Halfstack Winter Giving Issue 2015 by Halfstack Magazine

2015

Winter

THE

Giving ISSUE THE HERO

FOUNDATION

WOMEN AT RISK INTERNATIONAL faces apparel + roma footwear chicago writer evelyn lauer 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS-WINTER 2015

MUSIC MUSTS Top 10 Winter Albums 50

IN EVERY ISSUE

Top 10 Winter Concerts

Editors Letter

Meet Amitis

Meet the Team

Joanna Marie

LOCAL OPTIONS Mrs. Murphy & Sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 36

Winter Sports Recap 38

WOS Podcast 68

THE SPOTLIGHT The Culture Spotlight 72

A Magic Carpet Ride

Meet Ashley Lauren

Women At Risk, Intl.

Kent State University

40 44

74 82

Fashionista Chicago 88

GROOMING/HEALTH Winter Roundups 148

Best of Skincare

FASHION & LIFESTYLE

152

ART & CULTURE J. Open Heart

Faces Apparel 90

Brands that Give 94

Looks for Less 98

WTF?! Stars Moda 109

FEATURES Fashion Loves Art 112

156

Halfstack Bookshelf 160

In My Father’s House 164

116

EDITORS LAST LOOK N’Spired Thoughts

126

Overcoming Holiday Dread

Gary’s Story/Peer Services Evelyn Lauer Storms Woodland Preserve 138

168

170

Roma Footwear 141

Enjoy Essential 144

Hello readers, welcome to the Winter 2015 Annual Giving Issue. Thank you for taking the time to experience our work and share in our journey. As I write this letter, I think about all the things going on in the world that can shroud us in darkness. I think about the hate we see in the media, the fighting and the wars we are exposed to. I think about the sadness that can engulf us. Despite the negativity that is so prominent in the world, I also realize that there is so much beauty and kindness. Just last month,

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

we saw innocent people perish in Paris and Beirut. We saw bombs explode and we heard some candidates speak with hatred and fear. Yet, there are so many in this world fighting for good, pushing forward for change and attempting to make a difference in the world that seems so dark. As I put this issue together with my team, I realized that while we can’t hide from the darkness, we can find beauty in the people who are overcoming that darkness. This issue, just like other winter issues in the past, is being dedicated to those organizations and people who so willingly give back. People who are an inspiration and are a testament to the idea that there is so much good in this world. We just need to look a little deeper. This issue we are sharing stories such as Gary’s. It’s a dark story about addiction and loss. Yet, it is also a story about strength, empowerment and hope. Laura’s writing and photography beautifully captures one family’s battle and their journey to overcoming the loss of a son gone to

JENNIFER M. LEZAN-VEGUILLA EDITOR IN CHIEF & FOUNDER

soon. We are featuring organizations such as the Hero Foundation and Women at Risk, International. Each of these non-profits gives people another chance at life. Our cover feature showcases: Evelyn Lauer, a Chicago writer who is working on her memoir of love lost. Her

story is one that so many people can relate to and is a

testament to the person we can all become once we move on and forgive. We also spotlight individuals such as Ashley Lauren and J. Open Heart, creatives who are leaving a beautiful mark on the world around them. Louis is sharing an update on our favorite indie artist: Joanna Maria as well as a highlight on the Women of Substance Podcast. Tareq brings in an international spin with a feature on: Amitis. Tyronita shares an in-depth interview with Chicago’s own: Cheland “Rhymefest” about his recent film debut: In My Father’s House. You will find our typical beauty and fashion roundups, but this issue there is a twist featuring brands that give back and are making an impact on their community. Each of these brands are perfect opportunities to shop with a purpose. We close out this issue with two beautiful inspirational pieces focused on the true meaning of the holidays and finding ways to cope during this season brought to you by writers: Reynisha Lindsay and Jennifer Gordon. In today’s world, we need to take the dark moments as opportunities to love more. We need less hate today and tomorrow than we had yesterday. It only seems like things will get more difficult before they get better. Yet, we don’t need the heartache and sadness to embitter us. Please don’t turn your back on the world. Find a way to love. Take these moments to find the kindness and the beauty. Those are the things that should be remembered.

JENNIFER M. LEZAN - EDITOR IN CHIEF

jennifer veguilla eic/creative director founder @halfstackmag

kate roth founding member

mariana quaranta founding member

PHOTOGRAPHY

LAURA LOPEZ lead photographer

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Perry Fish lead photographer

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HALFSTACK EDITORIAL

meet the

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team

& blogger

jennie velasco set stylist/editor

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carolyn portner west coast correspondant

thom olson blogger & online digital editor

STAFF WRITERS

& DESIGNERS KALI KOLLER

Creative & Graphics Designer

SAMMY SITHIPONG

Creative & Graphics Designer

ANNABEL CARRILLO

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Creative & Graphics Designer

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Creative & Graphics Designer

DANIELLE PULAK Sr. Beauty Editor

STAFF BLOGGERS

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Creative & Graphics Intern

STELLA QUIMBY Sr. Fashion Editor

DIGITAL TEAM

NEW ADDITIONS Staff Bloggers MIKE SHAYLER PETER JAMES HALEE NORDHUES RAMONA MEADORS MYKAH WILLIAMS

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A Taste of Ireland in Chicago:

Mrs. Murphy & Son’s Irish Bistro Written by: Pearl Shin Layout by: Annabel Carrillo

f there’s one restaurant that you need to try out this winter, it’s Mrs. Murphy and Son’s Irish Bistro. The Irish pub and restaurant recently celebrated its ten-year anniversary earlier this year. Mrs. Murphy and Son’s Irish Bistro is known as the most authentic Irish pub and restaurant that one can visit in Chicago, without actually stepping foot in Ireland, and that compliment is most well-deserved. The first thing that you’ll notice when you walk into Mrs. Murphy and Son’s Irish Bistro is the authentic setup of the restaurant. Like any Irish pub, the restaurant has a mainly wooden interior and low lighting, which makes the place seem more comfortable and full of warmth. However, staying true to the Chicago spirit, there are also a lot of TVs set up around the bar so that diners can watch a good old game of hockey. Overall, the atmosphere is very welcoming with a staff of kind, patient, and friendly individuals. The service is top-notch and speedy as well. The only thing that may be better than the kind staff and amazing service is the food itself. The menu offers a wide array of different Irish cuisine, including the traditional Fish and Chips, Shepard’s Pie, and their renowned dish, the Guinness Mac and Cheese. The dishes pictured here are the Potato Mushroom Lasagna and the Roasted Salmon with Curried Lentils, both dishes that I highly recommend.

The food served at Mrs. Murphy and Son’s Irish Bistro is cooked and crafted with the utmost care, which is noticeable the moment you take a bite. Though the dishes mentioned above are from their dinner menu, the restaurant also has a brunch menu as well. Aside from their main dishes, the restaurant also has an impressive selection of drinks and desserts. The dessert menu boasts rich treats such as Brioche Bread Pudding, Bailey’s Cheesecake, and Chocolate Covered Strawberries (which are served with cinnamon mascarpone cream). As for the drinks, there are the usual selection of Irish and American beers and wine, but there is also an impressive list of whiskey and cocktails. My personal favorites were the Irish Mule and the Irish Old Fashioned. Mrs. Murphy and Son’s Irish Bistro is a great place to dine this winter whether it’s for drinks with friends or a meal with your family. If you like the food at the restaurant, you can also drop by their store that is located at the front of the restaurant to pick up chocolates and sauces for yourself, your loved ones, or as a last minute gift. The Irish Bistro is located at 3905 N. Lincoln Ave. To find out more information about the restaurant and bar, you can check out their website online at irishbistro.com.

Winter Sports Round Up A Season of Transition Written by: Michael Shayler

Tis the season of transition, fa la la la la lalalala. The winter season brings gifts of transition throughout the Chicago sports landscape. So, go-ahead cozy up next to the fireplace with your preferred beverage in hand while you cheer on your favorite Chicago sports team. Here’s a glimpse at what to expect for your favorite team:

White Sox: Big spending during last off-season

didn’t quite result in the outcome Sox fans were hoping for. Will there be a repeat in the big spending of last year? Will the Sox put more of a focus into the future? The off-season activity will reveal a clearer perspective of the team’s intentions. Even with the solid group of core players (Sale, Abreu, Quintana, Eaton, Robertson), the Sox are behind the curve in the tough American League Central. Maybe it’s best to shift the focus to the farm system for the next year or two, but knowing owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s commitment to winning, chances are he won’t take a back seat at a chance of being aggressive once again this off-season. There may be too many holes (biggest needs being outfield and third base) to fill during one off-season, but you can bet that the organization will make a splash or two to help improve the team.

It may be some time before the Sox owner gets to relive this experience. Image courtesy of nydailynews.com

Cubs: With the disappointing finish to the 2015

season still fresh on many the minds of many Cubs fans, GM Theo Epstein and his team of intellects hit the drawing board to determine the right steps in putting the team over the top and into contention for another deep playoff run. David Price is at the top of the wish list. Unfortunately the “price” may be too steep for Cubs to want to get involved with, as it’s said that Price could demand a contract pushing the $200 million range. It’s a safer bet to say that Theo would prefer to spread that spending throughout multiple positions including multiple If he’s not worried, no need for Cubs fans to be Image courtesy of sportsmockery.com starting pitchers (Jordan Zimmerman and/or Jeff Samardzija). The team could also use arms in the bullpen and a replacement in center field for the departed Dexter Fowler. No matter the outcome, Theo will do what’s best for the organization and keep this team in position to succeed. On a side note, at this moment in time, Las Vegas has the Cubs opening the 2016 38 as the favorites to win the World Series. season

Bears: The Bears may not have the record to show, but the

New coach John Fox is getting the most out of his players and has them competing until the end. Image courtesy of wgnradio.com

executing the game plan.

franchise has seen many positive signs during the first half of John Fox‘s first season as Head Coach. With the changes in philosophy on both offense and defense, the team has seemingly adapted relatively quick. Even in defeat, the team has been competitive in every game (except week 3 vs. AZ and week 4 @SEA) until the end. Injuries to key players on both sides of the ball have hurt the Bears chances this season, but the team continues to battle through. Even with the team’s lack of playmakers on defense, the switch to the 3-4 defense has been smoother than expected. With a playoff spot still mathematically obtainable, the Bears will need to play nearly flawless football to achieve that goal. Getting our players 100% healthy could provide a huge boost for a playoff push. If the first half of season was any indication, Fox will have this team ready each and every week, it’s just a matter of going out there and

Bulls:

As with the Bears, the Bulls are undergoing a transition of their own. The years of hard-nosed Coach Thibs basketball are gone as the Bulls shift into more of a high tempo, pass until you find the open man and shoot away offensive scheme under new Coach Fred Hoiberg. As with years past, the team is struggling to find their shots at times. Jimmy Butler is continuing his climb to the top amongst the NBA’s elite players as he is excelling on both ends of the court. At age 38, Pau Gasol continues to impress and produce at a fairly high level. After suffering a broken orbital bone on the first day of practice, D Rose has been a tad inconsistent, but that may also be contributed to the double vision Rose has been suffering from since the injury. Nikola Mirotic, Tony Snell and Doug McDermott have all been progressing nicely as their roles for the team are much more New coach Fred Hoiberg is looking to make the Bulls an offensive juggernaut. Image courtesy of nytimes.com prominent this season. All in all, if the Bulls can get their shots to fall on a more consistent basis in the new system, Cleveland should be the only team ranked higher than them come playoff time.

Blackhawks: Another team, another transition in Chicago. The yearly roster

Let this image serve as reason why “panic” should not be in Hawks fans vocabulary. Image courtesy of hockeygods.com

shuffle for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks sees a young team get even younger. Coach Quenville has been switching around his lines to find that perfect match. It’s safe to say there is one line that stands out. The line of Patrick Kane, along with new comers Artemi “bread man” Panarin and Artem Anisimov has been the teams go to source for offense. Panarin has the makings of a superstar and could easily be compared to Patrick Kane when it comes to playmaking ability; maybe that‘s why these two seem to have gelled so quickly. A lack of depth on the defensive end is a major concern as is the Hawks inability to win on the road so far. If fans feel any need to hit the panic button, they may not have been paying attention over the past several seasons. As the current dynasty in all of sports this team knows the hard work it takes to succeed and will right the ship sooner rather than later. GM Stan Bowman should find a way to fix the holes on defense and Coach Q and Captain Toews can get this team fully on the same page quick enough. A birth in the playoffs is inevitable and that is when the Hawks are known to turn it on.

As the greatest and most passionate fans in all of sports, it’s our jobs as fans to stand behind our Chicago teams during this “season of transition”. Happy Holidays and may the New Year bring much joy to you and your loved ones.

MAGIC CARPET RIDE In ALBANY PARK Written By: Tareq Al Saud

Traveling around the world didn’t prevent Alibaba from opening his cave in Albany Park. The first and biggest hookah lounge and restaurant is also the oldest in Chicago. It has a great range of diversity and people discovering the cave’s gems and treasures each day. Alibaba’s is a story of one Egyptian immigrant’s successful journey.

Avondale, Irving Park, Ravenswood Manor, North Park and North Center. The ward is rich in diversity with schools, restaurants, businesses, parks and passionate people according to 33rdward.org.

On the west side of Lawrence Avenue in the heart of Mayfair is where an Egyptian immigrant decided to start his adventure. In ten years, he has engaged thousands of customers and played a great role enticing this neighborhood’s beautiful diverse mix. “When I first came to Chicago in 1991, nobody knew what the hookah was,” said Mr. Alex Attia, the founder and the owner of Alibaba Hookah Lounge. Attia made his first hookah and used the wooden clothespins as a charcoal. One day he went by the lake to sit and brought his homemade hookah with him. Six police officers stopped and tried to arrest him because they didn’t know what he was smoking. “I explained how the hookah worked and that it uses tobacco. I told them it’s a cultural thing from Middle East especially Egypt,” said Attia. When the police officers understood, they left him. That was the spark of inspiration that launched Alibaba’s cave in Chicago.

“In 1995, I opened my first hookah lounge called The Pharaohs in Albany Park,” said Attia. During this time, he worked selling cars independently in Chicago. Attia thought there needed to be an open place to gather the immigrants and the people of Chicago. He wanted the place to be unique and special. “People were afraid of using cash to buy used cars, even more so from someone without a dealership. I used The Pharaohs as an office and in the process introduced more people to hookah.” It helped relax them to close a sale. They also became hooked. Attia later opened an Arabic barbershop to inspire more customer's, such as Arabs, to step into the neighborhood. “In 2005 I saw an empty building across from Dunkin Donuts and I told myself that would be a great place for a restaurant and hookah lounge combination,” said Attia. At that time,

Albany Park belongs to the 33rd Ward in Chicago, IL and sits amongst the neighborhoods of

ed to the Arabian Nights in the begi nning. “When I met the owner of the build ing, my little son Ali was with me and whe n the owner asked him about his name he replied: “Ali” and then po inted to me and said this is Baba,” explained Attia.

people were still allowed to smok e in closed areas like restau rants, bars and ca fes. When the City of Chicago prevente d smoking in closed areas in 2008, A tti a had to explore other op tions to still be ab le to serve food with hookah . “My license was to open a smoking shop w ith incidentally fo od,” said Attia. This means that customers ca n bring their food to the lounge while they ar e smoking hookah , according to Atti a. “I took the place next to lounge and moved the kitchen and mad e it take-out food so customers can st ill buy my food.” Alibaba’s Lounge is a vast space w ith more than 3,000 squa re feet including on e big hall and another smal ler room for privat e parties and events. The interior design is inspired by the Middle East culture with a focu s on Egypt. “I did mos t of the decoratin g work with my own hand s as I have cons truction experience,” said Attia. All the furn iture and hookahs are imported directly from Egypt. “You have to treat your cust om er like a friend.” Ironically, the na

me Alibaba was

not relat-

The rich diversity of people within the neighborhood tend to be attracted to A lib aba.“65 to 70 percent of the customers ar e from Poland, Russia an d Ukraine. The ot hers are from Middle Eas t, Asia and South America,” said Attia. Through my expe riences during th ree visits, I noticed there are older customers an d businessmen, bu t also quite a few of students who ha ve projects and as signments to do. The lounge experiences a ru sh in the morning and afte rnoon hours betw een 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m . A second wave of customers fills th e place starting at 7:00 p.m. and again at 10:0 0 p.m. By midnigh t, there is no place to sit es pecially in weeke nds. “Albany Park, sp ecifically along La wrence Avenue has witn essed the failure s of many

businesses and that has made the rents low,” said Attia. But this will not prevent the neighborhood from turning into another downtown for Chicago in the upcoming years. There are more than 5 places now open 24 hours. Aside from being a safe neighborhood, the neighborhood has a great police force, according to Attia. Alibaba Lounge has succeeded in gathering people. Attia not only is offering a service, but is also creating friendships and businesses relationships amongst his lounge customers. The 33rd ward Alderman, Deb Mell, has played an important role in supporting the neighborhood. ”I would like to thank Alderman Deb Mell for her great advice and help to turn Alibaba Lounge and the whole area into the place that we have today,” said Attia. Mustafa, an Egyptian customer spends

weekend hours in Alibaba. ”It is so nice to have a great place like Alibaba here in Chicago, it reminds me of home,” Mustafa said. Thom Olson, a fashion designer and instructor at the Illinois Institute of Art spends his relaxing time at Alibaba. “The place rocks! It also has really opened my eyes to what modern culture in the Middle Eastern region is like. It’s not like what we see on the evening news,” said Olson

Our children and women are at risk. Not just in third world countries, but also right here in America. It seems that people turn a blind eye to the harshness of the world, especially when they believe that those bad things could never happen to them. Not my baby, no they are safely tucked into bed. No, not my daughter – she’s on her way to school. Human trafficking is an evolving and scary issue that people have to face today. Human trafficking is thought to be one of the fastest-growing activities of trans-national criminal organizations. Human trafficking is the trade of humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others - Women and children being sold for sex, cheap labor and being stripped of their right to their lives. Young people being forced against their will, to give up their innocence and forgo the beauty of childhood. Instead, they are thrown into the dirty world of evil crime where they begin to lose hope for a way to escape. They fade slowly away into the abyss. The reality is that women, men and young children are being trapped in a modern day slave trade. Not all of the victims of human trafficking in the U.S. are foreign nationals; some are American citizens or residents. Many of these people are forced into prostitution and face innumerable travesties including death. Recently, 8 men were charged in Illinois for running an underage sex trafficking sting right in Aurora, IL. These eight men were charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, and grooming, according to police: The charges are all Class-X felonies, which call for enhanced penalties upon conviction. Human trafficking is much closer to home than you would ever think. So many victims are younger than ever. They are just as likely to be the homegrown American girl next door as they are to be illegally imported foreigners.

