Black & Magzine|January 2019

The Life & Times of

Mr. Lyrical Groove

BOSS101

lizz russell local haute fashion

Dr. Kelly Elmore

YOUNG BLACK & N’BUSINESS

For the LOVE of HEALTH

content.

• Lizz Russell p31 • Hoping for One Last Frog p2 • The Life & Times of Mr. Lyrical Groove p6 • Concerts p16 • Cygnet Presents Marie and Rosetta p18 • For the Love of Health p22 • Don’t Touch My Hair p26 • Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions p28

• Winter Skincare Tips p37 • Make-up Application Tips p38 • San Diego Continuing Education Ranks High p39 • Boss 101 p42 • Strength From Our Past p44 • All Eyes on YoungBlack & N’Business p49

EDITOR & CHIEF Chida Rebecca LEAD MAKE-UP ARTIST Ashli Taylor

PUBLISHER Rebecca & Co.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Brandon Johnson

COVER FASHION Lizz Russell www.lizzrussell.com

CONTRIBUTORS

CREATIVE DIRECTION & DESIGN Rebecca & Company Terri Schlichenmeyer

2019 BLACK & MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY REBECCA & CO. SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO: PUBLISHER@BLACKANDMAGAZINE.COM WWW.BLACKANDMAGAZINE.COM INSTAGRAM: @BLACKANDMAGAZINE TWITTER: @BLACKANDMAG FACEBOOK: @BLACKANDMAGAZINE

publisher’s letter It is JANUARY ALREADY! It seems like yesterday I was in the planning stages of this magazine, wondering if it would every come to fruition. I’d like to take this time in this letter to encourage you. I have had countless trials and tribulations, but God has faithfully seen me through them, and some I’m still treading through.

Whatever dreams you have in your heart, be sure to allow yourself the patience needed to see those dreams come to pass. I’ve learned that just because we have a dream or a strong desire to do something, it doesn’tnecessarily mean that that “thing”is for today. The idea for this magazine came to me back in 2014. I had no desire to leave the family newspaper business and venture into my own publication. Then slowly but surely, the desire began to grow. As it grew, ideas came to me. I wrote them down and I researched them. I believe God plants ideas in our hearts so that we can water and nurture them properly.

I had to realize that some of the things He’d placed in my heart, I wasn’t fully equipped to execute. If you feel like your dreams have been deferred, I encourage you to reassess your situation and do some soul searching. Is there a new skill you need to acquire? Do you have to go back to school? Are you around the right people? If success came would you be prepared to handle it?

Ask yourself these questions. Timelines are great and goal setting is necessary, but if things get delayed a bit - simply be encouraged and simply ask God what the delay is about. He’ll surely let you know.

-Chida Rebecca

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Hoping for One Last Frog

Two Ladies Lead Lovers to Their Happily Ever -After

By Edward Henderson Contributing Writer Maya Angelou once said, ‘Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.’ Nicole and Alexis Harris have made a living creating these moments for couples ready to take the next step in their relationship. Their business, ‘One Last Frog’, specializes in crafting unique and one of a kind proposal settings, romantic dates, and day-of wedding services. Love is a universal language, and these ladies are fluent in it.

Nicole and Alexis are San Diego natives and were inspired to start their business due to a request from one of Alexis’ co-workers.

“A friend at work was about to propose to his girlfriend and was asking me about all of these tips and pointers,” said Alexis. “He wasn’t trying to do something extravagant, but if the small details got mixed up she would know what was going on. Girls pick up on things right away. I was helping him plan it so it would be flawless.”

She set the stage for the big day at Santa Monica Pier because it was one of their first dates.

The co-worker was a marathon runner, so he pretended he was going to run a race in Los Angeles. His girlfriend came with him to the pier for what she thought was a pre-race hangout. As a part of the setup, Alexis had cameras, tipped street performers on the Pier to all stop playing their sets and had one performer to start playing the

girlfriend’s favorite song. Then the co-worker asked someone staged as a tourist to take a picture of the couple, and she started recording to get a close up reaction. He then revealed the big set-up to his girlfriend offering his proposal and she started crying.

After she said yes, all of the street performers played her favorite song together.

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“Her reaction got me really passionate about starting this,” Alexis said. “I spent a lot of time on [the proposal] and told my sister I thought it should be a business.”

After doing research about possible competitors and realizing not much was being done on a large scale, the Harris sisters created ‘One Last Frog’. The name plays off of the fairy tale ending of finding one’s true love that often leads to a couple’s happily ever after. The business, which started in 2013, built its clientele by starting with friends to get practice then word of mouth started spreading about the great work they were doing. Alexis believes what sets their business apart from others is their direct involvement with each client and focusing on the details. “We don’t just do this for the money. If you compare our prices to others, we do high end things, but we do a lot of the work ourselves. We meet with you, then have a team of people we delegate things to. We care

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The name plays off of the fairy tale ending of finding one’s true love that often leads to a couple’s happily ever after.

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more about making the day really nice.” Since the company’s inception, their hard work has paid off. “Business has been a lot busier, especially during the holiday season. We have been growing significantly due to word of mouth, SEO, and social media.”

Millennials, Alexis and Nicole complement each other well as business partners. Nicole excels on the business side of things, and Alexis prides herself on being the creative. Combing the internet for ideas and inspiration. She even learned calligraphy to add another tool to what the business offers. In addition to One Last Frog, the ladies have added an additional component. “We have a second arm to the company now called Dreams In Detail (www.dreamsindetail.com | @dreamsindetail_) which caters to our high end corporate clients and event rentals as well. We’ve even added some amazing items to our inventory! Our favorite items are our flower walls, cherry blossom trees, and wisteria trees.”

Alexis Harris IG: @alexisvictoriaharris

Their dynamic teamwork and dedication to their craft allowed them to be showcased to a national television audience by being featured on Bravo, with the episode’s focus on a proposal the sisters planned for a couple and offered a deeper look inside of their business and relationship.

