׉?4ׁB!בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://hucOiNeG7143A1tqJRxvI5T9M13onz72Kbi-rStyAUQ1a` ׉ 7cassandra://385JpEI7Pem3VCbHjLZF-_72SAGt1PfH863VoPIQSMsN`S׉ 7cassandra://A6cknHjxOlIkHGhyouViaP3jEnGZTJPRe9bB__jXSN4O`̵׉ 7cassandra://4cE7xFepn8uTFqSupt-WdK5mAuTqqpDJeOMnf02-1L4C4͠_M_Jgט{u׈CNSvu׈E_M_J9׉EDr. Jack Thomas, President Central State University Arts & Music Black Stories Nov. & Dec. ISSUE Inside Black Stories: Des Moines Art Center Tips for an Injury Free Fall ׉ 7cassandra://A6cknHjxOlIkHGhyouViaP3jEnGZTJPRe9bB__jXSN4O`̵_M_J:_M_J9{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://rP31cEX6x_trCp2yio9PkHEY5XaC9cXVYf57y-mdX9I` ׉ 7cassandra://N3F-RfoO8xI9hb6lzkMRcQHt55EginJEl4iBpBjbJ9IQ `S׉ 7cassandra://8dO38Hq6P1AlCJW2RyVmc_T8LUg6T7DOHX38SOXHcrI"p`̵׉ 7cassandra://Rr_DJzYcP1FP4O__cDeFzQJzf5yFqhwrnZEOM2xMup8{$͠_M_Jjט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://Ufm2jSQwjx8DhOMeLSTASJNbr3dEWU-4k4s6YToFTes` ׉ 7cassandra://OzJ_lkZZxXv6PUuP9QjEBmb_Uhh3EgegQJLU-qbzzxkI `S׉ 7cassandra://JE8PwENbVi14FXFTcRSYVyt4iqDX85_vMk--YAGzcSQ`̵׉ 7cassandra://WcjASmC10dJTil8DTzHRbFmQXlTIpFoFi5_K30g1-ds ,͠_M_Jk׉E2020 Election Winn ׉ 7cassandra://8dO38Hq6P1AlCJW2RyVmc_T8LUg6T7DOHX38SOXHcrI"p`̵_M_J;׉E3n ner Biden & Harris The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 3 ׉ 7cassandra://JE8PwENbVi14FXFTcRSYVyt4iqDX85_vMk--YAGzcSQ`̵_M_J<_M_J;{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://IOLB7-nIxWHy6fmCwkA4W16jI76moVuCVJRxjMPkKZE` ׉ 7cassandra://Rm2CWIhgD9oIfe_RHFBNe9PRH4cub-59LzthAkxwJjwe`S׉ 7cassandra://nbZN-rGM2PZ5sa5TfB-CPFjmXaMryhcV2aUv1EJ1LPYh`̵׉ 7cassandra://_qO7zltodAt1a8mHnqEF69aS-vfPRnPG6is4_5kiG9U>`͠_M_Jnט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://pFqF1aImr2Lr00q9IpeHRjKW15GVM3uVQ_zh9pmXIx4C` ׉ 7cassandra://KqyfTfJxXAKfLQM8_9kYwGtJGBSBldZwnZkW5dd9rkko`S׉ 7cassandra://ekXo7ZlxZ3x-dOO4yB82B1Thnt5mF1Ge4ZqXepdoWVk(`̵׉ 7cassandra://BqI-mqyukP3bBgVH3uIiHJPypBbq5GBYNUR-4ONdlJM4h͠_M_Joנ_ M_JuWo9ׁHhttp://dsmurban.orgׁ ׁ Јנ_ M_JtG9ׁH mailto:contactdsmurban@gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנ_ M_JsZG 9ׁHmailto:dsmurbannews@gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנ_ M_Jr&G9ׁHmailto:joindsmurban@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EWRITERS & STAFF Editor-In-Chief Dwana Bradley Contributors Copy Editor Virgina Smith Creative Director Ash Easley Donnetta Austin Debra Carr Terence Haynes Angela Jackson MAGAZINE OUTLETS Broadlawns 1801 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA 50314 CareMore 1530 East Euclid, Des Moines, Iowa 50313 Central Library 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309 DMACC Urban Campus 1100 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314 DSM Brew Coffee Co. 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, Suite 140, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Drake Diner 1111 25th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311 Eastside Library 2559 Hubbell Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50317 Fields Pharmacy 501 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50314 Iowa-Nebraska NAACP 1620 Pleseant Suite #210, Des Moines, IA 50314 Forest Library 1326 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314 Franklin Library 5000 Franklin Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50310 Hy-Vee 3330 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50310 John R. Grubb YMCA 11th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314 Johnston Library 6700 Merle Hay Rd. Johnston, Iowa 50131 Northside Library 3516 5th Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50313 Evelyn Davis Center 801 Suite #3, University Ave, Des Moines IA 50314 Mr. Bibbs 2705 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313 Join our email club at: joindsmurban@gmail.com Senior Polk County 2008 Forest Ave, Des Moines IA 50314 Smokey Row Coffee Co. 1910 Cottage Grove, Des Moines, Iowa 50314 Southside Library 1111 Porter Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50315 The Great Frame Up 5515 Mills Civic Parkway Suite #150, West Des Moines, IA 50266 The Des Moines Civil and Human Rights 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines IA 50309 The Urban Dreams 601 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50314 Traditions Grooming Parlor 1111 E. Army Post Road Ste. 154 Urbandale Public Library 3520 86th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322 Submit your news to: dsmurbannews@gmail.com Become a Outlet for Urban: contactdsmurban@gmail.com Urbandale Chamber of Commerce 2830 100th Street, Suite 110, Urbandale, IA 50322 West Des Moines Library 4000 Mills Clive Pkwy, West Des Moines, Iowa 50365 The Zone of Comfort 3829 71st Street, Suite B, Urbandale, IA 50322 Also Available at churches, our directory can be found on our website at dsmurban.org COVID-19 Celeste Lawson Gary Lawson Bert Moody Lori Young ׉ 7cassandra://nbZN-rGM2PZ5sa5TfB-CPFjmXaMryhcV2aUv1EJ1LPYh`̵_M_J=׉E`Features 09 15 17 Share Your Story: Inspired Black Stories ARTIST OF THE MONTH 21 25 Vaulable Gifts 27 Leave Empty Tips for an Injury Free Fall 29 32 Cultrally Competent: Mental Health Care New Occupants in the White House Black Voters Most Loyal 37 Dr. Jack Thomas, President of Central State University The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 5 What’s Inside? ׉ 7cassandra://ekXo7ZlxZ3x-dOO4yB82B1Thnt5mF1Ge4ZqXepdoWVk(`̵_M_J>_M_J={בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://D8tDIHHg6iHDA2gR7UU7aAvSdi8loabzHG-8t1OCdPMB` ׉ 7cassandra://CdMxRnCU9NK8-BJek8IeCDl-iMZYAZUhttuTRifK9q4kx`S׉ 7cassandra://fj5YPPqKzBR4guFWs5R2I9KJhE0llTyjK4nuhfXK4Mg!`̵׉ 7cassandra://2D_chApXjsOZBOFXcoYqI_AJUO4U_4_ZP785ImWg148(͠_ M_Jvט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://3fCd4ghpDtQy9wYUSKuGD9-4ILXyfrAUY951uFC-xqA!` ׉ 7cassandra://H2SffzKXlOtxNpNAx2rdB-nSqmCZb-hPjq4xfIh0Y6Q͡`S׉ 7cassandra://rPbrl8rp6o1fLmiuCIAMPFlBKZPsHeofyWNxaUH3zrg,`̵׉ 7cassandra://jgtkzI2NScriud2imqI8OzqoEPeku7D4H2W7OAJAw6Us0͠_ M_Jw׉E׉ 7cassandra://fj5YPPqKzBR4guFWs5R2I9KJhE0llTyjK4nuhfXK4Mg!`̵_M_J?׉E The Power is in You! The power you embody is an inner strength that influences others around you. I watched the power of African Americans as we encouraged each other to vote. I’ve been voting since I was eighteen, but this is the first time I experienced the results of what coming together for a common purpose looks like and this year the goal of many was to vote for change and for a new administration. I observed African Americans walking the streets, knocking on doors, conducting voter drives, traveling to different cities, creating rap videos, and speaking via social media. All your efforts paid off and we now have elected the President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. While I’ve always believed that neither party is truly for us, it seems the Democrats prevailed. My spirit was happy to see the first woman of color as Vice President-Elect, the idea of becoming who you want to be. I never thought I would see the day when a woman of color would hold such a high office, but as I watched all of the celebrating in the streets and the jubilation in the eyes of African Americans, I thought to myself now what. Many put in work to make sure we voted, but now that we voted what is the next step. I believe voting is important. My ancestors, your ancestors fought, bled, and died to make sure we could step into the poll and cast our ballot. I get nervous thinking about the now. We will receive promises from the new administration, and they may or may not come through. My question to you is what you are going to do. Are you going to continue to be satisfied with the crumbs that fall off the table or are you going to demand our voices be heard? Are you going to take your seat at the table? Or let someone who isn’t for us take a seat. Are we going to strategize to make sure those in office are for us? I hope so. It would be a shame to collectively work so hard to fall short because we became satisfied with promises. There is still work to do after the vote. There are voices that still need to be heard after the vote. There is still strategizing to do after the vote. There is change that needs to take place after the vote. Racism will still exist, police brutality will still be a reality, and the privilege class will still look at us as if we don’t belong. The work that needs to be done is far from over. Our time has come, and our time is now. So, what are you going to do to make sure that this time we get everything that is due to us? Now isn’t the time to sleep, now is the time to stay vigilant, woke, and ready to act at any time to make sure our voices are heard and never silenced again. Dwana Bradley Editor in Chief The Urban Experience Magazine The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 7 ׉ 7cassandra://rPbrl8rp6o1fLmiuCIAMPFlBKZPsHeofyWNxaUH3zrg,`̵_M_J@_M_J?