Ladies Corner Magazine | Summer Edition

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June 18 - October 2, 2022

2 Sir Winston Churchill Square all roses sleep (inviolate light), video still (detail), 2022. Alana Bartol and Bryce Krynski. Courtesy of the Artists.

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tee Adeyemo info@lccmediafoundation.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Monica Bassili Lorrie Morales Judith Pila Odion Welch Damilola Adedeji CONTENT DIRECTOR Judith Pila SENIOR EDITOR Lorrie Morales MARKETING MANAGER/ADVERTS Miss Purple Media 587 974 9830 DESIGN DIRECTOR ‘Tunde Adeyemo tundeadeyemo@citeay.com PHOTOGRAPHER Aanu Adedire 1909 Media Productions BUSINESS DIRECTOR Tayo Elnathan tayo.elnathan@lccmediafoundation.ca EMAIL info@lccmediafoundation.ca WEBSITE www.ladiescorner.ca This magazine or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher.

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Support for Sustainability T he time for a new beginning is here. Easter and Passover were celebrated on the same weekend. It felt kind of special.

I am writing this on a very beautiful, sunny but cold day.

The warm temperatures coupled with the blazing glare of the sun have melted the last strongholds of the winter. Change is in the air. A new dawn is calling us. You will be reading this in the summer, it will get really hot this year.

We are grateful to be able to print with high inflation. We are grateful to be supported by the Edmonton Community Foundation, Calgary Foundation, Italian Centre and all our advertisers.

Our goal is to become sustainable and we would appreciate your help. To keep us going, would you consider liking, sharing and subscribing to our content? Would you consider buying space in our magazine if you are a business owner?

In this edition, we celebrate our men as we recognise Father’s Day. We honour them as trailblazers, brothers, husbands and dads. Oftentimes, we hear that our men feel unappreciated. This is a small way to tell our men we see them. We know their struggles and we appreciate them for what they do in our lives.

We are grateful to the Mayor of Edmonton, His Worship, Amarjeet Sohi for his time and for creating some poignant memories with us. Our special gratitude also goes to all the amazing men who worked with us in this edition.

For the different ways you keep us going, we want to say thank you to all our readers and supporters.

Tee Adeyemo Founder and Editor-in-Chief Ladies Corner Magazine

12 A story of Hope and Optimism — Mayor of Edmonton, His Worship, Amarjeet Sohi

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Lorrie Morales

8. Youths have the Power to Create — Andrew G. Parker 11. Ladies Corner’s Kitchen — Chef Keno 12. A story of Hope and Optimism — Mayor of Edmonton, His Worship, Amarjeet Sohi.

16. A Community Care Model - Hoyo Collective 18. Women are Powerful When They are Determined — Marci Ien 20. Stateless — Lorrie Morales 21. Tech Matters — Mack Male 22. University of Alberta — Emily Kimani

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University of Alberta — Emily Kimani

Vivian Fung

24. Giving Back in a Big Way — Paul Blinov 26. Your Afro Kinky Hair & You — Damilola Adedeji 27. Explore Hundreds of Calgary Charities and Nonprofits on the Community Knowledge Centre

Odion Welch

28. A Child’s Dream of Toys — JUNO Awardwinning and Edmonton born Vivian Fung 30. Thrival not Survival — Lorrie Morales 31. Your Mental Health — Odion Welch

LadiesCorner

Youths have the Power to Create Andrew G. Parker, Co-founder Alberta Black Teachers Association

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ndrew Gersham Parker likes to read, play video games, and play basketball, his favourite sport, but he’s not averse to hockey now and then. Andrew’s love of music includes hip hop, Rock-’nRoll, jazz and classical with a dash of the rock band, “Red Hot Chili Peppers” and “2PAC”, an American rapper. Andrew is married to a queen from Uganda and his children are his world, as well as his family. Andrew is a proud member of the North Edmonton, Caribbean/African community here in Edmonton, the City of Champions.

When Andrew’s professional basketball career ended, his coach, Thom Elniski, suggested that he become a teacher. Andrew took a 2-year after-degree program while coaching for the Macewan Men’s Basketball team. He then taught at John D. Bracco and Mary Butterworth schools, but eventually took a position at M.E.Lazerte High School, his former high school and home.

Andrew didn’t find it difficult to find a full-time job as a teacher. His resume, coaching experience and community service were great assets, however, like all teachers, there are challenges to getting a job. Andrew shares, “I would say that it was tough but I enjoyed every moment of the

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Some of the challenges Black students have expressed are the lack of representation in our schools: “when you don’t see yourself, it’s hard to carve a path, hard, but not impossible”. process.”

Black students have shared some of the challenges they face in education today. Even though Black youth have full access to speak on barriers, Andrew believes we need to listen to them. He supports them in many ways.

Some of the challenges Black students have expressed are the lack of representation in our schools. Some schools have no Black teachers, no Black principals, no Black guidance counsellors, and no Black faces in the curriculum and resources. Andrew believes those factors affect our youth because “when you don’t see yourself, it’s hard to carve a path, hard, but not impossible”.

Students desire more representation, resources, support, and less gatekeeping, silencing, supremacy, racial slurs, appropriation, dismissing or coercion of thought, by adults in education. Andrew works on providLadiesCorner – Summer 2022

ing what they are asking for instead of telling them who they are or who they should be.

One thing he does as the teacher sponsor of the Black Students Association at M.E.LaZerte school is to give the youth full leadership capacity, which includes responsibility but also creative control. Andrew suggests that, “the youth have the power to make initiatives, events, and support systems. And I support them in any way that I can.”

As founder of the Black Teachers Association, Andrew indicates that he’d be remiss if he did not acknowledge Ms. Sarah Adomako Ansah, a leader for the team. She has championed the social media accounts, answered many questions, shared messaging on multiple profiles and planned many PD sessions that Black teachers presented and participated in.

The organization got together in the wake of the second civil rights movement in North America and committed to changing what they

May, 2022

Andrew G.Parker

could be a part of. Members were upset about George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and wanted education to be a part of the movement; however in many places, there was inadequate messaging, lack of representation, inauthentic initiatives, and they felt, as a Black community, that they could honour all communities by showing what true solidarity looks like. Since the Association’s inception, they have widened their range of support for not only the Black community, but all communities of religious faiths, the 2SLGBTQ+ family, marginalized, Indigenous peoples, Women of Color and Black youth.

