METHOD September / October 2014
the wedding studio . Downtown Pensacola . 130 S Palafox Place
www.supposeyorals.com
WEDDINGS . EVENTS . LOVE www.saragillianne.com
ETHEREAL BEAUTY from
Into theWoods
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METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
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Join Us Online
Yo u r M e t h o d . c o F a c e b o o k /YourMethod I n s t a g r a m @YourMethod Tw i t t e r @PcolaMethod
ON THE COVER INTO THE WOODS P.9 MODEL RAVIN ANDERSON MELISSA WILSON PHOTOTGRAPHY STYLED BY ANNA MOHRBACHER FLORALS BY SUPPOSEY
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CONTRIBUTORS WE LOVE
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INTO THE WOODS: A PHOTO SERIES BY MELISSA WILSON FEAT. SUPPOSEY & ANNA MOHRBACHER
P.27 EIMAJ & BLAKE JONES PRESENT: MIDNIGHT MAIDENS P.32
FALL FASHION TRANSITION BY TAYLOR MCLEMORE
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MOVING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE BY RYAN SHEPHARD
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: REBECCA TAYLOR
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MODEL LIMELIGHT FEAT. KATIE LEDBETTER
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THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...
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HOMELESS ORDINANCE REVIEW: VIEWS FROM THE STREET BY CHRISTIAN GRAVES
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HALLOWEEN ARTISTRY BY MAC AT CORDOVA MALL
METHOD Editor-in-Chief
Ashley Simmons
Creative Director
Jesus Nieves
Creative Assistant Anna Mohrbacher Managing Editor
Gina Chivers
Promotions/Marketing Designer Erin Cuneo
for behind the scenes footage Follow Method on Instagram
@YOURMETHOD
Fashion Editor Sports Editor Staff Writer
Taylor McLemore Brooke Adams Christian Graves
WANT TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM? We are always searching for creative and unique individuals to join our team. We are currently interviewing graphic designers, writers and interns in all areas. TO APPLY, PLEASE SEND A COVER LETTER, RESUME AND A PORTOLIO TO CONTACT@YOURMETHOD.CO
CONTRIBUTORS WE Studio One Pe n s a c o l a
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Supposey was created by Chloe Winchester, and is now a big part of the new Wedding Studio located in Downtown Pensacola. Supposey is a couture floral design house offering full service florals for events of all sizes. She teamed up with Melissa Wilson and Anna Mohrbacher to bring us an etherial editorial called “Into The Woods” for the September/October Issue. The florals she created took our concept to another level and we are thankful to have her working with Method. Check out the Wedding Studio Downtown where you will find Supposey and other artists with great talent.
Studio One Pensacola is conveniently located in historic downtown Pensacola, Florida at the intersection of Baylen and W. Intendencia. The owner Michael Smith has been a big contributor for Method Magazine helping us pull off some amazing editorials and offering space for Method meetings. Studio One Pensacola is a fully equipped rental photography studio available to individuals who need a studio in the area. This is a great option at a affordable rate whether you are a beginner or a pro. Check out Studio One Pensacola to see everything it has to offer!
Eimaj Spa, Esthetics, & Hair Studio team Maxine Lyvers, Cathy Sheldon, and Lydia Nixon paired up with Blake Jones Photography to bring us our Halloween editorial for the September/October issue. Eimaj has been in the spotlight winning Best of the Bay ‘14: Best Salon and Best Spa, along with winning titles in the past for Best of the Coast. These stylists have been featured in local publications such as Coastal Lifestyle and Gulf Coast Bride Magazines. Their unique talent and concepts have them constantly being recognized and nominated for a variety of titles. Method is lucky to have their contribution and hope to work with Eimaj again!
www.supposeyflorals.com
www.studioonepensacola.com
www.facebook.com/EimajSpaSalon
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METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
MELISSA WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY MODEL RAVIN ANDERSON STYLED BY ANNA MOHRBACHER FLORALS BY SUPPOSEY
The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
850.434.5409 404 E. Wright St • Pensacola, FL 32501
volumeonesalon.com volumeonesalon
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METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
EI M A J A ND B L A KE J ONE S P RE S E N T
MidnightMaidens
“You seem to think this thing has all the devils of hell in it. Why not burn it and be done with it?� -Frank Whemple, The Mummy (1932)
“Put it back. Bury it where you found it. You have read the curse. You dare defy it?” -Doctor Muller, The Mummy (1932)
“While your gr dead ti pupil, w to the s my cre grew th from s - Dr. P Bride o
“It’s a perfect night for mystery and horror. The air itself is filled with monsters.” - Mary Shelley, Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
e you were digging in raves, piecing together issues, I, my dear went for my material source of life. I grew eatures, like cultures, hem as nature does, seed.� Pretorius, of Frankenstein (1935)
FALL
Fashion TRANSITION WRITTEN BY
TAY L O R MCLEMORE
FASHION MODELED BY
TAYLOR MCLEMORE & NATHAN DEAKLE
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METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
