Inspirational Moments
A Calling by Marjorie M. Middleton
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV). God is never changing. And, because he remains the same, what he has called you to he will hold you to. I’m glad to serve a God who shows us what he expects. He will not “make” you do anything, but will gently remind you. It’s your choice. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 (NIV). Money is representative of anything you put more love and attention into than God. I have observed and learned that every talent, every inspiration and every purpose God has given you does not change, does not shift. It’s your choice to accept the assignment or not, but gifts remain. Personally, I am grateful for God’s never-ending whisper, He reminds me. I choose. God loves us. And, because he does, he has blessed each of us with a unique set of talents and gifts. The reason for those talents are mainly for our pleasure and to serve others. Service is a purpose. There exists great pleasure in how much God loves us, and even greater, his trust in us to serve others, especially those who do not know him.
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PURPOSE
As a writer, I endeavor to share my words with others in order to uplift, encourage and inspire. Before I begin to put thoughts and ideas on paper, I pray. I want God’s voice to be heard through my articles and stories. When you love God, and have a calling on your life, your gifts can be used in many creative ways. I know some who are called to spend time with the elderly, so, they visit and soothe; read and attend to immediate needs. That’s a gift used as a blessing! Another possesses a gift for finances and uses that talent to assist others in creating a budget and utilize ways to create savings. God is so amazing in how many ways he allows us to contribute to building up his kingdom! Recently, I spent time with a young minister and asked him to share a bit of his journey. Christian Harris is a graduate of Towson University and now a Master's of Ministry graduate student. He has been sharing his gifts of spoken word, poetry/writing (he’s a published author), evangelizing and preaching since he was a teen. He comes from an evangelical background and utilizes his gifts to serve others. Along with being a student, husband and father, he is training and fundraising with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a country wide campus ministry, and is the Minister on the campus of his alma mater, Towson. Christian is also on the preaching team at St. Moses Church in Baltimore, Maryland. When I spoke with Christian, I had a few questions for him.
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Marjorie M. Middleton (MMM): How did your journey lead you to becoming campus Minister at Towson? Christian Harris (CH): I was born into an Evangelical church and my family was in church twice on Sunday, and Tuesday and Thursday. I grew up having a real relationship with God and was filled with the holy spirit by seven. I developed an abiding love for him and quickly discovered that I have a gift for reading the Bible and understanding it on a deeper level. I sang in the choir, was part of the children’s ministry and, later, as a young teen, a minister in training and youth leader. But, I was still a child and strayed from my first love, Jesus. As I matured, I realized how much I need God and want to be the leader I needed when I was on Towson’s campus. The world shows us more and more every day that the enemy is present and I want to be a part of making changes in young people’s lives. There is hope. There is serenity. There is peace. I’m excited for the new school year! MMM: What are some of your goals for the students that you engage with? CH: There are three E words that come to mind when I think of my students. EQUIP - I want them to learn, as well as love God’s word and be able to say, This is what Jesus said, this is what he taught, Thy word have I hid in my heart… Ps. 119:11a. The more I know HIS word, the more I can support my beliefs and convictions. Know what you’re talking about before you speak. It makes you and your experiences more credible. EVANGELIZE - When one has enough confidence to witness about one’s experiences or hope for others – you are on the right path! If I tell you I was once lost and am now found AND I share my experience we are now on another level. We are on our way! As mentioned earlier, I was saved at an early age. As I grew in Christ and in life experiences I had a testimony! I had to go through some things in order to talk about some things; being relatable is key. ELEVATE - The more I grow as a campus minister, the more my students grow. We are in this together. I want my students to dig deep; persevere until they find their rock, their foundation. I never want to interfere with students "rights of passage”. They will make mistakes and take missteps. I just want to offer another alternative…Jesus. I truly want them to believe in the rock. A part of elevating, alongside evangelism, is experiential teaching. Get in the trenches, that’s what Jesus did. Learn how to evangelize during the storm, not just the good times! I want my student’s to have experiences in the field of life. MMM: What’s next for you? CH: I LIVE each day as it comes. I’m a husband and father, minister and friend and a lover of God. And, He is good! God has a calling for each of us. We just have to listen for his voice and directions. So glad for a purposeful life!
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Community Hero Vision & Purpose Community Magazine (VPCM): Tell us about yourself? Jena Bradley (JB): My passions exist at the intersection of philanthropy, racial equity, and storytelling. During the day, I serve as a director of community impact at United Way of Greater Cincinnati, leading up the Black-led Social Change Initiative. Outside of work hours, I am a sister to some awesome folks, a wife to the best blerd (black nerd) in town, and a community volunteer. While an introvert by nature, I love to build connections with new people. VPCM: What is your greatest strength/asset? JB: My greatest strength is a genuine passion for process and details. I love taking a vision (my own or someone else’s), breaking it down to its basic components, and figuring out what needs to be true to bring the vision to life with the resources available. I love taking notes, creating spreadsheets, making presentation decks, and creating templates.
Curious
Outspoken
Committed
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VPCM: How do you use your gift/talent to give back to the community? JB: Throughout the years I have served on boards and committees, including the Walnut Hills Area Council, Walnut Hills Historical Society, Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, All-In Cincinnati, and Cincy Stories, to name a few. Nearly every day I get to engage with Black social changemakers to share in their successes and challenges, many of whom have received funding through the Black Empowerment Works grant program – a grant program that has awarded $1.6M in two years, created by a committee of volunteers I facilitated. VPCM: What does community mean to you? JB: Community to me is the experience of fellowship with others, bound by something that connects us despite the myriad of differences that may exist between us. Community can exist and be created anywhere: among strangers, families, and neighbors.
VPCM: Who/What inspires you and why? JB: History and the future inspire me. Day to day, it is easy to get lost in the minutiae and to be discouraged by the slow pace of change. History spotlights stories of revolution, resistance, and love. Though not always cleanly, it provides a roadmap for how we’ve arrived to where we are. Much in the same way, the future is uncharted territory that we (individually and collectively) have the power to shape and influence. I look back to see where we’ve come from and look forward, imagining where we could go. VPCM: What does Vision and Purpose mean to you? JB: Vision is the ability to think about the future. Purpose is the fuel that carries you through in bringing that future to life, using your unique gifts and assets.
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Business & Entrepreneurship
Owning Black, Buying Black Community & Business Network Exchange By Karen McConnell-Jones
For Black business owners, August has been the month dedicated in our honor. In August of 2004 National Black Business Month was established to recognize and to draw attention to the policy agenda affecting the African-American businesses. Now, today we are seeing more creative ways of how Black businesses are doing business and being established. The COVID-19 Pandemic has made us all look at how we do business and how we need to maintain our businesses, especially in the Black business community. As we are now more than two years into the pandemic, we are still experiencing the need for the Black business community to fully recovery. Unfortunately, the Black businesses were hit the hardest during the pandemic and the closing of Black owned businesses was twice the rate of any other. This has had our community in a little more of a struggle than everyone else. It has been reported by the Census Bureau that Asian-owned businesses have the largest estimated receipts ($874.6 billion) among minority race groups across all sectors. There were an estimated 134,567 Black- or African American-owned businesses with $133.7 billion in annual receipts,1.3 million employees and about $40.5 billion in annual payroll.
