2020 February Unite

February 2020 Volume 30/ Number 2 • Find Digital Version @ www.unitenewsonline.org •

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY SEE DETAILS ON PAGE 5

Building Empowering Connections

AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED - HARDRICK BROS. SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI’S LARGEST GROCERY STORE

F E B R U A R Y I S BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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Springfield is actually a booming industry of tech jobs; one that deserves our attention / PAGE 6

NEEDED

Power Your Career at CU Get on the path to a bright future at City Utilities.

CU offers jobs in a variety of fields and is looking for talented individuals to bring bright ideas to our organization. CU provides competitive pay and benefits and is deeply rooted in Springfield.

For more information about job opportunities, log on to cityutilities.net.

Job Fair 2020

It is the policy of City Utilities to offer equal opportunity to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

February 21 & 22 Located at

Silver Dollar City Apply At SilverDollarCity.com/Jobs

Or Call 417.338.8122

City Utilities of Springfield • 301 East Central, Springfield MO • 417.863.9000 • cityutilities.net

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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1/7/20 11:29 AM

Ujima Kids Corner

DŝƐƐŝŽŶ͗ >ŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĂƚŝŽŶ ŽĨ hũŝŵĂ >ĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ >ŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ͘ hũŝŵĂ ĞdžŝƐƚƐ ƚŽ ĞĚƵĐĂƚĞ͕ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞŵƉŽǁĞƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŶĚ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ͘

,Žǁ ŵĂŶLJ ǁŽƌĚƐ ĐĂŶ LJŽƵ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ĨƌŽŵ hũŝŵĂ &ĂŵŝůLJ >ŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ EŝŐŚƚƐ ϮŶĚ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJƐ͕ ϲͲϳ͗ϯϬƉŵ ƚŚĞ ƉŚƌĂƐĞ͗ Black History Month͍ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ

ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ Page 2 Building Empowering Connections | Unite News

ϭϳϮϮ E͘ EĂƚŝŽŶĂů ;dƵƌŶŝŶŐ WŽŝŶƚ ŚƵƌĐŚͿ o ŝŶŶĞƌ o >ŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ŶƌŝĐŚŵĞŶƚ ;ďŝƌƚŚͲϱƚŚ ŐƌĂĚĞͿ o dĂŬĞ ŚŽŵĞ Ă ďŽŽŬ

hũŝŵĂ <ŝĚƐ ŽƌŶĞƌ ƉŽǁĞƌĞĚ ďLJ͗

DIVERSE CHILDREN’S CHILDREN’SLITERATURE LITERTURE DIVERSE

Book Month Bookof of the the Month

LJ͗ <ǁĂŵĞ ůĞdžĂŶĚĞƌ Θ <ĂĚŝƌ EĞůƐŽŶ

dŚĞ hŶĚĞĨĞĂƚĞĚ ŝƐ Ă ůŽǀĞ ůĞƚƚĞƌ ƚŽ ďůĂĐŬ ůŝĨĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͘ /ƚ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚƐ ƚŚĞ ƵŶƐƉĞĂŬĂďůĞ ƚƌĂƵŵĂ ŽĨ ƐůĂǀĞƌLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŝƚŚ ĂŶĚ ĨŝƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Đŝǀŝů ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ Őƌŝƚ͕ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌƐĞǀĞƌĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ world’s greatest heroes͘

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Why are positive affirmations so effective for children PAGE 7 / Grandparents getting help PAGE 7

Tableof Contents

Community Peoples History Café provides historical, and cultural events for Timmons Hall

Page 5

Business & Money Springfield is actually a booming industry of tech jobs; one that deserves our attention Page 6

Community Dr. Sabina Brinson will present the Negro Leagues Baseball Traveling Book Exhibit

Community Make ‘n Play hands-on program a maker, play and Art focus

Community Storyteller, author Gladys Caines Coggeswell to speak at the Library Station Feb. 28-29

Business & Money Simfoni Capital: Impact Investing in Conscious Consumption, Poverty Alleviation, Community Building, and Alternative Health

Page 5

Page 7

Health & Wellness Heart to Heart: February is American Heart Awareness Month

Page 5

Page 8

Arts & Entertainment Movie Review “Just Mercy”

Page 11

Page 10

Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 3

The Unite News Publication is published by Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc.

The February Unite News Cover:

Photo is of the owners and employees of Hardrick Bros. Grocery Store at 223 St. Louis St. (right to left): J.H. Stemmons, Burton Hardrick, James Hardrick, Bea Hardy Curtis, Ralph Tindall, Marie Stemmons, Julian Herndon, unknown., uk., uk. The store was Springfield’s largest grocery store. Burton Hardrick and J.H. Stemmons both served on Springfield’s City Council and the School Board. Words on store window read: “Hardrick Bros. 223.” Words on top of truck read: “Hardrick Bros. Grocers.” This photo was taken ca.1915. Photo was used with permission from Springfield History Museum on the Square.

UNITE. Volume 30, Number 2

MANAGEMENT MANAGING EDITOR & PRESIDENT Samuel G. Knox COPY EDITOR Tyra K Knox ASSISTANT EDITOR & DIGITAL STRATEGIST Amber Donaldson CONTENT CONTRIBUTING WRITER, Melesha Bailey CONTRIBUTING WRITER, Lyle Foster CONTRIBUTING WRITER, Tyra Knox CONTRIBUTING WRITER, Gwen Marshall CONTRIBUTING WRITER, Kathleen O'Dell CONTRIBUTING WRITER, Daniel Ogunyemi CONTRIBUTING WRITER, Francine Pratt CONTRIBUTING WRITER, Sativa Boatman-Sloan CREATIVE TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY, Amber Donaldson PHOTOGRAPHY, Erin Gamble FESTIVAL GRAPHIC DESIGN, Bradley Knox COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEMBER, Christopher Palma COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEMBER, Jasmine Bailey COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEMBER, Diana Vargas

The Unite. publication is a monthly newspaper published by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. Our mission is to promote a broader understanding and appreciation of the ethnically diverse talent, community resources and opportunities available in the Springfield/Greene County area. Distribution of Unite. is by free circulation at various locations. However, request for home delivery by mail may be directed to Unite. P. O. Box 1745, Springfield, Missouri 65801 and accompanied by $25. for one year’s postage and handling.

