Girls Can! Explorers Meet Bestselling Illustrator

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

For the first time in years, I left the country without the Explorers. When the pandemic brought our study abroad plans to South Africa to a halt, virtual meetings became the norm for us all. However, like many, I had to step away from behind the Zoom box, take off my mask (if even for a socially-distanced moment), and breathe. My retreat to the Dominican Republic was a way to reboot my physical, mental, and physical health.

Sonya Bernard-Hollins: Publisher and Founder of Merze Tate Explorers #BlackLivesMatter #AllLivesMatter #BlueLivesMatter #Covid-19 #NoMasks #Insurrection #Kamala #Trump...#Breathe!

The Merze Tate Explorers began in 2008 with the mission to help girls explore possibilities through media and travel. It took nearly five years to get our international travel stride as dozens of girls have waved the Explorer flag on three continents. We were just getting prepared for a journey to South Africa when Covid-19 put a stop to travel and forced the world to shelter in place. How would we continue to inspire girls when the world seemed to turn upside down through a whirlwind of tweets? Travel and media were not as much of a concern to me as their mental health. I had to keep them engaged in exploration.

During our bi-monthly meetings, the Explorers and their families met bestselling authors, finance and social media experts, college admissions counselors, Foot Locker Scholars, and more. And, WE WENT TO TANZANIA via the wonders of modern technology. Our partnership with Wotesawa Domestic Workers Organization in Tanzania allowed girls in the United States to take their phones outside to show their new friends across the globe how to make a snowball. “Is it cold?” our friends asked in Swahili. Our Tanzanian Explorers shared how they create beautiful clothing and accessories with antique Singer sewing machines controlled by foot pedals. “We can sell some of their items to raise money for scholarships!” our Explorers said with excitement.

After a few months of planning, the U.S. and honorary Tanzanian Explorers used media to communicate, create a fundraiser, and share their stories. They focused on the goal of education and raised nearly $4,000 for scholarships through a Taste of the World online auction. As the world continued to create hashtags, for a few hours once a month without masks and through different time zones, the concerns of the world went away.

Together, the girls could laugh, smile, and just #Breathe!

(Photo-Sonya Hollins poses with Angela Benedicto, founder of Wotesawa Domestic Workers Organization in Tanzania during her visit to the United States in 2020.)

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MULTI-CULTURAL NEWS SOURCE

SonyaVolume Hollins 11, Issue 01 Managing Editor

P.O. Box 51042

Kalamazoo, MI 49005 Founders (269) 365-4019 Arlene & James Washington (269) 342-2376 fax www.comvoicesonline.com (2005-2010) Publisher Season Press LLC (2010-) Co-editors Alayna Kuhn & Aliah Ward Social Media Editors Layla Coleman, Sanai Gardner, Saphira Muhammad, and Sanaa Olivacce-Shabazz Reporters/Photographers Travel Writers Academy Graphic Design & Printing Sean Hollins, RJ’s Printing Contributors Dare’l McMillion Photographer

For more information visit www.merzetate.org write: Season Press/MTE P.O. Box 51042 Kalamazoo, MI 49005 or call: 269-359-7895 Community Voices’ Girls Can! is published quarterly by Season Press LLC. Free issues are available at schools, libraries, and youth organizations throughout West Michigan and online at: www.merzetate.org. No parts of this magazine may be reproduced without permission.

IN MEMORY OF COMMUNITY VOICES FOUNDER ARLENE WASHINGTON

1941-2022

Arlene Washington had a dream to create a newspaper that would share positive news and highlight the accomplishments of African Americans in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She and her husband, James, worked together to create Community Voices in 2005. In 2010, she approached my husband, Sean, and me to take the baton and continue the publication. We created Community Voices quarterly print magazine.

Both Washingtons have now passed on, but their legacy continues.

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Washington!

Sean & Sonya Hollins

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CO-EDITOR’S NOTE

Explorer co-editor Aliah Ward poses with New York Times bestselling illustrator Brittany “Bea” Jackson for the Girls Can! Cover Girls Challenge. Jackson made a surprise visit to the Explorers during a three-day Travel Writers Academy.

Photos by Dare’l McMillian.

Welcome to the first Girls Can! magazine of 2022! This quarter’s issue will focus on Black History Month, March is Reading Month, and Women’s History Month (March).

