YOUR MONEY. Built into the one thing you always have with you everyday. ( Enjoy! )
Danielle Patten Member since 2012
Listerhill is now on Apple Pay. A SMART, CONVENIENT and SECURE way to pay with just a touch of your finger. Store your Listerhill debit or credit card digitally and make purchases from any of the supported Apple devices — no need to swipe your card. LOOK FOR THESE SYMBOLS AT CHECK OUT
A WORD ABOUT THE ISSUE BY
DARIEN HARRIS
@drharrisb393
DIVERSITY IS A MAJOR HOT TOPIC IN CURRENT NEWS AND SOCIAL DISCUSSION.
We will be taking time to honor the black history and the black excellence that is among us now. In doing this, we hope to shine a light on individuals and groups making positive impacts in our community. Spencer Brooks takes a look at the University of North Alabama’s Black Student Alliance, a local group focused on providing a voice for black students as well as cultivating diversity on UNA’s campus. Next, Allie Johnston shares the story of Camille Bennett, an individual making a cultural impact on the Shoals through Project Say Something. We’d be remiss not to note the south’s deep civil rights history. In this issue, Karah Wilson guides us to the important civil rights locations in Alabama and Tennessee so we can reflect on our past and improve our future.
The Shoals, known for its music scene, still has a variety of talent to be discovered. Andrea Belk sits down with Shoals natives Coffee Black, a group creating a new sound with the historic energy of the Muscle Shoals sound pioneers. Honoring black excellence is important because it builds a bridge of humanity across races to recognize talent and ability that goes beyond outward differ-
Black history and black influence now is not just about black but all people.
Many have realized how diversity enhances our schools, workplaces and other aspects of life. We have come a long way in recognizing and celebrating other ethnic groups. This level of honor is the key to growth and relationship-building that will make better towns and cities.
ences. Black history and black influence now is not just about black but all people. When we recognize others, we continue to close the gap between all people and strengthen our region, our state and our nation. We hope you’ll join us as we reflect on what has been, but also on the amazing things happening now in our community.
Project Say Something
6
A DISCUSSION WITH FOUNDER CAMILLE BENNETT
Love and Learning
8
TEACHING SISTERS TACKLE TRAUMA WITH SUPPORT
Tourists’ Guide to Civil Rights A TWO-HOUR CAR RIDE OFFERS SITES OF THE MOVEMENT
11
Celebrating Then and Now
UNA’S BLACK STUDENT ALLIANCE ENCOURAGES CONVERSATION, EMBRACES CULTURE
12
Living the Dream?
RECENT GRADUATES EXAMINE HISTORIC AND FUTURE PROGRESS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN MEDIA
14
Locally Brewed Coffee Black A HISTORY-IN-THE-MAKING OF SHOALS SOUL AND FUNK
BYOB
19 21
BUILD YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Calendar of Events WHAT’S HAPPENIN’?
#Empowered
HOW A VILLAGE IS RAISING ALL OF ITS CHILDREN
Spotlight
22 25 28
SAY CHEESE!
Who Inspires You?
LOCALS SHARE THEIR INFLUENCERS
31
F O E L B TA S T N E T N CO WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
Y P O C E N O E K A T CONNECT WITH SET E S A PLE
! T I E R A H S AND CONTRIBUTORS
www.getsetmag.com info@getsetmag.com
KALI DANIEL
Florence, Alabama
SPENCER BROOKS Athens, Alabama
DARIEN HARRIS
Florence, Alabama
ASHLEY GRAVES Athens, Alabama
KARAH WILSON
Scottsboro, Alabama
SET is a publication by and for local young people dedicated to lifestyle, finance, technology and community. It is published by Listerhill Credit Union as part of its ongoing mission to promote the credit union philosophy of cooperation and financial literacy. It is a platform for 15-20 somethings in the community and it is free.
CONTRIBUTORS
ISSUE NO.1
REBEKAH MILWEE Gilroy, California
ANDREA BELK
Florence, Alabama
TECH SS E N T I F & H T L HEA COMMUNITY MUSIC
Listerhill Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative whose purpose is to improve the quality of life for the membership by providing cost effective services to meet their financial needs while maintaining financial soundness and promoting the credit union philosophy.
4
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 566 Sheffield, AL 35660
Physical Address: 4790 East Second Street Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
ALLIE JOHNSTON
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
MICHAEL MEIGS
Addison, Alabama
Y H P A R G O T O PH T N E M N I A T R E ARTS& ENT FOOD MONEY
Wanna be a contributor?
Email contribute@getsetmag.com
THE COLLABORATIVE PUBLICATION Whatever you’re into, we’re into. That’s a fact. SET is entirely made up of content by us, our area’s fine youth. If you’re reading this, we want to know about your life, your hobbies and passions.
ed Be a part at getsetmag.com/get-involv
PROJE C T G METHIN SAY SO
A DISCUSSION WITH FOUNDER CAMILLE BENNETT Camille Bennett was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but has called the Shoals her home since she was thirteen. Since then, she has worked toward providing hope through dialogue and education on issues of systematic racism. Her work is situated on healing, nonviolent communication and direct action against racism and poverty.
dress racism. We opened the church up and were shocked at the amount of people who came. People wanted to stay for hours.” From there, Bennett explained, she and her husband “bought a preschool in a predominantly black community, opening another one that changed the course of our lives.” It became evident that there was a need for open dialogue about deep and important issues. While at first Bennett and her husband wanted to include social injustices of all kinds, they crafted a mission to focus on racism because it is such a pervasive issue. “In Project Say Something, we have done well by being educators,” she said. “Especially in small rural community like the Shoals, people don’t understand the nuances of racism or how privilege effects and shapes their life.”
Project Say Something started in 2014, at the time of the Ferguson riots in Missouri. “One of our church members said, “I want to talk about race and racism,’” Bennett said. “I had been doing personal research and educating myself on the history of black people, and it came at a good time. I was nervous because I’ve never seen anyone publicly ad-
6
THRIVE
Bennett serve s as an example of excellence and recognizin g a problem an d combating it, step-by-step, project-by-pro ject.
Bennett is the Pastor/Chief Minister at Living Spirit Church in Florence, Alabama, and she is the founder of Project Say Something, a volunteer-based organization whose mission is “to unify, educate, heal and empower communities in the mid-south to realize nonviolent communication and direct action against racism, poverty and related forms of oppression.”
Bennett is involved in educational work such as panel discussions, workshops, hosting guest speakers and projects throughout the community, as well as running preschools to bring popular education into the classes through the form of yoga, art and multicultural education.
