MIDAS MAG ISSUE 1 by NinerMedia

MIDAS magazine

est. 2020

MIDAS MAGAZINE est. 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to Midas Magazine’s first issue! We’re so glad that you’re here. This year has certainly been a dark one, and the magazine I had originally wanted to make was not one that could have happened in a covid-19 world. Instead, something so much better was created. This magazine happened out of a deep need to force out some good. I cannot give enough thanks to everyone that helped turn Midas from a little idea to the publication in front of you. Everyone that collaborated on this issue has shown me the good from this year. Everyone that has worked on this project believes that art and stories and community have power. For all of you readers, I hope that you leave this issue feeling more connected and more powerful. Our stories are important. Our stories deserve to be told!

with love, Claire Hambrick Founder/Editor-in-Chief

WOAH! pg.6

MENTAL HEALTH IN 2020

pg.12

FASHION IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

pg.16

WE KEEP US SAFE: COMMUNITY MATTERS

pg.26

5 7

NATIVE AMERICANS ARE HERE AND WE WANT TO BE HEARD

pg.30

NINER BUSINESSES TO KNOW & FREQUENT

pg.38

A REMINDER TO PRIORITIZE OURSELVES-

pg.48

ART IN THE QUEEN CITY pg.52

1 Charlotte-Based Band “Woah” Brings Something New to Indie Pop BY: MADISON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY: WILLIAM SEABORN IG: @MACCTOSH

w o a h

“Woah” started with an inside joke between two brothers and their close friend along with surviving dreams of pursuing musicmaking as a career.

ne photographer slash guitarist later and the ensemble is undoubtedly contributing to the dopamine-releasing genre of music some would call “dream-pop.” Micheal or ‘Mikey’ Gomez (vocalist/rhythm guitarist/songwriter), Ruben Gomez (vocalist/songwriter/ drummer), Zac Tice (bassist), and Jack Martin (lead guitarist): These four talented instrumentalists make up “Woah.” The group can be found here in the Charlotte area. Their lead guitarist, Jack, is a student here at UNC Charlotte. The Gomez brothers attend CPCC, and Zac will be graduating from high school soon. The prodigious indie-pop band has recently caught momentum through TikTok and also by word of mouth. Their delicate vocals and unconventional sound is bound to captivate established alternative fans and pique the interest of those who have never explored independent music before. On the other side of a Saturday night Zoom interview with three-fourths of the band was the backstory behind the euphoric and traveling vibe that these guys create. This came with an indirect yet valuable reminder that a blithe attitude towards life isn’t a crime.

Where did making music begin for you guys? Can you tell me a little bit about how you guys met and got started? Mikey: That’s always been a dream of ours to make music when we were younger, but we just never had any equipment or anything. We started making music in high school, and when we first started out, it was horrible—it was really, really bad—but then eventually, you live and learn and get better… Ruben: Me and him [Mikey] were born together. We’re kind of stuck with each other. Mikey: We formed this band with Ruben and Zach and me in, like, 2017. And it wasn’t until last year that we added Jack. Jack: I was at a Woah show and I knew of them and some mutuals. We took pictures of them and that’s how I got to them. Yeah. And then over summer, out of nowhere, Mike asked me if I wanted to join. I was like, ‘Okay.’

How did you guys come up with your band name and why did you choose it? Mikey: Oh, my God. Well, at first, it started as a joke. It was just an inside joke between me, Zach, and Ruben. We thought we were gonna change the name but when we suggested that, we got a bunch of backlashes. People were like, ‘No, we love the name. Don’t change it.’ So it just stuck.

Can you guys describe the moment that you knew for sure that this is what you wanted to do? Mikey: After our first house show, it was just a lot of adrenaline and stuff. It just made me want to pursue it because it was crazy. Like after you play your first show. It’s crazy.

Ruben: The name has no meaning.

Ruben: For me, probably just making music and people liking it.

Mikey: It has no meaning. It’s just a joke that stuck, guys. And we— yeah, we’ve just been riding all the way.

Jack: That’s closest for me, too. I think me realizing that it’s actually possible was kind of like—

Ruben: It just looks cool written down.

Ruben: —especially when you think you suck, and then don’t suck. People like our music. It’s pretty cool.

What has been your favorite venue or gig you performed at? Could you tell me more about how each of you felt playing in front of a large group of people? Mikey: So unfortunately, we haven’t actually played a show with Jack. But we haven’t played a show in a whole year. The last show we played was in January of this year, basically our favorite gig that we ever did. We do a lot of house shows and those are pretty cool. Our favorite one was this one in December in our garage and there were like 100 people there. It was crazy. It was really really cool. What genre would you consider your music? Or how would you describe your sound? Jack: Indie pop is one of the best ways to put it—with a little bit of shoegaze. But I don’t want to be a shoegaze guy. A little bit of dream-pop in there too. What do you guys like to do outside of making music in your free time? Mikey: We play video games Jack: We play Rocket League Mikey: Yeah. Um— Jack: They play soccer. Mikey: Yeah, we play sports, soccer. I don’t know. All of us like to go outside and stuff. We like fishing. It’s mainly music, though. Yeah.