You’re probably wondering what the story is behind the picture on the front of the magazine. Well, it’s actually one of the highlights for this quarter’s issue. The Merze Tate Explorers had the opportunity to meet with New York Times bestselling illustrator Brittney “Bea” Jackson. Jackson illustrated the children’s book, Parker Looks Up, by Parker Curry and her mom, Jessica Curry. What made this book a hit was Parker’s strong interest in a portrait featured in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. The portrait was of former First Lady Michelle Obama by Amy Sherald.

Jackson met the Explorers at the Kalamazoo Public Library where they not only interviewed the artist, but were challenged to pose with Jackson in groups or individually to create the next cover for Girls Can! magazine. The winner of the photoshoot (as you may have already guessed) is on the cover of this issue. The Explorers, like you, are just now finding out who won. Congratulations to Zaria Barrow, Sasha Hollins, and Sanaa Olivacce-Shabazz, for the winning cover image! How exciting is that?

Jackson, along with many other African American women past and present, is an inspiration to girls around the world.

Role models like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Michelle Obama, and Misty Copeland have paved the way for us to become bright thinkers and achieve whatever we aspire to. These women have made it so that little girls out there who dream of becoming famous illustrators, leaders, scientists, dancers, lawyers, and doctors can achieve their goals, and have someone to guide them along the way. These strong women encourage us to be creative, develop our own style, and never be afraid to stand up for what we believe in.

In my future, I would want young girls to see me as having some of the same characteristics and attributes as the women I admire from history. I would want them to realize my determination and create those same standards for themselves. When we Explorers are adults, I hope we can encourage and inspire others to try new things and test the limits.

Over the past few months of virtual and on-site activities, the Explorers have been empowered by the strong and independent voices of a variety of professions in which women have thrived.

I can’t wait for you to read more about what the Explorers have learned.

See you soon!

Aliah Ward ~ co-editor, Girls Can!

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Explorers are challenged to create a cover image as a group or individually. The winning photo was selected based on creativity.

This issues winners are Zaria Barrow, Sasha Hollins, and Sanaa Olivacce-Shabazz. The girls hopped on the bookshelf to create more engagement with illustrator Brittany “Bea” Jackson.

Artist Chad Sutton illustrated their winning photo for the cover.

While there could only be one winner, all of the images were amazing. Great job Explorers!

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The trek from South Street to East Hall was less than a mile for a teenaged Merze Tate.

In 1923, there was even a trolly to take students up the hill to Western Normal School on Oakland Drive.

She was a country girl from Blanchard, Michigan, who walked three mikes to school each day for years before moving to Battle Creek in the 10th grade. Even there, she maintained her stellar record of all A’s and made a name for herself by winning an oratorical contest.

Education was the key to success and young Merze knew it. She earned her degree in Secondary Education in a record three years with 54 A’s and 6 B’s in 1927, not long after the college became know as Western State Teachers College.

For decades Merze Tate, Ph.D., returned to what had become Western Michigan University. She served as a visiting professor, helped establish the WMU Foundation, provided more than $50,000 for a computer center in Sangren Hall, and left $1 million toward a Medallion Scholarship to provide a full-ride scholarship to one student each year forever.

She became the first African American woman to earn a Distinguished Alumna Award from WMU (‘70), and former WMU President John T. Bernhard nominated her for the American Association of State College and Universities Distinguished Alumnus Award (‘81), making her the first African American woman to receive that honor.

Dr. Merze Tate lived a life of significant accomplishments and firsts for women and as a woman of color. The Merze Tate Explorers (Est. 2008) is forever grateful to WMU for dedicating the Merze Tate College on campus on October 8, 2021.

This honor will allow her legacy to continue inspiring more students for generations to come.

Historic images from the Merze Tate Collection at WMU’s Zhang Legacy Collections Center. Dedication event photos courtesy of WMU-Mark Bugnaski.

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Page 8 clockwise: 1927 Merze Tate WMU graduation photo and article from the Kalamazoo Gazette; Tate shakes the hand of WMU President Paul Sangren upon earning a Distinguished Alumni Award; 1984 Kalamazoo Gazette article of Tate’s gift to WMU. Page 9 clockwise: The Explorers pose at dedication of Merze Tate College; Tate relatives Tamika Mongo, Sadie Miles, and Patrick Miles, Jr. share memories of Tate; Sonya Hollins celebrate’s Tate’s journey; WMU deans and family cut ribbon to celebrate; Mayor David Anderson poses with Explorers at the event; Sierra Ward presents an original poem to Merze Tate. www.comvoicesonline.com

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Ocean is no barrier for Girl Power!

The Explorers met Angela Benedicto, the founder of the Wotesawa Domestic Workers Association in Tanzania.