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Now to me, this shows we really have the strength and power to hold force in this working economy, yet we need to continue to evolve our buying power and ownership. We need to build our own resource base so we can buy Black and keep it in the Black business community, more than just the one touch and it’s out of our community. According to the NAACP and other organizations, it is suggested that the Black dollar is unregulated. Studies say that the average lifespan of the dollar is approximately 28 days in Asian communities, 19 days in Jewish communities, 17 days in white communities — and just six hours in Black communities. We must see that this is a problem and become more proactive in moving our financial legacy forward in the Black business community. We all must do our part. Vision & Purpose (V&P) Community Magazine is pleased to announce the birth of the Community & Business (C&B) Network Exchange, headed and founded by Karen McConnell-Jones along with Executive Partner Barbara Grant-Proctor, and a team of Collaborative Partners, who bring a diverse set of successful businesses to the table.
What is C&B Network Exchange? We are the next progressive business movement that recognizes that we are living in the present while navigating our “New Normal.” The need to discover and learn new creative ways to level up and move forward in business and in life is key. Understanding now, more than ever, the importance of strengthening our communities and businesses through the POWER of Network and the Exchange of resources is what’s going to advance us to higher heights. We know that through our hands-on training, outstanding intellectual sessions, workshops & conferences, along with bringing in the expert speakers and the right resources, will allow us to be better prepared for the NEXT unforeseen pandemic or world crisis. At C&B Network Exchange, we recognize you and are here to be “The Next Community Movement!” Our Mission: Community & Business Network Exchange mission is to build a network of resources to empower our communities and businesses while navigating our "New Normal." Our Vision: The Community & Business Network Exchange vision is to understand the importance of strengthening our communities and businesses through the POWER of Networking and the Exchange of resources. Vision & Purpose Community Magazine 13
When will C&B Network Exchange officially launch? “We are being intentional with the launch and messaging of this innovative progressive new company. As August is National Black Business Month, we want to make our impact then. We will officially launch on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at our headquarters located at 1441 McCormick Drive Upper Marlboro, MD 20774, from 1:00PM-4:00PM. We have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that we are bringing you the best of what C&B Network Exchange has to offer. We already foresee the blessings of what this is going to mean to the Black community and are already making plans to create chapters in other Black major cities. In fact, watch out as we may just be in your city sooner than later. You just never know, but we do know that expansion is going to happen with our new company” says Founder, Ms. Karen McConnell-Jones.
Partners of C&B Network Exchange
Shammah Ministries
If you would like to get involved and be a part of this next community movement, you can contact us at cbnetworkexchange@gmail.com or by phone at 202-904-1000 14 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
"I love to look at life like a book with many chapters and a movie with many scenes. If you ever thought of writing a book, I strongly encourage you to. I coauthored a book and it was one of the best experiences of my life. It allows you to document your thoughts and share them with others as other authors have done for us! " - says Michelle DeMarcia Davis
Education Is Key
Summertime Education By Michelle DeMarcia Davis
“Life is a journey, not a destination.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Education is an important key to enjoying the journey of life. According to Wikipedia; Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, morals, beliefs, habits, and personal development.[1] Education originated as transmission of cultural heritage from one generation to the next. Today, educational goals increasingly encompass new ideas such as liberation of learners, critical thinking regarding presented information, skills needed for the modern society, empathy and complex vocational skills. During the summer we tend to have more time to learn informally through experiences with family and friends such as vacations and staycations. I urge everyone to take the time to transmit cultural heritages from one generation to the next intentionally, as well as learning from wise elders and ancestors. They have been through many things in their lifetimes so we don’t have to go through it now. We can learn from their failures and successes. I have an old soul that knows there is not much new being done under the sun. Sometimes when we learn something, we have no clue when and how we will use the information. I had no clue my timed writing class as a freshman would be beneficial now as a writer and author. I used to say I didn’t like math until I realized how wonderful it is to calculate finances, manage and grow money, measure during cooking, share calculations with a group etc... When someone says they don’t like reading but they like math they must realize they need reading to enjoy math to the fullest. Math is full of word problems in which reading comprehension and vocabulary are needed to execute the resolution. Time management is one of the best skills I’ve come to master based on lessons I’ve learned in my life. With so many awesome opportunities we have to remember opportunity costs. There is a loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen. I had such a “fomo (fear of missing out)” I used to say I would sleep when I’m dead just to justifiably do everything I wanted to do. That would cause me to get physically ill from not getting enough rest causing my body to shut down , forcing me to rest. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) "Study to show thyself approved" is a Bible phrase from the second book of Timothy by Paul the Apostle. The Bible is one of the best books I’ve read. It is full of lessons of what to do and what not to do. I feel Jesus and the Apostles were Life Coaches before Life Coaching was even a title. As we educate ourselves on the many wonders of life it's best to understand ourselves, others and our relationships.
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This summer my informal education and book time is geared toward minimalism. Minimalism means letting go of stress related to possessions in both directions. This creates the freedom to focus on people, relationships, societal contribution, and self-care. Declutter as much as you think is necessary, then live your best version of your life. Hopefully with extra time and beautiful weather book lovers can enjoy reading a lot this summer. National Book Lover’s Day is August 9th, 2022. The decades old, still golden Reading Rainbow’s song let us know that we can go anywhere in our mind when we read. I didn’t realize there are over 50 + Genres/sub genres in fiction and non-fiction books. Here are a few:
Fa n ta
sy
True Crime
o Hum
r
Religion & Spirituality
Rom Action &
n Fictio e c n Scie
an ce
Adventure
Child
B iog
ren ’s
History
Histo
rical
Fictio
Graphic No
H or
raph
y
n
vel
ro r
Self-help
Guide / How-to
D
p ia y sto
n
S
S hort
tor y
Thriller & Suspense
Essays
Parenting & Families
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Health & Wellness
Becoming A Chef: The Experience Thru the Eyes of a Real One By Chef Jason R. Greene
In light of National Culinary Arts Month, I would like to celebrate by providing my perspective on what it takes to become a true talented chef. Being a certified chef myself I believe I can provide a true account of what it's like. For starters, I believe that becoming a truly talented chef takes three main factors: love, understanding and faith. Loving what you do is first and foremost because any person that truly loves something will give it 100% no matter what and this is so vital and key to becoming a chef. Personally, I love what I do on a daily basis, and it's expressed in how I prepare, cook and plate food for consumption. Within my true love of cooking, I have come to realize that it gives me a clear perception creating a mindset full of opportunities instead of obligations.
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The next factor is understanding. You must have a total understanding of what it takes to become a chef. That includes training and certifications such as culinary school and becoming ServSafe certified. Attending culinary training will give you a foundation of knowledge that will, one, expose the natural talent that you possess and, two, create the proper structure around that talent that will encourage professionalism and organization. Becoming ServSafe certified will teach you food safety and give you a full and basic understanding of foodborne illnesses and the maintenance involved with hot and cold food storage. Becoming a chef is not for the weak minded; it requires passion, sacrifice and dedication in each one of the three factors mentioned above. If you believe you are passionate about providing a service, if you think about cooking (not eating) before you go to bed and when you wake up then that's a sign that you need to become a chef. I have seen and experienced highs and lows in this business, but it has made me who I am today. Becoming a chef is becoming an artist, and artists are supplied with a duty to make people feel good no matter what form of artistry it is. With any talented artist that demand creates opportunity as far as the eyes can see. Now remember the profit side of being in this business is cutthroat, and in any cutthroat business it will chew you up and spit you out. My advice is to remain humble, stay true to you and metaphorically: “never put too much lettuce on a sandwich” (a true chef will know exactly what that means).
