Oricle No. 2 Evolution by Oricle Magazine

ORICLE NO. 2 | AUTUMN 2020

EVOLUTION

CONTENTS WARRIOR Nappy.co 7 I AM ABUNDANT 10 Interview with Shawntel

Self Affirmation 14 Submission by Kiki Faison

LOVER Letters to My EX 20 Lessons of Love 22

MUSE 614 Show Me What You Got 28 Showcase of 4 Columbus Rappers

SAGE Reading Nook 34 2

FOODIE Super Food 36

HUSTLER The Momtrepreneur Hustle 40 Interview with Tamara Pollard

Featured Resource 42 Interview with Urban Accelerator

LEGEND Frandie & Angel 48

CONTRIBUTORS Editorial Team

Kat Maccarthy Editor in Chief

Pluvenia Pluviose-John Managing Editor

FROM THE TRIBE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;You cannot evolve unless you are willing to changeâ&#x20AC;? Oricle Magazine issue No.2 tells stories of triumph over tribulation throughout Columbus in 2020. We started this project in hopes of sharing the authentic and inspiring stories of people of color. Although we are a small team, this was made possible by those who shared their time and passion with us. We hope you enjoy!

NAPPY.CO NAPPY.CO NAPPY.CO

FREE

High-Res stock photos of Black & Brown people

“I love Unsplash, Pexels, and Shot Stash, but one of the things I’ve noticed is that all of their content could use a little more diversity. As an influencer mgmt agency for black and brown creators, we’re very intentional about cultural representation in the work that we do. And because of that, we aren’t always able to find the photos we need from those sites. For example, if you were to type in the word ‘coffee’ on Unsplash, you’d rarely see a cup of coffee being held by black or brown hands. It’s the same result if you type in terms like ‘computer’ or ‘travel.’ You may find an image or two but they’re pretty rare. But black and brown people drink coffee too, we use computers, and we certainly love traveling. And that’s why we launched nappy; to provide beautiful, high-res photos of black and brown people to startups, brands, agencies, and everyone else.” - Nappy.co

ia shawntel.co Shawntel speaks on finding motivation and overcoming obstacles as a full-time multidisciplinary artist.

u b a nd

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Tell us about how you became a full-time artist. decided to become a full-time artist in September of last year. It has actually been a full year since I’ve been a full-time artist. I have been wanting to be one for a while, and I had just been released from my job. I never liked authority and I didn’t like the idea of working for someone except for myself. I just hated the thought of reentering the workforce. At the time I was working at a call center. I didn’t like that job. I worked there for two years and , even though I was good at it, I didn’t like it at all. I knew it wasn’t good for my mental health either. So I was like, let me just try this.

What are some of the challenges that you face as an artist? I was pretty actively creative all throughout quarantine. But then there was a moment around July and August that I just wasn’t as creative as I wanted it to be. Like, I was kind of still creating, but it just wasn’t at the same rate and the momentum just wasn’t the same. I don’t think it was related to the pandemic. It was just related to other things going on in my life and just me overthinking. That’s like one of my biggest cripples that I’m working on. I’ve gotten a lot better overcoming it, but that’s like still a thing that’s just dormant in my brain. And the How would you describe fear of success and fear of failure your art style? simultaneously too. That kind of I like to make my art primarily intertwines with overthinking, Afrocentric. I like to incorporate Afrosurrealism and Afrofuturism. When you get into a space I like to use those key elements. like that, or maybe even And I also like to use very vibrant just a creative block, how colors. Like, in my paintings I do you overcome that? don’t usually use like natural Well, there’s this quote, I don’t skin tones. I usually make them know who made the quote, but a completely different skin tone, it’s “start before you’re ready” but you can still tell they’re black. and I always try to keep that in Yeah, so I like to focus on the mind. So in those cases what I African diaspora, electric colors, just try to do is dedicate 10 to divine femininity and sexuality, 30 minutes to whatever it is that but not necessarily in a negative I want to do creatively. And then context, more like a liberating usually once that time passes, context. I’ll just continue working on the piece. But sometimes when that doesn’t work, I just have to do things that feel fulfilling to me that aren’t necessarily art related.

So that’s why I do try to dress up, not necessarily every day, but I try to do it pretty consistently because it just makes me feel better. I literally have nowhere to go, but I’m just like, this makes me feel good and then I feel a lot better. I might also try working on something that’s not so pressure related. Like when there’s no pressure at all connected to the project and I don’t have to share the progress with anybody. It’s just like another form of self care. As your own boss, how do you keep yourself motivated? I don’t know. I just really feel like I am capable of a whole lot and I haven’t even reached and don’t ever want to reach my peak. I’m not applying as much pressure as I could be right now, but I just try to remind myself to keep creating even when I am stagnant. Not just because of the societal pressures to be productive but just because I don’t feel as fulfilled when I’m not creating as often. Creativity, is the gift that I was given at birth, but it’s also a gift that I feel inclined to share. It’s like a double ended gift, if that makes sense. That kind of connects to the motivation. Like it gives me motivation to at least create for myself, but it’s also nice to share with others.

