Vox Magazine 1.25.18

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SHADES OF WINTER

Find the ideal sunglasses to weather the season’s sun PAGE 5

TIMELESS TALES

Local professors share five must-read classics PAGE 17

Discovering her haven

For Karena Miller and over 100 other adults with disabilities, the nonprofit Woodhaven offers life-changing support and the opportunity for independence PAGE 8 PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF

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IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE Meet Karena Miller, a 39-year-old woman who goes to work, volunteers with children and most importantly doesn’t let cerebral palsy interfere with her day-to-day activities.

Woodhaven, a community for adults with disabilities, helps Miller lead this life. PAGE 8 NEWS & INSIGHT Brenna Naufel, founder of the jewelry business Ravensnap, transforms personal loss into love through her partnership with the charity One Simple Wish. PAGE 4

ONLINE

January 25, 2018 VOLUME 20 ISSUE 2 | PUBLISHED BY THE COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN

TABLETOP TRENDS Personal chef Gaby Weir divulges how to indulge this year. Check out recipes for ramen, grain bowls and pumpkin soup that are sure to tantalize your taste buds and impress your Instagram followers.

THE SCENE Choose sleek over squint this winter. Whether you’re skiing or shopping, these sunglasses experts have styles for you to sport. PAGE 5

DÍAZ & DIVERSITY Activist and author Junot Díaz took to the stage of Jesse Auditorium to discuss white supremacy, privilege, sexual assault and his hope for the future despite our circumstances.

Before you pop it in your mouth, they have to pop it in their kitchens. Owners of gourmet popcorn businesses share the inner workings of their operations. PAGE 6

CRANK UP THE (TIDAL) VOLUME The band members of Tidal Volume call St. Louis their home, but listen to them explain why CoMo is a close second in this video.

MUSIC Columbia might not be bold on a U.S. map, but it sure is bold in its music taste. Three past and current booking managers for Cafe Berlin explain how they entice musicians to perform in a lesser-known city. PAGE 16

EDITOR’S LETTER

ARTS & BOOKS Make your high school English teacher proud, and finally read these five worth-your-while classic novels. PAGE 17 Q&A First, it was simply an idea brewing; now, it’s actual coffee. Lakota Coffee Company owner Skip DuCharme explains how his business has remained successful for 25 years. PAGE 18 COVER DESIGN: CHRISTINE ORZECHOWSKI COVER PHOTO: OLIVIA LIU

MADISON FLECK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

320 LEE HILLS HALL, COLUMBIA, MO 65211 EDITORIAL: 573-884-6432 vox@missouri.edu ADVERTISING: 573-882-5714 CIRCULATION: 573-882-5700 TO SUBMIT A CALENDAR EVENT: email vox@missouri.edu or submit via online form at voxmagazine.com.

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Moving away from home is scary. When I was 18 and went to college, I was only a couple of hours from my hometown. Even though I could drive home and back in a day if I wanted, it felt like my family ­­— my support system — was absent. Now, I’m about 10 hours from my hometown, and I see my family only a couple of times per year. Of course I miss them, but it’s my support system here in Columbia that gets me through. They’ve become my family away from family.

Karena Miller left her home when she was 19, but it wasn’t because she wanted to. She moved into Woodhaven, a local nonprofit that provides support for adults with developmental disabilities, after her mother became unable to provide the care Miller’s cerebral palsy required. Her move was nerve-racking to say the least: She had to learn to live in a new environment with people she didn’t know and find a way to get the help she needed on top of that.

More than two decades later, Miller still calls Woodhaven her home because that’s what it is: home. The 300-plus staff of Woodhaven is more like a family to Miller, and they make sure she has everything she needs to go about her life.

Miller’s family is no longer made up of just blood relatives. Many of them are the people who see her and talk to her every day at Woodhaven. They’ve become her support system here in Columbia. They’ve become her family away from family.

VOX STAFF Editor: Madison Fleck Deputy Editor: Sten Spinella Managing Editor: Kelsie Schrader Digital Managing Editor: Brooke Vaughan Multimedia Editor: Meg Vatterott Online Editor: Brea Cubit Creative Director: Keegan Pope Art Directors: Tong Li, Christine Orzechowski Photo Editor: Annaliese Nurnberg News & Insight Editors: Samantha Brown, Morgan Niezing, Erika Stark The Scene Editors: Alex Edwards, Annamarie Higley, Margaux Scott, Peyton Stableford Music Editors: Jessica Heim-Brouwer, Anna Maples, Hannah Turner, Chloe Wilt Arts & Books Editors: Kat Cua, Kayla McDowell, Rachel Phillips, Ashley Skokan Digital Editors: McKenna Blair, Amber Campbell, Michael Connolly, Brooke Kottmann, Lauren Lombardo, Megan Schaltegger, Rosemary Siefert, Micki Wagner, Bobbi Watts Designers: Corin Cesaric, Annamarie Higley, Tong Li, Jennifer Litherland, Lidia Moore, Morgan Seibel, Rebecca Smith Multimedia Producers: Kaylin Burris, Cassandra Florido, Kat Jennings, Megan Liz Smith, Yixuan Wang, Maoyan Wei Editorial Director: Heather Lamb Executive Editor: Jennifer Rowe Digital Director: Sara Shipley Hiles Office Manager: Kim Townlain

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PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF OLIVIA LIU AND PIXABAY

RADAR

Vox’s take on the talk of the week

GET OUT OF TOWN HEARD IT THROUGH THE VINE People say you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. And boy, did we feel that when Vine shut down.

Lucky for us, Vine co-creator Dom Hofmann is giving us a second shot with the beloved app. Hofmann said in a tweet this past Wednesday that Vine2 will launch this year when “it’s warmer.” Hurry up, spring!