Jack: I think especially even this summer of recording, just, like, self-isolation and having nothing to do for so long, I got to a point where it’s, like, I just need to completely follow what makes me the happiest, and I don’t think anything gives me the fulfillment as working on music does. Yeah, I think with quarantine and the virus happening it is just, like, this is what I’m alive for.

Ruben:

I got one. George Carlin: “it’s important not to give a sh**.” 9

What is your creative process like? Ruben: It just usually just comes to us and when it does come to us, it’s usually just a lyric or a chord progression. And then we just play around with it on the computer, and then record it and it just becomes a song. It’s never a set-instone process. It’s always different every time. Mikey: Yeah, but it’s just sporadic. I’ll just be in my room in the middle of the night, and then something will just pop into my head and then I’ll play guitar, write something in my journal. Sometimes I’ll be on the computer and come up with something. There’s no formula that we have. It’s just all very random, which is cool because we don’t have to force ourselves to do it.

Jack: What sucks is there are no new experiences. Mikey: I miss going to the supermarket and seeing people’s faces, or working and seeing my coworkers’ faces. Everybody’s covered up now.

Mikey: Writer’s block has been a problem this year. It’s been hard to create with COVID and stuff. That’s probably the biggest challenge right now, just making sure that we can get enough songs to put on an actual album, and to keep consistently releasing music.

WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah

Mikey: It [quarantine] doesn’t help with creativity—at all.

What has been the most challenging part about your experience in the music industry so far? How did you overcome it?

WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH

Ruben: I don’t like leaving the house a lot so I guess that that was nice for a little bit. Cabin Fever—you want to leave, but there’s really nothing to do right now.

Jack: It’s kind of weird to say but Bossa Nova… As far as guitar leads go, yeah, Bossa Nova.

woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH woah WOAH

What has been the best part of quarantine for y’all?

Ruben: Um, I don’t think I have one that inspires me like them. I think it’s just a bunch of music that I listen to. I can’t really pinpoint a band but I think genres inspire me more than bands.

Ruben: Writing music is always a challenge. Because when you write a good song and people like it, there’s more pressure for you to write an even better song or a song that matches up to it. So it’s like a little bit more anxiety when you release music. Have you received any life-changing advice that has stuck with you until this day?

Jack: There’s this one quote I like that reads, ‘It’s best to be like water because it can fit into any shape,’ and I always think about that when it comes down to making music.

Ruben: I miss going to the movies. Who are your favorite musical artists/influences and why? Mikey: There’s a lot, but right now it’s probably The Strokes. They’re a super cool rock band… They have a lot of cool guitar songs.

Ruben: I got one. George Carlin: “it’s important not to give a sh**.” Your most recent song is “It’s Not A Movie.” What was the inspiration behind that track? Ruben: That just came to me, I don’t know. The chord progression was derived from a Beach Fossils song, but

I put a cable on a fifth fret, which means it changed the key of it. So it doesn’t really sound like it but that chord progression just sounded nice to me. What are you guys working on right now music-wise? What should Woah fans expect from you guys in 2021? Mikey: Right now we’re working on more songs… Some more music videos, some new merch all next month. That should be cool. It’s just a lot of work—a lot of hours being put into it. Do you want to travel to other countries eventually? If so, where? Mikey: Yes. I’ve always wanted to tour in Europe. Europe is a really cool place to tour, like, Italy, France, Spain, just to play music over there would be really, really cool.

Jack: We kind of talked about moving to New York or Seattle but not, like, super seriously. We’ve talked about that for, like, long-term, or moving somewhere North. More of a better shot up there. Is there a general message that you would like to get across to this generation of people who follow your music? Jack: Not to be pretentious, but I almost feel like it is, like, a love letter to garage rock. Mikey: Just, like, don’t take it too serious. You know what I mean? That’s always been my kind of thing. Ruben: Be kind. Mikey: I feel like the mixture of those two is good: Don’t take everything too serious and be kind.

What are your short-term and long-term music career goals as a band? Mikey: Um, I think short term right now is just to make as much quality music as we can for ourselves and others. Yeah, that’s the short term plan right now, to just keep growing. But long term is just to be a successful indie band, to be able to support ourselves playing music.

The inside joke behind this band’s name may still be classified, but one thing that has been fully disclosed is Woah’s plans to leave a footprint in the music industry along with a sealed love letter to their garage rock roots. 11

2 Mental Health in 2020: Accessible Resources at UNCC BY: BRIANNA CLEMENS

n anonymous person once said, “From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand. From the inside looking out, it’s hard to explain.” 2020 has been a year full of stressful events that have caused a spike in mental health challenges. The impact of COVID-19, in particular, has been one of the central stressors for people all over the world. Fortunately for UNC Charlotte students, there are several accessible resources for students available.

