ONYX Magazine May/June 2020

C E L E B R AT I NG B L AC K AC H I E V E M E N T T H ROUG H OU T F LO R I DA

Volume 9 – Number 44 MAY/JUNE 2020

THE ESSENCE OF

JONATHAN BLOUNT FOUNDER OF ESSENCE MAGAZINE CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

MONEY, HEALTH AND FREEDOM

STORIES OF HOW COVID-19 HAS IMPACTED BLACK COMMUNITIES

$3.50 onyxmagazine.com

THE NEGRO SPIRITUAL

A TRIBUTE TO BLACK MUSIC MONTH

DR. IAN SMITH BUSTS HEALTH MYTHS

+ 5

WAYS LEADERS SHOULD COMMUNICATE DURING A PANDEMIC

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

contents 4 Contributors 5 Elevate: Restoring the mind during a pandemic

Patricia Brown Denis is a writer and educator in Tampa. An avid reader, Patricia is the author of the ONYX Reads column.

Laura Dorsey, A.B.D., is the CEO of LLD Consulting, an associate editor of ONYX Magazine and author of the ONYX Magazine Money Matters series. Laura lives in Baltimore.

7 Partners: Orlando Utilities Commission helps community 8 Medically Speaking: Another silent killer 10 The power of a song in a strange land 12 Business: Getting your business off life support 14 On the Rise: Resiliency during a pandemic 16 Commentary: Ending ‘acceptable losses’ in disasters 17 Travel: Take travel online 18 Money Matters

Marianne Eggleston, M.B.A., has more than 25 years of experience as a communication strategist specializing in the music, film and entertainment business. In a special feature, Marianne pens this issue’s cover story on Jonathan Blount’s involvement in founding ESSENCE Magazine. She lives in Cleveland.

Valada Flewellyn is the Orlando author of “African Americans of Sanford” (2009) and “For the Children: The History of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated” (2018) and an ONYX Magazine special features writer.

20 Music & Entertainment 22 ONYX Reads: Books for your musical soul 23 UCF Knights Rise to the challenge 26 Impact: COVID 19 and corrections 28 Guardian Care: When six feet becomes six miles 30 Health/Wellness: There is no such thing as a big-boned person 33 CareerSource Central Florida offers more access to jobs amid pandemic 34 Entrepreneurship: It’s your move 35 Real Estate - Online home buying 36 Feature: The essence of Jonathan Blount 39 Community Local heroes

Sharon Fletcher Jones is a writer, coach and a creator at Women of a Certain Age (certainagewomen. com) in Orlando, who also pens feature stories for ONYX Magazine.

Trina Ryan is a blogger and ONYX Magazine features writer in Orlando.

She is the in-house editor and executive assistant to the CEO at the Orlando Museum of Art.

40 ONYX on the Move: Women on the Move 42 Gifts to celebrate mom from afar 43 Dad, the outdoorsman 44 Workplace: Five ways leaders should communicate during a pandemic 46 Food & Wine: Refreshing grapefruit cocktail

FEATURE Kevin Washington, Ph.D., is an academician and psychologist who leads the Department of Psychology at Grambling University in Baton Rouge, La. Kevin is the author of ONYX Magazine’s Elevate series.

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Chauncia Willis is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM). She is a certified emergency manager and cultural diversity expert specializing in disaster equity.

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The essence of Jonathan Blount Cover photo by Neal Jones Hairstylist Bridgitt Raphael

ELEVATE

Restoring the Mind During a Pandemic

By Kevin Washington, Ph.D.

W

e are aware of some underlying conditions that leave African American communities with higher COVID-19 deaths than others: more hypertension, diabetes, obesity, asthma. Some blame “reckless lifestyles” of excessive drinking and smoking, but there are other critical factors at play.

African Americans’ mental health is impacted by social, economic and cultural factors such as systemic and institutional racism. Research suggests that 6 percent of Americans are affected by poverty, unemployment and/or food insecurity. Many African Americans live in environments with higher, more frequent violence and criminal activities. It is imperative to note that racism and oppression are among the highest forms of violence that negatively impact African Americans.

These stressors are major contributors to mental health issues, because they cause mental/psychological anguish. Mental health impacts physical health in many ways. If we are to heal the body, then we must address the psychological assaults of racism and oppression—the Zulu call this ukufa kwabantu or metaphysical/spiritual challenges.

For people of Afrikan descent, spirit is essential to existence. Experiences of the Maafa (Afrikan enslavement dynamics) and the Persistence Enslavement Trauma (PEST) have a deleterious effect on the psychospiritual well-being of Black people.

We must address the PEST as we seek to facilitate health and wellness within our community. The diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often is applied to describe the condition under which African Americans live, however, it falls short of capturing the dynamics of the Afrikan experience for several reasons: One, PTSD is generally diagnosed in someone who has experienced a traumatic event in one generation under a limited set of circumstances. The trauma encoun-

tered by Afrikan people has lasted for several generations and is ongoing. We see the impact of this trauma with the health/ death marker of Blacks due to COVID-19.

Therefore, another problem with applying PTSD to Afrikan/Black people’s trauma is that PTSD is diagnosed in those who have experienced a traumatic event and are currently not experiencing that specific trauma. Institutional and systemic racism combine to be a psychospiritual disruption to people of Afrikan descent.

Our way to heal is tied to this same worldview of spirit and connectedness. African Americans are communal and enjoy gathering and relating. We could suggest that our social capital is our greatest asset. When we connect with one another, we feel more alive because our value is found within our interconnectivity. The Zulu have a concept called Ubuntu, which speaks to humanity and all of its connectedness. This is a time for us to enhance our social capital by connecting in ways that we haven’t done in a few generations.

Family and community rituals are moments where bonding can occur between family and community members.

Healing of severed relationships with self and others can take place in the context of ritual. African Americans must elevate the

essence of self and a spiritual/physical journey through meaningful cultural rituals.

Contrary to distorted historical misinformation, African Americans love deeply.

How? • Celebrate African American holidays and ancestors—even if virtual. Consider family strengths and highlight lessons of resilience and divine intellect; • Plan family and ancestral celebrations of those who have passed. African Americans come from a great and mighty people and must pay forward that greatness to make the world better; • Fortify spirit with prayer, meditation, exercise, healthy food consumption, and optimal rest. Engage in activities that will bring about ease rather than dis-ease to the mind, body and soul. Have positive conversations and eat life-affirming foods. Make fruits and vegetables 50 percent of diets and restore the body; • Celebrate family and community while acknowledging others’ positive impact.

Call, text or write those family members and express how life has been changed for the good.

The healing we seek begins with one person at a time via one ritual at a time.

Let the healing begin.

ONYX MAGAZINE 5

FROM THE PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rich Black MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A. EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST Lena Graham-Morris

RICH BLACK

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Maria Barnes

MAY/JUNE 2020

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews Laura Dorsey Marianne Eggleston Sharon Fletcher Jones

Dear ONYX Magazine Family, During this difficult time in our world, ONYX Magazine is grateful to have such a steadfast community of readers, advertisers and other supporters like you. This COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything our community has ever faced, but we are strong and we will get through this together.

We salute the front line and essential workers, our first and last responders. Your commitment to our safety is aweinspiring and we are praying for you. We pay tribute to our local leaders across Florida and our nation who, in this critical time, have homed in on safety of all residents. Please continue to heed their advice and keep your families well.

We also want to acknowledge our talented team of writers and staff, people who are continuing to work hard to fuel the ONYX Magazine engine.

ONYX Magazine is doing its part to ensure that you and your families continue to receive information about how our communities are being impacted by the COVID-19 threat.

Please monitor our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) for local and global stories about how our world is faring in this crisis. Also, visit our website for up-to-date COVID-19 information provided by the World Health Organization; and peruse the many wonderful stories that uplift and inform you.

Inside this issue, there are several stories that explain how the global health threat is impacting the Black community and what we are doing as a community to address it.

From showing you ways to keep your business afloat, to staying healthy while you practice social distancing, we have all for you. For your reading pleasure, we take you on a journey with Jonathan Blount, one of the founders of ESSENCE Magazine. The formidable Black women’s publication celebrates 50 years and Blount tells us how it all got started.

DESIGN DIRECTOR Jason Jones BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amanda Abrams Donna Cox Patricia Brown Denis Laura Dorsey Marianne Eggleston

Valeda Flewellyn Sharon Fletcher Jones Rita Men Yasser Moosa Deidre “Dee” Parker

Robert Reid-Cleveland Trina Ryan Michelle Tincher Kevin Washington, Ph.D. Chauncia Willis

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Milad B. Fakurian Neal Jones ONYX ADVISORY COMMITTEE Deidre Parker, Chair Michelle Tatom, Immediate Past Chair Dick Batchelor Bob Berryhill Dr. Lavon Bracy Bryon Brooks Marva Brown Johnson Hon. Mable Butler Yolanda Cash Jackson Dr. Cynthia Chestnut James Clark

John Crossman Gary Hartfield Barbara Hartley Tony Hill Alma Horne Rodney Hurst Ann Jenkins Connie Kinnard Larry Lee, Jr.

Brenda March Nancy Port Schwalb Margaret J. Thompson Gail Thomas-DeWitt Hon. Alan Williams Carla Williams Dr. Samuel Wright Lady Dhyana Ziegler

FOUNDERS

Like each of you, we feel the pinch of uncertainty. However, we believe it is only for this season and we as a people will endure. Be careful and prayerful—stay healthy and safe. As always, ONYX Magazine is here to bring you stories that entertain, inspire and informs. We look forward to being here for you for years to come.

Sincerely

Rich Black

6 ONYX MAGAZINE

Lester and Lillian Seays ONYX Magazine is published by ONYX Communications and Media Group, Inc., Address: P.O. Box 555672, Orlando, Florida 32855-5872. Phone 321-418-7216. Subscription rate is $19.95 for six issues. For subscriptions and notification of address change, contact ONYX Magazine at the above address or e-mail us at info@onyxmagazine.com. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Copyright 2018 by ONYX Magazine.

All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.

Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writer or interviewee and not necessarily those of the publisher. Manuscripts, photos and art should be submitted with a self-addressed stamped envelope. The publisher does not assume responsibility for any materials not submitted in manner advised. Unsolicited materials are not subject to payment from ONYX Magazine.

PARTNERS

OUC Supports the Frontline Grocery store employees have worked tirelessly on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, keeping shelves stocked and ensuring the community has access to food and supplies. Recently, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) honored and thanked them for their work, feeding nearly 400 grocery store employees at eight locations across Orange and Osceola counties. OUC partnered with local restaurants to provide meals—another way the utility supported the community. Queen Massaline, senior community relations coordinator at OUC, made on of the stops, delivering lunch from Voodoo Food Truck to Walmart employees at the locations on Goldwyn Avenue and South Orange Avenue in Orlando.

ONYX MAGAZINE 7

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Another Silent Killer COVID-19 is ravaging the Black community. But why and how do we reverse it?

By D. Shenell Reed

I

n Pensacola, nearly 200 African Americans gathered at an apartment complex to celebrate Easter. They stood together unmasked, closer than six feet apart. They hugged, talked face-to-face and carried on with the jubilance of any holiday party.

Normally, the takeaway would have been “a community celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

But today, we live nowhere near normal. We live in a world where we cross the street to avoid passing our neighbor on the sidewalk. We video chat with our loved ones, wear latex gloves in the grocery store, hide our lower faces behind homemade shields, and rarely leave the house. This is life during a pandemic, and it is quickly becoming our new normal.

The police broke up the Easter celebrants, largely because they were violating the safe distance guidelines most of the world is adhering to: stay six feet apart, because if just one drop of your saliva contains the coronavirus COVID-19, 8 ONYX MAGAZINE

you could infect another person and start a domino effect of illness. Now, we have more evidence that for Black people in America, that one drop could be deadly.

Identifying the Problem According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Black Americans make up 13.4 percent of the American population; but account for more than half of all COVID-19 cases and nearly 60 percent of the deaths, a study found. The report went on to disclose that health disparities, including access to health care, are likely to blame.