It’s true that there’s power in numbers. The Women’s March celebrated its second anniversary this past weekend with over 4 million participants marching worldwide.

More women will be on the ballot in 2018, too. According to New York Magazine, 49 women are looking to run for Senate, a number 68 percent higher than it was this time last year, proving that a woman’s place is in the House and the Senate. Here are some local women running for office in Boone County.

Jordan Peele, writer/director of psychological thriller Get Out, became the first African-American to be nominated for The Oscar Trifecta: best original screenplay, best director and best picture. Wanna catch some Oscar noms before the big day? Here are a few playing around town.

Call Me By Your Name Ragtag Cinema (Jan. 24–Feb. 1) Loving Vincent Jesse Wrench Auditorium (Jan. 31) The Big Sick Jesse Wrench Auditorium (Feb. 1)

WOMEN IN THE STREETS (AND ON THE BALLOT) TRACY GONZALES Assoc. Circuit Judge (Division IX) BRIANNA LEMON Boone County Clerk STEPHANIE MORRELL Assoc. Circuit Judge (Division IX) ANN PETERS Boone County Presiding Commissioner

Antonio Sanchez Known for: The score of Birdman Grammy wins: 4 When/where: Feb. 8, 7 p.m., Missouri Theatre How much: $28–38

GRAMMY WINNERS TAKE ON COLUMBIA It’s Grammy time again. Once you’re done tweeting about this year’s award show, which airs Sunday, check out these Grammy-winning performers live in Columbia through the University Concert Series.

Chicago Known for: Great hair, even better ’80s power ballads Grammy wins: 1 When/where: March 11, 8 p.m., Jesse Auditorium How much: $81.50–137.50

THE NUMBER ONE RADIO STATION IN COLUMBIA! LISTEN LIVE AT Q1061.COM • DOWNLOAD THE Q 106.1 MOBILE APP

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Known for: Being “White & Nerdy” Grammy wins: 4 When/where: June 8, 8 p.m., Jesse Auditorium How much: $55–87.50

/Q1061Hits @Q1061

Written by: Sam Brown, Annamarie Higley, Rachel Phillips, Kat Cua PHOTOS COURTESY OF AP IMAGES AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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NEWS & INSIGHT

A nonprofit state of mind Healing from personal loss is at the heart of Ravensnap, a new jewelry business based in Columbia BY CAMDEN JONES For Brenna Naufel, building a business with an emphasis on philanthropy was a chance to turn her personal losses into something positive.

This past summer, Naufel founded Ravensnap, an online shop for women’s jewelry, which helped her recover from a miscarriage and the losses of three stillborn children. Fifty percent of Ravensnap’s net profits go to One Simple Wish, a national organization that helps fulfill dreams for children in foster care by connecting donors to a child in need.

To purchase: www.ravensnap.com Items include: necklaces, earrings Price: $10-20

Naufel was originally planning to try a one-for-one model, the same style of business as the shoe brand TOMS, but she wanted to provide something more practical than jewelry. Naufel’s partnership with One Simple Wish allows her to do just that. “I (can) just

kind of give wherever there’s need,” Naufel says.

Many businesses in Columbia, such as Manor Roofing and Restoration Services, strive to give back to the community by partnering with local charities. Nick Allen, owner and founder, says Manor Roofing donates 1 percent of its sales to various charities around mid-Missouri, including Job Point, an employment center that provides career planning and job-placement assistance for those with disabilities. However, for Naufel, Ravensnap’s model has a deep personal connection.

After Naufel experienced the stillbirth of her daughter in June 2016, she wanted an outlet for the love she had stored up for her baby. “(I) just kind of was thinking, ‘How can I channel that in a creative way that helps other children?’” she says. That’s when she created Ravensnap.

In November 2016, she experienced a miscarriage, and later gave birth to stillborn twin sons. “It created a few delays and hiccups along the way as

Brenna Naufel, founder of a jewelry business called Ravensnap, started partnering with national organization One Simple Wish after her first child was stillborn.

we had to personally go through more losses,” she says.

Danielle Gletow, One Simple Wish’s founder and executive director, says most businesses that partner with charities do so because they have personal ties.

“I think it’s important that (partnership) is genuine,” Gletow says. “(Naufel) is definitely one of those people that’s doing this for the right reasons.”

As for Ravensnap, Naufel says partnership with One Simple Wish has allowed her to fulfill three or four children’s wishes so far, which included shoes, zoo passes and a nail-and-makeup set. “It’s just really neat to think about them getting that,” Naufel says. “That it’ll at least bring a smile to their faces for a little bit.”

February 1-4 | February 8-11 | February 15-18 2018

“Some hurts never heal.”

Adults Seniors Students Thursdays Brian Yorkey music by Tom Kitt

book and lyrics by

14 $ 12 $ 12 $ 10

$

* this production contains mature content and explicit language

1800 Nelwood Drive; Columbia, MO | 573.474.3699 | www.cectheatre.org 4

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PHOTO BY ELLIE CHERRYHOMES

THE SCENE

Make a stylish spectacle this season Rock a sunny accessory with these winter-ready eyewear recommendations

BY AMANDA POSTMA

you can look cute,” she says. “They cover up a lot of your face; they’re super fitted; they’re oversized and fun.”

Oakley CROSSRANGE PRIZM Snow, $146.40; Wildfox Airfox, $99

Winter means it’s time to don the puffy coats and embark on chilly adventures.

You shiver, squint and see your breath in the air when you walk outside. To save your eyes, don’t put away the sunglasses just yet. Between snowy glares and temperature drops, you’ll need the shield. For some chic and savvy tips, local fashion gurus share their suggestions for shades to rock during any winter outing.