The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is an on-campus resource for students that is dedicated to creating a “healthy and inclusive campus climate” at UNC Charlotte. CAPS offers free counseling sessions, coordination with off-campus providers, and outreach services. All of CAPS services are free of charge and currently virtual. The clinical director at CAPS, Aaron Brink, expressed how essential CAPS is during

this difficult time. CAPS is a front-lining resource that aims to make its services as easily accessible for students as possible, whether it is a crisis or not. CAPS not only strives to help students with their mental health but their overall holistic health as well. The service regularly works alongside the Student Health Center, the Center for Wellness Promotion, and the Student REC Center at UNCC to promote the importance of emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and intellectual health. Due to COVID-19, CAPS has created online workshops to help students cope with anxiety and living mindfully.

Within CAPS, there are several specialized groups of resources called outreach programs. These programs encourage students to seek out a community that represents who they are while also working to increase their holistic well-being. Leigh Norwood from the Counseling Center discussed how important the Black mental health groups within CAPS are. As Norwood expressed, UNCC is a predominantly white institution, which amplifies the importance and value of identity. Being able to have groups such as the Empowered Black Woman Group and the Empowered Black Man Group gives students the opportunity to find a supportive community within their school. These groups are needed and will continue to provide a community for our Black students, who may be experiencing race-based trauma from the injustice that continues to go on in the world today, which is amplified by COVID-19 and all its consequences. There are also specialized organizations and groups that help students in the LGBTQ+ community, international students, military-affiliated students, students with disabilities, and many more. To look into CAPS’ outreach programs, go to caps.uncc.edu/ outreach-and-educational-programs.

The Active Minds organization is another on-campus resource that works to increase mental health awareness. The organization works to educate students about signs and symptoms of mental health disorders so students can either seek help for themselves or their peers. Active Minds brings students together to connect and discuss the many aspects of mental health. Although there are no trained professionals involved, the organization proves that connecting with your peers is an essential aspect of mental health. While the organization is virtual, there are many opportunities for engagement and conversations through Zoom meetings. You can join the Active Minds organization through Niner Engage or follow them on Instagram @ activemindsuncc! We all cope with stress and challenges differently. The trick is to find your own comfort zone and/or activity that is beneficial to you. It could be anything from exercising or starting a journal to listening to your favorite songs or hanging out with your friends. It is also important to connect with people, especially during the ongoing pandemic. Leigh Norwood described the importance of connecting with others, noting that, “It is true that people need people.” Lisa Olivera, a therapist and writer, perfectly describes this notion: “Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” There is an abundance of resources right before us as students, and it would be an incredible waste to not utilize them.

TO ACCESS THE WORKSHOPS AND MORE RESOURCESPERTAINING TO COVID-19, visit caps.uncc.edu/ coronavirus-resources.

“JUST BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE CAN HEAL OR DO YOUR INNER WORK FOR YOU, DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN, SHOULD, OR NEED TO DO IT ALONE.” -LISA OLIVERA

Never be afraid to ask for help.

Here are the resources that are accessible to UNCC students: CAPS: caps.uncc.edu. CALM Workshop & Other COVID-19 Resources: caps.uncc.edu/coronavirus-resources. CAPS Outreach Programs: caps.uncc.edu/outreach-and-educational-programs. Active Minds: ninerengage.uncc.edu or on Instagram @activemindsuncc!

3 Fashion in the time of Covid-19: styling your mask with your outfit

PHOTOGRAPHERS: KAVYA KUMAR, SYDNEY LY, LEXI RAINES, CLAIRE HAMBRICK

MASK UP.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

With the limited opportunities to leave the house, you gotta make sure the fit goes hard. -Reem Abnowf

â&#x20AC;?

MODEL: REEM ABNOWF IG @9mr3em

MODEL: AMIR FLEURIZARD IG @da_suge_amir

MODEL: NICOLE FOTUCHANG IG @nicoleafot

MODEL: ANTHONY IKEJIAKU IG @anthonyikejiaku

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Cohesion is everything in fashion. Your mask should still be able to illustrate the same energy as you.

â&#x20AC;?

-Anthony Ikejiaku 24

4 We Keep Us Safe Community matters, now more than ever. BY: REEM ABNOWF

KEEP

SAFE

obody expected 2020 to go this way. By the time the coronavirus reached the United States, it became abundantly clear that the outbreak was well on its way to becoming a pandemic.

While some saw the quarantine period as an opportunity to take on new hobbies and perfect their crafts, millions of people did not know how they were going to buy groceries, much less pay their bills.

