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Happy International Education Week!
International Education week is kicking off here at the University of Northern Iowa and has many events in store. This entire week ( November 15th-19th, 2021) is dedicated to exploring various diverse cultures and promoting the benefits of the international exchange program. Some of these events include: a movie night in Rod Library showing Howl's Moving Castle, two learn how to cook nights, teaching the dishes Badrijani Nigvzit and Butter Chicken, student-led informational panels, taste testings of foods from 15 different countries, and more. To further recognize International Education Week, we interviewed a few international students on campus to get a glimpse into their experiences here in Cedar Falls. Our first interview was with Vicky Zhou. She is originally from China and came here to study accounting in hopes to do auditing for a company in the future. Vicky has been at the University of Northern Iowa for four years and is currently in her last semester. Haines: How did you find/come across The University of Northern Iowa for a transfer program? Vicky: I came here when I was a freshman from China. Haines: How do you like it so far? Vicky: I like it here and it is very different from home. I find that it's a good place to study and I love the people. It's not too busy but there are also still things going on too for when you want to do them. Haines: What were your major struggles in your transition to UNI? Language barrier? Culture shock? Any others? Vicky: At first, the language barrier was really hard to adjust to. I was also not used to group work in classes because we never had anything like that. I was afraid to speak up my ideas in classes but I am getting better at that. Haines: What specific differences in education have you found between UNI and your home? Vicky: As I said before, having to speak up in class and group work but the relationships between instructors and students was very surprising to me. In China, out of respect we never call our professors by their first name but here I can use their first name to address them in a less formal way. Haines: What is something that you found out about yourself while enduring the transfer program? Positive or negative? Vicky: In my home town I was outgoing, but here I was shy. A big part of that was the language barrier but now that I have made more friends, I feel more comfortable. The student organizations I am a part of have made me feel a lot more comfortable too! They enabled me to gain more confidence in my ability to speak english in a social setting. Haines: Do you have a piece of advice for future individuals who may join the UNI International Program? Vicky: Try to step out of your comfort zone earlier. I was very shy my first year and a half and made only a few friends. Be able to reach out earlier rather than later to feel more comfortable on campus and in classes. The next student we interviewed is Joel Yip Ye Liang. He is from Malaysia and is studying Computer Science. He is hoping to work at a gaming company or working on algorithms for a car company in the future. Joel has been at the University of Northern Iowa for two and a half years now. Haines: How did you find/come across The University of Northern Iowa for a transfer program? Joel: In Malaysia, my college has a 2 + 2 program and after 2 years they have an option to choose a university in the states and I choose UNI. Haines: How do you like it so far? Joel: I like it a lot. There's lots of new culture stuff that I had not experienced back home and the four seasons were also very new to me. Haines: What were your major struggles in your transition to UNI? Language barrier? Culture shock? Any others? Joel: The culture shock and being away from home for the first time was hard to adapt to. Also having to be very independent for the first time was difficult. Especially because the time zone difference is 14 hours behind so I have to wait to call my family and friends until their day starts. Same with waiting for a reply on text. Haines: What surprised you the most about being away from home/being in a totally new environment? Joel: Back home, I didn't cook a lot and didn't really know how. Being away from home pushed me to learn how to cook, clean, and be more disciplined in general. Haines: What specific differences in education have you found between UNI and your home? Joel: At home, classes are more exam based and performance on those exams only. There are a few assignments here and there that don't affect the tests. Those assignments are more like extra credit. The tests are way more important than the assignments. Here, the classes are more assignment based for my major classes. I prefer the assignments to the tests because my major is more creativity based and gives me room to ask questions when needed. It also gets me used to doing the work and prepares me for my future. Haines: What is something that you found out about yourself while enduring the transfer program? Positive or negative? Joel: I had to be more outgoing when coming here because it was hard to find a new group of friends, especially when you are still