DEAR THE VOICE, To be honest, I haven’t the faintest idea of what to say on here. To be introspectively honest (that happens after I’ve had a Zaza’s Café con leche), I probably have a lot more to say than I let on. My prayer and hope for this season is that first of all: you enjoy this magazine as an extension and expression of our love. Second of all: is that you have the best FALL EVER…. that you move on from the tragedies and toxicity of the past (whether it was last week or even last night), that you move on to the bigger and the greater and; that you move on up to the new spiritual level Jesus has for you. Remember, HE has good things for YOU! All you need to do is trust Him all the days of your life and; you can start TODAY! In the meantime, don’t forget you have a family here at The Voice that is here and available for all the stuff in between! Blessings! And once again,… Welcome To The Voice, Rev. Sonia I Figueroa, M.A.
@THEVOICEORlAnDO 1410456781112161819
COffEE guIDE fAll buCkETlIsT AmAzOn fAVORITEs bOOks TO READ TRAVEl guIDE VOICE mIx TApE RIgHT plACE mEnTAl HEAlTH HEllO, my nAmE Is gfOODIEsETpluggED In ClEAnTOk
CEnTRAl flORIDA a coffee connoisseur’s guide to + beyond St. Augu S tine DOS C O ffee SA n FORD Q uigley C O ffee C O L A ke M AR y N ew C ity C O ffee C O . SARASO t A B reaki N g w ave C O ffee O & a C O ffee S upply Mt. D ORA e D ge C O ffee L A ke LA n D C ONCO r D C O ffee H ill C re S t t H e p OO r p O rker f iltere D t AMPA O xf O r D e x CH a N ge B u DD y B rew B li ND t iger St. Pete B a ND it C O ffee Ve RO be A ch r i O C OCO C afe & r O a S tery Mi AM i p a N t H er C O ffee t H e S alty D ON ut ORLA n DO A R e A a u S ti N ’ S C O ffee | w i N ter p ark B ar N ie S C O ffee | w i N ter p ark C afe D ON J ua N | w i N ter p ark C f S | w i N ter p ark + C raft & C O mm ON | D O w N t O w N C re DO | m ultiple l OC ati ONS D eeply C O ffee | D O w N t O w N D u O 58 | a val ON p ark f O xtail | m ultiple l OC ati ONS l ig H t ON t H e S ugar | w i N ter p ark l i N eage | m ultiple l OC ati ONS l OBOS C O ffee | a u D u BON p ark N ew g e N eral S t O re | w i N ter p ark Q reate C O ffee S HO p | D O w N t O w N t H e r OB i NSON r OO m | D O w N t O w N t H e S alty D ON ut | a u D u BON p ark S tar D u S t v i D e O & C O ffee | w i N ter p ark S ugar D O ug H B ake HO u S e | a u D u BON p ark v a N e SS a ’ S C O ffee S HO p | l ake N ON a v e S pr | w aterf O r D l ake S Z a Z a C u B a N D i N er | w aterf O r D l ake S D e L t O n A B OS t ON C O ffee H O u S e c OFF ee cu L tu R e y O u C a N S kip t H e li N e at S tar B u C k S ! f l O ri D a H a S a t H rivi N g CO ffee CO mmu N ity t H at y O u mig H t NO t B e aware O f . l OC ally r O a S te D a ND u N i Q uely D e S ig N e D , t H e S e CO ffee SHO p S are mu S t S f O r all y O ur C ram S e SS i ONS , D ate S , a ND r O a D - trip S .
gET InspIRED AT pOETs In AuTumn TOuR! This annual fall tour features live Spoken Word Poetry performed by a variety of Christian poets, coming to Orlando on October 14! gO On A pICnIC wITH fRIEnDs! Fall weather is perfect for enjoying the outdoors. Feeling boujee? Book a local picnic vendor like: @simplypicnics_centralfl,@hippieteepeepicnic,@thepicnicdrop, or @primrose.luxury.picnics to name a few. ATTEnD mICkEys nOT sO sCARy HAllOwEEn pARTy! Experience the perks of no wait times, all-you-can-eat candy, and themed parades + attractions, in a safe after-hours event in Magic Kingdom. (August 12-October 31) TAkE CuTE fAll pICs AT A lOCAl pumpkIn pATCH! Painted Oaks Academy hosts a pumpkin patch, hay rides, and corn maze annually from October 8-30. sIp yOuR wAy THROugH A fAll COffEE flIgHT! Go beyond the typical “Pumpkin Spice Season” and spice up your coffee at New City Coffee in Lake Mary. Their annual fall-themed Coffee Flight launched August 15 and features: Candy Corn, White Pumpkin, Cookie Butter, and Maple Pecan.. wATCH A On THE l Hosted locally across Orlando, by Enzian Theater, A La Carte, Avalon Park, Harry P. Leu Gardens & more.
