The Spot Mag~ Celebrating Women in Business (May/June 19)

spot mag

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

THE

May/June 2019 SIX WAYS TO SLAY SUCCESS:

HI P HO P - O LO GI ST, DR. A L E X I S M . D AV I S

SOCIAL MAMA

WHERE LI NKEDI N M E E TS TI N D E R

T I F FA N Y H A L L : A L L I N AT 5 0

M A Y / J U N E 2 0 19

IN THIS

Issue EMOTIONAL FOR ECAST

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CRYSTAL’S R EAL ESTATE TIP S

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CRYSTAL’S CHAMP IONS

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FAS HION

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MIND FUL NESS

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NATIONAL WOMEN

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FEATUR E p ag e 32

Feature: Tiffany Hall: All in at 50 See the article on page 32 Cover photo by Nikki Nauman. Dresses provided by J. Lynn Bridal.

Feature photo by Brian Byers.

Contributors C O- FO U N D E R & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR:

CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN

C R E ATI VE D I R E C TO R :

DARYL BELL

W R I TE R S: BRIT TANY SWEARINGEN

ANTHONY GONZALEZ ANIK A JACKSON CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN ANGIE WILLIAMS

NIKKI NAUMAN BRIAN BYERS P H OTO GR APH Y:

M A Y / J U N E 2 0 19

Crystal’s Ball Mother’s Day is around the corner, and I felt there was no better way to celebrate the season than sharing a photo shoot with my daughters - Brittany, Adrianna, and Halle!

Spring has played peek-a-boo for WAY too long, and it’s time for a Celebration!

In this issue, we celebrate Moms with photos submitted through our social media pages. We’re also introducing a new Crystal’s Champion, who dissects the lyrics of “Middle Child” by J. Cole, and introduces 6 Ways to Slay Success. In addition, we present a new app, designed to connect busy moms in our National Feature, “Social Mama’s.” And finally, learn what it means to be “All-In” with Tiffany Hall in our Local Spotlight - and much, much more inside this issue!

We truly hope you enjoy, and a BIG Thank You to each of you that have been so positive, enthusiastic, encouraging, and genuinely supportive on this journey!

And, of course, Happy Mother’s Day! “To Describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow” - Maya Angelou

Crystal

Crystal Swearingen, Co-Founder | Editorial Director

The Spot Mag

@the.spot.mag

women@thespot.mag

EMOTIONAL FORECAST

F

inally, warmer weather is here, and we can take off those heavy coats!

This can be taken literally, but metaphorically as well. Shed the layers of doubt and destructive behavior so you can really see all that is growing up around you!

The beginning of April will have remnants of the past months, but it will be quickly guided into swift forward movement. Joy is finally entering our hearts, and in impeccable timing. We’ve all been battling and feeling quite exhausted – but, there’s hope!

May has an abundance of exciting news!

There’s a huge aha moment followed with a plan!

Take notice, because this plan is the winner for you! Remove all obstacles that don’t fit in with your plan, and watch the

good times roll! Be sure to help a friend, if you notice they’re stuck in their own wintery patterns. This will help reveal some of the lessons you have been needing to learn for yourself, and it will strengthen your courage to venture into new territory.

Take the easy road. Life doesn’t always have to be a challenging lesson or karmic battle. We’ve finally arrived at our desired destination! Now, enjoy the scenery! It’s going to be Picture Worthy!

Love, The Southern Psychic

CRYSTAL’S REAL ESTATE TIPS

DEBUNKING MY THS TO HOME BUYING

Finally ready to make the transition into home ownership? Great! During this exciting time you may be turning to friends and family for insight into the process. However, there seems to be a circulation of misinformation, so we’re here to clear up a few myths.

1. THE FIRST STEP IS SEARCHING FOR A HOME You know the saying, “don’t put the cart before the horse,” well that is very important to remember when it comes to buying a home. You don’t want to start looking for a house until you have sat down with a lender and discussed what the bank will qualify you for. If you fall in love with a house that’s $250,000 and come to find out you’re only qualified for $200,000, you can get your hopes crushed and waste a lot of time. Don’t start the process on the wrong foot and make sure the numbers line up.