Andrew’s capacity was meaningful because, “I tend to do the behindthe-scenes as well as the public affairs work: connecting with parents, supporting our youth, creating events, and addressing very challenging topics that some leaders in education have not addressed.” Although most of his work is philanthropic, unpaid, and sometimes unseen, it is by far the

most meaningful work that he has done in his 10 years as a teacher in Edmonton.

The Association was necessary because Black educators were not given a voice in education. Voices were either coerced, unsupported, silenced, or tokenized and they wanted the organization to be authentic, their voices heard, and the capacity to advocate for Black youth and parents in the education system. This was something that never existed, so it was created.

Andrew has made presentations and been invited to meetings with high-profile politicians during Black The Association was necessary because Black educators were not given a voice in education. Voices were either coerced, unsupported, silenced, or tokenized...

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

history month 2022. He states, “It’s an honour … I had the pleasure of connecting with politicians at every single level of government in the country.” From Edmonton’s mayor, Mr. Ameerjeet Sohi, before and after his election, MLA David Shepherd and Janis Irwin, Andrew has connected to Sarah, the BTA, and so many of the communities in Edmonton, including, but not limited to, the 2SLGBTQ family. Meeting and talking with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau was the highlight of his year as a teacher; potentially the highlight of his entire career.

Being validated by the leader of the country was positive; however, it is very disheartening that Andrew is still waiting for leaders in education to connect with himself and the Black Teachers Association in more meaningful and authentic ways. Andrew states that he has only talked to the Superintendent of Edmonton Public schools once in 3 years, which is not “a recipe for success as it relates to Anti-Black racism, the Black community of teachers and the Black community at large. I would love to have a meeting with both superintendents of Edmonton Public and Catholic Schools as well as Calgary, and I’d like the education minister to connect with me and our ATA president Jason Schilling.” Andrew feels there is a disconnect in education where selecting Black voices to be tokenized is a trend and voices are compromised, which shouldn’t be an option in this line of work.

Andrew is passionate about addressing the 5 pillars of the Black Teachers Association: Representation, Communication, Anti-racism, Support, and Networking. He feels that these issues were never effectively addressed in education, and perhaps it is time to do so. For education to truly become equitable, it will require those in power to understand that as a community, Black teachers are ready to lead. Honouring voices is very important as there may be answers that some boardrooms have never discussed. The Association has consultants with world knowledge,

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LadiesCorner and a passion to speak the truth no matter how uncomfortable it may seem in the process. The Association can support many communities by being empathetic and less restrictive of the communities desiring support.

True solidarity is not a hashtag, but rather diversifying staff and changing all policies that promote, endorse, or allow systemic racism to exist. That is Andrew’s passion and the current focus of his Master’s degree studies. He hopes to pursue this further and find more people willing to make society fair, equitable, accepting, and humane for everyone.

Andrew believes that it is important for all community members to be present in people’s lives. This is ideal

because when there are absences, things can become challenging. The joy that youth feel when someone from their family is at their games, recitals, practices, events and graduations is incomparable. However, there are challenges that many Black men, especially fathers, face. Andrew indicates that “as a community, we need to rethink mental health support, for parents and children, so we can better understand ourselves and where we are all coming from.” He believes it is important for Black parents to be present in the lives of their families because parents are needed, children need to be loved and adult eyes are the eyes that make one believe that a person can do anything and become

anything.

Andrew will spend Father’s Day with his beloved family, probably watching a Disney movie with some BIPOC characters. Influences in his life are Tupac Shakur and Bob Marley.

Shakur’s words are tattooed on his back and Andrew likes “rebels with a cause.” Andrew states that “I wouldn’t say that they changed my life as much as they reinforced my beliefs about life and what it could be for our community. Reflection is essential and I am proud that these two kings have been a profound part of my life.” No doubt, Andrew will be making profound impacts on other lives as well.

Smell that summertime sizzle!

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LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

May, 2022

LadiesCorner

KITCHEN with CHEF KENO

Pasta & Chicken Breast Ingredients 500 g Fettuccine 2 chicken breasts 2 oz basil 140 g Asiago cheese Garlic cloves 1-2 White onions 500 ml heavy cream 4 oz spring mix 2 sprigs of fresh thyme 1 sprig fresh oregano Salt and pepper 1 whole tomato med dice Preheat oven to 375.

Method Butterfly and season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and pepper, chopped fresh thyme, rub with olive oil and let it sit for about 15 min Cook pasta in saltwater Drain and cool the pasta, add a little olive oil to the pasta to prevent it from sticking Put aside Cook chicken breasts skin side down in the oven for about 15-20 mins (try to get the skin caramelised so you may have to increase the oven temp to broil) Sauce: Finely diced onions and garlic Saute in a pot until onions are translucent Keep on low heat, then add the heavy cream Bring to a slow simmer, then add the sprigs of fresh herbs and incremental addition of the grated Asiago cheese Please remember to keep stirring so that the cheese can be evenly distributed in sauce Keep on stirring on low heat until sauce thickens Add salt and pepper to taste Toss your pasta in the sauce Plate pasta then accompany with the chicken breasts and spring mix Garnish with diced tomatoes

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

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LadiesCorner

A story of Hope and Optimism Mayor of Edmonton, His Worship, Amarjeet Sohi

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CC Media was delighted recently, to have an opportunity to sit down with the Mayor of Edmonton, Amarjeet Sohi.

The interview was an opportunity to learn about the important work the Mayor is doing at City Council and in the City.

The questions were unfiltered and we moved across topics from a lens of a shared love of our city.

The media chat would not have been made possible without the conscious ‘open door’ policy operating at City Hall. We have felt welcome and even more visible. We are grateful to the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Ms. Lisa Holmes for opening this door of possibilities.

The interview was conducted by Mary Thomas and Tee Adeyemo. It was written by Lorrie Morales.

Mayor Sohi is proud of the work he and his council have been doing over the past 210 days – which is addressing systemic racism so the city of Edmonton can truly be an anti-racist city. Sohi states that “everyone should feel that they belong here – everyone should feel safe in the community regardless of who they are, what they wear, what their ethnicity is, their sexual orientation or whatever their differences might be.”

His passion is inclusivity and with council members, they are working together to build that kind of community along with many other initiatives. Some of those initiatives include keeping taxes low, helping the economy by investing in infrastructure, keeping transit affordable, maintaining and ensuring recreational facilities are open and available for everyone, and improving accessibility overall for all citizens.

Anti-Racism Work Anti-racism work is generational work, “done in the past informing the work that is being done now.” Mayor Sohi reflects that “the work will continue to evolve and change… as we learn from what is successful and what is not.” When Mayor Sohi was a City Councillor, he was a leader in anti-racism work but sees that Edmonton is on a path to becoming a truly anti-racist, inclusive welcoming place.