6 musT-HAVEsTOpTIpsfOREVERyAmAzOnsHOppER 1. Shop Amazon Prime Day deals (in July). 2. Check out through smile.amazon.com and select Faith Assembly as your charitable organization, so they receive a percentage every time you shop. 3. Pay attention to the Amazon Treasure Truck which makes surprise visits in different cities with hot items! 4. Use the image-upload search feature to shop similar items to a picture in your camera roll. 5. Access the “Clearance Store” by going to the Menu, scrolling down, and clicking the Programs & Features tab in the App. 6. Shop “Amazon Warehouse” for discounts on working items that have been refurbished or returned. 7. Scan this QR code to shop this “Amazon Must-Haves” List! mOpHOlApTOpnEunT to keep your phone handy while using your computer COVERswHmAgnETICOlDERITCH to hold keys or other small items ORCORDApplIAnCEgAnIzER to conceal & organize those annoying cords behind every appliance +COVEROslImuTlETCORD to still access your outlets behind hard-toreach, tight spaces HOOCssDOublEIDEDHOwERuRTAInks to separately hang your shower curtain and liner for easy changing kEsOsyCHAIn press in danger to activate & alert others of your GPS location bspElECTRICInnIngRusH to deep-clean your shower & other spaces CHIHypERllER to chill your coffee fast without watering it down CluggAgEupHOlDER to carry your coffee & phone with easy-access while traveling
1. “Mila 2.0” by Debra Driza: Mila 2.0 a 3-part Sci-Fi series that followings a girl named Mila, only she isn’t a just normal girl; she’s in fact an android. Mila lives with her mother in a small Minnesota town, when she discovers her whole life is a lie – she was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was never supposed to remember that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do. Now, she has no choice but to live on the run, trying to escape both the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because of what she knows, and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. Evading her enemies won’t help Mila escape the cruel reality of what she is and cope with everything she has had to leave behind. However, what she’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and that just might save her life.
I'm bOOkED by elisabeth glasco
2. “Full Ride” by Margaret Peterson Haddix: Becca’s claim to fame is one she’s been hiding from for the past three years: Her father is a notorious embezzler, and when he was caught, his excuse was, “How else is a guy like me supposed to put his kid through college?” Three years after the trial and imprisonment that destroyed Becca’s life, she and her mother have started over again and are living in a town where no one knows their secret. But as college approaches,and the looming costs pile up, Becca begins to wonder how they’ll afford it or how she’ll be able to receive financial aid without di
4. “Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon: What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face…or make human contact with outsiders? “Everything, Everything,” tells the unlikely love story of Maddy, a smart, curious, and imaginative 18-year-old who, due to a rare illness, cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly, the boy next door who won’t let that stop them. Maddy is desperate to experience the much more stimulating outside world and the promise of her first romance. Gazing through windows and talking only through texts, she and Olly form a deep bond that leads them to risk everything to be together… even if it means losing everything.
5. “The Program” by Suzanne Young: Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in “The Program,” the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through “The Program returns” as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone, but so are their memories. Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in, and The Program is coming for them. (“The Program” is a six-part Sci-Fi series following Sloane and others like her. )
APPS FOR BOOK-LOVERS: leading all-in-one digital library app social networking & book tracking for bookworms have weekend plans?
There’s nothing quite like diving into a new book on a rainy Saturday evening or under a tree on a nice Fall day. Whether you read for fun, or find reading more like a chore, here are my top 5 favorite books I’ve read to get you started.
During my college years, I found myself wanting to explore somewhere not on my college campus or city. As I was sitting in the library attempt ing to do homework, I found myself on “Google Flights”. Being silly, I asked myself “what if I were to go somewhere this weekend?”. Then as I was searching, I discovered a flight going to Chicago the next day at 5am. It was delightful to see that a round trip ticket only cost me $85 round-trip and I got back that same day! That was the moment I discovered the cost and time efficiency of doing a “day trip”. Since college I still use that method as a teacher. Some people say it is expensive to travel. I believe in proper planning and budgeting, travel ing can cost the same amount as your daily Starbucks, TV subscription, amazon addiction or Ale house after church every Sunday.
