SEUN ADEDJI YOUNGEST BLACK CANNABIS CEO by Demarcus Hamilton Inside Sexual Assault Awareness Month Alocholic Awareness Month Arts & Music Artist Feature: MARIA MAGDALENA CAMPOS-PONS Schedule of the Class of 2021 Commencements at DMPS The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 1 April 2021 ISSUE
WRITERS & STAFF Editor-In-Chief Dwana Bradley Contributors Copy Editor Virgina Smith Creative Director Ash Easley Donnetta Austin Debra Carr Terence Haynes Angela Jackson Celeste Lawson Gary Lawson Bert Moody Lori Young DeMarcus Hamilton MAGAZINE OUTLETS Broadlawns 1801 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA 50314 CareMore 1530 East Euclid, Des Moines, Iowa 50313 Central Library 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309 DMACC Urban Campus 1100 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314 DSM Brew Coffee Co. 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, Suite 140, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Drake Diner 1111 25th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311 Eastside Library 2559 Hubbell Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50317 Evelyn Davis Center 801 Suite #3, University Ave, Des Moines IA 50314 Fields Pharmacy 501 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50314 Iowa-Nebraska NAACP 1620 Pleseant Suite #210, Des Moines, IA 50314 Forest Library 1326 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314 Franklin Library 5000 Franklin Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50310 Hy-Vee 3330 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50310 John R. Grubb YMCA 11th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314 Johnston Library 6700 Merle Hay Rd. Johnston, Iowa 50131 Join our email club at: joindsmurban@gmail.com Northside Library 3516 5th Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50313 Mr. Bibbs 2705 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313 Senior Polk County 2008 Forest Ave, Des Moines IA 50314 Smokey Row Coffee Co. 1910 Cottage Grove, Des Moines, Iowa 50314 Southside Library 1111 Porter Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50315 The Great Frame Up 5515 Mills Civic Parkway Suite #150, West Des Moines, IA 50266 The Des Moines Civil and Human Rights 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines IA 50309 Submit your news to: dsmurbannews@gmail.com COVID-19 The Urban Dreams 601 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50314 Traditions Grooming Parlor 1111 E. Army Post Road Ste. 154 Urbandale Public Library 3520 86th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322 Urbandale Chamber of Commerce 2830 100th Street, Suite 110, Urbandale, IA 50322 West Des Moines Library 4000 Mills Clive Pkwy, West Des Moines, Iowa 50365 The Zone of Comfort 3829 71st Street, Suite B, Urbandale, IA 50322 Also Available at churches, our directory can be found on our website at dsmurban.org Become a Outlet for Urban: contactdsmurban@gmail.com
Features 09 15 17 East’s Arina Tembo: Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year Artist of the Month 22 26 God’s Timing Don’t Shoot New Alzheimer’s Association Report Examines Racial and Ethnic Attitudes on Alzheimer’s and Dementia Carea 31 34 37 Alcohol Awareness: There is hope and help… Drake University’s John Dee Bright College Name senior ambassadors SEUN ADEDJI YOUNGEST BLACK CANNABIS CEO The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 3 What’s Inside?
THIS MONTH IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH Places In the state of Iowa to get help www.iowacasa.org WHAT IS SEXUAL ABUSE? WWW.ASSULTCARECENTER.ORG Sexual abuse comes in many forms, and different definitions are used for legal vs. personal understanding. The Iowa Code section 709.1 defines sexual abuse as a sex act is “done by force or against the will of the other”. The term “against the will” includes various definitions including the inability to give consent when incapacitated, under threat, or as a child. Rape is forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Sexual assault is unwanted sexual contact that stops short of rape or attempted rape. This includes fondling. Sexual Misconduct is any non-consensual behavior of a sexual nature that is committed by force, intimidation, or is otherwise unwelcome. The term includes sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual intimidation, and sexual harassment Sexual intimacy requires that all participants consent to the activity. Consent between two or more people is defined as an affirmative agreement--through clear actions or words--to engage in sexual activity. The person giving the consent must act freely, voluntarily, and with an understanding of his or her actions when giving the consent. No matter what definition applies, if an individual feel that her/his sexual boundaries were violated, ACCESS is here to help with services tailored to a victim’s individual experience and needs. Culturally Specific Programs Amani Community Services Cedar Rapids office: (319) 804-0742 Davenport office: (319) 504-9073 Waterloo office: (319) 232-5660 Crisis line: (888) 983-2533 Go to website This program serves survivors and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the African American communities in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Waterloo. Latinas Unidas Por Un Nuevo Amanecer (LUNA) Office line / Linea de oficina: (515) 271-5060 24-hour helpline / Línea de crisis las 24 horas: (866) 256-7668 Go to website This program serves survivors and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the Latino / Latinx communities throughout Iowa. Este centro de crisis brinda asesoramiento, apoyo y recursos gratuitos y confidenciales a los sobrevivientes latinos de violencia domestica y agresin sexual. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 5
Resources for Indigenous Survivors & Empowerment (RISE) Office line: (641) 484-2103 24-hour helpline: (855) 840-7362 Go to website This program serves survivors and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the Native and Meskwaki communities in Iowa. Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity Office line: (515) 288-0881 24-hour helpline: (866) 881-4641 Go to website This program serves survivors and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities throughout Iowa. Nisaa African Family Services Des Moines office: (515) 255-5430 Iowa City office: (319) 338-7617 Go to website This program serves survivors and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in African Immigrant and Refugee communities throughout Iowa. Thrive Together (formerly Deaf Iowans Against Abuse) VP/P: (319) 531-7719 24/7 text only line: (515) 661-4015 Email: help@thrivetogethertoday.org Go to website This program serves survivors and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities throughout Iowa. Northwest Iowa Centers Against Abuse & Sexual Assault (CAASA) Office line: (712) 262-4612 24-hour helpline: (877) 362-4612 Go to website Services: Sexual Assault Counties served: Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O›Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, and Woodbury. SafePlace Office line: (712) 258-7233 24-hour helpline: (712) 258-7233 Go to website Services: Domestic Violence, Shelter Counties served: Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O›Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, and Woodbury. North Central Iowa Assault Care Center Extending Shelter & Support (ACCESS) Office line: (515) 292-0505 24-hour helpline: (800) 203-3488 Go to website