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LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

May, 2022 Edmonton council focuses on three pillars of the Anti-racism strategy: •• Establish a community-based independent organization that will lead the Anti-racism work. Mayor Sohi envisions an organization similar to this that will empower communities and organizations to be anti-racist.

•• Become an anti-racist corporation. Internal policies should be challenged; they should be inclusive and embrace diversity. Build capacity by providing for operational and programming funding to do the Anti-racism work.

•• These pillars are critical and so, the next step is engaging with communities to come up with an implementation plan. Mayor Sohi firmly believes, “Anti-racism work should be led by the communities and members who have

Mayor Sohi is proud of the work he and his council have been doing over the past 210 days – which is addressing systemic racism direct experience dealing with racism and discrimination because their lived experiences will inform the policy and the work.”

The government model should be reflecting Indigenous, Black and BIPOC members involved in this work.

Edmonton City Council at the moment is not truly reflective of the city demographics, but that is changing at all levels because senior leadership is recognizing the work to be done.

1.4 million dollars was initially provided in funding to support the anti-racist organizations in programming and operational funding, with another million dollars added to support members, develop strategies and set up the organization to work on implementing the three pillars.

Work that municipalities are involved in will tap into resources from LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

the province and federal governments. Mayor Sohi sees Edmonton as leading by example and anti-racism is integral to the core responsibility of the city for constituents’ well-being.

Communities need to foster well-being by tackling racism and discrimination, working to heal the pain, and demonstrating respect.

Community Safety The first action that could be put into place for the safety of communities is education. Understanding that we all belong, that there are mental health issues, addiction crises and the need for permanent, long-term solutions, are issues that the council recognizes.

Societal issues need addressing. Attempts to make the community safe for everyone, Sohi asks the question, “How do we have a compassionate approach to community safety and at the same time, recognize that there are systemic challenges that we are facing; that until we tackle them, we can find interim solutions?” For example, the city introduced a texting system for anyone who feels unsafe on public transit. Working on new resources with an additional 4-million-dollar funding for Transit peace officers and EPS as well as more social workers to the Indigenous healing society will provide intervention rather than enforcement. Accountability within the system lies within the police commission to deal with specific incidents. The hope is for more diversity within the policing service.

Relationship with the Province Mayor Sohi’s goal is also to “reset” relationships with the Provincial government despite differing views. The provincial budget is providing some support for issues with public transit.

The Mayor is excited about the possibility of showcasing Edmonton to the world by hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The influx of people and economic injection could provide economic growth that will help create jobs and businesses will grow but the city would need to upgrade its infrastructure.

Mayor Sohi shares what is needed

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LadiesCorner

Mayor of Edmonton, His Worship, Amarjeet Sohi

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LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

May, 2022

to end houselessness in Edmonton.

There needs to be an investment in supportive and permanent housing, as well as shelters, health and mental health services, addiction and recovery and cultural services for people with historical trauma to heal.

Maintaining infrastructure properly is ongoing and even though Mayor Sohi did not support the motion spraying pesticides, there are other biological ways of controlling mos­ quitos to explore. Intercultural media and independent media companies need support, but do not have the resources that the mainstream media has.

Support for Independent media and artists Mayor Sohi assures that council will

Mayor Sohi assures that council will “be open, accessible and available” for interviews. “be open, accessible and available” for interviews. City Administration is looking to engage in communication and connections with the community.

Artists are often conduits for social change and on a personal note, Mayor Sohi is a supporter of the arts.

There is a lack of diversity in the arts community in Edmonton; however, in the last budget, the council approved 1.2 million dollars to support artists recovering from COVID. Moving onward in supporting and implementing the vision for the Edmonton Arts Council, artists and arts organizations from diverse backgrounds will also be represented.

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

Final thoughts Mayor Sohi’s biggest concern is how we can recover economically during a time when we are facing so many social issues. As a well-read leader, Mayor Sohi’s favourite poet is Pash who connects his words to social justice. For his well-being, the mayor goes for a walk or a jog. Edmontonians want to build a strong economy and live in a fair, equitable and just society.

Mayor Sohi is optimistic about the future in that regard. “We will only succeed as a council if we deliver on the expectations of our constituents.”

Mayor Sohi hopes the challenges can be seen as opportunities to measure at the end of the work year.

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LadiesCorner

Sponsored Content

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A Community Care Model Hoyo Collective By Judith Pila, Kawther Abdi

an Africanism is a concept alive in Edmonton’s African communities. The enduring concept that we should be unified in our common interests has led to the explosion of partnerships and collaborations based on the premise of mutual respect.

LCCMedia was excited to learn more about how the concept of Ubuntu was a natural thread for the Somalis and how love of country was a driving force for excellence amongst Somalis across the world.

Black peoples are not a monolith.

From the earliest African Americans in the 15th century, to Somalis who make up the largest Somali- Canadian population outside Southern Ontario, Edmonton is the place to experience the fever that accompanies the diverse celebrations of being authentically Somali.

Alberta is home to the largest Somali-Canadian population outside of Southern Ontario. In Edmonton they make up the largest African community in the city, despite being new immigrants to the city. The CBC featured the Somali community in

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Hoyo Collective

a write up for Black History Month in 2022. They wrote that “poetry is a huge facet of Somali culture. A number of Edmonton poet laureates have also been Somali, from Ahmed ‘Knowmadic’ Ali to Omar Farah and to Timiro Mohamed”.

Introduction Once termed the Switzerland of Africa, Somalia is one of the richest countries in the world. It has considerable oil and gas reserves including the longest coastline in Africa (3000km) giving it access to vast marine resources. According to the World Bank, it has 1,100,000 hectares of cultivable land and its reservoir of black gold is known to be the second-largest in Africa. Its geographical location has always been found valuable by her earliest colonisers.

“Situated right in the horn of Africa, Somalia has direct access to the Gulf of Aden located between Asia and Africa. Its water flows into the Red Sea through a strait called Bab-el-Mandeb, which means ‘Gate of Tears’ in Arabic. According to an old legend, it named after grief of drowned souls LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

who perished during the earth quake that tore Asia from Africa. The Gulf of Aden is the only outlet that gives the West direct access to Persian Gulf Oil. While being simultaneously the world’s busiest shipping lane”.

Cabdifataax Gabeyre writing on Linkedin ‘How the Most Strategic Na­ tion in the World Became a Failed State, the Story of Somalia’ writes that Somali is situated close to the Suez Canal by which European Maritime Trade companies can exchange goods with their biggest trade partners in the East China, India and South East Asia. This made Somalia the main link between the East and the West or the most pivotal region that virtually determines a huge percentage of global trade.

