×‰?4×B!Ü ×‘C’×˜š Íü ÍüÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://xywyVtCFtflw2oMq345UX7lgi9cYiv6UhsxJDdYv1gkÎ ™“Í`ÍóÍ²×‰	Ú 7cassandra://L3hOuXzpr48YWB0ldnpsuGYhukfu7fq-mklsND9rJj4ÍlÑÍ`ÍsÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://BA5LZP3Eao_456ZDvJoBrTLQw4rwb62i1lN41WvQc6wÍ)ÊÍ`ÌÆÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://66mVoQZPhQH3AvbWbed1W57KvBK7dN3DGyancEXhA48Î ÛíÍŽÍ Í]Íð×`Í8<Dœh÷÷×˜š   ÍüÍ(u×ˆœ×   CNSvu  ×ˆE×`Í8<Dœh÷³×‰E¢1
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://BA5LZP3Eao_456ZDvJoBrTLQw4rwb62i1lN41WvQc6wÍ)ÊÍ`ÌÆÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷´×`Í8<Dœh÷³ÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://GWK_xs1xbXTFIZl9QtkY6-AipOKOAh8mJ-smwAYS7cYÎ )Í`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://5kSNQWjhF-4dzeVT4yFMFKN22IkDlxRBnRYdOIpzZ6oÍÁnÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://42ndylgwf_FWdYZXXiVEVUPZm4SgR9Gfut2Kz8slWJgÍDYÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://XONyLEQc2km--V2acCRKofoLHFeu3DsIV-GORQ5_juQÎ oJÍ	,Í Í
ºÍð×`Í8<Dœh÷ú“× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ÿ ÍÂÍ€ÌÖ9×HÚ  mailto:contactdsmurban@gmail.com××Ðˆ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷þ ÍÂÍDÌÇ9×H½mailto:dsmurbannews@gmail.com××Ðˆ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ý ÍÆÍÌ¼9×H½mailto:joindsmurban@gmail.com××Ðˆ×‰EÚ·WRITERS & STAFF
Editor-In-Chief
Dwana Bradley
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6
Featured Artist of the Month
12
14
28
16
32
3
House approves bill to make
Juneteenth a federal holiday
16 Freedomâ€™s Story
Save the Date
24 While We Wait to Breathe Again: Part 1
Dress for Success
21
43 Black Owned Business in Iowa
32 Perspectives on Fatherhood
30 We Are Still Here
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×`Í8<Dœh÷¶×`Í8<Dœh÷µÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://elVANlhjIV63Rirc7ZmvRp7dmW06R1pgqw4HPVbWsLkÎ >oÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://867keFlTFveehP2rf2ZIIyTTGy3nacigEo4EAC1WpNkÍÅ[Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://2BB6ueOEzyLcPxdKo334SriG7NAHLWS7uU9Rgu_htfcÍ=Í`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://lfxGLEKaqXrbyUh2eLdkqz72sNvNQuGMn7iX5AUzESoÎ Œ”Í´Í Í
ºÍð×`Í8<Dœh÷ ×‰E×‰	Ú 7cassandra://2BB6ueOEzyLcPxdKo334SriG7NAHLWS7uU9Rgu_htfcÍ=Í`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷·×‰EÚ‹EDITORIAL
HAPPY FATHERâ€™S DAY
Dwana Bradley
Editor in Chief
F
atherâ€™s Day is a day
that can be bittersweet
especially if your father
is no longer living or you
donâ€™t have the best or any
relationship with your
father. I want to wish all fatherâ€™s a happy day. I
pray that you can enjoy it and you are surrounded
by love, peace, and happiness.
I want to take a moment to say a few
words about my father Roderick
Bradley. He is a man who wears
many hats from Pastor, brother,
cousin, husband, grandpa, friend,
but I know him as dad. The man
who has never let me down and has
always pushed me to be my best.
My dad never left me when I didnâ€™t
make the best decisions, instead he
would pray for me and encourage
me along the way. Iâ€™ve been told
Iâ€™m like my dad and Iâ€™d have to
agree. My hard headedness, my
strength, my determination, my
love of people, my faith, and my
talk all stems from my father. He
has raised me to stay close to Jesus,
say sorry when I mess up, and put
my all into everything I do. I love
my father and I thank God that
he placed us in each otherâ€™s lives.
Dad, I pray you have a wonderful
Fatherâ€™s Day and know I love you!
5
×`Í8<Dœh÷¸×`Í8<Dœh÷·ÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://oeIgPHRqcmYSTIduabQKAVki0q3fX2UVdhqPXl5hqMIÎ Ó]Í`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://AJLoFHYrdOk4uLuygkXG3BEnKC4U3ZAWglEvmfX3DfYÍÞÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://OR-nuHW_9uGzf_1FwSU0Xe0vEX7iXd88FVB-VaJxbbMÍDÚÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://vCHYOqLgjcsj_Th3iYs8NZpaTOF_qUZcS5LTH4Q1A24Î  pÍ|Í Í
ºÍð×`Í8<Dœh÷×‰EÚÃTHE GREAT FRAME UP SUPPORTS AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTIST
JUNE FEATURE:
RONNIE
PHILLIPS
DES MOINES, IOWA â€“ We enjoy supporting the local art community by offering
area artists an opportunity to display their art on a monthly rotating schedule. We
consistently support African American artists and feature their original artwork, prints
and mixed media on paper. This month we introduce readers to an award winning
African American artist Ronnie Phillips.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://OR-nuHW_9uGzf_1FwSU0Xe0vEX7iXd88FVB-VaJxbbMÍDÚÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷¹×‰EÚcArtist, photographer and educator,
Ronnie Phillips, was born and
raised in Los Angeles, California.
He served as an educator
and editorial photographer in
Los Angeles and Hollywood
for over 17 years and was a
photographer for the Los Angeles
Olympic Committee. He taught
photography for six years
with the Los Angeles Unified
School District. As an editorial
photographer, he photographed
celebrities ranging from Redd Fox
to Tony Bennet. His photographs
have been published in numerous
publications and was a west
coast photographer for Johnson
Publication for eleven years.
Ronnie Phillips became a full-time
artist in 1991. He participates in
over 20 shows a year on the fine
art festival circuit and has won
over 100 awards and seven Best
of Show.
Ronnie Phillips is recognized for
his hauntingly beautiful sepia
toned, hand oiled photographs of
children. These photos have been
featured on many network sitcoms
and renowned television shows.
He has also published work in
magazine such as TV Guide,
Essence and Ebony.
Now giving credence to a more
creative side and nurturing a
different creative spirit, he has
merged into Mixed Media. Now
Ronnie Phillips adheres his photos
on to canvas, then paints a scene
around the image with acrylic
paint.
Ronnie Phillips says, â€œArt is
an important experience. As
photographer, I have the eye
for capturing the essence of
an image. My goal is that the
viewer may be drawn to reflect
on their own life experience and
ideologies. Art should make one
smile, think and reflect.â€
â€œI aspire to assist others
to deepen their process
of self-reflection through
my work.â€
- Ronnie Phillips
×`Í8<Dœh÷º×`Í8<Dœh÷¹ÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://LnWi-G7bPVdiOa3HMMtUGNzoq1lBiLfPV4HwD7p1Fy8Î ‡nÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://O4naQo8M8FAQjNg1R5LJamSeT-el6g4nAXZ7Fz5tSOEÎ N`Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://azF1HTLkw9oqgRSLLvtossE3QwevUkyhfa-Jl8MugfoÍcÐÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://93f13bahNA9bCnIA_ZHw13Cf0TIqS3rSHhCJgFKjQZUÎ ùñÍÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8<Dœh÷›× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ oÌÈ9×‰H¾http://www.ronphillipsart.com/G××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ ÌœÍ<9×‰HÚ -http://www.westdesmoines.thegreatframeup.com/G××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ 2Ì¸Ìò9×‰HÚ #http://www.facebook.com/tgfuwdmiowaG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ ÌÔÍF9×‰HÚ .https://www.instagram.com/thegreatframeup_wdm/G××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷	 Í¿ÌÔO9×‰HÚ  http://www.pinterest.com/tgfuwdmG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷
 Ìñx9×‰HÚ  http://www.pinterest.com/tgfuwdmG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ ÍÞÍÍ9×HÚ #http://desmoinesartcenter.org/LEARN××Ðˆ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ ÌÙÍF9×HÚ (http://instagram.com/thegreatframeup_wdm××Ðˆ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ 2Ì½Ìö9×HÚ  http://facebook.com/tgfuwdmiowa.××Ðˆ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ Ì Í<9×HÚ (http://westdesmoines.thegreatframeup.com××Ðˆ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ o!ÌÈ9×H¾http://www.ronphillipsart.com/××Ðˆ×‰EÚ-Credits - www.ronphillipsart.com/
We currently feature originals, prints, sculptures and framed
artwork of numerous African American and Iowa artists in
the gallery. To see some of the prior artists featured visit
westdesmoines.thegreatframeup.com and our Facebook page
at facebook.com/tgfuwdmiowa. Please follow us on Instagram
instagram.com/thegreatframeup_wdm Pinterest pinterest.
com/tgfuwdm and Twitter @tgfuwdm.
An award winning artist, Ronnie Phillipsâ€™ prints are currently
available at The Great Frame Up.
About The Great Frame Up
Founded in 1972, The Great Frame Up, Inc. is a custom
picture framer, offering more than 1,000 custom frame
mouldings and mat styles, ready to hang framed art and local
artwork. The Great Frame Up is located at 5515 Mills Civic
Parkway in the West Glen Town Center in West Des Moines
and is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10- 6pm;
Thursday 10- 8pm & 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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9×HÚ !http://paintingwithatwist.com/des××Ðˆ×‰EÚ íIOWA
JUNETEENTH
OBSERVANCE IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR - SATURDAY JUNE 19TH, 2021
WESTERN GATEWAY PARK - 11A.M. - 11 P.M.
IOWA JUNETEENTH 2021 NEIGHBOR'S DAY
NEIGHBOR'S D
Thank you to Our Sponsors for an Amazing
Iowa Juneteenth Observance 2021
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://QXaivthP98cPEiwA0wAMheH68T7D4moA7VV36l0-OAYÍb9Í`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Ã×‰EÚ€June 2021
TUESDAY 1
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WEDNESDAY 2
THURSDAY 3
FRIDAY 4
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SATURDAY 5
6:30PM - 8PM
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GET SOCIAL FRIDAY NIGHT!