2. YOU DON’T NEED A REAL ESTATE AGENT When buying a home, 99% of the time the buyer’s agent gets paid by the sellers. That random 1% can be for odd circumstances. You’re getting to use the services of a real estate agent

for free. Having a real estate agent on your side means you’ll get to see homes that aren’t as readily available on public searches, you can avoid outdated listings and scammers (there are lots of them), and you have protection when it comes to navigating the legalities of contracts and buying a home. Why wouldn’t you want an awesome negotiator working to ensure you get the best from the transaction?

For FREE! 3. YOU CAN’T BUY A HOME WITH BAD CREDIT Fortunately for some, this is a myth. Lenders and banks come by the hundreds of thousands and although there are a few loan options, a lot of lenders can work with credit scores down to the low to mid 500’s. Get in touch with an agent to help you connect with the right lender who can help you potentially get approved.

There are a lot of factors that go into approvals, but your credit doesn’t have to be a sore thumb during the process. However, you will be doing yourself a favor if you connect with a credit repair specialist to at least get those

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numbers in the 600’s. A better score will lower you interest rate.

4. YOUR DOWN PAYMENT HAS TO BE 20% Think you have to sell an arm and a leg to buy a home? Not at all! An FHA loan only requires 3.5% while a conventional loan only requires 5%. There are a lot of programs that can potentially help you with down payment assistance or a 0% down mortgage. USDA and VA loans are the most popular 0% down programs. If you qualify, this can take a big chunk off the amount of cash you have to bring to the closing table.

5. DOWN PAYMENTS ARE THE ONLY UPFRONT COST This is one of the biggest misconceptions.

There is a lot of cost that goes into buying a home, and that includes upfront costs. Some of the mandatory ones are a termite inspection 6

and appraisal. If you are getting a mortgage, the home will have to be appraised and you will need to get a letter stating there are no termites in the home. Termite inspections can range between $25-$75 dollars. An appraisal can range from $300-$700 dollars. Aside from your down payment, you then have to pay for closing costs. And NO, they are not the same thing. Closing costs can range anywhere between 3-6% of the purchase price. In certain markets, this can be negotiated for sellers to cover by rolling into the offer price, but whether that decision is the right choice when it comes to landing your dream home will need to be discussed with your agent.

Now that you have some knowledge to get the process started, get in touch with Crystal Clear Realty and we can get you started on the right page.

Crystal Clear Realty

Just Listed $359,000

Just Sold 7

Under Contract

Crystal Clear Realty CrystalClearSells.com 704 1/2 Mass Street Lawrence, Ks 66044 785-550-3424

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CRYSTAL’S CHAMPIONS

Dr. Alexis M. Davis ‘HIP HOP-OLOGIST’

D

r. Alexis M. Davis is a clinical psychologist from Kansas City, MO. She obtained her Ph.D. from Jackson State University in 2018. With a combination of educational and clinical experience, Dr. Davis has branded herself as a ‘Hip Hop-ologist’, fusing Mental Health with hip-hop culture and traditional African healing practices.

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Psychologists (ABPsi) Student Circle at Jackson State University. Under her leadership, Jackson State ABPsi Student Circle hosted its first Student-Led Psychology Conference, “The Legacy of Black Psychology”. The three day conference hosted over 50 students, fac-

Dr. A’s focus gives her unique expertise in guiding clients with a culturally uplifting and affirming praxis, empowering them to create their own versions of healing. Her ability to connect hip-hop culture to mental wellness also promotes increased opportunities for engaging communities that have historically had limited access and awareness to mental health services and information.

Davis’ clinical experience, while diverse, has a poignant focus on the Black experience. Her research topics have focused on attitudes and perceptions of women in Mississippi on HIV transmission. As a Research Assistant, she compiled data and executed interviews with actual subjects, as well as data analysis. During her participation with this project, Dr. A was affirmed in the need for more specialized engagement strategies for African American women and the ways that dominant culture research practices often distort the voices and perceptions of African Americans in general.

