×‰?×B!Ü ×‘C’×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://kISjikgrgaC5_TdQsGlLoq3Fto1XRyyUU5gwnQgEiXkÎ 3Í`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://RPkCp5Xe7gL6RY_xTpYJFSFx3L_W2ySwugMo5HxoqVQÍf Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://CC4ju45tGsSJBXFyl2kjhxTVBxlT-IirGY1TWqm_MC8Í$tÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://qRB9tPdeXjku3XjWE9oSCc289XM0cgYbtnzI_unMGscÎ k…ÍÄÍ ÍèÍñ×`£[è<Dœh÷BÂ×˜š   ÍàÍ{u×ˆœ×   CNSvu  ×ˆE×`£[è<Dœh÷BŠ×‰EÚ1National Cancer Research
Month: A Call to Increase
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Awareness in Iowa
by Celeste Lawson In Memory of Lois Spinks-Lawson
Arts & Music
Artist Feature:
Lois Mailou Jonesâ€™
Inside
Lessons from our
Mothers and Fathers
Schedule of the
Class of 2021
Commencements at
DMPS
May 2021 ISSUE
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United55+ connects hand-raisers like
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Volunteer for central Iowa nonprofits,
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Chapter 1:
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The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 5
Whatâ€™s
Inside?
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can be changed until it is faced.â€ James Baldwin
recently was
I
interviewed by Dave
Price of WHO our
45-minute conversation
was condensed
to approximately
8-10 minutes. During our
conversation we talked about
events that have taken place
in Minnesota from the George
Floyd murder trial to Dontae
Wright being shot by a police
officer.
I rarely open up to people. Iâ€™m
very guarded when it comes to
my children, family, and friends.
I have so much to say, but I
keep much to myself. When I
speak, the ones I love the most
will have to endure the critiques
and rude comments that others
make.
When Dave reached out
to me, I knew having that
conversation was the way to
go. I do believe in the art of
conversation; itâ€™s something
we rarely take the time to do
because we have social media
and many find it best to share
feelings, thoughts, opinions,
calling people out, etc. through
various social media platforms.
I believe in the moments
when we have conversations,
change will take place. You get
to look into my eyes and I look
into yours, with the hope that
you will open your heart to see
the reality of life Iâ€™m living and
what I endure on a daily basis.
In the conversation with Dave,
I voiced the concerns that many
Black Mothers of Black Sons
have. I stated. â€œWhen my son
leaves my home, Iâ€™m concerned
something could happen to him;
it could be his last moment.â€
This is something Iâ€™ve never
shared with my family, friends,
let alone my own son. I know
itâ€™s not safe for Black males and
here is some data to support
my thought. Between 2010
and 2014 Black males aged
10 years and older were nearly
three times more likely to die
because of police violence than
their white counterparts https://
journals.sagepub.com/
People of color face a higher
likelihood of being killed by
police than do white men
and women, that risk peaks
in young adulthood and that
men of color face a nontrivial
lifetime risk of being killed by
police https://www.pnas.org/
content/116/34/16793
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 7
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Rice (age 12), Michael Brown (age 18),
Stephon Clark (age 22), Freddie Gray (age
25), Philandro Castile (age 32), Eric Garner
(age 43), Walter Scott (age 50), George Floyd
(age 46), and Daunte Write (age 20).
My thoughts were my thoughts, but this became the talk
and critique of over 800 people. I normally donâ€™t/ look at
comments, but this time I wanted to view what others were
saying. Some of the comments were, â€œtell the boy to obey
the laws and he wonâ€™t have to fear anything.â€ â€œAs long as he
doesnâ€™t do something that would have the police pull him over.â€
â€œWhereâ€™s the father?â€ I even had a lady get on my church
Facebook page and make a comment. I offered to meet her for
lunch to discuss further and I havenâ€™t heard from her. Reading
over the comments reminds me there is work to be done and
while I have breath in my body, I will continue to speak up for
people who look like me and Iâ€™m always available to have a
conversation, to share my thoughts, and listen to you as well.
I encourage you to listen to the conversation. I also look
forward to having more conversations and more opportunities
to grow, educate, and come together.
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SUPPORTS CUBAN ARTISTS
OF AFRICAN & ASIAN
DESCENT
ARTIST FEATURE:
MARIA MAGDALENA CAMPOS-PONS
Written by Angela Jackson
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 9
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dedicated to supporting local artists in the community. Our May tribute features Lois Mailou Jonesâ€™ Biography.
â€œ My work in Cuba looked at
issues of sexuality, womenâ€™s
place in society, and the
representation of women in the
history of art.â€ She â€œrenders
elements of personal history
and persona that have universal
relevance...My subjects are my
Afro-Cuban relatives as well as
myself...The salient tie to familiar
and cultural history vastly
expands for me the range of
photographic possibilities.â€
-Maria Magdalena CamposPons
Synopsis
Lois Mailou Jones (November 3, 1905 â€“ June 9, 1998)
was an artist who painted and influenced others during
the Harlem Renaissance and beyond, during her long
teaching and artistic career. Jones was the only African-American
female painter of the 1930s and 1940s to
achieve fame abroad, and the earliest whose subjects
extend beyond the realm of portraiture.
Jones felt that her greatest contribution to the art world
was
â€œproof of the talent of black artists.â€ The African-American
artist is important in the history of
art and I have demonstrated it by working and
painting here and all over the world.â€
But her fondest wish was to be known as an
â€œartistâ€â€”without labels like black artist, or woman
artist. She has produced work that echoes
her pride in her African roots and American
ancestry
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Her father, Thomas Vreeland Jones was a building superintendent
who later became a lawyer after becoming
the first African-American to earn a law degree from
Suffolk Law School; her mother, Carolyn Jones was a
cosmetologist. She was born in Boston.
Jonesâ€™ parents encouraged her to draw and paint as a
child in watercolor. During childhood her mother took
her and her brother to Marthaâ€™s Vineyard where she
became lifelong friends with novelist Dorothy West. She
attended the High School of Practical Arts in Boston.
Meanwhile she took Boston Museum of Fine Arts evening
classes and worked as an apprentice in costume
design. She held her first solo exhibition at the age of
17. From 1923 to 1927 she attended the School of the
Museum of Fine Arts in Boston studying design, taking
night courses at the Boston Normal Art School. She
also pursued graduate work at the Design Art School
and Harvard University. She continued her education
even after beginning work, attending classes at Columbia
University, and receiving her bachelorâ€™s degree from
Howard University in 1945, graduating magna cum
laude.
Work
In 1929, she was recruited to join the art department at
Howard University in Washington D.C. and remained
as professor of design and watercolor painting until her
retirement in 1977. While developing her own work as
an artist, she was also known as an outstanding mentor.
In
1934 Jones met Louis Vergniaud Pierre-Noel, who
would become a prominent Haitian artist, while both
were graduate students at Columbia University. They
corresponded for almost twenty years before marrying
in the south of France in 1953. Jones and her husband
lived in Washington, D.C. and Haiti. They had no children.
He died in 1982.
In the early 1930s Jones exhibited with the William E.
Harmon Foundation and other institutions, produced
plays and dramatic presentations, and began study
of masks from various cultures. In 1937 she received
a fellowship to study in Paris at the AcadÃ©mie Julian.
During one yearâ€™s time she produced over 30 watercolors.
She returned to Howard University and began
teaching watercolor painting.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://NEmt2nQH_Tz6Ugmml9K9F0iNmRU06htFXpcZGKMvjR8Í)àÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B•×`£[è<Dœh÷B”ÍÀÍ{×‘C’×˜š   ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://DE3yxa4nlsW5LXOlLlhwGtSR2iTZiBHNM6DLuHpa7pMÎ Û…Í`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://eOM11ZmrwUn3wYsq2sYzaciSHyiFth4DukAHXEdbOCoÍŒÑÍ`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://q1a2kiUTjhsg6_smY0YHz_1LN1raSmtUhAfYgFrNiqkÍ)²Í`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://ZZoXeNjbEBhc-u2lCJkIygorqy4csRHNGwh9pjtbPWUÎ Þó"Í ÍèÍñ×`£[ê<Dœh÷BÝ×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://aHsSO623Ovow2HQT4jOd0CECPVU4ljGMXeV5J2T0acgÎ WBÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://TiwpHSy3bjuKGcEFQCPpD_PSfXhN_V6YDiI5WwyuehoÍ„*Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://OBmumnXmumnDpsMl1YVspd3sJAiEqIzmMplS0bOU4vQÍ(èÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://-nyv70XY1wPyDVj0lbu-gjhB8eMVotPE3_JrxobR6iIÎ “…ÍÄÍ ÍèÍñ×`£[ê<Dœh÷BÞ—× ×`£[ê<Dœh÷Bç Í·Í,Í9×HÚ #http://desmoinesartcenter.org/LEARN××Ðˆ× ×`£[ê<Dœh÷Bæ ÍüÍ2Í9×HÚ 5https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZXFxAkE5drRXIVCHdTL××Ðˆ× ×`£[ê<Dœh÷Bå Í,ÍÌ¢9×Hºhttp://twitter.com/tgfuwdm××Ðˆ× ×`£[ê<Dœh÷Bä Í>ÍóÌ¸9×H¼http://pinterest.com/tgfuwdm××Ðˆ× ×`£[ê<Dœh÷Bã ÍHÍËÍ:9×HÚ )http://instagram.com/thegreatframeup_wdm/××Ðˆ× ×`£[ê<Dœh÷Bâ ÍêÍ£Ìâ9×H¿http://facebook.com/tgfuwdmiowa××Ðˆ× ×`£[ê<Dœh÷Bá ÍñÍSÍ]9×HÚ ,http://www.westdesmoines.thegreatframeup.com××Ðˆ×‰EÚIn 1938 she produced Les FÃ©tiches (1938) a stunning,
African inspired oil which is owned by the Smithsonian
American Art Museum, Jonesâ€™ Les FÃ©tiches was
instrumental in transitioning â€˜NÃ©gritudeâ€™â€”a distinctly
francophone artistic phenomenon. It was one of her
best-known works, and her first piece which combined
traditional African forms with Western techniques and
materials to create a vibrant and compelling work
Her main source of inspiration was CÃ©line Marie Tabary,
also a painter, whom she worked with for many years.
Tabary submitted Jonesâ€™ paintings for consideration for
jury prizes since works by African-American artists were
not always accepted.