{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://X1Iu3tFzUABUygzT6F0-3e93-81Oql1h4LvwQlHln04q$` ׉ 7cassandra://HaLpEs96kwqxQ9jX0iTllC6hO4lLsu2tXZWNfLhe6_cr`S׉ 7cassandra://FrPDViItKMX_V1Gg7oKWlEXxebi5XV_T7VQSG4jEORU&2`̵׉ 7cassandra://hsRpOnxdgXnI5UTJfYgNpnaEd8MlxBzwGOZfeKveWJY^͠_ M_Jyט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://lfjMWDlsmW1fEpg0f5-EjXa7fZj_IG8odHAdeMCbxEA*` ׉ 7cassandra://QykAp2qJIYb1QFlNkFveBFcIEpg0LN7dByYkbhNlbEEg`S׉ 7cassandra://OdExKr5QLYWQ_R3hOZ3qFSOMkfW0n6ulUSljdkfr9PI"M`̵׉ 7cassandra://UAtICdt2XgH0QfAZgduzRNESveoVlUm8XDrSuYWV7G4Pa͠_ M_Jzנ_ M_J~ 9ׁH&mailto:JFLEMING@DESMOINESARTCENTER.ORGׁ ׁ Јנ_ M_J}$R 9ׁH.http://DESMOINESARCENTER.ORG/EXHIBITIONS/BLACKׁ ׁ Ј׉ELBLACK STORIES OCTOBER 3, 2020 – JANUARY 17, 2021 CURATED BY MITCHELL SQUIRE & JORDAN WEBER PARTICIPATE & SUBMIT YOUR STORY FIND OUT HOW AT DESMOINESARCENTER.ORG/EXHIBITIONS/BLACK-STORIES OR EMAIL THE DIRECTOR / JFLEMING@DESMOINESARTCENTER.ORG. Romare Howard Bearden (American, 1911 – 1988) / Blues from the Old Country, 1974 (detail) Collage, acrylic and lacquer on board / 45 x 51 inches / Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Mr. E.T. Meredith, III, 1990.28 / Photo: Rich Sanders, Des Moines ENTIRELYUNEXPECTED PLAN YOUR VISIT. ORDER YOUR FREE TICKETS ONLINE TODAY. ׉ 7cassandra://FrPDViItKMX_V1Gg7oKWlEXxebi5XV_T7VQSG4jEORU&2`̵_M_JA׉ETHE GREAT FRAME UP SUPPORTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS ARTIST FEATURE: CELEBRATES 15 YEARS & SUPPORTS AMERICAN AND AFRICAN ARTISTS FEATURE: EBONY PATTERSON Written by Angela Jackson The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 9 ׉ 7cassandra://OdExKr5QLYWQ_R3hOZ3qFSOMkfW0n6ulUSljdkfr9PI"M`̵_M_JB_M_JA{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://otDN-KUYVA9uj_rzZIbIWyzpEBal3QYOaRaYUL8Y6vAF` ׉ 7cassandra://DabQqdAWtMDdjBdHLir3EuaR5f3Dvfic2-71YBcqqcI͘`S׉ 7cassandra://Ky2PwWfHCzRWFlKYFoC5uzJbp1LXljaCLyXFdR66Zfs+`̵׉ 7cassandra://g__omYu7x2s38vEKDYQ98VqbdJ1EDKOagqerXl85kvkތ͇͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://0_sU9hoqOWge4wvGxrk_fFzoFuMrYO0qam6axqWCiRg` ׉ 7cassandra://5V7V86JqWSk2Ybw-mNeTBpZB2Aq1J05cuQ1pBhFiLxQͮ`S׉ 7cassandra://fS0XPzv955m18YStCqPQAkRsN-74xpT-yMWdpKM9-6U0`̵׉ 7cassandra://6MQOnsD-NFVBiegsvgNmv7KOCWBjYJqcd0wYEyTcLpcͷ(͠_ M_J׉EDES MOINES, IOWA – As a local custom frame retailer and art gallery, The Great Frame Up in West Des Moines enjoys supporting the visual arts. This month we introduce readers to Jamaican visual artist, Ebony Patterson of Chicago. We encourage readers to visit the Des Moines Art Center and experience the impactful exhibit: “BLACK STORIES” currently on display until January 17, 2021. Ebony Patterson’s artwork is featured in the exhibit. Ebony G. Patterson (born 1981, Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican-born visual artist and educator. She is known for her large and colorful tapestries created of various materials such as, glitter, sequins, fabric, toys, beads, faux flowers, jewelry and other embellishments, her “Gangstas for Life series” of dancehall portraits, and her garden-inspired installations. She has taught at the University of Virginia, Edna Manley College School of Visual and Performing Arts and is a tenured Associate Professor in Painting and Mixed Media at the University of Kentucky. Her work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Jamaica, the United States, and abroad. Early life and education Patterson was born in 1981, Kingston, Jamaica. She studied painting at Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica and graduated in 2004. Patterson received an MFA degree in 2006 in printmaking and drawing from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. Patterson’s early work often revolves around questions of identity and the body, and takes the form of mixed media paintings, drawings, and collages, most of them on paper. Photography, found objects, installation and performance have recently become increasingly important in her practice. Early work was primarily concerned with the female body as object. Her Venus Investigations objectified the female torso, headless and anonymous, and explored the relationship between the ample-bodied “Venus” or female goddess images of prehistoric times and contemporary female self-images and beauty ideals. Subsequent works more provocatively focused on the vagina as an object and, by implication, examined the taboos that surround this body part and its functions within Jamaican culture. ׉ 7cassandra://Ky2PwWfHCzRWFlKYFoC5uzJbp1LXljaCLyXFdR66Zfs+`̵_M_JC׉E 4“I am very interested in how regular people claim space and that’s what street side memorials do. So, when a tragedy happens, they mark the space by adding things that we would associate with a memorial in the same way . . . so there are flowers, there are toys, there are candles.” — Ebony Patterson This also led to 3-dimensional constructions made from intimate female articles such as sanitary napkins and tampons and more abstracted and surreal hybrid organic forms that appeared in her large paper collages of 2007. This early body of work has a sober and at times even majestic visual beauty which as she puts it, references “beauty through the use of the grotesque but visceral, confrontational and deconstructed.” Patterson’s 2016 solo show at the Museum of Arts and Design, Dead Treez, incorporated several appliquéd commercially-woven Jacquard weavings in which Patterson used restaged images of photographs that had been taken of murder victims in Jamaica and then circulated on social media. The exhibition also included a collection of mannequins in vibrant Jamaican dance hall wear (titled Swag Swag Krew), and a series of vitrines with artificial flora and jewelry belonging to the collection of the Museum of Arts and Design and in which patterned bodies reclined (titled ...buried again to carry on growing...), again referencing the victims of violent crime. In 2018, Patterson was invited to participate in the first edition of Open Spaces, a series of installations, performances, and talks in Kansas City, Missouri. Her installation ...called up focused on one of two public pools in Swope Park. I want to better honor this history by taking down the fence, cleaning the space, and creating a work here. I also want to ask what it means to memorialize not just a site that was already memorialized, but also to embellish a site that is already embellished. What does it mean to give presence and meaning to a space that has been essentially unheard of? How do we reclaim what is meant for the collective? These are questions I want to pose not only for the exhibition but also for the community who once used it and will now use it again and learn from what they have to say. Patterson further elaborated after the work was complete, noting, the work was received positively by those who frequently visit Swope Park. Gangstas for Life series (2008 – ongoing) One of Patterson’s most recognized body of work is a series entitled “Gangstas for Life,” which explores conceptions of masculinity within Dancehall culture. In this series, the artist specifically explores skin bleaching as a means of marking and transformation, not as an act of racial self-loathing. Additionally, the series “seeks to examine the dichotomy between Jamaican stereotypical ideologies of homosexual practices and its parallels within dancehall culture.” Red floral and fish motifs throughout the series serve to represent homosexuality within a predominantly homophobic culture. Patterson’s images imaginatively recreate portraits of young black males who bleach their skin, pluck their eyebrows and wear ‘bling’ jewelry to enhance their gangsta status. Patterson finds beauty in their psychic violence glamorizing them with glittered halos and luscious lipstick. Advertise with Urban Ask about our digital campaigns! The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 11 ׉ 7cassandra://fS0XPzv955m18YStCqPQAkRsN-74xpT-yMWdpKM9-6U0`̵_M_JD_M_JC{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://8_-OArxT6q0J27XyN-GtzdVrrsscZZenRGBV27JaUTM` ׉ 7cassandra://KkfiFZ_F5oGTIMJ5PD3gmJUUTVOk37nqT03MWefZeaw;`S׉ 7cassandra://19C93ylMDN_K7BvUYr68gDTXuceqB4yMdir-HJwEE7wCa`̵׉ 7cassandra://ZtIgAnh9JjOAZsLmG6OAdQqM8bQOPxPZIU1cz1Sbqmw͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://qkZVqyEMzvePXt6ritTcG4t4CqjGKosGj-3jAjO98ko` ׉ 7cassandra://1AOlZ9yFmjMOl-KmqtgXV19V6GdI7AlCXXx29wpNKac͐)`S׉ 7cassandra://BJhFyvAhb1TRoNOi35vbDGEdGYhu0uC0axBDTxSyDJQ'V`̵׉ 7cassandra://6URf2n-BVcKgzYCVDDDhA1NpYK9fenwnmzIxJnDP3Qgl͠_ M_Jנ_ M_J9ׁH,http://www.westdesmoines.thegreatframeup.comׁ ׁ Јנ_ M_J9ׁH!http://www.desmoinesartcenter.orgׁ ׁ Јנ_ M_Jb9ׁH!http://www.desmoinesartcenter.orgׁ ׁ Јנ_ M_J9ׁH/http://desmoinesartcenter.org/exhibitions/blackׁ ׁ Ј׉E׉ 7cassandra://19C93ylMDN_K7BvUYr68gDTXuceqB4yMdir-HJwEE7wCa`̵_M_JE׉E The artist explores perceptions of beauty as grotesque within the series, and her portrayal of the subjects’ cracked, bleeding, and oozing skin. I viewed Ebony Patterson’s artwork featured in the “BLACK STORIES” exhibition when it