Dr. A also was a founding member and inaugural president of the Association for Black

ulty, and staff from Grambling University, Xavier University, Southern University, and Jackson State University. Conference participants attended panels and workshops led by prominent professors and civil rights activists, such as former Black Panther Leader Frankye Adams Johnson. The conference included student poster sessions and presentations on a variety of research topics centered around the Black experience.

While on internship at the University of Texas-El Paso - the final year of her PhD. Program - Dr. A’s position as a ‘Psychologist for the Culture’ was cemented when she created and hosted the Love and Hip-Hop week: UTEP

Edition. This week focused on the Black student experience through the lens of hip-hop culture, Black Identity, and mental health. Featured events throughout the week embedded the five pillars of Hip-Hop including Graffiti, Break Dancing, Rap Music, Knowing Thyself, and Mixing or ‘Scratching.’ One of the panel events was highlighted by an interactive reality tunnel that took the audience through the beginning of hip-hop featuring graffiti, proponent hip hop forefathers, and the social issues and conditions that began the necessity for the Art form. The tunnel also linked Hip-Hop’s connection to the unique creation of Culture

by Black people and its origination through Afrikan ancestry. The tunnel extended into a panel discussion which further contextualized the~ pillars through a highly engaging and in. depth conversation with expert panelists in hip-hop music and psychology. Dr. A utilized visual images from music videos and art to facilitate reflection, discussion, and healing among a crowd of Black and Brown students, panelists, community members, faculty, staff, and elders.

Davis currently has provisional licensure as a Clinical Psychologist at University Counseling and Psychological Services where she is working in a predominantly white space, advocating for Black lives first. Within her six month tenure, Dr. A has delivered keynote addresses at Black centered leadership conferences, hosted a Hip-Hop to Heal Holiday Blues workshop, as well as recently held the first, “Know Thyself: Black Mental Health Retreat” for Black students at the PWI where she works. Dr. A recently began a Hip-Hop group for Black students and looks forward to expanding this group to a full research group to inform her developing theory.

Crystal’s Champions is dedicated to strong and inspirational women and organizations that are making a difference in the community. To nominate a Champion, email us at women@thespot.mag.

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Steps TO SLAY SUCCESS

BY ALEXIS M. DAVIS

O

n J. Cole’s “Middle Child” (2019), this rapper, scholar, and overall phenomenal human being declared, “This year gone be different, I set my intentions. I promise to slap all that hate out your voice.”

This has been my mantra ever since I’ve heard this song. Each year I’m sure a number of us make resolutions for the New Year, and around this time we typically have already given up on many of them. In light of this occurring, I want to share with you my six steps to Slay Success!

The first thing that stood out to me about the above lyric was that Cole declared, “This year gone be different!” That’s important, because in order to set our intentions, we must have a clear vision of the growth necessary to manifest these intentions. Often times, once we set our intentions, self-doubt begins to creep in and claim the joy we experience.

When this happens, we must “slap all that hate out” of our own voices. Self-checking can be necessary. I challenge you to observe your own thoughts, as well as how you’re communicating with and within yourself.

So, considering the above lyrical content, I now present Dr. A’s Six Steps To Slay Success:

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1. LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF, FOR YOURSELF,

BY YOURSELF! Loving yourself is a verb, and it requires action work. Action work is equivalent to engaging in self-care, self-compassion, and self-talk that will support the liberation of your highest good.

Self-care is one’s ability to take action to preserve and/or improve one’s own health. So, selfcare is how YOU take care of YOU. In order to be able to identify how to take care of yourself, it’s important to remember self-compassion - be kind to yourself! The process of progress is not one that occurs overnight, so affirm yourself and speak ‘All is well in the midst of….’ to get out of the ‘I should be doing this, I wish this was happening’ mentality. We can place our affirmations in the future and that does nothing but showcase to our minds how much we haven’t done and all that we have left to do. Practice being in the here and now and use that to engage in self-talk that serves you well.

