Be Brave Magazine #1

Photographer: Kijana Crues From Backyard Collection

Letter From The Creator

Young Leaders:

Extraordinary youth who stand and make a change. This issue we are featuring: Isaiah Santiago Lewis from Rochester, NY

Live, Laugh, Love Yourself Health, Mental Health, and Self-Empowerment. Article Written By: Selena Cochran from Rochester, NY

Got To Have Faith

People who inspire through their faith and strength to keep pushing forward. Featuring: Brandi Bonilla Torres from Houston, TX and Aceyon Owens from Rochester, NY

Lioness

For The Love Of Art

A place to appreciate art of all kinds from photography, to paintings, to fashion designs... and the list goes on! This is a place to truly appreciate each others amazing talents and unique creations!

Featured Rochester Artists: LUJAR Art, Allison McDonald, and Katrina Gaspar

Music Korner

Music artists and musicians that inspire through their music! This issue we are featuring Paul Boutte and Andy Wilhoughby from Rochester NY, Dr. Scot Brown from Los Angeles, CA, and Rouge Rodney from New York, NY.

Generation Z: 2020 Documentary and Musical Project

Interview with children sharing their experiences from the year 2020. They give their thoughts about COVID-19, Racial injustices, and more.

Table Of Contents

Dedicated to My Mom, Doretha Crues.

I love you so much. Thank you for believing in me.

Credits

Faculty:

Kijana Crues - Publisher/Designer/ Editor/ Director of Editorial

Writers:

Kijana Crues- Interview writer/ Editor Jon David- Interviewer/ Editor Selena Cochran- Article Writer

Photography: Kijana Crues- Lead Photographer *Photographer for all features in Rochester, NY

Contributing Photographers: Brianna McPhearson- Houston, Texas Jamie Best- New York, New York Photography Submitted by the featured subject Stock photos from Pixabay.com

Graphic Design: Kijana Crues- Director of Graphic Design Graphic Designer

Artist From Gallery:

All featured stories were written by the warriors being featured. All stories edited by Kijana Crues with Kijana Crues Imaging, LLC.

Be Brave Magazine is a magazine owned and created by Kijana Crues Imaging, LLC

Letter From The Creator

Welcome to the very first issue of Be Brave Magazine! Be Brave Magazine is an online magazine that spotlights everyday people, warriors, that pushed through life’s struggles and refused to be stopped. These are articles and stories of warriors sharing about their triumphs through adversity. They share advice for those that need it and show the importance of having Faith and never giving up.

After a whole year of putting things in order it’s finally here! The journey was long and hard, but I pushed forward and continued to listen to the Lord. God put this project on my heart to complete, So I HAD to keep pushing... no matter what and be obedient.

I’ve been through a lot in my life. From a massive weight loss journey beginning 2014, resulting in my losing over 270 lbs... and my getting “healthy”... to then finding out I had Stage 4 NH Lymphoma Cancer in 2018. I found myself in a position of having to fight for my life... and still dealt with more later. I know all too well about the importance in valuing every day like its your last, because anything can happen. Since battling and BEATING cancer and becoming cancer-free, I’ve made it a priority to go after everything I’ve ever wanted or dreamed of. I promised God if He healed me I’d go after my dreams with everything in me and follow what he wants of me. Time to make pipe dreams a reality! I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. I’ve also made it a priority to use my life as an example to others... to hopefully inspire them to keep pushing too! Know that you too can achieve whatever you put your mind and action to.

This magazine is about just that! People sharing their stories so that others can relate and get through their struggles as well! These warriors talk about the real parts of life that are sometimes swept under the rug and/or are hard to talk about. They give real advice meant to truly help you get through life and get to your goals. Their stories are mostly written in their own words.

Also this magazine has an amazing Art Gallery section that showcases amazing artists from all over the United States. If you are an artist and you want the opportunity to share you talents on this platform contact the magazine!

Be Brave Magazine is continuing to build its team of volunteers. If you are interested in joining the team and feel you have a skill that could help push the magazine... contact us!

Lastly... No, This isn’t a “Christian Magazine” but it IS A CHRISTIAN’S magazine. So I always have to give praise to the Lord. Its because of Him that I am here today!

Thanks to everyone that contributed in this first issue. You all are truly appreciated and loved!

With Love, Kijana Crues Magazine Creator/ Editor/ Graphic Designer/ Lead Photographer

Young Leaders

Rochester, New York

When I think about my life I think about all of the battles and challenges I’ve endured. Not just how I’ve been through them but how I overcame them and used them in my favor. Hardships and challenges in life are oftentimes looked at in a negative way. Personally, I look at it as something else that I can overcome and work out in my favor. Throughout my life there are many things that I have endured that I didn’t think I would make it through, but I am elated to say that I have. Not only have I conquered them, but I used them to help me throughout life and also help others. One testimony that I often think of is a hardship I endured what I usually title “The Battle of New Jersey”. After my father and mother divorced, I struggled to adapt to the new life with separated parents. This resulted in a hurt young boy. While being hurt I usually took it out on my mother, which is who I was living with at the time. The young woman my mother was, couldn’t find any more answers on how to deal with the issues so she sent me to my father’s in New Jersey. When I moved to New Jersey it was good for the first few months; but as the months passed things got bad. My stepmother started abusing me verbally and physically while my dad was either drunk or away from the house. Unfortunately I couldn’t have the conversation with my father because my father was an alcoholic. This hurt me so much because I expected my father to be a protector but he wasn’t. I went through that for months on end until I was finally able to reach my mother and she came and picked me

up from New Jersey. After coming from New Jersey I came back hurt. Sadly, I did not know how to deal with this hurt but to temporarily satisfied it by getting into negative things. This resulted in me being in ISS all the time and getting into fights.

There are two things that I took out of these hardships in life. Although it was a challenge dealing with an alcoholic father and abusive stepmother in life. I write this essay today with a song titled “I’m Free” that I wrote as a declaration over my life to become free from the titles that were put on to me from my stepmother. My song went on to become viral on YouTube and even play on the rotation of my local radio station WDKX. The middle school Isaiah went from being a bad kid to becoming a founder of a youth to youth organization, which combats youth gun violence titled “We Got This”. From the understanding of my hurt and mental illness from the situation I was able to lead the fight of adding a mental health literacy course in our school district. I understood that the violence that we were seeing in our schools was a result of hurting young people who are doing just like me, temporarily satisfying it. I led the fight creating a student committee and a committee of counselors and mental health specialists to create a course of mental health literacy to add as a class to our school district. Some may look at the hardships in life as negative things that hold us down, but I look at them as things that I can use to build me up to help others.

You First. I Insist.

Written By Selena Cochran

Give yourself space to process, to feel, to breathe. You wake up and you breathe. You inhale the air of a new day. You exhale the sting of recent events. You don’t reach for your cape. You don’t reach for shame or embarrassment. You breathe, deeply and fully, allowing you the space to release your emotions in all of its raw, agonizing glory. No hiding. No burying. Just you and space and truth.

“...Healing starts with me, you, us.”

healing from wounds you could never fathom or anticipate. Healing takes time. The answers will come. Don’t force it. And when you’re ready, test the waters and slowly move forward. Pay close attention to your emotions and thoughts. Look at what rises to the surface. You can always take a step back, reassess and test the waters again.

Give yourself as much time as you need! For some, it’s few days. Others, A few weeks. In my case it was several months, 18 to be exact. I refused to do what classic Lena would do: rush back to business as usual, ignore the inferno and hope for the best. I got off that merry-go-round and didn’t look back.

Give yourself permission to not have all the answers. You don’t know. You won’t know. It’s beyond you. And that’s okay. You’ve been shattered. You are

Healing starts with me, you, us. It begins the moment we acknowledge our pain and take deliberate steps to grant our souls amnesty from judgment and condemnation-be it self-inflicted or via third party. We openly release ourselves from blame and punishment, choosing instead to do all that we must to ensure we are safe, whole and at peace. We choose us first. No apologies.

Got To Have Faith

Brandi Bonilla Torres

Houston, TX

My name is Brandi Bonilla Torres I am 31 years old I just had a birthday on August 23 and as I celebrate that milestone I got the most precious gift of all... becoming CANCER FREE after four years of battling Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I just rang the bell this past week after having a stem cell transplant and 18 cycles of chemotherapy. This was the 2nd time battling Stage 4. I became part of a study to help others and God blessed me with everything being paid in full.

I live in Houston Texas. I love to read, watch movies , enjoy nature , helping others, creating art , listening to all sorts of music, travel (I just came back from the virgin islands) but most of all my relationship with God and working in the church.