In the 1940s and early 1950s Jones exhibited at the
Phillips Collection, Seattle Museum of Art, National
Academy of Design, the Barnet Aden Gallery, Pennsylvaniaâ€™s
Lincoln University, Howard University, galleries
in New York and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. In 1952
LoÃ¯s Mailou Jones: Peintures 1937-1951, a collection of
more than 100 reproductions of her French paintings,
was published.
In 1954 Jones was a guest professor at Centre Dâ€™Art
and Foyer des Artes Plastiques in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
where the government invited her to paint Haitian people
and landscapes. Her work became energized by the
bright colors. There she completed â€œPeasant girl, Haitiâ€
and also exhibited her work.
In 1955 she unveiled portraits of the Haitian president
and his wife commissioned by United States President
Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Jonesâ€™s numerous oils and watercolors inspired by Haiti
are probably her most widely known works. In them her
affinity for bright colors, her personal understanding of
Cubismâ€™s basic principles, and her search for a distinctly
style reached an apogee. In many of her pieces one
can see the influence of the Haitian culture, with its African
influences, which reinvigorated the way she looked
at the world.
Lois Mailou Jonesâ€™ work is in museums all over the
world and valued by collectors. Her paintings grace the
permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Hirshhorn Museum
and Sculpture Garden, National Portrait Gallery,
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the National Palace in
Haiti, the National Museum of Afro-American Artists and
many others.
Legacy
In 1997, Jonesâ€™ paintings were featured in an exhibition
entitled Paris, the City of Light that appeared at several
museums throughout the country including the New
Orleans Museum of Art, the Milwaukee Art Museum,
and the Studio Museum of Harlem. The exhibition also
featured the works of Barbara Chase-Riboud, Edward
Clark, Harold Cousins, Beauford Delaney, Herbert Gentry,
and Larry Potter. The exhibition examined the importance
of Paris as an artistic mecca for African-American
artists during the 20 years that followed World War II.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://q1a2kiUTjhsg6_smY0YHz_1LN1raSmtUhAfYgFrNiqkÍ)²Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B–×‰EÚ]From November 14, 2009, to February 29, 2010, a retrospective
exhibit of her work entitled Lois Mailou Jones: A life in vibrant color
was held at the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The traveling exhibit included 70 paintings showcasing her various
styles and experiences: America, France, Haiti, and Africa.
(Citation Source Wikipedia)
At The Great Frame Up we currently feature originals, prints, sculpture
and framed artwork of numerous African American and Iowa
artists in the gallery. To see some of the prior artists featured visit
www.westdesmoines.thegreatframeup.com and our social media.
Please follow us on Facebook facebook.com/tgfuwdmiowa
Instagram instagram.com/thegreatframeup_wdm/
Pinterest pinterest.com/tgfuwdm
Twitter twitter.com/tgfuwdm and subscribe to our YouTube Channel
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZXFxAkE5drRXIVCHdTLRiw?
About
The Great Frame Up
The Great Frame Up is a custom picture framer, offering more than
1,000 custom frames, mat styles, ready to hang framed art and
local artwork. The West Des Moines location of The Great Frame
Up opened in 2005 and is located at 5515 Mills Civic Parkway in
the West Glen Town Center and is open Monday through Saturday
10 - 5pm.
Members
receive a
adult
20% discount
JOIN TODAY!
summer
classes
IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
desmoinesartcenter.org/LEARN
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Commencements at
Des Moines Public Schools
SCHOOL
All Points Academy
Focus
Ruby Van Meter
East High School
Lincoln High School
Roosevelt High School
Hoover High School
North High School
Virtual Campus
Summer Graduation
LOCATION
Central Campus Auditorium
Central Campus Auditorium
Ruby Van Meter Gymnasium
Williams Stadium
Lincoln Roundhouse
Drake Stadium
Drake University Knapp Center
Drake University Knapp Center
Central Campus Auditorium
North High School
DATE/TIME
May 22, 2:00 p.m.
May 22, 2:00 p.m.
May 28, 6:00 p.m.
May 29, 9:00 a.m.
(Rain date: May 30, noon)
May 29, 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
May 29, 5:00 p.m.
(Rain date: May 30, 5:00 p.m.)
May 30, 10:00 a.m.
May 30, 2:00 p.m.
May 30, 4:00 p.m.
August 14, time TBA
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://BJsoPkgqBaAdqlIS21BOjPjd8MLzLfN2ivh7m9nRyDIÍ!Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B˜×‰EÚjuneteenth Tea
Stepping into YOur
Purpose
Powered by Black Women 4 Healthy Living
corinthian bapt ist church
814 School St
june 18, 2021 @ 12pm
"The Attack on the SuperWoman: Recognizing the
Demise of Over-Functioning" Breanne ward CRC, lmhc
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 15
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×‰	Ú 7cassandra://g7rZO3GbH3xnSBfQG8p_-NqGc5qYrv_mT2m5M1G2fy4Í.Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷Bš×‰E¿The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 17
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John Dee Bright College at
Drake University Commits to
Professional Preparation
J
ohn Dee Bright College, Drake
Universityâ€™s newest academic division,
promises to prepare its graduates for
professional accomplishment.
By focusing on â€œuniversal
employabilityâ€ skillsâ€”including
effective communication, the ability
to collaborate as part of diverse teams,
creative problem solving, organizational
and digital literacies, and employee
leadershipâ€”Bright College is putting
professional preparation front and center.
Recently, Craig Owens, dean of Bright
College, attended the Iowa Business
Education Alliance Symposium (BEA),
hosted by The Iowa Business Council,
along with other Drake leaders from the
College of Arts and Sciences and the School
of Journalism and Mass Communication.
At the symposium, business leaders from
across Iowa, including executives and
hiring managers from enterprises like
Vermeer Corp., Fareway Stores Inc., Kent
Corp., and Mid-American Energy, reported
that their companies, now more than ever,
need Iowa-based college graduates with
exactly the kind of preparation Bright
College provides its students.
A recent survey of over 1000 business
executives and hiring managers nationwide
supports Bright Collegeâ€™s approach to
professional preparation.
In 2018, the American Association of
Colleges and Universities reported that
employers are looking for the skills and
habits of mind Bright College supports.
A majority of those surveyed said that
skills like effective communication, critical
thinking, problem solving, and the ability
to collaborate with diverse co-workers were
even more important than a graduateâ€™s
major. A vast majority of CEOs and hiring
managers surveyed said earning a college
degree of some kind is essential to gaining
these important skills, noting that gaining
those skills requires early, ongoing,
intensive training and practice.
â€œThat is exactly what Bright College is
designed to offer,â€ Owens says. â€œWe started
with those universal employability skills
and built our degree options around
them,â€ he explains. â€œWhen our students
are working on projectsâ€”whether they
require writing, research, mathematics, or
scientific literacyâ€”they are building these
essential skills by working together, sharing
their work with one another, and engaging
in hands-on problem-solving.â€
A centerpiece of Bright Collegeâ€™s
professional preparation program is
the Bright Partnership Program. It will
allow Bright College students firsthand
experience working on real-world
projects and initiatives through microinternships
and business and organization
partnerships. Partnering organizations
will see first-hand how uniquely prepared
Bright College students are to join a
diverse, multi-talented, and team-oriented
professional workforce as resilient, creative,
and driven contributors. At the same time,
they will gain fresh perspectives on, and
unique approaches to their most pressing
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://LSA0d8EhCOqlym-qIXerJXqERtgL9B3Ja_2MK8mulpMÍÃÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷Bœ×‰EÚõchallenges and opportunities. The Bright
Partnership Program will help to build a
sustainable talent pipeline that will benefit
both area businesses and organizations and
Bright College students alike.
In addition to taking part in coursework,
Bright College students will work closely
with members of the Professional and
Career Development Services team at Drake
to secure internships and to build their
professional skills portfolio. Those who
choose to pursue professional employment
after graduation will get help with creating
resumes, writing application letters, and
honing their interviewing skills.
Bright College graduates who want
to pursue ongoing education are also
guaranteed admission to Drake Universityâ€™s
bachelor degree programs, with a dozen
bachelorâ€™s degrees that can be completed in
two additional years at Drake.
â€œBy focusing on the integration
of professional skills development
into a high-impact, innovative,
supportive learning environment,
Bright College puts itself on the
cutting edge of professional
preparation, a core component
of Drake Universityâ€™s mission,â€
Owens says.
Businesses, enterprises, and
organizations of all kinds interested
in partnering with Bright College are
encouraged to contact Owens at craig.
owens@drake.edu. Bright College also
continues to welcome applications for its
first cohort of students, which will begin
in August, 2021. Interested students, their
families, teachers, and counselors can
contact Lisa Flynn, coordinator of Bright
College admissions, at lisa.flynn@drake.
edu or (515) 271-2107.
Inspired by
a great leader,
Bright College
is taking
a new approach
to education.
Want to do school differently?
So do we. Our two-year
associate degrees are
designed to accelerate
your career.
drake.edu/bright
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SHE is all together lovely
SHE smiled in person just like in the photo and
if a picture is worth a thousand words then in
person Iâ€™m bankrupt, because there are no words
Iâ€™m speechless. Like a strong gust of wind SHE
blew by me I gasped because SHE took my
breath away.
I had no Idea SHE would have such a effect on
me Iâ€™m usually cool , calm and collected but for
just for one second it became a pep talk to my
self be cool, stay calm and collected.
SHE has beauty that is far greater than skin
deep, that was dominated by her feminine
strength, that was overtaken by her intellect, that
was outshined by her caring heart and that was
just the layers I could see, but I know they go
deeper than the depths of the sea.
The question is whats not to desire, to aspire to
a hire level of loving? To lovel up if you will. The
best in me seems that it can only be better with
the best that SHE has to offer but dare I see the
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://NslNZ0AwQY863Mzp87SCE0Dgw-hOMLiTowny9fg1mDYÍ$HÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷Bž×‰EÚdpossibility of what could be? Of course because
there is no guarantee of tomorrow and no one
has heart beats in the bank!
Opportunity knocks most times once,
sometimes twice and almost never three times.