Authors Speaks
Authors Speak Oxford Languages defines poetry as a literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature. Or one could say you can learn a lot about a poet through their thoughts, inner spirit, life experiences and their journey, collectively shared in their words of expression. A poet is a person who possesses special writing power of the imagination and the expression of the mind well-traveled. Author and Poet Scott M. Knight is gifted with all things just mentioned as he shares his poetry in motion in this insightful interview with V&P Community Magazine. First, Scott started the interview by wanting our readers to know a personal message of his life outside of being a creative writer, author, and poet. He is most proud and happy to be the father to his beautiful daughter Malonie. She is his motivation, inspiration, and joy! Scott was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, a city well-known for its rich historical past struggles during and after the Civil War and the birthplace of The Modern Civil Rights Movement. He attended and graduated from Lee High School where he was a member of the 1991-1992 State Championship Wrestling Team and won three Individual State Championships. He attended Chicago State and Alabama State Universities before beginning his career with the Montgomery Fire/Rescue Department. He served over 20 years and retired as an Arson Investigator.
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An Author’s Words of Expression By Karen McConnell-Jones
Nevertheless, Scott has always been into music and writing musical lyrics. He started writing poetry around 2008. He kept writing and allowed some of his closest peers to hear a few of his pieces. He received positive feedback, along with great constructive criticism, and that inspired him to keep writing. Scott had written around ten poems when he thought to himself, “maybe I can turn this into a poetry book.” He kept writing and working until he had “A Time Traveler’s Journal.” Scott wanted his target audience to be all human beings who want a better future for Humanity and Earth. He wants readers to be educated or reminded about history and current events that still divide us and be truly inspired for real truth, real change, and real equality. Scott was passionate in saying “don’t be afraid to write your ideas/thoughts on anything, anywhere, anytime; take notes to keep up with them. Most likely, you will get ideas in your head at crazy times, and you want to use them in your material! Definitely taking notes on whatever, whenever! And for me, what helps me when I get writer’s block is prayer, meditation…being or going to a spiritual state of mind helps me regain my inner peace, my perspective on life, and the message I am being led to convey. I am spiritually inspired to be a vessel, I also am inspired by the knowledge of my ancestors’ abuse, the assassinations of influential black leaders, the bureaucracy of the U. S. Government handling of racism, my own experience as a Black man from Montgomery, Alabama in this world. Also, to keep it light a counseling session with “Mary Jane” can move that writer’s block right out of the way!” “One memorable moment or moments occur when I am doing research on a topic or an idea. As I read the material and learn about the smaller details, I get a feeling of connection or a sense of being right there in that time period or situation…the aura, and energy I need to put into what I am writing. Or to research something and be able to see no justice done for the same actions, like any killing of a Black man, Black woman, or Black child. This is what moves me to make sure I am doing my part to give back to my community. Just recently, I got an opportunity to give other poets and authors a venue to hone their skills with an audience at 109 Truth located in Montgomery, Alabama. I love mentoring young writers, also donating to the Montgomery Area Food Bank, The Salvation Army and Goodwill, but more importantly coaching young aspiring entrepreneurs to take their business not only for capital gain yet to use their business to give back and to be a blessing to their community. I am blessed to be able to do so as an author and as a businessman.”
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It was truly a delight to see, at the end of the day, that Scott has a witty side that just draws you in. For those who know him, he is best known for his resilience, hard work, and his diligence, yet his humor is surprisingly funny as his creative words are to poetry. Scott is truly a family man who enjoys making his family and friends laugh. He fills our hearts with his loving words of expression. Scott ended our interview by sharing his thoughts on what Vision and Purpose means to him. Vision: His own insight, ability, strategy to achieve; Purpose: improve, make better; leave a situation, or incident better than before. Taking his own abilities to improve the world for all of humanity.
A Quote From Scott’s Poem Entitled “Bridging The Gap” Life is a journey Get prepared for the drive then Know the rules of the road Before you start driving Clean your windshield for clear vision Heed warning signages The Lord and yourself Is who you should confide in When peaks turn to valleys then He'll take the wheel You Co-pilot then To follow Scott please visit his website at TimeTravelerNASA.com 22 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
Community Outreach
Celebrating National Dog Lovers Day on August 26th really is a special day for most Americans, as we treat our animals like part of the family. Well, one might say better than some of our family members. This has been the talk amongst animal lovers for years. Actually, you might even say this story may be testing that theory out as we speak. Here is a love story about two Shih Tzu dogs, Carson Joyful-Noise and Roxy Love, they met, they mated, and then they married. Let’s go back to three years ago in 2019, as the adopted parents of Carson and Roxy first met. Karen and Brenda, we met at the Overdue Recognition Art Gallery in Bowie Town Center. Brenda, who is wheelchair bound, came rolling into the art gallery with this pretty, white, girl shih tzu sitting on her lap. I immediately went "Awe; she is so cute". She looks like my boy shih tzu which is white and tan. I pulled out my phone to show Brenda pictures of my boy puppy. We both agreed that we have two adorable little puppies. We both discussed letting our puppies meet and possibly allowing them to mate. Maybe that next year in the spring of 2020 as the puppies both were under one year old at the time and needed a little more maturity. We exchanged numbers and kept in touch throughout that year and officially decided to let the puppies mate. I knew all the work would be on me as Brenda was wheelchair bound and would not be able to help Roxy during the delivery. We could not have foreseen what would happen that next year, March of 2020. The COVID-19 Pandemic happened. We both decided maybe we should wait until the fall when Roxy would have her next cycle. September came around and we had to postpone our baby's meeting once again as the pandemic was even more surreal now. It is now April of 2021, it’s spring again and we are feeling much better about the puppies getting together and besides, they are now over two years old which is even better. Carson and Roxy finally met in April of 2021, and it was love at first sight for Carson. Roxy, the lady puppy, she was giving vibes of oh no, not on the first date buddy. What kind of lady puppy do you think I am? So, after a week the mating finally happened. Roxy and Carson were surely on their way of becoming doggy parents. 24 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
The preparation has now begun as doggy pregnancy only takes nine weeks instead of nine months. It is still so amazing to me how the reproductive system works so much quicker in dog life and with multiple puppies expected to be born. Again, only nine weeks. WOW!!! Okay, wouldn’t you know it Roxy goes into labor and delivers a week early, June 9, 2021. So now, it was eight weeks instead of nine. Typical pregnancy for sure, as it always throws you a curveball. The puppies are here!!! How exciting!!!! First, there was Bailey, next it was Heaven as she didn’t make it. She went straight to puppy heaven; next it was Dexter and last it was Zora. The three surviving puppies were close from the start. This was an amazing experience to witness. I was a true proud puppy grandma right from the start. Yes, I was Nana and I knew I was going to spoil my babies rotten. I called Brenda and texted pictures as we both now were puppies grandma. Please allow me to thank my dear friend Jackie for rushing over and helping me with the delivery. The adoption of our puppies was now officially underway. Brenda and I had stipulations on who could adopt our puppies, definitely had to sign a contract with us and one of the agreements was that we must have family play time together. First born Bailey was adopted by Jewel, third born Dexter, now named Fellow, was adopted by Chanel, and last-born Zora, now named Bella, was adopted by the Thomas family. They all couldn’t wait for the nursing time frame to pass so they could take their new puppy home. But of course, when the time came, we had to have a big celebration and oh wasn’t it GRAND. We had a wedding for Roxy and Carson, and immediately following we had a christening for the puppies.