I am pursuing a doctorate in biblical studies, while being raised up as a pastor under my mentor at the church. I am currently the pastors assistant, baptism coordinator, and one of the children’s church teachers. Also, I work part time as an armored Security Officer to help pay for school and future projects.

My father is from Colombia and my mothers from the United States. I didn’t come from a particularly easy life. My father was separated from us from the

bad lifestyle choice that my parents were making at the time to make money. I’ve always been excellent in school, but due to several traumatic experiences, I grew up too fast and i shifted, went down the wrong path causing me to be mean, sell & use drugs, be in and out of jail , institutions, and hospitals... until I finally realize that life didn’t align with my heart, talents or intelligence. What was my wisdom and worth during my season of being tired of my own mindset, decisions, and frustration from my illness and a bad marriage. I made it after 15 years of struggling and fighting with God. Being in and out of jail, from 16 to 25. 9 times... and in rehab 7 times. In a Mental institution 3 times... and having faced death twice. I’m here sharing my testimony and living out my goals and dreams.

I am becoming the woman that several pastors and mentors spoke over my life but I was too stubborn and foolish and stuck in ways to understand. until I saw and started believing and trusting God and myself too. My plans are big, but I hope to open a facility for people who can’t afford treatment and/or help for the people who are lost, on drugs, in prostitution, or homeless, from the streets or mental illnesses. I want to build halfway houses and make jobs for my community as I build and give back, missionary work and pastoring in what-

ever way God and my pastor have for me open and ready. My father is now a minister overseas and my mom just recently got saved I’m helping them both , teaching them what I learn , giving back and working together with my brother to restore our family. I hope to learn everything I can weekly from the material we receive along with my professors and classmates as we grow throughout the lessons... and to do my best to put my all into my work and education, so I can better my relationship, and truly know God as well as obtain my dreams.

Lightly Edited By: Kijana Crues

Photographer:

Make-up

Brianna McPhearson

Artist: Shatara Davis

Aceyon Owens

Rochester, New York

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Anthony Aceyon Owens. I’m an entertainer if you had to put it plainly, but honestly, I do a full list of things; Actor, writer, director, Slam poet, plus size male model. I don’t like being placed in a single category. I feel like if my creativity is inspired then let me share it with the world.

Someone asked me a while ago why I do what I do. I laughed at it and said why not? Why not express myself and be open and honest with my creativity. Why put myself in a box and not speak my mind. That’s blasphemous to me. If you were blessed with a talent and I think we all are, then you should show it. Show what God blessed you with and celebrate it. Truthfully It feels like God placed me on this earth to share my artistry and inspire just like people have inspired me. It feels like the greatest therapy to me. A therapy I discovered when I was a ten year old fourth grader imagining with ambition and drive. No one could tell me I wasn’t going places. I thought I was going to be the first actor turned lawyer that became the first black president. I would write like I was someone different and create stories that took me to a place that people said statistically ghetto project kids couldn’t go to. It’s sad to say that stat still exists. But, One day, when I have reached financial

success, I intend to help impoverished children reach their dreams so we can put that stereotype to rest. I always had a passion for the arts but I never knew how to or had the confidence to take action and follow those dreams.

I used to recite Shakespeare to my Childhood friend Jazmine. We were two peas in a pod my mom used to say. Jazz was the only one that understood me. I hope she’s looking down on me from heaven with pride. As a child, I did not Appreciate the Arts as I should have. I thought poetry was used to charm pretty girls. How naive and ignorant I was back then. Whenever I would speak of my dreams and goals, others would talk down on me and I would let those naysayers and their words restrain me. Those close to me or even those who I thought I should look up to shut me down. Imagine that feeling as a child. That feeling of being cut at the knees when you want to reach for the stars. It builds insecurities the size of mount everest. I gave too many people the control of my destiny. Thinking about it now I realize, I would be ten steps ahead if I had the balls to take control of myself then and not allow others to take control. But there’s always a wake up call that comes in all shapes and sizes. Mine was a nervous breakdown. I had to hit a wall and face

Got To Have Faith

myself. So when you ask when did I decide to start following my dream. I’ll say the day I walked out of the psych ward at Strong Hospital when I was nineteen years old.

I was in college, working two jobs, using drugs, and dealing with a lot. My well being was far from my top priority list. I was an obnoxious teen that thought I could do whatever I wanted without any worry. Wrong! I fell flat on my face. I’m not ashamed to say it. I had a nervous breakdown and everything around me that I thought was great crumbled. All the built up emotions and mental depressions I brushed under the rug had created a bump in my smooth ride and I fell flat on my face. I was falling apart. All the insecurities took control of me. I had become too weak minded to think clearly too shattered, too frail, nothing like the child I was when I first started writing and especially not the person my mother raised. I had allowed too much to take over me and now I was a hallowed person. I was driving my family crazy. But depression and mental struggles don’t have a moral code. They not only attack you, they also attack those you love. I remember waking my mother out of her sleep because my mind was sending me on a wild goose chase. Hearing my Grandmother ask my mom what’s wrong with me. I remember my brother and sisters being worried for me and my father unable to understand me. I was taken to the ninth ward at The Strong Memorial Hospital. They locked me in a room that was white with a funny smell. It was like bleach but it had a vomit esk sent to it. The person next door to me screamed all night and spit on the nurses. I was lost and wondering what the fuck

happened.

They took away my belt, shoe laces, left me with a dull preschool number two pencil and an old composition notebook. My mother told me to write my feelings, write my worries and just free my soul. So I did just that. I stayed up all night writing and speaking my truths. That was God’s lesson that hit me in the face. I was learning to appreciate the arts and the blessing he had bestowed on me. I wrote my first poem within those very walls and from then on I never stopped. A few years later when I was twenty two, I overcome my fear and recited that very same poem on the Nuyorican Cafe in front a crowd of strangers, I let out my soul. But it hasn’t been an easy ride, It hasn’t been easy at all. I’ve had to face depression a few times since then but I havent let it control me. I’m stron-

ger and wiser than I was and honestly had it not been for that horrible break down I would not be here today. As I sat in that room I slowly began to remove the mental chains. I broke myself and used the pieces to rebuild a better me. I became Aceyon. It helped me to open up and be myself and love the man I am accepting of all my faults and loving them just as much as I love my successes. The same ambitious person I was when I first picked up a pen. I only wish I would have listened to that ten year old me a long time ago. I would have believed in myself and listened to my mother when she was trying to instill knowledge in my mind. But as I said you can’t grow without struggle.

I’m still learning and I don’t think I will ever stop. I believe a person should remake themselves over and over again every few years. We need to always evolve and rebuild ourselves as much as possible because the world is forever changing and so should we. As I grow I remain thankful for those who have been in my corner. Family and friends that pushed me to be great. Loved ones who have gone on to heaven and those that are still here. I pray I make them all proud and hopefully they’ll see it wasn’t a waste to bet on me. I still laugh with my good friend and sister Grace Flores reminding her of how she would always tell me to “Own my Shit! Stand firm in my beliefs and never give up”. I think about Jazz when I write and imagine her telling me her thoughts on my poem or hearing the wild funny story that my poem reminds her of. And every time I walk on the stage, I hear My mother telling me to walk like the king she raised. She has always been

my backbone and number one supporter. She never stopped believing in me I promised her as a child when make it big, I would buy her a mansion with Lipizzaner horses and that is my intention be it through hell or high water. God has blessed me with people who nourished me with inspiration and love. I just needed to dig deep and remember where I come from. I just needed to realize that it was always there deep within me and believe in me. Now I do and the sky is the limit for me.

If you’re reading this I want you to know that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Never set your sites or goals on the standards of what others approve of. Look deep within yourself and find out what makes you great. Love yourself completely. Love you from the ugliest to the most beautifulest parts. Smile and laugh as much as you can and Push Push P.U.S.H. meaning Pray Until Something Happens.

Put God first and yourself second. Love your family and give them the roses they deserve while they’re here.

Love Always ~ACEYON

Lioness Nation

Megan Ball

Rochester, New York

What do you do?

I am an Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Excelsior College.

What is a lioness to you?

Someone always protecting others with kindness and compassion. Someone who is never judgmental and always encouraging those around them. They do this because they know how it feels not to be supported.

What makes you a lioness?

Oh wow! What a question! I want to be a lioness to others because I know what it feels like to not feel supported, especially in the workplace. People need to feel cared for and encouraged. The world can be a very lonely place sometimes and I want to help remind those around me they are never alone.