“I am a little bit surprised that there are folks who seem to have been caught off guard by these increased numbers in the Black community,” said B. Lee Green, Ph.D., during a virtual B. Lee Green, Ph.D.

town hall meeting conducted by ONYX Magazine and Orlando City Commissioner Regina I. Hill (District 5). “These are the same issues we have seen with disparities over the last Commissioner Regina I. Hill 30, 40, 50 years. (District 5) These issues cause health disparities and increased deaths in Blacks. So, basically, COVID-19 has shone more of a light on the issue of racial health disparities and this is certainly a wakeup call for our country.”

Green, the vice president of Diversity, Public Relations and Strategic Communications at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, said researchers found there were several factors that put this population at higher risk of having complications with COVID-19.

“Being of older age, being male, having pre-existing conditions like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, asthma… minorities seem to have more of these underlying conditions,” he said.

In fact, African Americans have a 40 percent higher rate of high blood pressure and 60 percent higher rate of diabetes than White Americans, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Compounding the problem are the circumstances under which a large number of African Americans live. Many of the communities are in poor areas with high housing density and they lack access to healthcare, healthy foods, green space, and health education; not to mention high unemployment rates.

Among the employed, Black people tend to be the essential, frontline workers—having the types of jobs that don’t allow the luxury of working from home.

Green added that “being underinsured or having no insurance limits the access to necessary care and treatments,” because how do you get treated if you cannot pay for it? All these factors, fueled by systemic racism and lack of trust, raise the death toll.

Fighting the Enemy So, how do we quell the beast? There still is so much unknown about the virus and conflicting information continues to flow into American homes. There currently is no treatment approved for COVID-19, and no cure for an infection. Instead, treatment focuses on managing symptoms as the virus runs its course.

Experts have said studies are under way for treatment and vaccine, but we could be well into 2021 before that happens.

“The best prevention is for patients is to be compliant with their medications, follow proper hygiene—taking two showers per day (and washing hands)—and to educate themselves Jason Littleton, M.D. about the virus so they can, at their level, articulate it to someone else. That…gives them a leg up to keep their families safe,” said Jason Littleton, M.D., America’s Energy Doctor.

A boosted immune system also is a formidable foe against coronaviruses, said Dr. Littleton, owner of Littleton Concierge Medicine in Orlando.

“You must follow your doctor’s instructions. What I tell my patients is Vitamin D, Vitamin C and Zinc are very important. Keeping your blood sugar appropriate, drinking water, exercising if you can, getting good sleep, not eating a lot of sugar, also are important,” Dr. Littleton stresses.

“Sugar is totally bad in this situation. If you drink alcohol or sodas, this is not the time to do that. If you smoke, it’s a good time to quit. Those things can hurt your immune system. Your body is designed to beat viruses, but if you do those things, you hamper your body from doing what it’s supposed to do.”

Moving Beyond COVID-19 At a White House coronavirus task force briefing in April, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, M.D., expressed the need to bridge the racial health gap. “We will get over coronavirus—but there will still be health disparities…which we really do need to address in the African American community,” he said.

So what role do community leaders and health facilities play in dialing up health outcomes in the Black community? The experts say the responsibility is substantial.

“It’s up to our local health departments to give us some data on race, gender and age so it can be readily available to our social scientists, doctors and public researchers—to formulate a better preparedness plan for a (possible) upcoming wave (of coronavirus),” Commissioner Hill said. “We as leaders need to do a better job and put a strategic plan together for Black and Brown communities and the homeless.”

“Prevention takes a back seat to treatment,” said Green. “We have to advocate to get more funding for prevention and health education in Black and Brown communities.”

African Americans’ lack of trust in the medical system also complicates the situation. Some suggest that churches get involved in delivering health messages and as triage centers and testing sites to help

residents feel more comfortable in believing in the process. It also helps when trusted voices take the lead.

Shani Davis, Ph.D., owner of Your Best You Clinic in Tampa, admired the healthy tips Shani Davis, Ph.D. door hanger and mask distribution campaigns conducted by ONYX Magazine and Commissioner Hill, which reached thousands of residents in District 5.

“We need a campaign like that one in Tampa and in other Florida cities. We need a trusting voice to say, ‘take a listen, we need to know about this condition, we need to understand about wearing masks, social distancing, because we can be affected.’ A trusting voice is very important for preventing transmission of disease,” she said.

Orlando City Commissioner Bakari Burns (District 6) also is the CEO of the Healthcare Center for the Homeless at Orange Blossom Health Center. He said his facility is prepared to provide solutions to health disparities.

“Residents need to establish a primary care home for Commissioner Bakari access to healthBurns (District 6) care, prescriptions, dental services, mental health,” he said.

“Orange Blossom Health provides health services on a sliding scale, so regardless of patients’ ability to pay, they can still get the health services they need.”

Less than a month after that gathering in Pensacola, Florida has seen more than 1,000 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health. But still, people appear at ease when forming in large numbers.

Will this need for human interaction cause another wave of the coronavirus? Only time will tell. Until then, we wash our hands, don our masks and wave from afar.

ONYX MAGAZINE 9

BLACK MUSIC MONTH

The Power of a Song in a Strange Land

By Donna Cox

F

rom the moment of capture, through the treacherous middle passage, after the final sale and throughout life in North America, the experience of enslaved Africans who first arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, some 400 years ago, was characterized by loss, terror and abuse.

The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act of 1807 made it illegal to buy and sell people in British colonies, but in the independent United States slavery remained a prominent—and legal—practice until December 1865. From this tragic backdrop one of the most poignant American musical genres, the Negro spiritual, was birthed.

Sometimes called slave songs, jubilees and sorrow songs, spirituals were created out of, and spoke directly to, the black

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experience in America prior to the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, that declared all slaves free.

West African roots Spirituals have been a part of my life from childhood. In small churches in Virginia and North Carolina, we sang the songs of our ancestors, drawing strength and hope.

I went on to study, perform and teach the spiritual for over 40 years to people across

the U.S. and in various parts of the world.

Despite attempts, white slave-owners could not strip Africans of their culture.

Even with a new language, English, and without familiar instruments, the enslaved people turned the peculiarities of African musical expressions into the African American sound.

Rhythms were complex and marked by syncopation, an accent on the weak beat.

Call-and-response, a technique rooted in sub-Saharan West African culture, was frequently employed in spirituals. Call-andresponse is very much like a conversation – the leader makes a statement or asks a question and others answer or expound.

An example of this is the spiritual, Certainly Lord. The leader excitedly queries, “Have you got good religion?” and others jubilantly respond, “Certainly, Lord.”

Using repetition and improvisation, the conversation continues to build until everyone exclaims, “certainly, certainly, certainly, Lord!”

In Africa, drums were used to communicate from village to village because they could be used to mimic the inflection of voices.

As early as 1739 in the British colonies, drums were prohibited by law and characterized as weapons in an attempt to prevent slaves from building community and inciting rebellion.

As a result, enslaved people “played” drum patterns on the body. Hands clapped, feet stomped, bodies swayed and mouths provided sophisticated rhythmic patterns.

This can be observed in Hambone, an example of improvised body music.

Oral tradition Some spirituals were derived from African melodies. Others were “new,” freely composed songs with a melodic phrase borrowed from here and a rhythmic pattern from there – all combined to create an highly improvised form.

The spiritual was deeply rooted in the oral tradition and often created spontaneously, one person starting a tune and another joining until a new song was added to the community repertoire. The sophisticated result was beautifully described in 1862 by Philadelphia musicologist and piano teacher Lucy McKim Garrison.

“It is difficult to express the entire character of these negro ballads by mere musical notes and signs,” she said. “The odd turns made in the throat; the curious rhythmic effect produced by single voices chiming in at different irregular intervals, seem almost as impossible to place on score.”

Textually, the spiritual drew from the Hebrew-Christian Bible, particularly the Old Testament, with its stories of deliverance and liberation. Songs like “Go Down Moses” direct the awaited deliverer to “go down” to Southern plantations and “tell ole Pharaoh”—the masters—to “let my people go.”

“It is difficult to express the entire character of these negro ballads by mere musical notes and signs. The odd turns made in the throat; the curious rhythmic effect produced by single voices chiming in at different irregular intervals, seem almost as impossible to place on score.”

—Lucy McKim Garrison

Songs of survival For the slaves, the spiritual proved to be an ingenious tool used to counter senseless brutality and the denial of personhood.

In order to survive emotionally, resilience was critical. In the spirituals, slaves sang out their struggle, weariness, loneliness, sorrow, hope and determination for a new and better life.

Yet these are not songs of anger. They are songs of survival that voice an unwavering belief in their own humanity and attest to an abiding faith in the ultimate triumph of good over systemic evil.

Interspersed within these seemingly hopeless texts are phrases that reflect the heart’s hope: the words “true believer” amid the acknowledgment that “sometimes I feel like a motherless child,” for example; and “glory, hallelujah” interjected after the text, “nobody knows the trouble I see.”

Songs declaring, “I’ve got a crown up in dat kingdom. Ain’t date good news,” proclaimed the certainty of a future hope totally unlike the day-to-day reality of enslavement.

People whose every movement was dictated audaciously declared, “I’ve got shoes. You’ve got shoes. All God’s children got shoes. When I get to heaven gonna put on my shoes, gonna walk all over God’s heaven.” In the same song they denounced the hypocrisy of the slaveholders’ religion: “Everybody talkin’ ‘bout heaven ain’t going there.”

Spirituals weren’t simply religious music. In his seminal work, “Narrative Of The Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave,” published in 1845, the abolitionist explains, “they were tones loud, long, and deep; they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish. Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains.”

The spirituals were also acts of rebellion. They were used to organize clandestine meetings, and announce activities of the Underground Railroad. For example, songs like “Great Camp Meeting,” were used to announce when secret gatherings were being planned.

The spiritual served as a mediator between the dissonance of oppression and the belief that there was “a bright side somewhere.”

Four hundred years after the birth of slavery, as the world still struggles with racial division, injustice and a sense of hopelessness, spirituals can teach how to build hope in the face of despair and challenge the status quo.

Donna Cox is a professor of Music at the University of Dayton. Her story first appeared in “The Conversation.”

ONYX MAGAZINE 11

BUSINESS

Getting Your Business Off Life Support Ways to survive the global health threat, COVID-19

By Laura Dorsey

T

here is an economic saying: “When America catches a cold, Black America gets pneumonia.” The problem with this saying is that if we use that same correlation and COVID-19 is America catching a cold, there is no definition for what the COVID-19 pandemic will be to Black America.

A recent commentary asked, ‘Where are our Black leaders when we need them?’ The real question is, what does Black leadership look like? For so long, America has viewed African American leadership from a monolithic lens. There was a time when Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X filled that criteria for us, but the world does not work like that today.

Black America today faces wide-scale problems that must be addressed in a number of ways. The nation’s leading civil rights organizations requested an urgent meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer regarding racial equity in the coronavirus response proposal. Marc H. Morial, the president & CEO of the National Urban League; Melanie Campbell, the president & CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable; NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson and Rev. Al Sharpton, the founder and president 12 ONYX MAGAZINE

of the National Action Network, insisted that coronavirus response legislation must take racial equity into account. The fact is Urban communities of color are likely to suffer the brunt of the economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis, and any legislative response must contain targeted relief. The answer was ‘we hear you,’ but no definitive actions were initiated.

Now is not the time for a wait-and-see approach or half measures. The unemployment rate is predicted to hit a staggering 20%, the highest since the great depression. If history repeats itself, minorities will struggle the most and be the hardest hit. JPMorgan Chase indicates that the average small business has 27 days of cash in reserve, but minority businesses often have less than 20 days’ worth.