Day trips do not have to be on an airplane! They can be a drive or even a train. Orlando is the perfect spot to travel out of. Our airport has over 100 flights you can take in a day & it is the center point of Flori da. You can take a 2 hour drive to Tampa, 4 hour car ride to Miami, or even a 4 hour trip to Savannah, Georgia. I highly encourage everyone to travel while you are young and able to. Tomorrow is never promised tomorrow. Take that flight,go on that road trip, explore, see new things, experience new cultures, and do it with people you love most in the world. Some tips I would recommend. Don’t boujee when traveling. It is okay to take a flight on Frontier or Spirit. It is better to go on an $85 flight for an adventure rather than spending $85 dollars in your home town.
If you are taking a flight, take a backpack for all that you will need. Be sure to load up your travel playlist for the day. Pack a portable battery. Bring your disposable camera and film. Don’t hate when I say this but TikTok is your best friend. It will give you the best recommendations.
4:30pm Head to Wynwood (Take cute pics for the ‘gram, Visit Bellows Film Lab, & Grab some Yoko Matcha) 5:30pm Head to the Miami Design District where you can indulge in your boujee side.
Feel free to follow me on Social media for some tip,tricks, savings, and recommendations. mIAmI, fl Miami is a beautiful cultured city to visit. Whether you are doing a girls day, bro trip, or family road trip, it is the place to get the best Cuban food and enjoy a beautiful hot day!
7:00pm Grab dinner at Crazy About You 8:00pm Get on the Road to Head Back to Orlando sAmplE TRAVEl
ITInERARIEs
4:30Am Hit the Road to Drive to Miami 8:30Am Arrive at Little Hen for breakfast 9:30Am Head to Publix & Buy Your Snack Essentials for the Day 10:00Am Head to the Famous Miami Beach (Play some Sand Volleyball, Lay out to Tan, Dance salsa) 3:00pm Dine at Casa Latina for Delicious Spanish Cuisine
DAy TRIps planned by nicole lema
My yaya always said this to me and I reference it to everyone who asks me about traveling. She always said “ There is a difference between a vacation and traveling. When you vacation, you can sleep in and relax. When you travel, you are up at the crack of dawn doing all you can to explore and sight see”. This is something that still sticks to me. My mom, yaya, and great-grandma shared a passion for traveling my entire life. Between the four of us we rarely vacationed but we made sure to prioritize traveling while we all can.
Exploring our nation's Capital any time of year is a blast, but the Spring makes it even more enjoyable with famous Cherry Blossoms in full bloom. D.C is a wonderful day trip to take. Flights are not expensive for a round trip ticket. They have an easy, wonderful, and affordable transportation system there. For $12 you will receive an all day access pass to the train and bus system. With Apple maps and their mobile app, you can access the city without any issues.
ATLANTA, GA
9:30Am-3:3Opm Walk around & visit these *free*Whiteplaces:House
National Museum of Women in Art Lincoln Memorial Washington Monument MLK CapitalCapitalMonumentWheelbuilding 4:00pm Visit the Spy Museum 6:00pm
Learn more about our Christian roots at the Bible Museum 7:30pm Dinner at TTT Restaurant 8:45pm See a Show at Artec House 9:30pm Grab a quick dessert before heading to the airport!
Atlanta is a short plane-ride away and is a city with so much to offer. Be sure to squeeze in some Jeni’s Ice Cream at some point throughout your day!
6:25Am Depart from MCO airport 7:38Am Land in ATL (get Starbucks upon arrival; you’ll need it)
11:30Am Head to World of Coca Cola 12:30pm Get Brunch at Atlanta Breakfast Club
1:30pm Study some history at the National Civil Rights Museum 2:30pm Go to the College Football Hall of Fame 3:30pm Arrive to the Atlanta Zoo (About 10min Uber ride and approx. $8.62 fare) 5:00pm Get a snack at The Varsity 5:45pm Shop around Ponce City Market 7:00pm Arrive to Thrive for Dinner 8:00pm Head to SkyView Atlanta 11:00pm Depart from ATL to MCO
9:00Am Arrive at the Georgia Aquarium (Take Red Line to Peachtree Center & Streetcar to Westin Peachtree Plaza)
wAsHIngTOn D.C.