opened on Saturday, October 3, 2020. Her art titled “...among the blades between the flowers... while the horse watches... for those who bear/bare witness” is an amazingly commanding cascade of color. I LOVE IT! It speaks to history and family and is a beautiful mixed media tapestry. Ebony Patterson created it in 2018 out of hand-cut jacquard woven photo tapestry with glitter, appliqué, beads, trim, brooches, feathered butterflies, fabric, silk flowers, and handembellished resin owl on shelf, on artist-designed fabric wallpaper, dimensions overall: 10.8 × 14.6 ft. The good news is her artwork is part of the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collections courtesy of funds from the Edmundson Art Foundation, Inc. Community stories may still be submitted in English or Spanish by completing a form available at the Des Moines Art Center, via mail, through their website desmoinesartcenter.org/exhibitions/black-stories or by phone in English at 515-428-1240 or in Spanish at 515-216-4190. This effort has been made with the hope of including hundreds of others in the conversation through sharing their stories about the impact of the exhibit and the artwork during this period of time in our nation’s history. This magnificent exhibition continues until January 17, 2021, so make plans to take the family to the Des Moines Art Center. Don’t miss it! Credits — the Des Moines Art Center www.desmoinesartcenter.org We strongly encourage you to take the family to the Des Moines Art Center and check it out. Best of all, the Art Center is always free! For more information: www.desmoinesartcenter.org 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 Instagram Twitter Pinterest Houzz Youtube 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. CE | 2020 13 ׉ 7cassandra://BJhFyvAhb1TRoNOi35vbDGEdGYhu0uC0axBDTxSyDJQ'V`̵_M_JF_M_JE{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://hq8vUysMvIYlLjpJdVgcwnl9CGEa0uXt8RzVPGKMQ5M^` ׉ 7cassandra://8U1Sd7dhTkpzvK4Y7gC0cZ6sAaTVuWUdTBm72u2nYRQm`S׉ 7cassandra://BU6wvZzKtw8bsDt3_d5ZYjzlORUNDmmiJ3VKIVxVHO8%)`̵׉ 7cassandra://qITAw5VXkP7pKadHKAiXVAtZy-3fDgCmMH0rIgBhhrU ʢ:͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://GvyXHscK1sgVbwdamkc_-l-g5BBs4gSnqKmBE0TPD_M}b` ׉ 7cassandra://tH47jdqr77loBuIJZzxuRk3cPzVnkb6KxL82kkTNAaE}`S׉ 7cassandra://2C8tz4aU9DPt2tvJXDO5GlwiuSG33TvioYPhukH80C4*H`̵׉ 7cassandra://slWReHAzMw1bodJTpXZazk0ZRdKhIavwTv9_o0eMfns+0͠_ M_Jנ_ M_J;?9ׁHhttp://testiowa.comׁ ׁ Јנ_ M_JW&9ׁHhttp://coronavirus.iowa.govׁ ׁ Ј׉ETogether, we can get life back to normal Protect yourself and others from COVID-19. People over the age of 65 or with pre-existing health conditions are at most risk for serious illness and should take extra precautions. Step up. Stop the spread. Stay informed: coronavirus.iowa.gov Get tested: testiowa.com TTo Do:o Wear a mask. Social distance. Wash your hands. Stay home when you’re sick. Get tested, and quarantine if you have the virus. ׉ 7cassandra://BU6wvZzKtw8bsDt3_d5ZYjzlORUNDmmiJ3VKIVxVHO8%)`̵_M_JG׉EValuable Gifts by Donnetta Austin The Fall and Winter season has arrived. This time of year will bring warmth and fulfillment to your mind,body, and soul. Not only will you be fed by delicious comfort foods and amazing tasty desserts that keep your bellies stuffed and wanting more after an hour or two. The incredible aroma and cravings of the goodness of the Lord is going to fully satisfy you. In the book of John chapter 6:1624 Jesus disciples were headed down the lake towards Capernaum. It was dark when a strong wind blew and began to frighten the disciples. Jesus approached the boat walking on water, they were terrified. Jesus said do not be afraid for it is I. They were willing to take him into the boat. He did not enter. Immediately the boat reached shore and crowds were in search of Jesus and his disciples. John 6:25-29 When the crowd found Jesus on the other side of the lake they asked him when did you get here? Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth”, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate your loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the son of man will give you. Then, they asked him, What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered, the work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent. Another scripture that is a great reminder John 4 :14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will neverthirst. In all things we shall continue to be in Thanksgiving. By author Donnetta Austin Amazon book “Never Retire God” Email be.encouragedbyone@gmail. com The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 15 John 4 :14 But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. In all things we shall continue to be in Thanksgiving. ׉ 7cassandra://2C8tz4aU9DPt2tvJXDO5GlwiuSG33TvioYPhukH80C4*H`̵_M_JH_M_JG{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://u27pbGzfhEGXpmBDzYYc1xb4cbFWpyAVyEG9OpXYSMsS+` ׉ 7cassandra://z0949uecg0U23R8JHrtTTRjqOirEuwphqFtexBBzez0x`S׉ 7cassandra://7p7qwxclOvX3HSURXS6VyLI85agwMdobdkerGxwT58o's`̵׉ 7cassandra://ByBWQIk8sGpcz9VIt5m2QOS8YKWm0w8YvX5YKfS0hPQ͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://dWpdwHgB6X8-6PaFfV2w94E8Kg5v7Lsoebmrxa8gzdco` ׉ 7cassandra://bVtx9zNd2FeCrP1GyDgfNPWhqW7-lsrv5dja7-cEmmo͖!`S׉ 7cassandra://LeWB1RBZ0JIqAVGWjtcS1o6752dTar8Hmq4lKyv8rLE-`̵׉ 7cassandra://yeVfdSamzI-0tbE2YV8-AzMEdE6sQ_g1007JX6t_3xg ͠_ M_Jנ_ M_J][9ׁH/http://desmoinesartcenter.org/exhibitions/blackׁ ׁ Ј׉ESHARE YOUR STORY INSPIRED BY BLACK STORIES Members of the community are invited to share their personal stories and experiences in response to this four-part exhibition, featuring Black artists from the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collections. Curated by artists Mitchell Squire and Jordan Weber, the exhibition includes work ranging from contemporary artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kara Walker, and Wangachi Mutu to a shrine room featuring 31 traditional African artworks. Selected stories will be included in a book that will be published by the Art Center after the show closes. Visit the website for more information and ways to submit your stories. ADMISSION IS ALWAYS FREE FOR ALL. Visit the exhibition in person or take a virtual tour. Learn more at desmoinesartcenter.org/exhibitions/black-stories. ENTIRELYUNEXPECTED PLAN YOUR VISIT. RESERVE YOUR FREE TICKETS ONLINE TODAY SO THAT WE CAN PRACTICE SAFE SOCIAL DISTANCING. ׉ 7cassandra://7p7qwxclOvX3HSURXS6VyLI85agwMdobdkerGxwT58o's`̵_M_JI׉EBlack Stories Des Moines Art Center Black Stories, an exhibition and project on view at the Des Moines Art Center through January 17, presents the artwork by Black artists in the Art Center’s permanent collections, and aims to connect and partner with the community in the process. Two artists, Mitchell Squire and Jordan Weber, co-curated the exhibition component of the project. A group of Black community leaders formed an advisory committee to direct the Art Center’s work. This collaborative effort marks a fundamental change in how the Art Center operates, moving the museum toward a more inclusive future. In addition to the exhibition, the Art Center’s Black Stories project invites audience members to share their personal stories and experiences in response to the artworks in the show. These stories will be included in a book that the Art Center will publish after the show closes to document the project and the people who made it happen. The following is a story submitted by E.J. Frye, who visited the exhibition in October: I brought my 15 year old daughter to see Black Stories. Her favorite piece was “the mother and 2 daughters” (Deana Lawson). She remembered it from a previous visit. My mother used to bring me to openings and exhibitions when I was growing up. I wasn’t always nice about it. My daughter was very pleasant once we arrived at the museum. I opened a magazine while we were eating dinner after leaving Black Stories and there was an article about Julie Mehretu. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 17 ׉ 7cassandra://LeWB1RBZ0JIqAVGWjtcS1o6752dTar8Hmq4lKyv8rLE-`̵_M_JJ_M_JI{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://4uQP64eLeX3ggEaX2eCYtBD5V_dlHvtobjUkb6nBJv8 6` ׉ 7cassandra://zI2KpwZJ4GNM8l9ur6XNFubORL75NG4g48RJbe4feXo[`S׉ 7cassandra://uQ2xeYVpvlXkKcPEg9U7q7zP92jCSkRyKPs99shLhYU)`̵׉ 7cassandra://ohrzNzxhSyZYZeagrlfr2qcTr0s9LaJCSNk5XkTkekc(͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://zb9_d0ErffkcUcD2Rrp40LmwvwNIjG63GMukacW1ND0` ׉ 7cassandra://KwZMT2EnHWpntImgHYtYzD-9-1IfAa02eZ2jR9AicJ8͌`S׉ 7cassandra://ow_kMNyXowSEKPlzI2yOoio2kolxZgE5NYjp6T2gatw,`̵׉ 7cassandra://I1jToJBNaJI8vgSj5N9xW481fwcCQRElDN6NZXmcJVc,͠_ M_Jנ_ M_Jm:9ׁHhttps://www.deׁ ׁ Ј׉EaThe piece with the biracial couple reminded me of my great grandparents in Washington State. Gpa E.A. was black and Besly was white. They were married before 1900. Wow. Their daughter, my Aunt Alicia, was married to a composer who hung out w/ Romare Bearden during the Harlem Renaissance. I love Romare. Ebony and Mickalene’s work makes me very, very happy. Jacob Lawrence, hell yeah. My mom told me I had to read The Warmth of Other Suns before I read Caste, so that’s what I’m doing. I see so much of Jacob Lawrence’s work in my mind as I read the book. Thank you for a beautiful exhibition. We will be back. To learn more about the Black Stories exhibition, including the project’s history, virtual tours, how to share your story, and museum hours, visit https://www.desmoinesartcenter. org/exhibitions/black-stories. Admission is always free for all. ׉ 7cassandra://uQ2xeYVpvlXkKcPEg9U7q7zP92jCSkRyKPs99shLhYU)`̵_M_JK׉E• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash • Ensure that you refill and take all of your medications as prescribed • Stay home as much as possible ׉ 7cassandra://ow_kMNyXowSEKPlzI2yOoio2kolxZgE5NYjp6T2gatw,`̵_M_JL_M_JK{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://ZmuLL5e8PDRIGgaNeZ9WmZBIMwaqJa-6ud0nCl0uwH4` ׉ 7cassandra://_W_TcqyYZXFnlnuPnniMaQAqI_5XRkHNJh1FwugIEEwk`S׉ 7cassandra://g5CXd08WPO-1mJBFRrKwWV5OhMjc-rkCfby3auajOVo&`̵׉ 7cassandra://prDKMNFc7Ev-57FHvDoMHcK0dSl4LFTQjJ1apiTrFQ0{j͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://HV757smNzVaq7c1BbrQGN-T63cPptSHqZnKPJmwpsnc1` ׉ 7cassandra://apWia_i6pWXtnbwVjTnLeExKTihrFiyL565HmQ3hJlU͈`S׉ 7cassandra://DVAJsemW-QBMne2HDzkh80DGvzfNXdRDKsyDVwVioXQ&`̵׉ 7cassandra://1nN9H6ZhfJYVvVxrMKHk5dlwOXm7wgBykUnGtZv6Nsk <̌͠_ M_J׉EHEALTH Tips for an Injury-Free Fall Tina Keppy, PT, RN, FFMT, FAAOMP Broadlawns Physical and Occupational Ther As the weather changes, fall yard work begins. And so do your chances of physical injury associated with this work. Many injuries which occur as a result of raking or picking up sticks are preventable, if done properly. Here are some simple tips and tricks to stay healthy while working in your yard this fall. ׉ 7cassandra://g5CXd08WPO-1mJBFRrKwWV5OhMjc-rkCfby3auajOVo&`̵_M_JM׉E1) Use your legs, not your back You may have heard this tip many times, but do you truly know how to implement this concept? Many people put large force on their knees or accidently do a great deal of backward bending, which may result in knee or back pain. To avoid this, when using your legs, make sure your arms are like a T-Rex: short, stubby, useless. Use large powerful legs to begin movement and keep your elbows by your side. Be sure to step to and from areas that you are working to avoid backward bending. 2) If bending, try the “golfer’s technique”. Many fall yard activities, like picking up sticks, require bending forward and twisting. This is dangerous. Bending forward while twisting is the ONLY way a disc will herniate. To protect your back, try using the golfer’s technique to pick something up. Imagine that you are picking up a golf ball out of a hole. Do not bend your legs, simply lean forward and lift one leg off the ground behind you. Your opposite hip bends and your body becomes almost parallel to the ground. Reach one arm down to do the picking up and place the other hand on a stationary object for support, such as a tree or the top of a rake. This is a safe bending technique as lifting your back leg allows the spine to stay straight and the counter balance offsets the strain on your back. 3) Start in a squatting position. Before picking something up from a squatting position, use your arms to rest your upper back completely on your legs, then engage your legs by pushing your feet into the ground. This activates the large muscles in your legs instead of the low back. Keep your legs pushing into the ground and shift your weight from side to side. Use your “T-Rex” short, stubby arms to collect items from the ground. A key is to always start the activity with your legs and let your arms follow. Your thighs and buttocks muscles should be really tired after working outdoors, not your back and arms. If this is not true, you are at risk for back injury. We know that injuries happen, and when they do Broadlawns Physical and Occupational Therapy is here to provide you with a personalized treatment plan for your specific condition. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 21 ׉ 7cassandra://DVAJsemW-QBMne2HDzkh80DGvzfNXdRDKsyDVwVioXQ&`̵_M_JN_M_JM{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://xTuSWi5qNFZKNGSs-qWCgIpO5-6DixaciHgY4dI1TNgH+` ׉ 7cassandra://4uX5t2hJj2_dXpyAXXRegqzlLih_omCJWStziEmhPKU͊`S׉ 7cassandra://zsBk3dOmZFo2Y7dHlG7aWaBgWvZwJrEJFRdI8GEvLQM'*`̵׉ 7cassandra://cgcO2dZDO9qJXB9mwIxp2n7F0omN5R_XHcoll-wGJ1A͟4͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://SZlK4j7_Nyu97AYe24uBFYkkBLLs3dH9eMCTeCM1WNwm` ׉ 7cassandra://JsNuukOo8GUKy_ICBWeusuYueUk_LjAJp2TkF_XC2qM_`S׉ 7cassandra://5VkhG1O9fsMNv_pFBm-JfrV1jKzadWmrsC9BuqRWuBI`̵׉ 7cassandra://IYKM-JODCiHjpn5xwgCMJIIItPpDsVE97cPkMM1JyQQ8͠_ M_Jנ_ M_J#9ׁHhttp://www.iowajuneteenth.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EA wide variety of physical therapy services are available at the Broadlawns Main Campus, East University Clinic and Cityville Clinic. In each session, a therapist will work with you one-onone. Our priority is for you to feel comfortable and confident during your treatment. A few things that makes Broadlawns Physical and Occupational Therapy unique: • All needs of the patient are treated by one therapist - all the time. • We are “all hands on deck”. Broadlawns has some of the highest trained skilled manual (use of hands for evaluating and treating) therapists in the country! • Patient needs are given time to be addressed. All evaluations are an hour and treatment times range from 30-60+ minutes. • Collaboration with providers is done before the patient arrives to enhance the continuum of care and patient outcomes. During your initial appointment, your therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to assess your range of motion, strength and movement patterns to determine the root cause of your condition. Did you know that knee pain could actually be coming from a problem with your ankle or hip? Following your initial evaluation, we will develop a plan of care based on your personal goals and physical abilities. Your therapist may use manual therapy techniques to help improve joint and tissue mobility so your muscles can work as efficiently as possible. You may also be given exercises that will allow you to continue your therapy at home. By the time you complete your therapy program, you will have the knowledge and tools to help care for yourself and prevent re-injury. Broadlawns Physical and Occupational Therapists have specialized training and have worked with athletes of all kinds: Olympic, Professional, Division I, as well as weekend warriors, including parents of young children! We are passionate in training…you to enjoy this fall. Learn more about Broadlawns Physical and Occupational Therapy by visiting www. broadlawns.org. To schedule an appointment, call (515) 282-3278. All insurances are accepted. ׉ 7cassandra://zsBk3dOmZFo2Y7dHlG7aWaBgWvZwJrEJFRdI8GEvLQM'*`̵_M_JO׉EXIowa Juneteenth Observance A Program of The Des Moines Urban Experience “31 Years Serving the Iowa Community” Iowa Juneteenth is looking for it’s next King and Queen for 2021-2023 The Iowa Juneteenth Observance is an official state holiday commemorating the end to slavery and the on-going progress of African Americans. The King & Queen will serve a two-year term and represent the Iowa Juneteenth Observance by making several public appearances during their reign. Couples from across Iowa may be nominated and must meet the following criteria: 1) be married to one another for a minimum of 25 consecutive years; 2) have contributed to the betterment of their community; and 3) complete all questions on the nomination form. Deadline is December 31st , 2020. Go to www.iowajuneteenth.com to fill out your form today. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 23 ׉ 7cassandra://5VkhG1O9fsMNv_pFBm-JfrV1jKzadWmrsC9BuqRWuBI`̵_M_JP_M_JO{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://xrhgz6pq-pZwuoLaapDqFCjEBy1ZqttTV9y0NXd7LLs` ׉ 7cassandra://c2dXQQQwquTjwJjn3t-nSEA2swHn9Zi32TW9V48OZiYt`S׉ 7cassandra://8PH66XXAEhEm5ZrIO7Gd8fGIX5OFR3ySNfl676-CzKo'{`̵׉ 7cassandra://wd2nhd42KBMHHIHyFmkAWImTBUSp_4N4_tPr1MJN_UEJ0͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://0eU95c9SH9ThEC7Dn7U96hVsJKD_W8J06UGwDVXslHo` ׉ 7cassandra://ex9__if3No4CFHE9RenwLdopBvgSwy4sDU9D1PNbpZI͔`S׉ 7cassandra://aU7AhmNKg5dP4GU_xqUwpDjOEJ0BRyBpBY1vv13E0pc&s`̵׉ 7cassandra://82dLS3fN1LDE-ZrPH0YHzghJJeL3nZeoI-RXhUxiK-gP(͠_ M_Jנ_ M_JЁ̔9ׁHhttp://broadlawns.