N.A.I. MAGAZINE
t ' n o d e v i g p u OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2020 | Issue No. 4
Declarations of Faith According to Psalm 91 Greetings! We are still in the midst of a pandemic. How are you holding up? I know for some it has been a challenge having to stay at home and even having to wear masks and gloves when having to go out. How we go through tough times is based on our perspective. With that being said, let me give you the perspective that although things are not the way we would want them to be at the moment, we are still around to experience the moment. Let's stay encouraged and connected as we go through these turbulent times. PSALM 91: I DECLARE I will dwell in the shelter of the Most High God. I DECLARE I will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I DECLARE that God is my Refuge and my Fortress. I DECLARE that you are my God (Hallelujah) in whom I trust and with great confidence and whom I will rely. I DECLARE that God will rescue me from every trap and protect me from every disease. I DECLARE I am covered and protected by His outstretched arms. I DECLARE that God's faithful promises are my armor and my protection. I DECLARE I will not be afraid of the terrors of the night nor of the arrows that fly in the day. I DECLARE I will not dread any disease that stalks in the darkness nor any disaster that strikes at midday. I DECLARE that because God is my Refuge and the Almighty the God of my home no evil can befall me and no plague can come near my dwelling. I DECLARE that God has ordered His angels to guard, defend and protect me and my house. I DECLARE that God's armies of Heaven will keep me from falling. I will walk unharmed and kick anything that's evil from my path. I DECLARE that because of God's love for me, I'll call on Him. He'll set me above all my troubles. He will deliver me from all my fears and He will honor me with His presence and power. I DECLARE He will reward me with long life and He will show me His Salvation. **The above declarations are an excerpt of the message, 'Confessions and Bringing Order to Your Life', from Dr. Creflo Dollar, Jr., Founder and Senior Pastor of World Changers Church International (WCCI) in College Park, Georgia** N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 3
Prevent the spread of COVID-19 in
7 STEPS 01
Wash your hands frequently
02
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
03
Cover your cough using the bend of your elbow or a tissue
04
Avoid crowded places and close contact with anyone that has fever or cough
05
Stay at home if you feel unwell
06
If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early — but call first
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Get information from trusted sources
SOURCE: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
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TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS & OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS
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Celebrating A Successful First Year
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About the Visionary
Danielle N. Pope
EDITOR/CREATIVE OFFICER Danielle N. Pope
Contributing Writers: Brennae L. Brooks, Esq. Florence Foster Terri B. Danielle N. Pope is an Administrative Consultant, business owner, author and publisher of the quarterly magazine N.A.I. (New & Inspiring). She believes in promoting small businesses who do not get the attention and publicity they deserve. Businesses that offer great service, great products and give back to the community. With the publication of N.A.I. Magazine, Danielle hopes to bring to the forefront the hidden treasures of the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. Danielle is originally from West Philadelphia and for the past 20yrs. has made Prince George's County her home.
N.A.I. (New & Inspiring) Magazine is published four times per year. Reproduction, whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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october - december 2020
N.A.I. Magazine
TABLE OF
TALK OF TOWN Community News Page 11
Ask The Experts Brennae Brooks, Esq.
Grateful Heart Page 16
Veterans Disability Benefits Born To Serve, LLC
Page 12
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 8
october - december 2020
N.A.I. Magazine
CONTENTS Culturally Speaking by Terri B. TrailBlazer Florence Foster
Culturally Speaking Advertise in N.A.I. Page 22
Inspirational Dimensions
Page 19
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 9
NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT
DC DREAM CENTER
The DC Dream Center is a community center located in the neighborhood of Randle Highlands in Southeast D.C. They provide free programs for children and adults, including After School, mentoring, fitness and yoga classes, and financial literacy classes. Since March 16, 2020, the DC Dream Center paused all programs and repurposed to serve hot meals and provide both hygiene items and nonperishable food items. They have now given out over 50,000 meals, over 100,000 resource items and reached over 15,000 families through their fresh produce giveaways.