Hide that glare As snow season in the Midwest ramps up, the glare of the sun reflecting off the snow becomes a looming problem. Both Pestle and Volynets recommend a pair of glasses with UV protection and a polarized lens such as Maui Jim. “They’re dad glasses but such good quality,” Volynets says.

Hit the slopes For the avid skier, a strong and sturdy pair of glasses is important. Marina Volynets, manager at Sunglass Hut, suggests a sport-specific pair of Oakleys because you can choose from options such as single-lens frames and shatterproof lenses. If you want to look stylish while schussing down the mountain, Jennifer Pestle, manager at Cha Boutique, recommends an oversized aviator from Wildfox to protect your face. “When you’re in puffy snow gear,

Avoid a foggy dilemma We all know the struggle of not being able to see when the lenses of our glasses fog up while moving from outside to inside. To combat the problem, Volynets recommends Oakley and Maui Jim sunglasses. “The lenses will have a hydrophobic coat, so they don’t fog up,” she says. Oakley also sells an anti-fog marker so you can apply the hydrophobic coat on any pair of sunglasses.

ILLUSTRATION BY KEEGAN POPE

Maui Jim Sugar Beach, $169; Ray-Ban Aviator Flash Lenses, $203

Oakley Nanoclear Hydrophobic lens cleaner kit, $16; TYR Anti-fog spray, $3.99

You don’t have to sacrifice fashion for function this winter. Eyewear companies such as Oakley and Maui Jim combine the two for a variety of frames and lenses.

Give back If you like supporting brands with a charitable mission, Pestle says DIFF Eyewear promotes a good cause. The brand donates a pair of reading glasses to someone in need every time a pair of sunglasses is purchased, and the company

is endorsed by celebrities and influencers such as Jesse James Decker and Khloé Kardashian. “This brand got big from being on Instagram,” Pestle says.

DIFF Eyewear Khloé Kardashian koko + pale gold mirror lens, $85; Warby Parker Laurel, $95

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THE SCENE

Support more than 15,000 Special Olympics Missouri athletes and...

LET YOUR INNER

ZEUS ZEUS LOOSE

Columbia, Bass Pro Shops Lake March 3, 2018 Lutz@SOMO.org 573.635.1660 The Polar Plunge is one of many events hosted by law enforcement to benefit their charity of choice, Special Olympics Missouri.

All proceeds benefit year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

MISSOURI

SOMissouri

SOMissouri

PlungeMO

SOMissouri FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS MISSOURI

Register and fundraise online at

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Some design elements from FreePik.com

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Business is popping Local gourmet popcorn shop owners talk flavors, entrepreneurship and technique BY KRISTIN BLAKE Cooking popcorn at home is simple: remove the plastic, face the bag right side up, and cook for two minutes.

Microwave popcorn takes minimal effort, but the gourmet popcorn scene follows a different recipe. Three local businesses explain the ins and outs of the popcorn biz.

GoPo Brooke Bartlett, co-founder of GoPo, visited the shop Plume in hopes of renting out the local gift store’s kitchen.

She and her husband had started their popcorn business in 2013, but they needed a kitchen to work in.

“Cold-asking someone you don’t know is like, ‘what?’” Bartlett says. “It just felt so illegitimate, but I was out of options.”

Four years ago, the Bartletts stood on the corner of Broadway selling their popcorn. Today, GoPo is sold at Plume, MU football games and the shop they opened in Fulton in September 2017.

Businesses must choose and test flavors before their popcorn reaches the shelves. GoPo opted for a subscription club. The couple crafted 70 flavors but currently stock six of the most popular. “(Subscribers) would give us their feedback and gave us confidence in our product,” she says.

GoPo’s four-step process includes popping the kernels in a commercial air popper, melting the sauce, mixing the popcorn in a tumbler and baking it in a convection oven.

165 E. Hoedown Drive Unit B Thurs.–Fri., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 767-0083, $2.49–14.99

What’s Poppin’!

Founders Mikal Slatton and Naomi Collier hosted a launch party at their home in February 2017. “We invited friends, family, tastemakers and other business owners from the Columbia community who had some insight about product development,” Mikal says.

“From the launch party, we got really good feedback about packaging and flavors.”

Other than an oven, stove and air popper, What’s Poppin’! gets hands-on to make the popcorn. “After we pop the popcorn, we butter and salt it, and we pre-bake it,” Collier says. “The purpose of that is so the butter seeps in, and it draws out the moisture.”

Brooke Bartlett utilizes the Plume kitchen to make gourmet popcorn for her and her husband’s business, GoPo.

Collier and Slatton use scoops and heat-resistant gloves to coat the popcorn with their stovetop-made concoctions.

“The fact that it’s (an) original recipe and handmade makes it gourmet.” whatspoppin.shop, $5–20

Osage River Popcorn “Three years ago, I drove through a snowstorm to St. Louis to buy kernels because I couldn’t run out,” says David Bird, owner of Osage River Popcorn.

“Had I not gone, I would’ve lost 12 hours of cooking time.”

Bird looks to his own cravings, employee suggestions and customer feedback for flavor ideas. “I’ve always been a chocolate mint fan, so I had to make it,” Bird says. “A woman just asked to have caramel cashew popcorn for her wedding, and we kept it ever since.”

At Osage River Popcorn, cheese popcorns are mixed in a tumbler; the caramel and other sweet popcorns are put through a mixer.