Dr. Eugene Franklin, the president of the Florida State Black Chamber of Commerce, suggests that small businesses should take this time to get their paperwork in order and work on their business plans. Normal is going to be different on the post coronavirus pandemic economic scene. If cash is king, then inventory is the queen. Failure to resource plan in these two areas will have catastrophic consequences. What is your plan to keep your customers/clients and employees? A strong market plan that creates a unique value proposition is nec-

essary to create separation from competitors. Franklin suggests that we take a WIN (What’s Important Now) approach to the economic challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic brings. A reminder to small businesses that the government response used in the 2008 financial crisis did not work for minority businesses. Low-interest funds are not always easy to come by for minorities with limited access to money and very few assets. People are talking about investing in the community and letting money circulate as a way of strengthening communities. It turns out that there are 35 African American owned banks and credit unions in the United States. Two of them are in the state of Florida: 1) FAMU Federal Credit Union – Tallahassee 2) One United Bank – Miami.

It will be essential to provide large-scale support for small businesses that have lost customers and had to shutter operations. His recommendation: • Apply for Small Business Administration loans, in addition to the disaster loans, which only apply to businesses in states that have declared emergency status.

Some state governments are offering aid packages.

• Explore private sector programs and fintech products. Facebook said it would offer $100 million in grants to small businesses. And fintech companies such

as Kabbage and Fundbox, which specialize in loans to small businesses, are also considering ways to support the sector.

• Renegotiate terms of contracts and debt.

Owners should ask landlords for more time to pay their rent, for example. They should also ask banks to defer interest payments on outstanding debt temporarily.

• One of the main issues is that incidents like this pandemic can strain a

small business’s financial capacity to make payroll, maintain inventory, and respond to market fluctuations. Businesses can help themselves to prepare by exploring and testing their capital access options, including credit history, so they have what they need when they need it. Attached is a list of the various types of loans that are available for minority-owned businesses:

We are at an unprecedented time in our history. COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on the health of our people, the businesses we rely upon, and the very way that we live our daily lives. But let’s be clear, we have been down this road before, just not at this scale. Strong leadership is critical. We will win this war; we just have to have a WIN (What’s Important Now) mindset.

ONYX MAGAZINE 13

ON THE RISE

Resiliency During a Pandemic: Young People Were Made For This

By Trina Ryan

D

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Mikaela Hutchinson, 17, is the outreach deputy director of Zero Hour.

have been cited in the U.S. to date, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University— social distancing (staying six feet away from other people) and news alerts of the virus’ spread have become part of daily life.

Walk outside and signs of a looming apocalypse begin to appear: grocery aisles ransacked, streets emptied, businesses and restaurants closed (some permanently).

What feels especially unprecedented about the current pandemic is not just the unknown period in which it will last, but the prolonged isolation—the lack of

human interaction during a time when it’s needed most.

Though the outbreak has stoked widespread panic among different classes of society, young people—the millennials, the Gen Z’ers—are, in many ways, built for such a crisis.

Facetime, text, virtual video games: young folks are leveraging their innate ingenuity and technical know-how to stay connected, hallmarks unique to this demographic.

“Because so much of what we do is already digitized, communication right now doesn’t feel that different,” Royster said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKAELA HUTCHINSON

awn Royster, who is 17 and a junior at Timber Creek High School in Orlando, typically runs at night.

But this March day wasn’t a typical day.

Having been out of school for nearly a week, due to a statewide effort to stem the coronavirus outbreak, she was determined to make the most of an abnormal situation.

So she laced up her light blue Nike Zooms and set off in the early morning light.

She loved being out in nature, the soft breeze caressing her face. She ran harder than usual, barely catching her breath. And while this morning jaunt offered a therapeutic release from days of isolation, something felt eerie. At the sight of a human face— once a source of comfort—an instinctual survival mechanism kicked in, a flinching need to protect and distance herself. She ping-ponged from sidewalk to sidewalk, avoiding passersby. Was this practicing ethical social distancing, she wondered. Or was this society’s new normal?

At the beginning of March, the novel coronavirus, referred to as COVID-19, seemed an innocuous specter, contained to a far-off land. Symptoms can include fever, cough and breathing trouble in healthy individuals, and can lead to death in the immunocompromised and the elderly.

However, considering that there is no vaccine nor an adequate number of tests or hospital beds for those who fall ill, all Americans are at grave risk.

Now that the virus has wended its way to the States—more than 100,000 cases

“We’re still coming together as a community, even though we’re physically apart.”

Millennials and Gen Z’ers are well accustomed to trauma. Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, witnessed 9/11, the Iraq War and the 2008 recession. Gen Z’ers, aged 23 and younger, spend their youth worrying about the consequences of a rapidly heating planet: raging wildfires, melting glaciers, extreme weather disasters such as hurricanes and flooding. Here in the U.S., students face the scourge of gun violence, as prevalent for Gen Z’ers as mass unemployment was for the Silent Generation during the Great Depression. Is it any wonder these generations are so willful and angry?

While it is true that some young people have ignored the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s warning to avoid large gatherings—“If I get corona, I get corona,” one spring breaker in Miami told Reuters—by and large millennials and Gen Z’ers are taking social distancing seriously. Perhaps because COVID-19 adds to a long list of fears that already threatens their future.

“The beginning of this year you saw the brink of chaos, with the fires in Australia and the Amazon,” said Anaiah Thomas, 18, deputy director of finance for Zero Hour, an international youth-led climate movement. “It all felt like it was closing in—but it didn’t hit home until corona.”

COVID-19 is, in some respects, a metaphor for climate change: a problem that starts small, but if allowed to continue unabated, grows into an uncontrollable, worldwide disaster. It’s an issue that’s ignored, until it no longer can be.

On the upside, there is no greater opportunity than the present for young people to shed light on their environmental and cultural concerns—as well as find solutions for not just how to control COVID-19 but how to mitigate its effects on vulnerable populations, namely people of color and the working class. (That COVID-19 disproportionately affects minority and low-income communities is another quality that makes it analogous to climate change.)

“Younger generations are interested in understanding an issue and using current

technology to solve problems,” said Victor Ibeanusi, Ph.D., dean of the School of the Environment, Florida A&M University.

“They’re curious … and have a need to understand their environment, which is critical in times of crises.” As he put it, young people are poised to be “the voice of solutions.”

Though COVID-19 has kept young protesters from meeting in person, many youth-led movements, like Zero Hour, are using social media, podcasts and other digital platforms to recruit supporters and spread awareness about climate change and environmental justice. Minority communities have long borne the brunt of global warming, with higher exposures to air and water pollution, as well as pesticides from industrial agriculture.

“When you think of the people who are going to be hit the most and hurt the most during a crisis, it’s always going to be people of color,” said 17-year-old Mikaela Hutchinson, volunteer outreach deputy director with Zero Hour.

One promising attribute of modern culture is that it invites questions that challenge the status quo. More than any other

Students, from left Yazmin de la Rosa, Lorena Sosa and Dawn Royster at a youth climate protest in front of City Hall in Orlando in September. Photo courtesy of Dawn Royster.

generation, millennials and Gen Z’ers are boldly disrupting the norm and asserting their roles—as the most educated and racially diverse demographic cohorts—in society. “I feel like that’s the dividing line between generations,” Thomas said. “We have access to so much more. Our world isn’t just our neighborhood or our town; our world is the world.”

When Royster got back from her run, she did something out of the ordinary.

Feeling “super tired,” she put down her phone and collapsed on her bed. The texts and social media posts would have to wait.

She closed her eyes, soaked in the quiet, and enjoyed the stillness of being alone.

ONYX MAGAZINE 15

COMMENTARY

Ending ‘Acceptable Losses’ in Disasters How Emergency Management can help build more equitable communities

By Chauncia Willis

D

isasters bring to light a hard truth: the poor, minorities, immigrants, and other marginalized groups are acceptable losses of life.

Rooted within the military, medical and insurance industries, “acceptable losses” refers to the number of expected casualties that are tolerable. We can see this right now with COVID-19, as groups of people already disadvantaged by systemic injustices are dying in greater numbers than those who have been historically privileged.

I’ve been a professional emergency manager for more than 20 years. I have rarely seen emergency management programs practice equity in decision making, policy development or resource allocations.

Instead, the dominate mindset of the field has been to do the “most for the most.” That privileged mindset leaves those with the least (i.e. the poor, communities of color, immigrants and other vulnerable groups) more susceptible to the impacts of the disaster. Our failure to take steps to intentionally eliminate bias in disasters perpetuates the cycle of unfair repercussions for the powerless, making them expendable.

This mindset doesn’t come from nowhere. The inherent biases based on race, financial status, education, gender and origin of birth are underlying issues that are consistently ignored when things are “normal.” When we don’t intentionally recognize them, every day they continue to grow and in times of crisis bubble over.

Historically, public health crises have been obscenely unkind to vulnerable groups. An example of this is the 1800s yellow fever epidemic. Yellow fever, a gruesome disease carried by mosquitoes, was a routine, unwelcome visitor to antebellum New Orleans and had no cure. In 1853, the worst year of the epidemic, an estimated 10% of the population died from the disease—nearly a third were recent European immigrants.

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As Stanford University historian Kathryn Olivarius has explained, people who had survived yellow fever attained higher social and economic status, as they were now immune, while those who had never had it couldn’t get work at all. Rich slave owners also used the disease as a justification for slavery, erroneously claiming black people were immune and therefore safe to work outside, while actually charging more at slave auctions for enslaved people who had survived yellow fever and were “acclimated.”

History is repeating itself with COVID19. Recent reports indicate that Black and Hispanic Americans are less likely to be tested either because they aren’t getting proper medical care despite showing coronavirus-like symptoms or they lack access to the testing sites typically located in more White, affluent neighborhoods. This is a classic example of how structural racism shapes decision making and further exacerbates health and economic disparities.

By focusing on more affluent communities’ risk of exposure, and ignoring the less affluent, those individuals are experiencing

faster rates of infection in certain cities.

Economically, like the yellow fever epidemic, those with access to wealth prior to the coronavirus pandemic will benefit the most. Corporations will receive bail outs. But small businesses, many of which are owned by historically disadvantaged groups and don’t operate in the traditional banking system, won’t survive. And hourly wage workers will see their struggle to find economic stability harder to achieve and their generational wealth potential forever altered.

Skin color and socioeconomic status should not determine who survives a disaster or who prospers most in its aftermath.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can start applying an unbiased, equitable lens to our decision making in times of crisis that includes, rather than excludes, vulnerable populations.

Emergency management can take a leading role in reversing these historical practices. Following disasters, emergency managers often use the phrase “building back better.” If we take that to heart, we can begin to reset community dynamics

LOURVE BY @AGREATEUROPETRIPPLANNER; ZOO BY @TONYTHETIGERSSON; CHINA BY @LIFE.THRU.LENS

TRAVEL

that consider the diverse needs of all residents. But first the profession needs to transform itself by operationalizing equity and disrupting the cycle of bias.

The emergency management profession significantly lacks diversity in leadership, thought and execution. There simply are very few women, people of color and those representing different backgrounds in leadership positions. Currently, there are only two state emergency managers of color in the entire United States. Attracting and retaining new, unique voices to the field of emergency management will help to challenge mainstream assumptions, broaden our perspectives and make policy decisions that better reflect the diverse makeup of affected communities in need.

Further, offering more training opportunities for emergency management staff on how bias manifests before, during and after disaster would provide more awareness. Similarly, having emergency managers engage more with marginalized communities, and openly conducting assessments to evaluate the inclusion of these groups also will help bring more inclusion to the field. Over time, this will help create measurable resilience in the most vulnerable communities, something they are in no position to do now.

In our conscious minds, we want to believe that every life has equal value. But disasters have and will continue to negatively impact the most underrepresented and underserved groups unless we do something to change it. Emergency management paradigms must be disrupted. Until those shifts occur, vulnerable populations will continue to be acceptable losses in future disasters.

Take Travel Online Five ideas for a virtual family adventure

A

dream vacation is the perfect antidote to stress and the monotony of daily life.

When a getaway isn’t in the cards, you can still escape and explore new places virtually.

A virtual trip can be a great way to explore destinations you might consider for a future vacation, or it may be a chance to see remarkable sights around the world that you wouldn’t get to experience otherwise. Virtual travel can also engage kids in learning when you pair the experience with lessons on culture, geography or even a homemade take on local culinary treats.