Somali Ancient Art Five-thousand-year-old rock art is tucked into an outcropping 40 miles northeast of Hargeisa, the capital of this breakaway region of Somalia is the headline. Somaliland would very much like that the more than 5,000 year old cave drawings known as Laas Geel paintings and other Somali treasures to be listed as a United Nations

May, 2022 World Heritage Site. But Somaliland is not internationally recognized as an independent country.Somaliland’s rock art bears ‘a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared’.

Somalia’s thirty years of civil war bear the indelible mark of the region’s former colonial powers, who imposed modern physical and cultural boundaries which became fault lines for conflict.

This is the backdrop of Somali international migration. Matriarch mothers journeyed with the intention of helping other women succeed in the diaspora.

The Hoyo Collective is an Edmonton-based Somali mothers group that came together with the intention to create a collective support group for mothers with common barriers and diverse talents to address their barriers through education, innovation, and capacity building.

The Collective has also created opportunities for learning about and making recommendations to various public institutions that impact their lives and the lives of their children, such as Edmonton Police Services, Edmonton’s Mental Health Court, and Edmonton Victims Services. They are also trying to find solutions to improve the economic prosperity of Somali and other Muslim communities in Edmonton. The Hoyo Collective wants to establish a mentorship program to better connect established members of Edmonton’s Somali community, particularly professionals with youth who hope to pursue higher education. One of the other projects that The Hoyo Collective is in the early stages of exploring developing a micro-loan program that would allow Muslims in Edmonton to access startup capital without paying interest.

Nasra’s Story Nasra, the president of HOYO Collective in Edmonton, originally from the North of Somalia was a teenager when her parents fled Somalia, and their departure had been triggered

by the country’s deteriorating circumstances, which caused fear as the government began waging war on some different rebel factions. Her family left for Kenya, India, and then the United States later, where she married and began building a home with a Somali man who lived in Canada.

Nasra never considered herself a refugee because she was raised in a stable environment and never stayed in a refugee camp. However, after her spouse was mandated to transfer from the United States to Canada because of immigration concerns that events in her adult life began to mirror the refugee reality she had luckily escaped as a child. Her now ex-husband suddenly became abusive.

The pain of living without support The Hoyo Collective wants to establish a mentorship program to better connect established members of Edmonton’s Somali community, particularly professionals with youth who hope to pursue higher education.

Nasra went through a rough patch with her now ex-husband. The circumstances surrounding their marital issues resulted in a court order requiring Nasra to remain in Calgary.

She had to stay in Calgary with her children and with no support. Nasra relied on the law, but even the law could not support/protect her due to her missing immigration papers. The circumstance brought her suffering to a whole new level.

Her children could not go to school at all. She moved from shelter to shelter for five years, struggling to provide basic needs for her children.

Getting help Nasra had relatives in Edmonton, Canada, who were very helpful. The court eventually approved them to move away from Calgary. She moved to Edmonton to join her relatives, made new friends, and started working. She had a graduate degree but had to LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

make do with jobs like washing dishes in restaurants. Soon she became happier and was optimistic about what was to come.

A beautiful piece of her life put together for social justice.

In addition to working, Nasra had a business and also started doing volunteer work, doing a lot of good for people going through the court system. She would usually help women who wanted to divorce but had language barriers to filling forms as she writes and speaks English.

With the approval of a judge, she once drove for 12 hours to Peace River Correctional Centre to bring a friend’s son back home from jail.

She met her friend Dunia, who encouraged her to join the Hoyo collective, where she works with other single mothers to help their youths overcome the injustice in the system.

Yes, many Somali youths who are Muslim and Black face a harsh reality they are being targeted and racialized: Nasra told a light-hearted story about her nephew, a college graduate engineer, going to Walmart and being relentlessly followed by the security guard during her chat with Ladies Corner, her nephew had become a naturalized suspect, but he was always able to fight back. During his Walmart experience, he said to the security guard: I can see that you are following me: “I am taking all of these things more so that you can follow me more closely” The stereotype that most Somali youths are brought-up by single mothers is used as a basis for discrimination against them.

Nasra is determined to change the narrative for many immigrant parents and those with refugee status, thanks to her education, skills, experiences, and position as President of Hoyo Collective.

This piece was sponsored by the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council.

Photocredit — Hoyo Collective

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LadiesCorner

Women are Powerful When They are Determined Federal Minister of Women & Gender Equality of Canada, Marci Ien

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onourable Marci Ien serves as the Federal Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth for the Liberal Party, representing Toronto Centre in the House of Commons. Previous to her involvement in politics, Marci was a broadcast journalist for CTV and a talk show host for “The Social.”

Marci’s voice in journalism and politics began in the newsrooms.

Through the things that she wrote, she discovered that the ideas about the Black experience in Canada were stories not being told as well in the media. She shared, “it was difficult because I didn’t see myself in the stories and so I tried to change and fix that.”

Marci started asking more questions.

After she left the news for talk show host, Marci confessed, “I was opinion ated – I talked about being a black

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The pivotal point was viewing seas of people on the streets chanting “Black Lives Matter” across the globe. Marci had represented well with her microphone as a journalist. woman, a mom, a partner … I found my voice during my time on “The Social”. It was the killing of George Floyd that got her thinking about using her voice differently. The pivotal point was viewing seas of people on the streets chanting “Black Lives Matter” across the globe. Marci had represented well with her microphone as a journalist, but she wanted to initiate change.

When Marci was asked by Prime Minister Trudeau to run in a by-elecLadiesCorner – Summer 2022

tion in Toronto, she wondered how it would impact her family. She was also leaving the industry she loved and been a part of for 25 years. Because Marci had been an “only” in the newsrooms, her transition to politics at the federal level wasn’t as difficult.

Trudeau’s comment, “Marci, the country needs you and needs that voice,” inspired her. She has been able to do what she was elected to do so far.

Moving through 2022, as Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Marci sees hope and change for racial and indigenous women who have been disproportionately impacted. Marci sees opportunities like the Black Entrepreneur Fund and supporting Black Communities for Black women.

There will always be challenges in terms of gender and race-based dis-

May, 2022 crimination, employment and even affordable child care when women try to move forward in their careers. Adding funding of $15 million to extend the Newcomer Women Pilot project is one initiative. Support for employment outcomes and career advancement for racialized newcomer women through the delivery of settlement services child care is being embraced by the provinces. If women can provide care for their children, they can go after their dreams. Marci’s children give her hope.