One of Project Say Something’s projects includes History Harvest, which documents African American history in the Shoals. A current initiative is focused on raising educational awareness surrounding Confederate monuments in the area. People of all backgrounds and ages can volunteer with Project Say
ISSUE NO. 1
BY
ALLIE JOHNSTON
@sock319
“You don’t h ave to have a hu following on Instagram, b ge e famous or h ave written ab dissertation . It’s all abou ook or tt you put in an d help with t he work he cause.” Something. In fact, many University of North Alabama students partner with projects such as History Harvest, helping create a website of materials; Queen Day, a time of empowering young girls of color; and voter registration.
Bennett serves as an example of excellence and recognizing a problem and combating it, step-by-step, project-byproject. Not only is she active on the board of Project Say Something while serving as the Pastor/Chief Minister of Living Spirit Church, but she is plugged in to other community organizations such as United Way, the WC Handy Festival, Shoals Reader Riot, Shoals Pridefest, Safer Birth in Bama and Court Appointed Special Advocates. Her passion for advocating for the inclusion of all people by opening avenues of communication and education is evident. Bennett’s advice for young people looking to get plugged in to Project Say Something or other social justice work is simple: Start.
“You don’t have to have a huge following on Instagram, be famous or have written a book or dissertation,” she said. “It’s all about the work you put in and help with the cause.”
You can find out more about Project Say Something by joining their group on Facebook, which is the best way to get plugged in, Bennett said, because everything they do is posted in that group. The Facebook group consists of 2,000 members, with active conversations about racial issues and posts seeking volunteers. You can also visit their website at www.projectsaysomething.org/.
Nick Walton Member since 2015
Miracle Osborne Member since 2013
Visit Our Stop by The Hill
to relax, recharge, or (of course) take care of your financial
needs. The Hill is a full service, student-run Listerhill Credit Union location in The Commons at UNA dedicated to helping students reach their full financial potential.
raised to value education so much that they never missed a day of school from Kindergarten until high school graduation. Today, Catherine and Mandy Jayne are teachers themselves. [ C O NTR I B U T E D PH OT OS]
LOVE AND LEARNING
The Stanley sisters were
TEACHING SISTERS TACKLE TRAUMA WITH SUPPORT BY
ASHLEY GRAVES
Coming from a family filled with both veteran and young educators, it was almost a nobrainer that sisters Catherine Stanley and Mandy Jayne Stanley Antwine would one day have their own classroom. A destiny it was. The two have since answered the calling, as Antwine currently teaches Pre-K, as well as fourth, fifth and sixth grade exceptional education at Brighton School within the Jefferson County School District in Alabama. Stanley is a high school chemistry teacher at Fairfield Preparatory High School near Birmingham, Alabama.
“I really do believe that the Stanleys were meant to teach,” Antwine said. For Stanley, now 23, the passion to become an educator came early. At the age of 12, she began teaching piano lessons out of a studio in her parents’ home.
“They encouraged me in every way,” Stanley said. But for Antwine, 26, she says her journey began long before she was even born.
“My father often lovingly spoke of his deceased mother, Helen, to my sisters and I,” she said. “He once told me, ‘The world lost your grandmother; two weeks later, God sent you. He needed another loving soul in the world to teach children.’”
8
SPECIAL FEATURE
ISSUE NO. 1
A lot of patience, a love for learning and the belief that anyone can learn are just a few of the qualities she said she shares with her late grandmother, who too was a special education teacher. “Recognizing my love for children and learning, my high school teachers, professors and family fostered my gifts,” Antwine said. “I’m simply following my destiny.” Though she’s only been teaching for a short amount of time, Antwine has already managed to rack up a number of accolades. Some on the list include Brighton School 2017 Second Mile Teacher, 2018-2019 Jefferson County Teacher of the Year Top 5 finalist for Elementary division, Brighton School 2018 Teacher of the Year and Brighton School 2019 Teacher of the Year. In 2014, she was named National Student Teacher of the Year, and in 2015 she was a National Student Teacher of the Year Selection committee member. “I don’t think about how I can win another award or get nominated to serve on another leadership committee, I simply focus on how I can win over my students’ hearts and encourage them to strive for a better future,” Antwine said. “There is way too much work that needs to be done in the world of education for me not to use the platforms I am provided with wisely and not selfishly. I always say a prayer for God to allow me to
Th e re
CATHERINE STANLEY
use the platform to better the lives of others.”
overcome in society that included finding their identity.
In today’s society, a number of unique education issues are facing impoverished and minority communities. One of those, Antwine said, is why some children of poverty struggle academically. In the end, it all boils down to the effects of trauma.
“We were black girls with a dad who was a doctor and who went to a predominantly white school,” Stanley said. “There was a moment in each of our lives where we found out we were really black. It helped to have a sister in those moments.”
Trauma has been shown to have an adverse impact on the prefrontal cortex by creating severe amounts of stress hormones. This results in difficulties with executive functioning, attention deficits, interpersonal relationship skills, health problems and self-esteem issues, all of which are necessary skills to be successful academically. Classrooms are often the only place students can achieve development of the prefrontal cortex, which will help them thrive not only in grade school, but also encourage them to pursue paths of higher education and professional success. “Although several children grow up in environments with adverse childhood experiences, schools and communities can instill grit, pride and a love of learning by providing them with a growth mindset-based learning environment, engaging instruction and an immense amount of emotional support,” Antwine said. “Love and learning must go hand in hand. We must protect children and create environments for them that are conducive for learning.” Growing up, Stanley and Antwine had their own obstacles to
is w a y too m u ne eds ch wor k t ha t to be done i of edu n t he world ca tion f o r m e no t h e pl t to us at form e s I am w isely provid ed w it and no h t s e lfishly sa y a . I a lw pra ye a ys r for G od to to use a llow t h e pl me at form to bet ter t h li v e s o e f ot h e r s . MAND Y J AY N E S TA N L E Y
ANTWIN
E
Still today, Stanley and Antwine lean on each other for advice. “We’ll call and vent to each other. I did that just today actually,” Stanley laughed. “She does have really good advice, though.”
MANDY JAYNE STANLEY ANTWINE
Stanley said black women who achieve success independently and through instilling values and knowledge in their students are not always placed at the forefront of education. Stanley gives all credit to her parents. “They were super supportive of us and pushed us to be different and separate ourselves from others,” she said. At the end of the day, both sisters agreed seeing students succeed makes it all worth it. “At the end of every school year, I hold the ‘Antwine’s Avengers Award Ceremony’ for all of my students,” Antwine said. “Since my classroom theme is superheroes, every child gets an award that is specifically tailored toward his or her superpower, or strengths, and journey over the school year. Seeing their face light up makes me realize just how much of an impact forming relationships with students can have.”