With all of the success and attention their business is garnering as of late, Alexis feels it is important to relay the message that their business is a Black owned. At first glance, you may not be able to tell because their mother is Mexican.

“I am Black. This is a Black business. 100 percent. You have to take pride in it. Just because it may push people away from you, who cares. Then I don’t want to do business with you. I feel like a lot of people doubt the Black community. The pride comes from being a part of the resume of Black businesses that have succeeded. I want to be part of that positivity. When you see us on TV you can say ‘wow, these are young lack girls who are actually doing it.’ It doesn’t matter what side of the 8 you’re living on.”

Visit www.onelastfrog.com to learn more their services.

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Nicole Harris IG: @by_nicoleharris

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The pride comes from being a part of the resume of Black businesses that have succeeded.

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the life and times of

mr. lyrical groove

1. BLACK & :If you can please offer a little history behind Lyrical Groove, and the concept.

So these are the humble beginnings of the Lyrical Groove. Although LG officially formed 2010. The prequel began in 2005.

This is literally some Star Wars type shyt. Chida can I say that?

Ok, so it started here with the formation of Collective Purpose (CP). CP was a two-part effort. On one hand, we were a group of artist/activist that came together (on some artistic community Avengers) to provide a space for spoken word to have a home because due gentrification, we were loosing our artistic spots such as the 504 gallery, R. SPOT Barbershop and book store.

So the foundation of CP It included myself, Chris Wilson, Ant Black, Rudy Francisco, Jessica Molina, Viet Mai, Sherehe Roze, Eugene Albert, Taili Mumambee. ( I think that’s everybody) We ended up developing ELEVATED. One of SOUTHERN California’s largest and longest running open mics. We did a good 10 years. I’m paying my respects because no journey truly begins in that moment. My experiences with hosting ELEVATED and being apart of this artistic community of poetry really opened me to the possibilities of poetry being more that just some literary artistic nuance. The level of performers and artist we had come through really allowed me to explore my connection to poetry and all the musical connections that began to grow from that.

Now the second phase of CP turned out to be a performance troupe, which mainly consisted of Ant, Rudy and myself. When I think about it, performing as a trio kind of came out of Ant and Rudy writing a group piece called, The Movement. I got invited to write a verse and that piece in particular really began to catapult us a performance collective. We even started a creative collaboration with grace jun-mills, ( leave it lower case, that’s how she likes it) and her developing dance ensemble called BkSoul.

Well in 2008 I believe CP was asked to perform at Indie fest ( a local music festival put on by Danielle LoPresti and Alicia Champion) and as poets, we hated the idea of performing in an open festival type stage because the energy was so scattered. It wasn't

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like you could really capture folks energy like in a closed space of an open mic. By this time we all had projects of some sort which included music with our poetry, so Ant and I agreed that we should recruit some musicians. Drummer Kevin Henderson and Jason “Six00” Bennett on bass. I don't even think we had anyone on keys or guitar, but bass and drums did the trick. And the music kinda of grew from there. Music was more of my forte. Ant and Rudy were pretty much pros at their artistry, so I would literally go over the music with the musicians and Ant and Rudy were like plug and play. We did a number of gigs in they form of Collective Purpose with a band but at some point Ant move up to Perris, CA for work and family and Rudy began touring consistently so it was really just me. At this point, it was already safe to say that this musical conclave of poetry was more of my forte.

So I was left with a choice of trying to figure out, if I wanted to move in this space or not. At this point we had grown to a full band enlisting different musicians as needed. My brotha and homie, Glenn "GK" Sanders had made himself the under study of Kevin. Now GK was already around ELEVATED and had also worked at the publishing company that published my book of poetry in 2005. So we had lots of history but creatively, something clicked with GK. He never got up to do poetry but always appreciated it. To my surprise he was more musically inclined. So when Ant and Rudy making their respective transitions, I had a choice.

Stop or keep going. Since GK was in the mix and was finding another space for him to exercise his own creativity, we got to chopping it up and decided to see what it could do. We literally had a conversation and within a week he had went out and bought a drum set. Dropped a nice chunk of change on it. This really let me know how serious he was. The amazing piece about this is the fact that he hadn’t really been playing like that, at least not consistently but he was so musically inclined that he could pick up things pretty quick. Now at this point the band just consisted of a dope roster of musicians that were available, but building a band requires a different type connection and commitment. GK and I, were still very new to this spoken word music collaboration so it took some time to explore what creation in that context looked like. GK’s appreciation of poetry and music truly helped developed the lens

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of our creations. Our appreciation of various musical genres and church roots also paved the way. So we began to put the pieces together. Darrel Pretlow was on base and Roger Smith had been playing a lot of the CP gigs, but he was doing a lot of gigging at the time and so he invited his brother Mike who had recently moved out from Tennessee to fill in the spot on the keys. We began rehearsing and some how we got invited to do a show at the Ruby Room in Hillcrest. And it was after that gig that things really cemented in our minds what could be. All I remember was being at gig and people dancing and singing along to our songs, and that’s what truly opened the door to me/us believing we had something special.

That was only the technical beginning, but from a more conceptual space it came from following purpose and passion. There was a lack representation for the type of music we appreciated so that also went into type of music we created. Even as a poet, I always had a musical element but having an actual band gave me an opportunity to explore that in a more intentional way. I’ve always wanted to be a songwriter, prolly even more so than poetry so it was a natural fit. GK offered a musical presence that I definitely needed. Prolly a year into it, I met Mike Benedetto aka Token via my daughter via play date. Token was the father of one of the girls she befriended in daycare. He played guitar and had a background in metal, gospel and jazz since he had played at UCSD some time ago. Just for the record, he deemed himself “Token” as the only white guy in the group. He likes pushing buttons as well. A little, Darrel transitioned to North Carolina. Ironically he never really told us he made the transition he just kinda up and moved. What made that even more impactful is he did it around the time we had planned to have our first studio recording.

