Pursuit | Summer 2021

VOLU M E 1 0 . I S S U E 2 . S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

FAS H IO N T H R O UG H T H E Y E ARS Insight into the Fashion Trends Cycle

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THE REALITY OF ADDICTION

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LIFESTYLE

Exploring the Windy City

CHICAGO

Making the Most of Your Trip

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PANDEMIC TRAVEL GUIDE

A Trip Through Southern California’s Desert

JOSHUA TREE

TRAVEL

The Pandemic’s Power in Transforming Human Interaction

RESHAPING COMMUNITY

Finding Hope and Healing in Grief & Loss

HOPE AGAIN COLLECTIVE

RELATIONSHIPS

CONT 3

The Ultimate Travel Playlist

SPOTIFY STAFF PICKS

Making the Most of Your Trip

MADE

The Next Generation of Filmmaking

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ELEPHANT ROOM PRODUCTIONS

ARTS

Insight Into the Fashion Trends Cycle

FASHION THROUGH THE YEARS

Unexpected Purpose Found in the Mainstream App

TIK TOK

0

TRENDS

How Toxic Plants Affect Our Four-legged Friends

PLANTS AND PETS

Healing in the Wake of Suffering

Cover by Camille Grochowski

ENTS

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Included in this issue is a special section dedicated to the people and places committed to creating a better Riverside.

We hope, that by highlighting these small business owners and their stories, you will not only be inspired to pursue your dreams, but to invest back into this city and the people that make Riverside all it is. Just as these men and women are devoted to honing their craft, cultivating creativity and art, and expanding the boundaries on cuisine and culture, we are devoted to sharing and celebrating the spaces they fill.

­­Pursuit Staff

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PEOPLE & PLACES OF RIVERSIDE 4 | Pursuit

featured

’s Note r o t i Ed

Editor’s Note

sta ff

Gratitude is something we have all had to learn in this season.

Reflecting upon all the things that have been stripped away has caused us to realize how often we take things for granted. As we look at the world around us, regardless of all the things we could say we lack, we will always have reasons to be grateful. Here are some of my reasons.

First of all, I am grateful for all of Lancer Media Group and its remarkable accomplishments, especially that of the Pursuit staff. I am thankful for Dr. Pearson and Sonya Singh, whose hard work and incredible dedication is the only thing that made this magazine possible. I am thankful for Lauren, our design editor, and her endless good ideas. Her creative mind has truly made this magazine what it is. I am thankful for Alyse, our managing editor, who always balances my chaos with structure. I am thankful for Kelsie, our photo editor, whose talent always results in captivating photography. I am thankful for all our editors, writers, photographers, and designers, whose innovation and commitment has produced a magazine worth remembering. Thank you all, truly.

Above all, I am grateful for the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose love fulfills our every need. This magazine was created by the grace of God alone, and for the glory of God alone. In Christ, we have every reason to be grateful.

Managing Editor

Photo Editor

Alyse Messmer

Kelsie Stevens

Design Editor

Asst. Design Editor

Lauren Sawdey

Zachary Cleek

Section Editor

Section Editor

Kelsie Stevens

Harmony Taetz

Staff Designer

Staff Photographer

Hannah Siefkes

Camille Grochowski

Director of Student Publications

Asst. Director of Student Publications

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson

Sonya Singh Pursuit | 5

Hop

Above: Rachel Lohman, founder of Hope Again Collective, wears a pair of her handmade earrings while making a new collection for the shop.

tive

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n C i a o g l lec A e

R E L AT I O N S H I P S

Finding Hope and Healing in Grief + Loss Written by Lauren Sawdey Photos Courtesy of Hope Again Collective

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ainty florals, speckled studs, shimmering gold and pastel-hued hoops — these are the beautiful handmade earrings you’ll find adorning the pages of Hope Again Collective, a shop dedicated to sharing the stories of women who have experienced miscarriage or infant loss.

Before these earrings evolved into the present collective, they started as an outlet for Rachel Lohman, founder and pastor, as she experienced anxiety while carrying her daughter following the loss of her first child.

Something that started as a fun hobby soon turned into constant requests from friends and family to purchase her earrings.

In the months following, on one July morning in particular, Lohman felt a distinct stirring in her heart as she began to realize a deeper connection between her creative outlet and her own story of loss: “What if these earrings could tell the stories of women who’ve walked through some of life’s hardest seasons and found hope again?”

Lohman says it was in this moment that the idea for Hope Again Collective was born.

“It was like an ah-ha moment. I saw how the two of them could be connected. It was so cool for me to see that God took such an unexpected turn in how I thought this was all going to unfold. He created this idea, it was not anything I would have ever thought of. It also showed me

that nothing I pour into, or nothing that he pours into his people, nothing I have an interest in, none of it is wasted,” Lohman says. “He showed me how making the earrings can be a bridge for women to share their stories. It was about opening up this community of women who want to process together and have a space for their stories to be told. They also have a physical token to memorialize their baby and something beautiful to wear that symbolizes hope.”

From that moment forward, the process to create Hope Again began, with Lohman striving to fill a void in the space around miscarriage and infant loss. The collective allows a place for women to share their stories, which are then transformed into earrings that honor them.

In sharing her story publicly, Lohman was amazed to see the outpouring of women, of all ages and backgrounds, stepping forward with their own stories of grief and hope. After personally experiencing an ambiguous grief, without the socially operated constructs of grief, Lohman knew she needed to build a space that allowed room for grieving mechanisms not often found in traditional types of loss.

“This is almost like a social grieving in some ways. It is a safer space than doing it with your friends and family because we built this community of women across the country — well, there are even a couple of women from other countries,” Lohman says. “It is so cool to see how ➤

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they have formed their own friendships, commenting on one another’s stories, calling their babies by name and remembering the special dates in each of our stories.”

As Hope Again began growing, with more women sharing their stories of loss and hope, Lohman found her own initial wounds also began to heal — feeling validated about the things she felt in her experience: loneliness, confusion and feeling lost without a mourning space.

In this moment, Lohman paused in consideration and poignantly expressed her shifted perspective on grief and pain in relation to her faith journey.

“I think I’ve become more comfortable in this space of having really honest conversations with God and being able to say that I haven’t experienced part of who he is for myself. What I was asking God for when we were losing our baby, He didn’t answer with what I wanted, which was keeping our baby alive,” Lohman says. “But how he answered that prayer, I think I’m living that out now. It has been bringing purpose out of something that was really horrific.”

Hope Again has proven a reflection of that realization, bringing purpose and healing in women’s unimaginable experiences of pain and loss.

Becka Applegate, Lohman’s sister-in-law, who has also experienced the loss of two angel babies, testifies to the healing found in giving grief a purpose.

“Being a part of Hope Again Collective has given me a place to share Rosie’s story, the beauty of her life, and what she was able to teach us in the 17 weeks she was with us here in my womb,” Applegate says. “Sharing has given my grief a purpose, and grief with a purpose can be healing. It helps to keep the bitterness at bay and allows the soul to grow, rather than rot.”

Lohman has also cultivated intentional practicality in this space through the creation of beneficiaries that receive financial support from collection sales, along with sending out grief boxes or self-care packages and providing resources around miscarriage and infant loss.

“The most recent collection we did was for a girl named Chelsea. Chelsea also had multiple miscarriages, and because of an autoimmune disorder they weren’t a candidate for IVF. So, she was leaning towards the surrogacy route.

Surrogacies are an extremely expensive procedure, but she and her husband really wanted to pursue that. We were able to give her that,” Lohman says.

Chelsea Watzig recounts her loss journey, first shared on Hope Again’s Instagram, reflecting on the community she’s found through the collective.

“There have been so many tears on this journey. I am still healing, but I am finally ➤

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R E L AT I O N S H I P S

“What if these earrings could tell the stories of women who’ve walked through some of life’s hardest seasons and found hope again?”

— Rachel Lohman, Hope Again Collective founder

Left: Lohman moves through each step of her creation process for a new collection of earrings.

Right: The ʻMarybeth’ earrings.

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starting to be at peace with the hands we were dealt. Infertility has made me question my faith. Infertility has made me angry at my body for failing on me,” Watzig says. “We have been blessed to find a surrogate, and although it’s a long road ahead, we believe she is going to give us the best gift on earth someday — our baby. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but in our case, it takes a village to have one, and that’s OK, too.”

As the collective evolves, Lohman finds herself dreaming of the ways it can continue to support and encourage this community of women. Whether that looks like providing grief boxes and resources to each woman who finds the shop, providing customizable or personalized earrings representing the child that was lost, or curating meaningful gift items for family or friends to purchase, Lohman is committed to expanding her shop into a multi-dimensional community support space.

“That is the future hope and dream. I’m working with my business coach to brainstorm ways to make this more of a collective atmosphere in terms of doing mom support groups or one-on-ones. It wouldn’t be counseling, but more of a mentorship,” Lohman says. “Having services available would be something I would like to step into in the future.”