Add authenticity to the experience with special touches that mimic the ambiance. If you’re visiting the beach, kick up the heat and turn on a fan for some breeze. Light a coconut-scented candle and enjoy a bowl of ice cream while you take in the sights.

Get your virtual adventures under way with these selections from the travel experts at Vrbo: Look around the Louvre in Paris. Explore

the Egyptian Antiquities, remains of the Louvre’s Moat and Galerie d’Apollon by virtual museum tour as you head inside this iconic art lover’s institution.

Sneak inside the San Diego Zoo. Get up close and personal with the resident apes, penguins, pandas, giraffes, elephants and tigers in real time via one of the many live cams positioned to spot wildlife from the comfort of your couch.

Walk the Great Wall of China. Make

your Great Wall goals a reality. Get a glimpse of this 300-mile wonder of the world with a cyber stroll before dreaming up your own future family trip.

Watch big wave surfing in Maui. Trans-

port yourself to the beach as you watch whiteknuckle surfing at its most surreal. Whether you’re a super fan or first-time spectator of the sport, it’s a compelling beach-cam watch and a welcome escape from the everyday.

Travel 352 million miles to Mars. Feel a

world away as you explore Mars from aboard NASA’s Curiosity Rover. Learn as you roam between its different mission sites for a virtual, yet realistic, view of the Red Planet’s remarkable landscape.

For families who miss traveling together, you can share the joys of your virtual journey through videoconferencing and adding some extra ambiance and a change of scenery by downloading a travel wallpaper for your meeting background. If the virtual destinations inspire you to visit in person someday, use resources like Vrbo’s Trip Boards to create a list of places to stay as soon as you can get away, and keep the dream going by sending the link to family members and asking them to vote and comment on their favorites.

Story by Family Features ONYX MAGAZINE 17

MONEY MATTERS

Being Fiscally Fit in Turbulent Times

By Laura Dorsey

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C

oronavirus (COVID-19) is no respecter of persons— uninfluenced by rank, power, wealth, etc. COVID-19 has no consideration for the toll that the pandemic will take—the businesses it will destroy, the jobs it will wipe out, the retirement nest eggs it will crack and shatter. That there will be economic pain is evident. Many people already see their incomes cut as their work hours are slashed, or they are told simply to stay home. Workers most at risk include millions in the leisure and hospitality industries, transportation services, and the energy sector. We know we are in for a period of severe economic pain and when we get through this issue, we want to know that we can come out on the other side.

If there is any hope, it is likely that the federal government has more power to soften the economic blow than it does to con-

tain the virus. Unlike the last financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, both political parties are in consensus about the scope of the fiscal response required, deficits be damned! People who have lost jobs or who have seen their hours cut dramatically need fast money to buy food and stay in their homes. In contrast, businesses need funds to stay afloat and postpone layoffs as much as possible.

There is a genuine risk of families losing income and businesses of all sizes suffering, as a result of the negative impact COVID-19 will have on slowing economic growth. During the last recession, minorities suffered the most when the economic downturn caused the unemployment rate to soar. By October 2009, the unemployment rate for Blacks was 13.1%. Currently, the unemployment rate for African Americans is 5.5%, a number that’s likely to rise to an anticipated 20%. It is also noteworthy that the top 1% captured 85% of post-recession income growth from 2009 to 2013.

Knowing that your money matters, as of the writing of this article, there is a proposal that would send one-time payments of $1,200 to individuals earning up to $75,000 a year (those amounts double for married couples) and an extra $500 per child. Please do not get too excited! This is not the first time this has happened.

The Federal Government has sent checks to Americans before. In 2008, individual taxpayers received up to $600, and married couples up to $1,200, in a $168-billion tax-rebate program by the Bush administration to battle the economic downturn. Research has shown that such direct payments are spent quickly, especially by households with little savings and wealth. Thus it can be useful in giving a short-term lift to the broader economy. This time there’s likely to be less bang for the buck. That’s because large por-

tions of the American economy have been shut down, cut off from higher consumer spending power. Although wages for lower-income workers have been growing faster in the last couple of years as unemployment has fallen, many of them still live paycheck to paycheck. Economists are worried whether the cash payments for people who are laid off will be enough to pay rent, buy food, and keep their family afloat.

Even when life returns to some semblance of normalcy, the economic trauma will not be over. The Government is also pushing for a significant expansion of Unemployment Benefits and other measures that would more directly help laid-off workers and low-income Americans who are most vulnerable to an economic shock. How quickly the economy can recover likely depends on time. Still, we know that for many Black families in America, this stimulus is not the final answer. There are other resources that we should be looking at during this time. Carolyn Austin, District Aide to Florida State Representative Bruce Antone, has been a valuable source of information regarding those resources. I have listed some of them in the chart below.

Bruce Antone The truth is, we will have to go with the flow as the Coronavirus continues one. The future remains unknown, but we are a resilient people. We will come out on the other side. We always have and always will! Be safe and be well!

Your Money Matters, but more important is your health, for that is one thing that money cannot buy.

If your employment has been negatively impacted as a result of the coronavirus mitigation efforts in Florida, you may be eligible to receive re-employment assistance. www.floridajobs.org.

Many utility companies around the state have suspended service disconnects due to nonpayment until further notice.

Joint information Center on COVID-19 for the State of Florida, call 850-815-4940 or visit ESF 14 at www.FloridaDisaster.org.

Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage https://floridahealthcovid19.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage www.cdc.gov

For more information and current travel advisories www.travel.state.gov.

Commissioner Nikki Fried Activates 2-1-1 call/text line for free children’s meals during COVID-19. https://summerbreakspot.freshfromflorida.com

Florida Department of Education guidance www.fldoe.org

ONYX MAGAZINE 19

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

MICHELLE OBAMA BOOK DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX

“Becoming” is tied to Michelle Obama’s 2018 best-selling book of the same name. The film, directed by Nadia Hallgren, follows Obama across 34 cities for her book tour. It features the former first lady as she speaks to everyday Americans and shares what she learned during her husband’s two terms as president.

“Those months I spent traveling - meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe - drove home the idea that what we share in common is deep and real and can’t be messed with.

In groups large and small, young and old, unique and united, we came together and shared stories, filling those spaces with our joys, worries, and dreams,” she wrote in a press release. “We processed the past and imagined a better future. In talking about the idea of ‘becoming,’ many of us dared to say our hopes out loud.”

The former president and first lady signed a deal with Netflix and began their own production company, Higher Ground, in 2018. Prior to Becoming, the pair released their first film “American Factory,” which won the Best Documentary Feature Oscar.

They were also involved in Nicole Newnham and James LeBrecht’s documentary about camp teens with disabilities, “Crimp Camp.”

Obama talked about what she hoped the release of her documentary would do for everyone self-isolating during the COVID19 pandemic.

“I treasure the memories and that sense of connection now more than ever, as we struggle together to weather this pandemic, as we care for our loved ones, tend to our communities, and try to keep up with work and school while coping with huge amounts of loss, confusion, and uncertainty,” she said.

Kayla Gately, COED Media

GLENN JONES IS BACK WITH CAPTIVATING NEW MUSIC!

Glenn Jones, Grammy-nominated recording producer, artist and one of the music industry’s extraordinary vocalist, is at the top of the list as a love song balladeer capturing audiences’ hearts with his own unique style and voice. His new company, Talent Room Entertainment & Publishing, Inc., with Prince Levy as president and CEO, will release his next project, “Love By Design EP” this summer. The first single, “Love By Design” features Grammy-award winner Regina Belle, and is written by James Day and produced by Chris “Big Dog” Davis. It topped Billboard Smooth Jazz charts as “#1 Most Added Smooth Jazz Vocal Record In The Nation.” The newest single, “Trust In Me” will be released during Black Music Month in June. Its soulful, inspirational melody gets you out of your seat praising and giving thanks. Additional singles to be released later in the fall include “Cook-Out” and “Family Time.” Both are co-written and produced by the multi-talented artist Chuckii Booker. Visit Glenn’s website for more information www.glennjonesmusic.com and www.talentrooment.com.

Marianne S. Eggleston

20 ONYX MAGAZINE

FREE SUMMIT FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN ENTERTAINMENT

Culture Creators, an exclusive platform established to cultivate and highlight the achievements of diverse professionals in entertainment, has announced that its second installment of the C2 Summit Series will take place online as a virtual conference Monday, May 18 through Thursday, May 21, 2020.

Confirmed speakers include leaders from William Morris Endeavor, Live Nation, Morgan Stanley, MasterCard, Atlantic Records, Motown Records, Will Packer Films, Rap Snacks, and more. Steve Pamon, President/COO of Parkwood Entertainment will host the Summit’s first Culture Chat on Monday, May 18 at 8:00 pm. A special discussion on college students and mental health during the pandemic will also take place.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event in Washington, D.C., Morgan Stanley returns as a Summit partner to provide HBCU students with a four-day digital experience that includes panel discussions, one-on-one interviews, speed mentoring, culture chats and a pitch competition. Attendees can take advantage of employment opportunities as well as unparalleled access to job recruiters and seasoned influencers with various backgrounds in business, entertainment, technology, finance, and lifestyle.

New sponsor Microsoft & Microsoft Stores will deliver the C2 Summit virtual experience via Microsoft Teams -- the hub for collaboration. Breakout sessions and activities will take place through Microsoft Teams and Channels, and keynotes will be hosted on Microsoft Teams Live Events. In addition to accessing professional development opportunities, Summit guests will receive guidance on using Microsoft Teams for their future careers.

The C2 Summit is FREE for college students. Sign up now at aka.ms/cc2020.

Jackie Bush, One 35 Agency

ARETHA FRANKLIN BIOPIC TO OPEN IN DECEMBER

While many studios jockey to launch their awards-season fare in the thick of autumn, a movie can still go in the tail-end holiday season to garnish buzz and bucks, i.e., “American Sniper,” “1917” and “Hidden Figures,” all of which were blockbusters and Oscarlauded movies.

“Respect” is directed by Liesl Tommy and stars “Dreamgirls” Oscar winner Hudson as Franklin, Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington, and Tituss Burgess as Rev. Dr. James Cleveland.

“Respect” was set to go wide October 9 and moves away from 20th Century Studios’ Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie feature adaptation “Death on the Nile” and Warner Bros’ “The Witches.”

On December 25, Respect is the only exclusive release, though next to 20th Century Studios’ limited opening of “The Duel” (which could likely move since production was stopped due to the coronavirus outbreak).

The wide entries on January 15 currently include Sony’s Kevin Hart movie “Fatherhood,” Universal’s Simon Kinberg action thriller 355, Warner Bros’ “Mortal Kombat” and United Artists Releasing’s untitled Guy Ritchie film.

Kassandra Collado, Allied Global Marketing

ONYX MAGAZINE 21

ONYX READS

Rhythm and Blues Books for the Musical Soul

By Patricia Brown Denis

Tears for Water

By Alicia Keys The profound words of her songs have always drawn me to her music, the poetry of those words never escaped me. “Tears for Water” by Alicia Keys is a book of poetry with a revealing look inside the writing experience as the artist shares her deepest thoughts during the creative process.

More Than Pretty

By Erica Campbell I wanted to know more about Lacrae because I had been introduced to contemporary Christian music through the duo known as MaryMary. Erica Campbell, of MaryMary, has a book about her journey to develop self-esteem as a Christian in a fast moving, everchanging mostly non-Christian mainstream music world. Campbell’s book titled, “More Than Pretty” not only addresses the issues in the industry, but also shines a light on the individual who will need more than good looks to make it. She says, “the enemy will always give you a reason not to feel good enough, always put something and someone in front of you to compare yourself to.” Her book offers sound advice for anyone looking to be better from within.

Let Love Have the Last Word

By Common Common, the most uncommon rapper, actor and activist has penned an introspective and thought provoking memoir. He painstakingly puts words to the experience of love. The book’s title, “Let Love Have the Last Word,” is overflowing with examples of how love, in his opinion has to guide. He says, “Perhaps this is all we can ask of love—to restore to us our dignity when life unravels....”