As dark as the circumstances may be, there are crusaders who are fighting back. There are organizations like WAR, Intl. who are fighting for those who can no longer fight for themselves. Women At Risk, International unites and educates women to create circles of protection and hope around at-risk women and children through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects. WAR intl. stands for Women at Risk International. The mission of WAR is to fight human trafficking. Rebecca McDonald officially founded the WAR Intl. organization in 2006. Rebecca’s international upbringing first exposed her to world of risk. At just 14 years old her closest friend was raped and then attacked with acid in order to silence her. This moment forever changed McDonald and inspired her to take action. It was at that point that she decided to be a voice for the silenced and a defender of those who are oppressed. Her ultimate goal was to create a haven of healing for those who were hurting. In 2006, WAR launched with representation in 16 states and projects in 14 countries. The staff was selling handcrafted jewelry that was made by and supporting the at-risk women the program was serving. In 2007 the organization was able to finalize and officially receive their 501c3 status and open its first retail store – the WarChest Boutique in Rockford, Michigan. The organization opened a second space in Wyoming, Michigan in 2009 and finally opened their third location in Naperville, IL in 2011. As the public continues to recognize the issues with local trafficking, WAR saw a need and launched the US Training Center Pilot Program in 2013. With this program there are working to offer steady employment and skills training to local women. When asked what are some of the high risk factors that make a person more susceptible to falling into a trafficking situation, the organization mentioned that there are 14 risk factors, but the three main ones include:

Women at Risk the realities of human trafficking are closer than you think written by: jennifer lezan

People of all socioeconomic backgrounds can become victims of trafficking.

domestic violence, poverty and slavery. Yet, they have found that people of all socioeconomic backgrounds can become victims of trafficking. Missy, local store manager of the WARChest Boutique in Naperville mentioned that much of the local trafficking looks like prostitution. The black market sex trade via the Internet has made it easier for criminals to utilize escort services to sell people against their will. These people may not be physically held against their will, but they are often in fear for the lives or may even be addicts and the traffickers are providing them with drugs the drugs that keep them tied to their. Missy highlights that there are two types of trafficking that we should be aware of: sexual trafficking and labor trafficking. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become one of the fastest growing organized crime in America because unlike the drug trade, which is a one time use situation, people are seen as reusable. People can be sold and resold allowing these organizations to continuously profit off of them. When it comes to the programming WAR Intl. offers on a local level, the organization is focusing on prevention and education. Volunteers work with the organization holding events, seminars and training courses educating communities on what trafficking looks like and what they can do to help. The organization also has partnerships with 50 countries incorporating safe houses to teach life sustainable work skills to at risk participants as well as trafficking survivors. Rather than just giving monetary donations, the goal of this type of programming is to offer an opportunity to empower the victims to seek out education that can help them work for a fair wage. In turn, these opportunities Volunteers work with the organization holding events, seminars and training courses educating communities on what trafficking looks like and what they can do to help.

help to break the cycle of poverty and abuse that lead to trafficking. The program pays the participants by the hour or by the piece depending on the type of work completed and they all get paid the equivalent of what a college educated elementary school teacher would make. According to UNICEF, over 1.2 million children are trafficked each year. Trafficking has over 20 million victims worldwide and affects at least 161 countries. When looking at domestic trafficking stateside, 12 years old is the average age of entry into prostitution. Girls are often sold for $400 an hour and there are reported trafficking cases in all 50 states. According to the US Department of Justice nearly 300,000 American children are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. These numbers are staggering. These statistics are the reality that we live in. So, what can we do to combat trafficking?

organizations online boutique, 3 retail stores, and WAR Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l product parties held in homes, businesses and churches throughout the U.S.The shop is a treasure chest of unique gifts hand-crafted by or sold in support of at-risk women (and even some at-risk men) in WARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnering programs in over 50 countries, including the United States. You can learn more at: www.warinternational.org and www.warchestboutique.com

War International offers so many opportunities to get involved. From hosting a party or event to increase awareness and donations to volunteering, there are opportunities to make an impact. Donating items such as clothing, diapers and art supplies can help give people a sense of dignity. Becoming a part of the WAR circle of protection and get training on how to become a civilian first responder is a great way to help. Even offering mentorship and skill training to victims is an opportunity to help remind the rescued and at-risk of their value and purpose in this world. Yet, the simplest ways to get involved is through a direct donation or shopping at the WAR Chest Boutique. Purchasing with a purpose is an amazing way to empower people to work with a purpose. The WAR Chest Boutique is the retail arm of the non-profit organization Women At Risk, International. It includes the

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF WAR, INTL.

Purchasing with a purpose is an amazing way to empower people to work with a purpose.

10 New Albums to Check out this Winter Written by: Pearl Shin Layout by: Annabel Carrillo 1.

Soley - Don’t Ever Listen (EP) - Oct. 30, 2015

The EP titled “Don’t Ever Listen” is the newest project from the creative mind of indie singer-songwriter, Sóley. The singer released her EP titled “Don’t Ever Listen” on October 30. Check it out now! 2.

The Neighbourhood - Wiped Out! - Oct. 30, 2015

It’s been a while since the release of the band’s album “I Love You” which included their hit song “Sweater Weather”. After two years, the Neighbourhood finally released their second studio album titled “Wiped Out!” which contains their singles “The Beach” and “R.I.P. 2 My Youth”. Check out the album! It’s out now. 3.

Sara Bareilles - What’s Inside: Songs From Waitress - Nov. 6, 2015

Sara Bareilles released her newest album, titled “What’s Inside: Songs From Waitress”. After writing songs for the musical adaptation of the 2007 film “Waitress”, the singer fell in love with the songs and decided to record the songs that she wrote for the musical herself. Her new album is available now. 4.

Bjork - Vulnicura Strings - Nov. 6, 2015

The acoustic album “Vulnicura Strings” by Icelandic singer Björk was released on November 6. The album, which is a strings-only version of the singer’s ninth studio album titled “Vulnicura” which was released at the beginning of the year, was recorded as a companion piece to the aforementioned album. If you enjoyed her album “Vulnicura”, check out “Vulnicura Strings”!

Little Mix - Get Weird - Nov. 6, 2015

British girl group, Little Mix, is out with a brand new album! This album is bright, fun, and will make you want to dance. It’s a great way to combat the dreary, winter weather. Check out Little Mix’s new album “Get Weird” now! 6. One Direction - Made in the A.M. - Nov. 13, 2015 Made in the A.M. is the fifth studio album from English-Irish boyband, One Direction. This album is also the first album released by the group after the departure of the former member, Zayn Malik. This will also be the group’s last album before their 2016 hiatus. The album, which includes the singles “Drag Me Down” and “Perfect” is out now. Check it out! 7.

Adele - 25 - Nov. 20, 2015

The soulful R&B songstress, Adele, finally released her third studio album titled “25”. Her new album follows the pattern of her previous two albums, which were titled after an important time in her life. Her third album titled, 25, shows her growth as an artist, which can be heard in songs like her hit single “Hello”. “25” is out now! 8.

Cage the Elephant - Tell Me I’m Pretty - Dec. 18, 2015

Cage the Elephant is on its way to releasing their fourth studio album titled “Tell Me I’m Pretty”. The album is scheduled to be released in just a few days. Keep an eye out for their album on December 18! 9.

David Bowie - Blackstar - Jan. 8, 2016

The ever-changing David Bowie is to release another new album titled Blackstar. This new album will be the singer’s 25th studio album! Blackstar is scheduled to be released on Bowie’s 69th birthday, January 8. Be sure to keep an eye out for the album! 10.

Panic! at the Disco - Death of a Bachelor - Jan. 15, 2016

Over the years, Panic! at the Disco has lost most of its band members. However, thanks to the efforts of the frontman and lead singer, Brandon Urie, the band is still going strong. Following the success of the album “Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!”, the singer is back with a brand new album. “Death of a Bachelor” is scheduled to release on January 15.

10 Concerts t this W

Written by: Layout By: Ann

5 Seconds of Summer - Allstate Arena December 16 Summer is long gone, but this band is still going strong! Check out the band 5 Seconds of Summer as they perform in Chicago on December 16. The band will be performing at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Get your tickets before it’s too late! 2.

Andrew Belle- S.P.A.C.E. December 18 The singer-songwriter and Chicago native, Andrew Belle, has been busy touring the US this past fall. Join him on December 18 as he returns to the Chicago concert scene and performs at Evanston’s S.P.A.C.E. 3.

The Academy Is... & PARTYBABY - House of Blues Chicago December 20 and 23 If you’re in the mood for some pop-punk throwback, check out The Academy Is… when they perform at the House of Blues Chicago. The band will be performing along with PARTYBABY on December 20 and 23. 4.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Allstate Arena December 28 It’s not officially the holidays until you listen to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Spend some time with loved ones and enjoy a night filled with incredible renditions of traditional holiday tunes when this group drops by Chicago. See this amazing group perform at the Allstate Arena on December 28. 5. The Hush Sound - Thalia Hall December 29 A lot of people are going home for the holidays and bands are no exception. A band consisting of four Chicagoans, The Hush Sound, will be having their first hometown show since 2013 this winter. Join them on December 29 when they perform at Thalia Hall.

to Check Out Winter

: Pearl Shin nabel Carrillo

6. Nick Waterhouse - Schubas Tavern January 1 There’s no better way to welcome the New Year than by seeing a great concert. Join the singer-songwriter, Nick Waterhouse, when he performs at Schubas Tavern this New Year’s Day. 7.

Wild Belle - Schubas Tavern January 15 More Chicago natives will be having a hometown show this winter. Wild Belle, a band made up of siblings Natalie and Elliot Bergman, will be playing at Schubas Tavern on January 15. Be sure to check them out! 8.

Vance Joy - Riviera Theatre January 22 and 23 Still obsessed with the song “Riptide”? Then check out the band Vance Joy when they perform two shows at the Riviera Theatre on January 22 and 23. You know that they’ll perform their hit song at the shows, so don’t miss your chance to listen and sing along at their live performances! 9.

Queensrych - Concord Music Hall January 31 Back in October, the band released their fifteenth studio album called “Condition Hüman” and now they’re back on tour! Join the American heavy metal band, Queensrÿch at Concord Music Hall when they perform on January 31. 10. STS9 - Aragon Ballroom February 13 Sound Tribe Sector 9, better known as the abbreviated STS9, is a band that is recognized for their unique electronic-rock, instrumental music. Join them this winter when they perform at the Aragon Ballroom on February 13 for a night of great music.

AM IT IS

Written By: Tareq Al Saud

From Persia, the land of history and magic but also the land of the forbidden, a young girl made her journey to achieve her ambitions. Amitis wanted to break the chains of oppression and to sing out loud. Amitis was born on October 1st in the city of Mashhad in Iran. She started showing a great interest and passion in music and singing at the age of three. When she turned fourteen, she was already a prodigy. In Iran, after the country turned into a radical Islamic system in 1979, it was hard and even forbidden for women to pursue a career in singing, let alone sing in public. Singing was forbidden except for the Islamic and religious music and songs and in private events.

Amitis took on the challenge and accepted all the risks to be a singer and pursue her dreams. She became fluent in several instruments including piano, guitar and violin. She has always believed that having skills in different musical instruments will increase her opportunities and enrich her music culture and evolve her abilities in the industry. Amitis moved to Tehran to attend college. At the age of seventeen, she wrote the song “Tow Eshghami”, which has now been included in her debut album “One”. Amitis was always looking forward to the next steps in her life. She believes in the transformative power of music and she wanted to break the rules and become a star. Thus, she moved to the United States in 2005, and has since resided in Atlanta, Georgia. Amitis worked very hard and has endured suffering to deliver her message of the women’s voices in her home country Iran.

“I am looking forward to the future and can’t wait to get started on more new music.”

After five years her debut album produced by renowned record producer Elton Ahi, hit stores in December 2010. The album was quite a success with her hit singles “Yek, Dow” and “Yavash Yavash”. Amitis loves Middle Eastern music and it’s influence is evident in her work. Her culture will always be a part of her and showcased in her work. Despite now being considered a crossover artist with an American style, she will always have a bit of a Middle-Eastern flare. Due to her cultural influences, she has wide variety of fans. Due to the tough experiences of becoming a Persian musical artist, Amitis realized that in order to become internationally

recognized, she had to transition into a crossover artist. She saw this as an opportunity to work with talent in the United States. Amitis has just released a new song “King” with Snoop Dogg (www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzlXohvphN4). “It’s been an amazing experience being able to work with well-known artists in this industry like Snoop Dogg himself,” Amitis said. Her Child, her husband and her music are the top priorities and love for Amitis. She hates judgmental people, negativity and sitting still. Amitis is always doing something. She is currently

“It’s been an amazing experience being able to work with well-known artists in this industry like Snoop Dogg himself.” 59

planning many projects including upcoming concerts and shows. She doesn’t want to give too much away, but she’s excited for the future. Amitis is also an avid horse rider. This hobby and passion turned into a profession for six years during her time in Iran. She’s a multi-talented woman who also finds joy and is quite skilled in drawing and painting. She also likes to race cars! This is just the beginning for Amitis as she plans to work with other well-known recording artists and make her mark in the U.S. “I am looking forward to the future and can’t wait to get started on more new music.” AMITIS

Music 61

Joanna Marie CHICAGO LOCAL TAKES LEAP OF FAITH TO PURSUE MUSIC CAREER

oanna Marie is considered one of the up and coming singer/songwriters in the Chicago indie music scene. Audiences relate to Joanna’s great music, her outstanding voice, and her contagious smile. The industr y is beginning to take notice. Joanna was featured in several songwriter showcases, including the prestigious Get Off the Couch Songwriters’ Showcase (2014), Best of BB&B Songwriter ’s Showcase (2014), and the Women Of Substance Artist Showcase (2015). Her music has been added to the playlists of over 200 radio stations across the U.S. and throughout the world. Joanna is a popular artist on Women of Substance Radio and Podcast, with several of her songs being voted on to the WOS Top 20 Indie Songs list (including two #1 placings) by the listeners of the station. Bree Noble, owner and founder of WOS, describes Joanna and her music. “Joanna Marie is a #1 Women of Substance artist and is really popular with our listeners. This girl is hot and definitely on a roll.”

Joanna spends her days working on her music. Her primar y focus is developing her music catalogue in order to pursue more music licensing and synch opportunities. “I would love to be able to just write music and record in the studio while being paid for placements in television, movies, and commercials.” She is off to a good start in this highly competitive part of the music business. Joanna wrote a song on spec for an indie movie short; another instrumental served as the underscore for a promotional video for a social service agency; and another song was used in a fashion VLOG. She has successfully landed several inter-

national licensing deals and her music has been incorporated into a number of music libraries. Joanna was recently invited to perform a private showcase for the staff of Music Dealers, a top music creative agency. Her popularity among the Music Dealers management and staff resulted in Joanna and her band being invited to play the kickoff event for the 2015 Hancock Summer Concert Series at the John Hancock’s outdoor patio. “It was pretty amazing playing to all those people in front of this iconic Chicago landmark,” says Joanna.

Dean Anderson worked on music supervision for Oprah Winfrey for 11 years before founding Music & Pictures, a music licensing company. He recently added Joanna to his stable of songwriters and is excited about her music. “Joanna’s songwriting skills keep improving,” explains Dean, “and the maturity with which she writes and sings far exceed her age.” Joanna took some to answer some interview questions. Read on to learn more about this talented singer/songwriter and her music.

ou recently decided to quit the safety of a regular job and pursue music full time. What prompted this decision? “It was a myriad of things that ultimately led to the decision to quit my nursing job. One of the main reasons was because I really didn’t have enough time to invest in songwriting. I would work all day and then have other commitments in the evening or I would be just be too exhausted to write and was frustrated because of this. I knew if I wanted to make music a career I would have to devote a more substantial amount of time and energy into making that happen. One of the other reasons I quit my nursing job was because I really didn’t have the passion for it. I would wake up each morning stressed out and anxious thinking about the day I had ahead of me. I hated going to work and there were days when I would drive to my patient ’s house and break down cr ying because I really didn’t want to be in nursing. It ’s a soul quenching thing to be trapped in a job you’re really only doing for the money (but let me add that I really did love helping my patients and caring for them) and your heart is longing to do something else. So, I came to the point where I just couldn’t continue to live contrar y to my true desire and made the choice to change that.” Wasn’t this a scar y decision to make? “Yes, it was a scar y decision, but I think what would have been even scarier was to have lived my whole life and never have taken the risk to pursue my dreams. I wouldn’t want to live with that kind of regret or wonder what could have been if I had just taken the risk.” When did you decide you wanted to pursue a career as a full time musician? “I’m not sure exactly. Probably about 5 years ago. I wasn’t one of those people who knew from the age of 2 that they were born to be on stage and commanded ever yone’s attention at family gatherings. It was a slow realization for me. . I think there was a point half way through nursing school

where I questioned whether I should finish my degree or just drop out to pursue music. I finished my degree and got a nursing job because it was the prudent thing to do, I guess, and I knew a music career would take a lot of time to develop. Yet, I knew it was something I wanted to work towards. So, for the last 3 or 4 years I’ve been putting money away in a savings account for the day I would say goodbye to my steady paychecks.” What is your process for writing music? “It ’s really different ever y time. I tr y not to have some type of formula that I follow because I really think songs flow naturally when we’re open to the process. My tendency is to write the music first and then listen for vocal melodies and then finally craft the lyrics to fit into that structure. But this can be challenging and frustrating at times. I do this because lyrics, almost always, seem to be the most difficult aspect of the writing process for me. So, I’ve challenged myself to write lyrics first and then create the music around those. Sometimes my process looks like me staring at an empty page for an hour to come up with some revelator y lyric, or recording ideas in Garage Band for 2 hours and have nothing to show for it. When I feel like I’ve hit a wall, I change it up and go for a walk or read a book or some poetr y for inspiration and then come back to the writing process a little bit later. Eventually the words and the songs come but I’ve learned when I tr y to force something into being I get frustrated, so I tr y to give a song the time and space it needs to develop. When I feel a peace about the song, like there’s nothing I would want to change, I know the song is finished. Sometimes this takes months or even years.” What has been the highlight of your career so far? “Probably hearing the feedback from people who have heard my music and said it ’s changed their lives in some way. I got a letter a couple years back from someone I hadn’t even met, but they heard my music and said it inspired them to write again, that they had lost their words due to an addiction and their pen

will no longer be silenced. It ’s crazy to hear stuff like that. Sometimes we don’t realize how much power our words or songs can have in changing someone’s life.” What do you like best about being a singer/songwriter? What don’t you like? “I love the recording process of a song. I love hearing something in my head and then working out how to make it become a reality and sharing it with other people. I definitely know what I don’t like, the self-promotion and the need to increase likes and followers on social media. I feel like the industr y puts so much pressure on artists to increase their followers and email lists and

YouTube views to build their credibility instead of just letting their music speak for itself.” What is the one thing you would like to accomplish as an artist? “I would love to be able to give back towards the community in some type of way. I’m not sure what that ’s going to look like, but I’ve seen so many inspiring stories about artists who use their art to help people in need. Whether that is raising money or awareness or just creating music that brings healing to someone’s soul, it ’s beautiful and powerful when art can change a person for the better.” Joanna realizes, despite her early

success, she has a ways to go before she achieves her ultimate goal of “staying home to write and record music for a living.” She works daily to build her music catalogue and increase her name recognition among industr y players. But most important is her desire to make a connection with her fans and followers. To learn more about Joanna visit www.joannamariemusic.net or www. facebook.com/musicbyjoannamarie. You can purchase her music at iTunes, Amazon.com, and other digital stores. You can also stream Joanna’s music on Spotify.com.