Services: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Homicide and Other Violent Crimes Counties served: Boone, Greene, Marshall, Story, and Tama. Crisis Intervention Service (CIS) Office line: (641) 423-0490 24-hour helpline: (800) 479-9071 Go to website Services: Domestic Violence, Homicide and Other Violent Crimes, Sexual Assault Counties served: Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Humboldt, Kossuth, Mitchell, Webster, Winnebago, Worth, and Wright. Domestic/Sexual Assault Outreach Center (DSAOC) Office line: (515) 955-2273 24-hour helpline: (888) 356-2006 Go to website Services: Domestic Violence, Homicide and Other Violent Crimes, Shelter Counties served: Boone, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Floyd, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Humboldt, Kossuth, Marshall, Mitchell, Story, Tama, Webster, Winnebago, Worth, and Wright. Northeast Iowa Friends of the Family Office line: (319) 352-1108 24-hour helpline: (800) 410-7233 Go to website Services: Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Shelter Counties served: Allamakee, Bremer, Benton, Buchanan, Black Hawk, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard, Jones, Linn, and Winneshiek. Riverview Center Office line: (563) 557-0310 24-hour helpline: (888) 557-0310 Go to website Services: Sexual Assault Counties served: Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard, Jones, Linn, and Winneshiek. Southwest Iowa Catholic Charities Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Program Office line: (712) 256-2059 24-hour helpline: (888) 612-0266 Go to website Services: Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault, Shelter Counties served: Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Fremont, Guthrie, Harrison, Madison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Taylor, and Union. Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center (CIAC) Office line: (515) 993-4095 24-hour helpline: (800) 550-0004 The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 7
THE GREAT FRAME UP SUPPORTS CUBAN ARTISTS OF AFRICAN & ASIAN DESCENT ARTIST FEATURE: MARIA MAGDALENA CAMPOS-PONS Written by Angela Jackson The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 9
DES MOINES, IOWA – As a local custom frame retailer and art gallery, The Great Frame Up in West Des Moines enjoys supporting the visual arts. This month we introduce readers to Cuban visual artist, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons. “ My work in Cuba looked at issues of sexuality, women’s place in society, and the representation of women in the history of art.” She “renders elements of personal history and persona that have universal relevance...My subjects are my Afro-Cuban relatives as well as myself...The salient tie to familiar and cultural history vastly expands for me the range of photographic possibilities.” -Maria Magdalena CamposPons María Magdalena Campos-Pons (born July 22, 1959) is a Cuban-born artist based in Nashville, Tennessee. Campos-Pons works primarily in photography, performance, audiovisual media, and sculpture. She is considered a “key figure” among Cuban artists who found their voice in a post-revolutionary Cuba. Her art deals with themes of Cuban culture, gender and sexuality, multicultural identity. Early life and education Campos-Pons was born in Matanzas, Cuba, in 1959 and grew up in a sugar plantation town called La Vega in Cuba. Her paternal great-grandparents were Yoruba. She also has Chinese and Hispanic heritage. Her African ancestors, who were brought over by sugar plantation owners in the late 19th century, passed-down traditions from Africa that influenced and became part of Campos-Pons’s art. The African side of her family worked as slaves on sugar plantations and as domestic servants. The Chinese side of her family worked as indentured servants in sugar mills.
When she was young, Campos relates that during a trip to the National Cuban Museum of Fine Art, she distinctly felt that black Cubans were conspicuously missing from the art. She did not feel as though black Cubans were equally represented. Campos-Pons has described much of her art education as very traditional, rooted in drawing and sculpture. She trained at the Escuela National de Arte in Havana between 1976 and 1979. From 1980 to 1989, she attended Havana’s Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA). The ISA allowed students to be exposed to international artistic movements and develop art that drew from Cuba’s unique “mixed traditions and cultures.” Her ISA painting professor Antonio Vidal, a Cuban abstractionist, had a lasting impact on her work as a painter and she presented his work, along with her work with Neil Leonard at documenta 14 in Kassel, Germany. Campos-Pons conducted her post graduate studies at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 1988. While there, she created her first film that was scored by composer, saxophonist, Neil Leonard, whom she married in 1989. Before moving to Boston in 1991 to live with Leonard, she took a fellowship in Banff, Alberta. Since 2017, she has lived in Nashville, Tennessee. Career Between 1986 and 1989 Campos-Pons was professor of Painting and Aesthetic at the Instituto Superior de Arte. She started exhibiting internationally in 1984. In the late 1980s, her artwork gained “international recognition” with her abstract paintings dealing with female sexuality. Her work coincides with the rise of the New Cuban Art movement. The New Cuban Art movement began as a reaction against the repressive aspects of the Cuban state and the introduction of conceptual art. The movement was less focused on technical skill and more on creating an art that was genuinely Cuban. A large part of this artistic movement was the introduction of Afro-Cuban presence, both as artists and within the art itself. Humor and spirituality were major themes in New Cuban Art. Her early work, often consisting of separate, shaped canvases, suggested fragmentation of the female self and referenced AfroCuban myths. She also explored reproductive rights and feminism through her art. Campos Pons work often revolves around feminist ideologies. Her work in Cuba focused on feminist themes. Since there was not a larger feminism movement in Cuba, it was only through the expression of art through artists like Campos-Pon and others that feminism was kept in the spotlight and popular consciousness. After 1994, there was a shift in Campos-Pons’s work, and it became somewhat ethnographic. “This work is largely autobiographical and has tended to examine her ancestors’ relationship with slavery and the sugar industry. CamposPon’s work investigates “a felt history,” through the intersection of “non-spoken narratives” and “resilient culture”. She started using largeformat photographs which were often arranged into diptychs, triptychs or other configurations. These works are reminiscent of works by Lorna Simpson and Carrie Mae Weems. In the early 2000s, Campos-Pons returned to elements of abstraction and minimalism that were reminiscent of her early work, and admittedly influenced by her Cuban professor Antonio Vidal. According to Campos-Pons’ artist statement, her work “renders elements of personal history and persona that have universal relevance... My subjects are my Afro-Cuban relatives as well as myself...The salient tie to familiar and cultural history vastly expands for me the range of photographic possibilities.”Campos-Pon is interested in showing “cross-cultural” and “cross generational” themes dealing with race and gender as “expressed in symbols of matriarchy and maternity. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 11
