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Inside The Honorable Julian Castro Former U. S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Arts & Music Melvin Edwards >>> A SEASON OF FAITH >>> TRANZITIONS TEEN BEAUTY MENTORSHIP Your Pain Has a Purpose

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SEPTEMBER 2019 11 Art & Music 13 Spirituality 21 Community SUBMIT YOUR NEWS TO: dsmurbannews@gmail.com Join our email club at: joindsmurban@gmail.com 33 37 Beauty Public Affairs BECOME AN OUTLET OF THE URBAN EXPERIENCE MAGAZINE Contact Dwana Bradley at contactdsmurban@gmail.com ADVERTISE WITH THE URBAN EXPERIENCE MAGAZINE dsmurbanads@gmail.com September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 5 What’s Inside?

WRITERS & STAFF Editor-In-Chief Dwana Bradley Contributors Bert Moody Pastor Rosezine Wallace Hal Chase Margo Jones Gary Lawson Editor Lindsay Schwab Celeste Lawson Lori A. Young Angela M. Jackson Teresa Bradley Cle’Shai Harden Dr. Eric Johnson Copy Editor Virgina Smith Tiffany Braxton Donnetta Austin Terry Howell Tenelle Thomas (Queen T) Dani Relle Courtney Nevilles MAGAZINE OUTLETS Broadlawns 1801 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA 50314 CareMore 1530 East Euclid, Des Moines, Iowa 50313 Cardinal Cleaners 1245 21st, Des Moines IA 50311 Cardinal Cleaners 835 Hull Ave, Des Moines, IA 50316 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 Fifields 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 Graphic Designer Ashle` Easley Ty Daye

www.zumi.com facebook.com/zumicollection Twitter @ZumiCollection DISCOVER REAL POSSIBILITIES IN IOWA AARP is in Iowa creating real, meaningful change. We're proud to help all our communities become the best they can be. Like providing family caregivers with tips to take care of loved ones, helping to make our communities more livable and hosting fun, informative events all across the state. If you don't think Real Possibilities when you think AARP, then you don't know “aarp". Get to know us at aarp.org/ia. ---/aarpiowa -@aarpiowa Real Possibilities is a trademark of AARP. September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 7

Editor Message QUOTES TO LIVE BY................... Dear Teachers, The new school year has begun. I know the work you do is rewarding and challenging all at the same time. Your hearts beat for your students and you want what’s best for them. At times it feels like no one gets what you go through. You will make mistakes, say the wrong thing to a student, and disagree with colleagues. Remember why you decided this profession. On the days that you want to give up and throw in the towel remember this: You were made to be a teacher, the impact you make is unlike any other profession as you are educating our future Mechanics, Police Officers, Mayor’s, Governors, and Presidents. You make a mark on a child’s education and they are looking to youto build a relationship with. I wish you nothing but the best this year. Make sure to take care of yourself, meditate, listen to inspirational music, or talk to someone. We need you to be at your best as well. I know your school year will be the best -Dwana Bradley Dwana Bradley , Editor of Urban Experience Magazine September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 9

THE GREAT FRAME UP SUPPORTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS AUGUST FEATURE: MELVIN EDWARDS BY ANGELA JACKSON DES MOINES, IOWA – As a local custom frame retailer and art gallery, The Great Frame Up in West Des Moines enjoys supporting the visual arts. This month we introduce readers to celebrated American abstractsteel metalsculptor, based in New York City from Houston, Texas –Melvin Edwards. Melvin Edwards (b. May 4, 1937) is a pioneer in the history of contemporary African-American art and sculpture. Born in Houston, Texas, he beganhis artistic career at the University of Southern California, where he met and was mentored by Hungarian painter Francis de Erdely. In 1965 the Santa Barbara Museum of Art organized Edwards’ first solo exhibition, which launched his professional career. He moved to New York City in 1967, where shortly after his arrival, his work was exhibited at the then newly created Studio Museum, and in 1970 became the first African-American sculptor to have works presented in a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum. Melvin Eugene Edwards, Jr., was born in Houston, Texas, the eldest of his parents’ four children. He was introduced to abstract art in high school, which inspired him to pursue art.Edwards is a graduate of the University of Southern Californiaand also studied at Los Angeles City College, and the Los Angeles County Art Institute. In 1964, he began teaching at San Bernardino Valley College.