Unashamed

By Lacrae Moore Lacrae Moore is known for his Grammy Award-winning best gospel album and best contemporary Christian music, but he is a hip hop artist as well. His book, “Unashamed,” is his story inside music from a self-proclaimed and industry dictated outsider. He says, “being an outspoken Christian in the music industry means always feeling out of place. It’s like whatever you have accomplished is less credible because of your faith.” He has the desire to reach a broader audience, “to address themes that people who aren’t Christian can appreciate.”

Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming A Man

By Ja Rule Soul searching is also found in the story of Jeffrey Atkins, better known as Ja Rule. His life story titled “Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man” describes in graphic detail how he came to the graphic lyrics of his music. He says, “No one wanted to admit that the hard edge of rap and the melodies of R&B were a winning combination.” The facts that his rap lyrics happened to be shaped by his life as a street, drug hustler, to him did not matter. Find out how Ja Rule wrestles with coming of age in the era of Gangsta Rap and thug life.

Featured Author Sheila D. Green Treating Your Marriage Like a Business In her debut book, Life Coach Sheila D. Green pens your blueprint to using well-known business practices and principles and applying them to your marriage. One of the reasons why marriages are not successful is that we don’t give them the same time and effort we give our businesses. We know what makes our business work and we take the steps for success. However, too often we fail to treat marriages in a way that will ensure a happy ending. In business, we put in the necessary time and energy. In many marriages, we don’t invest the time. In business, we implement strategies to ensure financial success. In marriage, we don’t pay close attention to money. In business, we make sure we have a business plan. We tend not to have a business plan for our marriages. When we start thinking about marriage as a business, only then can we expect the rewards.

Green has been trained in psychology, counseling and social work and has worked in those areas for more than 20 years. She and her husband, B. Lee Green, Ph.D., share 33 years of marriage and two adult children, Kamaria and Lee.

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COMMUNITY

COVID-19

AND CORRECTIONS Many believe incarceration removes the threat of virus on the outside. Not so fast.

By Sharon Fletcher Jones

26 ONYX MAGAZINE

B

ecause of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, people all over the world have been forced to re-think behaviors previously thought to be “normal” or “accepted.” Ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities-at-large is everyone’s primary concern. As numbers of known coronavirus infections are steadily increasing and as the death rate continues to climb, we are forced to monitor ourselves and each other in ways previously unheard of. The practice of social distancing is quickly becoming commonplace and isolation or self-quarantine is becoming a way of life for most of us. Except for the jail and prison populations.

Florida Department of Corrections (FDC)’s Office of Health Services coordinates with the Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for guidance on any type of outbreak and closely monitors new information as it is disseminated from the FDC and the CDC. However, the current and long-standing structure of our penal systems and corrections institutions and their standard practices seem to be in direct conflict with what have been deemed the most effective measures available to combat the spread of COVID-19.

When news of the pandemic first broke, government officials and medical professionals were seemingly guarded about its indications, however, with the rapid spread of the virus, the alarms are being sounded. Corrections facilities are working to prevent staff and inmates from becoming infected. However, the consequences of these measures they take may, on many levels, become as overwhelming as the effects of the virus itself. Some may think because those persons who are incarcerated are already experiencing quarantine that the risk of them contracting or spreading the virus is minimal. However, at the end of April, 2020, more than 140 inmates and 110 corrections workers had tested positive for the coronavirus within the Florida Department of Corrections.

On March 11, the FDC suspended visitation at all of its correctional institutions until further notice. At Orange County Corrections Center, due to the coronavirus, Video Visitation has been closed to families and friends since March 25, 2020, and will also remain closed until further notice. Attorneys, however, may still visit inmate clients via Video Visitation and incarcerated populations will continue to have access to mail, email, and phone calls at all of the state’s correctional facilities.

When asked what specific measures were being taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Orange County’s jail, Tracy Zampaglione, APR, public information officer at Orange County Corrections stated, “Chief [of Corrections] Quiñones and the Orange County Corrections Department have taken a proactive approach in combatting the virus and preventing its introduction into the jail. We are constantly monitoring the guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more specifically as it pertains to a correctional facility. And we will continue to incorporate best practices as the situation evolves.”

Zampaglione further explained that OCCD is screening all newly arriving arrestees and has increased screening its employ-

ees as well. Cleaning and sanitizing high traffic and touch areas have been “stepped up considerably” in accordance with CDC guidelines and preventative measures. The facility has increased the amount of personal protective equipment available to both employees and inmates while continuing to educate both employees and inmates as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses. Additionally, the department continues to follow preventive measures set by the CDC and continues to educate staff and inmates on the importance of social distancing inside the facility. And, in accordance with both state and local governments, personnel entering the facilities are being required to also wear protective gear.

Clearly, the intent of the order to cease visitation is to protect the physical well-being of inmates, officers, family members, friends, and associates. However, the absence of visitation has already significantly impacted the emotional well-being of some inmates and families. Prior to the rise of COVID-19, Sharon Powell typically spoke on the telephone weekly and visited her son Rondre’ once every other week at the Orange County Corrections Department.

Their last visitation was in early March. Powell became concerned when she says her son was quarantined for 14 days and then moved to Federal Correctional Complex, Coleman (FCC Coleman).

“I called to see when and how I could visit my son and was told that he was moved [to FCC Coleman]. I know that he was already on medication for ADHD, schizophrenia and depression. I was worried about whether or not he was still getting his medications and how he was doing.” Powell stated she didn’t know why her son had been moved and, after calling FCC Coleman, found he was placed in general population.

“Since he’s been moved, I haven’t heard from my son and that’s not like him. While my husband and I are trying our best to stay safe from this virus, I’m really worried about Rondre’,” she added.

Powell fears her son’s mental health is at greater risk than his physical health and has continued to reach out to the federal facility.

In most cases, family is what motivates offenders to work toward successful re-entry. The primary reason that inmates enroll in GED, ESOL, addiction education, faith-based, life skills, vocational and other trainings is so they can prepare themselves to rejoin their families. While the COVID-19 pandemic has created even more of a divide between society-at-large, the distance between successful re-entry and recidivism may very well have been shortened by it.

While we physically distance ourselves from each other, let’s not distance ourselves from pre-existing realities. A large percentage of those men and women who are incarcerated, like Powell, have families at home who have mounting concerns and are dealing with some of the same anxieties. It is important to give consideration to everyone’s concerns as we traverse this uncharted territory.

Like everywhere else, the threat of COVID-19 in the corrections system is very real and the implications are far-reaching.

For more information visit https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html And http://www.dc.state.fl.us/comm/covid-19.html

ONYX MAGAZINE 27

GUARDIAN CARE

When Six Feet Becomes Six Miles Families are being kept apart from their loved ones in elder care.

O

ur most vulnerable citizens are seniors and children, the anchors of our existence.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandates that there must be social distance. This has disturbed the way we live. We are robbed of precious moments that cannot be reclaimed. Our sick cannot be comforted by family. The dead cannot be funeralized. Human contact is on hold.

These new social demands have placed added stress on those charged with caring for our seniors. In Orlando, Fla., Guardian Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Guardian Care) is working hard to meet the challenges for the health and well-being of its residents and staff. The center’s 28 ONYX MAGAZINE

visitation has been cut off completely.

Family is an essential ingredient in the well-being of the elderly residents who are at higher risk of dying if they are diagnosed with COVID-19. We are cautioned to keep children away from older people.

What precautions are nursing homes taking? How will this pandemic change the way we care for the sage members of our community forever? How will we manage to survive the stress?

According to Director Eloise Abrahams, R.N., N.H.A., Director, “ When the families of Guardian Care residents were told that family visits would be prohibited until further notice, the overwhelming response was, “thank you for putting the welfare of our family member first.” All persons

entering the building will be screened and their temperature taken to ensure that residents are protected from any health risk.

Family members unable to visit frequently, and now unable to visit at all, viewed the news with some regret.

“We take so much for granted,” one family member lamented. She lives out of town and is unable to visit her loved one. “I plan to call more. I cannot help but think about the times I postponed a visit in order to take care of matters that were pressing me at the time. Once this is over, I will consider re-prioritizing my choices. After all, what is more important than family?”

One member of the staff brought to work a mask that his mother had sown in response to the outcry of health workers

EYESEEIMAGES

By Valada Flewellyn

that personal protective equipment was sorely needed.

Abrahams, was a 2019 ONYX Magazine’s Women on the Move honoree. As director, she has helped to lead Guardian Care to several notable recognitions, including the Silver Quality Award from the Agency of Healthcare Administration (ACHA) and a 5-star rating with ACHA and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) websites. When asked what is most challenging of COVID-19, Abrahams responded, “Each catastrophe brings its own challenges. The Guardian Care staff is constantly assessing how to manage the unexpected. We installed generators long before the government mandated it and we continually look for other areas of exposure. We are always fighting germs and evaluating the condition of the facility to ensure that it is sanitized and safe by taking whatever measures are warranted.

While COVID-19 is something new, we will meet it with the same commitment to make the health and safety of our residents and staff our first priority.”

“The most effective treatment for our residents is love,” says Abrahams. “Our staff continues to come in to work despite the risk it presents because of their responsibility as first responders and more importantly because of the love they feel for our residents. Knowing how important family is to the wellbeing of the residents, Guardian Care staff members assist some residents by arranging facetime (by appointment) with their loved ones. Guardian Care is constantly exploring ways to support the family connection and reassure the family that their loved one is safe.” A surprising number of Guardian Care residents are technologically savvy and able to navigate the web and use facetime on their own.

The Guardian Care facility, opened after WWII, during the Civil Rights era as, The Dr. P. Phillips Memorial Hospital for Negroes in 1958 in the recently development Black neighborhood of Washington Shores. Prior to the hospital’s construction, Black patients were relegated to a ward in the basement of other hospitals. Thanks to the generous support of Orange Grove planter and philanthropist Dr. P. Phillips,

and the generosity of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, a 58-bed hospital was built with plans of expanding to a 120-bed facility. In 1968, a 501 (c)(3) organization (Guardian Care, Inc.) was formed to continue caring for the community’s long-term nursing needs. Today, the former hospital operates as Guardian Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Plans are under way to expand the campus to include an Adult Daycare Center that was scheduled to open in April 2020. A brand new 80-bed skilled nursing facility is currently under construction. Guardian Care is located at 2500 W. Church Street in Orlando.

Sage Advise “Grandma, it looks like the world is coming to an end. What do you think?”

“Child, let me tell you, our people have suffered greater tragedy, greater threats. Never forget what brought us through: prayer. So do not be afraid. This is God’s world and He will take care of it. Pray, pay attention, follow instructions, and do all that you can do. Most of all, trust God to see you through. Everyday things change. Only God is constant. Prayer changes things. God is calling us to trust and obey.”

How African American Elders Handle Stress Ann W. Nguyen penned an article in the Summer of 2018 issue of “Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging,” titled African American Elders, Mental Health, and the Role of the Church stating: Based on national surveys and polls, African Americans have the highest levels of religious involvement in the United States. Among older African Americans, religion is particularly important. Compared to younger African Americans and older Whites, older African Americans are more likely to attend religious services, participate in congregational activities, and read religious materials. Older African Americans also are more likely than older Whites to consume religious media (books, television, and radio), engage in private prayer, use religion to cope with stress, consider religion to be important, and consider themselves religious.

Stress and coping If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call: • 911 • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-9855990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517) • Older people are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 which may result in increased stress during a crisis.

• Fear and anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.

Things you can do to support yourself: • Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories and social media.

Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.

• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

• Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

Source: CDC.gov

ONYX MAGAZINE 29

HEALTH & WELLNESS

There Is No Such Thing As a Big-Boned Person Dr. Ian Smith blocks that and other myths that keep us from living our best healthy lives.

By D. Shenell Reed

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frican Americans are dying from COVID-19 at higher rates than others. That is the one morbid, resounding fact that has echoed during the coronavirus pandemic. Charge it to a poor diet and health habits that lead to diseases, giving the virus a foothold into our bodies.

