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Inside UnityPoint Welcomes Katrina Agnew February 2022 Bittersweet Homecoming How Much Do We Care About Black Lives 1

WRITERS & STAFF Editor-In-Chief Dwana Bradley Copy Editor Virgina Smith Contributors Creative Director Nikki Goldman - LosRos Graphix Donnetta Austin Debra Carr Terence Haynes Angela Jackson Celeste Lawson Gary Lawson Bert Moody Lori Young Caleb Thomas Courageous Fire 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 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 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

SUMMARY 6 10 12 22 3 10 12 18 22 20 25 26 28 32 35 38 42 Celebrating the Iowa African American Hall of Fame UnityPoint Welcomes Katrina Agnew Courageous Truth Bittersweet Homecoming To Sir, With Love A Child of the Most High Black Iowans in the Defense of the Nation, 1863-2000 The Art of Education: Honoring Ruth Ann Gaines How Much Do You Care About Black Lives Mental Health during Pregnancy and Postpartum 10 Ways to Love Your Brain Carrie Mae Weems Iowa State Legislature

GET THE URBAN EXPERIENCE I t’s February! Black History Month, Valentines Day has come and gone, and the Urban Experience Magazine turns 7! Now, if you know me there is significance in numbers. The number 7 means a sense of fullness, completeness, perfection. The Bible says that it took God 7 days to create heaven and earth and He was pleased. On day 7 He rested. The number 7 in love talks about stepping outside your solitary journey to walk together with someone else. In numerology the number 7 represents a quest for knowledge and has a representation in major religions. I believe in year 7 the Urban Experience Magazine grows in ways we can’t imagine or think. You will see changes in our websites, social media, we will gain new writers, and you will see some of our stories come to life on the Urban Impact Show. The magazine will continue to be a space where our voices are heard and elevated. The magazine will be a bridge to bring information to communities and create dialogue to be a caveat for change. As editor-in-chief of this magazine and the owner of Iowa Urban Media we will continue to elevate your stories and create spaces at tables that aren’t always open to us. I felt it necessary to have an outlet to share information and provide an opportunity for people to tell and share stories. Media has taken a life of its own and having ownership is important to me so that no one tells me what I do or how I share the story. I’m committed to making sure our voices are heard. In this edition you will see a few articles from past years. The first article is on Dr. Cater G. Woodson and the second is from a book I recommend everyone purchase Outside In: AfricanAmerican History in Iowa. This book can be purchased on Amazon. Outsidein:African-AmericanHistoryinIowa, 1838-2000:BillSilag,SusanKoch-Bridgford,HalChase: 9780890330135:Amazon.com:Books The ask I have from you is to continue to share this publication with others each month. Let people know the Urban Experience Magazine exist and we are here to serve you. I thank you all for your support. We look forward to many years to come. Dwana Bradley Editor in Chief

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African American History Month CELEBRATING THE IOWA AFRICAN AMERICAN HALL OF FAME BY GARY LAWSON February marks the celebration of African American History Month, also referred to as Black History Month, and I wanted to share some relevant history. During 1995, the Connect Foundation committed to organizing and producing an awards program that recognized the achievements and contributions of African Americans in Iowa. The awards program was designed as to not just focus on the job title of those nominated for induction into the Iowa African American Hall of Fame, but to center on what the nominee accomplished relative to improving the ‘quality of life for Iowans’. Nomination forms were sent to a wide spectrum of entities such as, but not limited to, businesses, community service organizations, government agencies, fraternities, and sororities. The first inductions occurred during 1996. As the Iowa African American Hall of Fame activities expanded, the Connect Foundation sought a ‘permanent home’ for managing the growing needs of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame activities, thereby entering into an ‘agreement’ (which is officially recognized by Iowa State University) with the Black Cultural Center, thereby transferring the Iowa African American Hall of Fame into the custody of the Black Cultural Center during 2002. On that basis, the Black Cultural Center’s Board of Directors officially created the ‘Iowa African American Hall of Fame Advisory Committee’. My motivation for transferring the Iowa African American Hall of Fame over to the Black Cultural Center at Iowa State University was due to my belief that there was an ‘increased opportunity’ to involve administrative staff, faculty members, and students in the process of expanding and improving the operations of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. As it turned out, I was correct. The Black Cultural Center established ‘standing committees’ to oversee the activities of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame that were designed to function by Iowa State University’s administrative staff and faculty members, which also included some individuals ‘external’ to the Iowa State University organization. The President of the Board for the Black Cultural Center during that time was Dr. George A. Jackson. His leadership resulted in the establishment of a

subordinate body to oversee the Iowa African American Hall of Fame, which was referred to as the ‘Iowa African American Hall of Fame Advisory Board (IAAHOFAB). Dr. Jackson served as President, and I served as the Vice President. The IAAHOFAB created ‘standing committees’ within the Black Cultural Center. I was excited by, and confident in, the established process for managing the Iowa African America Hall of Fame. The following are examples of their leadership: Standing Committee Chairs Selection Committee—Gary Lawson Banquet Committee—Dolph Pulliam Public Relations—Gary Lawson and Dolph Pulliam Corporate Sponsorship—Dr. Thomas Phillips George Washington Carver Leadership Academy*—Dr. Mary Chapman Community Outreach—Rudy Simms Finance Committee—Dolph Pulliam Legislative Committee—LaMetta Wynn Selection Committee Procure African American nominations to present to the Board Banquet Committee Develop program for the annual induction ceremony Public Relations To establish and promote the IAAHF and subordinate activities Corporate Sponsorship Identify prospective corporations to support IAAHF George Washington Carver Leadership Academy Identify students who can benefit from leadership training Community Outreach Committee Develop the community interest in the IAAHF Finance Committee Advise the Board of Directors on the resources of the IAAHF SelectionCommittee…… …….Gary Lawson Banquet Committee……………Dolph Pulliam Public Relations………………..Gary Lawson and Dolph Pulliam (co-chairs) Corporate Sponsorship…………Dr. Thomas Phillips George Washington Carver Leadership Academy*…Dr. Mary Chapman Community Outreach……………Rudy Simms Finance Committee………………Dolph Pulliam *Inspired by a hugely successful release by Whitney Houston during the mid1980’s, titled ‘Greatest Love of All’, and focusing on the words…“I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way”…I developed the concept for what was to become the ‘George Washington Carver Leadership Academy’ for youths, which became an official activity of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame during 2005. The primary instructors for the George Washington Carver Academy were Dr. George Jackson, Rudy Simms and myself. ——Gary Lawson 7

It is also worth noting that in addition to the Iowa African American Hall of Fame induction ceremonies being held at Iowa State University, there also were other hosting locations, such as the facilities at Iowa Public Television (Johnston, Iowa), and Prairie Meadows (Altoona, Iowa) to name a few. Following Dr. George Jackson’s retirement during June of 2009, my time working with the Iowa African American Hall of Fame had all but ceased. It was during February of 2021 that my attention was directed to a nonfunctional link to Iowa State University’s Iowa African American Hall of Fame website. I contacted the Assistant Dean for Intercultural Initiatives and Resource Centers & Director of Multicultural Affairs and alerted him about the unresponsive website link. I later contacted the only Board member of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame to set up a meeting with the Assistant Dean for Intercultural Initiatives and Resource Centers & Director of Multicultural Affairs in order to determine what may be done to ‘gear up’ the activities of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. It wasn’t until October of 2021 when we met, but I continued reaching out to the sole Board member of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame leading up to the preparation of this article. I met one of Dr. Jackson’s daughters during the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the state capitol building during 2021 and received information from her about the hiring of a new Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Iowa State University. I am trying to work with the Board Member of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame to schedule a meeting with the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs in order to regenerate the expected support for the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. Dr. Jackson died during July of 2016, leaving a legacy that will live on at Iowa State University. Although Dr. Jackson is resting in peace, I am committed to seeking the restoration of support for the Iowa African American Hall of Fame on the level of operation that his leadership expected. He was a caring, resolute, and productive individual and it was indeed a pleasure serving with him. Many of you reading this article may have a family member, or know of someone, that was inducted into, or is a prime candidate for induction into, the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. Contact Iowa State University and find out more about the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. In closing, the Iowa African American Hall of Fame has been in existence for more than a quarter-century highlighting the accomplishments of African Americans and preserving their contributions for the benefit of future generations of Iowans. Please expect, and support, the continuance of that effort on the highest levels possible. We owe that much to those whose legacies contributed a significant impact on shaping Iowa. I believe, and history reveals, that the Black Cultural Center and the Iowa African American Hall of Fame were destined to be a great match. The pandemic may have caused a temporary issue, but with your vigilance and support…we shall overcome. Follow this link https://iaahf.studentaffairs. iastate.edu and contact officials at Iowa State University to see how you can support, or nominate someone for induction into, the Iowa African American Hall of Fame! God Bless…and Happy African American History Month! 9