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PORCH LEANER PAINTING!
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GET SOCIAL FRIDAY NIGHT!
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FAMILY & FRIENDS PAINTING
12PM - 1:30PM
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All paintings subject to change. Find our most current calendar online at paintingwithatwist.com/des-moines/
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×`Í8<Dœh÷Ä×`Í8<Dœh÷ÃÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://uoLmW0bY-UYEDh-WJu47HpChNZyyOx_0k2q6P0SxI-AÎ $|Í`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://eZO3QQpqPX6hT2HS1msFqaJqKAtAEDm_rq4Q7v4n5dUÎ (éÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://qJgNSyLSgmDggtN2vY2OxCNNhUnsTzbrA1koxFdIaoUÍXYÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://a1iek1Pia74wHjIfgN5UIbVa1NgIBq_-EJ_CfzLddh0ÍçJÍPÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8<Dœh÷×‰EÚcHouse
approves
bill to make
Juneteenth a
federal holiday
by: The Associated Press
Posted: Jun 16, 2021 / 07:40 PM EDT / Updated: Jun 16, 2021 / 07:42 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) â€“ The
United States will soon
have a new federal holiday
commemorating the end of
slavery in the nation.
The House voted 415-14
Wednesday to make Juneteenth,
or June 19th, the 12th federal
holiday. The bill now goes to
President Joe Bidenâ€™s desk to be
signed into law.
Juneteenth commemorates
when the last enslaved African
Americans learned they were
free. Confederate soldiers
surrendered in April 1865,
but word didnâ€™t reach the last
enslaved Black people until
June 19, when Union soldiers
brought the news of freedom to
Galveston, Texas. That was also
about two and a half years after
the Emancipation Proclamation
freeing slaves in the Southern
states.
Itâ€™s the first new federal holiday
since Martin Luther King Jr. Day
was created in 1983.
â€œOur federal holidays are
purposely few in number and
recognize the most important
milestones,â€ said Rep. Carolyn
Maloney, D-NY. â€œI cannot think
of a more important milestone to
commemorate than the end of
slavery in the United. States.â€
Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas,
speaking next to a large poster
of a Black man whose back bore
massive scarring from being
(ADVERTISING)
whipped, said she would be
in Galveston this Saturday to
celebrate along with Republican
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.
â€œCan you imagine?â€ said the
rather short Jackson Lee. â€œI will
be standing maybe taller than
Senator Cornyn, forgive me for
that, because it will be such an
elevation of joy.â€
The Senate passed the bill a
day earlier under a unanimous
consent agreement that
expedites the process for
considering legislation. It takes
just one senatorâ€™s objection to
block such agreements.
â€œPlease, let us do as the Senate.
Vote unanimously for passage,â€
Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.,
â€œOur federal holidays
are purposely few
in number and
recognize the most
important milestones,â€
said Rep. Carolyn
Maloney, D-NY. â€œI
cannot think of a more
important milestone
to commemorate than
the end of slavery in
the United. States.â€
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://qJgNSyLSgmDggtN2vY2OxCNNhUnsTzbrA1koxFdIaoUÍXYÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Å×‰EÚëFILE â€“ In this June 19, 2020, file photo, people demonstrate in Chicago, to mark Juneteenth. A national coalition of labor unions,
along with racial and social justice organizations, will stage a mass walkout from work July 20, as part of an ongoing reckoning on
systemic racism and police brutality in the U.S. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
pleaded at one point with his
colleagues.
The bill was sponsored by Sen.
Edward Markey, D-Mass., and
had 60 co-sponsors. Democratic
leaders moved quickly to bring the
bill to the House floor.
Some Republican lawmakers
opposed the effort. Rep. Matt
Rosendale, R-Mont., said creating
the federal holiday was an effort to
celebrate â€œidentity politics.â€
â€œSince I believe in treating
everyone equally, regardless
of race, and that we should be
focused on what unites us rather
than our differences, I will vote no,â€
he said in a press release.
The vast majority of states
recognize Juneteenth as a holiday
or have an official observance
of the day, and most states hold
celebrations. Juneteenth is a
paid holiday for state employees
in Texas, New York, Virginia and
Washington.
(ADVERTISING)
Under the legislation, the federal
holiday would be known as
Juneteenth National Independence
Day.
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said
he would vote for the bill and
he supported the establishment
of a federal holiday, but he was
upset that the name of the holiday
included the word independence
rather than emancipation. â€œWhy
would the Democrats want to
politicize this by coopting the
name of our sacred holiday of
Independence Day?â€ Higgins said.
â€œI want to say to my white
colleagues on the other side,
getting your independence from
being enslaved in a country is
different from a country getting
independence to rule themselves,â€
Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich.,
replied, adding, â€œWe have a
responsibility to teach every
generation of Black and white
Americans the pride of a people
who have survived, endured and
succeeded in these United States
of America despite slavery.â€
13
×`Í8<Dœh÷Æ×`Í8<Dœh÷ÅÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://-5ocoULruEYlpnMnDRBHyrSOPels3xGEL5sXUGNXJmMÎ KÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://wByL1Y8cMbhWwLMzIAUTqCH_okS-IUAEZJ4mHsbYKasÍ×ƒÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://9V0QgcC3gXpGySb5UW3VwgT6YWBzfogrJMeiFnjdB9kÍFtÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://6_JqrNntFSqTq2P8m_EX1C1vuZagVTPge0td2w80E2wÎ ,	Ís&Í Í
ºÍð×`Í8 <Dœh÷–× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ ÍÉÍ±ÌË9×‰HÚ #mailto:be.encouragedbyone@gmail.comG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8<Dœh÷ Í&ÍÔ\9×‰HÚ #mailto:be.encouragedbyone@gmail.comG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷ Í-Í49×H¯http://dmpl.org××Ðˆ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷ ÍõÍ–ÌÂ9×H¾http://NeighborhoodFinance.org××Ðˆ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷ Í&Í¹Ìº9×H¶http://DMPL.ORG/EVENTS××Ðˆ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷ Í&ÍÛ\9×H°http://gmail.com××Ðˆ×‰EÚ•SPIRITUALITY
For I know the
plans I have for
you, â€œdeclares
the Lordâ€, plans
to prosper you
and not to harm
you, plans to
give you hope
and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
For entering into a new season
In honor of celebrating you!
Say hello to the new things that lie ahead of you and
goodbye to the old.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, â€œdeclares the
Lordâ€, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future.
Engage in the process of change with an expected end
of hopefulness.
God said â€œI AMâ€ John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him; I am the way, the truth; and the
life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://9V0QgcC3gXpGySb5UW3VwgT6YWBzfogrJMeiFnjdB9kÍFtÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷É×‰EÚGod is whatever you need him to be during
this season in your life. Never hesitate to
call upon a friend we have in Jesus. He
is our rock, our source, He controls the
outcome. Let loose of the weight. There is
fruit being developed in the middle of the
disruption, chaos, or frustration.
The delay is definitely going to be worth it.
You have a responsibility trust in Him. This
is an opportunity to get into preparation
and exchange the gift of becoming a
blessing. God will give you the ability to do
it in spite of what youâ€™re up against.
We flourish through our experiences, and
you lack in nothing. You have the whole
armor of God.
Author Donnetta Austin, Amazon â€œNever
Retire Godâ€, Email be.encouragedbyone@
gmail.com
NFC House Party
Finding and Funding
Your Dream Home
Thursday, June 17, 6 PM
REGISTRATION REQUIRED:
DMPL.ORG/EVENTS
Whether youâ€™re just starting to think about purchasing your own home or
getting ready to make repairs, our panel of experts can help you find your way!
Neighborhood Finance Corporation provides home purchase, refinance and
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If you are not able to attend, our experts are available at 515-246-0010
or NeighborhoodFinance.org.
dmpl.org | 515.283.4152
NMLS #8943
×`Í8<Dœh÷Ê×`Í8<Dœh÷ÉÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://-Uw5v7-FAfJpWa3FMAzMWkxU1DIEReNp1Svy3GqTmJEÎ ùfÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://9tRv929gEbPlpFG_HGYu4LBmhYNzrgmOAFgntPfr71AÍí·Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://N-7gWQfj-JIDYuNM9J6J-mYTQ0m653hGP6gzDBG-0D0ÍC“Í`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://oLzSQP0HwyTlhSbqWz1q_sWR2F0IuU0wStIZqWNQdFQÎ ÿÍvÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8 <Dœh÷ ’× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷ Í’ÍÌž9×‰HÚ ˜https://www.joinonelove.org/learn/emotional-abuse-really-means/#:~:text=Emotional%20abuse%20is%20any%20abusive,which%20often%20results%20in%20anxiety%2CG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷# Í)ÍD
9×H¶http://JoinOneLove.org××Ðˆ×‰EÚþCOURAGEOUS TRUTHS:
Freedomâ€™s
Story
A 36-year-old, shapely Black Beautiful named Freedom*1
was just finishing getting
little Li-Li (short for Aaliyah) ready for daycare. Li-Li was such a loving, mild-mannered
little girl, that Freedom often found herself going in slow motion just to spend more time
with her; today was no exception. She was cuttinâ€™ it close in avoiding the fee for late drop
off, but made sure to kiss Xavier, her husband, sweetly tell him how much she loved him,
and wish him a good day.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://N-7gWQfj-JIDYuNM9J6J-mYTQ0m653hGP6gzDBG-0D0ÍC“Í`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Ì×‰EÚ	Xavier had been to Freedom
exactly what his nameâ€™s meaning
implied - a saviour. When she
met him, she had just lost her car,
was close to losing her job, and
eviction was looming. Although
only knowing her a short while,
Xavier said he felt moved to help
her. He loaned her his car, which
immediately straightened out her
work situation, and paid to catch
up her back rent. With the debt
monkeys off her back she could
see her way clear to get her life
stabilized, and thanks to him, she
did.
As their friendship sped ahead,
Freedom found herself feeling
strangely safe with Xavier much
more quickly than she could
remember with anyone else before
him.
The next thing she knew, he was
asking for her hand in marriage,
and she gleefully accepted.