I never play games of chance, so this is no
game but my chance to say...I will keep your
heart locked in the Fort Knox of my care, my
eyes for you only, my lips speaking truth, my
intentions honorable, my mission to obsserve,
learn and listen to who you were, are and aspire
to be, keep my words gentle, my tones gentle,
my touch gentle , my faith in God , my hope in
Jesus, my direction kingdom bound, but until
such a day of appointing I pray to stay
under the anointing of The Holy spirit to
interseed for me and teach me and guide me
on how to care for SHE is more precious than
diamonds and rubies a one of a kind gem is
SHE.ÅŽ
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 21
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from Lessons from our
Mothers and Fathers
Life Doesnâ€™t Come with a Manual, It
Comes with a Mother
A SHORT STORY OF A MOTHERâ€™S
LOVE FOR HER SON
BY CLEOPHUS P. FRANKLIN, JR.
All of a sudden, the noisy
chatter of young kids playing
and clamoring about during the
morning recess period came to a
halt on the playground of Daniel
J. Corkery grade school, located
on Chicagoâ€™s west side of the city.
As a rambunctious first-grader, I
was no different from any other
anxious and excited youngster
when it came to recess time. Each
day at school, I would sit restlessly
waiting for the recess bell to ring,
to provide a respite of relief and
transition from math, science,
history, and literature classesâ€”to
fun and games on the playground!
So when the noisy playground
activities ceased that morning,
my curiosity got the better of me,
and I began searching around the
playground for the source of what
had paused our energetic play. As
I scanned around the playground
from the top of the monkey bars,
I saw why my friends had diverted
their attention and were no longer
playing with me.
I could see the smooth movements
and confident gait of this beautiful
woman walking outside the fence,
coming near to where we were
playing, several of my friends
watching her approach. By the way,
my friends were not the only ones
transfixed on this vision of beauty
as a few of the male teachers also
had their heads turned in the
womanâ€™s direction. I remember
hearing the soft symphony and
chattering of whispers as she
came closer, saying, â€œWho is that
lady? Boy, is she pretty! Why is she
coming to our school?â€
I also stopped playing as the
woman paused and came toward
the schoolâ€™s fence, but for another
reason. Seeing her brought a big
smile to my face. People around
me continued to look on as this
mysterious lady stopped right in
front of us, peered over the fence,
and said, â€œCleophus, come here,
son.â€
I jumped down from the monkey
bars and darted over to my mother
(to my friendsâ€™ surprise!), who
proceeded to reach through the
fence and plant a big kiss on my
large and shiny forehead! I asked
her, â€œMom, what are you doing
here?â€ She smiled and responded
to me in her signature comforting
tone and said she was there
to meet with my teacher and
principal. As she hugged me and
told me she loved me, I watched
her head toward the school
entrance and go inside the school. I
was beaming with newfound pride.
I returned to my play, radiating
positive emotions and feeling
uplifted while wearing proudly the
lipstick my mother had imprinted
on my head from her kiss, like a
painted warrior ready for battle!
My friends, however, were still a
bit stunned as they said to me,
â€œHey, Cleophus, is that pretty
lady your mother?â€ to which I
responded, â€œYeah. Yes, thatâ€™s my
mother!â€ as
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://DktyL0UmvVklRq7SYFTabgRnhgEvXfX7uuE1YS_MQCoÍÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B ×‰EÚªI shot up the ladder like a rocket
right to the top of the monkey bars
with the confidence and energy of
an Olympic gold medal gymnast!
I could easily understand why
seeing my mother may have
brought a little confusion to my
friends. You see, my mom is a
light and fair-skinned African
American, and my dark-skinned
hue and ebony shade, inherited
from my father, is the opposite of
hers. My motherâ€™s and fatherâ€™s
union produced nine children
with a diversity of skin tones
well reflected across the African
American color palette.
My mother is one of a kind and
like none other. She was the friend
I could share or say anything to,
and she would always afford me
the same in return with no filter
or hesitation and always truthfully.
From carrying me nine months,
then giving me life, to raising a
defiant, impatient, bright, and
headstrong son who constantly
challenged and tested boundaries,
my feelings for my mother can be
summed up in this quote: â€œFor
the world, you may be known as a
person, but to me, you are known
as the world.â€
She was my role model, a mentor,
and she demanded a high bar of
attainment for me and my siblings.
My mother also did not let anyone
(or ourselves) place limitations
upon us. She constantly reminded
us to never accept any barriers in
life and to not let anyone define
us. She raised my siblings to resist
and be intolerant of designations
or categorizations imposed or set
by others upon us. And to believe
anything is possible, especially
when you have unyielding beliefs
and unshakable faith.
My mother believed in these
things because she knew them
to be true. She lived her life for
ninety-two years defying the odds,
climbing walls, knocking down
doors, blazing new trails, and
hurdling obstacles most people
would have succumbed to, but
no â€¦ not Reverend Franklin. Her
will was unbreakable. She fiercely
refused to let any condition be the
justification to prevent her from
the pursuit of something better.
She did this constantly, for herself
and her family.
She was the first to receive a
college degree in her family and
went on to receive four masterâ€™s
degreesâ€”she knew talking about
being better wouldnâ€™t cut it, so she
decided the only way to pursue
this path she espoused was to be
better.
I remember as a young man my
mother would always say to me,
â€œCleophus, we are all doughnuts.
We have holes. I want you to also
understand even the best and most
popular doughnuts have holes too.
So, donâ€™t ever let the holes in your
life be something to keep you
down and prevent you from being
what you want to be. Remember,
holes can be filled, and always
remember, if it is to be, then it is
up to me! Son, you must plan for
success, stay focused, and execute
towards it. And never forget, if
you donâ€™t have a plan, then you
will become part of a planâ€¦ and
there is no fun becoming part of
somebody elseâ€™s plan!â€
My mother was a strategist
personified. She was always
thinking ahead and formulating
ways to succeed. She believed
knowing was not the problem.
She felt knowing was one thing,
but once you know something,
it is your duty to take action and
do something about it. For her,
not doing anything after having
received the knowledge to change
it or address it was criminal and
unacceptable.
With this perspective, my mother
always identified and addressed
any gaps she felt could become
hindrances for herself and her
family immediately! She was
relentless in ensuring small
issues would not become bigger
problems, especially ones that
could derail or minimize the
chance for success in the life of her
children.
She was a woman of focus,
purpose, and she would always
say, â€œYou can either pray for action
or worry, but you canâ€™t do both.
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 23
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://IDC2iTy2O0RTx5GGRPpVL1y7nW-wrFnsiy7PPkLCgAYÍèÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¡×`£[è<Dœh÷B ÍÀÍ{×‘C’×˜š   ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://5HRIr-IwCIo6DxYzqD6kEqeuyvh39Y8hElhjuAhHksMÎ 1âÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://QNl1amwi4fuQWd67Yw6KcAfe5Q_OeL6jBmafLiB0Bf4Í{¥Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://wpWOYH8IwFzxtUcc7W6XsfA3dRvW3BMVzDaaS00TXIYÍìÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://Tjl1wYr397AZNeTYjr7e6GM8Na0QB5VsrbZ2QH24b1QÍIƒÍ ÍèÍñ×`£[ì<Dœh÷Bú×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://rvLmFdVw9sHMs15sRTha1r_FEJ5vCZtjtVbqGj5Td-EÎ Í`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://vqUe1Y5YvjQn9KY62EVK9ekd224ryRueSEnjrRx1OUsÍJ@Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://ofz3EcPimfilwNZKTaGFfIVLC24e5iL9vpdgy4JqQqQÍ1Í`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://kr-TkD5zOeZOKjqp3p60Pq_8imSKyhaFg7s5ZyBfH4gÍÀv,Í ÍèÍñ×`£[ì<Dœh÷Bû‘× ×`£[ì<Dœh÷Bý ÍqÍêÍj9×H»https://coffeewithcleo.com/××Ðˆ×‰EÚ“That is why I donâ€™t worry, I pray
and take action!â€ and this is how
she lived her life, by praying for
action in all of the endeavors she
faced, big or small. This brings me
back to her visit to my school that
one day to visit my teacher and
principal.
I struggled at a young age to
speak clearly. My mother saw the
challenge of my enunciating and
vocalizing certain consonants,
letters, and words, and this
troubled her immensely. This
was the reason my mother took
time out to visit my school.
She had scheduled a meeting
with my teacher to plan for
and address my difficulty with
speaking. I didnâ€™t know at the
time this was a concern, but it
was for my mother, as my speech
impediment was something
she wanted to be addressed,
and refused to let it become a
hindrance for me.
So, after my motherâ€™s meeting
at my school, they developed a
plan where I would spend thirty
to forty-five minutes a day with a
speech therapist.
I didnâ€™t mind the plan they
developed for me, but I hated
that it was always during the
middle of the day in class; the
speech therapist would enter
our room, announce my name,
and let everyone know what she
was there for. You see, my family,
we are all private and prideful
peopleâ€”sometimes to a faultâ€”
and openly sharing our business
was not something we subscribed
to or offered up freely.
Just imagine this proud little
six-year-old, sitting in his chair,
waiting for the clock to strike,
and seeing this lady walk into
the door like the town crier
every day without fail and say,
â€œCleophus Franklin Jr., it is time
for you to come with me to go to
your speech therapy class!â€ She
didnâ€™t know the friends I had in
my neighborhood feasted on that
type of intel like vultures on fresh
roadkill. Hey, Cleophus, whatâ€™s
the problem, you canâ€™t talk, right?
Ha, ha, you have to go to class to
learn how to speak and learn the
sound of S is different from the
sound of F. Ha, ha, ha!
I can tell you, I despised speech
therapy class, and I had to do
it for two years. But I also got
through it, and I owe my mom
a great debt of gratitude. The
reason why is her â€œlong-gameâ€
strategy worked out perfectly
for me. It gave me confidence
and turned an impediment into
a strategic advantage. She saw a
problem, took action, developed
a plan for her son, and flawlessly
executed it.
My momâ€™s investment into
perfecting my speaking hindrance
helped propel me to the many
leadership and executive-level
roles I have held with prominent
global businesses. With her love
and persistence, today I teach
MBA students as a co-professor
and senior corporate fellow at the
University of Houston, Marilyn
Davies School of Business. I have
had the honor of being inducted
into two Hall of Fames, one as
an athlete and the other for
outstanding business excellence.
I am also an entrepreneur and
author of two books, which
include many of my motherâ€™s
timeless wisdom and sage advice
as a tribute to her legacy.
My momâ€™s strategy to address
my speech difficulties early on
has also allowed me to become a
respected keynote business and
inspirational speaker.
Lastly, my mother gifted me her
strong drive, tenacious spirit, and
determination to always resist
but make sure you also create.