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The wedding and the christening took place on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Yes, but of course, this had to take place in August, National Dog Lovers Month. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding and christening; the weather was perfect and the event of the day went great. We had a real pastor to officiate the wedding and christening. Pastor McLaurin gave a full-out 30 minutes ceremony. We had a singer, Mr. Q, a photographer and videographer, Tammee; wedding cake and all, even participation from the adopted parents and family, and a reception to die for. We had food, gifts, and fun. We truly pulled out all the bells and whistles. Now, you have it, this is a story about Carson Joyful-Noise and Roxy Love, one big happy family!
Happy One Year Anniversary!
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Back Cover/1 Page
Community Outreach Awareness
V&P COMMEMORATIONS OF THE MONTH FOR JULY/AUGUST July- National Culinary Arts Month, July is when the recognition of the professional cooks and chefs occurs. Chefs are recognized for bringing innovative, unique cuisine from their kitchens to our tables. July- National Ice Cream Month, In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. In 2022, National Ice Cream Day will be Sunday, July 17. Days: 3rd Recognized Independence Day (United States) 4th Independence Day 4th International Day of Cooperatives 11th World Population Day 12th Malala Day 15th World Youth Skills Day 18th Nelson Mandela International Day 21st National Ice Cream Day 28th World Hepatitis Day 29th Global Tiger Day 30th World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 30th International Day of Friendship Month: July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month The 7th through the 13th is National Therapeutic Recreation Week in the United States.
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August- National Black Business Month, Historian John William Templeton and engineer Frederick E. Jordan Sr., founded National Black Business Month in August 2004 to “drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African-American businesses. ” August- National Radio Day, is celebrated August 20th. It recognizes the invention of the radio. Celebrate the news, information, music, and stories carried across the airwaves. August- National Dog Lovers Day, is celebrated August 26th annually and was founded in 2004 by Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate, Colleen Paige, also the founder of National Puppy Day, National Mutt Day and National Cat Day and many more philanthropic days to bring attention to the plight of animals.
Days: 1st National Minority Donor Awareness Day (United States) 8th International Cat Day 9th Book Lovers Day 9th International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 10th World Lion Day 12th International Youth Day 12th World Elephant Day 17th National Nonprofit Day 17th International Homeless Animal Day 19th World Humanitarian Day 20th National Radio Day 26th National Dog Day 29th International Day Against Nuclear Tests
Month: Black Business Month American Indian Heritage Month Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month National Breastfeeding Month (United States) National Immunization Awareness Month (United States) World Breastfeeding Week is the 1st to the 7th.
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Cover Story
No Longer Broken by Karen McConnell-Jones
Dr. Pastor Devoris Forbes
This is a story about life and its realness. We all know, this thing that we call life has its own individual human development on all of us, as it will have us to experience our own unique path and the journey that awaits us. Life will give us lessons that need to be learned and blessings will be given that also are lessons learned. Even though life can give us challenges, downward spiral, and even brokenness, we still have to hold on to the little light that shines, giving us a glimmer of hope and knowing there is joy on the other side of knowing GOD, His words and His worth. Life, up close and personal, gives us its ups and downs, the highs and the lows, and even beyond one’s imagination. But yet once again, it also shows us the heroic power of God. This is a breathtaking true story of the life of a Pastor that before now, has experienced a life of depression, substance abuse, and just the hard pain of brokenness. For more than the majority of her adult life, she has fought the battle, rose from the death of suicide while six months pregnant, sixteen years of drug addiction, the loss of two sons to gun violence and still she RISE!!! Vision & Purpose Community Magazine has the honor of bringing this amazing story, the first of this kind, showing triumph over a horrifically traveled life. This story will take us on an emotional rollercoaster ride as well as give us some good solid life lessons and blessings to be grateful for. Dr. Pastor Devoris “Dee” Forbes, shares how God has transformed her and now allows her to live a life of purpose as she knows that she is “No Longer Broken!” Pastor Dee, we thank you for entrusting your story to us.
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As a child, Pastor Dee grew up with four sisters and three brothers, she was the youngest of the girls. Coming from a childhood of humble beginnings, she can remember her father and mother having so much love for their baby girl that she felt a lot like the female version of Joseph in the bible. Their family may have had little at times yet what they had a lot of is LOVE! “Even though I grew up with a lot of love in the house from my parents and siblings, I still grew up having hostility towards women. I took a dislike towards women which meant I had to take a lot of dislike towards myself. Yes, even with having a strong personality and always being very outspoken, I still had these feelings towards myself and women that I didn’t even know at all. I was in search of understanding and true healing of my feelings, which didn’t come for quite some time in my life.” While looking back over Pastor Dee’s young adult life, her pain now begins to grow stronger and stronger. This led her to slip into a silent depression that ate away at her. Knowing something was wrong but still can’t quite put her finger on it nor recognizing it as depression at the time, which will leave her to be in a very vulnerable state of mind. Now, here comes the downward spiral. “Again, I come from a loving family, father, mother, and siblings. A praying mother that made sure we knew God and kept her family in Christ. Yet, the challenges of life still happened. The depression and the use of drugs followed. I was now using crack cocaine. I was introduced to drugs by two of my sisters who had been using for quite some time before me. Nevertheless, I considered myself a unique drug addict. I would get high but recall always having people around me, telling them about the Lord and stories from the bible. I was proud of myself because no matter how bad I was strung out on drugs, I always kept myself neat. I’ve never been to jail, or I never sold any of my kids for drugs. I guess I had to be proud of this and believe because the thought of being a crackhead and strung out on drugs was too hard for me to face. It was easier to believe that I was a functional drug addict and I had everything under control until I didn’t.”
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“I was a drug addict for a very long time, for 16 years to be exact. Of course, being strung out for such a long period of time, it will come with many highs and lows and challenges that I didn’t even see coming. I found myself at the end of my rope. I couldn’t see my way clear of the fog that was before me. Never once did I think this was something I couldn’t control. I was at a point in my life whereas I just wanted to end it all. I didn’t know what else to do, to make the desire stop. Never mind that I was six months pregnant at the time, I just wanted it to end. I had played it over in my head what I wanted to do, even though I couldn’t do this sober minded. So, I went out and brought liquor and drugs and I came home and started to drink heavily and smoke an enormous amount of crack cocaine. Then, I was barely conscious yet I was able to slit my wrists along with tying myself up to hang myself. But due to my drunkenness I was unstable at hanging myself and I fell to the floor. My sister found me in a pool of blood as I was passed out on the floor. I was rushed to the hospital. After being examined by the doctors, I was told I was lucky to have survived but my baby didn’t make it, the baby is dead. Finally, it hit me; not only was I hurting myself I had hurt my baby, in fact, I had killed my baby that was still inside of me.” Immediately, this is when Pastor Dee realized she was an addict and she began to ask, then beg God for forgiveness. “Lord, God, please let my baby live, give my baby their life back in spite of my wrong doing. God help me with this addiction, take it away from me now Lord. I will turn my life around and do what you have called me to do. I promise God! Save my baby and my life.”