Benedicto visited the United States as a guest of Colleagues International (now Global Ties International), a Department of State professional exchange program.

After learning how she founded an organization to rescue domestic workers from abusive employers, her bravery and passion left a lasting impression on the Explorers. When the Explorers’ trip to South Africa was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sonya Hollins, founder of the Explorers, connected with Benedicto for a virtual sisterhood opportunity.

What happened led to an international fundraising opportunity. The girls of Tanzania used their skills as seamstresses to create items selected by the Explorers. The Explorers used their skills in media to create an online auction to sell the beautifully hand-crafted items with goods and services from local vendors. The result was $4,000 in funds raised for the girls to share for educational scholarships!

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Sierra Ward takes photos of Explorers for a photo shoot after girls in Tanzania create and send a diverse selection of beautifully made purses, aprons, shirts, and more!

The girls of Wotesawa Domestic Workers Organization are pictured creating the items and posed wih Wotesawa founder Angela Benedicto.

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Explorers and the girls of Wotesawa Domestic Workers Organization in Tanzania, Africa used Zoom to learn that despite the language barrier, they had so much in common.

By Sierra Ward

Angela Benedicto: Can you all hear me Layla Coleman: no Merze Tate Explorers: We are having a little lag in your video Layla Coleman: Rejoin the call

Sierra Ward (right) poses with Explorers Maya Daniels and Syann Hollins with a pinata for the auction.

The idea of a partnership with the young ladies of Tanzania brought so many feelings to my mind. Through the Explorers, I have traveled abroad to places such as Japan, Italy, and France, where we met people from all different backgrounds and heritages.

What was unique about this partnership was it was completely virtual. There were plans to visit South Africa before Covid-19 prevented all travel. I must admit that I was not looking forward to spending any more time on my computer than I had to.

After just one meeting with our friends from Tanzania, my entire view of online engagement changed immensely. The warmth and comfort that they displayed evoked a sense of power and determination from over 8,000 miles away.

During our introductions, it was clear that we shared so much in common. We discussed our goals for the future and learned that many of us had a huge interest in the medical field. As I pondered on that observation, I realized that this generation is really going to be the one to make a long-lasting change. Even though we are so far apart and we all face our own challenges and injustices, we are all very passionate about helping people. From my first interactions with the girls, they were very selfless and so intrigued by what our travel club (Explorers) offered. I loved seeing how some of the younger girls in the travel club had welcoming faces, as many of them have not had a lot of exposure to other cultures.

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The making and distribution of the products that are coming from our sisters in Tanzania will open so many doors for all the girls involved. We will all be able to become introduced to the marketing industry, as well as learn about target groups and business platforms. I have a very good feeling that the quality of products created by the girls in Tanzania that we choose to sell here in America will really impress members of our community.

I would love for the girls in Tanzania to have exposure to all the careers that we have here with the Merze Tate Explorers. In return, I would love for our girls here to learn how to sew and use our hands, as do the girls at the Wotesawa Domestic Workers Organization in Tanzania. This partnership has allowed for two worlds to become one, as both groups benefit from this collaboration.

I am ecstatic to see where this sisterhood leads us, and I am certain that great things will arise. Above all else, I want to one day meet these girls in person and thank them from the bottom of my heart. A bond like this is truly one of a kind and I am beyond grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Sierra: Syann and Maya, we needed this machine for our pillows!

Sierra: Great Job girls!!

Syann Hollins: Great job Layla Wallace: Amazing job

Sierra: What time is it there in Tanzania?

Angela Benedicto: Almost 7 p.m.

Layla Coleman: So it’s evening there. It is morning here.

Mahalia: 8 hours difference I think

Cherise Ward: That’s cute!

Mahalia (using Google Translate-Go Mahalia!): hizo ni nzuri Merze Tate Explorers: How much time it takes to make that item? Your is your cost for production?

Alayna Kuhn: We also need to include shipping costs Sierra: We can make a website. We would be able to sell everything that way.

Aliah: I like that idea Layla Coleman: YAY Sophiah: YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Syann Hollins: Where is somewhere you would like to travel?

Sophiah: I would like to travel to Japan Kimyah: The Bahamas or Paris Rehema: Revina wants to travel to South Africa and America Rehema: Philomena wants to travel to the USA Angel Bahati: I want to visit America Sophiah: I want to travel to Zimbabwe

Merze Tate Explorers: You all have two computers you are on?...The Explorers will gift 2 computers to the girls in Tanzania.

Angela Benedicto: Thank you very much we are so excited Benjamin Fredrick: Asanteni dana { thank you very much} Merze Tate Explorers: You are welcome!!!!