“Ahhhh,” it’s that time of the year again; when you wake up in the morning, the weather is cool and crisp, and the only thing running through your mind is, “Why did I shave my legs this morning, it was a total waste”. While standing in front of your closet for twenty-plus minutes debating what to wear, you pick out the perfect coat you’ve been dying to wear since you bought it on sale at the start of spring. Throw on your favorite scarf to add just a little pop of color, and you’re out the door in your perfectly broken in riding boots. Fast forward to lunch time; you’re sweltering in your so called lightweight cardigan, and you would give anything to still have those sandals you finally cleaned out of the back seat of your car to slip into right about now. Yes, ladies and gentleman, The South’s bipolar autumn is settling upon us. It’s an exciting time of year; we start to get a break from the dreaded sweltering heat of the summer, and its best-friend-and-hair’s-worst-enemy, humidity. Before you almost die of a heat stroke by noon, let’s back up to when you were standing in front of your closet this morning and pick out an outfit that will keep you warm half of the day, and keep you cool after lunch. The key to winning Mother Nature’s fashion game is layering. As we anxiously await the crisp cool air that brings not only riding boots out to play, but also Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte, we can at least dabble in fall fashion. I’m the type of person who, as long as my arms are covered when it’s cool outside, I can be completely comfortable wearing a pair of shorts or a skirt, or even a dress with a long cardigan. We all know the weather on the Gulf Coast is slightly unpredictable this time of year. You really never know what to expect day to day or hour to hour, so being able to slip off a jacket when it heats up is a lot easier than walking around uncomfortable in a full fall ensemble. I love being able to show off my bare legs but still wear cute sweaters and jackets; it’s the best of both worlds. Transitioning pieces already have and making them work is a breeze, especially since pastels and neon colors can stay with you as you transition into fall. Whether it’s in a fun top, brightly colored pants, or even in your accessories. Mixing patterns and prints is one of my favorite trends to play with. It spices up your look and allows you to have fun with your wardrobe. Matching these days is literally not matching. Leopard is a neutral in my book, so I see no problem pairing a leopard flat
with a patterned top or pant. Who says you have to only wear pastels during spring and summer? Mix in a plaid flannel with a fun pastel bottom and it completely transforms each piece; the lumberjack just got sassy! The vest is my everything for fall. In the words of Rachel Zoe, “I die for a good vest”. A vest is one of the many reasons I love fall (well, that and the fact that my hair won’t frizz the second I walk out the door). I love the excursion vests from J.Crew; they’re lightweight enough to wear in the fall and not get too hot - and they’re adorable. Leggings: the perfect pants that aren’t pants. I basically live in leggings when fall rolls around. I know leggings are sold in basically every store, but I personally love Target’s leggings. They’re not super thick and they’re also not super shear like some brands make. They’re perfect to me and they’re super cheap, which makes it hard for me not to buy multiple pairs every time I’m in Target. The legging has fixed the on going problem that skinny jeans, jeans, and all pants alike have been creating for years; the awkward scrunch and bunch when you try to stuff them into a pair of boots. Leggings completely eliminate this problem and slip down into the boot with ease. I will say that leggings should come with a warning label stating that they should not be worn with crop tops or skin tight tops. To each their own, but the look you’re creating is not a cute or flattering look. In my personal opinion, I believe that leggings should be worn with loose tops or oversized shirts & sweaters. Don’t worry about looking frumpy, as long as your top isn’t ten times too big for you, you’ll look chic and casual. On the flip side, you can totally dress up a pair of leggings by wearing them with a dressier top and/or wearing a blazer and pairing them with a dressier flat, boot or heel. If leggings aren’t already your best friend, they will be. What can you expect this fall? It’s fall, so naturally there is going to be lots of dark, warm colors, and lots of heavy coats and layering, oversized sweaters. Of course the classics such as the safari jacket, pea coat, and chunky cable knits. The 60’s are back and they brought with them velvet, wide leg trousers, robe tied coats, and long sweaters (cinched or at the waste like a bathrobe). Fur, which is typically a staple in some wardrobes (preferably faux fur), but particularly popular this fall is shearling. Accessorize your look with bold statement necklaces and chunky knit scarfs. I’m a petite girl but I love oversized everything, the bigger the better.
“LEOPARD
IS A NEUTRAL IN MY BOOK...”
“I DIE FOR A
GOOD VEST.”
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Camera Details: Canon 5DMKIII, 300 F/2.8L Model: Haylee Williams Photography by Ryan Shephard www.ryanshephardphotography.com
METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
Moving Outside Your Comfort Zone By Ryan Shephard
Hello, Pensacola! We hope all of you photographers are having an amazing wedding and portrait season! It has been a great summer so far. It’s amazing to see all the children heading back into school - I can’t believe how cute all these kiddos are. Every morning, I wake up and look at my news feed and see smiling faces heading off to learn all about the world. We are so stoked that Declan starts soon. He’s an amazing little boy and we couldn’t be prouder! Do you remember your first day of school? I remember vividly, actually. It was in Fillmore, California back in 1984. I remember how uncomfortable I was, but I was very excited. I had my backpack on and a “He-Man: Masters of the Universe” lunch box. I was ready to take on the world, but I was scared! Little did I know that I would meet a good friend named Nicole, and she was just what I needed to motivate me to move out of my shell. Until recently, I had never photographed models in a capacity all my own. I always did it at a workshop or with a past bride who wanted some gorgeous bridals in a private setting. I honestly had no clue how to pose a professional model, or how to open them up so they could see my vision for what I wanted to accomplish. What I learned early was to communicate with my clients prior to the shoot - and setting up everything in advance! Clothing, hair styles, colors, MUA’s, locations, etc. If you have a proper meeting and consultation with your clients prior, the shoot will go MUCH smoother, and you’ll have the confidence inside to schedule another!