By going through this process, you can achieve loving yourself FOR YOURSELF, but we must

engage in self-examinations and figure out the answers to ‘Who am I?’ Often-times, our definition of ourselves is determined and based off of others perceptions of us. In order for us to love ourselves for ourselves, we must have a foundation of who we are. The next part of this step is loving yourself for yourself BY YOURSELF. Learn to love fully alone, so that you can ‘share as a pair.’ Ancestor Eartha Kitt said this best when she explained, “Loving yourself should be so much in overflow (not cocky, but a healthy dose of self-love) that we can share that with someone we choose to.”

The issue that presents itself is that oftentimes we are at a self-love deficit and seek other individuals who are at a self-love deficit to engage in a relationship. That’s a relationship starting out of lack, neither person will be able to hold space for each other because they haven’t learned to fully hold space for self. You can’t produce ripe goods from rotten soil.

2. GIVE FROM THE SAUCER, NOT YOUR CUP! The issue that many of us face is that we attempt to give from our depleted cups when it would

be best for us to replenish ourselves and begin to give from the saucer (the overflow from your cup). When we give from our cup, it can lead to fatigue, over-commitment, falling behind on deadlines, etc. Sound familiar? Learning to engage in self-care - reading a book, taking a bath, taking a walk, meditation, exercise, girl’s night, twerk sessions, and the like - can help increase our ability to fill our cup and stay in the overflow to give from the saucer.

3. GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED HELP! If these first two steps appear to be too difficult for you to engage in, the third step may be speaking to you. Get help when you need help!

Don’t continue the cycle of ‘what happens in this house, stays in this house.’

There are many resources we can all access to find healers open to helping guide you towards healing. One option is to check out www.therapyforblackgirls.com, which has a BOMB stateby-state directory of Black clinicians who are Slaying the healing game. Another great option is to download The Safe Place app, available for both Android and IPhone, and dedicated to Black mental wellness. There are tons of resources available on this app that will help guide you through understanding your Black mental health. Nothing is wrong with getting help. Healing is for us, too, Black people!

4. TRUST YOUR PROCESS! The fourth step is to trust your process! Sometimes we get so caught up in navigating our process based on other people’s journeys that we don’t know the internal processes it took for the person to get to that point. We may not be willing to sacrifice in the same areas as the very people we’re comparing our own process to. Be reminded that your process will be unique. It doesn’t have to look like the life process of anyone else.

5. HUSTLE HARD! The fifth step is to HUSTLE HARD. In an effort to reach your goals, you must learn to live in alignment with your values, and engage in the action necessary to Slay. When I decided to become a Clinical Psychologist, I knew that it would take hard work (five years of a Doctoral Program, licensure, and a lifetime commitment to growing and learning), and I committed to engaging in the action necessary to Slay this process. We have to be in the mindset of ‘No Grind, No Shine!’ Nothing will come to us if we’re not manifesting it through our words and actions.

Begin to speak your wants over your life and act in a way that’s in alignment with these wants and watch the universe yield to your desires!

6. SANKOFA THAT ISH! The sixth and final step is to Sankofa that ish!

San (return) ko (go) fa (look, seek and take) is an African word from the Akan people, which basically translates to, “As we move forward towards our destiny, we must remember the lessons of the past and continue to learn from them!” Furthermore, it’s important to pour back into what gave to you through the proverbial ‘I am because we are and since we are, therefore I am!’ This is a South African phrase called Ubuntu.

It is important that we take care of ‘the I in effort’ to appreciate and pour into the we. Collectivism is our heritage as Black people, and it’s essential to remember this. Please continually ask yourselves, “How are we pouring into our cups in effort to give from our saucers?”

I hope that these steps and this article have helped. If you have any questions, comments, and/or concerns, please feel free to contact me by visiting www.bblvkjewel.com. Check the site out, listen to the podcasts, write a blog as a part of our collective, and shop through our dope current collection. And, Thank You for making time to read this, as I believe in doing so, it serves as one more positive exercise in your own self-care!