Angela Benedicto: Our fellow few girls who didn’t join today will join next meeting Syann Hollins: Thank You!!!

Angela Benedicto: Next time will have to match with friends Layla Coleman: This was pretty fun! www.comvoicesonline.com

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Hello Fellow Girls, I am really happy for your care for me. I am in school and I thank you sisters for your hearts and for volunteering to (support my education). God bless you very much.

Because of you, I have had the opportunity to go back to school. I really do not want to lose by doing negligence in school. I promise to study hard to become a great help to all my classmates who went through violence, as I will surely oppose it with all efforts as this violence has (led to the ) lost the dreams of many people, especially us girls. I promise to be a lawyer to defend human rights.

Above: Elizabeth (in red blouse) gets emotional hugs from her friends at Wotesawa as she heads off to school.

Elizabeth is one of the many girls who now reside in her shelter. The Explorers learned of her desire to continue her education, which is not free after elementary school. A fundraising effort by the Explorers helped make her dream come true. Her letter of thanks was edited for length and translated to English from Swahili.

Thank you so much, sister Sonya. I have nothing to pay you, but may God bless you and protect you more. I wish (God’s protection) for (you all) and I promise to study hard to free children from cruelty like (I faced).

Elizabeth Elizabeth at her new school.

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Angela Benedicto founded Wotesawa (We Are All Equal) Domestic Workers Organization in Tanzania. As a former child domestic worker she knew the abuse many young girls faced and began providing a safe haven. In 2015, Benedicto received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award from Queen Elizabeth for her work in human rights.

Photos provided by Wotesawa Domestic Workers Organization

By Arianna Milliner

Tanzania is an East African country that lies just a little south of the equator. Established in 1964, Tanzania, formerly known as Tanganyika, combined with Zanzibar to make the United Republic of Tanzania. Surrounding countries include Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Burundi, and Rwanda. The total land coverage is about 885,800 square kilometers, with about 2,643 square kilometers from the Zanzibar archipelago, which is the two islands of Unguja and Pemba. The country of Tanzania is about twice the size of California.

Weather can be divided into multiple sections of tropical climate because of the Indian Ocean shoreline being so close.

Highlands range from tropical to temperate. The intertropical convergence zone, which is a belt of rising air near the equator, causes heavy rainfall. The mainlands only receive less than 30 inches of rain while the islands and highlands can receive more than 60 inches.

With over 120 ethnic groups with various religious beliefs, Tanzania is filled with lots of traditions and cultures.

Learning these cultures can help tourists coming to the area be respectful. One of these includes not using your left hand.

Tanzanians only eat using their right hand because they view it as the cleaner hand. Doing things with the left hand could be considered highly disrespectful. Religious beliefs include Christians and Muslims. More than 40% of the population is Christian and 35-40% are Muslim. Both religions follow the traditional customs that come with it.

Tanzania is home to a wide range of animals, specifically, large hoofed animals like zebras, buffalo, giraffes, and wildebeests. Predators include the big cats like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Hippopotamuses and crocodiles are commonly found along the riverbanks. Sadly, the government has had to take safety measures to prevent poachers from killing the elephants and rhinoceroses. About one fourth of all of Tanzania’s land has been set aside for national parks, reserves and conservation areas.

Another big part of Tanzanian culture is their food. A popular dish called Mchuzi Wa Samaki is a Swahili fish dish cooked with oil, onions, garlic, curry powder, tomatoes, and lemon juice. They typically serve this dish with white rice on the side. A second dish is called Wali Wa Nazi which is only rice cooked with coconut milk and water. This rice is seasoned with salt and can be served with chicken, fish, or any type of meat dish. Last, a popular snack among the African culture is called Mandazi. They make the dough with sugar, flour, water, yeast, and milk, or coconut milk. They then shape the dough into triangles or ovals and fry in hot oil. Typically it is served for breakfast with tea, sometimes dusted with cinnamon or powdered sugar to add sweetness.

The culture, land, food, and animals in Tanzania are all so wonderful and full of such polite people, it’s hard to not want to go. Just to see a pinch of what it offers through photographs is not enough. We must see it in person.

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By Sonya Hollins, Founder-Merze Tate Explorers Every snaggle-toothed child or candy-colored bouquet of balloons on the cover of children’s books did something to third-grader Brittany Jackson. The enticing smiles and bold confidence of the characters made her feel something. Although she didn’t know it then, a palette array of colorful seeds was being dropped into her spirit.