Back in July, I photographed an amazing model named Haylee. She is a perfect example of how I pictured my first shoot going. For being so young, she is extremely talented and has an incredibly professional attitude. What she taught me is that I needed to immerse myself in a setting in order to learn from the models. As photographers, we crave familiar settings and we want to shoot with familiar subjects. If we force ourselves outside the realm of familiar, it will allow you more opportunity to communicate with your clients and more naturally capture the images you need. Plan, plan, plan. (Thanks Haylee, you’re a rock star and we are so excited to watch you grow!) In closing, I wanted to give you some lessons learned from my shoot. All day long I want to shoot with two specific lenses, my Canon 300 F/2.8L and my 85 F/1.8. They are unbelievable lenses for portraits; the color, contrast, and clarity of the lenses listed makes for amazing images. I ended up sticking with my 300 for the day because it challenged me to get the correct angle and distance in order to fill my frame with my desired image. Stick with one lens for the day and see how well you can turn an otherwise ordinary image into something really appealing. Also, please interact with your subject and communicate exactly what you want. It takes away from that awkward pause in-between looks. We hope you enjoyed this article and we look forward to seeing your images in the future! If you would like to e-mail me a specific question, please contact me at ryan@rspweddings.com and we will publish it here! Take care and have an awesome rest of the summer!
Ryan Shephard Photography
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Photography by: Jessi Field Photography Models (from left to right): Chonchon Kashung, Michelle St. Louis, Kimber Lee Hair/Makeup/Concept: Rebbeca Taylor, Vivid Artistic Hair Design Florals by: Supposey
METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
ARTIST
SP OT L IG H T:
REBECCA
TAY L O R Inter view by Christian Graves
Photography by: Roon Child Model: Mina Doll Hair: Rebbeca Taylor, Vivid Artistic Hair Design
PSC GRADUATE EXCELS IN INDUSTRY, TURNING HEADS WITH CREATIVE COLORS. Method had a chance to sit down with Best of the Coast 2014 finalist and 2013 winner local stylist Rebecca Taylor, who has also been making quite a name for herself in the hair styling world for her innovative and striking use of color. She is most recognized for her signature chameleon color technique, which when asked how she would describe it she replied, “Its a color melting technique, the reason I call it chameleon is because whatever which way you move the hair or the wind blows, it looks sort of like a water color blend. My whole thing with the vivid colors, which I started right out of school because no one really offered them and it’s hard to go to a place and have them even in stock for them to do it, but I wanted to take fashion colors, which were historically ‘scene’ or ‘punky’ or whatever, and elevate them and make them be beautiful and wearable by more people. It can be done beautifully and that’s what the chameleon color is, it’s like a beautiful seamless blend of the fashion colors.”
MOVIN’ ON UP
After taking Cosmetology classes at Pensacola State College nine years ago and graduating early with a 4.0 GPA, Taylor immediately began working at Regis Salon in Cordova mall. Regis Salon is where she started using the bright colors that would later become the staple of her portfolio, although not exactly using Regis materials. “When I first worked at Regis, very first job, they didn’t offer funky colors, AT ALL!” she smiled, thinking back on the moment, “So I had to run down to Hot Topic if someone wanted it and buy ‘punky’ color or ‘rage,’ and this was every single time because at this point in my career I didn’t have a bunch of start up money to buy inventory, so the people down there knew me and would squirrel away some purple or pink or what have you and then I’d run back to Regis. Then if I ran out midway through the application I would have to run back to Hot Topic, that’s how that started.” Before opening Vivid Artistic Hair Design in Pensacola in 2013, Rebecca worked for industry leaders such as JOICO, ISO, and currently Pravana. While still employed at Regis, Rebecca responded to an ad for a national educator position at JOICO, where she got the job and spent the next six years with the company. During her time with JOICO Rebecca traveled to popular venues and cities across the country, gaining experience and education in not just commercial looks but editorial and Avante-Garde styles as well. Rebecca has worked in big cities like Los Angles and New York with famous stylists such as Beth Minardi, Damian Carney, Robert Cromeans, Sue Pemberton, and many others. Rebecca was immediately attracted to Sue Pemberton early on in her career and described her as her mentor of sorts. “She has won the NAHA (North American Hairstyling Awards) award twice, which is like the Grammy’s for hair, and she’s
amazing. So when I first got into the business I would look at the trade magazines—like if your into music, Hit Parader or Rolling Stones, that’s what it is for me as a hairdresser--and they’re your idols you look to them for inspiration, you want to be like them when you grow up. So she was the only person at the time I saw doing these beautiful crazy colors and they were done in such a beautiful way as to not look punk or scene, they were shiny and dimensional, and I just thought she was awesome!” Due to personal reasons with the very “our way or the highway” corporate type attitude of her employers at JOICO, as well as the fact that they kept telling her to lie and say she was using JOICO products when she was really using other brands, Rebecca left the company last year and was approached by Pravana, the industry king of color. “So I resigned with the company [JOICO] last year and was approached by Pravana because they saw my work on Pintrest and said, ‘Your amazing we want you to work with us, we want you to do the marketing campaigns, we want you to educate, we want you to somehow be affiliated with us.’ “Now I’ve sort of reached this point in my career where I can kind of call my own shots and not just get what I get. I’m telling them what I want to do and they’re kind of meeting me halfway on my terms and its pretty exciting, I’m like daily talking to the president and CEO of the company and he’s sending me free product to do big ole YouTube promotions and its amazing, I’m from Pensacola and I went to PJC and its just really amazing where its going with this,” she told me. When I asked what the one thing she learned at PSC was the most helpful in her career thus far, it surprised me when she said a people skills course. She explained that as a stylist its really mostly about talking to people and only like 20% technical skill and said that, “I think that’s what I cultivated at the school, my relationship with dealing with clients and talking to people, my consultation skills. Once that was on point it made it a lot easier to do the technical part because it was just easier speaking to people.”