Arts & Music “You invent your own game –and then you push it forward” -Melvin Edwards, N.Y. Times He went on to teach at the Chouinard Art Institute(now known as the California Institute of the Arts), the Orange County Community Collegein New York, and the University of Connecticut. Melvin Edwards began teaching at Rutgers University in 1972, where he taught classes in sculpture, drawing and Third World artists, until his retirement from the school in 2002.In 1975, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. While he was teaching, he received two sequential Fulbright Fellowships, which afforded him the opportunity to travel. In 2014, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. Melvin Edwards’ work reflects his engagement with the history of race, labor, violence, as well as with themes of African Diaspora. Making welding his preferred medium, his compositions are studies in abstraction and minimalism. Melvin Edwards creates sculptures by welding metal objects such as tools, knives, hooks, and machine parts, to construct objects distinguished by formal simplicity and power. His works are characterized by the use of straight-edged triangular and rectilinear forms, often have a political content. One critic noted regarding Melvin Edwards art:”their brutish power conjures the September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 11 instruments used to subjugate African Americans during centuries of slavery and oppression”. Melvin Edwards is best known for his sculptural series Lynch Fragments, which spans three periods: the early 1960s, when he responded to racial violence in the United States; the early 1970s, when his activism concerning the Vietnam War motivated him to return to the series; and from 1978 to the present, as he continues to explore a variety of themes. Melvin Edwards has felt deeply connected to Africa and the African Diaspora since the 1970s, when-2-he and his late wife, poet Jayne Cortez, began visiting the continent. He taught metalwelding in several countries, establishing workshops and mentoring a younger generation of African welders. Melvin Edwards has had a longstanding commitment to public art, working on projects for public housing and universities since the 1960s, including Homage to My Father and the Spirit (1969) at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University,Ithaca, New York; Holder of the Light (1985) at Lafayette Gardens, Jersey City, NJ; and Asafokra (1990) at the UtsukushiGa-Hara Open-Air Museum, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. His large-scale public sculptures exemplify his extraordinary range of aesthetic expression as well as his keen commitment to abstraction. His work has been widely exhibited nationally and internationally. In 1993, the Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase, NY organized Melvin Edwards Sculpture: A Thirty-Year Retrospective 1963–1993, an exhibition documenting his artistic development.

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In 2015, the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, TX organized a second retrospective, Melvin Edwards: Five Decades, featuring work from the early 1960s to the present. This retrospective traveled to the Zimmerli Museum of Art, Rutgers University, NJ and to the Columbus Museum of Art, OH. In 2017, Brown University in Providence, RI presented the solo exhibition, Melvin Edwards: Festivals, Funerals, and New Life. In 2018, an exhibition of the artist’s sculptures, Melvin Edwards: Lynch Fragments, was held at the Museu de Arte de São Paulo in Brazil. In 2019, the Baltimore Museum of Art organized the exhibition Melvin Edwards: Crossroads, which traveled to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA (2020) and the University of Southern California (USC) Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA (2020). Melvin Edwards’ work has been featured in innumerable group exhibitions, including Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power, Tate Modern, London, United Kingdom (2017), traveled to Crystal Bridges Museum of American, Bentonville, AK (2018), Brooklyn Museum, NY (2018), The Broad, Los Angeles, CA (2019), de Young Museum, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA (2019), and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX (2020);Postwar: Art Between the Pacific and the Atlantic 1945-1965, Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany (2016);All the World’s Futures, 56th Venice Biennale, Italy (2015); Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties, Brooklyn Museum, NY (2014); Blues for Smoke, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY (2013), traveled to The Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA (2012);Now Dig This! September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 13

Art and Black Los Angeles, 1960–1980, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY (2012); African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC (2012), traveled to Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA (2011); and as a part of the Dak’art Biennial in 2010. Melvin Edwards’ work is represented in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), CA; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York; Albright–Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY; Alfond Collection of AC Write a comment Get the feedback you need Tag someone to work together on this file. Upcoming Open House & Exhibit - Local Artist Kali Mayfin – Open House Thursday, August 1, 2019 5-8pm. Exhibit through August 31, 2019. About The Great Frame Up Founded in 1972, The Great Frame Up, Inc. 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 and is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 106pm; Thursday 10- 8pm & Saturday 10- 5pm. SAVE THE DATE: The Great Frame Up Features Local Artists! Original Art – Kaly Mayfin – Thursday, August 1st 5–8pm thegreatframeup.com and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tgfuwdmiowa. Please follow us on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/tgfuwdm and Twitter @tgfuwdm.