She savored graphic novels and studied how artists used their chosen art to take readers on adventures.

Could she be an artist? In her heart, that’s what she wanted. But growing up in the inner city of Detroit, she had never met an artist and leaned toward what she felt adults wanted to hear. “I want to become a doctor,” said young Jackson.

When she learned that one of her favorite artists used a computer to create digital art, she decided to give it a try. She skipped traditional art forms and purchased Microsoft Paint software for an old computer her parents had at home. They then purchased a scanner, which allowed her to draw an image on paper and scan it into the computer to use digital technology to add color and dimension.

“I didn’t have an art store or art supplies,” Jackson told Explorers. “All I had was what was in the house. So that’s what I worked with. Then, what was a hobby became something I wanted to do full time.”

It wasn’t until she was a student at Henry Ford High School that an art teacher saw her potential.

While she struggled in her classes, it was her art teacher who pushed her to perfect her craft.

He entered one of her works into a contest sponsored by Coca-Cola. The winning artist would receive $5,000 for college and a vending

Explorers watch as Brittany Jackson creates an image of Explorer Adrianna Ryan. www.comvoicesonline.com

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machine filled with Coke products for their school. She won!

Today, she attributes her art teacher to keeping her on a focused path and for her confidence in her passion. Unfortunately, she had friends who weren’t so lucky.

“If you invest in children and give them something they can use that creative energy in, whatever form it takes (sports, music, arts, cooking), that can change a lot of kids’ lives,” said Jackson.

Jackson is best known for her work in the best-selling book Parker Looks Up, by Parker and Jessica Curry. The book is based on a photo taken of Parker as she looked upon a portrait of Michelle Obama in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. “That one book opened up so many opportunities for me to where I could continue to do the things that I love to do without struggling to do it,” Jackson said.

As she made a name for herself, she added a new twist. She uses “Bea,” as her first name, which is short for Beatrice, meaning Blessed. Her new name reflects how her journey catapulted from an artist for self-published authors to a sought-after illustrator.

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them. So, when she received an email from someone at Simon and Schuster publishers, she was skeptical. But her friends in the world assured her the request to submit her art was real.

“All those years of grinding and putting in the work made it worth it. Now, I’m in the position that I don’t have to work as hard, but I can still make a living doing what I love. And I’m getting to the point where I can start telling my own stories. “ Her dreams are to bring her own stories to life and work on projects with artists Kadir Nelson and Vashti Harrison. Jackson admires how her city of Detroit has embraced art through downtown mural projects created by local artists. She only wishes that one day soon, that same respect for art can flow into the inner city to beautify areas of hopelessness. She boldly confesses that art saved her.

“I will never forget where I came from. That’s what makes my story unique. I’m forever grateful for that, and I am forever grateful for the people in my life who helped me climb each step of that ladder to where I am now and where I will be in the future.”

Library staffers Jerome Jackson and Children’s Librarian Bill Caskin meet Jackson after Explorers interview her about her life and career.

Photos by Dare’l McMillian.

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Left: Nya and her team win a trip to The Aroma Lab after winning the Exploring Downtown History scavenger hunt.

Below: The Aroma Lab owner, Tanya Thompson, shares the various fragrances offered.

By Nya Kuhn The Merze Tate Explorers’ Team Oxford won a visit to the Aroma Labs in downtown Kalamazoo. This was our team’s reward for winning the Downtown Kalamazoo Photo Scavenger Hunt during the Explorer summer academy. The Aroma Labs is a perfume-making boutique that was opened in 2019 by owner Tanya Thompson.

Tompson told us she has two daughters who help her operate the business. She also has a dog named Bolt, named after the track star Usain Bolt. Bolt was a big, dark-brown dog who welcomed us with a wagging of the tail as we entered the sweet-smelling studio with hardwood floors and a wall filled with amazing scents. Thompson also told us about her love for travel and the many places she’s visited, including Italy and Hawaii (places that our Explorers have visited, too!)

The first thing we did when we got there was wash our hands with her handmade scrub. After our hands were soft and clear, we chose our seats at the creation station. Each station had a beaker full of coffee beans to reset the nose between smells. There was also a tray of many different scents to choose from to create our perfume.

We divided each scent into either top, middle, or base notes. There were more than 40 bottles of oils to choose from.

My favorite scents were Hibiscus, Acai, Cotton Candy, Sangria-White Peach, Madagascar, Black Silk, French Vanilla, Indonesia Teak, Basil, Rose, Sage, and Mint.