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Right after her prayer Pastor Dee’s mother walked in the room as if the Lord had sent her to help plead for a young woman's cry for help. She walked in and told her daughter that she didn’t like seeing her this way and she could not live without her daughter. You have to live! Pastor Dee agreed with her mother and said she will live. She then laid hands on her stomach and began to pray for her child once again. Her mother also laid hands on her stomach and prayed. She then told the nurse and staff that she felt the baby moving! They thought she was irrational, but she kept telling them until one nurse went to tell the doctor and he told the nurse, if she says she feels the baby moving then go ahead and check her again. And surely her son was alive and doing well to this very day! Unfortunately, the whole experience still wasn’t enough to keep Pastor Dee off the drugs. That still wasn’t her rock bottom. She was not only still on drugs but also in an abusive marriage as well. It took her to visit several different churches, telling her story yet not revealing the whole story and the real truth of her drug addiction. Even to the point of being ordained as a pastor by Pastor Roger Smith of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He constantly prayed for her and would often tell Pastor Dee that God has a calling over her life. Pastor Dee would speak in church and then run home, do drugs and would cry out to God her hatred of Him and her life. “I know I was saved but didn’t have true deliverance."
Finally, on this particular day at church, I was called to speak and I felt the presence of God in me and in the room. I had an outer body experience that allowed me to see the work that God had waiting for me to do. The spirit was so strong that I could feel my body healing, the taste and the desire for drugs was taken from me in that moment. I feared the spirit but yet embraced it, all at the same time. I was finally “no longer broken” and knew I had to help other women get to this place. In the spirit of the moment, I had truly let go and let God. This was the summer of year 2000, God had truly changed my life and I haven’t stop working for Him since."
Pastor Dee went on to open her own church in 2004, Higher Praise Christian Church was established in Fredericksburg, Virginia and now resides in Forestville, Maryland. Most recently she holds the office of Overseer as she was appointed by Bishop C. Anthony Muse in the State of Maryland in 2019. The church and its members have continued to be elevated in their personal growth as well as having some members to lead their own ministry and/or open their own church.
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Pastor Dee has ordained several leaders of Christ under her tutelage. Associate Pastor Audrey E. Swann was ordained under Pastor Dee and later in May of 2014 was installed as the Associate Pastor and continues to work closely with Pastor Dee. She also wears the hat as the Church Administrator. “As the Associate Pastor to Overseer Dee, I am humbled to have witnessed and seen how far she has come. After twenty-five years of sisterhood in Christ, I am still amazed and fortunate to work with and be trained by one of the most powerful and anointed women of God. She is a Leader who is passionate, always aiding others who are less fortunate, she has a love for the homeless and underserved community. She is always willing to give a helping hand everywhere she goes. She is the definition of Kingdom Building, she is truly one of a kind, I am honored to be of service and assisting her in her spiritual journey.” In 2004 God blessed Pastor Dee to open up several businesses. They would include nonprofit churches, a clothing and thrift store, hair salon, more importantly and very dear to her heart was her daycare centers and the Christian Café. In 2005, she was recognized for Business Women of the Year. Pastor Dee constantly advocates for abused women with children, to help fight through the legal system. She also has a passion for housing the homeless and negotiating with the state for section 8 housing for displaced women and their families. “I love assisting and being able to provide love and guidance in the raising and developing of our young adults and our youth. I thrive in being a trailblazer by assisting women with their education, by helping them seek tuition, providing information and resources for opportunity to attend college. I am inspired by Harriet Tubman. She is a true example of a trailblazer and a woman trusting in God to carry out the mission for her peoples. She was the true definition of Leadership. Harriet never accepted no for an answer. She always found a way to do the Lord’s work.”
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Pastor Dee shares how you have to be bold and courageous in your walk. Her advice for anyone who feels broken and is fighting their way back, once the decision has been made that they want to be in the right standing of their situation and with God; they should seek out mentorship from a church, professional individual, or a program that offers support groups to help them cope. They should also surround themselves with others who have overcome and are on the right path. Also, select a scripture from the Bible that fits their situation and stand on it until it fully materializes in their life. Pastor Dee suggests reading and studying Psalm 91 over and over, this is what has helped deliver her and totally put her on the path of righteousness.
Pastor Dee is now the Spiritual Matriarch of her family. “I am blessed to be in this space that God has me in now. I am happily devoted and remarried to Dr. Richard Forbes who is a Dynamic Man of God. He is a great supporter, teacher and leader of other adults and young men. Along from my previous marriage my united family includes seven children and thirty-five grandchildren and one faithful beloved sister in Christ, Audrey E. Swann of twenty-five years. I also have many extended heartfelt adopted sons and daughters within the ministry. I have a close relationship with my children and siblings in which I enjoy nothing more than spending family quality time and laugher.”
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The “No Longer Broken” Women’s Conference was birthed in 2013 and is still growing stronger each year. This is truly Pastor Dee's love child. It means everything to her as it has given her so much hope and inspiration. When Pastor Dee started to dig into the meaning of being no longer broken and hearing the stories from so many women, it made her realize that their pains were real. In fact, their stories were like hers and it meant everything to them to be able to tell their story as it brought inner healing to their souls. They all have similar stories yet have a different outcome and a different level of pain in how it affects each of them. But with the seeking of God, the pain and the brokenness doesn't have to stay hidden anymore. The sharing of stories is where the true healing begins. Pastor Dee thanks God for giving her the “No Longer Broken” Women’s Conference. She has been able to meet some great women who are rising up. She has connected and watched women for nine years come in broken, then looks up to see them overcome the pain, the hurt, and now on platforms pulling up other women. Making a stand to live and not die. She has watched women cry together, laugh together, joke together, knit together, become best friends and sisters in Christ. This year’s conference will be very unique as women are coming from all walks of life, and from all over the world just to be a part of this event. “To finally say that the conference has now reached international levels is big. This is truly the work of the Lord and the blessings of His grace.” In closing, Pastor Dee gives her Community Oscar closing remarks as she wanted to thank all of the people who have supported her and made an everlasting impression on her life. She wanted to recognize all of her network of pastors, her entire music ministry, the praise team, her sister Vivian, brothers Larry and Kenneth Whack, and the list of so many others. Just remember, the people that God places in your path are not by accident nor coincidence. It is by design. Amen!
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Community News Flash
BIPOC Mental Health Month – YOU MATTER By Marjorie M. Middleton July is BIPOC (Black and Indigenous People and Other People of Color) mental health month. Every day is time to take time for self, but it is important to have the focus on this imperative topic, thankfully at least once during the year. Resources are readily available. Education is available. There are opportunities to hear the stories of others’ mental health struggles and share one’s own. BIPOC’s experience many hardships, which include discrimination, inequity and oppression. Trauma is real and present in our community and we must face the problems, while learning to alleviate them through acknowledgement and counseling. It’s about time to care for self and community. As a group of people, we suffer from the collective trauma of our brutal history, intergenerational trauma, and present ongoing inequalities.