learning about the culture. I also had to find people who were comfortable with who I was. Some people won’t approach me because they are intimidated by our cultural differences. Haines: Do you have a piece of advice for future individuals who may join the UNI International Program? Joel: Try to meet more people in the states or who have been in the states for school before you come so you can have connections and be prepared to come to the states. The culture is much different and it's good to be prepared. The last student we interviewed was Umas Nangavulan. Umas is from Taiwan and is currently studying social work. He is hoping to work as a school counselor in Taiwan to help students find the resources they need to be successful and healthy. Umas is in his first semester here at the University of Northern Iowa after transferring from the state of Washington. Haines: How did you find/come across The University of Northern Iowa for a transfer program? Umas: I transferred from Washington to UNI. I was going to transfer to Washington State but the tuition was too much money so I found that a cheaper option was coming here to UNI. Haines: How do you like it so far? Umas: I’m having a really good time! I love that UNI provides a lot of opportunities to explore what you want to focus on and what you like. I also like the frequent events on campus. Everyone is really nice and close to each other. People were very mean after Covid-19 in Washington because my culture was targeted. Some people would try to push me and say mean things to me on the streets but that doesn’t happen here. The campus is very walkable and quiet which makes it easy to study and focus on class work. Haines: What were your major struggles in your transition to UNI? Language barrier? Culture shock? Any others? Umas: The language barrier was huge because you want to express a feeling but you can't because you don't know the language very well or how to express it through the right words. One time I tried to help my friend through emotional issues but didn’t know the right words to say. It was frustrating at first but I think I am getting better. Slang words are also hard to understand and pick up in conversations. Haines: What surprised you the most about being away from home/ being in a totally new environment? Umas: I did not think it would be as windy as it is here. It took me by surprise because back in Washington it was just cold without all the extra stuff. Haines: What specific differences in education have you found between UNI and your home? Umas: Studying here for social work, there is more focus on the practice instead of just memorizing theories and concepts. I get to volunteer in a lot of places and listen to guest speakers who work in the field I want to work in. The experience here is much better because it is hands-on and you get real experience. In Taiwan, they only talk about the theory and listen to professor talk and never go in the field. Haines: What is something that you found out about yourself while enduring the transfer program? Positive or negative? Umas: I have previous college experience and I knew what to do and who to talk to if I needed help. It was easy to adapt because I knew how to talk to Americans too. Sometimes people will randomly talk to you here and say “Hi” but some of my other international friends were not prepared for that. I am also taking 17 credits and I am a part of 4 or 5 student organizations as well as work. I found that I can manage my time very well. Haines: What have you gained from this experience? Umas: Compared to Washington, there are a lot of white people and not a ton of international students. I discovered more about American culture while being surrounded by a lot of Iowa people. I also noticed a lot of faith around campus and that is very new to me too. Haines: Do you have a piece of advice for future individuals who may join the UNI International Program? Umas: Be open minded and challenge yourself. Set out from your zone and don't stick with the people from your culture forever. Immerse yourself in the culture and try new things. Especially for people who want to learn English!
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I Can & I Will
No Limbits: The Freedom of Independence
Black or white
To Hell and Back
Not a DOubt
Making my mark by marking myself
As you are
SweetBoy
Belong
We don't Need your Permission
Create Your Fabulous
Rewear
Inherited
Not alone
Revamped
Breaking the Basics
Bend The RUles
Personal Gaze
You. Are. Art.
You for You
What are you?
One thing I can say for sure is that I am beyond stoked for spring this year. After virtually an entire year of being stuck at home, this spring has felt different than any other I have encountered in my 19 years of life. This spring truly reflects the reawakening that it is traditionally associated with. Although nothing has really changed when it comes to staying at home, vaccines are slowly being integrated into our lives. This means that people, including myself, are ready to get out of the loungewear that plagued the fashion scene of 2020. Don’t get me wrong, we love a good athleisure moment, but, on behalf of the fashion industry, we are ready for a change.
