AWARENOW
ISSUE 15
T H E AWA R E N E S S T I E S ™ O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E F O R C A U S E S ECO MAN OF INDIA ZEESHAN KHAN
(ON THE COVER)
ON A MISSION FOR ZERO WASTE INDIA
EVERYTHING IS FLEETING EMILIE GOLDBLUM
I AM NOT A VIRUS DR. JORDAN VANHEMERT
LIMBITLESS ALEX LEWIS
POLLINATING WITH PURPOSE AJAY DAHIYA
SUPERCALYFRAGILISTIC CALY BEVIER
SHIFTING HIGHER JESSE IWUJI
THE WORLD EDITION
32 STORIES TO INSPIRE SOCIETY
SUICIDE IS A PREVENTABLE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. YOU C A N BE TH E O NE TO STA RT TH E CONVERSATI ON . H F T D.O R G
THE WORLD EDITION
AwareNow™ is a monthly publication produced by Awareness Ties™ in partnership with Issuu™. Awareness Ties is the ‘Official Symbol of Support for Causes’. Our mission is to support causes by elevating awareness and providing sustainable resources for positive social impact. Through our AwareNow Magazine, Podcast & Talk Show, we raise awareness for causes and support for nonprofits one story at a time.
06 LEGLESS & FEARLESS
62 SHIFTING HIGHER
94 THE UPCYCLER
12 I AM NOT A VIRUS
68 CULTUROSITY
98 BRUCH
16 ECO MAN OF INDIA
70 SUSTAINABLE INVESTING
102 BALANCING SUMMER HEAT
22 EVERYTHING IS FLEETING
72 DARKNESS TO LIGHT
106 UNSUGARCOATED WITH AALIA
28 LIMBITLESS
76 CHILDHOOD FRACTURED
108 OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
36 SUPERCALYFRAGILISTIC
80 THE SUNRISE STORYTELLER
114 CREATOR’S CALLING
42 POLLINATING WITH PURPOSE
84 REAL LEADERS WANTED
120 THE RAINDROP
48 PLANTING SEEDS OF CHANGE
86 UBUNTU
123 JUGEND
52 DEAR DAUGHTER
88 VULNERABILITY
126 PARKINSON’S PERSPECTIVE
54 E.A.R.T.H.
90 PROTECTION TO EMPOWER
129 NEAR & QUEER TO MY HEART
58 THE SHIFT
92 HOME
H LYA MARQUARDT
DR. JORDAN VANHEMERT ZEESHAN KHAN
EMILIE GOLDBLUM
JESSE IWUJI
CHARLOTTE ALEXANDRA MARTEN VAN HAREN
ASHLEY NICOLE COOK
ALLEN VANDEVER & DEREK HOPKINS
ALEX LEWIS
CALY BEVIER
AJAY DAHIYA
JACQUELINE WAY
KASHA SEQUOIA SLAVNER MIKE DIAMOND
PROVIDENCE BOWMAN DESMOND CLARK
LORI BUTIERRIES
JOEL CARTNER
LEX GILLETTE
LAURA ZABO/TANITH HARDING BRUCH/TANITH HARDING JONATHAN KOHANSKI
PROVIDENCE BOWMAN THI NGUYỄN
CHIEF OGIMAA PAUL ROGERS
BOOK OF THE MONTH NED STRANGER
CAMILLE ORA-NICOLE
MARY DAVID
THE SHIFT
(HEY THERE. CLICK HERE TO PLAY.)
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Earth day is a day to re ect on the present state of the planet, our past failures and future wins, in order to protect our environment and sustain life. During the pandemic, when we were forced to adopt a new norm, we witnessed record decline in carbon emissions and a drastic reduction in air pollution. A clear indication that as lost as we’ve been, we can nd our way back - not necessarily back to where we were, but back to where we’d like to be. The World Edition is our most diverse issue to date. Between the front and back cover, we’ve set a new record with 132 pages containing 32 stories. In exclusive interviews and personal narratives, a variety of causes take centerstage. In April, we address a number of causes including: Autism Awareness, Limb Loss and Difference Awareness, Child Abuse Awareness, Parkinson’s Awareness, as we celebrate Diversity Month. With all the different causes, there is one cause that unites us all - the HUMAN cause. We are all tied to that and to each another. At the end of the day, the trust we must maintain for a better tomorrow contains contains ‘us’, literally. Allié and I invite you to join us at the ‘Table Of Causes’ that we’ve built to raise awareness. Access stats, stories and resources for the causes that you’re tied to. Together, we are aware now… www.awarenessties.us/table-of-causes
ALLIÉ McGUIRE Editor In Chief & Co-Founder of Awareness Ties Allié is a Taurus. She started her career in performance poetry, then switched gears to wine where she made a name for herself as an online wine personality and content producer. She then focused on original content production under her own label The Allié Way™ before marrying the love of her life (Jack) and switching gears yet again to a pursue a higher calling to raise awareness and funds for causes with Awareness Ties™. Connect with Allié on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alliemerrick JACK McGUIRE Production Manager & Co-Founder of Awareness Ties Jack is a Gemini. He got his start in the Navy before his acting and modeling career. Jack then got into hospitality, focusing on excellence in service and efficiency in operations and management. After establishing himself with years of experience in the F&B industry, he sought to establish something different… something that would allow him to serve others in a greater way. With his wife (Allié), Awareness Ties™ was born. Connect with Jack on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jack-mcguire-609339186
www.IamAwareNow.com @AWARENESSTIES @AWARENESSTIES @AWARENESSTIES
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SHARE YOUR SELFIE & STORY TO SUPPORT YOUR CAUSE
WWW.SELFIETOSUPPORT.COM
I want people to rethink their concept of beauty. HÜLYA MARQUARDT
FASHION BOUTIQUE OWNER, MOTHER & AMPUTEE ADVOCATE AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
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www.IamAwareNow.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH H LYA MARQUARDT
LEGLESS & FEARLESS A LOSS OF LIMBS, A GAIN OF STRENGTH
Hülya Marquardt was born with deformed hands and legs, and underwent 21 operations during the rst six years of her life. Despite learning to walk normally, at 18 she developed sepsis and had no choice but to have her legs amputated. A wife, mother and fashion boutique owner, Hülya’s many abilities far surpass her disability, as she works, travels, loves and lives without fear, encouraging others with disabilities to do the same. Allié: With you in front of the camera and your husband, Dennis, behind it, the photography shared via your Instagram account is incredibly powerful. Every bold and beautiful photo makes such a statement. What personal statement do you want seen and heard? Hülya: I want people to rethink their concept of beauty. Life is about contrasts and my dis gured body highlights this idea. Some people might nd it provocative to show disability in such an open way, but I do believe that by not hiding my short leg stumps, scars, deformed hands or the way that I walk on my hands on the ground, I am contributing to normalize the sight of a person with a different looking body in public and might therefore help others to overcome their fears of being stared at when they are out and about.
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Allié: Many nd that while they are not de ned by their disability they are changed by it, often in a positive way. With the loss of your legs, what have you gained, Hülya? Hülya: I nd that people open up to me more quickly. Strangers often tell me their story, their heartaches and fears. I nd that sometimes people get the notion that what I have to say about life has more weight and that I understand certain things about being lonely, being desperate, being discriminated against, having doubts, body issues, overcoming obstacles etc.
Allié: Because of your disability, you have to do normal things a little differently. When it comes to society, what can we do differently to normalize disabilities Hülya: Well, rst of all we should build more ramps. :) I do also think that it is quite important to show more people with obvious disabilities in the media. Why not have a show host with one leg or the star of a Net ix series with a missing arm? We should see people like me in commercials, TV shows, movies, etc. We should see them as normal people who happen to have a disability. The disability shouldn’t be the focus… it is just there. It is just a part of the person. It doesn’t make the person a sad case, and it doesn’t make them a super hero either.
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“It doesn’t make the person a sad case; it doesn’t make them a super hero either.”
I don’t need pity, and I don’t need praise. HÜLYA MARQUARDT
FASHION BOUTIQUE OWNER, MOTHER & AMPUTEE ADVOCATE www.IamAwareNow.com
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“Diversity is strength.” Allié: April is Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month. This month (and every day of every month) what do you want people without disabilities to be aware of? Hülya: An amputee is just another human being with strengths and weaknesses like everyone else. My body is crippled and looks very different from what we conceive as ‘normal’ within our society, but this simply means that I have to do some things differently and for other things I need help. That’s all there is to it really. I don’t need pity and I don’t need praise Allié: The con dence and beauty you embody in every photo shared is profound, Hülya. Thank you for having the courage and strength to be beautifully different before the public. If at centerstage before an audience of others with disabilities what words of support would you share? Hülya: Diversity is strength. Our experiences as people with a disability, the way we had to learn to adapt, the strength we had to have to accept and to overcome is an asset to any open society. There is no shame in asking for help when help is needed and that there is beauty in being different. ∎
Follow Hülya on Instagram: @huelya_dennis
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10 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
A WORLD OF CONTENT
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Too often these situations are met with silence… DR. JORDAN VANHEMERT
JAZZ STUDIES PROFESSOR & DIRECTOR OF THE HOLLAND CONCERT JAZZ ORCHESTRA
12 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DR. JORDAN HEMERT
I AM NOT A VIRUS
A JAZZ INDUCED RESPONSE TO RACISM Dr. Jordan VanHemert believes that in the tenants of jazz there are elements that can point in the way in leading our communities forward. His debut album, ‘I Am Not A Virus’, is the embodiment of this belief. Allié: When it comes to racism to take a stand, some will take a knee others take to the streets, but you took your saxophone and you produced an album. Please tell us the story behind 'I Am Not A Virus’ Jordan: I had thought about recording an album. It was an idea that I had kicked around for awhile, but I had never found the right set of circumstances. Finally in 2020, I was like, okay, I've had enough. I just need to record this thing. So, in January I booked some studio time at our studio at Hope College. We have an in-house recording studio with a terri c engineer, Drew Elliott, and I booked that time. The coronavirus really was not as much in the United States. And so, I didn't really think necessarily anything of it. The pandemic was still this kind of this far away thing. We knew this could be a problem, but it was not yet an imminent force In March, when everything went into lockdown, what I noticed was this surge of anti-Asian violence and rhetoric and all of a sudden we were seeing some old ideas rehashed in a very much 21st century form, where we had the internet and all of the things that it makes accessible - the platform that it gives to anybody, frankly. I noticed all these things happening, but what really tipped it for me was the people who were saying, "Oh, this isn't a problem pointing at the Chinese virus. Isn't a problem. That's where it's from - the Wuhan virus." And I actually had a pretty derogatory comment on my own Facebook page (my personal page, not even my artist's page), where somebody said, "You idiot. You are spewing communist, Chinese propaganda. This is a problem, and it's your fault." And I was so shocked. It was a paragraph long message. And I was like, "Why is this here?" There are still people who think like that. They think that calling it, 'the Chinese virus' is not a particularly harmful thing, but we have the World Health Organization saying actually you probably shouldn't say that because it places blame. And it's a setup for xenophobia. A lot of people point to the Spanish u of the early 1900s, but that didn't actually come from Spain. It was just a result of the media coverage in Spain. Anyway, what ended up happening was I received either enough of those messages or personal comments that I thought this needs to change. This is enough. I'm done with this. And so I launched into writing music about about 2020 and about our circumstances as Asian-Americans, because I thought, I just don't think people understand what it's like to be Asian-American. I don't think people understand. There's a lot that we don't say, but there's also a lot that we do say, and it gets ignored. So I wanted this album to a tangible way to not only raise awareness about these issues, but to actively ght it by speaking up and telling our story Allié: You have said that what we need is for people to make some noise. You certainly have stepped up and made noise - beautiful noise in the form of music. What is the noise that you are hoping to hear from others? What are some examples of this noise that you hope will bring about some change Jordan: Well, that's a great question because I made that comment in an interview. I think it was right after the March 16 domestic terrorist attack. And I think that comment has been kind of misinterpreted as 'We need to take to the streets. We need to riot. We need to go and break some stuff down.' And that's not at all what I was saying. Although, you know people certainly have taken to the streets and in the form of a peaceful protest, but the thing is, what I meant was this:
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Jordan: (continued) Too often, these situations are met with silence and that silence is the language of the oppressor. Silence is that tacit approval that what the oppressor is doing is okay. What I meant and what I wanted to say through that comment was that we need people to speak up about this. We need our allies of other races and ethnicities to call it out. And you know what, the people who have been my strongest supporters are my black and Latin X colleagues. Because they know what it's like. They know what it's like to be constantly 'othered'. Right away, I received messages, I received emails of "I'm here for you. I'm holding space for you. How can I help? What can we do?" And I don't take that for granted for a second, but it's the silence and primarily the silence… And I'll say it, primarily the silence from the white public who don't think that they need to speak up and really not mean any harm by it. I know a lot of really well-meaning people who just don't speak up about the things, but I'm here to say that a refusal to condemn these sorts of things in your own life or refusal to call out anti-Asian jokes or refusal to call out the stereotypes that we see all over the place that is tacit agreement and in compliance with the actions of the oppressor. And so what I meant was we need to make some noise and just start calling this out because it's been enough Allié: So many are helping to raise awareness about racism, simply by sharing their own personal stories. You shared one just now, is there another that sticks out in your mind as well
“There’s something that is ‘othering’.” Jordan: Sure. You know, I often hear several comments from people talking about about racism. I hear the comment, "I'm so tired of talking about this. I'm so tired. Can't we talk about anything else?" And I also hear, "Well, we can educate people, but we want to let kids get a little bit older before we actually educate them about this, because they're really not mature enough to handle it. We're not going to traumatize them." To those comments I give this story. When I was in kindergarten and about ve or six years old, we were coloring as kindergarteners do. And a young man asked me to pass him the 'skin' color. And so I passed him the colored pencil that looked the closest color to my skin, and he threw it back at me and said, "That's not the skin color.” And I was so confused because I was looking at my hands. And I was like, actually, I'm pretty sure it is. That story is what people need to realize is not something that's all that rare or unique for us to experience as young people of color. Because you are in a situation where bandages don't look like your skin, and this is regularly reinforcing the idea that there's something that stands out. There's something that is 'othering'. And so with that repeated other inhabiting from such a young age, my kind of my, my thought is kids need to learn about this from a young age, because if we are young enough to experience it from that age then they are young enough to learn about it and hear about it because kids are far more passionate and exible than adults are. ∎
Hear the full interview with Jordan via the AwareNow Podcast www.awarenow.us/podcast/i-am-not-a-virus
Follow Jordan VanHemert on Instagram: @jvanhemusic Hear is debut album on Spotify www.awarenow.us/album/i-am-not-a-virus
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15 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
Time is our most valuable asset and it is something that, while on this earth, we should spend most wisely. ZEESHAN KHAN
ENVIRONMENTALIST, ENTREPRENEUR & CEO OF BEYOND SMART GROUP
16 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ZEESHAN KHAN
ECO MAN OF INDIA
AN ORDINARY MAN WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY Zeeshan Khan, an Indian environmentalist and CEO of the multi-venture organization, Beyond Smart Group, is dedicated to making the world a better place to live in. He vouches towards sustainable development and has been working tirelessly for it through his innovative ideas and concepts. Awareness Ties is honored to introduce Zeeshan Khan as our Official Ambassador for Environment Awareness. Beyond excited to be the change we wish to see with you, Zeeshan. Allié: You dropped out of a coveted MBA course, opting instead to pick up your passion and run with it. This would be a dif cult decision for some. What gave you the strength to shift
“No one should have to choose between working to support themselves and getting an education…” Zeeshan: While studying I realised that I was too ahead from what was being taught in my classes because I was reading a lot at that time from books and the internet. I just wanted to do something different in life. Even though I don't regret my choice, not getting my degree helped me realise that the educational system in India is broken. No one should have to choose between working to support themselves and getting an education the way I did. I honestly can’t remember the last time someone asked me what my major in college was. If you want a job somewhere, don’t focus so much on your college degree, but just make sure you graduate with all the skills and experiences you need to do awesome things in the world.
Allié: Many work to just pay the bills. You worked to pursue your purpose. It is your pursuit that made you a millionaire. How was your fortune found Zeeshan: I just followed my passion and never thought about getting paid or making money but ultimately I did make millions just by following my passion. If you’re feeling unful lled in your career, it may be because you’re on a path that doesn’t allow you to follow your passion. Perhaps you’ve stuck yourself in a particular job because the money is good. Ultimately, chasing money instead of passion won’t get you far if you’re looking for self-improvement. Money is a very powerful thing. It builds empires and breaks down kingdoms; it allows for dreams to come true and it takes others away; it makes some people happy and others completely miserable. Today the pursuit of money is almost directly linked to the pursuit of happiness, and many will argue that money = happiness. Although money is great and can buy us all the things that will temporarily make us happy, no amount of money can buy time. Time is our most valuable asset and it is something that, while on this earth, we should spend most wisely. You shouldn’t feel like you’re mindlessly wasting your life away. This generation is particularly in trouble because jobs are scarce, and many of us will be stuck doing jobs we hate just because we need money. Although this may be the right move for our careers now, this shouldn’t be something we do for the rest of our lives. It is best that you search for something that allows you to follow your passion.
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17 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
ZEESHAN KHAN
ENVIRONMENTALIST, ENTREPRENEUR & CEO OF BEYOND SMART GROUP 18 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
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We have set up the world’s rst Plastic Donation Center in Bhopal. www.IamAwareNow.com
Allié: The Plastic Donation Center is the rst of its kind - a plastic recycling and social awareness program. Please share the story behind an initiative leading the way for a Zero Waste India Zeeshan: India has a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. Donation is considered a major belief. So, we have connected this donation thing with the plastic waste — we are urging people to donate their waste. We have set up the world’s rst Plastic Donation Center in Bhopal – (which is the cleanest capital city in India) in association with the local government on the 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019, the idea is that people can donate their used plastic to the centers and from there it is sent for segregation where we have employed the rag-pickers under the monitoring of the Local Municipal Corporation and then further sold to Recycling centers to make bricks, ooring tiles, foam shoes, by-product of roads etc. and the revenue that is generated from the recycling centers is used for the social welfare programs and installing waste to art installations for the city beauti cation.