Sometime after the
engagement, a few things seemed
to slow down with Xavier. Instead
of him taking Freedom on dates,
he began allowing her to pay. He
told her to keep his car and just
pick him up when he asked, and
he didnâ€™t seem to be taking nearly
as many freelance construction
jobs as before. Freedom thought
this was odd, but Xavier was so
attentive on the phone and in
person, and of course, there was
also all the help he gave her in the
early days of their friendship.
JoinOneLove.org article: What Emotional Abuse Really Means
Freedom figured things would
smooth out at some point,
returning to the way she was
accustomed to s seeing him handle
his everyday life.
Fast forward, and they were
married. Although Freedom
had fantasized about a beautiful,
storybook wedding, Xavier said he
didnâ€™t see the reason to spend so
much money on a one-day event.
This was only the beginning of
the compromises with which she
would be expected to comply.
Two children and three
years later, Freedom bore no
resemblance to her own name.
Xavier had stopped working
entirely, he never helped with child
rearing unless to nullify one of her
standards with them. He stopped
sharing household duties also and
made a â€œfamily projectâ€ whenever
possible out of any work that was
set aside as his contribution to the
household. In the beginning stages
of their friendship, he was so easy
to talk to; it seemed like they never
disagreed. Now, anytime Freedom
attempted to discuss his new
and uncooperative behavior with
him, he had this pattern2
of
telling her it wasnâ€™t like she said
it was, getting quickly worked
up to the point that he insisted
he needed sexual gratification to
calm him down, accusing her
of having a malicious motivation
for starting the conversation,
1 Freedom* is a fictitious, composite character, as well as the o ther characters in this story. Freedom is used
to demonstrate the factual material contained within this article. The charactersâ€™ attributes/demographics are
taken from case studies, surveys, and DV abuse definitions.
2
17
and blocking the door if she
tried to walk away from the
conversation while yelling for
her to choose whether she
wanted him or the point she
was making.
Not only did Freedom
find it difficult to locate any
semblance of the man with
whom she previously shared a
friendship, she was questioning
herself as well.
Freedom
used to be a woman who
felt
she had much to offer
in relationships and in the
professional realm. She
realized she was now known for
stalling out in decision-making
and noticeably not present
during conversations at work.
She had lost her motivation
to exercise
regularly, and it
was definitely showing; she
had picked up 5-10 pounds like
clockwork every year. She was
normally an even-tempered
woman much like Li-Li, but
now she had become aware of
feeling anxious in unfamiliar
situations to the point that she
would verbally and socially
shut down. She would find
herself fighting sadness that
seemingly had no cause these
days and caught herself
daydreaming about self-harm
during some of his more v
vicious moments.
×`Í8<Dœh÷Í×`Í8<Dœh÷ÌÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://6yMSKTFkEJJezdNxAUHUiaFBZU_CVTEv3jH0V2q12lkÎ ZÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://WODWPNhRRQpe81EAzaFCS3hPDbp44dsOj70-2D926VMÍÛÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://4jpMNmohJr5jMrd6iPqWoSt9-xJ3IUjNzYah-tjguAkÍ?kÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://07E18PxrYlp4xYNuJqWr75Gui9us_VYzE0cvhpzDAfsÎ ¯ÍxÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8 <Dœh÷$—× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷" ÍuÍÏ]9×‰HÚ ~https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm#:~:text=Juneteenth%20is%20the%20oldest%20nationally,the%20enslaved%20were%20now%20free.G××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷+ ÍÍ|e9×H²http://Hotline.org××Ðˆ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷* Í¤Í@j9×H²http://Hotline.org××Ðˆ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷) Í_Í˜Ì’9×H´http://WomensLaw.org××Ðˆ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷( ÍÍC
9×H´http://WomensLaw.org××Ðˆ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷' ÍÁÍÞD
9×H¶http://JoinOneLove.org××Ðˆ× ×`Í8 <Dœh÷& ÍÍÒ?
9×Hµhttp://Juneteenth.com××Ðˆ×‰E×‰	Ú 7cassandra://4jpMNmohJr5jMrd6iPqWoSt9-xJ3IUjNzYah-tjguAkÍ?kÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Ï×‰EÚªHowever, much like our
ancestors in Galveston, Texas
in 1865, she met her General
Granger.
She realized right then
She was at work one
day in a mandatory training
brought by a loving Black woman
who started talking about how
she was delivered from domestic
violence. Freedom immediately
felt badly for this woman, because
she knew she never wanted to
experience the feeling of being
harmed by the man she loved.
She listened intently as the
woman talked about â€œfinding
out she was being abusedâ€. That
confused Freedom. How could
anyone not know they were
being beaten up? As she listened
she heard the description of
emotional abuse :
â€œ any abusive behavior
that isnâ€™t physical ,
which may include verbal
aggression, intimidation,
manipulation, and
humiliation, which most
often unfolds as a pattern
of behavior over time that
aims t o diminish another
personâ€™s sense of identity,
dignity and self worth , and
which often results instead
of anxiety, depression,
suicidal thoughts or
behaviors, and posttraumatic
stress disorder (
PTSD).â€
3 Several articles: (a), ( b), (c), (d)
4 Juneteenth.com article: History of Juneteenth
6
Des Moines area for mental h health within the Black community.
8
5 Emotional Abuse definition taken from JoinOneLove.org article: What Emotional Abuse Really Means National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 through the website or phone: 800-799-7233.
Breanne Ward, LMHC , is a Black female trauma-informed t therapist & owner/founder of Forward Consulting, LLC , which continues to be a trailblazer in the greater
WomensLaw.org has a section that encourages DV victims/survivors to â€œ know the law â€. By clicking here, one can find out the laws and resources for legal help in their state.
This is the best place this author has found to u understand your specific type(s) of abuse you are enduring and get help making an effective safety plan.
7
19
that she, Freedom, was in a
relationship where she was
being emotionally abused. The
speaker told the audience that
if they called the National
Domestic Violence Hotline
a trained phone advocate
would help them formulate an
individualized safety plan .
(PHOTO)
Freedom realized the way she
was being treated and the way it
made her feel was real. She knew
this was her chance to learn more,
and she took it. Every day at work,
she found time to talk with the
speaker whose business card she
still had. She finally felt seen,
heard, and understood during
their conversations, and she
always got more information than
she came in with. The woman
explained to her that there were
Black female trauma-informed
therapists in her area and got her
connected to a wonderful woman
named Breanne .
Today, Freedom is experiencing
higher and higher levels of exactly
that - FREEDOM. She is no longer
married to her former saviour;
she finds her own salvation by
empowering herself. Although,
he tried to get custody of the
children he never wanted to care
for during the marriage, through
WomensLaw.org information
on Iowa law she has been able to
,
maintain custody of her girls.
She read that â…“ of women
reporting abuse re-enter with
another partner in the same year
of their freedom . She doesnâ€™t
want her or her girls to experience
the setback of new abuse, so
sheâ€™s got plans to participate in
Empowerment through the Artsâ„¢10
.
Iâ€™m sharing Freedomâ€™s story
during the month of Juneteenth
to help you embrace or support
freedom in the following ways:
1. In a relationship? Make
sure itâ€™s healthy: The
Hotline.org, Phone: 800-799-7233
2. In an abusive relationship?
Talk to The Hotline.org to
commence safety planning.
3. Survivor and stable in
your new life? Sign up for
Empowerment through the
Artsâ„¢; avoid future DV cycles:
Future DV Prevention
4. Community member?
Support others on their way to
Freedom : Awareness Education;
Community Support Education
5. Want to financially
support the work? Donate Here
Blessings. #Permission
By Courageous Fire
DV Advocate & Founder of
Courageous Fire, LLC
×`Í8<Dœh÷Ð×`Í8<Dœh÷ÏÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://W0H5ZjUNwEFxh8h6Yvo0kQ5gdI_xT6V4SDblAmQ2JNEÎ Ü²Í`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://8Px5stT5c6cgHF7bAInorq6B9k0wxUU4QaC5cCGADIEÎ ~Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://ne3uHqH_8_pxz_IM5QwbnDhimz43DNuQjl8IwmN2KFUÍYzÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://uVYHQVl62c1cYXak-pQefuj3W1kiXbgbj6Cr37koTA8Î ®'Í„Í Í
ºÍð×`Í8 <Dœh÷,×‰E×‰	Ú 7cassandra://ne3uHqH_8_pxz_IM5QwbnDhimz43DNuQjl8IwmN2KFUÍYzÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Ñ×‰EÚ'I know what you are thinking, another goal setting article.
There is a reason you see so many people writing about
this subject. Goal setting can take your life and career to
the next level. Harvey MacKay stated, â€œA dream is just
a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadlineâ€.
Setting goals helps take the focus off short-term gain and
directs your mind to impactful long-term results.
There are many different types of goals to set and reasons
for doing so. Some people may want to take their career
to the next level. Others may have goals to get themselves
out of debt or save for a big project. Others may want to
get healthier and start eating healthier or start a workout
program. Whatever your goal is, I hope you learn something
that can help you succeed.
Tips for success:
1) Be inspired
One of the biggest factors determining your success is
having a plan and doing it for yourself. If you are trying to
please someone else, you will lose your motivation. Pick a
goal that you know will benefit your life and that you are
inspired to reach. Motivation leaves quickly, so you will
eventually need to rely on self-discipline.
2) Set S.M.A.R.T. goals
I am sure most of you have heard of SMART goals. S stands
for specific, M for measurable, A for attainable, R for
relevant, T for time-bound. Being specific helps your goals
not become too vague or overwhelming. Measurable helps
you determine if you have reached your goal. Goals that
are attainable help you stay motivated and your confidence
levels high. Relevant goals ensure that they will have
a positive impact on your life and that you are not wasting
your valuable time.
When your goals only in your mind, they feel more like a
dream. Dreams are not reality. When you put together a
SMART goal and put it down on paper, it is an actual plan.
Better than just writing the goals down, create a vision
board. Visualization is a powerful tool that works like the
law of attraction. When you see pictures of your goals
every day, you remember why you started. Vision boards
help keep you focused on where you want to be and how
you will feel when you get there. I can tell you from personal
experience â€“ vision boards have kept me focused on
my goals long after my motivation left.