“People say this must be a fun job,” Bird says. “I say, in some ways. Making a good product is hard work. It’s just not as easy as people think, but then again, nothing is easy. ” 4540 Highway 54, Suite L5 Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 348-6611, $3–44.99

PHOTO BY MEIYING WU

FILM FEST MARCH 1-4, 2018 /COLUMBIA, MO / TRUEFALSE.ORG

PASSES NOW ON SALE

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A place to belong Local nonprofit Woodhaven and the individuals it serves build the connection between adults with disabilities and the community they live in.

BY MADI SKAHILL | PHOTOS BY OLIVIA LIU

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K

arena Miller is finishing the last few bites of her pork tenderloin dinner. A personal table raised a few inches from the dining room table is pulled in front of her electric wheelchair — known in her house as the “little red Corvette” for its cherry-red base. Miller is joined by her roommates Ellen and Pam. All three women are in their pajamas and taking the term “lazy Sunday” pretty seriously. Usually Sundays are Miller’s night to cook, but the on-call staff member, Tori, made the meal for the women tonight.

Full extension of Miller’s left arm is difficult, and it’s almost impossible for her right. But with her food closer to chest level, Miller is able to scoop the meat and green beans on her own. After Miller finishes dinner, Pam grabs both of their dishes and uses her other hand to push her wheelchair to the sink and wash the plates.

“Thank you!” Miller chimes in, filling the otherwise silent kitchen.

When Miller talks, she speaks with a bouncy inflection that lightens as she continues. She has a voice that is soft and sweet. Her fingers are locked tight unless she’s telling a story — then she talks with vibrant energy through her hands. At 39 years old, Miller’s dark-brown hair is just barely starting to gray.

She usually pulls it into a ponytail with a clean braid that falls almost to her shoulders. A morning staff member typically helps with the braided style — she likes the fact that it keeps her hair tidy all day.

Dinner is over, and Pam enjoys a bowl of ice cream before heading for the solace of Sunday Night Football alone in her room. Miller joins Tori in the living room.

The glow of the TV in the corner becomes the main source of light as the sun sets. Tori begins to nod off while Miller enjoys Happy Gilmore. Miller takes these weekend nights to relax before her week is in full swing.

Born in Sedalia, Missouri, Miller says her parents didn’t know anything was wrong with her motor skills until they noticed differences in how she and her twin sister, Katrena, were developing. At about 7 months old, Karena was unable to roll over or sit up on her own, but her sister could. Doctors dismissed it, urging Karen Wright, Karena’s mother, to remember that her daughters were born premature and might develop differently from other kids.

By the time the twins were a year old, Katrena had progressed to walking, but Karena was still unable to roll over or crawl without her mom doing it for her. Wright was frustrated with the doctors for still suggesting a clean bill of health for Karena.

After all, the two girls were twins. Although they were premature, Wright expected them to at least hit milestones at similar times. Wright disagreed with the doctors’ assessment, so testing was conducted, and at a year old, Karena was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that leads to a loss or impairment of motor function. The condition restrained Miller’s movement in the lower half of her body and limited the motor skills in her arms and hands. It is caused by abnormal formation of the brain in utero or by injury as a child’s brain is still developing. Although this can happen after a child is born, the majority of cases occur before birth or during labor. Cerebral palsy is not curable, but it’s not 10

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Karena Miller’s staff supervisor Rhonda Lock gives her a paycheck from Central Missouri Subcontracting Enterprises. It goes toward paying for accomodations at Woodhaven. Miller works half days five days per week.

At CMSE, Miller does work for companies like Schneider Electric Company. This often involves completing tasks such as assembling lug nuts. CMSE primarily employs people with mental and physical disabilities.

Staffing supervisor Lock often changes the food and water bowls for Sunshine, Miller’s parakeet. Miller helps by holding the bowl while Lock pours in the food or water.

life-threatening. Physical disabilities and needs may vary, but assistive technology, therapy and other forms of treatment can make cerebral palsy manageable, allowing most who are diagnosed to live well through their adult years.

In order to keep family support close, Miller’s family bought a trailer when she was in third grade and parked it on the edge of her grandparents’ farm in Sedalia. As she grew up, Miller and her mom discussed the idea of finding her a place to live independently once she was old enough. When Miller was 18, however, her mom injured her back, which meant any long-term plans that they had discussed went out the window. They had to find immediate help for Miller.

For almost a year, Miller bounced around among care facilities in Sedalia every few weeks; only certain homes were equipped to help with her needs. Most of the time, Miller even brought her own lift equipment, as long as the homes could at least help with her care. She stayed in rooms as they became vacant, either while other patients were out of town or between transitions of residents. She would move into a facility, and the following day her mom would be calling around town to find her next stop. “It was really awkward and frustrating, but there was no real choice,” Wright says.

“We had to have care for her.” The constant moving was exhausting. One day, Wright heard about an organization that could offer Miller more sustainable support. Miller and her mother turned their sights to Woodhaven in Columbia.

Miller was 19 when she left home and moved into Woodhaven — a nonprofit that provides support for adults with developmental disabilities. She was nervous to leave her home and her mom. Still, she thought, “Anything is better than moving every three weeks.”

Twenty years later, Woodhaven is still her home.

With more than 300 employees and about 130

volunteers, its leaders prefer to think of the group as a community-based form of support. Rooted in Columbia’s history, Woodhaven’s initiative began 53 years ago when the National Benevolent Association got a land grant in Columbia from Dr. and Mrs. Frank J. Nifong. Chris Palmer, the administrator of an NBA home for children in St. Louis, noticed a need for a group home for children with disabilities. Woodhaven Christian Home for Exceptional Children was born out of this necessity.

About 10 years after Palmer opened the home, Woodhaven was also providing services and housing to young adults with disabilities. They began building adult housing, and by 1975, the organization was serving more than 225 children and adults. Years passed, and the public school system became more

What is cerebral palsy?

