing Writer Petal
This petal provides the opportunity to learn different perspectives and opportunity for expression. This petal has grown from one writer to four. Again our writers Jacqueline, Minister Sonya, Aubrie, and Christina share their unique perspectives on entrepreneurship, women issues, mental health, being young and finding her way and Natural Healing through the Alkaline way of eating and living. This petal is important because they bring a different look at ideas, ways of living and community. This petal will continue to grow and bring different aspects for your growth and thinking.
Our Team Creativity Petal
We hope you have noticed the bold and brighter colors our team is bringing to the magazine. The team was tasked by our Creative Director to provide ideas of what the team liked and what we thought would be good for our layout. This was a team effort and will continue. This petal is the most important because we have to always look at improving the look and feel of the layout. We will keep our themes relevant and important to the community. The goal is to have not only good
Mary Linnen, Editor
MARY’S TIPS AND IDEAS
September Brings a Change
Check Your Voter Registration Card
October 7,2024 is the last day to register to vote in the November 5,2024 General Election.
Voting is your voice!!
Visit vote.gov to begin the voter registration process.
Remember the season changes in September . The 22nd is the first day of fall. Here are a few tips to help you prepare and enjoy this season!!
Dress appropriately
Fall weather is often not too hot or too cold, so you can wear layers or long sleeves and pants. Get a flu shot Fall is the start of flu season, so getting a flu shot can help protect you during the cold weather months.
Change your air filter
A dirty air filter can make your HVAC system work harder, so changing it can help keep it running smoothly. These will get you off to a great start during the fall season. Because it’s a bit cool you can really enjoy it, especially if you happen to be in Texas!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY UJIMA!!
September is one of my favorite months of the year!! Celebrating 16 years of sharing information and acknowledging people in the community.
Looking back on some of my favorite times. I still smile at the awesome people in the community we were able to meet. The kids corner for reading and the recipes that were shared to many of our readers.
As we continue on our journey I look forward to the new challenges and serving the community!!
Never Give Up Your Dreams
Bacon, Cheese, and Potato Chowder
Courtesy of Delicious Chowder
Strolling through our memories this recipe was one of the favorites!! Easy to make and very tasty.
WHAT YOU NEED
• 3 cups milk(fat free)
• 1 can(10-3/4oz) condensed cream of potato soup
• 2 cups frozen southern style hash browns
• 1 cup 2% Milk Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 2-3 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
MAKE IT!
Mix milk and soup in a large saucepan. Stir in hash browns. Bring this to a boil on high heat, stirring occasionally, simmer on medium-low heat for 10 minutes stirring frequently.
Serve topped with cheese, bacon and onions.
SERVING TIPS
Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper before serving. Serve each bowl with a crusty whole grain roll.
appearance. In Spiritual Herbalism, Nettle can support us with “stopping gossip” and “can help us return to ourselves by removing any energies that are not our own”.
Elderberry: Elderberry is an old favorite for many when it comes to immune health. Elderberry is used to treat colds, the flu, allergies and to remove mucus from the respiratory system. In Spiritual Herbalism, Elderberries “offer the protection of a familiar elder, a protective guardian, shielding us from storms.”
Sarsaparilla: Sarsaparilla is an herb that can be used to cleanse the blood. Dr. Sebi touted Sarsaparilla as the herb with the highest iron content, which is essential for overall well-being. In Spiritual Herbalism, Sarsaparilla balances the hormones, and is used as an aphrodisiac for men.
Chamomile: Chamomile is one of the most widely recognized herbs for mild insomnia, relieving stress
and nervous tension. In Spiritual Herbalism, Chamomile “can ground you to prepare you for change. It calms your nervous system and offers space to hear and listen, giving time to check in before taking that next step to move forward”.
Which of these herbs could you consider adding to your wellness routine?
If you are needing more direction in choosing a combination of herbs that could support you at this time, please consider booking a Consult
This information is not intended to substitute medical advice. Please consult with your medical advisor.
Holistic Well-Being Guide Ayurveda Teacher|Meditation Teacher www.naturalhealingwellnessco.com
Healing Herbs continued from p2
content but a fresh look with updates needed to keep our readers interested. As we continue, you will see a change in the colors and layout elements that will keep the digital magazine relevant and beautiful to the eye.
Our Social Media Petal
If you have a business or a product, you realize the importance of Social Media. This petal is always growing and changing. It is so important to the rest of the petals because it controls who views your product or service. This petal is the way people see your business and your brand. This petal showcases our work and brand in an exciting and challenging way. We really can’t have our magazine without this petal. However, this petal is always in progress because it takes keeping up with trends and keeping your business out
You will see us growing [our social media] petal with more visual content.
there in a way that increases your views and the hope is to transfer into sales and growth. You will see us growing this petal with more visual content such as reels, videos and showing who we are.
The Petals That Provide Support
When you look at a Sunflower, there are other petals that stand behind the first row next to the center. For Ujima, these petals represent our newsletter. If you would like the link to sign up, email me or contact me on IG. There is one petal we always will keep a part of our strong flower. It is our strong black men in our community. We will always support their stories and share them with you.
Our Reflection Petal
This anniversary issue is special because our sunflower petals remain strong. Behind the scenes is our comfort zone of growth and maintaining the sunflower synergy and rhythm. Our petals stretch each day to feel the sunshine and share the positive stories of the people who are everyday heroes. We are celebrating 16 years of hard work, storytelling and the black community.
New Blooms
Our petals will continue to bloom as we move through 2024. We look to 2025 and all it will be. It’s exciting to know that some petals will fall off our flower but new ones will grow and change our journey for the better.
The Sunflower is the bright flower that allows our brand to shine. It represents the reach for collaborations, storytelling and continuing our legacy by highlighting the “everyday heroes” that build our community up and helps it shine. The hope is you will continue to support Ujima and take time to read the digital issue and share the link with others. If you are looking for a way to market your business in an affordable way for your bottom line and reach a different audience, consider advertising with us.
Thank you Austin and all of you that continue to read our stories, comment on our social media platforms, meet a new person each month and their story and appreciate the work done every evening after working a full time job.
As one of the petals of the Sunflower, Ujima will continue to reach for the sun and shine bright!!
Embrace Your Community
Before We Go ...
Let’s Celebrate! is our theme this year as we reflect on our past 16 years. Our journey is not done. As the Editor-in-Chief, my goals are to tell the stories of our community and the people who make a difference, collaborate with more businesses and agencies to make a bigger impact and be more visible in telling Ujima’s story.
As we share new issues and stories, please share with your friends and followers. If you want to share your story and brand through digital ads, reach out to us so we can assist with your marketing campaigns. We have had success in helping agencies market their specific campaigns for our community. Ujima wants to make sure our black community receives information about events, businesses, people and our community in general.
Thanks for being a part of our journey! Don’t forget to follow us on our social media platforms.
The Ujima Team