4) Set milestones on your journey
Big goals can be overwhelming and often seem a little out
of reach. In fact, I would say that if your goals are not a
little out of reach, they are not big enough. One way to
keep your spirits up and motivation levels high is to celebrate
your work! Goal setting is hard and setting smaller
goals along the way will help you keep motivated. If you
want to try and run a marathon, I would not wait until you
reach the full 26 miles to celebrate! Do something special
to celebrate your success when you reach the 5k and 10k
distance as well.
5) Be positive
Goal setting can be a mentally draining and daunting task.
Be sure to do whatever it is that keeps you motivated and
happy along the way. In fact, telling other people or working
on goals with others is beneficial. You can have your
own personal cheerleading squad to keep you going when
you are feeling down. If taking a daily walk everyday helps
you stay happy and focused, do that. If exercising helps you
feel better, do that. Hobbies and activities outside of your
goal will help keep your motivation tank full.
21
×`Í8<Dœh÷Ò×`Í8<Dœh÷ÑÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://v-W1KvGlKf7WVwKr3lLZsGWsEfN7NiFIElH72e34q4MÎ ¨gÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://jfQ2X3j2S7Q8D4Get_sDOb_yFjWmvfeoStkkh04zSb4Íñ‹Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://nYUIUQgrn-oQ1leN0THQjd6ejaa0EOyotpbTTU0V5_wÍVÊÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://ZdMATR2wHmaWf8fUoCxTaSx7BYbGNktud2OYlZDxiuQÎ *Í3úÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8!<Dœh÷.’× ×`Í8!<Dœh÷3 ÍjÍ™Í 9×HÚ  http://nationwide.com/diversity.××Ðˆ× ×`Í8!<Dœh÷2 ÍÍxÌ«9×H·http://drake.edu/bright××Ðˆ×‰EÚtNational HIV Testing Day
June 27th
Get tested for HIV to know
your status regardless of
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are at risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommend that everyone between the ages of
13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once.
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH.
GET AN HIV TEST TODAY.
Learn more at
StopHIVIowa.org
See What
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Do for You!
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Embracing a culture for all
Nationwide is a proud sponsor of the Iowa Juneteenth Observance.
An inclusive workforce is crucial to our success, which is why we are committed to
attracting, developing and retaining unique, talented and diverse associates. We are
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23
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ºÍð×`Í8!<Dœh÷4×‰EÚsâ€œ
WHILE WE WAIT TO
BREATHE AGAIN
â€
Part 1: INHALE
â€œDonâ€™t do this to me again, Sheila.â€ Miles pleaded to
his girlfriend, as he watched her trying to leave him
again for what seemed like the hundredth time.
Sheila stood, facing him with a tear-soaked face full
of exasperation. â€œWhy? What difference does it make
if I leave now? Huh? Iâ€™m going to have to leave you
eventually. Why wait it out? Just rip the band-aid off
now and save yourself unnecessary pain.â€
Miles didnâ€™t understand why she continued to break
his heart over and over again. It was like every time
they were in a good place in their relationship, she
would pull stunts like this to break them up.
He sat down on the couch and massaged his temples,
trying to stop himself from getting emotional. He
knew exactly why she always pulled away from their
relationship, it just didnâ€™t make sense to him.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://pfCNLzWR1s-0jSBJgF-5CxA-MyvZ0Wmc-rZjr6ilgMgÍD×Í`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Õ×‰EÚmâ€œSheila,â€ he patted the spot next to
him, â€œplease come here.â€
She looked at the broken facial
expression of the only man she ever
loved, and it broke her heart in two.
She slowly walked over to him and
sat down. She took his hands in
hers and brought them to her lips
for a kiss.
Sheila sighed deeply before she
began, â€œBaby, weâ€™ve been through
this before, I donâ€™t want to take you
through this with me, not again.
Last timeâ€¦â€
â€œI donâ€™t care about last time,â€ Miles
interrupted, â€œI only care about
being with you for as long as I can.â€
Sheila looked up at Milesâ€™ pleading
face and decided to just let it go at
the moment. He was the last person
she ever wanted to upset, so she
would make sure they ended the
night on a pleasant tone.
She smiled at him and cupped his
face, â€œOkay, you win. Letâ€™s go out
backâ€¦â€ she paused to kiss him,
â€œand look at the stars.â€
He sighed with relief that she
dropped the subject and then
smiled as an idea popped in his
head. â€œIâ€™ll go out back on one
condition,â€ he smiled, wrapping his
arms around her.
â€œOh, yea?â€ she smirked. â€œLet me
guess, it has something to do with
me getting in a bikini, right?â€ she
arched her brow while turning to
look at him.
He shrugged, â€œHey, a brotha has to
try right?â€ he kissed her cheek and
walked over to the kitchen as she
walked to his room. He stood in
front of their wine cabinet, trying to
decide if he wanted the Sauvignon
Blanc or the Vintage Port.
â€œHey baby,â€ he yelled down the
hallway.
â€œYes?â€ she hollered back.
â€œDry or sweet?â€
After a few seconds went by,
Sheila popped her head out of the
room, giving him a knowing look.
â€œSweet,â€ she said simply and then
disappeared back in the room.
Miles grinned and pulled out
the never been opened bottle of
Vintage along with two wine glasses
from the cabinet above.
After he poured the two glasses,
he made his way to his dimly lit
backyard and started the jacuzzi.
He eased down into the nice and
steamy tub, waiting for Sheila to
join him. He still felt a little uneasy
about how the night started off, but
he was just glad that Sheila dropped
the topic. He hoped she would drop
it forever, but he knew that was
wishful thinking.
â€œGetting started without me, I see,â€
Sheila stood in front of him with
her hands on her hips.
Miles completely forgot what he
was thinking about as he stood
there, staring at the gorgeous
woman in front of him that he
was blessed to call his. She stood
there in a hot pink string bikini
that barely covered her rear, daring
Miles to take it off.
â€œAre you just going to sit there with
your mouth open, or are you going
to help me in?â€ She asked, smiling
at him.
â€œGirl, forget this jacuzzi; letâ€™s go
back in that kitchen and cook
something up,â€ he said with
mischief in his eyes.
Sheila swatted him away, playfully,
â€œNope, you got me back here
already, now help me up.â€ She held
out her hand so he could guide her
up the steps.
Once she was in the jacuzzi, Miles
grabbed her around the waist. He
held on for dear life and didnâ€™t want
to let her go. Sheila just laughed
and took a sip from her wine glass.
After a while, she grew silent and
gazed at the stars. While she stared
at them, he gazed at her, fearing
theyâ€™d never have a moment like
this again.
CONTRACT
Sheila was looking at the scans as
if they would magically change the
same scans that appeared two years
ago. Itâ€™s like it instantly brought
her back to that fateful day her
relationship changed with Miles.
October 15,2018
â€œI donâ€™t understand,â€ Miles
sputtered to the nurses. â€œShe only
fainted, I mean, we were working
out, and she told me she hadnâ€™t
eaten earlier. Itâ€™s normal, right?
Why are all these tests necessary?â€
â€œSir, Iâ€™m going to need you to
wait outside. Right now, we need
to focus on the patient, one of
the nurses will come and get you
when we have an update.â€ Miles
was shooed out of the room just
25
×`Í8<Dœh÷Ö×`Í8<Dœh÷ÕÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://Qb738INzO8wUWZxAzCl7gpFL3t-QL-WcmTiMgJfMfDwÎ fYÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://H72BHMdUkVnjvK1wuLAfZJvyXQIcZm34Nvld3Hg9fkQÎ Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://6u81Fyzal9CeHMASy_9ieDDSa-CPIL75hS9XN-cFzYwÍM^Í`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://KqqC-o9lofHTgIrh5zLL9hxyj6NutALLlRlvjAZygowÎ žÍlÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8"<Dœh÷9’× ×`Í8!<Dœh÷7 ÍÍr59×‰HÚ Khttps://www.amazon.com/Lily-Unbloomed-Crishanna-Randle-ebook/dp/B07G5Y1ZVN/G××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8!<Dœh÷8 ÍÍ†H9×‰HÚ 2https://www.instagram.com/aprofessionaldaydreamer/G××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ×‰EÚÏas confused and worried as he was
when he rode with Sheila to the
ambulance.
It seemed like two hours had gone
by before Miles had anyone come
to check on him for an update. He
was sitting there talking to himself,
trying to figure out what could have
happened when a nurse approached
him.
â€œHi Miles, the patient is awake and
has given us consent to let you
know the status of her condition.
Please follow me this way to her
room.â€ The young nurse instructed.
Condition? Miles was scratching
his head, trying to figure out what
was going on with his lady.
When they entered the room,
Sheila was hooked up to all kinds
of machines, but when Milesâ€™ eyes
landed on her, her face displayed a
beam so bright, all of Milesâ€™ worries
subsided.
â€œHey, you,â€ she cooed.
Miles grabbed her hand, giving it
a soft kiss. â€œOkay, doc, can you tell
me whatâ€™s going on with my Sheila.
Why all the technology?â€ He asked,
looking around.
The doctor cleared her throat
before explaining, â€œWell, let me
introduce myself, Iâ€™m Dr. Yvette
Stevens, Iâ€™ve been Sheilaâ€™s doctor
for five years now,â€ she said looking
at Sheila who gave her a smile.
â€œAnd I heard your concerns about
her working out earlier without
eating, and youâ€™re right that would
be normal for her to faint. But with
her history, we just want to make
sure we arenâ€™t missing anything.
Weâ€™re going over everything on our
checklist to make sure we can send
her back home with no concerns.â€
â€œIâ€™m sorry, what history?â€
Dr. Stevens looked over to Sheila,
who nodded her head, prompting
her to continue. â€œSheila has been
diagnosed with Galentosis, itâ€™s a
very rare condition that comes and
goes but can be very fatal if not
caught at the right time. Thatâ€™s why
â€“â€
â€œExcuse me what?â€ Miles was
looking dead at Sheila this time.
â€œUm excuse me, Yvette, can we
maybe get a little privacy?â€ Sheila
asked, knowing this conversation
was long overdue.
Dr. Stevens gave her a reassuring
smile and ushered the rest of the
nurses out of the room.
â€œWhatâ€™s going on, Sheila? Where
is all this coming from, how come
you havenâ€™t told me this before?â€
Miles wasnâ€™t sure how to take the
news that the doctor broke to him;
in his mind, Sheila was perfectly
healthy.