Those wishing to make a contribution or become a monthly sponsor should direct correspondence to the same address. Reader’s comments and questions are welcomed. The opinions expressed in these pages do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc. “The Unite Publication in accepting advertising in this publication, makes no independent investigation concerning the services of products advertised and neither endorses nor recommends the same and assumes no liability therefore.”

For further information, you can contact us at (417) 864-7444. Email: unitepublication@ yahoo.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

We Need Your Input

Are you inspired to create a better future for yourself and others?

If so, Missouri State has a place for you.

With a campus community filled with diverse perspectives, voices and opinions, Missouri State is fulfilling its commitment to address the needs of a changing society.

Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Minority/Female/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity Employer and Institution. Employment will require a criminal background check at university expense.

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? APPLY TODAY AND

www.jobs.missouristate.edu

Page 4 Building Empowering Connections | Unite News

The Unite News Publication is in the process of updating content and the way we deliver news to our readers. We want to hear from you!

Your input is very important to us. Please help us out by taking our short 5 question survey by scanning the QR code. You may also send a letter to us by mail to: Unite P.O. Box 1745, Springfield. MO 65801

“If you would like to advertise your message in the Unite News Publication or on our website, please contact our office at (417) 864-7444. “

- Samuel Knox

Community: Events & People

J.R. Chappell NP Latasha Harris RN

Make ‘n Play handson program with a maker, play, and art focus; Gardener Class with Heirloom Seed Library

Dr. Kofi

February 1, 2020 Peoples History Cafe 11:00 am - 2:30 pm Free and open to the public 11:00 a.m. Welcome and introductions 11:30 a.m. “Money Couldn’t Buy,” a show-and tell-history skit based on Springfield history complied by Irv Logan, Jr. Featuring: Pastor Chris Grandberry as Mrs. Alberta, Dr. Verney, Drury University’s History Club and community youth participation.

12:45 p.m. Intermission and refreshments 1:00 p.m. Panel discussion: African-Americans in the Medical Profession, led by J.R. Chappell, NAACP Health Committee chair, to inspire youth to consider health care careers.

2:30 p.m. Open exhibits for all ages Black History Month At Timmons Hall, 1055 E Webster St., Silver Springs Park

Peoples History Café provides historical, and cultural events for Timmons Hall The Springfield-Greene County Park Board in April 2019 named Christine Peoples as the first Christina Peoples coordinator of Timmons Hall. She will lead efforts to bring historical, cultural and educational opportunities to the historic building. She is the founder of the nonprofit Peoples History Café, which has provided programming since 2012 at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library’s annual Meet and Greet Celebration.

Timmons Hall, formerly known as Timmons Temple, opened to the public in 2019 following relocation to Silver Springs Park in 2015.

February 8, 2020 11am - 1 pm Timmons Hall A conversation with Cast and Director of “The Milly Project,” a play written and produced by Willard High School teacher Kendra Chappell, with research assistance from her students.

The event does not include staging of the play.

Seating is limited and reservations are required at 417-864-1171.

The play tells the account of Milly Sawyers, a slave in Springfield who won her freedom in 1836 and was later dragged and beaten in the streets by an angry mob. The account was discovered in 2018 by former News-Leader reporter Giacomo Bologna and Greene County Archives director Connie Yen. Chappell and her students have performed the play several times.

Peoples History Café Saturday, Feb. 1, 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Sabina Brinson will present the Negro Leagues Baseball Traveling Book Exhibit of History. It was designed by Dr. Brinson, to bridge Dr. Sabrina A Brinson omissions in history, profile ingenuity in the face of bigotry, and highlight notable achievements of players, managers, teams and owners.

Black History Month At Timmons Hall, 1055 E Webster St., Silver Springs Park

Bring the kids for Sunday Make ‘n Play for ages 3 - grade 4 from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. at the Schweitzer Brentwood Branch. Visit this hands-on program with a maker, play, and art focus. We’ll provide activity stations and lots of cool, theme-related books to read together or check out. Call 883-1974.

••• Stop by the Heirloom Seed Library when it reopens on Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Library Station and the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library.

Through spring and summer, the Heirloom Seed Library invites you to check out up to four packets of herb, flower or vegetable seeds with your library card and dig in.

On grand opening day Feb. 29 from 2-4 p.m. at both branches, get the first pick of heirloom seeds at this come-and-go event. Experienced gardeners will be there to answer your gardening questions and give you pointers on starting your garden. Call the Library Station at 865-1340, or Midtown Carnegie Branch at 862-0135.

On Sunday, March 1, at 1 p.m., Library staff will talk about the Heirloom Seed Library and present expert Cheri Hamilton to talk about Seedbed Prep.

It takes place during the Lawn and Garden Show at the E*Plex, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. (Garden Show admission is required.)

On Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m. in the Library Station Frisco Room, Master Gardener Ken Bass will talk about Raised Bed Gardening as a way to maximize your investment of time and energy, and grow your most productive vegetable garden ever.

Call (417) 865-1340.

Kathleen O’Dell is community relations director of the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at kathleeno@thelibrary.org.

Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 5

Springfield is a booming industry of tech jobsone that deserves our attention

W

hen we think “tech”, or are asked what we think of when they hear the words “tech industry”, most people think of Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and even Boston Dynamics, but Springfield is actually a booming industry of tech jobs; and one that desperately can use our attention.