UMITY POINT CONTRIBUTING EDITOR UnityPoint Welcomes Katrina Agnew By: Dwana Bradley

The Urban Experience Magazine had the opportunity to talk with Katrina Agnew. She is the VP of Hospice at Unity Point. Katrina shares about herself and her new role. 1. Tell the readers about yourself? I started working in the hospice industry October 13, 1994…over 27 years! I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a Fellowship in Public Health Leadership, and a master’s degree in healthcare administration. I’ve worked in several capacities within the hospice industry such as Admissions, Business Development, multi-site leadership, and Operations. I’m passionate about hospice and want to ensure that everyone that needs hospice has the opportunity to choose it. I had my own personal hospice experience in November 2020 when we found out that my own mother, who we affectionately called “Mama” had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. There were no treatments for her except chemotherapy, and Mama was adamant that she didn’t want chemo. I took her to my home and hospice provided everything she needed to be comfortable. Hospice brought in all the equipment she needed, including a bed and walker. They also provided the medications she needed to keep her comfortable and pain-free. She had her own care team which included a nurse, hospice aide, physician, social worker, and chaplain. In addition to the care they provided for Mama, they made sure that my family and I knew what was going on at every stage of her illness. They helped to prepare us for her last days and I am forever grateful for them. 2. When many hear hospice, we think of the end of life. What services does hospice provide? Hospice is such a beautiful service that is so underutilized, because I think people don’t understand the services and benefits hospice provides for patients and their loved ones. Hospice is for those with an illness whose life expectancy is six months or less, and who are not seeking any aggressive treatment or cure. Hospice effectively manages physical pain and symptoms, but it also addresses spiritual and emotional pain. It really can be the difference between a good end-of-life experience and one that is unfavorable. Patients and families can truly experience the full benefits of hospice when they are referred earlier rather than later. The ability to have the services of a nurse, hospice aide, social worker, chaplain, volunteer, and physician are invaluable during such a trying time. They work together collaboratively to ensure the best care is being provided to patients and families. In addition to the staff provided, all medications, supplies, and equipment related to the primary hospice diagnosis are covered at 100% by Medicare, Medicaid, and some insurances and Veterans benefits. These are services that our communities are not aware of but could benefit them greatly. We sometimes suffer so needlessly, when a care team can help navigate the final days or weeks when a loved one has a life-limiting illness. 3. What impact do you desire to make in your role at Unity Point? In my role at Unity Point Hospice, my goal is to partner with our physicians and healthcare providers in the community to ensure we are providing the best care and meeting the needs of patients needing hospice. I would love to bring a greater awareness to the communities about the benefits of hospice care. I want to help everyone understand what the Medicare Hospice Benefit is and how to take advantage of it as they or their loved one goes through an end-of-life experience. I would love to help dispel some of the myths that create obstacles of thought and deter some in communities of color from accessing hospice. 4. How can our readers get more information about Hospice services? I commend your readers for wanting to know more about such an important service. They can go to our website for more information at www.unitypoint.org/hospice. Their doctor or health care provider can also answer questions about hospice care and can make a referral to our team. 5. Do you have any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers? Hospice is nothing to be fearful of. It is an individualized plan of care provided by professionals to patients and families which gives support during one of the hardest times in anyone’s life. It is your right to empower yourself and your community about these services so that needless pain and suffering does not happen. Hospice can make the most of the time that you or your loved one has left. I would be happy to speak with anyone having more questions about the benefits of hospice and what a difference it can make in the end-of-life experience. 11

Courageous TR UTHS HE CONNECTS, DEJA COMMITS

B eloved, we kicked off 2022 letting you know we were going to walk you through how DV (domestic violence) perpetrators approach their Black women prey. We told you we were going to give you the run down to dispel the myths like “Black women don’t play that” and “Black women are too strong for that”, etc. To remind you, we said we would break down the 7-step perpetrator roadmap (how he does it) and the 5-step victim-survivor roadmap (how she can get out). We started in January 2022 with Step 1 of how he does it: Establish a connection. In this month’s story, we will detail Steps 1 and 2 of how he does it: Establish a connection; Establish a commitment (from the victim). We will follow our fictional character all through this year to make it easy to follow the steps. Please bear in mind that she represents one scenario with one grouping of abuse types that we have chosen. However… • a 2020 article reports 40% of Black women experiencing DV within their lifetime1 • two 2021 articles in different states report an increase in DV among Black women during the worldwide social distancing that resulted in women being trapped at home with the abuser2 , and it was predicted that would be the picture of DV worldwide... Deja3 is 40 years old4 and is rebuilding after DV5 Denzel went looking for her. You see, Deja wasn’t looking for a relationship. She had just finished her certificate courses for medical transcription in the early 2000s. I don’t know if you know much about transcription during that time, but it was booming. Doctors, attorneys, and other professionals would talk into a mini recorder and the downloaded information had to be scribed by fast, accurate typists into the official records. Deja took office administration classes all through high school and could type so fast that people told her it looked like she had to be typing gibberish. She was more on the shy side and didn’t necessarily like talking in front of crowds. Oh, she could do it if she had to, but it wasn’t her first choice for something enjoyable to do. Since she had played piano from the age of 4, easily translated piano keyboards for typewriter and computer keyboards, and enjoyed challenging her listening skills, transcription was a perfect career choice for her. She had a 4.0 throughout the entire program and was recommended for a paid internship before the course ended. She started making good money for that time period, had full-time hours directly after graduation and moved into a much nicer apartment. Things were going well, and Deja was almost content. , a pattern of behavior from an intimate partner or former partner used to gain/maintain power and control over the other partner6. Deja asked me to share her story with all of you because she wants you to know how it really looks for Black women being victimized by DV. The first thing she asked me to explain to you was how Black women are entrapped in a way that almost guarantees she won’t leave the relationship. Deja doesn’t want you to believe it’s as simple as seeing abuse and leaving the relationship. Almost content because her church life wasn’t going so well. Her hometown church had been taken over by some very power-hungry women leaders who set their sites on discrediting Deja. After finding herself removed from her beloved paid music leadership role, she felt quite displaced. She was hurt and confused at the betrayal and abandonment from people who had watched her grow up there, be a “good girl” there, and contribute there. She missed playing for church, directing and developing choirs and small groups, and wanted to fill that void. Someone from her denomination in another state heard about her and invited her to play with them and their choir one day for church. As soon as the pastor heard her, he quickly made an offer for her 13

to be their next music director and work with their choir. Sure, she’d have to travel a few hours each way on the weekends, but she was single and had a wellmaintenanced vehicle, so why not? From the very beginning, she hit it off with the choir members, the pastor, and her new church family. Now, she felt complete. Solid, easy career, creating beautiful music again, a new church family…Deja was now content. Deja’s humble, warm, and confident manner was noticed by everyone, including Denzel. It was funny how Deja had never noticed this man before, even though the sanctuary probably held less than 500 people. But there he was that day, making his way up to her to greet her at the end of service. He said he alternated between that church and the larger one of the same denomination in town. She briefly thought to herself that there was something fascinating about him that she couldn’t put her finger on and then dismissed the thought. That was all Denzel needed - for now. In that one encounter, Deja had no way of knowing he was divorced and had emotionally abused and coercively controlled his former wife during the marriage, and had plans for his next target. No way of knowing he had coercively controlled his children from the marriage and was still doing so. In that same encounter, Deja didn’t notice the way he was studying her reactions and responses then and had done so through the entire church service as well, nor did she notice when he clocked her fascination. As her name implied7 , what she would soon fully experience had indeed “already happened”, as Denzel had carefully planned it all long before he said “hello”. ESTABLISH A CONNECTION As I said, Deja’s manner was noticed by everyone - and liked by many if not all of the adult parishioners - including Lilith. Lily was a woman at the church that Deja never noticed either, until after she introduced herself, then Deja wondered how she could ever have not noticed her. Lily seemed to shine so brightly that Deja saw her now first in the congregation before she saw anyone else. Lily and Deja talked during church dinners to the point that Deja wanted more. Deja came over to Lily’s house, met Lily’s husband, ate dinner with them, spent time with them, and just plain enjoyed Lily’s company. One day Lily wasn’t at service, and Lily was always there. It made Deja concerned about Lily’s wellbeing, so right after service ended she called. Lily indeed was not feeling well, and Deja asked if she could visit. Lily gratefully agreed. Deja had just come back from a