DC DREAM CENTER 2826 Q STREET SE WASHINGTON, DC 20020 202-575-3337
DONATE N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 10
TALK OF TOWN COMMUNITY NEWS
November 2020 Events
December 2020 Events
November 6-15, 2020
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST
2408 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
This event is FREE for all Veterans & Spouses.
November 6 – 14, 2020 Because their stories are OUR stories
November 8-28, 2020 Virtual Tour: French Impressionism Art Tour National Gallery of Art Washington DC 11:00 AM -1:00 PM EST
Monday, December 7, 2020 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
May 5, 2020 - December 29, 2020 Recurring weekly on Tuesday Location: The Harbour Grille 13188 Marina Way, Woodbridge, VA 22191 Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 11
Veterans Benefits Strategist
q. s E , s k oo r B e a n Bren BORN TO SERVE, LLC
ASK THE EXPERT Meet the newest member of N.A.I. Contributors, Brennae Brooks, Esq. Ms. Brooks looked over a past issue of N.A.I. Magazine, liked it, but said that it was missing a military piece. With that being said, a new collaboration effort was born. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brennae Brooks is an Air Force Veteran, honorable discharged, after serving 8 years of active duty service in the U.S. Air Force, to include three deployments to the Middle East. Ms. Brooks attended The Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University, and graduated with her law degree in 2014. Shortly thereafter, she began her career as an attorney and conducts extensive research in order to write high quality appellate decisions. Ms. Brooks is contributing to N.A.I. Magazine in her personal capacity and her goal is to educate Veterans on information that is available to the public. The views expressed are her own and do not represent the views of N.A.I. Magazine.
ASK THE EXPERT
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ASK THE EXPERT While on a solo deployment in Afghanistan, Ms. Brooks was given a below standard performance rating which did not sit well with her. She later met a military paralegal that helped her rebut the substandard rating using the Air Force Regulations that she wasn’t familiar with, and it led to a more favorable outcome. However, she was not satisfied and wanted some redress as she felt she was being underestimated. She decided that to keep this from happening again she would be more equip to handle herself. Therefore, she knew she needed to know the law in order to fight, which is why she decided to go to law school by the end of her deployment. She separated from service, went back to Afghanistan as a civilian employee, studied for law school, took the law school admissions exam, and was accepted into law school all while in Afghanistan. I don't know about you, but that is pretty impressive. The #METOO movement prompted Ms. Brooks to connect and find other women veterans. She recently joined a women veteran organization, Women Veterans Interactive, and a military sorority, Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority Incorporated. Ms. Brooks goal is to educate Women Veterans on information available to the public regarding gynecological disabilities that may be related to their military service. At the time of the #BlackLivesMatter social media coverage of the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of an African-American teenager Trayvon Martin 17 months earlier, in February 2012, Ms. Brooks was headed in the direction of becoming a prosecutor. However, the Trayvon Martin case changed her life and she decided to pursue another area of law. According to Ms. Brooks, Veterans are shielded from the civilian world and the case made her see that she would rather spend her career helping others instead of locking up those in underserved communities.
About Born To Serve LLC? During her years of practice, Ms. Brooks noticed that many Veterans did not have a clear understanding of VA Disability Benefits. Moreover, as a Woman Veteran, she also realized that there are several gynecological disabilities that may be related to military service. Therefore, she started Born to Serve, LLC in order to educate Veterans in the area of Veterans Disability Benefits. Ms. Brooks has been on several panels and her topics mainly focused on “What is a Service Connection?” and “The Most Common Disabilities Among Women Veterans.”