About 764,000 people in the U.S. currently have cerebral palsy, according to cerebralpalsy.org. But those cases don’t all look the same.

Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage or abnormalities while the brain is still in developmental stages, such as before, during or just after birth. It can manifest as improper muscle tone, lack of movement, coordination and control, inconsistent reflexes, poor posture, impaired balance, extremely loose or extremely tight muscles that constrict function or trouble speaking or using oral movements, according to the same website. Although difficult to live with, many treatments are available, such as physical or speech therapy.

—HANNAH TURNER

accommodating toward students with disabilities.

Woodhaven saw the need to shift its focus solely to adults with disabilities. Starting in the early 1990s, Woodhaven began to move these adults into individual homes in the community.

Rhonda Lock, a staff supervisor for Miller’s house, has been with Woodhaven for 35 years and has seen the difference between group living and independent housing. “Moving into homes makes it feel more like family,” Lock says. “It just seems so much happier.”

Today, Woodhaven serves 105 adults across 55 different homes and apartments with an annual budget of roughly $11.5 million. Through a combination of state funding, local fundraising, donations and program fees, Woodhaven finds accessible housing to rent for individuals with developmental disabilities and sets them up with care based on their specific needs. Each home or apartment also has a yearly budget delineated for them by the Central Missouri Regional Office of the Department of Mental Health. Expenses like rent, groceries and utilities are taken into consideration and split up as each roommate’s monthly dues. Social Security is applied directly to these dues, as well as any wages the residents make if they are able to work a job. “We’re really just fitting in the part of the support that they really need,” says Curtis Sousley, program director for Woodhaven. “If they’re able to do a full shower themselves, let them have that opportunity — not just go in as caregiver roles and try to take away some of that independence.” Woodhaven encourages these adults to work, volunteer and contribute to the community just as much as the community does for them.

Individuality, personal choice and sense of autonomy are the cornerstones of the support that Woodhaven prides itself on. For Miller, this means assistance when using her lift to get into the shower and bed, or tasks like cooking food on the stove, which is tricky because it’s slightly out of reach and 01.25.18

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Miller’s wall is filled with stuffed animals, books, DVDs, art projects, crosses and family photos. She says the stuffed animals were given to her throughout the years and bring her comfort.

requires fine motor skills in her hands. Although a staff member might have to help cook meat on the stove, Miller can pour an assortment of vegetables into a pan to heat up, or she can throw ingredients in the slow cooker for their weekly slow-cook meal. Staff members occasionally drive her to work and back. Other days, she takes Para-Transit, which is a transportation service through Columbia’s Public Transit for people with functional disabilities. “I feel like I have a life the same as any other typical 39-year-old with their support,” Miller says.

Miller yearns to be closer to her mother, sister and brother, who all still live in Sedalia, but the 1 1/2 hour-distance apart is a small price to pay for the quality of life, Miller says.

Miller is active in the Columbia community and keeps busy volunteering through Woodhaven. She volunteered for the third time on Woodhaven’s Red 12

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Carpet Gala Fundraiser committee this summer.

The formal event, in its sixth year, benefited the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri. In the past few years, the event has typically raised several hundred dollars for the food bank’s Buddy Pack Program and donated more than 1,000 pounds of nonperishable food each time. Miller and other individuals with disabilities on the committee help plan the event, deciding which nonprofit to support, what the theme of the evening will be and everything in between. Miller is also eager to speak about the work of Woodhaven. “I like to call myself the unofficial spokesperson,” Miller says.

It’s Wednesday night, and Miller has a slow cooker meal waiting for her after work at Central Missouri Subcontracting Enterprises. She then can head to

church to help lead a volunteer program at 6 p.m.

Miller and a staff member make the under-20-minute ride once a week to Open Door Baptist Church — the distinctly triangular-shaped church off of Old Highway 63 South. Miller doesn’t recall when she first attended Open Door Baptist Church, and she admits that she doesn’t go every Sunday — in fact, she hasn’t been in nearly a year. “I know that I don’t have to go to a building to worship,” Miller says. “You can worship anywhere.” But for the past eight years, Miller has volunteered as a leader for the Awana bible club ministry, a national program for kids of all ages that is popular in many Christian churches.

Miller is in charge of the games. The kids, ranging from 4 to 10 years old, rotate their time with her. The kindergarten through second-grade group is first.

Michael Casady is in charge of setting the games up, and Miller helps any way she can, sometimes verbally

TOP: Miller volunteers with Awana Bible Club on Wednesdays and plays games such as “Cubbie Says� with the kids. Woodhaven encourages residents to embrace their communities and give back.

LEFT: Zemi Backus, a member of the Sparks, a kindergarten through second grade club of Awana, participates in games with Miller and other volunteers.

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Miller attends Open Door Baptist Church in Columbia on Wednesdays. She is more mobile in Columbia than she would be in Sedalia due to Woodhaven’s encouragement of community outreach. Although she does not attend services on Sundays, Miller has found purpose in her Wednesday volunteering.

directing the kids through their activities. Casady says he admires Miller’s commitment and her ability to create fun activities off the top of her head.

“Karena comes with a willing spirit every week; she’s ready to take on whatever game,” Casady says.

“She’s really good, and they listen to her.” Miller sits to the side while the group prepares to start the night’s opening game.