By: Louis Vasseur & Kali Koller

WOMEN OF

SUBSTANCE Supports Female Stars of Tomorrow By: Louis Vasseur & Kali Koller

ometimes, when you see something that you don’t think is right, it is up to you to do something about it. Singer/songwriter Bree Noble faced such a dilemma. She had built a successful career as an indie artist touring for 9 years, releasing 3 CDs, and winning several songwriting awards. However, she noticed that many of the artists she shared the stage with were better than most of what she heard on the radio. She wondered why all these talented artists weren’t getting the recognition she felt they deserved. Plus, she was tired of hearing the same few songs all the time on the radio. In 2007, Bree put together her own internet radio station, featuring music that she liked, so she had something to listen to while at work. Soon, she realized that other people were listening to “her radio station” and they liked it. Suddenly, Women of Substance Radio was born. Women of Substance Radio (www. WOSRadio.com) is a 24/7 online radio station that plays the best music by quality female artists in all genres, both label and indie artists. “I consider it a privilege to discover and promote amazing artists who are not getting the promotion they deserve,” says Bree. Women of Substance Radio has become a highly respected and sought after source of promotion for

female artists pursued by their PR agents and record labels. In November 2014, Bree extended her female artist promotion platform when she launched the Women of Substance Music Podcast which promotes independent female artists in all genres. A new episode is released every weekday, hosted by Bree, and features 7-8 up and coming female artists. She jokes that she considers herself a “DJ in training.” One month to the day after the podcast was launched, the project hit 10,000 downloads. On July 8, 2015, listeners had downloaded the Women of Substance Music Podcast over 100,000 times. Many of the “older” shows keep getting downloaded again and again. In addition, the podcast achieved the coveted Top Spot in iTunes New & Noteworthy in all 3 categories the program was eligible for (Music, Art, Society & Culture) and the #2 Audio Podcast in all of iTunes. Despite the success of Woman of Substance Radio and Podcast, Bree wanted to expand her platform to help support female artists even more. “I want to help prevent women musicians from facing many of the same struggles I also faced as a young recording artist.” Bree launched Female Entrepreneur Musician (www.femusician.com), an online resource aimed at helping up and coming female artists. Among other resources, the site con-

tains a series of audio interviews with industry experts such as Ariel Hyatt (Cyber PR), Stacey Sherman (RSP Entertainment Marketing) and Myla Smith discussing social media marketing, public relations, and career/ life balance. The Female Entrepreneur Musician podcast followed the WOS Podcast in being named Top Spot in iTunes New & Noteworthy in the categories it was eligible. Not one to rest on her laurels, Bree then took this supportive instruction even further, establishing the Female Musician Academy and Artist Collective. The Academy is a learning facility exclusively for female musicians. While Femusician.com is available to anyone who wishes to log on, the Academy is limited group of female artists who are serious about developing their career. They work together in a protected environment to learn how to develop a solid strategy to attract new fans, engage existing fans, and monetize them to create the music career of their dreams. They study subjects such as marketing, booking, social media, house concerts, crowdfunding, performance, management, and balancing career with other their responsibilities of being a wife/mother. Academy members not only receive live training from industry professionals, but they also have a professional network of other female artists to reach out to. “They realize they are not necessarily in this alone, and this may be the most valuable benefit of

the Academy” explains Bree. “Asking other members of the group what their experience is and seeing them all working towards developing their skills and their audience is a great thing to get excellent input and remain motivated,” says Academy member Dinna De Cabarrus. There are several wrong assumptions I had about different career development opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to correct without input from group members that steered me towards better decisions.” Others feel the same way. Linda McKenzie explains her experience with the Academy, “Although I am very new to the group, I find Bree very sincere and dedicated to helping others, a heart for people, seemingly knowledgeable, and patient with all the “newbies’” questions and scenarios. It’s nice to have senior counsel in this complex and ever morphing music business.” Fellow Academy member, Debby Smith echoes this sentiment. “Bree truly goes above and beyond to educate, support, and promote independent female artists.” In October 2015, Women of Substance teamed up with Chica-

go-based promoter Dancing Pony Productions to produce the Women of Substance Artist Showcase at UncommonGround-Devon. The showcase featured four Chicago area artists: Chelsea Burns, godwin, Joanna Marie, and Jess Porter. These talented female artists were selected based on their success on WOS Radio and Podcast programs. Singer/songwriter Joanna Marie has had her music featured on WOS for three years, including several songs voted on to the WOS Top 20 Indie Song listing. “I’m so grateful for all the promotion and support Bree and WOS gives to indie artists,” says Joanna. It is pretty amazing that my friends and family can hear my songs played in between such amazing artists as Sara Bareilles, SIA, Colbie Caillat, and others.” After the successful Chicago showcase, Bree looks to expand the showcase to other cities through the U.S., featuring even more indie female artists. Even as Women of Substance Radio and Podcast continues to grow, Bree continues to be actively involved in all aspects of everything WOS. Artists from all over the world submit their music to be considered to be added to the WOS playlist, which is then evaluated by a selection committee. However, Bree still listens to each and every

song before it goes on the air. The quality of the music played on the radio station and podcast is very important to her. Bree explains, “Substance can be defined as ‘significant quality with the implication of a hidden or special significance.’ Music of substance is not just entertainment or fluff, but has an essential ‘core’ brimming with heart, soul, and spirit.”

Bree continues to be excited about WOS and its prospects for the future. However, her best reward is when someone tells her about his or her new favorite artist that they discovered while listening to WOS. Check out some of the best music around and the amazing female artists who created it at www.WOSradio.com

LISTEN TODAY >

CULTURED SPOTLIGHT

Simbiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boho Luxe Line Written by: Stella Estrella-Quimby Layout by: Annabel Carrillo

he millennial generation is all about shopping for a cause. Therefore, brands such as Simbi appeal to them. Simbiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boho Luxe line is literally saving the lives of women and children in Haiti each and every single day. Every purchase of these handmade bracelets provides clean drinking water and 15 sustainable jobs to women desperate to better their lives in one of the poorest countries of the world. The bracelets are absolutely gorgeous for both men and women and the sustaining impact is beyond measure. Also, the brand is available nationwide allowing many to help this brand make a difference.

Currently, at this very moment there are one in nine people worldwide that do not have access to fresh drinking water. Haiti ranks among the top 10 countries in desperate need of clean, fresh drinking water according to Water.org. After witnessing the travesties of disaster and the situation of Haiti, Simbi was inspired to make a difference. Through improving and empowering the people of Haiti, Simbi is working to save lives. Many Simbi fans are joining Simbi’s crusade to ‘Save Lives. Improve Lives. Empower Lives.’ with each purchase from its amazing collection of unique bracelets,headbandsandaccessories. For every Simbi item bought, clean water is produced through purification systems,alongwithsustainablejobs,all transforming the daily lives of Haitian families. Simbi’seco-friendlyaccessoriescome in many different styles that create an instant feeling of care-free and fun in the person who wears them. They are handcrafted by local artisans and are high quality accessories that contain a mix of cultural prints, bright colors and ethnic beading with a luxurious handmade authentic feel. Simbi has many various lines such as the bead bracelets, clay bracelets, cycle bracelets and the popular handmade clay bracelets which come in a wider variety of rainbow colors — including sleek metallic and autumnal hues — with simple silver or bronze charms inscribed with inspirational messages of love, joy and peace. The beads are completely organic and biodegradable, nurturing Mother Earth through a complete lifecycle. Simbi is sold throughout the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Europe, and is available at retailers such as BC Surf and Sport, Billabong, Whole Foods and Nordstrom. The brand is also sold online at simbihaiti.com. Make sure to check them out and remember when you purchase a Simbi, you are providing drinking water and jobs to the people of Haiti!

Artist on the Rise written by: Jennifer Lezan layout by: Anabell Carrillo

Ashley Lauren

ulti-talented as a description is an understatement when it comes to Ashley Lauren, a young creative woman on a mission to change the world. She’s an artist in the full definition of the word. Her activism inspires her music, her music inspires her photography and her work inspires the way she sees the world. Her soul has transformed in the process of pursuing her latest projects: Warrior Rebirth and State Your Vision. Her energy is infectious and her mission is clear. She isn’t here to just share her work; she takes an active role in the world around her to ensure she can leave it better than she found it. As an artist advocate for “Project AK:47” an organization based in Nashville with the director in the Philippines, she is helping to save child soldiers from war. Along with Project Ak:47, she is also working with the INK Foundation, helping to save and house human trafficking survivors in India. Ashley took some time out of her busy schedule to talk with Halfstack about her current projects.

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what led you to pursue your current career endeavors? My name is Ashley-Lauren Elrod, youth leader, performer, recording artist, industry photographer, and human rights activist. I absolutely love connecting with people on a daily basis, and the kind of person that would let pretty much anyone stay on my couch. Most call me a gypsy native specifically because I feel and do, only if I know it’s right. In regards to my current career endeavors, I’m preparing for the release of my second EP, “Warrior Rebirth” which prompted my photography project “State Your Vision.” After a crazy two years for me, I can say I’ve been reborn into a new Ashley, and it’s led me to really open up more to people, and help them along on their journey by opening a comfortable outlet to talk about it. Together this ties into not only sharing my story of REBIRTH, but others’ stories as well.

Can you tell us more about your current project, the idea behind it, and the purpose driving it? My current project is called “State Your Vision” and it’s literally me asking everyone what their Vision Statement for life is, and how they feel they are accomplishing it. This project is tied in with my upcoming album, “Warrior Rebirth” that will be launching Christmas Day, which will include the several faces of the vision project within it. I want this to be a positive PEOPLE experience, meaning I want all people to be able to connect the music and the people in a positive way. I also don’t want this album to be about solely my rebirth, because if it weren’t for God and the people he brought alongside to help me, my rebirth wouldn’t be possible. It’s important for me to share the story of REBIRTH as a whole and watch is spread like wildfire. Where do you get your creative inspiration for your products? I get my creative inspiration from God and my overall life experiences with people, places, and life events. All that I’ve ever done has been given from him, whether it be a blessing or a great test, every situation has led to this moment of great inspiration to help other people and look outside of myself. What does the creative process look like when working on your projects? Craziness. Ha! Complete craziness. I usually have 50 different things going on at once, and it can be difficult for me to focus on just one thing. I usually pray before writing a song or photographing someone, if I’m intentional and in the moment. Usually I’ll just be on the bus or walking down the street, something will hit me, I’ll bust out my phone to record it, and save it for later. In regards to the creative process for my photos, I usually just see where that person’s spirit takes me. I see them before their session to get a good feel for what they should wear and all that jazz, they come in and I literally tell them

to show me who they are. Once someone feels natural in their element, that is when everything truly shines and clicks for me. I love capturing the essence of the person, not just their face and physique. All of the physical fades, but the essence is what lasts beyond time, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always an honor to capture it. Are there people, mentors or figures that have made an impact in your life and career? If so, how? Whew! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gonna be here all day. Seriously, my parents have always played a major part in my life when it comes to engaging in my art wisely with a business mind at hand. It has put me in a position now where I am on my way

to establishing a solid business and brand for myself. My pastors of PEOPLE Church Chicago, Chris and Audrey Carmona along with Lusi and Angel Collazo have also been a huge impact in my life, this year alone. Leading up to the days of attending People Church I was far from in the best place, and I can truly say they have all changed my life for the better. Lastly, would be my producer Rodney Young, who has seen the fruit of my dedication to my life, music, God, and more, through a lot of rough patches I endured. Rodney along with his lovely wife, Nikeya have really been there, not only for music but as life mentors, speaking great things into my future. All of these people I can say have truly helped me to step into a strength I already knew was there but needed to activate again.

What are your goals for yourself in the next 2-5 years? How do you hope to be making an impact or what kind of growth are you looking forward to? I have so many, it’s pretty crazy but I’m a lady that must dream BIG. I most definitely will be touring over the next two years with a wonderful and talented friend, Jessica Hoover, as well as working on a feature film titled “Future Kings”, a post-war Americana Film, summer of 2016. In the next 2-5 years, I also plan to release a duo album with Jessie as she’s a super talented singer, songwriter, musician with a great heart. Her song “Beautiful Place” can be found on Spotify and Itunes, FYI! Along with loads of music, I plan to have the “State Your Vision” project become a major global campaign that will benefit helping human trafficking and child soldier victims and survivors. These two issues weigh on my heart deeply, and I physically want to be there to help these people, and don’t want to leave this earth without doing so. Eventually, I want the whole story of how this all started to become a book, sharing the stories of millions. Lastly, I want to finish writing and publish my first personal book which will be titled, “Beating Breakdown before 30.” I have a few more years before I hit it, so I gotta bust a move! If you are a brand/artist that gives, why did you decide to pursue creating a brand with a charitable aspect and what charities or programs do you work with and how? I decided to create a brand with charitable intentions due to the simple fact that our world needs it. There are so many people out there who need our help and need someone to be their voice, not only oversees but in America, and our city. I believe it’s a big part of my purpose to be that voice, and inspire others’ to find theirs. Currently I’m an artist advocate for “Project AK:47” which is an org based in Nashville with the director in the Philippines, helping to save

child soldiers from war. Along with Project Ak:47, I am also working with the INK Foundation, helping to save and house human trafficking survivors in India. We will be banning together for my next EP event in which we’ll have several handmade accessories from the victims for our raffle, and much more. I’m greatly looking forward to providing even more in the years to come. If you are a brand that focuses on sharing others stories, what kind of stories or people capture your attention and why? I believe every single person on this earth has a story. Having a story doesn’t just revolve around a heart wrenching world of experiences, but how you grew up, what in your world made you who you are, and how you find happiness each day. I honestly pay very close attention to people, more than most may think… I like to sit back, observe, and question everything in a good way. I like to really understand who people are and how they became who they are. All people capture my attention, and I want to be able to collectively

capture stories from all classes, races, and demographics. How has media and the digital age impacted the way you run your business or have pursued your artform? The digital age has been pretty marvelous for sharing my stories and music. It’s so simple to be able to reach someone in Haiti from Chicago by the press of a button. There have been people from several countries who’ve emailed me about music, art, and more just because they found me on their newsfeed on Facebook or by following me on Instagram. It’s crazy how many connections I’ve made in regards to this project alone. Everyone just wants to be in on the good things, more than this world likes to admit, as we witness so much of the bad. At the end of the day, we all want to be apart of something EPIC and I truly want everyone to be apart of the opportunity to do so.

How are you trying to remain innovative as an artist, how are your pushing the boundaries? I am trying to travel as much as possible, and connect with many people as possible on a daily basis. I literally make it a goal of mine to connect with a new person each day. This alone is pushing major boundaries, because it’s the point of breaking past all insecurities and just going for it in a public setting. I can say it’s been super cool and gratifying though as my closest friends are people I just met one day! We were either at an audition, or just passed one another on the street and bumped into one another. Serendipity type events to the fullest! It’s been super cool to push past Ashley and make people feel comfortable enough to just talk, and not think I want something or being a facetious weirdo! Ha. What kind of advice would you give to someone looking to follow their dreams or a creative career? GET UP, AND DO IT. Make a plan, but be aware that plans usually never work out the way we want them to. In order to be a successful

entrepreneur and artist you must be open to failure. This is a reality that I have faced several times, but facing it has led to some AMAZING and life changing breakthroughs. Lastly, learn that your art is truly your 9-5 business and a reflection of who you are. It won’t just come out of thin air. If you’re not putting in the work, and creating your brand, your art will suffer and eventually you will too. Make sure you’re surrounding yourself with mentors that can help you get on the right track to set yourself up for success in all areas of your life and work. Your art is YOU, so make sure you’re taking care of you physically, mentally, and spiritually. Forget about being famous and known, and focus on impacting this world in a positive way, because your actions will always speak louder than anything. Finally, where can we learn more about you and what you do? You can check out all sneak peeks and updates at ashleylaurenonline.com as well as visionarywomen.exposure.co.

WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER LEZAN IMAGES COURTESY OF: KENT STATE

Kent State University

he cost of pursuing higher educations has become increasingly unattainable for many young people hoping to do more with their life. The list-price tuition at U.S. colleges and universities has risen by roughly 7% per year since the early 1980s. The inflation rate has averaged just 3.2%. This is a scary proposition for those who have to pick between paying living expenses and paying educational expenses. Young people shouldn’t have to choose to eat or have a home over getting a solid education. According to nasfaa.org, “Two features of the economic landscape have had a big effect on affordability. The first is a sea change in budget priorities in the states. In 1975, states allocated roughly $10.50 to higher education for every $1,000 of per capita state income. Today the figure is around $6.00, despite a massive increase in the number of students seeking postsecondary education. This type of budgeting has resulted in tuition increases at public universities, which have negatively impacted the availability and quality of their academic programs [. . . ] Over the same span of years, the income distribution in the United States has changed dramatically. This is another major force for creating affordability problems in higher education. In the 1960s, an average person with a high school diploma could live a comfortable, middle-income lifestyle. That statement no longer holds true.”

The reality is that as the middle class slowly begins to disappear, opportunities begin to

disappear as well. Although, this situation seems dismal, many schools and students are taking the future into their own hands. Top schools, who see the benefit of giving back, are working hard to implement programs that are meant to help potential promising students with the overall costs of their education. It’s the professors and select administrators who believe that young people should have access to higher education no matter their socioeconomic status that are pushing through these hardships to give students a chance. Young Kim, The Director of Kent State University’s NYC Studio, is one of those educators and innovators who believe that giving back and offering students an opportunity to pursue their dreams is important. Why? Because she was once in their shoes. As a poor student during her college days she took 18 plus hours every semester and had three part time jobs, working 50 hours per week to make it work. She has a deep understanding of the disparity young people face when choosing to pursue an education despite monetary hardships they may face. This year marks her 20th anniversary in America. To celebrate and bring awareness to the life changing experiences the NYC studio offers Kent students, Young founded the NYC Studio Director’s Scholarship Fund. She took some time out of her busy schedule to talk with us about her career, the fashion program at Kent and more about the new scholarship fund. Keep reading for the full interview.

Young Kim and (far right) Professor J.R. Campbell, Director of The Fashion School with supporters.

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what led you to pursue your current career endeavors? I grew up in a family of 4, middle class, nothing out of the ordinary, but had an amazing childhood. Loving, caring, attentive, accepting parents who understood me as who I was- a kid who wanted everything, and wanted to be everything. And my parents let me to be all over the place, and because of them, today, I am an interdisciplinary artist, fashion designer, educator, entrepreneur, philanthropist… among many things I identify myself with. My childhood was heavily influences by the

arts- music, fine arts, dance, and architecture to name of few. So, I came to the U.S. twenty some years ago to pursue my studies in the arts on a scholarship. My life in America started in a small private high school in Norfolk, VA, where I had the privilege of learning from teachers who tirelessly supported, encouraged, and devoted to my learning and success. I ended up winning the U.S. Congress’ Artistic Discovery in our district, had a couple of my paintings displayed at The White House, offered an opportunity to spend my summer in Manhattan at one of the most prestigious Fashion Design School’s in the U.S., and went onto pursue my undergraduate degree at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I earned B.F.A. majoring in

Fashion Design. At SAIC, I took several years off to travel the world while working for different companies in design and manufacturing. I had a fantastic time, learned a lot, experienced a lot, and also realized that I was ready to go back to school. So, I came back to The States to finish my degree and started my position as a teaching assistant at the same time where I discovered my knack for teaching and helping. This is also about the same time I started freelancing, illustrating for magazines, designing for boutiques on Oak Street, and designing black-tie & bridal gowns. Immediately upon graduation, life presented me two very different paths; teaching fashion design in Chicago or designing in NYC. I chose teaching without any hesitation because it allowed me to be all the things I wanted to be. I designed part time, taught part-time, and went to grad school full time for some years until I settled with another design school as a full time faculty. After a decade in Chicago, I was ready to come back to NYC, and that’s where Kent State and I found each other. I have been with Kent State since the beginning of 2011, and a few years later, I was appointed as the Director of NYC Studio for the Fashion School at Kent State University.

Evening of Celebration Reception.