She also helped me learn and
appreciate the power between
talking about something versus
doing something about it.
It always brings me great joy
after I have delivered a keynote
or completed a presentation to
have someone come up to me
and say, â€œYou are one of the best
speakers and presenters I have
ever listened to!â€ I always smile
and say, â€œYou have my mother to
thank as I developed this ability
from a kiss on the forehead early
in my life, which gave me not only
my start but my confidence.â€
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://wpWOYH8IwFzxtUcc7W6XsfA3dRvW3BMVzDaaS00TXIYÍìÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¢×‰EÚ ¢In loving memory of Rev. Gertrude Elizabeth Franklin,
February 16, 1929â€“ January 26, 2021
Order Now! https://coffeewithcleo.com/
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 25
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í8Í ÍèÍñ×`£[ì<Dœh÷Bþ×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://MAY8aGIdMtbQFR2CwWrAC_Rz5wOwT-YhgEVPeiwt1kcÎ ¹ñÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://WfOlMsOwUPuO8e2qAskLyB7ekqF9NI-IZVkfwhxleyYÍt’Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://2aX-8piT73E8ctMrEbO1tg8q3jHcbKZKvWKXiDYjDQoÍ#‹Í`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://Gp5zSOSOHbSPVp1vccnV6_BlELhu6SWBJQf7i9jxbmoÍ¾£LÍ ÍèÍñ×`£[ì<Dœh÷Bÿ×‰EÚNBy: Lauren Livingston
Wandering in Alzheimerâ€™s and Dementia:
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
AND HOW TO REDUCE
THE RISK
Alzheimerâ€™s disease causes people to lose their ability to
recognize familiar places and faces. Itâ€™s common for a person
living with dementia to wander or become lost or confused about
their location, and it can happen at any stage of the disease.
Six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once;
many do so repeatedly. Although common, wandering can be
dangerous â€” even life-threatening â€” and the stress of this risk
weighs heavily on caregivers and family.
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=Who is at risk?
Everyone living with Alzheimerâ€™s or other dementia is at risk for
wandering. Common signs a person may be at risk of wandering
include:
â€¢ Returning from a regular walk or drive later than usual.
â€¢ Forgetting how to get to familiar places.
â€¢ Talking about fulfilling former obligations, such as going to
work
â€¢ Trying or wanting to â€œgo homeâ€ even when at home.
â€¢ Becoming restless, pacing or making repetitive movements.
â€¢ Having difficulty locating familiar places, such as the
bathroom, bedroom or dining room.
â€¢ Asking the whereabouts of past friends and family.
â€¢ Acting as if doing a hobby or chore, but nothing gets done.
â€¢ Appearing lost in a new or changed environment.
â€¢ Becoming nervous or anxious in crowded areas, such as
markets or restaurants.
Reduce the risk of wandering
The following tips may help reduce the risk of wandering and can
bring peace of mind to caregivers and family members; however,
these actions cannot guarantee that a person living with dementia
wonâ€™t wander.
â€¢ Provide opportunities for the person to engage in structured,
meaningful activities throughout the day
â€¢ Identify the time of day the person is most likely to wander
(for those who experience â€œsundowning,â€ this may be starting
in the early evening.) Plan things to do during this time â€”
activities and exercise may help reduce anxiety, agitation and
restlessness.
â€¢ Ensure all basic needs are met, including toileting, nutrition
and hydration. Consider reducing â€“ but not eliminating â€“
liquids up to two hours before bedtime so the person doesnâ€™t
have to use and find the bathroom during the night.
â€¢ Involve the person in daily activities, such as folding laundry or
preparing dinner. Learn about creating a daily plan.
â€¢ Reassure the person if he or she feels lost, abandoned or
disoriented.
â€¢ If the person is still safely able to drive, consider using a GPS
device to help if they get lost.
â€¢ If the person is no longer driving, remove access to car keys
â€” a person living with dementia may not just wander by foot.
The person may forget that he or she can no longer drive.
â€¢ Avoid busy places that are confusing and can cause
disorientation, such as shopping malls.
â€¢ Assess the personâ€™s response to new surroundings. Do
not leave someone with dementia unsupervised if new
surroundings may cause confusion, disorientation or agitation.
For individuals in the early stage of the disease and their care
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 27
â€œThough those
with Alzheimerâ€™s
might forget us, we
as a society must
remember themâ€
-Scott Kirschenbaum
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rpartners, the following strategies may also help reduce the risk of
wandering or getting lost:
â€¢ Decide on a set time each day to check in with each other.
â€¢ Review scheduled activities and appointments for the day together.
â€¢ If the care partner is not available, identify a companion for the person
living with dementia as needed.
â€¢ Consider alternative transportation options if getting lost or driving
safely becomes a concern.
Prepare your home
As the disease progresses and the risk for wandering increases, assess your
individual situation to see which of the safety measures below may work best
to help prevent wandering.
â€¢ Place deadbolts out of the line of sight, either high or low, on exterior
doors. (Do not leave a person living with dementia unsupervised in
new or changed surroundings, and never lock a person in at home.)
â€¢ Use night lights throughout the home.
â€¢ Cover door knobs with cloth the same color as the door or use safety
covers.
â€¢ Camouflage doors by painting them the same color as the walls or
covering them with removable curtains or screens.
â€¢ Use black tape or paint to create a two-foot black threshold in front of
the door. It may act as a visual stop barrier.
â€¢ Install warning bells above doors or use a monitoring device that
signals when a door is opened.
â€¢ Place a pressure-sensitive mat in front of the door or at the personâ€™s
bedside to alert you to movement.
â€¢ Put hedges or a fence around the patio, yard or other outside common
areas.
â€¢ Use safety gates or brightly colored netting to prevent access to stairs
or the outdoors.
â€¢ Monitor noise levels to help reduce excessive stimulation.
â€¢ Create indoor and outdoor common areas that can be safely explored.
â€¢ Label all doors with signs or symbols to explain the purpose of each
room.
â€¢ Store items that may trigger a personâ€™s instinct to leave, such as coats,
hats, pocketbooks, keys and wallets.
â€¢ Do not leave the person alone in a car.
Take action when wandering occurs
â€¢ Start search efforts immediately. When looking, consider whether
the individual is right- or left-handed â€” wandering patterns generally
follow the direction of the dominant hand.
â€¢ Begin by looking in the surrounding vicinity â€” many individuals who
wander are found within 1.5 miles of where they disappeared.
â€¢ Check local landscapes, such as ponds, tree lines or fence lines â€”
many individuals are found within brush or brier.
â€¢ If applicable, search areas the person has wandered to in the past.
â€¢ If the person is not found within 15 minutes, call 911 to file a missing
personâ€™s report. Inform the authorities that the person has dementia.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://eDVgTOiOxOdpThXzsLlpwRqD9LkV9V8xYHx6YCMwSuoÍáÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¦×‰E×‰	Ú 7cassandra://-Pny8ePIipESbEkmxaaz2HiyHvnxTeeIT-azO7WACaYÍ! Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B§×`£[è<Dœh÷B¦ÍÀÍ{×‘C’×˜š   ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://aYjFjICuOpXZSngVV6hTj1FbV1ChVOW99qr5T2gT-eMÎ ùÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://mkiR8Cwqmcu2Ce-mPFv0jblbPXGTiFS_e6DPgr923sAÍ^Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://oFAb5Hj4vvhLSbOOpatNUkOf4htnsIRKwyHtadrnb_QÍiÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://dBAwTuk4epSVk0xg35XFIxuMqqS4e20Sl16CYTZxwGsÍAp$Í ÍèÍñ×`£[í<Dœh÷C×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://G8ahdS99_HbQnYw1YnHuUxeu4PXLEKE1VZWMhR3qkDQÎ ¾XÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://4kxhSV_tTJoX6YMb2Hrmivz4W7lBgp4u7dvZH-m8JAgÍU^Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://_Ah9mIBUK_-o6uM9zmwPz88aB9CZaN3D3Opb7yQ0j64Í†Í`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://Xi78KmxRUZHEuvPCoNArbbIQeCTsoodS_nOQtAw9EwwÍ5ó$Í ÍèÍñ×`£[í<Dœh÷C‘× ×`£[í<Dœh÷C Í}Í)Ì¾9×H¹http://www.broadlawns.org××Ðˆ×‰EÚ	¿Broadlawns Medical Center
Prostate Cancer 101: When and
Where To Get Screened
Dr. Brian Gallagher
Urology Center of Iowa at Broadlawns Medical Center
Prostate cancer is the second most
common cancer in American men. This
cancer occurs in the prostate, which is a small
walnut-shaped gland in male reproductive
system.
While all men are at risk for prostate cancer,
African-American men are more likely to get
prostate cancer. According to the CDC, out
of every 100 American men, about 13 will get
prostate cancer. Of those, two or three men
will die from prostate cancer.
ZERO â€“ The End of Prostate Cancer, a
nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness
for prostate cancer, estimated that 29,750
African-American men will be diagnosed
with prostate cancer in 2021. One in six
African-American men will be diagnosed
with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and
African-American men are twice are likely
to die from prostate cancer. This increase in
death rate is attributed to the disease being
more advanced when it is found in AfricanAmerican
men, and a tendency for AfricanAmerican
men to have a more severe type of
prostate cancer.
The most common risk factor for prostate
cancer in all men is age. The older a man
is, the more he is at risk for getting prostate
cancer. About 60% of the cases occur in
men older than 65. Men who have a family
history of prostate cancer are at a greater
risk of dying from prostate cancer. Exercising
regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and a
healthy diet can help reduce a manâ€™s risk of
prostate cancer.
Different people have different symptoms
for prostate cancer. The vast majority of men
do not have symptoms at all. However, if you
or someone you love are having any of the
following symptoms, see a doctor right away:
Problems starting urination
Weak flow of urine
Frequent urination, particularly at night
Difficulty completely emptying the bladder
Pain or burning during urination
Blood in the urine or semen
Ongoing pain in the back, hips, or pelvis
Painful ejaculation
While these may be symptoms of prostate
cancer, these may also be signs of other
health issues. In fact, in a recent survey of
men with prostate cancer by ZERO â€“ The
End of Prostate Cancer, only 5.24% learned
that they had prostate cancer because of
symptoms.
The overwhelming majority
(94%) learned about their diagnosis from
early detection through a screening test.