That being said, here are 6 trends you should be wearing this spring and how I would style them!
Lastly, I felt it’s important to say that I am a huge advocate for wearing what makes you happy. All of these trends are a combination of anticipated styles to come out of fashion week this spring that make me happy! My hope is that you will find this blog post inspiring or you use it to create your own style. ALSO! The majority of the pieces in these outfits are thrifted which hopefully is a good reminder that you don’t have to buy a whole new wardrobe each season to keep up with the trends. :) On Tuesday, March 16th eight people were shot and killed in what is now known as the “Atlanta Spa Shooting”. The victims were identified as Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Yaun, Hyun Jung Grant, Yong Ae Yue, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, Paule Andre Michels and Daoyou Feng. Of those eight individuals, six of the victims were women of Asian descent, leading officials to believe that these victims were targeted due to race and gender. Many large news organizations are not calling it for what the act is, a Hate Crime. A Hate Crime as defined by the FBI is a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity”. While this case specifically is gaining a lot of attention, it is important to realize that this is one of many Asian-Hate Crimes that have occurred within the last year.
Struggles and violence against the Asian American community are often overlooked. The model minority myth has been a way to hide anti-Asian racism by using the stereotype that Asian Americans are successful and non-problematic in contrast to other minority groups. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Hate Crimes against Asian Americans have gone up by 1900%. Violence and racism towards the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community has been occurring at large scales, but the media has just now started reporting on it. For example: Asian Americans have been denied services. Their businesses have been avoided. Asian American children were murdered in the grocery store. An Asian woman had acid thrown on her. Businesses were robbed and destroyed. A Vietnamese grandmother was robbed and assaulted. Older Asian Americans have been targeted and assaulted. Many have also been killed. Those are just a few of the over 2,800 incidents that have been reported. With the rise of these incidents, it is important to make ourselves aware of what is going on in our country regarding these racial attacks and support those within the AAPI community. How Can You Help Support the AAPI Community?
Report Hate Incidents The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is a group of AAPI attorneys, judges, law professors and law students, created a list of resources that explain Hate Crimes and hate incidents and how to report them to law enforcement. There are also community organizations in which you can report these incidents to such as; Stop AAPI Hate The Stand Against Hatred Donate
Learn About the Asian American Experience
Follow for Information on the AAPI Community @stopaapihate @advancing_justice_atl @aaajalc @napawf_atl Sign The Petition: Petition to hold the media accountable for covering these stories by @asianamericancollective Mental Health Resources
AAPI to Follow to Diversify Your Feed @angryasianfeminist @annie_wu_22 @kimsaira @amandangocnguyen @michellekimkim @mayleeshow @jackfrootx @intersectional.abc @courtneyahndesign @weija Organizations/Accounts to Support: @HateIsAVirus @NextShark @AAPIWomenLead @asianaaf @stopaapihateyc @asians4antiracism @asianamericancollective @smithsonianapa @ricefeed @unapologeticallyasian_ @goldhouseco @asianamericangirlclub @theycantburnusall @weareaanow References: Definition of Hate Crimes https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/civil-rights/hate-crimes Anti-Asian Hate Crimes rise 1900% https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/anti-asian-hate-crime-jumps-1-900-percent/article_f007a05b-f43e-54ca-a3c6-1b5493333dea.html Doc Martens - everyone knows the name and recognizes the yellow stitching holding the shoes together. It’s unique how a pair of shoes and an iconic brand can bring generations together to bond over a commonality. As many of us recognize Doc Martens as a timeless piece to include in our daily modern wardrobe, it’s fascinating to know that the boots were originally designed as a functional work boot to be worn by factory and postal workers. It wasn’t until around 1970 that the boot started to form a revolutionary part of dress and human behavior. Punk culture and dress started by a group of working-class individuals that came together to divert from the norms of society. Doc Martens were a way of expression and rebellion from the typical wardrobe and united people to form a group of solidarity. In a Textiles and Apparel course, I learned how styles from subculture groups of society are taken to create mainstream fashion trends.