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉EnCulturally Competent Mental Health Care Rochean Cofield, LMSW | Broadlawns Medical Center We know that mental health issues existed in the Black community preCOVID-19, but the increased trauma of the current health pandemic has intensified the recognition of the need for culturally competent, accessible, affordable mental health care. Broadlawns Medical Center is working to meet his need by partnering with Urban Dreams to bring mental health care into our community. According to a Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health survey conducted prior to COVID-19, Black adults are significantly more likely than white adults to report feeling emotional distress, sadness and like everything is an effort. On top existing traumas from racism and socioeconomic struggles, the COVID-19 pandemic has produced many new traumas for Black adults including uncertainty, isolation, and loss. Despite this great need for mental health care, only one in three Black adults who need help receives it. The CDC stated that in 2018 that only 8.7% of Black Americans received mental health services as compared to 18.6% of white Americans. ׉ 7cassandra://8PH66XXAEhEm5ZrIO7Gd8fGIX5OFR3ySNfl676-CzKo'{`̵_M_JQ׉E 7In 2018 that only 8.7% of Black Americans received mental health services as compared to 18.6% of white Americans. There are many reasons for this: • Socioeconomic challenges can make treatment less accessible. In 2018, 11.5% of Black adults in the U.S. had no form of health insurance. If people are paying out of pocket, that’s costly. Lack of transportation may also be a barrier to accessing care. • Stigma certainly plays a role in the mental health care gap. Mental health stigma is still pervasive in our community. One study showed that 63% of African Americans believe that a mental health condition is a personal sign of weakness. • Finding a provider to provide culturally competent care is certainly an additional challenge. In the US, only 6.2% of psychologists, 5.6% of advancedpractice psychiatric nurses, 12.6% of social workers and 21.3% of psychiatrists identify as people of color. When seeking mental health care, it is very important for a person to feel their provider shares some level of their identity - race, religion, socio-economic status - in order to receive the best possible support and care. Conscious or unconscious bias from providers and lack of cultural competence can result in misdiagnosis, poor treatment and mistrust of mental health professionals. Broadlawns Medical Center is proud to be working to fill these mental health care gaps in care in our community by partnering with Urban Dreams to make affordable, culturally competent mental health care more accessible. Broadlawns is now offering professional mental health services for all ages at Urban Dreams, located at 601 Forest Ave. All forms of insurance are accepted. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 25 To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit broadlawns.org or call (515) 288-4742. We invite you to see us. We are here to help. About Rochean Cofield, LMSW Rochean Cofield, a native of Philadelphia, PA, earned an Associate’s Degree from DMACC, a Bachelor’s in Human Services from Grand View University, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Iowa. She completed her field learning at Creative Visions where she focused on mentoring youth who struggled in school, as well as community members seeking assistance with basic food needs, utility assistance, and programming assistance. Additionally, Rochean has experience working with the elderly and aging as well as individuals with physical and mental limitations. Rochean has a strong understanding of the needs of Des Moines’ most vulnerable populations. Rochean sees patients at Urban Dreams’ office, located at 601 Forest Avenue. She provides a full range of services including: assessments; individual therapy for all ages; group therapy; marriage and family therapy. Her clinical interests include: empowering women who have experienced incarceration and/or the termination of parental rights; marriage and family reunification; community collaborations; juvenile delinquency and gang violence; intellectual disabilities; Dementia/Alzheimer’s; grief and loss; Veteran Affairs; PTSD; surviving domestic violence and sexual assault. ׉ 7cassandra://aU7AhmNKg5dP4GU_xqUwpDjOEJ0BRyBpBY1vv13E0pc&s`̵_M_JR_M_JQ{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://6qan4KGMF6mDcr2A-cH0291Aym-jkKJjWTMYamKIpHMJ` ׉ 7cassandra://UWIgo_-tqYxtV39_ihyp1bpWHI3UTPn494nox6QfHWs[{`S׉ 7cassandra://jDvps_AyUQhVdtzYfSC9_eezVJNn0RUvtl4ovPbwsuI`̵׉ 7cassandra://zNmcVb9dF6aiEHDpt7dWCv00vsKSMoVEeV0tNM-toOE!h͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://8YWCWapr39feWi9Gf-4QcIRDRqdFHJMph48Pr3isChMC` ׉ 7cassandra://msBnyfmW4QNivm5PsN3k2VXbzn735wYXGJqrvvd_aLkQ+`S׉ 7cassandra://YJWGV9-ktevyL78lZT3lpXGrgVoPA1Fcybe0bs8fPrA`̵׉ 7cassandra://I6PGDva4nra03aNS5susaayqldiZcOADhPTXxu4QHPwLl͠_ M_J׉ELeave By Terence Haynes Just like light was born from darkness and the foul of the air came from the sea, God can bring beauty from ashes. With passion and purpose, He fashioned the surface of this vessel and named it Me. Uniquely designed and shaped to hold everything He would allow to enter my life without breaking or spilling myself. A tough exterior with texture and ridges and spaces between them without gaps and no schisms perhaps it was so who ever held me close wouldn’t lose grip and let me fall to the ground and break or maybe he shaped me so no one could hold me up as though they did mold me and get glory for what God had made. ׉ 7cassandra://jDvps_AyUQhVdtzYfSC9_eezVJNn0RUvtl4ovPbwsuI`̵_M_JS׉EUHe made me with handles so handle with care He knew there would be vandals that come by and stare and stalk and troll looking thoroughly through my design trying see if they could find a crack, blemish or feature misplaced or common comparison to a dollar store vase, but no .. cause my maker doesn’t duplicate vessels He takes time with each one and is meticulously careful to intertwine them to work together but independently unique and individual he formed me, to be me, no other like me gave me shape to this dusty frame then blew life into me. For His glory my story reads, made from ashes, will return to ashes but in the meantime and in between time use the passion I filled you with until it’s just a residue of the greatest I poured into the world from inside of you leave empty from this world leave empty. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 27 ׉ 7cassandra://YJWGV9-ktevyL78lZT3lpXGrgVoPA1Fcybe0bs8fPrA`̵_M_JT_M_JS{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://iOAWwYuf-vvZ5WDy6NI-5l21iIOiDKCYKKX6jZDe2w8` ׉ 7cassandra://CVl-xhzn6YVHpvf59xWTdeYxK_bCkcG7v-QcVVzSyRQo`S׉ 7cassandra://MYQJmqjE7D67MeUA_1-5aUdNUlBesjRDkhXfvBDKkuI&`̵׉ 7cassandra://_Jke3B7lUVIw8oWcz1k6SdS8NWeloH2x7EhhOqf-_CA 4͠_ M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://W_L--KmDNP7nRYWW_FSTLK1HR6B_ALCPM6rDmW782wIZW` ׉ 7cassandra://cFvVbr4yJKB6RqQaPtE6Sk3WHV8ctskPREpJwnREBc4b`S׉ 7cassandra://LPzSNJj5c-Y_VZA9BM7LIxU4K7_9jxKoqTz6MUH7NaA&`̵׉ 7cassandra://li8-cuqIWQhNO9RGlfUZaemvn0-5eTZwkn6XxO6OuI4l.͠_ M_J׉EIMPROVE YOUR MOBILITY & MOTION • Balance and Fall Prevention • Body Mechanics Education • Concussion Therapy • Foot Orthotic Fabrication • Musculoskeletal Treatment • Post-Surgical Care • Soft Tissue/Joint Mobilization • Sports Rehabilitation • Women’s Health Therapy / Pelvic Floor Health • Work-Related Injuries PHYSICAL THERAPY (515) 282-5621 THREE LOCATIONS: Cityville: 580 SW 9th Street, Suite 100 East University: 2508 E. University Avenue Main Campus: 1801 Hickman Road ׉ 7cassandra://MYQJmqjE7D67MeUA_1-5aUdNUlBesjRDkhXfvBDKkuI&`̵_M_JU׉ENew Occupants for the White House: Black Voters Play a Key Role in the Outcome by Gary Lawson According to the national media, Black voter turnout reached record numbers during the recent elections and played a major role in the outcome of election contests. In last month’s issue of the Urban Experience magazine, I pleaded with the readership to V-OT-E! Apparently, you did because the Iowa Secretary of State’s office declared that Iowans voted in record numbers this year! Voter turnout was not the only history made during the 2020 run for the White House. Vice President-Elect, Kamala Harris, also made history by becoming the first person of color, and the first female, elected to that The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 29 ׉ 7cassandra://LPzSNJj5c-Y_VZA9BM7LIxU4K7_9jxKoqTz6MUH7NaA&`̵_M_JV_M_JU{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://RbgzokkoqGtTnQjdnT2Eo_hjd4EH7WAYcHmNjqSNEFY` ׉ 7cassandra://YO4FH5emLVVCN66fRxJm59wcSk2j1DN5lD0wZm9Uw3cu8`S׉ 7cassandra://30RAHvT7Vc_t7a9QMymv58mfsiR8ob3zNDqXVZ0Lp0k'``̵׉ 7cassandra://QH00QsWzuYPcmV4lJkCgMn9PC-pz0AiBrnn0Q-hkyFo$͠_M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://WD44W_6qIHe6Gbyzpsx2I4kNL8N23vOEvvbYt-LM5qAԒ` ׉ 7cassandra://MKEi4WT0n9Ciay2bwH2nMCKW4i05XgxURIr9cJ_fkdẅ́`S׉ 7cassandra://anKgmR2mv3OFpbnar2qheXpvaLcYj6ZO-XZcoW6NhLI+"`̵׉ 7cassandra://Snt0MDqPAcRtqVKpYRHL_UOQ4LvE3ELxo3YtPPyLjgsE͠_M_Jנ_M_JlN"9ׁHhttp://nd.dmacc.eduׁ ׁ Јנ_M_JC' 9ׁHhttp://DMACC.eduׁ ׁ Јנ_M_JW%n9ׁHhttp://DMACC.eduׁ ׁ Ј׉Eoposition! Another history-maker is Stacey Abrams, a Democrat who served