She also hopes to one day move the collective from solely a virtual space to a physical brick and mortar space where women can build connections in an established community of women experiencing the same grief and pain.

“I envision an exposed brick, urban mixed-use space: a gallery with the photos and stories of loss moms lining the walls, a

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R E L AT I O N S H I P S

shop with rotating earring styles, a studio where earrings are made on-site, and a workshop space for classes that help women own their stories and wade through their grief,” Lohman says.

While she is preparing for the future expansion of the collective, Lohman also recognizes the immense impact Hope Again has already had in its short life. Staying near to the collective’s mission, Lohman wants women to know, above all else, that their stories matter, that their pain and grief matters, and that they can hope again.

Applegate echoes this mission, encouraging understanding and grace when experiencing seasons of intense grief.

“There is no right or wrong way to grieve. There is no timeline for it. You don’t ever really ‘get over’ grief. I heard a speaker once say that you move forward in grief, but you don’t move on from it. That resonated really deeply for me. I think that sharing your story can be one way you move forward in your grief and find healing, and, in that healing, hope,” Applegate says. “Sometimes hope is simply the confidence that good can still come out of terrible, that redemption exists and that loss does not have to be wasted.

Those are the truths, for me, that sharing my story has helped me to find and I think can be beautiful things for other women to find as well.”

The initial stirring that pushed the founding of this collective has since provided a place of respite and peace amid miscarriage and infant loss for hundreds of women.

In a season of unthinkable pain and grief, women finding this collective can find unwavering hope again. ◆

To share your story, to offer hope and healing to someone you know or to purchase earrings to support women going through miscarriage and infant loss, head to hopeagaincollective.com or find them on Instagram @hopeagaincollective.

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Written by Alyse Messmer Illustrations by Sofia Eneqvist

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T he Pandemic’ S Power in

RESHAPING COMMUNITY Tran Sforming Human Interaction

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oom weddings, seeing loved ones through closed windows, virtual dating, having a child without the father allowed in the room, long-distance relationships and online classes: These new “normal” ways of human interaction while remaining apart have caused more than just physical separation.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “limiting close face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been separated, friendships have become long-distance, and relationships have endured heavy strain from stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions.

Not only does social distancing and days spent in isolation affect relationships, but also mental health.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in ten adults who reported these symptoms from January to June 2019.”

Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology and director of research for the center for the Study of Human Behavior at California Baptist University also sees the negative effect social separation can have, especially on college students.

“Not all people are affected equally, to be sure, but even the cultural reverberations matter for the most shielded. There is evidence that college

students, who are among the most aware of mental health challenges, are suffering and not necessarily getting the help that they need,” Smith says.

For Brooke Swenson, junior early childhood development major, attending school virtually instead of on campus affected her friendships, as well as her relationship with her fiancee.

“The stress of moving, going online and obvious distance created a divide in a lot of my friendships with people from school. My relationship experienced a lot of growth because of COVID. Because we live in the same town, we were fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time together, time that we would have otherwise not had. We were able to depend on each other through the stress of COVID. Communication became much easier and more necessary since we had so much extra time to spend together.”

As the medium of communication changed vastly in 2020, meeting in person had become rare, and everyone became an expert in the world of Zoom.

Smith says she believes this change of medium also had an impact.

“In the 1960s, Marshall McLuhan wrote a book in which he coined the phrase ‘the medium is the message.’ Essentially, his argument was that how we communicate (the medium) is part of the message itself; we cannot understand content separate from its mode of delivery. As I think about how necessary covid-19 precautions (restriction of social gathering, social distancing, etc.) have impacted our communication, we can of course say things like, ‘We ➤

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talk online a lot more,” and that’s true. McLuhan would likely have some ideas about what this new form of mediation means for the nature of the things communicated.

Not necessarily bad — but different,” Smith says.

Smith explains that when cameras are turned on during zoom calls, participants become exhausted because they have to consider multiple things at once.

“When I have a conversation with you, I think about you, not whether I have a weird hair sticking up or spinach in my teeth. Circling back to McLuhan, might we predict that conversations are more self-focused when we are more aware of ourselves or engaging in more apparent self-monitoring? I don’t know. But it does very likely change the quality of the conversations,” Smith says.

Communication and interaction has definitely changed, and it impacts people differently. As changes like this can change people emotionally and mentally, they can

“COVID made it hard for me to be outgoing. People had to push themselves to go out and see people because we all got used to being hermits in our rooms, so once school opened up and things were getting back to normal, on one side we were all so excited, but it was far more exhausting because our social circles were so out of shape.”

Jarboe explains additional challenges that have occurred in terms of dating. “Even with my boyfriend, he can’t come over and watch a movie with my friends or have that community. Dating is now a lot of just one-onone time, it’s not as community-based as I would wish because of COVID.” Though Smith points out some of the negative effects of the social separation from COVID-19, she says she also believes there is a possibility to use this time for personal growth. “(COVID) has also forced a lot of us to stop and slow.

Even in the sudden frenetic fury, there is an unbearable slowness at times. I think if we are wise, we will sit in that slowness.

— Erin Smith, aSSociate profeSSor of pSychology, director of reSearch for the Center for the Study of Human Behavior also impact people physically.

“One thing that is clear in psychology and in Scripture is that our bodies, our physicality, is not a thoughtless ‘add on’ to our personhood,” Smith says. “Changing how we move and engage — our physical bodies — inevitably changes us, even in subtle ways. As a scientist, I will hold out for data in making predictions in terms of what these days will mean for us. I listened to a podcast recently that argued that digital presentations (which are so awkward!) may be helpful in teaching individuals to overcome their anxieties about speaking in front of people (in the flesh). I’ve also read articles surmising about our sudden loss of social skills due to lack of practice.”

Jillian Jarboe, junior Christian behavioral science and Christian studies major, also says COVID-19 affected how she handled relationships, even in terms of her own personality.

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Even in the sudden frenetic fury, there is an unbearable slowness at times,” Smith says. “I think if we are wise, we will sit in that slowness. We will be uncomfortable and gaze at the unpleasant reality that many of us have created busy and distracting lives so that we don’t have to actually see the world around us. I’m hoping that people — especially college students at this pivotal crossroad in their personal and professional developments - will not hurry to the other side of this moment without thinking about what God can teach them in it. God is in the business of redemption. He can redeem this awful experience and his holy name be glorified.”

Thankfully, as the COVID-19 vaccines continue to be distributed, more and more states are opening up restaurants, movie theaters and even some nursing homes for visitors, creating space for more human interaction and meetings with missed loved ones. ◆

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A

dark shadow looms over a forest green tent, pitched under a twisted tree as the sun sets over the surrounding

desert. Above the trees, a thick rope dangles from the side of a woman’s hip as she meticulously places her feet in the cracks of a rock 80 feet off the ground, hoping to reach the top before sundown.

Only 111 miles away from Los Angeles sits an outdoor haven for those looking for a quick escape from busy city life. Joshua Tree holds a number of outdoor activities as well as a “glamping” lifestyle for every vacation need.

Black Lotus Ranch Nestled off the parks property sits a little hideaway, perfect for any traveler hoping to experience Joshua Tree without the busyness of the reserve. Black Lotus Ranch is a five-acre property with everything needed for a cozy camping experience.

The ranch’s main attraction is its tent, otherwise known as a yurt. Yurts are used in nomadic tribes for shelter but have recently been popularized more widely, specifically in Joshua Tree due to its similar climate. Those visiting the yurt have popularized the name “the dumpling” because of its resemblance to the Asian dish.

The Yurt is furnished with a queen-sized bed, a small fireplace, eclectic lighting and everything to keep warm in the cold desert climate. On the other side of the property sits the bathroom area and hosting space where guests can light a fire, grill and watch the sun set over the park. ➤

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Joshua Tree T R AV E L

Written and Photographed

by Kelsie Stevens

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Kate Sedrowski, a climber from Colorado, fixes her grip on a challenging route.

Rock Climbing & Hiking

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A skilled climber hangs out in her harness and enjoys the view.

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lthough camping is a major part of Joshua Tree’s culture, another aspect of the park which draws in many outdoor enthusiasts is the areas dedicated to rock climbing. According to the park statistics, there are more than 8,000 spots throughout the national park that serve as rock climbing areas.

One of the most popular destinations in the park is Quail Springs, a portion of the reserve that presents large cliff-sides and adequate space to accommodate the masses of climbers. This space offers restrooms, various parking spots, and a nearby hiking trail to partake in after a climb.

In addition to rock climbing, Joshua Tree is also a hiker’s heaven. The park holds a series of hiking trails for both the expert and beginner, with many of the trails having historic destination points as their end point. One of the most popular trails in the park is Lost Horse Mine Loop Trail, a seven-mile, round-trip hike with a well-preserved gold mine from the 1930s situated at the top of the hike.