The best chance for successful treatment
of prostate cancer is with early detection
through screening.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://oFAb5Hj4vvhLSbOOpatNUkOf4htnsIRKwyHtadrnb_QÍiÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¨×‰EÚÑOne of the most common tests to
screen for prostate cancer is a Prostate
Specific Antigen (PSA) Test. A PSA Test
is a noninvasive, simple blood test which
measures the level of PSA in the blood.
PSA is a substance made by the prostate.
The levels of PSA may be higher in men
who have prostate cancer, although a
manâ€™s PSA level may also be elevated
due to other conditions and because of
this a doctor is the best person to interpret
PSA test results.
You should consider seeking a
screening through PSA Test if you are a
male who has never been diagnosed with
prostate cancer and is:
â€¢ Age 50+ and at average risk of
prostate cancer.
â€¢ Age 45-50 and at high risk of
developing prostate cancer. This includes
African Americans and men who have
a first-degree relative (father or brother)
diagnosed with prostate cancer at an
early age (younger than age 65).
â€¢ Age 40-45 and at an even higher risk
(those with more than one first-degree
relative who had prostate cancer at an
early age).
The Urology Center of Iowa (UCI)
at Broadlawns Medical Center will be
hosting two free community prostate
screening events in Broadlawnsâ€™ Medical
Office Building on Tuesday, June 8th and
Tuesday, June 22nd from 5:00-7:00 PM.
With funding from ZERO â€“ The End of
Prostate, UCIâ€™s board certified urologists
will be offering free PSA screenings
and consultations. Light refreshments
will be served. Walk-ins are welcome,
but appointments are encouraged.
To schedule a free screening, call the
Urology Center of Iowa at Broadlawns at
515-282-7390.
The Urology Center of Iowa is
dedicated to the surgical specialty
of urology. Founded by a group of
established urologists in Des Moines in
2019, this private practice affords patients
in Central Iowa uncomplicated access
to comprehensive, compassionate and
state-of-the-art urologic care.
The Urology Center of Iowa at
Broadlawns offers diagnostic care and
treatment for male and female patients
with urinary and reproductive concerns.
Clinical assessment and procedures are
provided for urinary tract and reproductive
diseases and conditions with exceptional
expertise from board certified physicians.
To learn more about urology services at
Broadlawns, visit www.broadlawns.org.
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 31
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Beloved,weâ€™re getting to know eachother.You gotta
know why I,Courageous Fire,am here and the
advantage for you in the existence of my agency.
As the founder of this agency, Courageous Fire, LLC,
I need you to understand that though Iâ€™mhere for the
Black woman, I need the entire Black community. To
understand that, you have tounderstand the problem
of the Black woman weâ€™re aiming to solve, why itâ€™s
so big in scope, and what prevents the Black woman
from telling you- her community.
I birthed thisagencyin June 2019 forwomen
survivorsof DV/IPV1
and quickly turned to dedicating
this agency to Black female survivors of DV at the
hand of male partners.
Why? Simply put, Black women need the most help.
How do I know this to be true? Research.
â€œa Bureau of Justice Statistics report indicates that Black women
are 4 times more likely thanwhite women to be killed as a
result of domestic violence2
. And, even though Black womenonly
comprise about 13% of the U.S. population, they constitute
half of the homicides againstwomeninAmerica.â€3
â€œBlack women also experience significantly higher rates
of psychological abuse â€” including humiliation, insults,
name-calling and coercive controlâ€”than do women overall.â€4
As a survivor of domestic violence, I knew there
were 3 things that were big for me throughout
my experience that I wanted to change with
this agency:
a)
It took me a long time to even know
I was being abused. Therefore, I wanted to
broaden awareness of lesser-known types
of IPV like: sexual
psychologicalabuse,
coercion, sexual abuse,
economic abuse,
religious/spiritual abuse
b)
I had little-to-no support from my family/
friend circle at the time and the Black community
because the abuser was a Blackman. Therefore,
I wanted to teach the Black community how
to stop victim blaming, how to safely help
a victim, and how to meaningfully support a
survivor
c)
and
Once the abuser was out of my home, I
had no support for my needs following abuse.
Therefore,I wanted to create culturally-specific
provisions to fill these gaps
I was surprised to learn there are plenty of
culturally-specific answers to DV/IPVin our
community throughout the greater DesMoines
area, PolkCounty, and the state of Iowa. Did you
know that? I didnâ€™t. Research taught me there
are specific answers for every group, and that
these agencies say they are not only present to
help the victim woman during crisis but provide
help for the survivor as well as education to or
collaboration with the communities that house
the victims. Indigenous, African immigrant/
refugee, LatinX, Asian/PacificIslander, and
queer advocacy are all represented. Thereâ€™ s
seven an agency with a combined focus on
Black victims of IPV, whether male or female.
1DV= domestic violence; IPV= intimate partner violence. These
terms are interchangeable.
2
3
All bold and italicized fonts are supplied by the writer of this
article, Courageous Fire.
Very Well Mind.com article: UniqueIssuesFacingBlackWomenDealingwithAbuse
4American
Psychological Association.org article:BlackWomen,theForgottenSurvivorsofSexualAssault
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://XCcQga0BuFSiIGRk1pwHgijxwZUGzMzcm_-blY-DLoIÍ&Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷Bª×‰EÚSo why is the focus of the agency I started
specifically targeted to Black women? Racism
andsexism - 2 big and unique problems for
the Black woman dealing with DV/IPV. How
does the Black community amplify this for
Blackwomen?
1)
RACISM. The Black community wants
to unite more than we have, especially
in Iowa, around racial progress for us.
Understandably so. However, what happens
to the Blackwoman when she has to choose
between her individual intersection of sexism
and racism? She typically defaults to racism
for the good of her people as a whole, with
thethoughtthat once things have gained
sufficient momentum for racism against
Blacks, she can piggyback with that to address
her racism-sexism intersection. Sadly, that
means she has committedto her needs
remaining unmet for an indefinite period of
time.
2)
SEXISM. The world sees sexism as a
problem, but when the problem is addressed,
the problems of the Black woman are mostly
invisible. At the center of sexism is the white
female. Therefore, what is often studied is
the way it impacts her. To complicate this
picture, the strong Black woman stereotype
also works against the Black woman here.
She is viewed by her own community as being
tough, head of household, bread winner.
Unfortunately, with this â€œSuperwomanâ€ lens
through which she is often viewed, she is
not seen as the fairer sex, meaning one that
needs protection. Contrarily, she is expected
to showup to support her community with
little-to-noregard for what she is juggling to
show up, including the possibility that she
is dealing with DV/IPV when she does. And
sinceâ€œ40-60% â€œof black women report being
subjected to coercive sexual contact by age
18â€,itâ€™s likely that she is.5
Thatâ€™s why I accepted the invitation to talk to
you every month. Each month, Iâ€™ll be talking
to 1 of 3 groups; I guarantee youâ€™ll fit into one
of them. When a publication comes out that
doesnâ€™t include your group that month, you
can still help by sharing it with the people
you know who do belong to that group.
5
AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.
article:BlackWomen,theForgottenSurvivorsofSexualAssault
1)
Victim-Survivor Group. A
Blackwoman who maybe a victim of DV, is a
victim of DV, is a survivor ofDV.
2)
Black Community.You are notthe
Black woman,but you are a member of the
Black community.
3) Larger Community. You are not a Black
individual, but you live in the greater
DesMoines
area, Polk county,or the state of Iowa.
I can commit to you that these articles will
be authentic, informative, factual, and safe.
Yes, safe. Anything I share with you will be
delivered in love, even if the subject matter
at times is uncomfortable. Beloved, this
narrative can be changed for the Black woman
- but she, we, willneed all of us in order to do
it. Why did you need to know that, Beloved?
Simply put, as we nurture any part of us,we
nurture allofus.Blessings.#Permission
By Courageous Fire
DV Advocate & Founder of Courageous
Fire,LLC
Did anything in this article resonate with you?