as the minority leader in the Georgia House of Representatives. She is also a lawyer and author who is being credited as a major force in working to change Georgia’s past tendency for voting the Republican ticket...to voting for the Democratic ticket...as the Biden/Harris ticket Now that the elections for the current cycle have ended, we must move on to the next step...we must hold our elected officials accountable! was projected to win over Georgia during this past election. We must check to see that they are keeping faith with the promises they made, or provide us with reasons for not doing so. Former United States President, Thomas Jefferson, provided guidance on the fitness of the governed, via education, to elect those who govern that: 1) democracy cannot long exist without enlightenment; 2) it cannot function without wise and honest officials; 3) talent and virtue, needed in a free society, should be educated regardless of wealth, birth or other accidental condition; and 4) the children of the poor must be thus educated at common expense. ׉ 7cassandra://30RAHvT7Vc_t7a9QMymv58mfsiR8ob3zNDqXVZ0Lp0k'``̵_M_JW׉ETIn order to hold politicians and elected officials accountable, we must try to stay informed concerning the issues that impact us, as individuals, and as a society. It isn’t easy...and it wasn’t meant to be easy...it was meant to be an effective means of preserving self-government. It doesn’t matter the age, gender, race or political affiliation of the elected official, they all must be held to a high standard of accountability. Now that the elections are over...let us continue with the requirements of good selfgovernment by beginning...and continuing... our responsibility for seeking accountability from those we have elected. CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 19, 2021 Put 2020 behind you and look forward to a better tomorrow that includes a new and better YOU. Make a fresh start this spring at DMACC to secure a brighter future. Want to make more money, have more opportunities for a promotion, or match a job with your personal interests? If so, now is the time to apply to DMACC. Here are just a few of the reasons to start your journey at DMACC… ›› FREE TUTORING, advising and more ›› Most AFFORDABLE TUITION and fees in the state ›› More than 200 DEGREES, PROGRAM AND SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATES to choose from. ›› FLEXIBLE ONLINE schedule. ›› FACULTY who CARE ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS ›› A WELCOMING, FRIENDLY environment. Call to make an appointment with a DMACC career advisor or go online a DMACC.edu. DMACC.edu | 800-362-2127 | Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) shall not engage in nor allow discrimination covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities, employment practices, hiring practices or the The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 31 provision of services. The full DMACC Nondiscrimination policy is available online at nd.dmacc.edu. 13532-12-20-A Fresh THIS Start Enroll Today Spring! ׉ 7cassandra://anKgmR2mv3OFpbnar2qheXpvaLcYj6ZO-XZcoW6NhLI+"`̵_M_JX_M_JW{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://6Rm6tbzRBGe94DEcP-vT17wqJ-mKMVM3X39OpJDcvJo` ׉ 7cassandra://PHPjVpxws88oCa-QCBQnND9iTsn1Mdrcres7o1xn7Pso`S׉ 7cassandra://gtnvRcSxQkmGzkJzixdm32-uDRjyu2O3VHevkCRifXA&`̵׉ 7cassandra://SCF2q17z0OX76SLcEYIUdH6YUP5TbikIctegvbpEgwY:c4͠_M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://p1Dadr2Z1u8lGWZjb167899M-vEVCNMk9I-5Pvd7iBEH` ׉ 7cassandra://otiGR5jdHJxZ3JCK0Z3OIfHtTYcs9aKr-cZqPAHOI3AͿ`S׉ 7cassandra://aD8-x_ofTdij__BCmCEMynjM-S4zmCx7LoO9j4r2dgg+`̵׉ 7cassandra://5VbYdhWqYTR0Yal9kB-NBWPdjflz2fS2yMDimiQmxEwN>͠_M_Jנ_M_Ja ,9ׁHhttps://electioneve2020.com/ׁ ׁ Ј׉EBlack Voters Most Loyal Democratic Voting Bloc By Khalil Abdullah While minority voting blocs combined to deliver the presidency to Biden, African American voters continue to be the Democratic Party’s most loyal voting constituency in presidential elections. In an election eve poll of the African American vote designed and executed by the African American Research Collaborative under CEO the guidance of Fernandez, Henry Black voters -women at 92% and men at 86% -- signaled support for former Vice President Joe Biden. https://electioneve2020.com/ poll/#/en/demographics/black/ Henry Fernandez, CEO of the African American Research Collaborative, led the design and execution of a poll of the African American vote on the eve of the election ׉ 7cassandra://gtnvRcSxQkmGzkJzixdm32-uDRjyu2O3VHevkCRifXA&`̵_M_JY׉E President Trump’s perceived mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic emerged as the leading motivating issue among African Americans to vote Democratic, according to Fernandez who spoke at a news briefing about the election eve results organized by America’s Voice. That was true for African American men and women in almost equal numbers. The secondary motivation was their perception of Trump’s disrespect of their community and his enabling of an increase in overt racism in America. The third largest driver of their pro-Democratic votes was concern about the economy overall, with wider variations among African American voters by age. Overall, 84% of all Black voters, men and women, agreed that “President Trump ignored the early warning signs of the coronavirus and because of his mismanagement, millions of Americans became sick and more than 220,000 died.” truly cared about them. By contrast, 88% of respondents felt Biden cared about them. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP which was a sponsor of the poll, was asked how he interpreted the doubling, from 4% to 8%, of support for President Trump among African American women voters from the 2016 election and from 13% to 17% for African American men. Johnson responded that the Black vote was not monolithic, nor should it be expected to be so. He said the 86 percent rate is a clear testament to Democratic Party loyalty and, importantly, the numbers and polling show that “White supremacy behavior will not be tolerated” by this constituency. “President Trump ignored the early warning signs of the coronavirus and because of his mismanagement, millions of Americans became sick and more than 220,000 died.” Like Johnson, Fernandez stressed that Black men, at 86 percent, constitute a core constituency for Democrats, more so than even White women who, as exit polls are showing, voted for President Trump in larger numbers in 2020 than in the 2016 election. As one panelist bluntly put it, “White women are not a Democratic constituency group.” Predictions that President While the fact that African Americans have been disproportionately affected by the corona virus is now well documented, the poll revealed that the searing reality of personal loss and the magnitude of collective community and country loss were paramount in the minds of participants committed to voting in the 2020 election. On the issue of racial animus, the chasm between African American voters’ perceptions of Trump versus Biden was similarly stark. Some 59% of Black respondents felt Trump did not care about their interests and 22% felt that he was hostile; only 8% felt that Trump Trump’s signing of criminal justice reform legislation, the First Step Act, would fuel a significant shift of Black male voters to the Republican Party was refuted by the poll, Fernandez noted. The poll showed that African Americans, and the other ethnic groups surveyed as well, have great concerns about current criminal justice policies, community policing and their intersection with racism. These Americans support reform through multifaceted approaches, including reducing mass incarceration, providing educational opportunities for the incarcerated, and more job training and better access to mental health services for their communities. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 33 ׉ 7cassandra://aD8-x_ofTdij__BCmCEMynjM-S4zmCx7LoO9j4r2dgg+`̵_M_JZ_M_JY{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://pQUtLJxDnq4mgbzEz83qB-2GbMPEKX9Tf_Ys1mwMk3Qr` ׉ 7cassandra://53m8pc69w2hh98UghjaHNK1M9yG6FzpkLn5AuaZo7sQn`S׉ 7cassandra://CLMN28zURnJASD_ISd5eikIfr-eM2bYjzcT49Kn3qVA#r`̵׉ 7cassandra://NEnpfWJCnyo3Nu-vMEFxdLROqZJlSvAQBkrXt4lVXXIf0͠_M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://jUKwKYwzCmlV19JLpCnja91rmfLRUHZTm70BirNxr_Y}` ׉ 7cassandra://2jeci7Rk1kBkXx0ifq1dWzu2s2r_oBOJqLia92R-bN0j`S׉ 7cassandra://qCGO2x4CtKuDQzqHxUZhXAsgHCGiM3-OUPyLCsJUF88%`̵׉ 7cassandra://j2ZlE6imBMeBni4cmjq2V2AbNby0ggix62tJSi11YxgN(͠_M_J׉EHowever, as Johnson pointed out, when speaking of African Americans, it is a myopic and misinformed view of history to focus on criminal justice as though “it was the sum total of our existence in this country.” Beyond the three leading motivators, the poll also showed that anti-immigrant policies African Americans, like the other groups surveyed, highly disapproved of President Trump’s and initiatives, particularly the separation of children from parents. At 81%, African Americans supported devising “a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who live and work here,” as well as devising a process to accommodate legal entry into the United States. ׉ 7cassandra://CLMN28zURnJASD_ISd5eikIfr-eM2bYjzcT49Kn3qVA#r`̵_M_J[׉EThe URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 35 ׉ 7cassandra://qCGO2x4CtKuDQzqHxUZhXAsgHCGiM3-OUPyLCsJUF88%`̵_M_J\_M_J[{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://v2ga5FrwSAq6yafyC0Tk88PWmQWYd-55rtegwQiKJWk` ׉ 7cassandra://sLd9yCuVOkAgStGbennQ66x6lHAmKCklKDuzkfPz6-Q;$`S׉ 7cassandra://bw48za7Krn7eTYLGomEz1QnWSjIG3KJH-ZN41m5XO8k`̵׉ 7cassandra://fORc9I4nuySDs2SfW9ZK8Xcz283vb4vAq2UKURLRuCMͺ} ͠_M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://CnUXXkvYVLTDqA2_q4i5k6exxk7RJ9F0xOT9iA0XwIg` ׉ 7cassandra://WaANwHytpBJ0VKSmYzhko3wBEpuGA4chXezCSk4P7_Mͩ`S׉ 7cassandra://5sBxnOGDoewdcJpthwFR493lrr28BCB4R3OSndHCHhk.