Near the main mine is a collection of miner’s belongings such as an old fireplace, remnants of vehicles and worn-away housing structures. Similar to these hiking spots, Joshua Tree holds a number of backcountry backpacking destinations such as the California Hiking & Riding Trail. This backpacking trip takes visitors throughout the park, seeing 35 miles of the land and trees, while stopping through major climbing and historic sites. ➤

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Food & Drink

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o start the day off like a true Joshua Tree tourist, visitors must stop at the Joshua Tree Coffee Co. This shop is best known for its nitro cold brew that is specially roasted and brewed in Joshua Tree.

Joshua Tree Coffee Co. sits on the corner of Twentynine Palms Highway, the only road available to enter the north entrance of the park, making it an easy grab-and-go for any coffee lover hoping to get a cup before heading in.

Directly next to the coffee shop is Natural Sisters Café, where visitors can

Above Far Left: Customers step into The Natural Sisters Cafe for a healthy lunch.

Above Far Right: Butch, the shop’s mascot, naps peacefully beside the cacti.

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stop for a bite to eat or pair their coffee with an organic juice. The café offers organic, vegetarian and vegan options and specializes in comfort food and sandwiches.

The café also hopes to highlight the beauty of the surrounding area by showcasing local artists' work throughout the shop.

Many leaving Joshua Tree hope to take a souvenir home to remember their trip, and while many may stop at the nearest gift shop, others hope to make

T R AV E L

their trip extra special with a stop by Cactus Mart.

This shop specializes in plant keeping, offering a variety of plant species, both indoor and outdoor.

The most popular attraction at the shop is their “plant your own cactus” section, where guests are encouraged to grab a pot, pick out their favorite cactus and get their hands dirty by repotting their cactus with fresh soil.

Another popular draw to this

shop is their wild animals, which roam the property. The outdoor areas have a number of chickens which are allowed to roam free during the day and help keep the premises clean of bugs.

Many of the indoor areas and greenhouse structures are home for the feline friends — one being the shop’s mascot, Butch, a tabby cat that roams around the plants, taking occasional naps among them.

Cactus Mart

Whether you’re looking for a scenic drive through the desert, a hike through a canyon or a night under the stars, Joshua Tree offers vacationers a wide variety of avenues for any traveler’s needs. ◆ Pursuit | 21

Pandemic Travel Guide Making the Most of Your Trip Written by Alyse Messmer Illustration by Hannah Siefkes

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raveling is no longer as easy as it was. As a result of stay-at-home orders and the fear of spreading COVID-19, most travel was shut down in 2020.

A total of 217 countries and territories across the globe established travel restrictions, some closing their borders and not accepting travel across customs. According to the United States Travel Association, air travel was 62% lower in January 2021 than January 2020, showing no improvement since October 2020.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to warn against traveling in an ongoing effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Their website states: “Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. CDC recommends that you do not travel at this time. Delay travel and stay home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are extremely high across the United States.”

The CDC recommends continuing to wear masks, staying at least six feet apart, avoiding crowds and washing your hands often. But these guidelines do not make travel impossible.

For many who have gone back to work or school, travel is necessary. For others, travel is their escape from work, school or everything the year 2020 held for them. Thankfully for them, transportation systems are opening back up and continue to offer people the ability to travel, with the addition of new guidelines and regulations.

Hannah Hendrickson, junior exercise science major, encourages other students to be creative in traveling during this time.

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“Traveling during a pandemic certainly takes creativity. But it is doable. While transcontinental travel has been limited, there are endless options to explore areas within driving distance,” Hendrickson says. “I’ve been blessed to live in this area in Southern California, with access to the mountains, beach, and deserts like Joshua Tree.

There is so much to see. Day trips have grown my appreciation for the area I live in, and being creative with the Covid-friendly activities I can do has helped me realize that it is never impossible to have a good time.”

PLANNING A TRIP Along with the needed creativity to travel during this time, there are still many precautions and steps of planning that are encouraged before a trip of any kind. Business Insider, is a good resource to rely on for the planning process.

First, while planning your trip, be aware that there may be unexpected closures. Double-check with hotels, restaurants, and even the Federal Highway Administration to make sure your route won’t include any surprises. They also encourage tourists to rent a vacation home or Airbnb instead of a hotel to limit interactions with others.

It is also important to know what that country, state or even airport will require of you. Do you need a specific COVID-19 test? How many negative tests do you need and within what time frame? Do you need a COVID-19 vaccination to participate in this activity? Will you need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival? Depending on the airline, airport, state or country, these regulations vary.

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PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP When packing, make sure you have all the necessities.

Timothy Klepzig, junior mechanical engineering major, encourages others to be prepared when packing for a trip of any kind.

“I think the best way to make travel happen through this time is to simply prepare and expect changes to your plans. As restrictions change constantly, plans have to follow suit,” Klepzig says.

“One thing I will recommend through this pandemic is always having hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, disinfecting spray, and vitamin C packets close by during a trip. When I was out of the state, every morning, I took a vitamin C packet in the morning to boost my immune system. Just to be safe, help your body out.”

“Use the disinfecting wipes and spray - you can keep your car, hotel, or wherever you are staying clean and safe. Always keep a box of fresh, clean masks in your car. As you meet new people or old friends and go on spontaneous adventures, you want to make sure everyone is safely masked up. Protecting yourself, your friends and the people in the community you are traveling to is very important.”

According to the National Park Service, if planning to visit a National Park such as Yosemite, masks are “required in all NPS buildings and facilities. Masks are also required on NPS-managed lands when physical distancing cannot be maintained, including narrow or busy trails, overlooks, and historic homes.”

When packing for any trip, masks (and a few extra masks) are always a necessity.

WAYS TO TRAVEL Whether a road trip, flight or train ride, there are new safety regulations and practices in place to ease worry or fear of spreading or catching the coronavirus.

Delta Airlines, along with many other carriers, continues to offer flights with new safety measures in place. Besides requiring travelers to wear masks and spacing out seats on the aircraft, they also added new sanitation and air filtering systems.

Delta’s website assures travelers that there is a way to travel safely: “From the moment you check in to when you reach baggage claim, you’ll experience the Delta CareStandardSM, designed to keep all surfaces and high-traffic areas clean and disinfected, give you more space, and offer safer service and personal care at every point in your journey.”

Amtrak started a partnership with the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health to research and provide a safe train experience for all visitors. Along with their mask and distance regulations, they also regularly disinfect surfaces and have onboard filtration systems with a fresh air exchange rate every four-five minutes.

These safety precautions are scientifically proven to limit the spread of COVID-19 by creating a safe environment and experience, making travel and adventuring possible during this time.

While attempting to travel during this time, taking the precautions, planning well and packing for every scenario will ease stress and make traveling even more “normal.” ◆

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Written and Photographed

by Alyse Messmer Pursuit | 25

EXPLORING THE WINDY CITY 26 | Pursuit

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Travel has not been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but more cities are starting to open up and welcome visitors. Larger cities such as Chicago, New York and Seattle have been reopening their restaurants, attractions, businesses and more to welcome in tourists and allow them to experience the city.

When looking for a new travel spot, The Windy City is one of the most popular U.S. cities to visit. Known for the Chicago River, The Cloud Gate sculpture, museums, The John Hancock Building and Observation Deck, Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Wrigley Field, great restaurants and much more, Chicago holds many amazing spots for visitors.

The Chicago River The Chicago River runs through downtown Chicago, offering visitors beautiful views from its many bridges, or a great tourist opportunity on a water taxi or boat tour. Water taxis offer tourists and Chicago natives alike an alternate way of transportation around the city, offering greater views than your typical yellow cab.

Boat tours along the Chicago River also take guests around the great city to explore the architecture, history and even some nighttime fireworks. In March, the Chicago River is dyed emerald green, drawing thousands of visitors for St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

The Cloud Gate The Cloud Gate sculpture, or “The Bean” as many know it as, was created by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor in 2004-2006. This mirror-like sculpture is one of Chicago’s most popular tourist photo spots, warping a person’s appearance as they walk around and under its curving shape and sides. Millennium Park is also home to rotated art exhibitions, concerts and film showings at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink, Lurie Garden, and the Maggie Daley Park full of suspension bridges, tube slides, 40-foot climbing wall and 18-hole mini golf course with Chicago-themed obstacles.

Union Station Chicago’s Union Station is known for its beautiful architecture. As many visitors come for the photo ops and beautiful space, this train station is a stop for trains from as far as the West Coast. The station is also a stop for Chicago Metra trains. Inside the station there is also a Dunkin’, Starbucks, and a Gold Coast Dogs for a Chicago hot dog fix.

Goddess & The Baker Goddess and the Baker is local cafe, with three locations in downtown Chicago.