Springfield is fortunate to be a base to some large-scale companies like our local company O’Reilly, and Jack Henry and Expedia, to name a few, but when those companies come to mind, we think “automotive”, “banking”, “travel”, although these companies are actually some of the largest employers of IT and tech-related jobs in the city, along with others you might be surprised to learn of like Cox Health, Mercy, and even Bass Pro. Bass Pro alone has nearly 15 positions available within their IT department on their website. Cox and Mercy have several. O’Reilly, Jack Henry, and Expedia are consistently growing and hiring, and that’s not including the numbers of positions available from the multitude of smaller firms local to the Ozarks including IT and digital agencies. These companies are never able to hire enough people to fill those positions due to a lack of potential employees with experience, and that has a lot to do with the lack of diversity within the industry as a whole.

The computer sciences and maker industry (the tech industry altogether) are two of the largest industries populated mostly by a certain demographic of employees, and are vastly lacking in diversity because of it. A few years ago I had the opportunity to experience this phenomenon first-hand while working for a local company. I was seated in an area next to the IT department, which was vastly populated by that certain demographic, with very few females or people of color within the

Students in Chicago’s Black Girls Code summer camp

...companies are never able to hire enough people to fill those positions due to a lack of potential employees with experience, ... department. This isn’t through fault of the companies, but rather lack of outreach and education over decades past to these underrepresented groups. Thankfully, there are many wonderful organizations that seek to provide opportunities to these groups that I’ve watched develop over the 10 years I’ve been studying the industry. Organizations that started even as soon as 2011 and 2012 like Girls Who Code and Women Who Code started small and grew into large organizations that partner with, and act as resources for tons of communities, and they continue to keep growing. Because of these types of organizations, and my non-profit The Geek Foundation that I co-founded with local

Page 6 Building Empowering Connections | Unite News

female engineer Maranda Provance to teach free programming classes to kids and adults with the aim to increase diversity in our tech community, our organizations can focus on bringing diversity into the tech field for women, people of color, and other underrepresented minorities. Statistics are slowly beginning to change nationwide, but there is still much room for improvement ahead of us, especially within our local community.

Our goal at The Geek Foundation is to partner with other great local organizations like Minorities in Business, the local NAACP chapter, local schools, and other non-profits to provide outreach and recruiting to increase diversity in Springfield’s unknown-to-most, but huge, tech industry. Not only are tech jobs so valuable because they offer some of the highest-paying, highest-rewarding careers, the companies offering them have room and desire to grow exponentially as more people become Continued on page 7

Tech Jobs Continued from page 6

Scene from the movie “Hidden Figures”

educated with the modern technologies that provide their companies with capacity to grow.

Outside of local companies, there is also a vast number of these same types of jobs that are available globally and allow employees to work from home with the right skillset, creating opportunities for people to stay in the community while working remotely, earning high wages, and stimulating the economy in return.

Written by Krista Peryer, The Geek Foundation Co-Founder www.thegeekfoundation.org https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfoundation

Saturday, February 8th 12 p.m. The women of Pitts Chapel UMC would like for you to join them for their annual Valentine’s Day

Tea. The Tea will take place at the Pitts Chapel Fellowship Hall, at 600 N. Benton Springfield, MO. The women are requesting that something red or pink be worn and bring a tea cup if you wish to participate in their tea cup exchange.

Grandparents Getting Help Building Their New Families

Growth Mindset and Positive Affirmations: Why Are Positive Affirmations So Effective For Children?

When I think back to my elementary, middle school and high school years. I think Gwen Marshall about the Unite Writer little voice in my head that kept saying to me in the midst of adversity, you are smart, you are strong and you are a valuable human being.

I am a product of segregated schools in the south. I must say they were the best of times and the worst of times. The best of times because we were told by our Black Educators that we had the potential to became anything we wanted to be and the worst of times because we were denied basic civil and human rights. It was during these formative years

that my beliefs about my own potential and capabilities were developed. As students we were told we were overcomers, we were told we will live in peace and we should not be afraid. These affirmations were not just words but they were character-building words and overcome is exactly what we did.

As children learn positive affirmation they are learning new behaviors, new thoughts and are wiring their brains every day for the rest of their life. It is important that our children develop positive self-belief during childhood because it will shape and frame their future.

Children with a positive-self-image are less likely to use putdowns and bully others. Every aspect of life is affected by our self-confidence. It could have an impact on our academic

achievements, our ability to participate socially and limit our dreams According to Carol Dweck, author of The Growth Mindset sharing positive affirmations with your children could be as simple as sharing one affirmation a week. Research shows the more you repeat the affirmation, the more likely you are to believe what you are saying.

It seems that research also shows that as children get older they feel less capable of achieving success. Some research shows that by the time a child reaches third grade, nearly half of them do not believe their brain and intelligence can grow or change. So, it is imperative that we begin to share positive affirmations with our children early in life.

I was very impressed with a

African American Read-In. A Feast of Stories with Storyteller Gladys Caines Coggeswell, a storytelling presentation, is scheduled for 7-8 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 28, in the Library Station Santa Fe Room.

On Saturday, Feb. 29, from

9 a.m.-noon, in the Springfield Art Museum community room, enjoy Developing and Telling Family Stories, an interactive storytelling and sharing workshop with the author and her apprentice Angela Williams.

The workshop is open to the

Help Building Their New Families

Are you a grandparent rais-

ing grandchildren? You’re not

alone. The Springfield-Greene

County Library has gathered experts and resources to help you care for and guide your family, and keep your sanity.

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Resource Fair is

1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Library Station. See what

being a “grand” family is all about as you visit with representatives from area organizations and gather information on

community resources. The event is sponsored by the Library

and Be a Jewel. Registration starts February 17; call 616-0683 to register.

Grandfamilies Road to Guardianship and Adoption is 1-4

YouTube video about a threeyear-old boy, Ayaan reciting positive affirmations as he walked to school with his mom.

Ayaan’s mom Alissa had taught him the phrases a year previously, but his sudden outburst caught her by surprise!

Storyteller, author Gladys Caines Coggeswell to speak Feb. 28-29 All ages are invited to meet and hear premier storyteller Gladys Caines Coggeswell, author of “Stories from the Heart: Missouri’s African American Heritage,” on Feb. 28 and 29.

