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ISSUES LateR
EVERYONE AT DN WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS, EVEN IF ALL YOU DID WAS WISH US WELL. WE COULDN’T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT. IT’S ONWARD AND UPWARD FROM HERE AND WE ONLY GET BETTER WITH EACH ISSUE. STAY MOTIVATED, ASPIRE FOR GROWTH, ASPIRE FOR GREATNESS, AND . . .
ASPIRE TO INSPIRE.
T D
EDITOR’S WORD
Hot dam! 20 issues! Now I know what you’re thinking, 20 doesn’t sound like a lot. When we only publish during the school year, have lasted longer than the average life expectancy of new magazines, and typically have a lot more color in our publications than most (if not all) publications in this more or less monochromatic region called Northern Colorado, the odds are really set against us, so milestones need to be recognized. You shouldn’t take for granted milestones and achievements you make in life either. Take the time to be grateful and look back at how far you’ve climbed with your own personal mountain because if you don’t appreciate it, I can bet not too many other people will. I remember when we first started, only printing 300 copies per issue and the layout looked like something a third grader put together. Needless to say, though proud of those first issues, I’m a little embarrassed that we put those out. You have to start somewhere and sometime though. You might miss out on your opportunity if you don’t take it now, and that’s what we did. I remember when our own friends and family expected us to fail, expected us to only get a couple issues out and quit. I’d like to personally thank them. Let that be a lesson to everyone who has a dream or idea, sometimes your most efficient fuel is desire, and if your desire to succeed is greater than non-believers and obstacles, there’s no doubt you’ll reach your destination.
DETERMINED NATION
MAGAZINE VOL. 3 ISS. 4 contents INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
“Blessings are what you get when preparation meets opportunity.””
style
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community
xpressions
Make it happen, Garrett Hayes Editor-in-Chief
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DETERMINED NATION STAFF Business Analyst and Event Planning: Perez Ansah-Mensah, Niyankor Ajuaj
Marketing and Advertising: Keenan Bender Writers: Susanne “Zuzu” Wheeler,
L.A. Harden, Niyankor Ajuaj, Dustin Huff, Ty Reeves
mrkt skateshop
Editing: Zuzu Wheeler Photography and Graphics:
Perez Ansah-Mensah, Tara Miner, Wonseop Suh, Garrett Hayes
Wanna help with writing, graphics, photos or events? Have art, poetry, or music you want featured? Feel free to e-mail us. Submissions/Contact Us:
determinednation2311@gmail.com
‘Like’ Us:
facebook.com/determinednationmagazine
Follow Us:
determineDN@twitter.com
More Info:
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14 c u l t u re
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akinz clothing
30 advice
X P R ES S I O N S
By Rachel Grasso
Let me be me I walk on this blank road Is it a road? Nothing suggests otherwise How do I know to keep straight
Right seems interesting Will you let me? It’s a choice Do I have those? Are they given freely?
No, nothing is free. Your ideas.
No.
Your life.
No.
Your time.
No.
Because everyone is a puppet Never. Real is a metaphor created by people with money and suits. They frown upon the believers.
What is reality when all you see is a collage of mirrors.
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Hassle Free Printing We Take Printing Seriously…Not Ourselves.
5,000 postcards $149 • 10,000 flyers $349 • 1,000 magazines $995 (16 pages, 60# paper)
Call 210-804-0390 for Special Online Pricing!
Visit us at www.shweiki.com
CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE YOUR PLANT TOUR 210-804-0390 • Email samplEs@shwEiki for a frEE quotE or call 512-480-0860
970.221.5152 214 Mason. Old Town, Fort Collins, CO80524
C U LT U R E
MISUNDERSTOOD the fashion of the HIJAB
E
ver since the occurrence of the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States, the American public has questioned, misunderstood and even created stereotypes about Islam. One of the most disputed topics concerns women who practice Islam is their right as women compared to that of men. Moreover, there has been heightened interest on the dress of women in the Islamic culture. People have continuously deemed Islam as barbaric and unethical, and have created the stereotype all women are oppressed in Islam. The wearing of
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By Kayla Tolbert
a hijab has fallen under the category of being oppressed multiple times. However, in my experience, especially in Dubai, where women made the choice to wear a hijab and to cover their arms and legs—although it is required in some countries—it is a part of their culture and it does not necessarily equate to being oppressed. While abroad, I learned women were not forced to wear the hijab, and in many cases it was their choice. There were women who did not wear a hijab and they identified with being Muslim. Wearing the hijab is beautiful in its own way like other forms of dress.