The originality of wearing work boots as a fashion statement was viewed by others and adopted, which created a long-lasting trend. Doc Martens are admired for their durability, quality, and overall aesthetic. I can’t scroll through Instagram or Pinterest without seeing a pair styled with an outfit. What’s unique about these boots is they can be styled with almost anything, which is rare to find a shoe that is so flexible and trans-seasonal. Following the trend of sustainability in the fashion industry, investing in long-term pieces of clothing can be a great way to lessen the number of products you buy. I invested in my first pair of Doc Martens recently after many years of admiring them and I’m excited to share all the versatile ways to style/wear them. Comfy In times of COVID, is a shoe really worth buying if it can’t work with a sweatsuit? My favorite thing about my Doc Martens is wearing them with sweatpants and a sweatshirt while still looking put-together! Wear this to the grocery store, to run errands, or on a walk. Trans-Seasonal Many people think boots are only meant for the cold weather, although Docs are great all year round. Pair with a dress, skirt, sweat pants, or leggings. It always manages to tie together an outfit during any season. Trendy Trends come and go, but Docs will stay forever. Regardless of the newest trend, these shoes can fit into your wardrobe in some way shape, or form. With fashion, it’s all about the staple pieces and investing in items that will last you a lifetime — Docs do just that. Business Professional Who says business wear has to be boring? Pair Docs with straight-leg jeans or slacks, a turtle neck, or a plain tee, and top it off with your professional blazer. You can wear this to meetings, dinners, or a day out and ensure you’ll look ready to take on the day (did I mention, Docs are super comfy for your daily walks to the fridge while WFH?) Tip I love wearing a pair of socks that extend past the opening of the show - it’s so fun to see it peek through. If you want to read more about Doc Marten’s history, visit their website and check it out! Last week, Uprising Magazine returned for the second consecutive year to the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association’s (SWPACA) 2021 conference. Given the public health crisis, the conference had moved to a virtual format in order to still provide attendees with their fill of research-based, cultural, Southwest-focused social projects. In February of 2020, four members of Uprising flew down to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to present and attend other sessions at this same conference. In preparation for a fully-virtual conference, this year’s five members took to weekly 7:00am Zoom meetings to create the direction and messaging for our presentation. Isaac Hackman (Co Editor-in-Chief), Cassie Hendrix (Co Editor-in-Chief), Melina Gotera (Editorial Director), Katie Maloney (Marketing Director) and Kalleigh Kress (Featured Member) made up the team of five student leaders presenting at the SWPACA conference.
With a strong understanding of attendees' interest in addressing racial injustices, cultural disparity, and social issues, Uprising set out to share our college organization’s efforts towards advocacy and action.