This cafe is perfect for breakfast, lunch, a quick bite or just a cup of coffee. Whether a black almond honey matcha latte, glitter gold lattes, nitro cold brew on tap or a housemade drink from the juice bar, Goddess and the Baker has a perfect drink for every visitor that can’t be found on a menu like Starbucks. For breakfast, their homemade granola, avocado toast, pastries and huevos rancheros tostadas cause their morning rush to be quite busy. Their menu also includes salads, sandwiches, mac & cheese and acai bowls.

LondonHouse Rooftop On top of one of the most famous Chicago hotels holds the perfect spot for drinks or a meal, while also offering beautiful scenic views of the Chicago River and architecture. The LondonHouse Hotel in downtown Chicago, right off of the Chicago River, offers luxury hotel rooms for visitors and tourists in the center of the most visited spots of Chicago. But for those only visiting for a day, their rooftop bar is a hidden gem for visitors. With offerings like parmesan truffle fries, a prime NY strip steak, lobster mac & cheese and snickerdoodle creme brulee, the LondonHouse Rooftop bar is a great spot for visitors of any age. The views of the city, Chicago River and horizon offer visitors one of the best spots to truly see Chicago. ➤

Right: The Chicago Board of Trade stands beside buildings with scenic architecture.

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Above: Big Star serves delicious and renowned, family-style chicken tacos.

Above: Cyclists pass by Wrigley Field, home of the famous Chicago Cubs.

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T R AV E L

Big Star Big Star can be found directly across the street from the famous Wrigley Field in Wrigleyville, Chicago and is home to authentic Mexican street food. This two-story location is open for lunch and dinner and brunch on weekends. From their famous Big Star Nachos, ensalada and churro pop ice cream, Big Star is know for their family-style served tacos. With six different kinds of tacos, they have something for every tourist. They offer al pastor (pork), papas con rajas (potatoes), panza (pork belly), pescado (fish), pollo (chicken) and “Walking Tacos” that are served in a Fritos chip bag with beans and other toppings.

They also offer a walk-up window for to-go orders.

Wrigley Field A 20-minute drive from downtown Chicago holds another must-see, the famous Wrigley Field and Wrigleyville, home of the World Series-winning Chicago Cubs. Wrigleyville surrounds Wrigley Field, packed full of restaurants, bars, and gift shops for sports lovers. The stadium began construction in 1914, and opened up as Wrigley Field in 1926. Since then, it has remained a hub for tourists and diehard Cubs fans alike. This neighborhood provides a great summary of the city of Chicago and the loyalty of Chicagoans to their favorite team.

As these are just a few of the many “must-see” spots Chicago holds, even having only a day in The Windy City can provide visitors with a great look at what the city is about. On trips longer than a day, other key places to visit are the Nutella Cafe, The Chicago Skydeck, The Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier and Shedd Aquarium.

The city of Chicago holds many treasures, hidden gems and “must-do” tourist attractions, making it one of the most popular cities in the United States and a great location for a post-COVID trip. ◆

Right: The Chicago River is colored bright green to honor St. Patrick’s Day.

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T he Reality of Written by Alyse Messmer Illustrations by Hannah Siefkes

F

or adults and students, addiction can be a subtle and fast fall. Things that start as innocent “onetime” occurrences, such as over-eating, binge watching, gossip, pornography, alcohol, drugs and more can become a habitual problem for those who form a reliance on it.

By the time individuals are in their senior year of high school, 70 percent have tried alcohol, 50 percent have abused an illicit drug, 40 percent have smoked a cigarette and 20 percent have used a prescription drug recreationally according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In the United States alone, there are more than 7,800 new drug users every day.

But for college students and high schoolers, picking up addictions to substances is easier than at other ages.

NIDA also reports that “Adolescents are ‘biologically wired’ to seek new experiences and take risks, as well as to carve out their own identity. Trying drugs may fulfill all of these normal developmental drives, but in an unhealthy way that can have very serious long-term consequences.”

Dr. Robert Pate, California Baptist University director of clinical training and PsyD Program and associate professor of psychology, says addiction can hold a weight over its victims and cause major harm in other places in their lives.

“When people get addicted to something it’s always at the expense of something else. They are choosing to have a relationship with a thing, a substance, a phone, - something else other than people and maybe ultimately with God,” Pate says. “People who are addicted can go through a handle of vodka a day or even two, and they’re fine. They’ll go to class and they’ll do OK and no one will know except those who are close to them who they have chosen alcohol over.”

For Kristin Thoroddsen, junior studio production major, addiction affected her own family, as her half brother

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Healing in the Wake

Addiction of Suffering

LIFESTYLE

was addicted to alcohol and drugs when she was younger.

“His addiction was really hard for my dad to deal with, which made my family dynamic very different for a long time. Although it didn’t affect me very much, I saw it tear apart his family. He got a divorce with his wife and didn’t get to see his three kids for a good amount of time. It definitely makes me more cautious about drug use and gives me a broader perspective of how it affects a whole group of people not just one person. He’s now two years sober and is making amends with them all but it was a slow process of regaining trust.”

According to Lakeview Health Addiction Treatment and Recovery, more than 23 million people in the United States struggle with addiction. Only 10% of these 23 million will get appropriate addiction treatment, and the remaining 90% will not get the help they need.

For anyone questioning if they are addicted to something, there are ways to evaluate habits. For those struggling with addiction to things such as drugs, alcohol, pornography or even the internet, there are resources.

For CBU students, the Counseling Center offers counseling for addiction, anxiety, depression and other things related to mental health. Online, the Counseling Center also provides anonymous screenings that can help identify any issues or struggles one might be having.

Pate also works at Psychological Services of Riverside as a clinical psychologist, offering services outside of CBU. Psychological Services of Riverside’s mission is to “assist members of the community to live out the values that are most important to them, without the hindrance of cognitive, emotional and behavioral struggles. Whether motivated by faith, family, friends, aspirations or other convictions, we strive to help individuals pursue a life of meaning that is unencumbered by psychological impediments.” ➤

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Pate said that for those looking to make a recovery from addiction, therapy could be a great solution.

“If you’re reading this, and this feels like you, there is hope and there are places to go. Going to the Counseling Center will accomplish a few things. First, you’ll see you’re not alone. I’m not the only person on CBU’s campus dealing with alcoholism or something. It also helps you think through what caused your addiction and what is maintaining your addiction and what you should change.”

Pate also encourages his clients to set boundaries.

For many, addiction is not holding them to such extremes as drugs or alcohol, but even smaller, sometimes excusable things such as social media and food. For them, treatment and recovery can still be just as necessary.

“Sometimes boundaries mean you give your phone to someone else, sometimes it means you have to throw away your internet modem, sometimes it means you can’t go out unless someone else is with you because they’re gonna stop you from buying that alcohol,” Pate says.

“Lock your phone in a drawer - it’ll be OK. If you realize ‘Wow, I’m super anxious when I don’t have my phone,’ maybe that’s a sign of something else going on, and it’d be good to talk to somebody about it.”

“Find the thing that fits for your recovery. For some people that’s therapy. Not everyone thrives in therapy, but also not all therapies are the same. I would encourage

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people if they’ve gone to therapy before and they say it didn’t work for them - well maybe that therapist or those three didn’t work for you, but give it another chance.

Sometimes we give up too easily on the things that might help us,” Pate says.

For friends of those who are dealing with addiction, there can also be difficulties in loving them, but not supporting their habits “Try not to enable other’s addicted behavior. We can’t make people’s choices for them, and that can make us feel very powerless to be the friend of someone going through an addicted process,” Pate says. “But encourage them, be there for them, and modify your expectations for them for a while. Let them know you are a safe person to talk to. That you care about them no matter what.”

Pate encourages those with friends who are struggling to also set healthy boundaries if the relationship has become toxic.

“I think boundaries can also be important. Sometimes people are not willing to make a change unless they have some sort of consequence. People do interventions, so have honest feedback for them. Share with them the relational consequences, and ultimately if you have someone that is in an addictive process and you’ve done everything and it’s hurting you, you might have to think about removing yourself some way from the relationship. Maybe still offer them support from a distance — it

LIFESTYLE

does not have to be all or nothing. You don’t have to give up “I think the Gospel makes it OK to be as screwed up as completely on a relationship to make boundaries in a relationwe are. We’re all messed up - no one can ever earn salvation, ship.” so stop trying. Acknowledge how broken we are, take that Thorddensen says there are many things she wishes she first step of humility and turn to God. There’s always going to would have told her half-brother during his struggle with adbe suffering and pain, but how do we deal with that? That’s diction, but it was left unsaid. where the Gospel offers us “It’s really hard to see hope. For those suffering people hurting and ruining their with addictions or the things lives, especially when they aren’t that lead to addictions, just hurting themselves. I think heartbreak, homesickness, the biggest thing they need is failure, insecurity, imposter love and support so that they can syndrome, all of the things go on a path of healing. I wanted that we all deal with, there to tell him that Jesus is the only is hope – you can feel loved one that can bring true healing, and accepted and OK. You that the hole we are trying to fill can feel valuable and worthy with drugs and alcohol is only through Christ,” Pate says. temporary and is hurting you.