How are you a lioness in your field?

I am always willing to give my students extra support through the financial aid process. Most of my students are adult learners who have been away from the classroom for a bit. They might not know what questions to ask and I am there to “read between the lines” and make sure they are getting the care they need to be successful.

What helps you to gain confidence in yourself and what you do?

I am the last person in the world who should be telling people how to be confident. I still question myself all the time. The thing that has helped me the most is going to therapy. I think I was always looking for someone else to make give me self-confidence. Or if I just accomplish one more thing, then I will feel confident. Talking with someone showed me that I need to find confidence within myself. Most days I am still looking for it but now I believe it’s there. In my heart and soul, not from the outside.

What’s the moment in your life when you felt the strongest?

Another great question. I have really struggled to find the right career path. It has been a long journey, but I am finally where I am meant to be. For the longest time, I felt like a failure for not being where I wanted to be. I was not a failure; I was going through a necessary process. When I was able to change my mindset, I felt like I could take on the world. I am in my position in financial aid because I connected with someone four years ago at conference and we stayed in touch. That is my superpower, I make connections and build relation-

ships. We all have a superpower; we just have to find it.

How do you use what you do to make an impact on the world around you?

I listen. People need to feel heard. I truly believe I help others build their self-confident by listening to them. We are all worthy of having someone listen to our story. We all have a beautiful story to share, even with all the difficult moments.

What is your personal advice for people out there that need help developing confidence in themselves?

Go to therapy. I am totally serious. I started when I was 40 and wish I would have started the process sooner. And please stop looking for confidence from something or someone. It is right inside you! I promise.

What do you want to tell our young cubs?

Focus on you and what you are passionate about. I think sometimes we think that focusing on ourselves is selfish, but it is actually selfless. We can’t give the world our very best if we are not nourishing our heart and soul every day. A mentor shared this quote with many years ago and it has stayed with me.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive…and then do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive” – Howard Thurman

Shanden Jackson

Rochester, New York

PnK Fitness 4.21 was launched in December 2017. My name is Shanden Jackson I’m 52 years of age and a Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness instructor, Women’s Group Instructor, Certified Glute Specialist, Nutritionist, Condition & Strength Training Instructor and Health Coach. I started this journey in Sept. 2013 and I’ve never looked back. I have never been ashamed of who I was at 183 pounds or now. I never would have thought I would be here today helping someone else get to where they want to be. I’m just your jumper cables here to get you started and the rest is up to you to keep it going. According to the doctor’s this is not where I should be or should even be able to BUT GOD who is the head of my life. I am here to motivate, inspire, encourage, and challenge you to become more active and having a healthier lifestyle. I will provide a range of wellness topics, covering nutrition, health, fitness, beauty, and more. As your Fitness Coach/Instructor/ Trainer, I can’t wait to share great stuff with you. As adults we still enjoy being active, but don’t always feel like we have the time or opportunities to do so. Group exercise provides us with an opportunity to feel young again and be physically active with others. Exercise appeals to many people because of its diversity. My mission is to help you live a healthier life—whatever that looks like to you. Because the truth is that health and well-

ness are not just complex, but deeply personal. What’s good for you might not be good for me, and vice versa. Beyond that, there’s so much confusion out there about what “healthy” means. My goal is to cut through the noise and misinformation and help you feel more equipped to make the best choices for yourself and your loved ones.

Here at PnK Fitness 4.21 I have four key values that I use as a guide:

• Inclusivity: Because wellness is for everyone.

• Accuracy: Because information is only helpful and empowering if it’s true.

• Empathy: Because you deserve to feel supported and inspired, not judged, or intimidated.

• Autonomy: Because your body is your business.

Bottom line I will provide thoughtful, compassionate, and science-backed health information, so that you can make informed decisions that you feel good about. Now, I’m sure some things I share you may have already heard or seen before. All Fitness Instructors/ Coaches/Trainers are here for the same reason and that is to see you become more fit, be more active and live a long healthy life. I am here to uplift, share, and have fun. If you are here for any other reason(s) then wanting to become healthier, whether it’s to lose weight, gain weight, tone up or physically fit,

laugh A LOT and have fun while doing so then this is not the group for you. If you are ready to work out and have fun, then let’s get started. This is not just a journey it’s a lifestyle! You can reach me at PnkFitness421@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram @ pnk_fitness_421, reach me at 585-420-7478 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am to 3 pm. Remember it’s “80% NUTRITION + 20% EXERCISE = 100% RESULTS REQUIRE ACTION!” Coach Pinky!

My first business that I launched in 1989 is Color Me Pink! This is my baby and I’ve grown so much over the years. This is where everything else that I do is done from Wedding Planner, Event Coordinator, Decorator, Host, Graphic Designs, Invitations, Flyers, Obituaries, Programs, etc. just to name a few. I pretty much dibble and dabble in a little bit of everything and if someone comes to me and its job I can’t do or it’s to big for me to do I will refer them to others that I’ve dealt with in the past. My business is all marketed by word-of-mouth. I don’t have a website because with all the social media platforms who needs one now a days. Color Me Pink is doing well, and I couldn’t be more prouder of the growth that I have had since 1989.

Things are look great for Shanden AKA Coach Pinky. I have no complaints with my life it’s right where God has placed me to be.

For Art!Love The Of

Katrina Gaspar

Rochester, New York

I am an artist, and this is my identity.

Visual: painting plus drawing, sculpting, Writing:poetry, melodies, or short stories or a mix.

We all have more than one purpose to fulfill and some we know early on and some can surprise us later.

I am also a wife, mother, and more recently a grandmother, although I prefer MomKat( insert winky face).

I fulfill my purpose through my art. I started drawing and singing at a young age and studied voice in high school through college, ending with Eastman School of Music.

I did not graduate as “life happens”, but I did sketching, drawing, plus sculpting,off and on, while married and raising two boys, working part time to help support our family, while my husband finished his performance degree at Eastman School of Music. This was followed by traveling to Europe with my husband and youngest son, wow my husband performed with a European Broadway production for several years. My husband and I compose and write music together which includes “Joy!”, the title track to a Christmas album, a compilation of Arrangements by local and international artists, Celebrate Upstate in 2006. During the last 33 years I have overcome Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, after loss of both parents to cancer, fol-

lowed later by chronic fatigue, and borderline autoimmune disorders and have more recently stage 2 breast cancer.

Prior to 2005 I followed conventional medicine mostly. Since then, when most Pharmaceuticals failed me I sought alternative ways with changes in diet, exercise, supplements, and more recently focusing on prioritizing art and music.

All while researching more functional and naturopathic methods of addressing health issues.

My most recent diagnosis was and still is a catalyst for making time to create my art in one form or another.

It was a turning point in these respects: radical remission by Kelly a Turner Ph.D was extremely enlightening and definitely a Spirit-filled organization.

The author documents several cases of radical remission and all had 10 common factors. Only three are physical: diet, supplements, and exercise. The rest are mental emotional, social, and spiritual. Based on that, you could say 70% of healing and overcoming adversity is not physical. All the physical is important but depening your spiritual connection, taking control of your health, i.e: You lead your recovery, Not the doctors,. Following your intuition, (also His Spirit for me). Having strong reasons for living, are even more im-

portant.

Pursuing your purpose, passion, and joy, along with all these things help you manage the obstacles, trials, and constant stress is in life.

My husband’s support and encouragement, and his persistence at performance and teaching has been a huge part of my journey.

We have supported each other through many extreme hardships and loss. We are thankful for our Faith and commitment to God, in which we know even in our darkest moments, his Spirit brings us back to the Light.

I’ve also learned EnLightenment and Spirit shows up in surprising places and sources. I have found inSpiration at 5 a.m. following a dream or conversation with family, or in the midst of a yoga class, or just facing and expressing a painful truth in a creative way. So even if you only have 10 minutes in

your day, do something creative or whatever gives you Joy. Dance, paint, write, or whatever expresses your unique truth and don’t wait.

Adversity teaches that none of us have tomorrow. We only have Today.

Poetry

CROSSING Lines

By: Katrina Gaspar

Crossing all invisible lines an anomaly from museums, cathedrals, and churches to temples and graveyards

I live in subways, alleyways, I canvas tall buildings from five star hotels, posh restaurants, to parks and tractor trailers Traveling Madison Avenue to Harlem the penthouse to the beach

I’m hated one minute and celebrated the next your friends are your enemies your enemies are your friends no support group for: Starving Anonymous scorned and rejected one century revered loved and respected the next I can make you laugh one minute and cry in the next Embraced by Kings and discounted by presidents enjoyed around campfires and in jungles loved and despised in the same room reaching minds and souls creating Bridges and building walls through through bloodties I am homeless and home-free I fit nowhere and everywhere

Be Brave

By: Katrina Gaspar

Be brave, little soul as you put pen on paper Be brave with every brush stroke Be brave for writing the notes for the Listener, Who was Light before it first broke.