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celebrating 14

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mothers

FASHION

Branded WHAT IS BRANDED CULTURE AND WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?

BY BRIT TANY SWEARINGEN

A

s many with an Instagram account already know, brand culture is the revived affinity for designers to place their symbol, title, or other recognizable stamp right on the face of their products, for all to regard with excellence and respect of the garment.

For most of us who do not have the capacity to acquire such items, we totally get that if you’re going to drop a Grand-plus on the next Gucci, you’d like others to know about it. But, there are many who view this tactic as crass or showy. To “flex” signifies new, and therefore less established, money.

“Now [currently] it’s all about designers. It’s not about what you create. It’s about what you can acquire,” said notable drag queen

Dorian Corey in the 1990 film, Paris is Burning. Corey is describing the change in tide from what “balls” once were to what they’ve become - specifically, a mainstreamed appreciation for decided value.

The remark made in Paris is Burning prompted a discovery about what it truly means to “flex” a brand. A nod to classist values, undoubtedly. But, is there more to it than that?

For the first time in history, there are more Black Americans with access to higher education, a variety of careers, and yes, high fashion. So, for Dre Johnson of Blackish to represent a new, graphic, Kenzo sweater every week on ABC means much more than an element of taste. He represents all that

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we as a People have overcome in numerous capacities to the point that, while Johnson loves Kenzo, there is much more context involved.

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He represents the strides of AndrĂŠ Leon Talley, Grace Jones, and Naomi Cambell, in the painstaking tooth-and-nail War of Territory in an unwelcoming industry. Johnson represents a Black man who unabashedly loves fashion and, through hard work and his lovable, yet often loathsome character, is a true inspiration for all of us with similar, material values hoping to one day be in his position. The representation that this character and many other real-life players are bringing to fashion, presents a luminous window filled with possibility to those who most often have a door slammed in their faces.

And, after all, what is fashion if not the realization of dreams?

Brittany Swearingen is a freshman at KU studying strategic communication in the Journalism School. She is pursuing a career in fashion, while working as a Team Leader at Urban Outfitters.

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MINDFULNESS

P OSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IS

REAL.

BY ANTHONY GONZALEZ, LCSW

I

t feels somewhat out of place for me to write this article. I am not a mother. I do not have children. I cannot tell you from my own experiences the depths of joy and pain that parenting brings.

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And, over the years in my practice, I have witnessed many of my clients, colleagues, friends and family members confront, and survive, the very real battle of postpartum depression (PPD). It is too often unexpected and dismissed as the normal and common “baby blues.” It is not.

Postpartum depression is a mental health issue that 1 in 5 women will experience.

Unfortunately, we do not fully understand what leads to the onset of postpartum depression. However, we do understand some predictors of which we can be conscious.

The “baby blues” is a period of adjustment that nearly 80% of women and families will experience during the initial weeks of welcoming their beautiful child into this world.

The primary differences between this experience and postpartum depression are that the symptoms of postpartum depression remain prolonged - and far more intense -

than the very normal emotional fluctuations that occur in the early weeks, months, and even years of your child’s life. It can occur in the immediate days, and it can also have a delayed manifestation well into the first year. If the “blues” sustain for longer than two weeks, postpartum depression may very well be setting in.

Just as with other forms of Depression, Postpartum Depression is a merging of chemical, hormonal, emotional, and relational changes. Immediately following birth, a mother experiences significant changes in estrogen, progesterone, and other hormone levels. This rapid reversion to pre-pregnancy levels can create the physiological vulnerability to depression. Intense feelings of sadness, profound anxiety or worry, overwhelming physical exhaustion, and a diminished sense of self-worth or the ability to be a loving parent are some of the common symptoms mothers will experience with PPD. Other symptoms frequently dismissed include anger and irritability for unidentifiable or unjustified reasons, loss of appetite, and anhedonia (loss of interest in activities). More severe symptoms are thoughts of death or suicide.