“ After receiving a Targeted Small Business loan, I could scale to meet the demands of grocery store buyers and my products are now sold across the Midwest ” - Gerald Young, Owner Young G’s BBQ Sauce The Targeted Small Business program supports businesses 51 percent or more owned and operated by individuals who are women, minorities, have disabilities or are service-disabled veterans. Low-interest loans up to $50,000 are available through the program for qualifying applicants. To learn more about the program, visit: iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/tsb iowaeconomicdevelopment.com Y OU’RE INVITED T O THE October 2, 2019 2:00pm–4:00pm 1171 7TH We Have Moved! The Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families invites you to our new location on 7th Street, next door to DMACC Urban Campus. We are still centrally located to serve not only the Reopening community, but now better positioned to serve the students and families of DMACC Urban Campus. Please join us for a tour of the building and an opportunity to meet staff. Remarks begin at 2:30pm. LIGHT REFRESHMENTS | TOURS | PRIZES RSVP at http://bit.ly/ekdopenhouse Street, Des Moines

COMMUNITY SPIRITUALITY A Season of Faith by Donnetta Austin Every season of life will take you through a change. Your days will be accounted for so make the best of it in righteousness. We are called to live for today as if it were our last. Tomorrow has enough worries of its own. We are to pray in any situation that we face,“Lord let it be your will,” to give us the help, guidance, and direction to see us through. If you have spent time and lived in the Midwest, you know that every season is very different and distinct from the others. You have to learn to withstand the traumatic change of all four seasons. Have you ever thought about which season resembles what you are going through, experiencing, or feel like in your own life? Maybe you’re in a season that feels a little like winter. The temperature is negative below and cold. This season seems to be lasting longer than expected. What opposition are you up against? Are you prepared for an emergency? Do you have your winter emergency kit close by and available in your vehicle if needed? As an example it is possible that a massive winter storm with destructive winds and blizzard conditions could be approaching by 6:00pm. At this point you begin to think of all the errands you need to run beforehand. Your checklist may consist of trying to get off from work slightly early around 4:30pm no later than 5:00. You need to pick up the kids shortly thereafter, stop by the store for a few items or groceries that will last. Meanwhile you are feeling a little annoyed because the first grocery store you arrived at did not have in stock the supplies that were needed. You then decide to get back into your car and head towards another store. It is now 5:30pm along the way you noticed that your gas is getting low. At 5:45pm you are driving on Interstate 235 and get caught in traffic due to an accident. There is a delay, traffic is being detoured a different route. At 5:55pm your vehicle comes to a halt and hesitates to start up. You look up at the dash board to find that you are running out of gas and the sensor has also alerted you to replace the battery. You become frantic and worried. The blizzard has begun what are you going to do? Examples suchas this tend to happen at the wrong time. Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 17

It is possible you are in a season such as spring. This is a growth season. The seeds in the soil have been planted, saturated with water and springing forth a new life for beautiful plants and flowers. What decisions have you made to advance in this season? Do you want to further your education? Start your own business? Grow closer to God? Set goals and move forward in achieving them. Summer tends to be a hot season. The days are longest and the nights are shortest. Many people decide to take paid time off. They need a vacation to relax or enjoy fun in the sun. You will find comfort in a place of peace. This is generally needed to renew your mind, body, and soul. Fall or autumn is a transition season. A transformation of some sort may be taking place in your life and you will need to be prepared for what happens next. No matter what season of life you encounter, God teaches us his greatest lessons out of love. Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. By Author Donnetta Austin Book on Amazon: “Never Retire God” Email: be.encouragedbyone@gmail.com Facebook Be Encouraged, Inspirational Books by Donnetta Austin RICKI KING Ricki@RootsToBranchesGenealogy.com www.RootsToBranchesGenealogy.com