“Campos-Pons says: “Of merging ideas, merging of ethnicities, merging of traditions... I am as much black, Cuban, woman, Chinese. I am this tapestry of all of that, and the responses to that could be very complicated and could include even anguish and pain.” Other ideas that her work explores includes exile, immigration, memory, and Cuba itself. Her art has been shown in scores of solo and group exhibitions, including solo shows at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City; the Venice Biennale; the Johannesburg Biennial; the First Liverpool Biennial; the Dakar Biennale in Senegal; and the Guangzhou Triennial in China. Campos-Pons’s work is in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery of Canada, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, the Miami Art Museum and the Fogg Art Museum. Campos-Pons currently teaches at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2020, and as a result of the nationwide social unrest, she launched “Engine for Art, Democracy and Justice”, which is defined as a Vanderbilt University “trans-institutional series of virtual conversations and artistic collaborations focused on healing at a time of significant social unrest.” In an article by Holland Cotter, he writes about an exhibit where Campos-Pons was also featured - “American slavery — what it did, what it is still doing — remains an incendiary topic, as racial discrimination becomes subtler, harder to pin down, played out along lines of class and economics. The topic has also gained importance with the developing diaspora-consciousness of the last few decades, embodied here in a photograph by Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons of herself and her mother, Cubans of African descent. Although the two women stand apart, each holds one end of a single long, knotted strand of colored beads. It isn’t a heavy, binding chain; it’s a connecting thread, linking generations through a mutual history. That history was cruel; the emotions it raises are complicated and changing. But its reality, revisited and rethought, can be a source of power rather than depletion. Ms. CamposPons
Credits — The New York Times by Holland Cotter June 2006 and wikipedia.org At The Great Frame Up we currently feature originals, prints, sculpture, and framed artwork of numerous African American and Iowa artists in the gallery. To see some of the prior artists featured visit www.westdesmoines. thegreatframeup.com and our social media. Please follow us on Facebook facebook.com/tgfuwdmiowa, Instagram instagram.com/thegreatframeup_wdm/, Pinterest pinterest.com/tgfuwdm, Twitter twitter.com/tgfuwdm and subscribe to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube. com/channel/UCZXFxAkE5drRXIVCHdTLRiw? About The Great Frame Up The Great Frame Up is a custom picture framer, offering more than 1,000 custom frames, mat styles, ready to hang framed art and local artwork. The West Des Moines location of The Great Frame Up opened in 2005 and is located at 5515 Mills Civic Parkway in the West Glen Town Center and is open Monday through Saturday 10 - 5pm. Members receive a 20% discount JOIN TODAY! REGISTER NOW summer camps HALF OR FULL DAY ART CAMPS FOR AGES 5–15 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT desmoinesartcenter.org/LEARN 4700 GRAND AVENUE DES MOINES, IOWA / 515.277.4405
The Iowa Club of Des Moines Awards 2021 Scholarships! Arabia Parkey The daughter of Erica and Jermaine Parkey of Des Moines and a graduate of Herbert Hoover High School. Arabia, is headed to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. She submitted a thorough application including a 4.28 weighted GPA, an amazing letter, and volunteer work. Arabia’s letters of support included comments from students and faculty about her accolades, accomplishments, character, curiosity, determination, and commitment. One teacher stated that, “Arabia is an asset to any program. She is dedicated to learning new things and taking risks…. she is a remarkable individual who is a strong leader and role model in every part of her life…” Arabia is a Central Academy student who has taken several AP courses, is a multi-year academic letter winner, participant of Science Bound, Movement 515, DMPS and HHHS Racial Equity Groups, the National Honor Society, and the National Council on Youth Leadership. At Hoover she was a member of Varsity Basketball, Cross Country, Track, and Spirit Crew. Parker is a school newspaper editor and has received numerous awards from the Iowa High School Press Association for Journalism. She is also a published poet and illustrator. Through her love of writing stories and creating art, Arabia has found her passion in Journalism. Moving forward, staying silent is no longer an option for her. b Tyson Walker The son of Jen and Will Walker. Tyson is a graduate of West Des Moines Valley and an AP student with a 3.57 weighted GPA. Tyson is a successful academic and undecided about where he will be going to college. He tells us he is interested in Grandview, Simpson, Rockhurst, Central Missouri, Louisiana Tech, Barry University, and the University of Tampa. Tyson is looking for a career as a Physical Therapist, majoring in either Biology or Pre-Med. He is a community volunteer (Meals from the Heartland, Science Center of Iowa, and Des Moines Parks and Recreation), Captain of the Varsity basketball team, an all-academic basketball recipient, as well as a 4-year academic letter winner. He was also a member of Science Bound and played football when attending Des Moines’ Theodore Roosevelt High School for two years. Tyson also participated in AAU basketball beginning when he was in the 3rd grade. One of Walker’s letters of recommendation describes “Ty being deserving of this scholarship based on his dedication, commitment, leadership, and willingness to grow.” The writer stated that he never had to worry about Ty’s preparation and mental approach. He is always ready to go. Congratulations to our winners! We know you will be remarkably successful. - The Iowa Club of Des Moines
by Donnetta Austin Are you someone who manages your time wisely? Each of us are given 24 hours in a day. The thought has crossed my mind that time waits for no one. Personally for myself I like to set goals rather short or long term and map It out on a vision board. By the time a few weeks, to months, then a full year has gone by I realize procrastination has set in. I have come no where near close to what I wanted to accomplish. Maybe you are proactive and have already anticipated what you’re life will look like in ten, fifteen ,or twenty years from now. As an example, a friend of mine has a twenty one year old son who attends college and majoring in business. My friend’s son knows that his father has always imagined him collaborating together in a family owned business. Then while studying, preparing for graduation, and trying his best to keep up with a 4.0 GPA in college, life has thrown him a curveball and the unexpected happened. My friend’s son had to figure out how to lead and run a family business by himself while coping with the fact that a change has taken place and help is needed. In the NIV Bible Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. We are also reassured in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you , declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Our plans can alter at any given moment. It can feel like your faith is being tested. Will you trust in God to get you to the place of where you need to be? Ultimately he will provide and make a way for his glory. By Donnetta Austin Book on Amazon “Never Retire God” Email: The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 15