Allié: Zeeshan, you’re on a mission entitled ‘Zero Waste India’. That’s a big mission to say the least. What does the roadmap look like? And where does it begin Zeeshan: I’ll be travelling to different cities in India to promote zero waste lifestyle and living. I’ll be meeting and collaborating with the people who are already supporting these kinds of campaigns and create a community of change makers. I will also fund and support some of the great initiatives which can bring a positive change in society.
Our Zero Waste Goals include:
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Educate people about the links between Zero Waste actions and climate change
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Get Zero Waste actions into city, county and state climate action plans
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Get cities and counties to adopt Zero Waste policy and goals and to develop and implement Zero Waste actions
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Enact organics out of land lls bans as well as supporting existing composting facilities and the expansion of new composting capacity
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Push local governments to maximize commercial reuse, recycling and composting efforts for the full range of materials via local ordinances, contracts and franchise agreements
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Educate the public about the types of Zero Waste operations that are required in climate friendly communities (composting, resale, reuse and recycling-based manufacturing)
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Enact single use item bans and assist Eco City teams in this effort
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Enact pharmaceutical disposal bans at local government level
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Support green job generation from Zero Waste activities
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Support appropriate energy from source separated parts of the waste stream and defend against the inappropriate high temperature conversion technologies
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19 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
If you’re feeling unful lled in your career, it may be because you’re on a path that doesn’t allow you to follow your passion. ZEESHAN KHAN
ENVIRONMENTALIST, ENTREPRENEUR & CEO OF BEYOND SMART GROUP www.IamAwareNow.com fi
20 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
“…life gives you enough opportunities to make a difference everyday.” Allié: For those scared to pursue their dreams of making a difference in this world because the task seems too great, what advice would you give Zeeshan: I believe life gives you enough opportunities to make a difference everyday, if not in the society as a whole but to individuals who make one. I wouldn't suggest you to do something out of line. Just try to evoke positive emotions in people. Feelings of love, compassion, joy, satisfaction and unity would bring about a change around you, and it's very contagious. I am very inspired by the saying of Mahatma Gandhi that ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world ’. I am following this and would recommend everyone to follow your passion and be that change. ∎
Hear the full interview with Zeeshan via the AwareNow Podcast www.awarenow.us/podcast/eco-man-of-india
Follow Zeeshan on Instagram: @ecomano ndia Learn more about Zeeshan as the Awareness Tie Of cial Ambassador for Environment Awareness: www.awarenessties.us/zeeshankhan
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I believe a healthy life has daily struggles to overcome. EMILIE GOLDBLUM
OLYMPIAN, INTUITIVE STRETCH BODY MOVEMENT COACH & MOTHER OF TWO BOYS Photo Credit: Machete Brissenden
22 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
PERSONAL STORY BY EMILIE GOLDBLUM
EVERYTHING IS FLEETING, EVEN THIS VERY MOMENT In these chaotic times, I've made a practice of repeating the phrase "Everything is fleeting, even this very moment" when I feel overwhelmed. This phrase has helped remind me to take a deep breathe and restore a sense of calm, relief, and deep joy. It seems like the current culture of instant gratification and constant stimulation of manicured and posed images on social media or big billboards can create a false narrative that make our lives look easy and beautiful when in reality I believe a healthy life has daily struggles to overcome as we are very complex and multilayered. That barrage of seeming perfection can be dizzying and can create a lack of focus on personal priorities and shift it onto something we have no control over.
“…mostly there’s a sense of gratitude and humility in my overall approach to life.” So when it comes to my family and me, I try to focus on the present moment, finding the joy in daily accomplishments and “successes” in our own home. Sometimes those wins look like better communication or small favors we do for someone else in the family. For example, The other day my three year old son made his older brothers bed for him (it’s one of their weekly chores). And he just did it without needing recognition or praise for it, it was a wonderful feeling! I only found out because my older son asked me if I made his bed so it was a mystery until we asked River about it. It is those things that I choose to focus on and take inventory of which brings a smile to my face and peace into my heart. That’s not to say I don’t ever have bad days where things go wrong or that I let my attention be swayed but mostly there’s a sense of gratitude and humility in my overall approach to life… especially now! Being deliberate with my time and my thoughts "everything is fleeting, even this very moment" has guided me to a place of acceptance without accepting what society dictates for me/us. I definitely feel that since the pandemic I have this greater sense of urgency to be more self-reliant, independent and capable whereas before I was content to rely on others a lot more. I’ve also become more creative by having my two boys at home all the time. I have found myself being influenced by them in many ways, especially physically. Watching the way they move all the time has been inspiring and I've even used that inspiration in my free online stretch fitness classes. (Check out my Instagram: @emiliegoldblum) I’ve always been one to plan and prepare, which hasn't gone away, but I’ve been forced to just let go once the moment I’ve been preparing for arrives. If something isn’t exactly how I envisioned it and I know I’ve got the boys coming off line for their lunch break then that’s just how it’s going to be for that moment. I don’t have the chance to do it again and make it “perfect”, so just that time constraint alone has helped me be more productive in a shorter amount of time. It has also led me to believe in myself more in committing to teaching two classes a week online to help people who are at home and looking to move, stretch and train their bodies to feel strong and healthy! It feels good knowing I’m helping people feel less pain and gain confidence where there once was imbalance and less mobility.
www.IamAwareNow.com
23 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
I’m not looking for perfection, I’m looking to be more balanced. EMILIE GOLDBLUM
OLYMPIAN, INTUITIVE STRETCH BODY MOVEMENT COACH & MOTHER OF TWO BOYS Photo Credit: Machete Brissenden
24 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
I guess I do what I do because I’m not looking for perfection, I’m looking to be more balanced and in the process I’m constantly learning, listening and becoming more self-aware. I’m reminded of this quote when I doubt my strength and purpose, for even if I'm helping a few people out there it's an honest contribution that I can stand behind! ∎
“The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.” - Helen Keller Hear ‘Everything Is Fleeting, Event This Very Moment’ written and narrated by Emilie Goldblum via the AwareNow Podcast https://awarenow.us/podcast/everything-is- eeting
Follow Emilie on Instagram: @emiliegoldblum
Photo Credit: Machete Brissenden
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Watching the way they move all the time has been inspiring… EMILIE GOLDBLUM
OLYMPIAN, INTUITIVE STRETCH BODY MOVEMENT COACH & MOTHER OF TWO BOYS Photo Credit: Machete Brissenden
26 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
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AwareNow™ Podcast is the 'Of cial Podcast for Causes'. Presented by Awareness Ties, AwareNow is rated 'O' for original and organic content to raise awareness for the causes we're all tied to, through personal stories and exclusive interviews. Tune in as we raise awareness a story at a time about topics that aren't always easy to talk about through conversations that are sometimes hard to have. Together, we are aware now. Listen and download. Available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts & more.
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…It was a serious wake up call that I wish I'd had many years ago, really. ALEX LEWIS
QUAD AMPUTEE & FOUNDER OF ALEX LEWIS TRUST www.IamAwareNow.com
28 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ALEX LEWIS
LIMBITLESS
SURPASSING LIMITS WITHOUT LIMBS A quad amputee loving life and trying to make a difference while incorporating a little humour along the way, Alex Lewis didn’t settle on the ‘survive’ gear. He shifted higher into ‘thrive’. Not only for himself, but for others, he goes above and beyond to do more for those with less. Allié: You know, for most strep translates to 'sore throat'. For you, it resulted in septicemia, which ultimately resulted in the loss of all four of your limbs. In all that you've lost along the way, Alex, what have you gained Alex: I think above all else, I've gained a lot of clarity as to just how important my life is. And I don't think I really understood that. I was very fortunate. I had and still have an amazing partner, Lucy, and my little boy, Sam, who is not so little now, but just an absolute diamond. I don't think I really appreciated that enough when I had legs and arms. I was coasting. I wasn't working very hard. I wasn't working very hard with Lucy, with Sam. I think strep came along at the right time, to not only wake me up mentally, but also make me realize that, you know, the previous 33 years of my life were substandard. Really. I should have done so much more. I should have listened. I should have been more attentive. The list goes on as there were a lot of oors. And I think when, when I fell ill, it made me ght really hard to stay alive, but also to ght for Lucy, to ght for Sam, to ght to regain some kind of independence and life with the injuries that I sustained. I just saw the most incredible human kindness in the health system here in the UK. My plastic surgeon is now one of my best friends, the guy who saved my life, Jeff Watson, is also now one of my best friends. I mean, these guys just went above and beyond to not only saved my life, but also try and give me a quality of life when
THE EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF ALEX LEWIS DOCUMENTARY BY REAL STORIES
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Alex: (continued) … I left hospital. I was trying to soak all this up in the seven months I was ill. I don't think I really fully understood it until about two and a half or three years ago when I realized that I was actually living a better life with injuries like this than I was previously. That was a light bulb moment for me. I realized that actually what I've got now is way better than what I had then. It instilled a re. I will just do more, do better, just be a better person, and just live in the present with an amazing family, amazing friends, amazing support network. Obviously, it's gone on to get better and better as the years have gone by. But I think I’ve gained the clarity and my strength of mind, which I never thought I'd have.
“What I've achieved in the last seven years far outweighs what I achieved in my previous 33.” If you said to me, “If you lost all your arms and legs in the course of a month in hospital, what would you do?” I think if you'd asked me when I had legs and arms, I'd say, “Well, I’d just give up. I wouldn't know what to do.” But actually when I was faced with the situation, I didn’t. It didn't phase me. Lucy and I seemed to just rise above it and enjoy the ght that came with it. And that's something that I never ever knew that I had. Yeah, it was a serious wake up call that, you know, I wish I'd had many years ago really. In reality now, if you said to me, I can give you your legs and arms back. I’d say, “Well, that's great…” but I wouldn't want them. What I've achieved in the last seven years far outweighs what I achieved in my previous 33. And, you know, we have gone from strength to strength and what we're working on now with university research, charities, and you name it… all the things we're involved in. They are fascinating. And I have many, many reasons to get up in the morning - many reasons to put on my prosthetics to do all the things I need to do physically and just to try and make a difference. I'm just very lucky to be able to be living this Allié: With not only your physical ability changing, but your physical appearance altered as well, Alex, how dif cult was the transition to the new version of yourself Alex: I remember looking in the mirror for the rst time. It was probably ve months I'd been in hospital and the visualization of me was mortifying. I arrived at 6’1”. And when I left in June of 2014, I was 3’10”… I was literally half the man I was from when I arrived.
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“…I realized that I was actually living a better life with injuries like this than I was previously.”
I was literally half the man I was from when I arrived. ALEX LEWIS
QUAD AMPUTEE & FOUNDER OF ALEX LEWIS TRUST www.IamAwareNow.com
31 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
“Recovery is probably 95% mental and only 5% physical…” Alex: (continued)… Now, I remember we agreed to a newspaper at school for a local paper, and this guy came and took loads photos. And when it was published, I think all the people that hadn't seen me were a horri ed. I think it's one of the best things we ever did to throw ourselves out into the public like that. But to say, this is us now, this is how it is. You know, it's only going to get better from here. How you see me now is really bad, near death. But I'm only going to get better from this point. I made a conscious effort to be seen in as many places I could go, whether it was our restaurant, whether it was shopping… I needed people to see me, to understand me, and I didn't want to hide away. I was pushed into doing it because I was a little bit wary, but Lucy and my best friend were like, no, you've got to get out. You've got to be seen your condition. There's no point hiding. And I, you know, I got it. And then probably a year down the line, I had fully accepted my disability… Recovery is probably 95% mental and only 5% physical, but it’s in your head. The physicality of it you can cope with, if your head is right I mean, I remember when my son saw me for the rst time and he hid behind his mom's legs, he was petri ed of what he saw. And he couldn't really look at me. I was a stay at home dad for nearly three years. And that, that moment was just heartbreaking. You know, my heart at that point, I was trying to survive all this, but seeing my son and his reaction, just cut it in half. And I didn't really know how I was going to get that back. How I was going to reconnect with my son? So, you know, if I didn't accept my physical difference, then he was never going to accept it. And everything that I've done in the last seven years has been for him - to prove that whatever happened seven years ago, it was in no way halted some of the amazing things that I've gone on to do and things I'm going to do in the future. You know, he made me ght harder than ever before. I wanted my son back, and I got him back mentally about ve months later. Now the relationship we have is stronger than ever.
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32 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
I needed people to see me, to understand me…I didn't want to hide away. ALEX LEWIS
QUAD AMPUTEE & FOUNDER OF ALEX LEWIS TRUST www.IamAwareNow.com
33 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
To all our readers Please know that 41 of my favorite minutes this week were spent in conversation with Alex. Beyond inspired by his perspective and his gratitude for his disability. While some may look at his story and see tragedy, if you listen you will learn and hear a story of triumph. There are some conversations that will change your life forever. This was one such conversation for me. I invite you to tune in for the AwareNow Podcast episode ‘Limbitless’ to access the full interview.(www.awarenow.us/podcast/limbitless). I’m thankful to have met Alex and have heard his story. On behalf of Awareness Ties, we look forward to supporting his work, from his projects to produce equipment for the disabled in underserved countries to providing prosthetics for youth in need in the UK. We look forward to helping Alex serve the disabled community in every way that we can Sincerely Allié McGuir Co-Founder of Awareness Ties
Hear the full interview with Alex via the AwareNow Podcast www.awarenow.us/podcast/limbitless
Follow Alex Lewis on Instagram: @alexlewistrust Learn more about Alex’s work & projects www.alex-lewis.co.uk
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34 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
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There’s really no excuse to not do something great with this time we have now… CALY BEVIER
RECORDING ARIST & OFFICIAL AMBASSADOR FOR LGBTQ+ AWARENESS Photo Credit: Mikyla Jonck (@sassyseamonster)
36 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CALY BEVIER
SUPERCALYFRAGILISTIC CALY BEVIER IN TITLES & TERMS OF HER OWN
su·per·ca·li·fra·gil·is·tic·ex·pi·a·li·do·cious: (adj.) extraordinarily good; wonderful We nd this title and de nition be tting of our very own Of cial Ambassador for LGBTQ+ Awareness, Caly Bevier. While society’s labels are many, her commitment to living her life is singularly expressed with a single term - unapologetic. In this interview, with no lters or apologies, Caly shares more of who she is as an artist, a performer and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Allié: While the world’s venues and stages have been nearly silenced, beautiful music is being made and eager audiences are awaiting what will be shared. As a recording artist, during this pandemic, have you found the silence to be a catalyst for creating new music? Or has the isolation been more of a blockage? Caly: Both. This pandemic has really forced me into myself. I didn’t have the option to just get up and go to the mall and do some retail therapy if I started feeling sad. So instead what I could do is write. I’m not someone who always writes songs per se, but just journaling and then going back into those pages and seeing what melodies I can put to how I was feeling at the time has been something I have been experimenting with. As sucky as the pandemic has been, I have been super grateful for all of the TIME I have on my hands. There’s really no excuse to not do something great with this time we have now, so I have been really experimenting with sounds in my music and my voice also.
EARTH SONG EXCLUSIVE COVER BY CALY BEVIER
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37 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
This pandemic has really forced me into myself. CALY BEVIER
RECORDING ARIST & OFFICIAL AMBASSADOR FOR LGBTQ+ AWARENESS Photo Credit: Mikyla Jonck (@sassyseamonster)
38 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
Allié: The separation of the artist and the audience with removal of the stage has caused a disconnect in the live entertainment industry. How do you, as a performer, maintain your connection with your fans and those who would be regulars of your shows, if they could be had Caly: So, something that is great about my fan base is that I have created a connection with them that goes so much deeper than music. From day 1 when I actually started gaining followers, I always try to make sure they know that they are seen and heard. So, just doing little things like answering DMs, or going live and chatting with them, or singing a song they want to hear. It’s really the simple things. I’m no Taylor Swift, but I remember the time when she liked my tweet and I will never forget it. So again, just making sure people feel seen. And that’s something that should be practiced on the daily in our tangible lives too. Something as easy as complimenting someone's t-shirt could change their whole day. I personally have a love hate with social media and I think my dislike outweighs what I do like about it. So, I really haven't been posting all that much, there are other reasons for that too, but I always am checking my DMs Allié: No one is immune to labels, as they are assigned to every thing and every person. Labels for you, Caly, include recording artist (with a path that began with your gold-buzzer performance on America’s Got Talent) and cancer survivor (overcoming stage 3 ovarian cancer at the age of 16). However, these are just 2 of many labels. Another that you proudly and passionately own is that of LBGTQ+. Please share your position as a member of this community and what you want others to know about it. Also, please share your position as a musician and your work as an artist as it pertains to the community. Caly: When I was like 14, I started opening myself up to the fact that I didn't just think that girls were pretty and I wanted to look like them… I realized that I was actually attracted to them. And from that day on I just kept exploring my sexual orientation, and I really started romanticizing every human I found attractive - no matter if they were a guy or girl. And when I say attractive, I just mean overall, it’s not all about looks, but personality of course! I identi ed as lesbian for a little bit, then bi, and now I identify as pansexual, which means I have no preference on gender whatsoever. So that’s my personal position in the LGBTQ+ community. From the day that I was put on this earth, I really felt this need and urge to make people feel good - whatever form that may come in. And I feel like my creator knew that I would thrive being queer. This beautiful community is so special for me because that’s truly what it’s all about, is making people feel safe, heard, understood, and able to be without judgment or question.