Can you tell us more about Kent State’s Fashion Program and what it can offer students seeking to focus in a fashion/creative career? The Fashion School has been endorsed by The Ohio Board of Regents has endorsed as “Center of Excellence” at Kent State University and in the State of Ohio. As a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), we are also recognized as one of the top Fashion Schools in the United States. We provide a comprehensive American university experience, a forward looking and rigorous curriculum in fashion, an aggressive approach to the use of digital technologies, and access to a broad range of international and study away experiences. As one of the largest fashion schools in the U.S., The Fashion school offers a broad range of experiences and opportunities for our students. State of the art research/teaching/learning facility, TechStyleLAB is equipped with a range of digital output devices, such as our wide format digital textile printer, digital embroidery machines, 3-D Body Scanner, and multi-gauge knitting machine in one collective space to allow for a

completely vertical on‐demand design/production environment. We also have KSU Museum that houses a stunning collection or mostly 20th century garments along with 18th and 19th century pieces, and Fashion Library that is the primary repository at Kent State University for printed materials on the history of fashion, the apparel industry, fashion retailing, fashion accessories, and fashion design. Equally important aspect of The Fashion School that is available for our students is the number of prestigious study away experiences through our satellite campus in NYC and Florence, Italy, and our partnership in Paris and Hong Kong. Can you tell us more about the role you play at Kent and how you are involved with students on a day-today basis? As the Director of NYC Studio, I oversee the NYC Studio Program, its operation, and its peoplefaculty, staff, and students. I am responsible to maintain and uphold the scholarly rigor of the Fashion School Curriculum, to expand the scope and impact of the NYC Studio Program. Since my appointment as the director, my dayto-day involvement with the students has been more limited compared to before when I was a faculty. But I still know all of their names, get nosy with their design projects, and pick on their eating habits. I have an open door policy- they walk in with personal concerns, life matters, dreams & aspirations, and career questions. As a faculty I got to see my students develop, as a person and as a designer. I got to help them shape their identity as a designer, and add to their aesthetics. Now, I get to play a similar role to faculty and staff. This position has certainly widened my vision as an educator and an administrator. I make sure that my role does not stay stagnant. I am still heavily involved in curriculum development and alignment, advisement of students, and serve them indirectly by developing and strengthening our relationship within local fashion industry and beyond. Attending college can be an incredibly huge burden in terms of debt, how is Kent helping students to offset these

costs, are there any scholarships available to young people wanting to pursue a program at Kent? I certainly agree because I was that poor student in college who took 18 plus credit hours every semester, and had three part-time jobs clocking in weekly average 50 hours of work. Unlike the long list of private schools I went to, Kent State, as a state institution, has one of the most competitive tuition rates that I have seen. Kent State’s out-of-state tuition is often less than many state’s in-state tuition. More importantly, The Fashion School has a large donor base and the highest amount of endowed scholarships (with an annually awarded total of over $56K) within Kent State University. This is a clear indication of external support from the community and industry for the education and service provided by the Fashion School. That number increases every year, and there are also over 700 institutional scholarships awarded by various Kent State University departments. Can you tell me more about the scholarship program you had a hand in creating and what led you to start the program? This year marks my 20th year anniversary in America, also a year that plays a significant role in my personal life. To celebrate and reflect on my personal journey, and to bring awareness to the life changing experience NYC Studio offers to Kent State students, I founded NYC Studio Director’s Scholarship Fund. This year also marks 10th year anniversary of NYC Studio. It was a perfect timing, for the perfect cause, with perfect group of supporters who believe in the program as much as I do. This scholarship, both merit and need base, will provide financial support to Fashion School students who plan to study away in NYC Studio to offset their out of pocket expense. Our very first fundraiser was attended by over 90 NYC based tastemakers and leaders, and with the generous contribution, we are now able to fund three students for next academic year.

Silent auction bidding.

Can you tell us more about Kent’s NYC Studio, what you do there and what students can expect if participating in the NYC program? The NYC Studio, located in the heart of New York City’s Garment District, is a study-away campus of The Fashion School at Kent State University. Students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in New York City for a full semester or summer while completing required coursework. Students learn from instructors who have successful careers in the NYC Fashion industry, participate in prestigious internships, and network with fashion professionals and alumni. New York City, the epicenter of the fashion world, provides unparalleled cultural wealth and inspiration. In a day and age where giving can sometimes be overlooked, why is it important to you to give to the creative community and potential

students who are able to make use of a scholarship such as the one you are offering through Kent? As shared earlier, I could have not completed neither my undergraduate nor graduate degrees without the scholarship support, therefore, I surely understand the need and the impact of such support. This is why I have dedicated a big portion of my academic career in developing such opportunities and raising awareness for the cause. I have previously served as a board member and a Scholarship Committee Chair for Chicago Fashion Foundation, and, more excitingly, I am currently in the initial stages of establishing a new scholarship with my high school. This scholarship will be named after me, and will annually support one student’s artistic and educational endeavors. I also want to remove some of the intimidation associated with “giving”. I truly believe that it does not have to be big nor does it have to be monetary. I save and

plan to give. When I did not have any to save, I gave my talent and time. There are so many ways to give. On fostering artistic talent specifically, I have personally experienced the positive and life altering power of the arts in my journey, I would like to think that I am a positive representation of such kindness. I credit majority of my achievements in life to different artistic disciplines I was privileged to experience and explore. It has helped and transformed me to be “creative” in problem-solving, risk-managing, thinking, and to be the person I am. If you could offer some sage advice for success, to young fashion industry hopefuls and potential students , what would it be? I don’t consider myself successful by any means, not at the least; I am just a very happy person. Happy with who I am and where I am. So, I will try on “happiness”. • Be you and don’t fit in! I was very different than other kids and I was extremely happy to be different. Later in life, because I was so different, I stood out. So, just be you. I do not want to be anyone else but me. • Be open-minded! This lets you embrace changes and challenges, helps you to learn

Silent auction bidding & raffle tables.

that there is more than one answer to life, accept constructive criticism, and eventually help you to grow. • Make mistakes! Big Mistakes!!! I made countless mistakes, some were very big, and some were small. But I made a lot of them. I learned more from my mistakes than my success. So, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, or to be wrong, just try not to make same mistakes. • Humility and compassion. It’s not your talent that set you apart, rather, it is your humility. Kindness also goes much longer ways than your talent. Kindness and compassion bring that exact thing. Be happy! Happiness exudes your personality, confidence, and the outlook of your life. Everyone wants to be around happy people. Finally, where can we learn more about Kent’s fashion program, the NYC Studio program and about the scholarship programs? The Fashion School at Kent State University https://www.kent.edu/fashion The Fashion School’s NYC Studio https://www.kent.edu/fashion/NYCStudio Scholarships https://www.kent.edu/fashion/scholarships

Rising Star

Nicki Brashear

Entrepreneur, Owner, and Creator of Fashionista Chicago

hicago, our fashion industry is still small, but let me add mighty. One of those mighty Chicago Fashionistas include Nicki Breshear. This gorgeous model-looking Chicagoean is the owner/creator and genius behind Fashionista Chicago. Here at Half stack we had the opportunity to chat with this down-to-earth sweetheart about her life, Chicago and most importantly about Fashion! Nicki, was no ordinary tween growing up, she was a jet setter at a young age traveling and experiencing different cultures including visiting Japan! “I think by doing this,

trends” Nicki stated also noting “my mother is super fashionable too! Always wear Armani (her favorite) or if its just a casual day, she’ll put together a pair of jeans and a class top and look so put together.” She also mentioned how they wear the same size and her mom is 75! So there’s no end in raiding her mom’s closet! Nicki also studied fashion and design in Miami! “I came back home to Chicago and finished school at ISU graduating with an international communications major in minor in Japanese. This lead me to Japan for a summer and to work in the city of Tokyo at Komatsu International.” Nicki worked in the company’s Marketing depart-

ment and that’s when she realized that she was destined to be in marketing, thus becoming her profession and expertise. Nicki have been in digital marketing for over 15 years now becoming an expert in this area. “When I moved to Chicago to work in marketing, I learned to explore the different neighborhoods and I found so many amazing little boutiques” Nicki mentioned. She loved the fact that the items being sold were one of a kind and not big brands. “Whenever I started wearing pieces from these boutiques, I was always asked where I got them. Eventually, I decided to write about where to shop for my items and talk about the boutiques in various neighborhoods in Chicago.” She eventually learned more about designers in Chicago and started to attend fashion shows to view their collections. “Now I am hooked on supporting my city, small businesses and Chicago designers through my website Fashionista Chicago.” Nicki’s passion for our city shows on her website. There’s so many designers in Chicago she couldn’t pick one when asked to pick her favorite! “But the great things about Chicago designers is that you know everything is made by hand or manufactured here. Each one has their own look and feel; from swimwear to the red carpet!” When asked about memories of Chicago, Nicki mentioned “We always came to Chicago growing up to attend plays, shop or just for an amazing dinner. The Signature Room was such a treat especially

when you are a little girl looking out those windows! I came here after school and never left!” Since Nicki writes so much about designers, will she become one soon? “No. I am not a designer at all. I love to wear the latest pieces but I could not imagine trying to get into that industry. I am a marketer not a designer” She firmly stated. “However, I do like to create my own logo tops and collaborate with designers to create a small run of a Chicago style top. The latest collab was with Julie Kramer, Designer/Owner of Shift Clothing.” Check it out here (http://fashionista-chicago.com/product/i-love-chicago-tee/) When I asked Nicki, “any future plans?” The answer was lots. “I have recently partnered with Spare Parts boutique in East Lakeview to help bring in local designers and new collections. I guess I am acting as a part-time buyer.” Nicki also encourages everyone to visit Spare Parts, “It’s not called Spare Parts for nothing (lots of Spare Parts) and has been around for over 20 years. It’s such a unique store that it’s hard to leave sometimes because you get caught up looking at everything and chatting with the owner Vanessa Kaplan. You just want to grab a latte and hang out all afternoon.” As for us here at Half Stack, we wish to grab a a latte and hang all day with Nicki too! But all good things come to an end. Make sure to visit her website/online store at http://fashionista-chicago.com/ And enjoy shopping local! By: Stella Estrella Quimby

Meet Michael Lew founder of Faces Apparel Faces Apparel is a socially responsible online fashion house that is working to give back through their creative endeavors through a collaboration with World Vision. World Vision in the Philippines is an organization that strives to build thriving communities where peace and justice prevail and all can enjoy security, opportunity and happiness. World Vision works for the well being of poor and vulnerable people through: Sustainable development, disaster and emergency response and public engagement.

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, you background and what led you to pursue your current career endeavors? I’m a husband and father of two wonderful children, which is what lead me to serve others… I have always had the desire and talent to design and make clothes for others. I am fortunate to have graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in Los Angeles and be able to make a living doing what I love and what I’m passionate about. For more than 25 years I have been part of the apparel industry, working for companies and later creating a branded label with my wife, which manufactures and designs clothes locally and overseas. For the past 15 years I have been producing and developing apparel product all over the world for many retailers in the USA. Realizing that my attitude was focused only on business and wealth only, I was not able to spend time with my family and I became something that I did not want to be. I traveled all over the world and worked with migrant workers and treated them like machines. It was only about how fast and how cheap I could get my product. Bottom line, “how much do I get out of it?” Then one evening traveling overseas for work, something happened and it was beautiful, the spirit of God unleashed inside of me and transformed my family life, attitude and relationships to be “mission focused.” My life was turned inside out and I started to do things that did not seem to make sense to everyone, but definitely right for a “purposeful life.” I started to look at the faces of all the

migrant workers that I saw every day and saw the struggle in their eyes. I became a servant to the ones I use to treat so bad and take for granted. I wanted to know more about them personally. Being a third generation Chinese and not knowing the language, I needed to find people to help me build the relationships. After many trips back and forth to the USA and Asia I started to help and support self-sustaining community centers that reach out to the migrant workers and their families, which are offering transformation in many ways. Bringing the stories and the plight of the migrant worker to USA was very difficult in the beginning. As I shared more with others, they too became advocates. It became very clear to all of us that we have a connection with these migrant workers. Not just in the USA, but globally. We have the privilege to use and wear the consumer products that they make for us every day. So now when I look at a label and see that it was made in Mexico, China, Turkey, India, etc. – it is not a place, but a FACE. This was the birth of the nonprofit “Faces Behind the Label” another way to spread this awareness through the universal language of the ARTS, fashion, dance, painting and music. Two years later Faces Apparel, Inc. was started as a for profit was formed in order to selfsustain the organization for FBTL and support other organizations on the frontline reaching out to the migrant populations in areas of need. If we can change the world with the Mobile Factory initiative, One Tshirt at a time, we can bring dignity, HOPE and Worth around the world by creating jobs and keeping families together. Now on every December 18th, we are participating on a

movement with the United Nations’ to bring awareness, appreciation and hope to migrant workers everywhere, by wearing your Tshirt inside out and expose the label. “Someone made your clothes, so wear it inside out.” Be part of the movement let us change the world one Tshirt at a Time. Can you tell us more about your brand, the idea behind it, the customer you cater to and the purpose driving it? We want bring all three parties together. The maker of the product (Face), The consumer of the product(Face) and The company(Faces) we are all unique of equal in many areas even though we are miles or even countries apart. Our aim is to let the consumer know that a Face/ Person is behind the product being made and should be treated fairly and be empowered. Where do you get your creative inspiration for your products? Travels all around the world energize me and the people I meet during these travels are what drive the creativeness and the inspirations. Inspiration always also comes from family and community around me. I always think of what my community would want in a product – and I mean all the people I encounter. I am listener and an executor. What does the design process look like when working on your products? Design comes from what excites me and gets me going, just like a really good cup of coffee and of course my personal quiet time, which helps me to really focus on what is around me and how I can be useful. Then I start to work on an organic process that has structure loosely, as design will always change until it is done. Are there people, mentors or figures that have made an impact in your life and career? If so, how? Yes, I have many mentors and people in my life that keep me accountable and real. I like to dream but the people around me are my NUMBER ONE people and that is what I need. I have Business, Spiritual, Family and Friends who are mentors and have the authority to speak into my life and decisions. I cannot do it alone. What are your goals for your brand in the next 2-5 years? How do you hope to be making an impact or what kind of growth are you looking forward to? Brands: be at a 50/50 business with business-to-business

and business-to-consumer sales. It is tough but I feel that this will be a good balance for the company in the long run. Our impact will be that everyone who buys our product will get more of an understanding of the People more than the Product. Unfortunately this world is about Product and that is why we are always innovating new ways to impact the apparel industry, through product, technology, process and manufacturing. If you are a brand that gives, why did you decide to pursue creating a brand with a charitable aspect and what charities or programs do you work with and how? There is nothing else we can do, but help others and build a business that can give more than take in. The larger we grow the more we can help others to sustain themselves and create a better future and reverse the cycle of poverty locally and globally. We always want to work with NGOs that have been invested in helping the local people for over 15-20years and impacting the community and have the same values as ours. We have turned down many NGOs for different reasons, but we want to stay strong on what we believe in. If you are a brand focused on sustainability, what sparked the choice to create a brand that is environmentally friendly or that lessens the impact on the world? Faces Apparel was created with the thought that cause and enterprise can converge, creating an impact on the global community through helping people stay with their families and community, helping them earn a fair wage and bringing dignity to areas that are in need of empowerment. The apparel industry is rife with negative impacts, and we hope we can be one part of the process to lessen our negative impact on people around the world. The fashion/product type industry seems to be going through an evolution, why do you think the industry is changing from its typical fast fashion format to something new? How do you think this evolution will affect your brand? We are focusing not on fashion, but innovation for the customer who live a certain lifestyle. We all want something that is comfortable and technologically advanced. This is really not typical fashion, because fashion has a very short lifespan. We want to grow for our people who make the product and the transformation we help our on our mobile factory initiative. If we all focused on the people than we would have 1/2 of the social struggles and issues we have today.

How is your brand remaining innovative and what does it offer that is different than what most people can already buy?

hire a partner who has it, in your market. Of course, plenty of financial backing. Lastly, always have a Good CPA and Lawyer. In the end, have a mission.

This is what I have been doing for 20 years in the apparel industry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; helping other brands come up with new ideas to grow. The hardest part is the marketing and distribution. My specialty coming up with new technology in apparel in many areas and I am now applying this to Faces Apparel with its Ultimate Collection line, as well as the Faces Apparel premium tee collection.

Finally, where can we learn more about your brand and what it does? www.facesapparel.com Instagram: @facesapparel Facebook: FacesApparelInc Twitter: @facesapparel

What kind of advice would you give to someone looking to launch their own brand? Have plenty of support from family, friends and mentors. Community is good to have in all areas of your life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it provides balance and you always receive a different perspective in your brand. You should have experience, or

Brands That Give Going Beyond Fashion and Putting the Substance & Passion into Fashion

ashion can sometimes be synonymous with vanity. The idea that fashion is only skin deep. People tend to think that fashion can’t change the world. Yet, a quote by Anne Klein takes this idea and turns it upside down. She explains that clothes aren’t going to change the world. It’s the people who wear them that will. This issue we are focusing on two brands (one international and the other USA based) that are working to add passion and substance into fashion. Faces Apparel and Bella+Sophia Clothing are two organizations working to make an impact on the world around them. Each of these brands is looking to change the world and how the world sees fashion.

Faces Apparel is a socially responsible online fashion house that is working to give back through their creative endeavors through a collaboration with World Vision. World Vision in the Philippines is an organization that strives to build thriving communities where peace and justice prevail and all can enjoy security, opportunity and happiness. World Vision works for the well being of poor and vulnerable people through: Sustainable development, disaster and emergency response and public engagement. Faces Apparel has created an entire line of premium tees that will benefit the nonprofit in its Philippines outreach. Serving more than 96,000 children in the Philippines with initiatives improving literacy and education, World Vision in the Philippines is committed in building thriving communities and breaking the cycle of poverty.

Bella + Sophia is a modern line of childrenswear dedicated to high quality, innovative and comfort design. The brand is based out of Chicago and focuses on sustainable and local sourcing supporting the Made in the USA label. Yet, the brand goes beyond supporting local manufacturers and also focuses on making a difference in the community through youth outreach. The brand is designed by Jennifer Veguilla and inspired by her two daughters Bella & Sophia. At the heart of the business is a genuine desire to educate, reform & inspire the youth from underserved communities. As a young girl, Jennifer grew up in a low income, single mother home in a rough community in the “hood” of Chicago. The violence & heartache she saw as a child affected the decisions she has made as an adult and now parent to do better and make the world better for her girls. With this idea in place, a portion of the sales of each garment goes back to the community through a charitable partnership with 360 Youth Services to help the underserved, minority and at risk youth. 360 Youth Services is a well-respected organization operating on an annual budget of approximately two million dollars and offering counseling, substance abuse prevention, and housing programs for youth. The organization helps over 6,000 persons and significantly impacts over 25,000 youth and their families in Naperville and the surrounding areas. In today’s day and age, it is so easy to get caught up in the idea that one person can’t change the world. Many people have become apathetic to the issues in the world, refusing to even acknowledge. Yet, there are those in the world who believe that one small step can lead to leaps and bounds of progress. Throughout history, single acts of defiance from individuals have proven to be incredible effective in setting in motion change. It takes courage to put oneself out there and stand alone in the center of adversity. Yet, it is often those brave individuals who empower others and move society forward. So, what can clothes do? Through these organizations, they can change the world for a child. Through the inspiration behind these companies, purchases that are made with a purpose can empower a future generation. Brands such as Faces Apparel and Bella+Sophia Clothing are putting the power to help in the hands of the people through shopping and fashion. They’re creating a call to action and giving people an opportunity to help push forward their movements. Movements that start with the youth, the future of our world.