We had won some free studio time so we were pretty pumped. We had planned it in advance, scheduled the dates, rehearsals logistics, I can’t even finish this

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part, my blood pressure running high just thinking about it. Anyhow, we did finally get it scheduled and our first EP came out pretty dope. But when he left, I had previously been reached out to by this bass player named Jacob “Cubby” Miranda who had been trying to get in wherever he could fit in, gigs, studio sessions, just a straight go getter. I reached out and he was a natural fit. Good ole dancing Cubby, he was the first time I saw a bass player be so active and bouncing round, its quite entertaining.

Keep in mind on the gig side of things, we went from pay-to-play aka selling 10$ tickets to only get one or two dollars per each tickets sold.

That didn’t last long. We took everything cause it was all love and we wanted/needed the experience. At this time, I would get different friends to do vocals like Lanee Battle Johnson, and Preston “Presto” Harris to sing with us from time to time. I’m truly appreciate those experiences with them in particular not only because of their talent but the lessons learned about collaboration, energy and recording in the studio. Lanee was basically like the big sista and musical mentor, I learned a lot from her, THANKS Lanee, preciate that sugah. I was getting to the point where I wanted a more consistent vocalist. So I asked Chris Wilson if he knew anyone and he suggested my now friend Geminelle, but she was still committed to school in LA so she suggested her good friend Brisa.

I hit up Brisa and she told me about her musical journey and decided to see if it would work. I remember the first gig with Brisa was at the Onyx Room. And it went ok. If it was only left up to that moment, I can’t say that we would have went beyond our experience. She wasn’t quite comfortable with the music at the time and she had told me she used to sing in LA but I honestly couldn’t see it, lol. You know I love you B. And it actually took like another 3 months before she got back on stage with us, but for this second performance. All the

cylinders clicked and it was that moment she became my stage ace. She really became performance yang for me. Ironically with CP I was the most animated between us, but with LG, Brisa takes all the cake.

This was the band at this point. KD, GK, Mike S. aka “Keys”, Mike B. aka Token, Cubby and Brisa. This is our origin story, but if you have seen us recently, we don’t look quite like this. Life is full of transitions and everybody has their own journey. Having a band means managing a relationship in all sense of the experience. Just like in a marriage or family dynamic, it takes a lot of communication and growth to maintain. The other part will be in my book so just wait for that.

2. BLACK &: What do you feel your role is in revealing what artistic expression is and what it can be ?

I see artistic expression as having many different purposes. There’s finding and developing a voice for healing and coping. There is also a level of providing a social commentary to allow the voiceless to be heard. Then there is the ability of art to allow us to have discussions and conversations that it would otherwise prove too challenging to deal with head on. The art allows use to remove ourselves in order to explore how others experience life.

I know one of my strengths is being a connector and coach/cheerleader. When I helped host Elevated, I would often encourage people to get on the mic.

Not saying that everybody needs to be a poet or a singer, it was more about helping folks to find their voice. It was often a proud moment when I would hear what people would go on to do. Some of the shyest people who never had anyone believe in them, who never believed in who they could be would often find themselves connecting with their purpose in a myriad of ways. It aloud them the courage to speak up for themselves, and that could look like going back to school, decided to start a new career, to have hard conversations with family or significant others. Ultimately it was about being who you were born to be, so I see my role as a coach or mentor to support others along their creative journey. I think me embracing and sharing my own art is a way of inspiring others to connect with their voice and become open to the possibilities.

I believe this so much that I’m developing my own consulting and coaching business around this precise thought. It is called Creative Engagement where I will be coaching anyone willing to explore what their creativity looks like and

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find a space for it in their life.

3. BLACK &: What's your background and how does it tie into what you're doing these days?

So for those that know me and even some that don’t it can probably be said I’m doing “dos muchos” but for me, it all falls in line with my personal mission, which is about using the arts to positively impact and addressing issues of mental health and social justice. But I’ll give you a run down. I’m an EOPS Counselor at City, a Strengths Finder Coach/Consultant, a trainer of the Academy of Professional Excellence, a teaching artist with the Old Globe. I also manage an artist friend of mine along with my own band. Lastly, I’m developing my own business Creative Engagement, which I mentioned above, of sorts that will do events, artist management and creative coaching and development. And lastly I have decided to get my hours for my LCSW, which is Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

As a trainer for the Academy of Professional Excellence where we training social workers, I helped to develop trainings that dealt with Cultural and Historical trauma, Bias, Cultural Humility which are all difficult topics to deal with, especially when dealing with people who continue perpetrate some of those concepts internally and externally. Using art allows for a level of experiential learning that allows participants to connect with the material in an unconscious way. As a trainer, I get to bring the unconscious to a conscious level.

Over the years and currently, I perform with BkSoul, which is an ensemble of poets, dancers, musicians and vocalists. The nature of the shows we create often have moments where we deal with subjects ranging from abuse, human rights, racism, police brutality, immigration issues, identity etc. There are often portions of these shows where it is even for us as performances to make it through with a dry face. But one of the overwhelming beauty of these performances is it truly allows others to develop a sense of empathy based on the artistic expression.

To be able to move in so many arenas is a blessing but a big part of that is being willing to dive in and learn but on some level see the transferrable skills dynamics of those spaces. To some everything I do may seem very scattered

but all of these areas feed me in different ways. Some time ago, I realized that I didn’t need to be a full time artist in the natural sense.

My creative blends over in to the different spaces I’m working in a more concrete professional fashion. As a teacher, trainer and coach, I truly use my senses in those spaces just as much as on stage, so for me these are all very connected. Hosting an open mic is like facilitating a training. Being the leader of a band is just as much to me as being an instructor. My counseling and coaching just bleeds over into all arenas.

So I spent 9 years in the Navy, that’s what brought me out there to SD. My first 6 years I was a radar technician, which basically boiled down to working on a mainframe computer system. My last 3 years, I was a substance abuse counselor. It was this experience where I got to truly explore combining my passion of art with mental health and social justice. There was a twofold role that happened. I noticed how much more fulfilling my experience was because I was able bring my complete self. My professional and creative sides. The most evident was using poetry and music as a means of expression and connection with participants in the program to explore their own feelings and helping them to develop a voice.