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Next, we made different combinations of scents. We added drops of different oils onto a paper strip to test and find out which combinations smelled the best. It was really fun and creative coming up with new scents. I enjoyed this part because there were no restrictions. I could mix whatever I wanted. The possibilities were endless!

My first combination was Hibiscus, Cotton Candy, Sangria-White Peach, and Black Silk. That one smelled a little strong, kind of like a scent from Bath and Body Works. My second combination was Hibiscus, Cotton Candy, Basil, Sage, and Mint. Now this one smelled really fruity and reminded me of a warm sunset. My third combination was Rose, French Vanilla, Lemon Balm, and Rosemary. This one smelled like a long walk in the forest. I ended up selecting my second combination, and I was really happy with my choice.

Finally, we had to decide what type of product we wanted our scent to become. We could make a car spray, room spray, body lotion, candle, hand scrub, or perfume. We could choose only one, so my decision was really important. I chose a room spray because I am really not a perfume girl, but I love for my room to smell nice.

This was an amazing experience. I could use my creative thinking skills and I ended up with a unique product designed completely by me! I would definitely like to go there again.

By Demita & Devonda Thomas Marshall During the CSI Summer Academy the Explorers went on a scavenger hunt downtown along the Kalamazoo Mall. We split up into three teams to take pictures of the answers to riddles about downtown history. We were Team Oxford and competed against Team Western Michigan University and Team Radcliff College (all colleges our program namesake, Merze Tate, attended).

We walked around looking for clues. We went to a restaurant and a men’s suit and tie shop, reading historic monuments and markers along the way. We had to be on alert because the other teams were following us. Then we found a strategy to throw them off our trail. We pretended to take selfies when we were close to a clue and the other teams were near. After they left, we took our photos fast so they couldn’t see what we found. But somehow one of the other teams seemed to finish before us. We knew they couldn’t have won because we hadn’t seen them in the places we found our clues.

When we finished gathering our photos on the leader’s (Syann’s) cell phone, we ran back to the library. Another team was waiting, so we were second to arrive. While we waited, we made TikTok videos. Then, finally, the last team arrived.

Mrs. Hollins read the clues and asked the team leaders to show their phone photo answers. We won! The other teams were mad (in a fun way), but then we all came together and said, “Good game.”

Our team won an hour at Aroma, a downtown boutique where you can make your own perfumes. I think these three days of CSI Summer Academy were super cool. I met new people and just enjoyed myself.

Team Oxford won the Exploring Downtown Scavenger Hunt. They include Zaria Barrow, Syann Hollins, Nya Kuhn, Sanaa Olivacce-Shabazz, and Demita and Devonda Thomas-Marshall.

Mental Health Graduate Teaches Mindfulness to Explorers

By Mahalia Guidry

Thomasina Guidry came to my Merze Tate Explorers Summer Academy to talk to us about mindfulness and yoga. She told us that learning mindfulness can teach you to be aware of your surroundings. But how is that important? I wondered the same thing.

She told us that mindfulness can keep you from going into ‘auto-pilot’, which can cause you to miss important things. Mindfulness isn’t only about being aware. It’s also about knowing your body and how you feel in certain situations. Sometimes you can feel your emotions physically, too. But that’s easy to miss if you’re not aware.

To be aware of our bodies at the moment, we lay in a comfortable position and closed our eyes. We focused on our breathing and thinking in the moment.

“Be aware of the moment, not the future or past,” Guidry told us after we finished. It felt uncomfortable for me at first, because my body is so wired to go into auto-pilot, or thinking too much into the future.

Next, we learned about mindful eating. That sounds silly at first, but it’s very important in discovering mindfulness. It essentially means that as humans in America, we underestimate food and our abilities to eat it. If you’re in a rush, or starving, you can miss the taste of the food and only focus on feeding yourself. We learned how to use the five senses to learn mindful eating. As an example of this, we used raisins. We held the raisin, smelled it, and tasted it slowly, taking in every aspect of the raisin.

The best part about this journey into mindfulness was becoming more aware. It’s a real struggle for me to be aware of my surroundings, so it was nice to be able to take a breath and focus on myself.

Above: Thomasina Guidry shares the importance of mindfulness with the Explorers through mental and physical health activities.

Below: Mahalia Guidry holds the comfort box she created with items that make her feel safe.

Thomasina Guidry recently earned her MBA in Counseling under the supervision of Merry Battles, LMSW, CAADC. She also is my mother.

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*Community Voices partners with the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative to contribute articles on mental health from a youth perspective.

When people pull together, every day is a giant leap forward.

What makes us unique as individuals, makes us stronger together.

