GLOBAL PANDEMIC
N.A.I. MAGAZINE JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020 | ISSUE NO. 3
GLOBAL UNREST
Declaration of Independence ..."We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."...
The New Colossus "Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" ~Emma Lazarus, November 2, 1883 N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 2
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
07
Get information from trusted sources
SOURCE: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
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Celebrating A Successful First Year
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About the Visionary
Danielle N. Pope
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.
STAY CONNECTED https://www.facebook.com/naimagazine/ https://twitter.com/n_inspiring
EDITOR/CREATIVE OFFICER Danielle N. Pope
Contributing Writers: James and Cynthia Greene Shawn Rouse Shezell Alexander Terri B. N.A.I. (New & Inspiring) Magazine is published four times per year. Reproduction, whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
The opinions expressed by writers for articles published by N.A.I. are not necessarily those of the magazine. For information in advertising in N.A.I., please click here to access the N.A.I. Magazine Media Guide.
Photo Credits: Unsplash Cover: United-Nations-covid-19-response; thomas-de-luze Inside front cover: Reno Laithienne; Anthony Roberts Page 5: Piron Guillume Page 7: Stay Connected: Photo by David Švihovec Page 10: Family Reunion: Tyler Nix; Clayton Cardinall Page 11: Maarten van den Heuvel Page 16-17: Special edition: Psychology of Covid19; Fusion Medical Animation; Halacious Page 22: Frank Albrecht Page 30: Awareness page: Obesity - Christopher Williams N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 7
july - September 2020
N.A.I. Magazine
TABLE OF
TALK OF TOWN Community News Page 11
Ask The Experts James and Cynthia Greene Marriage Builders Marriage Strategists
Young & Relentless Shawn Rouse JamRouse Excursions Travel Agency
Page 19
Page 12
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 8
july - September 2020
N.A.I. Magazine
CONTENTS Culturally Speaking TrailBlazer Shezell Alexander The Alexander Collection
by Terri B. Culturally Speaking Advertise in N.A.I. Page 25
Page 21
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 9
Celebrating Family
July is National Family Reunion Month
TALK OF TOWN COMMUNITY NEWS
Kennedy Center Online: Couch Concerts
Virtual Teen Art Camp Led by Rosana Azar of Creative Adventures
July 27 - 31, 2020 10am - 3:30pm Click Here To Register
10 Online Cooking Classes to Help You Brush Up on Your Kitchen Skills During Quarantine
Staying Connected To Our Seniors MISSION Grounded in grassroots senior leadership, We Are Family mobilizes a committed corps of volunteers to reach out to isolated inner-city seniors with free services, advocacy, and companionship, building a
Events at the Library of Congress
network of caring eyes and ears that enables at-risk seniors to age in place. More than simply a social service provider, We Are Family is a bold experiment in building caring, just and inclusive community. Click Here to Learn More About We Are Family DC N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 11
7 Principles of Communication for Successful Relationships
nthia y C & s Jame ene Gre
ASK THE EXPERTS yIn this current climate of COVID-19 and 'Stay At Home' orders, we find ourselves in close proximity of our loved ones longer than we expected. This 'closeness", especially among our spouse, may lead to some friction and communication issues. Here, in this article, relationship experts, James and Cynthia Greene tell how couples can stay connected consistantly through COMMUNICATION. Let's see what they have to say. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Couples fuss and couples fight. But they don't have to. In the voice of Michael Jackson, “I'm a lover, not a fighter!” Couples can learn how not to fight, but rather get more love, more intimacy, more connection, more peace and more quality time together enjoying each other. We know that there are things that couples can do to work out every issue. The question is…., Are you willing to put in the work? Do you love your spouse enough to give them the benefit of the doubt and try? Can you stand the test? ASK THE EXPERT
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ASK THE EXPERT What are you willing to do? If you love your spouse and you want to stay married and have an amazingly happy, successful marriage, there are tried and true things that you can do and it can start with knowing how to communicate effectively. James and Cynthia Greene walk you through 7 clear principles to help you communicate in a way that allows you to understand your spouse and makes you want to have a conversation with them. You learn how to listen really well so that you are connecting and enjoying talking with one another. These tools can be used whether you are having a targeted conversation about something super important or if you are on date night.