trip down South and was giving Lily her best comedic descriptions of the trip’s adventures. The two of them laughed so hard they often cried. In the middle of their fun, Lily told Deja she had a brother who had been very sad lately and asked if he could come over to laugh also. Deja agreed; well shoot, Deja would probably consent to just about any favor for Lily simply due to her lovely spirit. Deja heard the subtext of her conversation with Lily after she knew her brother was on his way; it was irritation. Deja didn’t want to share Lily with anyone. She was having such a good time with a beautiful spirit; why add someone else to the mix? In the middle of those thoughts, in walks Denzel. He introduces himself again to Deja and greets Lily. As the siblings briefly chatted, Deja found herself once again fascinated. His smile seemed so approachable, his manner so comfortable. Denzel easily joined in the laughter and jesting as though he had been in the conversation from the start. As Lily’s proclamations about her brother were interjected, Denzel performed, whether it was rapping or poetry or cooking. It seemed as though there was nothing Lily could announce that Denzel couldn’t do. His cooking and presentation were delightful, his humor engaging, and conversation refreshingly substantial. She didn’t know why, but Lily found herself talking openly about the work with the young people in her former church that she missed doing now, and her sadness about not being able to get the church to see its value. Unbelievably enough, Denzel talked about the work he did with the young people at his church and some of the programming he had done with them - programming that he had created and facilitated himself. Deja stayed into the evening and found herself enjoying a movie with Lily and Denzel. By now the socializing had moved over to his house. This turned out to be a particularly easy transition since Denzel lived within the same townhouse development; it was just a drive to another section of the large parking lot. More food was prepared by Denzel, and they all settled into enjoying the movie until Deja noticed she wasn’t feeling well. Deja had been experiencing intermittent pain in her legs for a few weeks, and tonight was one of those times. She hoped it would settle down so she could keep it to herself, knowing that if it escalated she would not be able to hide its intense effect on her. Her hopes were disappointed this evening, as the pain reached a level where she could not stay involved in the movie. She pretended to go to the restroom and tried deep breathing and softly rubbing her legs, hoping it would calm down. When it became so severe she could not comfortably walk, she had to call out to Lily and Denzel for assistance. As they were rushing to her side, she felt embarrassed at making such a scene in the middle of the night’s festivities. Denzel was kind, patient, and attentive. Lily was as well, but she expected that response from her. Denzel was a man, the movie was an action movie, and Deja expected annoyance. Once things had finally calmed down enough for Deja to feel comfortable getting back into her car to drive home, she couldn’t help replaying the night. Here’s this Black man: kind, funny, talented, intelligent, and seemingly as much in love with God as she was. Where did he come from? And, more importantly, how could she see him again? Would he think her to be a burden because of the evening’s temporary chaos around her situation? Would he not want to deal with her ever again because of it? Deja knew she had to rest, but would definitely try to get answers soon. Now settled in at her apartment late afternoon on the following day, Denzel re-entered her thoughts. She had already called her out-of-town hosts that housed her every weekend to advise of her safe return. She had already gotten things ready for work on Monday. She had no more distractions from the nervous questions nagging her mind, so they were flooding back. She dreaded hearing the distant sound in his voice if he 15

was indeed annoyed by last night’s events, viewed her as a potential burden, and wanted to cut the ties now. As the phone rang - yes, they had exchanged numbers - she almost held her breath so she could sound as though she casually wanted to confirm she was doing okay after last night. When he answered, his voice sounded pleasant, present, compassionate, and slightly concerned, as though he was waiting to make sure she had not declined in health through the night. Deja thanked him once again for the previous night, apologized to him for the trouble of having something heavy sprung upon him during such a carefree activity, explained to him that this wasn’t something she expected, and asked him if he found it to be any sort of problem. His response was a relief, “Hey, we all have things we deal with. Don’t worry about it.” They then went on to have a wonderful conversation that ended with Deja’s head spinning with delight. “I don’t have to worry about this man judging me! I’m so glad I can just relax and be myself around him.” To Deja this was just a chance meeting with a guy she wasn’t looking for who was turning out to be a lot of fun. To Denzel, it was the completion of Step 1: Establishing a Connection. Deja had 2 important checkpoints nicely aligned for activation at the right time: 1. Denzel had made a religious connection. Deja’s core belief system was aligned with the role of God through Christianity and corporate worship through a church congregation. It was not complete in her life until that was in order. Denzel connected with her by demonstrating the appropriate level of importance in his life as well. 2. Denzel had fulfilled a need. The 2nd most basic needs of humans are to be well. Deja was beginning to have disruptive struggles with her health, and that disturbed her peace more than she wanted to admit to herself yet. Denzel helped provide comfort and security during a time where she was not in her own surroundings but found herself in need of assistance to return to a state of control over her own physical stability. He fulfilled the need for health and wellbeing in that moment. Black women raised as Deja was would likely never forget someone who provided that who was not required to do so, such as a spouse, parent of a minor child, or a healthcare professional. Denzel was none of these, but he filled this need just the same, forming another connection checkpoint. What a bonus indeed with connection checkpoint #2. Step 2 of 7 on the Perpetrator Pattern Roadmap is to Establish a Commitment, to the perpetrator that is. Denzel likely did not expect this during his first real time spent with Deja but he absolutely noted the moment it entered the picture. Denzel’s willingness to be kind when there was seemingly nothing in for him actually looked like him living what he believed - doing to others as he would have them do to him - nothing more. Just being a real Christian. How could a woman who loved God not feel a certain sense of commitment to return the favor if she were in the position to do so, when she saw a man truly live by these principles? Their phone conversations increased in frequency and length, and soon they were talking until the early morning hours, during her breaks at work, and spending time together every weekend she was in town. During this time, Deja found out he was the victim of ACEs (adverse childhood experiences)8 , his father was violently abusive to his mother, and he was divorced from a spouse who mistreated him and left him to raise their children while she ran the streets. On one particular night, Deja hung up the phone from one of their conversations thinking, “He’s had it so hard in his life and yet is gentle and kind. He’s been let down so much. That is so unfair, but…he can count on me.” If Deja could have heard what was going on in the COURAGEO

calculating thoughts of this man that made noises to which she was not privy, she would have heard the sound of a checkmark landing in a box signaling the completion of Step 2: Establish a Commitment. Please keep reading these month by month - Black women need you to understand how it really goes. Blessings. By Courageous Fire DV Advocate & Founder of Courageous Fire, LLC 1. Courageous Access is our new non-profit, 501(c)3! We are expanding how we change the narrative. The nonprofit arm has a mission to provide holistic supportive services to Black female descendants of slaves who have experienced domestic and or intimate partner violence; promoting pathways of healing through selfreliance and healthy legacy. You are welcome to make your tax-deductible donation right here: Donate 2. Courageous Access and Courageous Fire, LLC will be differentiated by one being the entity that serves the women and the other being the woman who speaks, trains, etc. Over the course of the next 12 months, you will see the programming from the LLC moving over to the non-profit. 3. Courageous Access already has board, professional volunteer, and internship openings! Click here to access our Opportunities page on our Courageous Access website. Click here to apply directly through Facebook 4. Great news, DV Survivors! Now there is a place you can go to find out what is best to do in the first 30 days after separation from the abuser!! I will continue to convert my life experience into educational currency, and this is no different. Click right here to see an excerpt from the Day #1 and sign up at the same time: Subscribe to Beyond the Abuse 5. If you’re not a survivor and just want to keep up with what’s going on, here’s how to subscribe to our newsletter: CFire LLC Blog News 6. In a relationship? Make sure it’s healthy: Healthy Relationship Wheel Illustration. Or go to TheHotline.org, or Phone: 800-799-7233 7. In an abusive relationship? a. Call us to get connected to a Community Safe Space to begin safety planning, 515-428-0077 b. At the Community Safe Space, talk to The Hotline.org to commence safety planning 8. Survivor and stable in your new life? Sign up for Empowerment through the Arts™; avoid future DV cycles: Foundation REconstruct: Empowerment through the Arts™ Endnotes 1. Blackburn.org article: Black Women & Domestic Violence. 2. Indiana article, Virginia article 3. Deja is a fictional character who represents Black women interviewed or researched 4. Average age of Black women DV victimsurvivors interviewed by Hillary Potter for “Battle Cries” per pp 227-228 Appendix B. 5. DV is the widely-accepted abbreviation for domestic violence. It is also referred to as IPV or intimate partner violence. 6. Definition combined from Courageous Fire, LLC DV Awareness™ training curriculum and National Domestic Violence Hotline definition 7. Deja has many meanings, one of which is “something that has already happened”. 8. ACEs chart as given by The Philadelphia ACEs Project US TRUTHS 17