OPENING UP SHOP
Feeling like it was time to turn the page to the next chapter of her life and career, Rebecca opened her own salon, Vivid Artistic Hair Design, in 2013 after living in Pensacola all of her life. With a team of nationally recognized stylists behind her and after winning Best of the Coast in 2013 when she was open for only a couple months, it is no surprise that her success in the industry has caused the small turquoise building on 9th Avenue to garner so much recognition. Rebecca praises her staff, and gives them credit for all of the success. The members of her team include Salon Coordinator Jessica Bosley, master stylist Jason McDonald, and Rebecca’s former apprentice turned fiancé Keith Landgraff, and she wanted to introduce them.
“The people you work around have everything to do with your success and now that I’ve found people that are freaking awesome its like... next level as far as how well everyone will do,” she explained.
Clockwise: Rebecca Taylor in front of Vivid Artistic Hair Design, Jessica Bosley (left) with Rebecca Taylor (right), and final image is of the sitting area inside the salon. Photographs taken by Christian Graves
“The people you work around have everything to do with your success and now that I’ve found people that are freaking awesome its like...next level as far as how well everyone will do,” she explained.
KEITH LANDGRAFF
“Kieth was in construction for 11 years and now he is this epic hair stylist/colorist that apprenticed with me for two years while I supported him through school, we’ve been together for 5 and a half years but I’ve done his hair for 8 because he was my client first and now to see him be so advance and so amazing in just under a year that could have backfired in an enormous way.”
JESSICA BOSLEY
“Jessica was a former client, shes come from starting to think about make up to becoming one of if not the best make-up artist in town, she also has her own jewelry line and won Best of the Coast last year. She’s in hair school now, so when I needed an assistant I put it out there and she responded. I go with my gut with everything.”
JASON MCDONALD
“Jason just started and we use to work together years ago at Regis and its funny how things come full circle, and he is the last missing puzzle because we have three stations here...so anyway I first approached Jason and reached out to him and I’m happy he was interested because that was a scary move, he wasn’t expecting it but he’s excelling, he’s just kicking butt, also very positive.” R ebecca believes that giving back to the community is important as well and tries to organize one major charity event a year, which she has done so the past two since she opened. Vivid just recently finished hosting a flood-relief “cut-a-thon” where the top stylists in the area got together to give a dramatically discounted hair cut for a $20 donation and wound up raising $500 which went to the victims of the flooding in Pensacola. Although the turn out has been sub-par for the last two events due to poor weather and unfortunate timing, that does not deter Rebecca who has a candid attitude toward the bad luck and just wishes they could do more to help. “First time it was the day before school got back and it was pouring down rain, the second time there was like 16 people that came to it, I tried throwing something having to do with cutting hair into it because what do you know, we’re a salon,” she said sarcastically, “but we’re just going to have to get more creative with our charity ideas next time.”
BIGGER AND BETTER
When I asked her what her plans for the future were, if she still planned on doing Avante-Garde work or pursuing the more commercial side of things after settling down in Pensacola, she wasted no time correcting me and filling me in on some of the finer points on how the business works and her thoughts on high fashion hairstyling.
“There is a lot of things that keep me here like my family, being scared of the unknown, but I don’t want to say I’m settled that’s for sure, I have a tentative three-year plan to move to L.A. As far as Avante-Garde and editorial work, you can do it anywhere. I can do the collections I want to do and the creations I want to do while working with local photographers, models, make-up artists, everything and submit that work to national magazines, international magazines--you can do whatever you want to do locally and it can be stepping stones to have someone fly you out to go to New York or wherever. “Its just one facet of what I do and its fun, I get to play and do whatever the heck it is I want to do and I love it. Keeps me sane, maybe...well sane-ish,” she finished. Although Pensacola might not seem like the best place for high fashion and runway inspired hairstyling at first, Rebecca told me that she hasn’t had a problem in the area and was getting a ton of positive feedback, leading her to believe its not a city issue, but a lack of professionals who are willing to learn or apply the style. She went on to explain that she created a Facebook group where she displays examples of her work that has grown to around 11,000 licensed professionals in the hairstyling industry, and was surprised about how many replies she received from stylists in much larger cities who are jealous of the clients she is finding to allow her to try her more creative styles. “One thing I will say and its not a Pensacola or a city thing, just nationally, is that jobs, military, schools, they don’t allow funky colors in the dress code. I think we are pretty darn advanced when it comes to color because we offer it and people want it; I do a fun color at least once every day sometimes all day long, yesterday I had three,” she said. One project that she is currently working on and was excited to tell me about is a YouTube collaboration with her friend Guy Tang to promote Pravana’s highly anticipated new line of colors, the “Chromasilk NEON Collection.” Tang is a well-known hair stylist based out of Los Angeles who is extremely popular on YouTube with over 120,000 subscribers and millions of views. Rebecca told me that Pravana is sending Tang a “boat load” of colors from their new ‘NEON’ collection to try out before anyone else, and that they will each work on their own model, to showcase their individual style. She went on to divulge the fact that the models themselves were also both makeup artists from Los Angeles with a ton of followers on social media and that altogether the people involved in the video had millions of fans, which is sure to accumulate a ridiculous amount of attention and shine a bit of a spotlight on our region of the Gulf Coast. In addition to promoting the new line of Pravana colors, Rebecca and Tang had a deeper meaning in mind as well, one that they hope people already in and newcomers into the business take into account. “Our point is that we’re two presences in the industry and you don’t have to be vicious with one another, we can be friends and we can collaborate and we don’t have to be divas.” “So he and I are going to do a video together featuring these new neon Pravana colors that they sent to us for free, before anybody else, and we’re going to put it out there and its going to be who knows what...its going to be pretty insane when people see this video,” she said excitedly.