Amongst these traumas, which affect our mental health, are unemployment, incarceration and health disparities. Continued police shootings of Black people and the pandemic add to the stress, also. These issues have certainly led to mental health issues. We must stand up for ourselves and take advantage of opportunities for support and counseling, as well as demand health care professionals utilize resources that will assist them in better serving our community. Multicultural competency is key. During this month, and every month, encourage friends and family to seek mental health support, even if they don’t believe they need it.
We can all use a little extra boost towards living our best lives. There are many support groups available to utilize for the BIPOC community. Staying safe and healthy includes education and support. This month, and each month after, take the time to join a group that supports your mental health. We can be stronger and happier in a topsy-turvy world. Peace! Below are a few you may want to look into:
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Community News Flash
NATIONAL
ICE CREAM DAY by Marjorie M. Middleton
Summer is here; the sun is hot and we are ready for some scrumptious, cool treats! What better time to try a plethora of yummy, delicious concoctions in the form of ice cream? In the United States, the third Sunday of July commemorates National Ice Cream Day. Did you know that Americans eat the most ice cream of any other nation on the planet? Interesting! Let’s dig a little deeper. National Ice Cream Day, and month, are American laws officially signed into existence in 1984 by then President, Ronald Reagan. Originally it was a proclamation for just that year, 1984, but has been held up every year since. There are many stories and events surrounding ice cream. The first home ice cream maker was in 1843, an invention of Philadelphian Nancy Johnson An ice cream sundae weighing in at more than 24 tons is the largest, so far, in history Vanilla is the number 1 selling ice cream in the U.S., followed closely by chocolate Long Beach, California eats the most ice cream in the U.S.!
There is an Ice Cream Trail that is notably held every year between May 28-September 30. So, if just one day, July 17th this year, or one month does not satisfy your desire for this delectable item, try the Trail. Some of the Maryland creamery locations are below: 1. Broom’s Bloom Dairy in Bel Air 2. Chesapeake Bay Farms, Inc. in Berlin 3. Delightful Dairy in Williamsport 4. South Mountain Ice Cream Shop in Frederick Creamalicious, an ice cream Black owned brand was created by Chef Liz Rogers, and is one of only a few minority owned companies. Porch Light Peach Cobbler is one of the popular ice creams; many Walmart and Target stores sell Roger’s deserts. Ice cream is made from milk or cream, with a flavored sweetener, like sugar. And, It has an added ingredient like a spice or fruit. In a fast paced world the sweet and savory taste of ice cream can be relaxing and satisfying. During the month of July, and especially on July 17th, grab a bowl and a spoon and make your way to the freezer for a big scoop of ice cream. Sit down in your favorite chair and relax. Or, grab the car keys and make your way to your favorite ice cream shop and sit in a nearby park and enjoy. It’s always a challenge to try to eat all the sticky, sweet treats before it melts down your fingers and your face. Ice cream, ice cream…ENJOY! 40 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium
Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium by Kyonna F. Brown
CURSE BREAKERS For generations African Americans have been known to live in a paradigm. Go to school, get good grades, and head off to college. The focus has been on building to create a plan for the future. Well, I want to encourage our youth that they don’t have to plan for the long future but their today. As I look around social media, I see a handful of youth entrepreneurs building their own businesses for today. I want to send the message out to the dreamers that it can be their reality. A couple of months ago I was tasked with putting together a ministry outreach program for my church, Matthew 6:33 Global Ministries under the direction of Apostle Veryl Howard. There was a list that the leaders had to choose from. I saw one that intrigued me. It was a youth program. I had to figure out how I would connect. I was quickly reminded of a summer program that I used to do called Miss Young Entrepreneur. It’s been several years since I have been able to do that. I quickly thought about incorporating boys to head up the upcoming event, Curse Breakers Youth Entrepreneurship symposium. This time instead of having all adults speak I wanted to gather the youth to speak to the youth. I want the youth audience to see people their age killing the entrepreneurship game and give them hope to break any generational curse of the paradigm that is in the world today. I want them to know that, yes, they can be a kid boss too. Vision & Purpose Community Magazine 41
Kyonna F. Brown (KFB): Tell us about yourself? Nia Sparrow (NS): Hello, my name is Nia Sparrow and I am the owner of Butterfly Cosmetics. I am homeschooled and I'm in the 6th grade. KFB: Tell us about your business? NS: I started Butterfly Cosmetics because I have always had a fascination with lipgloss and I wanted to do something that would make girls feel beautiful. KFB: Who inspires you? NS: My mom inspires me because she always makes a way out of tough situations. KFB: What are your future goals? NS: My future goals are to have my products sold in stores all over the world.
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Kyonna F. Brown (KFB): Tell us about yourself? Caylin Davis (CD): My name is Cailyn Davis and I am 12 years old. I am homeschooled and am currently in the 6th grade while taking some 7th grade classes. KFB: Who inspires you? CD: I have always been inspired by my mom who has multiple businesses, she works hard and ever since I was a baby, I've watched her build and run her businesses while helping other people do the same thing. KFB: Tell us about your business? CD: BETA IOTA IOTA BETA, INC is a Community Sorority that I formed when I was 11. I formed Beauty Is In The Books book club at the age of 7 but over the years I felt it just wasn't enough and wanted more. My overall concern is being able to get rid of the mean girl mentality one girl at a time so I decided I wanted to start a SISTERHOOD that would provide a safe space for girls all over the world. KFB: Tell us about your future goals. CD: My future goals are to have BIIB chapters all over the world while making a positive impact on every girl that becomes my sister. Vision & Purpose Community Magazine 43
Kyonna F. Brown (KFB): Tell us about yourself. Chloe Bene (CB): I am 11 years old but started my business, ChloeBeneCompany, LLC at 9 years old during the COVID-19 Pandemic. KFB: What is your opinion about school? CB: A formal education is critically important to be successful because you get to learn and understand all the details about your profession and/or hobbies. KFB: Who inspires you? CB: My parents inspire me every day, and inspire me to see the bigger picture, dream big, do things to my full potential and be a great person. lso, my entire family inspires me rom my grandmothers, Aunts, Uncles, cousins and especially my Auntie Veryl. She inspires me because she travels the world, has her own company and receives a lot of recognition and awards. KFB: Tell us about your company. CB: Chloe-Bene Company LLC was launched in December 2020, started with my dream of making lip gloss. I sold a lot of products then the pandemic happened and I shifted my business strategy to selling fashion accessories, eyewear, satin bonnets, hand-made earrings/ bracelets, and young entrepreneur essentials because masks were mandated by the federal government so there wasn't a high demand for lipgloss during this time. My company will blossom into a platform for young entrepreneurs to network business ideas, grow in our prospective industries and encourage one another. Visit www.chloebenecompanyllc.com to learn and support my business. KFB: What does your company mean to you? CB: Having my own company means the world to me. It feels so good to understand the ins and outs of having a business then to receive support from family, friends and new customers makes it all the more gratifying. KFB: Who do you want to inspire? CB: I want to inspire anyone who thinks their dreams can't come true. No matter your age, everyone should always strive for their goals and dreams. KFB: What are your future goals? CB: My future goal is to be a successful honor roll middle schooler and dance major at my creative and performing arts school. Continue to learn the saxophone and piano. Expand my business to make it a household name. Be a part of community service events. Attend an HBCU, thè Alabama State University as a double major. 44 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
Kyonna F. Brown (KFB): How old are you? Errol Lowe (EL): I am 16 years old. KFB: What are your views about school? EL: My opinion about school is it’s a great way to learn about what you wanna do in life and the goals you want to achieve. The only way you can do that is if you put in the time and work for yourself at school which means good grades and being on time and great attendance. KFB: Who inspires you? EL: My mom inspires me to get up every day to get up and do my best. She’s a hard-working woman and I take after her a lot for example I have my own business called lo_creation_ every day it’s hard trying to keep a business going at the age of 16 but when I look at my mom and seeing how hard she works makes me go harder plus my customers are really nice people and supportive.