`̵׉ 7cassandra://0C_PZAHvHKiYmMxRUJ667w4a4hPV0VeqWYAwLZ78GmEU,͠_M_J׉EODr. Jack Thomas, President Central State University by Celeste and Gary Lawson ׉ 7cassandra://bw48za7Krn7eTYLGomEz1QnWSjIG3KJH-ZN41m5XO8k`̵_M_J]׉E As taken from the Central State University website, on July 1, 2020, Dr. Jack Thomas became President of Central State University, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Dr. Thomas’ academic experience includes past positions such as president, interim president, provost and academic vice president, executive vice president, executive assistant to the president, dean, department chair, and English professor. He is currently a Senior Fellow with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in higher education administration. Dr. Thomas’ influence on the academic community extends to his service on several distinguished boards including the Marguerite Casey Foundation Board of Directors; the Illinois Board of Higher Education; the Stillman College Board of Trustees; the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Board; the American Council on Education Council of Fellows; the NCAA Presidential Forum; the Illinois Campus Compact Board; the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross Board; and the Rutherford County YMCA Board. He is a noted scholar and lecturer, as well as a highly sought-after keynote speaker presenting his research and inspirational messages locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Thomas is a published researcher, and the focus of his research has been on black males in literature. Additionally, Dr. Thomas is the author of numerous publications and professional presentations including his most recent publication titled, Within These Gates: Academic Work, Academic Leadership, University Life, and the Presidency. Dr. Thomas has been a committed advocate for diversity and inclusion. He has been recognized by Minority Access, Inc. and others for his work with helping to provide meaningful and transformative opportunities for minorities through mentorship and access at various universities. The following are excerpts from an exclusive interview with Dr. Jack Thomas that was conducted on October 27, 2020. Celeste: According to data that I retrieved from the National Center for Education Statistics, which was updated as of May 2020, the national Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) for public high school graduates was 85% and was deemed the highest graduation rate since first being measured during 201011. A closer examination of the data reveals that the ACGR by race is: 92% by Asians/ Pacific Islander students; 89% by White students; 81% by Hispanic students; 79% by Black students; and 74% by American Indian/Alaska Native students. Presented with these high school graduation rates, what academic future do you see for high school graduates, especially Hispanic, Black, and American Indian/Alaska Native students at Central State University? Dr. Thomas: Thank you for your question. Central State University has been...and will continue...offering a quality education for any student of good character who also meets our minimum academic requirements. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 37 ׉ 7cassandra://5sBxnOGDoewdcJpthwFR493lrr28BCB4R3OSndHCHhk.`̵_M_J^_M_J]{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://QIiDVlgCo7VDe-UX9QtCmfsQQgNoGwNIvfvl5hzWqFQ #` ׉ 7cassandra://RtcB6KgRCpCUc27WFuQpO0MhdF1p7YPtzwVrlJu7NaI͍j`S׉ 7cassandra://S3HOpDv0YJfUNrAedkBp9RdGXr-vw4nZFV3CKXK03Bs&`̵׉ 7cassandra://nDllmJfjx-_e0IPjSNaBz4qyZ67kLSv-w2sXgzWxCdM}(͠_M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://PR4YLHB-L71zGLE8iR4m9PCLgZ_ZOunJvoKkr3WZQRg` ׉ 7cassandra://RBai8QKlIpQ6FIV25WlAowoDp6ci9hQIsPrEoWAq15MͤO`S׉ 7cassandra://7Ps29InBmilyP5tExixvdXaS0xEV7tSeQZ7HzljWNJ0-I`̵׉ 7cassandra://R3ZtXHtl7Zexu3-d6Z_eq3jtUgp8pphbRAS3nU5Ts5U:(͠_M_J׉E CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DONATES $50,000 FROM HIS SALARY TO CREATE NEW SCHOLARSHIP FUND: Chairman of the Central State University Board of Trustees Mark Hatcher (photo left) with President Jack Thomas (photo right). We recently expanded our recruitment territory to build more brand awareness of our institution in regions that are not as familiar with our institution and what we have to offer. This includes working with feeder schools as well as creating partnerships with other schools. Our Undergraduate Students Success Center, which we call a bounce-back program, works with students who are here...as well as working with those students who have had challenges...academic challenges...and to help them be successful on campus. As a part of my nine goals, we created a mentoring program. This mentoring program will help students get more acclimated to the university... and this is all students. Members of the faculty and staff, as well as administrators...on a volunteer basis...are mentors. I have five mentees myself to help these students get acclimated. When you look at that demographic that you mentioned...many of the students are first-generation college students. Many of them come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. We are putting in place all the measures to make sure that they are successful...not just to be here...we want them to progress onto graduation. Also, we are building an infrastructure to support the diverse cohort of students being recruited globally for the academic year of 2020. We are also expanding partnerships with industry to increase the internship opportunities for our students. Not only does it support retention and graduation, we also look at job placement... that has become one of the top influences regarding students’ decisions to attend a particular college or university. We look at being career-ready...and as I mentioned...job placement and internships. We have met with various companies in business and industry to get support for internships, summer jobs...as well as jobs during the winter...and to have them hire our students when they actually graduate. So... what students want to know now...when they are looking into an education... or considering an academic major...is are they going to get a job? We want to assure them that they will be able to get a job. Gary: When you took the helm at Central State University, you shared nine specific goals that the university will work toward. This question is concentrated on two of those goals: 1) What is the university doing to increase enrollment (globally and in diversity)?; and 2) What is the university doing to improve retention and graduation rates? ׉ 7cassandra://S3HOpDv0YJfUNrAedkBp9RdGXr-vw4nZFV3CKXK03Bs&`̵_M_J_׉E cDr. Thomas: I did present those nine goals to the university community. One of our main goals is to grow the enrollment, as well as improve retention and graduation rates. We want to increase the staff and expand our marketing territory. We are looking at recruiting more Hispanic students, which is one of the populations leading in growth. We want to hire a bilingual recruiter. We want to establish targeted enrollment cohorts. We’ve started a Honors College...I’ve already hired the inaugural executive director for the Honors College. So...we are going to recruit those high-achieving students...those who have high ACT (American College Testing) scores and high grade point averages. Also, we are going to do targeted enrollment by: 1) recruiting those who are at the top of their class; 2) recruiting those who are midrange; and 3) those who may be borderline, but also meet our standards. This is going to help us in terms of our overall academic profile...enhancing the overall academic profile of the university when we bring more high-achieving students into the Honors College...as well as the mentor program. We are also going to be focusing on transfer students...recruiting more students from community colleges. We have already met with the executive director of the community college system, and they want to partner with us...as