Sheila began rubbing her arms
fluidly, a habit she had picked up
on when she didnâ€™t want to talk
about something. â€œBaby, listen, Iâ€™ve
had this disease since I was five.
Itâ€™s been a part of me for as long as
I can remember, Iâ€™ve gotten used
to its place in my life. Iâ€™ve watched
this disease drive my parents crazy
trying to control when and how
Iâ€™d get my next flare-up, and let me
tell you it doesnâ€™t do anybody any
good. So, I decided a long time ago
that Iâ€™m going to live my life as I
see fit. You and me we got lucky the
first year we were together, itâ€™s like
this stupid illness seized to exist the
moment I met you. Now itâ€™s back
rearing its ugly head, and all I want
to do is protect you from it.â€
â€œProtect me?â€ Miles was pacing the
room now. â€œSheila, have you been
listening to yourself; youâ€™ve had
a fatal disease since childhood, a
disease you never felt comfortable
telling me about, and youâ€™re trying
to protect me?â€
â€œI donâ€™t want you to feel burdened
to be with me. Sweetie, weâ€™ve had
such a beautiful time together I
donâ€™t want our relationship to be
tainted with you taking care of me,â€
she reached out to take his hand,
but he roughly pulled away.
â€œTainted. Burdened.â€ He stressed
each word with malice as if it was
painful to say. â€œIs this how you
really feel about me? About our
relationship? Cause the way you
describing it, itâ€™s like we just had a
little fling.â€
Sheila could see her words were
causing more harm than good to
her lover, and thatâ€™s the last thing
she wanted. This wasnâ€™t how she
envisioned telling Miles about her
diagnosis would be at all.
â€œYouâ€™re not listening.â€
â€œNo, I can hear just fine. It sounds
like you got this. Like you have had
this for a while without me. So,
why donâ€™t I leave before I ruin the
rest of this fantasy relationship for
you.â€ He huffed, not giving her a
second to react as he stormed out
the room.
Sheila put her hands to her face
and quietly screamed. She wouldnâ€™t
allow the tears that started to
form in the corner of her eyes
to drop because she anticipated
this outcome. What she didnâ€™t
understand is why he sounded so
angry. In the past, when she told
old boyfriends about her condition,
they took it as a free pass out of
dodge. They would barely leave her
with any time to explain what it
meant to have Galentosis. But Miles
was different.
â€œOf course heâ€™s hurt, I practically
told him I donâ€™t trust him to handle
this,â€ Sheila sighed, talking to
herself out loud.
Knock Knock....
To be continued in next issue
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://6u81Fyzal9CeHMASy_9ieDDSa-CPIL75hS9XN-cFzYwÍM^Í`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Ù×‰EÚÎCrishanna Randle is a twenty-eight year old
fiction writer residing in the Midwest. Her love
for writing came in middle school when she
would write short stories and share them with
friends and family. Crishanna didnâ€™t become
serious about writing until January 2016 when
she started writing the first draft to her very first
novel that came out in August of 2018, titled Lily
Unbloomed. She currently works as a Financial
Counselor at a hospital full time while building
her writing resume and creating more stories on
the side. Crishanna looks forward to getting lost
in more stories, making new worlds for her characters,
and pursuing her purpose in storytelling
Crishanna
Randle
Follow mE
Buy Lilly
Instagram
27
×`Í8<Dœh÷Ú×`Í8<Dœh÷ÙÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://gl-4AMvepS2lbM38GJc3OEwQifQb3qw-YiZkNcjCQfwÎ ÈøÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://XD9D2jCDHIAMmJMUkA6yuvafDErBdcNUkASvRj2r9KAÍñêÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://3M355frNgTqasDCoW5lGeZCkLW1UmBRGA4md8QaBnLUÍ@éÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://vOqmMuMTA9NEMIPDcUcmpm3OISCzhXmNWg_jj4EfJ1oÎ ›ˆÍhÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8"<Dœh÷;×‰EÚ
¸Broadlawns Medical Center
Audiology FAQs
Courtney Thayer, AuD
Broadlawns Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic
What is the ear?
There are three main parts of the ear:
1. The outer ear is the outside of the ear that we
all think of when we say ear, but also includes
the ear canal.
2. The middle ear is mucus lined, like your
sinuses, and holds 3 of the tiniest bones in
your body that push the sound into the inner
ear.
3. The inner ear is where the sound is converted
from a sound wave to electrical, nerve
impulses that get sent to the brain for
processing.
What causes hearing loss?
The main cause of hearing loss is the aging process.
It can also be genetic, starting sooner in life. As
we get older, things in our body slow down and it
is no different with our ears. Hearing loss can be
â€œsensorineuralâ€, meaning permanent nerve damage.
This is the most common type of hearing loss. Some
people are born with hearing loss. Others have
damage to the ear from exposure loud noises without
proper hearing protection. Hearing loss is increasing
for the younger population due to the use of ear buds
at unsafe levels. For those with sensorineural hearing
loss, hearing aids are the main form of treatment to
give the ear back the sound that it is missing.
Another type of hearing loss is called â€œconductive.â€
This type of hearing loss means that something is
blocking the sound from getting into the inner ear.
This can be things like excessive ear wax or fluid built
up in the middle ear space. This type of hearing loss is
typically reversible using either medication or surgery
and the Audiologist would refer you to an ENT doctor
for medical intervention.
What is that ringing in my ears?
This is called tinnitus and is typically a symptom of
hearing loss. Tinnitus is permanent, but changes,
typically in volume, throughout the day. It can present
itself in many different sounds: crickets, ringing,
buzzing, white noise, chirping etc. Most people
find tinnitus annoying but can continue daily tasks,
even with the ringing present. Others, need more
assistance to reduce the severity of the tinnitus and
may this with noise such as having a sound machine
running in the background. Others with hearing loss
need the treatment of hearing aids to alleviate the
tinnitus. The tinnitus will not go away, but it can be
managed.
How do I know if a sound is too loud
and I need hearing protection?
Sounds louder than 75-80 dB HL can be damaging
over time. Very loud exposures, like gunshots,
can damage the ear with the first exposure. There
are many sound level meter apps that are pretty
accurate. I use â€œSoundprintâ€ to identify sound levels
in my everyday life to determine if hearing protection
is warranted. Did you know that lawn mowers,
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://3M355frNgTqasDCoW5lGeZCkLW1UmBRGA4md8QaBnLUÍ@éÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Û×‰EÚmotorcycles, firearms, and other power tools are
likely going to be loud enough that hearing protection
is recommended? The best hearing protection for you
is the one that you will wear - foam plugs, ear muffs,
and custom hearing protection are all available for
use.
How do I know if I need a hearing
test?
1. You are regularly asking people to repeat
themselves.
2. There is a constant ringing or buzzing in your
ears or your head.
3. You continue to need to turn the volume on
electronics up.
4. You can hear people, but not quite understand
what they are saying.
5. You struggle to hear with background noise
present.
6. You have had exposure to loud noises, with
and without hearing protection.
Itâ€™s always a good idea to get a baseline hearing
test because we donâ€™t know what we cannot hear,
if we cannot hear it. A baseline test can help your
audiologist know if there have been large, sudden
changes in hearing, or if it is the more typical, gradual
change in hearing. I recommend getting a baseline
of hearing when an individual turns 50, and sooner if
you are struggling to hear.
What will happen at my first
appointment?
1. The audiologist will look in your ears.
2. A hearing test will be performed. It will take
about 15 minutes. Itâ€™s just like the testing you
have in school screenings, you listen for beeps
and raise your hand.
3. The audiologist will be able to share the
results with you at the appointment and
discuss treatment options while listening to
your needs for communication.
29
What to expect from hearing aids?
Hearing aids are digital processors that take input
from our environment, put different programming
parameters on the signal, and send it out of the
hearing aid then into the ear for you to hear. The
audiologist will use your hearing test to prescribe your
settings in the hearing aids. The cost of a hearing aid
is determined by the technology and the computer
chip inside the devices. You will discuss your needs
with the audiologist to select the best option for you.
Hearing aids cannot give you normal hearing, but they
can increase your environment so that you can listen
with a little less effort.
Many hearing aids now have Bluetooth, direct
connections to cell phones, making phone calls easier
and listening to audiobooks a breeze. They are also
rechargeable, decreasing the overall maintenance
cost by not having to purchase hearing aid batteries
or the annoyance of your hearing aid battery going
out while you are out to dinner.
As an audiologist, it is my job to be knowledgeable
about different technologies available for patients so
that I can help you navigate the world of hearing aids
and the features accessible to you, all based off your
communication needs.
If you are experiencing any issues with your
hearing, the Broadlawns ENT Clinic is here to help.
From newborns to 100-year-olds, our team is fully
equipped to provide expert evaluation and treatment
to improve your quality of life. Located on the
Broadlawns Main Campus, the Ear, Nose and Throat
Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to
4:00 pm. Appointments may be scheduled by calling
(515) -282-7750. All forms of insurance, including
Medicaid and Medicare, are accepted.
×`Í8<Dœh÷Ü×`Í8<Dœh÷ÛÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://9olxmXngIDWYk4X-BqlshWv2W9H7l-v3UZBGcZJnBqgÎ  ÈÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://SVAIis-SRFbiNwR0kuVfqLJVsbM37scx1dqGCprKP_MÍÏöÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://4ADN76zieUBGpXUqz4hC4JC9UxtxKhaQ8Jb_fIlN6fUÍB¹Í`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://trFAbkenoYSY4Juzj8yfeV_9ecJOdPIe2ym89_c7zi0Í“ÉÍnÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8"<Dœh÷=×‰EÚîBy Terence Haynes
We Still Here
Still asking can I fly even though I was born with wings. I was born
breathing but you leave me no room to breath. Socially distant long
before covid you cross the street when you see me coming, like a prison
guard was yelling in the background BLACKMAN WALKING! Took
my place in my home and replace me with food stamps and section 8.
Sectioning off my home like you did real estate redlining me from my
realist state of being a husband and father to my family.
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://4ADN76zieUBGpXUqz4hC4JC9UxtxKhaQ8Jb_fIlN6fUÍB¹Í`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷Ý×‰EÚUCalling me a brute beast because I seem to be more
manly. It seems pretty evident by you coming for me in
mobs i guess because one or two of you may not have
been able to do the job. As long as we buck dance there
doesnâ€™t seem to be a problem, but as soon as we organize
then comes the rumors that we plan to rob them...but can
you really steal from a thief?