How does Marci advise women regarding social media? She feels that “The Social” prepared her by talking about a variety of topics, specifically race. She shared that when people react, it means it’s worth the conversation. “Black people and BIPOC people are worth talking about and fighting for”, she says.

In today’s world, Marci states, “it isn’t easy to be Black and to be a woman, but we are strong. It’s okay to be weak.” She encourages anyone who is struggling mentally to seek help and not to give up. Marci knows that, “For all the times I fell down, I got back up.

It’s the getting back up that counts.”

Marci will fight another day and even though there are many talented people, work ethic doesn’t lie. It got her where she is today.

Written by Lorrie Morales

Marci Ien

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LadiesCorner

STATELESS Lorrie Morales

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tateless, a documentary film that depicts the lives of three individuals in the Dominican Republic, was directed by Michele Stephenson, a Canadian-Haitian filmmaker known for her human rights stories. The film has won numerous awards nationally and internationally. The storyline follows Rosa Iris, a female Dominican lawyer who works as an advocate for both Haitians and Dominican Haitians; Juan Teofilo Murat, one of many who is stateless by his own country; and Gladys Feliz, a Dominican nationalist organizer who is opposed to Haitian life in the Dominican.

This powerful film looks at what transpired after the 2013 ruling when the country’s Supreme Court stripped the citizenship of anyone with Haitian parents, retroactive to 1929 affecting more than 200,000 people. When a person has no proof of identity, and therefore, no nationality, they are rendered stateless. The film explores this complexity through the eyes of its three figures and the colour of their skin and their beliefs.

Rosa represents the courage of activism for the rights of disenfranchised citizens and she becomes the central figure in the story. Attempting to mount a political campaign to in-

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spire change within a corrupt system, Rosa Iris shows her vulnerability and resiliency in her efforts to help Juan Teofilo, her cousin, to regain his citizenship as they navigate bureaucratic hurdles, at the cost of putting her life and those she loves in jeopardy.

Rosa’s fight for the vulnerable and marginalized is juxtaposed with Gladys, who represents the white supremacist movement and the rightwing nationalist movements that As part of Black History Month celebrations, the film honours the contributions that Black people have and continue to make in all areas of Canadian society. exist in the world today. Gladys’ prejudice demonstrates the opposite of people who have fought against injustices. Examples are the Black rights movement, women’s rights movements around the world, and Indigenous peoples’ fight for justice.

Juan Teofilo loses his citizenship and sees the bureaucratic violence that has to do with institutionalized anti-Black racism. He represents the physical, emotional and financial

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

problems that these people encounter without having a state to call their home. The problem becomes generational. All three individuals have witnessed the impacts of statelessness in the history of the Dominican Republic and Haiti – the island of Hispania.

This moving Canadian documentary demonstrates systemic racism, the need for social justice, and electoral corruption, money and power that infiltrate a country. Stateless gives a balanced picture of a hateful culture that collides with civic collusion sharing the lives of all who live in the Dominican Republic.

As part of Black History Month celebrations, the film honours the contributions that Black people have and continue to make in all areas of Canadian society. It weaves together the fight for social justice through the power of artistic expression.

Stateless portrays the realities of people who have not only been targeted but are abandoned by their country. It also addresses the issue of migration, the identity of Dominican Haitians and their narratives as well as cinematographic techniques such as the interlace of the “Moraime” fable narrative, adding to the spirit of injustice still living in the island’s rivers and our world today.

May, 2022

Tech Matters Mack Male

M

ack Male is the co-founder of Taproot Edmonton which he founded in 2016 with Karen Underwood. He describes himself as an entrepreneurial journalist. He has been covering Edmonton City Council for more than a decade.

When the laptops are switched off, Mac is still connected to technology by listening to podcasts. He enjoys learning new things and reading and whenever possible, he and his family make time to enjoy the outdoors by going for walks.

As an entrepreneurial journalist, Mac spends most of his time serving B2B clients and trying to grow the various aspects of the business. The team at Taproot works remotely, so days are spent in front of a screen.

Mac’s co-founder Karen works with him to find the balance of working “in the business” versus just “on the business.”

They agree that some days they are more successful at that than others!

Mac indicates that, “I also work each day to support our editorial team in putting together The Pulse and our weekly roundups.”

We live in a media-intense world, but what inspires Mac are the many talented, creative, thoughtful people that he has met in the city of Edmonton. After learning about their stories and helping tell those stories, he is inspired. “They’re all making a dent in the world and that makes me want to keep going with my efforts as well,”

As an entrepreneurial journalist, Mac spends most of his time serving B2B clients and trying to grow the various aspects of the business.

Mac shares.

Mac confirms that Edmonton has incredible opportunities for the future in technology, energy and other sectors and is optimistic that the region will continue to experience solid growth and that the economy will continue to diversify in the years ahead. While he is working to ensure that Taproot thrives by serving the community effectively, the future is unforeseen in terms of media sustainability. Mac is encouraged by Edmontonians who are dedicated to journalism, but the reality is that, “ we’re going to continue to see cutbacks in staff, quantity, and quality of coverage in the legacy media organizations for the foreseeable future.”

As an independent media journalist and co-founder of Taproot, Mac wears many hats and one of those is developer. Because his background is in computer programming, which Mac fell in love with at an early age, programming is one activity that he enjoys working with and can reliably achieve the “flow” of the work.

Taproot has built its own CMS, election microsite with many “behindthe-scenes” technologies to help the

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

company run. Embracing technology is one of the competitive advantages they have over other independent media outlets. Mac believes that everyone working in independent media worries about funding. Taproot is not pinning their success on government bailout or charity, but rather focusing on solving real problems for the communities they serve and collecting fair revenue for that work. “We strive to be more fully in control of our own destiny when it comes to the financial sustainability of our operation,” Mac reiterates.

Balancing being a dad, podcaster, writer and journalist take constant and consistent work. Mac organizes his daily schedule around his daughter so that he is sure to have time both morning and evening with her.

He confesses that he relies heavily on his calendar and says that, “if it’s not scheduled, it doesn’t happen!” By blocking off time slots in his calendar, he makes sure he is not overstretched, but most importantly, he shares that he has an incredible and supportive partner who makes it possible to do all the things he does.

Teamwork and meditating every day, help Mac stay present and enjoy the moments. He also uses digital tools as much as possible to get things out of his head so he’s not constantly thinking about everything that must get done. Plenty of fresh air, sunshine, and coffee also make a difference for Mac’s mental health.