PHWEEE! A whistle sounds, and the kids are off, frantically trying to knock down tiny pumpkins with a ball in a nylon stocking. Miller smiles, watching the kids hoot and holler as their teammates run through the room. “Sometimes I think it’s a lot of fun for

the volunteers, too,” Miller says as she watches the madness. “I know I have fun.” After the first round, a young girl named Serenity slowly inches her way next to Miller. Looking curiously at the left arm of Miller’s chair, she points to the mechanism resting underneath Miller’s hand. “What’s that?” Serenity asks. “That’s my joystick,” Miller tells her. “It helps me move.” Serenity doesn’t shift her gaze, still looking puzzled. “It’s kinda like a video game,” Miller offers. That draws a smile from Serenity. She giggles and skips back in line.

The next group to come in for games is even younger. Miller and the other Awana leader, Mike, gather with the kids in a small circle in the middle of

Woodhaven begins as a home for children with disabilities, sponsored by the Christian Church of Christ

1964

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large red Dodge van. It’s no Corvette, but it gets the

job done. Miller works half days at Central Missouri

Woodhaven becomes home to more than 225 adults and children

1966 The first adult housing is built, providing a home for eight women and eight men

14

the floor. They talk about the lessons they learned that day and then break out for more games. The kids line up at the end of room, Miller calls out orders, and the frantic running begins again.“Red light!” Miller shouts.

The kids stop in their tracks, freezing in silly poses.

She pauses. “Green light!” They sprint again. The kids make their way out of the gym slower than they came in, their faces red, their breathing heavier.

“Thanks, Miss Karena!” they shout.

It’s Thursday morning now. Valerie Vallier, another Woodhaven staff member, drops Miller off in the

1975

1993 Woodhaven phases out childrenʼs services due to success in public schools providing a system for children with disabilities INFOGRAPHIC BY CHRISTINE ORZECHOWSKI

Miller often watches TV to pass the time, sometimes with other Woodhaven residents and employees. They watch shows such as the 1980s sitcom “Alf,” which Miller enjoyed growing up.

That’s the most “ important thing of all

— the self-esteem and dignity that a person gets from working and being productive.

“

Subcontracting Enterprises, a 135-person operation that provides assembly and packaging for companies.

CMSE primarily employs adults with disabilities or mental illnesses. Miller’s job is to assemble lugs for Schneider Electric Company. Miller pulls up to her personal workspace, a table raised up on two pieces of two-by-four. She’s almost ready to get started, but she is sliding slightly forward in her chair. To fix this, she uses her joystick to lean her wheelchair seat all the way back until she’s horizontal. Giving a delicate push with her left palm off the arm of her chair, Miller brings herself back to a more comfortable position. Finally resting against the back of her chair again, she tilts her chair back to its normal facing and wastes no time getting to work. The maneuvering is an example of the many steps it takes Miller to make basic moves, such as scooting forward in her chair.

Still relying mostly on her left hand, Miller reaches into an open box of metal lugs. Setting the small block, about 3 inches wide and 4 inches tall, on the table, she snags a flat black plastic piece from another bin. Then, she brings the plastic piece to balance over the silver lug, aiming for where she’ll drop it and snap it on.

Sometimes it’s a hit-or-miss process. Click. Success.

Clank. Another satisfying noise sounds as Miller drops

— Bruce Young CMSE Executive Director

the assembled lug into a box at her left and it joins the pile of other finished lugs below it.“I like that noise,” Miller says. “Means the job’s getting done.” About an hour later, the box is nearly half full with around 100 lugs. The job comes with annoyances, but Miller has been told “no” enough times already in the work world.

After being told she no longer qualified for paid training hours at Alternative Community Training, an

agency for individuals with disabilities, Miller found a more productive opportunity at CMSE. “That’s the most important thing of all — the self-esteem and dignity that a person gets from working and being productive,” says Bruce Young, executive director of CMSE. “No matter if that person is only working at maybe 10 percent of what a regular worker might work at, that’s just as important to that person as it is to a person that’s doing 100 percent plus on production.”

Miller has been at this job for almost a year now, and her employee manager, Sarah Johannaber, says she has seen her blossom socially and in her functional skills.

Miller has yet to ask what she gets paid, but to her, it doesn’t matter — she still works as fast as she can.“I’ll tell ya what,” Miller says, “It’s better than sitting at home and watching DVR all day.”

That light joke might have been closer to a reality for Miller if it weren’t for Woodhaven. Instead, on her Thursday afternoon, she’ll punch the timecard at the end of her shift, and she’ll beat rush-hour traffic to get home. Her “little red Corvette” will roll up to the house, and Sunshine, her pet parakeet, will start to chirp as soon as he hears the garage doors open. Miller will enjoy a meal that she can help make and relax to a few reruns on TV with her roommates and staff who have become her family. And tomorrow, it’s back to business all over again.

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MUSIC

Small stage, major music Midwestern hospitality helps Cafe Berlin attract bands to Columbia

BY RENEE HICKMAN Columbia is home to music fans who hail from across the country and have appetites for tunes as diverse as their hometowns. In a city of more than 120,000 people, there are multiple options for watching live music each week. That poses a special challenge for those who book acts at some of Columbia’s smaller music venues. One such venue, Cafe Berlin, has become a beloved institution over the years despite those challenges. Three past and current booking managers at Cafe Berlin say the size and vibrant culture of Columbia can make their jobs difficult, but it also helps them attract artists.

The process of booking artists generally starts in one of two ways, says Emily Downing, a former booking manager for Cafe Berlin. The manager of the venue might contact artists directly if he or she really wants to bring them in, or artists or their agents will get in touch with the venue as they are planning tours.

This is the first challenge, Downing says. “When you’re looking at a map of the United States, it’s not in bold,” she says of Columbia. The city is competing with regional centers such as St. Louis and other college towns such as Iowa City for the attention of artists and agents. Downing says artists generally won’t consider Columbia immediately.

