The Green Ambassador- Cathy Allen Environmental Specialist
By: Cathy Allen
My name is Cathy Allen; I am Maryland’s top urban environmentalist. I am known as The Green Ambassador. Welcome to my featured environmental column with Urban Freedom Magazine.
As an environmentalist, my works to give to honor to the living breathing organic being that we call Earth. While giving Earth her honor through environmental education and implementation I touch people along the way to get them active and become stakeholders in preserving, sustaining and protecting the very being that gives all living organic beings’ life.
When interviewing to become a columnist for Urban Freedom Magazine with publisher and visionary Mercedez McIntyre. I asked, who are your readers? She described a beautiful picture of creative, youthful, vibrant, intelligent, knowledge, forward-thinking, involved, and fearless individuals. Instantly, I knew the readers of Urban Freedom Magazine are the people that the universe seeks to bring forth balance, compassion, passion and strength for the environmental movement.
In this column, I will spotlight current environmental issues, provide information for you to get active, create social environmental gatherings for us to get our hands dirty in the soil together and along way share what I call ‘green goodness’ for you to prosper in body, mind and soul…naturally.
Currently in environmental news, we are hearing and seeing tragedies like Flint, Michigan where thousands of urban children and adults were poison through lead water contamination. Another example, North Dakota, Standing Rock where Sioux Native American Tribe is fighting for clean water, preservation for Earth and their sacred grounds against the government and ‘big oil’ companies.
If you think in the slightness that these tragedies can’t happen in your urban black community, you are surely mistaken.
As African Americans, it is time for all of us to be stakeholders for the air we breathe, the water that we drink and the foods that we eat. No longer can we rely on the white-affluent population of environmentalists to speak on environmental issues that are plaguing our urban communities.
With our newly-elected president Donald Trump his message is very clear on the environment. When interviewed by Chris Wallace from Fox News last month, Trump was asked the question; ‘who’s going to protect the environment?” Trump's response, “We’ll be fine with the environment….we can leave a little, but you can’t destroy business.” What Trump is saying is, it's’ okay to pollute, destroy and contaminate the environment for big business. He could care less about the millions of people, animals, and plant life that will be harmed or die for corporate greed.
That should send chills up your spine, because you as an individual ARE THE ENVIRONMENT. Now is the time for all African Americans and people of color to rise-up against environmental injustices that will surely be our demise, if we set idly and do nothing.
So, let’s get started! First order of business, email me at cathy.allen@thegreenambassador.org tell me how you want to get environmental involved or visit my website at www.thegreenambassador.org.
Respectfully Green, Cathy Allen-The Green Ambassador
The Need for Acceptance & How it can Distract "The Creative" Entrepreneur
50 Cent Is Talking About Leaving 'Power' Because It Wasn't Nominated For a Golden Globe- http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2016/12/50-cent-power-golden-globe-instagram-post
At what point does a person transition from being satisfied providing to their people vs. demanding the accolades of those who have never appreciated their culture in the first place. Recently 50 cent stated he would consider leaving the television show power because it wasn’t nominated for a Golden Globe. Taking a look at those who put together the award why would they consider it? How can they relate to it for it to be a consideration? It is one thing to consider boycotting those who segregate however why quit your art?
The frustration felt by the part time rapper and full- time entrepreneur Curtis Jackson is completely understandable. Jackson stated “I understand Power wasn’t meant to be a headline show on Starz, but it was the highest ranked”. This is true and confirmed by the network Starz. With a response from Starz saying “We are grateful for the excellent work being done on ‘Power’ by the producers, cast and crew. We certainly think this exceptional show has been overlooked by various awards committees, but the fans have made it the second most watched show on premium cable in 2016…and those are accolades that mean just as much if not more.”
Just as well recently Lupe Fiasco has confirmed via twitter he will have no other upcoming albums due to others feeling his lyrics were Anti-Semitic. How much work had already gone into his current tour? He already has dates set, times, ticket sales to end his music by his choice due to a misunderstanding. Think about the support of those attending those concerts. Who have already bought tickets supporting his music and art. How far do we take opinions of others in our society? This is not a problem but an epidemic in the culture we live in from the start up entrepreneurs to those with millions.
Often the goal becomes forgotten but the accolades being the validation entrepreneurs are seeking. If we return back to why we began, how far we have come, and are we affecting our targets then I truly believe we will return to calling our work what it is… “Art” and all art is not for everybody to appreciate but for you to be proud of! I ask all of our entrepreneurs to remember this as we work at it ourselves at Urban Freedom Magazine.
Taking the 1st Steps: Transitioning from being Managed to Self- Managing Your Own Business
By: Roosevelt Andlove
It feels good having money in your pocket, I’d like to believe everyone can attest to that. I started working when I was 15, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. It’s something about feeling money in your pocket that brought the allure to seek out a part time job.
The consistent, calculable checks you get are something like a godsend. You know what you’re going to make; they establish your per hour worth right out the gate, you know that as long as you show up and do a passing job you’re guaranteed money on payday. But what happens when that consistency is taken away.