Bittersweet Homecoming Written By: Arturo Rodriquez Four hours and thirty-five minutes. The drive back to my childhood home is four hours and thirty-five minutes long. On days where I have to drive back home, whether it be for break from school or some sort of family emergency, a sixth of my day is spent in a compact car. For the most part, I complete this drive by myself, mostly because there isn’t really anyone I can take on this drive. There aren’t too many people that I know that come from my hometown, or any of the surrounding areas. Most of the people that I do know are off living their own lives in different places across the country. It would be nice to have someone to travel with on this boring road trip. It would also be nice to have someone chip in for gas, and maybe have someone entertain me while driving. There are benefits to driving alone. For starters, I can play my own music, or try to play music that appeals to someone else’s taste. I can just go towards my destination without having to drop someone off. I don’t have to initiate or participate in small talk (which is the absolute worst thing to do). Most importantly, I can be myself on the car ride. **The First Hour** I always dread this drive. I hate driving home. I don’t have a lot of good memories back home. The few that I had weren’t enough to keep me nearby. That’s why when I had the opportunity to leave the state, I took it. My new home has provided me with much more pleasantries than my hometown ever did. Why would I want to leave. Well, mostly because people in my family miss me. Yet, they don’t understand why I don’t like being home. Well, at least my parents don’t. I often prolong the preparation before the drive, double-checking that I have everything I need to bring with me on the trip. I prolong my visit to the gas-station, ensuring that I have both gas and snacks for the drive. There have been times in which I stay in the car for a few minutes and just relax. Sometimes, I’ll stay in the lot by my new house and nap before I leave. However, at some point, I have to take off. The first hour of my drive is usually quiet. The only noise that can be heard from the car is that of the podcast that I had put on. I usually put on a podcast to make the drive seem shorter. More often than not, the podcast goes on for an hour or more. With the podcast on in the background, I have something to entertain me on this boring trip through Iowa. It takes me 20 minutes to exit the suburbs and spend most of the trip looking at nothing but roads, plains and farmland. Chapter 1

After 30 minutes of driving is when I get trapped in my own thoughts. My mind races to distract myself from the drive, thinking of different scenarios, stories, and memories of the past. I look back at some moments in life and think about how things could have been different. I think about how I get to this point in my life. “Why are you going back?” I look around at the grey sky hitting the vast empty green lands that inhabit Iowa. The drive back home is going to be long. **The Next Two and a Half** Besides the podcast playing in the back, the car is still very quiet. Nothing much has changed within the next hour of driving. I simply continue on without saying much. There isn’t much to say, and to whom would I speak to? Myself? I used to have a huge habit of conversing with myself. My parents said it wasn’t healthy; so, when I do talk to myself, it’s in writing or done mentally. The conversations can range depending on my mood. If I am feeling well, the conversation can be of me thinking about some of my favorite interest such as basketball, professional wrestling, superheroes, Pokémon among other things (if you cannot tell, I am huge geek). When I feel upset, grumpy, (and on one occasion) heartbroken, my thoughts become unsettling. I become very negative, and every little inconvenience during my trip seems to bother me much more than it usually does. There was an instance where my thoughts were very much selfloathing, and of me telling myself that I’m not good enough. “You should turn around. They’re not going to want you.” “I’ve already driven this far. I can’t turn around now.” Two hours and fifteen minutes into my drive, I usually stop in Walcott, Iowa. The large truck stop serves as a halfway point in my trip. I tend to spend more time than I need to at this truck stop, usually buying lunch and gas before heading back on the road. At this point I’m not that far from the state border. I get back on I-80 and head east. Twenty minutes go by, and I see the big green sign that says “Illinois.” I’m home… kind of. I continue to see a majority of land that is either empty or farmland. However, there is a different atmosphere upon entering the state. The sky appears bluer, and the grass is a much more vibrant green. My mind begins to feel less cluttered. Any negativity that I have, goes away for about an hour. “You miss it.” **The Last Hour** The final hour of the drive is always the most stressful for me. At this point, I focus a lot more on trying to get back home. The road becomes busier with traffic as I begin to head into the southern suburbs of Chicago. At his point in the drive, I change the audio from podcast to actual music. I turn the volume up so that I can keep my self alert and awake. It’s during this final hour that my mind begins to race with thoughts once again. I pass by familiar sites and think of the memories they remind me of. All the memories that I had left behind, slowly start to come back to me. “You’re almost there.” Twenty minutes away from my destination is when I start running into traffic. All the cars around become a nuisance. I’m filled with impatience. I want to get home. I want the drive to end. I want to lay down and rest, but at the same time, I do not want to be here. “Take the exit. You’re not to far from home.” The drive home from the highway is short. I’ve reentered my hometown and drive through my neighborhood. It’s quiet and humble. In the neighborhood, there are people either walking their dogs or tending to their lawns. There is a park where many of the neighborhood kids frolic and play games with one another. I pull up to the curb outside of my house. Cars are lined-up on the curb with little to no spaces left. I was lucky enough to get the spot near my house. I wait in the car for a few minutes to prepare myself to reenter my childhood home. I turn the keys in the engine to turn my car off. “Welcome home.” People say that home is where the heart is. How can I call a place home if my heart left there a long time ago. 19

SPIRITUALITY A Child of the Most High. Written By: Donnetta Austin Never forget who you are. The love of God is “Agape” unconditional. Psalms 139-13,14: For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well. God’s Love is stronger and outweighs rejection. You are made whole through Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 4:12: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Always remember you are valuable and highly favored by the Lord. He is more than enough to withstand in our own strength or what others perceive of us. God has given us grace to overcome and carry out the will He has set for our lives. You are not alone. Continue to shine in all that God has gifted you with through remaining faithful in what He has designed and destined for you to do. The assignment on your life has a great impact and a ripple effect that resembles the Love of God.

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To Sir, with Love Written By: Bert Moody To Sir Sidney Poitier, we the people of the world would like to say, “THANK YOU”. Sidney Poitier (February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was an actor, film director, and diplomat. He was a trailblazer. He was a pioneer. And he was a legend. Sidney Poitier, who died on January 6th at age 94, was a ground-breaking performer … truly in a class all his own. Mr. Poitier’s family lived in the Bahamas but went to Miami, Florida to sell tomatoes when Sidney was born three months early. It was uncertain if he would survive so his father purchased a tiny casket. Sidney survived to live on Cat Island, Bahamas until he was 15 when his parents, worried about his delinquency, they sent him back to Miami to live with his older brother. But at 16 Poitier left Miami and moved to New York City. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and served a brief stint in a medical unit. After the Army he went back to New York to try his hand at acting. Because he only had two years of schooling, and was illiterate, and he had a thick Bahamian accent he had a disastrous audition at the American Negro Theater and ended up becoming a dishwasher. One of the waiters was an elderly Jewish guy and he saw Sidney with a newspaper. Poitier said, “he walked over to me, and he looked at me and he said, ‘What’s new in the paper?’ And I looked up at this man and I said to him, ‘I can’t tell you what’s in the paper, because I can’t read very well.’ He said, ‘Let me ask you something, would you like me to read with you?’ I said to him, ‘Yes, if you like.’ “Now let me tell you something: Every night … every night, the place is closed, everyone’s gone, and he sat there with me, week after week after week. I learned a lot. He modeled his legendary speech pattern after radio personality Norman Brokenshire. “And then, things began to happen.” Poitier landed an acting apprenticeship with the very same theater company that earlier had