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Winter 2015

Looks for Less By: Teresa Cutrera , Fashion & Style Editor

Words like blizzard, “chiberia” and snowstorm are always terms we’ve associated with the winter here in Chicago, but for me it’s always meant the holidays! It’s a time to concentrate on and spend time with family and friends…and of course, knock out that holiday shopping! You’ll be doing some major shopping these next few months! So, I’ve done some of the legwork for you and found some of the best looks for less! There’s a ton of holiday sparkle for the ladies that’s perfect for those holiday events along with my favorite, the embroidery trend. The guys have a ton to pick from too. Trends like rich holiday velvets and warm Sherpa jackets are sure to be a hit. Whether you’re looking for a gift for someone special or even just searching for that perfect holiday party outfit, this winter is filled with some amazing trends that will help you shine through the holiday season and into the New Year!

Embroidery

This is by far my favorite trend this season. This trend is an ode to the boho, Hippie-era that has been going strong for some time now. The best part is that these pieces become investment pieces. They are beautiful to look at and even more fun to wear. They are super easy to style with jeans or dress up with a skinny cigarette pant. Left to Right: Embroidered Panel blouse | Mango.com | $59.99 Cotton Embroidered Jacket | Mango.com | $119.99 Embroidered Jacket | Zara | $169.00 Embroidered Jacket | Zara | $99.00

Alice + Olivia Fall 2015 RTW

Warm & Fuzzy

What better way to stay warm during the winter than to wear something out of this trend? These warm and fuzzy numbers are perfect to style with just about any outfit. They give a very fun and playful vibe. Want to make it the look feel more luxe? Opt for a style in a solid black or winter white and combine it with a sleek holiday dress. Left to Right: Sherpa Wedge Jacket | Express | $98.00 Super Trash Orson Faux Fur Coat | Nastygal.com | $238.00 Short Jacket | Zara | $129.00 Soft Faux Fur Jacket | Zara | $69.90

Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 RTW

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Velvet Soft

The Velvet trend lends itself perfectly to the winter. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s both a lush and rich fabric that works great during and after the holiday season. If you want a real standout piece go for a velvet dress with a plunging neckline like the one from Zara. If you want something that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll wear season to season then choose a piece that has some velvet accents instead of full on velvet like the Topshop version.

Christopher Kane

F/W 2015 RTW

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Holiday Sequins

Nothing says holidays like sparkle. Sequins are everywhere during the holidays! So, it’s important to choose your sequin pieces wisely. If you’re more into the classic style, go for a simple sequined mini dress or skirt. Like to step out of the box? Then go for my favorite, the sequin legging. It’s such a fun piece and perfect with a simple black tuxedo jacket. Left to Right: Sequin Jacket | Abercrombie & Fitch | $98.00 Red V-Neck Sequin Mini Dress | Express | $128.00 Sequin Legging | Zara | $79.90 Sequinned Miniskirt | Zara | $39.90

Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 RTW

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Victorian Lace

I am probably one of the biggest fans of lace, but particularly black lace. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bold, romantic and sexy all at once. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just something very dramatically beautiful about it. This winter is a great time to experiment with different types of lace. My favorite is the ASOS black lace version. Pair it with a bold red lip for some extra drama and that perfect holiday party look. Left to Right: Warehouse Rivet Detail Dress | ASOS.com | $134.36 Black Lace Inset Maxi Dress | Express | $88.00 Tonal Lace Shift Dress | Topshop | $140.00 Lace Pencil Skirt | Zara | $49.90

Alexander Mcqueen Fall 2015 RTW

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The Turtleneck Not everyone is a fan of the turtleneck, but there’s no arguing with the fact that they keep you warm on those cold winter days. Turtlenecks are big in menswear for winter. I’ve rounded up some options that are easy to wear even if you’re not a huge turtleneck aficionado. Left to Right: ASOS Roll Neck W/ Texture Yoke & Zip detail | ASOS.com | $46.58 Cable-Knit Wool-Blend Sweater | Mango | $89.99 Cotton Sweater | Zara | $49.90 Wide Neck Sweater | Zara | $49.90

Ami F/W 2015 RTW

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Fade to Black To me, nothing looks cooler than a man in head to toe black. Hence my excitement for the black on black trend this season. My favorite looks were from Public Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fall/Winter readyto-wear show. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not in the market for the designer version, which most of us are not, check out my less versions. My favorite piece is the ASOS meggings and shorts; they look both super edgy and modern!

Public School

Fall 2015 RTW

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Winter Velvet Guys get to enjoy some of this trend as well this season. The velvet trend looks best in a jacket or even a vest for menswear. Velvet will dress up whatever you’re wearing and make you look sleek and polished. If you’re looking for the best colors for the velvet trend, opt for richer tones like emeralds, navy’s and my favorite: burgundy. Left to Right: ASOS Skinny Fit Blazer in Velvet | ASOS.com | $143.32 ASOS Slim Waistcoat in Velvet | ASOS.com | $57.33 Velvet Bomber Jacket | Zara | $89.90 Velvet Sneakers | Zara | $49.90

Bottega Veneta

F/W 2015 RTW Menswear

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Sherpa Sherpa jackets are the perfect trend for guys that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to wear coats during the winter. While there are some styles that will keep you warmer than others, I found a few that are great version that mimic the designer version shown on the runway. These jackets tend to be mostly casual, so definitely be mindful of what you pair them with. Left to Right: Peter Werth Navy Jacket | Topman | $300.00 Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corduroy Sherpa Trucker Jacket | Urban Outfitters | $89.00 OBEY Freeway Sherpa Bomber Jacket | Urban Outfitters | $99.00 Khaki Wool Rich Borg Collar Jacket | Topman | $150.00

J.W. Anderson

F/W 2015 Menswear

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Brown Tones Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always one color that makes a splash each season. For menswear, that was brown. There were all types of brown tones shown by designers on the runway. They color was used in a monochromatic way by combining different tones together. Check out some of the more pocket friendly versions of this trend. Left to Right: Brown Bomber Jacket | Topman | $100.00 Brown Leather Mid Calf Boots | Topman | $150.00 Peccary Biker Jacket | Zara | $299.00 Structured Sweater | Zara | $79.90

Berluti

F/W Fall 2015 Menswear

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WTF!? 2015 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS AN EXAMINATION OF STARS MODAS By: Stella Quimby Design: Kali Koller

FIRST VICTIM: (A.K.A Star): Homeless Beibs I know, lately the hipster wanna-be homeless look is totally in, but why be a gutter rat at an awards show? Seriously, are you that depressed that you want the world to get the sobs looking at you? Might as well stick to crying after a performance or throw a fit after a misplaced dance move like you normally do? P.S hire a stylist who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live in a cardboard box. (photo by Getty Images)

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SECOND STAR: Ursula or goes by Z LaLa Have you ever seen an outfit and find yourself yelling out “WTF??” Well, apparently everyone at the AMA’s did that when they saw this artist pimping out an octopus on her leg. Is she promoting a Save the Octopus Charity? Does she love octopuses sucking on her leg? Did you catch an Octopus and want to show off the carcass? I didn’t know the AMA’s had a dress code: Under the Sea. Maybe she should concentrate on her music and leave the clothing to a professional, who isn’t located in the deep blue sea. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

THIRD STAR: Cyclops formerly known as the Artist Prince It’s hard to look at this man and remind yourself that he was a seducer of the world’s most beautiful women in his heyday. Like Seriously? Not only is he the height of a Twinkie but now apparently he has a 3rd eye. Oh and look he’s wearing heels, but still can’t reach the cabinet. Dude, the 70’s are done, maybe it’s time to live in the present and stop living in the past? Oh, and join the crowd and get some plastic surgery, remove that 3rd eye cause last I heard the X-Men were fictional. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

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WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF

FOURTH STAR: Kylie Jenner (Talking about Plastic Surgery…) We can’t have an issue of WTF without a Skankdashian! The baby of this gang of hoochies is clearly looking up to her sisters. Paying homage to the Queen West by wearing the ripped up bed sheets that her sister Kim used in her debut porn film. Talk about support! Sadly her lips are covering up more than her sheets do. Keep on injecting those lips! You do you girl. (Photo from Getty Images)

FINAL DISASTER: Joe Jonas & His band of misfits; DNCE First, I had no idea that the cute Jonas brother was in a band. Second, are they really trying to look fugly so that the Jonas bro continues looking cute? I want to grab a pair of scissors and give them all much needed haircuts, but the token girl who can’t dress herself probably hid the scissors after cutting up her sweater/dress? Also, is the insane asylum patient wearing a kilt? Oh, look they have an inmate in the group! Really trying to appeal to a large group of listeners aren’t they? Smart move. (photo from Getty Images)

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F!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!? WTF!?

fashion l

WRITTEN BY: CATIE COSCINO PHOTOGRAPHY: ISABEL SOUZA COURTESY OF FASHION LOVES ART

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loves art THE EVENT OF THE SEASON

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On October 23rd, fashion enthusiasts, artists and philanthropists from all around the Chicagoland area gathered at Moonlight Studios to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House. Stephanie Alexis of SA Style Studio along with the team at Beautiful Planning Marketing & PR produced an amazing, interactive event full of networking, entertainment and fashion! The evening was kicked off promptly at 7 pm with a fashion show styled by Alexis, featuring designers Silvia Bours, Nicole Barnes, Filthy Haanz, Chicago Playground, Ria Bulga and Mark Roscoe. The show featured a little something for everyone, from Varsity letterman jackets to gold lamĂ¨ gowns bouncing down the runway to upbeat music. Dolce Vita shoes were worn by the models, who also rocked hairstyles by Salon U. Among the front row were representatives of Ronald McDonald House, members of the media, designers, local celebrities and influencers. Everyone was dressed in their very best, fitting for the hip venue. Placed under each seat was an ador-

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able Fashion Loves Art swagbag filled with goodies from The ManeChoice, The Pure Bar, Z Skin Cosmetics, and Casetify. Other sponsors for the event were Aurelia Garza handbags, Personalities, Inc, and yours truly, Halfstack Magazine! Following the show, an art exhibit and silent auction commenced. Stunning works of art by Jules Muck, Artistic Views, Rome Won, Katrina Jackson from Black Ink Crew, Joey Africa and Miriam Zuckerman for sale adorned the brick walls of the gallery space. Guests had the opportunity to text in their bids while enjoying cocktails at the two open bars, small bites, and a live performance by Marcus Matteo ft. Sway. Chicago really doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the credit it deserves for its art scene. It was incredibly inspiring to see talented artists, designers, and influencers teaming up to create a special night and raise funds for such an important cause. The Ronald Mcdonald House charities of Chicago and Northwest Indiana provides help to families of ill children. Whether that is in the form of providing housing for the

family near the hospital where their child is being treated, helping lift the financial burden that comes with medical bills during a vulnerable time or just providing a feeling of community for those who need it, RMHC-CNI does amazing things for families in need. SA Style studio was founded by Stephanie Alexis White and offers many services, such as personal styling, image consulting, trend forecasting, and more!

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Finding the Light A FAMILY’S JOURNEY THROUGH OVERCOMING

HEARTACHE & LOSS AND HELPING OTHERS HEAL Written & Photographed by: Laura Lopez While I know the importance of writing this, and the trust that was given to me in order to tell this story, truth be told, I don’t know that I have enough words to articulate this family’s pain or how to begin to describe this family’s love. Gary Charlton was sick, more than anyone knew, more than he shared, maybe to spare the people he loved the pain of knowing that he was dying. He was 20 years old and he was fighting for his life. He had been battling a devastating disease that was often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, slowed heart function, shallow breathing or shortness of breath. The longer he lived with his disease, the greater the risk became. Eventually, his illness would “change the physical structure and physiology of the brain, creating long term imbalances in neuronal and hormonal systems that are not easily reversed.” For years he was consumed by an illness that allowed him little energy for much else. His main focus had become finding his own ways to feel better and medicating the side effects of his disease.

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He was once a kid consumed by baseball and his beloved Chicago White Sox. His bedroom was a shrine to the sport he loved so much. Signed baseballs collected over years of going to games were proudly displayed. Mike, Gary’s stepfather, was a season ticket holder. They would attend up to 30 games a season; even watching the Sox play in World Series games. There were thousands of baseball cards organized in custom wood boxes with his name stamped on top. He was outgoing, fearless and he was kind. He was the youngest of 3 kids, the blonde haired boy with “sparkling blue eyes” who always had a hug for his grandma. When he got sick, everything changed for him and the people that loved him. The son, the brother and the friend that people loved had become unrecognizable. He was in pain. And on February 7th, 2015 Gary, at the age of 20, died at home. His disease had proven to be terminal. Gary was addicted to Heroin and it killed him.

He was a 20- year old kid from the suburbs, raised across the street from the Catholic Church and school that he attended. He went to the community’s public high school, a school with a good reputation. He had his mom Kathy, his step-dad, Mike, his father, Gary, Sr. He had an older brother, Ainsley and an older sister, Cayla. He had a family and he was surrounded by love. He had two dogs. He played baseball. He loved golf. He enjoyed art. He was not the kid you would expect to be addicted to heroin. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2014 there were nearly 12,000 heroin related deaths in the United States. As the heroin epidemic is rapidly growing the communities that are being plagued by its devastation are much more diverse. Studies have shown that as the number of people dependent on prescription pain medication grows, there is also an increase in heroin use. Kate Mahoney, Executive Director of Peer Services in Evanston, attributes this increase to the fact that heroin is more readily available and cheaper than

Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother Kathy holidng a photograph of Gary.117

Photos of Gary in his childhood home.

prescription pain medications. According to the CDC, 45% of people who used heroin were also addicted to prescription opioid painkillers. After Gary passed, his family, together, made the decision to speak honestly and openly about the sad, but real truth behind Gary’s death in order to help any family facing the same battle. He had a structured environment during his early years being in small classes at private grade schools. He had solid relationships with the teachers. When he decided on attending a larger public high school the structure of his environment changed. He was in a bigger school; there was more freedom, new people and personalities. Although he

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continued to play baseball and joined the golf team, he tested the boundaries of his newfound freedom. Unbeknownst to his family, he began smoking marijuana his freshman year. At 16, he was caught a few times with marijuana and was sentenced to community service and counseling. It was at that point he was introduced to Peer Services in Evanston, “a community based non-profit that provides addiction prevention education and outpatient treatment services.”

found him consistently in trouble at school. When he started his high school career he was in honors classes and within a couple of years he had dropped all of his advanced classes. Even with the trouble that he faced he graduated 6 months early, but did not walk at graduation nor did he choose to pick up his diploma. He wanted nothing more than to be done with school. Kathy says, “He was smart. He was good at math. He was so bright.”

At 17, Gary was no longer mandated to go to counseling and he chose not to attend sessions. Gary continued down a darker path and began experimenting with heavier drugs. His attitude towards authority and an increased lack of concern for his education

Gary was a young man with his entire life ahead of him and a bright future. Kathy says one of the hardest things is dealing with all that could have been. It is hardest for her to think about him never fully stepping into adulthood, “finding a job that he loves, falling in love in the

adult-sense, having children. He won’t have any of that.” After 2 overdoses, 1 admission of needing help, 2 failed attempts at treatment, and the inevitable emotional turmoil that comes with loving an addict, Kathy and Mike made the difficult decision in asking Gary to leave home. On Saturday Feb.7th 2015, Gary asked to spend the day at home. Around 10:20pm while he was upstairs finishing a movie and Kathy downstairs watching the news, she heard a loud thump. She ran upstairs and found Gary on the floor with a clear fluid coming from his nose and mouth and patchy red spots all over his back. She knew that this time was different. Gary had died. The family gathered at the hospital and they each said their good-

A part of Gary’s baseball collection.

byes. There are the endless what-ifs a parent in this situation faces… “What if we had pulled him out of that school?” “What if we had seen it sooner?” “ “What if we had done things differently?” Kathy asks now, “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” In speaking with Kate Mahoney, who has become an incredible support for Kathy and her family, she describes addiction as an illness and the need for it to be treated as such. The way a cancer patient celebrates milestones in remission, is the way a recovering addict’s milestones in being clean should be celebrated. Peer Services offers specialized outpatient treatment for all stages of life and are currently working on a young adult program with emphasis on the age group

of 18-26. They offer treatment scholarships on a case-bycase basis, assessing the needs of each of their patients. Their philosophy is that no one should be refused help or counseling based on their ability to pay. As Kathy struggles to come to terms with Gary’s death, she is seeing a therapist who encourages her to put together a time-line to help her better understand the progression of Gary’s illness. She makes her notes and collects information. She wants to piece together his life. Kathy gave generously of her time in sharing Gary’s story with me. We spent two afternoons together talking about Gary, going through his photographs, old school work, childhood art projects, notes and letters he wrote, memories she holds sacred. During the first afternoon that we spoke, I was extremely nervous. I

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wanted her to feel supported. I wanted her to feel safe inside of our conversation and I wanted to make sure that I could do that for her. I approached our initial conversation with caution because the pain is so deep and still so new. For Gary’s family this is a year of firsts, which is always the hardest. It is the first birthdays, the first holidays, the first of many things without him that make moving forward so difficult. Yet, they are learning to live with his absence. I wanted to ask the right questions in the most respectful way possible of someone mourning the loss of her child.

Listening to Kathy talk about her son, she shared some of the more uncomfortable parts of his struggles, but she also shared so much of the good of his heart. She didn’t place blame. She didn’t point fingers. She is not in denial about the decisions her son made and with only love she holds him accountable for his choices. Despite the heartbreak and the desperation she faced while Gary was at the height of his addiction, she never once stopped fighting for him. It was so clear in our conversations just how loved Gary is, unconditionally and fully. Our second afternoon together, I brought my camera and she allowed

The room that was once his shrine to the Chicago White Sox is now their shrine to Gary.

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me to photograph her home including the room that Gary died in. Although it looks different, there is still so much of him there. Through the images, I wanted to remind the world of the person, not just the addiction. Gary was a real person with a real life. He isn’t just a number, or a statistic. He is someone that is loved and missed every single second of everyday. I had known Gary as a kid; the blonde haired, blue eyed little boy that I had babysat for on a few occasions. I didn’t know him as he grew up and he wouldn’t have remembered

me, but I felt an incredible sadness writing this; Like in some way I had to mourn the life of boy gone too soon and a man that had not yet left his mark on the world. This could have easily been the life of anyone I loved. Often times in our young adult years we make decisions, before we fully understand the weight of them, and they determine what becomes of us. Sometimes we find our way back and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we can pull ourselves up from the depths of our lows and sometimes we can’t seem to find our way out. Tragically the latter is becoming far too common.

Since Gary’s passing, his family has stood as a united front becoming involved in the HERO foundation and raising awareness on the legal aspects surrounding heroin addiction. The family continues to work with Kate Mahoney and Peer Services, even participating in their Step Up for Recovery fundraiser that raised money for their treatment scholarship program. They have taken their tragic loss and vowed to do all they can to honor Gary, to help others, and to make sure that their voice is heard. Hints of blue, Gary’s favorite color, are scattered throughout their home. The room that was

once his shrine to the Chicago White Sox is now their shrine to Gary. On November 17th, he would have been 21 years old. On November 21st Gary’s friends and family gathered together to celebrate his 21st birthday, a celebration of his life. From the bottom of my heart, I thank Gary’s family for being brave enough to share such a personal kind of pain, for speaking from an honest place, and through their promise to help others, finding the light in even the darkest of places.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.facebook.com/peerservicesinc

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a letter to Gary

By: Cayla Charlton

“At an early age, I caught you smoking pot. I wasn’t worried though because I didn’t think you’d ever do anything more than that. A year or two went by and I found out you had moved on to pills... Opiates and Xanax. Fast forward a few more years and I’m standing over your pale, lifeless body at the hospital saying my last goodbyes to my only sibling. And the culprit? Heroin. I never would’ve thought.

the funniest, happiest kid I think I’ve ever met, still to this day. You always had a smile on your face and were constantly doing and saying things to make everyone else smile and laugh. It truly was contagious. And your smile brightened up every room you entered. I’d like to think I have that same quality in me with always being happy and trying to making others happy... But you had me beat in that category.