DOUBLE-ENDED GIFT.”

IS THE GIFT THAT I WAS GIVEN

AT BIRTH, BUT IT IS ALSO A GIFT THAT I

“CREATIVITY

WARRIOR | I AM ABUNDANT

FEEL INCLINED TO SHARE. IT’S A 11

“start before you’re ready”

WARRIOR | I AM ABUNDANT What would you say is your goal as an artist? Financial freedom is my biggest goal. I also really want to be working with big brands commission-wise and to be featured on big platforms and big publications. I also want to be in the position to help others succeed specifically the black creative youth.

your art for their home or space. So just don’t be discouraged that you might be at a inferior skill level or whatever, because that comes with practice and even right where you are, someone might still want to get your work. Also “know your worth and add tags”. I didn’t come up with that quote either, but that took me a really freaking long time to accept.

just started this. I started taking myself as an artist seriously around 2018 and I’ve grown a lot since then. This year, specifically. I’ve grown as an artist and just as a person. I feel like I’m a lot more open and receptive to abundance and growth.

What advice would you give to other artists who are trying to start their own journey? I’ll use another quote that I like to go by, “comparison is the thief of joy”. So really try your best, not to get sucked into comparing yourself on social media or with other artists like that you might know in real life. Also just be aware that we’re all looking at our own paths and there’s enough room for everybody to eat. A lot of people might think that art is a saturated market, but someone is looking for

How have you evolved as a result of 2020? I don’t really feel like I’m the same person that I was before quarantine. I feel like I’ve grown a lot and I’ve always been growth oriented so I’m super proud of the exponential growth that I’ve had during this year. Even though I had that lapse of like productivity, whatever the word is, during July and August, I still pumped out more art, I think this year than I ever have. And I kinda

“Comparison is a theif of joy“

W • SHOP • SUPPORT

Scan to View/Shop Shawntel.co @shawntelco

PORT • FOLLOW • SH

FOLLOW • SHOP • SUPPORT • FOLLOW • SHOP • SUP

OP • SUPPORT • FOLLOW • SHOP • SUPPORT • FOLLO 13

Image:

Little Sister

Kiki Faison | @ktanae_

Self Affirmation

Little sister is a collection of short stories written by Kiki Faison to provide her little sister with meaningful advice that she could carry with herw as she grows and journeys through life. The following affirmations are from the SelfAffirmation chapter of the LIttle Sister collection.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Self-affirmation in simple terms

means that you recognize the value within yourself.â&#x20AC;?

allow anyone to lead you into 1. Don’t thinking you should limit yourself. There is no limit. You should try to go above and beyond for yourself because nobody else will. You’ll begin to notice this as you grow older. You must also begin to seek opportunities on your own. You can’t wait for someone to bring an opportunity or idea to you; you could be waiting forever.

Always try to maintain an “I can” attitude with whatever you’re doing in life. You are capable of doing whatever you put your mind to. If you believe you can do it then you can. It is important to try to have that type of attitude. It is important to declare your worthiness. Self-doubt and insecurities can be your own enemies. At times, the way you think can influence your outcomes in life. Continually thinking from a positive perspective can put you in a positive place in life. If you’re preparing a speech for an audience and believe you’re going to do terrible, you’ll probably do terrible. You put that negative energy onto yourself. You didn’t give yourself a chance to believe that you could do great. You went onto stage thinking negative; therefore, there was a negative outcome. You must speak positivity into yourself. It doesn’t matter if others believe you can achieve something because without that self-affirmation you won’t strive. Selfaffirmation in simple terms means that you recognize the value within yourself.

is trial and error, and 3. Everything everything is a learning experience. There’s nothing wrong with making a few mistakes, and they don’t define your personality. Try to learn from them and not belittle yourself when you’ve made one. You must try to be accepting of your mistakes; it’s irrelevant if others aren’t. Try not to set extremely high expectations on yourself. Having expectations of yourself and trying to be perfect are two different things. Trying to perfect everything that you’re doing on a daily basis isn’t healthy. Aim to challenge yourself but also try to aim to be accepting of your best.

When you consecutively work towards your goals you will accomplish them.

You must always work for what you want. No matter how late you may start at something, you can still become successful. Your work ethic, attitude, and humbleness matter. This can be interpreted as ambition, determination, or tenacious. Some are born with these characteristics, while others aren’t. However, there’s always room for growth. If you feel that you’re lacking in these areas, seek advice, or research techniques on how to improve. One technique that can be easily practiced is the “out loud” technique. This is when you speak positive things that you are capable of out loud to yourself, instead of thinking them.