laughed him out of his audition. There, Poitier learned alongside acting legends like Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, and Harry Belafonte. Poitier decided he would not play someone who was immoral or cruel. “If you go through my career, you’ll find that I didn’t. I didn’t ever,” said Poitier. His typical character was dignified, proud and ethical. That lead to his first starring role in 1950 alongside Richard Widmark in a movie called “No Way Out”. This led to some unbelievable iconic film roles like (not his complete filmography): From the 50’s: • Cry, the Beloved Country • Blackboard Jungle • The Defiant Ones • Porgy and Bess From the 60’s: • A Raisin in the Sun • Lilies of the Field (He won the Academy Award) • The Greatest Story Ever Told • A Patch of Blue • To Sir, with Love • In the Heat of the Night (Won the Academy Award for Best Picture) • Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner From the 70’s: • Brother John • Buck and the Preacher • Uptown Saturday Night • Let’s Do It Again • A Piece of the Action After a decade long break from acting. From the 80’s: • Shoot to Kill • Little Nikita From the 90’s • Separate But Equal • Sneakers • Mandela and de Klerk • The Jackal Poitier also was the director of several films, starting with Buck and the Preacher in 1972, and including, Uptown Saturday Night, A Piece of the Action, Let’s Do It Again, Stir Crazy (starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder), Fast Forward, and Ghost Dad (starring Bill Cosby). He also wrote the movie For the Love of Ivy in 1968. Throughout his amazing career here are some of his Awards and Honors. Poitier became the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for Lilies of the Field (1963). He also received a Grammy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award. He received numerous honoraria during his lifetime including the Academy Honorary Award for his lifetime achievement in film in 2001. In 1992, Poitier received the AFI Life Achievement Award. In 1994, Poitier received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1981, he received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award and in 2016 he received the BAFTA Fellowship. In 1995, Poitier received the Kennedy Center Honor and in 2009, Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama. In 2000, he was the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award winner then added in 2001, the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. He was also named an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974. In 1986, he gave the Commencement Address to the University 23

of Miami graduating class and was given the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts. His legacy is undeniable, after his death the New York Times noted, that Poitier was instrumental for the diversity of Hollywood and “paved the way for Black actors in film”. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that “Poitier was the first actor to star in mainstream Hollywood movies that depicted a Black man in a non-stereotypical fashion, and his influence, especially during the 1950s and ‘60s as role model and image-maker, was immeasurable.” While presenting Poitier the Honorary Academy Award in 2002, Denzel Washington said of Poitier: “Before Sidney, African American actors had to take supporting roles in major studio films that were easy to cut out in certain parts of the country. But you couldn’t cut Sidney Poitier out of a Sidney Poitier picture”. He was also described as the “sole representative” of African Americans in mainstream cinema during the 1950s and 1960s, especially during the height of the American Civil Rights movement. The New York Times noted that Poitier was diversifying Hollywood and for his role in paving the way for further Black actors, he was described as one of “the most important figures of 20th century Hollywood”. Former president of the United States Barack Obama noted that Poitier had “[advanced] the nation’s dialogue on race and respect” and “opened doors for a generation of actors”. For these things plus much, much more the Urban Experience Magazine wants to say THANKS for your life, your love, and your legacy. References: CBS Sunday Morning Show (2013 interview with Lesley Stahl), Britannica.com, Wikipedia. com, IMDb.com

Black Iowans in the Defense of the Nation, 1863-2000 By Willian Morris By Willian Morris Military service and sacrifice have been the keys to political, economic and social progress for black Americans from the Revolutionary war to the present. From Crispus Attucks’ death in the Boston Massacre in 1770 to the ongoing war in the Middle East, African-Americans have contributed mightily to the cause of liberty. In Iowa, blacks were banned from the state militia, but the Civil War changed that. 700 black Iowans served in the 1st Iowa Volunteers of African descent despite being paid $10 per month rather than $13 paid to whites. Their major battle took place at Wallace’s Ferry near Helena, AR and their bravery changed the hearts and minds of Gen. Dodge and Gov. Kirkwood who supported black male suffrage in 1868, making Iowa the first northern state to guarantee black men’s right to vote and, in the mind of Ulysses S. Grant, “the Bright and Radical Star.” After the Civil War, Congress created four black units: the 9th & 10th cavalries and 24th & 25th infantries which fought Native Americans on the Great Plains between 1866 and the Spanish American War. Col. Edward Hatch of Muscatine commanded the 9th for some 20 years and his high regard for his men and disregard for discrimination against them led to the involuntary end of his military career. The bestknown Iowan of the “Buffalo Soldiers” was George H. Woodson who studied law at Howard U. before settling in Buxton and the Des Moines. When the United States entered WW1 he inspired the candidates to the Black Officers Training Camps at Ft. Des Moines by declaring: “With less than 30 days’ notice the superb youth, the very best brain, vigor, and manhood of the Race gave up comfort, position, fuBlack Iowans in the Defense of the Nation, 1863-2000 Left Photo: Vincent E. Lewis beside “The Judge” 1969. Right Photo: Charles P. Howard, Sr. ture promise and outlook [and] from the North, South, East and West started on their voluntary march to Ft. Des Moines in answer to the call.” Among the men at Ft. Des Moines, two of the most notable were James B. Morris, Sr. and Charles P. Howard, Sr. Both earned commissions, served in France and returned to Des Moines after the war to establish careers in law, civil rights and journalism. Morris and his wife were perennial leaders of the NAACP in Des Moines as well as Iowa and Nebraska. Howard was more militant. The militancy was increased by WW2. Ft. Des Moines because the site where the gender barrier was broken by the 71,00 women who trained there at the first and largest Women’s Army Corps Training Camp. Black Iowans like James B. Morris, Jr. because the first black officer to command white troops. Guy Smith because the first black officer in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence. His brothers Luther and Thomas became “Tuskegee Airmen,” and Virgil Dixon served in the 761st Tank battalion, known as “The Black Panthers”. Vernon Baker of Clarinda was the only Black Iowan to earn the Medal of Honor during WW2 but not until 1997. Fifty years earlier, Charles Howard successfully sued Katz Drug Store for refusing Edna Griffin, A WAC veteran, and others ice cream cones and he strongly supported Henry A. Wallace’s campaign for president on the Progressive Party ticket in 1948 with the slogan, “Jim Crow must go.” This led to his being labeled a communist and harassed out of the state. The Korean War saw the use of integrated units for the first time, but men like George W. Johnson of Marshalltown experienced discrimination first-hand. So did Al Downey, Sr. and the black Iowans who served in Vietnam like Vincent Lewis of Des Moines and Herbert Rogers. Similar racial discrimination plagued those like Michael Galbreath who served in an Iowa National Guard unit in the 1st Gulf War. Yet, Lt. General Russell C. Davis, ad Drake Law grand and American Republican Insurance executive, was promoted to commander of all National Guard units in 1999, testifying to the truth voiced by S. Joe Brown, who attended The WW1 Black Officers Camp that Black Iowans services in our nations’ military “has ever been [a voice] for freedom and equality of all men [and women] regardless of their race or color”. 25

Education The Art of Education Honoring Ruth Ann Gaines Written By: Celeste & Gary Lawson State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines of Des Moines serves Iowa’s 32nd House District and is in the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.