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Photo Credit: Mikyla Jonck (@sassyseamonster)
“It’s a very easy change that can make someone actually feel seen and respected as who they identify as.” Allié: Pronouns. She, he, they, her, him, them. For those confused about why these terms and their personal assignment and usage is so important, please share your thoughts Caly: This is the simplest conversation for anyone who is open to changing their way of speaking and addressing others. It’s a very easy change that can make someone actually feel seen and respected as who they identify as. I totally get it when people don’t understand how to use they/them pronouns. But, you have to be open to a new way of saying things… I mean, it’s really nothing new. It’s just being more purposeful and understanding when addressing someone. I know that a lot of us are trained in using mainly she/he pronouns when it comes to talking to someone or about someone, but we can train ourselves daily to start getting used to using they/them pronouns also. Something that I have been doing is, let’s say I see someone out and I really liked their pants. I could assume (which you should never) that it was a girl and I could tell Shawn, “OMG! I saw this girl, and she had really cute pants.” Or I can learn not to assume gender and say, “OMG! I saw this person today and their pants were re!” I think that a lot of people actually do this often and they just don't realize that you can use they/them pronouns when referring to one person. Also, if you are talking to someone or meeting them for the rst time, you can and should ask “What are your pronouns?” It takes less than 15 seconds, and it can make someone feel good. That’s really all it’s about.
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40 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
“…just don't be a hypocrite.” Allié: When you get in the shower and feel the need to sing, what song comes to mind most? I guess what I’m asking is what song do you sing most loudly and proudly Caly: Playing God by Paramore, always. I don't think I have ever skipped that song. I think it can pertain to so many situations in life and most def my life. I was raised in an extreme religion, and although I do have family that I deeply love and care about in the religion, I myself do not agree with religion as a whole. I’m spiritual and love my guides and talk to them and thank them, but I believe in what I believe in and don’t expect anyone else to believe in what's in my brain and what comforts me. In this religion I was raised in, you are taught to just spread the truth and really question others ways of believing and try to get them to understand why being in the church is the best, but they will never let you question their ways of thinking. I just feel like in religion it's all about loving god and doing right by god but only on your own terms. Like you can’t preach, preach, preach and then go do something against the bible. Over all, just don't be a hypocrite. I was just deeply scarred by being in this religion as a child, as are many kids who have grown up in it. Some lyrics of Playing God are “Next time you point a nger, I’ll point you to the mirror. And if gods the game that you’re playing, well, we must get more acquainted because it has to be so lonely, to be the only one who's holy.” So, yeah… a little rant, but I always love getting to talk about my disdain for religion. Allié: For all of us eager to hear the latest and greatest about Caly Bevier, please ll us in on what’s in the works now and what’s coming next. Caly: YESSS! So, as I said earlier, I have really been experimenting and nding who I am not only as an artist but as my normal day-to-day person… but I’m making music all the time and really just practicing my craft. I've been working with a producer, Adam, and we have been digging into lots of different sounds and seeing what I connect with the most, what music inspires my melodies and lyrics best. We’ve been at that for over 2 years now. So, I’d say we have some beautiful music. I have some really pretty acoustic songs, songs that mesh groovy bass lines with punk electric guitar riffs. We were trying to think of a way to explain my sound and I came up with a food… ‘cheesy gordita crunch’. Theres soft tones that are just easy on the ear (soft shell), gooey, slinky Ariana type sounds (i.e. cheese), belting parts that just hit you in the face and you're like ‘Wow!’ (crunch shell). But we just keep making more and life keeps inspiring. I think my main objective right now is to nish some songs and get those out into the world. I’m seriously considering taking a social media break and rebranding myself in the shadows of real life and then coming back to show the world who I truly am in this season of my life. And honestly it’s been cold, but its heating up. ∎
Hear the full interview with Caly via the AwareNow Podcast www.awarenow.us/podcast/supercalyfragilistic
Follow Caly Bevier on Instagram: @calybev Learn more about Caly as our Of cial Ambassador for LGBTQ+ Awarenes www.awarenessties.us/caly-bevier
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Not everything worth funding is scalable. AJAY DAHIYA
FOUNDER OF THE POLLINATION PROJECT
42 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AWAY DAHIYA
POLLINATING WITH PURPOSE DEFINING AND DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE
The Pollination Project is a global community of over 4,000 grassroots changemakers in 116 countries. These visionary servant leaders bring their hopes for a kinder, more compassionate world. In return, The Pollination Project offers seed funding, capacity-building support, belief, and connectivity with other aligned leaders. Ajay Dahiya leads this team of #heartivists as the Chief Vision Of cer. Allié: Some believe it will take the investment of millions of dollars to change the world. So far, even with billions spent, there is so much change needed. The Pollination Project is investing $1,000 a project (a person) at a time and seeing results of success. Can you speak for a moment about incremental impact and its potential to scale
“Philanthropy works best when it is inclusive…” Ajay: I feel that, as a sector, philanthropy has become obsessed with the idea of scale; that is, our desire to nd the big-ticket solution that can be broadly applied everywhere. Some things make sense to scale; for instance, production of ventilators. Scalable solutions aren’t the problem in and of themselves, but our focus on them at the expense of other interventions means that the provenance of doing good is limited to the largest and most well-funded organizations. Not everything worth funding is scalable For most of human history, social problems were solved by neighbors working in community with each other. If the community needed a new school, or someone was experiencing a profound hardship, neighbors banded together to help. “Big philanthropy” is a fairly new concept historically speaking. Today, obviously there are many challenges that are more complex and require expertise, skill, and signi cant investment. Yet there are many that we can solve together, and in ways that achieve greater community belonging, resiliency, and preservation of community social responsibility Philanthropy works best when it is inclusive, and one way to achieve this is through seed grants to individuals directly. This sounds less revolutionary than it is, until you begin to research how infrequently this occurs in the context of modern giving. While the word “grassroots” often connotes disorganization or even inef ciency, in practice the opposite is true. When a community experiences a social challenge, the people who live there have the best solutions. They deploy those solutions more ef ciently because they know their neighbors, understand the culture, and have existing networks built on trust and social Capital “Big” philanthropy has offered major wins for society in ways that direct giving cannot; yet, I can’t help but wonder if there are some drawbacks to professionalizing the business of doing good. Have we created a perception that it is only experts that can make a difference in the world? Have we unconsciously built a system that elevates organizations over the civic engagement of individuals
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“…you scale this work by adopting it yourself.” There’s a need for both approaches: the small-scale grassroots interventions, along with broad solutions that can be quickly deployed at scale. When I speak to others in the Foundation world about incorporating an approach that uplifts individual action, inevitably someone will ask, “but how can you scale this?” I answer simply—you scale this work by adopting it yourself
Allié: “We believe in people, so we invest in people.” This statement by The Pollination Project, speaks volumes. While there are those who invest in projects or products that promise nancial return, your model is about investing in ‘people’ with the hopeful return of positive social impact. Can you share how this model of yours is sustaining success both for your organization and for the changemakers you support Ajay: We focus on people rather than projects or organizations because the human spirit is the largest untapped resource for social change. In many cases, the projects that we support are driven by passion and love for neighbors; this passion and love comes from the individuals behind the project, and without them the project is nothing Take for example our COVID-19 response this last year. Faced with the unprecedented challenge of modern pandemic, our global network activated quickly to nd and fund those individuals around the world who were best positioned to protect the most vulnerable members of their community from this insidious disease Each changemaker was able to serve, on average, roughly 1,049 humans or non-human animals through their project. With just $1,000, and in some cases just $500, this means they delivered food aid, offered vital hygiene supplies, provided community health education, made face masks, or built handwashing facilities, among many other unique projects, that bene tted more individuals than they had dollars This highlights my belief that in many cases, the thing that makes a project successful is not funding alone. Certainly, in many cases, funding is a necessary element. Yet the component that truly catalyzes a project to expand beyond the sum of its parts is the af rmation that the funding represents. I hear often from grassroots leaders who cite how much it meant that someone believed in their work and in their individual capacity to see it through. When given seed funding and belief, changemakers activate those gifts along with their sincere love of community, deep connections with neighbors, and creativity. It isn’t uncommon to see additional support pour in, motivated by the authenticity of these community-led responses. For example, we know from other analysis that, on average, our project leaders leverage an additional 125 hours of volunteer support in service to their work. These are results that speak to the power of people- rst seed funding
Allié: Having supported over 4,000 grassroots changemakers, you’ve been a part of thousands of stories of positive impact. Can you share one example that stands out in your mind Ajay: Early in our COVID-19 response grantmaking, we funded a doctor in Kolkata who recognized how vulnerable the urban slums in his hometown were. He read the WHO’s gold standard hand sanitizer recipe, and realized the ingredients could be purchased for minimal cost. He applied for support through The Pollination Project for a project to train 2-3 marginalized youth in each slum to produce the hand sanitizer and then distribute it to families in their slum. This way, it could continue even during lockdown, potentially serving 2,500 families with a seed grant of just $900 USD. He didn’t even request the full $1,000 grant amount, only what he needed for the project to happen! His success was possible because of his existing ties, volunteerism and passion for the community, and the cultural knowledge that guided his program design. This proposal was met with a resounding “yes” from our participatory grant-making team, yet it is unlikely he would have received support anywhere else.
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Allié: I recently tuned into a podcast by the Sentience Institute where you were the featured guest. Here you mention the issues that still exist after so much money spent, so many lives lost and so much work done. You speak to the fact that unless we do the work within we won’t see the change we’re seeking. For sustainable impact, where do we begin Ajay: For me, everything begins with self-re ection. If we can honestly look at our own edges, we can begin to understand how little we know, how imperfect our own journey is, and the things in the world we wish to change that still nd safe harbor within ourselves. Self-re ection makes us humble, takes our response out of a place of “ego,” and allows us to shift from binary thinking towards meeting other people - even those we think of as so different from ourselves - in the fullness of our shared humanity. Without self-re ection, there is no self-acceptance. Without selfacceptance, there is no self-improvement. And who are we to seek to change the world if we are not willing to change ourselves?
…everything begins with self-re ection. AJAY DAHIYA
FOUNDER OF THE POLLINATION PROJECT
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“I am desperate for the world to change and be better for others…” Allié: Before The Pollination Project, you were a monk for nearly a decade. In that time, I can’t begin to imagine the number of insights you gained. What was one of the most powerful that you learned and were able to apply to your work Ajay: From as far back as I can remember I felt deeply called to a spiritual path and I approached monastic life because I saw the alternative as a path of exploitation - entering the world with an idea of taking, often at the expense of someone else. I hoped that by renouncing all my material possessions, I would take myself out of the competition once and for all. There is undoubtedly a nobility and beauty in the simplicity of this life. Yet I found that real renunciation was not found simply in detaching from the world, but rather utilising everything at ones disposal in a spirit of service - a life of dedication. In fact, as I thought of the struggles and pain of so many, my desire was to deepen my connection and ability to serve. After the realm of exploitation and renunciation, I came to this place of dedication. I no longer wish to be divorced from material things, but I still understand that these resources don’t belong to me and that they are often wielded unfairly; but I dedicate myself to redirecting them to where they are most needed. In fact, I would say that what I feel now is desperation. Not desperation as an anguish or hopelessness, and not as a striving that I recognized in the exploitive economy. Rather, I feel a passionate urgency to serve. I am desperate for the world to change and be better for others, desperate for suffering to reduce, and desperate to transform my own awareness and existence into a vessel for this change to take place. ∎
Hear the full interview with Ajay via the AwareNow Podcast www.awarenow.us/podcast/pollinating-with-purpose
Learn more about the Pollination Projec www.thepollinationproject.org Follow Pollination Project on Instagram: @thepollinationproject
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46 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
I feel a passionate urgency to serve. AJAY DAHIYA
FOUNDER OF THE POLLINATION PROJECT
47 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
Dreams are our realities in waiting… JACQUELINE WAY
INSPIRATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER, PHILANTHROPIST & FOUNDER OF 365GIVE
48 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
‘THE WAY TO HAPPINESS’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY JACQUELINE WAY
PLANTING SEEDS OF CHANGE A TESTAMENT TO THE POLLINATION PROJECT
To the Dreamer… Never let it be said that a dream is a waste of time. For dreams are our realities in waiting. In dreams we plant the seeds of our future. Our world is lled with dreamers and their dreams… Dreams for a better world. Dreams for a happier world. Dreams for a more peaceful world. I have always been one of those dreamers. I remember the rst time I told a friend about my dream to change the world. They simply laughed and said, “No one can do that.” Belief is the rst step to ful lling our dreams. In that moment I felt very alone – but I believed it was possible.
“I enlisted my rst volunteer. My 3-year-old son, Nic.” In 2010, I took a leap of faith and got started to change the world. I knew it was not going to be easy and I had to start small. Just one step at a time. I enlisted my rst volunteer. My 3-year-old son, Nic. My intention to change the world was simple and if a 3-yea old could do it – anyone could do it. The only way to solve our planet’s biggest challenges is for us all to do our part. Nic and I made a commitment to do one small act of giving every day for 365 days We started small - picking up garbage, donating cloths and toys for those in need, helping animals with a bird feeder in our yard. We shared our stories in the form of a blog we called 365give. The intention was to inspire others to give as well. I had heard about the ripple effect of giving and wanted to create our own ripple everyday. Our friends and family supported our journey with cheers, likes, and shares of our stories. They were the only ones that followed for almost 100 days and then something amazing happened. We received a comment from Uganda, followers from Australia, and India, and “likes” from the United States. People started reading the blog and sharing their giving stories with us because they were inspired by Nic. It fueled my dream to spread the 365give vision to change the world one give, one day at a time. I decided the best place to get many hands to action was with a group of individuals that needed no convincing children. We created The 365give Challenge for schools. A tool for teachers that empowered students to give. I knocked on school doors one at a time asking for them to join us. In my dream I could see schools all over the world teaching our program and creating a new generation of leaders that would be the change our world needed. But big dreams cost money, and no one wanted to support a grassroots project started by a Mom and her 3-year-old son. I just needed someone to believe in the world I dreamed of as much as I did. A little seed funding to move us forward. I asked, I pitched, I tried fundraisers with little response. My hope was fading fast until one organization shared the vision we did. They believed individuals had the ability to make great change in the world - 365 days of the year. Sound familiar? The Pollination Project (www.thepollinationproject.org) was a match made in the heavens.
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49 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
“They believed in me. It was all the fuel I needed to y.” They believed that the goodness & creativity within every individual is the largest untapped resource for building a kinder, more compassionate world. It is our belief as well. When you empower, teach, and inspire others to make a positive impact in the world there are no limits to what we can each to in our own communities to create positive change. The Pollination Project gave us our rst seed grant - $1000. But most of all they believed in 365give. They believed in me. It was all the fuel I needed to y. We went to work. We took that seed funding and grew our school program from 3 to 25 schools. That gave us the ability to get more funding and we grew. Today 365give has touched millions of lives. Our educational program has been in over 400 schools globally. We didn’t stop there. Our 365give members include thousands of individuals, hundreds of families, community groups even businesses. It was the dream so many years ago and it came true because of the belief and support of The Pollination Project. The Pollination Project has supported over 4,000 individuals and small grassroots organizations just like 365give. The impact spans the globe and tackles our worlds biggest challenges one person at a time with a big dream to change the world. We will be forever grateful to The Pollination Project as our partners in pollinating the world with good. ∎
JACQUELINE WA Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Philanthropist & Founder of 365give www.awarenessties.us/jacqueline-way Jacqueline Way is a dedicated world changer. Her soul purpose is to inspire and educate the hearts and minds of people globally to create a happy, meaningful life. She expresses her purpose through her charitable organization 365give created and inspired by her son with a simple vision to “Change the World 1 give, 1 day at time.” She is a world-renowned keynote speaker with one of the most watch TEDx Talks “How to Be Happy Every Day – It Will Change the World” Every day she is committed to living the highest expression of who she is as a human being through her work and by touching the lives of others.
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50 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
You march to the beat of a different drum. LORI BUTIERRIES
AUTHOR & MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
52 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
PERSONAL STORY BY LORI BUTIERRIES
DEAR DAUGHTER
A MOTHER’S LETTER TO HER AUTISTIC DAUGHTER When I read this post in Lori’s Instagram feed, rst I cried. Then I replied. I asked if she would submit her post as a story in AwareNow. These are the stories and sentiments needed more now than ever before as we are faced with a growing number of challenges and looking for comfort and con dence in the midst of the struggles we face. Thank you, Lori. -Allié M.
