׉?4ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://DN702skGZMfH7_NGaNFB27mQwcVbisX4kvmNGMzVNM8`׉ 7cassandra://aJz86q99zserD9RH7gIsQIz5_uVQlWfILn_unzYGXq0qf`s׉ 7cassandra://pVBlYvCZUijGoKfjzNnMrkWCnw7rqlibn-eLkAy_tZM)7`׉ 7cassandra://QUR2-G07wLpr9o09HdZZzr0W5UL-8rnGQwVCT5EK9Cs@͠]d@&M8@ט(u׈@1׈Ed@&M8@P׉EMARCH 2023 Inside Senseless Violence When does it Stop (Mission Not Impossible) Five Tips to Overcome Stigma Around Alzheimer’s Disease She is Clothed with Strength and Dignity ABENA IMHOTEP Author of: Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe Photo Credit: Gianni Berry ׉ 7cassandra://pVBlYvCZUijGoKfjzNnMrkWCnw7rqlibn-eLkAy_tZM)7`d@&M8@Qd@&M8@P(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://v0HCjfWc2s_FCXRTpkq96ENOP2qeRGQ3CEOzD6kjfeAҷ`iq׉ 7cassandra://Lw_o5phjDvl2ywOFNNcGKaYV8dTAB9-KbzoFp4exxmkͲ`׉ 7cassandra://jqFVU-May3-rWhYk-XqTV4aRPovr_6RmLlhRFEt7NHc>`׉ 7cassandra://O1DludXAtk5tEa22u_xqvfwKHxwQKFZccvW4LVB4Ddkx7`͠ d@&M8@׉EyWRITERS & STAFF Editor-In-Chief Dwana Bradley Creative Director Nikki Goldman - LosRos Graphix Contributors Donnetta Austin Debra Carr Courageous Fire Angela Jackson Celeste Lawson Gary Lawson Bert Moody Lori Young Caleb Thomas Lenore Metrick-Chen Gianni Berry MAGAZINE OUTLETS Ankeny Kirkendall Library 1250 SW District Drive Ankeny, Iowa 50023 Central Library 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309 DMACC Urban Campus 1100 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314 Drake Diner 1111 25th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311 Eastside Library 2559 Hubbell Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50317 Evelyn Davis Center 801 Suite #3, University Ave, Des Moines IA 50314 Fields Pharmacy 501 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50314 Forest Library 1326 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314 Franklin Library 5000 Franklin Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50310 Johnston Library 6700 Merle Hay Rd. Johnston, Iowa 50131 Northside Library 3516 5th Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50313 Neighborhood Finance 1912 6th Avenue. Des Moines, Iowa 50314 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 Urbandale Public Library 3520 86th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322 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 Slow Down Coffee Co. 3613 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50313 The Playhouse 831 42nd Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50312 The Zone of Comfort - Life Balance Center 3829 71st Street B-1, Urbandale, Iowa 50322 ׉ 7cassandra://jqFVU-May3-rWhYk-XqTV4aRPovr_6RmLlhRFEt7NHc>`d@&M8@R׉E!SUMMARY EDITORS MESSAGE 4 6 SENSELESS VIOLENCE WHEN DOES IT STOP (MISSION NOT IMPOSSIBLE) 8 ABENA IMHOTEP 10 COALITION TAKES BIDEN TO TASK FOR FALLING SHORT ON VOTING RIGHTS 6 14 18 3 14 FIVE TIPS TO OVERCOME STIGMA AROUND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE 18 SHE IS CLOTHED WITH STRENGTH AND DIGNITY d@&M8@Sd@&M8@R(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://o_yUwyuclJPONAmrPYckN7uVKBiNmAfgD4453HPZ9VE>j`iq׉ 7cassandra://JjVkAZeVc7Wp15Ff7k2AgJoJOfhPABs0Ocw_CQKPZlk͒`׉ 7cassandra://656sGAVTZRMeWadAkCXZldQGFox-t1_PQkl_oTt5f9o7B`׉ 7cassandra://-mldzc_M7qmQHLuOedD8TB7cWDAMNEjtvklwxhM9beYY͠ dA&M8@נd@&M8@݁99׉Hhttps://www.amazon.com/Omaris-Big-Tree-Mighty-Djembe/dp/1665729171/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2EIUUOIB4CT5C&keywords=omari%27s+big+tree+and+the+mighty+djembe&qid=1678806825&sprefix=Omari%27s%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1Gׁ ׁ rנd@&M8@*4r9׉H1https://nationaltoday.com/national-reading-month/Gׁ ׁ rנd@&M8@Kw9׉H1https://nationaltoday.com/national-reading-month/Gׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@/h 9ׁHhttp://Amazon.