well as...we want to partner with other community colleges. We are recruiting more students from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and agriculture because we are a 1890 land-grant university, and that is part of our mission...so we have funding there for recruiting students. We have a MBA (Master of Business Administration) program, for which we received approval through the Chancellor’s Office...so we just have one more step for an MBA program that will hopefully be in place by next fall...and all of that will be online. We are also starting a new BRIDGE program for students that will take place during the summer...so they can take a couple classes to help them get acclimated to the university...that will help. We will also have the College Credit Plus Program...and by setting goals for each college we can gauge the faculty. Also, we are developing new pipelines for students by strengthening relationships and partnerships with high school counselors, principals, and ministers of education... globally. When we look at partnerships with high schools...and their principals and counselors...we want to bring the counselors to the university and talk about our academic programs...what we have to offer students... and how those counselors can help us. During this pandemic, much of this will be done virtually, but we plan to do some face-to-face interaction as well. In addition to that, we are having what we call ‘The Presidential Tour’, whereby I will be going...along with members of my mission staff...as well as working with ׉ 7cassandra://7Ps29InBmilyP5tExixvdXaS0xEV7tSeQZ7HzljWNJ0-I`̵_M_J`_M_J_{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://HoyvzsaiACQqFmSYJh1XRneseJ-6F_CENDJFZgrl5HI` ׉ 7cassandra://3cLZbi2RQbBRekIsqJjPQjn47kZUEY5JwiuQCsZYpjQ͚`S׉ 7cassandra://XmwKFJ1Kg3lOXBYP6yl0lKOlIziKy5wt2evjUr6k31s)`̵׉ 7cassandra://CIJSJHDvi_UckWJAOh0DEOYxWMNO9Iz3FYwrI8h55y4͠_M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://m0aVnu48quy_7NNcD8Krdit1NzdhF71KlY61zc-nf_wA` ׉ 7cassandra://ckTrb8UtkDySV3FqrIbW2piKb4IWlMo_eOcqHqX6IAQbD`S׉ 7cassandra://gFU1AUmz_WRBAV3-pHP-9fWpgLziTnei6qkLZdW7qI8"J`̵׉ 7cassandra://6aYA7YqCs3t_Og-VY2WoZS9rbNImZkzznEn6Yysf9k0cd͠_M_Jנ_M_JŁ99ׁHhttps://www.facebook.com/ׁ ׁ Јנ_M_Jā{9ׁHhttps://urbancitymag.co/ׁ ׁ Јנ_M_JÁŁ 9ׁH mailto:contactdsmurban@gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנ_M_J7:9ׁHhttp://ga.com/desׁ ׁ Јנ_M_J7%.9ׁHhttps://www.boׁ ׁ Ј׉E members of my leadership team, faculty, and staff...to various cities starting with our local city in the area of Dayton (Ohio) where our Alumni will be hosting us...and that will help us recruit more students locally. We are doing that in Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland. We are also going to Detroit (Michigan), Chicago (Illinois), Atlanta (Georgia) and other cities as well. So...we will be taking our show on the road. I have mentioned the Student Success Center, as well as our mentoring program... all of those will help us in terms of being successful. We are going to continue to work on our retention and graduation rates. Our retention rate just went up by 10%...so we are proud of that and hope that it will continue to go up based on the programs that we have put in place. Celeste: What impact is the COVID-19 virus having on campus and what changes are in play to advance your academic agenda? Dr. Thomas: The virus has had a tremendous impact. Prior to my arrival, as part of the transition, we created what we call an IRT, or an Institutional Response Team, and that Institutional Response Team was made up of faculty, staff, administrators, board members, and others who looked at how we were going to open this fall...to include what that would entail. We looked at things that we had to do in terms of sanitizing... how we were going to have our students practice social distancing... how we would open the residence halls...what would students do in terms of the dining facilities...wearing masks...testing...and other such things. We tested all of our students... as well as faculty and staff. Greene County...where we are located...helped us with pretesting, along with providing assistance from the National Guard. We did have some cases (of the virus), but the governor stated that he was very pleased by what we did here at Central State University...which should be a model for other institutions...in terms of testing the students. In terms of education...we have students who are faceto-face, but they are practicing safety. We have students online...about 50% face-toface and 50% online. We know that we will have to continue that kind of thing if the virus situation doesn’t get any better than what it is right now... but at the same time we feel that we provide a very safe environment...and that it is still providing the same kind of quality and world class education that we have been known to provide. The pandemic has had a tremendous affect on the way we operate, but we are pleased that we are still able to provide a quality education. Gary: Are there any final thoughts that you would like to share with the readership? Dr. Thomas: I am very pleased to serve at the helm at Central State University...I have served as president elsewhere, however, I am glad to be here at Central State University during this time. We invite students and parents to visit us on our website, as well as when we have the virtual Open House...and when we come to your city and state. Please feel free to reach out to us. We are excited about the future of Central State University. We are still educating individuals, and we are an institution that encourages our students to think big...to dream big...and to achieve their goals. If their minds can conceive it...then certainly they can achieve it. So...we are excited...we are open and ready to provide a quality and world-class education right here at Central State University. Celeste and Gary: Thank you. ׉ 7cassandra://XmwKFJ1Kg3lOXBYP6yl0lKOlIziKy5wt2evjUr6k31s)`̵_M_Ja׉ELet’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 isn’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 $25 a month for the first year. Reach out to us at: contactdsmurban@gmail.com for more details. Urban City Magazine Howell Dixon Magazine/Podcast https://urbancitymag.co/ Ruby B’s Catering Bradley Family Restaurant 515) 681-4028 https://www.facebook.com/ rubybskitchen/ The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 41 ׉ 7cassandra://gFU1AUmz_WRBAV3-pHP-9fWpgLziTnei6qkLZdW7qI8"J`̵_M_Jb_M_Ja{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://2KUkAu-ztXTfyCAdTMn5_JItaidog_RwcyEf7rLJeCc%` ׉ 7cassandra://fDHwmj9MeIIlAZ8ZqWvj2jK0DoS2O_Ll_FQHOM4GS0Y_`S׉ 7cassandra://ff2OVy4_H7nQeFPLy9PRU0HNk4XP9q-m_DDI_vLxNJE!X`̵׉ 7cassandra://XoSVKwhf_tpdKHW2YY6SC7WfV2Gs10fgse5YZi0PcLQ{͠_M_Jט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://tfqIL53FB4eg6kxoYHYm1z2KI1DvUZajJX-xNvaoFYY` ׉ 7cassandra://nDBZvfcl-3VIdMP-tV0KNGgExl_5ccTUtABMB4OHlQQ̈́`S׉ 7cassandra://M0JRdvROhkN8DCKofUIQCwVXuSsVtWzzdUmhhZYeZNU.`̵׉ 7cassandra://axdbUT_SbTG6_BmHIz4ZnGDAUy1GD3-3lFYSkrDSYccT͠_M_Jƛנ_M_JҁG19ׁHhttps://www.facebook.com/DsmSoׁ ׁ Јנ_M_Jс9ׁH http://www.iowanebraskanaacp.orgׁ ׁ Јנ_M_JЁ,9ׁHhttps://www.naacpdesmoines.org/ׁ ׁ Јנ_M_Jρ9ׁH$http://www.asheasley.myportfolio.comׁ ׁ Јנ_M_J΁̴9ׁHhttp://www.vanesther.comׁ ׁ Јנ_M_J́k9ׁHhttp://www.iowajuneteenth.comׁ ׁ Јנ_M_J́&E@9ׁH!https://www.facebook.com/ma.vs.73ׁ ׁ Јנ_M_Jˁ&Á29ׁH https://www.facebook.com/groups/ׁ ׁ Јנ_M_Jʁ&W9ׁH)https://www.rootstobranchesgenealogy.com/ׁ ׁ Јנ_M_JɁ&Ձ9ׁH,https://www.facebook.com/TranZitionsBeautySaׁ ׁ Јנ_M_Jȁ&bq9ׁH)https://hiphopeinc.wixsite.com/hiphopeincׁ ׁ Ј׉EHip 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 www.asheasley.myportfolio.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 ׉ 7cassandra://ff2OVy4_H7nQeFPLy9PRU0HNk4XP9q-m_DDI_vLxNJE!X`̵_M_Jc׉E׉ 7cassandra://M0JRdvROhkN8DCKofUIQCwVXuSsVtWzzdUmhhZYeZNU.`̵_M_Jd_M_Jc{בCט{u׉׉ 7cassandra://MmHzw_3f9HIwZDOQywh-Nyzsdf4vGzdiOuhGGxP5RzM` ׉ 7cassandra://YpeTW9ojj3t9hQjD6i3MxS49cag0RYB9e6iEn4E6hwUcs`S׉ 7cassandra://ov22UYNEpuUGDpuJrfnZEGQ75YkR8CCH5GoOkYXRaAM$`̵׉ 7cassandra://eCr4ZIdVOsCk_mKXt-aEBktJw3wcyzZ-gR7jjN9mzFUK:͠_M_Jӑנ_M_JՁYہ*9ׁHhttp://www.broadlawns.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉ExTHREE CONVENIENT URGENT CARE LOCATIONS CITYVILLE 580 SW 9th, Ste 100 Mon – Fri: 7am – 7pm Sat – Sun: 8am – 2pm Check the wait before you leave at: www.broadlawns.org All forms of insurance accepted. EAST UNIVERSITY 2508 E. University Mon – Fri: 7am – 7pm Sat – Sun: 8am – 2pm MAIN CAMPUS 1801 Hickman Road Mon – Fri: 8am – 8pm Sat: 9am – 3pm URGENT CARE ׉ 7cassandra://ov22UYNEpuUGDpuJrfnZEGQ75YkR8CCH5GoOkYXRaAM$`̵_M_Je׈E_M_Jf_M_Je{,#Nov. Dec. Urban Experience MagazineCheck out our combined issue for November and December. We highlight artist Ebony Patterson by Angela Jackson. Gary and Celeste Lawson talk with the President of Central State University Dr. Jack Thomas. Happy Holidays from The Urban Experience!_QU\M,