As this conference attracts nationwide attendees, we started by providing context to the historical roots of the Waterloo Cedar Falls Metropolitan area. We explored the long-sowed division and racial/socioeconomic inequities and their roots in redlining and other systems of white supremacy. We cited the controversial USA Today feature labelling Waterloo as the "#1 Worst Place for Black Americans to Live" and the nationwide discourse sparked by the New York Times' 1619 Project, which was written and produced by Nikole Hannah Jones, who grew up in Waterloo. This information set the stage for several elements in Issue 10. Prior to this school year, Uprising leadership created and adopted a Commitment to Change, or Commitment Statement, to set the tone going forward in our continued work to produce a diverse, inclusive and welcoming publication environment. The statement is founded on three primary pillars --
Further, Uprising adopted a Land Acknowledgement statement into Issue 10 — with intentions to keep at the beginning of each issue going forward — to show respect towards Native and Indigenous People. The Land Acknowledgement recognizes the specific Native tribes that once populated the land our university resides on. Throughout this process, Uprising learned Land Acknowledgments should be a recognition of the wrongdoings of the past, and a celebration of an inclusive and welcoming future. Land Acknowledgement: Uprising would like to acknowledge the land on which we gather is the seized territory of the Ioway, Sauk, Meskwaki, Wahpeton and Sioux People. Indigenous lands weren’t ceded through efforts of “good faith” by the United States Government, rather they were stolen from Native and Indigenous Peoples through coercion and dishonesty. Both the State of Iowa and the United States Government carried out acts of genocide, ethnic cleansing and forced removal as ways to acquire land. Despite centuries of theft and violence, this remains Indigenous land — it will always be Indigenous land. Native and Indigenous People are not relics of the past. They continue to share their talents and gifts amidst a backdrop of ongoing colonialism. We celebrate you. #HonorNativeLand Uprising shared the impact of two individuals from Waterloo who sought out a collaborative relationship with UNI Textiles and Apparel Program director, Dr. Annette Lynch. They are Waterloo Mayor, Quentin Hart, and Waterloo Schools & Career Center Talent & Acquisition Specialist, Joy Briscoe. Their creative partnership with UNI TAPP was extended to Uprising with an opportunity to assist at the most recent Cedar Valley Fashion, Arts and Culture Expo. This event celebrates Black excellence and Greek Life, featuring local leaders, artists, singers, dancers, and creators. Uprising members got involved in shooting photos, video and other general assistance on set. Joy Briscoe was also an integral part of Issue 10’s ‘Sunday Best’ photoshoot and article, that featured photos and interviews with five award-winning local leaders: State Representative Ras Smith, Momentum Program Director Joyce Levingston, congressional staff member Ryan Stevenson, artist and motivator Nia "Shindigg" Wilder, and Waterloo Neighborhood Services Coordinator Felicia Smith-Nalls. ‘Sunday Best’ was shot in the empty historic Faith Temple Baptist Church — also known as Walnut Street Baptist Church — which was recently purchased by the local Habitat for Humanity chapter on behalf of the neighborhood. Smith, Levingston, Stevenson, Wilder and Smith-Nalls spoke on the intersections of faith, leadership, history and fashion in their own lives and work. Melina relayed her creative process, highlighting the importance of flexibility and leaning into the interviewee's narrative rather than imposing one. Melina ended our SWPACA presentation with a quote from Ras Smith, the youngest Black lawmaker in Iowa — and the son of Reverend Belinda Creighton-Smith — who grew up in the Faith Temple Baptist Church. As he walked around his mom’s office from half a lifetime ago, he pointed out clear memories of this space from the past, quoting it as a “muscle memory” embedded in his DNA. It was an honor for our group of student leaders to present on important topics that have been researched and learned as an organization over the past few months to a larger audience outside of our Iowa base. Whether you shop locally or purchase your clothing through large retailers, you are intertwined within the world of fashion. However, are you consciously thinking about the ethics behind those companies or are you blindly clicking that ever-so-tempting ‘Buy Now’ button? Fast fashion companies essentially replicate high-end fashion designs, mass produce them at a low cost and have extremely high inventory turnover rates with new merchandise constantly streaming in.