1)
If youâ€™re a Black female survivor of DV at
the hands of a male partner and youâ€™re ready
to learn how to prevent future cycles of DV in
your life, sign-up is open for 2021 cohorts of
our groundbreaking program, Empowerment
through the Artsâ„¢. Click here to learn more
and sign up: CFire Empowerment
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 33
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://nmBrfPt8wxTKsnmhB0WZoPtsqRvjyFLzcMID7T4FfmUÍ!eÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B«×`£[è<Dœh÷BªÍÀÍ{×‘C’×˜š   ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://HX1tf1a-OaQYTSdfz8QEBTg_DYqbg8nbqGNBco9lNw8Î ŸnÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://6O8axQ_LRAzLUTf9cel3esYzhiVCQR6LkKc-8A7D6cgÍa\Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://fuppA3nAvmXaW5oMA1Te3N1P5PRpN0666FZqAULBOUcÍ fÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://z8yslxRkYjhBE5Z1koMRh2VCWxOru24KUCKdUfTNEEEÎ ¥2Í;Í ÍèÍñ×`£[î<Dœh÷C×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://1AcD7e0RSDAg3fpiz8RA_bzR-nNbmuKZzrMEIeaFwxEÎ ÕÏÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://3QCIykMYvtWRgcZ5FrhGUrK8IbYVClGaQCQ8-9KEi5AÍNÍ`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://PB1lQn7K8WUy_CPE5rdBgs52HNwi45Zf4YF9yazayWUÍcÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://rH-nypH4CAvBskl-DFCRJtntSzT1g8w4VpmHyFkIpXEÍË«,Í ÍèÍñ×`£[î<Dœh÷C‘× ×`£[î<Dœh÷C ÍÍ Í%9×HÚ "http://www.neighborhoodfinance.org××Ðˆ×‰EÚ©2) If youâ€™re not a Black female survivor of DV at the hands of a
male partner, but you want to be part of the solution, click here to
learn how: CFire Community
3) If you want to financially support the work Courageous Fire,
LLC is doing through cash app, PayPal, or credit/debit card, click
here: CFire Support
4) If you simply want to ask a question. Pull up a seat on our
orange sofa by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom: Contact
CFire
ARE YOU OR DO YOU THINK YOU MAY BE IN A DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SITUATION,
BEAUTIFUL? Get Help Here
THE NFC NEIGHBORHOOD
REINVEST DOWN PAYMENT
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Apply to receive a $10,500 30-year deferred
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515.246.0010
Des Moines, West Des Moines,
Windsor Heights and Urbandale
Visit us at www.neighborhoodfinance.org
for more information.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://fuppA3nAvmXaW5oMA1Te3N1P5PRpN0666FZqAULBOUcÍ fÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¬×‰EÚ pNational Cancer
Research Month:
A Call to Increase
Metastatic Breast
Cancer
Awareness in
Iowa
by Celeste Lawson
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://PB1lQn7K8WUy_CPE5rdBgs52HNwi45Zf4YF9yazayWUÍcÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B­×`£[è<Dœh÷B¬ÍÀÍ{×‘C’×˜š   ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://IZqu6XWsBmroDrYmvz7Ss7KUj6ft5lf0gcqs47QCkEcÎ ìŠÍ` Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://V3gYq5Rkrj8UqAf2U3btmZIGvBAE_I7cAMzDF3HkcoQÍ ŠÍ` ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://GVqbsk--ZrD39u3lYauRrna642Ulhf8FK7DHI0Be_GwÍ%œÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://4hCpjsVja-CjpwsYW2V0JFh2FYHyXLZM6niGSx-qUIQÍ7d Í ÍèÍñ×`£[î<Dœh÷C×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://p_cta38KivJCHpkW24BcJbbHtYfdYFONLJwpveG2zSkÎ ¥Í`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://Qo3TrGn9KRoQ3OHnGcRrQgevew-XcwvOXKac7HilvTMÍVÍ`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://dNp4UDhsgANh56Bk1rJu9jzy9tttQTulBiJwkyETugMÍ'Í`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://S50rrs80J7NHp2qFFVT6_6RjxbEgQnivoJ37o6HnrkoÍœMfÍ ÍèÍñ×`£[î<Dœh÷C–× ×`£[î<Dœh÷C ÍÍ0Ìý9×HÚ "mailto:ross.wilburn@legis.iowa.gov××Ðˆ× ×`£[î<Dœh÷C ÍhÍÏÍ9×HÚ #mailto:phyllis.thede@legis.iowa.gov××Ðˆ× ×`£[î<Dœh÷C ÍÎÍ‰Ìã9×H¿mailto:ras.smith@legis.iowa.gov××Ðˆ× ×`£[î<Dœh÷C ÍhÍCÍ9×HÚ $mailto:ruthann.gaines@legis.iowa.gov××Ðˆ× ×`£[î<Dœh÷C ÍhÌýÍ9×HÚ #mailto:eddie.andrews@legis.iowa.gov××Ðˆ× ×`£[î<Dœh÷C ÍhÌ·Í+9×HÚ %mailto:ako.abdul-samad@legis.iowa.gov××Ðˆ×‰EÚzMy mother, Lois E. Spinks-Lawson, passed away
during January of 2019 due to metastatic breast
cancer. What I observed, and endured, over the
time that metastatic breast cancer ravaged her
body left a lasting impact on my will to engage
in the fight to eradicate this horrific disease. I did
some basic research on the death rates due to
metastatic breast cancer and was amazed to find
out that the â€˜highest death ratesâ€™ from this disease
exist within the African American female community
statewide, followed by White females living in rural
communities across the state.
The fact that Iowaâ€™s total African American
population is estimated to be around 4%, it amazed
me to find out that the highest death rate owing
to metastatic breast cancer exists in the African
American community.
During December of 2019, I contacted Iowa State
Representative Kristin Sunde, who is the legislator
who represents my district in the statehouse.
We met and discussed my concerns about the
impact of metastatic breast cancer on African
American women. Subsequently, I contacted Iowa
State Representative Ruth Ann Gaines during
March of 2020, although Representative Gaines
resides outside of my legislative district, she was
empathetic and very interested in addressing the
devastating impact of metastatic breast cancer on
the African American community in Iowa. During our
meeting, she provided me with some basic insight
on the Black Caucus, to include its membership.
I decided to work with the Black Caucus going
forward.
I had drafted a House Resolution that included
what I thought was important in addressing the
significance of the issue as it relates to African
American women, and White women living in
rural communities, but COVID-19 interrupted the
legislative session. Thereafter, Representatives
Ruth Ann Gaines, Phyllis Thede, and Ross Wilburn
lead efforts, with my input, to draft a proclamation
instead, that was issued and signed by Governor
Kim Reynolds on October 1, 2020, proclaiming
October 13, 2020, as the first Metastatic Breast
Cancer Awareness Day in Iowa.
In addition, on September 28, 2020, Representative
Ruth Ann Gaines, Representative Phyllis Thede,
and I created a video regarding the Metastatic
Breast Cancer Awareness Day proclamation. In
this video, Representatives Ruth Ann Gaines and
Phyllis Thede read the proclamation, which was
broadcasted on Susan G. Komen Greater Iowaâ€™s
Facebook page.
During October of 2020, thanks to Representative
Ruth Ann Gaines, I did an interview regarding
the Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
proclamation, that was published in the Business
Record (online only).
In January of 2021, I wrote an article regarding
metastatic breast cancer that was published by the
Business Recordâ€™s sister publication, Fearless.
Then during March of 2021, I, along with my
father, interviewed Iowa State Representative
Ross Wilburn, who is also Chair of the Iowa
Democratic Party. The article was published in
The Urban Experience Magazine. I publicly thank
Representative Wilburn for having his legislative
staff do research on metastatic breast cancer in
preparation for the proclamation mentioned hereinabove.
This
year, a House Resolution regarding an annual
Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Iowa
failed to pass.
As May is National Cancer Research Month, I
have prepared this article as part of my ongoing
advocacy for the need to increase awareness of
the deadly impact of metastatic breast cancer,
especially on African American women and White
women living in rural areas in Iowa.
I urge you to contact any or all of the following Iowa
legislators, who are members of the Black Caucus,
for their support in further addressing the deadly
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://GVqbsk--ZrD39u3lYauRrna642Ulhf8FK7DHI0Be_GwÍ%œÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B®×‰EÚJimpact of metastatic breast cancer and to get a
House Resolution passed.
+ Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, Democrat of Polk
County, at ako.abdul-samad@legis.iowa.gov
+ Rep. Eddie Andrews, Republican of Polk
County, at eddie.andrews@legis.iowa.gov
+ Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, Democrat of Polk
County, at ruthann.gaines@legis.iowa.gov
+ Rep. RasTafari Smith, Democrat of
Blackhawk County, at ras.smith@legis.iowa.gov
+ Rep. Phyllis Thede, Democrat of Scott
County, at phyllis.thede@legis.iowa.gov
+ Rep. Ross Wilburn, Democrat of Story
County, and Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party,
at ross.wilburn@legis.iowa.gov
During this National Cancer Research Month,
and going forward, we can make a difference
by working to increase metastatic breast cancer
awareness in Iowa and save lives!
God bless!
See What
Urban Can
Do for You!
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 37
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TOO FAST
by Marc Supreme
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 39
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hip hop community need to stop leaving Carl Terrell
Mitchell out of Hall of Fame conversations. Yes,
Iâ€™m talking about Platinum-selling, Guinness World
Record holding artist, Mista Tung Twista.
It almost seems like the whole culture caught amnesia
after his platinum selling album, Kamikaze, peaked at
number one on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/HipHop
Albums in 2004. That same project also consisted
of three singles that earned Billboard real estate in
â€œSlow Jamz,â€ featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx,
â€œOvernight Celebrityâ€ and â€œSo Sexyâ€ featuring fellow
Chicagoan, R. Kelly. His follow-up 2005 album, The
Day After, produced by Pharrell, also found success,
earning Gold-status by the Recording Industry
Association of America (yaâ€™ll remember Chocolate Feâ€™s
and Redbones, donâ€™t play).
So why do we continue to gloss over his career as if
it never happened? Can you name a less-than-stellar
Twista verse? And, please, do we even have to discuss
Adrenaline Rush?
Weâ€™re talking about the artist that tattooed his
name into world history after spewing out 598
syllables in less than a minuteâ€”as a teenager.
Weâ€™re talking about the artist that ran the baton
home in classic tracks like â€œPo Pimpâ€ with Do or
Die, lyrically undressed women in â€œFreaky Thangsâ€
with Ludacris and rode with you through the hood
blowinâ€™ doja in â€œIt Feels So Goodâ€. Twista harnessed
rapid rhyme schemes; but he can also kick the slow
flow, represented on the track, â€œOne Last Time,â€
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://TsDqkR68NGaB4PDENq6MOZ-orJCI0JI0E55p6r4nHaUÍsÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B²×‰EÚÅon Kamikaze. Hell, if these examples arenâ€™t
enough, just go back and listen to â€œOverdoseâ€.
His prolific penmanship is undeniable.
Now, Iâ€™m by no means saying itâ€™s obligatory
that we lift him into G.O.A.T conversations
or even reorganize our Mt. Rushmore of rap
artists. The combination of talent, album sales,
longevity and cultural influence must culminate
into a winning combination for that type of
consideration. However, what I am saying is we
need not be so quick to abandon any artist that
gave us life on a high-speed, lyrical level with
two classic albums and an unparalleled ability
to go ape-shit on a track that can attract the
ears of school students, hustlers, chocolate feâ€™s,
redbones, peanut butter and my caramel girls
at the same time.
Now, go listen to Twista.
-Marc Supreme
Still on top, I ainâ€™t never gone
fall away, gone fall away, no
Prayinâ€™ that I drop, but Iâ€™m like
no, not today, not today
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 41
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×‰	Ú 7cassandra://2zv0v6YYoRCW0DR9zC4mVpaBDYOF2UrLdLM6zpK0ftEÍ49Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B´×‰EÚ	91st Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Mid-Western Regional Conference
Hosted Virtually Through Host City, Des Moines, Iowa
By Rhonda Harris
On March 19-21, 2021 hundreds
of women from the Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,
Magnificent Mid-Western
Regions eight states took part in
their 91st Mid-Western Regional
Conference. Although due to
the pandemic the members
could not convene in person,
they were able to hold the
conference virtually out of the
host city of Des Moines. With
the theme of â€œNorthbound
Express: Celebrating Our Spirit
Of Excellenceâ€ they were able to
carry out their business through
plenary sessions, workshops,
community service activities, and
sisterly interactive celebrations,
that would prepare attendees to
take back the knowledge they
gained, to continue their work
of serving and building stronger
communities.
The highly successful and
inspiring events were under
the leadership of Regional
Director, Twyla Woods-Buford,
and coordinated by a host
committee, chaired by local
resident, Mary Chapman,
which demonstrated excellence
and outstanding teamwork.