Learning what I did from my time as a substance abuse counselor, I’ve continued to merge my art with my professional work. As a trainer with NCRC, I used poetry to help express ideals we trained on. As a trainer for the Academy of Professional Excellence where we training social workers, I helped to develop trainings that dealt with Cultural and Historical trauma, Bias, Cultural Humility which are all difficult topics to deal with, especially when dealing with people who continue perpetrate some of those concepts internally and externally. Using art allows for a level of experiential learning that allows participants to connect with the material in an unconscious way. As a trainer, I get to bring the unconscious to a conscious level.

4. BLACK &: What's the greatest release you've gotten from art ?

I believe the greatest gift art has given me is the ability to connect with my daughter, Jayden. Seeing how she has gravitated to the arts and the strength and freedom it seems to give her as she developing

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into her own person. The resilience, problem solving skills, to comprehension skills, the emotional regulation, self-esteem development, are all very prevalent in the realm of creativity, so to see her develop these skills has been remarkable for me to see.

I think that along with what I listed in some of the previous responses also speaks to what I get from the art but if I were to go a little deeper I can share some very present experiences.

My artistic expression is different things at different times. Sometimes it’s a good distraction. Sometimes I use it teach, myself included. A lot of times it helps me process what I’m feeling. Historically I’ve been known for keeping things to myself and much of my early artistic expression was specifically because I didn’t talk a lot so writing was my way of processing what I was thinking and feeling. It allows a healthy way of harnessing that energy as opposed to just trying to numb it. I’ve learned that we often run right to the things we run from. For example, you see people that do everything to not be like the parent they hated but end up manifesting that same energy, but just in a way, cause never really dealt with. So for me, the art allows me to connect with those emotions. It’s kind of bad, cause I’m pretty empathic so my emotions be all over the place, crying over commercials, its ridiculous. But I can own that’s who I am.

5. BLACK &: What's next?

I have some projects in the works. I manage an artist named Cedrice, so we ware currently working on her EP. I’m working on another album or two, definitely one with Lyrical Groove, but I may also do a solo album.

I’ve gotten into producing now so I’ve been writing my own music and doing a lot songwriting. I’m planning for a live recording in 2019. The goal for this year will be to start touring and spread Lyrical Groove’s wings beyond San Diego. I’m developing some more creative workshops and I’m also working on a one-man show. And of course, there is a book in the mist somewhere.On a performance level, I’m actually starting to get back into performing more. I kind of took a little break when I did the play with the La Jolla Playhouse and started managing Cedrice. But as of late, I’ve been collaborating with a few artistic family and community minded folks to explore doing more events around creativity, expression but also self growth. And I’m hoping to develop my capacity to be speaker for events as well. We’re looking to develop another show with BkSoul

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CONCERTS

MARSHA AMBROSIUS FEBRUARY 01 HOUSE OF BLUES

JACOB BANK FEBRUARY 01 BELLY UP

ELLE VARNER FEBRUARY 01 HOUSE OF BLUES

IAMDANILEIGH FEBRUARY 05 HOUSE OF BLUES

LIL JON FEBRUARY 15 OMNIA SAN DIEGO

CONCERT JA RULE FEBRUARY 15 SOMA

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE FEBRUARY 21 PECHANGA ARENA

GREGORY PORTER FEBRUARY 24 BALBOA THEATER

HABIB KOITÉ & BAMADA FEBRUARY 26 BALBOA THEATER

CONCERTS

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Courtesy of Cygnet Theatre

ister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rockn-roll, and her protégée Marie Knight, shake, shimmy and swing into Cygnet this January for the West Coast Premiere of Marie and Rosetta. This play with music runs January 16 to February 16, 2019 at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town.

Audiences will get a front-row seat to music history in the making. Bringing fierce guitar playing and swing to gospel music, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a legend in her time and a huge influence on Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, and Ray Charles. She was so influential, in fact, that just this year she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Marie and Rosetta chronicles her first rehearsal with a young protégée, Marie Knight, as they prepare to embark on a tour that would establish them as one of the great duos in music

CYGNET PRESENTS

MARIE AND ROSETTA history. This story of letting loose, finding your voice, and freeing your soul is a soaring musictheatre experience chock full of roof-raising performances that are sure to inspire patrons of all ages.

American playwright George Brant (Grounded) was inspired by Sister Rosetta Tharpe's transgressive nature. "She pushed the boundaries of what’s

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acceptable musically...And always with a smile on her face, kind of a coy 'oh, did I just do that?' style about her that made it very hard for someone to condemn her for it." Brant’s play will give us insight into what it was like to see Rosetta and Marie Knight play together live, but more importantly, it gives Sister Rosetta long overdue recognition. A eulogy of sorts for one of only three women named to Mojo Magazine’s list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”

"What we know as rock ’n’ roll did not exist before Sister Rosetta Tharpe "says director Rob Lutfy.

"Rosetta could sell out a baseball stadium with her music. Two of the songs that critics point to when they name her as the creator of rock are in this show. So why was her funeral attended by only a handful of people? Why was the godmother of rock and roll buried in an unmarked grave until 2008? Why did it take until this past year to have her inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? In a male dominated field, perhaps giving a black, gospel singing woman all this credit was hard for some (men)."

Cygnet is excited to welcome two newcomers to its stage. Stepping into the role of Sister Rosetta Tharpe is Noel Simone Wippler, a multi-instrumentalist, dancer, actor, and songwriter born and raised in Harlem, New York. Her protégée, Marie Knight, will be played by Amaiya Holley, a NYC resident and recent graduate of Bowie State University.

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe Both actors will play live instruments as they belt out stirring gospel sounds.