Be Brave, little soul as you pick up your camera Be brave as you toss away that pill Be brave as you choose that alternative You gain Fight by your power of will.

Be brave, little soul and you’ll never grow old Letting The Spirit dance is worth more than gold When you raise your head the old day is dead For it is never too late to be Brave.

Be brave, little soul as you step out on the dance floor even though few are there The ones that will dance have read and know that Romance and honor skill over what “they say” is fair

Be brave, little soul and you’ll never grow old Letting The Spirit dance is worth more than gold When you raise your head the old day is dead For it is never too late to be Brave.

Katrina Gaspar 2021

For the love of Art!

Allison McDonald

Rochester, New York

Allison McDonald is a portrait photographer based out of Rochester, NY. By incorporating elements of nature and beauty, Allison’s work takes a deeper look into the beauty and essence of people, alongside the surroundings of the environment she’s in. She uses portraiture to explore the lives of the individuals she comes across, and nature to show change in not only the environment, but the changes we experience throughout life. When working in studio, Allison uses different lighting techniques to explore different emotions and depict different moods in her photos.

For the love of Art!

For the love of Art!

Lujar Art

Rochester, New York

Hello, my name is Lujar. I’ve been doing art for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Hemingway, South Carolina. I remember going to school and drawing things for classmates like cars, or their names in bubble letters all the time. I knew I had a knack for art early on when teachers would pull me aside and comment on how talented I was. I was always in “Gifted and Talented” after- school programs and always got invited to participate in art competitions and functions.

When I turned 18, I moved to Rochester, New York where I found myself homeless after 2 months of arriving. I took a hiatus from art for about three years trying to get back on my feet. Even though I wasn’t doing art, that feeling of creating stayed with me. Once able to create again, I taught myself graphic design skills and how to silk screen. I ran a silk screening business for about 2 years.

In 1999, I met a guy named Jermaine Green that became one of my best friends. He taught me how to produce and create musical beats over the next 3 years. Together we produced beats. After a while we started a label together called UndaGround Productions. We

ran a studio together for about 10 years. Eventually, I came back to doing art and started painting in 2013. Over the course of a year, I completed over 100 paintings. In 2014, I wrote and directed a short film alongside Adrian Elim titled “Tracks” starring my two kids (Tori and Kayla) and my Uncle Gerald. Also in 2014, I put together my first art showcase that included 50 new paintings and showcased the short film. In 2015, alongside several other artists in Rochester we started an art gallery called the Art Factory Collective where we showcased our art once a month. I held small private events and opened for “First Fridays” and “Second Saturdays” to sell art. In 2017, I was the Gateway Music Fest featured artist. I completed a painting of an black Violinist that was auctioned off. Nowadays, I am still drawing and painting when I have time. I’ve also gone back to producing music and more recently I’ve started writing. I am working on my first fictional book, which I hope to have finished soon. In my time of doing art, I have been looking for opportunity, I have been told “no” countless times, but I continue to move forward and will continue to move forward until I reach my art goals.

For the love of Art!

For the love of Art!

Music Korner

Paul Boutte

Rochester, New York

My name is Paul C. Boutte known to most in the musical circles as “Uncle Paul”

I am first and foremost a musician. I think that defines me first. Everything else will follow.

I have 3 Daughters: Mercedees, Ceeasia and Aaliyah. I also have my 1 and only grandchild Denver. (I can’t believe I’m a grandpa)

As far as what I do…. I am an organist, pianist, keyboardist, choir director, songwriter, producer, and arranger.

I am the Minister of Music for 2 local churches. The Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church and the Spiritus Christi Church. I have been an adjunct professor of music at SUNY Brockport for 16 years. I have been a radio personality and program director for 103.9 WDKX Sunday Morning Gospel show for over 20 years. I also serve now at RocMusic through Americore as music teacher and producer. Lastly, I serve on the Board of Directors of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.

I do what I do is because of my love of music, my community, and the desire to mentor and pass on musical knowledge and skill to the next generation of young musicians.

I started playing for a church, the Light-

house Church of God in Christ when I was 14. Before that I was always fascinated with music and especially the Hammond organ. While growing up there was picture of Anthony Mitchell (a traveling musician and leader of the band “Sampson and Delilah”) on the mantle. He was seated at a Hammond B-3 organ, and I knew then that I wanted that to be my destiny.

Church and Gospel music became the biggest part of my life.

While the kids in my neighborhood were playing sports, I was at church practicing. Even in High School… there were no ‘after school anything’ just the organ. The pastor of the church gave me the keys, so I guess you know… every day after school I was at church practicing.

My musical journey continued by playing for various churches, The Edwin Hawkins Music & Arts Seminar Choir also being mentored by 2 of Rochester’s greatest musicians Rev. Alvin Parris and Julius Dicks.

Later I would play for the Youth Explosion Choir under the direction of one of my best friends Bishop Rufus Mcgee Sr.

All of these things prepared me for becoming more than just an instrumentalist but to write, produce and arrange music. This led me to what would be the

highlight of my musical career by working as a studio musician and arranger in New York City with producer Chad Elliot at Daddy’s House (PDdiddy’s studio) as well as here in Rochester with the Bassment Crew under the direction of Devante Swing of the group Jodeci. Not too bad for a church boy from Rochester.

I think the biggest adversity for me was being “put in a box” I didn’t want to be just known as a church musician. I wanted to be known as A musician. Growing up in church we as musicians we’re taught that if you played any type of secular music it was a sin. Pastors would preach it time and again. I believe that God gave us the gift of music and it should be shared with the world. Gospel, Secular, Classical, all of it. Years ago some of the best advice I could ever get was from Gospel Legend, the late Edwin Hawkins. He told me that when he made his world-renowned hit song “Oh Happy Day” he was ostracized from the “church folks” because his hit song crossed over to mainstream airplay. He told me to ignore them and let the music speak for him. Over my career I have tried to do the same. I refused to let the Gospel/ church box hold me down. I received a lot of criticism when I started producing R&B. I was even fired from a church for that. But… years later I’m yet I’m still standing. Because of this I have been able to walk between musical worlds and I’m ever so thankful for that.

Moving to the present… as the journey continues, I have started a new chapter. Teaching piano and organ, songwriting, and production to aspiring young musicians. It has been a goal and dream for me to pass the torch to the future players. Hopefully my experience will give them direction and advice to having a career in music. I’m still writing and doing projects. (those are back to Gospel… Full Circle.

As far as advice, I would say to always hone your craft, learn as much as you can, and then we you think you got it… learn more. The biggest advise is to always stay humble and remember where your gift came from.

Lastly, I would want to quote my favorite Scripture because without God… nothing would have been accomplished, will be accomplished and is important.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”

Dr. Scot Brown

Los AngeLes, CALiforniA

Hello, world. I’m Dr. Scot Brown. I’m an African American Studies professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the author of Fighting for Us, contributing author and editor of Discourse on Africana Studies, and completing a book on the history of Black bands from Dayton, Ohio. I am also a songwriter and music producer. You may recognize me from my music and public commentary on social/political movements, music history and popular culture. I’ve been a commentator on National Public Radio, Sirius/XM Radio, DATV, BET/Centric, TV One, VH1 and HBO, and in several documentaries on Black empowerment and history, including the recent documentary Profiled: The Black Man on discovery+/OWN. I’ve released songs, like “You Already Know” feat. Chris Walker and “Serenity” feat. Garfield Bright of Shai.

My passion for both music and African American Studies often comes together in my creative works, be it songwriting, producing, commentary or teaching. My first book, Fighting for Us, tells a Black Power movement history in the 1960s. One of my mentors, James Mtume was a member of the Us Organization and went on to become a revered producer and musical artist. He was fond of saying, “The highest form of intellect is art, and the highest form of art is

intellect.” I strive to make that vision a reality in my work to this day. As part of this mission, I developed Dr. Scot Brown’s Musikverse, a platform that blends music and scholarship to promote thoughtful cultural analysis and discourse while giving historical and up-and-coming music artists a space to share their work. Looking back, my experience as a musician in my teenage years in Rochester, NY, actually contributed to becoming a professional historian and writer.