5:00Am Flight Departure from MCO to BWI 7:00Am Enjoy the Sunrise at Reflecting Pond with a nice cup of Blue Bottle Coffee 8:30Am Dine at Call Your Mother for breakfast.
9
THE VOICE mIx TApE Bono once said, “Music can change the world because it can change people.” We have a few artists here at The Voice who believe this to be true. We want to highlight some of them. 1. TOO MUCH PRESSURE - CHRiSTOPHER SynCERE (SinglE) 2. M OMM a v S . T HE W OR ld - 2RU (SinglE) 3. TH i S WOR ld W ill P a SS - BlESS KOggE (SinglE) 4. T a KE M E H ig HER , J ESUS - Ki alExiS (SinglE) 5. 5920 F REEST yl E - gRxxT (SinglE) 6. O nly O n E - gRaCEn (SinglE) 7. J UST W R ig HT - TOKE WRigHT (dOUBlE SinglE) 8. P ain - nEUMan (SinglE) 9. H E ’ S B EE n g OO d - g0nZ0 (SinglE) CURATED BY CHRIS DEAN
Let me be the first person to say this during this season: You belong HERE! You belong at The Voice! A decade ago, in the back of a black Toyota Camry, I cried my eyes out as I said goodbye to the only family I had at that time. I left the comfort of a lifestyle in the LGBTQ community for the unknown journey I encountered at The Voice through my discipleship. I exchanged a lifestyle of wasting away my potential for purpose and real joy. I exchanged the night clubs for Cadences (The Voice’s Small Groups) and true community. I exchanged the hookups for life-changing friendships and true connection. I exchanged my sexuality for God’s righteousness and His plan for my life. I exchanged my friends for The Voice Fam! I exchanged my plans for His plans. But… Easier said than done! “We must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy. It is easier for me to live outside the plan God has for me. Shoot! I don’t even need the devil to lead me there. I can do that all by myself. Making that decision is easy, but it is not the right decision to make. That is why I must remind you that, YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT TIME! You’re not here by coincidence; you are here because God knew that you would need the people around you; that you would need this community and these Pastors to survive the season that you are in. If you were to leave this place, it’d be a slap to God’s goodness for your life – a disservice to you, your calling, and your future. So what does it look like to make the right choice? Simple
ChooseStayStayStayStayStay…STAY!answer…put.calm.consistent.involved.planted.togrow
AT
here. Join a Cadence! Begin your “getting closer to Jesus” journey by starting our discipleship class called H20. Come every Sunday (even when it’s hard to hang around others).... even if this week you didn’t “hear” God, still choose to STAY! Let me tell you from experience, the GRASS is not greener on the other side. (Trust me. I asked God for you, and He said “it’s NOT!”) ... So, don’t ask Him! The grass you see when you peek over the fence into the world, onto the other trendy church, into the lives of people on Instagram is being fed the same fertilizer! The very same! I would rather smell and go to heaven, than smell, look fake and end up in hell! So stick around, make the right choice, and like me, see how God changes your life! PS. I’m on your team! The Voice Fam is on your side! ALWAYS WILLING, WILL VARGAS THE RIgHT TImE YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE part two read part one thevoiceorlandoblog.comat
I’ve never really understood why people get so ashamed and weird when the words counseling, therapy, and medication get brought up. Especially even more so when they are mentioned in a church setting. Mental health is such a taboo when it comes to the church.
The dictionary definition of mental health is “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.1 Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Chances are during childhood, starting as early as infancy, you may have experienced a form of neglect, trauma, harm, or abuse. Many of you are probably thinking “No way! Not me. I had a decent childhood growing up.” So, how is that possible? The blame isn’t all on our parents because they were bad with evil intentions or because God made a mistake. It’s more so because just like you and I, they too, are sinners. People who are just trying to find their way through a broken world and raise up children in the process. Some of our parents did a better job than others. Some of our parents had really good parents as examples to follow, others of our parents had God in their lives to guide them along the way, but other parents had wounds from their own childhood trauma and abuse that hadn’t healed or maybe your parents didn’t know who God was so they couldn’t depend on Him for guidance during parenting. I am not a parent so I cannot come close to knowing through experience how hard raising a child must be. However, my little sister is a mom to a two year old beautiful baby girl and let me tell you from a titi’s firsthand perspective it looks laborious. Mom’s and dad’s are gifts! So, when you really think about it no one has perfect mental health. We all struggle to some degree with the wildness inside our minds which makes us, us. We struggle with the daily pressures of life and the sinful nature within us trying to relentlessly take control. It’s okay to admit to this and say you struggle. I struggle. We struggle. It’s a struggle out here! Let me show you some of my struggles.