The stellar creative team that will be transforming the Cygnet stage into a 1946 Mississippi funeral parlor includes Elizabet Puksto as Set Designer. Anne E. McMills is Lighting Designer. Costumes are by Chanel A. Mahoney, and Peter Herman will provide wigs and makeup. Rachel Hengst is Properties Designer. Leonard Patton will provide musical direction. Matthew Bantock will stage manage.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased in person at the box office located at 4040 Twiggs Street in San Diego Old Town Historic State Park, by calling 619-337-1525 or by visiting www. cygnettheatre.com. Children 15 and under receive half-off tickets with each paid adult.

Dr. Kelly Elmore FOR THE LOVE OF HEALTH

BLACK & LIVING

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graduate of Xavier University, Summa Cum Laude, Dr. Kelly Elmore received her medical doctorate from The University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. As a board-certified obstetrician gynecologist, board member of the San Diego Black Infant Health (BIH) Program, the chair of role model and mentorship for the San Diego Delta Foundation (SDDF.org) and the health consultant for Logan Heights Community Development Corporation (loganheightscdc.org), Elmore is the epitome of a servant leader.

As a physician executive, Elmore has found and is fulfilling her calling of bettering the lives of those around her by providing Specialty Concierge Care in an effort to improve physical and emotional health in San Diego.

This effort is accomplished through a health component she created called Viva Life Health Hub, a virtual location that brings concierge healthcare to the community. In partnership with Logan Heights CDC, the initiative has introduced over 600 residents to more than 25 African American and Hispanic medical specialists and nurses who have identified skin cancer and prevented advanced breast and cervical cancer. But this journey hasn’t been an overnight one and has a few more pieces in the works.

As a child Elmore recalls “When my mom had a job, we had insurance, I went to the physician for annual exams and such. When she did not have insurance, we went to the emergency room and that was only if absolutely necessary.” Elmore says for that reason

her mother was adamant about practicing preventive health. “I wore t-shirts so I didn't get sick, I brushed twice a day because who could afford a dentist, I played non-contact sports, although playing basketball, I did end up in the emergency room for a sprained finger. We did not have the money to get sick, but we also missed out on health innovations to prevent disease.” As time went on, she noticed that the same patterns she had experienced were plaguing countless women around her. “[They] were not following up on their own health care until it was so serious, they had to go the emergency room.

This is why I became a physician.” Elmore desired to cater to individuals who did not have access to doctors in addition to aiding in preventing advanced diseases that were keeping people from spending time with their families. As a result, her love for innovation and healthcare birthed something phenomenal. A telemedicine platform. “I've always known that I wanted to be a physician and I knew I loved technology, but I did not know where that would leave me. After being a Director for Healthcare Business, Customer Relations and Marketing/Branding for an organization that provides healthcare to more than 9 million clients, I knew this was something we had to do for our community.”

As a woman who’s always been on the cutting edge of healthcare technology, Elmore believed that she could share resources she’s accessed with her family, friends and clients. “In the last 5 years, hospital systems and private practices have been re-

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quired to transition to an electronic health record system (medical records in the cloud). [As a result] health organizations slowly began buying up small practices in preparation for the Affordable Care Act in order to decrease competition and increase providers within their networks.

This has led to an abundance of patients in health systems that don't have the supply (medical professionals) to meet the demand (patients). Which in turns means they are still heading to urgent care and emergency rooms.” Through telemedicine, patients are able to receive remote diagnosis and be treated through telecommunications technology. Though this portion of her business is still in the start up phase, she says providers and residents alike are able to recognize the need, want the service and are supportive in terms of supporting it financially in addition to offering volunteer hours.

“Most people who have insurance are working. Clinics are open during working hours. This requires clients to take time off from work, typically drive in traffic and wait for service. This includes simple follow ups that can be done by virtual consultation because providers typically only get paid if a patient shows up to a brick and mortar clinic. Well if this saves you time and let's be real- gas or bus fare then why not use it? This has also led to a further divide in health care access for the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots.’ If you are not computer/smartphone/app savvy or can't afford the monthly bill for data, then you are going to miss the opportunity to better manage your healthcare through virtual 24

education and contact with board certified healthcare providers and ultimately be a part of the advancements in healthcare.

For those who chose not to have healthcare either truly by choice or budget restrictions, they are once again left on their own to find safe, reliable, convenient and accessible healthcare. Many locations urban and rural do not have enough primary care and definitely not enough specialists to provide this type of care. Healthcare providers are expected to do more with less- less time, less staff, less resources. They too are getting burned out and frustrated with not being able to spend adequate amount of time preventing disease rather than always treating disease.” For these reasons, and countless others, Elmore says she wants to utilize the telemedicine platform to provide routine preventative care and education for people who reside in areas where the demand for healthcare greatly exceeds the supply. When asked about her 5 year plan for the company, among many things, she shared that she desires that everyone in Southeast San Diego be connected to the Viva Life Health Hub. “We understand the health data and outcomes for those who live in Southeast San Diego - it's time to change the face of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, maternal/infant mortality, sexually transmitted diseases, prostate and thyroid cancer, and unintended pregnancies. We don't need to be the #1 at risk anymore.” To learn more about what Dr. Elmore is doing, you can reach her at drkelly@koemedicalconsulting.com and follow Viva Life Health Hub on FB @vivalifehealthhub.

Don’t Touch My Hair!

Book Review by Terri Schlienmeyer

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May I have that, please?

That’s what you say when you want something, and people are impressed by your manners. You’re a kid who never just takes, you always ask first because you want the same kind of manners back. But in the new book “Don’t Touch My Hair!” by Sharee Miller, you might have to ask for them, too.

Aria loved her hair.

She loved it because it was bouncy and curly, dark and soft. She loved it because it grew “up toward the sun like a flower,” and because she could do a whole bunch of different things with it, depending on her mood.

Problem was, everybody else loved her hair, too. And they all wanted to touch it.

Aria knew that people were trying to be nice. They were just curious because they didn’t have hair as bouncy-soft as hers. But nobody ever asked permission before touching, and that was a big problem!