For those who are My brother isn’t a believer so I looking for help, the CBU would just want to reassure him Counseling Center provides — Dr. Robert Pate, California Baptist University in his worth and love that he has free counseling to students director of clinical training and PsyD program in Jesus.” and faculty Monday through For those suffering with Friday, as well as providing addiction, there is also hope to be found in the Gospel. online screenings and other helpful resources.

“I think a terrible approach to this from a Christian perFor those wanting help outside of CBU, Psychological spective would be that type of prosperity Gospel: ‘Give your Services of Riverside provides therapy, psychological testing life to Jesus and your addiction is going away tomorrow.’ No, and other programs Monday through Friday. Appointments it’s probably not, because there are still consequences, (both) can be scheduled online and the office is located at 2900 Adpsychological and biological, for our choices,” Pate says. ams Street, a four-minute drive from CBU. ◆

There’s always going to be suffering and pain, but how do we deal with that? That’s where the Gospel offers us hope.

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PlantS & PetS How Toxic Plants Affect Our Four-legged Friends Written by Kelsie Stevens Illustration by Lauren Sawdey

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LIFESTYLE

D

raped around a crowded living room sits an array of vibrant green plants: pothos, monstera, ZZ plants and cuttings galore, with leaves falling off bookshelves and vines stretching into the air. To plant lovers everywhere this sounds like a heavenly scene, but to those with beloved pets, this screams ‘beware.’

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, people have begun adapting the plant scene within their own homes in hopes of connecting to nature in a new way. Due to COVID regulations on outdoor activities, people are using the hobby of plant keeping to reconnect themselves to the outdoors. As plant keeping rises in popularity, newcomers to the hobby are offered easy and reliable plants that are readily available at any plant store. However, without the proper research these new plant parents may be poisoning another household presence – their pets.

Many popular household plants contain chemicals that when ingested by pets can lead to a number of health issues such as vomiting and diarrhea. Although these may be treatable, after prolonged exposure animals could have severe injuries or even die due to these issues. There are also a number of plants containing chemical toxins which can directly lead to death. One of the most common among these pants is a peace lily, which is highly dangerous to both humans and animals if ingested.

Plants have made their way up to #8 on the list of top ten substances most toxic to pets, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Plants make up 6.1% of the cases involving pet poisonings and plant related products make up another 7.5% of these cases. With this issue on the rise, those within the plant community have begun expressing concerns and hope to educate those new to the hobby. One member of this community is Tara Duncan, an environmental science major and environmental/botany club president. She has dealt with these issue first hand.

Duncan and her black and white cat, Mabel, both share a love of plants. But since getting Mabel, Duncan has had to change her plant keeping lifestyle drastically.

Duncan stresses that both plant and pet keeping come with compromise. “There are a lot of plants that I would like to have but can’t because my cat would die. I have found a lot that I’ve come to like: a china doll plant, an areca palm, money tree, ect.” Duncan says.

Since she lives in a shared space, Duncan and her roommates have designated areas where toxic plants live and pets do not, providing the pet with safe spaces.

Duncan says that the most important thing one can do is research, “When I go plant shopping and I see a plant

I like, I google it to see if it is cat-safe or look at the ASPCA website that has a list of plants that are toxic and non-toxic.”

Despite these many fears, some in the plant keeping business press their consumers not to worry. “From my experience, most animals cannot eat enough of something to hurt themselves” says Pete Liston, horticulture specialist and owner of 7 Oaks Plant Nursery located in Corona, CA. Liston says that roughly 90% of plants are toxic, making the idea that you should regulate what you buy something of myth. According to Liston, even if pets are around toxic plants, the possibility of them causing death is highly unlikely.

However, a pet’s health and safety is still a top priority for pet owners. A local plant shop in downtown Riverside called Piep conducted an interview via Instagram live on Mar. 5th, 2021 with a veterinarian. The owner of Piep, Mackena Rowley, asked this veterinarian just how much toxic plants affect pets. During this interview, Rory Cowlam, a five-year veterinarian in London known as Rory the Vet, states that even though the number of pets who get fatally sick from plants is low, he has witnessed multiple cats die from toxic plants.

Cowlam advises pet owners not to be extremely worried, but to still take precautions. Colwam highlights that pet owners come into the vet at least once a week with concerns regarding toxic plants, but a majority of those visits consist of giving advice to plant and pet owners rather than treating serious sickness. One thing Cowlam consistently warns his patients of is the toxicity of lilies to cats. “If you own a cat, you do not have lilies in your house, period. Cats can get life-threatening diseases from just a bit of pollen from lilies on their coat,” Cowlam says.

When conducting this research it’s important for plant parents to go to a professional source. ASPCA holds a number of online resources, but local shops can help.

Some in the plant keeping business have kept this issue in mind and are helping their customers avoid it. Those who wish to stay on the safe side can talk to the shop employees for advice on what is pet safe. This form of research not only allows plant parents to shop safe but to also to support local businesses.

On their Instagram account, @piep.co, this business provides a full list of plants that are toxic for pets as well as plants that are safe for pets. Their website also contains a Plant Parenthood Guide for all plant owners which includes a full collection of care tips for plants. Within this guide, there is a list of specific instructions for nearly every type of plant sold at the shop. This is a great place for new plant-owners with pets to start. ◆

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Building a Brand Around Art You Wear Written by Luc Stringer Photos Courtesy of Native Print Co. 36 | Pursuit

PEOPLE & PLACES

W

hether on your favorite T-shirt, water bottle, or baseball cap, you’ve definitely seen screen printing somewhere. This simple process of pushing ink through a mesh decorates our products with beauty. Pursuit sat down with Nate Belote, founder of Native Print Co., to hear more about his life as a business owner and screen-printer. Nate is a one man show, but he caters to many clients each year and plans to expand his business even further. ➤

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What began your entrepreneurial journey?

It actually started back in high school. I was in an arts academy screen printing class. We created things for the school district and stuff like that. I did that in high school and continued to do it all through high school, and then graduated with plans to go into the military. At some point, I realized what I want to do. I thought about how much I actually enjoyed the screen-printing thing. I thought, why don’t I just go give that a try for a little bit? I ended up at a company locally, but I was hired as a printer. I was brought into the company just to do printing and other little things.

I worked there for about 10 years and became production manager at that time. Then I realized that it was something that I wanted to do full-time.

Tell me the story of Native Print Co. I was working at that company as its production manager and was kind of running that shop, but not owning it. The owner would come in a few days a week, but other than that I was there full-time running the place. Over time I thought, well, maybe I could buy this business. So I approached the owner of that company about buying that business from him, and it became clear to me pretty quickly that although he was going to sell, we weren’t going to agree on a price. So that kind of just sparked my curiosity. I

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thought, “What would it look like to go start something from scratch?” For a while, I was constantly looking for used equipment. Because I’ve been printing for so long, I knew what I wanted. Over time I started buying pieces of equipment and storing them. At the time, my wife and I lived in an apartment. I didn’t have anywhere to put this stuff. My buddy had a garage and said, “You can use this part of my garage,” and so I slowly started adding things to his garage and built up my equipment over probably about a year. Finally I thought, “OK, now I need all the funds to actually start the business.” I wrote a business plan and was starting to present it to banks. Then I was at a family reunion thing for my wife’s family and one of her cousins who was pretty well off… heard about what I wanted to do and said, “show me your business plan.”

If you had to give a student one piece of advice as they set up their own company, what would it be?

I think the biggest thing I had to overcome was a fear of failure. Failure is an option, and it’s not the worst thing that can happen. What is the worst-case scenario? This whole thing fails and I have to just start over or just get another job. That was really my worstcase scenario. So (my advice is) get past the fear of failure; (do not start) believing in the lie that if you fail everything’s just going to fall apart. As I work through it, the worst case scenario is I have to get a normal job. And when I thought about it I thought, “That’s not so bad. Why not try?”

PEOPLE & PLACES

Get past the fear of failure; do not start believing in the lie that if you fail everything’s going to fall apart.

— Nate Belote How has your business impacted the community?

I’m lucky that I can print for a lot of other small businesses — most of my clients are local churches.

But outside of that, I like to come alongside local or small businesses or even people who just have ideas. I get to come alongside them and be a part of developing that and and seeing something like that grow.

Where is your business going next?

I’d love to get into social events. I don’t know that looks like yet, but I had the idea of having a kind of a taco truck, but for screen printing. (It would) roll up to events and and people a personalized experience from that event, like a T-shirt that they got to be a part of making. ◆

Left: A screen printing press stands in the center of the studio, where all the magic happens.

Above: Belote completes a complex task using a squeegee to expand the design over a screen.

Right: The owner of Native Print Co. sits with his wife and children in front of the company logo.