AKA members attended
from Missouri, Iowa, Kansas,
Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming,
and Nebraska.
At every regional conference
the members are able to leave
the city where it is hosted a
little better off by providing
generous donations through
their community service projects.
A total of 470 pairs of new and
gently worn shoes to support
the international service project
Soles4Souls and 154 pairs of
eye glasses that were distributed
to the area Lions Club were
collected.
In addition members of the
community took part and helped
families in need during this
pandemic, by making monetary
donations to the COVID-19
Relief Full Cart online virtual
food bank project. A total of
$1,827 was donated. Lastly a
goal was set to raise $10,000
for AKA National Educational
Advancement Foundation.
Through the efforts of an
online auction and additional
individual donation, the goal was
surpassed.
The Public Program â€œWorking
Stronger Together As A
Communityâ€ streamed on
Friday night via Facebook and
You Tube was appropriately
steeped in meaningful tradition
and a powerful and moving
celebration. From the virtual
color guard and singing of the
Black National Anthem, to the
captivating performance of the
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 43
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URoosevelt High School
and Worship Team.
Bridges 2 Harmony Choir, and the
well spoken remarks of the AKA
International President and CEO,
Dr. Glenda Glover. After greetings
from the Black Caucus Legislative
Officials and Divine 9 Presidents,
special honor was given to five
local community leaders and
organizations for significantly
impacting their communities.
The Five Excellence Awardees
who exemplified the mission of
the sororityâ€™s international target
initiatives included: HBCU for
Life Award â€“ Dr. Kimberly Wayne,
Founder & Executive Director,
Jewelâ€™s Academy; Womenâ€™s
Healthcare & Wellness Award -
Connie Eastman, Associate State
Director of Community Outreach
with AARP Iowa; Economic
Legacy Award - Marvin DeJear,
Ph.D., M.B.A., Executive Director
of the Evelyn K. Davis Center,
the Financial Empowerment
Center; Arts Award â€“Artist &
Curator, Jordan Weber ; Global
Impact Award - Tricia Gabriel,
Co-Founder of Genesis Youth
Foundation.
Saturdayâ€™s closing Gala was an
awesome event highlighted by a
time of celebration with Atlanta,
GA. Emcee Tish Norman and
Pretty Tammi the DJ. Rachelle
Hunt Russian of Iota Zeta Omega
and Erin Hicks so eloquently
chaired the event.
On Sunday, all saints were
present at the Ecumenical
Service, which was a jubilant end
to the 91st MWRC. The message
was â€œPursuing Excellenceâ€ The
service featured the uplifting
musical inspiration from the
Corinthian Baptist Church Praise
Reverend Daphne Braswell
introduced the speaker of the
hour, Reverend Quanda Annette
Brown. First Lady Theresa
Whitfield blessed all with â€œsafely in
his arms.â€
Reverend Brown, a member
of the host chapter of Iota
Zeta Omega, truly exalted the
flock with the word examining
pursuing excellence. During
this pandemic, the church may
have left the building,â€ Reverend
Brown proclaimed, â€œbut church
has not left you!â€ She continued
by emphasizing excellence is
the state of quality by doing it
best. Other salient points were
â€œexcellence is not a skill but an
attitudeâ€ and the meaning of
worship begins with worth-â€œhow
much is God worth to you?â€
Bringing the stirring message
home Reverend Brown concluded
that pursuing excellence is giving
what is due God.
Reverend L. Louise Bruce
provided the benediction to
complete the exhilarating service
and conference.
â€œWe are honored to have brought
the services and spirit of our
organization to the Des Moines
Community and the opportunity
to share the beauty and history
of our city with the conference
attendees.â€ said Mary Chapman,
Chairman.
For further information please
contact Rhonda Harris, Publicity
Chairman. Rhonda.harris56@
yahoo.com
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Donates to Genesis Youth Foundation
Des Moines Alumnae Chapter Participates
Supports International Awareness and Involvement
DES MOINES, IA â€” On Thursday, April 15 the
Des Moines Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Incorporated donated funds
to the Genesis Youth Foundation. Donations
collected by sorority members will support over
100 youth participants of the Genesis Youth
Foundationâ€™s programming. Last winter, the
Des Moines Alumnae Chapter held an internal
fundraiser to support the foundationâ€™s youth.
Sorority members of the chapter provided
contributions via PayPal and checks from
November 20 through December 5, 2020. In
the second year of partnering with Genesis
Youth Foundation, the Des Moines Alumnae
Chapterâ€™s President Robin Jenkins along
with several members virtually presented the
foundationâ€™s team with a check for five hundred
dollars. Samuel and Tricia Gabriel, co-founders
of the Genesis Youth Foundation, along with
some of the foundationâ€™s youth participants
expressed delight and appreciation for the
donation.
â€œGenesis Youth Foundation is the perfect
collaborative partnership as their purpose
aligns well to not only the sororityâ€™s
International Awareness and Involvement
programmatic thrust but incorporates many
other components of our service initiatives
around, education, health and individual
wholeness and wellbeing,â€ says Robin Jenkins,
President of the Des Moines Alumnae Chapter
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
The partnership with Genesis Youth
Foundation supports the International
Awareness and Involvement component of
the Sororityâ€™s Five Point Thrust. The Genesis
Youth Foundation â€œprovides the services for
children to help level the playing field while
empowering them and their immigrant families
through athletic play, education, dance, and
song. We embrace the many languages of our
community while building solid grounds where
their play will become the work that changes
the worldâ€ says Sam Gabriel, Co-Founder and
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://dK6WTJisdHD7lS3Jwv_lTN8kx-egS49bbvHZyj2kOoQÍ%·Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¸×‰EÚïExecutive Director of Genesis Youth Foundation.
Although the Sorority has an international focus
in Haiti, Kenya, and several other countries,
partnering with the Genesis Youth Foundation
provides the Des Moines Alumnae Chapter
an opportunity to work on the development of
international awareness and involvement locally.
Since 2018, the Des Moines Alumnae Chapter of
Delta Sigma Theta has provided support to the
foundation through monetary donations, physical
donations such as hygiene kits for students, and
volunteering locally with programming.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
in 2020, the Central Region of Delta Sigma Theta
has focused on physical and mental health,
donated to the American Diabetes Association,
restocked the shelves of local homeless shelters,
prepared chapters for emergency situations,
donated to the sororityâ€™s International Awareness
and Involvement Sustainability Projects, and
virtually held their 2020 World AIDS Day activities.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded
in 1913 on the campus of Howard University
to promote academic excellence; to provide
scholarships; to provide support to the
underserved; educate and stimulate participation
in the establishment of positive public policy;
and to highlight issues and provide solutions
for problems in their communities. Today
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has over 300,000
initiated members and more than 1000 chapters
worldwide, including seven in Iowa. The Sorority
uses its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of
economic development, educational development,
international awareness and involvement, physical
and mental health, and political awareness
and involvement to create its national and local
programs.
See What
Urban Can
Do for You!
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 47
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://8JTHPRsdmXg3LJgwVs53OdMSS6rbpwbEzmsy42y4xXEÍÏÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¹×`£[è<Dœh÷B¸ÍÀÍ{×‘C’×˜š   ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://saEjB8Vg0xq8wXaPIl65L1LuZq1ggPavu1U1Sm3u-74Î ?<Í`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://0aEqkzSbiZes4DDhbGXj-h5G6D9uXs3ylkDevcm8ZhsÍa‹Í`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://bLUozh79flSEh9FqHd5maUMKXcrwFbdL8VkUHnzkN7oÍ"Í`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://d7-WFCzTnychQZBASPPi9RIzJFSoJgABW7Ck0HhGRtYÎ S¼\Í ÍèÍñ×`£[ï<Dœh÷C+×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://fJvSIj8jmODZBwG7Sdm8u8CvhpCSZMghzJciZDRb-4kÎ MŸÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://ka1XHbeknO_dKb022fmdtHBitzrBisJoS14_W0A-ABkÍvœÍ`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://gLDaaaUcdGI9Y60awnt-nUOG9lb64t39D-FIuZ_9KJAÍ(ÌÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://F-jdBckg1_J5HMWRRCWHMqZR3r9CXMaA0ku9MX_xW6gÎ Ö/LÍ ÍèÍñ×`£[ï<Dœh÷C,œ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C> Í™Í1Ìž9×HÚ  http://www.imagezphotostudio.com××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C= Í×Í1Í19×H¾https://www.facebook.com/DsmSo××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C< Í×ÍÛÍ9×HÚ  http://www.iowanebraskanaacp.org××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C; Í×ÍoÍ,9×H¿https://www.naacpdesmoines.org/××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C: Í×ÍÌº9×H¸http://ww.madeeasley.com××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C9 Í×ÌÁÌ´9×H¸http://www.vanesther.com××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C8 Í×kÌã9×H½http://www.iowajuneteenth.com××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C7 ÍÍEÍ@9×HÚ !https://www.facebook.com/ma.vs.73××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C6 ÍÍÃÍ29×HÚ  https://www.facebook.com/groups/××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C5 ÍÍWÍŠ9×HÚ )https://www.rootstobranchesgenealogy.com/××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C4 ÍÌÕÍ±9×HÚ ,https://www.facebook.com/TranZitionsBeautySa××Ðˆ× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C3 ÍbÍq9×HÚ )https://hiphopeinc.wixsite.com/hiphopeinc××Ðˆ×‰EÚÖLetâ€™s Support
our Black
Owned
Businesses
Bottle and Bottega
James and Bridget Neely
Wine & Painting
https://www.bottleandbottega.com/des-moines/
This
year The Urban Experience
Magazine celebrates 5 years.
This isnâ€™t a list of all the Black
owned businesses in our city.
The businesses listed below
have been either featured or
supported the Urban Experience
Magazine in the last five year. Put
your business card in the Urban
Experience Magazine for $25 a
month for the first year. Reach
out to us at:
contactdsmurban@gmail.com for
more details.