Best-selling author, physician and television personality Dr. Ian Smith spoke exclusively with ONYX Magazine while he and his family vacationed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Dr. Ian Smith February. He squashed some myths we have come to believe as the gospel, and shared some simple ways we can take control of our health and lower our chances of deadly health conditions.

What are some common pitfalls in losing weight and how can we avoid them?

The desire to lose weight is abundant. One of the biggest mistakes people make is they don’t acknowledge how difficult it can be to lose weight. So, they set unrealistic expectations.

People want to lose too much weight too fast.

Therefore, when they are actually succeeding at losing weight, they’re dropping the pounds, they don’t realize it, because their goals are

30 ONYX MAGAZINE

The other thing that’s important to realize is, it’s not about aesthetics. My interest is not in how you look, it’s about your body type—how your body is forming— and what the implications could be to your health. So it’s not about how you look, it’s about what’s going on inside that’s important. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

I don’t judge someone for how they look.

What I’m worried about is are they at risk for diabetes, are they at risk for high blood pressure? When you look at those considerations, then you look at the BMI chart and get yourself in a healthy range and make sure you have a lesser chance of developing some of those chronic conditions. so out of whack. They don’t realize they’re doing well on the program and they wind up flipping off. So the first thing I would say is understand how to set your goals properly; that way, you set realistic expectations and allow you to feel successful.

How can we tell the good diets from the bad diets?

There are thousands of diets out there— and they are a lot of good ones. But there is no “one diet fits all.” You have to find the diet that works well for you. First, find a diet that challenges you—you must be challenged. Second, find a diet that you can actually do. If it is something that is unrealistic and asks you to do things to the extreme, then you can’t sustain it. Lastly, find a program that’s affordable and accessible. There’s no need for trying to follow a program where you can’t afford the food, or you don’t like the food or you can’t find the food. Affordability and accessibility, as well as some challenge, are important ingredients to a good program.

What is a good healthy regimen for children and young adults?

When I look at the overweight and obesity rates for African Americans in particular, not just adults but also for younger kids and teens, what I realize is that there’s an unfortunate trend where at younger ages were finding kids who have type II diabetes and other types of obesity-related complications and high blood pressure. And I really think it’s important for African-Americans in particular just think about eating more plant-based foods, having more fiber in the program, less saturated fats, reducing some of the frying—I know frying taste great—

and really try to make sure that at least half of your plate has color, because color is full of fiber and antioxidants.

How important is exercise in our quest to lose weight?

Exercise is absolutely critical. Anyone who says you can just lose weight by eating differently and not exercising is being somewhat disingenuous. You need to exercise to get the full complement, to maximize your weight loss potential. Now, do you need to be in a gym an hour per day, sweating profusely? Absolutely not. If you have between three to four days and 30 minutes of moderate-level activity, that could be really helpful. Whether it’s walking, whether it’s playing a sport—even, believe it or not, briskly doing house cleaning, getting your heart rate up— is important. So it’s all about getting your heart rate for a sustained period of time and that can make a big difference.

Should we take the weight guidelines seriously?

The first thing I’d like to dispel is the idea that there such a thing as a big-boned person. African Americans have heard for a long time that we tend to be a little bit heavier or thicker because our bones are larger. Our bones are the same size as everyone else’s. When you look at the body mass index scale or the BMI scale, the reason why I love it is because it is not a race-specific, it is not gender-specific, it takes none of that into account. What it says is, this is something for everyone. So, check out the BMI scale. They work for all of us, whether you’re Black or Asian or Hispanic, we all use the same scale.

Can healthy foods be tasty?

African Americans have to understand that you can still eat in a healthful way and it can still be tasty…that you can also still have some of what I call the fun foods. Listen, I love ribs, I love fried pork chops just like everybody else, but I eat them in moderation. Follow the 70/30 rule. Seventy percent, go for the health food, 30 percent, have some fun. If you can mix that in and get some regular exercise, once again, not killing yourself. There are tons of exercises you can do right home.

Which of your books do you recommend?

If you’re looking for a program that reduces the amount of processed ingredients, get “Clean and Lean.” It is a program that mixes clean eating with intermittent fasting. So, it combines two very effective ways of losing weight to get maximum results. If you’re looking for program that has a little more food, and that changes the types of food—I call it food diversity—then check out “Shred, the Revolutionary Diet.” Follow me on Instagram @DoctorIanSmith. I have tons of free weight loss programs that you can follow through my Instagram, get your heart rate up and lose some weight at the same time.

ONYX MAGAZINE 31

CAREER

CareerSource Central Florida Offers More Access to Jobs and Innovative Talent Solutions Amid Pandemic

By Michelle Tincher

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ith COVID-19 pandemic still impacting global and local communities, CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF) is helping career seekers and businesses even more, including a $1M investment earmarked for temporary, paid internships for displaced workers, businesses and select non-profit organizations. CSCF is providing current job listings, virtual job fairs, applicant screening and candidate referrals and has also launched new virtual workshops and an e-learning program to provide additional options for career seekers throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Sumter counties during this time.

“Since mid-March, CSCF has seen an increase of more than 25,000 people accessing our system, with more than 60 percent of them engaging in some type of job search activity with us. The support we provide to our region’s businesses has also increased and, in the past two weeks alone, we have seen a 50% increase in services, with nearly 200 new businesses interacting with us,” said CSCF Chief Operations Officer Mimi Coenen. “We know that not only the demand is high for our customized services, but the future of our region depends on us now more than ever, and we are committed to stepping up to help during these most unprecedented times.”

FOR BUSINESSES Recruiting support by listing open positions, virtual job fairs, applicant screening and more CSCF is proactively building relationships and has provided assistance to nearly 200 employers in the past week alone for their hiring needs. The hiring businesses mainly comprised of Trade and Logistics, IT, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction and Finance sectors. Among the companies with mass hiring efforts, Faneiul alone is looking to hire 250 career seekers as Customer Service Representatives to support the Department of Economic Opportunity with unemployment calls. To see and learn how to post job openings, click here.

FOR CAREER SEEKERS

Virtual Workshops

Skill UP E-Learning Program

CSCF has launched a series of virtual workshops tailored to both career seekers and employers. The virtual workshops will provide the same engaging and interactive experiences as its one-on-one appointments without leaving home. Register today and get more information at www.careersourcecentralflorida.com.

As a complementary service to career seekers, CSCF has partnered with Metrix Learning to give them access to a library of over 5,000 online e-learning programs.

The state’s stay-at-home order is the perfect time career seekers to ‘skill-up’ on existing skills or learn new ones for future opportunities. Explore here.

BUSINESSES AND CAREER SEEKERS Paid Internships For career seekers, a paid internship serves as temporary work as they wait to land their desired career or return from a furlough. For businesses, CSCF helps staff their business at no cost to them. CSCF has fostered the hiring of laid off hospitality employees who had been among the most impacted. There are now more than 100 dislocated workers serving 4Roots Foundation, United Against Poverty and Center for Independent Living in Osceola County, respectively. Employers and workers interested in internship can call 1-800-757-4598 or send email to COVID19Internships@Careersourcecf.com.

EXTENDED HELP The Department of Economic and Opportunity is the state agency that processes Reemployment Assistance. Although CSCF is a separate entity from DEO, and CSCF does not have oversight of the reemployment benefits program, CSCF have agreed to support DEO recently through the distribution of paper applications at all its Career Center locations and downtown Orlando office.

Career seekers and businesses can reach CSCF for one-on-one consultations about talent needs and training assistance through contacting 1-800-757-4598 and or by completing a consultation request online via www. careersourcecentralflorida.com.

Michelle Tincher is the senior manager of Corporate Communications at CareerSource Central Florida.

ONYX MAGAZINE 33

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

It’s Your Move Consider these bright ideas to start your own business.

By Yasser Moosa

T

he best thing about the advent of broadband internet is the ability to start a business without ever leaving your house. In fact, for every idea listed below you can work from anywhere if you have a computer and internet. You don’t even need that much money to get started - just time and persistence.

Here are eight great ways to make money with an online business.

Course Creation You don’t have to be a certified teacher to teach other people what you know. You can simply develop a “how to” step-by-step course using a platform like Teachable.com to deliver the course. You can find ready-made PLR courses, that you can claim as your own, and resell under your business brand.

Many successful marketers and online businesses are using this strategy.

Affiliate Marketing An affiliate sells other people’s products (either physical, digital, or both) and receives a commission payment. You can do this via a niche blog or website and a targeted email list. If you build up a big enough list, multiple six figures are possible as you become the go-to source for your niche.

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Private Label Rights Content Creator Other people who work online

as bloggers often don’t have enough time to create all their own content. That’s where you come in. If you can either write or hire someone to write for you, you can create high-quality PLR content such as articles, blog posts, eBooks, and more to sell to others to use.

Virtual Assistance Every business needs an assistant or secretary. If you’re good at customer service, organizing, using certain software programs, and other administrative tasks, then you can do them from home online for your clients. You’ll use the technology available to perform the tasks your clients need.

Life, Health, or Business Coach The coaching business is lucrative. Many coaches make multiple six figures due to the ability to group coach, using technology to deliver coaching on a one-to-many basis. If you’re knowledgeable and like working directly with others, coaching might be a great career for you.

Graphic Designer If you know your way around graphic design software, then you’re in luck, because you can run a very good business online designing websites, advertis-

ing graphics, book covers, headers, and more from the comfort of your home office.

Ghostwriter Many smart people have good ideas but not enough time to implement them all. If you’re good at writing, this is a great opportunity to use your craft to help others tell their stories and get paid.

You can find clients via by networking in author groups, blogging groups, and other writing groups on Facebook.

Online Business Manager All businesses need to be managed. If you’re good with project management and understand what is involved with business management, and are good at setting up systems and processes, then online business management might be for you. It’s not much different from managing any type of business; you’ll just have to figure out the technology needed to help your clients.

There are literally hundreds of ways to make money online. These are just a few ideas. You can also start a retail store online using Amazon’s Fulfillment Service, or you can start a niche YouTube channel and earn ad revenue. Whatever you decide to do to make money online , it just takes investment and perseverance to make it happen—just like any other type of business.

REAL ESTATE

Online Home Buying During the pandemic, many homebuyers are touring their homes via the Internet.

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cross the nation, stores are shuttered. Restaurants are largely on life support. Realtors, for the most part, like millions of Americans, are working from the safety of home. But with the industry deemed an essential business, is there any such thing as business as usual?

Well, there are always sellers who need to sell and buyers who need to buy and we are still doing business. We’re just doing it differently.

As is being practiced here in the Central Florida area and in most areas of the country, open houses are out for the foreseeable future, and a home may be shown either one-on-one or to the decision makers only.

Agents are masked, typically gloved, and under strict obligation to follow stringent sanitation procedures.

Virtual home tours are becoming the

norm, a bonus to the most successful agents, a roadblock for those who have not yet mastered the technology – and with inventory low to begin with, escrows are crashing and sellers are putting listings on hold until it is safe to have strangers in their home.

We are in uncharted waters. Title companies and notaries are working virtually, and people are signing documents electronically. Inspectors and appraisers are doing drive-by or virtual home tours, and with mortgage rates at historic lows, there are buyers—especially in the low-to-mid-price ranges—who are ready to make a move.

There is not a lot of movement in the higher price ranges, but we’ve been using 3D home tours and virtual showings with some success for the last few years.

Combined with social media postings, electronic signings, and the long-standing

relationships we have with our client base, we are still staying busy.

It will slow down, and we know that.

But it will also come back when this is over. We are learning new techniques we will probably keep using, because they save so much time and energy.

As more business goes online, many of those who need lender money will not be able to find it. Agents will need to market a lot more creatively and be very up to date on the best financial options for their clients.

We are taking it one day at a time and reaching out to let people know we are here to help them safely and efficiently if they need to buy or sell. Lots of smart people are working hard to find ways to end this pandemic. Until then, we’ll do our best to hunker down, follow the guidelines, and do the best we can to stay productive.

This article has been endorsed by Deidre “Dee” Parker of Parker Realty and the chair of the ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee.