Documenting your growth is important. If you do not trust people or want anyone in your business, this can be a good outlet. You do not have to head it “Dear Diary”. If you like, you could head it “Dear Friend”. If you are religious, you can head it as “Dear God”. You can head it as if you were writing to a loved one. In fact, you do not have to head it at all. Do whatever makes you more comfortable with writing about your feelings, fears, or thoughts. This can help alleviate stress, anxiety, or depression because you are getting some form of release. Begin to document what might stress you or make you anxious. We all stress, but our circumstances are different. Regardless, always With everything you do, remember that everything aim to improve yourself. will eventually work itself out. Aim to grow into the best version of yourself. When dealing with Furthermore, keep chasing multiple things, take your dreams because they them one step at a time. can come true. You are Create a list, hardest to responsible for fulfilling your easiest, most important to dreams and not anyone else’s. least important, and vice Just because others didn’t versa. When you begin to let have enough ambition to stress build up it can turn into fulfill their dreams does not anxiety. Anxiety is real and it mean you are not capable. may get dangerous if you do When you consecutively work not learn to control it. It can towards your goals you will affect your body, mentally and accomplish them. psychically. Try to refrain from

WARRIOR | Self Affirmation

overthinking about obstacles that may antagonize you. Dwelling on what stresses you will only cause more anxiety. If you know a situation is stressful, why focus on it? There is no wrong in receiving help to learn how to cope with anxiety. If you decide to get medical advice, medications may be prescribed to you. However, there are additional forms of help besides medication. Meditation has been known to be helpful in reducing anxiety, stress, and built up aggression (“Meditation: In Depth”, 2016). Meditating; play soothing music and create a relaxing space. Psychical activity; hiking, yoga, and exercising. The exercises do not have to be intense, and you can make the psychical activity simple. Try to plan fun trips with your friends and family. Do what you must to feel as relaxed as possible. Try to get into the habit of finding things that bring you peace. In my opinion, the ending goal is to be fully in tuned with yourself.

You must accept that you cannot control everything. Most times, everything there is a simple solution to what you believe is your hardest problem. You must put your issues into perspective. Think, is your situation as bad as someone who does not have whatever you have? Try to humble yourself, this may be difficult. However, there are people out in the world who don’t have the same luxuries as you. There are people in the world who would be pleased to be in your position.

oriseven.com 19

LETTERS TO MY EX 20

Dear Ben, Thank you for the reminder

So I thank you for the reminder

Wow! You came crashing in giving me feelings of excitement, adventure, actual connection! Wow! You came crashing in disturbing my peace, my balance, and my bombass self-care routine.

So unknowingly fiery and masculine and vibrant. Wow!

So unknowingly destructive, boyish, and dark! Wow!

You gently let me in. Allowing your feelings and emotions to take full control of our encounters.

You lured me in. Allowing me to believe your words and your actions.

So unapologetically honest, and selfish and broken. Wow!

So unapologetically misleading, (still) selfish, (still)broken. Wow!

You quickly infiltrated my mind. Sharing with me your past adventures, dreams and failures.

You quickly...wasted my time

So modest, and admirable and confusing. Wow!

So narcissistic, and basic and (still)confusing. Wow!

You slowly touched every inch of my body. As if you and my body were old lovers finally reunited.

You slowly invaded every inch of my body. As if you had intentions to keep this body, respect this body, protect this body.

So seductively meticulous, and observant and selfless. Wow!

So seductively malicious, and dishonest and trying too hard. Wow!

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what it feels like to be seen. You saw my beauty and my intelligence. You saw my sarcasm and my soft nature. You saw my competitiveness and my creativity. I felt seen! I forgot what that felt like.

This is what it feels like to be played. You saw my vulnerabilities and my desperation. You saw my longings and my desires. You saw an opportunity to get what you wanted and leave behind what you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. I felt used! I forgot what that felt like. So I thank you for the reminder

Thank you for the reminder Anonymously,

X0X0

Thanks but no thanks

Lessons of

Love E

ver since I could remember, I’ve been something of a hopeless romantic. I thought that when I finally found love it would be all smiles and fun times. I envisioned traveling the world together, taking cute couple pictures that would grant me with the highest title: “Relationship Goals”. I wanted to stunt on all the people who had ever rejected me, people who made me feel undesirable. Who called me ugly and said I would be lucky if anyone ever went out with me. I wanted to show them just how desirable and sexy I could be, and that I was worthy of love. I wanted that perfect fairytale romance by any means necessary. Finally off I went into this relationship right, thinking heavily of what I wanted and expected. I just knew it was going to be incredible. Boy was I wrong. Let me be clear, my ex wasn’t a horrible guy. If we had stayed just friends we would probably be pretty tight. When you step out of the friend zone with someone, everything changes. These are the lessons I’ve learned:

LOVER | Lessons of Love

Put yourself and your happiness first! It sounds selfish, but I didn’t learn this lesson until well after we broke up. I was so consumed with my ex and his needs and wants, that I let go of myself and what made me happy. I became a person whose sole purpose was to please my spouse. WHEW.