The free events are planned in celebration of the Springfield

Grandparents Getting

public, and is especially appropriate for public school teachers, professional or Gladys C. Coggeswell amateur storytellers and young adults.

p.m. Saturday, April 18, in the Midtown Carnegie Branch

Library in the upstairs meeting room. Gail L. Fredrick, attorney

with Fredrick & Rogers, P.C., will provide information on how to obtain legal guardianship and adoption of grandchildren being raised by their grandparents. A Q&A will follow the presenta-

tion. Free child care will be provided in the lower level meeting room by Be A Jewel. Registration starts April 7; call 862-0135 to register.

On Saturday, May 16, from 1-3 p.m. in the Midtown

Carnegie Branch Library, it’s Tech-Healthy Grandfamilies. Dr. Stephanie Huffman, head of the Reading, Foundations and

Technology Department at Missouri State University, Library Early Literacy Specialist Stephanie Smallwood and Edge

Community Technology Center Training Coordinator Krissy

Sinor will teach grandfamilies tech-healthy habits to guide them in the digital world. Free child care will be provided in the lower level meeting room by Be A Jewel. Registration starts May 5; call 862-0135 to register.

Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 7

Using Investment Skills and Finance Acumen for the Greater Good

S

by Amber Donalson, Unite Writer

imfoni Capital Management’s main focus is impact investing in the following four areas: conscious consumption, poverty alleviation, community building, and alternative health. Simfoni Capital Management was cofounded on October 11, 2019, by Tez Ward, Leanna Ward, Dustin Thompson, and Claire Thompson. Tez sat down with Unite for an exclusive interview about his service in the Air Force and transition from the military to starting his own company.

Although born in Cleveland, Ohio, Tez considers his hometown to be “Southwest Missouri”, as he grew up in the Joplin/Webb City area, and completed secondary school at Kickapoo High. That’s where he met his wife, Leanna, whom he started dating a year after graduation while training in Little Rock, Arkansas. “We weren’t high school sweethearts but we are as close to high school sweethearts as it gets,” says Ward.

After graduating from Kickapoo in 2007, Ward pursued his passion for aviation by joining the Air Force, where he deployed 8 times. “I did the math and came up with something like 520 days of deployments overseas, and that doesn’t include missions throughout the US and elsewhere.” During his time in the military, Ward trained initially as a mechanic on C-130 Cargo Aircrafts, and later retrained to become a flight engineer. As an engineer, Ward describes: “I’d sit in the cockpit and provide the pilots with data on all facets of aircraft operations; whether it be the speed we were going to lift off the runway at, what altitude we were able to climb to, how much fuel we had, how much fuel we needed, or if a system stopped working, the pilots would look to me for a solution. I was essentially the brains of the flight,

Simfoni Capital Management - Left to Right - Claire Thompson, Dustin Thompson,Tez Ward and Leanna Ward

although it was a very collaborative effort and I had a lot of help from technical publications.”

He continues, “It was orchestrating a lot of different activities and just making sure that things moved along safely and that the mission was able to be accomplished.”

After serving in the military for ten years, Tez and his wife decided it was time to grow their family. “I noticed that folks in the military would typically have a child and then they would get deployed. The beautiful thing is that the military would keep them home for the birth, but then two months later they were gone so they’d miss out on those critical months and years in the beginning. I thought there’s no way I’m going to try to raise a family like this.” So, he applied to become a pilot in the Air National Guard at Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport and was accepted for the position, but was unable to follow through due to unexpectedly failing an eye exam for eyesight. “I had a private pilot’s license and was

Page 8 Building Empowering Connections | Unite News

a flight engineer with a second class medical certificate, so I didn’t see it coming; though I did prepare for the worst and when I went down to interview for the job, I interviewed for the MBA program at Arizona State the same day.” Mr. Ward described how fortunate he felt to have a plan B. “It reinforced this notion I had of the importance of having a back up plan, and now I generally always do.”

During his time at Arizona State, Ward took an internship with Goldman Sachs in the Greater Chicago area with their private wealth management group. He loved the internship and had this to say about the interview process, “It is a challenging one to get (the internship), and is about eight of some of the most talented people in America, back to back for hours in a row, with non-stop interviews for 45 minutes to an hour each.” “I think I did well,’’ as Ward describes receiving a call before he could make it back to his hotel.

Continued on page 9

Simfoni Capital Continued from page 8

Ward receives award while in the US Air Force

Upon graduation from Arizona State, Ward received his Master’s Degree in Finance and his MBA in Financial Management and Markets. His wife was expecting, so they took a job with Morgan Stanley, in Springfield, MO, to be back closer to home. “I had built some efficacy in financial management at Goldman Sachs and felt good about my ability to exceed and thrust myself into the world of financial management.

So I took a job at Morgan Stanley and built a successful book there, but ultimately I found the work kind of lacking,” says Ward. “I was well on my way but I kept waking up every day wondering what my contribution to the organization was, and most importantly, what my contribution to society and my community was.” Ward continued this internal struggle within himself until October of last year. “I just called it. I said this isn’t for me. I was looking to have a more direct influence on outcomes and to be able to apply what I had poured so much energy into learning at Arizona State, so I called it on October 10th, and on October 11th, I co-founded Simfoni Capital and that’s what brought us here today.”

Ward says the main reason for founding Simfoni Capital was to be able to help use his investment skills and finance acumen for the

greater good. “I think we’ve seen plenty of unintentional economic development efforts in the world, where a large group of the population is left out. Like many places in the country, Springfield is in rapid growth mode, as seen with the transformational infrastructure investment taking place, and so I feel it’s my duty to help and I feel it’s kind of my responsibility to step in and ask if I can help the effort to be intentional. My ultimate vision is that other cities hear about what we are doing here in Springfield, and are willing to make the initial $200,000 investment for us to come to their city and replicate our vision. First beta test it in Springfield, do good things here, and then expand it to other cities.”