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LadiesCorner

University

of

Alberta

Emily Kimani

F Emily Kimani

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or her graduation, a girl of colour mentions her hair as her identity and tells a story about the sense of empowerment she derives from it. She is Emily Kimani, a fifth-year science faculty student at the University of Alberta, and the first black Vice President of Operations and Finance at the Students Union body.

Kimani’s voice steadily characterized purposefulness in an engaging 30-minute podcast with Tee Adeyemo, from her ancestral Afro strands to the significance of diversity and inclusion for people of colour. Even more intriguing is how she took action by embracing a rare leadership opportunity outside of her field of study - immunology and infection! The position which required things like budget management was certainly a far cry, but Kimani, despite initially feeling inadequate, exemplified black excellence by learning the ropes.

Another ironic twist to Kimani’s emergence is that she was not heavily involved in the university community until her third year when she began volunteering for the Student Union at key events and activities. Her primary goal had been to get good grades, but after meeting the then-Vice President of Operations and Finance, and forming a friendship, Kimani leaned into a deeper meaning for social good. She first became a Science Counsellor and was mentored into a historic role at the University of Alberta.

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

May, 2022 A daily experience It is a tall order to juggle both study and politics. So, Kimani relied on her everyday lived experience, which she regards as valid and forceful enough to channel students’ expectations, from her presence as a smart black woman in the halls of the union’s leadership to amplifying voices alike towards change, as she knew not everyone will have the opportunity to sit across such decision and policy-enforcing tables.

Kimani also humanized her hair philosophy and owns a beautiful story of often refusing to braid her hair even in Junior High school, just not to wear off her identity. This is a powerful attestation to self-awareness.

Kimani has found herself through her daily lived experiences. Her identity remains secure and has been critical to her success in school politics.

Making the needed difference for the black students’ community Emily Kimani is poised to finish off her term with a positive note, on the strength of her running mandate.

She had contested with that drive to bridge the representational gap for people of colour and as a poster child for such noble themes as diversity and inclusivity. She believes they will be the legacy of her tenure: •• “We celebrated and recognized Black History month for the first time. The university commemorated it last year but the Student Union Body never did. So we hosted the speaker and spotlight series, and also instituted a new award – the Violet King Award for black students leadership and community involvement…”

The Violet King Award was established in honour of one of the Student Union’s first black executives. Violet King is a University of Alberta alumna who, like Kimani, embodies positive inspiration on campus, particularly for women of colour who will hold positions of leadership in the future.

New elections have been held, and Emily Kimani will be handing over her position to another woman of col-

our, a trend she hopes to see continue across the spectrum of executive opportunities because it makes her proud.

“It’s a great feeling to know that I contributed to inspiring another black woman to run… to take a leap of faith.”

Kimani has also seen how advocacy and protests by the student council, of which she is a member, can be used to gain the university’s support in bringing about safety on campus.

Tuition increases, COVID-19, and sexual violence have all been widely discussed. Delay in and halting of tuition hike has been some effects of activism she is part of.

Transparency A solid quality for governance anywhere in the world is being transparent, and Kimani claims to have thrived in that area. She was at the helm of a 10 million dollar budget, which had been drafted by the team of the previous year, so she says her team tried to be responsible with that in delivering quality work and that there were checks and balances.

Emily Kimani’s narrative continues to form around the core elements of diversity and inclusivity that drove her campaign. Everyone got involved.

Being a student in 2022 and the Ideal University Being a responsible student was an important part of Emily Kimani’s identity since it represents black excellence. Despite this, she is concerned that many students’ campus experiences will be negative due to a lack of community support, as well as having a large amount of debt to deal with after graduation due to the university being unaffordable. She recognizes Kimani has also seen how advocacy and protests by the student council, can be used to gain the university’s support in bringing about safety on campus.

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

Emily Kimani

the right of women, in particular, to equal access to opportunities and the right to feel safe on campus.

Politics After School Emily Kimani ran for president of the Student Union but despite her loss, she believes she has learned so much by “putting her name out there”. She will be taking a break now to focus on her school as she is in her final year.

The Next Generation Kimani says, “I will encourage everyone to go to university because it opens doors and opportunities”.

She reinforces this with a revelation that her parents moved to Canada, knowing the opportunities they would get, the ones they did not have growing up. She further says: “University is a challenge, and in those challenges, you grow as an individual and become the person you are meant to be.” Kimani is open to future options in her life.

Written by Judith Pila

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LadiesCorner Sponsored Content

Giving Back in a Big Way Paul Blinov

M

eet Sara Mwamba, me­ m­ber of Edmonton Co­ m­munity Foun­da­tion’s Human Service Sub-commi­ ttee.

“I just think it’s really important to give back and be civically engaged,” Sara Mwamba says.

She’s done plenty of giving over the years. A trained sociologist, Mwamba has offered her expertise to a wide range of organizations including Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF). In fact, her first involvement with ECF came while representing another group at an ECF “think tank,” where they

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were gathering feedback on the types of grants the Foundation provides.

ECF works with donors to establish endowment funds that support charities and causes in Edmonton and beyond. These endowments provide grants to charities through a careful process, which relies on dedicated committees of volunteers who have expertise in specific sectors.

“They mentioned that if anybody was interested, there was some other work that they were looking at for other committees,” Mwamba recalls. “It

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

seemed interesting.”

That was four years ago and Mwamba has been volunteering with ECF’s Human Service Sub-committee ever since. In that role, she helps appraise project proposals that support social welfare and overall well-being for individuals and families. She knows how valuable those services can be.

“I’m from an immigrant family,” she says. “Oftentimes there’s this rhetoric that immigrants just take and don’t give back — I think that this is also a way to counter that narrative.”

Mwamba continues to help

May, 2022

Sara Mwamba, me­m­ber of Edmonton Co­m­munity Foun­ da­tion’s Human Service Sub-commi­ttee.

newcomers find success and give back to their community through her work on ECF’s Scholarship Committee which oversees applications to the Edmonton Refugee & Emerging Community Scholarship Fund.

In addition to her Human Services and Scholarship Committee work, Mwamba was also part of a special ECF committee formed as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country.

On the Emergency Community Support Fund committee, she helped process applications rapidly, to fund organizations in difficult times.

“I think it was in the hundreds and it was in such a short turnaround time,” she recalls. “We would get the appli-

ECF works with donors to establish endowment funds that support charities and causes in Edmonton and beyond cation on Monday, and by Thursday we had to review the application.”

But being a part of that process counts among Mwamba’s proudest work with ECF. With her help, the Foundation was able to provide more than $4 million in support to dozens of charities in less than a year.