My broad nose smells deception, my thick lips speaks
the truth, my melinated skin activates 2am no knock
search warrants and snipers on the roof. I am a threat by
conception not because I broke a law but because when
you looked in my eyes this is what you saw. Hidden
figures, writing in hieroglyphics, speaking in tongues
of every kindred and nation, discovering cures, being
pure of heart, spiritually devote, just admit it you saw
greatness and conspired to snuff that out, but God made
me in every earthy hue, every color in the spectrum and
every where on his green earth even in places you did not
expect them.
There we are a reminder that God has the final say and
we not goin no where weâ€™ll be here to carry you out on
your final day.
31
×`Í8<Dœh÷Þ×`Í8<Dœh÷ÝÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://gxr-AFk8NbS2CtGNFULkQzMKEBNACwAIQndFpvXHCCcÎ HÓÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://eKydPj-nI4IyjQW95EyY7-Ynj1cuduB8jVW52NJrXPMÎ iÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://kZflI4H69ogIUrCWqD5KMNNox0JgDzBIam7DMbHY7EIÍQ’Í`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://e-IbA3NADpxjh49Y8fJKexRAh1xq4tyc9plEKXiMwcYÎ ÍTÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8"<Dœh÷?×‰EÚ	RThis story was
written and
FATHERâ€™S DAY:
PERSPECTIVES
ON FATHERHOOD
Tears streamed down my face as I listened to the
velvety-smooth voice of Luther Vandross as he
beautifully delivered one of his best songs â€œDance
with My Father.â€ It was July, 2003 and the song had
just been released in June. I could not stop crying
as Luther crooned away on my CD player oblivious
to the floodgate of emotions and tears that this
musical piece had opened in my dimly-lit room far
away in Lagos, Nigeria. The words of the song spoke
to me like a sermon from the anointed lips of a
consummate preacher speaking from a podium on a
Sunday morning.
You may be wondering why I would feel this way
about a song, but this was not just a â€˜song.â€™ It was
a reflection from a man who had a relationship or
bond with his father. From the lyrical content of this
piece, one could tell that the father of the singer
was greatly missed and had been loved immensely
by the son. It is common place to hear songs about
a mother or mothers, but there has been a limited
body of musical compositions that discuss or explore
the relationship between father and son.
published in
the June 2018
edition of The
Urban Experience
Magazine. We felt
this was a fitting
article to share
with our readers
as we celebrate
Fatherâ€™s Day 2021.
It meant a lot to me in a significant way and
for the reason that I had grown up without my
father. Luther Vandrossâ€™ song made me realize
what was missing in my growing up: the solid
love, support and guidance of a father. In the course
of my life, I have been blessed by fathers, men who
influenced and impacted me in so many ways, yet
I longed for that singular and biological paternal
figure to look up to, make proud and be scolded by.
I never had one. When my father died, I could not
grieve for him as a son should. In the place of grief,
I felt a debilitating bitterness and consuming anger.
Anger for the missed conversations and questions
that I never had the opportunity to ask my father.
Today, I am father of two beautiful children and like
many of the people I interviewed in this report, I
am determined to be different from my father and
to pour into my kids all that is good and wholesome
and to spoil them with the love and affection that I
never enjoyed as a child.
The Miriam Webster Dictionary defines the word
father as man who has begotten a child. Known
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://kZflI4H69ogIUrCWqD5KMNNox0JgDzBIam7DMbHY7EIÍQ’Í`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷ß×‰EÚÇPhoto: Matthew Henry from Burst
as the male parent, being a father entails a lot of
things and the bearer of this title wears many hats.
Several decades ago, when patriarchy was the norm,
fathers were the primary breadwinners of the house
and leaders in the community. Growing up in Africa
and based on my little recollection of my own father,
fathers (whom we called â€œPapaâ€ and not â€œdad â€œor
â€œdaddyâ€) were stern patriarchs, breadwinners,
symbols of strength and stability and no-nonsense
disciplinarians whose words were few and whose very
presence evoked some kind of awe and reverence.
Fatherhood, over the years, has evolved in many
ways. The modern American father changes diapers,
prepares meals, bathes the kids, takes them to
medical appointments, ballet classes, soccer practice,
football tournaments in addition to providing for and
supporting the family.
History has it that a young lady by the name of Sonora
Dodd, who after listening to a sermon on Motherâ€™s
Day, came up with the idea of Fatherâ€™s Day in 1910
to honor her widower father who raised six kids all
by himself after the demise of her mother. According
to history, the first Fatherâ€™s Day was celebrated in
Washington to honor men, such as Sonoraâ€™s father,
who had stepped up to be there for their children
as single parents. It was not until 1966 that the then
president, Lyndon B. Johnson designated the third
Sunday in June as Fatherâ€™s Day and in 1972, President
Nixonâ€™s administration made it official.
Today, retailers have highjacked the celebration with
sales events tagged â€œFatherâ€™s Day Specialsâ€ to market
their wares with little acknowledgement to its origin
and significance.
This piece is about fatherhood and what it means to
be the male parent. The joys, the challenges and the
rewards in a rapidly changing world where the roles
of fathers have been redefined and may not entirely
reflect what fatherhood meant in two to five decades
ago. I spoke with some men in the Des Moinesâ€™
African American community to shed more light on
the role of the father in the upbringing of the child
and how this translates to the mold and character of
these children later in life as adults as well as lessons
learnt from their own fathers.
33
×`Í8<Dœh÷à×`Í8<Dœh÷ßÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://1TrzAO1gwGkb5JrtCnwrcwOQF-E0YB6pJemQjbsVkAkÎ gÊÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://gs2Ji2HYEJty71DMC4GRWeIa7iq-EfAzD3utRa9ZYWEÎ dÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://06vhaXHjvl359zNmlREPCcDOF1ybi5DQJglpzQTxaVQÍNÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://0I-acqyUGZt3w7fzx_5IfzSl5IrBNNQ6HBMSPfeZze0Î 2—ÍšÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8#<Dœh÷A×‰EÚReverend Roderick
Bradley, Founder,
Urban Experience
Magazine
â€œMy father that I was raised under, was a great
provider but struggled in the area of being a
father. We knew that he loved us, but he had a
way of showing it. Today his way of raising us
would be thought as cruel and inhuman. The
bottom-line is that we knew he loved us. He was
very disciplined and there are somethings that as
I was growing up I said that I would not do, yet I
knew he loved his family, protected and provided
for his family.â€
- Reverend Roderick Bradley.
Dr. Clair Rudison
Jr. Management
Consultant.
â€œA father is someone who is there and is doing
his best for his family. Sometimes, fathers are not
present, yet they are there spiritually and financially.
A father is concerned about the upkeep and
forming of their offspring. A father is concerned
about more than just his household, but heâ€™s also
concerned about his community and that the
community is safe.â€
- Clair Eugene Rudison Jr.
Pastor Ricky Martin. Photo: Victor Ayara
â€œWhen a young man grows up without a father,
he does not have that blueprint or structure that
shows him what fatherhood looks like and this
could lead to shortcomings or shortfalls that
could affect generations yet unborn.â€
- Pastor Ricky Martin
Photo: Victor Ayara
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://06vhaXHjvl359zNmlREPCcDOF1ybi5DQJglpzQTxaVQÍNÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷á×‰EÚÎThough he was born in California,
Reverend Roderick Bradley, was
raised in Iowa and still lives in Des
Moines, Iowa, where he pastors
a church and publishes the Urban
Experience, the only publication in
the state of Iowa that focuses on
the African American community
of the state. I began by asking
Reverend Bradley about what it
means to be a father and the role
that the father is expected to play
in the family. â€œIâ€™ve always desired to
be a good father and I work hard at
being a good father,â€ said Bradley.
â€œAs a Christian, I try my best to
follow what the Bible describes as
a father and one thing I learned
is that a father you ought to love
your wife and automatically that
love pours down to the children. I
love my wife and my family and do
all that I can to please them and
to make them happy. None of my
children would say that I have not
sacrificed for them as a father,â€
Bradley added.
Unlike his own father, Reverend
Bradley displays affection freely and
does not hold back his emotions
when it comes to his children and
wife. This could be attributed to
the difference between the period
when Roderick Bradley was a boy
and now when it is okay for men
to be vocal about their love for
their children. In the fifties and
sixties when Rodrick Bradley was a
young child growing up, men boys
and men were taught, erroneously
too, that being affectionate was
not a â€œmanlyâ€ thing to do. â€œI think
the challenge with my father was
that he was so disciplined and
regimented. That he really didnâ€™t
really get a chance to show love.
My father was not an emotional
person. He wasnâ€™t a huggy kind of
person. We always raised under
the impression that men donâ€™t
cry, (he chuckles) but thatâ€™s not
true! For me to cry, it was a sign of
weakness. So, I said, when I grow
up, I was going to be different.
For my father, that was how he
was raised by his own father and
so he passed it down,â€ Reverend
Bradley recalled of his father. True
to his childhood promise to himself,
Reverend Bradley is an affectionate
father who showers his family
with love and is not afraid to lose
his â€œmanlinessâ€ by telling them
he loves them, a departure from
norms and traditions of the past
that were steeped in the ideals of
exaggerated masculinity. He is a
different kind of father.
One thing was for sure, as Bradley
recalls, his father did love him and
his siblings, but it was not the kind
of love that was expressed with
words. â€œHe was a great provider
but struggled in the area of being
a father. We knew that he loved
us, but he had a way of showing
it. Some of his punishments would
be considered today as cruel and
inhuman. The bottom-line is that
we knew he loved us. He was
very disciplined and there are
somethings that as I was growing
up I said that I would not do, yet I
knew he loved his family, protected
and provided for his family. One
thing that I remember about
my father is that he was a man
of his word; when he said what
he meant and if he said he was
going to something, he was going
to do it whether good or bad.,â€
said Bradley. A trait that Bradley
cherishes most form his father
is discipline and integrity. Citing
the Biblical injunction that says,
â€œspare the rod and spoil the child,â€
the reverend believes that fathers
should not be afraid to correct their
children and set them straight.