“IF YOU BUILD IT, IT WILL LAST� Each principle builds upon the other: 7 clear communication principles, along with scriptures to support each one Take part in 7 different activities each principle to enhance the learning Get to interact with your spouse and implement each principle on the spot Have a fun interactive time with each other Watch the hosts implement each principle live Have an opportunity to ask questions. A follow up meeting to check progression ASK THE EXPERT
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ASK THE EXPERT We don’t want couples to just survive. We want them to thrive. Our goal is to help eradicate divorce. We do this by helping couples create customized, individualized relationship formulas built specifically for them to create a healthy, happy, successful and prosperous marriage. We believe that every couple can have a marriage built to last when built on the right foundation. First and foremost, the Word of God and then with the right marital tools. Seek help when needed.
For additional information or to schedule a private training, you may email us at info@marriagebuilt2last.com Be the first to know: Join our private Facebook group for all updates and great information: Marriage Built 2 Last Movement https://www.facebook.com/group /marriagebuilt2lastmovement To learn more about the Founders and the company, go to www.MarriageBuilt2Last.com. Marriage Builders, James and Cynthia Greene, Your Marriage Strategists
ASK THE EXPERT
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 14
Place Your Order Today
Psychology of COVID-19 N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 16
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
― Charles
Dickens,
A Tale of Two Cities
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 17
In this time of enormous uncertainties, no truer words have been spoken by the famous Charles Dickens, author of 'A Tale of Two Cities'. So many individuals and families have been affected by the global pandemic and global unrest that has gripped the world. Our minds are reeling, and the jury is out on the state of our emotions. Do we even know what to feel as we try to navigate what is happening in our world? People have had to adjust both physically and mentally to cope with these changing times. Although most people did not see these changes coming, some have welcomed the change. Kind of a RESET of life if you will. After all, many people are now working remotely which means that they no longer have to fight traffic going to and from work. They can actually spend some extra time with their family. For some, they can no longer avoid the proverbial 'elephant in the room'. The situation now demands a conversation. Now families must actually talk to one another, maybe even discuss matters that have been on the shelf for some time. Also, learning to cook at home again, for some, means eating healthier. For many, it is a time of self-reflection and meditation. Thinking of how life was before Covid-19 and what we choose for it to be post Covid-19. Taking inventory of how they have been living life. What changes they need to make that will improve their life. To help with the post Covid-19 journey of emerging from lockdown, check out this article published in SUCCESS Magazine by Michael Pietrzak: 10 Habits to Avoid After Lockdown.
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R NTL & ELE Y &R Y
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M E E T E N T R E P R E N E U R S H A W N R O U S E Meet Shawn Rouse, owner of JamRouse Excursions Travel Agency. Shawn was motivated to start his company because he has always wanted to travel more, especially overseas. With his business, Shawn and his family can now travel to many exciting places at their leisure. Every entrepreneur knows that building a business requires sacrifice. Building JamRouse was no different. Success comes at a price. In Shawn’s case, he sacrificed recreational time, eating out and even changed his circle of friends. Along with building his business, Shawn has also found time to read more and increase his personal development. Thinking of taking a much-needed getaway AC (After Corona)? Maybe you have been thinking of a business venture you would like to pursue? Whatever your choice, check out JamRouse Travel Agency. You will be glad you did.
Shawn Rouse JamRouse Tavel Agency
jamrouseexcursions@yahoo.com Website
Phone: (301) 704-2952 N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 19
ALBERT EINSTEIN Theoretical Physicist & Nobel Prize recipient
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” ________________
TRAILBLAZER
Shezell Alexander
Alexander’s Well
GENERATIONAL LIVING WATER I was excited when Ms. Shezell Alexander was available for an interview. Her story is both fascinating and humbling and although what is captured here doesn't tell it all, I thought that everyone should hear what she has to share. What is the name of your business? The Lord gave me the name: Alexander’s Well, years ago when I first sought to have a business of my own. Everything that lives is dependent on water. I was reminded of the wells that were dug by the Israelites in the times of the Old Testament. I believed that my business would be a resource for my family, for generations to come. Alexander's Well is comprised of my jewelry line called The Shezell Collection, as well as children’s books, poetry, songs, and other works that God has inspired me to write that will be coming later as well. The Shezell Collection is primarily necklace and earring sets (some have matching). There are earring and bracelet sets, individual earrings for pierced ears and clip-ons for ladies and children TRAILBLAZER
(upon request), and single fashion bracelets and pendants for men. How did the idea for your business come about? I went from making 53K in 2005 to less than one thousand dollars per month, after a car accident. It was just not enough to live on. I continually found myself asking family for this, that, or the other and I hated having to ask, just as much as I am sure they got tired of me asking. As much as we love each other, I could no longer be a burden to them. Eventually, my sister, who has a small business of her own, sent me a “care package”. It had a set of tools and several bags of beads, findings, earring hooks, pendants other fun stuff to do. I took it as an opportunity to do something for myself and maybe someone else too! I have always been artistically and musically creative. The Shezell Collection became another avenue of expression.