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E7GET THE URBAN EXPERIENCE Dwana Bradley Editor in Chief ׉ 7cassandra://656sGAVTZRMeWadAkCXZldQGFox-t1_PQkl_oTt5f9o7B`d@&M8@W׉EIt’s National Reading Month. Take the time to read a book. Books are great for any age. As a former Reading Interventionist, I know when you open your mind to reading the world is unlocked and you gain knowledge of history, current events, the life stories of others, and genres such as fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction. You won’t be disappointed in what you find in a book. Make sure to read something that interests you. My grandma loved reading books. She would be up in the early morning hours reading. She always said reading kept your mind young. I encourage you to get out this month and visit your local library. When visiting your local library get a library card, it is free. In this edition of Urban Experience Magazine, we talk with Abena Imhotep of Sankofa Literacy and Empowerment Group. Make sure to support Abena as an author of Omari’s Big Tree and the Mighty Djeme. You can purchase your copy on Amazon at Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe: Imhotep, Abena Sankofa: 9781665729178: Amazon.com: Books To learn more about National Reading Month check out NATIONAL READING MONTH -March 2023 - National Today Blessings Dwana Bradley d@&M8@Xd@&M8@W(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://X2c7LFvI3rtkzJ9Z9JtI3PZrezz6rY58vuKZ1DJk1GA`iq׉ 7cassandra://fPxyQizX1EsCDkuthYpRpV4bz_cuh5qu0yI8dHsH2ygͻY`׉ 7cassandra://q9Q06pY5t5sm9K9bPUeizk7zIur_9uhyxo3GNIBjGos:x`׉ 7cassandra://lKbRiUjDOFplUq0OtyeEqGP8-lHw8JeBbr-TSe7KB4kI͠ dA&M8@נdA&M8@`{9׉Hhttps://www.thomasacc.com/Gׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@v̸9ׁHmailto:caleb@thomasacc.comׁ ׁ ЈנdA&M8@\g 9ׁHhttp://thomasacc.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EMental Health: SENSELESS VIOLENCE WHEN DOES IT STOP? (MISSION NOT IMPOSSIBLE) Written By: Caleb Thomas M.A. LMHC H ello Urban Experience magazine readers. I’m putting out a cry for help regarding the senseless crimes that continue to happen in our great city of Des Moines, as well as surrounding cities in the state of Iowa. As I think about the tragic incident that involved another school shooting and two lives’ lost, this is something we see on tv shows, or sound bites on the News, now being played out in our community. Unfortunately, this incident just happened within a year of our last school shooting related to gang violence, also taking the life of another young man. Sometimes it’s easy to say: “that’s just bad kids, those kids from the ghettos of Des Moines, parents are separated, divorced, no dad in the home, or those who live in poverty, etc.” Sadly, some of that may be true, however, what about the parents who are doing their best and working hard to ensure their kids stay away from the thugs, gang bangers and are desiring to see their sons succeed, graduate high school, and go on to become positive productive citizens in our society. Despite what may be going on with the parents, no parent has a desire to see their child join a gang, a lifestyle that will take them down 2 roads; 1. To Prison or 2. Death. This brings me to discuss the senseless violence that recently involved two young men killed, and a director of a program was seriously injured and could have been killed. I want to take a moment to acknowledge Mr. Will Holmes (A.KA. Mr. Will Keeps) of the Starts Right Here Program. A program he created to help at-risk youths get a fresh start. I mentioned in a previous article, the importance of giving back. Mr. Keeps didn’t have to take his time to give back, I believe he is using his God given purpose to give back to the Youths so they can avoid pitfalls. We praise God for his expediate recovery and hope he continues the great work he’s doing throughout the city of Des Moines. My prayers also go out to the families of the young men who lost their life’s and for the young man who did the senseless killings. Some of us may think, he did the crime now he’ll go and serve the time. However, it's more than that, how can we help other young men like him learn from this incident, how can the shooter be reformed, maybe allowed to help others like himself turn their life around. This incident played over and over on many News channels; I reflected and asked myself, what was going through his mind? His thoughts, even if he had to kill innocent people in the process. The bigger question is where did all the hate come from? We cannot leave the devil out of the details, the bible tells us Satan comes to “Steal, Kill and Destroy”. More disturbing was the other young men were trying to better their lives. Think how hard it is to walk away from enticements associated with the gang lifestyle, the cost is too high. Ask yourself, who wins in the end? We