She tried to hide, but they found her on land. She pretended to be a mermaid but even the ocean’s creatures wanted to touch her hair. The jungle was no better, and someone very large was waiting for her when she hid “in the tallest castle tower.” Not even a trip to the moon helped Aria – even moony creatures were fascinated by fluffy hair! And when she did finally find a spot with no reaching hands, it was a lonely place.

T

That wouldn’t work at all, so Aria just went home, hoping she could ignore the problem. She covered her hair with the hood of a sweatshirt but people still wiggled their fingers. Aria was at the end of her rope, and she let go.

She yelled and she screamed and she shook her arms. She stomped and she shouted. And finally, Aria stood up for herself, nicely. Because sometimes, “nicely” gets you what you want.

No. It’s such a simple word: two letters, one sound, one unambiguous meaning. It can be pretty powerful when used in the right situation, and in “Don’t Touch My Hair!” your child will learn that it’s a perfectly good word to say.

And yet, learning to use “No,” isn’t all your child will get here: this book also conveys deep appreciation for one’s assets, which is doubly important at a time when African American girls may struggle with curly-hair issues. Author Sharee Miller gives her little heroine total pride in her “soft and bouncy” locks, and that’s contagious. It almost hurts, later on, when Aria physically hides herself.

But back to that word: no. Through an over-thetop tale, Miller goes on to show that the desire not to be touched casually is a normal wish with a simple solution that won’t chase away friends.

The empowerment to put that solution to work is in here, too.

For a child who dislikes handsy people, that’s a game-charger that promotes firm self-preservation, “nicely,” but with the right touch of sass. The 4-to-8-year-old kid who needs “Don’t Touch My Hair!”… shouldn’t she have that?

BLACK & LIVING

27

TOP

10

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

WHAT ARE YOURS? 28

Spend More Time with Family & Friends Get in Shape Stay in Shape

Quit Smoking Quit Drinking Enjoy Life Get Out of Debt Get Organized Learn Something New Do More for Others

F

A LIZZ RUSSELL S H I O

BLACK & HAUTE

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LIZZ RUSSELL, International Fashion and Couture Designer, is gifted with the ability to create designs that transcend the cyclical trends as seen in today’s fashion. She has established a stake in fashion’s haute evening gowns, every day styles and jewelry, which features her highly acclaimed Rose Handbags which are hand-made and adorned with beautiful silk and satin flowers with exceptional attention-to-detail. Lizz feels the pulse of fashion and has mastered the art of dressing her clients in timeless attire regardless of the season and body shape. Her creations compliment your body so they can be worn with other designers easily and comfortably. Lizzsets herself apart from commercial fashion, focusing more on the individual. This clarity in her creative process has opened doors for her among prominent celebrities who recognize herfashions as top picks in their wardrobe for TV pilots and shows, movies and red carpetappearances. More than a designer, Lizz Russell is also an inspirational storyteller. She recently released an award-winning autobiography entitled, “Smiling On The Inside,” and travels across the nation telling her story of survival from devastating illness in ways that giveinspiration to every listener. Lizz’s book is currently available on her website,http://www.lizzrussell.com, Amazon.com and selected bookstores.

Lexus is sporting a piece from the Believe Collection high low sexy top off the shoulder slim fitted sleeves, gathered at the shoulders.

With a bandaid elastic mini skirt.

The Love necklace/choker.

Forest is sporting a two piece from the Love Collection ribbed knit neck long sleeved top with a hip pugher Style skirt along with our Love choker and matching handbags.

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Lexus rocking the Love Collection tank top with the long black LR maxie.

Keji wearing a floral caftan from *The Believe Collection* flowy and free caftan comes in solid colors as well.

Clarisa is wearing a blush baby pink shawl along with a pair of winter white sequence slightly bell bottom pants.

Implement These Winter Skincare Tips into Your

Daily Routine

In the dead of winter, the memory of having glowing, hydrated skin seems like a dream. Winter weather shows no sympathy, as it often leaves skin feeling irritated and dry. Luckily, a few changes to your daily routine can leave your skin soft and hydrated. Below are six winter skincare tips that will help you combat dry, irritated skin all season long Invest in a Humidifier As you turn up the heat in your home, the air naturally becomes drier. To ensure this doesn’t damage your skin, use a humidifier to help add moisture back into the air. Put one in the rooms you spend the most time in, or invest in a whole-house humidifier if you live in an area with rough winter months.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Take Short, Warm Showers A long, hot shower sounds amazing when coming in from the cold, but it can actually be worse for you in the long run. Short lukewarm showers are your best bet if you want to keep your skin clean and hydrated—aim for no more than 10 minutes.

Moisturize If you do nothing else on this list, remember to use moisturizer. We recommend cream moisturizers during the winter. Do your best to remember to apply it after washing your hands or taking a shower. You can also start using body oils before bathing—this will provide an extra boost of hydration. Moisturizer will be your saving grace throughout winter.

Use Sensitive Cleaners Your skin is going through some hard times at this point of the year, so it’s important to be especially kind to it. Purchase gentle cleaners to replace the products you typically use in your daily skincare routine. You’ll notice that your skin is not as dry and itchy as usual thanks to the absence of irritating ingredients found in non-sensitive products.

Apply Sunscreen Even though the cold winter days are often grey and gloomy, sun damage is still a very real threat. The sun’s rays can find their way through clouds and reflect off snow to expose your skin to harmful UV rays. Before heading out, remember to apply a moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.

Drink More Water It’s common to drink less water in the winter since we naturally gravitate toward hot caffeinated beverages that tend to dehydrate. Make sure to have an extra glass of water with your morning coffee to maintain hydration.

Courtesy of BlackNews.com 37

MAKE-UP

APPLICATION

TIPS

1. For hooded eyes, when applying eyeshadow, place your colors (transition shade first) above your crease. This allows your colors to be seen more after your application is complete.

2. Holding your eyeshadow brushes mid to end shaft allows the colors to place evenly and blend easily. Choking down on the brush may cause blotchy coverage.