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What motivates you to do your business? What motivates me is the need not to be dependent on my family and children for support. I broke my neck in an auto accident in 2005 that left me unable to return to working in the care of the mentally and physically challenged. It took five years to receive the disability benefits I had paid into since getting my first job at age thirteen. The loss of the home that I was purchasing and had lived in for close to ten years left my family without a home of our own. My youngest son and I ended up moving to South Carolina, at the invitation of my uncle, but I still found myself often, in need of financial help despite the cost of living being cheaper. The Shezell Collection became a form of therapy. I had trouble approaching people to sell, so, I started giving it away to church members and friends. As more people began to see my work, they offered to buy from me and request certain colors. It gave me the opportunity to make women and men feel good about themselves. What 2 major challenges have you come up against and how did you overcome them? I grew up and went to college when there was something called a “typewriter”. Most young people today do not even know what one looks like or that there was such a thing. Now I am living in an age where the computer I bought six months ago is obsolete, and I cannot seem to catch up fast enough. I am getting better at using a laptop now, as I am back in school, and have recently completed my first year at Victory Bible College in Suitland MD. My second major challenge is maintaining a website with my lesser navigational skills on the computer. My sister and I would frequently go to different venues to market our products but, now that I am in school, most of my time is devoted to that. And since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine, no one has been able to go anywhere. I do believe that whatever God ordains, He will maintain. If it is His will, my business will grow as much as I am willing to commit to it. But He must come first. Who? What has been your greatest inspiration and why? God Is my biggest inspiration. He gave me the gift of creativity. I am inspired by the beauty in His creation. The way God expresses Himself in life, in Man, and in the wonderous works of His creation, the mingling of light and color in the world and environment around us has always been fascinating to me. What is the most satisfying aspect of your business? The Shezell Collection has given me the opportunity of sharing my testimony and the love of Jesus with people when they ask, “how did you start doing this”? Secondly, when people wear my jewelry, it makes them feel good because they look good in it. I take pride in making something of good quality and I guarantee. I will repair or replace any piece of my jewelry that brakes under normal wear, up to 90 days of purchase. (End)
TRAILBLAZER
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 23
The Shezell Collection (864) 712-2641 Place Your Order Today
TRAILBLAZER
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 24
Three Things: Due to the closure of cultural institutions and the postponement of related events resulting from the outbreak of the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, this writer deems it necessary to offer a different type of column at this time. Therefore, I invite you to join me in reflecting upon some recent occurrences and to consider alternative experiences. First of all, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for the life of a giant in art history who passed away earlier this month--- David C. Driskell. An artist, curator and visionary, Dr. Driskell did more than anyone else to ensure African American Art’s appropriate place in the academic canon. Secondly, I would like to call attention to an exhibition that you might not have a chance to see, Riffs and Relations: African American Artists and the European Modernist Tradition, now under lock and key at the Phillips Collection and scheduled to close on May 24, 2020. ”Riffs and Relations,” organized with the highest level of research and curatorial selection by Dr. Adrienne Childs, exemplifies the paradigms that David Driskell worked so diligently to foster during his long career. Lastly, I recommend a short but copiously researched book: White Flights: Race, Fiction, and the American Imagination by Jess Row.
Culturally Speaking
By Terri B.
Culturally Speaking...
Reflecting On The Arts: An Alternative Experience
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 25
The Washington, D.C. born college professor and fiction writer, Row does not focus on the tendency of whites abandoning cities and moving to the suburbs to avoid integrated communities--- as his title might suggest.