Daughter You march to the beat of a different drum. Like, when you walk in circles around the kitchen island while listening to the same song on repeat (on your iPad) for hours at a time, lost in thought and in the rhythm of the music motivating you to move. You laugh out loud randomly and enjoy talking to yourself, too; I like that your joy isn't contingent upon what is going on around you- your feelings are genuine and true. It's beautiful to watch someone being as authentic as you. You don't like to make eye contact while talking, nor are you fond of back and forth discussions too; they make you feel awkward, but that doesn't mean that you don't like to interact with those around you. You have a big heart and are an affectionate person, but sometimes it's just hard for you to navigate through conversations or read the complexities of social cues. So, you'd rather watch and observe others' relationships from a safe distance, but I have hope that one day you'll make a friend that gets you You are older now but still young, developmentally speaking. Instead of learning to drive, getting your rst job, or interacting with other high schoolers your age, you'd rather play with dolls, watch cartoons, or reread fairy tales that you've memorized through the years I'm okay with that because you don't feel like you are missing out on the typical milestone experiences, so I don't push you to do things that you aren't comfortable with or ready yet to engage in for appearances' sake. The only person's opinion that matters is yours regarding your limits, interests, and willingness to participate Autism may have matured you slower than most, but one day you'll grow up; it's inevitable, not a choice. So, sweetheart, take your time and enjoy the peace and ease of childhood for as long as you can. But when the time comes to take that next step, Mommy will be ready, and we will walk that new path together, hand-in-hand. Love Mom
Connect with Lori on Instagram @lori_butierries
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53 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
As I continued to climb, I would slide my cane back and forth to gauge the width of the trail. LEX GILLETTE
4X PARALYMPIC MEDALIST, 4X WORLD CHAMPION & KEYNOTE SPEAKER
54 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
E.A.R.T.H
ENJOY A REFRESHING TIME HIKING There’s something so special about this Earth that we live on. Could it be the breath-taking view created by an oncoming sunset? What about the Earth Day projects from elementary school? I’m talking about the project where you and your classmates would take some soil provided by your teacher, pour it inside of a red solo cup, plant a few seeds, and wait patiently over the days and weeks in hopes of seeing owers blossom. We clearly had to water our plants and give them sunlight to initiate the growth process, but after a while, our eyes widened as the plants began to emerge from the soil. What about the vibrant colors created by sh, underwater plants, and other organisms found on the sea oor? Earth is pretty amazing The beautiful thing about this is that we can nd the beauty of our planet right in our backyard. One day I decided to go on a hike with one of my buddies. The location? San Miguel Mountain down in Chula Vista. I wouldn’t classify myself as an avid hiker, but I do love to get outdoors and I’m de nitely wanting to explore more paths as it’s a great way to stay active even when I’m not training for the Paralympics
“You may have eyesight and can visually absorb the stunning views of this world, but remember that we have so many other ways to intake the experience.” Let me take you back to that day on San Miguel Mountain. It was around 10:00 am and the sky seemed to open and pour endless amounts of sunlight onto my head and shoulders. I had my cane in my right hand, and cell phone in my left. Why the phone? Well, I was using my handy dandy Aira app. Aira is a service for the blind and visually impaired. You can download it from the Android or IOS app store, open it up, hit the call button, and you’re immediately connected to a live human agent who can see through your phone’s camera. From there, the agent can help you navigate by giving directions audibly. It’s a really cool service. With my cane, Aira, and my buddy following behind, I proceeded to the start of the trail and began the trek to the top You may have eyesight and can visually absorb the stunning views of this world, but remember that we have so many other ways to intake the experience. Wendell, my Aira companion for the trip gave me fantastic guidance as I maneuvered along the trail. Every few minutes I’d take the opportunity to inhale and ll my lungs with the crisp clean air. Inhale, one two three, exhale. Inhale, one two three, exhale. So amazing. You should de nitely try it sometime My spatial awareness is something that I feel is a real blessing. As I continued to climb, I would slide my cane back and forth to gauge the width of the trail. Feedback from the cane would let me know when the incline would get steeper. I could tell when the trail would get skinnier and also when it would increase in width. Some moments along the trek required that I crouch down and get into the mountain climber position. All this time, I thought mountain climbers were just a drill that my coach had us do during our warmup drills. They’re a real thing and they work, especially when you’re hiking Along the way, Wendell would ask me to stop so he could take snapshots of the view. I could hear the excitement in his voice as he would speak. “Lex, oh we have to get this. I can see well off in the distance and the sky is creating a beautiful blue extending off into forever. There’s also this really cool rock formation surrounded by a sea of green grass.”
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NO NEED FOR SIGHT WHEN YOU HAVE VISION AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY LEX GILLETTE
I’d also hear an airplane or two here and there. In the beginning of the walk, they sounded pretty high in the sky, but as we continued up, they seemed to get a little closer to my head. I almost felt as if I could jump up and touch one or two. It makes sense that my hands are really important to me and any other person who is blind. Through our hands is how we gain valuable feedback on so many things, but our feet are just as important. I could feel the Earth’s surface and make adjustments based on what I was feeling under my shoes. I was thinking, “Oh, there are loose rocks here. Let me step toward the righthand side of the trail where the terrain is more stable. Oh, my cane is rolling over some huge roots in the ground. I’d better pick up my feet so I won’t trip and fall.” Although I was ascending higher, there were a few times where there were some slight dips in the road. For these, I’d use my cane to determine how deep the dips were, drop the cane and bend down, lean backward and use my hands to support me. From there I’d slide my feet forward. Once my size 13s hit flat against the ground, I’d grab my cane, stand back up and keep trucking. I even heard animals and small critters crawling into the nearby brush along the way. Not sure what they were, but they didn’t bother me and I definitely didn’t bother them. A few times I heard footsteps ahead or behind. I took a simple step to the side so people could pass - no biggie. Some people were even running up or down the trail. I even heard the occasional, “You’re brave my man” or “So inspiring! Keep it going brother.” I’d respond with a wave and thank you. I appreciate it, but I’m only hiking. Come spend a day with me at the track and I’ll show you some way cooler things than this After a while, I heard Wendell say. “Lex, I see it! I see the top!” From there, he helped me navigate through a couple twists and turns. Finally, Wendell led me straight ahead and my cane tapped the rocks that marked the top of the mountain. I climbed onto the pile so I could touch the flag that was planted firmly in the middle. I did it. I made it to the top!
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND CAN HIKE?! YES. YES, THEY CAN. IF SEEING IS BELIEVING, WATCH LEX GILLETTE TAKE ON SAN MIGUEL MOUNTAIN
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56 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
“…my cane tapped the rocks that marked the top of the mountain.”
Sure, I felt good about making it to the top of the trail, but it was more than that. It was the sounds, the smells, the feeling. We spend so much time clocking in for work or lling our minds and bodies with TV and digital content. To be clear, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but remember that we have a beautiful friend in Earth. What I am saying is that we need to enjoy our planet a little more. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to a ton of places around the globe and it’s incredible. You get to experience climates, sites, and scenes that we don’t have here in the States. We have amazing places here also, but we don’t have to travel far to experience the beauty of Mother Nature. Get out there. Take a walk, a jog, or a run. Find a new trail to hike. Stop littering - I had to slip that in there. Plant some owers. Ride a bike. Outside yoga is an option also. Like hammocks? Lay up and soak in the sun and fresh air. Earth Day should be every day. Get out there and enjoy everything that it has to offer. ∎
LEX GILLETT 4x Paralympic Medalist, 4x World Champion & Keynote Speaker www.awarenessties.us/lex-gillette Lex Gillette has quickly become one of the most sought after keynote speakers on the market. Losing his sight at the age of eight was painful to say the least, but life happens. Things don’t always go your way. You can either stay stuck in frustration because the old way doesn’t work anymore, or you can create a new vision for your life, even if you can’t see how it will happen just yet. His sight was lost, but Lex acquired a renewed vision, a vision that has seen him become the best totally blind long and triple jumper Team USA has ever witnessed.
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“…we have a beautiful friend in Earth.”
I wanted young people to feel heard so they would get the help they needed. MARY ALBERTOLI
CO-FOUNDER OF THE SHIFT
58 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
FEATURE STORY WITH THE SHIFT
THE SHIFT
LET THE MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATION CONTINUE On November 15, 2018, you could hear a pin drop in one seemingly vacuum-sealed westside Los Angeles studio, minimally set up with stools, lighting and three cameras to capture the discussion of the day Those invited weren’t dignitaries, policymakers, scientists or superstars. They were everyday teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24. The group, mostly strangers, had agreed to talk with a team of adults who wanted to crack open a conversation silenced for too long, and with far too many headline-making consequences. The focus of the conversation – mental health. The women leading the production: two social impact producers, Mo Isern and Nadia Sarmova, and Mary Albertoli, a former social worker who had reached her limit with the growing youth mental health crisis. “It was devastating to see the very evident pain and suffering behind the suicides, gun violence and self harm that I’d seen throughout my career and nearly everyday, in one way or another, on the news. I wanted young people to feel heard so they would get the help they needed,” said Mary Albertoli.
“…the conversation was one small step toward making a big difference.” Moderated by in uencer and content creator Adrienne Finch, the conversation took on a life of its own, giving the participants an unexpected sense of freedom to open up about issues they had been struggling with, like coming out, bullying, personal identity, eating disorders, social and academic pressures, all resulting in overwhelming anxiety and depression. Before the studio time was up, it was evident: the conversation was one small step toward making a big difference, and a show concept that would travel the country to destigmatize mental health was born - The Shift. The conversation did not stop there. Many of the young people participating that day chose to get help, resulting in signi cant life changes. But with the onset of a global pandemic, the producers saw communities and campuses shutting down, and no way to continue a traditional show format. Still the wheels continued to turn Today mental health is a topic the collective “We” knows we can’t avoid. Starting the conversation is not about solving a problem or concern in the moment necessarily. But often the recognition of oneself, of what one is going through, and the ability to be heard, understood, validated and seen in another, is a form of medicine, and a critical rst step to getting support and professional help where needed to alleviate the pressure and distress of going it alone The Shift team is now a team of dozens on a mission. The Shift Wellness Rally online event series is an innovative way to engage with young people and empower them with tools and strategies they can use in challenging moments, and a community they can lean on in a crisis.
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“…something we can rally around.” One could say a rally sounds celebratory. There is reason to celebrate a breakthrough conversation to be sure - the willingness to gather ‘round and look at what can be done better together. There is also an underlying, growing, rallying cry for help taking hold of communities around the country. Gun violence is again at the top of the news, overshadowing dozens of other heartbreaking stories Local partners like NAMI Westside LA, MHSOAC, Rincon Family Services, and Recovery International are now bringing The Shift Wellness Rally to their communities to make a lifetime of difference for the young people and families they serve. That is what started with one conversation. That is something we can all rally around If you are in emotional distress, con dential help is available 24/7. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK); or text HELLO to 741-741 to connect with a live counselor. ∎
Learn more about The Shift Wellness Rall www.theshiftwellnessrally.com
THE SHIFT A CONVERSATION-STARTING, STIGMA-BUSTING CONTENT PLATFORM TO DISCOVER MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
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Los Angeles
Chicago
Saturday, May 1 @ 11am - 12pm PT
Saturday, May 15 @ 1pm - 2pm CT
presented by NAMI Westside LA & MHSOAC
with Rincon Family Services & Recovery International
Join us for an interactive youth-driven conversation about mental health.
We are in full control of our own journey. JESSE IWUJI
U.S. NAVAL OFFICER & NASCAR DRIVER
62 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
SHIFTING HIGHER A STORY OF SERVICE & SUCCESS
First and only active duty U.S. Naval Of cer competing in NASCAR. In all things Jesse Iwuji does, there are two constant elements: his love of country and his ghting spirit. This talented driver went from a D1A college football player to a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy and is now the only current driver in all of NASCAR at the national levels that has ever served his country and still does. Allié: When you hear the words U.S. Naval Of cer, NASCAR Driver and Black, they aren’t terms that we often see all together. But here you are, Lt. Jesse Iwuji. Doing what’s not been done until now, serving your country in the Navy Reserves while seeking excellence on the NASCAR track. Is there a common thread both in NASCAR and the Navy that lead you to pursue careers in both
“There are a lot of correlations between NASCAR and the Navy.” Jesse: Yeah, there is a little bit of a common thread between the two. I believe both of them are very much team types of situations. Where in the Navy, we are driving those ships out there, because I come from the ship world, you need an entire team of people to get that ship going. You do not walk on the ship, put a key in, turn it and start driving it. You need an engineering team. You need a team up on the bridge nativing the ship. You need your communication team. You need all of the IT folks. You need a combat information center. All of these folks come together so the ship can move from point A to point B to accomplish a mission.
It is the same thing in NASCAR. You need a whole team, not just a driver hopping in the car and driving it. You need your crew chief. You need your pit crew, your engineers, folks managing all the admin that happens before you get on the track. You need all of these different elements together as one full team, so you can have success on the track. If one person doesn't do their job then it jeopardizes the entire weekend.
There are a lot of correlations between NASCAR and the Navy. Being a driver in NASCAR and then being an of cer in the Navy, you have to stay physically t. You have to be able to manage a lot of stress. You have to be able to time manage your days very well because there are a lot of things that are thrown on your plate. As a driver, we just don't go to the track and race and that's it. There is so much that happens during the week, like interviews or connecting to different sponsors, ful lling different sponsorship obligations that you have with other partners. There are just things you have to do, just like being in the Navy. When we are not out at sea, we are back in home port, doing all the things we are doing just to maintain our readiness so we can go out and execute when we have to.
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JESSE IWUJI
A lot of times we confuse movement with progress. JESSE IWUJI
U.S. NAVAL OFFICER & NASCAR DRIVER
64 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
Allié: Both in NASCAR and in the Navy, there have historically been racial barriers. Have you personally met adversity because of your color? If so, how did you rise above it Jesse: I would say, when it comes to the track, I've not seen it in person or in my face any type of racial barriers. But I am sure there are some that are happening in the background. Maybe some people have said things or made some remarks. I know as far as fans for the most part, I have a lot of great support, but every once and a while you have your keyboard warriors. We live in the internet age, where people really feel safe at home to speak their minds and talk a lot of crap. It happens. Sometimes people talk crap because you're not their favorite driver, or some talk crap because they really want to get to you. I have had other people say very nasty things to me online, like dropping the N word, this and that. I had an insistence last year when someone pulled one of my pictures off of Google images, wrote the N word all across it and then posted it on Instagram. This was not the rst time something like that happened. This is usually every year, at least once a year, something stupid like that happens. But it is just a part of it, it happens. At the end of the day, people can hide on the internet so they do it. It is not right, but at the end of the day, it is something we deal with as African Americans in general. If you are trying to succeed or trying to get to a higher level, you know there will be people who don't want you to get to that level. There will be people that are just jealous of the journey and will hate on you, and that's ne. That's okay. They will remain in their mother’s basement hating on me all day, and I will skyrocket and get to where I want to go and do everything I want to do in life.
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“There will be people that are just jealous of the journey and will hate on you, and that's ne.”
Jesse: Yeah, anyone who says there is no opportunity in America, it’s their own fault and no one else's. We are in full control of our own journey. There is nothing that can stop you from getting to where you want to go in life, as long as what you are trying to get isn't prohibiting others from living a free life also, that is very important to know. For my parents' story, both came from Nigeria to the US back in the 80s. They did not have much at all. My dad had saved up a lot of money in Nigeria before coming here. They weren't rich in Nigeria. He came from a family of a 11; they lived under one roof. They did not live in a mansion they lived in a small, small, small one story house that I don't think had doors. If you needed to use the restroom, the out house was about 40 to 50 yards from the house. So, if you needed to use it at night, you are walking out into the jungle area - not some nice eld. I mean, you are going through the jungle to get to the out house. If you forget the tissue paper, then you have to use leaves. That is where he came from. My mom came from even less. Her mom was super sick when she was a kid and was in the hospital for months and months. The family did not have much. They didn't have a lot of money; they were struggling. My mom would go to school. After school, she would have to fetch food for the family. She would have to fetch water for the family. When I say ‘fetch water’, that does not mean go to Walmart and buy some bottles of water. It literally means going to a river to fetch water as an eleven-year-old. Imagine if someone's eleven-year-old had to do that here in the states. They would call child protection services, but that's what she had to do to keep the family alive. That is where my parents came from. They came from that to this.
“Do not tell me there are no opportunities in the United States of America, because there are.” The reason why they came here to the US was because they didn't want to live that life forever. They knew that opportunities were not a lot in Nigeria. There was a lot of oppression and things going on. There is a lot of greed and the government was corrupt. They knew success was going to be very dif cult there. They put themselves in a better situation by coming to the US. They started with nothing really. My dad had a few hundred dollars and my mom didn't have anything. They got married and decided to settle down in Dallas, TX. My mom’s rst work here in the US was being a hotel maid. She worked a lot of hours to help save up money, and eventually they were able to save enough money for her to go to school and get her associates degree in nursing. Once she became a nurse, she worked, worked, worked, she would literally work her normal 12 hour shifts every single day… seven days a week and try to add overtime hours on top of that. My mom had plenty of 100 hour weeks year after year. She didn't just work 5-6 days a week. She worked 7 days a week every single week of the year and did that for a lot of years. On top of that, going into the years of 1997-1998, on top of all of those hours she also started a small business where she had a party supply store. That party supply store was operating from 9am to 5pm everyday. She would go work her nursing job, then come to the party supply store and work. She would then grab a quick bite and maybe a quick nap and then head to her work. She did that 5-6 days a week, depending on if she had someone to help at the store. She did that every single week to save up more money. Through this hard work and this grind, over the years we went from living in government subsidized apartments to moving into a one story house. From there,we moved into our rst two story house in 1996. We then moved into our next house in 2005-2006, and then we moved into the next bigger house. The houses kept getting bigger and bigger because my parents kept on grinding. My dad did the same thing by grinding and working hard. He had his own videography business that he was doing. and he worked at some schools doing a lot of media work with them. Both of my parents working hard and grinding was required so they could build better opportunities for the family and have more revenue coming into the house, just to create opportunities for us to thrive in a good environment and do great things. It worked. For anyone who is saying there are no opportunities here, imagine starting like my mom basically sleeping on the side of a hospital bed with her sick mother and having to go fetch water at eleven-years-old. That's where she started and now she is where she is now. Do not tell me there are no opportunities in the United States of America because there are.