Urban City Magazine
Howell Dixon
Magazine/Podcast
https://urbancitymag.co/
Ruby Bâ€™s Catering
Bradley Family
Restaurant
515) 681-4028
https://www.facebook.com/
rubybskitchen/
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://bLUozh79flSEh9FqHd5maUMKXcrwFbdL8VkUHnzkN7oÍ"Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷Bº×‰EÚLHip Hope, Inc
Bo James
https://hiphopeinc.wixsite.com/hiphopeinc
Tranzitions Salon & Beauty Bar
Ty Daye & Courtney
Beauty Salon
https://www.facebook.com/TranZitionsBeautySalon/
Roots
to Branches
Ricki King
https://www.rootstobranchesgenealogy.com/
Black Women 4 Healthy Living
Brandi Miller
Health
https://www.facebook.com/groups/
bw4hl/?ref=share
MAV Nu Direction
Calvetta Berry
https://www.facebook.com/ma.vs.73
Iowa Juneteenth Observance
Dwana Bradley
www.iowajuneteenth.com
Van Esther
Vanessa Lewis
www.vanesther.com
Made Easley Advertising
Ash Easley
ww.madeeasley.com
NAACP Des Moines Branch
Kameron Middlebrooks
https://www.naacpdesmoines.org/
NAACP Iowa/Nebraska Branch
Betty Andrews
www.iowanebraskanaacp.org
SoulFit
Zakiya English
https://www.facebook.com/DsmSo
www.imagezphotostudio.com
(515) 223-6122
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 49
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://gLDaaaUcdGI9Y60awnt-nUOG9lb64t39D-FIuZ_9KJAÍ(ÌÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B»×`£[è<Dœh÷BºÍÀÍ{×‘C’×˜š   ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://OZvEegUsGIubfmnpz5i5IqagfdZ8NQYXiKdkcdnEWYkÎ +ðÍ`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://G-xdz4Q_37X7qrzCX313IR6ryYHCguCIXRZE4vho6zEÍxoÍ`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://CNZBQ9-BtY1ixnnQVJP0WGJllDL6gidR5kZC22Zk4aAÍ&iÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://Bm_ou2dHmgvL5rwhzJ-YRkQZpsvQ7RexhefilBJ4kPwÎ ®yXÍ ÍèÍñ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C?×˜š Íà ÍàÍ{u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://eWvBrq4buJmYMr9PB8mzLOzLi_hzvXhENTt4uJ2SpUcÎ é)Í`Í°Í×‰	Ú 7cassandra://-_uXlANve3rlluz07Vy65wheyXRAcwEZkjY-j1yF-5oÍZXÍ`ÍSÍß×‰	Ú 7cassandra://_pPy_covkpOhtz2r2W1z57FfvqnOO2w34lzgSp0RZmIÍÍ`ÌµÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://-SflmBEYv7BDXRPnriHtK3qdLTDoMxdgqZPQMvfAYWAÎ ¯ŽLÍ ÍèÍñ×`£[ð<Dœh÷C@‘× ×`£[ð<Dœh÷CB ÍMÍÙÌÏ9×H¼http://imagezphotostudio.com××Ðˆ×‰EÚ	DAngela Jacksonâ€™s bio
Angela Jackson, Esq. is an
Entrepreneur and owner of The
Great Frame Up which is an Art
Gallery and Custom Framing
Business located in West Des
Moines. She also is Senior Vice
President of Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion at Athene USA
Corporation. Angela serves her
community as Board Member of
The West Des Moines Chamber,
Des Moines Arts Festival,
Cornerstone Family Church and
an Honorary Board Member for
Des Moines Performing Arts.
She is a member of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Des
Moines Chapter of the Links,
Incorporated. Angela is a Thought
Leader and alumni of Washington
University School of Law and
Duke University.
Gary Lawsonâ€™s Bio
Debra Carr Bio
Debra Carr serves
professionally and personally
as a champion for diversity,
inclusion, and equity. Uplifting
women and girls to become
the best version of themselves
is foundational. Debra is
Principal Consultant and
owner of Carr and Associates
and works full-time for Des
Moines Public Schools
consulting for building level
administrators, faculty,
and staff to achieve school
improvement goals. Debra
has received numerous
awards and is a champion for
her community in which she
has served for many years.
Gary Lawson is a freelance writer
who focuses on various aspects
of business and government.
He earned a graduate degree
in Government Administration,
and an undergraduate degree in
Business Administration with a
duel concentration in Management
and Marketing. He is a VietnamEra
veteran who has served as
a Commissioned Officer in the
United States Army. In addition,
he has taught business courses at
Drake University and Des Moines
Area Community College.
Celeste Lawsonâ€™s bio
Celeste Lawson is a freelance writer
who focuses on various aspects
of education and cultural diversity.
She earned a graduate degree in
Curriculum and Instruction, and an
undergraduate degree in Elementary
Education, with concentrations in
English and Language Arts. In addition,
she has more than 20 years of
classroom experience with teaching
students at the primary, secondary,
and post-secondary levels.
Marc Supremeâ€™s bio
Marc Supreme is the program
director for the urban a/c radio
station, Strictly Hip Hop 90.7FM, in
Peoria, IL. He is also a freelance
journalist and commentator,
covering politics and entertainment.
Twitter & IG: @marc_supreme
Clubhouse: @marcsupreme
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://CNZBQ9-BtY1ixnnQVJP0WGJllDL6gidR5kZC22Zk4aAÍ&iÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¼×‰EÚçTerence G. Haynes is a Musician,
Neo Renaissance Artisan, writer,
30-year career Chef and currently
running for Omaha Nebraska City
Council District 2 North Omaha.
Lori A. Young Bio
He is a community advocate and
bridge builder, a motivational
strategist/coach with a passion for
people development and Diversity
and inclusion champion.
A strong faith and belief base
in Christ that furnishes a wellgrounded
ethical foundation. He
has a team building approach to
empowering individuals to believe in
and think for themselves.
He is a multi-faceted communicator,
dedicated to making a positive
difference in every life he touches.
Bert Moody is a Photographer, an IT
Consultant, and Web Designer for
the Urban Experience Magazine. He
has been with the magazine from
its inception.
He has been a Freelance
Photographer in the Des Moines
area since 1985, first with Esquire
Photo Agency and now with
Imagez Photo Studio (www.
imagezphotostudio.com). He
also is a longtime associate at
Nationwide Insurance as is a part
of their National Network of Black
Associates. Bert volunteers for
many activities in the community
and is a Board member with The
Des Moines Urban Experience.
Bert is married with three grown
children.
Lori A. Young is a native of Des
Moines and a graduate of Tech High
School and Grand View University.
Her professional experience lies in
corporate internal and marketing
communications. Currently she is
self-employed on assignment with
the non-profit organization, Just
Voices Iowa, as a Communications
Director and Project Manager. In
her spare time, sheâ€™s a feature
writer, artist, and community
organizer/social activist fighting
on issues such as racial,
environmental, and economic
justice for over 10 years.
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 51
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(Cleophus â€œCleoâ€ Franklin Jr.â€™s Bio
Cleophus â€œCleoâ€ Franklin Jr.â€™s
leadership expertise is globally
recognized. His passion for
designing robust business growth,
brand strategies, and implementing
innovative, disruptive business
models have benefited many global
businesses and industries. Franklinâ€™s
values and beliefs are centered on
approaching difficult challenges
with curiosity and a beginnerâ€™s
mindset. He is a purpose-driven
leader who embraces servant
leadership and investing in
the personal and professional
development of the next generation
of leaders. His leadership career
spans over thirty years with John
Deere, Case-New Holland, and
Mahindra as a global executive.
Franklin is a published author. His
global leadership book Coffee with
Cleo (coffeewithcleo.com) was
launched in June 2020. His book
highlights ten leadership lessons
from his global business executive
career. Through artful and engaging
storytelling, it showcases how one
can navigate challenges successfully
in our ever-changing, fastpaced, and
complex business world by using
an innovative entrepreneurship
mindset and proven framework to
improve your livelihood, but more
importantly, your life.
Negus Sankofa Imhotepâ€™s Bio
Negus Sankofa Imhotep is the
Academic & Workforce Coordinator
at Urban Dreams and the Deferred
Expulsion Case Manager for Des
Moines Public Schools. In these
roles, he has connected several
of Central Iowaâ€™s top employers
with highly skilled untapped talent,
assisted hundreds of marginalized
central Iowans in securing gainful
employment, and successfully
advocated on behalf of more than
50 students who faced expulsion
from the Des Moines Public School
district.
Negus is also a sought-after orator
and community ally, having served
as an Executive Board Member
for the Iowa Human Rights Board,
a past Chair and Commissioner
of the Iowa Commission on the
Status of African Americans. In
2015, Negus launched Rudison
Consultancy Group, LLC to offer
cultural community network advising
and cultural competency training
to agencies and organizations
across the region. His commitment
to educating emerging leaders is
what led him to teaching positions at
Hawkeye Community College and
Joshua Christian Academy in 2013.
Negus holds a Bachelorâ€™s degree
in Liberal Arts with a concentration
in Political Science from Excelsior
College, a Masterâ€™s degree in
Public Administration from Norwich
University, and is currently writing
his dissertation for a Doctorate
in Business Administration with a
concentration in Human Resource
Management from Northcentral
University.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://EPWYSjndCMUTSugpEospM-ILK6_lIIqcX2sWE4ydQdsÍ²Í`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷B¾×‰EÚ UCalling for
Submissions
The Urban
Experience
Magazine
The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 53
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OF IOWA
at
FREE PROSTATE
CANCER SCREENING
If you are a male who has never been
diagnosed with prostate cancer and is:
â€¢ Age 50+ and at average risk of
prostate cancer.
â€¢ Age 45-50 and at high risk of developing
prostate cancer. This includes African
Americans and men who have a firstdegree
relative (father or brother)
diagnosed with prostate cancer at an
early age (younger than age 65).
â€¢ Age 40-45 and at an even higher risk
(those with more than one first-degree
relative who had prostate cancer at
an early age).
You qualify for screening. Screening
is noninvasive â€“ just a simple
blood draw and consultation with
a Board Certified Urologist.
TUESDAY, JUNE 8TH
&
TUESDAY, JUNE 22ND
5:00â€“7:00 PM
Broadlawns Medical Center
Medical Office Building
1801 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA
Light refreshments will be served.
Walk-ins welcome, appointments encouraged.
To schedule your FREE screening, call the
Urology Center of Iowa at Broadlawns at:
(515) 282-7390
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://To1-jGE5OmpIIuv8fTWwWdd7lTukRXeRJJOZCNdk9xUÍ"NÍ`ÌµÍ ×`£[è<Dœh÷BÀ×ˆE×`£[è<Dœh÷BÁ×`£[è<Dœh÷BÀÍÀÍ{,­May2021 final×`£[ã‹±¢RAÉt…