East’s Arina Tembo: Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year Published by Des Moines Public Schools www.dmschools.org Congratulations to East High sophomore Arina Tembo on being named the Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa! The announcement below from BGCCI shares more about Arina and this recognition. Des Moines Public Schools has partnered closely with the Boys & Girls Clubs over the years in support of youth programs. BGCCI currently has locations at six DMPS schools: East High School; Hiatt, McCombs and Meredith middle schools; and Carver and Moore elementary schools. Arina Tembo has been named the Central Iowa Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 74th year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. After signing up for Club when she was in 7th grade, Arina has grown into a confident Club leader. She has become an advocate for education equality and is planning to become a physician, all while overcoming the challenges of switching schools and making new friends. By focusing on self-love, Arina hopes to empower youth to love themselves and teach them the impact self-love has on their relationships, lifestyle and future. “We are incredibly proud of Arina and all the Central Iowa Youth of the Year candidates,” said Tony Timm, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa. “Arina has exhibited extraordinary service and leadership. We look forward to continuing to support Arina’s Club journey in becoming a role model other kids can admire and emulate.” Arina will go on to compete for the Iowa Youth of the Year title and a $2,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. If selected as Iowa Youth of the Year, she will contend for the title of Midwest Regional Youth of the Year who will receive an additional $20,000 college scholarship. Six finalists will advance to the virtual National Youth of the Year event in October 2021, to vie for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $50,000 and a brand-new Toyota Corolla. For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.youthoftheyear.org. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 17
Area Hy-Vee store managers who participated in the month-long fund-raiser include: (left to right) Josh Clark, Cody Stoermer, Brian Bieker, Joe Milnes, Aaron Lammers, Brock Wulf, Jenn Seipel, Jeff Osborn, Paige Christensen and DeWayne McIntyre. DMACC President Rob Denson (front row, left) and Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families Interim Director Joy Esposito hold a check in the amount of $6,000 that was presented to the EKD Center by Hy-Vee. Back in February, area Hy-Vee stores donated proceeds from the monthlong sales of numerous items to the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families (EKD Center) Summer Youth Experience Program. More than 400 youth have completed the Summer Youth Experience Program since it began in 2013. The program provides local youth, ages 14-21, with work-readiness training and workplace experience, including an eight-week work placement with an area employer, a program mentor, weekly cohort meetings and the opportunity to earn income, skills and an National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 19
Mekisha Barnes “I am beyond excited and honored to join the Weeks staff, students, family and community,” said Barnes. Published by Des Moines Public Schools www.dmschools.org To be Principal at Weeks Middle School
Des Moines Public Schools is pleased to announce a longtime district leader, Mekisha Barnes, will be the next principal at Weeks Middle School. Barnes is currently the principal of King Elementary School and was previously the International Baccalaureate and World Languages Coordinator for DMPS. Weeks Middle School, located at 901 East Park Avenue, educates nearly 750 students in grades 6-8. Barnes has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Simpson College and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University. She started her teaching career in Longmont, CO in 1997, returning home to Des Moines to teach at Smouse Opportunity School in 2001. Since then, she has taught elementary and middle school at King, Park Avenue, Downtown School and Gateway Secondary School. “I am beyond excited and honored to join the Weeks staff, students, family and community,” said Barnes. Barnes brings more than seven-and-a-half years of experience teaching and leading at the secondary school level. As principal she was a key member of the Drake University/King Academy Educational Partnership and serves on councils, committees and teams promoting goal-oriented plans to positively influence everything from student behavior to school vision to the improvement of Iowa Assessment scores. Recently she has been a member of the school district’s Equity Committee, the Algebra Task Force, and the Antiracist Team. “Mekisha has proven, time and again, her commitment to our students as well as our school communities,” said Noelle Nelson, executive director of teaching and learning at DMPS. “Her experience makes her an ideal leader to engage with the staff and families at Weeks to realize the goals for student success.” The current Weeks principal, Cheryl Modlin, has accepted a position with another school district. A search for Barnes’ replacement at King will begin soon. Inspired by a great leader, Bright College is taking a new approach to education. Want to do school differently? So do we. Our two-year associate degrees are designed to accelerate your career. drake.edu/bright
By Terence Haynes I put my hands up I’m shot. I put my hands down I’m shot I put my hands on a cellphone I’m shot I put my hands in my pocket I’m shot I put my hands on a cd I’m shot I put my hands on the door knob to my home I’m shot
I put my hands on icecream I’m shot I put my hands on the steering wheel I’m shot I put my hands where you can see them I’m shot I put my hands together to pray I’m shot I finally figured out why I’m shot The common thread with all the scenarios Is, your affraid of these hands you don’t want... SO I’M SHOT The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 23
Des Moines Public Schools Readies to Celebrate and Honor the Class of 2021 Published by Des Moines Public Schools www.dmschools.org Caps and gowns. Pomp and circumstance. Commencements are a traditional rite of passage for students moving on to the next stage of their lives. Tradition took a back seat last year as high schools, colleges and universities across the country made changes in their graduation ceremonies due to the pandemic. While many educational institutions did virtual events for the Class of 2020, at Des Moines Public Schools we created “personal commencements” as a way for each new alum to don their cap and gown, walk across a stage, and receive their wellearned diploma. As DMPS prepares to celebrate the Class of 2021, commencements are taking a big step towards “normal” as we celebrate our graduates in late May. Each of our high schools and high school programs will hold a graduation ceremony, with the dates, times and locations noted below. For this year the events will be held in different locations depending, in part, on the size of the graduating class. In addition, as we are in what is hopefully the final phase of the pandemic, there will be steps taken to meet public health protocols. For example, face masks will be required of all attendees; seating will be arranged to try and encourage social distancing; and the number of guests will be limited. (NOTE: the number of guests will depend on the size of the senior class; graduates will be informed by their school of the number of guests they may invite.) This is being done in the interest of the health and well-being of our students, staff and families, and we expect and appreciate everyone’s cooperation. Two days in a school year always stand out as extra special: the first day of school and the commencement of our graduates. While this year’s first day of school was interrupted by COVID-19, everyone at DMPS is excited to be able to celebrate the Class of 2021.