â€œDiscipline is very key, and we have
lost it today. There has to be tough
love. You have to pour out into
your children with hope that they
grow up to be responsible men and
women in society,â€ he added.
Clair Rudison is a scholar, a
management consultant, a
preacher and a respected leader in
the African American Community in
Iowa. A Texas native, he grew up in
an equestrian environment where
horse riding was both an enjoyed
pastime and a rite of passage for
young boys. Rudisionâ€™s father
played the role of teacher or coach
for his son in more ways than one.
â€œMy father taught me a lot about
masculinity,â€ said Rudison. â€œHe
taught me how to hunt, ride a horse
and fish,â€ Rudison said.
35
×`Í8<Dœh÷â×`Í8<Dœh÷áÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://IsUD0mM-faUyui5AgiaPcgVI6TMVxooJM3DXQnOtb8sÎ Ž2Í`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://V7Er7rheEyg-jVJ8ECAOuAtopMIh7lxTu0qBkz5CNAAÎ %ùÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://0BONstbCG-yCFn6BTxtt_Ma-0E7iC82kA-S4xFhrBScÍPOÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://DWqdn7UfTDAmYoQeH60JppmN7XWkQ5d7omFd5gxJVT0Î c°Í†Í Í
ºÍð×`Í8#<Dœh÷C‘× ×`Í8#<Dœh÷F ÌáÍ‚ÌÎ9×H¹http://Athene.com/careers××Ðˆ×‰EÚ:Perhaps the most significant
lesson from his father that Rudison
learned was his work ethic and
punctuality. Rudison recalled that
his father, who was a business
owner, would not tolerate form of
tardiness or indolence. â€œMy father
was a businessowner, he owned a
furniture business and livestock. He
taught me about the importance of
being punctual. He also taught us
about perseverance when things
get tough,â€ Rudison said.
Given the changing times and
economic pressures, there have
been more absent fathers now than
say 50 years ago. The American
Psychological Association in one
of its publications stated that the
love of a father helps children
develop a sense of their place in
the world, which in turn helps their
social, emotional and cognitive
development and functioning. The
APA further explained that children
who receive more love from their
fathers are less likely to struggle
with behavioral or substance abuse
problems.
â€œI am a father who was not always
there a hundred per cent for my
children because of different
circumstances.,â€ said Rudison.
This is the case for so many other
fathers, who, unlike their own
fathers or the ones before them
are caught in the daily struggles of
life or have had some unfortunate
events in their lives that kept them
away or apart from their children.
For these children, like myself, who
had to grow without a father who
was present to guide them, they
had to rely on other fathers or male
figures to teach them about lifeâ€™s
struggles or provide some form of
leadership in values, morals and
character. They never knew or
enjoyed the presence or love of
father in the sense that a boy raised
by their father and mother would.
â€œMy father was murdered when I
was 11 months old, so I never grew
up to know my biological father,â€
said Pastor Ricky Martin of Des
Moines. The death of his father left
Ricky Martin under the care of his
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25001
(06/21)
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://0BONstbCG-yCFn6BTxtt_Ma-0E7iC82kA-S4xFhrBScÍPOÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷ã×‰EÚÛPhillip Ferguson,
Painter, Entertainer
and Consultant
â€œI remember when I was younger, I didnâ€™t know how to swim,
I honestly I donâ€™t know how to swim still. The day that my dad
became my hero, I was floating on a device like a floatie. I was
in a pool where the deep end was in the middle and on the
side was the shallow end. The floatie alligator that I was on
flipped over and I cried for help. I could only see people sitting
around drinking champagne, and the music was loud. I didnâ€™t
feel like I could breathe. I thought I was going to drown and I
kept screaming for helpâ€¦...before I knew it, I heard a splash.
I t was my dad! He had jumped in with his suit on. He pushed
over to the side of the pool. Before anybody knew what was
going on, it turned out that my dad could not swim either and
someone had to use a pole to pull him to the side too.â€
â€“ Phillip Ferguson
mother and step-father, but it was
never the same as having his father in
his life. Though Martin is thankful for
having a step-father, he learnt how to
be a man by himself.
Today, the father of two epitomizes
everything an ideal father should be.
â€œA father, for me, is someone who
protects his family, leads his family
and bears the burden first before
putting that burden on his family,â€
Martin said. â€œWhen a young man
grows up without a father, he does
not have that blueprint or structure
that shows him what fatherhood
looks like and this could lead to
shortcomings or shortfalls that could
affect generations yet unborn,â€
Martin added. Ricky Martin sees that
fact that he did not have his father
in his life while growing up as one of
the reason that he learned what not
to do early in his life and he had to
learn from watching other examples
of good fathers around him.
Besides death, incarceration of a
father, being born to unmarried
parents, or an irresponsible father
the other issue which keeps children
and their fathers apart is divorce
or separation of the parents. The
emotional pain and hurt of a father
who cannot be in the lives of their
children can only be imagined. Men
who do not have the opportunity to
watch their children grow, be there
for them physically and emotionally,
have to deal with not just the stress
of their separation, but also the legal
hurdles and sometimes drama, to
have custody of the child or at least
periodic visits. I spoke to a father who
is currently in a drawn-out legal battle
to be in the life of his daughter.
One of such fathers currently fighting
in court for the custody of his
daughter is Phillip Ferguson. An artist
and special events painter. Phillip
makes people happy when he uses
his artistic talents to paint couples at
their weddings. But he is not a happy
man himself right now. I interviewed
Phillip who is out of state at the
time of report over the phone about
fatherhood. He had this to say about
his most memorable experience with
his own father:
This event and others left an indelible
imprint of what a father should be on
the psyche of Ferguson who told me
he will stop at nothing to be in the
life of his little girl. For him, the very
fact that his own father could put
his life on the line to save him, is a
huge lesson of sacrifice and love that
only a loving father can demonstrate.
Ferguson wants his child to grow up
knowing that he did everything he
could to love her and be there for her.
â€œI want to prove to her that someone
loves her unconditionally and would
do anything to have her and also help
her to see the right attributes in a
future husband because I know that
could be a hard pick in a world like
this,â€ said Ferguson.
For many fathers in Phillip Fergusonâ€™s
situation who are willing to be there
for their children but are constrained
by divorce, separation and legal
hurdles, there are fears that they
37
×`Í8<Dœh÷ä×`Í8<Dœh÷ãÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://EVVD7NDICU679C0X6iv5LU4ZgI8W9XL5XtITR59GS-4Î ä±Í`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://O2BooSgLbhJTLltOfBarbnKzAX8UTqqIili1T3uQrPkÍ¯8Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://L3lqFppWXRGhkfMCfescs-jexddxtroww5rDIqwgaNcÍ4vÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://N3z8VYoOlcem0-AyRd7wVeBycwime2tgXgspUcU_D8sÎ uÍhÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8#<Dœh÷G’× ×`Í8#<Dœh÷E ÍÍÌœ9×‰HÚ Gfile:///C:%5CUsers%5Crbrad%5CDownloads%5CRethinkIowa.ShopWhereILive.comG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8#<Dœh÷L ÍÍeÍ9×HÚ %http://RethinkIowa.ShopWhereILive.com××Ðˆ×‰EÚ$may not be there to provide emotional support,
monitor their childrenâ€™s activities, provide moral
leadership and authoritative discipline and
setting age-appropriate expectation for their
children.
As we celebrate this yearâ€™s Fatherâ€™s Day, it is
important to lift fathers in prayers as the roles
they play are varied and enormous in laying
the social structures of what kind of societies
we would love to live in. It is also instructive for
men to live up to the expectations of themselves
and their loved ones. Fathers can contribute to
the well-being and security of their children by
building healthy a relationship with their spouses
to prevent separation and divorce which have
a lasting effect on the future and destinies of
their children. Even though we may not take
everything from fathers before us, we can take
the positive attributes shared by the men I spoke
to in order to maintain a solid, positive and
permanent presence in the lives of our children.
HAPPY FATHERâ€™S DAY!!!
Victor Ayara, MSc,
Communications
CEO, Kulture Bridge
Concepts
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://L3lqFppWXRGhkfMCfescs-jexddxtroww5rDIqwgaNcÍ4vÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷æ×‰EÚ¸Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RETHINK IOWA LLC LAUNCHES A WHOLE NEW WAY TO SHOP LOCAL THROUGH A NEW ONLY MARKETPLACE â€“ www.
RethinkIowa.ShopWhereILive.com
IOWA - JUNE 2021
While state and local officials are betting on brick-and-mortar retail to fuel small business recovery and revive mainstreet
shopping in Iowa, local entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders have partnered with SHOP WHERE I LIVE to launch the
SHOP BLACK IOWAâ„¢ platform for historically disenfranchised and economically disadvantaged small businesses to cooperate
in selling products and services online.
â€œWe must band together as a community to accelerate business growth and help our historical disenfranchised and economically
disadvantaged small businesses recover from the recent Pandemicâ€
Said Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Rethink Iowa LLC, Matthew Gilbert.
â€œFor emerging small businesses, investing in an e-commerce storefront can be more cost effective and efficient than burdening
the business and their family with a commercial lease.â€
â€œWe greatly appreciate the kind grant from Iowa C.O.R.E. Inc., which provided seed funding for the development of the
web-based platform and subsidized the initial costs for the first 100 eligible businesses that register sell their goods and
services on the platform.â€
â€œProviding this platform free of charge to our members is one way Rethink Iowa LLC is helping businesses accelerate their
recovery and future success. This platform provides a safe and convenient way for the community to support economically
disadvantaged businesses from the comfort of their own homes, and choose curbside pickup, shipping, or even
local delivery if offered by the small business vendor.â€
39
×`Í8<Dœh÷ç×`Í8<Dœh÷æÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://6TGg86yeUNxvhu7aSetHKioj0AJxFbbvu214wnakrP0Î èžÍ`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://t92IunqXgLIiOP-Cr4JvKX9KOQywj2eFNwjBRjNppbsÍÇíÍ`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://HvQCQp-gb1fn1G-7oPaGQke8MpNZ-k1QXRwU_jQlHlsÍC“Í`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://Er3wwCkBq80uB9PbMgWRj36CRyA23bmTL9y7LJC5q2kÎ ^üÍ`Í Í
ºÍð×`Í8#<Dœh÷M•× ×`Í8#<Dœh÷I Í(ÍÐÌ‘9×‰HÚ &https://one.bidpal.net/Bat2021/welcomeG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8#<Dœh÷J <ÍåÌ°9×‰HÚ &https://one.bidpal.net/Bat2021/welcomeG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8#<Dœh÷K ÍëÍüÍ9×‰HÚ !https://oakridgeneighborhood.org/G××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8#<Dœh÷P ÍëÍÍ9×HÚ !https://oakridgeneighborhood.org/××Ðˆ× ×`Í8#<Dœh÷O Í(ÍÕÌ‘9×H®https://one.bi××Ðˆ×‰EÚHOAKRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD HOSTS
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYâ€™S AT ICONIC TEA ROOM
~Funds Benefit Early Childhood Enrichment at Oak Academy~
DES MOINES, IA â€“ After a hiatus in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, Oakridge Neighborhoodâ€™s annual
Breakfast at Tiffanyâ€™s event is back in 2021 at the iconic Tea Room July 18 from 11 am to 1 pm.