“It was just nice to know that I was LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

still helping out the community, even though I couldn’t be out there — just knowing that the funds were going to so many different things,” she says.

Now, a year later, Mwamba notes she has seen some of those projects come back around, meaning their pilot versions were successful and worth repeating. To her, it’s a reminder of how impactful this work can be.

“I’ve had a really great experience,” she says of volunteering with ECF. “I didn’t know anybody when I started, I just cold turkey-ed it. I would encourage anybody to come forward if they have the time and the energy” to become a member of the Edmonton Community Foundation Human Service and give back to the community.

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LadiesCorner

Your Afro Kinky Hair & You T

he Afro Kinky hair could be best described as beauty at its finest. The hair texture differs from coarse to soft and the maintenance varies per hair type and porosity. Knowing your hair porosity is quite synonymous with knowing your dress size or shoe size to fit perfectly. The Afro Kinky hair can also be classified as low, medium, and high porosity, although textured hair goes by various names including kinky and curly. Nappy hair is used when speaking about the hair of Black people. Knowing your hair porosity can help you choose the right products to keep your hair well-moisturized, supple, strong and lustrous.

What next?

Choosing a daily or biweekly routine for hair maintenance is the best approach. There are many nappy hairstyles which include dreads, sister locks, braids, ponytails, keratin treatment, texturizer, and silk press. Style totally depends on your personality, so anything that is convenient should be your style.

North America has different seasons, so it’s important to learn how to care for your hair as the climate changes.

Winter could be harsh on our hair, and this is the season where most people

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Damilola Adedeji LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

experience hair loss. Keeping the hair moisturized and hydrated is the secret to preventing hair loss. It’s best to deep condition regularly to prevent dryness and hair loss. By adapting the LOC or LCO method, which stands for liquid, oil and cream, this hair technique consists of combining water or a water-based product. LCO stands for liquid, cream and oil. The liquid could either be water or a spray mist. The oil could be your everyday hair oil and the cream can represent your leave-in conditioner. As summer is approaching, it’s great to totally unwind. Explore protective hairstyles like braids, ponytails, and cornrows so that the scalp can feel a breath of fresh air!

For tools and techniques for daily maintenance, irrespective of your hair type and style, it’s wonderful to have some items to save your hair from the climate. Satin bonnets or satin pillowcases are must-haves to keep your hair moisturized and prevent breakages; wide-tooth combs are best to use to comb and hot hair brushes should be used to comb hair after washing.

Spray water bottles should be used for daily maintenance. Hair oils, deep conditioners and shampoos are also must-haves to maintain your hair.

In conclusion, it’s so easy to trivialize hair care, from daily maintenance to biweekly routines. My best recommendation is to start a routine that can be followed through. By taking one step at a time, especially for our little girls, routines will help them grow to love and appreciate their nappy hair and pass this on to the next generation. You wonder why you should spend a certain amount on hair care when there are so many other things to buy with the funds you have. Self-care and hair care are anything you do to stay physically active, beautiful, and confident. While it may seem expensive and wasteful, it’s worth it in the long run. It’s fulfilling helping clients to grow their hair and nurturing damaged hair to life.

Everyone is different in their desire and taste, and we intentionally create a workable regimen to keep your hair lustrous and healthy.

Explore HUNDREDS OF CALGARY CHARITIES AND NONPROFITS ON THE COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE CENTRE

T

he Calgary Foundation’s Co­­ m­munity Knowledge Ce­n­ tre directory connects you to hundreds of Calgary charities and nonprofits, making it easy to support the causes you care about most.

Organizations upload their current needs, projects and initiatives and highlight how your support will help to address the greatest needs in our community. Search the CKC directory by cause, organization type, or population served, to easily find organizations that align with your interests.

Create a Profile, Become a Member, and Showcase your Organization For organizations, membership is open to both registered charities and non-profits who directly service the Calgary and area community. The directory has a new search feature to discover organizations in Calgary that serve marginalized communities and individuals. From the board level to senior leadership, these organizations are led by the people they exist to serve. Examples of equity-seeking communities include Indigenous people; ethnic or linguistic minorities; sexual and gender minorities, and persons with a disability.

When you sign up for a free mem-

bership, your organization can expect to benefit in a number of ways: Membership Profiles Want new opportunities to collaborate within the charitable sector? A membership profile gives organizations more visibility. It also gives you

For organizations, membership is open to both registered charities and non-profits who directly service the Calgary and area community.

May, 2022

Sponsored Content rate within the sector? Have a question for the community? Post it in the Discussion Forums and get the conversation going.

News Wondering what’s happening in the charitable and nonprofit sectors? Discover the latest news, events, webinars, workshops, initiatives, and grant deadlines.

Visit ckc.calgaryfoundation.org to learn more.

the chance to highlight your current fundraising goals and pressing needs.

Resource Library & Virtual Learning Channel Looking for a specific resource? Check out hundreds of charity-specific articles and a virtual learning channel.

From equity and anti-racism to fundraising, there is a resource for it.

Discussion Forums Want new opportunities to collaboLadiesCorner – Summer 2022

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LadiesCorner

J A Child’s Dream of Toys JUNO Award-winning and Edmonton born Vivian Fung

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J

UNO Award-winning Vivian Fung is a Canadian, Edmontonian born composer who writes music for orchestras, operas, quartets and piano with compositions performed internationally.

Vivian sees herself as a communicating humanist who tries to give expression in her music to all the things that are floating around in people’s psyches. Fung states, “I try to transform it into something musical.” Composing is an outlet to express all these emotions that someone cannot express themselves, like her almost 7-year-old son, whose life is intermingled with hers. Having a child has been healing for Fung and when Julian is in school, she composes.

One doesn’t have to go to Fung’s concert to hear her work, as her website has a lot of content that one can access. Fung hopes her music resonates with all people.

Recently in Paris in March performing a piece called “Earworms”, she was amazed at so many young people in the audience. When Fung’s son was young, he was obsessed with the tune, “The Wheels on the Bus” and she was humming it every day. It became the inspiration for the piece, which is a compilation of snippets of the song and different pieces that were swirling around in her head. “It’s all kind of jumbled up into a world that is my own,” she shares.

Fung’s parents immigrated to Canada. As a first-generation

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

May, 2022 Canadian, growing up in a lower-middle-class family, she remembers her parents struggling to make ends meet but valued education. Fung started piano lessons at a young age, but instead of practising, she started making up her own songs. Her teacher, also a composer, recognized her giftedness and encouraged her, taught her how to notate and to this day, they remain friends.