Schedule of the Class of 2021 Commencements at DMPS SCHOOL LOCATION All Points Academy Focus Ruby Van Meter East High School Lincoln High School Roosevelt High School Hoover High School North High School Virtual Campus Summer Graduation Central Campus Auditorium Central Campus Auditorium Ruby Van Meter Gymnasium Williams Stadium Lincoln Roundhouse Drake Stadium Drake University Knapp Center Drake University Knapp Center Central Campus Auditorium North High School DATE/TIME May 22, 2:00 p.m. May 22, 2:00 p.m. May 28, 6:00 p.m. May 29, 9:00 a.m. (Rain date: May 30, noon) May 29, 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. May 29, 5:00 p.m. (Rain date: May 30, 5:00 p.m.) May 30, 10:00 a.m. May 30, 2:00 p.m. May 30, 4:00 p.m. August 14, time TBA The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 25
New Alzheimer’s Association Report Examines Racial and Ethnic Attitudes on Alzheimer’s and Dementia Carea By: Lauren Livingston – In March, the Alzheimer’s Association released its 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report along with a special report looking at the attitudes and perspectives of African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans on dementia care in America for the first time. This report revealed that discrimination is a barrier to Alzheimer’s and dementia care, which unfortunately does not come as a surprise. More than one-third of Black Americans (36%) and nearly one-fifth of Hispanic Americans (18%) and Asian Americans (19%), believe that discrimination would be a barrier to receiving Alzheimer’s care. In addition, half or more of non-White caregivers say they have experienced discrimination when seeking care for themselves or their loved ones. The 2021 Facts and Figures report also provides an indepth look at the latest national statistics on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality, costs of care and impact on caregivers. New disease-related statistics for Iowa revealed the following: ● Number of Iowa residents aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s: 66,000 ● Estimated number of Iowa residents living with Alzheimer’s in 2025: 73,000 ● Percentage change: 10.6% ● Statewide deaths from Alzheimer’s disease (2019): 1,344 ● Number of Iowa residents serving as unpaid family caregivers: 73,000 ● Total hours of unpaid care provided: 60 million ● Total value of unpaid care: 995 million Findings in the special report also reveal that non-White racial and ethnic populations expect and experience more barriers when accessing dementia care, have less trust in medical research and are less confident that they have access to health professionals who understand their ethnic and racial background and experiences. One eye-opening statistic shows that only half of Black Americans (53%) trust a future cure for Alzheimer’s will be shared equally regardless of race, color or ethnicity. “Despite ongoing efforts to address health and health care disparities in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, survey results show there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Carl V. Hill, Ph.D., MPH. chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “Clearly, discrimination, lack of diversity among health care professionals and mistrust in medical research create significant barriers to care and demand the country’s full attention.” As you may know, health and socioeconomic disparities and systemic racism contribute to increased Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in communities of color. According to the report, older Blacks and Hispanics are also disproportionately more likely to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In addition, both groups are more likely to have missed diagnoses than older whites. The Alzheimer’s Association believes that bridging the racial and ethnic barriers in Alzheimer’s and dementia care is vital, and they are taking steps to help decrease the disparities. Some of these steps include: • Increasing diversity in dementia care. The Alzheimer’s Association surveys indicate
non-White ethnic and racial populations want dementia care providers who understand their experiences and backgrounds, however, only 1 in 3 U.S. physicians are Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Asian. Future Alzheimer’s and dementia research can be strengthened by increasing the diversity of investigators and professionals who conduct clinical trial and population health research as well. of how racial and ethnic differences may affect the effectiveness and safety of potential new treatments. The Alzheimer’s Association is working with several community-based organizations and other groups to educate and engage diverse communities about Alzheimer’s disease and care and support services it provides. National partnerships include: The African Methodist Episcopal Church The Alzheimer’s Association and NIH are co-funding the Institute on Methods and Protocols for Advancement of Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (IMPACTAD) program -- an innovative program to increase diversity in dementia research launched in fall of 2020. Seventy percent or the participants were women and more than half self-identified as people of color. • Engage, recruit and retain diverse populations in Alzheimer’s and dementia research and clinical trials. Without appropriate representation of Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native Americans in Alzheimer’s clinical trials and research, it is impossible to get a complete understanding The National Hispanic Council on Aging SAGE (Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ Elders) The Thurgood Marshall College Fund Tzu Chi USA If you would like to learn how to get involved to help spread awareness, share your story and improve dementia care in your community, visit alz.org/iowa. Full text of the 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, including the accompanying special report, “Race, Ethnicity and Alzheimer’s in America,” can be viewed at alz.org/facts. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 27
Real life: I get it now The way the world works A father from Texas shares the value of Modern Woodmen membership
D aniel O’Bryan loves old cars. If you visited his home in Stagecoach, Texas, in spring 2016, you would have had the opportunity to see some beauties. A 1935 Hudson Terraplane. A 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible. A ’69 Volkswagen. A ’55 school bus. But by late spring, those beauties were all destroyed when a massive flood rushed through his tiny town. “That’s just the way the world works sometimes,” Daniel says. When “the way the world works” isn’t so great, Daniel knows he can rely on friends to lend a helping hand. That’s what he’s come to appreciate about his Modern Woodmen membership, too. When life happens, he feels Modern Woodmen is there for him and his family. Growing up Modern Woodmen Daniel has been a Modern Woodmen member since childhood. He has fond memories of fall festivals, tree plantings and attending other local Modern Woodmen chapter activities with his family. Once Daniel started a family of his own, his relationship with the fraternal financial services organization deepened. “I started to realize I had a lot more things I needed to think about financially,” he says. He still had the life insurance his