Please know you are not alone in these feelings and thoughts. It is incredibly important to recognize and accept that PPD does not make you a weak or unfit mother. It is a mental health issue that needs understanding, validation, support, and treatment. When sleep is so scarce, and there are so many other demands on the body - particularly if you are breastfeeding – it’s understandable that both insomnia and fatigue will leave a new mother vulnerable to depression, particularly if they have a personal or family history of mood disorders.

Valid worries about a fully dependent child’s health, especially when there may have been unexpected stressors through or after the pregnancy, can overpower the mind and body’s normal emotional recovery processes. Difficulty accepting and adjusting to real body and body image changes can also have an understandable impact on a mother’s mood. And, when you add in the layer of a professional woman’s pressure of returning to work and needing to find that ‘new normal’ and balance in their lives, it makes complete sense that so many fall prey to this subtle illness.

Other contributing factors can include the supportive and patient nature of a partner. When a partner’s care and consideration is not present, potential for onset increases. Also, the health of the baby and the mother, complicated pregnancies or births, difficulties bonding with the child, and poor social support or isolation can all contribute to the risk of PPD. I am happy to say that there is a great deal of hope for those who find themselves in the depths of PPD. It takes courage to recognize, admit, and ask for help, and it’s a very treatable condition.

There are anti-depressant medications

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that have shown effectiveness, without putting your child’s health at risk. Also, for the very first time, there are new medications coming to market in the coming year that are specifically designed to treat PPD. I encourage an open talk with your doctor if you feel there may be a need for you.

From a therapeutic point of view, one of the most important steps anyone can take is to allow themselves to openly discuss what they are going through. Depression is often a condition of isolation and darkness. When one goes through it alone, and keeps these experiences hidden from light, negative feelings can fester and worsen.

Myths, fears, and insidious thoughts can take on a life of their own, at times prolonged by the shame and guilt that result when the symptoms are not normalized.

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on mood and the ability to regulate emotion effectively.

It can also be validating to acknowledge the relief that comes from going back to work and enjoying the other parts of the self. Give yourself permission to step away at times to rejuvenate, refuel, and re-center. There is comfort and strength in giving yourself the time to explore and cherish the bond you are creating with your new child. And, be sure and seek help if you feel you need it. Remember, you deserve it.

The only cure I have ever known for fear and doubt and loneliness is an immense love of self.

- Alison Malee

Talk. Talk to other mothers. Talk to a support group.

Talk to your doctor. Talk to your baby. Talk to your partner. Talk to yourself through a journal. Talk to a therapist. Be honest about what is happening. That is the spark for change and relief.

Throughout our history, I would imagine that communities and villages supporting a mother helped this.

Reach out to your village, whomever that might be.

You do not need to keep the cape of “Supermom” on at all times. Vulnerability is the mark of a healthy human being. We all need words and actions of encouragement.

And finally, take time to yourself. A mother is by nature quite giving. After all, you just gave life to another human being! The practice of self-care can seem fleeting, and it’s desperately important to the recovery from PPD. Self-care requires time, but this can be a necessary time of quiet calm and recuperation. It could also be time spent to feel a sense of normalcy with friends, while not focusing on mothering.

Ask for help and work to develop trust that others can lend vital support. Allow yourself to carve out time to sleep, as one cannot overestimate the impact of sleep

Anthony is the Clinical Director at The Delray Center in Delray Beach, FL, which is one of the most clinically and medically advanced mental health treatment centers in the United States.

Anthony is a proud alumnus of the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Anthony has advanced therapeutic training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy.

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Shanquita Greggs, Founder of Simply Scents.

NATIONAL NEWS

Social Mama:

THE MAMA MATCH - WHERE LINKEDIN MEETS TINDER EMP OWERING MOTHERS THROUGH MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS

BY ANIK A JACKSON

H

aving a child can sometimes be isolating without the right resources. Even if one joins a Mom’s group on MeetUp or finds other Moms through church, school, and other well-meaning activities, the match may not be one that fits specific interests or needs.