T he following are excerpts from a telephone interview, conducted on January 23, 2022, with the Honorable Ruth Ann Gaines, presently serving as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives within the Iowa State Legislature. Utilize the link below for additional bio information: http://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/ legislatorAllYears?personID=9413 Her amazing career includes service as a community servant, educator, and legislator. Celeste: The Des Moines Public School Board reached a unanimous decision on January 18, 2022, to name the newly renovated East High School auditorium after you. What were some of the first thoughts that crossed your mind when you were made aware of that honor? Ruth Ann: Well, I watched the School Board as they voted seven times a yes…I was not surprised because many people worked on this over two years…but I never really thought that they would name a newly renovated auditorium after me. A pleasure, because it is a great thing. Humble, because not a lot of people…anywhere…get anything named after them, so that distinguished me. Also, I knew it was a blessing from above because I’ve always internally believed that my forty years at East High School was my destiny from God, and that I was doing what he wanted me to do. It was a wonderful forty years, and as it took up the majority of my life…I look back and am well satisfied. Again, I’m blessed because not many people can look back at their lives, and forty years of work and say…I’m well satisfied. Gary: Considering all of the national, state, and local awards that you have received, where does this honor rank? Ruth Ann: This question kind of challenges me, because each honor that I have received has been special for its own unique reason. I always thought that my picture and name being in the National “ Teachers Hall of Fame (2003 Inductee), located in Emporia, Kansas would be the most precious award I have ever received because I thought that it eternalized me, but this one (naming the East High auditorium) has to be number one! I’ll tell you why. People are more appreciated outside of their own place of work and residence than they are right there at home. So, to have people, right here at home, work so hard to get this done for me… it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me! Celeste: Taking into account all of the experiences you have encountered during your career as an educator and community servant, what advice do you have for students as it relates to setting goals? Ruth Ann: I think that each individual has a mission, and I think that each individual has a somewhat awareness of their mission even though we may not have tapped into it. As a young child, I saw myself speaking…acting…leading people…and being kind of a mentor for many, many people. I feel that every child needs to start out a life by setting a goal: 1) be the best person that they can be; and 2) choose a profession in which they cannot only exercise their own God-given talents, but help others. No matter where they land, even if it’s not exactly what they dreamed of as a child, they will be successful and fulfilled because they had those two goals…to be the best person they can be, and to be in a profession that is rewarding…not only to them, because they can exercise their God-given talents, but they can also help others. Gary: Do you have any final thoughts that you want to share with our readers? Ruth Ann: I just want to say that every life has a purpose, and if you can believe in yourself…believe that you will do what God created you to do…be humble, because all of us can learn…pick yourself up when you make mistakes, and always know that God has your back…you will be okay. Celeste and Gary: Thank you. ...every life has a purpose, and if you can believe in yourself believe that you will do what God created you to do... -Ruth Ann Gaines ” 27

Mental Health: HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH! How Much Do You Care About Black Lives? Written By: Caleb Thomas M.A. LMHC

A s we celebrate Black History Month, I want to take time out to have you ask yourself a question or two. How much does your life matter and how much does the Black man, woman or a child’s life matter? We know racism exists and we know that all lives matter. Consider someone who is racist, dying and in need of blood do you think he or she is going to deny that blood because it belongs to a Black person or other nonwhite? Of course not, they want to keep living. We can talk about the many injustices Blacks face today; overly incarcerated rates, police brutality, innocent lives killed, and racial injustices in the workplace to name a few. We all agree we need better laws in the court systems and in our police departments. However, I’m going to switch gears and talk about the injustices we face against each other. We understand racism in this country, going back to slavery, also passed down from slavery is Blackon- Black hate. Since the days of our earliest arrival as enslaved people it was intentional to keep us divided. How does that relate to us today in 2022? We have been taught to be divided. We know there is power in unity. Our Black History details instances of what Blacks accomplished when unified, we got things accomplished; the bus boycotts, sit-ins, the right to vote and equality in education. Many of these rights fought for then unfortunately we take for granted today. However, this was done in unity. Today we see more division and hate amongst Blacks than ever before in the history of this country. We know our history of Slavery will never be forgotten. Blacks have contributed greatly to America, such as the invention of the light bulb filament by Lewis Latimer, Dr. George Washington Carver and the many uses with the peanut, and not to mention other areas such as helping our country win World War II with the Tuskegee Airmen. We continue to contribute on many levels, even having our first Black President. We have one special month for Black history, I believe it should be honored every day, for all the contributions we have given to America. These are the easy and proud things we can easily talk about, another topic that is not so easy to talk about is the Black-on-Black hate which leads to Black-on- Black crime. Presently, we have issues of fatherlessness in the Black community, the 80’s we had the crack epidemic, which is still affecting today’s generation, and in the 90’s men being locked up for excessive amounts of time for petty crimes. Today we face an injustice against each other that we choose to ignore and that is a lack of support for each other. In Genesis 4:9 God asked Cain where is your brother and Cain said to God, I don’t know, Am I my brother’s keeper? Cain was really saying my brother is not my problem. If I am my brothers and sisters keeper then I just can’t be concerned when a young Black man gets killed by the police and ignore it when a young Black man gets killed by the hands of another Black man. If we can go and peacefully protest and get laws changed to hold police accountable for doing wrong, should we stop short and keep letting young Black men get killed by people who look just like them. I encourage you to pray. If we are to have justice and safety for Blacks, it must be on all fronts and not just one sided. What does that look like you ask, it looks like Blacks getting sick and tired of allowing senseless drive-by shootings go ignored and unpunished. If we are going to hold a corrupt police officer for wrongful killing, then we must do the same for the gangbangers and thugs who continue to terrorize our streets. I ask you if Black lives matter, who do they matter to and when do they matter? We as Blacks must stop being divided, unity is power. Unity is standing up to the gang member, the drug dealer and the neighborhood criminal. How about when it happens to your family member, are you going to follow the old saying “snitches get stitches” or are you going to demand justice? I am, you are my brother and sister’s keeper. Stand taller this year. Caleb Thomas M.A. LMHC 319 206-0651 thomasacc.com caleb@thomasacc.com Thomas & Associates Counseling & Consulting Counseling with a God given purpose! 29

Your Homeownership Dreams Can Come True! “Homeownership can come off as very difficult, and to some individuals, almost impossible to obtain, but educating yourself and creating generational wealth through homeownership are the first steps to creating safe, stable and beautiful neighborhoods in your community.” Bridgett Robinson Diversity & Inclusion Mortgage Loan Originator and Outreach Coordinator Call 515.246.0010 or visit neighborhoodfinance.org for more information. DES MOINES, WEST DES MOINES, WINDSOR HEIGHTS AND URBANDALE Inspired by a great leader, Bright College is taking a new approach to education. NMLS#8943 Want to do school differently? So do we. Our two-year associate degrees are designed to accelerate your career. drake.edu/bright DES MOINES WEST DES MOINES WINDSOR HEIGHTS AND URBANDALE NMLS#8943

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Broadlawns Medical Center Preparing for the Storm: Mental Health during Pregnancy and Postpartum The perinatal period (pregnancy and the year postpartum) is unlike any other time in a person’s life. Our medical systems place a significant emphasis on the expectant parents’ physical health. Parents attend routine checkups, sonograms, and Doppler readings. They join baby care classes and read countless books to learn about the physical developments of this little person inside. However, like a side to the main dish, expectant parents’ mental health is often an afterthought. From wondering if baby is a boy or girl, to hair color, to what will life be like - how can we anticipate a mental health storm during the perinatal period? What are perinatal mood disorders? Perinatal mood disorders are mental health conditions that present in pregnancy and postpartum including depression, anxiety, OCD, panic, and bipolar disorders. What should mothers know about perinatal mood disorders? Perinatal mood disorders can happen to anyone and if you have a perinatal mood disorder, you are not alone! Studies show that up to 15% of mothers develop a mood disorder. Studies indicated that during the pandemic this number is closer to 30%. Perinatal mood disorders are temporary and treatable. Some symptoms include sadness, irritability, anger, rage, sleep disturbances (when you can sleep), feeling overwhelmed, appetite changes, mood swings, and exhaustion. Who is a higher risk of developing postpartum depression? Parents that have a biological predisposition or environmental factors are at an increased

risk for postpartum depression. Some of the biological predispositions include those who are sensitive to hormonal changes, have a family history of depression, and/or are currently struggling with mood disorders. Some environmental factors include increased stress, first time mothers, military mothers, mothers of multiples, and younger mothers. What can I do to make sure I do not have depression/anxiety postpartum? Unfortunately, no one can prevent a postpartum mood disorder. However, you can prepare for the possibility and increase your knowledge to help manage it if it does occur. What causes perinatal mood disorders? Many factors, environmental and biological, influence our bodies during such a drastic emotional and hormonal roller coaster. Many biological factors, such as a postpartum hormonal crash, are uncontrollable. However, your environmental factors, such as sleep deprivation, are controllable. How can a family prepare? Although not as easy as packing a hospital bag, there are ways to prepare to support perinatal 33