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ANTI DAIRY FIGHT CLUB

Written by Carolyn Bokinskie Photos by Luc Stringer and Elijah Hickman 40 | Pursuit

PEOPLE & PLACES

A Local’s Inspiring Approach To Vegan Cuisine

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hoever said vegan cuisine is not delicious has never had the chance to visit the Anti Dairy Fight Club (ADFC) located in Riverside. Whether looking for a fun take on vegan classics or trying to broaden food options, this establishment offers something for everyone.

Po Lee, founder of ADFC, explains the restaraunt’s purpose.

“Our mission has not changed from the beginning — we value compassion above all else and strive to always create a place and atmosphere where people are free to be themselves, try new things and learn more about the cultures around them,” Lee says.

Breaching a gap in affordable and centrally located vegan options is the primary reason Lee began this venture.

“In the beginning ADFC was just an opportunity for me to cook my friends new vegan foods that they never had but I grew up eating,” Lee says. “Slowly, more and more people became interested in what I was doing so I made the decision to open up and serve my food to the public every Sunday.”

That decision has now translated into a fully operational kitchen open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The change has allowed Lee to create a marketable brand that has fueled a revolutionized approach to vegan cooking.

California Baptist University alumna Cassie Vela has been a regular ADFC cus-

tomer for years.

“It is by far my favorite place to get vegan food in the area,” Vela says. “I first got into it a couple years back when they first started at Arcade (Coffee Roaster) a few days a week.”

The consistency in quality and range of Asian inspired dishes has influenced a steady flow of regulars and new customers.

“Since from where we started in 2018 we have more than tripled the amount of people we serve, and we have extended our menu from six options to two full menus,” Lee says. ➤

Above: Po lee (right), founder of Anti Dairy Fight Club, cooks beside Leila Noguez, chef and manager at ADFC.

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Above: Leila Noguez prepares basic and essential ingredients for ADFC’s food options.

The noticeable success of Lee’s restaurant has served as inspiration for other vegan restaurants to flourish in the Riverside community.

Finding completely vegan options is no easy task, and often it is considered lucky to find a handful of good options that meet one’s criteria.

“Seeing this problem, I knew that I wanted to change that and bring my community an original take on an unrepresented type of cuisine that would be both affordable and close to home,” Lee says.

ADFC has not only these convenient options but also truly delicious food.

“The Bangkok chicken fried rice is my favorite,” Vela says. Offering two full menus that change regularly, customers can expect great Asian-inspired options

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with fun twists and new flavors.

The challenges facing many small businesses in LA and Riverside counties are challenging in the best of times, but this past year has forced many to close their doors permanently. The lasting impact of COVID-19 has led to increased regulations on indoor dining and food establishments’ ability to function overall.

Although there have been difficulties, such as increasing delay in shipments, supply shortages and an influx in produce prices, Lee expresses that opportunities have also risen out of these obstacles.

“Through COVID, we have been able to expand and reach these amazing heights that we didn’t think were possible.

We completely switched the accessibility of our food from a predominantly

sit-down style to one that can be taken anywhere and still be good during the week or later in the day,” Lee says. “This allowed us to reach a new crowd of people and has made us more accessible to our community.”

This continued shift in the approach to dining highlights the power of community support and perseverance through difficult times. This support is clear as customers continue to recommend and rave about ADFC. “Anyone vegan or not should try it out,” Vela says.

Whether dabbling in vegan culture and cuisine or simply wanting to explore new restaurants in the area, Anti Dairy Fight Club is a great place to start. This business continues to exceed expectations, leaving customers wanting more. ◆

PEOPLE & PLACES

Upper Left: Po and Leila smile in front of ADFC’s menu, ready to make delicious meals for hungry customers.

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The Shift C

tive rea

CULTIVATING CREATIVITY & COMMUNITY Written by Sophie Gravitt Photos Courtesy of The Shift Creative

P

eople are constantly seeking new ways to be creative. Creativity finds a way of seeping into every environment, filling it with novelty and fascination. The Shift Creative, a small business located in Southern California, uses the skill of creativity in an innovative way. Indeed, the business lives up to its name.

The Shift Creative takes art to a higher level, literally. The purpose of the business is to design stage sets, experiential activations and backdrops for events all over Southern California. This business brings creativity to life, allowing entrance into visual surroundings full of wonder and awe. The Shift Creative offers a very wide range of services including conceptualization, fabrication and project building. They have previously designed for The Bliss Project, POPSUGAR, Create & Cultivate, and Cadillac.

Alexis Andra began this business when her daughter was only five months old. She went from starting a blog as a creative outlet to founding and establishing a creative studio for large style installations. The business has been expanding ever since. They now have a warehouse, a studio, multiple professional clients and educational opportunities. The Shift Creative continues to impact the community in meaningful ways.

“We work closely with a lot of local churches. It has

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been especially fun in the midst of the pandemic to see the outreach we have in the Christian community. God is definitely opening doors for us to partner with ministries and I love that I can do that,” Andra says.

Andra is a creative consultant at Sandals Church, which has given her an opportunity to connect her business with the church in effective ways. The Shift Creative has constructed stage designs for the worship team at Sandals Church as well as Harvest Christian Fellowship, ensuring consistent aesthetic designs across all campuses.

Emi Tom, creative intern at The Shift Creative, affirms this business’ devotion to the skill of creativity as well as to their clients.

“The Shift Creative is unlike anything I have ever seen before,” Tom says. “The first time I heard about Alexis and her company, I was so wowed by her projects and how tirelessly she and her team worked for her clients. The team really pours their hearts into making their clients’ dreams into a reality; nothing is ever half-finished or lazy.”

The Shift Creative’s dedication to serving the community includes more than working for clients. Many students from California Baptist University have been involved in this business, providing them with ➤

PEOPLE & PLACES

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ROOTED IN CHRIST TO CREATE 46 | Pursuit

an environment in which they can exercise creative thinking and design skills.

Ashley Dirksen, senior graphic design major, is the art installation coordinator at The Shift Creative.

Her responsibilities include overseeing the interns, buying supplies, scheduling projects, and producing some of the social media content.

Dirksen describes her experience working with The Shift Creative as a “dream come true.”

“The Shift Creative has been able to provide communities with the chance to be interactive in positive ways and reflect in the good that God is doing,” Dirksen says. “It is an honor to be able to work for churches

PEOPLE & PLACES

and serve the Lord in creative ways.”

The Shift Creative seeks to serve a larger purpose, the purpose of God’s kingdom. Dirksen notes that this is one attribute that makes them stand apart from the rest. I It is the mission of The Shift Creative, as mentioned on its website, to help people “stand apart from the rest” by using the tool of creativity in a creative way.

Some of the core values The Shift Creative holds are seek wisdom, value people, weird ideas win, encourage feedback, work with excellence, and more. It is evident not only in their work but also in their team dynamic that these values are upheld.

“This small business is really like a little family,” Dirksen says.

“What sets us apart is that we are rooted in Christ to live and create for him every day we come to work.”

Every six months The Shift Creative hires a new round of interns, many of which are from CBU. This is a great way for developing designers to exercise and expand their creative skills in various formats. An intern’s responsibilities include painting, sanding, cutting, organizing, pinning,and more.

Tom explains that her experience as an intern at The Shift Cre-

ative was profitable and enjoyable.

“It was definitely a great way to focus on being creative in a different environment, since I’m usually always doing graphic design, so I loved to be able to get away from the computer and build in the warehouse,” Tom explains.

Some of the core values The Shift Creative holds are seek wisdom, value people, weird ideas win, encourage feedback, work with excellence, and more. It is evident not only in their work but also in their team dynamic that these values are upheld. ◆

Above: Members of Create & Cultivate pose in front of a photo backdrop.

Left: A bright and colorful springtime background for Runaway Playa Vista.

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Writt e Illust n by Har m ratio ns by ony Tae tz Cam ille G roch owsk i

k o T iT k

TRENDS

Unexpected Purpose Found in the Mainstream App

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lthough its content varies widely - from dance videos to outfit-of-the-day inspiration to clips about social justice issues to recipes for microwave brownies - the popular app TikTok contains videos that can appeal to just about everyone. However, the app does carry some negative stigmas of being juvenile or a waste of time, which is why many TikTokers admit they were hesitant to initially create an account.

Melia Lawrence, junior psychology major, says she was opposed to downloading the app, despite encouragement from her youth group friends at church, until she realized it could be a way for her to better connect with them. Because she has many young followers, she feels like a role model tasked with representing Christian content.

“When I post Christian videos, a lot of younger girls comment on them asking to be friends, and I’ve had people tell me they look up to me. Their comments really help hold me accountable about what I post, because I do have that spotlight,” Lawrence says. This has translated into being careful about the content she shares, but it also allows her to be part of a branch of the app referred to as “Christian TikTok”; on this area of the app, one can find live Bible studies, inspirational verses and words of encouragement, relatable Christian humor and dances to worship music.