Don’t Do It Alone By Tiffany Braxton “Mommy, Mommy I want to ride my bike!”. Hannah my dynamic three year old going on 33 years old joyfully exclaimed. I knew that her toddler demand was coming even before the time we got home. It was wailing inside of her before we even got out of the car. My mommy intuition was in full effect. I could see her chestnut brown eyes fixated on her bicycle with the pink handles, that used beauty of a bicycle my Aunt Annie, Hannah’s great Aunt, had bought for her about a month ago. It was as if that bike was calling her name “Hannah, Hannah, let’s party.” Hannah was definitely determined to answer the call. I was understandably exhausted, just getting off from work. The day had worn me down as I slipped off my shoes, plopping down on the couch,slumping and trying to hide from Hannah baby’s bright eyed glaze. “MOMMY, MOMMY, I WANT TO RIDE MY BIKE!” I wasn’t getting out of this gig. Please know she really wasn’t disrespectful, just a little girl wanting to enjoy her childhood. I remember when I was that little girl living in my little girl world asking my momma to ride my bike. “Ok, Hannah.” I threw on some sandals and opened the screen door. The bike was barely in my grasp when Hannah darted straight towards the emerald colored grass. The sun was shining and illuminated that little old bike with training wheels. Hannah was ready to go. “Mommy, mommy, I can do it.” Mommy was interfering. In here mind Hannah baby didn’t believe she needed any help as she pedaled fa st, her skinny Minnie legs gone with the wind. I hurried right behind like a certified Momma Bear just because she knew how to ride her bike there was no way I was leaving my baby girl. “I wanna go that way and then that way.” Hannah gave her instructions like a crossing guard. That way was back down the street then that way was down the hill. I let her go but I was close behind. Once we got to the hill, I held on to those bike bars ever so tight she got to pedal but I needed to control the speed. The velocity of the wind would have left my baby girl hurt and toppling down that hill. “Mommy, mommy I got it,” as Hannah tried to turn around and peddle up this steep terrain, I knew her spindly little legs weren’t strong enough, not yet. She was going to fall backwards and could get seriously hurt but Hannah couldn’t see it. Often times we tell ourselves “I got it” but in reality, we are carrying a load we weren’t meant to bare . Trying to travel through the steep hill of trials destined to fail and can’t see it. Unless we accept help. Don’t do it alone. You can’t do it alone. Not that you are not capable in other ways, yes there are some situations that you definitely can handle but, in this journey, we call life, accept the loving arms of a Heavenly Father that loves you and cares. He will push you up as you partner with him to live your dreams. There will be friends and family to cheer you on and meet up the hill because you weren’t meant to and you can’t do it alone. September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 19

At Step by Step Faith we are building a community that provides loving support to one another as we take the first step of faith. We will be featuring post which provides wisdom on how to begin the process, also encouragement and testimonial stories of amazing women who dared to dream big took action and are winning. We are your cheerleaders as well. We want you to succeed as you embrace the power of unity and beauty in humility recognizing you can’t do it alone. URBANDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Serving, protecting and promoting businesses across the Des Moines Metro Experience what a 5 Star Acredited Chamber can do for your business! www.uniquelyurbandale.com | 515-331-6855 YOUR AD GOES HERE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE, RACIAL INJUSTICE Pictures, left to right: Nancy La Vigne, Urban Institute Leah Sakala, Urban Institute Nicole Porter, Sentencing Project Arthur Rizer, R Street Institute Wayne Ford, Wayne Ford Minority Impact Institute Wayne Ford was very honored to be a member of this distinguished panel discussing strategies in regard to criminal justice reform. A CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING EXAMINING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE RACIAL/ ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS JULY 16, 2019 SPONSORED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS AND THE URBAN INSTITUTE Congratulations Graduates! Congratulations to the most recent TECH (Training and Education for a Career in Healthcare) graduates! The graduates earned Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) certification from DMACC, and they are now embarking upon their own healthcare careers at Broadlawns. Congratulations, graduates! We at the Urban Experience Magazine wish you great success as you continue your journey. Thanks to Urban Dreams, Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines Public Schools, IJAG, Future Ready Iowa, Central Iowa Works/ United Way of Central Iowa, Iowa Workforce Development, and Iowa Economic Development Authority for their partnership in the program. And, special thanks to Governor Kim Reynolds for being part of the graduation and sharing a few words with the class. September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 21