Photo by SUSHIL NASH on Unsplash

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in March of this year, unemployment rates rose to 4.4%. This translated to 7.1 million people out of work. As we know, that was only the beginning. Unemployment rates reached a record high in April, peaking at 14.7%. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump was downplaying the virus and even advised individuals to inject disinfectant into their bloodstream. Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lack of urgency in dealing with COVID-19 proved to be damaging to businesses and fatal to hundreds of thousands of Americans. In late March of this year when Trump signed the CARES Act, 2.2 trillion dollars was allocated to stimulating the economy in response to the economic crisis created by COVID-19. Those who qualified for the stimulus aid received a 1,200 dollar check. Soon after the aid was disbursed, it became evident that the relief plan did little to support those in need. TIME Magazine reported in June that in the post-analysis of the CARES Act, the money intended to stimulate the economy just benefited the rich. While larger corporations received large sums of money, smaller businesses were struggling to stay afloat. Almost every day another mom and pop shop is being forced to close its doors because of the economic crisis at hand. Fortune Magazine published in September that about 100,000 businesses were forced to shut down permanently because of the pandemic. The United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; working-class is in critical condition right now. However, there is an apparent lack of care for their suffering. In late November of this year, the Dow hit 30,000, the highest it has ever been. Concurrently, the Aspen Institute predicts that between 30-40 million people are at risk of being evicted from their homes this year. At times it is hard to contextualize numbers to understand the implications they pose. To put things into perspective, while the market is doing the best it ever has, there are unprecedented amounts of people lined up at food banks. Some landlords are unlawfully evacuating their tenants, people are undergoing food insecurity, and others donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have enough to keep the lights on. Not only are individuals having to deal with a global pandemic with no tangible end in sight, but we are

also witnessing an utter failure on behalf of the federal government in ensuring the well-being of its citizens. As we get ready to welcome President-elect Joe Biden, we must hold him accountable during his time in office. We need a second stimulus package that is intended to help those who are financially insecure. It should include monthly payments, rent and mortgage cancellation, student debt cancellation, medicare for all, free vaccinations, and free COVID-19 testing and treatment. Currently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an eviction moratorium in place, but it will expire on the 31st of December; after that, there will be an influx of homeless people on the streets with no resources to aid them. Even after a vaccine is distributed, there will continue to be economic ramifications, and they will be almost entirely felt by the working class. Therefore, we must advocate for those who are most vulnerable right now. First and foremost, those who have financial means should be donating to food banks and other organizations that are assisting individuals facing hardship right now. Volunteering your time is also another way to help ensure the well-being of your community. Spreading awareness about resources is extremely important too, as you may be helping someone keep their home or secure a hot meal. Right now the Federal Housing Administration is allowing homeowners to apply for various financial relief programs, and renters can sign declarations to present to landlords or the court to keep a roof over their heads. This is an extraordinarily necessary time for collective action. In the wake of the federal government abandoning us, we must realize that we keep us safe. This also means following CDC guidelines for social distancing and wearing a mask when out in public. If anything, this virus has taught us that community matters. It is vital to the welfare of your community that you stay informed, and that you use your voice and other resources to help those in need. Otherwise, nobody else will. Times are hard and the future is uncertain. However, we will get through this together.

Those who are in a position to donate should consider the following organizations:

Food Not Bombs 919 (Supplying meals and groceries to the community, also run clothing drives regularly.) Community Link Non-profit (Assisting those in the Charlotte area who are facing eviction in finding suitable housing.) A Better World Non-profit (Provide hot meals to students and families in need, as well as afterschool programs.

4.4% = MARCH

7.1 MILLION unemployed

4.4% APRIL

14.7%

INCREASED TO

5 “Native Americans are Here and We Want to be Heard.” Insights of Page Freeman, a UNCC Lumbee Student.

BY: KASEY M. VARNER PHOTOS BY: CLAIRE HAMBRICK

“Native

Americans are Here and

We Want to be

Heard” 31

uring this month, I sat down and had a conversation with Page Freeman, a sophomore political science major and American studies minor, but, moreover, a UNCC student who is a proud Lumbee native. Freeman is from Robeson County, North Carolina, the home to the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River: the Lumbee tribe. The Lumbee are a diverse Indigenous community that have been fighting for the federal recognition of being an official native tribe under the United States government. President-elect Joe Biden, in a recent statement, gave his endorsement of the Lumbee Recognition Act that has sought federal support for decades. Soon after, President Trump gave his endorsement of the act as well. When asked how she felt about this news, Freeman answered, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I personally think it was like a ploy to get Native votes, but a lot of people in my tribe were very excited by the news. Biden also endorsed our federal recognition, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just kind of on the fence because my community is very poverty-stricken; half the population is below the poverty line, so those funds from the government would help us, but we also have a very high drug and crime rates and I feel like some of those funds might cause those rates to spike. But I feel like overall if we were given federal recognition, it would help us in the long run.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most effective thing that the University could do would be to allow a substantial platform where Native Americans can be featured in ways that will illuminate our culture.â&#x20AC;? 33

“

I f I wa s n’ t Na t i ve A mer ican, I feel that I wo u l d b e a t o t a l l y d i f ferent person. There are just a lot of t h i n g s t h a t I ’ ve b e e n th roug h because of my e t h n i c i t y t h a t h a s made me who I am, so I l ove w h e r e I ’ m f r o m a n d my p e o p l e t h e r e .