ONYX MAGAZINE 35

The

ESSENCE of Jonathan Sebastian Blount

PHOTOS BY NEAL JONES

By Marianne Eggleston and Jonathan Sebastian Blount

36 ONYX MAGAZINE

J

onathan Sebastian Blount is celebratwould work closely together with me to “WHAT MANY ing milestones in 2020. He is marklaunch ESSENCE.” MAY NOT KNOW ing 25 years of life in greater Orlando.

He is preparing for his 75th birthday, Birth to a Dream IS THAT I LED THE Giving and he is reflecting on his role in creating The pivotal point came when retired NFL and launching “ESSENCE Magazine” 50 player Russ Goings convinced a Wall TEAM IN RAISING years ago.

Street brokerage firm, Shearson Hamill, to THE INITIAL Blount is one of four men who founded launch a sales training program for Black ESSENCE Magazine. The publication was professionals. $1 MILLION IN critical in making the whole world see “My roommate, Bill Day, entered the Black women as smart, beautiful and vital program.

Like in the film “Trading Places” FINANCING, to their communities. However, there is Russ challenged the Investment Banking WITHOUT WHICH Division to start a Minority Enterprise much more to ESSENCE than its successful launch.

Small Business Investment CorporaTHERE WOULD “I am the originating and conceptual tion (M.E.S.B.I.C.) and invite Blacks to founder of the world’s leading magazine start businesses. He argued that given BE NO ESSENCE for Black women,” says Blount. However, the opportunity, resources and financing, CORPORATION.” what many may not know is that I led the Blacks could be as successful as the Whites team in raising the initial $1 million in they customarily backed,” Blount said. ­—Jonathan Sebastian Blount financing, without which there would be “Bill Day invited me to the first of sevno ESSENCE Corporation.” eral sessions held at Shearson’s 11 Wall This was the first capital ever raised by an African American on Street offices. In the first session in November 1968, I introduced Wall Street, as noted in David L. Goodrich’s 1971 book “Horatio the concept of ‘A Magazine for Black Women.’ From those sesAlger is Alive and Well and Living in America: Success Stories of sions, I met the men whom I would organize as the core owners the Under-30 Generation.” and managers of The Hollingsworth Group (Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith and Cecil Hollingsworth).”

The Seed Is Planted Just four days away from the press conference to announce the Jonathan Sebastian Blount grew up in Monroe, N.C. Under the launch of ESSENCE’s to be held on the following Tuesday. Howleadership of his relative Robert Williams, his family was the first ever, we still had not selected a name for the magazine. We were African Americans to engage in an armed struggle against the down to seven suggestions and the name Sapphire was at the top KKK and win. After achieving many other Civil Rights victories of the list. in the South, he moved to New Jersey.

“Since Sapphire was my idea, my partners left it to me to recomFollowing the riots of 1968, which protested Rev. Dr. Martin mend the final title,” Blount said.

Luther King, Jr.’s death, Pres. Nixon’s administration launched a In a weekend meeting with the executive vice president of Brand“Black Capitalism” initiative to put Black people in business. ing at Sandgren and Murtha and Maphis Williams and after hours “They needed to establish a structure to find, inspire, encour- of tough wrangling, we were asked what best described my concept. age, and fuel Black entrepreneurial ambitions,” Blount recalled.”

“It was then that Maphis and I agreed on ESSENCE,” he said.

“I entered one such program at New Jersey Bell Telephone’s Yel- “That Monday morning, the entire editorial and managing partlow Pages Advertising Division. Thanks to Ed Tarry, a friend I ner teams assembled waiting for me to reveal our recommendamet at Shaw University, I became an executive sales rising star. tion. When I announced ESSENCE, the room fell silent. Then But even his star status did not repel discrimination. Blount finally, Gordon Parks (co-founder) said, “I like it!” The momenopened up about his experience and was met with an idea that tum then began to grow.” would change his life forever.

“It was Ed’s mother, Mrs. Claire Tarry, in response to my Success Met With Strife despair over expressions about racist persecution at the Yellow At the company’s first anniversary in May 1971, ESSENCE Pages, who planted the seed in me by asking in late 1968, “Why reached an operating breakeven point at which sales revenue covdon’t you start a magazine for Black women?” The idea began to ered all the fixed and variable costs. Blount had personally sold possess me. It led me to talk to every Black woman in earshot, go 12 of the 25 pages of advertising that led to the success. It was to fashion shows and hang out in beauty salons,” he said. “I even then, Blount says, the investor directors, led by Bob Guttwillig of went to the Business Library on Commerce Street in Newark to “Playboy Magazine,” moved to fire all the original partners. read about magazine publishing, management, and finance. At “They tasted the promise of profitability for the magazine. The that point, I began to build the financial structure and team that group proposed to the editors that since neither of the founding ONYX MAGAZINE 37

partners had publishing experience, they would bring in professional management to support the editorial team. That’s when it was revealed that they would begin dismissing us at the upcoming Board meeting the next day, beginning first with me.”

Led by Editor Ida Lewis, five key Editorial Staff members resigned in protest of the dismissal. However, Cecil and I retained our sizable stock positions. Years later, we would combine with other stockholders, a tactic led by Parks and his multimillionaire brother in law, Oscar Tang. We raised the money and bought back controlling interest in the company.

According to Blount, Parks said he had taken the action because, “I thought it was unfair that Hollingsworth and Blount had been booted out. But I am not trying to get even. I like the magazine and I just want to improve it, like a parent wants its child to grow.”

After our stock purchase, management issued stationary storebought stock certificates against a New York Supreme Court T.R.O. [Temporary Restraining Order]. Blount explained, “In a proxy, opposing groups of stockholders persuade other stockholders to allow them to use their shares’ proxy votes. This would launch Black America’s first hostile takeover proxy fight. A hostile takeover can be a difficult and lengthy process as well as exhausting personally and financially and attempts often end up unsuccessful.”

“We eventually gave up the fight to preserve the company. Like a good parent, we, too wanted, our child to grow,” said Blount.

“While we were ousted from ESSENCE, as a matter of historical record, we were the first Blacks to aggregate capital formation in capital markets in America. Lessons learned have been many.”

After leaving ESSENCE, Blount launched the magazine “Sapphire,” which would rival ESSENCE for more than two years.

Moving On Blount remained in New Jersey for a while after leaving ESSENCE, but 25 years ago, when his 5-year-old daughter, Élan, asked him to visit her in Orlando, he relocated for good.

She cried, “Dad, you don’t know how hard it is for a little girl to grow up without (her) father.” Remembering that moment, he said, “I took the first flight from New York the next day and never left her again. No other experience in my entire life was ever more fulfilling than being a father to my beautiful, brilliant, loving daughter, Élan.”

His passion for communications did not cease. In Orlando, Blount helped develop minority media outlets, such as WOKB Radio, “Caribbean American Passport Magazine” and “Ryse Magazine.” He also helped to broker the sale of “ONYX Magazine.”

“As I look back, we not only created an outstanding magazine, we also initiated among the most valuable information, education, affirmational change agents in communications history,” he said.

ESSENCE boasts a print circulation of 1.1 million, a digital monthly individual footprint of 14 million and an annual ESSENCE Festival, which attracts over 600,000 attendees annually.

“Most proudly, in my role as chairman and president of our parent company, I led in raising another million dollars in contributed or deferred payment professional services in the Overground Railroad.

We owe our White brothers and sisters a heretofore unheralded debt that I am humbled to acknowledge, respect and publicly honor.”

Guenete Roberts contributed to this story.

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COMMUNITY

Local Heroes Residents and businesses across Central Florida have stepped up during the COVID-19 health threat to educate communities on the pandemic and help those in need.

Virtual Town Halls and Door Hangers ONYX Magazine and Orlando Commissioner Regina I. Hill have taken the lead in reaching communities during the coronavirus pandemic. In a four-part virtual town hall meeting on COVID-19 and its impact in the Black community, a nationwide audience heard from experts who discussed how to stay safe and healthy during the pandemic; the importance of being counted in the 2020 Census; where to apply for business loans and jobs; why African-Americans are so hard hit by COVID-19; and how Black people could hit the reset button on our health during these hard times.

The panels, moderated by Monica May Communications, included Orlando Commissioner Regina I. Hill; and experts Shani Davis, Ph.D., of your Best You Clinic in Tampa; B. Lee Green, Ph.D. of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa; Jason Littleton, M.D., America’s Energy Doctor of Littleton Concierge Medicine in Orlando; Cliff Marvin of CareerSource Central Florida; Patty Mason of Mason Accounting and Consulting Services in Orlando; Marilyn Stephens of 2020 Census Atlanta office; Tralonda Triplett, Ph.D., of Institute for Successful Leadership; with words from ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black.

ONYX Magazine and Hill also teamed up to distribute posters and door hangers on important COVID-19 health tips throughout Orlando District 5.

Quarterback Jameis Winston Helps Residents and Restaurants New Orleans Saint Quarterback Jameis Winston (formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is partnering with the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa to help feed 1,000 people per week over four weeks in May. Wintson has a vision to support small neighborhood restaurants and provide healthy meals to residents during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Winston donated $30,000 to participating restaurants, The Open Café, Konan’s BBQ, 7th and Grove, M&R Café Southern Cuisine, LivyO’s Catering, Eve Catering, and Mama’s Soul Food.

Get Masked Orlando District 5 Commissioner Regina I. Hill, ONYX Magazine and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition partnered today to distribute 3,000 masks in communities throughout District 5 to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

ONYX MAGAZINE 39

ONYX ON THE MOVE

Xernona Clayton, front in red jacket, was the 2020 Woman of the Year.

ONYX MAGAZINE’S WOMEN ON THE MOVE AWARDS LUNCHEON AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS Twenty-one trailblazing women across Florida received honors for making significant strides in their professions and communities, including Ms. Xernona Clayton of Atlanta, a civil rights activist and founder of the Trumpet Awards.

“I

t was the most fabulous afternoon I have ever experienced,” said one guest. “I have never felt so honored,” said an honoree. ONYX Magazine’s fifth annual Women on the Move (WOTM), with Founding Member Orlando Health did not disappoint while 21 of Florida’s most ambitious and creative women received recognition during an awards luncheon on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at the Alfond Inn, Winter Park, Fla. Authentic and positive energy flowed through the room of more than 300 guests as each speaker stepped to the podium-from the introduction by co-chair Nancy Port Schwalb, who reminded the audience of the hard-fought battles women endured in the name of suffrage--to the words of keynote speaker Gayle Andrews, who followed up with the importance of why women should stand together and vote in the upcoming elections. The speakers referenced the afternoon’s theme: Valiant Women of the Vote, the official Women’s History Month theme.

“The event recognized leading black women spanning a range of business and industry,” said Rich Black, ONYX Magazine’s publisher, CEO and editor-in-chief. “In the spirit of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, these 21 women each exhibit boundless faith,

40 ONYX MAGAZINE

servant leadership and play critical roles in the stellar success of their respective organizations in public and private sectors, higher education, healthcare and nonprofits.”

Perhaps the most powerful moment of the two-hour event happened when 89-year-old Xernona Clayton of Atlanta took the stage. Her poignant and unforgettable words wowed the audience. “If you can, you will, if you can’t, you won’t.” The standing audience, enthralled by her presence, took her words to heart and cheered with every piece of advice. The founder, president and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc., and creator and executive producer of the Foundation’s Trumpet Awards, was well-received. Clayton began her television career in 1967 and became the South’s first black person to have her own television show. In 1965, she accepted a position with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked closely with the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Clayton also traveled extensively with Coretta Scott King on her nationwide concert tours.

The International Woman on the Move is Dame Constance Mitcham, an attorney from St. Kitts and Nevis, who received her title from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Dame Constance is the

Keynote speaker Gayle Adrews

Vanessa Echo

founder and head of Mitcham and Benjamin Attorneys-at-law, and a special adviser to the country’s prime minister. She admired the room and said, if a little girl from a small town could become a lawyer and a Dame, anything is possible for each of them.