Dear Reader: I’d like to first start off by stating that in no way, shape, or form am I a mental health professional. Everything in this article, I have conducted personal research on or I have learned through my own jour ney with the wisdom and counsel of my own personal therapists and psychiatrist. For the past several years I have battled severely with my mental health. My sole purpose for this article is to shine light on the vast area of mental health and be an advocate of truth to bring the hope of the Gospel forward to heal hearts and minds.
12
CAn wE TAlk? on mental health: written by taylor prado
Originally, I started to see a counselor back in 2013 because I had an experience that left me desperately heartbroken. To be truthful I had no clue what “mental health” actually even was. I had some made-up version of what I assumed it was which I thought mental health meant having good thoughts, being aware of yourself-dia logue, and being positive about everything. Little did I know, that was just dust on the surface like snow is on the peak of Mt. Everest.
13
I grew up in poverty with a single-mom doing everything she could to take care of my sister and I as best as she could with the little that she had. Growing up I watched her cry as she struggled with depression. I watched her tread the dark waters of hopelessness. I watched her go from relationship to relationship and job to job work ing as hard as she could without a high school diploma. All of these things had an effect on my mind, my emotions, and my well-being as a developing child. Not to mention having an alcoholic dad I felt like I had to always compete with a bottle. I felt second place the majority of my childhood feeling as if I wasn’t enough to keep my parents from divorce when I was three. But that’s another story for another day. This article is meant for YOU. Having poor mental health and having a mental illness are two very different things. I believe that they tie in together but they are not one in the same. As college students and young adults, statistics show that the prime age where mental disorders, anxiety, and especially depression are most common are found in people during their twenties. When I turned twenty-five years old I ran into a mess of mental issues due to everything I just briefly shared from my childhood. I was diagnosed with a handful of things such as Depres sion, Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a personality disorder, and not to mention an on-going battle of suicidal thoughts. You normally hit a mid-life crisis at fifty years old but no one really warns you about having a quarter-life crisis at twenty-five. And remember, I had been seeing a counselor since I was eighteen years old starting in 2013, so way before all of this. As Christian’s we believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and he came to Earth to die as the ultimate sacrifice for us, so we can experience life to the fullest and have eternity in heaven with God. However, if Christ died for us that means he died for our physical bodies, our hearts, our souls, AND our minds. Too often we skip over that incredible fact that Jesus died for our minds. If his body became broken for us and his blood was shed for us to find healing and wholeness then the same must be true for our minds. God desires for our minds to be whole, healed, and set free. God cares so immensely for you and I. So, we must do our part and help ourselves. Maybe you aren’t ready to find a counselor and face those skeletons in your closet that we all have. Maybe you aren’t ready to dive head first into the deep end of your childhood trauma. Maybe you think you’re good where you are. Whatever the case may be for you, we must still find a way to get the conversation started about mental health. You need to get the conversation started about your mental health because your life depends on it or better yet, maybe someone else’s life does. As Christ followers we must be willing to address hard things so we can bring hope to those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord. I think the church can be one of the most ignorant places when it comes to understanding mental health and this must change. That change first starts with you and I.
S O , C an WE T al K ? RE s O u RCE s Rec OMM en D e D cO un S e LORS in cent RAL FLOR i DA: F ai TH a SSEMB ly C OU n SE ling F407-275-8790aiTHCOUnSEling@Fai TH a SSEMB ly . OR g E v ER y O n E ’ S C OU n SE ling C E n TER 407-351-1010 | ECCF l OR ida . OR g O PE n d OORS C OU n SE ling C407-351-1010CO407-900-3218PEndOORSCC.COMOnnECTingWEllOnnECTingWEllCOM B ROKE n W ing S M ini STR y C321-701-3064alMWaTERSCOU n SE ling C407-729-2969alMWaTERSCOUnSE ling OR land O . COM l iving W E 407-900-6605ll h O t L ine S: n a T i O nal S U i C id E P RE v E n T i O n l i FE lin 1-800-273-8255E OR 988 C R i S i S T E x T l in E 741741
InsTAgRAm: @ruthromero98 my nAmE Is
ADVICE: “Get your spine checked regularly! It is so important to check your spine for any interference in your nervous system because it runs your entire life.”