Downing and other booking managers at Cafe Berlin say they have to spend more time doing things such as marketing the shows ahead of time and selling band merchandise, but some less obvious elements help Cafe Berlin sell artists on performing in Columbia.

Matthew Crook, Cafe Berlin’s current booking manager, says bands gain access to a distinct fan base in Columbia. “It’s a small market, but it’s an enthusiastic market,” Crook says. Cafe Berlin relies on regulars who can become die-hard fans after seeing a new artist.

Patrick Connor, another former booking manager at Cafe Berlin, says he tries to offer a warm welcome to visiting bands. This could mean feeding band members at the Cafe Berlin restaurant or the staff providing housing for artists.

Cafe Berlin’s booking manager, Matthew Crook, says the venue’s socially conscious ethos helps it draw in artists and audiences with similar values.

The size of Cafe Berlin means there is a strong sense of community, Downing says, and the locals take ownership of it.

“People feel like Cafe Berlin is a second home,” she says. They make the bookers aware of the kinds of shows they want

to see and become invested in it as a local gathering spot. Downing says that, partially inspired by political events of the last year, “a lot of people want to go to events that have a sense of community and meaning.”

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PHOTO BY MIKALA COMPTON

ARTS & BOOKS

Back to the classics Local professors reveal their favorite timeless novels

BY KRISTIN BLAKE Need book recommendations? Revamp your reading list by revisiting old favorites. In the past, you might have slacked off in your English classes, but it’s never too late to catch up on the classics. Ditch SparkNotes. These reads are worth your time.

Beloved by Toni Morrison Recommended

by Clenora Hudson-Weems MU English professor Clenora Hudson-Weems called this 1988 Pulitzer Prize fiction winner “unquestionably a timeless giant of all times” in an email.

Hudson-Weems has authored 10 books.

Beloved follows the story of a formerly enslaved mother and her daughter during the Reconstruction Era and their interactions with a ghost. “Morrison concentrates not only on the reality of Africana life and culture — its richness, its strengths and its weaknesses — but, more important, on that community’s strategies for survival in the concerted struggle of the men and women in the long-existing battle against racism,” Hudson-Weems wrote in her book Africana Womanism: Reclaiming Ourselves.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Recommended

by Gabriel Fried Although published in 1850 and set in 19th century England, David Copperfield’s subjects of childhood and the loss of innocence still resonate with people, says MU assistant professor of English Gabriel Fried. “It’s a classic because of the relatable experiences and emotions David Copperfield has,” he says. “I think it’s important for people to read a Victorian novel or any other great novel to see that we can relate across continents and centuries.” With comedic elements and vivid characters, this novel follows the life of David Copperfield, who is sent to boarding

Stephens College professor Kris Somerville says she finds that The Great Gatsby becomes more relatable over time.

school and grows up as an orphan. “It’s memorable because the supporting cast’s personalities are so robust,” Fried says.

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Recommended

by Erik Hillskemper This book brings you on a journey to Starkfield, Massachusetts, where the protagonist, Ethan Frome, is in a love triangle with his wife and cousin. “One of the things I love about literature is that it makes you an emotional tourist,” says Erik Hillskemper, associate professor of English at William Woods University. “You can explore that side of life without putting yourself at risk.”

These sides of life in Ethan Frome include temptation, misbehavior, guilt and adultery, he says. When it was published in 1911, many critics did not deem this novella a classic. “Because this book sparked outrage, people

PHOTOS BY AND OR COURTESY OF JEREMY JOHNSON AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

wanted to read it,” Hillskemper says. “(Edith Wharton is) a controversial, firebrand, anti-Victorian woman, and this culminated in Ethan Frome.”

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Recommended

by Kris Somerville Although The Great Gatsby is often assigned in high school, Kris Somerville, assistant professor of English/Creative Writing at Stephens College and writer for The Missouri Review, says it’s not a one-time read.

“As you age, it resonates with you even more,” she says. “It has this maturity and captures what we’re constantly dealing with.” Despite its short length, Fitzgerald filled these pages with the lavish life and love story of Jay Gatsby narrated by his friend, Nick Carraway, in New York during the 1920s.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë Recommended

by Danny Campbell This 1847 novel doesn’t play by the rules. “It doesn’t follow a standard script of how a novel is supposed to be,” says Danny Campbell, associate professor of English at Columbia College. To him, the novel’s unique exploration of character and identity keeps the plot relevant and appeals to a current perspective without being a contemporary tale. “Narratives dictate our identities more than we might like to admit,” Campbell says. This story includes violence, romance, vengeance, reconciliation and a ghost. “Wuthering Heights is innovative and has layers that are rewarding to explore,” Campbell says. “That’s what makes a novel worth returning to.”

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Lakota owner SKIP DUCHARME talks about the nuances of roasting coffee and his vision for a gathering place in downtown Columbia

C

offee helps millions of people get through each day, and the drink is especially significant to Skip DuCharme, owner of Lakota Coffee Company.

DuCharme already had a well-developed palate and a passion for coffee, but after visiting Anderson’s Coffee in his then-home, Austin, Texas, in the ’90s, he became inspired by the process of roasting and brewing coffee. “He was just blown away with how amazing it was and just knew that it was something that he really wanted to get into one day,” says Andrew DuCharme, Skip’s son.

After some consideration, Skip took a year off from his job to learn about coffee. He hired two business students from the University of Texas to help determine where a coffee business could be successful.

After narrowing down the cities to choose from, Skip and his family moved to Columbia in October 1992; thus, Lakota Coffee Company was born. Now, 25 years later, Skip reflects on the growth of Lakota, his love for coffee and how the city has contributed to his thriving business.