I had no idea that I would become a professor. I started playing bass guitar in junior high when I was around 12. In high school, I joined a band called “Radiance” with talents like singer Rick Robinson (Mr. Ric) and guitarist Rick Marcel, who went on to play on hits in the Cash Money Records camp. “Radiance” played at local clubs and music festivals as well as the college circuit across Upstate New York. We opened for artists and bands including Maze, Millie Jackson and Kashif. The members of “Radiance” became not only a support system for me but a source of growth and mentorship, helping me to refine my ear for music despite me being practically tone-deaf… (laughs).

Rochester was highly competitive for musicians. After performing for a while, I got the hang of it but was often awk-

Photography Submitted by Dr. Scot Brown

Photography Submitted by Dr. Scot Brown

ward, without a sense of timing and couldn’t always hear when I was outoftune. Still, I had no other goal than making it big with “Radiance”. Circumstances led me to quit the group after high school. I felt like I had nowhere to go. The carpet under me was gone. Searching for direction, college was more of a fallback than my intended destination. I’d always been fascinated by history. All along my parents had wanted me to go to college. They were both very active in the community and rose from humble beginnings to be the first in their families to attend college. I took part-time classes at Monroe Community College and the University of Rochester (U of R). After matriculating to full-time status at the U of R, I continued playing bass in the gospel choir and even scored the music for Train 713, a play directed by Armand Gatti–a French avant-garde writer. I studied in Paris durng my sophomore year, and then taught at the University of Rennes, in France, after graduation. After returning to the United States, I taught high school social studies. Around that time, I discovered Kitabu Kingdom, a Black bookstore owned by Gerald and Terry Chaka. Gerald Chaka encouraged me to pursue graduate studies and suggested that I pursue a master’s degree in Africana Studies at Cornell University where Dr. James Turner taught. Gerald Chaka was a former member of the Us Organization led by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Us had established the holiday known as Kwanzaa in 1966 and I began celebrating it in 1989 or so. Dr. Turner encouraged me to go even further and get a Ph.D. I decided to write a dissertation on Chaka’s organization. Dr. Karenga was also an intellectual mentor, but studying the history of

such a dynamic period still led me back to music. Through the work on Us, I connected with James Mtume, whom as I mentioned, had the vision of the interconnectedness of art and scholarship as inseparable expressions of creativity. I am always trying to make sense of this ongoing journey. There are a couple of lessons in it that I still have yet to understand. One thing that I can say for certain – one never knows how change can inspire paths forward that were previously hidden from the imagination. I’m still trying to push past whatever limitation I or others have in mind. Can a middle-aged professor make music that people enjoy in this day and age? Can a musician in turn write scholarly books that inspire readers to change the world? From an African American studies perspective –and staying true to what has gotten me here – the answer is YES and then some.

Photography Submitted by Dr. Scot Brown

Evans Buntley

Rochester, New York

My name is Evans Bentley III. I am a promoter who looks to provide entertainment to our community and to give back to a special cause. I love to see people enjoy themselves, laugh, and have fun. To bring such strong Vibes to our community, family, and food. Music is always healing for the soul.

My journey has had its ups and downs. I have faced some difficult issues, but I came out of the fire, having true friends and family to support me, at the end of the day.

I am a dancer and started dancing in the 70s. I was one of the first African American males to dance with a group called The Masta Locks from the city of Rochester, NY.

I started dancing at the age of 6... so for me, stage presence has always had my heart and soul. My father had me on stage when he was singing with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes at a club called Mr. Wonderful, on East Main st., Rochester NY.

From there my life changed as a kid. All I wanted to do was be on stage. In 1974, I was introduced to a group called The Masta Locks, a member of the group was from NYC, who learned the dance called “locking”. I met these guys at a park one

day, where they were dancing. So, I jump in while they were dancing and one of the members, “Shock”, asked me where my parents were at? When I took him to meet my mother, it was over. I joined the group called The Mastalocks. In 1975, we were the first dance group to perform all over the city of Rochester. We where the first to hit a major TV show, and travel all over. We danced at major ceremony events... From the mayor’s ball, to the Susan B Anthony ceremony, to the first Pan-African Festival here in Rochester. Years later, I got my own group called The Junior Quaker locks, where we were headed to Soul Train. We were the hottest dance group in Upstate New York.

I’ve been following my dream now for 30 years. In 2009, I was working at a local hotel in Rochester New York and I was training as a buffet chef for weddings and corporate parties. I was asked by someone can I do a wedding party of 500 people? And what would be the price? Also did I know any DJ’s? At that moment, I knew I had a product that would sell. 2 Days Later... I began my own business J. Whispers entertainment and Catering. Whatever comes my way I just keep pushing through adversity I never give up.

My journey has taught me many things,

and helped me to see things a little different. To be aware that anything can happen and always keep a backup plan just in case something doesn’t go through. This business is rough, but you got to keep pushing. A person that really helped me along the way is Mr. Tony Simmon (Grand Tone). Also My mother told me “Never quit... Never”. Keep the right people around you that has your best interest at heart. Thats my support system. Don’t give up on your dreams and passion, stay focused at all times.

Photographer: Jamie Best

Rogue Rodney

Hi I’m Rogue Rodney, singer, songwriter and more recently producer but that’s another story by itself. I was born and raised on the tiny Caribbean island of Dominica (not be confused with Dominican Republic); always happens. I’ve been singing, writing songs performing infront of audiences (grandparents haha), high school shows, hometown radio station contests at an early age. Even though I continued writing songs I sort of put that away when I moved to New York, became a dj for a while and recently just before the start of the pandemic decided to record all these songs that I had in a notebook because… why not. About being a producer… growing up in the Caribbean I know a lot of producers but I had a lot of trouble finding the right one who could capture the essence of the type of songs I was writing so I started off with a soca song then did a reggae and kind of bounced around between genres, because … I could but then decided to slow down and run me vision the music a bit with what I actually wanted to. I wanted more of a pop, rockish vibe. I did my first album and it was a bit of a struggle but I got through it. My main producer moved and covid happened and everything got crazy and I didn’t do a song for a while and with all the free time since quarantine was the new normal I decided why not make my own beat. I come for a. Very musical family, I understand the vibe that I

wanted and with a little push and encouragement from a very dear friend I tried and…. I feel it went pretty well. Not perfect but good enough for a first time and I was proud of myself and actually released it. Listen to my song “Even if they try”. If I could change anything I would have never stopped and I would have pursued my dreams years ago but better late than Never. I would encourage people to push on and never give up there’s always a way even when we hit roadblocks. Mostly I want people to hear my music because I ultimately just wanna write great songs for artists who love doing this. Indie artists get disillusioned because it’s so hard sometimes to get an audience grow your fan base and promote and there’s some greatness out there that no one is getting the chance to listen to but push on. Find your inspiration and continue doing what you’re doing. There will always be things that come up or people who don’t support but continue honing your skills, seek to be better than you were yesterday, master your craft and believe in yourself.

Artist Info: Spotify: Rogue Rodney RogueRodney.com

Music Korner

Andy Willoughby

Rochester, New York

My name is Andy Willoughby. I am discoverer, inventor, and music scientist. Music needs to be straighten out to make it simple for anyone to play a musical instrument. I was teaching my kids how to play music and my youngest daughter, when she was in kindergarten, pointed out some mathematics to the chord D minor. From one single statement from my daughter when she was 5 years old I started doing the math for music chords, and as I showed my piano teacher Phillip and many other music teachers and musicians and they were all shocked how music chords are all simply mathematical (every hear someone say you do the math???? I did the math) and invented my music teaching device called the CHORDTEACHER!

My piano teacher, His name was Phillip, and I go to church together and he started pushing me to figure out music. then a music history student told me that there were no sharp notes or flat notes (the black notes on a piano) 1000 years ago, I told my piano teacher, he said “Andy I don’t believe you, prove it to me”. As time went on the more I could see that music didn’t really work the way we all have been taught. So in the Bible, in the book of James, it says “If you want to know what God

wants you to do ask him and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give of wisdom to all who ask” (James 1:5) So, I started to pray and ask God how does music really work. 21 years ago I had a very very very vivid dream, and I saw all of the notes of all of the chords in every key & octave go by me as if I was inside of a musical clockwork of harmony.

I’ve been working on this for 26 years now. Every time I’m teaching music and they [students] smile and say this is so easy making chords this way, make me more determined to make this my quest for the rest of my life and to share music teaching made easy with the world.