interviews by jasmine dukes
InsTAgRAm: @styles_by_marc busInEss OwnER/ EnTREpREnEuR: NikkiNikkiCrichlowCrichlow owns a new and thriving business called Shark Swag. Shark Swag specializes in branded apparel and promotional products. She created Shark Swag this year in March and has hit the ground running ever since. Nikki knew she wanted to get out of the normal 9-5 route and find peace in being able to create her own hours even if they are unpredictable. Her goal down the road is to build up clientele and create job opportunities for women in need.
InsTAgRAm: @nikkicrichlow and @thesharkswag CHIROpRACTOR: Rafael Rosado Rafael Rosado has been a chiropractor for 8 years now! Rafael says “Chiropractic works with your nervous system. Your nervous system runs every cell tissue and organ in your body. It is all housed in your brain and your spinal cord.” His job has everything to do with communication within the body. He has always wanted to help people with their health in some way. Rafael got to practice on his first missions trip in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as a student. That’s when it dawned on him that this is exactly what he wants to do.
ADVICE: “If you want to be a social worker keep in mind how much you can take and handle. Make sure you take care of yourself. Take time alone to pray and ask God for peace and guidance.”
HEllO,
Get to know just a handful of talented and driven people we have at The Voice and what they do.
ADVICE: “Always be in a position to learn. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Go shadow someone, look up tutorials, and just start.”
. . .
ADVICE: “Pray, get peace, and go for it!”
bARbER/HAIR sTylIsT: Demarkus DemarkusKellyKelly (also known as Marc Styles) has been a hair artist for about 13 years. He specializes in men’s hair cuts but he can do all types of hair. He also does colors, highlights, styles, and more. Demarkus knew he wanted to start cutting hair since he was 18 when his mom gifted him a barber kit. He started cutting his own hair and wanted to continue to grow so he went to cosmetology school. His favorite part of what he does is the look of satisfaction on people just from getting their hair done. There is a creative aspect he gets to achieve.
14
sOCIAl wORkER: Ruth Romero Ruth Romero just graduated with her Bachelor’s in Social Work in May 2022! Ruth was led to be a social worker because she saw that there were so many needs around her grow ing up. She wanted to do something about the needs of the people in her community. Ruth has worked with helping homeless families find stable housing and giving them resources to get them out of poverty. Family stability, housing, and foster care, are areas she would like to grow in. She says “If you have a big heart for people and you want to see a change pursue social work.”
ADVICE: “Do not let the negativity of social media or teachers who have taught for a while affect your passion or desire for teaching. Stay positive and rely on God.”
sEnIOR sOfTwARE EngInEER: MelissaMelissaGramajohasbeen a software engineer for 3 years and just got promoted to a senior software engineer a few months ago! She gets to lead projects and is in charge of developers who are over the application that needs to be developed for a client. Melissa decided to be a computer science major when she was 16 years old. Melissa prayed over this decision and once she started this path God always opened doors for internships and jobs. That was her confirmation that this is what she was supposed to do. She loves that she gets to build relationships with her coworkers and spread the gospel in her workforce.
InsTAgRAm: @angelicastaciox3
ADVICE: “Go for this career if the Lord is leading you, especially females. As a female it can be intimidating in a male dominated career but when the Lord’s on your side anything is possible!”
mORE pEOplE fROm THE VOICE It’s time to make some new friends! Get to know other people in The Voice. Exchange phone numbers, social media handles, etc! OTHERIJOnAmE:b/mAJOR:nsTAgRAm:funfACTs: OTHERIJOnAmE:b/mAJOR:nsTAgRAm:funfACTs: OTHERIJOnAmE:b/mAJOR:nsTAgRAm:funfACTs:
gET TO knOw
15
TEACHER: AngelicaAngelicaAstacioisanew third grade teacher. She has been a teacher for a year now and has already won Teacher of the Year at her school. Angelica worked at a Martial Arts school for 10 years which sparked her passion of teaching. Angelica wanted to teach third graders because she had experience with second and third graders during her internship while at the University of Central Florida. She says whatever grade her school needs her to teach she is willing to help and be flexible. (What a gift she must be!)