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Where did your interest in coffee originate?

I was living in Austin, Texas, and my brother came to me and said, “I gotta show you this place.” So we went over, and it’s called Anderson’s Coffee. Jamie Anderson, who owns this coffee company in Austin, was taught by Alfred Peet (founder of Peet’s Coffee) how to roast. I spent some time with him and also a second-generation coffee roaster from Europe — his father was a coffee roaster in Egypt. So both those gentlemen I learned from, and I’m thinking, “Coffee? All right, Brazil and Colombia.” And then I start seeing Java, Sumatra, Panama. I started to learn how the soil and rain really affect the flavor and characteristics of coffee.

What inspired the name Lakota Coffee Company?

When I was taking a year off to put this place together, I read a book called Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog. In the book she talks about how important coffee is to the Sioux tribes. Then my thought was, “All right, I’m going to name this Lakota Coffee Company, and I’m going to make sure that part of the proceeds are always going toward some of the reservations.”

How has the Columbia community helped build Lakota as a business?

Well, it’s been a mutual build. It was not only a growing experience to get the staff educated; I had to educate the public as well. And Columbia responded really well. I would say 50 to 60 percent of my business throughout the day are college students. We’ve got the financial district right over here. In the morning or right after lunch, I have a lot of bankers and lawyers that come in. Weekends, a lot of shoppers that come downtown. So, I’ve got a very eclectic customer base, and to me, that’s probably what makes it the most interesting.

What do you think brings people into Lakota?

Well one, we have the roaster right here. It gives out a tremendous smell. You can hear the beans tumbling, so you have it firsthand that we have the freshest coffee in town. The other thing is the atmosphere — the brick walls, these old hickory chairs and tables that we’ve brought in. It’s a safe place for people to come in between classes or to work on projects.

— HANNAH MCFADDEN PHOTO BY PAMELA A. HOUSER

THE TO-DO LIST

this week in Columbia

ARTS & CULTURE Indulge

Explore humans’ relationship with food, and set your taste buds abuzz with this exhibit.

Through their pieces, artists explore many aspects of eating, such as the emotions and cultures tied to food. Through March 9, Tues.–Fri., 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Columbia Art League, Free, 443-8838

Missouri Association of Fairs and Festivals Convention There are so many festivals and fairs across Missouri that it’s only right they have their own convention — with live music. Enjoy country blues artist Kristie Kraus, pop-rock country duo LyraLee and more. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Holiday Inn Executive Center, Free, 615-379-8929

CIVIC Lunch with a Leader: U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill

There’s a lot of news in the world right now. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill shares her thoughts about the important issues over lunch. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Club, Free, 874-1132

Mizzou After Dark: Be a Kid Night Take a break from the struggles of adulthood, and relive your childhood years in

all the best ways. A kindergarten dinner of macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets will be provided courtesy of Noodles & Co., and Lilo & Stitch will play on the big screen.

Friday, 7–10 p.m., Stotler Lounge, $5, non-MU students; Free with MU student ID, 884-0729

FOOD & DRINK Craft Beer Cellar Columbia Anniversary Party

Join in celebrating the Craft Beer Cellar’s third anniversary. Enjoy brews from Logboat Brewing Company to the tunes of live music, with the line-up to be announced.

Friday, 7–11 p.m., Craft Beer Cellar, Free, 449-0242

January Epic Pie Tasting at Peggy Jean’s

Grab your stretchiest sweatpants, and get ready to eat. You’ll be doing plenty of finger-licking and plate-scraping at this event, where you’ll be served a selection of 12 pies from a secret menu. Wednesday, 6–8 p.m., Peggy Jean’s Pies $20, 447-7437

MUSIC Billy Childs Quartet

Grammy Award-winning pianist Billy Childs returns to the Jazz Series after three seasons, again arriving with a classic quartet.

Phantom Thread (R)

Childs is a tremendously thoughtful and engaging performer and composer, and this quartet should be stylish in its approach and steeped in bebop and beyond. Sunday, 3:30–6 p.m. and 7–10, Murry’s, $28–46, 449-3009

SPORTS

Famous dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock and his sister Cyril live a life of dressing London’s finest. A confirmed bachelor, Woodcock’s life is turned upside down when he meets Alma, a young, strong-willed woman who becomes Woodcock’s lover and muse.

RT RUNTIME = 2:10

Harlem Globetrotters World Tour

Still playing

The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters come to Mizzou Arena to show off their highflying, sharp-shooting and fancy ballhandling. Wednesday, 7 p.m., Mizzou Arena, Prices Vary, 884-7297

SCREEN Hostiles (R)

In 1892, a reluctant Army captain agrees to bring a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family back to tribal lands. The former rivals face a harrowing journey as they travel along dangerous territory and meet a young widow whose family was murdered on the Plains.

F, R RUNTIME = 2:15

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (PG-13)

In the finale to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas and his group of escaped Gladers break into the legendary Last City to save their friends and seek the answers they have all been waiting for.

F, R RUNTIME: 2:21

30 MIN KICKBOX FITNESS

12 Strong (R) F, R Call Me By Your Name (R) RT Coco (PG) R The Commuter (PG-13) F, R Darkest Hour (PG-13) RT Den of Thieves (R) F, R Forever My Girl (PG) R The Greatest Showman (PG) F, R Insidious: The Last Key (PG-13) R Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG-13) F, R Molly’s Game (R) R Paddington 2 (PG) F, R Pitch Perfect 3 (PG-13) R The Post (PG-13) F, R Proud Mary (R) R The Shape of Water (R) F, R Star Wars: The Last Jedi (PG-13) F, R Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (R) F, R, RT

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