Imagine an app where you can match with other Moms right on your phone - one that takes away the stigma you may feel when trying to find another Mom who understands your struggles and your same stage of ‘Mommy-hood’ in order to partake in similar activities to YOU. Think Mom Friends that aren’t just based on your child’s age, but instead matched and based upon your own precise needs.

SocialMama is the new game in

town - created exactly to make these matches happen!

Founder Amanda Ducach was inspired by her friend, Alicia, who was struggling to make connections with other Moms who could relate to the unique needs of having a child with a new medical diagnosis. Launching in Spring 2019, SocialMama was created to give Moms like Alicia a space to network with like-minded females that strive to have a deeper connection around a similar, unique need - be it autism, divorce, a new baby, or the like.

A recent SocialMama user that wished to remain anonymous stated, “I’ve been waiting since my kiddo was born to have an app like this!

No matter what your life as a Mom looks like, one thing is almost universally true: It’s hard to make new

NATIONAL NEWS

eration when compatibility matching: location + lifestyle preferences (healthy, extrovert, etc.) + unique needs (i.e. autism, divorce, military).

Users are also linked with personalized resources and recommendations within the online community.

Ducach exclaims, “Through mentorship and friendship, a Mama has the power to change the world! We simply facilitate the meeting. SocialMama is in Beta phase (in iOS and Android) and took 2.5 years to get this far. Through countless hours of sweat, tears, and interviews with women, SocialMama has created the perfect recipe for MamaMatching, and we’re so excited to launch this new functionality soon!”

friends. Can’t wait for this network to keep growing!”

SocialMama empowers women through connections. The community strives to be a safe space for women to connect and support their fellow Mamas. Functioning similar to a dating app (except for friendship), matches are recommended based on the user’s specific profile information. The user is then able to review their matches and start chatting with other Mamas that they like. Mamas also discuss important topics in the Newsfeed, meet like-minded Mamas in Matches, and explore Events nearby on the Live Map.

Mothers often feel isolated and confused during the changing stages of motherhood. By connecting with a similar Mom, a Mother can often alleviate this loneliness in a fun way. The app strives to connect like-minded Mothers for friendship and mentorship. The app also matches like-minded Mamas nearby (think friendship “dating”:). Three main factors are taken into consid- Creative Director Karishma Patel

“Through mentorship and friendship, a Mama has the power to change the world! states, “We are also proud of So- place - or at the very least, give a cialMama’s zero-tolerance policy on Mama a new friend to have a glass Mom shaming. Motherhood is hard of wine with! enough without that, and we want Moms to feel safe in our space.”

Download SocialMama on the AppStore for FREE, starting Spring 2019 (Android coming soon). It’s as simple as creating a profile and viewing all of the like-minded women and resources in your area. Every post, match, and mentor could change a mama’s day - or life!

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Mamas rule the world, and SocialMama understands this. SocialMama will make the world a better

Anika Jackson is a mother, community volunteer, philanthropist, and brand strategist. As Founder/CEO of Social Graces Social Club, Jackson fosters friendships, business opportunities, and community activism for her members through events and via the Social Graces Social Clubhouse in downtown Houston, while maintaining a thriving PR, marketing, and event company.

In her role as VP of Strategic Partnerships for Real Beauty Real Women, Anika creates collaborative opportunities for brands and non-profits, and she co-hosts Real Beauty Real Women Entertainment

- a popular Monday night Facebook show that highlights socially conscious men and women.

Among her philanthropy endeavors, Ms. Jackson serves as an advisory council/ founding family for the Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy. She’s also Chairman of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, and she is a founding steering committee member of the national Planned Parenthood Affiliate Board Leader Council, as well as a founder of Houston Children Give Back and Learn Grow Lead.

Crystal's Spot Cafe & Lounge Ladies Night with Tarot Card Readings Thursdays, 5:307:00pm.