In the nonprofit sector, Ward is taking on business models and ensuring they are sustainable. Ward mentioned, “We’re introducing a lot of innovative ideas to the businesses we are engaging with and we are encouraging them to think strategically on the nonprofit side. We want nonprofits to develop self-sustaining non-profit models so we’re coming in and saying, how do you make money, do you have optionality, how do we optimize that, what are your capital needs, what would that capital do for that operating model, and if we were to invest, can you be self-sustaining once Simfoni leaves the picture? So that’s what we want to do, we want to come in, create assets, build it to where you can be self-sustaining, and then step back and let the nonprofits grow so that they don’t have to keep going to donors every year.” On the for-profit side, they are looking at products and services that are making progress in key social areas in which they want to see an impact made. “We’re thinking about the world and what everyone wants to see happening like less waste, better education, and safety, and we’re going out and trying to find who’s doing that,” says Ward.

Simfoni seeks to build an impact portfolio based on it’s four main pillars, as mentioned in the beginning of the article, and does so by partnering with companies taking on big issues. “We cover a wide spectrum of businesses. Some of those we are engaged with

now are addressing gun violence by improving response times, one is increasing affordable housing, bridging wealth gaps, and closing skills gaps, another is a technology platform that rounds up dollars to be donated to charity, and yet another is putting VR in elementary classrooms for immersive learning. We are also looking at inclusion and whether we can be a conduit to equitability. We are looking at a portfolio that does a lot of good.” Essentially, Ward points out, “We’re capitalists in this economy and so by bringing more participants to the marketplace, and making sure those participants have the financial stability to engage in that market and to participate in that market, it ultimately leads to a rising tide that lifts all boats, it brings more for everyone right?”

This same philosophy is also being passed down to Ward’s two young children, his 3-yearold son Mathis Layne and his 15-month-old daughter Aima Jayne. He believes that we are born into this world with an inherited obligation to do the best with everything we’ve been given, an obligation to make an impact. He states, “So, my kids are going to have the same kind of DNA when it comes to what they spend their limited time doing, they’re not going to spend their time riding easy waves in life or not contributing, they’re going to spend it creating impact and it shows in the way that we behave with them. With TV, my son is on Youtube most of the time watching science videos and, at two years old, he was asking for me to put on the “the Higgs Boson”, which is a reference to a quantum mechanics video on YouTube. And so, even at a young age we’ve just exposed him to the things that we want him to be thinking about and to care about and to do. Ward continues, “It’s my opinion that it’s just more nurture than nature. I mean nature’s like the calculator and nurture is like the inputs and so the inputs most certainly and in every way, influence the calculator.”

If you’d like to learn more about Simfoni Capital Management you can visit their Facebook Page @Simfoni Capital or connect with Tez Ward at admin@simfonicapital.com or visit their website at: https://simfonicapital.com/.

Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 9

Health & Wellness News

Heart to Heart: February is American Heart Awareness Month

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ebruary is known as the month of love and all things Heart related. We celebrate Valentine’s Day with hearts, red roses or cards. It’s a very loving time of the year. It can also be your motivation for all things heart related as far as YOUR health.

February is “American Heart Awareness Month,” where Heart Disease, Strokes and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and heart health is emphasized. These diseases are the leading cause of death for men and women and kills nearly 647,000 Americans each year.

Heart Disease is also the #1 killer among women. February 7th is the “Go for Red Women” campaign. A national movement set aside to bring awareness to end heart disease and strokes in women. Show your support by wearing Red on that day.

CAD is the hardening of the blood vessels that supply your heart blood, oxygen and nutrients that become damaged and diseased.

The risk of getting these diseases is greater in the African American community, where the life expectancy is shorter than whites according to the American Heart Association. African American adults are 40% more likely to have High Blood Pressure, while some form of CAD results in 23.5 % of preventable deaths.

Those are very alarming statistics. Awareness is the key. We can no longer put our heads in the sand and pretend that symptoms like: shortness of breath, chest pain, numbness, weakness, coldness in the legs or arms, pain in neck, throat, upper stomach or back it

will go away on its own, because they won’t.

There are many risk factors that contribute to Heart Disease: smoking, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and a sedentary lifestyle.

African Americans are more than likely to be at risk with 2 or more of these risk factors.

Sometimes genetically predisposed factors are present that can lead to CAD. There are many way to prevent the likelihood of developing these illnesses and decrease their effects.

Understanding the risks can help beat the odds and early education is key.

Lifestyle factors are causing these diseases to manifest at an alarming rate by age 30.

Things like poor eating habits, no physical activity, stress and not getting regular checkups.

Many times by the time the effects are present the disease is out of control.

The disparities is very prevalent in lower income households because many are unable to afford and prioritize preventative care, according to Reuters, October 2017. Even at that, some people just will not take care of themselves until it’s at a crisis point. This should break your heart when you see these statistics in the African American community. It’s time to not be a statistic and do something NOW. Heart Disease can be turned around by: 1. Stop smoking 2. Eating a healthy diet, cutting down on red meat, sugar, and processed foods 3. Thirty minutes a day of physical activity 4. Maintain healthy weight 5. Getting regular check-ups Come out and get a Free Blood Pressure Screening. Saturday February 22, 2020, 9:30 am at New Hope International Ministries. 901 N. Prospect Ave, Springfield MO 65802.where the Pastor is Lamarr Jamerson, Sr. Your Heart matters and your health matters. Keep your Heart Beating, Love your Heart. From my Heart to your Heart.

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by Melesha Bailey, Unite Writer

For more information please visit my website www. love4lifewellness or my Facebook page Melesha’s Love 4 Life Wellness for my blogs, recipes and coaching tips.

Sensory Friendly Events in Springfield, MO There are several places in Springfield, MO that offer sensory-friendly events, below is a list of some of the on-going events found in the 417 area. For a more comprehensive list, please join the @M.O.C.H.A. (Mothers of Children Who Have Autism) group on Facebook.

Build-A-Bear The first Tuesday of the Month for the First Hour of the Day, Build A Bear will have their stores play little to no music, have dimmer lighting, and they offer a step-by-step informational guide that allows parents/guardians to plan their Workshop experience in advance on their website, all ages and siblings are welcome to attend the event.