New this year was the Community Impact Award, which was presented to a woman-led organization that has made significant strides in moving business and community forward. Black Business Investment Fund Florida is a community development financial institution driven to help Florida businesses thrive by providing loan capital alongside business development training.

The president and CEO is Inez Long.

Each of the 21 honorees walked up one-by-one as her name was called to receive her honor. They received a beautiful engraved glass award, a wall certificate, and a swag bag full of decadent gifts from Walt Disney World, and a full set of Tupperware from sponsor Tupperware Brands.

“These powerful and innovative achievers are contributors to a thriving economy every day,” said Dee Parker of Parker Realty in Orlando and ONYX Magazine’s Advisory Committee chair. “Our sponsors and other supporters are pivotal to making Women on the Move one of the most prestigious events to recognize women across Florida.”

Saxophonist Jazmin Ghent

ls interviews Xernona Cla during the ki yton ckoff recept ion.

Constance the Move honoree Dame International Women on founder coe azin Mag YX ON left Mitcham, center, with from WOTM chair b, wal Sch t chair Nancy Por Lester Seays, WOTM cock Bla h Ric Dee Parker and ONYX CEO

Dignitaries and corporate leaders from across Florida filed into the ballroom, which had been decorated with white and orange accents. Attendees noshed on salmon, herb chicken, vegetables and delectable desserts handcrafted by the Alfond Inn chefs. While they dined, guests swayed to the jazz sounds of Jazmin Ghent, a renowned saxophonist who received an NAACP Image Award.

Guests got up on their feet and danced while Jazmin moved through the crowd playing some of her favorites, like “You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman),” which mellowed the mood in the best way possible.

ONYX Magazine’s Women on the Move highlights women who have shattered the glass ceiling in their professions and persevered against all odds. The event was led by Chair Dee Parker and Co-chair Nancy Port Schwalb and the ONYX WOTM committee. ONYX Magazine was excited to collaborate with its sponsors to present these phenomenal women; trailblazers who are leading major businesses to succeed on national and international levels in several professional disciplines. Sponsors of this event were Founding Member Orlando Health, Women’s History Month Kickoff Reception Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Orlando; Honoree Reception Sponsor Tupperware; and many event sponsors. Visit the WOTM website for a full list of sponsors.

ONYX MAGAZINE 41

MOTHER’S DAY

Five Tips for Celebrating Mother’s Day From Afar

T

his Mother’s Day, you may not be able to be with your mom in person due to social distancing. The time apart may be difficult for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t honor your beloved mom in other thoughtful ways that don’t require person-to-person contact.

The point is to remember her on her special day—which is May 10—to make her feel loved and let her know how much she means to you.

“At its core, gift-giving is the practice of turning feelings like love, warmth, appreciation and pride into physical keepsakes,” writes Mara Leighton on BusinessInsider. com. “It’s one of the too few opportunities to convey to loved ones just how much we really love them.”

Here are five ways you can show Mom how much you care without the need to leave your home.

An Exclusive Virtual Experience Sign up for your mom to learn flower arranging from the pros by having farmfresh flowers and a vase delivered to her doorstep, along with an invitation to create her own arrangement through a live-streamed social workshop. The collaboration between 1-800-Flowers.com and floral-workshop platform Alice’s Table provides Mom two wonderful gifts: A memorable hands-on experience and an arrangement she can be proud to display for days afterward. Find Alice’s Table events at alicestable.com/events.

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Mood-Brightening Flowers Alternatively, you may wish to send Mom’s favorite blooms all ready to display and enjoy. Use the language of flowers to remind her in the best possible way that warmer days are coming and the earth is about to spring forth with more sun, more greenery and a wealth of colorful new blooms. You can quickly and easily order her favorite Mother’s Day flowers now - and ensure no-contact delivery - with 1-800-FLOWERS. Spend a moment composing a warm and meaningful note to include with your specially selected bouquet to show Mom just how much you care.

An E-card with Your Personalized Message Take a moment to express your feelings by emailing a free, specially designed virtual greeting card and customizing it with your own expressions of caring.

Long-Lasting Greenery You may prefer to gift Mom with something even longer-lasting - a lush, healthy plant she can tend, grow and enjoy year after year. Plants add oxygen to any environment, and studies indicate having greenery around may even reduce stress.

A Donation Honoring Mom This Mother’s Day, we recognize that moms matter more than ever. It’s important to share with your mom your reasons to be thankful: Is she watching over her grandkids, working overtime to keep her family fed or helping on the front lines of the health crisis? Or does she simply give you a hug and tell you everything will be OK? This Mother’s Day, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. will donate $1 (up to $50,000) to the nonprofit No Kid Hungry for everyone who shares a Mother’s Day note of thanks and a photo. No Kid Hungry is ensuring kids nationwide get the meals they need during school closures - and beyond. Share your #ThankfulforMom story today.

It’s true that kissing and hugging your mom in person may be impossible this Mother’s Day. But there are plenty of other safe and meaningful ways to honor her and the role she’s played in your life. Plan ahead for a virtual Mother’s Day celebration May 10.

Story by Brandpoint

FATHER’S DAY

Dad’s Day Out Give dad a day out of the house on Father’s Day

By Alexa Bricker

W

hen it comes to shopping for Father’s Day, it can be tricky to avoid the old clichés of a new tie or a seventh (unnecessary) screwdriver for his toolbox. Besides, what if your dad isn’t the businessman or handyman type?

Instead of scouring a store for a gift, think outside the box and bring dad on an adventure he’ll never forget instead.

For the Outdoorsman If your father loves to spend his free time in nature, there are plenty of exciting activities you can conjure up for his Father’s Day celebration. Luckily, June weather is favorable most places throughout the country, so consider scheduling a family hiking trip, or if you live by the water, a fishing trip. Neither of these sound like Dad? Any activity where he gets to have some fun in the sun will suffice!

For the Food and Wine Connoisseur Lovers of the food channels will be thrilled with a trip around town to experience all of the delicious delights there are to sample— or grab them to go. Take a look at a map of your nearest city, and plot out a few restaurants and dessert shops you know your dad will love. Or, if he is more of a wine and beer fan, look for a local winery or craft brewery to see what’s on tap. Your father (and his stomach) will be grateful.

For the Sports Fan Baseball, football, tennis, golf? Whatever sport dad is into, he’ll be overjoyed if he gets to take part in the activity on his special day. Try scheduling some time at local batting cages, or bringing a bat and some

baseballs to a local park for some hitting practice. If your family is big enough, organize a flag football game in the backyard.

Spending some time at the driving range is also a safe bet!

For the Bookworm If your dad’s idea of fun is walking the halls of your town’s local library for his favorite classics or analyzing the lives war heroes at an American history museum, plan a trip to a nearby educational site, preferably one that touches on his favorite subject: science, technology, history, culture. Bonus points if you let him regale you with the “fun facts” he loves to share so often.

For the Movie Buff Your dad can’t resist the call of a new movie release and a bucket of buttery popcorn, but if you can recreate his favorite place right at home he’ll be even more impressed.

Whether indoors or on the lawn, setting up your own home theater experience is guaranteed to put a huge smile on his face.

All you need are some comfortable pillows or chairs, his favorite lineup of films, plenty of snacks, and you have yourself a brilliant gift.

ONYX MAGAZINE 43

WORKPLACE

5

Ways Leaders Should Communicate With Employees During This Pandemic

By Rita Men

P

resident Donald Trump and others have likened the coronavirus pandemic to fighting a war.

As someone who studies how leaders communicate, I believe that’s an apt description. But the president isn’t the only general in this battle. America’s CEOs also have important leadership roles to play as the crisis poses a test of their ability to help their workers not only endure and stay healthy but keep them motivated and engaged as well.

What’s the best way to do that?

To find an answer, I reviewed 21 academic studies on executive leadership communication and conducted a textual analysis of 12 industry studies related to organizational and leadership communication during the pandemic.

I discovered five key themes that may provide some insights for how CEOs should communicate with their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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1. Be Transparent Transparency requires leaders to openly and proactively share relevant information to employees in a timely, frequent and digestible manner; give accurate information regarding what is happening, what the impact is and how the company is handling it; and offer clear guidance on what workers should be doing.

It also means encouraging employees to speak up and share their feedback and concerns. This kind of openness fosters trust and reduces uncertainty – especially important in a crisis.

In a video message to the employees, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson demonstrated this when he didn’t try to sugarcoat the losses his company has suffered in the crisis.

2. Convey Authenticity Authentic leadership is not a new concept to the business community and its effectiveness in generating positive employee outcomes has been supported by a bulk of academic and industry research.

– I found that communicating with empathy enhanced employee trust and drove commitment and acceptance to that change.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses similar challenges because employees face enormous uncertainties and unpleasant emotions, such as fear, sadness, anxiety and frustration. CEOs can help reduce worker anxiety and form a bond with them by showing sympathy and standing in their shoes.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella demonstrated this and emphasized the value of empathy in his message to employees, urging them to show “understanding for each other’s situations.”

4. Put People First The novel coronavirus is hammering companies’ bottom lines, from productivity to profits. CEOs that put employees’ safety and health first are demonstrating their humanity.

This people-centered mindset is crucial for the organization’s survival and long-term development as employees are the backbone of the organization and eventually create the organization’s competitive advantage.

We have seen many examples of this during the current crisis, such as the CEOs of Bank of America, Citigroup, FedEx and Visa pledging not to lay off any workers as a result of the pandemic.

While CEOs are wired to take action, tough times like the pandemic cast monumental challenges to leading an organization. In an era where uncertainties outweigh the certainties, sometimes they simply don’t know what to do.

That’s okay. CEOs that authentically share vulnerability can actually demonstrate the human side of leadership. Employees look up to leaders for assurance and support. They do not necessarily expect CEOs to be superheroes.

To communicate in an authentic manner, CEOs should stay true to their values and beliefs and keep their promises. They need to also be self-aware of what they’re capable of, and genuine in their communication with employees – even when they don’t know what’s going on.

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, exhibited this trait when he acknowledged to employees, “There is no instruction manual for how to feel at a time like this,” and added his own list of worries, such as the safety of his family and colleagues. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos conveyed authenticity in his letter to employees.

3. Show Empathy The value of empathy was perhaps the most recurring theme in my analysis of best practices.

In my own recent study that examined leadership communication during a planned organizational change – such as a merger

5. Demonstrate Optimism Conveying positivity or optimism is an especially important leadership quality during challenging times, when it is easy for people to experience negative feelings and frustrations. Leaders who portray an optimistic outlook in the tone of their communications and foster positive thinking motivate and inspire employees.

A good example of this is Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh, who wrote a letter to employees encouraging them to focus on the crisis’ silver lining.

“One of the things motivating me through this difficult time is the idea that we can learn and adapt and adjust so we emerge stronger as a result of this test,” he wrote. The crisis “will pass. We will get through this together and be a better and stronger company as a result of it.”

And at my own school, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs reminded students and staff of their “tradition of pulling together and rising to meet major challenges with optimism and determination.”

During extraordinary times like the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders need effective communication skills like these to instill trust, confidence and hope in their workers – essential ingredients to winning the war.

Rita Men is an associate professor of Public Relations at the University of Florida. The story first appeared in The Conversation and has been republished with permission.

ONYX MAGAZINE 45

FOOD AND WINE

REFRESHING GRAPEFRUIT COCKTAIL This summer is going to be different more than ever before, but there is one thing we can count on: the heat. Cool down with this delicious grapefruit cocktail while you’re sheltering at home. Throw some seasonal fruits and veggies on the grill and have a relaxing afternoon at home. Cheers!

Ingredients 3 1/2 ounces fresh pink grapefruit juice, plus grapefruit wedge for garnish 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice 1/2 ounce orange liqueur 2 ounces vodka

Directions Shake the grapefruit and lemon juice, orange liqueur, vodka and 1 tablespoon crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Add a touch more fruit juice or vodka to taste. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with grapefruit. Enjoy!

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You Leave Home For Us. We’ll Stay Home for You. ONYX Magazine honors the front line and essential workers across Florida. Your commitment and dedication makes us stronger. We salute you for being the engine that keeps our communities moving forward. Thank you.