”

The amount of passion that Freeman has is clearly visible when speaking about her community, “If I wasn’t Native American, I feel that I would be a totally different person. There are just a lot of things that I’ve been through because of my ethnicity that has made me who I am, so I love where I’m from and my people there.” As I asked her about choosing a tradition that stands out most to her, her face lit up as she spoke about the annual Lumbee Homecoming: “ It’s a really fun time to pass down traditions from generation to generation.” The 52nd annual homecoming was this year; even though it was cancelled due to COVID-19, Freeman expressed her excitement for next summer. Her excitement continued as she expressed ways that UNCC could create celebrations

just as the Lumbee homecoming does. Freeman suggested UNCC could have pow-wows, fun celebrations that contain dancing, singing, socialization and an overall honoring of Indigenous culture. When speaking with an ecstatic smile, she explained not only her ambition to have pow-wows on campus, but also how positive she felt about having one: “Having a pow wow is the best way to share my culture and try to explain what each dance represents and what the regalías/traditional wear represents. I feel like that would be amazing.” Growing up, Freeman was surrounded by a majority of Native Americans in her elementary, middle,

and high school. She mentions, “That support system was really beneficial, and it wasn’t until I started doing summer camps that I realized that Native Americans are the minority out here — and that really hit me when I came to UNCC.” The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in their 2019 Progress Report for UNC Charlotte Plan for Campus Diversity, Access, and Inclusion, gave the statistic that there is less than 1% American Indigenous and Pacific Islanders that are undergraduate students enrolled at UNCC in 2018. Freeman mentions, “Every time I talk to my hometown friends that go to UNC and UNCP, they talk about all that they’re doing for Native American heritage month and Indigenous People’s day, and I respond with ‘We’re not doing anything’ just because we don’t have

much, you know? Our university doesn’t have a NASO (Native American Student Organization) and I would like to get that started back up but it’s so difficult to do when it seems that no one else is interested in it.” Since her time at UNCC began, Freeman has noticed that the University cares a lot about the well being of the minority students on campus. She feels that Native Americans are truly the minority among other minorities, which makes some of them feel invisible to the eye of the University. UNCC could work to create this environment by acknowledging the voices of the Indigenous students and working alongside them to raise awareness of the

existence of their people. Freeman expresses that she has personally had some interesting encounters with students on campus. She brings up an incidence of one of her first days at UNCC: “This was last year, first day of classes, and we were going around with introductions and icebreakers, so I didn’t realize what I was going to say was going to cause something like this to happen, but when it got to me I introduced myself and I said, “I’m Native American” and the class kind of went silent. This girl beside me looked me dead in the face and she said, “Oh my goodness, I thought we killed you all,” and I had no clue what to say. Me and the professor just looked at each other and I looked around but no one said anything, and then we just moved on to the next student. To this day, it just boils my blood because I had no clue that me just sharing that fact would cause someone to say something like that in turn. And then I also got the questions like, “Do you still live in teepees? Do you live on reservations? Do you live next to a casino?” It feels like a daunting task to tell people I’m Native American, because then they kind of expect me to know all of this information that I don’t necessarily know. So I feel like I have to keep it to myself so they won’t expect me to be like this ‘knowledge god’ of all Native American history, ways, all sorts of traditions — because I’m not perfect, I don’t know all of that.” With the current uprising for racial equality within our country, Freeman suggests that UNCC can work to ensure that Native American students are given the opportunity to tell their stories — such as Freeman is doing now — and to raise awareness about issues that

Natives live through daily, like the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement. She states, “The most effective thing that the University could do to help make Native American issues a focal point would be to allow a substantial platform where Native Americans can be featured in ways that will illuminate our culture.” When asked what Freeman wants students to know, she says, “Be mindful of the fact that there are Native students here. I see sorority girls dress up as Natives, or the hot Native princesses, and I’m not a person to get offended by it, but it kind of hurts to see someone portray my culture as a sex item. Native Americans are here and we want to be heard, we want our culture to be celebrated as much as other cultures and minorities that are celebrated nowadays.” Freeman’s studies in political science will only further ignite her ambition and passion about her own community as she spreads that passion in creating change and awareness. She explains that as she grew up, she was hard-headed and began her love for politics. However, Freeman believes that as she matured more, she began to see the issues that face her own local community. In her own words, she says, “I started to notice that I didn’t see lots of Native American women representing me, and considering North Carolina has a pretty big population of Native Americans and we’ve never had a Native American senator before, I would really love to not only be a voice for Native Americans on a local level, but on a state and federal level.” There is no doubt that Page Freeman will be a brilliant politician; she is wonderfully outspoken, driven, and dedicated to the Indigenous community. I truly look forward to seeing her thrive and bloom.

“

Native Americans are here and we want to be heard, we want our culture to be celebrated as much as other cultures and minorities that are celebrated nowadays.