Day of Action Takes Students on an Imaginary Bus Ride Published on Des Moines Public Schools Website Generally, people don’t enjoy waking up and getting out and about on a rainy morning like Tuesday was in the Des Moines metro. But it turned out to be a good setting for the READ to SUCCEED portion of the United Way’s annual Day of Action. As the READ to SUCCEED event sponsor, DART provided the book Last Stop on Market Street to more than 1,000 area third graders and 800 volunteers from across the community stepped up to read it with students. Twenty-eight of them were DART employees who reported to Monroe Elementary, and if they hadn’t previously read Last Stop on Market Street, no sooner did they crack it open than they discovered that, not only does the book highlight the importance of public transit, the story takes place on a rainy day!“ Sponsoring READ to SUCCEED was a natural for DART given both the importance of reading skills and this year’s book, illustrating how public transportation connects people to places, opportunities, and each other,” said DART CEO Elizabeth Presutti. “We provide 3,500 rides each weekday to middle and high school students in Des Moines and see first hand how transportation is integral to long-term academic success. ”DMPS, DART and United Way are in the habit of collaborating on behalf of students and this year’s Day of Action was an opportune time to emphasize that. “Day of Action is an important way to raise awareness of the challenges people in our community face,” said Elisabeth Buck, president of United Way of Central Iowa. “We’re especially proud this year to talk about how we need to... ensure (student) success through opportunities including access to public transportation and mentoring to build reading skills.”One squad of the DART volunteers at Monroe was dispatched to the 3rd grade classroom of Anna Douglas where Elizabeth sat down with Ayzia, Jaleya and Alayaa. They chatted for a few minutes, discovering things they have in common, like pet dogs. Then they dove into the book together. The plan was to take turns, each reading a page at a time. But Elizabeth’s role was essentially reduced to an occasional consultant on a word here and there. The eight-year-olds handled most of the reading.In a nutshell, Last Stop on Market Street is the awardwinning story of a boy and his grandmother and their Sunday routine of riding the bus after church. All sorts of people board along their route, allowing “Nana” to teach “CJ” that it takes all kinds to make a world and share perspectives that help him see what he thought was deprivation in more positive lights. For Elizabeth and the other DART volunteers who rerouted themselves to Monroe Tuesday,the rainy morning was just the bus man’s holiday they signed up for.

Multicultural Liason Officers Support Students Across Colleges By Logan Metzger Logan.Metzger@iowastatedaily.com The various colleges at Iowa State have many things similar when it comes to their structure and how they serve students, but one key member of their personnel that often goes unmentioned is the multicultural liaison officer (MLO). According to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website, the multicultural liaison officer is an advocate and support network for domestic students who self-identify as African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian American, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Latina/o and/or multiracial. The multicultural liaison officer also provides leadership in the development, implementation and coordination of diversity and inclusion initiatives for students. Some of a multicultural liaison officer’s main duty include working closely with students, staff, faculty, advisors and administrators in their colleges and throughout the university to support recruitment of underrepresented student populations, promote student retention, help students connect with key resources on campus, develop programs and initiatives that promote student success and engage students who are interested in learning more about diversity and inclusion. “The MLOs were created in the late 90s by George Jackson, the director of Multicultural Student Affairs at the time,” said Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky, the multicultural liaison officer for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “He wanted there to be a liaison person in each college that could also be supporting our multicultural student populations. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was the first college to receive an MLO.”Martinez-Podolsky said the position was originally titled minority liaison officers before being changed to its current name. She said they are now looking to change thetitle to directors of multicultural student success (DMSS). Currently none of the multicultural liaison officers have changed their titles but are hoping to in the near future.“[The new title] conveys more of the work we do with students and it alleviates some of the energy of explaining what an MLO is,” Martinez-Podolsky said. “We feel that DMSS offers more of an explanation as to what our focus is on. September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 23