Above Image: Photographed by Melissa Wilson Photography for May/June 2014 Issue of Method Magazine Hair and Makeup done by Vivid Artistic Hair Design Models: Chonchon Kashung, Diana Poston, Erin Cuneo
WHAT’S YOUR METHOD? YOURMETHOD.CO #YOURMETHOD /YOURMETHOD @YOURMETHOD @PCOLAMETHOD
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METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
Model Limelight featuring K AT I E L E D B E T T E R Photography: Natalie Faith Photogtaphy MUA: Sam Shields
Agency: Click Atlanta -Where are you from originally? I was originally from Memphis, Tennessee, but moved to Pensacola at a young age. -Favorite Model? Designer? I don’t necessarily have a favorite Model or Designer, but I do appreciate everyone involved in the fashion industry. My favorite type of photoshoot/runway is High Fashion/Editorial. - We were excited to see that you signed with Click Models in Atlanta, GA. As a model, what would be your dream job to book? I would love to book a national campaign. It would be my dream if I were the face of a designer. -Aside from modeling, what else are you passionate about? I enjoy all arts! I especially enjoy mixed media, photography, and Graphic design. Currently, I’m working on a collaborative project with Natalie Allgyer called Little Dead Things. The project can be found at etsy.com/shop/lildeadthings. -What advice can you give to someone interested in modeling? There are million of people who register as model material, but only a few are actually made out for this type of job. Confidence, professionalism, and style are key qualities to have in order to succeed. -What is an obstacle you have faced in pursuing modeling? Before I could become serious about modeling, I had to lose a little weight. Over a year’s span, I lost fifty pounds through proper diet and exercise. I completely cut all fast food from my diet and started eating healthier meals.
SAM SHIELDS
CalliopeFilmsMUAFX@gmail.com (850)602-2617
N ATA L I E FA I T H P H OTO G R A P H Y Nallg yer@yahoo.com 850-619-5109
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METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
THANK
YOU
STUDIO ONE PENSACOLA & Michael Smith
FOR ALL
THAT YOU DO FOR US! FOR ALL OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL STUDIO NEEDS CONTACT:
Michael Smith (850) 712-0639 103 W. Intendencia St Pensacola, FL 32502
www.studioonepensacola.com
METHOD MAY/JUNE 2014
VIEW OUR
FIRST ISSUE BY VISITING
ISSUU.COM/YOURMETHOD 52
METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
These are a few of my favorite things....
Review and product photography by Ashley Simmons
BITE BEAUTY LINE & DEFINE LIP PRIMER Are you ready for those fall-chapped lips? I don’t think anyone is. Bite Beatuy Line & Define Lip Primer has become my all time favorite, mandatory product. I use this primer daily. If your looking for a product that will keep your lips smooth, your lipstick flawless, contains the perfect dose of mint to plump up your already gorgeous lips, and is all-natural and edible, be sure to check out Bite Beauty products.
BITEBEAUTY.COM
ANASTASIA DIPBROW POMADE IN AUBURN WITH ANASTASIA BRUSH #12 Anastasia Beverly Hills is a company created by Anastasia Soare. Anastasia and her company are known for their brow expertise. I personally have had bad experiences with brow products and I am now in fan girl heaven. I adore this product and the wonders it has worked on my eyebrows. With colder weather coming, and the desire for full, dark eyebrows upon us, I would recommend this and any other Anastasia product to anyone looking to show off their gorgeous eyebrows this Fall!
ANASTASIABEVERLYHILLS.COM
Homeless Ordinance Review: VIEWS FROM THE STREET Written & Photographed
BY CHRISTIAN GRAVES
They are the unseen minority in the city. Even the culturally acceptable term that is used to refer to the group of people is a stereotype which only succeeds in polarizing them from the rest of society. They are both young and old, families and individuals, veterans and students, and despite the diversity of the individuals, are all categorized and treated the same based solely on their financial status. They are the homeless population of Pensacola, and they feel as if the ordinances which were originally passed last year are clearly targeting people living on the streets.
Photograph of Mike Forstman at the corner of Government and Palafox Streets in Downtown Pensacola, FL.
Chris just recently became homeless a few months ago after going through a divorce and losing his job. Since then, he has been living out of his car in Wayside Park by the Pensacola Bay Bridge, a long time spot where the homeless congregate. “I’ve got two years of college under my belt, multiple tech certifications, I like to think I’m a highly intelligent person,” he stated as he glanced down and shook his head, his voice straining. “I never thought I would be homeless, just shows that you never know someone’s situation when they ask you for something.”