3. If your eyes are wide set, place a light to medium brown on the outside of your eyes. This gives the illusion of your eyes being a little closer inset.

4. When filling in your eyebrows, lightly stroke the product , in the same direction of the hairs in front, gradually darken to the end.

5. If your eyes are look "squinty" do not apply a dark eye shadow. This will make them appear even more so. Try applying a shimmer in the water line instead.

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M

By Taylor Sabree

U

San Diego Continuing Education RANKS HIGH IN STATEWIDE STRONG WORKFORCE OUTCOMES

S

an Diego Continuing Education (SDCE) ranked fourth out of 116 institutions in the California Community Colleges’ system in outcomes for using Strong Workforce funding to create “more and better” programs to help students achieve measurable educational goals.

The Strong Workforce Program Incentive (SWPI) funding is part of the state’s larger campaign, Doing what MATTERS for Jobs and the Economy.

California Community Colleges’ is providing the opportunity for higher education institutions within the state to become essential catalysts toward economic recovery and job creation at the local, regional and state levels.

SDCE is one of the oldest and largest noncredit institutions in the nation, serving San Diegans since 1914 and awards more certificates of completion than any other noncredit institution in California; therefore, the 2017-18 SWIP allowed SDCE to focus on creating “better” curriculum and instructional materials and facilities to

“better” meet the needs of training students for industry.

Student services were expanded as a result of integrating additional funding to support students training in career technical education programs. Examples include a free on-campus food pantry; monthly free food distribution; robust equity centers; opportunity youth support; pre-apprenticeship paid internships; a back-to-work program for veterans, BLACK & iNFORMED

39

and resources and referrals to mental health support.

The increased and expanded student services work to reduce equity gaps among traditionally underrepresented student groups, with the goal of cutting achievement gaps by 40% within 5 years and fully closing those achievement gaps within 10 years.

Adult, noncredit students are among the most diverse in California—culturally, ethnically and educationally. Noncredit classes are offered at no cost, and students who enroll in classes have a variety of educational and personal goals. SDCE serves 38,000 students annually at seven campuses and hundreds of community locations.

SDCE is the adult education institution within the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD). Many adults start at SDCE and then transition to an SDCCD college, City, Mesa or Miramar. Select SDCE career training programs are eligible for credit toward a two-year degree.

SDCCD was responsible for generating an estimated $4.4 billion into the regional economy during the 2017-18 fiscal year, an amount equal to 1.9 percent of the county’s gross regional product and enough to support nearly 46,000 jobs, according to a new analysis from an Idaho-based labor market analytics firm.

In 2018, SDCE joined forces with San

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S

Diego and Imperial County colleges and noncredit programs in a statewide campaign, Learn More Earn More, to connect more adult learners to middle-skill jobs in Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Construction and Utilities, Health and Information and Communication Technologies.

“In the new year, SDCE has plans to drastically increase educational programming for veterans, homeless students and formerly incarcerated adults,” said Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Ph.D., president of SDCE. SDCE awards more certificates of completion than any other noncredit educational institution in California.

During the 2017-18 fiscal year SDCE awarded 9,434 diplomas and certificates.

For more information visit SDCE.EDU

BOSS 101

Thinking of Starting a Business?

It’s that time of the year when the adventerous at heart want to venture out and launch their own businesses. If that’s you, and you’re not sure what the first steps are, we’ve included a nice check-list for you to use which should get your started in the right direction. A copy of this list can be retrieved from www.bizfile.sos.ca.gov

42

STARTING A NEW BUSINESS CHECKLIST: ___ 1. Prepare and Plan (do market research and create an outline of your business) ___ 2. Secure Financing (if necessary) ___ 3. Choose an Entity Type (e.g. LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, GP, or Sole Proprietorship) and Business Name ___ 4. Register Your Business with the Secretary of State (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP or GP) ___ 5. Register a Fictitious Business Name (if necessary) ___ 6. Choose a location and check local zoning regulations ___ 7. Obtain specialty licenses and permits (if necessary) ___ 8. Employer Responsibilities (if necessary: EIN Number, workers' compensation, etc.) ___ 9. Tax Information (FTB, BOE, EDD, IRS) ___ 10. Ongoing Secretary of State Filing Requirements (Statements of Information)

bizfile.sos.ca.gov

strength from our past

By Blake Ewings Contributing Writer

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How does our generation continue fighting for justice?

December 1, 1955, was a fateful day for the Black community of the United States of America. On that day a 42-year-old Black seamstress named Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a White man in the “Whites Only” section of a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

Parks’ arrest led to a citywide boycott led by a then little known 26-year-old Baptist preacher named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For 381 days Dr. King, Ms. Parks, and the Black community of Montgomery, Alabama did not use public transportation in protest of the treatment of Black Americans nationwide and in hope of having unjust laws changed in the United States. As a result of the bus boycott, the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional. This means that anyone can ride any bus and sit anywhere they desire no matter their ethnicty.

Another victory for the Black community during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s was the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which was signed into law by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. This law gave Black Americans in the segregated South the right to vote without having to overcome racially biased obstacles such as literacy tests designed for Blacks to fail and be denied the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act has given the Black community a voice in the operations of our communities, our cities, and this Country. Forty-three years later it was also a key component in the historic election of Barack Obama as the first Black President of the United States of America on November 4, 2008. The election of President Obama let Black Americans know that anything is possible including an entire culture going from the slave house as the lowest to Commander in Chief of the

45

United States of America in the White House.

The things that our forefathers accomplished through their fight for freedom are great things but a few of the questions that I have are, will it ever happen for my generation? and if so, How? and most importantly, When? I ask these questions because of things happening in today’s society such as the continuous cycle of young black men being murdered by police officers that took an oath to protect & serve all citizens and the opposition of our fight for justice & equality from prominent individuals such as President Donald J. Trump.

The biggest issue that my generation is faced with today is police brutality, specifically the murder of young black men by police officers of another race. The first time that my generation really saw police brutality on a national platform was the media coverage of the murder of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. George Zimmerman was not convicted for the murder of Trayvon Martin and he’s still a free man at this very moment.