ASK THE EXPERT
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ASK THE EXPERT According to VA’s 2019 Annual Benefits Report, there are over 519,000 Women Veterans receiving compensation from VA for a service-connected disability:* 24,380 Women Veterans had the complete removal of their uterus. 17,938 Women Veterans had the complete removal of their ovaries and uterus. 15,417 Women Veterans suffer from a disease or injury of the ovary. The total of most the prevalent gynecological disabilities are over 57,775. The total of ALL gynecological disabilities are over 141,707. This means that nearly 30% of Women Veterans who have a serviceconnected disability suffer from a gynecological disability. *Annual Benefits Report for Fiscal Year 2019, available at www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr.
linkedin.com/in/brennaebrooks @VetsBenefitsLaw
facebook.com/VetBenStrategist instagram.com/borntoservellc
Born2Serve.Vet@gmail.com
ASK THE EXPERT
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~AUDREY HEPBURN~ Belgian Actress
“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. from Brainy Quote N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 15
"Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~Melody Beattie* *Quote from INC. Newsletter N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 16
I am grateful for: The sun that gives daylight while on this journey called life. The darkness that signals, "it's time to sleep and rest." The wind that causes the leaves to dance on an autumn day. The flowers that offer their beauty and splendor to the world. The trees that bear fruit in "due season" for all to enjoy.
I am grateful for having the use of: My eyes, to see the deer that graze in my backyard, the rabbits that hop along "oh so carefree," and the squirrels that run playfully to and from. My ears to hear the birds that "tweet tweet" sweet melodies. My arms to hug and embrace. My hands to gather and then release the blessings.
I am grateful for family and friends that: Stand with me through "the thick and the thin." Provide a shoulder to cry on. Pray for me in times of adversity. Support me in my vision and dreams. Love me unconditionally.
For all these things and so much more, I am really grateful for.
~Poem by LaVerne M. Byrd Gratitude has many meanings. It is the quality of being thankful. It is the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Gratitude is a word with many meanings for life. It could include a family member or a life experience. My granddaughter is the greatest joy to me. Being thankful to see a mini-me is an awesome experience. She brings so much light into a room. Although, she is an only child, willing to share is first nature to her. Gratitude may mean watching the sunset or the moon at night. The word “gratitude” may be used to express life, “waking every morning for a new day.” It can be used to describe life in general. Yet, gratitude could be used to thank “Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins.” ~ Clayretha
2 years ago I stepped out of prison after 25 years inside and there are days when it's still hard to believe...but I'm out here, working hard, bowing my head in prayer, striving daily to be and do better and though it's not been easy, I press onward, humbled by much and grateful for much more. And lastly, but so important…Thank you to anyone who wrote, who accepted a call, who visited, that prayed for me and since I've been home, I thank everyone who has helped me in any way, showed me love in any way. My gratitude is genuine AND most importantly, I thank Allah (God) for so much. May He strengthen us, protect us, guide us, and show us mercy. ~ Khalid
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FLORENCE FOSTER Prophetic Artist and Photographer WWW.GEMSARTGALLERY.COM GEMSARTGALLERY18@GMAIL.COM / (301) 266-2802
INTERVIEW
Inspirational Dimensions What motivated you to start Inspirational Dimensions? The inception of “Inspirational Dimensions” was borne out of a desire, as an artist, to contribute financially to my household as a stay-at-home mom. I asked God for a business that would glorify Him. Not only did He give me a business, He also gave me a mission (ministry). The business is to distribute the art worldwide to be a blessing to all. That’s how “Gems Art Gallery” got started. The mission is to manifest His glory by sharing His love and making the Gospel simple to understand through the art.
Describe yourself in 3 words and tell how these words have been instrumental in the success of your business. Three words I would use to describe myself are confident, honest, and faithful. These qualities have been instrumental in the success of my business. First, I am confident in who I am in Jesus Christ and know that I can do what God has called me to do in my business. Second, I dealt honestly and with integrity with those I’ve encountered along the journey even though some didn’t deal honestly with me. Third, I am faithful and will not quit because I believe I was and will continue to be strengthened by Jesus the same way He was strengthened by His Father to finish His assignment.