Clothing companies that choose to provide consumers with misinformation regarding their environmental impact, otherwise known as greenwashing, do so in order to protect themselves and their profits. Not only is this fast paced production detrimental to the environment, many of the companies involved are practicing unethical procedures. Some of these unethical and unsustainable companies include: Amazon, Zara, Nike, Uniqlo, H&M, Victoria’s Secret, Fashion Nova, Forever 21, Pretty Little Thing, Shein, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, Missguided, Romwe, ASOS, Boohoo, and the list goes on. The majority of the companies listed pay their workers illegally low wages and do not provide them with safe working conditions. For some perspective, it takes major fashion CEO’s four days to earn what a Bangladeshi female garment worker will earn in her entire lifetime. Fortunately, there are many ways to avoid contributing to the messiness of fast fashion. Buying second-hand clothing is a beautiful method of utilizing our ability to reuse and reduce. Visiting local thrift stores fits the criteria and for your convenience, there are many second-hand shopping apps such as Depop, Poshmark, or ThredUp. There are also countless smaller businesses that work towards producing sustainable clothing and strive to operate in an ethical manner. If you’re questioning a brand’s ethics, read about them on their ‘About’ page or visit Good on You, a website that rates fashion companies based on their ethics and environmental care. Sezane, Tradlands, Levi’s, Indigenous, People Tree, Patagonia, Reformation, Alternative Apparel, Girlfriend Collective, and Nube are perfect examples of planet-friendly and people-friendly clothing brands. Clothing tells a story and allows us to express ourselves so let’s choose to feel proud of what we wear on our bodies. As Vivienne Westwood once said, “Buy less, choose well, and make it last.” Leave a comment to share your favorite sustainable and/or ethical brand and why! Words / Kalleigh Kress Graphic Design / Sarah Westholm Jorge Garcia has been a collector of vintage-style streetwear for as long as he can remember. He has collected many pieces from shoes to jackets and even has a variety of decor such as Supreme signs and a skateboard wall that helps compliment the store's vibes. When you walk in there is a mural that reads “The Spot” which is great for photo opportunities to show off your new finds.
Jorge has been able to connect his passion with a community of people in the area who share the same love for streetwear styles. Jorge opened his shop, The Spot, located in downtown Waterloo, IA at 621 Sycamore Street back in 2019. Upon walking into the store, you are immediately welcomed by the perfect, yet simple layout that allows everyone to see all his products. The store supplies vintage shirts, jackets and shoes as well as more modern name-brand pieces such as Supreme and Nike. During my visit, I was lucky enough to sit down with Jorge and ask him a few questions regarding the genesis of The Spot. Nemmers: What initially inspired you to open a store? Why streetwear? Garcia: It’s always been a passion — fashion, clothes, shoes. I have always been a shoe collector, since like 13. People love it, ya know? So, it inspired me to open a store; build up the community a little bit — Cedar Falls and Waterloo. Nemmers: When did you open the store and what was the process of doing so? Garcia: I’m barely in my second year, we opened in September 2019. The process, well, I already had a lot of stuff, I’ve always saved up, I’ve always been a reseller. I’ve sold on eBay, Instagram, so when it came to getting a storefront it was kind of a no-brainer because I have all this stuff [shoes and clothes] I just made it happen. Nemmers: I notice a lot of more unique pieces in the store, is there a certain place you go through or buy from? Garcia: Everywhere, honestly. We buy stuff from Supreme mainly online. As for our vintage stuff, we do buy, sell, trade, so people can come in and sell vintage t-shirts or shoes they’ve worn maybe once or twice and we pick a lot of things up through that. Nemmers: How do you keep up with the trends surrounding streetwear? Garcia: Social media, that is everything right now. Promotion, seeing what is new, but honestly a big inspiration of mine is Los Angeles, California. Like, I go out there and get so much inspiration and I try to bring some that back this way. It’s a vibe. I usually go out there pretty often but it is hard to travel with COVID right now. Usually it is like a once a month type of deal. It is like my second home ... I’m originally from there [California]. Nemmers: What do you think sets your business apart from others? Is it the style/vibe of the store, etc? Garcia: I want my store to feel like home. I want to make people feel comfortable when they come in here. Anybody is welcome. I’m different in a lot of aspects, I feel like my store is