parents purchased for him as a kid, but he knew he needed more. He worked with Modern Woodmen representative Ted Laws to increase his coverage. His wife, Madison, also purchased coverage. “It’s better to be protected and make sure your family is taken care of if something bad happens,” he says. “Hopefully it doesn’t, but you never know.” When “you never know” happens In 2010, Daniel and Madison faced a parent’s worst nightmare. Their son, Ewan, was born with a dysplastic kidney. He died just 6 days later. Through Modern Woodmen’s Newborn Benefit, the O’Bryans received money to help with their son’s burial expenses. “We lost pretty much everything we had in a matter of two days.” – Modern Woodmen member Daniel O’Bryan, Stagecoach, Texas Fast-forward to late spring 2016 when 55 inches of water invaded the family’s house. The flood destroyed those classic cars Daniel loved as well as a majority of the family’s possessions. “We lost pretty much everything we had in a matter of two days,” Daniel says. Their homeowners’ insurance didn’t cover the losses, but Modern Woodmen came through in the family’s time of need. The organization paid their life insurance premiums for three months through the Fraternal Aid Fund. “Every little bit helps when you have to start all over,” says Daniel. Shared values Daniel appreciates that Modern Woodmen’s values align with his own. A former Eagle Scout, he says having Modern Woodmen and the Boy Scouts in his life helps him continue to be involved in his community. It helps him plant the seed of service in his kids too. “Modern Woodmen is not a company that’s just taking your money to make a profit,” he says. “Being a Modern Woodmen member means having people who think about you, who want to help and who actually care about what’s going on in your life.” P 8953-61-C Founded in 1883 as a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen of America offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States. Subject to change, fraternal member benefits are not part of the contract and may have specific eligibility requirements. Some benefits are not available to all members. Kelly C. King, FIC Suite 305 4150 Westown Parkway Des Moines, IA 50266 B 515-238-3208 kelly.c.king@mwarep.org Questions? Contact your local Modern Woodmen of America representative: Registered representative. Securities offered through MWA Financial Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Modern Woodmen of America. Member: FINRA, SIPC.
Alcohol Awareness: There is hope and help… By:Fred Knapp Lead Counselor at New Connections Broadlawns Medical Center April is Alcohol Awareness Month which is an annual opportunity to overcome the stigma of alcohol use disorder and increase education of the dangers of alcohol misuse. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 14.1 million Americans ages 18 and older had an alcohol use disorder and 25.8% individuals 18 and older had participated in binge drinking in the past month (4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men in about 2 hours). Each year, an estimated 95,000 people in the United States die from alcohol-related causes. It is the third most preventable cause of death in the US, following tobacco use and poor diet/physical activity. Drinking too much alcohol over time can cause serious health problems including: liver disease, digestive problems, heart problems, diabetes complications, eye problems, birth defects, bone damage, neurological complications, weakened immune system, and an increased risk of cancer. Some people are more affected by a certain amount of alcohol, while others are less affected. The reason for this is unknown, but it is known that an undefined amount of alcohol can cause changes in the brain leading to use disorder. These are a few behaviors that may indicate that you or a loved one could be abusing alcohol: • The smell of alcohol on the breath, slurred speech, lack of coordination, nausea or vomiting, hangovers • Having memory loss or blackouts from drinking • Experiencing accidents or injuries while drinking • Alcohol use interfering with work, school, or other activities • Choosing to drink alcohol while or prior to driving or boating Alcohol abuse can manifest to become an alcohol use disorder. There is no way to determine how much alcohol use it might take to move from simple use to an alcohol use disorder except, more. The amount is different for each individual, making identifying a problem challenging. These are some indicators of alcohol disorder: • Cannot control the amount they drink • Tolerance continuing to increase to create a “buzz” • Feeling sick, shaky or restless when not using alcohol • Continuing to drink, even though it is harming themselves or their loved ones • Putting drinking ahead of other activities • Making excuses or hiding drinking • Wanting to quit drinking, but still drinking The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 31
Many people with alcohol related issues don’t recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from a friend or family member can help them to recognize and accept that they need professional help. Treatment for alcohol use disorder can vary, depending on individual needs. It may involve a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential inpatient stay. If you feel that you or a loved one are struggling with problematic alcohol use know that you are not alone. It can be overwhelming to consider seeking help, but there are many resources available in our community. Your Life Iowa has a 24/7 hotline that the Iowa Department of Public Health created where Iowans can live chat, text, or call to receive use disorder information and find nearby help. To learn more visit www.yourlifeiowa.org, call (855) 581-8111 or text (855) 895-8398. Broadlawns Medical Center’s New Connections is here in our Des Moines community for individuals seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder as well as other substance use disorders. New Connections provides integrated substance abuse and mental health treatment for the body, mind and community. As part of the Broadlawns Medical Center Behavioral Health Department, New Connections is a cooccurring treatment program presented by Addiction Treatment Services. New Connections employs a nationally recognized, evidence-based, interactive curriculum to help individuals discover their strengths, gain confidence, and learn skills to help individuals overcome their dependence on alcohol or other drugs and maintain abstinence based living. New Connections explores the daily challenges of living with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders while offering the opportunity to develop appropriate tools for: • Responsible thinking • Values • Individual change • Relationships • Transitions in living • Life skills • Handling difficult emotions
The decision to seek treatment for what appears to be a problem with alcohol is rarely easy. If you feel that you or someone you love drinks too much, or has problems as a result of drinking, seek help. Call Broadlawns’ New Connections at (515) 282-6610. All forms of insurance are accepted and financial assistance may be available. For more information, visit www.broadlawns.org. THE PATH TO PARADISE Judith Schaechter’s Stained-Glass Art ARTCENTER.ORG FOR INFO FEBRUARY 12 – MAY 23, 2021 ANNA K. MEREDITH GALLERY ORGANIZED BY THE MEMORIAL ART GALLERY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER VISIT DESMOINESARTCENTER.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION 4700 GRAND AVENUE DES MOINES, IOWA / 515.277.4405 The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 33