KFB: Tell us about your business. EL: My small business all started after the loss of my brother. In August of 2020 I dropped my first product sold out pretty quickly. I always had doubts that people wouldn’t buy from me and wouldn’t like some of my products. I got a lot of hate from some of my closest friends. They didn’t wanna see me win or achieve anything. Lo_creation_ is a jewelry making business and more. They are top products. Custom charm bracelets also have waist bands and custom chains. KFB: What does your company mean to you? EL: What does my company mean to me? Is it all about fun and fashion designing? I feel like if you like to create stuff and fashion you should go to school for that. When I think of my business, I think of being yourself and creative and family. KFB: Who do you want to inspire? EL: I want to inspire children and teens and adults too to go out and follow their dreams to be successful. KFB: What are your future goals? EL: My future goals are to go to college for business/ management and become a real estate agent.
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Kyonna F. Brown (KFB): Tell us about your students. Brittany King (BK): My students range from the age of 3 to 65. I believe dance is very significant in our health, wellbeing and overall happiness no matter what age you are. Dancing enriches us, and enriches our communities. KFB: Tell us about your education. BK: I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Marketing, a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education, and have over Twenty years of preparation and experience as a professional dancer and teacher that Dance Therapy Arts has built upon. KFB: Who inspires you? BK: My ancestors inspire me to have perseverance and to continue to create a culture that can be appreciated and valued. KFB: Tell us about your company. BK: We believe that dance is one of the most beautiful expressions of one’s feelings. At Dance Therapy Arts we focus on the betterment of the community using dance as a beneficial tool for stress management, self-confidence and wellness. Our goal is to develop social and emotional learning skills through dance involving understanding and managing emotions, feelings, setting positive goals, empathy for others, engaging in positive relationships and solving problems effectively. We believe that movement is fundamental to life, and that dance provides an opportunity for holistic development. We combine the discipline and technique of dance in a happy and creative environment. We believe that the years of individual attention devoted to our students is extremely important and will have a positive effect on their lives in later years.
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KFB: What does your company mean to you? BK: My dance company means everything to me! It's my baby. I have seen it grow from an idea to reality. Having my company, I feel so blessed that God has brought me students and parents that believe in the vision of DTA. Without my company I would feel lost. It's my motivation and purpose in life to share the gift of dance with my community. I feel honored to be able to hire from within my community that can help to fuel job opportunities in neighborhoods of color. KFB: Who do you want to inspire? BK: If I can inspire one child or one adult through the power of dance then I have done my job! Our mission at Dance Therapy Arts is to inspire our students and communities to obtain healing through creative expression through dance. Dance can inspire you as it reduces stress levels, improves relaxation, creates stronger bones & muscles and a healthier balanced lifestyle. KFB: What are your future goals? BK: Our future goal is to be able to offer our Dance Therapy Arts program to schools, as we believe that dance can improve children's academics, social and emotional development.
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All Things Fashion
Ping The Ante! This term is used to increase your focus and energy towards a situation. It is also used to raise the risk and rewards of a potential task. We at Tony Turner Unleashed Hair Care Products are "Upping The Ante!" That is Antioxidants. Antioxidants are very important! They help to fight Free Radicals. What are Free Radicals? Free Radicals are molecules that are missing an electron. Everything is made of Atoms and Molecules. These atoms and molecules have negative and positive charges. When a molecule is missing an electron it seeks to make itself whole. It will get it by any means necessary. Yes, these molecules are gangster. They will pull their missing electron from any molecules that have it. Guess who is made of atoms and molecules. You guessed it, we are. They are called Free Radicals who come to take your positive charges. You have the electron it needs, so you are on the menu. Where are Free Radicals found? They are everywhere, and yes they are in your body. Some free radicals are produced by natural biological processes, some are introduced from external sources. Tobacco smoke, toxins, and pollutants are sources that produce free radicals that damage cells, proteins, and change the chemical structure of DNA. This is essentially the aging process. If you can, visualize a piece of fruit on the counter rotting. You are watching free radicals at work. The lively fruit is cut off from its’ life source so it begins oxidation. It starts to decompose internally and externally. We are dealing with this process from day one. So, how do we combat an ever present enemy? We consume our natural armor, Antioxidants are also found in nature. Eating nutritious foods, like colorful fruits and vegetables, herbs,and teas can give you a healthy immune system that reduces the effects of free radicals. Quercetin is an antioxidant found in apples, citrus fruits, and red wine. This antioxidant kills abnormal cells while keeping healthy cells intact. Not only are Antioxidants good for food. They are also good for the body and the hair and scalp. We use ingredients rich in antioxidants to strengthen the hair and protect from the damage caused from free radicals. Antioxidants help to fight inflammation which is one of the leading causes of hair loss. Vitamins C and E, are antioxidants,they can lower the chance of cataracts.
How antioxidants work against free radicals
They can slow the buildup of protein that clouds the lens. To everything there is a balance. Some free radicals are helpful in the process of cell division. But, when the body has too many free radicals present they cause harm to the body's immune system and cell production. Radiation is also a source for free radicals. Yes, we deal with radiation everywhere, our cell phones, microwaves, and televisions. It's even in our fast food. Processed foods contain free radicals. 48 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
The old saying "you are what you eat" is very real and has lasting consequences. So knowing is half the battle. We must be careful to balance our diet so that we can offset our continuous interaction with free radicals. Also we must be conscious of our surroundings because pollution is everywhere. It's in the air, water, and ground. Getting fresh air, spring water, and sunlight is essential to building a healthy environment for cell reproduction. Why is it so hard for us to maintain a healthy environment which would offset the damage caused by free radicals? Big industry, we have a need to please the population and make big profits. We want things and we want them fast. So for the sake of innovation we often push health and safety aside especially at the expense of the lower classes of people. Money and Power are mostly the root of this disparity. It's a vicious cycle. These low income areas often become the testing areas for items and issues that breed free radicals. For example as earlier stated Antioxidants are found in delicious foods like leafy green vegetables and colorful fruits. Now, cut on your television, count how many commercials you see about fast food which are packed with preservatives and processed foods filled with free radicals. Notice the cheaper price of these fast food options. Who is buying these meals? Ok, now look at the grocery stores in low income areas. You probably will realize in those areas there is probably a food desert. A food desert means a lack of healthy food full of antioxidants. Now look at the quality of the foods in those areas. Now look at the property value in those areas. You might be amazed. You might find a Whole Foods Market on the way. The taxes on the properties are starting to rise. All of a sudden there are new people in the neighborhood. A lot of revitalisation. Where did people of color go? Maybe they are at the many Dialysis centers now in those neighborhoods. We have high blood pressure, sugar diabetes, cancer heart attacks, strokes and infant mortality, and now we are at highest risk to die from Covid-19 because of preexisting conditions. Money, Money, Money. Some bodies make money off of someone else's demise. I could go on and on. Then let us look at who else is making the money in these areas. There are drug dealers, legal and illegal. People are getting high to release the stressors of trauma, It's a lucrative business for some, destruction for all. This has probably broken more homes and put more people of color in incarceration than anything. But who makes money off that? I would bet you they come from the same people who profited off of our ancestors who were in slavery. Who fed us slop then. Again, you are what you eat. Then there is the radiation. We got all kinds of waves moving through the area, sound waves, gamma waves, and microwaves all are some form of radiation. These waves agitate molecules to move. Some of this wave promotes free radicals. Remember free radicals are molecules that have a need to be made whole by taking an electron from another molecule or atom. This can also make other molecules turn into free radicals. This causes things to decompose. Life and Death is all in what you eat and what you surround yourself with. I never knew by studying my hair care products. I would uncover so much revelation.This is one of the reasons Tony Turner Unleashed Hair Care Products is ushered into promoting Antioxidants as being the healing agent of our hair and scalp. But more importantly, it has to do with living a whole life which makes things Holy. Thanks for your time. Be Blessed. Tony T
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All Things Fashion
Upping The Ante!