Who is your greatest entrepreneurial example and inspiration? Why? Jesus is my greatest entrepreneurial example and inspiration because He knows who He is and His purpose/mission. While on earth, He didn’t allow anyone or anything to deter Him from completing His purpose/mission. Satan tried to distract Jesus by offering Him a different purpose/mission; friends tried to
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discourage Him by saying do it another way or it’s going to cost you too much; those who did not perceive who He was and who had sent Him basically said we’ve been here a long time. You just came on the scene. Who do you think you are? Jesus understood the principles of increase, expanse and legacy when it comes to entrepreneurialism. He knew that it was vital to plant the seed (Himself) into the ground to complete His purpose/mission which was to yield much fruit from His Seed and leave a legacy to the world only like He could.
What advice would you like to give up & coming entrepreneurs? My advice to up and coming entrepreneurs is to find what you are passionate about and pursue it. God has already placed a gift in you to support that passion. Once you consistently develop your gift, it will get better and better. In time, your gift will produce enough to take care of you and will also bless others. I once heard Les Brown say, “If you don’t know what your passion or gift is, think of the one thing that you would get up every day and do even if you didn’t get paid for it. That’s probably what your passion or gift is.” Never let people or circumstances deter you from fulfilling your dream. Last, this is a must: enjoy the journey!
Artist Biography: Florence Foster is an artist and a photographer who has a special gift that enables her to produce “The Word of God” in pictures (prophetic art). Often as Florence works, she begins with one line. Not knowing what will emerge, God unfolds the pictures and the messages about them to her. Appropriately so, there’s always been a scripture to support her art. Not only is the art a visual expression of God’s Word, but captured in some are events of the past, present, and future. As a photographer, Florence loves to capture nature and searches for that unusual moment to freeze in time. Her photography is really an extension of her artwork which always has a story to tell. She uses a variety of media such as, color pencils, paints, collage, etching and clothespins. Over the years, some of the places Florence has shared her art are at home shows, galleries, churches, hospitals, and shelters. She was selected by the Prince Georges Arts and Humanities Council to participate in their first “Art Walk” at The National Harbor and also participated in various shows with the Charles County Arts Alliance. Her work was also accepted by Southern Maryland Hospital to hang on their psychiatric ward.
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A common activity during the great shut- in of 2020 is decluttering or downsizing. With a lot of time on our hands, clearing-out closets and cupboards has taken over our lives to the degree that it is almost an obsession. We evaluate “must-haves,” “will get to later projects,” carefully consider donations to charities and contemplate memories spawned by old photographs with an unsettling kind of tenderness. Out loud, we often ask: Do I really need this stuff? Could I have done a better job of saving and investing my resources instead of acquiring too many possessions? Moreover, there are countless projects, tied to objects, which are associated with plans we will never get to or complete. Alas, it is sobering, but most of us will have to hire experts to help us accomplish our goals of pruning and de-cluttering because the processes are too emotional and too deeply entwined into the nature of who we are as individuals. Nevertheless, we still have to clear out as much of our accumulations as possible-- especially while we have the time and the desire to do so. Well, enough of making you feel more unpleasant about something that already makes you feel regretful. Thus, I will turn to the cultural arena and hopefully shed a positive light on how, over time, artists have grabbled with the same concerns and yet produced some of the most thought-provoking works of art in our cultural history and traditions.
Culturally Speaking
By Terri B.
Culturally Speaking...