Then my piano teacher Phillip who pushed me to discover and invent the CHORDTEACHER & WILLOUGHBY’S DREAM got cancer and passed away in the summer of 2001. Before he died he told me that by the time you are really really really famous with all that I’ve discovered that you will be dead for 200 years

Then I had a 2nd very very very vivid dream and saw how every Major chord & minor chord fit in to the clockwork of the 1st dream. It has taken 26 years, every spare penny, nickel, dime, and quarter to pull this off, and many people pushing me

to not give up, people praying for my success, and encouraging me to keep on going.

If I knew what I was getting myself into I would have done many thing differently, but I did not know what I was getting into. I’ve learned many new things over the 26 years since I started the CHORDTEACHER project and 21 years since i had WILLOUGHBY’S DREAM. Its a work in progress.

85% of the people that have a CHORDTEACHER tell me how useful it is how wonderful, easy to understand and play music... so in hard times, I know I’m making a big impact on musicians and music teachers and that motivates me to keep pushing on through some very hard times. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve quit, given up... out of money, frustrated... but then run into someone that has a CHORDTEACHER, and they tell me how much they love it and how much better musicians they are now because of my invention.

I have a friend Dawn, who was one of the best girlfriends I have ever had, who has 2 pianos and many other musical instruments. She went to college for Music, technical writing, and creative writing. She helped me write my patent and was one of the biggest influence in my music project. She understood this... (but then dumped me for some rich guy who is 15 years younger than me)

Something people can learn from my journey is to find a musical instrument and learn a few chords. It’s very easy and fun. Play music with friends and family. The best advice I have is to BE BOLD, BE BRAVE. VICTORY IS

YOURS! Best advice I can give is find something

love, ask lots of questions, find some mentors, don’t listen to any negativity, SMILE A LOT, get out in the sunshine as often as possible, and if you are playing music and make a mistake... JUST KEEP ON GOING.

I didn’t know how hard some of this was going to be... But ... I also didn’t know 26 years ago how many thousands of musicians I was going to help, and how many friends I was going to make over the years.

GenerZ Z Generation Z

Generation Z Generation Z

“Generation Z” is an informative and enriching documentary that explores the kind of impact that the events of the year 2020 had on the lives of children.

Directed and produced by Joyce Cinnamon Jones, and assistant director Tyler Winegarner... the goal of this beautiful documentary is to show how the events of the year 2020 affected and shaped the lives of children. This documentary takes time to give a spotlight to the youth... and allows them to finally voice their opinions and drop jewels that we seldom take seriously but really should. After all... this earth does go to them next... right? Should they not have a say about what they are being left with?

Jon David and I, Kijana Crues, had the amazing opportunity to meet, interview,

and photograph the amazing young adults featured in this documentary as they explained what their experience was like living through the first year of the COVID pandemic, from a child’s perspective. These well informed and intelligent children tell of what it was like to live through COVID, political issues, learning more about and facing the reality of racism and police brutality, the Black Lives Matter Movement, income inequality, the election... and the frustration and stress of having to school from home through remote learning during all of this.

I, met up with them and photographed the interview, while Jon interviewed them via Live Video feed.

Names Of The Children in This interview and Age:

-Luka 10 -Ryan 19 -Yassir 19 -Calvin 18 -Isaiah 17 -Arlo 18 -Ahmora 14 -Dalihia 12 -Sienna 13 -Lailani 13 -Simone 14 -Trayana 16

-Luka 10-

Jon: What did you think when the pandemic first struck? What did you think about it when you first heard Corona Virus?

Luka: I don’t know

Jon: Were you scared were you...

Luka: I was just confused really. Jon: That makes sense. Now, why were you

confused? What did you think? Luka: I had no idea what was going on Jon: You didn’t know what to think... Luka: No not really. -Dalihia Age 12Jon: What did you think when the pandemic first hit?

Dalihia: I thought it was unusual.

Jon: What did you first think though? When they first said there was going to be a shut down... did you think... oh this is going to be a COUPLE OF DAYS or were you wor-

ried that it would be longer than that?

Dalihia: Definite\ly worried it would be longer than that.

Jon: Oh, see I thought it would be a week or two and we’d be back at it. You knew it was going to be longer. Oh ok...

Jon: So you thought it was going to be a vacation... and then it became too long...

Sienna: Yeah.

Jon: So then you started thinking this needs to be over.

Sienna: Yeah.

Jon: How long do you think it took before you were like ok, I’m ready for this to be over? How long did it take before you missed school?

-Sienna 13-

Jon: Ok Siena, when they first shut down schools and they said “there isn’t going to be anymore school now for a while”... were you happy? Were you sad? Were you upset? What was your reaction? What was your feelings?

Sienna: When they first said it, I was happy... but when I noticed that it was going into like the whole year... It just got tiring and I got lazy so I didn’t really want to do no work. And I was just like sitting there and not doing nothing. Just bored.

Sienna:

The second quarter... The second quarter it had got me.

Jon: Oh... so the first quarter it was all good in the hood, but then you started missing it. Did you start missing the homework?

Sienna: NO. I just missed like interacting with my classmates and just like people that go to the school in general. I just missed interacting with people and dancing with people that I know, that are my friends.

Jon: Oh dancing? So you got some moves.

Siena: Yeah. -Ahmora 13-

Jon: Ok, so we’re a few months into the pandemic. You’re not in school... and then they start up these zoom classes. What was that like, starting school for the first time, when you’re in pajamas pretty much for your first class?

Ahmora: Honestly... it was kind of annoying because If we don’t go into school why should I have to get up and get dressed to get on a computer? Because the school I started Zoom with... It’s not my current school that I go to. So with my old school we had to get dressed... I mean like fully dressed. We had to have our uniform shirt on. It was just so annoying. And we had to have our camera on. If we had it turned off they would call our parents. And it was just a whole mess. And I was like really over it.

Jon:

So you really had to put on a uniform even though you weren’t there in school?

Ahmora: Yes! I didn’t get that... because Im like. I’m at home, and yall want me to put on a uniform shirt? Y’all want me to get fully dressed? And they said we couldn’t eat in the zoom class. And I’m like I’m at home... you woke me up early in the morning. You made me get dressed... And you saying I can’t eat?

Jon: What time did school start?

Ahmora: When we did have school... I used to wake up at around 5:30 am because my bus would come around 6 o’clock. School would be open at around 7:30 am.

Jon:

Yeah.

Ahmora: And mind you we would get out at around 5 pm so...

Jon: 5pm?! Man! So this is a whole different change. -Lailani 13-

Jon: What was your overall thoughts about it? Were you glad there was no school? Were you happy life was changing? When did you notice that life was going to be different.

Lailani: When me and my mom started watching the news more... and seeing all the covid cases going up. I was like oh...

this is really happening. And then, um, I think it is horrible because like... I don’t get to see my classmates or any of them... or my teachers for a year and I usually, like, learn on paper. It’s hard to learn on a computer. So...

Jon: So it wasn’t just missing your friends and all of that... for your learning process... the environment matters. How you learn... having it on paper, in class, in person. So you find it difficult to adjust to the Zoom style of learning?

Lailani: Yes Jon: Did you ever get to a point to where you did get comfortable with it?

Lailani: Yeah... then I started like slacking off on my grades.

Jon: You did? I see. So far everyone’s kinda said your attitudes were “why are we doing this?” “This is silly”... were you slacking off in grades because you were having a hard time understanding or because you were like, “I don’t really care to do this”?

Lailani: Because I was having trouble understanding over a screen and I felt lazy.

Jon: Yeah... because you were in pajamas.

Lailani: Yeah.

Jon:

Or did you have a uniform too?

Lailani: No, Id have my pajamas on.

Jon: So it’s hard to get focused when you are in your comfy clothes... yeah, that makes sense.

-Simone14 -

Jon: So when the pandemic hit, what grade were you in?

Simone: I was in the 7th grade... it was like, when it started, I was... like going into the 7th grade,

Jon: Oh, so you were in 6th grade. When

people first started taking about COVID, did you know it was something serious, or did not understand it?

Simone:

I knew it was serious but then there was also a lot going on at the time. Like um... grade wise, riots like all of that going on at the same time. So I was like really just

confused and I was just like I was slacking like the same thing... it was like first quarter, I was like doing good... and then went to his second quarter I was just like “I don’t want to do this anymore” so then I started like slacking off. And I missed, like, socializing with people. And I also missed doing things that like, that I like to do... that I couldn’t do because of covid.

“I knew it was serious but then there was also a lot going on at the time. Like, grade wise, riots like all of that going on at the same time.”