mental health such as increasing education and awareness, attending support groups, taking medication if needed, and receiving individual therapy. Do I need medication? Medication can be extremely helpful when struggling with any perinatal mood disorder; however, for many families medication does not need to be the first line of treatment. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) has a great impact on perinatal mood disorders. A combination of medication and psychotherapy may be necessary to relieve symptoms. Do mood disorders only affect mothers? No! Fathers can also experience perinatal mood disorders as they navigate through transition. If I think I have a mood disorder, what should I do? The first step is talking to your doctor or midwife about how you feel. The first two weeks postpartum are emotionally challenging as your body and mind adjust to this new little being in your world. However, if you have experienced depression or anxiety for over 2 weeks, you may need to take an assessment to lead you to the right direction. If you need support with your mental health during pregnancy and new motherhood, Broadlawns Medical Center is here to help. Broadlawns offers the most comprehensive delivery system for mental health services in Central Iowa. Our professionals are dedicated to excellence, compassion, and personalized care. Individual therapy is available in-person and virtually for patients of all ages. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit www. broadlawns.org or call (515) 282-5695.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson We live in a society that does a great job of highlighting African Americans in a negative light. We, ourselves have become conditioned to this deficit based view when it pertains to our people. We have no problem knowing when and where the latest murder happened or who was arrested for a crime. This wasn’t the way that Dr. Carter G. Woodson would appreciate African Americans being represented. Dr. Carter G. Woodson was born in Virginia in 1875. Dr. Carter G. Woodson escaped poverty through education and received his doctorate degree in 1912 from Harvard University. It was during this time in which he noticed that blacks were missing from history and/or misrepresented. He was determined to tell the story of his people. In 1926 Negro History Week, the second week in February was celebrated. The purpose of having this week was to correctly inform Americans of the history of blacks so that they could be recognized in a positive light for all they had done. During Dr. Woodson’s time, blacks were portrayed negatively. In 1915 he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life. Twenty-six years after his death Negro History week became Black History Month as part of the bicentennial celebration. Think about what Dr. Woodson was trying to do. His goal was not for our history to be become stagnate and boxed into the shortest month of the year but to become acknowledged daily as a natural, unquestionable existence. Not only should it and other persons of color contributions become part of school’s curriculum but a strong fabric interwoven in every avenue of life. We must continue to find a way to have our history represented in a way that just doesn’t talk about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. We would challenge you the people to find a way to talk to your local school board and organizations for social change about having African Americans studies and multicultural education classes become mandatory parts of the public school curriculum. We have ancestors who have fought, discovered, and made a mark in society, but we never know about this until someone wants to create a movie. Even then so many stories are left untold. Our lived experiences matter! How do we continue to learn about the history of whites without also talking about the history of blacks? But we were and continue to be the hidden figures in the shadows. Those hidden figures which do make American great! If not for our many contributions how much of an America would there be? We must stop having our voices silenced. We must stop having our God given rights stripped from us. We must stop accepting our position as the “other” as we continue to break our backs as the outsiders looking in. We cannot and will not go on complacent within the agenda of the dominant culture. So what’s stopping us from viewing our communities from an asset based perspective as Dr. Woodson did? We have much to be proud of, yet there is still a lot of work to do. Let’s push to have our voices heard and our history told in it’s entirely. We must educate one another and become aware for ourselves. It is imperative that we stop turning a blind eye to the work which our ancestors begun; pick up your bed and take your place in this mission of greater. You must decide to become part of the solution or you are definitely part of this problem. “History shows that it does not matter who is in power or what revolutionary forces take over the government, those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end than they had in the beginning.” -Dr. Carter J. Woodson Signed, Two Educated, Impassioned & Concerned Black Women 35

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION: Iowa Chapter 10 Ways to Love Your Brain By Lauren Livingston, Alzheimer’s Association February is American Heart Month, and many of the things you can do to keep your heart healthy will help your brain health too. The Alzheimer’s Association says there is growing evidence that indicates that people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline by adopting key lifestyle habits. When possible, combine these habits to achieve maximum benefit for the brain and body. Start now. It’s never too late or too early to incorporate healthy habits. Break a sweat Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise that elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and body. Several studies have found an association between physical activity and reduced risk of cognitive decline. Hit the books Formal education in any stage of life will help reduce your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. For example, take a class at a local college, community center or online. Butt out Evidence shows that smoking increases risk of cognitive decline. Quitting smoking can reduce that risk to levels comparable to those who have not smoked. Follow your heart Evidence shows that risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke — obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes — negatively impact your cognitive health. Take care of your heart, and your brain just might follow. Heads up! Brain injury can raise your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Wear a seat belt, use a helmet when

playing contact sports or riding a bike, and take steps to prevent falls. Fuel up right Eat a healthy and balanced diet that is lower in fat and higher in vegetables and fruit to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Although research on diet and cognitive function is limited, certain diets, including Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), may contribute to risk reduction. Catch some Zzz’s Not getting enough sleep due to conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea may result in problems with memory and thinking. Take care of your mental health Some studies link a history of depression with increased risk of cognitive decline, so seek medical treatment if you have symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health concerns. Also, try to manage stress. Buddy up Staying socially engaged may support brain health. Pursue social activities that are meaningful to you. Find ways to be part of your local community — if you love animals, consider volunteering at a local shelter. If you enjoy singing, join a local choir or help at an after-school program. Or, just share activities with friends and family. Stump yourself. Challenge and activate your mind. Build a piece of furniture. Complete a jigsaw puzzle. Do something artistic. Play games, such as bridge, that make you think strategically. Challenging your mind may have short and long-term benefits for your brain. Visit the Alzheimer’s Association’s brain health page to get more tips on keeping your brain healthy, and go to alz.org/iowa to learn more about what programs and events are happening in your community. 37

THE GREAT FRAME UP SUPPORTS AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS FEBRUARY FEATURE: CARRIE MAE WEEMS BY ANGELA M. JACKSON s a local custom frame retailer and art gallery, The Great Frame Up in West Des Moines is dedicated to supporting local artists in the community. This month we introduce our readers to Carrie Mae Weems she is considered one of the most influential contemporary American artists of our times. A “Let me say that my primary concern in art, as in politics, is with the status and place of Afro-Americans in our country.” More recently however, she expressed that “Black experience is not really the main point; rather, complex, dimensional, human experience and social inclusion ... is the real point.” - Carrie Mae Weems Carrie Mae Weems was born April 20, 1953. She is an American artist who works with text, fabric, audio, digital images, installation, and video but is

best known for her work in the field of photography. Her award-winning photographs, films, and videos have been displayed in over 50 exhibitions in the United States and abroad and focus on serious issues that face African Americans today, such as racism, gender relations,politics, and personal identity. Early life and Education Weems was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1953, the second of seven children. At the age of 16 she gave birth to her first and only child, a daughter named Faith C. Weems. Later that year she moved out of her parent’s home and relocated to San Francisco to study modern dance with Anna Halprin at a workshop . She decided to continue her arts schooling and attended the California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, graduating at the age of 28 with her B.A. She received her MFA from the University of California, San Diego. Weems also participated in the folklore graduate program at the University of California, Berkeley. While in her early twenties, Carrie Mae Weems was politically active in the labor movement as a union organizer. She was inspired to pursue photography only after she came across The Black Photography Annual, a book of images by African-American photographers including Shawn Walker, Beuford Smith, Anthony Barboza, Ming Smith, Adger Cowans, and Roy DeCarava. This led her to New York City, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, where she began to meet other artists and photographers such as Frank Stewart and Coreen Simpson, and they began to form a community. In 1976 Weems took a photography class at the Museum taught by Dawoud Bey. She returned to San Francisco, but lived bi-coastally and was involved with the Studio Museum and a community of photographers in New York. Weems lives in Brooklyn and Syracuse, New York, with her husband Jeffrey Hoone. Career Highlights In 1983, Carrie Mae Weems completed 39