Don’t let your significant other get between important relationships. Yeah, your partner is important, but don’t let them tell you who you are/ aren’t allowed to be friends with. We’re far too grown to be so insecure about friends. Now if there’s a person that makes your spouse uncomfortable that’s different, but that’s an issue you Don’t change who you are. EVER. need to talk out with them. Which The moment that you allow brings me to my next point: yourself to be changed is the moment that you lose yourself. I Never be afraid to speak your let go of a lot of things I used to do mind. that filled me with joy, thinking For most of my relationship, I that I had to compromise to be stayed silent about things that in a relationship. Don’t let your bothered me. I buried thoughts relationship define who you because I was certain they would are. Your identity should not be cause disagreements, and I HATE tied to who you are with, define confrontation. Holding all of that yourself and live your truth. The in made me so upset though, I right person will appreciate and had no outlet to express myself. love you for who you are, not When I finally did decide to who you want to be with them. speak up I was “trippn” because I had never said anything before. 23

Moral of the story: speak your mind from the jump!! If you aren’t growing together, you’ll grow apart. Relationships take a lot of work. One person shouldn’t have to take the entire burden of the relationship alone. Unless you’re both working toward a common goal, there won’t be a relationship.

These seem like such simple lessons, but I didn’t learn them until after I was set free to be who I am. I’m grateful for what I learned about love, but mostly what I learned about myself. Never again will I lower myself for someone who isn’t able to appreciate all that I am. I’ve seen and experienced real love, so I know that it exists in the world.

Lekan

Mess Around Vol. I lekanmusic.co 25

4 Columbus Rappers on the rise in 2020 26

MARLEY KILLEDIT A.K.A MKI M.O: Artist, Beatmaker, Producer , likes animals & nature and sh*t Rap Style: Dark with a hint of fun Top 3 Rappers: 2Pac, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne Color Profile: Red - It stands out

CALL LOG: Q: Where do you find the inspiration for your music? A: It’s my day to day life honestly, it’s really based on things I see and do. My life isnt monotonous, my two days are not the same. Every day I’m seeing something new, something random, hearing some new story, or seeing random people I bump into. It’s very inspiring, especially

in Columbus. You kind of have to find your inspiration out here. I took a trip to New York back in January and there, inspiration is everywhere. You look around and you see somebody walking down the street, they’re wearing all types of colors, you see that there a lot. Whereas Columbus doesn’t really have that type of vibe, but it has its own vibe. You have to go out there and look deeper. It’s more homey.

RECENT ACTIVITY:

Q: How would you describe the Columbus rap game? A: The Columbus rap game is a little different. From the outside looking in it doesn’t look like we have one but there’s definitely people making moves in the city, it’s just not who you would expect.

LAST SEEN:

Often found in the studio or at open mic and DJ hosted shows and events. During quarantine, MKI had a lot more time to sit down and write. As a result, he has dropped several singles in the last few months. MKI also has several music videos available on Youtube. Intel suggests he may be dropping a new project in December.

Alias:@marleykilledit Scan to listen to MKI on Soundcloud

SHAMERE GRIFFIN A.K.A GRIFF M.O Singer, Rapper, Songwriter, Black and Proud, Mother M.O: Rap Style: Wildcard, “my style is no style” Top 3 Rappers: Nicki Minaj, Lauryn Hill, Lil Wayne Color Profile: Clear - “Because I’m transparent af”

CALL LOG:

closed mouths don’t get fed. Don’t let anyone walk all over you. You are who you are, and Q: What would you say is your be proud in who you are. If you legacy as a musician? have to change, that’s growth. A: My legacy is to show that if I want to be accepted for who I you want to do something, you am and for everyone to accept can do it. My whole goal is to who they are. show our people, black people especially, that you can do Q: In what ways has 2020 whatever you put your mind forced you to evolve? to. We have a lot of people that A: 2020 has been a hard year we can look up to but at the but I do think it was essential. same time, we still don’t. I just For myself and a lot of my want people to realize that friends, we’ve found that we can do anything we want we’ve been living but we to. If you have something to haven’t actually been living. say, open your mouth because

RECENT ACTIVITY: Curently in the process of getting ready for a project drop. Working through a lot of trauma and damage that she had to unpack in order to be vulnerable enough to release new music. Shamere and her team are working together to drop the project November or December on all platforms.

We wake up, do these 9-5’s and live for everyone else, but we haven’t taken the time to actually enjoy life. We haven’t lived for ourselves, and this year forced us to do that. It forced us to sit down and really get ourselves together. I can speak for myself when I say that I was overworking myself right before COVID hit. I was overworking myself crazy to the point where I was performing at shows and I’m sick, my voice was almost gone. It was bad, and these companies didn’t care.