Jon: Was it depressing? Were you depressed?

Simone: I was sad yeah.

Jon: Yeah... because your whole environment... and your social... you were losing your friends pretty much. No, that makes sense. That makes sense. Thank you Simone.

-Trayana 16-

Jon: So you were 14 when COVID first struck, right? Were you in high-school yet?

Trayana: Yeah. I was in the middle of the 9th grade when COVID started.

Jon: So what was your understanding of it when it first struck? You know when people first started talking about it?

Trayana: I didn’t really understand it... because I didn’t know what was happening. Until like school was like “ oh we’ll just be out of school for like 2 weeks” and those 2 weeks ended up turning into a whole school YEAR actually.

Jon: How did you adjust? What was your adjustment period like?

Trayana: Well it wasn’t hard. I normally like staying home anyways.

Jon: So was there ever a time where you were like “Man I wish I could go to school”?

Trayana: No

Jon: Oh so you enjoyed it. So when they started doing Zoom classes... What was your reaction to that?

Trayana: There was times when we were doing zoom... But we never had to turn on our cameras or anything. And normally I wouldn’t turn on my camera regardless... so.

Jon: Oh so you just going to do what you going to do. (jokingly)

Trayana: Yeah.

Jon: Oh ok... I see. I see. Now there was a lot of stuff going on as well on top of the

pandemic. You know there was George Floyd, Brianna Taylor... things of that nature. How did covid effect you also processing and dealing with all of those things going on?

Trayana: I cant say that it affected me, but like the black community as one... they wanted to be more for Black Lives Matter... then with COVID being around we couldn’t really do much only because of 6 feet distancing and stuff.

Jon: So it seemed like you adjusted to it very well because it kinda fit into your life style anyway. Your more introverted, you like to be at home, chillin’. So COVID kinda played into your strengths.

Trayana: Yes

Jon: Yeah. This is all good because there’s so many different perspectives, different ages. I’m trying to gather everyone’s different experiences and how it affected them differently. Thank you. -Arlo 18-

Jon: So you were a Junior or a Sophmore when COVID hit. Arlo: I was a Sophmore.

Jon: So you were a little bit older. You have a different understanding. But at the time

when that was going on... the whole country is dealing with it. No school. People are out of work. People are getting sick. People are dying. And then you got Brianna Taylor, Amad Aubrey, George Floyde... what resonated more with you during that time? Was it COVID or was it the social injustices that was taking place?

Arlo: I think a little bit of both. Because of the fact that I know that with my family and stuff... and what we went through with COVID and stuff. And I lost a couple family members due to COVID. And also, I felt like with the pandemic and stuff it felt like black lives didn’t really matter to a lot of people. So, I felt like it caused a lot of police brutality... and everything like that also during the pandemic. So, I would say a little 50/ 50 both. Like I said COVID was really bad. COVID literally came through my whole church and took every member... so... Everybody got SICK out of that. And same thing with my family. And then like I said, you know the black lives matter, like, Daniel Prude,

George Floyde, all those... those were terrible incidences... you know I felt like it put a dent in our community.

Jon: Yeah... and it’s kinda hard to focus on that when we have COVID going on. And I lost a couple members of my family to COVID as well... so I understand. But also, do you feel that in a way... that because of COVID and because everyone was at home, it shined a light on the injustices that were taking place that maybe we wouldn’t have normally?

Arlo: Yes.

Jon: Thank you. -Ryan 19Jon: When COVID first hit, were you a junior or were you a senior?

Ryan: I was a junior.

Jon: Ok so now you’ve transitioned. You’ve grown into what western society deems is manhood now. So you have a different understanding on life and the world than you would if you were 10 or 11. So at that time what were your thoughts, when COVID first hit? What was you initial reaction to it?

Ryan:

Honestly, I thought it was going to last for like 2 weeks at the longest... and we would be right back at school.

Jon: DId you miss school? Or were you happy that school was out? Were you looking forward to a little vacation?

Ryan: At first I was like “yeah, this is going to be a nice little vacation...” I’ma be right back doing my thing. I was excited. I was like yeah... we get some time off.

Jon: And then when you realized that this is going to be longer than 2 weeks, what was your reaction. Because I mean as a junior... you got prom... you had things coming up that got shut down because of COVID right?

Ryan: Yeah. It was a lot. But at the same time I didn’t really care too much about it. So I was moreso like... I get free time. I don’t know I just used to time to my best advantage and I didn’t really care about all of the extra stuff that we missed in school. It really didn’t matter to me that much.

Jon: Summer jobs... so many things were shut down. There were a lot of things when I was a junior or senior that were

staples. You know? You find the summer job, internships. whatever the case may be... and COVID just kinda wiped all of that away. But for you... it seems like you just adjusted and just made the best of your time.

Ryan: It was like free time. I was like just having a bunch of time to myself really.

Jon: Oh, well yeah, you got a BUNCH of time to yourself. Did you do zoom classes your senior year?

Ryan: Yes. Senior year was all zoom. Yeah.

Jon: Were you disappointed that you didn’t have the standard normal senior year that everyone had with your classmates... with your last year in school? Or were you cool with it on the computer?

Ryan: I was like uncertain about it. I was like, I kinda wanted to go to school... but then again I was like... it was like FREEDOM. It was like I get to do school... go hang... do whatever I want and not really worry about the construction of school itself. I could do whatever I wanted to. But I did struggle in the classes though.

Jon: So basically there were pros and cons.

Ryan: Yeah. Definitely.

Jon: Yeah. So you seem like a well adjust-

ed young man. And you just understood that this is just how life is right now... I’m going to deal with it the best that I can. But so many crazy things going on in the world... I mean because we aren’t just talking about the social injustices... we probably had the craziest presidency in history... the news was like a comedy show. What did you think about life at that time? At 17 or 18 years old... this was life. Were you surprised? Or was it, like you said... you just adjusted to and kept it moving?

Ryan: Nah... I thought life is always this way. I think it was just louder because everyone was sitting at home was listeni-… I think that everyone was forced to listen and that was a lot different. But life was always like that.

Jon: And do you think that people were forced to care about things that they normally wouldn’t have because they were home and had nothing else to do?

Ryan: Definitely! Even stuff that was really little, people still cared about that stuff too.

Jon: Because there’s nothing else to do... I got time for it! Thanks. I appreciate you man.

-Isaiah 17 (18 now)-

Jon: When Covid first hit you were 15 years old?

Isaiah: I was around that age yes.

Jon: Ok so you are in school. You just started to get the hang of high-school a little bit... you’ve been there for a while. Then all of a sudden everything changes. No school... no socializing... then eventually it goes to zoom classes- you on screens and all that. How did you adjust?

Isaiah: I don’t know. It took a lot to get into the schedule of that. And honestly I don’t think I’ve still adjusted to that of not being able to socialize with people and being on zoom all the time. I still highly dislike that. But I don’t think there’s really a time that I adjusted. I still don’t like zoom... I still hate being on zoom... this was what I had to do.

Jon:

One half your in school and the other half your on zoom right?

Isaiah: This year we’re in school everyday.

Jon: Oh ok. So your back in school. Are there elements of zoom learning that you missed?

Isaiah: No. I hated every part of it. I felt I wasn’t able to really pay attention while being on zoom and definitely during zoom classes.

Jon: Was that because you weren’t with your friends or because of the environment?

Isaiah:

Just because the environment, You got your phone right there. You got the tv across the room... the game controller in front of you. It was just the environment.

Jon: There’s something about having those desks and chalk … well I don’t know if you guys have chalkboards anymore. “Back in my day” we had chalkboards. But there’s something about that environment that makes you like “I got to learn here... this is what I’m at a desk for.” When you’re at home in your chair and you’re comfortable … and you got your TV right there... your phone. And 10 feet away you can get snacks. It’s hard to learn in that scenerio.

Isaiah: Yeah.

Jon: So when you saw that COVID was getting to a point to where people were starting to get vaccinated and they were starting to open things back up. Were you excited that school was going to go back to normal?

Isaiah: Yeah, because when it started transitioning back to school, you had a decision on if you wanted to stay on zoom or go into school. I went into school. I got the vaccine when I had the opportunity. I was desperate to go back into the school system.

Jon: So are you fully back? Are you doing school dances and school events and things like that?

Isaiah:

Yeah. But it is a hard transition to go from zoom back into school... because you get used to being in your room chilling and being able to take a nap every now and again. Then once you are in school you are just DRAINED like the first hour that you are there because it’s a- … it’s a hard transition to get back and forth from zoom to school. It was a little transition.