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Allie: I love that your parents are proof that, as you explain, “just because you start with nothing, doesn’t mean the rest of life will be nothing”. For those who tell you there is no opportunity in America, please tell us your parents' story
Jesse: For those who are trying to go on a wild journey to accomplish something that hasn’t been accomplished before, you have to have a vision. You have to have a vision clearly seeing yourself achieving this goal. You have to understand that God is the only one who gave you that vision… no one was given that vision but you. Just because your family and friends can’t see that vision for you, you have to see it for yourself. Some people get into a mode of “oh my gosh, I have this dream of becoming this but no one esle sees or believes it… so i'm not going to do it because maybe it's not the right thing for me” No, they were not given that vision, because if they did they would be going after it too. You were given that vision, and you were given that vision for a reason. One you start grinding forward, know that every day you need to take action toward that goal. Daily actions every single day - seven days a week. It has to be every day putting effort towards it. Doing something everyday to try and advance yourself. Even if that advancement sets you back a little bit, it’s okay. At least you’re going somewhere - as long as you are putting in those actionable steps every day and they are ambitious actionable steps, not just movement for no reason. A lot of times we confuse movement with progress. You have to have ambition. That ambition will drive you forward. As you are going through the journey, understand that it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be dark. You are going to be going through a very dark tunnel. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s going to be pitch black on your entire way there. Light will not show up until you exit the tunnel. You are going to be inches away from the end of the tunnel, and it is going to be pitch black. Because of that, people tend to quit. They quit because they can’t see the light, not realizing that it’s just one more foot away. You have to have faith that the light is there as long as you continue to push forward. As long as you have that faith, you don’t quit and you stay strong enough long enough, life will reward you in the end. Remember those out there who are reaching out for a helping hand too. There are those out there going after their dreams too, and sometimes they need help. They see you doing it. They see you succeeding, and they’re needing advice. Don’t forget to help them. When you help others achieve their dreams, your dreams will come true too. ∎ Hear the full interview with Jesse via the AwareNow Podcast https://awarenow.us/podcast/shifting-higher
Follow Jesse Iwuji on Instagram: @jesse_iwuji
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67 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
Allié: Advice for those seeking to do what’s not been done? Jesse, what guidance do you have for those unsure about creating a path that’s not yet been made
CHARLOTTE ALEXANDRA FOUNDER OF CULTUROSITY
68 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
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When we’re lost, we can nd what we seek. www.IamAwareNow.com
‘FEARLESS’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY CHARLOTTE ALEXANDRA
CULTUROSITY
COMING SOON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AWARENESS TIES When we’re lost, we can nd what we seek. When we’re locked up, we can break free. When we wander the world, we see it’s not just about the destination. It’s more about the journey - a journey where curiosity is our guide on a pathway to creating cultural connections around the world. We have created a new communication platform for countries and territories to amend some of the greatest misconceptions and to help them with the right communication tools to highlight their sustainability mission goals in order to make the world a better place The Culturosity platform, in collaboration with Awareness Ties, will develop a documentary series on the sustainability of societies, supported by a podcast, webinar series and quarterly magazine in order to highlight sustainable initiatives around the globe. Together, we will become more aware of our cultural differences and similarities, nding common ground in the sustainable solutions we uncover We have created an opportunity for sustainable brands and companies to join our mission as a Partner in Purpose, with an open invitation to become part of the new narrative we’ll be drafting and producing with Director and Host, Charlotte Alexandra and Executive Producers, Jack & Allié McGuire. Curious? Want to learn more? Stay tuned for details to follow. To have a conversation, connect with us: www.awarenessties.us/culturosity
CULTUROSITY A NEW DOCUSERIES LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN
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We’re investing in tomorrow’s leaders today. MARTEN VAN HAREN CEO OF EBC PLUS
70 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARTEN VAN HAREN
SUSTAINABLE INVESTING INVESTING IN TOMORROW’S LEADERS
Marten Van Haren, owner of the Dutch wealth management company EBC Plus, has decided to actively support enterprises with innovations which can contribute to a healthier environment, while being based on a model for a sustainable economy
“Building innovative ecosystems to… innovate, inspire and accelerate each other’s growth.” Marten has called his investment philosophy ‘investing in tomorrow’s leaders’ saying, “Our mission is creating and building a sustainable future by investing in the world of tomorrow. Our purpose is making a long lasting positive impact on people and the planet through acceleration, innovation and education of companies and people so they become empowered to create a more sustainable way of living and how we use the environment we live in. We do this by building innovative ecosystems in which start-ups, corporations, knowledge institutions and investors can innovate, inspire and accelerate each other’s growth.” Learn more about actively investing in sustainable innovation with EBC Plus www.ebcplus.nl
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARTEN VAN HAREN BY CHARLOTTE ALEXANDRA
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71 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
The only reason courage was required was because the truth did not have a safe space to live. ASHLEY NICOLE COOK
DARKNESS TO LIGHT AUTHORIZED FACILITATOR & ADVOCATE FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE SURVIVORS
72 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
PERSONAL STORY BY ASHLEY COOK
DARKNESS TO LIGHT A CHILD ABUSE SURVIVOR’S STORY
(Trigger Warning) There are so many layers to my story that it’s sometimes dif cult to determine which parts to share. As a survivor of many things, it’s important to me to not overwhelm you with a story that is saturated with trauma. My goal is to give you a snapshot of what I’ve been fortunate enough to overcome, while also highlighting how it has motivated me to help others. The content in this article may be emotionally challenging for some, as I will share my experiences of sexual abuse. I want to be empathetic and thoughtful to every person. It is not my intention to cause anyone distress, and my only desire is to give you hope through my story. One of my greatest miscalculations in life was believing that my healing journey's rst step would be the hardest. Admitting that my life was in shambles was a hard thing to do. Still, the hardest part was committing to the process and doing the appropriate work to heal. Doing that work meant confronting the deep, dark, and hidden secrets that I had locked away in a mental closet. I was born in Charlotte, NC in the 80’s to interracial parents who struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. To say that I was born into chaos would be an accurate assessment. Before I was old enough to enroll in preschool, I was sexually violated and sodomized by a male family member. The assault was so gruesome that I was hospitalized and immediately removed from the custody of both parents. At the time, I struggled to process the separation and struggled to adjust to a new life in foster care. I bounced around between different foster families and group homes until I was adopted by a Christian family. My adoptive father, in partnership with my adoptive mother, were establishing a new church ministry in the city. The adoption was hard to accept because it solidi ed the fact that I’d never be reunited with my biological family. I had to learn how to become a member of a family that I didn’t know or want to be a part of.
“… I disclosed the abuse I was experiencing to adults, but no one stood up for me.” Around the age of 12, my adoptive father had a heart-to-heart conversation with me and shared with me how much he loved me. He acknowledged how dif cult my early childhood had been and told me that he’d love, respect and protect me. In that moment, I believed him and began building trust and a relationship with him. It was only a few short months after that conversation that he began sexually abusing me. He manipulated me using the trust he had built with me. The sexual abuse lasted until I turned 19-years old and ran away from home. Throughout those 7 to 8 years, my adoptive father fondled me, masturbated in front of me, exposed me to pornography, installed a camera in my air vents to watch me shower/bathe, and more. His actions towards me became so common and predictable that I was able to plan ways to avoid him. I became active in various after-school programs, played basketball and attended school/church functions to get a reprieve. There were many times during my youth that I disclosed the abuse I was experiencing to adults, but no one stood up for me. They told me that I was lying, to not repeat it to anyone else, and that bad things would happen if I did.
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Over the years, I have been told how courageous and resilient I am. As much as I appreciate the sentiment, hearing that I’m courageous for doing something that shouldn’t require courage gives me pause. In my opinion, courage should not have been required to tell the truth. It took courage for me to share my child sexual abuse experience as an adult, because I was not empowered to be truthful about it as a child. The trusted adults in my life convinced me that telling my truth was an awful thing. When I entered adulthood, I was con icted and had to convince myself to do an "awful thing" and share my truth. The only reason courage was required was because the truth did not have a safe space to live. It’s important that every adult knows how to protect children from sexual abuse. This is why I began working with an organization that is empowering adults to do the very thing that the adults in my life were unable to do – prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. As an Authorized Facilitator for Darkness to Light, I am part of a 21-year history of empowering adults to protect children. Even in times of crisis, children deserve to be protected. A huge part of my resiliency was learning how to adjust to a norm that included sexual abuse. To me, resiliency means that I've learned how to see in the dark. I've learned how to adjust my lens so I can navigate through the chaos. It means I can pivot no matter what. COVID-19 has impacted the lives of families everywhere and in different ways. One of the unintended consequences of social distancing and quarantines is that children are being forced to cohabitate with abusers and the reprieve of school and extracurricular activities isn’t there to help . When Darkness to Light decided to develop a training that would help guide adults through designing a crisis plan to protect their child during isolation, I was honored to be included. We created new resources for parents and caregivers dealing with new, complicated situations, and above all, provided hope in a time when many are struggling. I invite you to take the training yourself. It will only take 30 minutes of your time. You can take the training at no cost at https://www.d2l.org/education/additional-training/protecting-children-during-crisis. Whether you’re a parent, a caregiver, active in your church or community, or just someone who cares about children and their success, you will no doubt be changed and challenged by the experience. ∎
Ashley Nicole Cook is an advocate for survivors and a Darkness to Light Authorized Facilitator. Visit her webiste: www.AdvocateAshley.co Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @AdvocateAshley
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“To me, resiliency means that I've learned how to see in the dark.”
I can think of no greater thing to do than protect children from abuse. ALLEN VANDEVER
CO-FOUNDER OF CHILDHOOD FRACTURED
76 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
FEATURE STORY WITH DEREK HOPKINS & ALLEN VANDEVER BY DARKNESS TO LIGHT
CHILDHOOD FRACTURED ENDING CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ART Derek Hopkins and Allen Vandever are Chicago area artists who interpret their worlds through their work. In the case of these friends and collaborators, that includes a shared history of child sexual abuse. The two have undertaken their project, “A Childhood Fractured,” with the hope of bringing attention to child sexual abuse. The project consists of a series of paintings by Vandever, painted while he discusses various aspects of sexual abuse he experienced as a child. The artists’ re ections on the process, the nished paintings, and a selection of short stories will be crafted into a series of books co-authored by Allen and Derek. The two hope that, in breaking their lifelong silence, others will be encouraged to do the same. They believe they can ignite a critical, constructive, and positive dialogue about sexual abuse. The project was started by Allen in 1994. He made a series of paintings and short stories in college that were displayed at the university and ultimately traveled to other universities. Allen always knew he would come back to child sexual abuse as a subject, but rst wanted to become a better artist and establish himself in the art world. “I had focused on building an audience and a platform for my voice and art to be seen and heard,” Allen says. “Now my mission is to end the sexual abuse and exploitation of children through contemporary art.” Derek found Allen inspiring and reached out to get involved. "I was inspired by how adamant he was in wanting to use his art to do something about child sexual abuse. I simply followed in his footsteps,” says Derek. “I never want a child to have to experience what I have experienced.”
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As a person, my abuse has made me more empathetic, introspective, and aware. DEREK HOPKINS
CO-FOUNDER OF CHILDHOOD FRACTURED
78 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
“Art plays an essential role in that process.” Together, Allen and Derek work to end the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and help those that have been abused so the cycle of empowerment can continue. Their goal is to move victims toward survivorship, empowering them to help others in the process. “If every survivor, along with people in general, joined together to help stop child abuse we could potentially end this epidemic,” says Allen. Art plays an essential role in that process. “As a person, my abuse has made me more empathetic, introspective, and aware. Aware of the never-ending potential in people to grow and overcome,” says Derek. "My history, I suppose, shapes my writing. My humble opinion, as of today, is that art should have a social function of illuminating the areas of human existence that are least explored, unknown, and should work towards the betterment of people’s lives.” The bond between the two is powerful and plays an essential role in the project. Allen and Derek are both male survivors of sexual abuse, which adds its own dimension to the conversation on this topic. “We are both from different generations. I’m a millennial, Allen is from Generation X,” says Derek. "If nothing else, I hope the differences in age, race, religion and the like convey to our audience that sexual abuse does not discriminate. It happens to children from every walk of life every single day. And that until we – as a society – take universal action [towards] ending this international epidemic, no child will be safe from sexual abuse.” Allen believes that their partnership helps balance each other and keep each other on task, moving forward. “I am a strong believer that you need a great team to do great things, and I can think of no greater thing to do than protect children from abuse.” ∎
Hear the full interview with Allen via the AwareNow Podcast www.awarenow.us/podcast/childhood-fractured
You can learn more about “A Childhood Fractured” at their website www.childhoodfractured.com Read the stories of the paintings on their blog, or like their page on Facebook. This story was made available by Darkness to Light, an organization that teaches adults how to protect children from sexual abuse. Learn more about how you can prevent child sexual abuse at www.d2l.org.
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79 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
I believe Global Citizenship is seeing yourself as part of an interconnected world. KASHA SEQUOIA SLAVNER
INDEPENDENT SOCIAL IMPACT FILMMAKER
80 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KASHA SEQUOIA SLAVNER
THE SUNRISE STORYTELLER A YOUNG GLOBAL CITIZEN FILMING & INSPIRING CHANGE
Taking a year out of high school, young lmmaker/photographer Kasha Sequoia Slavner, aka The Sunrise Storyteller, set out on her 16th birthday on an ambitious mission to travel the world for six months to document stories of hope, resilience and empowered leadership. With a DSLR camera in hand and no clear itinerary or roadmap, she soon found herself intersecting with the lives of people determined to rise above adversity. She shares insights and engaging stories of people she meets along the way in her multi award-winning, rst feature length documentary lm The Sunrise Storyteller. Allié: Living proof that where there’s a will there’s a way, rst-time lmmaker at the age of 16, you sought to travel the world to lm the stories that need to be seen and heard. What was it that inspired you to do this? And how did you make it happen Kasha: I was inspired by my rst trip at 14, to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, where I met incredible advocates for gender equality from countries all around the world. I learned so much from their stories about the challenges facing their communities, and their determination to rise above the adversity they were met with to nd solutions, or make a positive impact. I re ected upon what I could do to make meaningful change, and I decided to use my passion for visual storytelling. I pitched a crazy idea to my mom to take a year out of school, to travel the world and share the stories of grassroots leaders, to hopefully inspire others to take action in their communities as well.
THE SUNRISE STORYTELLER OFFICIAL TRAILER
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Allié: The Sunrise Storyteller is a documentary about what it means to be a ‘global citizen’. From your experience directing and lming this documentary, in your own words, what does it mean to be a ‘global citizen’ Kasha: I believe Global Citizenship is seeing yourself as part of an interconnected world. We can sometimes have a micro focus on our own respective communities, but if you look at the bigger picture, we are facing a lot of the same issues all around the world, even if we experience them differently. We can’t separate ourselves from what’s happening in other countries because “it doesn’t affect us”, because everything affects us, so caring for others who share our earth with us and their struggles, differences, and similarities is important.
Allié: As a rst-time lmmaker, producing this lm was a major undertaking. What was the hardest part? What was the most rewarding part Kasha: I think one of the most challenging parts, funding aside, was mustering up the belief that I could take on a project that was bigger than I could have ever realized, even without the prior knowledge to do so. As a rst-time lmmaker, of course, I felt majorly unquali ed when I was going out to make this lm, but I didn’t let that stop me from trying. The most rewarding part has been sharing the lm with young people, and seeing them positively react to the message, and re ect on how they can take action in their own lives. At the end of the day, inspiring others to see the potential they have to contribute to bettering the world is why I continue to show up every day to do this work.
Allié: Where can people see your lm Kasha: We’re currently hosting the lm for community and educational screenings online (and hopefully in person again one day soon) for a licensing fee, so to organize a screening, we can be contacted through our website
Allié: As a member of Generation Z, what advice would you give for others like yourself who want to create change Kasha: Think about the issues that resonate with you, emotionally. Re ect on the injustices you wish didn’t exist, and dream of a vision for the future you’d like to achieve. Do you want clean drinking water for all? An end to con ict? education for all girls? Affordable housing? There are plenty of issues that need your help, and require your unique perspective and talents to make these systemic changes in the world. ∎
Hear the full interview with Kasha via the AwareNow Podcast awarenow.us/podcast/sunrise-storyteller
Learn more about the lm www.thesunrisestoryteller.com Follow Kasha on Instagram: @globalsunrisers
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I had no prior experience in lmmaking, and coming from a single-parent household, it wasn’t all that easy to just pack up and go - I had to nd a way to raise the money and taught myself almost everything I needed to know about lmmaking through google, and the help of mentors along the way. But a year after coming up with the idea, we hit the road for 6 months, traveling to South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Thailand.
Great leaders take you on a journey because they walk the talk. MIKE DIAMOND
TV PERSONALITY, AUTHOR, SPEAKER & INTERVENTIONIST
84 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
‘THE CONSCIOUS OUTLAW’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY MIKE DIAMOND
REAL LEADERS WANTED BOSSES NEED NOT APPLY The world right now needs leaders. Real authentic leaders not bosses. I like to say a boss is a travel agent, a leader is a tour guide. Great leaders take you on a journey because they walk the talk. The mistake a lot of leaders make is they lead from position. A position doesn’t give you authority to lead. Unfortunately, a lot of people have a title and feel that gives them the ability to lead others. Great leaders have purpose, and are passionate about their mission and the people they lead. They are patient when coaching people. They possess a positive outlook on life that helps others grow. And most of all they are always persistent to help people stretch and reach their full potential in life. Great leaders look to bring people together not keep us separate.
MIKE DIAMON TV Personality, Author, Speaker, Interventionist & Awareness Ties Of cial Ambassador www.awarenessties.us/mikediamond Mike Diamond is a Television Personality, Director, Life Coach, and Interventionist. Known for his work on the hit TV shows NY Ink and Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew, which is currently nominated for a Logie Award for Best Reality Series. Learn more at www.themikediamond.com.
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I am; because we are. The sacred and grand truth of it all. PROVIDENCE BOWMAN
AWARENESS TIES PROJECT MANAGER & COLUMNIST www.IamAwareNow.com
86 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
ORIGINAL POETRY BY PROVIDENCE BOWMAN
UBUNTU
The world that we live in was designed to be shared: The hardships; the celebrations; The laughter; the fear. A world with fresh linens, New born daughters, and fresh ocean waters. A world where we are tailored, Anchored and tied to one another. One thought up of brokenness, Beauty, and the sudden bursts of anxiety. A world where we are capable of fully feeling darkness and light; Belly laughs and endless nights; gloom and the light beyond the moon. I am; because we are. The sacred and grand truth of it all Ubuntu, I was told. Something for us all to know. I am; because we are. Sharply written in the stars. I look up and pray that we laugh and nd joy together. That we are able to love and make each other better.