”

6 Niner Businesses to Know & Frequent. BY: ELIJAH COLE

Niner busineses to

know&

frequent. 39

Photo by SCOTT WEBB on Unsplash

Kelechiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

ARTISTRY WRITTEN BY: LEXI RAINES

K E LECH I

IG: @kelechisartistry_

ehind every small Black business is a blooming dream, and Kelechi is no exception. Her stunning MUA skills combined with her perfected, neat hairstyle techniques have grasped the attention of the UNCC community. She’s known for her knotless braids, however, Kelechi has a wide variety of hairstyles, including an array of stylings locs, twists, crochet, and box braids. But who exactly is the woman behind the dream? Born and raised in Durham, NC, Kelechi is one of five siblings, which includes three sisters and one brother, and her parents are from Nigeria. After graduating from Jordan High School, she came to UNCC to pursue a degree in public health and health systems management, with a minor in child and family development. According to Kelechi, she has been professionally braiding hair for about 7 years. It all started when her mother gave her and her sisters braiding hair, and they began braiding with her mothers’ aid. Kelechi said her sisters struggled with learning but she picked it up, and a practice began where she would start the braid and her sisters

would finish it. From there, her mother gave Kelechi her first client, and it blossomed into the business it is now. As briefly mentioned before, Kelechi has a range of styles she can do, her most popular are the knotless braids. Just a brief look on her business Instagram shows countless clients satisfied and smiling in content at her work. Other styles she specializes in include faux locs, marley twists, crochet, and passion twists. Each hairstyle has a portfolio of photos and short videos on her professional Instagram, with a guide provided on how to book an appointment and how to prepare for said booking. Kelechi’s quality hairstyling is nothing short of exceptional and is regularly recommended by girls around campus for a local, excellent quality hairstyle. Her well-known floral background is one of the small, but stunning things that keep people interesting and coming back, along with a bubbly, sweet personality and friendly customer service. With this, Kelechi’s artistry is an absolute must-look when considering hair appointments.

Caroline Keasler Instagram @carocallig

“M

CHECK THIS OUT!

y name is Caroline Keasler and I started @carocallig in 2017. I have always loved making things and giving gifts, so I decided to combine my skills to create a little side business! I make various things throughout the year such as necklaces, custom cups, keychains, mask pouches, ornaments, decals and more. Practically everything I make is made to order and most items are customizable. I love being able to create things that can be loved by others and even given as gifts. Follow along on Instagram @ carocallig to see what I make next!”

Brianne Schriever

Instagram @brispaints

“M

y name is Brianne Schriever and I’m a transfer student here at UNCC. Currently my major is in business but I’m thinking of switching to art or graphic design because I definitely want to follow a more creative career path. Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From first grade to fourth grade I was taking after school art classes in Hobby Lobby which really got me interested in art, but high school is where I found my love for painting. It wasn’t until after high school though, that I got my first commission that wasn’t from a family member. After posting a photo of that piece to my Snapchat story, more people recognized my skills and began commissioning me. I now have an Instagram account, @brispaints, where I post my artwork. I take commissions and sells through DMs, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any inquiries!” Photos by Elijah Cole

N by A I miki LED

“

Hi!

My name is MiKayla Lovell and I’m a sophomore pre-nursing major on track to be a pediatric nurse. I am originally from Virginia but grew up in Greensboro. I love kids and helping them to feel better is what I wanted to do in my life. I started my nail journey during quarantine. I was tired of my nails looking bare and then paying $30-40 every 2 weeks was not working. I decided to go on YouTube and research how to do nails. I found it was pretty easy. I still have a lot of learning to do but I am proud of my progress that I have had over these past 8 months. I want everyone to know, if you are wanting to start your own business, do it. If you want to just make it a hobby, do it. There is nothing that can stand in your way when you really want to make something happen!

”

Follow my nail Instagram page: nailedbymiki

NHAIR O CARE TTY Photos by Elijah Cole

“I

m Nauttii Council (she/her/hers), a 20 year old UNCC student from Goldsboro NC. Ive been creating homemade products for my hair since the beginning of my natural hair journey. I created this brand to exemplify the fact that your hair doesn’t have to have harsh chemicals and untrusted preservatives to be in its best conditions. I pride myself in creating products that are organic and natural. Each product has specific ingredients specially chosen to provide results in growth, shine, and the overall strength of the hair strand. Thoroughly researched, I make sure to provide the full benefits of each product as well as a general idea of what products will work specifically for you. Handmade, Handpicked, Handpacked. I thrive on the basis of trust, so take this journey with me. The Herbal Brew is a mix of 18 vital herbs for longer, stronger, thicker, and healthier hair. Amla Oil is then added to the mix of herbs, allowing this to penetrate and marinate until it reaches a high potency. The longer it sits, the stronger it gets. Each jar of Herbal Brew sits for over a month to make sure that when it is added to your chosen Base Oil, you will receive a plethora of benefits.”

IG: @nottyhaircare WEBSITE: www.nottyhaircare.com

Photo by ORNELLA BINNI on Unsplash

B RBOUTIQUE IVANNA “M

y name is Brianna, I am a fulltime college student at UNCC and co-owner with my mother of BriVanna Boutique. Fashion has always been a passion of mine. My experiences in fashion along with motivation to help people has led to the opening of my online boutique.”

“A

s a small business we would love for all of you to take this important journey with us. Happiness is very important, and is not only found on the outside, but the inside as well. We have all the perfect items, Pjs for the holidays, sweaters and jackets that will keep you cozy on-the-go, and blouses and dresses perfect for any occasion, or keeping it “business on top” in your office/ school zoom meeting. We also sell adorable boots, belts, and tons of additional accessories or ensembles you will wear with a smile! Keep in mind we also have new arrivals every Thursday. Our hopes are that our customer service, clothing, and accessories give you a passion for fashion like it has done for me.