Growing up we were inseparable. Despite the 7 year age difference, we were closer than many siblings that are just a year apart. We had a lot of the same interests. We both loved and played sports, I got you hooked on GameCube Mario Kart and eventually XBox Call of Duty as we got older, we’d sit in the basement listening to Eminem and rapping the lyrics thinking we were superstars, we’d wake up early on Sunday mornings and go fishing with Dad, you’d tag along with me and my friends when we went out. You were

Somewhere along the way, things started to change. You started to change. The drugs took a hold of you and that happy, laughing, wonderful person I once knew that had so much going for him in life became a dull, angry, sometimes even mean human being. I felt I no longer knew you. This wasn’t my brother. You no longer wanted to be around me. In fact, you often said how much you hated me and envied my life. You saw me graduating college, holding a job, buying a house, and getting engaged and you hated me for it. I now see

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that wasn’t you, but rather the drugs talking. I don’t know what it’s like to be an addict, but I do know what it’s like to live with one. You’d steal from our family, take our possessions and sell them, lie to the point where you even believed yourself. All to support your habit. I’d get so angry with mom for “enabling” you because I felt like she was an idiot for giving you money, letting you live at her house, borrowing you the car, etc etc etc. How could she continue doing this after everything you’d done to our family? Obviously you didn’t care about yourself so why should we care? The truth is I wanted to hate you. And I wanted to be okay with hating you. But I wasn’t and I couldn’t be. I spent every day wondering if you’d ever get clean and if I’d ever get my brother back. Then there were the days that I spent worrying if something horrible would happen to you... A drug deal gone wrong... A bad batch of drugs... An overdose. It consumed my every thought even though I acted like it didn’t. And the three calls I got from mom over a one year span saying you had overdosed and were being rushed to the hospital. No one knows it but my heart stopped beating each time. I thought I had lost you. And every time was just as bad and I experienced the loss all over again. Until the fourth time... I got the call...

And found out this would be the last time. I’ll never forget it. I was climbing into bed to go to sleep. It was Saturday night/early Sunday morning when my phone started to ring. I thought who the hell would call me so late? I saw it was mom and I knew right away. You were gone. Sure enough, she was balling and told me you overdosed in your bedroom. Mom had found you. She gave you CPR. The ambulance took you away. No one knew, but you had been long gone. There was no saving you. That drive to the hospital was the longest hour of my life. In fact I don’t really remember it. It’s all a blur. But every mean thing I had ever said to you resurfaced. Every mean thing you had done to me over the last few years came flooding back. The anger came out. Then just utter sadness and regret. Why didn’t I help you? Why couldn’t I see how badly you needed our help? Why did I get mad at mom for “enabling” you. Why did I let it go this far? How did I not know the extent of your addiction? Why did I think this was just a phase and would just “grow out of it” at some point? Why didn’t I fight harder? Why didn’t I give you a longer hug at Christmas? Why did this happen to you and not me? All the whys, what ifs, could’ve, should’ve’s I could think of came flooding through my mind.

I don’t know what it’s like to be an addict. But I do know what it’s like to live with one. And worse yet, I know what it’s like to lose one. It’s the worst fucking feeling I’ve ever experienced. My heart has been broken ever since that day. There’s a hole that will always be there and can never be filled. A piece of me died with you that night, Gary. I’m not the same person. Nor will I ever be. Nor should I expect to be. The regrets, the extreme sadness, the memories both good and bad, the anger, the feeling of being helpless haunt me every day. Your addiction stole you away from me. It made you miss my wedding. It will make you miss my kids, your nieces and nephews. It stole your ability for a future, a wife, kids of your own. It ripped you away from everyone who loves you and made you blind to that very love and support. So do I know what it’s like to be an addict? No. But do I know the immense roller coaster ride of emotions it is to live with an addict and lose an addict? Unfortunately.”

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A Chance Encounter FEATURING WRITER: EVELYN LAUER WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY: LAURA LOPEZ MAKEUP BY: NATALIA EVANGELISTA ART DIRECTION: JENNIFER LEZAN

“What’s your story?” she asked. What do you mean? I said… “Well usually the people that feel connected to my work are the people that have lost the great loves of their lives.” I was meeting her over coffee for the first time, and I didn’t know her and she didn’t know me, but I wanted her to know my story, at least part of it. I wanted her to know that I connected to her heartbreak, her loss of a life she had dreamed of and as she puts it the “absence of memories.”

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I found Evelyn Lauer, a Chicago writer, on Instagram earlier this year. I read through some of her posts and immediately went to her website where I read through

almost every entry. She has spent a great deal of her career writing the story of her relationship with a man she dated throughout her twenties. I had found this voice that so beautifully talked about life and love. I could feel myself and my own heart in every word. In her writing she approached this relationship with such wisdom, with lessons learned and not so much as love lost. It is less of “what ifs,” and “if only wehads”, and more of a better understanding of who she is now because of the experience. Her writing is not about wanting a different life but having an appreciation for what she

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I thought that I had to write him out of me. He is always going to be there. He can live in the same place in my current life, because he made me who I am. -EVELYN LAUER

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has learned about life in general. She says, “ I realized in the writing process that I don’t have to get him out of me. I thought that I had to write him out of me. He is always going to be there. He can live in the same place in my current life, because he made me who I am. I learned from him. And because he wasn’t “that person” I have my beautiful kids and husband.” There is heartbreak in learning to let go of love that no longer works or serves you in order to allow extraordinary things to happen in its absence. Her story is a universal story. The heartbreak in it is so relevant to anyone that has loved and lost. There is a sadness in loving someone and never quite being able to get it right. “If you are an artist, it is our therapy and that’s how we deal. You have to find that thing for yourself, whatever it is.” Evelyn majored in journalism and English in college when she took a creative writing class that began to focus her writing on poetry. She went on to later get her MFA in poetry from Texas State University. She had started writing her thesis, a collection of poetry revolving around this relationship that had profoundly changed her. She writes in a journal entry at 20 years old “ I think I am going to be writing about this man for the rest of my life”. She says now, “I knew it then, at 20 years old. I had that sense. He was going to be my muse.”

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Even after the relationship ended and both had moved forward in their lives, Evelyn says “I needed to get the story out of me, by getting it out of my body and onto the page because it is living inside of me.” And so she began her memoir. Writing such a personal story comes with its fair share of fears. She is currently married with 2 young children. She met her husband while she was already working on her thesis. She was already a writer and so he was aware from the

beginning of her work and her need to write this story. He offers his support by allowing her to write freely and honestly, but admits he cannot always read everything she writes. Because of the personal connection I felt to her work, I reached out to collaborate with her- my images and her words. We emailed back and forth a few times. During our initial meeting we talked about the importance of collaborating with other artists

and continuing to generate art from a place of creative freedom; the importance of creating a body of work that reminds you why you fell in love with your craft in the first place. As Evelyn says “It is very important to do the creative work regardless of the outcome. And I need to remind myself of that. It is about doing the work not about where it lands”. This collection of images centers around Chicago because of the major role the city

plays in her memoir. Evelyn selected images that highlighted the recurring theme of abandonment – feelings of loss and emptiness. “This is the place that we had the potential to be the most real. This is the place that I feel that absence the most. This is where I had dreamt of having a life with him. There are more holes here than togetherness. It’s not about memories; it’s the absence of the memories. It is all the space in between, where we should have been together and we weren’t.

The skyline is the beginning and the ending of the book. The commute, the skyline, i screams that ‘you aren’t here with me’. Chicago is not where we were wonderful, it is where we should have been wonderful “. Evelyn is now a wife and a mother to 2 boys, ages 3 and 6. She tries to instill creativity into her home life. She works on art projects and writing projects with her boys. She teaches English and Journalism to high school students

helping to navigate young writers in their own relationships. While she is working on getting her memoir published, she has also started writing a young adult novel about first loves. In her essay, “The Christmas I Knew He Wasn’t the One”, Evelyn says the life she lives now is about “the love that shows up. The love that stays. The love that watches in awe with me… each Christmas morning as my sons open presents under a glow of white lights…”

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VISIT EVELYN ONLINE: http://evelynalauer.com/

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Orphans of the Storm

Local Chicago Animal Shelter is Taking the Old and Making it New By: Mykah Williams & Kali Koller

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veryday thousands of loving and deserving animals are brought into a home where they will be loved for the rest of lives. Unfortunately, a large majority of these animals are being bought at the local pet store and not at a shelter where animals who have been abandoned often go their whole lives without being accepted into a family, even though they’re the ones who need it the most. Shelter animals are in great need to know what a dedicated and loving family is, and we all have the power to show them it. On October 2nd, the sun shown beautifully for what was sure to a perfect day of celebrating both and animals and nature. On this day 100 members of the Chicago community left their homes to go out to celebrate the beginning of adopt a dog month in a most fitting fashion, with the opening of a much anticipated new facility in the area: the brand new woodland preserve. The space was established by local animal shelter, Orphans of the Storm. The OOTS team had the preserve built on previously unrefined OOTS land that was originally seeing no use. The space is now unrecognizable from its former state. The idea for the shelter was inspired by the need for the animals to escape the chaos of the shelter and have a place in which the could connect to nature and have some solace. Not only that, but the space is now a wonderful outlet for prospective adopters to get to spend time with the

with the dogs and get to know one another. Outside of the shelter the prospective owner and pet are allowed time to themselves to get to know one another’s personalities and determine if they would make a good match. The project was incredibly detailed. The $65,000 plan was led by manager Tom Brackney and began late last spring. Together the team worked to clear out unwanted trees and overgrown plants to create space for the lovely eight-foot-wide path. Creating the perfect amount of space for animals to roam on their walks. But the unwanted trees weren’t left to waste. The 100+ dead trees were later recycled by being mulched into wood-chips to create the pathway. The team was also able to remove an outstanding amount of buck-thorn, which is an invasive plant that attacks the growth of other plant life. To compensate, arborvitaes were planted along the property’s backside to block the view of neighbors property creating a more peaceful and less distracting environment for the animals. Tall prairie grass is planted and will grown in this spring adding even more foliage to the preserve. The property is also secluded with a protective fence to keep an-

imals and walkers safe. After much hard work, the gorgeous preserve is now a lengthy 7.5 acres, and beautifully decorated by its natural surroundings, including luscious trees, and a winding and tranquil pathway. Another touching sentiment, the preserve was built in a dedication to the late beloved Thelma S. Zwirner. Zwirner was the mother of current shelter president Richard Zwirner. Her 25-years of impassioned work through OOT’S to help with the organization’s stray and abandoned charges. The daytime ceremony consisted of a stunning ribbon-cutting to officially open the preserve. Then began the first walk on the new soil. Guests paraded the shelters dogs through the persevere as happily the took their first walk through the wooded area. Among the attendees was repeat Orphans adopter, and CBS 2 meteorologist, Ed Curran. Curran gave the opening speech along with OOTS volunteer president Richard Zwirner. According to Shelter Administrator Gail Donahue the event went off without a hitch. “The event exceeded expectations and it was incredible to see the support from the community for the opening.” I actually was

fortunate enough to interview Donahue about the event and her job with the shelter. With an impressive 26 years of her life dedicated to the shelter Donahue’s passion for the organization and its cause is apparent. Donahue’s knew her whole life she wanted to work with animals, and OOTS is an organization she couldn’t be more happy to be a part of. I asked her some heavy questions but she didn’t once shy away from answering me. When asked about the most difficult part of her job she answered candidly. Seeing the animals whom have been ill, abused, and neglected is easily the most disheartening part. However, she also stated that this has been a double edged sword for her because she also gets to take part in helping to rehabilitate these animals and watch their lives become infinitely better. Donahue says that the decision to create the woodland preserve has already greatly impacted the life of the shelter animals. It provides a getaway, vacation you could say, for the sheltered animals. The animals are able to step their feet on the grass, drink fresh water, play in the leaves and so much

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more. This is a luxury all animals deserve with caring owners to walk them. Donahue told me that there is one something about animal shelters, a horrible misconception, she wished people she would expel from their minds. Many avoid the shelters because they are viewed as depressing places where animals sit in cages 24 hours a day and therefore suffer in their physical and mental health. This is certainly not true. Animals are often let out to play, exercise, and socialize with the volunteers, which any shelter could use more of by the way! And now, OOTS shelter animals are able to complete these activities in a more beautiful and earthy environment than many other animals in Chicago. And while they still need a home, the animals are being taken well care of and are shown what is to be loved by the many employees and volunteers,

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The woodland preserve will now stand as another platform to hang out with the dogs, as well as provide them with a much needed change in scenery. If you are thinking of adopting a pet, the animals at OOTS are in great care but are looking for a forever home. After learning more about the organization and its workers, Orphans of the Storm animals shelter proves itself a wonderful candidate to where you may meet your future best fur-friend. The giving spirit and sense of charity at Orphans of the Storm deserves to be recognized, and you can recognize them by giving their animals a chance. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to give the shelter a try and walk animal through the gorgeous new preserve!

BY: OLIVIA LEMLEY During the colder months, Chicago becomes as beautiful as can be: with the streets cushioned in white, the trees glowing from all directions and the jolly, older men walking down the block that just so happen to resemble Santa Claus. Due to this, the holidays truly becomes the best time of the year. The Christmas spirit even makes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way into office buildings. Are you struggling to brainstorm a cute gift idea for the Secret Santa party at your office? Save all that stress for finding the perfect Christmas tree to fit in your family room. Make Enjoy Essential your go-to shopping shrine.

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able to quit her marketing job to dedicate all her efforts to her clothing business. Between her involved husband, Matt, an adorable dog, Crash, she had more than enough support to get her through it. Boughtin designs all Enjoy Essential products herself; in doing so, she utilizes her love for graphic design to create original, crowdpleasing pieces. Her next step was to commence production— it was time for the shirts to be screen printed for the purpose of meeting demands. To keep close ties with every bit of production, she handpicks and designs all products and personally packages each and every order to be sent out. Be confident; be sassy; be original. The creator, Cady Boughtin, is out to bring out the boldness in everyone while helping those in need. There are countless people in this world that do not know when their next meal will be. Being raised in Northern California, Boughtin was exposed to poverty stricken families daily. Being exposed to such poverty would be a culture shock to many. Leaving sorrow and anger imprinted in her mind, she knew she was meant to be the change. It was in January of 2015 that Cady Boughtin found a way to make her thriving platform the basis for something bigger. She connected her business with local organizations in need of nonperishables. This was the kick-start of her

“one shirt sold=one meal donated”

Whether you think holiday shopping is exciting or an inconvenience to your daily routine, there’s no better way to start than with unique, riveting gifts that will be remembered. Enjoy Essential is a brand that encourages you to let your true colors come out to play. The brands showcase quality tees that put a little spunk in your step; there is nothing better than starting your day off with an “I NEED CAFFEINE” tee. Enjoy Essentials all began in the comfort of the founders own home. Cady Boughtin had been making iron-on onesies just as a hobby back in November 2013. After a bit of growth, she expanded to an Etsy shop and sales spiked. Just one month after her Etsy opening, she was

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program. Enjoy Essential works regularly with Mission Solano and Heart 2 Heart Network for Emancipated Youth. At the end of every month, the number of shirts sold are tallied and Boughtin personally goes to buy just as many meals to donate to the organizations. These sassy tees are a hot topic amongst celebrities. Pop-rock star, Kelly Clarkson, pampers her sweet daughter, River Rose, with an Enjoy Essential tank from the Girls collection. Even kids can rock these styles. The collections

available include Baby, Boys, Girls, and Mommy + Me in addition to the Women’s collection. Take care of the little ones around you this holiday season with the Fresh V-neck,

connecting the modernized term “fresh”—meaning to look exceptional wearing the latest styles— to the refreshing scent of Christmas trees. In addition, there are other Santa themed tees and winter-cozy tops. Enjoy Essential brings out Christmas spirit in style. Comfy, stylish, and edgy are qualities any fashionista strives to meet or surpass through their daily outfits. In the process of taking care of your average shopaholic needs, check out these bold collections with a variety of tees with clever, funny and all too relatable phrases. While reviewing your shopping cart content, REMEMBER THIS: As you buy Enjoy Essential products, not only are you supporting a family

business, but you are providing support for another good cause—with every purchase, Boughtin is making a donation of hygiene and household products to a women’s shelter in the United States. Holiday shopping has never been more convenient and guilt-free! Let’s make things a little bit better. Free shipping on all domestic orders with the code “gracias” upon checking out. Over the holiday season, don’t be afraid to sit back, relax and be thankful for all you have. Keep those less fortunate in mind, and try to take part in helping out within your community; never turn a blind eye when you have the power to make a difference in someone’s life.

Let’s show off our big hearts in our big city.

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WRITTEN BY: OLIVIA LEMLEY

Samuel Bristrian’s future was foreshadowed when he was just six years old. A simple, handed-down pair of rain boots doesn’t seem to mean much to those lucky enough to provide for themselves, but it left a strong impression on Bristrian, a boy among 11 siblings. He was given his first pair of rain boots and a couple of years later, in the midst of the Communist regime falling, the Bristrian family had to opportunity to migrate out of their small, poverty-stricken village in Romania. Years down the road of their new lives in the United States, Samuel Bristrian was fortunate enough to attend and finish college. He did not dare take this privilege for granted. This is when he broke into the retail industry, and it wasn’t until 2007 that he left his department manager position at Neiman Marcus to pursue his passion to travel, write, and help others. Bristrian made it a priority to put street children and orphans first. Throughout his journey to discover what he was meant to conquer in

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his life, he strategized the most effective and practical way to help these children break free from poverty. Combining his love for fashion and philanthropy, he was inspired to start Roma Boots in 2009. Roma pronounced backwards is amor— amor is Spanish for love— love is exactly what Roma Boots is all about. So, it began! A company with great morals and goals. Samuel Bristrian recognized the problem: an estimated 125 million children across the world are out living on the streets. One can only assume they do not have the proper footwear for safety and protection from diseases that thrive in the “homes” of homeless families; the streets are no place for bare feet. Roma is a social conscious brand without blinders. They do not just strap a charity on their back for political success. Roma boots are made of natural rubber in a fair trade factory and they donate 10% of the sale proceeds to provide educational supplies in addition to

giving a free pair of rain boots for every pair purchased. This is a company that is not only charitable but philanthropic. Let’s not forget— Millennials are known to be the most caring generation yet! From the motivation to “go green” to pursuing equality for all to the increased number of vegetarians, Millennials are more than willing to hop on this bandwagon. Roma puts a little topspin in their collections—the organic “grass roots” approach blew up all the way into Hollywood. Stars caught the Roma fever and showed their support through social media or by adding a pair of Roma rain boots to their wardrobe. For every boot sold, the chance of a child breaking out of the poverty cycle and succeeding in life

increases. This is perfectly described in their slogan,

“Giving Poverty the Boot”. Roma Boots provides a functional and fashionable way for customers to make a difference through essential aid and educational assistance. When considering a company that is so focused on improving the lives of poverty-stricken children all around the world, it only makes sense to support a success story or two. Elite Andre, a girl who was born in 2007 and had her New York solo show sellout in 2011, is a name to remember. She has created a ‘signature’ series of Roma boots featuring

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be headlined: charities, communities, poverty and international poverty, humanities, and worldwide peace. For some people, the dreaded, oppressive weather is right around the corner; for others, the glorious colder months are on the way! Don’t forget to stock up your closet with stylish clothes and accessories to protect yourself during the upcoming, moody months. Not only should you pamper yourself with these rain boots, but they are also great presents for friends and loved ones.

her paintings. Ms. Andre is an inspiring representation of what our youth can achieve. Every child has potential for a positive future and successful living, but some aren’t as fortuitous to have the resources to get on a stable path. Roma has pin pointed those less fortunate as their target— not as a consumer target market— but as the focus for company’s time and energy to improving the lives of children in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, Texas, Roma Boots is in a prime location to connect with heavily poverty stricken areas where cozy homes may not be as common as many of us may be accustomed to. In a world where the Kardashian’s are all the rave in the media, society tends to forget what should

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Roma is amor, and amor means love. Every time you slip on your very own pair of Roma Boots, you will not only be spoiled with comfort, but you will also be reminded of the child for whom you took part in providing rain boots. From unique colors, to original embellishments, to intriguing patterns, Roma Boots will surpass expectations while warming your heart. These are exceptional boots that allow you to veer away from the set path of basic rain boots. From day to day, you see the commonly worn Hunter Boots left and right— stray from the masses and catch eyes with the ever-so-loved laced up Opinca style, Ilona Toddler and Youth Art collection, or the short Epaga style. If you’re browsing for a more classic look, there’s always the Abel Toddler and Youth collection for the kids, the Glossy style, or the Emma collection available at the click of a button!