LAST SEEN: Alias:@officialshameregriffin Scan to listen to Shamere Griffin on Soundcloud 28

MUSE | 614: SMWYG

TOBILLA A.K.A TRULY YOURS M.O: Artist, Producer, Libra, Traveler Rap Style: Melodic, alternative hip hop, cloud rap Top 3 Rappers: 2Pac, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne Color Profile: Earth Green

CALL LOG: Q: Where do you find inspiration for your music? A: I pull from life, the people around me, the situations I’m in or people around me are in that I can learn from. I’m really just inspired by my thoughts and dreams, my lessons and things I go through. I try to make it relatable for everybody. I’m very inspired by life events, good or bad, and everything that comes with it.

Q: How would you describe the Columbus rap game? A: I feel like it’s like everywhere else, but more special. Columbus is special because there are so many dope creatives like me creating dope music and trying to push the envelope on a global aspect. We’re really just trying to make dope music for real. That’s where I can get inspiration when I have writer’s block or I’m not in the mood, or going through a rough period of time. With

RECENT ACTIVITY:

my friends and people who surround me that I’m blessed to be with in the city, we’re like a big family. Those are the people that you run to, to keep the fire going. We all just build off of each other. I have a homie that is working on a mixtape trying to put a big group of us together on his mixtape to showcase the many different styles within the city. We’re all trying to make it out; we’re all from the same place, we all generally share the same stories so we might as well work together.

LAST SEEN:

Tobilla is often found “staying toasty”. He is constantly creating music and documenting his feels throughout the day. He has been working on music videos and intel suggests he is close to dropping a new EP. In his free time, he teaches Linden Kids the art of writing and poetry.

Alias:@tobillamuffin Scan to listen to Tobilla on tobillamuffin.com 29

YUNG SIAH A.K.A YBG M.O: Artist, leader, entrepreneur Rap Style: Unique & Impactful- Can’t quite pinpoint Top 3 Rappers: Meek Mill, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar Color Profile: Red - Both bright and Elegant

CALL LOG: Q: Where do you find the inspiration for your music? A: Before I get into people’s names, I’ll say this, My music comes from my emotions. Whatever I’m feeling, that’s what I’ll write out on paper. I’m not the type of person to talk out how I feel so a lot of times it’s just me, a notepad and a beat. I have anger issues too, so if I’m angry I’ll write it out. I get my inspiration from anyone or any artist that puts

passion into their music. If you listen to Meek Mill, in his raps you can hear that he has a lot of past anger in his life. He has a lot of frustration, and raps aggressively. He acknowledges his past and I just respect people who are able to express themselves like that.

‘his message is the same as this persons’. I’m trying to be very unique in my path. I used to curse in my music heavy but I had to cut that down. A lot of young people and kids have my instagram and I know that’s never going to go away. My main message and goal is to empower the younger generation and the Q: What would you say is your generation of tomorrow. legacy as a musician? A: With the path that I’m taking, I don’t want anyone to think ‘YungSiah sounds like him’ or

RECENT ACTIVITY:

LAST SEEN:

When he isn’t in the studio playing with his sound, Yung Siah is often working to inspire and lead his generation and the generation behind him. He has a clothing brand called YBG - Young Black and Gifted. With both his music and his brand, he wants to let young people know that they don’t have to do what the world wants them to - they can take a different route.

Alias:@yuungsiah Scan to listen to Yung Siah on Soundcloud 30

MUSE | 614: SMWYG

I LIKE WHAT

YOU GO GOT Be sure to check out these musicians and their upcoming projects! Who should we feature next? Email us your suggestions to tribe@oriseven.com!

“YOU ARE ONLY CONFINED BY THE WALLS YOU BUILD YOURSELF” - SIVA GANESH

The Reading Nook Recommendations by @gabofgaia

The Healing

“Sometimes when you look at a person all you see is the tangle and you miss the weave.”

The Healing”, by Jonathan Odell, is a historical fiction set in the antebellum south and covers themes of race, midwifery, and like the title says HEALING. The story follows Granada, a young slave girl who’s life gets tangled up in the weave of her mistress Amanda’s grief. The book picks up with introducing Polly Shine,

-Jonathan Odell, The Healing

a mysterious healer whose presence changes the lives of the slaves, the master, and especially Granada. There are so many things to unpack in this book, and it surprised me to find out the author is White (still not sure how I feel about this) but I will say I appreciated the author’s note.

SAGE | The Reading Nook

The Power

What would life be like if women ran the world?

“The Power”, by Naomi Alderman, is a science fiction novel that explores a society in which women are the dominant gender. Cue Beyonce: “Who runs the world? Girls”. The story starts off with Roxy developing electrical powers after being attacked by a group of men. The story

Sulwe “Sulwe”, Lupita Nyong’O’s debut picture book is about a young girl who is the darkest in her family. “Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister.” This book is filled with beautiful language and illustrations (Vashti Harrison) and covers the themes of beauty and colorism. An adult should read beforehand to

make sure it’s appropriate for the child in their life. I recommend for Grade 2 & up because of the content and vocabulary. A picture walk (previewing pictures in a storybook before reading the text) could also be a good option for younger readers. Also good for anyone who just needs their inner child nourished.

continues with other young girls developing this new power and it spreading worldwide. This new power that only the women seem to have sets off a chain of events that shifts the power dynamics in society. Very interesting read. I definitely recommend this book.