her first collection of photographs, text, and spoken word, called Family Pictures and Stories. The images told the story of her family, and she has said that in this project she was trying to explore the movement of black families out of the South and into the North, using her family as a model for the larger theme. Her next series, called Ain’t Jokin’, was completed in 1988. It focused on racial jokes and internalized racism. Weems has said that throughout the 1980s she was turning away from the documentary photography genre, instead “creating representations that appeared to be documents but were in fact staged” and also “incorporating text, using multiples images, diptychs and triptychs, and constructing narratives.” Gender issueswere the next focal point for Carrie. The Kitchen Table series was completed in 1990. About Kitchen Table and Family Pictures and Stories, Weems has said, “I use my own constructed image as a vehicle for questioning ideas about the role of tradition, the nature of family, monogamy, polygamy, relationships between men and women, between women and their children, and between women and other women— underscoring the critical problems and the possible resolves.” She has expressed disbelief and concern about the exclusion of images of the black community, particularly black women, from the popular media, and aims to represent these excluded subjects and speak to their experience through her work. Weems has also reflected on the themes and inspirations of her work as a whole, saying, “...from the very beginning, I’ve been interested in the idea of power and the consequences of power; relationships are made and articulated through power. Another thing that’s interesting about the early work is that even though I’ve been engaged in the idea of autobiography, other ideas have been more important: the role of narrative, the social levels of humor, the deconstruction of documentary, the construction of history, the use of text, storytelling, performance, and the role of memory have all been more central to my thinking than autobiography.” Other series created by Weems include: the Sea Island Series (1991-92), the Africa Series (1993), From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried (1995-96), Who What When Where (1998), Ritual & Revolution (1998), the Louisiana Project (2003), Roaming (2006), and the Museum Series, which she began in 2007. Her most recent project, Grace Notes: Reflections for Now, is a multimedia performance that explores “the role of grace in the pursuit of democracy.” Awards Carrie Mae Weems has won numerous awards. In 2005, she was awarded the Distinguished Photographer’s Award in recognition of her significant contributions to the world of photography. Her talents have also been recognized by numerous colleges, including Harvard University and Wellesley College, with fellowships, artist-inresidence and visiting professor positions. She taught photography at

Hampshire College in the late 1980s. . . In 2013, Weems received the MacArthur “Genius” grant as well as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014, she received the BET Honors Visual Artist award, the Lucie Award for Fine Art photography and was one of 4 artists honored at the Guggenheim’s International Gala. In 2015 Weems was named a Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellow. In September 2015, the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research presented her with the W. E. B. Du Bois Medal. Exhibits The first comprehensive retrospective of her work opened in September 2012 at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, Tennessee, as a part of the center’s exhibition Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Video. Curated by Katie Delmez. The exhibition ran until January 13, 2013 and later traveled to Portland Art Museum, Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Cantor Center for Visual Arts. The 30-year retrospective exhibition opened in January 2014 at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Weems’ work returned to the Frist in October 2013 as a part of the center’s 30 Americans gallery, alongside black artists ranging from JeanMichel Basquiat to Kehinde Wiley. Weems has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions at major national and international museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The The Great Frame Up currently features 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 www. westdesmoines.thegreatframeup.com and our Facebook page at www.facebook. com/tgfuwdmiowa. Please follow us on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/tgfuwdm and Twitter @tgfuwdm. 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, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10- 6pm; Thursday 10- 8pm & Saturday 10- 5pm. 41 Frist Center for Visual Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Prospect.3 New Orleans, and the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contempor neo in Seville, Spain. She is represented in public and private collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Museum of Modern Art, NY and Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Weems has been represented by Jack Shainman Gallery since 2008. Credits wikipedia.org and jackshainman. com/artists/carriemae-weems.

Public affairs Iowa State Legislature State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines I am an African-American in the Iowa State Legislature. I have lived in the state all my life. I am so proud of Iowa’s record of laws and court decisions that have established precedents that expanded civil right and equality for my race before they were adopted on the national level. First, we have the case of Ralph in 1839, which declared that a slave who came to Iowa legally could not be forced to return his or her master because Iowa did not allow slavery. Iowa also desegregated schools in 1868, almost 90 years before the U.S. reached the same decision in Brown vs. the Board of Education. Lastly, Iowa

was one of the first states to grant Black men their right to vote in 1868. More recently, in 1948, Eda Griffin desegregated Katz Drug Store in downtown Des Moines where black people were denied service. And in 2008, Iowa was the first state to select Barack Obama in the presidential caucus as the choice for ruler of our country. These are the reasons why I am so motivated to work with my colleagues in the Iowa Legislature to pass the CROWN Act during the 2022 Legislative Session. A young Black man from Texas reported last summer on Facebook that his dreadlocks cost him his job with a Des Moines trucking company. This travesty would not have occurred if the CROWN Act had become Iowa law during the 2021 Legislative Session when the bill was first introduced. Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act (CROWN) was crafted in 2019 by California Senator Holly J. Mitchell to ensure protection against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles by extending the statutory protection to hair texture and protective hair styles such as braids, locs, twists, and knots in the workplace and public schools. It should be understood and widely accepted that people should not be forced to divest themselves of their racial-cultural identity by changing their natural hair in order to adapt to predominately white spaces in the workplace or school. It should be understood and widely accepted that people not be forced to divest themselves of their racial-cultural identity by changed their natural hair in order to adapt to the predominantly white spaces in the workplace or school. The CROWN Act has already been signed into law by 12 states, but unfortunately Iowa – a civil rights leader - is not one of them. If Iowa wants to continue to be viewed as a welcoming state, and ensure that equality in the schools and in workplace is highly valued and protected, then we must join these early states in the passage of the CROWN Act. By doing so, Iowa will remain a state leader of fair and open-endedness, a state where respect for diversity richly flourishes. 43

Angela Jackson’s Bio Debra Carr 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. 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’s Bio 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. C O NTRIB UT O RS 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.

Caleb Thomas Bio Bert Moody Bio For over ten years Caleb has worked in the field of counseling with youth and their families, as a school counselor, behavioral health intervention services counselor, and a mental health counselor. Today Caleb has his own Mental Health private practice, Thomas & Associates Counseling & Consulting which is located in Iowa City, Iowa. His practice focuses on the spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional well-being of each individual client. Caleb works with children, youth, adults, couples and families helping them solve tough problems with a Christ-centered, solution-focused approach. His desire is to bring about a positive change to the various challenges life can bring. Caleb is an Ordained and Licensed Minister and Elder and volunteers his time as a Ministry Director for Lifepointe Christian Faith Center. 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. C O NTRIB UT O RS Donetta Austin Donnetta Austin is from the Midwest. Her accomplishments include graduating from Scott Eastern Iowa Community College as a Registered & Certified Dental Assistant. She has worked in healthcare for seventeen years. She also provides care for elderly as a certified nurse aide and currently attending DMACC as a Nursing student. Donnetta became an author of her book “Never Retire God” in 2017. This book can be purchased on Amazon. She enjoys writing inspirational books and articles. She feels this is apart of her life’s purpose. Her writing expresses the importance of living a life with no regrets, uplifting others, and making a significant impact by sharing her testimony. It is her life’s goal to make a difference in the lives of others. 45 Lori A. Young Bio 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.

Cleophus “Cleo” Franklin Jr.’s Bio Cleophus “Cleo” Franklin Jr.’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. Franklin’s values and beliefs are centered on approaching difficult challenges with curiosity and a beginner’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 Bio Negus Sankofa Imhotep’s Bio 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 Arts™. Black trauma-informed therapists recommend it and Black female focus group participants are finding the program’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 victimsurvivor’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 C O NTRIB UT O RS 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.

It's important to take the time to acknowledge the uniqueness of the deceased: the individuality of their personality, and the uniqueness of their life's path. Not just for them, but for you; it affirms the relationship, and leads to healing after loss. Honoring their life is truly an act of love – for the both of you. “WE’RE FAMILY” PHONE: (515) 309-6550 3500 SIXTH AVENUE DES MOINES, IA 50313 HENDERSONSHP.COM 47

AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE 60% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE DIABETES THAN NON-HISPANIC WHITES Take control of your diabetes risk by scheduling a preventive diabetes screening. If you have already been diagnosed, we are here to help you control your diabetes and prevent or reduce complications. ENDOCRINOLOGY Schedule an appointment today: (515) 282-3041 1801 Hickman Road • Des Moines, IA www.broadlawns.org

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