Dwana Bradley and Wayne Ford named senior ambassadors for Drake University’s John Dee Bright College
John Dee Bright College at Drake University, a two-year college which will begin classes in fall 2021, today announced the appointment of Drake alumni Dwana Bradley, editor-in-chief of The Urban Experience, and former State Representative Wayne Ford as Bright College senior ambassadors. In this role, Bradley and Ford will work with local businesses and organizations, central Iowa schools, fellow Drake alumni, and prospective students and their families to help ensure that communities often underserved by higher education can take advantage of the opportunities Bright College offers. “An excellent Drake University education is not out of reach,” said Bradley, who earned a specialist degree in administration and master’s degree in elementary education and literacy from Drake. “Bright College is a new option for guidance counselors and families, seeking a way to set their students up for lifelong financial security and success.” A goal of Bright College is for students to graduate with little or no tuition debt. Bright College admission counselors are helping students use federal Pell grants, state of Iowa grants, and Drake scholarships to lower their tuition burden to a relatively small amount that can be covered by a Federally Subsidized student loan. Classes are also held just three days each week so students have time for work, family, and other responsibilities, and there is no on-campus living requirement. “This college is being designed from the start to put fewer barriers in place for students from low-income families,” said Ford, who holds a bachelor’s degree and honorary doctorate from Drake. “Drake’s leaders are trying to recruit more lower-income and minority students and I am eager to help them do it because I believe their efforts are sincere.” Ford also noted that a primary reason he chose to learn and play football at Drake was the story of Johnny Bright. Bright College students will learn universal skills to prepare them for a modern workplace like teamwork, communication, critical thinking, project management, and problem solving. All Bright College graduates are also guaranteed admission to a Drake bachelor’s degree program if they decide to continue their education. “I’m delighted that Wayne and Dwana have joined our efforts,” said Craig Owens, dean of Bright College. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 35
“Their lifelong commitment to equity and access in every area of life, and their energy and passion, perfectly capture the College’s mission to provide affordable access to excellent, highly supportive post-secondary education.” Under the leadership of Drake University President Marty Martin, Drake University has recommitted itself to investing in and serving the Des-Moines and central Iowa community. In addition to Bright College, other initiatives in this spirit include providing land and fundraising assistance for the creation of the Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Boys & Girls Club on the Drake University campus and helping lead the effort to make University Avenue more pedestrian-friendly. We Print Business Cards Ask
MARC SUPREME SITS DOWN WITH YOUNGEST BLACK CANNABIS CEO by Demarcus Hamilton The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 37
As soon as COVID-19 is thoroughly suffocated by countries worldwide and normal life resumes, cannabis will once again headline national business conversations. Corporate coyotes will resume jockeying for position in legal states to establish turf for years to come; and state legislatures, meanwhile, will navigate the cannabis free-fall to in-part close budgetary holes, and in full, be on the right side of history and well suited for reelection. But for 26-year-old Elev8 Cannabis CEO, Seun Adedeji, he wants states that claim equity for minorities to put their money where their mouth is. “Even though African Americans are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than Whites, and make up 50% of all drug-related arrests, we only make up 4.3% of the cannabis industry. That scares me a lot; because we’re the pioneers of this industry,” Adedeji said. Adedeji, who already owns a dispensary in Eugene, Oregon, with three more pot shops set to open in Massachusetts in 2020, says that many states, including Massachusetts, have social equity policies in place to give opportunities to minorities. Though these policies are well intentioned, minorities often run into practical barriers. Massachusetts, for example, has an economic empowerment program; made to prioritize minority applicants’ review process—essentially skipping the line. But most minorities run into an entirely different problem once they get to the front. “Imagine being able to skip the line to buy some J’s [Jordan’s] but you don’t have any money,” Adedeji explained. “That’s what you’re seeing with minorities in cannabis; and I find that disappointing.” When asked who has the best cannabis law on the books so far, Adedeji hesitantly suggests that it could be his former home state of Illinois. But his reservations lay in Illinois’ pledge to set aside $30m in funds to help minorities get into the cannabis industry. “I don’t think that the money is going to arrive on time to give minorities the opportunity to leverage this fund to then apply. From how I’m looking at it, it would take the next round of applicants before you really see that fund in practice. Meanwhile, everybody else is getting in the game,” he said. But with recreational cannabis legalization on hold until January, these policies’ efficacies remain to be seen; yet, Adedeji says he’s optimistic. Illinois is also the first state to remove real estate ownership as a requirement for individuals to apply, which he says is “huge!” There is a glimmer of hope for the Midwest state, though. Evanston, IL, a small city outside north of Chicago, is carving out its own approach to equity and benefits for minorities through cannabis legalization— reparations to Blacks through a 3 percent tax on cannabis. According to the Washington Post, Robin Rue Simmons, a black alderman that represents the city’s Fifth Ward, said their community was damaged due to the war on drugs and marijuana convictions. Reparations through cannabis tax dollars provide the city a chance to correct it. Smitten by the nation’s latest gold rush of cannabis, thousands of industry hopefuls mobilize their inner circles in attempt to claim their stake. Adedeji is no different. A true entrepreneur at heart, he ventured into the cannabis industry with just three elements: a dream, a savings account and a lot of YouTube. But for Adedeji, whether it’s selling candy in middle school or cannabis in high school—the hustle is all the same. And when asked, he’ll tell you that he subscribed to the power of pot for one reason only: generational wealth. “My ultimate goal is to really help people,” Adedeji said. “To really create generational wealth, not only for myself, but for the people and communities around me.”