The fundraiser includes a gourmet brunch; Bloody Mary, Tiffany Twist and Mimosa bar; a Tiffany-inspired candy
buffet; and Tiffany & Co. gift raffle. A short program will include a fashion show by Janeâ€™s Family Shop, AimÃ¨e
and Hal Wilson.
All proceeds benefit Oakridgeâ€™s Oak Academy, which provides quality early education and preschool to an
ethnically and culturally diverse group of children. Oak Academy prepares young learners to enter kindergarten
on par with their peers.
Tickets are $100 for adults and $50 for children 12 and under. They can be purchased here: https://one.bidpal.
net/Bat2021/welcome
For 50 years, Oakridge Neighborhood has created opportunities for thousands of children, adu
lts and families to succeed and become financially
independent. It provides a safe neighborhood of supportive housing plus essential programs and services. It
is one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in Des Moines, with over 66 percent immigrants and refugees
from over 23 countries that speak over 29 languages. Of the nearly 1,100 residents who reside on the
Oakridge campus, 53 percent are children under the age of 18. Ninety-nine percent of Oakridge Neighborhood
residents are low-income. For more information, visit https://oakridgeneighborhood.org/
###
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ºÍð×`Í8$<Dœh÷Qœ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷e Í°ÍSÌž9×HÚ  http://www.imagezphotostudio.com××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷d ÍîÍSÍ19×H¾https://www.facebook.com/DsmSo××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷c ÍîÍüÍ9×HÚ  http://www.iowanebraskanaacp.org××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷b ÍîÍÍ,9×H¿https://www.naacpdesmoines.org/××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷a ÍîÍ9Ìº9×H¸http://ww.madeeasley.com××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷` ÍîÌãÌ´9×H¸http://www.vanesther.com××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷_ ÍîÌŒÌã9×H½http://www.iowajuneteenth.com××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷^ ÍÍgÍ@9×HÚ !https://www.facebook.com/ma.vs.73××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷] ÍÍåÍ29×HÚ  https://www.facebook.com/groups/××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷\ ÍÍyÍŠ9×HÚ )https://www.rootstobranchesgenealogy.com/××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷[ ÍÌöÍ±9×HÚ ,https://www.facebook.com/TranZitionsBeautySa××Ðˆ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷Z ÍÌ„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 $25 a
month for the first year. Reach
out to us at:
contactdsmurban@gmail.com for
more details.
Urban City Magazine
Howell Dixon
Magazine/Podcast
https://urbancitymag.co/
Ruby Bâ€™s Catering
Bradley Family
Restaurant
515) 681-4028
https://www.facebook.com/
rubybskitchen/
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://dBL-kXZPjpCqFZbVLNqmuBaYHyTqGEnWjKD3rKX3Ha0ÍO[Í`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷í×‰EÚ0Hip Hope, Inc
Bo James
https://hiphopeinc.wixsite.com/hiphopeinc
Tranzitions Salon & Beauty Bar
Ty Daye & Courtney
Beauty Salon
https://www.facebook.com/TranZitionsBeautySalon/
Roots
to Branches
Ricki King
https://www.rootstobranchesgenealogy.com/
Black Women 4 Healthy Living
Brandi Miller
Health
https://www.facebook.com/groups/
bw4hl/?ref=share
MAV Nu Direction
Calvetta Berry
https://www.facebook.com/ma.vs.73
Iowa Juneteenth Observance
Dwana Bradley
www.iowajuneteenth.com
Van Esther
Vanessa Lewis
www.vanesther.com
Made Easley Advertising
Ash Easley
ww.madeeasley.com
NAACP Des Moines Branch
Kameron Middlebrooks
https://www.naacpdesmoines.org/
NAACP Iowa/Nebraska Branch
Betty Andrews
www.iowanebraskanaacp.org
SoulFit
Zakiya English
https://www.facebook.com/DsmSo
www.imagezphotostudio.com
(515) 223-6122
43
×`Í8<Dœh÷î×`Í8<Dœh÷íÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://jwrWn6fjvqB0KndHap3Z06PuO7bq2ZSUuX441mVq1TwÎ s¼Í`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://jTMDTz9mFrQnvtQom7tiucHFTkcBeNMas-n4WGiVwksÍá¦Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://gZCJ_eswuTHaqmdM-0oaqzPKM437E2orwkqNKHhwgQMÍESÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://7t02oFz1JNY4TyYtONCPyTeOwjUzwCS1HGHnwd95CNMÎ øÍ°Í Í
ºÍð×`Í8$<Dœh÷f“× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷S ÍÍ‹/9×‰HÚ  http://www.imagezphotostudio.comG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷T ÍkÍ¡ÌÄ9×‰HÚ  http://www.imagezphotostudio.comG××ÒÔÔÔrÒïïïÌ× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷h ÍkÍ¨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://gZCJ_eswuTHaqmdM-0oaqzPKM437E2orwkqNKHhwgQMÍESÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷ñ×‰EÚËTerence 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.
45
×`Í8<Dœh÷ò×`Í8<Dœh÷ñÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍøÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://WvuMwBroLK2h3KpAjR0iBvqF-K18x33SYTUrY8FLt_8Î ¶¾Í`ÍiÍq×‰	Ú 7cassandra://6DQspYwDclB3hF7cgP21nLb1YkDAwMTkwwKC13AuQcIÍô9Í`ÍæÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://1A5oTEXo8Eklea1UBpvntEE4dOAATul0qaTRD4EZOX0ÍFÍ`ÍŒÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://bMqZg3HQ80zR1yBIgn57lhE9WIkTVbJTidqiMsNHF3MÎ oóÍ˜èÍ Í
ºÍð×`Í8$<Dœh÷i‘× ×`Í8$<Dœh÷k YÍWÌ«9×H¹http://coffeewithcleo.com××Ðˆ×‰EÚ)Negus Sankofa Imhotepâ€™s Bio
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.
Courageous exited a 13-year intimate
partner relationship because she
discovered it was steeped in multiple
abuses, including psychological, sexual,
and spiritual. This experience made her
not only want to learn how and why it
happened to her, but how she and other
Black sisters could avoid it in the future.
Her gift of converting personal life
experiences into educational currency
is well proven; however, this time she
believes it has led her to develop what
may be the most important work in
her 9 years of curriculum design and
delivery - Empowerment through the
Artsâ„¢. Black trauma-informed therapists
recommend it and Black female focus
group participants are finding the
programâ€™s gains to be sustainable.
Courageous has begun the work in the
community that interacts with the Black
female survivor as well, bringing tools
that allow them to see the Black female
victim-survivorâ€™s needs and address
them appropriately in her Awareness
Education, Survivor Empowerment, and
Community Support Training. She is
thrilled to bring the work of Courageous
Fire, LLC to the pages of the Urban
Experience Magazine to keep growing
the numbers of Black sisters that get the
help they need.
Stay Connected to Courageous:
Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn,
YouTube, Twitter
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://1A5oTEXo8Eklea1UBpvntEE4dOAATul0qaTRD4EZOX0ÍFÍ`ÍŒÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷ó×‰EÚ 9Calling for
Submissions
The Urban
Experience
Magazine
47
×`Í8<Dœh÷ô×`Í8<Dœh÷óÍøÍ(×‘C‘×˜š   ÍüÍ(u×‰œ”×‰	Ú 7cassandra://O-gIy18YZTeGCUiCGfH01Z4cNzYPwkkn-hw2mDNYIYYÎ xëÍ`ÍóÍ²×‰	Ú 7cassandra://uS-JppfLAjSM5vEarNbqJhmVz-dtHp_nqAR8jL9M1vkÍi?Í`ÍsÍà×‰	Ú 7cassandra://wSPdnVSecVeOF5_zQtzbuBEZJNvyYP8DaN4oHwxgvEUÍ$šÍ`ÌÆÍ ×‰	Ú 7cassandra://AQI2OpI-LfioizGs46AMqwqLvTDjoJ1YqQ1_88H_Rn0Í‡îÍÍ Í]Íð×`Í8$<Dœh÷l×‰EÚ’YOUR HEALTH
IS OUR PRIMARY
CONCERN
With five primary care clinics, Broadlawns ensures that high-quality,
affordable, healthcare is accessible to all in our community.
CITYVILLE
FAMILY MEDICINE
580 SW 9th
Street, Ste 100
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 282-2489
FAMILY HEALTH CENTER
1761 Hickman Road
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 282-2334
PRIMARY CARE CLINIC
1801 Hickman Road
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 282-2273
DALLAS CENTER
FAMILY MEDICINE
507 14th Street
Dallas Center, IA 50063
(515) 992-3711
EAST UNIVERSITY
FAMILY MEDICINE
2508 E. University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 282-3278
All forms of insurance accepted.
Call to schedule your appointment today!
×‰	Ú 7cassandra://wSPdnVSecVeOF5_zQtzbuBEZJNvyYP8DaN4oHwxgvEUÍ$šÍ`ÌÆÍ ×`Í8<Dœh÷õ×ˆE×`Í8<Dœh÷ö×`Í8<Dœh÷õÍøÍ(,ºUrban Experience June 2021Ú OCheck out the June edition of the Urban Experience Magazine! Happy Juneteenth! ×`Í8‹±¢RAÉ{Î