InsTAgRAm: @melissa_measha sOmE
AnTOJITOs AuTHEnTIC mExICAn fOOD $$ Delicious Mexican cuisines and a fun atmosphere. I definitely recommend the birria tacos!
mIA’s ITAlIAn kITCHEn $$ From scratch Italian restaurant on I-Drive that has delicious homestyle traditional dishes. For my fellow sweet tooths, we have to finish off with dessert!
nOTHIng bunDT CAkE $ Incredible melt in your mouth cakes. You get a free mini bundt cake on your birthday! THE glAss knIfE $$ Donuts, cake, pastries, and more. They have a range of decadent desserts and a brunch selectionsmenu! by jasmine dukes
ETHOs VEgAn kITCHEn $$ 100% Vegan restaurant in Winter Park. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offer so many options for anyone.
HAll On THE yARD $$ Fun, food, and options is what you’ll get at the Hall on the Yard. It actually has a collection of 9 diverse restaurants in one. Best for that friend group who have different taste buds. There are games on the yard / deck in the front and music. This place is an experience.
“Let’s eat” is one of my favorite things to hear. Rather, I’m with friends or family especially in our city, O-Town. It’s the best feeling when your food hits the spot every time or your order comes out even better than expected. Below is a list I’ve curated based on some of Orlando’s hottest food spots. Check out a place below, bring a friend, and let’s eat!
TwEnTy pHO HOuR $ Feeling for some Pho or Vietnamese food in general? Check out Twenty Pho Hour on I-Drive. They also have boba!! On Saturdays they are open 24 hours for those late night cravings.
RbRIARpATCHEsTAuRAnT $$ - $$$ One of the top brunch spots in Orlando. Beautiful decor with a homemade feel. They describe their menu as having “classic American cuisine with southern influences”. DAVE’s HOT CHICkEn $$ There’s a new Dave’s Hot Chicken in Waterford. Since its arrival there has been a mini debate of who has the better chicken sandwich, Dave’s or Chick Fil A? Dave’s lets you pick your level of spiciness for your chicken and has a special sauce. If you love spicy chicken or even if you’re not a fan of spice check them out.
CAfE DOn JuAn $ - $$ Cute cafe that serves Puerto Rican breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The coffee is delicious. Try it with one of their quesitos!
gIDEOn’s bAkEHOusE $$ They have half pound cookies! Though most famous for their huge cookies they also have scrumptious cakes.
gET pluggED In WRITTEN BY LIZ WRIGHT There are many ways to get plugged in here at The Voice! Here are some of the best: nEw TO THE VOICE? Have you filled out our Get Connected Form? Scan the QR Code and fill out the form. All first-time guests receive a free gift! wAnT TO sERVE? The Volunteer Team is a great place to start serving! Our volunteers help out at The Grill, The Scoop, Game Checkout, and more! Head to mainstreamorlando.com/volunteer to apply. LOOking FOR cOMMunity? Cadences are the perfect place to meet people! Cadences are our interest-based small groups at The Voice, and they meet nearly every day of the week. Download the Mainstream Orlando app for information on each Cadence and how to connect with a leader! InTEREsTED In pHOTOgRApHy AnD VIDEOgRApHy? Join our Photo & Film Team and help capture those unforgettable moments! This team meets the last Tuesday monthly at 7PM in youth classroom A113, located right outside the Youth Auditorium.
# TVC2021 some of our favorite posts using use #TVC2022 when posting this year for a chance to be featured in our next issue. @sareshly__@elodious24 @javilopez_0526 @briii_x33@Argelismiliannr @Eagle.generation.z @luxuriouscienna@paola_toro Welcome to #CleanTok, a specialty area of TikTok where content about household chores is vacuuming up attention faster and more efficiently than a deluxe Dyson upright. THIngs TIkTOk mADE mE buy: 1. A ScrubDaddy 2. The Pink Stuff 3. A Vabroom TIps TIkTOk TAugHT mE: 1. Shaving cream to clean stains in upholstery 2. Dryer sheets are good for dusting 3. Use a Squeegee for a streak-free mirror clean! 4. Lemon, Vinegar, and a Tooth Pick will loosen all your microwave grime.