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M R K T S K AT ES H O P
W
ith all of the fashionable hoodies, tees, and pants, one might forget that MRKT Skateshop specializes in skateboard and longboard sells and repair. The shop, located on College Ave. in Fort Collins has been around for some years now and is known for their products and work with the community. Every now and again the shop does work with kids who skateboard in the community. Let’s also not forget the amazing selections of glasses, hats, and shoes that MRKT also has. So even if you’re not a skater or a longboarder, it’s definitely worth it to stop in and check out the merchandise if you’re looking to spice up your style. At the very least, you’ll be greeted with some amazing people.
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M R K T S K AT ES H O P
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M R K T S K AT ES H O P
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M R K T S K AT ES H O P
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M R K T S K AT ES H O P
MRKT Skateshop is located at 644 S. College Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 or find them online at marketskateshop.com
www.determinednationmagazine.com
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ST Y L E
{
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NaPPtural Hair By.Niyankor Ajuaj
W
hen India Arie released “I Am Not My Hair” in 2005, I was sure that both Black women and society as a whole would slowly begin accepting Black hair for the way it was. Boy was I wrong, since then numerous events have shown that we are still indeed our hair. From women getting fired from their jobs due to their hairstyles, to horrible tweets regarding Gabby Douglass’
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ST Y L E
hair rather than focusing on the two gold Olympic medals she won. People are bashing sports reporter Pam Oliver for having a bad hair day, a little girl named Tiana Parker crying because she was forced to move schools because her beautiful locks were unacceptable, and most recently the negativity towards Beyoncé not “fixing” her daughter Blue Ivy’s hair. We take a step forward, and two steps back. All these events made me reflect on my own experience with my hair. I was always forced to press my hair because my natural hair wasn’t “tamable” or “presentable” enough in the eyes of my own mother as well as society. Every time I found myself wearing my natural hair, I would often times get questioned regarding why my hair wasn’t fixed. What hurt me most was the fact that a majority of these comments that were made about my hair, just like Blue Ivy’s, Gabby Douglass’, Pam Oliver’s and many Black women, came from other Black women themselves. I have always been fascinated with my natural hair; however, for a long time I became too afraid to express that because I began internalizing everyone else’s hatred for it. It was a long time before I came to grips with my natural hair after experiencing such negativity. When I finally decided to transition back to natural, it was the best day of my life. I really felt free and for the first time I felt proud. It was at that moment that I decided that I would no longer adhere to European
standards. A year later I decided to lock my hair and every time I look in the mirror, the only regret I have is not doing this sooner. My hair journey has really taught me patience, as well as not letting fear stop you from doing what you feel is best for you. Most importantly I have learned to take pride in everything that makes me…me, including the dead skin that grows from my hair because after all that’s all that hair is. Not all Black women may feel the way I do. That’s fine. Perhaps relaxed, pressed or weaved hair are an expression of pride just as my locks are an expression of my pride. You should be able to wear your hair however you please as long as it makes you feel beautiful and empowered. The problem comes when others are bashed for wearing those styles that make them feel pride. We as a community really need to work on the pervasiveness of self-hate especially when it comes to our hair. The things we internalize can be a choice. By bashing a two-year-old for the way her hair is styled goes to show that hating Black hair starts at a young age. That within itself has got to stop. We as a society continuously brag about how we have come such a long way, yet when we see someone whose hair is not “presentable” because we are not relaxed, we demand that it be fixed disregarding the fact that wild and natural may be their fixation and that they may be more relaxed when natural.
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AKINZ
A
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kinz was founded in 2005 in a studio apartment in Houston, TX by Suzanne Akin with the wings logo and the accompanying motto, Find Your Wings. The Akinz motto which sometimes shows up in the t-shirt designs and is the foundation of the wings logo encourages men and women to find the one thing that motivates them to push life to the limit and reach for the sky. At that time, Akinz consisted only of t-shirts and tank tops and was sold out of the trunk of Suzanne’s purple mini-cooper at wakeboarding events, bars, and wherever else she struck up a conversation with people that were interested in what she was doing. Akinz then followed Suzanne out to Colorado where the colder weather inspired Suzanne to start making hoodies and beanies.
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AKINZ
Akinz takes pride in adding handcrafted elements to everything they make. Their shirts are printed right in our flagship store in Fort Collins, Colorado and they make all of our beanies by hand. Stop by and you can see whatever we’re working on that day as well as order a custom beanie made just for you. Akinz has expanded to a wider variety of products, including t-shirts, tank tops, dresses, handmade jewelry, handmade beanies, hoodies, hoodie dresses, trucker hats, wayfarer sunglasses, and accessories.