Each college at Iowa State has a Multicultural Liaison Officer who focuses on diversity issues in the college. Left to right is: Monica Howard, Jordan Brooks, Carmen Flagge,Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky,Christy Oxendine,LeQuetia Ancar andBrenda Thorbs-Weber. Courtesy of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs ”Martinez-Podolsky said the majority of the work that is done by an MLO is a little bit of everything. From recruitment, all the way through graduation MLOs help students where they can, however they can. “The majority of our work is on the retention level,” Martinez-Podolsky said. “This is where we are interacting with students one-on-one, helping them create professional plans whether it be graduate school, joining the service or going into a career. We also help with adds and drops or finding resources for them on campus outside of academics. ”Multicultural liaison officers also work heavily to get students into professional workplaces, whether through helping students apply to graduate schools, helping students to attend conferences or helping students with resumes and preparing for career fairs.Martinez-Podolsky said she has greatly enjoyed her positiondue to being able to work closely with students and help them realize they are just as successful as their peers.“Getting the opportunity to hear students’ stories and help them create connections has been great,” MartinezPodolsky said. “Sometimes they have this clean-cut expectation of what success looks like but then they will say that they don’t have any of those things, so they aren’t a good student. I’m thinking ‘What do you mean you don’t have experience? You told me you worked on your dad’s farm in Mexico over the summer, that’s a relevant experience. You just told me you are bilingual, talk about a skill!’”

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 September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 25

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Your PAIN Has Purpose by Terry Howell “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16NLT Whether you are anon-believerin Christ, anew believerin Christ, or amature believer in Christ, one thing is certain: GOD has a plan for your life. Your PAIN has PURPOSE! Most men have one thing in common -we have a propensity to be analytical beings! We look for the logic and reason in every situation and every circumstance. If something doesn’t make sense in our minds, there is a problem. Albeit analytical thinking and sound reasoning has its place, in the spiritual realm, all rhyme and reason goes out the window! Why? Because according to the Word of GOD:“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of GOD but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV All of the pain you have endured throughout your life thus far has a very specific purpose in the overall scheme of GOD’S plan. What if I told you that the pain you have suffered is not for you, but instead, has purpose for the life of someone else that GOD has designed for you to encounter? To dig a little deeper, the very pain that has been suppressed and undressed for years behind false smiles and fake confidence is going to be the catalyst for someone else’s breakthrough...someone else’s deliverance...someone else’s freedom from addiction, anger or unforgiveness. In a nutshell, September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 27

someone else’s life is depending on your obedience to GOD! You must understand that the pride which prevents you from expressing your hidden pain is blocking someone else’s blessing! We are all “dealt” a certain “hand” in life. Sometimes that hand is the bomb, sometimes it’s decent, and sometimes it bites. In either case, we are responsible for how we play the hand we have been dealt. At some point in time, every human, if on this earth for any significant period of time, will inevitably experience pain, disappointment, discourage mentor frustration. If we deal with those emotions appropriately, we can then be an encouragement to someone else that may be experiencing what we have made it through. Ultimately, your relationship with GOD through Jesus Christ is the key to unlock your own healing and to be made whole. You will then be in a position to help someone else overcome their pain. Pulling up unpleasant and hurtful experiences from your past is not an easy path to travel. In fact, there will be tears, and in many cases, a high level of discomfort. On the other side of your pain; however, is healing and joy! If you are like most people,you would like to skip the process and go straight to the healing on the other side. Unfortunately, life does not work that way. You must learn to embrace the process. Once you do the work, and deal with that pain, the reward is that much greater. Furthermore, think of the impact of your testimony. As you share your truth, there is someone waiting in the wings for your specific testimony so they can experience freedom from their pain also. There has to be someone that breaks that generational curse. Why not YOU? Throughout my life, I have heard many people (myself included) say: “I am only one person, I can’t make an impact!” Well my friend let me present to you Jesus Christ! HE was only one person, but look at what he did for the world! Your argument may then be: “But Jesus is GOD!” This is true, so let me give you a few earthly examples: King David, Paul (formerly Saul), Moses, Gideon, and from our day, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, W.E.B. DuBois, and Marcus Garvey to name a few. One individual –HUGE IMPACT! There is a cliché that says: Hurt People HURT People; but Healed People HEAL People. Your pain has significance, and will be life changing for many people. Even if it only changes the life of one individual, you have still made an impact! As I close, imagine a still body of water. If you take a single stone, and throw it into the center of that body of water, the ripple effect affects the entire body of water! Likewise, your addressed pain will be that individual stone. YOU are significant, and YOU will make a difference in this world because YOUR PAIN HAS PURPOSE! Contact TerryHowell: terryhowell@thconsultantsllc.com