Chris Kantola and his dog Mouse sitting on a park bench in Downtown Pensacola, FL.
The policies that have been commonly referred to as “Anti-Homeless Ordinances” are highly controversial and, in my opinion, obviously discriminatory in nature. These ordinances have not been passed without backlash, coming under fire from the local community since they were originally put forward during the Occupy protests in 2011. They were recently bought back by the mayor last year. The public outcry over the issue attracted national media attention, no doubt contributing to the city’s decision to repeal the most controversial of the ordinances back in February dubbed the “Blanket Ban.” This issue has been covered extensively in the community, yet one thing that seemed to be missing from all of these articles and stories were the opinions from the homeless individuals in Pensacola actually being affected by these ordinances. This being the case, Method sent me out in search of people who would share their stories to give me a glimpse into what life was like on the streets of our city. However, before we hear from them, some background on the situation thus far is necessary; such as an explanation of the ordinances that were passed, the council’s efforts to reverse their decision, and a recent report commissioned by Quint Studer that focuses on the same issues as the Task Force.
DECREE OR DISCRIMINATION?
The first of four ordinances that the Pensacola City Council passed was to make the act of washing yourself and preparing food or drink in public restrooms illegal. This includes bathing; washing your hair/face; brushing your teeth; shaving; preparing Cup O’ Soup; mixing up instant coffee - any of which could potentially get you arrested inside the city limits. Jeff approached me as I was talking to another man about the ordinances and told me he was interested in sharing his opinion as well if it would be needed. According to Jeff, the problem with the ordinances, such as the one dealing with activities in public restroom, is that it solves nothing. “If there is nowhere else to go, then it is obviously just going to contribute to the problem and hurt the people they’re targeting. But if there is some other alternative put in place where you can perform those activities passed with the ordinances, then, okay, that would actually help.” The second ordinance focuses on the act of panhandling, which many people in the homeless population use to just make it through the day. The ordinance throws begging, panhandling and aggressive solicitation (three separate terms) into the same definition. The ordinance specified where these actions would not be allowed, and defined the act of “solicitation” in a large paragraph, which referred to it as any verbal request for a charitable donation that is directed toward a specific individual, but does not apply to “flying signs.” Jesus Rojas has been homeless in Pensacola for 3 months and came here from Tampa to start over but says he agrees with the “No Panhandling” ordinance, although there needs to be an alternative for the elderly if it is enforced. “I live on the street and I don’t panhandle, I think it’s a good law. Anything you need in Pensacola, you just need to work to get it,” he said. The third ordinance states that defecating, urinating, or otherwise relieving one’s self on public property is illegal, and was unanimously passed by the council without any real protest from either side. The fourth and final ordinance that was passed targeted camping on public property. However, instead of just referring to sleeping or pitching a tent in the park, had a very extensive footnote that remarkably resembled the blanket ban that was previously repealed, with the addition of a few more limitations. The ordinance defined camping as cooking over an open fire or stove outdoors; sleeping in, adjacent to, or covered by a sleeping bag, tarp, cardboard box, bed roll, or any other type of temporary structure on public or private property without the owner’s permission.
Nothing Lost Outreach, Pensacola, FL.
Jim stays in Satoshi Forest, the nine-acre patch of land purchased by local non-profit homeless outreach program Sean’s Outpost last year. He sat on the edge of his deck outside of his tent wearing jean shorts and a disinterested expression. “The first time around [with the blanket ban] was enough, they ought to just leave it alone. They’re making it illegal to be homeless,” he said.
Time to backtrack
After passing these ordinances, the council voted to suspend any resolutions or alterations to the bundle of controversy until an eleven-member Task Force on Improving Human Services had time to assess the homeless situation in the city, and suggest recommendation on how to better address the issue at hand and “tweak” the ordinances if needed. In addition to creating the Task Force, the city
decided to spend $3,000 plus travel expenses to bring in an outside consultant, Dr. Robert Marbut, to speak on the issue. Marbut held a homeless workshop open to the public early on in March, where he addressed the issues he had discovered so far. The main issue Marbut saw with Pensacola was the lack of a communication between the services offered in Pensacola and Escambia County, and believed that the creation of a centralized Master Case Management System (MCMS) was a necessary step toward helping the homeless get off of the streets for good. Because no two people are alike, very rarely are two people’s situations the exact same. This generalization is where a main problem arises with most programs and how the MCMS is advantageous. The potential user would meet with a case manager who would then be able to address that particular individual’s needs and could put them in contact with where they personally need to go.