have two young men who will never get a chance to see the possibilities of their God given calling and one young man who may possibly spend the rest of his life behind bars, the only one winning in these senseless acts of violence is Satan. Ask yourself, how does a young man get to this point in life? The bible tells us having hate in one’s heart is the same as murder. Where does all the hate come from? Clinically we know young minds are easily shaped from many influences including environmental, social economic influences, biological factors, society norms and other disparities. So, it becomes easy for a young man to be influenced by a multitude of factors including self-will. How can we help change that mindset? We can start with programs, such as Starts Right Here, I encourage you to ׉ 7cassandra://q9Q06pY5t5sm9K9bPUeizk7zIur_9uhyxo3GNIBjGos:x`d@&M8@Z׉Eget involved in these amazing programs. Find out how you can help. Other things you can do is become a mentor in your church or reach out to other programs in the community such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Willkie House to help at-risk Youths. If we work with youths early, we can change the trajectory and outcomes of the choices they make. If these kids go ignored by community leaders, the professionals, or those who have made it in spite their upbringing (or no “bringing up”), the alternative, gang bangers, drug dealers, hustlers and others are waiting and they become the influencers. If we don’t reach them early it’s more difficult to turn them around, but not impossible. So, let’s work together and do all we can to help. If you can’t volunteer, then donate or become a sponsor to these programs to keep them running. Help keep more kids away from gangs which can help avoid tragic incidents like this from happening. Remember, each one reach one and together we all achieve more. Please reach out to our office for Grief Counseling, help and support is available. Thank you Caleb Thomas M.A. LMHC 319-206-0651 thomasacc.com caleb@thomasacc.com Thomas & Associates Counseling & Consulting Counseling with a God given purpose! 7 d@&M8@[d@&M8@Z(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://6kZaAc8jww_qE1IU4zxOKgMARdgRVnNSQWqEQ_oKWEo`iq׉ 7cassandra://VHifWIl7-GsWzZl_AEwi6LqtlT9NshpznIqUTZHVa-M`׉ 7cassandra://vouB2fXt67jIkQE20gKzBjqcTz0q7AzDniHMU1YFoGkL`׉ 7cassandra://WzD7FwH430awLnNyaSX0N748KlAqgzWQzyB8R6QxUas͠ dA&M8@נdA&M8@ ؁̫9׉Hhttps://www.abenasankofa.com/Gׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@'9׉Hhttps://www.abenasankofa.com/Gׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@RE 9׉Hhttps://www.abenasankofa.com/Gׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@RC9ׁHhttp://www.abenasankofa.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EEUrban Experience Magazine reached out to Abena Imhotep. To learn more about the great work she is doing please visit her website at www.abenasankofa. com ABENA IMHOTEP Author of: Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe Photo Credit: Gianni Berry 1. Tell our readers about yourself. I'm a family woman, a culture keeper, and a bibliophile. I'm also an entrepreneur, advocate, public speaker, and a writer. 2. When did you find yourself becoming passionate about reading? My parents had a set of encyclopedias in the house when I was a child. I used to spend hours perusing those pages for answers to all my questions. But the pivotal moment, the moment I fell in love with reading, with the power of it, was when Mrs. Swanson read Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls aloud to my 4th grade class - the story came alive in my mind. I decided exactly then that one day I'd write stories that would animate in readers' minds, too. 3. Talk about your organization and what is the impact you want your to make on the community? Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group is an African diaspora-centric ׉ 7cassandra://vouB2fXt67jIkQE20gKzBjqcTz0q7AzDniHMU1YFoGkL`d@&M8@_׉E organization that creates spaces for lifelong learning centering the literature and scholarship of Black authors. The impact we want to have is multi-faceted, but ultimately the goal is to build communities of emancipated thinkers who use lessons from our shared history to move toward a just and benevolent future. 