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About Us: AVID magazine is a lifestyle magazine that provides a platform for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals. All stories featured are geared to uplift and provide support for other entrepreneurs. Our Mantra:
We bring the Culture!
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On the Cover: Jerome D. Love Photo by Len Benett Back Cover: Christina Morillo
Last Issue: January 2020
AVID MAGAZINE (ISSN 2574-5263) Is A Digital Business Magazine That Is Published Quarterly Only! For Questions Or Advertising Opportunities Please Email Info@theavidmagazine.com. Issue Month Is June 2020. Copyright 2019 By AVID Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction Of This Magazine, In Whole, Or In Part, Is Prohibited Unless Authorized By The Publisher. The Advertising Space Provided In AVID Magazine Is Purchased And Paid For By The Advertiser. None Of The Products Or Services are Necessarily Endorsed By AVID Magazine. 4
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CONTENTS 9 Boyce Ice cream machine Houston-based co-owner of Boyce Kids Cream Machine, London Boyce has a heart as big as Texas.
10 MELANOID EXCHANGE Melanoid Exchange is an e-commerce movement for melanin complexion business owners.
12 THE LAND OF THE FREE Home of the land of the free, but are we really free?
15 JEROME D. LOVE
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Founder and President of one of America’s largest business tradeshows the Texas Black Expo, Jerome Love is a man of many talents.
22 NAVIGATING WATERS Navigating the waters probably seemed like an easy thing to do when compared to how they were going to navigate this reality.
24 MESS IN A BOTTLE Mess in a Bottle is a t-shirt company with MESSages that come packaged in a reusable bottle.
26 QUARANTINE AND CHILL » p.14» p.24
Since we have all been in the house on stay at home and mandatory shelters in place, here’s what our readers have been binge watching.
30 JERI BROOKS Jeri Brooks is an active pillar in the City of Houston with 20 plus years of experience in public relations, public engagement and a commitment to helping make Houston a better place.
34 POST CORONAVIRUS TRAVEL The world was taken by storm when the Coronavirus hit.
F O L LO W U S
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hit the Ground Running It is my hope that this reaches you healthy, at home, and with those you love. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has had a significant human and economic impact that we are all feeling. We are facing unprecedented times. This is difficult for everyone and I realize that many of you may be faced with additional challenges. Our prayer is that once COVID-19 passes we can ALL hit the ground running, stronger, and more motivated than EVER. Instead of letting COVID-19 get in the way of JOY, can you join me and make a list of 5 things you’re thankful for and 5 things you can do during this time to better yourself as a person? I’ll start: Family and Friends, My health and strength, Being able to work from home (That’s been my dream!), Being able to create a vision bigger than myself, and YOU. Yes, I’m thankful for you. I’m thankful that I have the privilege of knowing each one of you, I’m thankful for your service, I’m thankful for those of you who are on the front-line, and for those of you who are working from home. THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU!
Photo: Suzann e Pe
rez
Continue to thrive and be the strong INDIVIDUALS that you are and be mindful that during this time we need to lean on each other more than ever. To better myself I am going to: Pray more and meditate, Use this time to workout to attribute to a healthy body, Read More or take some online courses to learn a new hobby, Focus on being a positive light to others, and change my mindset to see the positive side of situations. You don’t have to share your 10 things unless you want to! Use this exercise to remind yourself of the personal goals you have set and remember your WHY! Let’s not forget to make the best out of this pandemic in every aspect of our life. If you haven’t reached out to others that you care about during this time please make time just to check on them even if it’s just a text. Remember to always be Ambitious, Victorious, Inspiring, and Determined! Be AVID! Instagram: @nancy_theavidmag
Nancy Jackson WWW.THEAVIDMAGAZINE.COM
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Free Ice Cream & Smiles
H
ouston-based co-owner of Boyce Kids Cream Machine, London Boyce has a heart as big as Texas. At only 7 years old, she is described as a powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with. This 1st grader is an Actress (co-star of Antebellum), and author of “ Wonder London I Hate My Curls”. As the co-owner of Boyce Kids Ice Cream Machine, she works closely with her siblings to provide sweet treats to the community. London is also the new face of Bluebell Ice Cream mini sandwiches. London Boyce and her brother, TJ Boyce (star of Wayne Brady’s “Comedy IQ”) provided smiles to
the nurses, doctors, and staff at Methodist Hospital by bringing their Ice Cream to the hospital to give out free ice cream and Popsicles to over 200 nurses and doctors. She has a passion for making others smile, so this idea came about when London saw on the TV how hard our heroes have been working to keep our community healthy. Also, on Friday, May 1, 2020, London provided hundreds of staff members at LBJ Hospital with Bluebell mini- ice cream sandwiches. She plans to continue to provide smiles during this pandemic.