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
SPECIAL FEATURE
9
CONGRATS
TO OUR BIG DEAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER,
Calypso Farrell.
The One Card is convenient, easy, and helps keep you organized. Learn more at listerhill.com/thehill/the-one-card/
What could a One Card get you?
BY
KARAH WILSON
TOURIST’S GUIDE TO CIVIL RIGHTS The Civil Rights Movement held the eyes of the nation, but more specifically the south. This was a time when African-Americans were fighting for their right to be equal in the eyes of their white counterpart. Many sites today are dedicated to that movement to remember how far society has come and to encourage regular discussion of how to continue diversity acceptance.
ton, D.C., and is dedicated to those who lost their lives on the way.
tracks the progression of the Civil Rights Movement.
SELMA
NASHVILLE
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
Civil Rights Room at the Nashville Public Library
Here, we’ve gathered a list of monuments, museums and sites that were integral to the movement. We encourage those who haven’t visited these locations to do so during Black History Month as a signal of remembrance, respect and opportunity to learn something we weren’t necessarily taught in school.
This museum is to display the stories and first-hand accounts of those who marched to Montgomery.
The museum highlights the Nashville sit-in movement.
Alabama
BIRMINGHAM
SCOTTSBORO
The museum holds a replica of a Freedom Riders bus and the jail cell where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”
The Scottsboro Boys Museum The trial came before the Civil Rights Movement, but it still played an important role in the way the two races were viewed. Scottsboro has a museum dedicated to those nine falsely accused black men who suffered from the wrongful sexual harassment accusations.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
BIRMINGHAM
Kelly Ingram Park
ANNISTON
The park contains statues dedicated to the struggles of civil rights. It was also once the spot for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to gather.
Freedom Riders National Monument
SELMA
Anniston is the city where a mob set fire to a bus that was carrying Freedom Riders inside. A monument is set up in the town to honor those people who were on the bus.
Brown Chapel AME Church
BIRMINGHAM
16th Street Baptist Church This church was the site of a bombing in 1963 that led to the deaths of four young African-American girls. The church is still active today.
BIRMINGHAM
Bethel Baptist Church Bethel Baptist was the location for the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights at one point. The church has been bombed three different times.
This was the first African Methodist Episcopal church in Alabama. This was also the location where marchers prepared to march to Montgomery, which was later dubbed Bloody Sunday.
SELMA
Edmund Pettus Bridge Bloody Sunday occurred on this bridge after marchers were brutally beaten for marching for their right to vote.
SELMA
Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
Clark Memorial United Methodist Church
This trial marks the 54-mile long path those marchers walked to Montgomery over the course of five days.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was held here in 1961 by Dr. King. The church is still in use today.
MONTGOMERY
NASHVILLE
Civil Rights Memorial Center
Davidson County Courthouse and Witness Walls
The center was built as a memorial for those that lost their lives between 1954 and 1968 for civil rights. Exhibits, a theatre, educational activities and the Wall of Tolerance are at the memorial.
Tennessee MEMPHIS
Clayborn Temple This was a location for the Memphis sanitation worker strike.
MEMPHIS
Mason Temple Church of God in Christ Dr. King addressed the sanitation strike in this church. This would later be known as the “Mountaintop” speech. This was the last speech Dr. King gave before his assassination.
SELMA
MEMPHIS
Lowndes Interpretive Center
National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel
The interpretive center serves as a site to commemorate those who marched from Selma to Washing-
NASHVILLE
This museum has exhibits from the 17th century to the present day that
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
The Witness Walls depict the confrontation by student leaders to Nashville’s mayor months proceeding the lunch counter sit-in and boycotts protesting segregation.
NASHVILLE
Fifth Avenue Historic District: Woolworth on 5th This restaurant was part of the sitins during the 1960s and one of the original “five and dime” stores.
NASHVILLE
Fisk University Fish University was the first AfricanAmerican university to become accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
NASHVILLE
Griggs Hall at American Baptist College Griggs Hall was the first of the American Baptist College buildings to be built in 1923. This school was the college for many of those that participated in the sit-in movement.
TRAVEL
11
CELEBRATING THEN AND NOW UNA’S
BLACK STUDENT ALLIANCE ENCOURAGES DISCUSSION, EMBRACES CULTURE
BY
SPENCER BROOKS
@berserkxspence
The Black Student Alliance, also known as the BSA, is an organization that serves to highlight, aid and enhance the African-American, black experience on campus at the University of North Alabama.
“We are the collective voice and vehicle for many AfricanAmerican students on campus to express themselves, in their beliefs, their feelings, and to further display and/or celebrate the rich history and culture of African-Americans,” said BSA President Keonté Sealy.
“Our goal is to not only continue being a safe haven for AfricanAmerican students on campus, but to bring the overall awareness of the history, current atmosphere of our culture and the issues many African-Americans face on and off campus, with the
12
TOWN
ISSUE NO. 1
Around May, the BSA also hosts a fish fry, a celebration for all students toward the end of the semester.
goal of coming towards a solution,” Sealy said. The organization plans to present a variety of events throughout the spring semester, although dates and locations are to be determined at the time of publication. One of the most popular events, the BSA Fashion Show, is currently planned for the month of April. This special event highlights African-American culture through fashion aesthetics. “For many of us, this is very important because our style often is more than just clothing we like,” Sealy said. “It is often a staple of our history. It is, as well, a strong
University of North Alabama’s Black Student Alliance acts as a “collective voice and vehicle for many African-American students on campus,” said President Keonté Sealy. [ PHOTOS COURTE SY UNA]
The BSA hosts a variety of events which reflect and celebrate the authenticity of African-American culture and ensure a friendly, welcoming outlet for students on campus to feel part of family more so than just an organization.
goals on a group and individual level,” he said.
way to express our collective uniqueness and our individuality.” Another signature event from BSA is the Black Excellence/History Gala in February. The Gala is meant to acknowledge and celebrate past African-American accomplishments as a group and direct attention to present-day accomplishments and goals. “This event is an honor of the rich, significant history regarding African-Americans and the ways African-Americans are pushing forward and achieving
In this 2017 photo, University of North Alabama students gather for Culture Fest, an annual celebration of diversity. The event is one of many the Black Student Alliance promote and participate in.