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“Life can be a beautiful, crazy mess sometimes. Believe me, I know. That’s why I am dedicated to making your home buying experience as easy as possible...

So you can get back to real life.”

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32

FEATURE

TIFFANY HALL

All in at

50

B

eauty, grace, humility, and kindness are a few words that come to mind when I think of Tiffany Hall, our featured woman of May. When Tiffany Hall enters a room, she catches your attention with a radiating confidence. With some people you meet in life, you know immediately that you’re going to gain from the interaction with them. When I first met Ms. Hall, I had that feeling, and I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to get to know her better.

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Tiffany and her daughters Paige and Brooke, and son-in-law Conner.

As the new Community Engagement & Events Manager at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Hall brings a new energy, a sense of community, and her love of Lawrence to this role. “Lawrence is a great town for a single person. You can really navigate, and there are always things to do,” said Tiffany when reflecting on her time here.

After living in Topeka for several years and raising her children Paige and Brooke, whom she describes with heartfelt pride and admiration, she made the decision to return to her alma mater in Lawrence as soon as they graduated. She jokes that she

had her bags packed and boxes loaded at the time of their graduation. Always smiling and welcoming everyone she meets, her charismatic personality can be perceived in only extremes. When it comes to Hall women, Tiffany emphasizes, “You either dig us or we’re a lot.”

Awakening in her mid-40s, Tiffany realized that life is too short to not go All-In with everything she decided to do. She re-focused on herself, made the decision not to waiver, and committed to her life with renewed vigor! And, whether that be with her new role at the Lawrence Chamber, her

volunteer work, her friendships or her faith, she surely seems ALL-IN! Gaining confidence through life’s trials and tribulations - divorced twice, single parent after her first husband’s passing and a not-sofriendly second parting of the ways - she believes that life and challenges occur so you can “learn from them and become equipped with the tools you need to face the next obstacle.”

iniscing on her semi-centennial, as well as her excitement about Lawrence, she exclaims, “I have an Amazing life! It’s a life that I’ve built with the support of family and friends, and the environment here has really allowed me to thrive!”

She credits her ability in overcoming personal adversity to allowing herself to feel what she feels - experiencing the emotions, joy, and grief, and then getting over it in the way that works for her. Ms. Hall describes her Faith as an important element of her strength, as well.

An avid traveler, Tiffany has journeyed around the world once and has no intentions of slowing down. She proudly boasts of having been to every continent except for Antarctica. She loves the adventure - from Cuba to Matchu Pichu and the Galápagos Islands – as she explains, “Every time you travel, you open the door to new opportunities!”

Hall wants her daughters and other young women to “know who you are and don’t be defined by other people’s expectations” Her final words of wisdom to our audience is “ Trust your gut, she may be a bitch sometimes-but she knows what’s up.”

Tiffany Hall celebrated her 50th birthday just a few short weeks ago, and while fittingly rem-

Salute, Tiffany Hall! You’re an Inspiration to us all!

Tiffany and Chamber President, Bonnie Lowe.

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LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT PHOTOS BY BRIAN BYERS

CARSWELL AND HOPE - LIBERTY HALL

SALLY AND THE HURTS - HOUSE CONCERT

SISSY AND EARL - LUCIA

STANTON KESSLER AND HARRY MILLER CRYSTAL’S SPOT

JAMIE BENVENUTTI S & S ARTISAN PUB AND COFFEEHOUSE KAW TIKIS - LUCIA

CAIN ROBBERSON - HENRYS UPSTAIRS

UNFIT WIVES - FRANK’S NORTH STAR TAVERN

GAELYNN LEA - REPLAY LOUNGE

spots HOT

3504 Westridge Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049 785-842-8431 Fax 785-843-8587

spots HOT

785.856.2005 1009 NEW HAMPSHIRE SUITE C L AW R E N C E , K S 6 6 0 4 4

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Kate White | 785-228-8012 kate.white@envistacu.com | NMLS 979302 Michelle Fales | 785-331-7589 michelle.fales@envistacu.com |NMLS 780009