Let Go, Unwind and Relax Now, integrative medicine and health psychology are beginning to recognize that health is influenced not only by the physical body but the spiritual, mental, and emotional bodies as well. Your mind is effected by your body, and vice versa. Your mind is effected by your spirit and vice versa...Mind, Body, Spirit means that our well-being comes from not just physical health, but from mental health and spiritual health as well. Visit our website www. zoneofcomfort.com In the coming articles from The Zone of Comfort –Life Balance Center, there will be tips for all areas. Here are a few to get started on your journey to Balance:1) Pray. This will elevate and cultivate your connection and relationship to God and allow you access the power you have within.2)Read and learn often. Open your mind to new possibilities, beliefs and interests by reading, taking online classes, watching documentaries, and attending workshops.3) Meditate regularly. Meditation improves memory, attention, mood, immune system function, sleep, and creativity. All it takes is a few minutes a day to start reaping the benefits.4)Get at least 15 minutes of moderate to fast-paced exercise each day. Walk or ride your bike on nice days. Exercise is important for heart health, physical stamina and mood.5)Spend some time outside every day. God created EVERYTHING, so use the tools that were left to assist your wellness... Nature.6)Add more plant-based foods to your diet. Fruits and vegetables can help prevent chronic disease. Shop for in-season produce.7)Be grateful. Tale some time each day to write or think about the things you’re thankful for, like family, friends, pets, shelter, food or the simple beauty of nature.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS The Urban Experience Magazine is a full color print magazine that features stories about education, health, careers, arts & culture, fashion, music, and much more! What are we looking for? Poetry, interviews, short stories, comics, photography, music & performance reviews, opinion pieces, or whatever you are thinking! When do we want it? The deadline for all content is the 15th of each month. What kind of writers do we like? Experienced creative writers and those who have NEVER written before. So what do YOU do? Checkout the website at www.theurbanexp.com Email your submissions to lhenkle0805@gmail.com, and help us make each edition of the magazine great! September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 31 The Urban Experience Magazine

Beauty Tips Are Eyelash Extensions For You by Courtney Nevilles of TranZitions Eyelash extensions are a popular trend right now. If you don’t want to wear makeup but want a little pop to your face, it’s a perfect option. There are a lot of names for eyelash extensions; here are some of the most common ones: Classic Eyelash Extensions When onelash extension is glued to one natural lash Volume Eyelash Extension Also known as Russian Volume lashes are used with fans that can range from three to fivelash fans being used on onenatural lash for a full fluffy look Hybrid Eyelash Extensions A mix of classic and volume lashes for a fullerlook. You can use fans 2-3d meaning two or three lashes on one or do a 2d method where you add two ashes on one for a fuller look

BEAUTY TIPS While eyelash extensions look great, you need to do your research to decide if they are for you! If you’re going to a good technician they can be costly and aftercare is very important. As trends move along with time more information is learned. Before it was advised to not get your lashes wet but now research has found cleaning the lashes helps with retention and reducing dirt, dust mites etc. With that being said, you need to be able to afford lash shampoo and the brush that goes along with it in addition to your service. You also need to be careful with maintenance. Listed below are some common aftercare items: 1. Keep them dry. Avoid showering, washing your face with hot water or wetting your lashes. (The very minimum is2 hours.) A dry washcloth can be rolled up and placed over your brows when you shower to protect your extensions from becoming totally saturated. 2. Avoid oil-based creams and lotions, makeup on, or around, the eyes. 3. Avoid extreme variation of heat, humidity, and cold weather (i.e. –hot showers, saunas,zero degree weather), your extensions can last longer. Normal activities like swimming, can resume after the appointment. 4. Gently cleanse the eye/eyelash area and do not scrub or rub your eyes to hard. Make sure to use a cleanser purchased specifically for lash extensions. These are some of the basic instructions but there are plenty more. Do you want lash extensions continuously? They are fun and look great but they do require maintenance. Or maybe they’re better for a special occasion. Make sure you think about all of the things lash extension entail to make your decision. September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 33