However, as a Nigerian immigrant growing up in Chicago and getting stamped with an arrest record while still in middle school, creating generational wealth seemed all-but-unreachable. “At the time that I got arrested,” Adedeji recounts, “I thought it was the worst thing that could have happened to me. My life was over. I remember my parents telling me they’re taking my fingerprints. And I’m like ‘man, I’m done for!’” Adedeji, who describes his upbringing as having to fend for himself with “absentee parents” in impoverished neighborhoods in the Windy City, says he was only selling weed in order to take care of himself at the time. After being arrested for the then-illegal substance, he developed other ways to supplement his lack of income. “I had to find ways to feed myself, so I started a lawn-mowing company; and I used to shovel snow in the wintertime. I’d go to the rich neighborhoods, so I had contracts with those people to shovel their snow for several years. I’d also rake their lawns. So I was always creative. I was always hustling,” Adedeji recalls. After getting introduced to the cannabis industry in Washington years later, Adedeji saved his own $30,000 from his time working in marketing, only to find out it wasn’t nearly enough to get started. So he began selling himself and his idea to investors. The hustle proved fruitful; and so did the arrest. In Illinois, in an attempt to give minorities a fair advantage, legislators created a social equity program to help minorities have a seat at the table and a way into the industry. One of the requirements to benefit from Illinois’ $30 million social equity program is having an arrest on record for cannabis in the state of Illinois. Adedeji was able to prove his arrest; and he has since applied to do business in Illinois. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 39
He has also hosted or been a part of several information sessions in 2019 alone, several in the Greater Chicago land area. With a dispensary in Eugene, Oregon, three more set to open in Massachusetts in 2020 and an eye on Illinois, everything is starting to come full circle. Now, for one of the nation’s youngest cannabis entrepreneurs, it’s about helping others do the same. “What I’m really hoping to get from this,” Adedeji says, “is to uplift other people along on my journey and give back.” Peep the full interview below:https://youtu.be/ sz9v_G4tMdo See What Urban Can Do for You!
Iowa Juneteenth Observance A Program of The Des Moines Urban Experience “Marking 31 Years of Service to the Iowa Community” 2021 Iowa Juneteenth Observance Essay Contest Sponsored by Drake University Juneteenth is an international observance marking the end to slavery on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth will celebrate 156 years of celebration during 2021. The Iowa Juneteenth Observance will mark its 31st anniversary as well. On April 11, 2002, Governor Tom Vilsack signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as an official day of recognition in Iowa that is observed annually on the third Saturday in June. This year’s theme for Iowa Juneteenth 2021 is “A Family Affair.” ELIGIBILITY: The essay contest is statewide and open to “all students” enrolled in grades 9 through 11. We encourage essayists to enlist the guidance of a teacher or other adult when completing the essay. The essay contest serves as an inspirational vehicle for youth to strengthen appreciation for: 1) scholarship, 2) cultural diversity; and 3) the enhancement of community relations. ESSAY QUESTION: “How have the events in 2020/2021 impacted you and/or your community and how would you mend the cultural divide in this country.” CONTEST RULES REQUIREMENTS: 1) Essays must be a minimum of 500 words and not exceed 700 words; 2) Essays may be typed or word-processed (double spaced); 3) Essayists must use at least 5 sources of information from books, newspapers, magazines, or websites which must be listed (cited) on a separate page and submitted with the essay; 4) Submit a color photo (portrait style – headshot), and 5) Complete the Student Information Form provided with this application which can be accessed at www.iowajuneteenth.com TOP HONORS: Each of the three winning essayists will receive a trophy. In addition, the first-place winner will receive a $1,000.00 cash prize, the second-place winner will receive a $500.00 cash prize, and the third-place winner will receive a $250.00 cash prize. The trophies and cash prizes are scheduled to be presented at an Iowa Juneteenth Observance awards ceremony in Des Moines (TBA) and winning essayists must be present to receive their trophies/ cash prizes. DEADLINE: Submit your essay, along with the Student Information Form, your photo, and your list of reading sources, by email, on or before Friday April 30th, 2021, to Nakia Ewing at nakiae78@gmail.com or send the original essay by regular mail (postmarked by April 30th, 2021) to: The Des Moines Urban Experience Iowa Juneteenth Essay Contest PO Box 3092, Des Moines, Iowa 50316
Let’s Support our Black Owned Businesses Bottle and Bottega James and Bridget Neely Wine & Painting https://www.bottleandbottega.com/des-moines/ This year The Urban Experience Magazine celebrates 5 years. This isn’t a list of all the Black owned businesses in our city. The businesses listed below have been either featured or supported the Urban Experience Magazine in the last five year. Put your business card in the Urban Experience Magazine for $25 a month for the first year. Reach out to us at: contactdsmurban@gmail.com for more details. Urban City Magazine Howell Dixon Magazine/Podcast https://urbancitymag.co/ Ruby B’s Catering Bradley Family Restaurant 515) 681-4028 https://www.facebook.com/ rubybskitchen/ The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 43
Hip 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
Angela Jackson’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 Lawson’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 Lawson’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. DeMarcus Hamilton 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 The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 45
Terence 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, she’s a feature writer, artist, and community organizer/social activist fighting on issues such as racial, environmental, and economic justice for over 10 years.
Calling for Submissions The Urban Experience Magazine Negus Sankofa Imhotep’s Bio Negus Sankofa Imhotep is the Academic & Workforce Coordinator at Urban Dreams and the Deferred Expulsion Case Manager for Des Moines Public Schools. In these roles, he has connected several of Central Iowa’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 Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Political Science from Excelsior College, a Master’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. What are we looking for? Poetry, Interviews, Short Stories, Comics, Photography, Music & Performance Reviews, Opinion pieces or whatever you are thinking! When do we want it? The deadline for all content is the 15th of each month. What kind of writers do we like? Experienced creative writers and those who have never written before. So what do YOU do? Checkout the website at www.theurbanexp.com Email your submissions to contactdsmurban@gmail.com, and help us make each edition of the magazine great! The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 47
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