At PNC, we believe our differences make the difference in who we are as individuals. And when you bring together individuals from different backgrounds, with unique interests and perspectives, we can do more. We can be more. And we can achieve more, together.

PNC Bank is proud to support Merze Tate Explorers.

To learn more visit pnc.com/diversity

©2021 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC CON PDF 0618-0106

The Black Lives Matter Movement elevated after George Floyd was murdered by a police officer on May 25, 2020. The video image of his death led a generation of young people to use their voices to make a change. Maya Daniels visited Washington, D.C., during the height of those protests. This is her story.

As I walked along the fence guarding the White House, an overwhelming sense of pride came over me. It filled me with hope for progress, not just for Black Americans, but for all minorities.

Things were going to be different. I could feel it.

Months earlier, I was stuck at home like the rest of the world, trying to decide if it was more morally right to march for social justice or stay inside and help flatten the curve. I watched online as people around the world, people who looked like me, joined their allies and marched for what they believed in. What I believe in.

Now, I could finally stand where they stood. Right in front of the White House, I could almost feel their words and emotions lingering in the air. There were hundreds of signs taped, woven, zipped, and tied to a fence guarding the President’s doorstep.

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Maya Daniels left and Kalea Barnes pose at the Black Lives Matter mural on Rose Street in Kalamazoo.

Photos by Sierra Ward

A wall formed that could no longer be ignored. It made visible a hurdle that we as a country must face head-on to progress.

I’ve heard people say that we have become overly sensitive this past year, but I see it differently. Large groups of people no longer tolerated racism and social inequality disguised as humor or jokes.

People were tired of others telling them what can and can’t hurt them. I saw people who are tired of accepting lame excuses, not being taken seriously, and being ignored. I saw myself.

This last year presented everyone with unprecedented time to reflect and reevaluate ourselves, our decisions, and our lifestyles. As we did, many of us decided we couldn’t sit on the fence and passively watch the world get worse by the day. Everyone has different perspectives, and every person has their own nuanced

opinion, but there is still a right and wrong side of history.

According to the Pew Research center, six in ten Americans believe our country needs to make more changes to increase racial equity. People of varying races, religions, and ethnicities are coming together to make that abundantly clear, and that energy is what I felt standing there in Washington, DC. The signs in Black Lives Matter Plaza represent a call to action and a challenge of this country’s ability to improve and better itself for the betterment of all of its citizens. They question this country’s decision to hide behind a thin veil of

lies, remaining willfully ignorant and gladly erasing its history just for the sake of public image.

They made me wonder, when the fight is no longer on national news, will we assume it’s over? In 20 years, will we be marching for the same things? The year 2021 was just a stepping stone to more progress for more people: it’s up to us to turn a moment into a movement as we learn, evolve, and grow as a nation.

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African American Women First of Kalamazoo

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By Mahalia Guidry

The Great Pyramids of Giza were forged 4,500 years ago in Ancient Egypt. They were commanded by the kings of ancient Egyptian society called Pharaohs. Many of them were built as tombs, the last resting places for Egypt’s royalty who took all their worldly possessions with them. The northernmost and oldest pyramid of the group was built for Khufu, the second king of the 4th dynasty. It is the largest of the three, therefore appropriately named The Great Pyramid.

Initially standing at 481 feet, The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. They built the middle pyramid for Khafre, the fourth of the eight kings of the fourth dynasty. The southernmost and final pyramid to be built was created for Menkaure, the fifth king of the fourth dynasty.

It is the smallest of the three, only 218 feet tall, while the others are closer to 500 feet tall.

The pyramids were built using an estimated 2.3 million large blocks weighing 6 million tons. The outer layers were bound by mortar created with local limestone from the Giza Plateau.

Some believe they were not created by man, but by aliens from outer space. Whether you believe it was aliens or the Egyptians, The Pyramids of Giza is one of the world’s greatest structures.

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Merze Tate traveled the world TWICE! Above is a photo of her on a camel with the daughter of her host family during one of her trips to Cairo, Egypt, during the 1950s. Below is another image from her collection of the Great Sphinx of Giza. Images from the Merze Tate Collection located in the Western Michigan University Zhang Legacy Collection Archives.

The Explorers have 20 landmarks around the world on their bucket list. So far, they have CHECKED three of them off their list.

Write the name of the landmark by the number. See the answers on page 31. HAPPY TRAVELS!