Incredible Buddies Incredible Pizza on Campbell holds a sensory-friendly event on the first Saturday of every month called Incredible Buddies.

During the event they fine-tune their game room to be sensory-friendly by turning off flashing game lights, Sensory Sensitive Sundays at Chuck E. Cheese Chuck E. Cheese offers a sensory-friendly experience on the first Sunday of every month by opening their store two hours before their normal opening time. Their events include a trained and caring staff that works to ensure each guest has a fun-filled visit.

Itty Bitty City During the sensory-friendly sessions at Itty Bitty City staff turn down lights and limit extra sounds. There are also several other modifications to reduce sensory input that they can offer: less crowded environment, designed quiet space, social stories are available online, a sensory map so you can plan your visit, PEC cards are available to download specific to Itty Bitty City, and extra visual signage (such as a stop sign that shows to wait for an adult before entering this area) can be added to accommodate children that come to their location. For event times and pricing, please visit their website at www.ittybitty.city.

The History of Black History Month

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he Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

As a Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson, like W. E. B. Du Bois before him, believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice. His hopes to raise awareness of African American’s contributions to civilization was realized when he and the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925. The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The response was overwhelming: Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded materials to instruct their pupils; and progressive whites, not simply white scholars and philanthropists, stepped forward to endorse the effort.

By the time of Woodson’s death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and substantial progress had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration. At mid–century, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week. The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history, and the Civil Rights movement focused Americans of all color on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture.

The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first African American History Month. By this time, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of Black history in the drama of the American story.

Since then each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations. And the association—now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)—continues to promote the study of Black history all year.

Carter G. Woodson

Minorities In Business: Call For 2020 Heritage Awards Nominees Minorities In Business, has opened nominations for the 2020 MIB Heritage Awards, which recognizes outstanding individuals in business for their achievements and contributions to our community. The 10th Annual Minorities In Business Heritage Awards Ceremony will take place on April 9, 2020 at the Doubletree Hotel.

This year, Minorities In Business is recognizing women who have worked their way to the top of their industries.

We are pointing the spotlight on strong candidates who are leading the way in their fields, running boardrooms or giving back in big ways. Please take a few minutes to nominate worthy individuals so that they may be publicly acknowledged.

Nominations for awards in the following categories will be accepted through March 16, 2020.

The Small Business of the Year Award, honoring an individual or business for proven success and leadership through community volunteerism and demonstrated customer satisfaction and engagement.

Nominees for the Small Business of the Year Award will be evaluated on these criteria: Business must be a viable for-profit or non profit small business with proven success Nominee must have been in business for at least three years.

• Nominee must maintain a responsible and rewarding workplace environment.

• Demonstrated leadership through community volunteerism and contributions or in-kind services.

• Demonstrated customer satisfaction and engagement.

Nominees for the Young Entrepreneur Award will be evaluated on these criteria: • Must be under the age of 40 years old • Business must be a viable for-profit small business with proven success in the chosen field.

• Nominee must have been in business for at least two years.

• Nominee must maintain a responsible and rewarding workplace environment.

• Demonstrated leadership through community volunteerism and contributions or in-kind services.

• Demonstrated customer satisfaction and engagement.

Letters of nomination should be submitted by March 6th 2020 to Felicia Morgan by email to fmorgan@arvest. com or by mail to Minorities In Business, P. O. Box 1368, Springfield, MO., 65801.

About Minorities In Business:

Their Mission: Promoting economic development and business opportunities through advocacy, networking and capacity building for women and minority owned businesses and entrepreneurs.

Capacity Building: Offering members technical assistance and a variety of business and wealth building educational opportunities in collaboration with our local and regional business development resource partners.

Advocacy: Advocating for minority owned businesses through ongoing conversations and alliance with local public entities, elected officials and corporate members.

Networking: Providing networking opportunities through monthly Networking Events, Business Development Workshops, Panel Discussions as well as our Annual Heritage Awards Banquet. Join our email list for monthly updates.

Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 11

Do You Know Springfield has a Free Accredited Adult High School?

by Francine Pratt, Unite Contributing Writer

Most people know about the GED® as a test of high school equivalency that is no longer offered in Missouri. Missouri residents can take the HISET® exam for high school equivalency.

However, did you there is another accredited option in Springfield for adults 21 and older to earn a high school diploma? MERS Goodwill Excel Center has a High School Diploma Program that is accredited and free!

The Goodwill Excel Center is located on Glenstone Avenue in Springfield and they have been operational for about a year with a commitment to success. December 2019, they graduated 37 students (with some students over 70 years of age) with nine of those students now attending Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) and one student attending Missouri State University (MSU). A total of 50 students have graduated with 12 students continuing their education in college, 10 earning industry-specific certificates and 10 students received wage increases. The Excel Center has approximately 200+ students and has the capacity to serve about 300 students.

The Excel Center is designed with five terms in a year with eight weeks for each course. They offer flexible class schedules and the classes are tailored for adult learners.

All instructors are certified and many of the instructors were former teachers. Each class is 1.5 hours and every eight weeks new classes start with an average class size of 24 to 30 students. Some classes are designed as dual credit coursework with OTC with no classes on Friday. Each student is assigned a “Life Coach” that serves as a school counselor and is a trained social worker to help students with life

issues and barriers that can impact completion.

To address some of the barriers, the Excel Center provides free on-campus childcare during the time that classes are in session, which is currently 8:40 A.M. through 8:15 P.M. Classes are designed for adults who need to work during the day and students can attend part time or full time. Graduates are finding better jobs with an accredited high school diploma.

Students receive assistance with resumes, they participate in mock interviews and they earn industry-recognized certifications with preparation for furthering their education through college.

The Excel Center provides a great opportunity to obtain a high school diploma, which can prepare an adult student for a pathway to postsecondary educational attainment – additional education beyond high school. For more information, contact the Excel Center at 417862-5005 or visit their website at www.mersgoodwill.org. With a focus on postsecondary educational attainment, Springfield can meet our community goal to increase postsecondary

attainment in Greene County to 60% by 2025.