PROVIDENCE BOWMA Awareness Ties Project Manager & Columnist www.awarenessties.us/providence-bowman Providence Bowman is a college student attending Grand Valley State University, studying International Relations. She is passionate about using her words for good and is currently piecing stories together in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She loves to spend her free time traveling, with her head in a book, and by the water. She lives everyday by her mantra that we are here to pursue opportunities and “go be awesome”.
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The trick is not to try to be perfect- but recognize the vulnerability and reduce the risk of it. DESMOND CLARK
SPEAKER, AUTHOR & FORMER NFL PLAYER
88 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
‘PRINCIPLES OF WINNING’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY DESMOND CLARK
VULNERABILITY THE WIN IN RISK REDUCTION
Every decision leaves us vulnerable somewhere. The trick is not to try to be perfect- but recognize the vulnerability and reduce the risk of it In a cover 2 defense, the cornerbacks need to tackle. That could be a vulnerability if you have cornerbacks like Deion Sanders. They’ll cover the WR but they won’t tackle. It’s not the right system In business, in life, every decision has a counterweight. Work out a lot? It reduces time to work, and time with family. Spend a ton of time with family? It reduces time to work. What we eventually realize is there is no perfect system—there are just hundreds of systems that we need to iterate The problem most people run into, I’ve found, is that we look for a system without vulnerabilities—it’s where all the justi cations come in. I want to work out, so I need to get up earlier—or spend less time with my family, or less time working. Maybe if I never address the vulnerability, the problem will go away. It doesn’t We weren’t born perfect, and we don’t die perfect, and there will be no perfection in between. But there will be ways to mitigate the vulnerabilities. And there will be the choice, of whether or not we accept and address them. ∎
DESMOND CLAR Speaker, Author & Former NFL Player www.awarenessties.us/desmondclark Empowering sales professionals and leaders with ‘Principles of Winning’ to create a standard of excellence, Desmond Clark is a former star NFL Tight End, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author, Speaker, and Inspirational Business Coach. During his 12 year tenure in the NFL, he played with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and 8 years with the Chicago Bears, retiring as the second leading Tight End in Bears history for catches, yards, and touchdowns behind only Hall of Famer Mike Ditka. Before entering into the NFL, Desmond set Wake Forest University receiving records and nished his college career as all-time leading receiver in Atlantic Coast Conference history and a degree in communications. To learn more about Desmond's Principles of Winning Group Coaching & Community please go to www.coachdesmondclark.com
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Bring awareness and protection to a cause. JOEL CARTNER
LAWYER, AWARENESS TIES OFFICIAL ADVISOR & COLUMNIST
90 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
‘UNYIELDINGLY HUMAN’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY JOEL CARTNER
PROTECTION TO EMPOWER AN ACTIVE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE
On my second day of law school, my Civil Procedure professor said something that I still carry with me. She said the law could be used as a sword (to right a wrong, restore equity, solve a problem) or as a shield (to provide a defense, prevent encroachment, or safeguard an interest). As lawyers, we will wield a tremendous amount of power over people's lives. One mistake in judgment or mistake in execution can make or break our clients' lives and many others. When I think about protection, this concept comes to mind, and it is this broad ability to protect that drew me into policy and law in the rst place. Achieving the societal goals we want, however, proves much more dif cult than understanding the power we wield. Protections for issues such as civil rights can feel slow to adapt to the needs of the populations they seek to serve. In physical spaces, their protections' broad nature often fails to account for the nuances of the very land they seek to protect. Take, for example, inheritance laws. Inheritance laws attempt to safeguard spaces that re ect the local and regional communities that make up our diverse national identity. But such protection demands a dedicated understanding of the protected area and the world in which it now sits. A mistake in this regard can do both cultural and physical damage to a community. In either civil rights or physical cases, the law can feel separated from the community it seeks to serve due to the often present lack of communication between lawmakers, lawyers, and community members. One antidote for this separation can be active participation by lawmakers and lawyers in the communities they serve A book from my childhood called Hoot by Carl Hiaasen serves as an ideal example of how protection can function. Hoot partially revolves around the rescue of ground where endangered burrowing owls live. The main character gets shown the owls by one boy, the main character then tells his middle-school class about the owls, and the class tells the rest of the “world", saving the owls and their home from destruction via construction equipment. In theory, legal protection schemes work a lot like this, preventing the construction in the rst place, no activist schoolchildren necessary. Sometimes, however, when the law is late to a problem or has failed in its purpose, then new laws and lawyers can hope to act like some version of the children in Hoot. Bring awareness and protection to a cause. Either by standing up to show the "world" something that must change or by listening to people asking for change and helping them get the message out to everyone else. In this way, the law empowers people to stand up and say "I" am here, and this is what this part of "me" looks like, and this is what "I" need The protection I hope to see in the world still has a long way to go, however, I feel lucky to work in systems that are actively pursuing justice. ∎ JOEL CARTNE Lawyer, Awareness Ties Of cial Advisor & Columnist www.awarenessties.us/joelcartner Joel Cartner is a lawyer and public policy professional with Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia and Retinopathy of Prematurity. Cartner has a background in public health, disability, and education law and policy. He received his J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Cartner currently lives in Washington D.C. where he works as a Document Review Attorney while seeking legislative employment.
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I grew up in shadows, a world of black and white I learned how to tiptoe before I could crawl be careful, be careful if you cry, if you speak, if you breathe while Daddy is angry, he will take a match to your baby skin and smile as he sets you on fire tip toe hold your breath crawling breathing living can wait years passed before I found out sunlight existed but once the curtains fell from the walls I found out love doesn’t have to break you it took time for my adult body to learn the things I hadn’t been taught as a child confidence empowerment freedom I didn’t take my first steps until I turned 30 but now I coach runners who win the Olympics because I am whole I moved out of my corner in childhood’s hell to the heaven of my destiny I remember the winter but bask in July’s radiance all year long my home is a kaleidoscope of colors deep breaths floor to ceiling windows of never ending light
www.IamAwareNow.com
92 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
‘REFLECTIONS’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY MARY DAVID
HOME
FOR THE UNSHAKEABLE We live under this presumption that home is a physical place. But home embodies so much more than that. It can be a space in our mind, a person who accepts us, a foundation that we build in ourselves and others through our character. With one in three women experiencing violence globally, an unknown number of male victims of assault and sexual abuse (although likely more than 1 in 6), and countless LGBTQ+ victims of trauma, many of us have had our sense of security rocked and stolen. Here’s the good news. We can get it back.
“…having this space is vital.” We can create it internally and choose to live there instead of in the chaos that our suffering and social pressures choose to enmesh us in. Particularly for survivors of intimate partner violence, domestic violence and child abuse, having this space is vital. Your home can be unshakeable. Because the strength you have and show just by being here is capable of accomplishing that. ∎
MARY DAVI Actress, Spoken Word Artist, Activist & Lawyer www.awarenessties.us/marydavid Mary is a storyteller and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual trauma. Drawing from experiences of overcomers of trauma and her own journey from victim to survivor, Mary creates powerful narratives and highlights pivotal realities through television and lm, legal advocacy, and beyond. As a United Nations Advisor on Women and Children’s Issues, Mary defended the rights of domestic violence victims and disenfranchised populations before the United Nations General Assembly. She also handled nearly 2,000 criminal cases as a prosecutor in Baltimore City, including numerous cases of assault and sex crimes. When not creating art, Mary promotes the advancement of women and ending gender-based violence as Communications Director of UN Women’s Los Angeles chapter.
Hear the Mary recite ‘Home’ via the AwareNow Podcast www.awarenow.us/podcast/home
Follow Mary on Instagram: @missmarydavid
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I nd it unacceptable that our generation does not respect Gaia mother. LAURA ZABO
UPCYCLER & ECO ENTREPRENEUR
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www.IamAwareNow.com
‘BEYOND BAMBOO’ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY TANITH HARDING
THE UPCYCLER
AN ECO-WARRIOR WITH SUSTAINABLE STYLE Laura Zabo is an eco-warrior striving to create a cleaner world by up-cycling scrap tyres destined for landfill and creating a visually stunning and environmentally focused selection of belts, jewelry, sandals, and even clothing! Her pieces are the embodiment of the recycling and low waste movement but are unique beautiful and couture. She joins me today to share her story. Tanith: Laura, you create incredible fashion items from up cycled used tyres that were destined for land ll, what inspired you to use them for your pieces Laura: 2014-2015 was a very heavy period for me, my private life was full of stress and I had just ended my relationship with my boyfriend, I was tired of London, the cold, the living costs, and craziness. To reset my life, and escape from the wind I decided to move to Tanzania. One day, when I was walking at the local Maasai market, I saw some brightly painted sandals made out of old car tyres. I really loved the idea of repurposing scrap tyres into footwear instead of using cheap plastic sandals or ip ops and actually I fell in love with this idea. Since my childhood I have been a nature lover, and I am always upset when I see people littering or when I nd garbage left in nature. I nd it unacceptable that our generation does not respect Gaia mother. So, although some people might think it’s a crazy job for a woman, I wanted to create a solution for an existing and very serious problem, and decided to start upcycling and create a living from this crazy interest.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LAURA ZABO WITH ROUNDTABLE GLOBAL’S TANITH HARDING
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Visit Laura Zabo’s website to see all her products www.laurazabo.com
Tanith: As you know I am a huge fan of your unique creations, where do you get your inspiration from
“I think I am just a limitless idea factory for repurposing tyres.” Laura: When I am crafting, I have new ideas almost every minute. I wish I had as much time for crafting as ts the many ideas I have. Sometimes I see a piece made from plastic, or leather and I just want to create something similar out of recycled rubber. I love nature inspired pieces such as leaves and feathers, and also abstract paintings on rubber. I want to prove that recycled pieces are as beautiful as any other high street accessory, or even more beautiful because handmade items are always better than factory made products. I have millions of ideas from home decorations and even games made out of scrap bike inner tubes. I think I am a just a limitless idea factory for repurposing tyres. Tanith: I really love my Laura Zabo Vogue Fringe Belt - Of all of the items you have designed what has been your favourite so far and why Laura: My favourite is always the newborn creation, the latest piece. I am always super happy when I can hold a new thing in my hands, in physical reality after seeing it in my mind. I really love the long tassel necklaces because they are so attractive and eye catching and love the idea that those necklaces can be a substitute for pieces that are usually made from leather. I nd it extremely cruel to hurt animals for fashion purposes.
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96 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
Tanith: Sustainable fashion is become more and more popular, with many more people researching the products they want to purchase. Why do you think appetites are changing now Laura: I think that now we can see day by day, hour by hour that we are causing irreversible damage to nature. And obviously we cant destroy nature, only ourselves. This behaviour is not a one sided action, anything we do has an effect, and the effect will hurt us and the next generation. Social media helps us to share easily the side effects of our unconscious behaviour and people are starting to wake up.
Tanith: What would your advice be to anyone that wants to get into the sustainable fashion market and what is next for Laura Zabo Laura: I would say go for it! When you start upcycling or working with sustainable materials I think it will effect other sides in your life. Since the beginning I purchase less, I try to reuse many things and almost everything I buy comes from second hand sources. I no longer spend hours and hours in a shopping center and I spend much less money. I’ve also stopped buying things that I don’t need. I am not a consumer anymore. This industry is growing very fast and I think upcycling is an awesome idea. You don’t have to worry about investing a lot of money, or worrying that everyone on your supply chain provides ethically made materials. When you upcycle, you never run out of sources and you never lose money when an idea doesn’t work out. Upcycling is very powerful for your mind, it boosts creativity, reduces stress, and the creation process is so much fun. We have so many products and materials, we need to use them instead of producing more and more. I would like to show the bene ts and opportunities of upcycling so I’ve started to interview fellow upcyclers on my Instagram. I introduce artists who are repurposing waste such as plastic, wires, furniture, cons and they can make a living out of it. Upcycling is the business of the future. We live in an unstable age but people will always spend money on fashion and upcycling doesn’t need special machinery or imported materials. You create something and you sell it. And every creation you make reduces the stress, helps a global problem, and lifts your soul. ∎
TANITH HARDIN Director of International Development, The Legacy Project, RoundTable Global www.awarenessties.us/tanith-harding Tanith is leading change management through commitment to the RoundTable Global Three Global Goals of: Educational Reform, Environmental Rejuvenation & Empowerment for All. She delivers innovative and transformational leadership and development programmes in over 30 different countries and is also lead on the international development of philanthropic programmes and projects. This includes working with a growing team of extraordinary Global Change Ambassadors and putting together the Global Youth Awards which celebrate the amazing things our young people are doing to change the world.
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97 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
It’s all a journey. BRUCH
SOLO ARTIST & ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST
98 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
‘GLOBAL GOOD’ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY TANITH HARDING
BRUCH
AWARENESS THROUGH ARTISTRY BRUCH is a creative solo artist who focuses on environmental activism and raising awareness of the climate crisis through their music and artistry. Their music is powered by the ght for our planet and the state of socio-political affairs. Featured across multiple channels in the UK, BRUCH is a Global Youth Award Winner and performer and joins us today to talk about their journey. Tanith: BRUCH you are an amazing UK artist that is already going big places - when did you realise that music was your calling? BRUCH: Thank you so much. I have always been in and around creative circles as both of my parents were performers. I was a theatre kid, classically trained in cello and ballet, and always had a passion for the visual arts, so I was bound to end up in the sector somewhere. The artist who rst genuinely piqued my interest was AURORA. Her music was unlike anything I had ever heard, so refreshing and spiritual. It really opened my mind to the possibilities of left- eld music, from there I fell down a hole of discovering new artists and my music taste became progressively more diverse. I began writing (properly) and learning to produce, it slowly became familiar to me yet never lost its magic. I started getting seriously interested in environmental conservation, the climate crisis and socio-political issues, and I knew that there was no way I could let those things go. The only way I could continue was to merge both passions and make it my purpose to raise awareness through art. Tanith: Your music is really beautiful and captivating but it’s the message in the music that really touches people. What impacts you to write such powerful music? BRUCH: The complexity of the world. I’m a big overthinker, and I’m constantly wondering just how society reached this point. Humanity is incredibly impressive - entertaining, compassionate, pioneering. But simultaneously so disastrously ignorant, sel sh and power-hungry. It’s a dizzying juxtaposition. It’s very interesting. A lot of my music focuses on socio-political themes, the exclusion and alienation I’ve faced due to my autism, and the demonisation of mental health. I want to highlight our vices. Only by confronting our own failures and faults can we move forward, and, although as a global community, change is gradually happening, we need to pick up the pace. Conversations need to be had, and the arts plays a crucial role in relaying these conversations. Tanith: I know your Autism is a big part of your life - how do you think it in uences your music and how has it impacted your journey overall? BRUCH: My experience as a creative is that autism can be both a blessing and a curse. I see everything from a purely autistic point of view, it is all I have ever known, so naturally, my music is 100% the product of an autistic mind. I believe it allows me to think outside the box, and it is probably the cause of my hyper- xation with sociopolitical and environmental issues - controversial issues, which have been the propellor for my music since the beginning. However, I am also a huge perfectionist. It’s common for many autistic people to want things done a certain way, and I am no different. Along with the comparative nature of social media culture, this can sometimes make it extremely hard to execute and deliver my art in a way that satis es me. But as I have to remind myself, it’s better to do something imperfectly than to not do it at all, and I’m still a relatively new artist. I have a lot to learn and much more progress to make. It’s all a journey.
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99 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
Tanith: Covid-19 has been a big barrier to the arts on a global scale, how have you adapted this last year to keep going with your music and how has it impacted you on a human level? BRUCH: I don’t think there is any merit to sugarcoating the reality of 2020 - it’s been incredibly hard for everyone. In all honesty, my mental health plummeted throughout 2020 and only grew worse with time. I don’t nd any shame in admitting it because we all struggle in some capacity and I think now in particular is a really important time to emphasise the value of vulnerability. It is completely okay to be thrown off course and to take time to recover - it is crucial in such tumultuous times. COVID-19 continues to affect every aspect of life, and will for a long time. Tanith: You are such an inspiration to young artists everywhere! What are your plans for the next year and what is your dream for the future? BRUCH: I have so many projects planned for this year, there are so many aspects of my artistry that I want to showcase and explore. Despite testing my limits creatively, emotionally and mentally, I’m hoping that the events of the past year have kick-started a reset. I have a vision for a developed sound and visual which more accurately represents myself and my philosophy. The main project I’m currently working on is my biggest body of work to date. It encompasses all of society’s weakness and strength, and my feelings about those qualities, and recent events, just as a person. As a human who is just as guilty as everybody else but still trying to do my best, like we all are. If there’s one thing I truly achieve this year, I want to stress that it is imperfect consistent effort that counts, not awless and immediate execution. There is so much hopelessness at the moment, and I’m not immune to it either. But it is imperfect action that makes a difference. It’s imperfect people with a vision, and the drive to set the course in motion. ∎ TANITH HARDIN Director of International Development, The Legacy Project, RoundTable Global www.awarenessties.us/tanith-harding Tanith is leading change management through commitment to the RoundTable Global Three Global Goals of: Educational Reform, Environmental Rejuvenation & Empowerment for All. She delivers innovative and transformational leadership and development programmes in over 30 different countries and is also lead on the international development of philanthropic programmes and projects. This includes working with a growing team of extraordinary Global Change Ambassadors and putting together the Global Youth Awards which celebrate the amazing things our young people are doing to change the world.