Be the change, and take part in Roma Boot’s movement to “give poverty the boot”.

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WINTER BEAUTY PICKS FOR HER By: Danielle Hazekamp

Merle Norman Liquid Blush Even though I am a makeup artist, I tend to use powder blush. When I had the opportunity to try out this liquid blush, I have to admit that I was a little nervous. What made me nervous is that the packaging surprised me. I have not seen a blush come in a liquid form and use a lip-gloss like applicator to apply. Despite my initial hesitation, I absolutely loved this product! It is super easy to use and blends so nicely on to my cheeks. As of right now the blush comes in 3 colors; all of which are a peachy neutral tone base. My only complaint is that I really wish they would expand their color options into more pinks and plums. www.merlenorman.com // $18.00

Merle Norman Face Brush #8 When it comes to applying my concealer, I typically use a flat concealer brush. So, something like the Merle Noman Makeup Face Brush is not like any concealer brush I have used. This brush does a fantastic job at blending my concealer in, especially if there are smaller areas on the face that need a little more coverage (around the sides of your nostrils). Also, the brush is made of luxury synthetic fibers so it is extremely gentle around the eye area and can withstand both powder, liquid and cream makeup. www.merlenorman.com // $38.00

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Wella’s EIMI Dry I have tried many dry shampoos and this is one that I feel can help my hair last up to 2 days without washing unlike most dry shampoos that only last a day. It also adds a little volume to my hair and it smells good. www.ulta.com // $19 “Dry Me Dry Shampoo”

Wella’s EIMI Beauty I have been highlighting my hair lately and my ends are a little dry and in desperate need of attention. Thanks to this lotion, my tresses received the TLC they’ve been longing for. This product made my hair silky smooth while also protecting my it from heated styling. www.ulta.com // $19 “Perfect Me Lightweight Beauty Balm Lotion”

Wella’s EIMI Sugar Lift I have stick straight hair, but for a simple wave, I love to sometimes sleep with my hair in pigtail braids. This simple styling secret leaves me with beautiful beach waves the next morning. Using this sugar spray really helps hold my waves while adding additional texture and shine. I really feel that if I had some kind of wave to my hair I would use this product everyday. www.ulta.com // $19 “Sugar Lift Sugar Spray”

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“Passion Star” Eau de This fragrance is perfect for the holiday season and all of the fabulous parties you will be attending. People will be wondering what you are wearing. I really liked how bold and aromatic the scent is without being too overpowering. www.macys.com // $120 “Thierry Mugler Angel “Passion Star” Eau de Parfum”

Fake Bake Instant I am always weary of using a self-tanner on myself. I would much rather go to a salon and get sprayed tanned. However, most spray tans are a little costly and sometimes finding the time to go and actually get one can be difficult. I loved how easy this self-tanner was to use and how fast it dried. I will say one coat provides a nice light bronzed look. So, if you want to look like you just came back from the tropics, I would suggest 2-3 applications. www.us.fakebake.com // $29.00 “Fake Bake 5 Minute Mousse Instant Tanner”

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WINTER MUSTHAVES FOR HIM By: Danielle Hazekamp

It’s the Balm Lip Who says that flavored lip balm is just for females? This set has four flavors of lip balm including Mango & Mandarin, Black Cherry & Pomegranate, Vanilla & Lavender and Natural Mint & She Butter. Made with antioxidants and top skin conditioners these lip balms will soothe and relieve dry chapped lips as well as keep them moisturized during the winter. Another great thing about these lip balms is that they all contain SPF 25 so that your lips will be fully protected. www.ulta.com // $25.00 “Jack Black It’s the Balm Lip Quartet”

Charcoal Face

Charcoal face wash is the latest, not only in women’s skin care, but for men too. This face wash is the perfect combination of skincare. It is a gel face wash that deep cleans your pores, drawing out dirt and oil that causes clogged pores. A bonus to using this product is that it will also soften your facial hair. www.sephora.com // $20.00 “Clinique for Men Charcoal Face Wash”

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B eauty

Written By: Danielle Hazekamp

BEST OF

SKINCARE

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orking in the beauty industry over the years has taught me a lot about our skin as well proper skincare. This year, I felt like it was finally time to share all of my knowledge and favorite products with each of you. First thing first, the most important thing I have learned is that it is a necessity to have some sort of skincare regi-

-men. Whether your routine is just a basic wash and dry or a more advanced regimen that includes products, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter; just add one to your routine. I have found the following routines are the simplest to follow. Just find products that work best for your skin and budget.

Basic Skincare Regimen: Cleanser>Eye Cream>Moisturizer Advanced Skincare Regimen: Cleanser>Toner>Serum>Eye Cream>Moisturizer

n addition to having a good skin care regimen, here are some great tips from Meetra, a master skin care therapist at Samita Salon in San Francisco, California that are sure to help keep your skin in tip top shape over the colder months. • Nutrient rich diets provide skin with the nourishment its needs. Dehydration is the skin’s worst enemy so drinking plenty of water is your best defense. Start each day with warm lemon water to help draw out toxins and keep skin glowing. Foods rich in Omega-3 vitamins like salmon and avocado contain healthy fats that add moisture to the skin. • Skin Cream is essential to locking in moisture. A good eye cream is crucial because the skin around your eyes is incredibly fragile and more prone to dryness. Apply this cream in the morning and at night. • Drinking from a water bottle may seem harmless, but it’s a sure way to lose moisture on your lips. Cover your lips with a heavy balm before sipping or use a straw to decrease moisture loss. • Always wear SPF- no matter how cold it is. The winter sun can still cause damage to your skin. I recommend using an organic broad-spectrum sunscreen such as Coola with SPF 30 on top of your moisturizer. • Exfoliation is a really important aspect to having healthy skin during the fall/winter months. Exfoliate at least once a week! This will help all your skincare products penetrate better. • Don’t forget to moisturize morning and night. Healthy skin also means having a well balanced diet. Beauty begins from within. Drinking a green juice or smoothie for breakfast or lunch will help give you the glowing skin you long for.

FACE CLEANSER REVIEWS Dior Purifying Foam Cleanser-When I started using this cleanser, I immediately could see a difference in my skin. It looked a lot brighter and much more even toned. When it comes to this product, a little goes a long way. So, all you need to use is a little over a pea sized amount. Also, to get the best results - it is best to use a facial brush with this product as it will also help to exfoliate your skin. Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser-I have heard nothing but good things about this product. I have seen this on many lists including Allure Magazine’s Best of Beauty. When I decided to try this, I was going through a major hormonal change and couldn’t use my usual cleanser. So, I thought to give classic product a try. I love this! It doesn’t irritate the skin and leaves the skin feeling super soft. The only thing I had issues with is that it doesn’t get all of my longwearing eye makeup off. Therefore, I would recommend removing your makeup with makeup remover before hand. What I do is take one of my makeup wipes and remove what is leftover after I wash my face. Dove Beauty Bar-This is my go to when it comes to washing my makeup off. It seriously gets all of my makeup off and I like the cleansing feel it leaves my face with. Plus, if you are on a budget buying these in a 4 pack is super inexpensive. Ponds Original Fresh Wet Cleansing Towelettes-No joke, I think I use 2-3 of these a day! So, when I buy these I buy the bonus pack of 75 count. I love to use these when I am feeling lazy and don’t want washing my face, but know I need to! It gets all of my stubborn eye makeup off. Also, I keep a pack of these in my makeup kit when I need to remove makeup off clients or need to fix something. Murad Renewing Cleansing Oil-Out of all of the oil cleansers I have tried this one is my favorite. It removes all of my makeup, cleanses my skin and leaves my skin nice and soft without making my skin feeling oily.

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TONER/TREATMENT REVIEWS Aveda Botanical Kinetics Skin Firming/ Toning Agent-I love this toner as I feel like it gets all of the remaining makeup and dirt that sometimes cleansers don’t get it. Plus, it also leaves the skin feeling refreshed. Bobbi Brown Extra Treatment Lotion-Right now, this is currently the toner I am using because my skin is a little on the dry side. This product helps put some moisture back into your skin as well as also getting those little traces of makeup that a cleanser doesn’t get. Dior Gentle Toning Lotion –This is a super gentle formula and perfect for anyone who has sensitive skin and wants to use a toner. This toner is alcohol free and contains velvet peony extract that helps soothe the skin and prevent inflammation. Boscia Sake Treatment Water-When I first heard of this product I was confused as to how it works and what exactly it did. Then I was able to try this and realized what I thought it was going to be it wasn’t. When I saw that it was treatment water, I thought it was going to be similar to a face spray and this is the complete opposite. This is formulated water that instantly hydrates your skin. It’s a miracle worker! Recently, I had a patch of dry skin on my forehead and then I used this product on the area and the patch was gone. This product also helps prep the skin for enhanced absorption of your other skin care products. SERUM REVIEW Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum-I love the way this product makes my skin feel when I apply it. I also love how this is 154

something that you put on your skin at night allowing it to seep into your skin and work its magic overnight. Since I don’t have any wrinkles or real signs of aging on my face, I use this product to help with dryness as applying this instantly hydrates my skin as well as making it feel smooth. MOISTURIZER REVIEWS Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream-This cream is really magic in a bottle. It works the instant that you apply it to your face. I also noticed that using it over time, it has helped my skin become more even and less dull looking. SebaMed Age Defense Q10 Protection Cream-What I love most about this cream is that a little bit goes a long way. All you need is a nickel-sized amount for your whole face and neck. This amount will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. The purpose of this cream containing CoQ10 it is to help make wrinkles less visible in 28 days. However, I cannot vouch for this as I mentioned I don’t have wrinkles and I have not used this product for 28 days straight. EYE CREAM REVIEWS SebaMed Age Defense Q10 Lifting Eye Cream-This eye cream is an all in one product. It has been proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; again I didn’t use this for 28 days straight. However, it absolutely gently moisturizes your delicate under eye skin. Orogold 24K Exclusive 3-Eye Promo SetThis set is amazing! Granted, it is a little pricey, but because this goes on just around

around the eye area, a little goes a long way. You might also find that, depending on your needs, one of the products is all that’s necessary for your specific issue. The set includes an Intensive Eye Serum, Dark Circle Eye Solution and Intensive Eye Formula Cream. I will say using all three is going to give you the best results. However, sometimes I just like to use one of the products. On days where I feel like I look tired, I will use the Dark Circle Eye Solution and on days I just want to use an eye cream I will use the Intensive Eye Formula Cream. I really love the Intensive Eye Formula as it has a cooling effect on your skin to help with puffness a s well a s c ontaining ingredients to moisturize. SPOT TREATMENT REVIEW Mario Badescu Drying Cream-This is literally the only spot treatment I use. I have tried others, granted I don’t really have problem skin, but I do get the occasional zit every now and then. When I notice that I am getting a zit, I make sure to apply this to it before bed and I can see the difference the next morning. The directions say that you can use it twice a day, but because I usually wear makeup I was not sure how I felt applying it under makeup. However, applying it once a day at night, I notice that any breakouts will appear to be almost completely gone with consistent use. FACE MIST REVIEWS MAC Prep+Prime Fix + - I have been using this product since college. I just love the way it makes my skin feel and I love the way it smells. It totally refreshes your skin as well. As for anyone who wears makeup, it will also add a nice finishing touch to your makeup. Jane Iredale Smell the Roses Hydration Spray-This product is perfect for some one who needs a little pick me up and loves the smell of flowers. Because the product contains actual rose water, it is perfect for sensitive and dry skin. It will help with redness and calm inflammation. Jane Iredale also has other types of hydrations sprays if roses aren’t your thing. This particular spray is a limited

edition and 100% of the profits from the sales are donated to Breast Cancer. FACE MASK REVIEWS Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Clay Mask-I love and I mean love this face mask! This mask not only helps with my dry skin; it also reduces the appearance of my pores. One other amazing thing about this mask is that it is gentle enough to use every day. Trust me, I pretty much use this mask every other day and I have never ever had any sort of irritation! 7th Heaven Tea Tree Oil Peel Off MaskWhen I picked up this mask, I was a little skeptical as I have tried peel off masks before and when it came time to peel the mask off it was painful and diffcult t o r emove. T his is not the case with this mask! When it came time to peel the mask off I had no trouble getting it off and for some of the harder to get off pieces I just took a warm damp washcloth to wipe it off. Another thing I really loved about this mask was how great my skin looked right after. It was noticeably softer and smooth as well and my pores looked smaller. BioRepublic Green Tea Purifying Sheet Mask- Sheet masks are becoming the next big thing when it comes to face mask products. The best part about this mask was that you don’t have to watch anything off. To apply, you simply place the sheet mask on your face, leave on for 15-20 minutes and then remove the sheet and tap in any excess product. I would suggest applying this mask at night, allowing the product to penetrate overnight into my skin. When I woke up the next day, I could see a noticeable difference in my skin. Origins Drink Up-Intensive Overnight Mask-Last winter I went through a terrible dry skin patch. I felt like whatever I did wouldn’t work and then I was introduced to this overnight mask. This is literally the easiest mask I have ever used and it worked on getting rid of my dry skin. All you do is apply all over your face and go to bed. This mask does not require you to wash off and you can do your regular morning skin care regimen the next day. Simple and effective to use! 155

Interview by Jennifer OQuendo Layout by Aira Aquino

Jared Ryan Shaw is one of those few people that have encountered

life’s ups and downs, yet still rises to success. He uses his experiences and allows his creativity to tell stories through his paintings. He uses no paintbrushes and yet his paintings look flawless and effortless. Instead, he squeezes the paint tubes on a blank canvas and allows the different colors to ooze freely onto the canvas. It’s a form of release and it’s the purest and most raw form of art for him. With no formal training, his work looks as though it should sit aside the masters! Halfstack had the opportunity to interview him and get to know the person behind the intriguing paintings

Halfstack: Can you tell us a little about yourself? J.Open HeART: “I am Not One of Anything I Am One of Everything” I am 35 years old, from Wayne, New Jersey. I grew up in a suburban home filled with love from my parents, (my mother Judy – an amazing soul and creative force in her own right, father – Gary, a boxing promoter) along with my 2 older brothers (Jason who currently resides in the Himalayan mountains, a true spiritual being and A.J. – a successful businessman and father, who

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saved my life when I was two in a treadmill accident). I have always been encouraged and supported to follow my dreams, as I have never been shy to attempt what many call impossible. I have lived many lives in my 35 years on this Earth, experienced the highest highs, and fallen to the lowest lows. I am a survivor of open heart surgery at 19. My experience through life and truth is my transparency as not just an artist, but also as a human soul. Currently, I reside in Los Ange les with my wife Keats and our

two dogs Bubu and Dr. Dre. Los Angeles is very sacred to me as it’s a place I have called home for most of the last 15 years. Halfstack: Can you explain your creative process? J.Open HeART: For me, painting is an opportunity to release my energy through my paint-stained emotions, which I have dubbed “Soul Flow”. Allowing me an opportunity where my actions are no longer the cause of reactions, but of erly channeling my emotions in a healthy setting. My life has taught me that therapy is only

one form of understanding. There are many forms of therapy and to all artists I think the word “white noise” is something we all hold close to our souls. My process is something unique in its own right because each day the process changes. I have never picked up a paintbrush to paint, as I prefer to let paint fly in its most raw of forms, kind of like our human minds when we are uninhibited. Music is the key element to not only my work but my life; for example, I cannot run five miles if I am not listening to music, and I know when I am feeling a certain way emotionally that aa song has a way of making you feel that emotion in a greater self-conscious feeling. It’s music that sets up my process

because when I go into the studio I know I want release, but I don’t even know what emotions will come out of me. Sometimes I can be sitting in my studio for six hours just waiting for that right moment, that right song, that perfect harmony of realness to just take over and then I just go “in”. Let’s call it “Hard in the Paint”. I bare my soul in front of any canvas, the music takes over, I lose my social consciousness and freedom begins. Halfstack: What is the hardest thing about your creative process? J.Open HeART: The hardest part about my creative process is the time, but patience is virtue. The time as I said above when I can be sitting 6 hours sometimes as long as 10 hours,

waiting for that moment for the music and my spirit to take over. Halfstack: What made you start creating art? J.Open HeART: I started creating art early in life just in other facets. I was always acting on videos, skits, writing poetry, writing raps, later recording hip hop as a signed artist; all these forms of creativity are art. Interestingly, art as an expression was the last to come. I started creating art when I was signed to CAA for Hip Hop, street art incredibly important in opening my eyes to understanding art can be comprised of anything and everything. So, I taught myself graffiti/mixed media for a few years and then gradually and accidentally found myself working with acrylic paint as a

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modern expressionist, a place I feel at home with. Halfstack: What do you want people to get from your art? J.Open HeART: I want people to get truth, energy, emotion, but most importantly I want to inspire them to create. Every single person on this earth has a talent, a skill, and everyone is a visionary. Halfstack: What would you like to tell Halfstack readers in regards to your art? J.Open HeART: I appreciate the Halfstack readers for taking an interest in my work, and for taking the time to get to know Jared Shaw the person and J. Open HeART the artist and soul. I hope this opportunity to open my doors to your readers allows them a chance to come inside my life and be part of my creative journey. I also hope to inspire their creative ambitions. For more information and for images of my work they can go to www.JopenHeart.com Halfstack: What advice would you give our readers that have difficulty telling their personal story through art? J.Open HeART: Never be scared to be who you are, not who you feel like or who you hope be or who you think you need to be. BE your truest self. Inside your soul you feel something unexplainable. So, what is art? It’s not straight lines and it’s not mediums. It’s the color of you, and that to me is art. Don’t be afraid to tell your story. Life is a movie and you don’t just write the screenplay… you produce it. Halfstack: What made you

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come up with the name J. Open HeART? J.Open HeART: As a survivor of open-heart surgery, the heart is very personal to me. As I was exploring how to share my work, I realized that my name is Jared Shaw and I do a grea job of dentifying who I am as a son, brother, husband, friend, nationality, etc. Yet, my name did not identify with who I was on the inside. I believe heart surgery did something very special to my soul. The word open not only describes the type of surgery, but I’ve long worn my heart on my sleeve, like an open book. So, just like my soul flows, it kind of created itself, from Jared had open heart to Jared does art to I am art (we all are) so it evolved to: J.Open HeART. Halfstack: Is there anything else you would like to add that I have not asked?