”

C LT

CLEAN BEAUTY The combo featured below can be used interchangeably. Each product can be used on the face and body and/or hair! To help clear complexion, you can use the Cleanser and Oil together. To moisturize, you can use all three! To help reduce eczema scarring and inflammation, use all three with Tea Tree Oil!

Photos by Elijah Cole

skincare favorites Moisturizing Face & Body Oil Our moisturizing face and body oil are made with three non-comedogenic oils that will help prevent acne. They will not clog your pores which will reduce breakouts. Our oils will help moisturize the skin and protect against sun damage.

Tea Tree Peppermint Invigorating Cleanser

Tea Tree Peppermint Invigorating Cleanser is our natural cleanser made to target multiple skin types and issues. It helps treat and eliminate inflammation from eczema, moisturizes and softens the skin, and helps clear your complexion.

Whipped Body Butter Our Whipped Body Butter is made from a blend of natural butters and oils. Our body butters are very light in texture and smooth leaving your skin soft and smooth when applied.

7 Self-care in 2020. A reminder to prioritize ourselves

BY: SIERRA DUCKETT

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

“Caring for myself is not selfindulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” AUDRE LORDE

n the fall of 2019, I took a class where we discussed the words of famed writer and activist Audre Lorde: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” I didn’t know it at the time, but those words would guide me for the harrowing and exhausting year that was to come.

The class in question was Feminist Thought. I will make no hurried assumptions in claiming that every person reading this will identify with the label of ‘feminist,’ or adhere to the values and trust in the efforts of feminism. However, Lorde’s quote stuck with me for reasons outside of feminism, past the divisive politics play, and beyond any pigeonholed movement that the media likes to paint with dramatics. Rather, her quote stuck with me for a very human reason, a very human experience: the inner conflict of individual and society, of privilege and oppression, of productivity and exhaustion.

Lorde’s depiction of self-care as warfare is radical in all the ways it shouldn’t be. We live in a country of extreme diversity, a world that is more connected than ever, a society so loud that sometimes it feels as though it is impossible to shut it out. Global issues are at our fingertips in moments, phone buzzing with headline after headline of something new to focus on, something new to worry about.

There is always something new to worry about.

And it’s exhausting, isn’t it? That feeling that we’ll never have peace, and that things will never go back to normal—that realization that perhaps even “normal” isn’t a place we can go back to, nor should we. The systematic issues that have come to a head this year have claimed the spotlight for a reason; our country is sick, in more ways than one, and we should not trade the noise of unveiled ignorance for a destructive return to “normalcy.” 2020 has been a year of priorities, of figuring out what we care about, who we care about, and why we should care more about each other, and in the chaos, it gets oh-so-easy to lose sight of how to care about ourselves. Self-care is a radical concept in a country that places value on physical and mental contributions to society. So many of us have been conditioned to believe that if we’re not doing something—if we’re not working on that essay, or striving for a full-time job, or volunteering at a non-profit, or paying attention to all the issues of the world all the time—then we’re lazy, selfish, and deserving of the obstacles we struggle with. Self-care is not self-indulgence, as Audre Lorde defends. It’s not about indulging in the laziness and selfishness that can seem so appealing at times. It’s not about turning a blind eye to the negativity, relishing in whatever privilege we have that allows us to ignore everything wrong and everybody wronged. Self-care is self-preservation. It is about surviving in a world that makes it difficult just to exist. It’s the comfort of playing our favorite song just for a moment’s escape. It’s the fantasy book we’ve been putting off reading for so long because it’s childish, “and, anyway, there’s just not enough hours in a day.” It’s the late-night Zoom calls with friends that we’ve finally gotten around to doing even though a little voice is still arguing that there’s something more productive we could be doing with our time.

It’s the moments to breathe, the reminders that it’s okay to step back, take a breath. It’s the little allowances we make to ourselves: “I do not have the capacity to worry about this right now, and that’s okay.” Self-care is not toxic positivity. It’s not the “It’ll be okay’s” and “don’t worry’s” that feel empty in a way, invalidating the frustrations of the present by favoring the uncertainty of the future. Struggling with negativity is a part of what makes us human, but so is the need for soft touches and words, the little acts of kindness we must give ourselves when the world around us fails to do the same. Self-care is warfare. It softens their blows while strengthening our armor. This year has been an exhausting one. We’ve been fighting for passing grades in online classes, fighting to keep ourselves safe in the middle of a pandemic, fighting in the streets with our rights at risk. I’m not writing this with the irrational belief that everything will be okay again once the clock strikes midnight on the first of January. Times are tough right now, and we have a while to go before our country has healed from its ills. Change takes time, but in order to continue worrying about everything, we must first care for ourselves. Next time we get overwhelmed by the politics trending on Twitter or the cyclical stories on news stations, we must allow ourselves time to step back for a moment. Forgive ourselves. Be kind to ourselves. And breathe.