“This event serves as almost a farewell party for many students on campus as it is one of the last times people may see each other before heading off into their summer breaks or graduations,” he said. “It is essentially one of the last times students of UNA get to celebrate, cherish and bond with each other.” Other events planned include a series of movie nights that will highlight modern-day black filmmakers and actors/actresses, a black entrepreneur recognition event — which will serve to inform students, staff and faculty of the many black-owned businesses surrounding the Shoals area — and a poetry slam event, which will serve to showcase and celebrate the creativity and the passion for writing many students on campus have. “Others are welcome to join us regardless of race, ethnicity or background as long as we all as a group are together to uplift and celebrate the African-American experience,” Sealy said. The BSA have meetings every Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. during the scheduled academic semesters, where they have discussions about many current day events in politics, social issues and local experiences. For more information about the Black Student Alliance, visit UNA’s student engagement website or check the event calendar at una.edu/students.
Good for Cord. Good for the Community.
Join us at listerhill.com
e h t g n i Liv DARIEN SIMPSON
Recent grad uates discu s s historic and fu ture progress for African-Americans in media BY
REBEKAH MILWEE
@rmilwee
AND
KALI DANIEL
@droptopkalibop
In a time when media is consumed quickly —
didn’t e w s e l e obstac v a h e e didn’t w “W , e m o verc his is T . s e ask to o v l e on ours s i h t g r hands u o brin e v a s. We h i t i erican w m o A h f o t y aspec r e litics, v o e p n , o m l fi music, ; e r e still u w t l t e y cu , edicine m , e c n e ls. That a sci u q e s een a aren’t s ht.” isn’t rig
14
MAIN FEATURE
ISSUE NO.1
from texts and specific outlet notifications to Facebook and Instagram live streams — the need to pause and examine its effects is constant. In the case of minorities, lack of representation in media has been a growing concern.
Although society has taken major steps toward achieving equality and ending racial division over the long and arching course of our nation’s history, it has always seemed a tango of sorts.
PHOTO ART BY
MICHAEL MEIGS
University of North Alabama mass communications alumni Jovonne Baker, Darien Simpson and Xavier Wherry are three recent graduates who are making a name for themselves in the media industry. But what motivated them to pursue careers in media, and how was that decision shaped by their experiences growing up black in the American south? All three are fairly recent graduates currently working in radio — Wherry in D.C. for a soul station, Simpson in Birmingham for Cumulus Media and
eDREAM? Baker as a radio personality in Huntsville at jazz and gospel station 90.9. When speaking about role models, both Simpson and Wherry cited Muhammad Ali as someone they think of as embodying black excellence. “It was nothing easy but he always stood up for what he believed in and tried to do something positive for his people,” Wherry said. “I wish I would have been alive during the height of his career.” Baker cited former First Lady Michelle Obama as her ultimate role model for black excellence. “Everything she stands for — dignity, class, education — I love all of that about her,” she said. As far as someone who embodies black excellence in media and specifically his own field of radio, Wherry cited former sportscaster Stuart Scott as his role model.
“Scott entered sportscasting when it was still entirely dominated by white male voices,” Wherry said. “He added a lot of his own personality to sportscasting, a lot of flavor, if you will. He got a lot of backlash for that. People used to think you can’t show your personality and be a sportscaster, but he proved that was wrong.” Scott gained recognition in the mid-’90s for being one of the first African-American sportscasters, futhermore as one of the first sportscasters who was not a former professional athlete. He worked for ESPN for 21 years until his death in 2015. Similarly, Simpson cited reporter Steve Smith as one of his idols. Smith began as a reporter for North Carolina newspapers in Winston-Salem and Greensboro as well as New York. He also was the NBA and Philadelphia 76ers’ columnist for The Philadelphia Enquirer, began his own blog in 2007, hosted several
radio talk shows and currently is a talking head for ESPN. “Any time I see a black man in media, those guys set the platform for what we do,” Simpson said. Simpson also said that Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry inspired him when he was younger and helped set some of the groundwork for himself and other people of color trying to break into the world of media. “[Oprah] went to school to be a reporter and became the most powerful woman in America,” he said. “She didn’t stick to regular news because she felt like she could do more. I feel like I could do more, too. “[Perry] has kept everyone he started out with in-house. He brought them all up with him. He gives them all opportunity.
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
I like that. I have a production company I’m trying to get off the ground, and if it succeeds I would like to do something similar.” Simpson, Baker and Wherry are all podcast fans, and they each mentioned hopes of starting up podcasts or Youtube series in addition to their current work in radio and television. But finding inspiration can be difficult when black people enter a field where they do not see people who look like them in abundance. “There definitely isn’t enough diversity in media and, to be honest, it really does bother me,” Simpson said. “I watch so much basketball and there are so many African-Americans in the sport, something like 80 percent. So why aren’t there more African-Americans hosting these sports broadcasts?”
MAIN FEATURE
15
The answer to that question is heavy. The alumni’s ambition is contagious, and their success is especially sweet because they didn’t make it this far without facing adversity. However, as Simpson points out, he never asked for this challenge, and wouldn’t choose it.
XAVIER WHERRY
“We have obstacles we didn’t ask to overcome, we didn’t bring this on ourselves,” he said. “This is how it is. We have our hands on every aspect of American culture; music, film, politics, science, medicine, yet we still aren’t seen as equals. That isn’t right.”
easy but g n i h t o n s a “It w i] always l A d a m m a [Muh what he stood up for ied to do r t d n a n i d believe e for his v i t i s o p g n i someth ld have u o w I h s i w people. I height e h t g n i r u d been alive .” of his career
16
MAIN FEATURE FEATURE
ISSUE NO.1
“Whites receive on average 36 percent more callbacks than blacks,” according to the study. “Accounting for applicant education, applicant gender, study method, occupational groups and local labor market conditions does little to alter this result. Contrary to claims of declining discrimination in American society, our estimates suggest that levels of discrimination remain largely unchanged.” Baker said she faces a unique difficulty as being not only black, but female, as the unexplained pay gaps between men and women cross racial lines.
In 2018, African-Americans are twice as likely to have a degree than they were in
“Fair is fair is fair,” she said. “Why are we still having this conversation?”
1968, but still half as likely as their white counterparts. Health care is harder to obtain, and the cycle of poverty is still as real as ever. Often this can mean that even once AfricanAmericans have started earning more they are still relied upon by members of their family so heavily that the money is just as tight as before.
U.S. Labor Statistics show black men make, on average, 73 cents to every $1 their white male counterparts make. For black women, it’s even lower at 67 cents.