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AKINZ
Akinz, both the company and our products, is infused with the adventurous goals and dreams that it started with. They’ve live to enjoy life, may that be while snowboarding, biking, mountain biking, hiking, wakeboarding, going on grand adventures, or just spending time with great friends. They try to support those around them who live their lives in the same way. They aim to inspire those around us to live an active lifestyle and to “find their wings” because after all, life’s too short to settle for the ordinary.
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AKINZ
Akinz is located at 15 Old Town Square, #132 or find them online at akinz.com
All info from akinz.com www.determinednationmagazine.com
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S W E AT
Niyankor Ajuaj
Omo Odia
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S W E AT
Trenice Lane
Quiana Hill
HAIR BY CITRUS SALON IN FORT COLLINS, CO
S W E AT
Nish Adams
Kim Washington
Raquel Robertson
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Shayla Monteiro www.facebook.com/determinednationmagazine
S W E AT
Raechelle Fields
on
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B U S I N ES S A N D C O M M U N I T Y
By Keenan Bender
F
rom their humble beginnings one year ago Cory Clarke, Nick Arsenault, and Cody Marsden have come a very long way to become the successful entrepreneurs, musicians and students they are today. A difficult upbringing only fueled their determination to overcome the hurdles they set out to clear. Beginning with a diverse musical talent ranging from bluegrass and electronic to hip hop, their band, Kind Dub has evolved into a branding and apparel business as well that is available in over
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15 retailers across the Front Range. Their brand, Hood Life represents the progressive collaboration that the Fort Collins and Colorado communities strive to achieve through proactive law reform, leading the way for the rest of the country in what has become a very profitable change in marijuana laws. Look for their music and apparel at KindDub. com and at the Colorado Room on College Ave. in Fort Collins. Be sure to check them out at the on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ KindDub.
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B U S I N ES S A N D C O M M U N I T Y
KINDApparel DUB
W W W . K I N D D U B . C O M www.determinednationmagazine.com
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B U S I N ES S A N D C O M M U N I T Y
F
ounded only a year ago, the GIBAM Movement has been spreading acrosswww.GIBAMLifestyle.com the state. The founder and co-founder, Terrence Hutchins and Jonathan Burnley have been utilizing every avenue possible to spread their message to Get It By Any Means (GIBAM) through clothing, apparel, music, and motivational speaking.
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The movement is geared towards high school and college students, inspiring them to strive for self-improvement and reach their full potential. They are currently doing a college campus tour across the front range of the state so keep a look out as they make their way to the northern part of Colorado.
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h g nt e r o y
SUIT
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SUIT
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SUIT
ADVICE
D R E S S T Y P E By Grant Campbell FORMAL
-Black Tie Events -Galas -Formal Weddings -Some Awards Ceremonies
Men
Traditional black tuxedo with crisp white oxford shirt and black tie (either regular or bow)
Women
Long Dress or Formal Dress Separates
Cocktail dress (shorter than a formal dress) but Polished black shoes/accessories elegant A crisp black suit could substi- Elegant shoes, like heels tute for a tuxedo (if necessary)
BUSINESS -Professional Settings -Public Speaking Presentations
Men
Women
shirt (button up with a collar) with tie
Crisp, pressed button up blouse
Neatly pressed suit (two or Suit with jacket in a three piece) neutral color (either pants or skirt) Crisp and neutral oxford
Leather belt and shoes with Nude or black pantyhose dress socks with dress shoes
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ADVICE
BUSINESS CASUAL -Most everyday jobs -Some Weddings
Men
Women
Leather belt and shoes with dress socks
Flats or other short heeled shoe (closedtoe)
Tie optional
Keep jewelry to a minimum, but a conservative watch is appropriate
Neatly pressed pants and oxford shirt
Dress pants or skirt with a button up blouse (solid colors preferred)
CASUAL
-Weekend events -Non-NASCAR Sporting Events
Men
Clean T-Shirt or Polo Jeans without holes or lots of wear Sneakers, Boat Shoes, or Sandals *NOTE: Ratty pants and hoodies that have been worn consecutively for more than four years DO NOT count.
Women
Clean T-Shirt or Polo Jeans without holes or lots of wear Sneakers, Boat Shoes, or Sandals *NOTE: Leggings and/or yoga pants with Uggs are nowhere to be found here—those are pajamas.
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