When you talk about healthy hair, what comes to your mind first? A healthy hair care journey has so many variables to take into consideration and consistency is key. Healthy hair starts with a healthy diet and proper hydration. Healing and hair growth starts from within a healthy body. As we fill our bodies with foods that are rich in vitamins, antioxidants and protein. That's the same thing we use in our hair care products. Tony Turner Unleashed Hair Care Products & Salon takes the same passion and experience we share from behind the chair and share it with our clients and also to our consumers who patronize our hair care products. Tony Turner’s Unleashed Hair Care Products are rich in natural plant extracts, vitamins and antioxidants. Our line of hair care products help cleanse, moisturize and protect from start to finish. The ingredients we use have been used for centuries to help restore and treat hair care. Make your hair care routine relaxing and healthy with Tony Turner Unleashed Hair Care Products. The Martini Soothing Shampoo & Conditioner is rich in Peppermint & Lavender oils which helps stimulate hair growth and circulation, works to relieve dry scalp and protects against hair loss. Lavender oil helps to calm and relax. A spa and self-care experience.
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Arts and Media
100 Year Vibrations of Black Arts and Blanche Sumpter My grandmother, Blanche Sumpter, was born on August 22, 1922 in the Sea Island area of St. Helena Island, South Carolina as the only child to Grace Sumpter. As her children, family and friends prepare to celebrate her 100th birthday, I reflect on some themes within the arts that have accompanied her since the beginning of her life's journey.
By Seth Washington
In the same year of her birth, poet Langston Hughes wrote the words, "Hold fast to dreams", the opening line to his poem entitled, Dreams. No doubt that Grandma was a dreamer who seemingly, from day one, dreamed of something more. Somehow she knew that life offered more than the endless fields of crops that needed tending and the seafood factory that offered reliable work but not much in the way of a future. This was a tough time, in general, as the nation was recovering from the recession of 1921, the concepts of ease of use and user friendly applied to almost nothing and the term modern perhaps had yet to be birthed. As one can imagine, the odds were even steeper for a young African American woman attempting to navigate the southern region that was, at that time, quite proud of it's racially oppressive, Jim Crow policies and practices. The year before my grandmother was born, singer Ethel Waters permeated the atmosphere with the song entitled, "There'll Be Some Changes Made" and that same year, the musical, "Shuffle Along" forever changed the aesthetic landscape of Broadway theatre.
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Grandma believed in education. During her childhood, school was free up to the eighth grade. Beyond that year, high school required tuition, a fairly impossible feat for her single mother, Grace, during Great Depression era St. Helena Island, South Carolina. The black teachers in the segregated school system took enhanced pride in cultivating a sense of self worth in the their African American students, quite similar to the sense of value that undergrads experience today at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). As such, Grandma Sumpter appreciated the meaning of a high school education, though she did not attend, and years later as a parent she vowed that all of children would at least complete the twelfth grade. In so doing, she helped to change the trajectory of her family. Another significant change occurred in the 1950's when as a single mother herself, my grandmother moved her family from South Carolina to Stamford, Connecticut. It was a change of scenery, pace and culture, to say the least. Similarly, the jazz music of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake featured in Shuffle Along forever changed the rhythms of Broadway theatre, while the up-tempo dance routines of the same play set new standards for the way showgirls would move on stage. Likewise, opportunities for an improved life, even if slightly at first, was an investment in her family's future that Grandma Sumpter was willing to make. The racist minstrel themes within the narrative of Shuffle Along were and still are criticized. In a similar way, moving from south to north didn't fully elevate African Americans beyond the structure of oppression. Yet, Grandma Sumpter was undeterred. Inner toughness was a prerequisite during her youth and she would in later years remark that she feared no man, black or white. Grandma bought that same fire with her to the well to do white owned residences of Greenwich, Connecticut that she was hired to clean. She educated while cleaning and in one instance had to let the lady of the house know that she was not there to clean up behind dirty people. In that same way, she required her children to pick-up the litter near their apartment with the lesson being that you can make a change right were you are.
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The most popular movie the year Grandma Sumpter was born was Robin Hood, wherein the claim to fame of the main character was that he stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Grandma is not and was not a thief, yet she absolutely believed in doing what she could to change not only her life but to assist others in doing the same. She revealed skill at networking and joined various social organizations. Through these connections Grandma landed a job in housing. In this position, she was able to lend timely assistance to other folks migrating from the south, helping to get them acclimated to their new life in the north. Certainly, her school teachers from St. Helena Island would have been proud to know that their student was making a positive difference for home folk. During all of this time, Grandma and her mother, Grace, together ensured that my mother and her siblings had an effective home life. They made quite a team and were respected as resources of strength as well as wisdom amongst their circle of friends and colleagues. Grace, also known affectionately as Mama and Nana, passed away in the late 1970s. It was truly a tough loss for the family. Thankfully, by that time, all of Grandma's children were grown and on their own with high school diplomas, of course. This year her children, themselves retirees, are planning their mother's centennial celebration scheduled for this August, 2022. As a family member, I can attest how inspiring her life is and how amazing it is to realize that Grandma literally knows a century's worth of history. Her journey as a single mother couldn't have been easy, even with Nana's help, and there must have been moments when she felt some of Mamie Smith's, "Lonesome Mama's Blues" but instead she would passionately sing James Weldon Johnson's "Lift Ev'ry Voice" as a proud member of the NAACP and long time member of Union Baptist Church. A year before her coming forth into this world, Langston Hughes published a poem for the NAACP entitled "The Negro Speaks Of Rivers". Blanche Sumpter has known many rivers in her life, has crossed some, walked beside a few and even helped others make successful crossings. Like the poem says, her soul has indeed grown deep like the rivers. As such, and along with her children, Girdie, George, Nathan, Ethel, Carolyn and Joan, her entire family, friends and community in Connecticut, South Carolina and beyond, we give well deserved honor in this, her one hundredth season of dreams, change and progress. 54 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
Jason 7/6 Happy Birthday handsome, respectful, responsible, trustworthy, smart Godson! Love Always, Your Moms (Kristina & Michelle)
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July Happy Birthday Shout Outs
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