SUPER FOOD

CORN Corn is one of the most versatile vegetables there is. People from all over the world have been innovative in their uses of the sweet veggie. From corn on the cob to corn tamales, this superfood can be prepared in countless ways.

Image: @henrydoe

LATIN AMERICA

AREPAS Arepas are a staple dish in many Latin American countries, but no one does it like Venezuela! These corn meal pockets can be filled with meat veggies and cheese, creating the perfect savory snack! You can try Arepas at El Arepazo Litin Grill 515 S High St

AFRICA

UGALI / FUFU This Kenyan dish is made from Maize flour, you might know it as fufu. Fufu is perfect for soaking up savory flavors so it is often paired with soups, stews, and sauces. You can try Ugali at Wycliffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen 2492 Home Acre Dr

FOODIE | SUPER FOOD

UNITED STATES

CORN BREAD Native Americans introduced us to Cornbread centuries ago and the recipe has been passed down and adapted in countless ways. I personally like my cornbread thick and full of corn kernels, but however you slice it this dish is a crowd favorite. You can try (our favorite) Corn Bread at Enaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Caribbean Kitchen 2444 Cleveland Ave

FEATURED RESOURCE 42

HUSTLER |Featured Resource

We interviewed SKi and LoLo, two of Urban Accelerator’s founders to learn more about the inspiration behind opening their doors and the services and resources they provide to small-business owners in Columbus, Ohio. What inspired you to open the doors of the U? SKi: I had retired from the air force and I started a tech startup with a couple of friends. We had an exit. And around that time, I had just moved to Columbus in 2018. And I was just kinda like navigating the startup landscape and the entrepreneur landscape. And I realized that there was a huge gap for places like what we ended up building for people that look like us. And so I’ve met actually a couple other people that were the original founders. It was three of us and, you know, we agreed, okay. Yeah, let’s, let’s do this thing now. So September 1st, literally, just over a year ago, we signed a lease on this place and started to build it out. Then we met Lo in October.

Lo: Before I met them at the U, I was doing a creative agency called the Black Project. I deliberately named it that, because I wanted to focus on black businesses and really helping to create, branding for black businesses. And then I felt like there was a huge gap in black businesses being able to get nice looking branding for, you know, a cost that was affordable because in terms of funding, we don’t have the same opportunities, unfortunately as other businesses. so once I was doing it, I will always work with clients and they’ll be like, Hey, I need a logo. And then I realized like, wait, are you a registered business? And then outside of even just being a registered business, it was multiple times where I would be like, Hey, you know, that your name is being used by someone else, or you can’t get this domain because that’s already registered, you know, and having to breakdown that information. So what I realized was that it wasn’t really just a gap in resources. It was a gap in education. I was like really thrilled about what they were doing with The U because we do have spaces that are similar 43

to this, we just don’t have spaces that are culturally competent where we feel comfortable. I like to think of myself as being a smart person. But there has been plenty of times where I’ve been in other rooms, and I felt inferior because of the color of my skin, because I’m a woman, or because I didn’t understand certain language. And that stopped me. It made me feel not confident. So just moving forward, I want to be able to create opportunities and help build more successful, sustainable businesses and especially in the areas that we thrive in. SKi: That was a good point. That’s why I was really pushing hard for the name accelerator. It’s to help people to not have to go through all the struggles, make the same mistakes we made and basically remove the barriers to entrepreneurship and scaling their businesses. So we’re just trying to help people with our combined resources and also we’ve branched out and we’ve got a mastermind tribe of people and organizations that we work with. So we’re partnered with ECDI women’s development center. Revlon is a new relationship where

How would you describe the services that you provide at The U? SKi: By dictionary definition, we would be considered an entrepreneur support organization or ESO - that’s how we’ve formed ourselves. It wasn’t exactly like common parlance around these parts until December 16th of last year when the mayor’s office released the small business agenda. They did an assessment over 18 months to figure out the landscape of entrepreneurs and small business in Columbus. What they ended up coming back with was stuff that we, that were on the ground doing stuff, already knew; there’s disparity for people of color and women. So when we were building out our marketing and how we were going to present ourselves, we were saying that, we’re a small business resource center that focuses on training and engaging with the black community. So ultimately, our goal is to provide training, resources and engagement. I’m a harper on engagement because the training