All three attested to the fact that it is significantly more difficult to even land an interview when your name looks “different” on a resume. Many critics argue the validity of these statements, but overwhelming research confirms that while civil rights are relatively better, there is still a large gap in equality in all facets of life. A 2017 study from Cambridge University, Northwestern University and the Institute of Social Research in Oslo, Norway, found no progress was made in racial discrimination from the last 25 years.
“Numbers don’t lie,” was reiterated by both Baker and Simpson. They described the pressure of higher expectations in the face of more challenges and less opportunity than their white cohorts. An in-depth business analysis by The Atlantic found that while the current economy forces everyone to work longer hours, African-Americans are working 20 percent more annual hours than they were 30 years ago, with women working 30 percent more. The black-white wage gap is larger now than it was in 1979, despite a dramatic increase in acceptance of women in the workplace. A study by Pew Research showed that in 2013, white
families made 13 times that of black families, and future recessions will hit that demographic harder. “Whatever I do I have to do times 10,” Simpson said. “In order to be respected I can’t just be good, I have to be excellent. We have to work 10 times harder in life, even think faster.” Baker agrees. “People who say racism is dead are so ignorant,” Baker said. “To be honest, in society right now I definitely don’t see equal representation. Where’s the empowerment?” While these conversations are difficult to have, both Baker and Wherry were optimistic about the future of race relations despite their personal histories. Both were turned away at parties they were excited to attend for being black; Wherry at a fraternity party and Baker at a second grade birthday party. Both described the humiliation and deflation that they felt in those moments and the lasting effect those memories have on them, and both situations occurred recently — at least more recently than the perceived height of civil injustice. But like everybody else, these alumni are taking it a day at a time, doing what they can to pursue black excellence and inspire others. Simpson said breaking into television is his ultimate goal, and he hopes he gets the opportunity to one day work in both television and radio. He said he already records, edits and independently releases his sports podcast, “The Other Side,”
which has also researched and featured social justice issues, such as prison reform. “I want to keep it sports-dominated, but I want to branch out, too,” he said. “I don’t want to limit myself to sports. A lot of people who already listen to my podcast could listen to those episodes and become informed on things they might not already be familiar with.
“To be h society onest, in right n definit ow I ely don ’t see e repres qual entati o n . Wher the em e’s power ment? ”
“I wanted to talk about the prison industrial complex because in the streets we are barely a speck of the population but in prison we dominate. When you don’t see us outside, that’s because of how many of us there are in prison.”
JOVONNE BAKER
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the imprisonment rate for black women is twice that of white women, and black males ages 18 to 19 are almost 12 times more likely to be imprisoned than their white counterparts. What can those of us who are not African-American do to help the black community? In Baker’s opinion, open-minded empathy is the most important step. By speaking up when we see injustice, by confronting those who imply racism in casual conversation, by being conscious of these prejudices and raising children of the future who hopefully never learn them in the first place, we continue to hope for a better, more unified tomorrow. In the word’s of a powerful woman in the media, writer, editor and Pulitzer Prize recipient Toni Morrison, “Make a difference for someone other than yourselves.”
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
MAIN FEATURE
17
LOCALLY BREWED COFFEE BLACK
A HISTORY-INTHE-MAKING OF SHOALS SOUL AND FUNK BY
ANDREA BELK
The Shoals is an area that is so deeply rooted in musical history. Artists like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Joe Tex and many others have come and produced amazing music right here in the area.
CJ Anderson is the vocalist for Coffee Black, a band who recalls old school soul and funk in their locally crafted music. [ A ND R E A B E L K / S E T M AG AZ I NE ]
We as locals know that some of the most amazing music comes from local bands, some relatively unknown.
product is difficult but it’s fun.
CJ: We
were doing some restructuring for quite a while. We started off as a four-piece, added a fifth member, then had to reconstruct the band. Then we added in horns so adapting to all those changes were a challenge.
Originating in the summer of 2017, pianist and vocalist CJ Anderson brought together bassist Damyon Jolley, guitarist Matt Pettie, drummer Michael Rogers and auxiliary musician Angelo Sandoval to create the fantastic smooth and groovy tones found throughout all their music. I met with the band during one of their rehearsal sessions to ask them a few questions.
Angelo:
We did a lot of moving around. Like at one point Michael was playing guitar and drums, then I was on auxiliary and drums, and then we tried to get a new drummer but that didn’t work out so we’re right back to doing all that again. We ended up putting Michael back on drums and then we brought in Pettie.”
Where did the name Coffee Black come from?
Fun fact 1: CJ, while explaining the inception of the band, said, “We all played with pizza (at Pie Factory in Florence) so playing music just followed right after.” Wait did you all work at there at one point?
CJ: Yeah, Pie Factory is actually where Coffee Black was formed. Damyon: And don’t forget, you got the job at ‘Pie’ just so you could get that keyboard you have now. Did you all meet at Pie or did you know each other before?
Angelo:
Everyone pretty much knew everyone already, but I met CJ while working there. I had kind of known who he was but I had not had the opportunity to meet him ‘til working together.
CJ: Travel, putting your own money into it, and the fact that you definitely have to have a product when trying to get a following. Angelo: And trying to fine tune that
Coffee Black is one of those bands.
CJ: Have you ever seen the movie Semi-Pro? Well André 3000 is one of my favorite rappers and he is casted as Clarence in that film. His character changes his name every other game that they play and Coffee Black was one of them, it was a funky name and it just stuck with me.
What were your biggest challenges as a band?
What genre of music do you categorize the band to have?
Michael: Probably a mixture a soul
and funk.
Angelo: Sunk. Matt: Stop. [all laugh] Who inspires the music?
CJ: Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Queen, Earth Wind & Fire, The Beatles, of course…. Anything with a groove, soul or funk, to be honest. The groovy bass lines, electrified piano riffs and lively horn lines are what draws me the most. That style of music and fashion is just something that we try to bring to the band as much as possible. Damyon: Yeah, he wants us all to wear bell bottoms at some point. Matching bell bottoms, bedazzled shirts and platform shoes. Fun fact 2: CJ has brought a lot of fashion trends to the table, including dashikis.
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
CJ, how do you feel culture and black history have affected your taste in music?