We’ll get through this together.

8 Art in the Queen City

Submissions of Art Made During the Pandemic

ART IN THE

QUEEN

CITY

Photo by Emre Kuzu from Pexels

BY DARI GAITHER (she/they) Instagram: @ALLODARI & @DARIGAITHER

his piece is from a small series of self portraits created while in quarantine early-mid 2020. Knowing that I was my only ready available model, I took the opportunity to furthermore understand my aesthetics. Exploring characters fabricated from dreams, worries, Hallucinations, and what ever impossible scenarios that could be thought of. This character in particular is an amalgamation of lust, Fear, and anxiety. within my isolation, feelings such as loneliness, fear, and being lecherous became the daily emotional roller coaster ride. In sensual and ominous violet lights, I rub, claw, touch my skin to evoke pleasure and discomposure.

PLANETS NATASHA ADAMS (they/them) IG: @blkparade_ “I absolutely love pixel art. I decided to try it out myself voila! This piece came about, I’m super proud of myself for trying. I am not necessarily good at it but I had so much fun!

“NEXT TIME...” BY SUSANNA COUCH (SHE/HER/HERS) IG: @susanna.powers ABOUT THE PIECE: I wrote this piece as a way to express my emotions during a painful time in my personal life. I realize now more than ever that nothing is permanent, so I thought now would be a fantastic time to try and get some of my work published.

Could I have only found you here, or would have the pages of my diary all fallen out for the first person who’d offer me a sip of their drink? Years before I recreated you with my words, I thought of where you’d be and who, but just like you, you’d never tell me the ending. It was as if in telling me, you’d make our present something true; to that I say, scream how this story ends till your throat is sore from weeping, till your hands are numb from typing, until your eyes stop looking for glimpses of me when you see a head of hair like mine. Places that used to be ours now belong to me, to you, and to who cares. We plan separate days for separate feelings. Thank goodness we have no children, just disappointing restaurants and a short list of wines worth drinking. I joke to my friends to keep from crying, but the hardest part is that I know that who you want is inside me, but she’s not finished getting dressed yet. In another life I am wondering how to go on without you after fifty years, not just a little less than two. Now that we are over, what is this the beginning of? A lifetime of similar failures written in floral language, or the first in a long line of days where I will wonder if you are telling the next girl about this time, that time….next time. The last time. “Or so I’d thought.” Your old house is for rent. My letters will not reach their intended recipient they will be read by the graying, middle-aged man sitting in his kitchen, wondering who it is that is supposed to hear this ode to a pairing so doomed to fail, that it thrived in even the most lovelorn of places. He sighs and puts my letter down. On to the next city. The ghosts have called him elsewhere.

UNTITLED

58 spray paint art

CADEN JOHNSON (HE/HIM)

IG: @caden_thecraftsman 59

I Hate Pretty Things v2 Acrylic on Canvas. 8” x 8”

I Hate Pretty Things v2 Tianna McHenry

Hate Pretty Thingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; series is an examination of the convoluted relationship I have with my fantasies. I hate pretty things and the way I obsess over them. They consume my thoughts and fuel my imagination. These pretty things serve as calculated distractions.

I live within the comfort of these fabricated moments while life passes me by.

Artist IG: @tacotime_art

TRANS CARE NOW 2 & 3 of 4

James Bourke

Intaglio Prints 8â&#x20AC;?x 10â&#x20AC;?

Artist IG: @katebushington @jamesbourkedesign

ork based on the reality that Trans women--specifically Black Trans Women-- are constantly a target in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society in a larger context. This work was a way of combining multiple statements into a conversation regarding beauty standards rooted in transmisogyny.

the MIDAS TEAM FALL 2020

MIDAS MAGAZINE WAS CREATED IN 2020 TO BE A PLATFORM FOR UNC CHARLOTTE STUDENTS TO SHARE THEIR AUTHENTIC VOICES. WE FOCUS ON FOUR MAIN AREAS: CULTURE, ARTISTRY, IDENTITY, AND LIFESTYLE. WE SEEK TO CELEBRATE OUR STORIES AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY AND ARTISTRY. IG: MIDAS.MAG WEBSITE COMING SOON TO GET INVOLVED, EMAIL US AT MIDASMAGAZINE@UNCC.EDU

EDITOR IN CHIEF CLAIRE HAMBRICK

DEPARTMENT HEADS KYNDALL SEARS PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT

KASEY VARNER

PROMOTIONS TEAM MARIA SOLANO KYLIE JOHNSON

WRITING DEPARTMENT

WRITING TEAM

LEXI RAINES

SIERRA DUCKETT

PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT

JAMES BOURKE

DESIGN DEPARTMENT

MANAGING EDITOR

REEM ABNOWF MADISON SMITH BRI CLEMENS

PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM KAVYA KUMAR ELIJAH COLE SYDNEY LY

DESIGN TEAM BRENDA MORALES FLORES

From the MIDAS TEAM to all of our readers, Thank you!