Trial and error is the term. Having your own business, being young and black, there is a bit of a learning curve you have to achieve to be successful. Stepping away from the 40 hour work week is the first step. Stepping away from what someone has dictated what you are worth and how long you have to work seems like a clear cut choice for a lot of young budding artists wanting to be the next Basquiat or Mark Zuckerberg. That is, until reality sets in.
Some young entrepreneurs are blessed to have a mentor that has been where you are, and gone on to be where you want. So if you are in the position to have someone to show you the ropes, learn everything you can from them, then apply it for yourself. I’ve been able to have several mentor’s from the start of my career, and each one has the same underlying theme. Know your worth.
So remember, if you want to work for yourself, Trial and Error is key, know your worth, never stop learning, and never cheat yourself
As simple a statement, this is probably the hardest ideal to bring to fruition. It almost transcends the words and becomes a lifestyle. Just ponder that; you set your hours, your pay, your product, everything. This means total control. Praise when it goes right, and side eyed looks when it doesn’t. But this is where another key ideal comes into play. Never stop learning.
Especially for photographers, such as myself, out the gate you either set yourself too high, or too low. It takes time to perfect your craft, and secondly price your craft. I still adjust myself to where I feel comfortable charging, or not. This means that no matter how good, or bad you are at something, it takes time to cement yourself. With that being said, once you have everything down, as far as experience and your knowledge of you craft, this is where the final step must be applied. Never cheat yourself.
This is where you’ll catch the most flack, but regardless of what people say, always stay your course, and don’t be afraid of losing a client because they don’t want to pay you what your worth. Have faith that your work is good enough to bring another willing client your way.
Relief for Flint,Michigan
Photo Credit- Ken Lund via Visual Hunt
Flint, Michigan can be considered an oppressed part of the US due to the occurring unprecedented water crisis. If we shed light on the water history of Flint, just for the sake of bringing improvements in the economy, certain progress yet harming measures were taken by the government.
Those measures were entirely linked with the concept of reducing the quality of water by adding certain harmful chemicals into it. Soon after, Flint was faced with adverse conditions and everything turned upside down. Now Flints' community is looking for a way out and below stated are certain steps, which can facilitate us in helping them.
Flint drinking water pipes which show iron corrosion and rust
Photo Credit Min Tang & Kelsey Pieper
Helping Researchers Carrying out their Research:
Researchers play a significant role in making people informed about what’s happening around the world. The one research organization, which is highly known for its services, is the Flint Water study that is putting immense efforts for bringing change in the society. You can help them out by simply supporting their cause or even donating to it through their official website.
Donate Cash and Clean Water Directly to Flint people:
You can help the people of Flint by directly donating money to them as well. If you are unable to donate money then, what could be better than donating clean water to them? Clean water and money would help people in getting basic necessities of life.
Can’t Donate Money? Help Government in Identifying people:
If you know people who are living in Flint and would need your help inform the government about them and help the government in identifying them so that they can get adequate help at the right time.
There is certainly no doubt in the fact that Flint needs our help because they are struggling with their survival.
Fix Baltimore: Urban Farming & City Rejuvenation!
Our community highlight feature this issue goes to #FixBaltimore. An organization that has not only helped with repairing the beauty to Baltimore city but hands on teaching the community. Fix Baltimore is an urban community empowerment group. Specializing in community program development through group activities that yield immediate results. On August 29, 2016 members Maurice Ashby and Keith Cooper took their efforts to make Fix Baltimore not only a community project but official enterprise. From creating community gardens to teaching how to grow your own food. Lead by passionate young men and women Fix Baltimore has opened our eyes to a new form of change. Fix Baltimore has not only shown us what entrepreneurship looks like but how to be self-reliant. Urban Freedom Magazine is excited for what’s to come! Be sure to follow our Journey with assisting Fix Baltimore in the year of 2017!
If you would like to assist as well please find all contact information below.
(443) 961-7FIX
208 South Pulaski St.
Baltimore, MD 21223
What form of Media are you Helping to Create?
Barack Obama & Denzel Washington -U.S. Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia via VH
“Honest news through media has become one of the rarest things in our community” stated by Denzel Washington who is disgusted with how news has transitioned.
Due to its trending habits on social media, we tend to believe them at first glimpse. He also said, “If you don’t read newspapers or sources that hold precedence for honest news then, you are clearly uninformed because fake news has now become a part of our lives that many tend to believe”.
However, whether newspaper, TV, radio or social media the game is numbers. Now media companies are highly concerned about their ratings and competing with others and least concerned about the legitimate information. If we consider the real picture of this globalized world then, honest media has now become a fantasy. This is while media giants are focused on their profits and less concerned about providing the right, justifiable yet informative news to their audience.
Barack Obama, while addressing the same issue of fake news, stated that fake news and its popularity has the potential of adversely influencing the system of a democratic state because people won’t be able to differentiate between what’s real and what’s fake. In the same manner, they will be forced to believe that what these media channels are trying to convey is actually true.