For resources and services to help with educational aspirations and other needs, please visit the Prosper Springfield website: www.prosperspringfield.org.

Prosper Springfield is a collective impact initiative focused on a shared community vision to improve economic mobility in the Springfield community. The Prosper Springfield mission is to build community relationships and align community resources to create pathways that help move people to prosperity. The column runs every other Thursday. Today’s column was written by Prosper Springfield Director, Francine Pratt.

For more information about Prosper Springfield, contact Francine Pratt at (417)888-2020.

Francine Pratt

How Nursing Home Planning Can Protect Your Assets

By Sativa Boatman-Sloan, Attorney at Law It’s a difficult subject to consider, but are you prepared if you or a loved one must be admitted to a nursing home? Of course, we all want to be able to live out our days in our home. However, the reality is that most will be faced with the difficult decision of admitting a loved one to a nursing home, and few are prepared. With a little bit of planning and education, you’ll be in a better position of protecting your assets.

Did you know, you don’t have to spend your life savings when facing the possibility of going into a nursing home? With the proper legal help, assets can often be preserved. Many people with medical issues consider gifting assets to children or creating specialized Asset Protection Trusts in advance of entering a nursing home.

Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet) is a program that provides assistance with paying for a portion of your nursing home bill. In attempting to qualify

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for this program, your assets must be structured in a way where they are not “counted against you.” There is a five year look-back period, which means that assets which have been gifted away or placed in a properly prepared Asset Protection Trust more than five years prior to requesting government funds to aid with nursing home care will not be counted.

This is a very complex area of law and no two people have the same set of circumstances, so be sure to contact an attorney with experience in Medicaid planning.

Law Office of Sativa Boatman-Sloan, LLC & 417 Elder Law (417) 887-4170

Sativa BoatmanSloan

Heirloom Seed Library Kicks off Season of Library Gardening Programs

by Kathleen O’Dell, Unite Contributing Writer

It’s time to prepare the soil and plan your spring and summer garden, and the Library can help!

The Heirloom Seed Library opening Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library and the Library Station has a huge selection of heirloom seeds for veggies, herbs and flowers that you can check out with your library card. While you’re there, pick up tips on how to plan and plant your garden, and how to harvest and save your heirloom seeds for next year. Visit thelibrary.org/seedlibrary to learn more.

Here are some upcoming programs to inspire you.

• Sunday, March 1, 1 p.m. at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E*Plex, Annual Lawn and Garden Show (admission required). Library staff will discuss the Heirloom Seed Library and present gardener Cheri Hamilton, who will discuss soil preparation. Call 862-0135.

• Sunday, March 15, 2 p.m. in the Library Station Frisco Room, learn about Raised Bed Gardening from Master Gardener Ken Bass and prepare for a bountiful harvest. Call 865-1340.

• Thursday, April 2, 6 p.m., Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library, for adults, Garden Label Craft. Use paint, buttons and other materials to make DIY labels to help keep your garden neat and looking good. Materials will be provided.

Registration starts March 16; call 883-1974.

• Friday, April 17, 6-7:30 p.m., Urban Roots Farm Tour, 823 W. State St. Manager Alyssa Hughes talks about running an urban farm and being a local food producer. Tour limited to 50. Registration starts April 6; call 862-0135 to register.

• Monday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. Library Station Frisco Room, learn tips for Container Gardening from a Master Gardener. Call 865-1340.

• Monday, April 27, 6-7:30 p.m., Hammons Field, 955 E. Trafficway. Lawn Care and Maintenance. The Springfield Cardinals grounds crew reveals how to achieve that award-win-

ning look at your own home field. Registration starts April 13; call 862-0135 to register.

Saturday, May 23, 1-3 p.m., Schweitzer Brent-

wood Branch Library community room, Neighborhood Plant Swap. Thin your perennials and add some variety to your landscaping.

Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 13

You’re pulled over by the police, now what?

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by Jasmine Bailey, Unite Contributing Writer

ou’re pulled over by the police, now what?

At the Springfield Police Department, we recognize that being pulled over by law enforcement can be stressful and even scary for some drivers. We also understand that many citizens are nervous and intimidated about interacting with law enforcement. Although traffic enforcement is a vital part of keeping roadways safe, we believe that by fostering greater communication and mutual understanding, we can work to lessen some of the anxiety involved in traffic stops. This article provides insight and tips that we hope will lead to more informed citizens and help drivers who find themselves being stopped by an officer feel safe and more comfortable during that encounter.

If you are pulled over by a Springfield Police Officer, please consider the following:

• Pull over on the right side of the roadway, out of traffic if possible.

• Expect emergency lights and possibly sirens.

• At night, a spotlight may be pointed in the driver’s rearview mirror, this is a tactic used for officer safety purposes.

• Be prepared to identify yourself and provide proof of insurance.

• It is up to the officer to decide which side of the vehicle they will approach, but we suggest rolling down both driver and passenger side windows to allow for better communication.

• At night, consider turning on the vehicle’s interior lights.

• From the officer’s viewpoint, all traffic stops are an unknown risk situation. From the moment they pull a driver over, officers are on guard for any potential threat to their

safety and the safety of others. Because of this, we ask that drivers keep their hands in plain sight (usually on the steering wheel is best) during interactions with officers and follow the instructions/direction of the officer during the entirety of the stop.

Other noteworthy considerations:

• Every traffic stop is different; details will vary based on the officer, environment, location and time of day, among other potential factors.

• You have the right to ask questions and be informed as to the reason for traffic stop.

• You have the right know the officer’s identification and badge number.

• You might not agree with the reasoning for the traffic stop and that is okay. However, the most effective time to argue the merits of the stop is after it has concluded - not during the stop (those avenues are detailed below).

If you received a ticket and would like to contest the violation, contact the appropriate court (municipal or circuit) after the traffic stop has concluded. You can find the court and contact information at the top of the citation.