The Art of Decluttering or What’s Art Got to Do With It? – Part I
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Let’s transition to the early part of the 20th Century when many artists in Europe were troubled about --- self-indulgent lifestyles and elaborate ornamentations--- too much stuff, excessive spending and/or buying gone amok among the rich and would be rich in society. It was this freshly minted middleclass society with its conspicuous spending habits that favored totalitarian inspired institutions which occasionally produced maniacal political leaders. These leaders and their followers ran the pure and simple values of everyday life off center----thereby engendering widespread spiritual and moral bankruptcy. Who would deliver the populous from this quagmire of despair? Unfortunately, religious institutions were often mistrusted as they were an assumed arm of the political forces that brought about the obliteration of freedom for far too many. The notion of art redeeming a spiritually insolvent society from itself seemed like lunacy when first considered. Conversely, the pragmatic supporters of such a concept were fully committed to their truths. They believed that by reducing raw emotionalism and substituting it with specific designs---in art and in life--- would alleviate the humdrum of daily existence and elevate intellect over emotion, thereby making people better. At least they had a plan. To focus more on this transformative art, we will look at the two men who best represent the era in which this ingenious thinking came about. First, there was the deeply spiritual (a Calvin and a theosophist) Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). He was associated with a company of artists and architects known as the DeStijl (the Dutch word for Style). The DeStijl artists advocated an art of pure abstraction with geometric shapes and forms. Typical works were made by using only a white background overlaid by a grid pattern which consisted of vertical and horizontal lines. Colors Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) were limited to the three primary colors of red, blue and yellow. Painting was favored over threedimensional designs as it was most easily produced but designers and architects were a part of the movement which lasted from 1917 to 1931--- when the co-founder of the group with Mondrian, Theo Van de Doesburg died.
Piet Mondriaan 1930-Mondrian Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow
Culturally Speaking
After the group disbanded, Mondrian moved to New York where he was highly esteemed and influential. He remained there until his death. (See images on the left) Continued on page 25 N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 23
THE
READING
ROOM
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Continued from page 23
Keep in mind, there were no major sponsors to support these idealists. For example, architecture was far too expensive to produce any structures, yet there was the occasional faรงade of a building painted with the DeStijl design--- of primary colors and geometric shapes. Fortunately for us, a few household articles remain from that period---indicating that the objects were not mass produced and or in wide appeal. However, still standing, as a testimony to this visionary era in art is a single house in the academic and cultural city of Utrecht, Netherlands. It was fabricated in 1924 by the architect Gerrit Rietveld for the Schrรถder-Schrader family. (See images below):
Utrecht: Rietveld-Schrรถderhuis Utrecht-Netherlands: House designed by Gerrit Rietveld.
Utrecht: RietveldSchrรถderhuis interior
With the DeStijl artists disbanding, as a group, another comparable alliance of artists existed almost simultaneously. This association is perhaps best represented by the German born painter, printmaker, theorist and poet Josep Albers (1888-1976). Albers studied at the Bauhaus--- the influential and controversial art school which spawned experimental practices of art production by supporting the practice of pure design. After two stellar years as a student, he joined the faculty in 1922. (See images)
Josep Albers (1888-1976)
VIDEO (click photo on left):The architecture of the Bauhaus is represented here in Washington, DC. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library by Mies Van der Rohe
Culturally Speaking
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The pioneering school also admitted female students, who competed and interacted freely with the male students, a rarity for the period. A number of courses also promoted experiments with non-Western philosophies and tolerated some of the most liberal life style practices. Such behaviors, were often considered immoral by the mainstream culture and deeply offended Hitler who declared the institution degenerate and closed the school when he came to power in 1933. Straightaway, Albers immigrated to the United States and found employment as head of a painting program at an experimental art school, Black Mountain College in North Carolina. When the school closed in 1949, Albers took employment as the head of the Design Department at Yale University. There his influence was legendary as his teaching techniques inspired and impacted the works of many of America’s then future and major artists, either directly or indirectly through his disciples and for many years to come.
While the general population may not know the important contributions of this distinguished artist, some may recall his signature work: a stamp based on his experimental paintings. Homage to a Square occupied Alber’s labors for many years. Beginning in 1949, with a limited palette of oil color paints, he studied color theory. He did this by creating interactions of interlocking squares with the same color but with different tones. In 1980, a US stamp based on one of Albers’s paintings, Homage to a Square Glow was issued. (See image below)
To be continued………………………
January - March 2021 Issue of N.A.I. Magazine: The Art of Decluttering or What’s Art Got to Do With It? – Part II
Culturally Speaking
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