“Ultimately, our goal is to provide training, resources, & engagement.” 44

HUSTLER | Featured Resource you can get anywhere, resources are out there, but it’s so much, and it’s a lot of noise. Nobody really knows where to go. You could spend a lot of time going down a wrong path, right? So where I feel like we pride ourselves as being able to do that free consult with a business that initial consultation and just figuring out where they’re at and where they’re trying to go, and then helping them. If it’s not something we can do, then we’re going to point them to another agency that can help them out. So ultimately to, to point our goal is to provide training resources and engagement, and I’m the Harper on engagement because the training you can get anywhere, resources are out there, but it’s so much, it’s a lot of noise. Nobody really knows where to go. And look, you could spend a lot of time going down a wrong path, right? So where I feel like we pride ourselves as being able to do that free consult with a business that initial consultation and just figuring out where they’re at and where they’re trying to go, and then helping them. If it’s not something we can do, then we’re going to point them to another agency that can help them out. Lo: It’s really important that we have access to funding because I think that, I mean, don’t get me wrong. Education is a huge thing, but I feel like they go hand in hand. There are people out here who have great ideas, who have the education, but they don’t have access to the resources to be able to execute. And so having a

lack of funding, it hinders you in so many ways. When you’re a one man show you burn yourself out because you’re trying to do everything because you can’t contract, you can’t outsource, you can’t hire the team that you need, or you’re failing on operations because you’re not able to hire an attorney, or someone to do your books or something like that. So there’s just a lot of things. Like it’s one thing for us to continue to give our education. I feel like there’s so many platforms that give education, but I was really strongly like, Hey, we really need to make sure that we’re doing something to get funds into people’s hands. Having education and no funds, you know, it can be very discouraging. You can only get you so far. What are some ways that 2020 has like evolved your original plan for The U? Lo: I would say it broke us down and it actually helped us. It was a wonderful breakdown. I felt like when you go through something, especially to a certain magnitude, it kind of makes you fall into pieces. We were at the point where we were really discussing not coming back where we were like, is this a sign that we should close the doors? But I think that it exposed a lot of the holes that we had in our business model. And so we really needed COVID to happen because it forced us to stop. Before we were on such

a time crunch, because we felt like we had to hit the market in a certain amount of time because of what the city was doing and because of what we heard from other people. We were really ahead of ourselves and, and it may not have been in a good way. We might’ve been disservicing people by trying to market so fast. And so being able to have COVID and being forced to slow down, I’m being forced to rethink things, being forced to to, to really look at our impact and what it is that we’re doing and how can we effectively do it. It was absolutely amazing. And so covid was necessary. Covid was everything that we needed coming back. It allowed us to really focus on the mission and how can we deliver in a way that was impactful. It was a breakdown, but it was needed.

Learn more about The U and Follow them on Social for updates and upcoming workshops: theucbus.com 614-300-5959 hello@theucbus.com

oriseven.com | Melanin Tee $27 47

Frandie & Angel Legends in the making

Frandie Francique and Angel Banks are Otterbein University Student Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President and Vice-President as well as the first African-American women to be elected to those positions. In this interview, we get an inside look at what it takes to lead and inspire a student body during a year of unprecidented

LEGEND |Frandie & Angel

hen did you know you wanted to run for President and Vice President of student government? Angel: I feel like it started off with our freshman year, as first year students we both decided to join student government. The president at the time Jeremy Paul was the one who kind of pushed both of us to join SG. I was a first year student and I didn’t really know if I wanted to be involved, or what I really wanted to be involved with. Once I joined student government Frandie and I started talking longterm about our goals. One of the things she mentioned was wanting to be president of student government, and I was like ‘I want to be the president’! So we just starting talking and we decided by the time we get to our senior year Frandie would be the president and I would be the vice president. I also have an interest in equity and inclusion and diversity, so I’m also the president of the African American Student Union. That is my focus. For me specifically, I would say that it is my goal to make sure that people feel included and they understand that when they are presented with a seat at the table they need to use their voices. That is what motivates me in SG. Its very important to me that every senator we have or students that are thinking about joining understand that this is their moment to make sure that their voices are heard.

lot of things and it was different for other people who were commuters who just came to class and went home. I wanted to be an example that just because you don’t live on campus doesn’t mean our voices can’t be heard and our opinions and things we can bring to the organization don’t matter. I wanted to show that bringing our creativity, new ideas, or even being a leader in an organization from home is possible.