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CO-EDITOR’S NOTE In 2018, after a year of planning, the Explorers went to Hawaii. It was my first plane ride with a dozen other Explorers, their moms, and chaperones. During our five days of educational adventure, we visited chocolate plantations, an environmental high school, attended a luau, and even learned the history of Pearl Harbor. What I will always remember is the beauty of Hawaii.

The colors of the vivid blue ocean, the sky the birds sang in, and the fresh flowers all seemed brighter than any photo I had ever seen. As we ate breakfast at the outside restaurant of our hotel, the black rocks along the nearly white sand created a perfect contrast.

The first stop of our adventure was the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary. The subtle sounds of exotic birds and the fresh scent of rain overtook my senses. Everywhere we looked, there was bright green foliage and some island insect or animal that our tour guide taught us about. I even held a snake!

The next day, the Explorers went snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean. We boarded a twotiered boat to what was called Captain’s Cove. Water surrounded us. The sounds of the ocean were as calm as a restful sleep on a Saturday morning. Pure peace was all that I could feel at that moment. Then the captain stopped the boat, and we all jumped into the water. I felt as though everyone around me disappeared. It was just me, the water, and the ocean creatures. Although fear was my first emotion, that quickly faded and fascination took over.

I remember seeing many colorful fish dancing in groups to what seemed like choreographed moves. The puffer fish were yellow and orange and reminded me of little spiky stress reliever balls. So cute! The beautiful coral reef was vibrant and bright and the mixture of many colors really caught my eye. I couldn’t believe that I was so up close to these gorgeous organisms. This was definitely an experience that I would never forget.

We also reached heights that we never thought possible as we hiked to the top of Diamond Head Summit Trail. The climb took every bit of energy. It wasn’t difficult, but it was steep and the terrain was uneven. But we were determined to “rise to the occasion” together. We started out quickly, unsure of what we were getting ourselves into. Step by step, we made our way through the twists and turns, but always maintaining a positive attitude. We were full of laughter and supported each other as we continued our way to the top. As we moved closer to the peak, we saw a glimpse of our goal. After 762 total feet of stairs, rocks, and debris, we made it! We seemed to see all of Honolulu from that single point.

Vibrant and stunning! All the colors truly were vividly bright. Every view of the island reminded me of a Photoshop corrected postcard, perfectly edited and flawless.

Except this view was 100% authentic. I will remember those Hawaiian views for the rest of my life.

Alayna Kuhn, co-editor- Girls Can! *Arrows point to Alayna 30

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Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

Pearl Harbor Diamond Head State Monument

Explorers enjoy the ocean.

PUZZLE ANSWERS Name:

African American Women 1st of Kalamazoo Crossword Puzzle

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3. LONGEST SERVING KALAMAZOO COUNTY COMMISSIONER. (eva ozier) 4. FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE COMMERCIAL PILOT FROM KALAMAZOO (monique grayson) 7. FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE GRADUATE OF KALAMAZOO COLLEGE. (pauline johnson) 8. FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN REAL ESTATE BROKER IN KALAMAZOO (willie mae pierson) 9. FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE JUDGE IN KALAMAZOO (carolyn williams) 12. FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SECONDARY EDUCATION TEACHER FOR KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. (phyllis seabolt) 13. MOTOWN RECORDING ARTISTS DISCOVERED AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY (velvelettes) 14. SERVED ON BOARD OF KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. (anna whitten) 15. READ STORIES TO CHILDREN AT LIBRARY (alma powell) 16. WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY ALUMNA WHO MADE HISTORY AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY. (merze tate)

1. FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE MAYOR OF KALAMAZOO. (beverly moore) 2. TAUGHT SPORTS AND WAS FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRINCIPAL FOR KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. (juanita goodwin) 5. FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE DOCTOR FROM KALAMAZOO. (donna hackley powell) 6. MADE HISTORY WITH KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SAFETY (stacey ledbetter) 10. KALAMAZOO CENTRAL GRADUATE NOMINATED FOR GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD. (abbey lincoln) 11. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO OF FAMILY HEALTH CENTER (denise crawford)

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS? ANSWERS

1. Niagara Falls 2. Amazon Rain Forest 3. Taj Mahal 4. Victoria Falls 5. Sydney Opera House 6. Stonehenge 7. Statue of Liberty 8. St. Basil’s Cathedral 9. Petra 10. Parthenon 11. Panama Canal 12. Mt. Kilimanjaro 13. Mt. Everest 14. Leaning Tower of Pisa 15. Great Wall of China 16. Pyramid of Giza 17. Great Mosque of Djenne 18. Golden Gate Bridge 19. Eiffel Tower 20. Big Ben