CJ: Well James Brown has a song that I want us to learn that is very much a ‘Say it Loud, Black and Proud’ mentality. All my favorite artists are black. And it’s not just because I am black, but it definitely helps because this is the music that affects me the most, because I relate to it. Blues and funk [emerged] from a time of being oppressed. Being told you’re less than a person because of the color of your skin is something that has a deep connection with me, so culture has been a huge influence on me. Coffee Black has an EP that was published in 2017 that can be found on Spotify and Apple Music along with some work on YouTube. They said a new album is in the works and is set to drop in April 2019, so make sure to keep an eye out for that and any shows announced on their Facebook page. ENTERTAINMENT
19
e v i s u l c x e r u O 15 20 SOMETHINGS
r o f t n u o acc OVERDRAFT FORGIVENESS FREE CHECKING PERSONAL LOANS MOBILE BANKING
BYOB BY
KALI DANIEL
(BUILD YOUR OWN BUSINESS) @droptopkalibop
The light bulb just went off over your head. You’ve seen a need in your community — on any scale — and decided it’s time to put pen to paper and solidify your solution. You’re ready for your unique idea to become a product, a business and a path toward building your own career. Thankfully, The Shoals has several resources for students and community members to fine-tune their business concepts from start to finish and start making them the big dough they’re hoping for.
Small Business Development Center Located at the University of North Alabama, the Alabama SBDC is designed to put potential business owners in touch with experts in their field of sale and focus on big-picture planning. Any community member (no enrollment at the university required) in the nine-county service area can seek assistance — currently, those counties are Colbert, Lauderdale, Franklin, Lawrence, Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Winston and Walker. When you enter the SBDC, you’ll meet with an adviser who can help you in a variety of ways including plan development, marketing, loan proposals, financial analyses, funding sources, fiscal responsibilities and government
contracting opportunities. Because the SBDC is a significant source of economic thriving in the state of Alabama, the services are offered for free for existing and start-up companies. The SBDC — including its financial literacy library — is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Generator Like the SBDC, the Generator on Tuscaloosa Street offers a large thinking space, though this service is provided only to UNA students. Many students find their creative spark during their time in college, though few are given the opportunity to expound on their ideas and see tangible results. At the Generator, students will receive help creating a business model as well as build foundations to eventually promote in-
Ryan Mason, founder of Luxe Brand luxury shoelaces, won second place in the 2015 Shoals Idea Audition for his business. Mason’s laces have since been seen via Good Morning America, DJ Khaled, the NFL Network, Kevin Gates and more. [PHOTOS COURTESY RYAN MASON]
dependent operations outside of the Generator itself. Community mentors and university faculty assist students with troubleshooting and general guidance on the path to ventures that will not only thrive, but thrive sustainably. The Generator has plenty of working space for businesses founded by more than one student, and resources provide for flexible, need-based set-up.
Shoals Idea Audition Held on an annual basis, the Shoals Idea Audition allows entrepreneurs with a firm grasp on their business to receive potential funding and additional support. According to the website, the purpose of the Idea Audition is to “foster new businesses, help entrepreneurs polish their presentations, and introduce community leaders who might be instrumental in helping make their ideas a reality.” Contestants are given three minutes to pitch their business to a selected panel of judges, typically comprised of business owners in the community. Submissions are required to answer six key questions about their product, including the business model, competiWWW.GETSETMAG.COM
tors, advantages and who is part of the team behind the idea. This year’s three finalists received cash prizes of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000, respectively. “It was a great experience winning last year and the confidence boost I needed to pursue opening my company, Vicinidi,” said Carl Holden, the 2017 winner who created a location-based app. “I have a long journey ahead but this competition was some of my first crucial steps.”
Biz Buzz The key to biz buzz is networking. Dependent on member availability, business owners and start-up dreamers alike gather to discuss the pros, cons, triumphs and tribulations of owning a business. At each meeting, members of the community are given 10 minutes to describe their business via presentation, then the floor opens up for a Q&A panel to discuss details. Biz Buzz is an excellent resource for those who don’t need as much detail as far as building their business, rather are looking to perfect their models or see what the demographics and needs are like in the Shoals community. To sign up to be part of the community, search for Shoals Biz Buzz on Meetup. CREATE
21
events january+february
calendar of JANUARY
8 FREE MEDITATION
1 3RD ANNUAL PLUNGE INTO THE NEW YEAR – PLEDGING TO PREVENT SUICIDE Mcfarland Park and Recreation Area, Florence, AL @ 1 PM
FREE MEDITATION Salt & Light Wellness Center 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
Salt & Light Wellness Center - 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
9 ANDY ENGLISH AT SWAMPERS Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa – Swampers Bar and Grill, Florence, AL @ 5 PM
11
4 BOB ROSS OIL PAINTING CLASS Hobby Lobby - 1658 Town Square SW, Cullman, AL @ 9:30 AM
GLOW Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
5 1ST SATURDAYS SALE Kabiu Trading Company 2337 Norwood Boulevard Florence, AL @ 12 PM
GLOW
15 FREE MEDITATION Salt & Light Wellness Center - 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
18 CRYSTAL RIVER FLORIDA MANATEE TRIP North Alabama Dive Center 1704 2nd Avenue SW, Cullman, AL @ 8 AM
WINTERFEST BEER BLAST Westbury House 125 W. 7th Street, Columbia, TN @ 7 PM
GLOW Sky Zone Florence 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
19
26
WINTER ANIMALS LITTLE FARMERS
CRYSTAL RIVER FLORIDA MANATEE TRIP
North Alabama Agriplex 1714 Talley Ho Street, Cullman, AL @ 10 AM
North Alabama Dive Center - 1704 2nd Avenue SW, Cullman, AL @ 8 AM
GLOW
GLOW
Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
12
20
GLOW
CRYSTAL RIVER FLORIDA MANATEE TRIP
Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
SHOALS SHOWDOWN
JA NUARY
North Alabama Dive Center - 1704 2nd Avenue SW, Cullman, AL @ 8 AM
SUNDAY DOG DAYS
TH
25 GLOW
Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
OLIVIA EVENT WITH JONATHAN NELSON The Cigar Room Shoals 845 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence, AL @ 5 PM
COFFEE BLACK AT CHAMPY’S Champy’s Shoals - 120 2nd Street, Muscle Shoals @ 8 PM
SKELETON KREW AT THE BOILER ROOM The Boiler Room - 313 N. Court Street, Florence, AL @ 8:30 PM
Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
United Way of Northwest Alabama - 118 E Mobile Street, Ste 300, Florence, AL @ 11 AM
6
13
22
SUNDAY DOG DAYS
FREE MEDITATION
KELLYE CASH & FAMILY IN CONCERT
Singin’ River Brewing Company - 526 E College Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
Salt & Light Wellness Center 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
The Mane Room - 310 N. Pine Street, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
SUNDAY DOG DAYS Singin’ River Brewing Company - 526 E College Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
22
CALENDAR
ISSUE NO.1
Singin’ River Brewing Company - 526 E College Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
26
16 2019 SHOALS HEART BALL Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa - 10 Hightower Place, Florence, AL @ 5 PM
OVERNIGHT PUBLIC PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION Rippavilla - 5700 Main Street, Spring Hill, TN @ 7 PM
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING PRESENTED BY SHAKESPEARE AT THE SHOALS Shoals Community Theatre 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7:30 PM
