Can I flex? Can I live? Glenance Green

Can I flex? Can I live?

Glenance Green

We don’t want to be capitalists but sometimes we just want some shit We came from nothing Still singing Drake’s Started from the bottom now we’re here For some of us, that’s still at the bottom We know that capitalism works against us That it’s inexplicably linked to the exploitation of black and brown bodies We know it is rooted in anti-blackness We know that wealth has been colonized and the lens through which we understand money is inherently flawed We want people in office who care We want to believe that our system can work to our advantage by allowing us to put someone in office who is a candidate of the people Some of us want to uplift the values of democratic socialism and have a productive conversation about what that means for life chances without it ignorantly being mistaken for communism We want racial equity We want healthcare for all We want to earn a livable wage And not have to sell every hour of our day to someone else in exchange for doing so We want affordable housing We want access to high quality public education We want humanity in the workforce We want to build business in our community And own homes for our families to inherit so they don’t have to struggle

the way we did just to make rent We want to own land and build community gardens Not because we feel that we, or anyone for that matter, should own land because it belongs to the Earth But dammit, if other people are owning everything around us, we want to buy back a little piece for our own too We want to be down for the cause But level up on our sneaker game with shoes we can’t afford We want to buy some flashy jewelry And a few wigs And a new car And a whole bunch of unnecessary shit we don’t really need but like to look at simply because we can We want to take a few trips around the world with money to blow And return home to keep fighting the good fight With our people For our people We don’t want to bypass opportunities to have a seat at the table Because we know our values are going to be criticized by those who weren’t invited into the room That, for all of the criticism that we do of our own, there’s still a deck of undealt cards still on the table In many ways, we’re still Spike Lee’s Jigaboos and Wannabes despite our School Daze being over All because we want something just for us Sometimes we just want some shit Some shit for us

Into A Black Beyond Facilitators

Dimitri Hepburn is an Authors Circle facilitator and digital media producer at ConTextos. He believes that the understanding gained by a thorough examination of the world around us, as experienced from multiple perspectives, is fundamental to the shared success of all people. Born in the Bahamas and raised in the Bronx, Dimitri has grown deep roots in Chicago where he helps create opportunities to learn, explore, and tell stories about the world and ourselves, stories that provide fertile ground for empathy and understanding.

dr. moore is an African American, lesbian, feminist, lifelong educator and learner. Her first name is Sharon and because it is not a name she is particularly comfortable with, she uses the title from earning a PhD in African American literature. dr. moore prefers it used in the lowercase because she is not one who stands on formality. Her teaching has always been informed by a social, cultural, and economic critique that seeks to deconstruct and destabilize oppressive and repressive societal norms. dr. moore believes that everyone is a creator, for we create ourselves every day. She is as committed to her own ongoing creation and she is to walking alongside others on their journeys. dr. moore brings empathy, openness, honesty, and love into this shared space of communion, self-reflection, exploration, and healing.

Johnny Page is the Co-Director of Programs & Partnerships at ConTextos. He is a formerly incarcerated professional, speaker, author, anti-violence educator, and advocate. He’s committed to fighting for the right of access to higher education for the incarcerated and creating pathways for the formerly incarcerated on traditional campuses. Johnny is CoFounder of C.A.V.E. (Community Anti-Violence Education) an intergenerational communitybased support system for those who are affected by trauma.

2021 IABB Authors

Aisha Truss-Miller is a Chicago native from the Southside & Northside working with community groups, organizers, philanthropists, and artists to create and sustain brave, safe, and healthy spaces for the leadership development, political education, and the healing of and by Black people, Black youth, and people of color from blocks to boardrooms. Aisha is a loving mother, wife, volunteer, storyteller, and fundraiser dedicated to, “building movements to dismantle all systems designed to oppress and inflict violence on me and my people, and profit from our pain and power.” She accredits her growth and achievements to family, friends, mentees, mentors, “the block”, and everyday folk modeling positive leadership and healthy relationships- and that provides her with insight, inspiration, debate, hope, support, accountability, laughs, and love.

Jauwan Hall was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. He is a JD candidate and research assistant at UIC JMLS. His research interests focus on the intersection of policing and US Constitutional Law. Jauwan is a military veteran with more than 10 years of service and began his service as a United States Marine stationed in San Diego, CA. He subsequently served in the Middle East in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. During his break in active service, Jauwan completed his BA in Political Science with a minor in History. Jauwan then worked in several government and political positions before re-enlisting in the National Guard as a Human Resource NCO. He currently serves as a reserve soldier training incoming Army recruits on Chicago’s Southside. Jauwan is an active member of the Urban League Metroboard, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Chicago Votes’ Board of Directors.

Caila Hall was born in Virginia but has been living in Chicago for the last 2-3 years. Caila likes to write and make music about her surroundings and paint a picture of how she perceives them. Caila is timid about sharing her writing but hopes that it reaches and inspires others.