“My goal to make sure that people feel included and they understand that when they are presented with a seat at the table they need to use their voices. “

When did you know you wanted to run for President and Vice President of student government? Frandie: We both joined our first year, and the part about me saying I wanted to be president lowkey started as a joke. Jeremy was the one who really pushed both of us to join and I think he sweet talked me into it. He was really passionate about the position and the things that he was able to accomplish, and he wanted to see more people join and grow. Our Student Government is relatively new compared to other organizations, we’re going on our 5th year of being an official organization. Joining was interesting to me because I’d never done anything like this in highschool, so I had no background of what this was or how it was going to work. My first 2 years I served as a commuter senator, and it was really cool to see the way that I could be a voice and an advocate for that group of students. For me personally as a commuter, I got involved in a

“ We are the minority here on campus but we still have a major role to play” F: Angel and I have been in this for 4 years and we’ve hosted events, interacted with our peers, helped create change, signed on to resolutions, and it goes to show that just because we are the minority here on campus but we still have a major role to play in things that happen and that matter to us. We’re here to be a face and a voice. We have seats at the table now and I guess we’re at the head of the table, but we’re more than

happy to pull out chairs for people. You know you’ve been to Haitian parties, so if there’s no room we’ll go outside and make it work. That’s what we wanted to do on a personal level, specifically for students of color who look like us and who may have had similar experiences of not knowing where they fit in. We will find you a seat and a place to be. We want to self advocate for you and be the change that you want to see. What started off as a joke became something that both of us have been passionate in, in various places. It sounds like you all are doing so much, what kind of responsibilities do you have as student government and ASU leadership? How are you able to balance everything? A: By making sure you get 8 hours of sleep! I get 8 hours. I can’t speak for Frandie but I make sure I get 8 hours of sleep so I can be a functioning human being the next morning.

F: Balancing! I’ve always said time management was something that I struggle with and it is,but it also isn’t. I’ve been able to do a lot over the past 3 years so there’s a weird balance. I know what I need to prioritize in the moment and it all just kind of falls into line. I’ve been involved in things that are important to me because they feed into me as I feed into them. That’s why I stuck with certain things, if I felt that I wasn’t getting anything out of it or putting anything into it that would be a waste of my time. So even though I’m involved in a lot of things it’s always been a reciprocal relationship where I get to add this to this organization or create something new here. Whether they’re teaching me or growing me as a leader, or helping me learn how to interact with other people, I get something out of it. The things that do both for me are the things that have stuck with me. How has 2020 evolved your character? How has this year been different, and what kind of changes have you made? A: For me, it’s allowed me to take a step back and relax. I had to take a moment and step back from the fast paced everyday lifestyle, going to class, work, volunteering, everything that I’m involved in. It gave me a chance to breathe and focus on what was important. We’ve essentially had to recreate the student experience. We’re so used to being in person able to high-five and have a 1 on 1 connection, but now everything is virtual. The question has been ‘how can I provide the same experience for this group of people, but in a virtual format? How can I continue to connect with people in a virtual format? This is new, there isn’t an agenda written out for this so we’ve had to recreate it. So finding new

LEGEND |Frandie & Angel ways to find senators to get them to sign up for student governmentwe had to go live on Instagram. I’ve never been live! I’m such an old lady when it comes to Instagram, but it was my first time and it was fun! This is something we should do more of, it gave the community a chance to engage with us. This year has also taught me to meet people where they are. People aren’t staying and hanging out on campus like they used to, so what do you do? You call and text them, and encourage them to come out to a SG meeting. It’s all about asking “are you okay, is there anything I can do to improve your experience? How can I help with what you’re going through right now?” F: I think this time has just really made me, I don’t know, maybe just think about like, how can I use the things that I don’t necessarily always think about where I’m not used to using in a new way. So social media and, and zoom and things like that.

So it’s a learning process. It’s the, we learn something new every day. We get new information from other people and how they’ve been using it and how we can make it work for us. And I think that’s, that’s been, it’s been fun. It’s been a fun rollercoaster thing, but like, it can be frustrating at times. And the frustrating part of it can like make it seem less, I don’t know how to say this can make it seem not as valuable I guess, or is it worth it, but like it’s always worth in the end. It’s always worth the frustration, the hardship of getting to a place of like, okay, this is how we make this work. What would you say is like a legacy that you would to leave behind at Otterbein? A: But the truth is after I’m a seniorand there’s the freshman class in right now. So after about three or four years, people will forget me. And that’s not a bad thing. Like it is what it is, but what won’t be forgotten is the things that are in place. What won’t be forgotten is the fact that we have reinvented how to run our student organizations. What won’t be forgotten is that we sit down and we have one-on-one time with our senators and we show them how student government works. We show them all right, this is how we make a motion. This is how the Senate works itself. Student government works like the rules and the policies that are in place. That is our legacy. Yeah, they’re going to remember us as like the first two, black president and vice-president, but we did so much more. And while our names may not be attached to that information after a few years, it’s still what we did. It’s still something that like, as an individual, I can look 51

back on and say I did that even if no one else knows. F: First thing for me, I just want to be remembered as a person who made people laugh the most. Like that’s something that’s always personal. To me, that’s something that like, I know that no matter, what position I am, if it’s being a friend, if it’s being an orientation leader, if it’s being president or a Senator or whatever, the one thing that I know that I’ve always done is put a smile on people’s face and made them laugh and made them feel comfortable. I just know that if I can get people laughing or smiling I can have a good meeting or have a good class. We can push through whatever the unknown is. So we can get through it because we did it with a smile on our face.

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