Unfortunately, countless Black men have been murdered by police since Trayvon Martin and very few officers have been convicted of these murders. This very type of tragedy struck the city of San Diego when a police officer shot and killed an “uncooperative” man named Alfred Olango in El Cajon, Californian on September 27, 2016.

Police Brutality is nothing new. On March 3, 1991, the beating of Rodney King by LAPD police officers was videotaped and seen nationwide. Three of the four cops that were tried for beating King were acquitted. Riots broke out in the streets of Los Angeles after the

47

verdict of the trial.

Of course, police brutality is not the only violence that the Black community has faced.

On August 28, 1955, a 14-year-old Black boy named Emmett Till was lynched by two white for whistling at the wife of one of his killers. To be lynched means to be killed by multiple people, especially by hanging. Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, chose to have an open casket funeral to show what had been done to her son by racist people.

One of the reasons I believe that my generation has not seen much change is the way we react to these situations. Looting, rioting and destroying public property is not a good way to get the attention that is needed to address and change the issues of our community. We must take a page from our forefather’s bookand do things like meet with local and national government officials, continue to fight for new laws. I believe that in order to gain justice we must take a page from the Civil Rights Movement and protest by marching, sit-ins and things of that nature.

I also believe that we must grab ahold to the faith that our forefathers had. They sang songs that had lyrics that said things like “Deep in my heart I do believe that we shall overcome someday.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave great quotes in his speeches such as “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” From his “I Have A Dream” speech and ‘I may not get there with you but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land” from his final speech “ I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” which he spoke the night before his death.

I believe that with the level of faith & dedication for change that the generations before us had our generation will also see chance for the better in the Black community of the United States of America.

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All Eyes On

YOUNG BLACK

& ‘N BUSINESS

I

f you’ve been active in the community, you’ve seen the work of Mr. Roosevelt Williams III, founder of YoungBlack &’NBusiness. From networking events to recognition ceremonies, Williams has definitely made his mark in the Black business community. Launching his first networking mixer in 2017, Williams created the organization as a platform to help boost local Black businesses. “My peers pushed me to the forefront. I was already preoccupied with my personal business being a Cobbler - repairing men and women’s shoes, handbags and luggage, including pick up and drop off service. I noticed that my peers had a difficult time recognizing what an opportunity looked like, so, I founded YoungBlack&'NBusiness™.” Williams indicated that if he had had access to an organization that would’ve given him the type of platform he’s offering others, he’d be a lot further along in his goal of achieving financial freedom. “I created the YoungBlack&'NBusiness™ platform to give exposure to others and to show my peers what an opportunity looked like.”

Since it’s launch, the organization has become a beacon of hope for small businesses, with the sole purpose of serving emerging Black entrepreneurs and minority-owned businesses in Southern California through quarterly mixers and a weekly radio show. YoungBlack&'NBusiness™ creates positive synergy for individuals to come together and make POWER moves in a POWER House environment. When asked about the emphasis on

50

POWER, Williams shared that POWER is an acronym for Purpose Driven, Opportunity Chasers, Willing to Go Solo, Energetic, Relationship Builders.

W

illiams said the journey to building YoungBlack&'NBusiness™ has been an exciting one. The first mixer hosted had over 25 people in attendance with more than 12 vendors. “At that point I knew our people and our city was ready and looking for a platform to take their business to the next level,” he shared.

During 2018 YoungBlack&'NBusiness™ produced four mixers and one festival, averaging 150 people per event.

“We have honored and recognized business in the community and have assisted smaller business with business acumen. We use our platform to inspire and uplift others; and the community at large is thankful for the opportunity and the professionalism.”

Williams has been fortunate enough to have the support of the local community. As the chairman of the board of YoungBlack&'NBusiness™, he indicated that he listens to learn.

“The community elders continue to share that YoungBlack&'NBusiness™ is pushing the culture forward. I have received positive feedback for the most part, with indigenous San Diegans supporting our efforts heavily.”

For all his hard work and efforts, his organization has been recognized by the State Assembly, the San Diego City Council, Congress and the Mayor

of Lemon Grove. With so much attained in such a short period of time, Williams has no intentions of slowing down.

On February 9th, YBNB will host their 2019 Winter P.O.W.E.R Networking Mixer at the Lyceum Theatre from 3-6PM in which his “Blacks that Impact” 2019 poster will be unveiled. And even though it’s January, Williams is early planning for the holidays and will be hosting a 2019 Soulful Christmas, which is significant in many regards. “The event entails galvanizing businesses of color to circulate and purchase presents from each other so that we all buy a present from a Black owned business to put under our trees.”

While networking events and festivals are big ticket items on the organization’s list, Williams wants to offer more. Currently he’s seeking a multi-purpose commercial complex

54

with a parking lot in which participants can practice group economics and vertical integration. “The aim is to circulate the Black dollar to ultimately create environmental justice and to be totally self-sufficient. We believe that economic power leads to political power and that political power leads to environmental justice. It’s time that San Diego had a Black Mayor,” said Williams. “Eventually we would like to host a YoungBlack&'NBusiness™ P.O.W.E.R Networking Mixer at the San Diego Convention Center and create a model of group economics for other cities to follow. In the meantime, we will continue to have quarterly networking mixers to give businesses a platform to share who they are, what business they are in and how they can be contacted. We believe that our “Network is Our Net-worth.”

If you’d like to support YoungBlack&'NBusiness™ Williams invites you to visit their website www.ybandnb.com and purchase their 2019 - 2020 BLACKS that IMPACT San Diego poster for $19.99 “We are celebrating San Diego’s Black faces in high places. We are encouraging everyone to hang their poster in a high place in a professional environment to display a visible and tangible example of community excellence. You can continue to support YoungBlack&'NBusiness™ by attending our quarterly mixers and annual festival. If you would like to become a vendor or a sponsor contact us at ybandnb@gmail.com.”

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