Djuana Florez, or DJ for short, is an Artsy supermom. Freedom chaser. Renewed Goddess. Restorative energy. Self-healer. Intuitively guided, although stubborn at times. A moon child. Natural born rebel. Aquarius. She is a creative visionary. Socially introverted. A graduate of many lessons learned, and a life-long scholar of many more to come. Confidently lost in the journey of expansion, while creating a path of her own. Djuana calls the Southside of Chicago home. Altgeld Gardens, Back of The Yards, Englewood and Roseland to be exact.

Dominicca Troi Washington a Chicago native raised on the city’s Southside. Dominica is a first generation college graduate, from Clark Atlanta University and holds an M.Ed in Elementary Education. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the young women’s empowerment non-profit organization SHE Chicago and also the Founder of the self publishing company SHE Chicago Publishing. Dominica is a self published children’s book author, Teacher Leadership Coach and a proud mother of two magnificent children.

Elizia Artis is a California transplant who has also lived in the Pacific Northwest and Michigan, and has lived in Chicago for about 3.5 years. Elizia is a story-observer first and a storyteller second. Elizia spends time for fun and sometimes for work responsibilities, learning about the city’s history – especially how communities, organizations, and cohorts of creatives are reframing and highlighting all the joy and possibility that comes from being Black in Chicago.

Elsie Hernandez is the co-founder and President of the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC). She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and immigrated to New York in 1966. She completed her studies in New York. Elsie moved to Chicago in 1989. She received a Master Degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996. HAMOC is a small, ethnic museum located in Uptown, Chicago with a mission is to educate, preserve and promote Haitian art, culture and history in metropolitan Chicago and surrounding communities, nationally and internationally through advocacy, education and supportive services. HAMOC is in its 8th year of operation and growing its community, programs and outreach.

Glenance Green is a storyteller and content creator, building beautiful magic from her home office in the historic black metropolis of Bronzeville. One thing that she wishes that people knew about her right away is how much the fire within her burns for racial equity and social justice.

Kanoya Ali or Ali as he is popularly known, is a pillar in his southside Chicago community. Ali works as a lead life coach and mentor for Chicago CRED. Over the past decade, his professional career has been spent engaging with young men who desire to make positive changes in their lives. As such, Ali is a proponent of using the arts to channel creativity and express emotions, especially through written and spoken word. He is the co-host & cofounder of THECHIPODCAST which is home to a brand new show via zoom CREDTALKS. It’s a show that allows viewers the chance to listen to interviews from different game changers, professionals, celebrities and influencers and gives them the ability to ask questions at the end. Ali is now working on starting a non for profit organization that seeks to assist “returning citizens” and the “at risk population“ simultaneously.

Kashif Johnson, aka Chico or DrunkMoe is from the Southside of Chicago. Kashif loves and represents his block, and embraces and celebrates his uniqueness. He is on a path of his own and looking for his place in the world.

Kierra Wooden was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago and currently resides in South Shore. Kierra is a multi disciplinary artist, a two time self published author of two poetry books, and a community activist. Kierra considers herself very fluid, a risk taker and spontaneous.

LaDarius J. Beal is an ordained minister, activist, and organizer. As a preacher with a passion for Social Justice, he works around giving a voice to those who have historically gone unheard or unattended to. Drawing from the Gospel of Luke 4:18-19, LaDarius

holds the view that you cannot have a theology or a Christology without a sociology. He is currently pursuing his studies at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL., where he serves as the President of the Black Student Union. He is also currently serving on staff at the True Believers Community Connections, Inc.

Naimah Thomas is a Black Femme born and raised in Chicago and currently works as a licensed professional counselor, art therapist, and artist. Naimah’s clinical work and art practice explores the intersections of art and mental health, primarily in BIPOC communities. She utilizes art to shift narratives around healing, mental health, and creating spaces where exploration and re-imagination are valued. Naimah’s visual work is informed by lived experience as a Black woman, artist, and therapist, and has worked with a range of people across her lifespan in community, correctional, and nonprofit settings.

Santresa Harris was born and raised in Chicago and represents the Southside. Santresa credits the city as helping to develop her passion for writing, and shaping her as a strong woman. She hopes her writing will speak for people who look and feel like her.

Senyah Haynes is the proud author of the Jayla’s Jaunts book series for children, where culture, magic, and history intertwine (available at www.palindromeglobal.com). She proudly reps the Southside, because though she’s a So. Cal transplant, Chicago is her heritage home and her roots go deep. She’s excited about the 2021 release of the anthology From A Black Perspective (Rainbow Room Publishing, LLC) which features not only her writing, but one of her paintings as cover art. An interesting fact about her (in case you haven’t noticed from reading this) is that her name is a palindrome. And yes, her parents did that on purpose!

Antoine Evans aka “TUG” lives on the Southside of Chicago, and proudly reps his city. TUG is a ConTextos Alumni Author by way of IMAN, one of ConTextos’ community partners. He wishes the world knew about him at first sight is how big his heart is and how much he wants to contribute his time to make changes in the world for the greater good of all.