H 7PM
COMEDIAN HENRY CHO AT T H E S H O A L S T H E AT R E
COMEDIAN HENRY CHO AT THE SHOALS THEATRE Shoals Community Theatre 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
GLOW Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
27 SUNDAY DOG DAYS Singin’ River Brewing Company - 526 E College Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
29 FREE MEDITATION Salt & Light Wellness Center 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
2
9TH ANNUAL HARVEST SHARE FOOD PANTRY SOUP-N-BOWL Memorial Building - 308 W. 7th Street, Columbia, TN @ 11 AM
GLOW Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
1ST SATURDAYS SALE Kabiu Trading Company 2337 Norwood Boulevard Florence, AL @ 12 PM
3 SUNDAY DOG DAYS
Singin’ River Brewing Company - 526 E College Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
SUNDAY DOG DAYS
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING PRESENTED BY SHAKESPEARE AT THE SHOALS
Singin’ River Brewing Company - 526 E College Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
Shoals Community Theatre 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
12 FREE MEDITATION Salt & Light Wellness Center 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
14
19 FREE MEDITATION Salt & Light Wellness Center 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
23
MUSCLE SHOALS MEETS THE ROLLING STONES
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING PRESENTED BY SHAKESPEARE AT THE SHOALS
Marriott Shoals Conference Center - 10 Hightower Place, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
5
Shoals Community Theatre 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7:30 PM
24
Salt & Light Wellness Center 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
15
SUNDAY DOG DAYS Singin’ River Brewing Company - 526 E College Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
BLUEGRASS CONCERT
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING PRESENTED BY SHAKESPEARE AT THE SHOALS
26
Tennessee Valley Museum of Art - 511 N. Water Street, Tuscumbia, AL @ 6 PM
Shoals Community Theatre 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7:30 PM
Salt & Light Wellness Center 1136 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
1
9
GLOW Sky Zone Florence - 250 Mangum Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
SUNDAY DOG DAYS
Singin’ River Brewing Company - 526 E College Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
FREE MEDITATION
FEBRUARY
10
17
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
FREE MEDITATION
CALENDAR
23
UNA students march across campus on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2018. [ PHOTOS COURTESY UNA]
#EMPOWERED I would say that community empowerment is really defined as helping people in the community regardless of race, gender [or] class. TA MM Y R HODE S
24
SPECIAL FEATURE
ISSUE NO. 1
HOW A VILLAGE IS RAISING ALL OF ITS CHILDREN
BY
KALI DANIEL
@droptopkalibop
I’m sitting in the Gunn Commons on campus at the University of North Alabama waiting to meet with Tammy Rhodes, the Director of the First-Year Experience program on campus. As I wait, I’m thinking about how different the building is from when I was a student, before it was named “Gunn.”
The building was named for Wendell Wilkie Gunn, the first black student at Florence State Teachers College, now known as UNA. When he became a student in 1963, his enrollment was independent but the integration was court-ordered. Since then, racial unity has come a long way, but there is still progress to be made. One of the catalysts for these changes is a lot closer to home than you might think. Community empowerment is probably a phrase you’ve seen periodically in political campaigns, nonprofit promotions and maybe even a social media post or two, but the concrete understanding is lost on many —
particularly those who don’t feel they need it. The World Health Organization, the leading international agency focused on public health, defines community empowerment as “more than the involvement, participation or engagement of communities. “It implies community ownership and action that explicitly aims at social and political change. It recognizes that if some people are going to be empowered, then others will be sharing their existing power and giving some of it up.” In rural communities and even college towns, typically considered the more liberal locations, empowerment is often seen as a struggle between the past and progress. While community empowerment is not limited to people of color and minorities, Black History Month is certainly a monthlong moment for pause as we reflect on where we’ve come from and where we’re going in terms of accessibility.
Wendell Wilkie Gunn was the first African-American student at Florence State Teachers College, now known as the University of North Alabama. His admission was courtordered in 1963 and paved the way for African-American students today.
Dr. King and so many others said we have to take this conversation outside these walls because until we do, nothing’s going to happen, it’s going to become a soapbox. BI S HOP A L E X A NDE R
“In our community, I would say that community empowerment is really defined as helping people in the community regardless of race, gender [or] class,” Rhodes said. Part of Rhodes’ job is to keep freshmen at UNA engaged academically, but also socially. “We had several people that are over nonprofits to openly speak about how we could get students more plugged into the Shoals community, especially those students who are not from the Shoals,” she said. “We want to look at how they could learn more about what’s going on and not be so sheltered here on the campus.” Rhodes said she wants students to realize there is so much opportunity at UNA, but the larger community that supports the university is in need, too. Florence does have a homeless population, and those needs extend to campus where there are food and basic
needs pantries for students who come from inequity and may not be able to eat or shower otherwise. Much like Gunn’s precedent of stepping foot on campus, Rhodes said the key to community empowerment for southern communities like ours comes down to education. “It’s about being educated and looking at what’s happening in our community,” she said. “It’s looking at the micro instead of looking at the macro. Not that the macro isn’t important, because it is, but that’s where the educational aspect is. We have to look at home first and see what we can do here and then maybe get to the larger picture.” Bishop Alexander, a prominent name on UNA’s campus, is all about community on a personal level. Alexander is the only person I have ever met to require an extra Facebook account — he’s maxed out his friendship.
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
That spirit of reaching others is close to his heart and closer to his causes, particularly as a part-time pastor. “Churches played a significant role in the civil rights movement because it gave minorities the opportunity to voice their opinions in a safe zone,” Alexander said. “At the time you really couldn’t voice your opinions outside of church, and a lot of it was due to fear and retaliation.” Having those conversations, though, led to a small community of empowerment that ultimately led to Martin Luther King Jr.’s revolutionary speeches and calls to action — the same should be enacted today. “Dr. King and so many others said we have to take this conversation outside these walls because until we do, nothing’s going to happen, it’s going to become a soapbox,” Alexander said. “You come here, complain and »
SPECIAL FEATURE
25
SPECIAL FEATURE
“A lot of times community leaders are looking to pass the torch to the next generation but if there’s nobody in the room….” he said with a shrug. “Find ways to sit down at the table and have those tough conversations.” There has been a vast amount of progress, but there is still a lot of work to be done, both admit. “When I look across our community, we’ve grown and we are doing great things,” Rhodes said. “But it’s because we’ve had some people to pave the way to allow us to do that. We have a lot of history and we have a long way to go, but we have a lot of heroes that are doing amazing things. I’m thankful for that.”