Find out more about BRUCH www.bruchmusic.com
SWEAR BRUCH (ONE-TAKE)
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100 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
The ocean has become a savior for me in many ways. JONATHAN KOHANSKI
OPEN WATER SWIMMER, PHOTOGRAPHER & MS WARRIOR
102 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
PERSONAL STORY BY JONATHAN KOHANSKI
BALANCING SUMMER HEAT UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING SYMPTOMS OF MS
Going this slow is like being on a tightrope, wobbling unpredictably with feet locked into the pedals. If I lose my balance there’s a good chance there’s going to be an almost cartoonish, slow-motion tipping over and hitting the ground. With as much focus as I can muster, I roll up to the stop sign, being careful not to lose too much momentum and risk losing my already precarious balance. With a long squinting gaze, as if squinting will help, I look down the road, checking for any discernible signs of movement or shapes that might resemble a moving vehicle. The image is not quite blurry, but the colors are washed out, looking more like an overexposed photograph than what I know I should be seeing. After about 50 yards everything begins to blur together in a white haze with little de nition. I hold my breath for a second and turn my head, preventing wind from running over my ears, and I listen. I’ve become more accustomed to trusting my ears and listening for moving vehicles than seeing them. At 5:30am there isn’t a whole lot of traf c and luckily this is one of those times. I roll through the stop sign and continue my ride
“…a temporary worsening of neurological symptoms associated with demyelinating diseases, such as MS.” This is Uhthoff's Sign, a temporary worsening of neurological symptoms associated with demyelinating diseases, such as MS. It’s caused by increases in body temperature, resulting in decreased nerve conduction. What can cause this? Summer heat, exercise, and in my case even a hot meal. While this can leave you confused with what is going on if you’re not prepared for it, it’s not permanent. Once your temperature gets back to normal, your symptoms tend to revert back to their “normal” baseline from which they started. Still, at 20 mph on a road bike, this isn’t much consolation and doesn’t help avoiding road debris, potholes, or even the occasional squirrel who fancies a little adrenaline rush and darts out to cross the street, undecided of exactly where she/he may be going While I love the warm weather and heat of summer, or at least I use to, Uhthoff's Sign is a reality for many people living with MS and is as speci c to people as their individual symptoms. While most people are out enjoying the hot weather and the sun with no ill effects, people living with MS can often times struggle under those same conditions. Increased issues related to symptoms such as balance, vision, numbness, fatigue, any of your MS symptoms really, can all be temporarily ampli ed by the heat. Learning to handle and mitigate the heat can make the difference between sitting at home in the AC during the nicest days or getting outside to enjoy the short New England summer Knowing what to expect out of symptoms has allowed me to adapt in my own ways a take an almost “put up with it” mentality, but as time has marched on, I’m nding myself more inclined to nding ways to help stave off the worst of the heat. Balance, vision, leg strength, and fatigue issues are all something I deal with.
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Being a swimmer, loving the ocean, and having it in close proximity, I happily nd myself spending the bulk of my free time at the beach. I can spend as much time as I want, doing whatever I want in the water. The cold water helps keep everything in check and allows me a bit of normalcy during the hottest days. The ocean has become a savior for me in many ways.
“… those 5 minutes in the 31-degree ice-water can be the clearest and best part of my day where I can forget about everything and just be.” In the summer, it’s my exercise and thermal regulator. While oating and swimming, my symptoms are as normal as they’ll ever be. In the winter the ocean is a refuge for mental health. It allows me to push myself into conditions that most avoid, the cold-water grounds me, even if I’m only in it for 5 minutes. In the dead of winter, in New England, those 5 minutes in the 31-degree ice-water can be the clearest and best part of my day where I can forget about everything and just be. ∎
JONATHAN KOHANSK Open Water Swimmer, Photographer & MS Warrio www.awarenessties.us/jonathan-kohanski Hi, I'm Jonathan, I'm a wanderer of sorts, looking to further enrich lives and share experiences that show we are all capable of truly amazing feats that push my own boundaries and can many times turn heads. I'm a sucker for raw and real stories and attempt to share my own, with all the good and bad through that same lens. I'm always open to nding my next adventure that will help me to continue writing the stories that can help others overcome their own demons. I'm a lover of the water and spend a lot of my free time in it, whether it be swimming, body-boarding, or taking photographs while in it. I was diagnosed with MS at the age of 25 and it has changed the course of my life, not just in a physical sense, but also in my perspective of life, what is valuable to me and worthy of my time. We all have our struggles and triumphs, I'm here to share mine and maybe, help others through theirs.
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NOW PLAYING
T U N E I N . C L I C K T H E E P I S O D E S B E L O W T O WAT C H .
AwareNow™ Talk Show is a series of conversations on social causes. In this national broadcast, a selected cause serves as the topic for a raw, un ltered panel discussion among a diverse group of individuals. Prior to the one hour live conversation, a thirty minute preshow sets the tone with musical performances, poetry, stories and statements. From actors to artists to athletes and impact leaders to industry legends, featured panelists share personal stories and perspectives to raise awareness for relevant issues and identify actions viewers can take to change the narrative and bring sustainable change to our communities. A national broadcast with global reach, AwareNow is featured on KNEKT TV and available on Apple TV and Roku.
S U B S C R I B E AWA R E N O W TA L K S H O W. C O M
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My dyslexia is a superpower. I think in images. LAURA KIMPTON ARTIST & ACTIVIST
www.IamAwareNow.com
106 AWARENOW / THE INCLUSION EDITION
UNSUGARCOATED AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY AALIA LANIUS
UNSUGARCOATED WITH AALIA LAURA KIMPTON ON DYSLEXIA: ABILITY OR DISABILITY?
In Episode 48, Season 7 premieres with Aalia sitting down with Laura Kimpton, artist, activist, dyslexic and daughter to the late Kimpton hotelier. In this raw and unique interview, Kimpton challenges the beliefs that being an artist is a mindset, rather than a particular skill set (8:2 ). The conversation explores how she has learned to use her dyslexia as a superpower (10:3 ), inspiring some of her artwork. Kimpton discusses her iconic huge word artwork pieces and how she truly got into art (12:0 ). She does not view her dyslexia as a setback, but instead something that has taught her to approach life and all of its challenges in a new way (16:1 ). Using her artwork as a way to challenge the thoughts and mindsets of others (23:5 ), diving into how she has always diverged from the status quo herself (33:3 ). Finally, Kimpton talks about how to support dyslexic children in your own life(44:4 ). Listen to hear more about Laura Kimpton and the candid discussion that stays UNSUGARCOATED. ∎
To learn more about Laura Kimpton and her artwork, check out www.laurakimpton.com Follow her on Instagram: @laurakimpton For more information on UNSUGARCOATED Media or your award-winning host, go to www.unsugarcoatedmedia.com and stay connected with Aalia Lanius on IG: @aalia_unsugarcoated
AALIA LANIU Novelist, Speaker, Podcast Host & Social Entrepreneur www.awarenessties.us/aalialanius Aalia Lanius is the Founder and President of UNSUGARCOATED Media, a 501(c)(3) media organization. Dedicated to helping survivors of trauma lead mentally healthier lives, Lanius' focus is creating media and events that empower, educate, heal, and inspire another the way it has for her. Lanius is also a multiple awardwinning American novelist, social entrepreneur, and advocate with over 20 years of sharing her personal experiences with audiences of all age groups and diverse backgrounds. Executive Producer and host of the award-nominated seasonal podcast show, “UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia”, a visual and audio experience that features conversations intended to bring value and amplify voices that create more empathy and understanding of one another.
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Find time to explore inward… THI NGUYEN
NONPROFIT CONSULTANT, ENTREPRENEUR & PHILANTHROPIST
108 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
GO GREEN DRESS AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY THI NGUYEN
OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE WHERE LIVING BEGINS
In a world with so much beauty, it is truly dif cult to express the magic unfolding as you step outside of your comfort zone. How many of these have you done Explored your neighborhood on foot Went on a solo hike or multi day trek? Traveled alone Visited another country? Another continent? Hosted a complete stranger? Had street food in a third world country? Attempted to learn the language of the country you're traveling to Met up with a friend from another state/country to travel together at a destination neither of you have been? Traveled like a local? Purposely taken the road less traveled? Picked up trash on a trail Befriended a stranger you met on a trip? On a hike? On a trek? Taken time for yourself?
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I had a new appreciation for mini road trips, spent more time in nature and explored the environment beyond my own city and surrounding areas. It was revitalizing, not only for my mind, but my body and soul. I felt happier, healthier and discovered an overwhelming sense of gratitude for life and my ability to experience these moments. I guess you can say, it was life changing and altered my perspective on what is important and how I want to live my life. One of the greatest things about stepping out of your comfort zone is experiencing and enjoying the unexpected surprises life presents itself. It is the ability to learn more about who you are: your capabilities, your needs, your wants, your desires, your goals, your dreams, your weaknesses, your strengths and your enjoyment. It is spending that much needed time exploring inward I realized I was doing so much for others while sometimes compromising my own happiness. I realized I was projecting joy but inside I was struggling with sadness and suppressing any pain I was going through. As a private individual, I rarely share my personal struggles, rather I like to listen and aid others in thiers. However, through my travels and outdoor adventures I have found an antidote for these tough times. To me, being in nature is extremely healing. It is the fresh air that you breath waking up your senses. It is the sound of nature that quiets your mind. It is the natural habitat that calms your body. It is realizing you don't need much to truly be happy, and I am constantly reminded of this during my trips. It is a great reminder that we all need more me time. Through this discovery I nally found my joy.
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Many years ago I made a promise to myself to explore 3 new destinations a year. I soon discovered with lack of nance and time constraint these new places do not have to be far away but can be a neighboring town, village or city. With this mindset I started visiting locations I have never imagined, learning about the rich history of where I live and around the world, while having the opportunity to meet strangers that became lifelong friends.
“…in order to share your joy to the world, you must nd joy within yourself.” I begin to appreciate what I have during my travels; not because I had more but because others were overjoyed with a lot less. I was welcomed into a home of 5 while they offered me their only bed and opted to sleep on the oor. I joined families in a lavish home cooked meal only reserved for special occasions. Kids playing in the streets with dirt on their face, being chased by a group of teens who mistaken me for a celebrity while adults snuck in a photo, elders laughing at one another during their morning tea; happiness seems so easily achieved with the simplicity of life. And in these eeting moments of major giving from those who had little to give, I realized one can be truly happy with less. I nally understand that 'In order to share your joy to the world you must nd joy within yourself.' ~Thi-is I discovered my purpose in life through these experiences; to help as many people as I can, as often as possible during my time on Earth. I realized what it meant to give more than you take. But most importantly, I want to focus on continuously learning, growing and developing myself so that I can do more for others. Living begins outside of your comfort zone. How have you experienced life beyond the normality of your daily activities? I hope by sharing my story of self discovery, it will ignite a curiosity for you to explore outside of your comfort zone but also nd time to explore inward. May you nd the joy in life which will help you discover the joy within yourself and lead you to your purpose. ∎ Follow along with me on Instagram @GoGreenDress as I continue to learn, explore and share a little of my daily life with you. Where should I travel to next? Thank you for reading along and feel free to send me a direct message as I would love to hear from you. 'Explore not only the world in the distance but the distance within your world.' ~Thi-ism
THI NGUYE Nonpro t Consultant, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist www.awarenessties.us/thi Thi Nguyen brings with her over 2 decades of non pro t experience as a participant, advisor, board member, consultant, volunteer and research and development specialist. Her expertise combining technology to further advance the vision and mission for philanthropic causes has allowed her to serve as a trusted partner with many notable organizations large and small. Thi has experience working with organizations focusing on combating various global issues such as: human sex traf cking, homelessness, poverty, fair wages, global warming, malnutrition, gender equality, humanitarian assistance and human rights. She's currently developing an app to connect individuals and corporations to assist nonpro ts in furthering their vision and mission.
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111 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
Explore not only the world in the distance, but the distance within your world. THI NGUYEN
NONPROFIT CONSULTANT, ENTREPRENEUR & PHILANTHROPIST
112 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
We are part of it. We must look after it, because everything is alive. OGIMAA (ACHA-KOOH-WAAY), JIM
ANISHINAABE KNOWLEDGE KEEPER, CHIEF OF FOOTHILLS OJIBWAY ON TURTLE ISLAND www.IamAwareNow.com
114 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
‘FROM THE BEGINNING TO NOW’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY OGIMAA (ACHA-KOOH-WAAY), JIM, ANISHINAABE KNOWLEDGE KEEPER FROM FOOTHILLS OJIBWAY ON TURTLE ISLAND
CREATOR’S CALLING FROM THE BEGINNING TO NOW: LESSON 6 Ahneen… I just wanted to say in my language, “Hi! How are you ?
Thank you for listening. Once again, I want to begin by thanking the Creator for what he has given us, in this world, and in this land. He has put us to be people of our own lands; wherever we may be. Wherever we may come from in this world, there is a place, a place that we all call our homeland. A place that He has connected us, to be comfortable; To feel that we belong with to. He has provided everything that we need by the energy, and the spirit of that energy. That is why we have a Spirit in our lives. Some people call it our soul. It is part of who we are as human beings In this world, wherever we may be….we are humans as God has given us that life. God, our Creator, created the world, and created everything that we're going to need, while we're here. In this part of the world, as I call it, Turtle Island, that's how I knew it was going to be before anybody came to visit me in my homeland What it is known now, later, way later, after people came to visit us in our homeland on Turtle Island, it came to be known as Canada and also the United States. There was no boundary when we knew it as Turtle Island, but today in 2021 there’s division… like a checker board. Before any of this happened, it was already known….. what this would look like We were put here to be humans with a responsibility to look after the land that Creator has provided for us…..to be here and be here as spiritual human beings. Because without the Spirit we won’t be able to function. We won’t be able to think. It is about the creation of the Creator, and what he did. He created “us”, in what he has created here. We were included in that creation which is the world, which is the environment, and everything is alive. Right about now in this part of the world, towards the end of this month we are going to see life come back. The human life, the animal life, the bird life, is always going to be moving. What I’m talking about is like the owers, the bees that are coming to the green grass, which is part of the environment and part of the beautiful spiritual lifestyle we were given….. so the environment has a lot of connections to our well-being. We are part of it. We must look after it, because everything is alive. Everything has spirit because that is how God intended it to be… as spirit….spirit of the land, spirit of the human being, spirit of the animals…..of the birds, of the sh. The spirit of the water because water gives life. Water creates spirit and growth, because it is part of spiritual life. She is alive. Mother Earth will make the owers come to grow, green grass and your garden and all we need of the food source. They all have purpose in the environment, just like us….all of us Without the spirit, without the soil, without the air, without the sun, without the water, those things won’t grow. So governance is in the spirit of the environment.
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All we have to do is follow the natural instructions. OGIMAA (ACHA-KOOH-WAAY), JIM
ANISHINAABE KNOWLEDGE KEEPER, CHIEF OF FOOTHILLS OJIBWAY ON TURTLE ISLAND
116 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
Everything we see God gave us to see, to feel and to take care of each of us When I taste bad water I’m not going to want to drink it… but some of us and some of those animals have no choice if we destroy the water for them to drink. The animals like the moose, the deer and even the cattle drink it. The barley, the oats, even alfalfa needs water to grow. If water is destroyed, it is a big part of the environment. Nothing can survive if we destroy the water. The sh are not going to be there and those that are will have struggles because of contamination. Just like a sh tank if you don’t change the water right a way. If the waters get bad…what will it do to the land… If we don’t respect the spirit of everything that was given to us…so we have everything we need … We must not destroy the spirit because the spirit maintains the environment, and we are part of it. We would not be able to walk We won’t be able to survive if these elements of the environment are destroyed. So we have to maintain that….to look after what was given to us to survive and to live in harmony with nature. We are part of creation; we are part of nature, we are part of the whole environment The spiritual connections…. the spiritual ties, like right now in 2021, there’s a lot to take care of… There are water treatment plants out there. The plant cleans the water that might be contaminated. You can not go anywhere, or even to a well where you used to drink from today as the water may be contaminated. There are animals that don’t have a choice, like the cattle we raise, and the wildlife. They are going to get sick. All of us are a part of this. Some of us still use spiritual beliefs that God gave us. He gave us free will. So it is my belief…it comes right from nature. I truly believe God’s instruction to worship him is according to how he created the world. Those instructions are directly from everything in the environment…from spirit, spirit of the water,…spirit of the sun. The sun has energy that’s why it gives life Everything we need is in the environment…the soil… the sh… the bees… the corn, the plants,…. All the food source. Every living thing has spirit….and we are part of it! So we must take care of the spirit, and the environment. The beautiful mountains are where the writings was put by the Creator - which is the structure of our education. It is a natural order of instructions of how to work with the Spirit, and how to work with everything put here with us. We need to step up and maintain that. We can not make something up because he already created things. All we have to do is follow the natural instructions, the way everything was already put together, and structured. All we have to do is work with it. We must be caretakers of the environment, of the land. It is up to us. It’s about the future generations so they can enjoy the beautiful natural colours and bene ts of the environment that we are part of It is about us…we are part of everything..we must recognize the Spirit …the human spirit …the spirit of the land…the spirit of life…..so there is good life for the future generations Whatever we take from the land we must respect it and give proper protocol to Creator…about his creation…the environment, it is about ‘us’. It is about the responsibility he gave to people…to women…to men…to everyone of us. We were created to be part of this. This includes the sun, the water , the air, the earth even the organs that grow with the land. This is how he put us together. God made Mothers to create us, and we have a spirit or what we call a soul. We can not just take and take from the environment that we are part of. We have to take care of it.