However, many concerns were raised by citizens and council members alike when the council voted to enter the roughly $30,000 contract with the consultant in April. Although he has decades of experience working with the homeless, it has not been come without controversy or accusations, and it seems his efforts in Pensacola haven’t escaped their clutches either. Besides the financial expenditure, his Seven Guiding Principles of Transformation that he applies to every city has been one of the main concerns raised by the opposition to hiring the consultant. Basically, the way in which Dr. Marbut addresses the issue of homelessness is seen as a narrow approach that focuses on behavioral modification of both the homeless and what he refers to as their ‘enablers.’ Mike Kimbrel of Sean’s Outpost was highly critical of the hiring of Marbut, and went on record at the city council meeting in April when the council voted to extend his services through September, and spoke about the workshop Dr. Marbut had organized the month before. “If you did a search for him on YouTube, you could pretty much find that exact same presentation given multiple times to multiple cities and we could have just done a movie night here for free and seen his speech, and not had to pay him a dime,” Kimbrel stated. He continued to criticize the city’s use of taxpayer dollars on hiring Dr. Marbut, and pointed out the fact that the council’s plan already resembled that of Marbut’s - moving in the direction of centralizing the existing services - and that the thousands of dollars spent hiring the consultant could have been put toward connecting these agencies, and not given to an individual who would recommend the council pursue the same course of action. The council reconvened on June 20, 2014 to review the purpose of the Task Force, schedule future meetings, appoint a Chairman and Vice Chairman, and other particulars such as their plan of action and an overview of the current known number of homeless in the city. The Task Force’s report on their recommendations to changing the ordinances and improvement of human services are not due until October 15, and therefore were not discussed in the meeting. Although, a recent report conducted by Vice Chairman of the Task Force Father Nathan Monk, and commissioned by local philanthropist Quint Studer, focused on the same goals as the Task Force and could potentially mirror that of their final decision. That being the case, I asked many of the homeless individuals that I talked to their
opinions on Monk’s recommendations, and listened to their own ideas to come up with what I believe should be the city’s first step in addressing the issue of homelessness in the city.
First hand accounts
Monk’s recommendations In the report, dated June 20th 2014, Vice Chairman Monk listed many possible ideas on ways to improve the conditions of the homeless population. These included potential alternative funding options, such as organizations that both employ the homeless and offer needed services to the community as well as a legal campground similar to Satoshi Forest, the nine-acre sanctuary developed by local non-profit Sean’s Outpost in 2013. Along with these alternative funding options, in the report commissioned by Quint Studer, Monk presented a well-grounded three phase implementation plan for a new non-profit organization, Connective Care. The plan focuses on long term goals to reduce the overall population of homelessness in Pensacola by providing a stable transition back into society, and is based off of the final conclusions he arrived at from his study. According to Monk’s proposal, he agrees with Dr. Marbut and believes that a MCMP is a necessary step in reducing the overall homeless population. Therefore, the first part of his three phase plan would be to centralize all of these different services and organizations that already help the homeless in Pensacola, and connect them through a single virtual campus. This would most likely build upon the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) that EscaRosa currently has in place, and would allow the organizations to communicate between themselves more easily and provide better recommendations to those receiving services. After setting up the online compilation of services as the foundation of the MCMP, the second phase would be the implementation of the program and would require the hiring of three to four case managers to staff it. The third phase would be to create a physical establishment for the non-profit organization Connective Care, which would essentially become a “one-stop-shop” for homeless individuals in need. The physical location for the MCMP would offer its own service, which would be the creation of a personalized master care plan for individual clients and a referral service to the independent service providers with which Connective Care would be affiliated.
Stosh Szczechowich in his home
Thoughts on Connective Care I approached Lawrence Holley as he ate dinner at the Washbourn Center one Sunday night in his khaki cargo shorts and his dark blue t-shirt. In between bites of baked chicken, mash potatoes, and corn, he told me about his time on the street and how he had been homeless since 1981 in Pensacola. He explained to me that after thirty years of continuously seeing “the same faces in the same places,” obviously something needed to be done to help the homeless get back on their feet. He insisted that the ordinances were most definitely not the answer. Holley was surprised to hear about the Task Force put together by the city, confessing he had all but given up hope in their competence to help those less fortunate and was glad that Nathan Monk had been appointed as Vice Chairman. I explained Monk’s plan for Connective Care and asked his thoughts on the program since, of the people I talked to, he had spent the longest amount of time on the street and could potentially benefit from the case management system. He told me that EscaRosa Coalition of the Homeless had a case management system too, and that it just told him to go to one of the shelter’s that he had already spent his monthly allotted time at. Holley believed it would have some success however, if it was maintained and kept people committed to its task somehow. “The generalization of the homeless man’s situation is what’s the problem, I’m not looking for a hand out… I’m looking for a hand. So if they do more counseling to see what the homeless man’s needs are and have a goal, doesn’t have to be big, like 20 people a year off the street, that’s what would help.” Legal campground and employment program Mike Frostman considers himself lucky being able to easily bike around the city to get to wherever he needs to go. Frostman blew out a puff of thick white smoke as he leaned back and rested his elbows on the top of the bench, a lit Remington cigar balanced between his fingers. He thought that the recommendations by Monk sounded appealing and told me that the idea of an organization that both employed the homeless and helped the community reminded him of something that he use to see when he lived in Birmingham called the “Catch-Out-Corner.” “People would pull up to this one street in their trucks or vans and you would go over see what they had to offer, you could get forty to fifty dollars a day depending on the type of work you do,” Mike said. “We all need a little bit of help, and it was nice to get paid by the day, no taxes, maybe put a little
money in the bank.” Chris Kantola has been homeless for about twelve years and has stayed in many different cities during that time. He currently stays around the Pensacola area with his overly affectionate dog, a boxer mix named Mouse, in an abandoned house downtown. Kantola also liked the idea of the city working with its local businesses to lend a hand to the less fortunate by offering steady employment and a chance to gain work experience. He was interested in what businesses would be participating and if there would be any training, because a main factor that he’s noticed keeps people ‘down and out’ is a lack of career experience in a needed field. “I don’t have a trade whatsoever,” he explained to me as he grabbed a generous pinch of tobacco out of a Ziplock bag and sprinkled it into the unfolded TOPS cigarette paper he loosely gripped by the bottom. “I come from a long line of flippin’ burgers, don’t know how to mark a one sixteenth of an inch and cut it,” he grinned to himself as he finished rolling the crinkly paper between his thumbs and forefingers before licking the gummed edge and sealing it closed. He held the finished cigarette up for me to see and lit the end of it, blowing out the tiny flame that caused it to look like a birthday candle before taking a puff. One thing Kantola and the majority of the people I talked to fully endorsed was the creation of a place for homeless to stay that gave them some type of stability and didn’t require you to sign over all your possessions to enter a program or only allow you three days a week (like the Waterfront Rescue Mission.) When I mentioned the legal camping facility most people reacted positively to the idea and agreed it should be one of the first steps the city takes.