In November, Fung presented at the Wild Rose Opera Project in Edmonton, hoping her pieces will eventually become a full opera based on the oral history of her family. Fung’s extended family was in Cambodia in 1975, her birth year, when they suffered genocide. The project journey is healing for her and helps her understand her life better and “it resonates with a lot of people.”

Fung’s training has been mainly Western; however, when she started travelling, her musical journey expanded with her first trips to Bali.

Fung’s continual learning experience affords her the opportunity to understand different perspectives.

She enjoys recognition and shares there were many obstacles when she started, which included being female Asian. Overcoming those has been an accomplishment. Rejuvenation comes from making connections and spending time with her family and friends.

When Fung looks back over her life, there were many mentors along the way. One particular teacher introduced her to Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” which motivated her to compose. Mentoring has also become an important part of Fung’s life now. “I want to be giving back and also encouraging the next generation to not go through what I went through.”

Fung’s advice is to study, listen to different types of music, be curious and trust that inner voice. She certainly di d.

LCCMedia was fortunate to watch A Child’s Dream of Toys at the Winspear Centre. It was more than a treat. It was a powerful rendition of music that invoked memories from childhood.

Vivian Fung

Photos provided by Vivian Fung LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

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LadiesCorner

Seniors Corner

Thrival

N O T

S U R V I V A L

Lorrie Morales

G

etting ready for the end of life is making sure that we are living each day to the fullest. But seriously – are we ever ready for our final days? We can prepare spiritually, physically and mentally, but when it comes time for the reality of facing death, perhaps some of us aren’t so prepared.

A friend recently sent me a message telling me that she likes to make lists.

She also said that she leaves them on the kitchen counter and then has to guess what they were when she gets to the store to buy the items. That’s survival mode and yet, that’s why some families are unprepared for life’s end. Perhaps it’s a better idea to prepare. I love making lists and checking items off as I complete them, so here is a 7-step list that helps when you are attempting to organize thoughts regarding end of life preparations.

•• Avoid the hallway huddle at the hospital, hospice or house. This means getting papers, bills, finances, and housing organized before an emergency when decisions have to be made. Families

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can delegate individual areas of preparation in advance by having family members responsible for finances, health, housing, lawyers and even funeral arrangements.

•• Double up on the P’s with Personal Directive and Power of Attorney. There are 2 documents that adults need for the end of life in regard to making decisions and intentions known. A personal Directive allows an individual to make medical decisions if they are incapable. Power of Attorney gives an individual financial and property authority to make decisions if a person is unable to do so.

•• If there’s a Will then there’s a way with wishes. Letting others know what final wishes are alleviates the pressure for the executor or family to know what to do when they have to try to determine what their last wishes were.

Keeping this information up to date is critical.

•• Executors for Electronics need to be knowledgeable about their

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

digital duties. Because we live in a digital world, there are digital usernames and passwords that need to be tended to after death.

For example, a Facebook tribute, and bills that are paid online are a few items that an individual would need access to. Make a list.

•• A final farewell would help with funeral arrangements. One way to spare family members having to make taxing decisions is to arrange a service, memorial or celebration of life in advance.

•• Leave a Legacy. Collect the memories, stories, photos and family tree information to pass on to the next generation.

•• Final 4: I love you; I forgive you; Thank you; Forgive me are words to share with others before you pass on.

And so, before facing the final days, be sure to have your lists handy so you can check the items off. It makes life easier for you and your loved ones in preparing for the end of life.

May, 2022

Your Mental Health Odion Welch

M

ental health/Mental Well-­ being are the buzzwords that we have been hearing.

Unfortunately, because they are buzzwords, we can decide to ignore them and think they don’t concern us or even consider them Eurocentric.

We assume mental health or well-being is something only to be concerned about when someone is in a visibly distressed space, such as schizophrenia, self-harm or suicide attempts. Those are indeed things we do need to be concerned about. Still, it’s important to remember that we and our youth often arrive at those places because mental well-being has been ignored or there has been neglect of regular preventative mental health and self-care measures.

Mental health or well-being is not just a ‘white thing’ or ‘rich people thing.’ The painful side of the mental health continuum is affecting black communities, especially black youth, at an alarming rate.

According to a 2020 Statistics Canada Survey on mental health during the pandemic: •• 27.9% of Black visible-minority respondents, compared to 22.9% of White respondents, reported fair/poor self-rated mental health.

•• 32% of Black visible-minority respondents, compared to 24.2% of White respondents, reported symptoms consistent with moderate/severe generalized anxiety disorder.

•• 37.5% of Black visible-minority respondents, compared to 22.1% of White respondents, report-

ed COVID-19-related financial insecurity.

Additionally, according to the CDC •• More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.

•• 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.

•• 1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.

So I don’t tell you this, dear readers, to make you feel helpless. As we go into the summer months, there are many options to sustain you and your loved one’s mental well-being. Besides, having fun, and keeping your kids mentally healthy, there are some free local resources and recommended ways to keep your mental health in good shape!

Connect with others & be physically active •• You can do them simultaneously at places like the Africa Centre.

They have various fun, informative events - such as paint nights to teach coping through art. They also offer free counselling (even if you don’t think you need counselling, think of it as talking to an unbiased friend).

•• What about dropping your kids off at the free summer camp program or getting a mentor? You can take a break to do things you want to do, and they can get a break from you while engaging in the community because your mental well-being affects their mental health.

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

Odion Welch

Learn new skills •• The Edmonton Public Library offers a variety of complimentary classes at https://www.epl.ca/ life-skills/ Volunteer •• I love volunteering, especially in our summers. You can see a great event, have free food, and meet new friends - all while giving to charity.

Being present (mindfulness) •• This one is hard because it is easy to be mad at yourself for not sitting still. However, being present isn’t just sitting still. Start small and try a 10-minute gratitude meditation video on youtube or even watch a TikTok by Simone Saunders @thecognitivecorner.

For more about Odion Welch, please visit: www.odionwelch.com

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LadiesCorner

Star bright.

Funding from Edmonton Community Foundation supports the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund and provides the means for our city’s creative community to grow its cultural roots. As gifts expressing respect and recognition, Andrea Bellegarde-Courchene’s star blankets wrap the recipient in the rich past and bold promise of the Indigenous culture.

Donations to ECF inspire hope, create opportunity and enhance the Edmonton lifestyle. We work with our donors to give, grow and transform. ecfoundation.org helps Edmonton shine.

LadiesCorner – Summer 2022

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Charity begins at Home.