BEAUTY TIPS Follow us on Instagram and Facebook IG- Tranzitionsbeauty FB- TranZitions Salon and Beauty Bar At TranZitions Beauty our passion is to create and inspire. We realize that we are all given gifts and talents out hope is that in using our given talents we are able to inspire others to recognize and utilize their own. We specialize in Hair and spa services. ————————————————Ty Daye is a well know licensed hair Stylist in the Des Moines area who has been in the industry for over 15 years. She enjoys teaching all she’s learned over the years. Courtney Nevilles is licensed Esthetican in Des Moines area who has over 2 years experience. She offers Semi Permanent makeup, full body waxing, facials, chemical peels, Microdermabrasion, Eyelash extensions. Quianna Tucker is Chicago native licensed hair Stylist in the Des Moines area who has been in the industry for over 15 years. She specializes in braids and natural hair. Gives you the latest care tips about how to take care of your braids & save your “edges ladies”. Teen Boss Mentorship Program Does your teen have a natural talent for hair, nails, skin care, fashion or make up? Yes! Then they are the perfect candidate for our TranZitions Beauty Teen Boss Mentor Program. Please Contact at Tranzitonsbeauty@yahoo.com Send pictures of work and social media outles. If you are selected we will contact you with next steps. Marsai Martin Essynce Moore

The Honorable Julian Castro Former U. S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development by Celeste & Gary Lawson

Public Affairs Julian Castro, a Democrat, is running a national campaign in his quest to become the next President of the United States in 2020. He was born in San Antonio, Texas. Following high school graduation he attended Stanford University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications. He continued his education at Harvard University where he graduated from law school and would in due course start his own law firm. His political accomplishments include: 1) elected to serve on the City Council of San Antonio; 2) elected to serve as Mayor of San Antonio; 3) appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The following are excerpts taken from an exclusive telephone interview with Presidential Candidate Julian Castro on August 13, 2019. Celeste: Secretary Castro, according to social scientists researching the well-being of populations regarding education, health, and the ability to earn an income AfricanAmericans and Native Americans in Iowa are not doing very well. Contextually, as President of the United States, what would you do to improve opportunities and results for education, health, and the ability to earn an income among these populations? Castro: Thank you for the question. I would boost the ability of under served communities, especially communities of color, to get a better education, a better job, and better healthcare by investing universal pre-K for three and four year-olds, incentivizing teachers to teach in some of the most challenging public school districts in our country and by making our public state universities, community colleges, and certification programs tuition-free. Also, by expanding Universal Healthcare based off of a Medicare system and by ensuring that every American can get affordable housing. I also know that it is not enough just to provide greater opportunity, we have to provide equal opportunity. That is why I would invest in antidiscrimination enforcement efforts when it comes to housing, when it comes to healthcare, and education so that no matter the color of your skin you’re able to avail yourself of a better education, better healthcare, and good housing. I’m proud that I am the only candidate that has also addressed some of the particular challenges for, especially the AfricanAmerican and Native American communities. For instance, I am the only candidate with a policere form plan because too often young Black men and young Native men are mistreated at the hands of police. My plan would improve our criminal justice system by creating more accountability for police officers who use excessive force and investing in community groups that are trying to mend riff between the police and communities of color. In addition to that,about three weeks ago, I released a plan to improve the quality of life of the indigenous community by investing in greater education and healthcare for tribal communities. Gary: The political divide in our nation seems to be growing and resulting in considerable consequences. What plans do you have for alleviating civil tensions while promoting a more united approach to addressing the problems of our nation? September 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 37

Castro: I would begin by immediately changing the tone in Washington. Like Barack Obama, I believe that we should try and bring Americans together, instead of tearing them apart the way Donald Trump has. We need a President who is looking for every opportunity to encourage unity in our country and I would do that. I would also push forward measures that I believe will increase unity in the United States. For instance, I believe that we should get rid of gerrymandering in redistricting that encourages constant polarization in Washington that stunts our ability to get anything done for the American people...and adds to the vitriol in our public life. I would also work to overturn Citizens United to get big money out of politics, because I believe that special interests also corrupt our politics and create more polarization. Finally, I would actually combat extremism, particularly white supremacy, that is growing in our country by giving the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security the tools they need to root out extremism and stop it before it turns into violence like we saw in El Paso. Gary: Is there any additional thoughts that you would like to share? Castro: I spent this entire campaign and a lot of years in public service, trying to lift up the most vulnerable communities among us. I will continue to work on that as President to make sure that no matter who you are in this country, you can reach your dreams, because we care about you and everyone counts. Celeste and Gary: Thank you. 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, with a duel concentration in Management and Marketing. He is a Vietnam-Era veteran who has served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army. In addition, he has taught business courses at Drake University and Des Moines Area Community College. Celeste Lawson is a freelance writer who focuses on various aspects of education and 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 elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels.

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