If you feel a traffic stop was mishandled by the officer, you have options: During the traffic stop:

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• Tell the officer you request to speak with a supervisor

After the traffic stop

• Contact dispatch to request to speak to a police supervisor by calling (417) 862-7911 • File a complaint online by visiting Springfieldmo.gov/SPD. The form is located under the “How Do I” tab and “File a Complaint.” You can also follow this link: https://www.springfieldmo.gov/FormCenter/Police-4/File-a-Complaint-304 • File a complaint by phone by calling SPD Internal Affairs at (417) 864-1791.

• Appear in person at either SPD location, 321 E. Chestnut Expressway or 2620 W. Battlefield Road, and fill out a complaint packet.

We hope that you found this article informative. In our next article we will walk readers step-by-step through the internal investigation process that commences once a citizen complaint is filed.

We are always open to your questions and feedback regarding further topics. If there is a topic pertaining to SPD that you are interested in learning about in future UNITE publications, contact SPD Public Affairs Officer Jasmine Bailey at JNBailey@springfieldmo.gov.

Arts & Entertainment News

Movie Review: “Just Mercy”

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Well, if you have any sense of compassion for your fellow neighbor this movie will not only educate but also give you a gut punch. The incredible story of Bryan Stevenson who began the Equal Justice Initiative. The film chronicles the moving and incredible story of Walter Macmillan who was placed on death row for a murder he did not commit. Bryan Stephenson who at the time was a fledgling lawyer takes on the case and gets educated on the legal and criminal justice system in Alabama.

The film has an incredible cast in the persons of Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.

Each of these men are incredible actors on their own but they also display a great on screen chemistry that adds to the appeal of the film.

I also found the depiction of family members and community folk to be really well done and it really made you feel like you were in a “down home” setting and you cared about the main characters of the film.

There are really two stories in the film….the incredible and heart wrenching story of Mr.

Neal Ambrose-Smith (b. 1966) Art is a Safety Cushion 2011, color intaglio

Macmillan and the story of this social justice organization that has helped so many people across this nation.

The film probably will not still be showing in our city when this article comes out but I highly recommend that you try to find a way to see it and it would be great especially for our young scholars to see it and to learn so much about how justice has been implemented in our nation and what many who have been falsely accused and incarcerated have endured.

The Bryan Stevenson story is of course an inspirational one and to learn what this incredible organization has done is phenomenal.

Just to be clear this is not a documentary it is a typical film with a story and plot and it is interesting and well done.

You may find it interesting that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West bought out a number of theaters across the country so that people could go see the film for free because they were that impacted by the film. And no they didn’t buy out any in Springfield.

The film is actually an adaptation of the book written by Mr. Stevenson with the same

Salish/Kootenai

Museum Acquisition Fund

SAM 2011.15

“I don’t spend a lot of time trying to present myself as Native American or contemporary Native American in my art, even though that’s what I am. I think tradition is a living thing just like culture. In a way, I would call my work

title, Just Mercy and this is a fitting title.

Director Dustin Cretton has done a fitting job with the style and the way he has crafted the film. You get the point and you feel the power of the film without feeling like you are being preached to and you certainly get a social justice lesson. The release of the film which was a limited release just before Christmas and nationwide January 9 tied in nicely with the observance of Dr. King’s birthday and just before African-American Heritage month.

It is a very clear reminder that while a lot has been accomplished in this nation there is still a long way to go. We need mercy, justice and a lot of education so what happened to Mr. Macmillan will never happen again to anyone. And thank you Mr. Stevenson for the incredible work of the Equal Justice Initiative.

by Lyle Foster Unite Contributing Writer Owner of Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar, Q Enoteca Wine Bar

traditional because as a Native person it’s mine.

I made it. It must be. It can’t be anything else.

It’s a reflection of what’s going on around me.”

- Neal Ambrose-Smith Artist Neal Ambrose-Smith uses humor, pop culture imagery, tribal motifs, and witty symbolism to illustrate problems inherent to contemporary Native Americans and modern society as a whole. He seeks to confront perceptions and break down barriers to reveal the connectivity of all things.

Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 15

Simple Steps for Starting Your Business Free Series Begins March 5

by Kathleen O’Dell, Unite Contributing Writer

Is starting a business right for you? Attend this comprehensive workshop series to help you test your new business idea and get

started on the right path.

These five, two-hour sessions will help you understand the basics of assessing a business idea, marketing your product or service, business financials and how they work, and how to

fund and finance your business. Free, one-onone mentoring will also be available. The series is sponsored by Southwest Missouri SCORE. All programs are from 6-8 p.m. in Library Center meeting room A. To register call 8831974.

• Thursday, March 5 Session 1 - Start-up Basics. This introductory workshop focuses on the basics of testing your business idea and identifying the key factors that influence start-up success, and provides you with an overview of the skills and tools you need when deciding to start a business. You’ll learn about the advantages and disadvantages of owning a business, the most profitable form for your business and the fundamentals of formation, organization, marketing, cash flow and funding sources. Registration starts February 19.

• Thursday, March 12 Session 2 - Business Concept. Get step-by-step guidance in researching your idea, your market and your competition. You will learn to identify your target markets, describe your products and services and collect key competitive information to support your feasibility plan. Registration starts February 26.

• Thursday, March 19 Session 3 - Marketing Plan. This workshop will introduce you to marketing communication methods and tools to maximize your customer reach. Topics include pricing strategies, positioning and features and benefits of differing marketing strategies.

You’ll learn to outline your marketing strategy, test your marketing message, choose the right sales channel and exercise your marketing strategy. Registration starts March 5.

• Thursday, March 26 Session 4 - Financial Projections. This session includes hands-on exercises to help you better understand financial concepts, how to use the SCORE financial model to forecast sales revenue and build solid pro-forma financial forecasts. Topics include sales and prices, financial risks and rewards, true start-up costs, ongoing operating expenses, setting benchmarks for tracking progress and organizing your financial information.

Registration starts March 12.