Photo Credit: Andre Kelly Photography
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THE LAND OF THE FREE
Home of the land of the free, but are we really free? The state of the black race in America is troubling, every day we are trying to stay alive, praying we don’t get killed while being black today. Black men and black boys are being judged on the color of their skin even though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated in his famous I Have a Dream speech, that we should be judged by the content of our character. How did bird watching in central park and asking someone to follow park rules turn into a racist matter? When did dreaming and jogging, coming home after a long day of working as an EMT, and shopping in a convenience store all while black became a crime? How many 12
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times do we have to say “I can’t breathe” for a change to happen? Year after year, month after month, state after state, city after city black people are fighting the same injustice.
“Home of the brave and free, free just to murder me,” lyrics from the T.I.’s song New National Anthem was relevant during the release in 2014 and still holds the same relevance in 2020. As a country, we refuse to deal with the issues at hand. When will enough be enough? We live in a society where we have to continuously remind ourselves, our family, and friends of the risk our black bodies constantly face daily. Why do we have to learn to adapt to a different rule every day for a biased justice sys-
tem? We put our hands up, we don’t resist arrest, we are not a threat but we are still murdered all because we are black. What do we tell our little black girls and little black boys? How are we supposed to handle being black and being stopped by a cop or white neighborhood watch members who can make citizens arrest? How many more Trayvon’s, Philando’s, Dominique’s, Eric’s, Michael’s, Alton’s, Sandra’s, Breonna’s, Freddie’s, Tamir’s, Ahmaud’s, George’s, have to leave this earth? To protect and ser ve is a joke. Every day we fear and dread any potential interaction with law enforcement, for fear that we might become the next tragic victims of an anodyne situation gone dead-
“This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America. It can’t be ‘normal.’ If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better.” - Barack Obama ly wrong like the on-going report of a string of burcases we have witnessed glaries in the neighborhood over the past few months. in which they accused Aubrey of committing. In New York, avid bird-lover Christian Cooper asked a And this week, George Floyd white woman, Amy Cooper, was killed by a Minneapolis to follow park rules and put police officer who was called her dog on a leash. When to investigate the alleged use she aggressively refused, he of counterfeit currency at a started filming which infu- retail establishment. After riated her. She then called security video surveillance 911 and lied to authorities footage was released Floyd stating that “an African never resisted arrest, he American man is threaten- complied. The police officer ing my life” while choking kneeled on Floyd’s neck as her dog. he cried for his mother and gasped, “I can’t breathe.” In Brunswick, Georgia, Ahmaud Arbery was shot and U.S. Surgeon General Jekilled in February during rome Adams said, “there is a confrontation involving no easy prescription to heal three white men as he was our nation, or take away the jogging through the Satilla pain people are experiencShores neighborhood. The ing.” Adams t weeted that men claimed to make a citi- “it’s a pain I too am experizen’s arrest due to a recent encing…because I’m black.”
The U.S. “must acknowledge & address the impact of racism on health,” he said. “We won’t fix or remove all the obstacles and stressors that are affecting people’s health and wellbeing especially ones like racism overnight. That doesn’t mean we mustn’t try at all,” Adams t weeted. When will we address the real issues at hand? Something must be done in this country so that someday we can really live free, free of bondage in the home of the brave.
Photo Sources: WGXA, EPA, ABACA, Image via Getty/Anadolu Agency, Dave Schwarz, St. Cloud Time, Stephen Maturen/Getty Images, A. Van Sise/NurPhoto via Getty Images, Sean Rayford/Getty Images, Star Tribune/Getty
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E D I TO R ’ S P I C K
Houston Style
Burns BBQ I am not a stranger at all to eating Burn’s BBQ. As a child Burn’s was in the weekly food rotation. So where do I start? Just try everything, especially the 3 meat potato. You can’ t wrong with a sandwich or a dinner. So join the crowd and get in line, it’s finger-licking good. Oh yeah, I heard they have BBQ chips now!!! Follow them at @BurnsOriginalBbq
Lotus Seafood Did someone say crack sauce? If you have not been taking advantage of Lotus Happy Hour hits Mon-Sat 2-5PM! Get $5/lb crawfish (2lb. minimum) $10/lb. Shrimp with the Shell On with Corn and Potato. Happy Hour is not available on Door-dash. Lotus has several convenient locations, Veterans Location in North Houston, Pearland location in South Houston, two West Houston locations Follow them at @lotusseafoodhtx!
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This quarters Editors Pick food spots are back to normal. This quarters Top 4 places to eat in Houston that have been holding it down for the city of Houston during this pandemic. Be sure to check them out and like them on social media.
Taste Bar + Kitchen Yes, the rumors are true, it’s really that good! The Cajun Chicken & Waffles, Chicken Fried Lobster & Waffles with sweet waffles like Spiced Butter Pecan, Red Velvet and Banana Nut. Oh yeah, don’t forget the mac and cheese and collard greens. Follow them at @tastebarkitchen
Ray’s Real Pit BBQ
“Smokin’ Good with a Whole Lotta Soul!” You can catch people lined up in 3rd Ward for the hickory-smoked meats served with homemade sides, desserts and let’s not forget the Strawberry Lemonade. But don’t sleep on the burgers, po’boys, baked potatoes, and fish and shrimp dinners. It’s worth the wait in line. Follow them at @RaysBBQShack!
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