J.Open HeART: I would like to say to those that fear they are lost, we all are, nobody has a book on life. To those who think they have life figured out, they bought “An Empty Box Filled with Words”. Be kind to someone today and you will find yourself a better person tomorrow. Never be scared to wear many shirts and many ties, but never forget you can’t wear more than one at a time. So, always share.

Life is a movie a n d y o u d o n â&#x20AC;&#x2122; t j u s t

write the screenplay

you J. produce it. Open Heart

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HALFSTACK b o o k s h e l f

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The Holidays

are right around the corner! Each year that goes by it seems as though the Holidays creep up on me and I don’t get to enjoy the smooth transition from one holiday event to the next. There are a lot of exciting moments to experience and enjoy that embody the holiday spirit. One of those moments include being the thrill of giving and finding a charity organization to truly invest in for that specific time of the year. It inspired me to find some books that related to the spirit of giving. Hopefully this inspires and gives you some ideas for this season.

It Ain’t What You Give, It’s The Way You Give It by Caroline Fiennes

“It Ain’t What You Give, It’s The Way You Give It” by Caroline Fiennes truly brings forth the complexity of donations and charities and clearly transforms the process into a simplistic tone. Caroline uses an easygoing voice to give descriptive information. The book is not overwhelmingly full of information. Instead, it is broken up into bite-sized facts that allow you to completely understand her perspective. The book is informative and encouraging. In such a short amount of time you will have gained a ton of information on charities. It’s a great book for those that have a busy schedule, but still want to read.

Give A Little: How Your Small Donations Can Transform Our World by Wendy Smith “Give A Little: How Your Small Donations Can Transform Our World,” by Wendy Smith is such a remarkable book. While reading this book I was so inspired and in awe at how a little can truly go a long way. Wendy reveals stories of how the simple act of giving can truly transform someone’s life. We often imagine charities as these big corporations donating millions of dollars to fund and help much needed organizations. That’s great and all, but what about those of us that weren’t born wealthy? Can our $5.00 truly make a difference? Wendy shows us how any amount can impact our world for the better!

Why Good Things Happen To Good People: How To Live A Longer, Healthier, Happier Life By The Simple Act Of Giving by Stephen Post and Jill Neimark “Why Good Things Happen To Good People: How To Live A Longer, Healthier, Happier Life By The Simple Act Of Giving,” by Stephen Post and Jill Neimark is a book to be studied instead of just read. It is filled with research and ten ways to give of yourself in different areas of your life. It’s all proven by science to exceed your life and even improve your health. It explains the act of giving and how in return your life would be much healthier and filled with satisfaction.

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A Path Appears

by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn “A Path Appears,” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn is an extremely well-researched book full of websites, organizations and other resources regarding charity and donations. The book includes 3 scenarios where difficult situations arise and how they confront the hard challenges. The book reveals to the readers that truly anyone can help change the world! This book is a great start to information on charity organizations and even tips and tricks on how to be successful through challenges.

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Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie

“Start Something That Matters,” by Blake Mycoskie explains the story of TOMS and the lessons that helped develop such a charitable idea. TOMS is one of the fastest-growing shoe companies in the world and it is popular because of it’s charity slogan; TOMS One for One Movement. Blake tells the readers that you don’t have to be rich to give back which is a mistake a lot of people make. Most people believe that in order to give back and truly feel like they’re helping someone they need to be rich. Of course this false statement discourages people to donate so TOMS’ idea of one for one became ideal as people are empowered to give through their purchases.

Do The KIND Thing by Daniel Lubetzky

“Do The Kind Thing,” by Daniel Lubetzky is a book highlighting the behind the scenes of KIND Healthy snacks. We go through the journey of when and how KIND Healthy snacks was developed and we get a perspective of the principles that shaped the company into what it is today. This book was very similar to Start Something That Matters because we get to see what goes behind a big successful corporation that gives back to charities. It’s an intriguing read if you are interested in learning and understanding what it takes to start a company that helps others in the process.

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Interview

Q & A with Cheland “Rhymefest” Smith

hymefest is most known for co- writing the Grammy Award winning song Jesus Walks with Kanye West. Born in the heart of Chicago, Cheland always had a passion for music but he knew that he was missing something in his life. After growing up without an active father figure in his life, Cheland made it his mission to find his father. He understood the significance of developing a relationship with his father and how it would help him grow as a man. The film “In My Father’s House” documents the journey of Cheland and his father. In the movie, Che finds his father homeless and an alcoholic. As the movie progresses Che’s father becomes clean and independent, but it wasn’t a smooth road. It displays the hardships that had to happen to get to that point. It captures a real and uncensored look

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into a story that is not unique. One in three children are born in a biological father-absent home according to the National fatherhood initiative. Fatherless children are twice as likely to be incarcerated. 85% display behavioral problems. 71% are high school dropouts and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Cheland’s story is not an unfamiliar one. Which is what makes “In My Father’s House” so important. The film encourages a discussion that really needs to be had among families of all backgrounds. We talked with Che about the issue of fatherlessness, his experiences, and how finding his father was instrumental to his personal growth. Halfsack Magazine: How has the absence of your father’s presence personally impacted you? Cheland Smith: “Personally, my story is not

unique. My story is one in a million stories, Especially in African American homes where one or more parents are not in the home… I think that it’s interesting, because it’s not a [unique] story we can look around to the state of black communities around the country where you have gang violence, where you have high dropout rates, [and] high incarceration rates. Personally, I think that because I was afforded opportunities from being involved with the arts, being involved with music afforded me opportunities that I was able to pivot into a situation where I was able to go back and find my father save my father. In doing so saving myself. Coming up in a single parent home I had to learn a lot of how to treat women through watching my mother’s bad boyfriends… We can look at the statistics and that’s exactly how it personally affected me. HM: How do you feel that you have grown as both a son and a father after you developed a relationship with your dad? CS: “ Well, as a man developing a relationship with my father helped me to develop, confidence. One of the biggest things I feel that we don’t talk about, not only younger people but older people are missing in our careers and in our interactions and personal relationships is the confidence. To say yes, to say no, to stand up for yourself because you know where you come from, you know who you are. There is a study done on young people with active parents in their lives and people without. I think one of the main things to find is that people who know who both their parents are and play an active role in their lives have more confidence. Thus have more success. So what’s the difference between Rhymefest and Kanye, Rhymefest and Lupe, Rhymefest and Common. All of my peers have had both of their active parents in their lives…you can look at their careers and see, but here Rhymefest is writing hits for all of them and playing the background. I sincerely believe now that it was a confidence factor. “ HM: What do you want people to understand after watching “In My Father’s House?”

CS: “American needs a summit. The white house needs to do a summit with the African American family…There’s a lot to be said for black lives matter in terms of police brutality, There’s a lot to be said for ‘Justice of Else’ and what that means for us economically but what about the African American family. Not just young girls, not just young boys, not just police brutality… who is speaking for African American families as a unit? What I would like people to get from this movie is healing. The beginning of healing of the African American family, and the family in general. This is not just a black movie. It’s a movie about family. I think that particularly it can help African Americans. HM: What initiatives are you involved in to help the community address fatherlessness? CS: “There’s a program called Donda’s house and Donda’s house is a premium arts program specialized in writing, health and wellness, [and] mentoring young people from 14-24… What we find is, [in] mentoring them in the arts we also become their makeshift parents. [We] become the uncles, the father’s and the brothers that they just don’t have at home. They become a support system that they didn’t have growing up. Yes, we concentrate on the arts but as the program continues in Donda’s house, you find yourself being in a family and that’s the one thing the young people of Chicago need the most is a healthy family. Not to mention I still live in the community. Even after writing Grammy award winning songs I still live in the heart of the hood of Chicago...” HM: What is the best part about being a father? CS: “Learning how to be patient, learning how to love deeply and being able to pass on [a] legacy.” HM: You are apart of the Fall 2015 Kenneth Cole Courageous Class Campaign. What does being apart of the Courageous Class mean to you? CS: “It means that Kenneth Cole is bringing to light that the real models are the role models… …What Kenneth Cole is showing is that

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that you don’t only have to be self serving to thing else I’m really not interested. be a real model… He’s honoring people that HM: What are your goals for the future as an are of service. It’s great that Kenneth Cole is artist and an activist? showing that the good guys can win and not “ As an artist, I want to be able to release more just the selfish individual. The campaign look albums. I’m working on a few albums right good, for good just to say when you look good now. The newest one is going to be called and you do good work people will follow that “Push The World” coming out this New Year. example. If you highlight people who are doAs an activist, I would like to help design and ing good work… it creates a following for us. create solutions to all the problems in our comIt makes our brand even stronger and attractive munity. The first of which is family.” literally and figuratively.” CS: What has been the most rewarding feeling HM: Why do you think fatherlessness is throughout this entire journey? such an issue now? “The most rewarding [part] was being able to CS: “ I think fatherlessness is an issue, I feel sit back and watch the film after it was done motherlessness is an issue I think in many of and shed tears. To look at the journey and say our communities if you look around young ‘Wow!’. Also, to look at it and know that I can people don’t have mothers either… society give this to my children and hope that in the trivializes sex, Having sex and having children same way I forgave my father and loved him with people we don’t want to be with. I think and helped him. Hopefully my children will that there are a lot of interpersonal one day forgive me, love me problems in terms of how we relate and support me. This whole “Kenneth Cole is to each other. We’re in an age where thing is about forgiveness and we are all into our technology and bringing to light that we want to pass that down. “ we throw each other away and I think The movie also inspired a the real models are that that affects children, because social media campaign called a lot of us are having unintentional #ShareYourTruth. It’s when the role models” children…. I think that the courts, people from all over share which should be trying to meditheir personal stories about ate and bring families together, are their connections to the film. It outdated and splitting families apart. I can’t provides a sense of community between peolet the government off the hook. Government ple, while showing that we are not as different policies are not catered towards families; from each other as we think we are. Cheland they’re catered toward rich people. When you was courageous enough to share his story with look at Chicago we have 50 [historic] schools us, and in return we get to experience a mastershut down. All the free health clinics were shut piece. We get to think internally upon how to down. Taxes are raised. This is not how you solve this problem without being so emotionalkeep a family together or employed.” ly exposed. HM: How has this experience impacted your And for those who wanted to take action, the music? movie’s website provides you with a list of CS: “My music is my ministry, so this expecompanies, services, and local community rience has taught me that I can’t take music events that you could be apart of to help with lightly and I can’t play around with the spirit of homelessness, fatherhood, arts education and reality. I have a message. I have a responsibilopportunity access. This can be your way of ity…to not only do music, but intermingle my actually being hands on, on the issues that are music with my movement to create change. I closest to your heart. It is so important that always ask people when they rap or sing, what we build our communities, and improve them else do you do? Because if you don’t do somefor the present and future. If we give back and

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make Chicago better now, the long-term benefits will be substantial. Chicago needs so much work, and it’s up to us to make our great city even better. The film has already won Best Documentary at Bentonville Film Festival 2015, Southwest Airlines Audience Award Overall Winner at Nashville Film Festival 2015, Honorable Mention in Best Original Song Competition at Nashville Film Festival 2015, for “Found You,” written and performed by Rhymefest, and Southwest Airlines Audience Award in the Documentary Competition at Nashville Film Festival 2015.

Throughout the movie, you can see the growth that appears within Che’s family. The film genuinely displays the importance of having both parents active within a child’s life. Having that connection within yourself by knowing who and where you come from makes for a more successful environment for a child. That in itself will make for a better society. We will be building a future of young people who are more confident and motivated about their future. They will be born with the peace of mind that they know exactly who and where they come from which is something that we need to be our best selves. If you know why you do or think something a certain way, you’ll be able to take advantage of that knowledge and use it

to your benefit. The movie is now a contender for the race to the Oscars. The New York Times said, “The filmmakers fashion an empathetic and emotionally layered portrait of a man trying to build a future while reaching out to his past. “In My father’s House” will be available on both video on demand and DVD in 2016. Also, Rhymefest will be releasing an album titled “Push the World” which will be released in early 2016. Written By: Tyronita Bell

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TheGift

Written by Reynisha Lindsay

It’s that time of year again when everyone is looking for “the deal” and Black Friday specials. Retailers are bombarding you with emails every day and all day long. Before you can even open the first one at 5:30 am, you receive another one at 8:00 am, and so on throughout the day. Even if shopping is not your focus, the retailers certainly make it top of mind. There are TV commercials, radio ads and mail flyers sent to your home. It seems as if you cannot escape the propaganda of the Holiday Season. The pressure of finding the right gift looms above you, as you move closer to December 25th. You make a list and hope you are not forgetting anyone. Do you buy for all your co-workers or just some? What about your neighbors or the mailman? Don’t forget the kids’ teachers and sport coaches. Where does the list end??? Once you finally decide who is on your list, then there is the task of deciding what to get each one. Do you go with gift cards to their favorite store or do you try to make the gift personal? Do you get the gift receipt or no receipt? Or are you one of those people who re-gift? Yes, I said the dirty word – re-gift. The re-gifting process can be somewhat complex as you have to remember who gave you what and make sure you do not give it to someone they know or back to the original gifter! Why put so much pressure on yourself to get the “perfect” gift? By the time Christmas arrives, you are stressed and exhausted. You missed out on enjoying all the days, each and every moment of them, leading up to Christmas. This is the most wonderful time of the year (excuse the cliché). It is a time to spend with family and friends, sharing stories and events that have occurred in your life throughout the year. A time to reminisce on seasons past and laugh at the funny and memorable gifts you have received. When I look back on being a child at this time of year, I always remember time spent with my parents and family. I remember baking cookies and making fudge with my mother. I remember Christmas caroling with my parents and church members in my Grandmother’s neighborhood. I remember being in Christmas plays and decorating the Christmas tree with my father. I remember looking in the Sears and JCPenney toy catalog for hours on end meticulously looking through every page, studying them as if I were preparing for a test. Although I knew I would not receive everything my heart desired from the catalogs, I was content with hoping and dreaming of what could be. Although, as a child, I did not have much money, I would always try to make something to give to my family. I wanted to give something to them because they were going to give something to me – I wanted to reciprocate. Moreover, I wanted to show them I loved them. When I became an adult with a “real” job and had money, I no longer had that whimsical delight I knew

“Why put so much pressure on yourself to get the “perfect” gift?“”

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and felt as a child. I found myself caught up in the Holiday Propaganda, and all the stress and anxiety it brought. What happened to the wonder and amazement I always felt at this time of year? Had it disappeared with my youth or had I lost it along the way? I had moved away from home, so maybe that was the reason it was no longer the same. I suddenly found myself burdened with the task of finding the “perfect” gift for my family, friends and yes – co-workers. I felt anxiety about how much I should spend on co-workers and how many co-workers I should give a gift to. I lost what this time of year is all about – giving of yourself. Once I remembered this, my joy returned. I focused on the people instead of the gift. I thought of what I could do to bring them joy. Then everything seemed so easy. I would do what I loved doing as a child and give of myself. I made sweets and gave them away. I made DVD’s of my kids for the grandparents. I joined a choir and we sang at different malls during the season. I worked with the Alumnae Chapter of my sorority to donate coats and gifts to kids. At work, we sponsored families in need and bought and wrapped items on their wish list. I found that giving of myself and time, made me happy because it made others happy. I no longer worried about what to buy. I just had to remember the reason for the season.

It’s more than a holiday; it’s more than just a day. On Christmas long ago, a gift was given to us. One we did not have to pay for. One we did not have to wait in long lines for at the crack of dawn. One we did not have to have a coupon or coupon code to buy. One we did not have to lay away (for the old school) or put on a credit card. One we did not have to buy a protection plan or warranty for, just in case. One that did not require batteries or an instruction manual. We received a gift that will last forever – the precious gift of Jesus. He gave His life for us so that we might be saved. What a gift of love and selflessness! That is what giving is all about. Don’t give because you feel “obligated”. Don’t’ give so you can write it off as a tax deduction. Give because you care about others. Give because you want to share with others what God has given to you. Give of your time. There are so many wonderful charities and organizations that would love your support. Whatever you decide to give – your time, your talent, your money – give it happily, expecting nothing in return. And just maybe…some of that wonder and amazement you lost a long time ago, will return to you when you least expect it and be the best gift you receive this Holiday season! Merry Christmas!

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Overcoming Holiday Dread TIPS TO REKINDLING THE JOY THIS SEASON By: Jen Gordon & Kali Koller

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he holidays can be a crazy and often emotional time. Some of us look forward to the festivities and joy of parties, family tra ditions, children’s enthusiasm, and gift giving, while to others it is a reminder of loneliness, commercialism, crowded malls, and a flurry of often meaningless activity.

What do I mean by this? I mean it is entirely possible to tune your energy and attention away from the commercial aspects of the season or things that seem displeasing to you. To in turn focus your energy on the meaningfulness of what the season can truly be. You paint the picture in your own mind and it reflects into your world!

However you are feeling about the holidays this season, I would like to remind you of the power you have to focus on what is truly important - celebrating and appreciating what is good and right about your life. Simply put, to dwell in gratitude. There was a time when if someone told me to dwell in gratitude the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up. It felt like such a contrived, cliché statement. I was in a cynical place and would think, “What’s there to be grateful for? I am stressed out about money, people have all these expectations of me, and I am not feeling very happy on the inside?”

This season can be about miracles, fulfillment, giving, sharing time, food and memories with loved ones. And it may even be about discovery and uncovering something new and light and beautiful about yourself and the world.

Do you have a <fill-in the blank> that is stopping you from connecting to feelings of gratitude this season as well?

Do an inventory of your life. What do you have to be thankful for? Who do you have to be thankful for? Is it your girlfriend that takes time to shop for something she knows you will love, or your co-worker who helped you with a tough project, even though it wasn’t his “job”? Is it that you are healthy and have the ability to celebrate the holidays in your home and not in a hospital bed? Or is it, that you have breath and life and the ability to create and experience new thoughts, ideas and emotions?

What I have come to discover and would like to impart to you, is that no matter what circumstance you find yourself in during this holiday time of year; you always have the choice to make it a positive experience. It is a personal decision and it really doesn’t matter what is going on around you. You can choose to make it a truly meaningful by noticing and receiving what is good and right about your world.

Remember to focus on the sensual things that make up the big picture of your life, sometimes we are looking for something so monumental to bring us joy that we forget to notice the smaller delights. The smell of cinnamon and holiday spices in the stores, the feeling of warmth under a soft blanket, the hushed sounds of children giggling with anticipation, the twinkling of holiday lights, smiles and laughter.

When you give your energy to the things that are right and good in your life, then the holidays become more meaningful and the less-meaningful hurried activities can and will fall into the background. To reiterate, use these helpful tips to rekindle your joy this holiday season! Your beliefs shape your reality: Take an honest inventory of your beliefs about this time of year. Do they feel happy and clear? Set positive expectations of the events to come. What you focus on grows: Choose to focus on your senses, your joys and the good things that make you feel comfortable and happy. Take positive actions: Do something uplifting that makes you feel joyful that doesn’t cost a penny. i.e.; go caroling with friends, help an elderly person decorate their home, drive and see the colored lights, create a new family tradition.

Be conscious of your energy: Say yes to activities that bring you joy and no to activities that are draining or don’t feel good. Create new patterns: Change your routine and shake up the norm by doing something new and different. Give up gift giving for a shared family activity, give each other gifts that aren’t things but are actions. i.e.; make your child a memory book of joyful times that you appreciate. With a little rethinking and reprograming your attitude and beliefs the holiday can be a totally different experience than ever before. Cheers to you and rekindling your joy this holiday season!

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If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.

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