Jon:

When you went to zoom... did your grades drop and then increase when you went back to school?

Isaiah:

My grades actually increased I believe. My grades increased while I was on zoom. But now... it’s a little weird... my grades increased when I moved over to zoom, and now that I’m moving back over to school, my grades are actually going higher than they were before. So like during zoom I was getting B’s ans C’s, and now that I’m

back in school I’m getting A’s and B’s...

Jon: Oh ok so you are making the most of your senior year. That’s what’s up. Thank You.

-Calvin 18-

Jon: Are you in High-school still?

Calvin: Yes.

Jon: When the pandemic hit... what grade were you in?

Calvin: The 11th.

Jon: Ok so... there’s a lot of stuff going on socially... the presidency… and those things are normal. Bu when you’re in a pandemic and then you are quarantined and you’re at home... those things kinda magnify. And on TOP of that you’re a young black man who’s seeing all these injustices going on. What were your priorities? When all of this is going on... how did you prioritize everything that was happening?

Calvin: Um... I don’t know. Pretty much... stopped caring for school honestly. And I didn’t have like motivation like that for it. And then there was a lot of other things going on personally at the same time. Mental health was a big priority. Like trying to be there for the community at the same time. I’ll just say being there

for the community and mental health really.

Jon: Because it hard to care about certain things when we’re not just dealing with COVID but the bullets. And the people that are getting shot look like us.

Calvin: Yes Jon: So, you’re having to process this at 16, 17 years old. And now your being separated from your friends and even your family. Did you go through any bouts of anger? Or Depression? What were your emotions at that time?

Calvin: Yeah I was definitely depressed. I had a lot of anger... I’m not gonna lie. Definitely anxiety though.

Jon: When you’re at home... when you can’t go anywhere. When you can’t socialize and you’re forced to deal with things... and that anxiety is at an all time high... how did you get through? How did you cope with your anxiety and your anger?

Calvin: I tried to stay busy. Tried to go outside more. Get more in tuned with nature and stuff like that. Try and do stuff that make me happy. Yeah that was pretty much it though.

Jon: Did it work?

Calvin:

Somewhat... Somewhat.

Jon: DId it help?

Calvin: Yeah.

Jon: Ok Good thanks man. And thanks for being honest.

=Yassir 19-

Jon: When this happened what grade were you in? Junior year or senior year?

Yassir: Senior Year.

Jon: So... were there things you were lookin’ forward to your senior year that you didn’t experience because of COVID?

Yassir: So... um... a lot of things. Senior Prom... Didn’t get that . We weren’t able to get our class rings... we weren’t able to have ‘Graduation’. And because of COVID also we still couldn’t get together as a senior class and celebrate much of anything. So we kinda lost all of that.

Jon:

How did you adjust to that because I’ll be honest: that sucks. It’s a right of passage. And something that happened beyond your control took those things away... how did you adjust to that?

Yassir: I mean honestly... most of us... It was harder to say we adjusted to it more... I just came to accept it. The rest of my class just came to accept it. We complained and we talked about it on the phone. But you know, at the end of the day... we just learned to accept it. Because it was just the nature of society at the time. And because there was nothing we could do about it and nothing anyone else could do at the time. So we just had to lay back and be more understanding... you know.

Jon:

That’s a very mature approach to it for sure because a lot of people would be more upset. And to express yourself, your anger. But with that being said... you being a young black man... getting ready to head into the real world. Getting ready to graduate. And then you see George Floyde, Brianna Taylor, Tamara Rice, Daniel Prude... and it’s like this never-ending cycle. But now that you are home and you have so few other outlets... it probably magnifies. How did you process how that was going on as well.

Yassir: So, this is something that, as you said isn’t out of the ordinary. So looking at it from the perspective of from a black male... that’s especially coming from the Neiborhood that I am from. It wasn’t

shocking. It wasn’t ground breaking. Which is kind a the sad part. It felt natural in a way. And the main part about it was, being frustrated but you can’t really be angry because that anger is kind of what got some of the other gentlemen that we spoke about in the positions that they get in. You get angry and you want to go out there and you want to go out there and you want to do something... but at the same time, you’re not really allowed to. Not just because of COVID, but because of how society is based. And because of our age, we’re looked down upon because due to our age and we are called immature, and we don’t really understand the way the workld works yet. It’s really devastating to us when we are finally trying to come out and express ourselves. In a culture where young black men aren’t allowed to. And we still can’t. You know we are closed in, into our homes... we can’t go out but we still have o stay the exact same as we was before. Nothing changed for us.

Jon:

Over the years, do you think that the pandemic and the social injustices... all the things that were going on... do you think that helped accelerate your maturity? Or were you always like this? Were you always thinking and processing things like this?

Yassir:

So, I kinda grew up a little bit more like this on my end. I didn’t have much of a father figure starting off. And then when I did, it was generally like, my grandfather... so I kind grew up just knowing the older aspects of life. Things like understanding that we can’t really control everything. But the things that are in your

power, you have to reach for and grab for with all of your might. So that’s just how I grew up.

Conclusion: Jon:

With this documentary, with you all sharing your voices... you have had different experiences. I asked each and every one of you how COVID affected you and you each had your own personal take on it. What do you want people to get out of this documentary? What do you hope that people understand? Anyone can answer.

Yassir:

I want people to learn to listen to young people. I feel like a lot of our values and a lot of our perspectives aren’t as valued as they should be when we are seeing it from the ground up. And you know, while we are on the ground and we are getting our feet wet. And we’re like literally experiencing the world in this time. Our perspectives are not valid. No one is listening to us... no one is actually paying attention to the things we are saying

“We did not inherit our land from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our kids.”

sometimes and it’s a little frustrating to be in that position when you are trying to grow, trying to understand the world around you but nobody wants to understand from your perspective.

Jon: Especially when everyone keeps telling you that the world is going to be yours someday.... the world is going to be yours. You’d think that we would listen to YOU guys. when you guys will have to be the one’s living in it 20-30- 40-50 years down the line. Do you believe that your voices were heard at all throughout all of this? (to the group. Group mumbles answers)

Jon: Alright I see I got to pick someone... Sienna, back there. Sienna with the dance moves! There we go. You said you’re 13... right?

Sienna: Yeah.

Jon: Do you feel your voice has been heard? Do you feel as if people listen to you more now after all this is going on?

Sienna: Personally, I feel like they listen... but they listen when they want to. Like certain things.

Jon: Adults have a way of doing that. Because we think we know what’s best all the daggone time, when we didn’t/still don’t know anything ourselves. So I think it’s important that you all are sharing your experiences… and I mean, ALL of you guys... I talked to all of you. You each had your own personal take- some of you didn’t mind, some of you did. Some of you were

happy, some of you were angry. Some of you, it didn’t bother at all. But each of one of you have a voice and I think that you each sharing your voice is so important. I think this documentary is really important. And like my man said: your PERSPECTIVES are really important. You are going to be leading the world that’s being shaped. So you guys should have more of a say. And I appreciate you guys for stepping up the way that you are and being honest about your emotions. It’s not easy being vulnerable and sharing how you feel... especially to a stranger. But I appreciate it. And I believe that this documentary will serve its purpose. I think the message behind it is clear. Is there anything that anybody would like to say before we close?

Yassir: I’ll leave with a quote that I heard one time:

“We did not inherit our land from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our kids.”

Written By: Kijana Crues Interviewer and Final Edits: By Jon David

Special Thanks

First I thank my heavenly Father. Thank you Lord for guiding me to do this... and thank you for leading me every step of the way. I can do nothing without you.

Thank you to my mom for being with me throughout this whole journey. I love you so much. You believed in me and helped me in so many ways throughout the journey of getting this journey started.

Thank you to all the people who contributed to this project. To all the featured warriors who shared their stories, thank you for sharing such personal and meaningful experiences and being willing to share to help and inspire others to keep pushing forward. You truly are warriors. And I have so much respect for every last one of you.

Thank you to the artists that contributed their work to the magazine. Every last one of you are so amazing in your crafts and gifts. Your art is so inspirational and touches so many people. Im honored to have you in Be Brave Magazine!

Thank You to my friends and family who were ears for me to talk to and shoulders to cry on when I had a hard time pushing through. You spoke life into me when I needed to hear it. Those of you who were truly there, please know that I love you so much. I truly appreciate you.

Special Thanks to Rochester Artist Collaborative for creating an amazing space to shoot photography out of. And thank you for the scholarship that allowed me to continue working there! You don’t know how much it means to me!