4. Congratulations on your book Omari’s Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe. What inspired you to write this children’s book. Thank you. Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe, my debut children's book, is a story about a little boy who finds his true gift, and realizes he's had what it takes all along. Inspiration came from many places: my family, the student-scholars who are in Sankofa programs, and the catastrophic climate crisis. It's important for children to understand that they, too, can play a vital role in caring for the earth, being a good neighbor, and standing up for issues which matter to them. 5. There seems to be an outpouring of support for your book. How does it make you feel to receive this kind of support? How does it feel? I'm elated the story resonates with so many people. More and more families realize the benefits of diversifying their bookshelves and are being intentional about making sure little readers have the opportunity to learn about perspectives that are different from theirs. I also deeply identify with the attitude of Langston Hughes when he said, "The Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain free within ourselves." 6. How do you encourage children who may not have a love for reading to open their mind to reading? Unlocking the radical imagination is a process. I begin with the notion that every child is intelligent. Now, I've met children who've been told they weren't, but the truth is every child is intelligent. And when it sinks in for these intelligent little people that not only are there stories which reflect their interests, experiences, and identities, but there are people who care about their success and their ability to learn - they will invest, risk, and grow. It is a rather worthwhile process. 7. What is your favorite book? There are so many. How about my Top Five, as it is impossible to narrow it down to one. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston. The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois. Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Davis. And Sula by Toni Morrison. 8. Are there plans to release another book? Yes. 9. How can people support Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group? We need culturally responsive volunteer readers for our summer storytimes and we're also collecting donations of gently used books for our free library which will be situated outside our studio at Mainframe Studios this June. Interested persons should inquire through our website, www.abenasankofa.com or through any of our social media pages. 10. Anything else you would like to share with our readers? Dr. Charles Drew's sentiment, "Excellence of performance transcends artificial barriers created by men," has portended nearly all of my major achievements. I feel a great sense of gratitude and wonderment to be able to do my purposed work as a writer, a scholar-practitioner, and a human. Sincere thanks to all who support the work now and in the future. I'm only getting warmed up. Yibambe. 9 d@&M8@`d@&M8@_(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://zDmmHSZxBjMc-0TAZg5b5iA0l6D2ojlDPN20WDmSaYkF`iq׉ 7cassandra://UlF9Dxf0tF7rFPWXgprZnP611qxduE3xkjbY8c2Akt0 `׉ 7cassandra://6FZRXEWnzzRd8RObLx0lajC8ME_G15Ae6ZSyEcfodeERo`׉ 7cassandra://fLO_EnWWijl10Hut9qCP-hxpKvRsT0iuDOP5t4iomV4 S͠ dA&M8@נdA&M8@ 9׉Hwhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/07/executive-order-on-promoting-access-to-voting/Gׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@9׉HRhttps://civilrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ProgressReport_VotingAccess.pdfGׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@!3E9׉HRhttps://civilrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ProgressReport_VotingAccess.pdfGׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@b̋9׉HRhttps://civilrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ProgressReport_VotingAccess.pdfGׁ ׁ r׉EvCoalition Takes Biden to Task for Falling Short on Voting Rights EMS Contributor Written By Mark Hedinr Voting RIghts ׉ 7cassandra://6FZRXEWnzzRd8RObLx0lajC8ME_G15Ae6ZSyEcfodeERo`d@&M8@e׉EA coalition of more than 100 civil rights and advocacy organizations is accusing the Biden administration of falling short on its “visionary” commitment to step up voter registration