ISSUE NO. 1
BI S HOP A L E X A NDE R
down.
you can’t back
your voice and
have to know
UNA student Grant Gunn shakes Wendell Wilkie Gunn’s hand March 14 at the ceremony naming the student commons after Wendell.
26
Alexander said the key to keeping the community empowered is simple: Us.
For those who aren’t students but are eager to get involved with the community, Rhodes said looking to the same locations that helped fuel the civil rights movement is a great place to start.
worth, you
opposition, but
to have
You’re going
Rhodes specifically mentioned Dr. Kim Jackson and Crossroads Community Outreach, Camille
“Social justice works in many ways. It’s beyond religion. It’s what’s right.”
“They are individually and collectively working constantly in the communities,” she said. “That’s part of their philanthropies. Individual organizations do it year-round as undergraduates, and the graduate chapters work very, very hard.”
to know your
And for the Shoals specifically, aiding the voiceless, educating the eager and helping those in need is a passion for many.
For students, there are a plethora of ways to get involved. Engaging local nonprofits is an excellent start, Rhodes said, and there are other organizations who pursue community service like UNA’s leadership and volunteerism division of student engagement, as well as the entire National Pan-Hellenic Council.
like you have
“It was dangerous for a person of color like him to come on a predominantly white campus and to hear on the news about people getting killed, but he took a stand,” he said. “And because he took a stand, it impacted the future generations. You’re going to have opposition, but at the end of the day I feel like you have to know your worth, you have to know your voice and you can’t back down. It’s not even about you, it’s about those you’re speaking for. You’re being a voice to the voiceless.”
“Quite a lot of people in the black community, especially in this area, are quite dedicated to their churches,” she said. “Those pastors and leaders are out there and also working with those nonprofits. It’s not uncommon that you will see them working with the NAACP.
Tsharra Woods volunteers at Florence Lauderdale Public Library as part of “Lions Lend a Hand,” an annual event hosted by UNA’s leadership and volunteerism portion of student engagement.
“The way they’re empowering the community is they’re hands-on,” she said.
the day I feel
Now the director of alumni relations at UNA, Alexander would not be in his position if it weren’t for the civil rights movement and men like Gunn.
Bennett and Project Say Something, and Krista Manchester and Room in the Inn Shoals as excellent sources of community education, aid and thus empowerment.
at the end of
there’s no action. They had to take it to the next level. It was a leap of faith but I’m so thankful those leaders before me did that because I don’t know where I’d be.”
PUT COMMUNITY FIRST - JOIN THE CREDIT UNION TODAY!
SPOTLIGHT
JOSH PATTERSON AND ARIANNA SHEPHERD
S P O T L IGH T P HO T OGR A P HE R :
ISSUE NO.1
ANDREW HOLLEY
DARIEN HARRIS Florence, Alabama
SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT
E M B E R 3 RD
JOSH CLAYTON AND AMIAH MARSHALL
@drharrisb393
VINCY (HUANG WEN), HOBO (ZHANG HAO BO), FLORENCE (GU XING BEI), JESSICA (ZHANG YU XUAN), TAO (XU SHENG TAO) AND ROBIN(WANG ZHEN QIN).
OSMAN NOOR
Florence, AL Christmas Parade DEC
28
P a s s p o r t t o the W o r l d
FABIAN CORTEZ
FLOR E N C E , A L
N
OV EM B E R 1 5 TH
KARLY PACE AND MIKAYLA JAMES
NISHA PAL SPOTLIGHT
MARIA TERRAZAS AND BIANCA HERNANDEZ
HOANG PHAM AND TICH PHAN
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
BIK
29
JE A N M A D D E N
teacher S he wa s a s. ld o n y e to Chasie R to go back named Dr. ed for me sh u My p e s. “A woman e sh re d g er’s de d for, an st e a rk m o d w n d a a Ih ege achelor’s e first coll d get my b made me th it d my college an n se a u r ca e te ferent b y daugh if m d t se so n is e life which th tion.” my family her educa graduate in ursue furt p to w e h p ne
C AY N H O B B S “I’m in spired by M a where rtin Lu we are t her K w it h t and p ing Jr he pro osition . I fee fessio l like as peo toda y n of o p le wou w it hou ur righ ldn’t b t him. ts e whe He wa re it is s such a grea t man .”
“I am a filmmak er so I a Peele. S m inspir eeing him ed by m from ‘Ke en like J t hen bein y and Pe ordan g an Osc e le ’ d a o r w inner surreal. wn to ‘M It makes ad T V,’ for his fi lm ‘Get m e wan Out’ wa t to get s bet ter in filmmak JU S TI N S M IT H ing.”
been ne who has her is someo ot m indk nd is ra g “M y life. S he ation in my ir sp e in th t a of re e ag l and on njudgmenta no ink , th ed to rt a e he w. I lik people I kno g in iv rg fo t mos e over.” C A N D IC E I’m her mad
BANKHEAD
W H O I N S PI R E S
YO U ? BY
UA DOUGLAS FUQ
ma, because Michelle Oba om fr n io at ted so deeply “I pull inspir oming,’ I rela ec ‘B , ok bo r first African when I read he her being the h it w o, ls A enting people to her stor y. e was repres sh dy La t rs d my grand American Fi s, my niece, an er st si y m r, aughter.” like my mot he at’s my grandd princess — th
JUST IN HAR PER
is TNT Fireworks. He “Stacey Thigpen of rs he ot ts pu guy. He such a kind-spirited t ea gr ne do s ay has alw be fore himself and ” rs. rke wo his things for me and all
ANDREA BELK
“M y old ERIC DI er brot h er, Vinc XON hard wor e n t Smit h. H king, he e’s so ’s alwa y commun s tr ying it y and h to help t e’s selfHe’s had he motivate a hard p d all t he ast, and ti me. t he wa y around is he turne somet hin d his life g I admir e a lot.”
NER SHANTEL GAR
h she had ven thoug e se u ca e ntinued gelou b life she co r “M a ya An e h in s le m.” strugg and w isdo very hard peace, love t u o b a te to wri
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
FREESTYLE
31