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117 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
Everything that keeps us alive today depends on the environment. And one thing I want to say is if we do not respect the spirit of the environment, nothing is going to turn out the way it was meant to be (providing everything we need). We are going to depend on it to heal itself….but…we are part of it, so we have to help it heal What if we help to heal the world and to balance what we use and what we take Sometimes we take these things for granted, not putting things back and not respecting the environment… We must respect the spirit. We must respect what was gifted to us. We must respect our future generations so they can get to know what we enjoy today… There’s all kinds of food source and economics whether it is from the coal industry, gas, or logging There’s people out there growing food… That is the other side that we must respect because it is putting food on the table. Let’s respect all of the environment. It all works together. Let’s not take it for granted and let’s not destroy it for future generations and for ourselves
Miigwetch. (Thank you. Thank you for listening to me today. ∎ Respectfully recorded by Kathy Kiss Edited by Sheena Frencheater OGIMAA (ACHA-KOOH-WAAY), JI Anishinaabe Knowledge Keeper, Chief of Foothills Ojibway on Turtle Island www.awarenessties.us/ogimaa I am Ogimaa (Acha-Kooh-waay), I begin with words from my own language to say hi to everybody. My identity… which is… because God put me in this part of the world is my Annishinaabe language and name. That means “leader” for people and environment here. So I am not saying I am the leader of Turtle Island but that’s what that means. It is an individual’s name, which is a spirit name that we carry on from our traditional culture and lineage in this part of the world. We were put here on this Turtle. This Turtle Island is massive.
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SIP OF HOPE IS THE WORLD'S FIRST COFFEE SHOP WHERE 100% OF THE PROCEEDS SUPPORT PROACTIVE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION. Prevention starts with a conversation, and the conversation starts here. To learn how you can break the silence, visit SIPOFHOPE.COM
3039 W FULLERTON AVE. CHICAGO, IL 60647
Gratitude is a two-part transaction which results in a positive deposit for both parties. PAUL ROGERS
TRANSFORMATION EXPERT, AWARENESS HELLRAISER & PUBLIC SPEAKER
120 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
‘RELEASE THE GENIE’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY PAUL ROGERS
THE RAINDROP BALANCING SOCIETY’S BOOKS (Genie Fact: Can do a wheelie on a unicycle.)
I would like to say that this is my rst article published in this great awareness magazine. The purpose of this and my forthcoming articles are to educate, enlighten and entertain
THE RAINDRO “I am the raindrop out at sea. I cause the ripples that become the crashing waves.” (I am The Reign by Ian Brown As an awareness hellraiser myself, I believe that every person has in them the potential of being the raindrop How? By giving the precious gift of paying it forward. This does not mean grand overtures; this means a smile, the kind word and being there for someone. That is the start of the ripples On my podcast “Release The Genie”, I have met so many amazing people who, whilst being all powerful demigods and inspiration magnets, are also like you and me. They all have different stories, but all have one common goal: to make a positive impact
BALANCING SOCIETY’S BOOK The world at the moment is hurting in every area It is safe to say that society is in the red and heavily in debt. Ok, wise genie. How do we balance society’s books We, as raindrops, always have a choice: the power to balance the books not just in our own lives but society as a whole Society and the planet are the bank. The currency is our thoughts (raindrops). A positive deposit is hope, awareness, inspiration and positivity This should exceed the withdrawal of adversity, negativity, despair and destructive behaviour We can also leave ourselves with a little bit of spending money as well! (Cue internet shopping spree? Even the hardcore left brainers will see the wisdom of balancing the books The bank always wins! If you have any doubt about that, look at the many casinos. (And don’t even get me started on family Monopoly!)
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If our books or the books of someone we know are in the red, we can then help ourselves/them balance the books. The reality is that the books are always changing. Sometimes we need to use our own savings to balance the books. What if I go into the red? That’s ne but you don’t want to live there. Find the silver linings and make a positive deposit. One amazing way to do so is with Gratitude Ok, I know. There is a lot of talk about gratitude. Gratitude is a two-part transaction which results in a positive deposit for both parties. First, the giving part, which is the classic de nition of giving. To complete the circle of gratitude, and this is the dif cult part, we need to receive that gratitude with graciousness. In this way, we can complete the deal. An overall win for everyone, including the bank Let’s not forget the spark that lives deep inside all of us. It may be dimmed but never extinguished We all have personal setbacks and battles we ght in private Use those setbacks as a trampoline to bounce even higher. Remember this. Rainstorms are always followed by sunny skies How would you release your Genie today? ∎
PAUL S. ROGER Transformation Expert, Awareness Hellraiser & Public Speaker www.awarenessties.us/paul-rogers Keynote public speaking coach, “Adversity to hope, opportunity and prosperity. “ Transformation expert, awareness Hellraiser, life coach, Trauma TBI, CPTSD mentor, train crash and cancer survivor, public speaking coach, Podcast host “Release the Genie”, Director at Core Mentors Association (Not for pro t) & Best-selling author. His journey from corporate to Kitesurfer to teacher on rst nations reserve to today. Paul’s goal is to inspire others to nd their true purpose and passion.
Hear the Paul read ‘The Raindrop’ via the AwareNow Podcast www.awarenow.us/podcast/the-raindrop
Follow Paul on Instagram: @paulrogers381 Subscribe to his podcast ‘Release The Geinie’ www.awarenow.us/recommends/release-the-genie
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What divides us is an illusion… AALIA LANIUS
NOVELIST, SPEAKER, PODCAST HOST & SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
123 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
JUGEND
AN AWARD-WINNING MULTICULTURAL FICTION NOVEL How much love is needed to conquer hate? This question is addressed in the story of Jugend by Aalia Lanius. Allié: Using two stories in parallel to de ne similarities and differences in cultures and times. Brilliant! Aalia, what gave you the idea to tell this story in this way? And please share brie y what this book is about
“…this book is about shattering stereotypes.” Aalia: Jugend translates to “youth” in German, and this story is about two 14-year-old boys who are acting as spies in their prospective timelines, Ernst, is a Hitler Youth in 1937. Juxtaposed to that, Clark is in 2017 operating under the in uence of Uncle Jax, a disabled veteran turned white supremacist Each of these youth are seeing people through the eyes of what they have been “told” and this book is about shattering stereotypes, as they for the rst time have their own experiences and begin to develop their own idea of people. At the same time, as a Muslim myself, it is very much about representation. I was inspired to write a story that showcases my belief, that what divides us is an illusion, and for some readers this book is their rst experience in a multicultural household
Allié: How do you personally relate to Ernst and to Clark Aalia: The character Ernst Heiss, is inspired by my own lineage and af liation with German culture. As a child I was obsessed with World War II events and how Germans were involved. Though the image on the cover that is used to depict Ernst, is an altered image of my own grandfather, an L.A. native, our family immigrated from Germany to America well over 100 years prior to World War II. Yet, it would be a lie to say that my grandfather didn't hold some beliefs that were racist Clark represents the young men and women out there in the world that have yet to open themselves to the beauty of a culture that has no angst or issue with them. I see them in America, operating under a sense of fear and I think I felt that by telling this story, in my own way, I was bringing every person who feels that way into my home, giving them a taste of the love and warmth they would nd.
Allié: What is it that you want readers to gain from this book Aalia: There are several versions of readers that this book can speak to. For people, both youth and adults, that blindly hold racist ideology or fear people, simply because they haven’t had an experience with them, this will take them behind the curtain, and into the home of a family that they might nd themselves wanting to be part of, too. For another multicultural person, like myself, the reader might feel seen or represented in a version of what modern Muslims can relate to, as well and the challenges that we face ourselves.
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AWARENOW BOOK OF THE MONTH FEATURING AALIA LANIUS
“Reading was always a way for me to escape to a whole new place or experience, while writing allows me to create that for others.” Allié: You do so many things so well, Aalia. Podcasting, speaking, writing… and nearly anything that ends with an -ing. What is it about writing that you love so much Aalia: I love being in control of a narrative that speaks to the betterment of humanity through the stories that come to me. Reading was always a way for me to escape to a whole new place or experience, while writing allows me to create that for others. It’s an honor to feel that through my writing, as an artist, I can serve others in an effort to create social impact through storytelling. ∎
The Summary It’s 1937, and a fourteen-year-old German youth, Ernst, is part of a secret mission which will send a group of teen-aged boys to London under the pretense of a bicycle tour to spy for the Nazis. The cyclists’ objective: identify both geographical and human targets for subsequent elimination as Europe approaches a flashpoint that Hitler intends to exploit by waging all-out war. Ernst’s mentor, Officer Müller, considers him the perfect fit for a special assignment—spy on a wealthy British Jewish family considered a threat to the Reich as they shelter Jewish refugees from Nazi oppression In a parallel story, a modern-day American teen-aged orphan, Clark, has fallen under the spell of white supremacy ideology after a series of family misfortunes. Having lost his mother as a child to cancer and then his father a couple of years later to war in Iraq, he is in the hands of his unscrupulous guardian who manages to plant him as a child-agent in a Muslim household. Clark’s purpose: prove that the randomly-chosen Muslim family must be terrorists Each youth approaches his assignment with a masked heart filled with hate and a deep misunderstanding of who his hosts are, roiling the boys in emotional conflict as events unfold, and forcing each to face what will be the hardest decision of his entire life—help destroy what his handlers fear or find the courage to think for himself and face the consequences The Book https://awarenow.us/book/jugend
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125 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
And the more we love someone, the harder it is to communicate with them. NED STRANGER
SONGWRITER & WRITER
126 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
‘MUSIC WITH MEANING’ AN EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY NED STRANGER
PARKINSON’S PERSPECTIVE A LESSON ON NEEDS FOUND WITHIN AN AVALANCHE OF POSSESSIONS A few columns ago, I talked about the underlying power of universal basic needs and how they drive the ways we feel, speak and listen to one another. During that article, I showed how all criticism, guilt, blame, comparison, and harshness in our communication can be traced back to these needs being unfulfilled. In effect, all we are saying is “please” - “please can you help me fulfill my need for X by doing Y...” but framing it instead in emotionally-loaded language that often makes things worse. A few columns ago, I talked about the underlying power of universal basic needs and how they drive the ways we feel, speak and listen to one another. During that article, I showed how all criticism, guilt, blame, comparison, and harshness in our communication can be traced back to these needs being unful lled. In effect, all we are saying is “please” - “please can you help me ful ll my need for X by doing Y...” but framing it instead in emotionally-loaded language that often makes things worse Since coming across this ‘nonviolent communication’ philosophy developed by Marshall Rosenberg, I’ve come to realise that, like many of the best things in life, it’s beautifully simple in theory and extremely dif cult in practice
“Arguments are easier to start and harder to stop…” And the more we love someone, the harder it is to communicate with them. However deep and clear your understanding of each other, you can’t help but import all the emotional intensity that makes you say too much, or say the wrong thing, or get caught up in conversational knots. Arguments are easier to start and harder to stop; blame is harder to relinquish because it stems from a betrayal that is harder to bear I sometimes nd myself wondering how a humble songwriter like myself can really get to the heart of some of the huge issues tackled by the AwarenessTies family. But this time, more than any other edition over the past few months, the themes have a personal meaning for me. My mum was diagnosed with Parkinson’s over fteen years ago and has been struggling with the condition ever since A couple of words about my mum. She has a great sense of humour - loves clever wordplay and absurdist humour (she only recently discovered the Mighty Boosh). She also loves making things, in a variety of mediums - her latest inventions include long bread bags hand-sewn from old scraps of fabric, and clocks made from wooden discs coated with dried owers and varnished over. I don’t know where she gets her artistic creativity from, but she certainly didn’t pass it down to me!
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“What are the needs she is ful lling by doing all this stuff ?” She’s also been brilliant at seeing things, including her own struggles with her health, in a wider perspective. “People in the world have it much worse than me”, she says, whereas I can’t even imagine what it would be like living with a debilitating condition where, over time, you lose control of your body and personal freedom. But over the years, our relationship has been strained. Whilst (or maybe because) I love her, she does countless things that irritate the hell out of me. She hoards everything - especially old greeting cards, broken trinkets, the aforementioned scraps of cloth - things she wants to upcycle into something artistic, or just doesn’t want to relinquish. (90% of it doesn’t get used.) And she is an incredibly untidy person, something that is only compounded by her Parkinson’s. When she wants to tidy the house, she’ll get halfway into the process - which involves taking everything out of drawers and cupboards - and doesn’t do the second (crucial) half of putting it back again. “This house is an avalanche” I once wrote in a song about it. This means trip hazards lying around, more falls, more bruises, more hospital visits This sort of self-destruction and physical and mental clutter makes life harder for my dad, her primary carer, and the rest of us. But especially it feels like she’s not taking care of herself. And so I get annoyed about it, which means more arguments and more stress for her. It’s not the outcome I want, of course, but I just nd it impossible not to have a go at her for it. This isn’t surprising in itself - like I said above, the more you love someone the harder it is to communicate with them emotion-free. But what I do nd surprising is how long it’s taken me to realise WHY she’s doing these things. Why the clutter everywhere, the need always to be doing something new, even if it wrecks her sleep patterns, and so on This is where we come back to the question of universal basic needs: What are the needs she is ful lling by doing all this stuff? The big discovery I made while exploring this question with her was this: she has a need to be remembered after she’s gone. And, crucially, the combination of her having less freedom, having more time, and thinking a lot about her own mortality means that she worries about this ‘being remembered’, this need to leave a legacy, a lot Realising it has helped me become a far kinder and more patient person around her. It’s also explained why gift-giving is her language of love; she uses gifts, most of which I never want or need (I hate clutter - for me, Marie Kondo doesn’t go nearly far enough!) as a way to insert a piece of herself into someone’s life, to live on after she’s gone. Hence the clocks made from dried owers, the intricately sewn bags, the humorous stories she writes on old scraps of paper and leaves around like banana skins. I didn’t just want to make this column about me (or an excuse to bitch about my mum!) and so I wanted to nish with a question for you.. Think about someone you care about, that you regularly have turbulent arguments with, then think about the things they do that most annoy you. Why do they do these things? Have you ever asked them? The answer might well change your life… ∎ NED STRANGE Songwriter & Writer www.awarenessties.us/ned-stranger Ned is a songwriter, writer and recovering law student.He turned his back on a promising career in the city to focus on his true passions - music and writing - forming indie-folk act August and After with a close friend from university. Several years later, they'd built a loyal London fanbase and toured various European countries, securing millions of online streams across the world and features in The Independent, BBC Radio and numerous of cial Spotify playlists. Ned launched his solo project this year with a series of new singles, exploring the boundaries between indie-folk and electro-pop.
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More often than not when people have poor opinions of the LGBTQ community, it’s based off ignorance. CAMILLE ORA-NICOLE
PRESIDENT AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE QUEER 26
129 AWARENOW / THE WORLD EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CAMILLE ORA-NICOLE
NEAR & QUEER TO MY HEART CREATING SPACE TO SPEAK, EXPRESS & GROW
Camille Ora-Nicole, President and Creative Director of The Queer 26, is a designer and artist from Los Angeles. She created The Queer 26 in order to give queer people of all backgrounds a place where they could tell their stories, connect with each other, and nd creative opportunities. She strongly believes that minority communities can gain freedom through creativity. Her goal is to develop brick-and-mortar spaces where queer people can create, hold events, and call home. Allié: The Queer 26 that now hosts a magazine, video productions and events began with the alphabet and a project back in 2018. Camille, tell us about ‘The 26’ that started it all Camille: The 26 goes back to the very rst version of our organization. A couple of friends and I decided to create a series that explained different terms in the LGBTQ alphabet soup, from A-Z - thus “the 26”. We created posts and a few videos explaining what certain terms meant and didn’t mean. It was our way of helping educate both queer and straight people alike about terminology and identities. This was back in 2015 - since then we’ve grown and changed into a multimedia organization creating opportunities for queer creatives of color and helping businesses with their outreach to our communities.
“Ignorance leads to fear, as do uninformed opinions.” Allié: Often, people fear what they don’t understand. Do you feel this is the case with the queer community? Do you believe if people were more educated about not just the terminology but also about the lifestyle that they would be less afraid to embrace it Camille: Absolutely. Ignorance leads to fear, as do uninformed opinions. As someone who grew up in Christian environments, I’ve seen it happen constantly. More often than not when people have poor opinions of the LGBTQ community, it’s based off ignorance, or being taught things from other people who also have no idea what they’re talking about, or have no real understanding of our communities., Allié: Because a picture says a thousand words, your Headshots By Donation program is brilliant. When we look at the tools each of us has as a professional in our industry, in this virtual existence of ours, a headshot is a priceless asset. Please share how the concept came to be and what your hopes are for it. Camille: Our in-house videographer actually came up with the idea last Fall. As someone who also works in the industry, she was also able to see how important good headshots were, and she was willing to offer her services on a donation basis. We are going to be continuing the service this year and will open up the opportunity again in the Fall. We will also use the opportunity to help up-and-coming photographers develop their skills with guidance from our photographer.
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Allié: Your work creates a space for members of the queer community to speak their truths, express themselves, and grow in their craft. How can others help provide or support this needed space Camille: We are re-opening our memberships this year for individuals as well as for small businesses. The individual memberships will also give folks the opportunity to access our recorded lectures, receive information about our workshops rst, and receive our annual magazine, amongst other bene ts. People who become sponsors will be mentioned in all our media and events, receive discounts on creative services, and have the honor of supporting our communities. Their donations will go directly towards funding our workshops and new projects that will help train creatives and build their portfolios. Allié: What started out as a passion project has become a viable platform to serve the queer community. What’s coming and what’s next for The Queer 26? Camille: Well, we currently have our rst short lm in production, and we have another lm in pre-production. This lm, Passion of X, will explore gender identities and uidity, and we are currently working on our funding for it. Other than that, we are actively seeking out companies and other lmmakers to work with in order to create new opportunities for QTBIPOC folks, getting ready for our Pride event in June (for which we are also looking for sponsors), helping our Filmmaker’s Club participants develop their rst projects of the year, and looking forward to launching our second Publisher’s Club in the Fall to work with us on QTYPE magazine. In short, we have a lot - and we’re really excited for all of it. ∎
Learn more about The Queer 26 www.thequeer26.org Connect and follow on Instagram @thequeer26
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“We’ve grown and changed into a multimedia organization creating opportunities for queer creatives of color…”
THROUGH THESE STORIES WE SHARED
I AM AWARE NOW. www.IamAwareNow.com
R E A D , L I S T E N & WAT C H
T h e M a g a z i n e , T h e P o d c a s t & T h e Ta l k S h o w