Lawrence Holley at the Alfred-Washbourn Center.
advantage of these services was because they only get a specific number of nights a month, which was often an extremely low number. The other obstacle blocking a majority of people from using the services was that they did not want to join the programs that were offered for a variety of reasons, such as signing over their belongings without any liability on the part of the organization, and sharing of personal information. This is why the first thing that should be created for the homeless citizens in Pensacola is a legal camping facility so there is a place where they could stay during the day if they choose and have a safe place to sleep at night. The campground should us Satoshi Forest as a model project, and be complete with showers and restrooms, or at least sufficient port o’ potties to begin with, so that people there can sufficiently clean themselves and have stability enough to look for a job. After creating a place to stay, the next stage in helping the homeless off of the street as well as those who are unemployed, would be to find them jobs. Putting in place a sort of community service program that would match up homeless individuals with different businesses that also gave back to the city, such as farmer’s markets on the weekends, auto-repair shops, construction, or any business that wanted to participate. Pensacola’s Wayside Park where Chris Kantola and many others reside. After at least these two strategies, or even just after one of them are complemented, then I believe it would be time Method’s Conclusion to begin implementation of Monk’s three-phase program for Taking into consideration the many opinions gathered Connective Care. Although there isn’t one single answer or during my interviews, I would say the recommendations made way to solve homelessness completely, the numbers can and by the Task Force were sound. However, they perhaps focused should be reduced. The people I talked to on the street have lost faith in too much on statistics gathered by third party assistance protheir city government to bring any sort of relief to them. They grams such as the EscaRosa Coalition and other feel like the unpopular crowd in high school, as one man put it organizations, and not enough on actual first hand surveys to me. The council committed an unspeakable and borderline from those who are living out on the street. anti-constitutional act last year when they passed ordinances That being said, the recommendations were accepted discriminating against a specific group of people based on from the majority of the people I talked to. But the fault lies with the order that the projects are planned in. Instead of long their financial status and public perception. Unfortunately, until the Task Force hands over their drawn out three phase projects being the first step, the council should focus on solutions that are currently applicable, report that is officially due on October 15, the ordinances or could be put in place quickly to at least bring some measure cannot be altered. Therefore, we can only hope that the council take account of the recommendations made by the of relief to the citizens in Pensacola who need it most. Vice Chairman of their Task Force and the citizens their laws Although there are shelters throughout Escambia County for the homeless to stay in, one of the main things people declared are affecting, and make up for their mistake when the time comes. that they needed was a safe and consistent place to sleep and shower. One of the reasons people were not in taking However, like a few of the people I talked to, Kantola was apprehensive about a legal campground after all of the ordinances that have been passed, comparing the idea to the FEMA camps that he saw while in Nebraska. He offered an alternative. “So, when I walk around the city there are so many abandoned buildings and houses, they could easily be turned into a hostel. Just turn them into single bedroom efficiency apartments and get the homeless to help out with the renovations, if they did some sort of camping facility like that it could work.”
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METHOD / SEPTEMBER & O CTOBER 2014
WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION
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SEP T EM BE R 10T H Su i c i de is t he s e c ond l e a ding c aus e of de at h for p e opl e age s 15 to 29 and a l mo st a l l of us have b e e n touche d by t his t rage dy in s ome way. Si nc e 2 0 0 3 , t he Inte r nat iona l Ass o ci at ion for Suicide Pre ve nt i on has c elebrate d Worl d Su ic id e Pre ve nt ion D ay on S e pte mb e r 10t h i n hop es of spre a d ing aw are ne ss of t he c aus e s and pre ve nt abi l it y of sui ci de. A l l arou nd t he worl d indiv idu a ls af fe c te d by, or sur v ivors of, sui ci de l i g ht a c and l e in me mor y. T his ye ar at Pe ns acol a St ate C ol l e ge, t he c ampus su ic id e pre ve nt ion pro g ram, Pe ns acol a St ate C.A .R .E.S ., w i l l b e hand ing out g l ow st ick s in pl ace of c and l e s , e ncourag ing students to Show t he ir g l ow v i a Inst ag ram ( #PSC are s ) . T he t he me for World Suic id e Pre ve nt ion D ay is “One Worl d C onne c te d” as s o ci a l c onne c t iv it y is one of t he maj or prote c t ive fac tors against sui ci de. O n t h is S e pte mb e r 1 0 t h at 8pm, l ig ht a c and l e, a g l ow st ick, or w hat e ve r l ig ht you have —and share your stor y. Wr itte n by Mar ina J
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