unique. Vintage brings out a big part of us because a lot of people don’t know much about it and then there are the people that do. Honestly, I’m a vintage person, I wear stuff from the 80s and 90s all day. Nemmers: What advice would you give to anyone who would want to open a store like this? Garcia: Don’t be scared to invest. Don’t be scared to fail. That was a big part for me. Nemmers: What is your favorite style surrounding streetwear? Garcia: The vintage style, 100%. Something about a distressed t-shirt that who knows what it was back in the day. It’s just cool thrifting and finding stuff, like that’s my favorite. Don’t get me wrong I love the other stuff [name brands] but the vintage stuff really has my heart … I feel like it is worth it. -- If you happen to find yourself in downtown Waterloo, IA make sure to pay a visit to The Spot at 621 Sycamore Street. You won’t be disappointed as there is something for anyone who is into or exploring the streetwear style. Jorge will provide you with any information regarding buy, sell, trade and has expertise on the kinds of products The Spot distributes. Check out The Spot’s social media below! Instagram: @thespotdowntown Email: thespotwaterloo@gmail.com Words / Sierra Nemmers Photography / Isabel Smith Styling / Kalleigh Kress Graphic Design / Allison Bentzen Local fashion designers, artists, dancers and many more have come together as a community to create the virtual Cedar Valley Fashion, Art & Culture Expo (CVFAC Expo). This year has opened up the opportunity to utilize a digital platform that allows people around the world to see our community’s outstanding talent. The event provides access and inspiration to all through the sharing of different arts, cultures, and career exploration in an uplifting, fun and inclusive way. Be sure to mark November 27th, 2020 on your calendars to view the show — you can watch the CVFAC Expo on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram. Along with watching, please consider supporting these local community members featured in the Expo.
The adaptability from all involved with the Expo shows how the community is resilient, amazing and strong — Waterloo strong. Mayor of Waterloo, Quentin Hart, and First Lady Cassandra Hart were both born and raised in the City of Waterloo and attended the University of Northern Iowa. Cassandra received a Masters in Principalship, currently serving as Assistant Principal at Hoover Middle School and Mayor Hart obtained a Masters in Post-Secondary Affairs. Education and working with the community’s youth is important to both of them. Cassandra emphasizes the importance behind this event that shows local youth the sky is limitless, you can do anything you put your mind to, but it first starts with a belief. Being able to see successful individuals in their community gives hope to others that they can also pursue their dreams and have the support from their community. Other initiatives that are taking place in Waterloo are mentorship programs for the youth. Having an additional positive leader in youth lives to continue to support them is always welcomed and needed. The Mayor’s Youth Initiative focuses directly on finding jobs for young people, one of the programs is the Mayor’s Youth Council which helps teach politics and how to create change within their communities. There are many ways to get involved and support the necessary and amazing work being done each day. Become a Mentor with Waterloo Community Schools: (319) 433-1800 The Expo will show culture through many different forms of art, which is important to the community because “when you take a look overall at what beauty means, for so long the image of beauty has been decided by various people but this gives the opportunity to give those creative aspects and showcase different beauty then what we traditionally see on TV and media” said Mayor Hart. It’s necessary to provide this platform to the creative individuals in the community making an impact every day. Support your community in part by purchasing from local businesses and talent. Also, include the local talent in any opportunities like the CVFAC Expo, which provides an opportunity to showcase their creativity. First Lady Cassandra states “their success is our success, the more that we can support them, it supports all of us.” Check out these exclusive sneak peek interviews with artists being featured at the Cedar Valley Fashion, Art, and Culture Expo. Allen Speller // Business Owner // Performer Local artist, business owner, and dad. Allen Speller is showing his community that you can have multiple interests and pursue them. Allen started a music and entertainment business that helped bring mainstream artists to the area for the community to enjoy. Allen would spread his music through performing at these shows himself. Music has been a part of Allen’s life, growing up in a church, singing, playing drums and piano. As he grew older, Allen realized he had a natural