David C. Driskell of Hyattsville, Maryland (1931-2020) who died on April 1, endeavored to authenticate the field of African American art history. As the pivotal figure in this effort, he was an inspiration and mentor for numerous artists, curators and scholars who followed his example to support an outcome whereby now, African American arts were not only regarded as a significant discipline but also occupies an essential place in American art as well as modern and contemporary art globally. Two Centuries of Black American Art, the landmark exhibition that Driskell organized for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1976, with more than two hundred works by nearly 70 artists and its accompanying publication, triggered a paradigm-shift. The exhibition clearly confirmed that artists of color had been producing superior work since this country’s beginnings as well as throughout the early part of the 20th century--- when influences of European modernism entered the nation’s art and cultural consciousness. Moreover, Two Centuries of Black American Art also, confirmed that African American artists consistently created high caliber work up to the time of America’s Bicentennial---the occasion for which the exhibition was mounted. In his career as an artist and a teacher, Driskell made vital contributions to the field. He taught art history at several institutions, including Howard University and Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he chaired the art department. Subsequently, he moved back to this area and joined the faculty at the University of Maryland. In 2001, the David C. Driskell Center was established at the University of Maryland for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora. It honors his legacy as a distinguished university professor emeritus, artist, art historian, collector and curator. For more on this remarkable life, visit the following sites: The David C. Driskell Center: Preserving African American Art David Driskell: My Concept of "Otherness" Continued on page 28 Culturally Speaking
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 26
THE
READING
ROOM
Continued from page 26
Riffs and Relations African American Artists and the European Modernist Tradition February 29 - May 24, 2020 Located near DuPont Circle in Washington, D.C., the Phillips Collection is America’s first museum of Modern Art and holds one of the most important collections of modernist art in the country. Recently, the Phillips invited the art historian Adrienne Childs to curate an exhibition based on ideas that she had long been researching: the distinctive relationship of African American artists and European modernism. The invitation was not a novel gesture for the institution. During its formative years, the founders Duncan and Marjorie Phillips, maintained a strong and supportive relationship with many artists of color as well as the art department at Howard University.
Credit: Alma Thomas, "Watusi" (Hard Edge) Acrylic on canvas, 47 5/8 x 44 1/4 inches Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC Gift of Vincent Melzac, 1976
Book Review
White Flights: Race, Fiction, and the American Imagination Jess Row’s 2019 book offers wide-ranging and in-depth commentary that addresses a significant but troubling subject--- the common practice by white writers (from the Civil Rights era to the present) to locate their stories in all white environments--- or if minorities are present, they are ambiguously represented. Row meticulously documents the labors of numerous authors of American literature who have: “consciously or unconsciously retreated from the subject of race while black writers did not.” Row, who is white, almost committed the “cardinal sin” himself but came into “enlightenment.” While in college, he was like many other writers and was fascinated by what might be called sheltered settings. He described his position as “being in the thrall of wilderness Culturally Speaking
as a literary trope.” Fortunately, he had an epiphany. In 1992, he attended a writing workshop that was conducted by the late (Nobel Prize in Literature and a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction) writer Toni Morrison. In her early role as an editor at Random House in the 1970’s, Morrison had fostered the publication of works by black writers but that day in her role as speaker at the William E. Massey Sr. Lectures in the History of American Civilization at Harvard, Morrison did not promote or discuss African American literature. She addressed “Whiteness.” Shortly thereafter, Morrison published Playing in the Dark: Whiteness in the Literary Imagination. A work of criticism, the book is a collection of three essays about race in N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 28
American literature and it documents the way race is exploited by many white authors. Morrison admitted that as a black writer she struggled with the language that evoked hidden signs of racial superiority and the assumption that all readers were white. Over the years, Row has thought about the segregated backdrops in literature and subsequently, he has sought ways to encourage and or generate reparations in a field that has a limited following—white readers. Lastly, with a little over 300 pages, White Flights is a masterful manuscript that should be read by readers regardless of race or ethnicity. White Flights may be obtained through various on-line sources. Peace until the next time………..Stay well!
Terri B.
Updated as of April 17 at 10 a.m. The coronavirus pandemic and the DC Mayor's stay-at-home order, which has been extended to May 15, has affected events, attractions and other businesses throughout the Washington, DC area. While many in-person events have been impacted, local businesses, museums and attractions are hosting virtual events during weekdays and weekends. Destination DC is committed to providing travelers with the most up-to-date information about traveling to the city to ensure the health and safety of visitors.
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Click Here for more information. Culturally Speaking
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 29
AWARENESS
JULY Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
AUGUST Children's Eye Health & Safety Month
SEPTEMBER Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
Children's Eye Health & Safety
Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
VIDEO: JIA
VIDEO
Exercise US 2020
N.A.I. MAGAZINE - PAGE 30
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