According to Lawrence, being a Christian on TikTok can be challenging. “When I start live Bible studies, sometimes people who aren’t believers will attack me for what I believe. But, it’s also been a blessing when people make comments like, ‘I just found your live videos and now I’m saved,’ ” she says.

Lawrence has made connections with Christian TikTokers all across the world. Through utilizing certain features of the app, such as the live video option, she has made strong friendships, including meeting some of her closest friends and her boyfriend through TikTok. However, if it wasn’t for quarantine and lockdown procedures, when she had free time and a heightened desire for connection while isolated she may never have downloaded the app.

Brian Zunigha, director of Discipleship Ministries at CBU, also began his TikTok account during this time in order to foster relationships with students.

“Basically, I began my account during a season where access on-campus to connecting with students was almost non-xistent. I thought it would be a way for me to know what was going on in their lives,” Zunigha says. As a Gen X TikToker, he has found it helpful to keep up with the changing times.

“TikTok allows me to know the slang and values and what’s happening in Gen Z’s lives,” he says. This mission of connection is also what led to Zunigha to post his own TikTok videos, which quickly gathered a good amount of fame. “When I started posting, my original goal was to be a voice for things I care about, whether it be adoption or showing a genuine, ‘This is what it looks like to follow Jesus’ faith,’” Zunigha says.

He relates how one of the first videos he posted was a short trend about camping with his children in the front yard, which blew up immediately.

“I was shook by how many people commented, wondering if this was what it’s like to have a father.

The number of people who voiced hurt and pain from not having a dad was overwhelming. That encouraged me to keep posting in that same vein, so at least people could have some visual of what a good, loving dad could look like.” ➤

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While he has been able to share the gospel through TikTok, as well as connect his followers to churches around the U.S. a challenge Zunigha sees with the app is the way videos are hitor-miss in terms of circulation.

“TikTok is a content-driven app, so it’s more like a YouTube for the common person where you can make a quick video.

But, it has to be entertaining or else it’s not going to be seen,” Zunigha says. “Overall, I don’t see it as the best platform for connection but it is a good place for me to be able to open up and say here’s an example of how I live my life.”

Similarly, Lauren Hayter, sophomore graphic design major, has realized how seriously the app can be used. She started TikTok after encouraged by a friend that it would be fun, but quickly became invested.

“I initially posted a video of a friend of mine who passed away and it kind of blew up, which led me to think, ‘This is the perfect opportunity for me to share my testimony,’” Hayter says.

“So I posted a video on TikTok of my testimony and that also blew up. Since then, I’ve decided to post more about how I came to faith and other Christian content.”

Steadily, she cast aside her initial biases about TikTok and began to embrace her unique platform for speaking about her journey to a personal relationship with Christ.

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“When I was thinking of getting TikTok, I thought it was stupid, or purely for middle schoolers,” Hayter says. “But as I started finding my place posting Christian content and using the platform to bring glory to God, my perspective of it changed.

Now, I think it is so cool that God can use social media and someone like me, just a girl from southern California who nobody knows, to potentially reach other people with the gospel.”

Through the act of being vulnerable with her story on TikTok, Lauren has found a community of other Christian TikTokers, and continues to feel called to share what it looks like to be a young adult Christian.

“God has used me so much through TikTok, which I would have never expected. Sometimes I don’t realize I’m being used until people I don’t even know say that my videos have inspired them. There is such great fellowship on TikTok with other believers. Isn’t it just so cool that God can work through a social media app?” Hayter says.

Regardless of whether TikTok continues to carry the torch of being an app for younger generations, the content creators are of diverse age ranges. Christian TikTokers especially have found in the app a place for them to share their faith and connect with like-minded people during a time when isolation has been the norm. ◆

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God has used me so much through TikTok, which I would have never expected.

— Lauren Hayter, sophomore graphic design major

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FASHION THROUGH the years Insight into the Fashion Trends Cycle

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ith the growing rise in popularity of thrift stores and vintage fashion, many trends that were popular years and even decades ago are regaining popularity amongst today’s generations. The phrase “There is nothing new under the sun” can definitely apply to fashion these days, as nostalgic clothing statements find their place yet again in the fashion industry.

This resurge in old trends is not unheard of, as many fads slowly lose their popularity only to regain acceptance with future generations.

Brienna Garcia, senior marketing major, says one earlier decade of fashion seems to be gaining momentum recently.

Garcia also says fashion from the past constantly influences the fashion of today. “’90s trends are popular now and we’re slowly moving to the early 2000s, like mom jeans and crop tops with chunky sneakers,” Garcia says. “I think trends come back because designers take inspiration from past eras, which keeps things in circulation.”

Garcia says some of her favorite places to buy clothes from are thrift stores. “It’s so rewarding to look through clothes and find cool pieces,” Garcia says. “Oftentimes nobody else will have the same clothes as you.”

One of the factors contributing to the continuous cycle of trends has been the growing popularity of thrifted and recycled clothing stores. Kara Murphy owns a vintage clothing store called Burnout Vintage, which brings trends from the past back to the Riverside area.

Murphy says she began Burnout Vintage after realizing her love for vintage styles could turn into more than a hobby. ➤

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Written by Jane Robertus Photo Illustrations by Zachary Cleek and Camille Grochowski

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“My fiancé, Brad, was actually the one who came up with the idea originally. I have always altered my clothing since I can remember. Being 5 feet tall, nothing ever fit me right. I’d cut shirts into crop tops, and dresses and skirts were never the right lengths.

And I have always loved vintage,” Murphy says. “The motorcycle scene was something Brad and I were into, and I love classic band tees of all the bands I grew up listening to. He said to me, ‘Everyone always loves your style and what you do with your clothes, why don’t you try selling them?’”

Murphy says that seeing her clothes on social media and at events is almost a surreal experience.

“It will never get old seeing people tag us in photos, or come see us at an event or at the shop wearing something they bought from me. It’s wild considering it’s vintage, but I can always spot some-

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thing I’ve sold. I am so fortunate to do what I love for a living; I have worked incredibly hard to get here.”

Murphy also has some insight as to why she thinks trends that were popular a long time ago are popular once again. “I think when we’re young, we look at photos from when our parents grew up, and listen to the music they were listening to, and we kind of fall in love with it.”

Murphy says shopping recycled fashion can benefit society and the world in more ways than one.

“For me, my favorite eras were those simpler times without cell phones and the internet, and you just met up with your friends on a whim. With vintage specifically, everything was made with such higher quality too. You can feel the difference,” Murphy says. “You’re also helping the environment by buying vintage/recycled fashion. Globally, we produce about

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13 million tons of textile waste every year.”

Dr. Toni Kirk, professor of English at California Baptist University, says that fashion from the past was heavily influenced by the surrounding social movements of those time periods.

“As soon as JFK was shot and then Martin Luther King and then Bobby Kennedy, the anti-establishmentarianism took over and then people moved away from that whole Doris Day look,” Kirk says. “You would not have been cool after 1963 if you wore a brand or if anything had a name or a label on it. You would have been considered so incredibly uncool.

Also, glasses and braces got to be a little bit of a status symbol.” Kirk says that if someone had braces, it was a sign they came from money and could afford this luxury.

Kirk notes how different social classes can impact mainstream fashion trends. “Fashion doesn’t trickle down, it comes up from the underbelly of the world,” Kirk says. “I also like the runway, it is a very three-dimensional artistic

expression. We live in a world where artistic personal expression is very valued, as it resurfaces and takes on the newest trends.”

Kirk mentions an example of this type of cycle in fashion trends. “It used to be taboo to have a shirt longer than the jacket, and then it was okay to let the hems be longer.

Before people knew it, JCPenney was making shirts that looked like they were hanging beneath the hem of a sweater. Pretty soon most mainstream companies were creating this fashion look.”

Kirk’s observations about where trends originate and how they evolve provide insight into how trends can change with the social influences surrounding the culture at the time.

As trends fade in and out, one thing remains certain — looking back on past decades in fashion can be an excellent way to draw inspiration for fashion today and beyond, as the future of fashion is pioneered. ◆

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ELEPHAN ROOM PRODUCT The Next Generation of Filmmaking Written by Zachary Cleek and Sophie Gravitt Photos Courtesy of Adrienne Marlin In fall of 2018, a group of students at California Baptist University were tasked with creating a short film. Although each of them had opposing ideas for the project, they endeavored to overcome their differences for the greater purpose of memorable creativity.

Eventually they successfully produced the short film “Jet Pack Girl.” This group of creative individuals soon realized they were better together. This was the beginning of Elephant Room Productions.

The members of Elephant Room Productions are Jonathan Cadenhead, Nathan Rierson, Michael Duggan and Allen Fletcher.

Years after their first film, in 2020, they all graduated with a bachelor’s degree in film from CBU and continued their pursuit of film making. Since their first film, they have created short films such as “In A Nutshell”

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and “Breakfast at Midnight.”