Facebook and other popular social media sites can also be called as the biggest contributor in delivering fake news because people tend to share stuff with their own perceptions while ignoring the big picture and real effects of the news on its readers. In this manner, people are also actively contributing to increasing the popularity of the fake news.
Barack Obama also highlighted the fact that fake news not only places the burden on people but also becomes a direct threat to our economy and democracy. People are currently highly uninformed and inter-linked with each other in the most negative manner.
It would be fair to claim that we all are in an urgent need of honest media. Fake news is ruining the conditions of our community and influencing the mindset of our people.
At Urban Freedom Magazine we have a completely different role and goal. To return honest media to the forefront. Your support is what can change this! The attention of the people is what created this. Regardless of how each person feels. The mainstream media aims at what the people feed into. You feed fear and dishonesty…then that is what is created. Feed sources that make you proud.
Are Black Opposite-Sex Relationships Failing? Entrepreneurs & Love
By: Melanin Reigns
A recurring statement in the black community is "black men do not see black women as human". However, is this a valid truth or misconstrued conditioning? Out of 45 DMV women polled via social media, 83% percent complained opposite-sex friendships are failing. There seems to be a lack of value for the other aspects of women in general, but black women say they are plagued by this disconnect more. My question to black men is this, do you ever see a black woman as your sister/daughter/mother first before lusting for her sexual organs? Or have we all fallen victim to society's conditioning to use people and love things? 95% of relationships would be more successful if they began as friendships.
Foundations built on friendships allows communication to flow more efficiently and enables you to learn what a person is reflecting to you. This is not a one-sided argument, black men have complained that women do not set the standard but host ample expectations.
Out of 45 DMV men polled via social media, 87% reported feeling misused for financial and beneficiary purposes when building friendships with women. Chioma Unde of Hampton University explains "Even when you approach a woman with good intentions and deal with her friend zoning you, she begins to overstep boundaries and expect you to do the things her main man should be doing for her." He ends his statement by saying "women do not have good choosing skills, this is why the man must lead, he is the chooser and she can only be chosen. Gender roles still hold importance in my eyes."
Although misogyny is the stamp most women will put on Chioma's statement, look at it from a bird's eye view, that is the reality of many of our brothers. My question to black women is, are we reflecting the very lack of value and greed that our men now place upon our bodies? If so, what are we (black women & men) doing to fix our relationships in our everyday lives?
Most of our challenges with the opposite sex spawns from childhood scars in which either the masculine or feminine vessel(mother/father) in our lives sets the tone for. Trace the root of your issues, it is a shared responsibility when things do not go as planned. Embrace the journey, experience one another freely.
Take your time with friendships, situationships, relationships etc. there's no need to make a permanent enemy out of a temporary situation. We are all healing, so be mindful of that. Peace, power, and prosperity.
Remy Ma & Papoose: Love & Entrepreneurship
America's DARKEST PARTS
By: Nicole Bettis (Quillpensoul)
First impressions are lasting impressions, agreed? I mean, we all try to make sure that we look our best when we are going out. On occasion, we [woman] even take special care to cover any blemishes or dark spots on our faces with makeup. I believe subconsciously we all know that what catches the eye first is important. Actually, it seems like, kind of a big deal. Take a moment if you will, and think back… what was your first impression of the last black woman you came across, that you didn’t already know? Maybe, (2016) you thought she had nice nails or a fly hairstyle; maybe not, but one thing that is for sure, and that's you saw her darkness.
For years, I received "compliments" about how pretty I was for a “darkskin” girl. People told me that, I looked Middle Eastern or Native American (I had Dark and Lovely on deck at the time) and the sad part is, I believed this to be true. I didn't want my roots to show. I've always thought of myself as the low woman on the totem pole anyway-- white man, white woman, black man, and then black woman. That's just what it was, more like an unwritten rule that everyone in house knows and doesn't talk about, you know?
For centuries, we [African Americans] have been made to feel like a dark, stain on America's perfect past, one that should be covered and dismissed at any cost. I know that sounds a bit extreme but, come on, almost every word “dark” word in the English language, has a negative (cynical, depressed, wicked, or just, plain ole’ bad connotation). *literally taught from infancy that black is bad; and the plot thickens, as we try to unlearn and relearn—we are literally thinking in a constant state of contradiction. Yet, we continue to persevere.
We are lawyers, doctors, artist, political officials; we find ways to make life happen anyway. I realize that society has accepted this to an extent but, we will just continue to be a reminder (through action); we must, until white people aren't happy for other people’s successes, even though they are black, and until people of color aren't happy for others just because of their blackness. Don't highlight our shortcomings and downfalls. Celebrate our successes and acknowledge our resilience.
Try to keep in mind that, despite the heartbreaking fact that society belatedly refuses to accept the irrefutable fact that, people of color—dark people, have suffered tremendously. We have not only endured 400+ years of enslavement; we are now living/ coping with the psychological effects of being oppressed. I am not victimizing myself or my people, however, I will [say the simple truth; even if the whole world thinks it’s a lie…], be a voice.