and that the failure to shore up voting rights is disproportionately hurting non-white voters. In an early March letter to President Biden and 10 federal agencies, the coalition cited Census data showing wide discrepancies in voter registration between white voters and voters of color. According to the data, 77% of eligible voters who are white are registered to vote. That compares to just 69% among African American eligible voters, and 64% for Asian Americans, 63% among Native Americans and 61% among Latinos. And in the last presidential election, 63 million people otherwise eligible to vote were not registered. Executive Order 14019 Within weeks of taking office and on the anniversary of the 1965 historic “Bloody Sunday” march for voting rights through Selma, Alabama, Biden issued executive order 14019, “Promoting Access to Voting.” The move was intended to expand voter registration opportunities in federal agency programs. Two years later, at a March 2 press briefing, members of the coalition offered a new report, “Strengthening Democracy: A Progress Report on Federal Agency Action to Promote Access to Voting,” assessing the work of 10 federal agencies in implementing Biden’s order. Three are “on the right track,” the report found, but “most have either made minimal progress on their initial strong commitments or have left important opportunities on the table.” Were they to “integrate a high-quality voter registration opportunity for the people they serve,” said Jesselyn McCurdy, of the Leadership Conference, those agencies “could collectively generate an additional 3.5 million voter registration applications per year.” She continued, “While state after state imposes more barriers to the ballot, a divided Congress gives us little hope for restoring and strengthening the voting rights we so desperately need… Not since the Jim Crow era have we seen such opposition to freely casting and accurately counting our ballots.” McCurdy added that “with legislation stalled for the foreseeable future, we are looking to the BidenHarris administration to do everything within their executive power to protect the right to vote.” Registering Native American voters Jacqueline De Leon of the Native American Rights Fund noted Native American voters are “uniquely situated to benefit from this executive order.” Although “Native Americans do not regularly interact with state agencies, such as the DMV, where many Americans are provided with the most meaningful registration opportunity,” she said, the situation is different when it comes to federal agencies “in a government-to-government capacity and in fulfillment of their treaty rights.” The Department of the Interior was one of just three agencies of the 10 covered in the report deemed “on the right track” for providing high-quality voter registration services at two universities it operates. At the other end of the spectrum, Indian Health Services was rated “falling behind” for showing “no signs of follow-through” on its initial commitment to offer registration to its clients: “2.5 million of the most underserved Native Americans yearly,” De Leon said. De Leon commended the Department of Veteran Affairs’ pilot programs in Kentucky, Michigan and Pennsylvania and its nonpartisan information about registration and elections on its website. Treasury, by boosting voter registration access at IRS tax preparation clinics and training staff in the process, also got an “on the right track” designation. Meeting eligible voters where they’re at “One of the single most impactful actions that the Biden administration can take under this executive order,” said Laura Williamson, of Demos, is for the Department of Health and Human Services to improve the voter registration element of its website 11 d@&M8@fd@&M8@e(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://ykIvbLiVAP038-bixspDcbaw1onfT3sWxz1vD3UM6xg`iq׉ 7cassandra://iHlrln-OgKA8w7poC-EqScYRIZYO4o1j_JMuvjseXRg`׉ 7cassandra://K-cFcxtZn1DbfgesXXav2nhuOYbXFbWjA5zv3jXfjTgTB`׉ 7cassandra://rLRKiyeRaILImhD6DyUlTVyQk4uFhSzSYyg0XVli3pE K͠ dB&M8@נdA&M8@+(9׉Hhttps://www.dmplayhouse.com/Gׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@k̭q9׉H https://neighborhoodfinance.org/Gׁ ׁ rנdA&M8@qK9׉Hhttps://vote.gov/Gׁ ׁ rנdB&M8@!9ׁHhttp://DMPlayhouse.comׁ ׁ ЈנdB&M8@oH9ׁHhttp://vote.govׁ ׁ ЈנdB&M8@