“We actually didn’t start out as friends.

People usually assume that we were these four buddies that were like let’s make a movie. We were four people who knew each other and our friendship really grew from that” says Duggan.

Fletcher describes what it was like creating “Breakfast at Midnight.” “…we wanted to make something that was a segment of here is a real situation. It’s not absurd, it is just a section of life, and it’s simple and not narrative-based. We are just watching,” says Fletcher. He goes on to describe that the film was centered upon the creation of the characters, Ryan and Riley. “We built the context around their relationship, their world, who they were. We built the whole world around them,” says Fletcher. ➤

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Allen Fletcher, Nathan Rierson, Michael Duggan and Jonathan Cadenhead prepare for film shots.

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“What we did in film school was like an anomaly. The second film was a big learning curve. After the third one, we all thought, ‘Wait, this actually works!’ It was definitely the first time we got to work with actors outside of CBU. We confirmed this was our intention to make this film and to be kind to these people and show the love of God to them,” Cadenhead says.

Elephant Room Productions deeply values the Christian faith. They strongly believe that a group of Christian filmmakers can produce a film with a valuable message that is not explicitly Christian. The gospel remains at the core of their organization even if it is not seen on the surface of their work.

Fletcher describes how the purpose of Elephant Room Productions is communicated in their films.

“Because we are Christians and we have these fundamental beliefs and identity of who we know ourselves to be and who we are in Christ. We are grounded, and that naturally comes through in our work. Who we are impacting along the way in the journey is more important," Fletcher says.

Each member of the group has dreams of his own, but they joined one another in filmmaking to accomplish a bigger purpose.

“We all have our own goals and purposes. However, as a collective, our purpose is more focused on who we are working with rather what we are making. We want to focus on the actor or actress we are working with, or whoever we can show the love of Christ to," Duggan says.

Elephant Room Productions still has many things they would like to accomplish.

Some of their greatest dreams involve working with renowned actors in the film business. Cadenhead would love to work with Jack Black, Duggan would choose to work with Timothee Chalamet and Fletcher’s goal would be to work with Margot Robbie.

Elephant Room Productions finds that these actors perfectly fit the ambiance of their vision for filmmaking.

If this production group could choose one movie studio to work with, it would be A24. A24 has produced major films such as “Uncut Gems,” “Moonlight” and “Lady

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Top Left: Nathan Rierson focuses on setting a camera in the proper position for filming.

Left Center: All members of Elephant Room Productions collaborate behind the scenes.

Bottom Left: Jonathan Cadenhead enjoys developing quality sound for production.

Right: Members of Elephant Room Productions discuss an upcoming shot.

Bird.” Films such as these fit the indie theme Elephant Room Productions intends to construct in their films. There is a long road ahead, but Elephant Room Productions is working hard to make their dreams become a reality.

Duggan explains another source of personal inspiration that led the group to create unique films today.

“I think I can speak for Johnny and I this way: Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.

Pretty much what we grew up watching as kids inspires us. All of the shows we watched when we were young are now recognized by adults, such as ‘Phineas and Ferb,’” says Duggan.

Elephant Room Productions is not currently working to produce a film, but they are still creating content. Duggan describes that their current project is “Telling our stories. If you ever wondered, ‘What have they written down in their notebooks?’ We are going to release a lot of that by telling the stories ourselves. You might not get to watch it in a full cinematic version, but you will be hearing from our own mouths about our vision.”

The members of Elephant Room Productions advise current film students to stand their ground in the industry. They explain that although selflessness goes a long way, sometimes being a filmmaker means making the tough decision to stand your ground. However, they stressed the important quality of kindness and consideration under every circumstance.

The goal of Elephant Room Productions has remained the same, and that is the ultimate purpose of God’s glory. They hope to inspire filmmakers of the next generation to pursue a career that not only encourages others and entertains people around the world, but also one that is committed to God. Although Elephant Room Productions is not quite ready for an A24 film starring Jack Black, Timothee Chalamet and Margot Robbie, they are still devoted to creating unique films with captivating visuals and intriguing dialogue in whatever possible capacity. This rising next-generation group of filmmakers is eager to see what their dreams will look like in the future. ◆

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Written by Misty Severi Photos by Camille Grochowski, Kia Harlan, and Shabnam Shaikh

Celebrating Riverside’s Community of Artists

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Left: When customers first walk into Made, they are greeted with an array of creative products.

Below: The store features collections of handmade treasures, such as apothecary goods.

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Paintings of mermaids and flowers, jewelry in all shapes and sizes and glasswork in the form of cups and saucers are just glimpses of the artwork featured in the shop called Made, a local artistic hotspot located near the Riverside Plaza.

What started as a small start up with only seven makers in 2015 has branched into a growing business of 170 makers from all over Riverside in 2021. Owners Rico and Rheiana Alderette look for anything unique when it comes to selecting items to sell in their shop.

“I have always respected those who think outside the box. I hate cookie-cutter and mass-produced things,” Rico Alderette said. “This business to me was to highlight those outside-the-box thinkers. I wanted to help people, and seeing their faces when their items are sold is really rewarding when they’re not confident in their work, because they’re talented and we wanted to give them a place to sell their stuff.”

The shop only charges minimal fees to their clients, Rico Alderette explained, because they want the artists and creators to receive most of the money that comes from the sale.

“It’s really about making sure their work gets purchased and that they see their work is appreciat-

ed,” Rico says. “So many people are encouraged by family members and other people to talk to us, but they don’t necessarily believe in the work themselves.

Getting that recognition from a sale gives them that confidence and tells them there is a place for work like theirs.”

With a background in steel-working, the shop began as a way to help Rico’s in-laws sell their cedar benches they created out of chairs.

“We would take these beautiful benches to the Rose Bowl, Long Beach, other markets and sell them,” he said. “Over time we kicked around the idea of taking them to stores like antique stores, but it wasn’t what we wanted. So we had the idea of an all-maker store.”

One of the current artists is Riverside photographer Michael Elderman, who said the whole idea behind Made was outstanding.

“The whole thing is amazing, from the store itself to the idea behind it,” Elderman said. “They’ve managed to survive this pandemic and it’s really extraordinary what they have done.”

Elderman sells his photography book on Riverside as well as coasters and calendars in the shop. ➤

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Rico Alderette said it is important to focus on shopping locally, because small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve seen about a 50% loss of sales this year because of the pandemic,” Rico Alderette said. “Obviously the pandemic has affected us. People used to come browse our shop for a birthday or Christmas present or for some other party like a baby shower.

But now those things aren’t really happening so we don’t get the revenue from those parties.”

Rico Alderette added that the shop is trying to grow an online presence, but because the items are not mass produced and with the main store open, it takes longer for the pieces to be made, which affects how much they can maintain the website.

California Baptist University student Danielle Penn, freshman political science

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major, says the shop reminded her of the stores people find in beach cities.

“I would not have expected this store to be in Riverside,” Penn said. “It was remarkable to find a store that you feel as if you are at a festival or fair when you walk in. I have not been to any stores in Riverside like this one. Actually, there is only a handful across the country that I have experienced that even come close to this one.”

With the success of Made, the Alderettes used their talents to branch out into other businesses. Rico Alderette owns a design business called Alderette Designs.

Clients for this business include the Mission Inn, Riverside Direct Auto, Stronghold Engineering and Black Roses among others.

The Alderettes also helped create a marketplace called The Magnolia Center Marketplace. The event opened once a month and was free to the community prior

to COVID-19. It featured local artists, food, vendors and live music. According to Rico Alderette, it was a great place for people around the city to gather and celebrate art.

“It’s important to celebrate our artists in whatever way we can, just think about where you’re spending your money,” Rico Alderette says. “I love supporting local businesses because they can come into our store and support us. It creates a stronger local economy. But a lot of people are buying off of Amazon, and we’re just funneling the money into major corporations instead of our local businesses.”

The shop is located at 6520 Magnolia Ave, and is open for visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No reservations are required.

Students interested in showcasing some of their work at the store can reach out to the store through email at Contact@MadeShopRiverside.com. ◆

THIS BUSINESS TO ME WAS TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE OUTSIDE-THE-BOX THINKERS.

Above: Buffy, Riverside resident, shops at Made, where her daughter works.

Bottom Far Right: Briana Herrera, Riverside resident, shops for some chopboards for her mom.

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— Rico Alderette

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To Access Playlists Open the Spotify app and click the camera icon in the search bar to scan code and listen to the playlist each Pursuit staff member made just for you.

The best part of every roadtrip is the music. What’s the point of a long drive without a good playlist? This spotify playlist contains a collection of songs worth the replay from various music styles recommended by the Pursuit staff.

Click shuffle and enjoy your roadtrip!

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PURSUIT Pursuit magazine is a student-produced publication of California Baptist University that works to utilize professional, balanced journalism to tell the stories of CBU’s community and the real-life, relevant factors that affect that community.

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