ability to remember lyrics without writing them down. About 8 years ago, he wrote What Your Name Is, which is the song he’ll be performing at the CVFAC Expo. Music is a passion for Allen, and he’s since ventured into a new business with his dad. Allen and his dad bought an old gas station building with hopes to refurbish and bring it back to life. Although they had run into some technical problems with the equipment left over, that didn’t stop this duo from finding an alternative solution. Through their research, they found success with the hardware store, True Value, where they’ve been open and operating since 2016. Allen’s hopes for the future is to open a second store and continue to build awareness and grow their current location. If you are in the area, check out Spellers True Value located on 1027 E 4th St, Waterloo, IA 50703. Contact Allen Email: aspellmusic@gmail.com Arryan Davis // Musician Music started with family — Arryan recalls recording songs with his cousins using little microphones and studio programs on a Macintosh Computer. Ever since then, music has stayed in his life consistently. Arryan draws from experiences he’s lived through to create his own style. The song Arryan is performing for the CVFAC Expo is I Can’t Breath, derived from a personal experience Arryan has put into words for his cousin Derek Ambrose, who was killed by the police. Arryan wrote this song throughout the quarantine period and when asked to perform for the Black Lives Matter segment, he felt that this was the right time to release his song. Along with being a musician, Arryan is a huge gamer, growing up he loved playing Nintendo and Sega Genesis. He finds a lot of inspiration from games and tunes to incorporate in his own production. Currently, Arryan is working on a new project called Put Y’all On Game that comes from his passion for game beats and music. One song he wants to highlight and get people excited for is “I’m So Iowa and it’s just talking about a lot of stuff that’s going on in our city that you know, people can kind of sweep under the rug … ”. Check out Arryan’s released music and stay up to date with upcoming tracks soon to drop. Contact Arryan Email: arryandavis65@gmail.com ShinDigg // Designer // Photographer // Musician “ShinDigg” has been a part of the CVFAC Expo for the past four years, starting off as a performer for the pre-show, heading to the main show and now entering their own brand Light Gear to be featured. Light Gear is inspired by this idea of sparking something inside someone to better connect themselves to their purpose. The logo is a lightbulb with the letter ‘b' in the middle, this means to “be light”. This simple image can spark questions like what does it mean to be light? What does it look like? How do people feel when they’re by someone who is light? You can purchase Light Gear merchandise, ranging from t-shirts, hoodies and crewnecks, on Shindgg.com or if you catch ShinDigg out in the community, you can purchase directly from them. For the future, the hopes for Light Gear is to become a more lifestyle and household brand. With hopes of encouraging others to monitor the way they speak to others and how they carry themselves because they are a light. “Walk in Purpose, On Purpose” Contact ShinDigg Email: shndgg@icloud.com Website: Shndgg.com Phone Number: (515) 447-6590 #shndgg Renaldo Haywood // Designer Renaldo Haywood is excited for the upcoming new launch of his brand Foreign Gents, which will be featured in the CVFAC Expo with a collaboration of Palace Clothiers. From a young age, Renaldo has always been fascinated with fashion — he shared a story of wearing hand-me-downs from his neighbor that didn’t always fit him the best. He knew then that he cared about clothes and when the time came, he wouldn’t have to worry about finding clothes that fit. After graduating from the Textiles and Apparel program from the University of Northern Iowa, he knew he wanted to start his own business. Foreign Gents brand is wholesale with a twist, it’s bringing together a mixture of high-end sports and casual gear. Inspiration for this dressier style comes from different art forms from western movies, the Harlem Renaissance, and the jazz and cowboy era. Renaldo wants others to know that dress has many messages of empowerment. First impressions mean a lot and the way you dress can show confidence and a level of respect for how you carry yourself. Foreign Gents inspires others to bring back the dressier man in suits and ties. He hopes that this can help set an example for younger people to show them at an early age how to carry yourself through life. Foreign Gents has already found its way into some pop-up shops, but the hope for the future is to continue to spread the brand and eventually go on a tour. Big things to come from Renaldo Haywood and Foreign Gents! Contact: Renaldo Haywood Email: renaldohaywood5@gmail.com Lisa Bradford // Stylist Hoping to inspire others to step out of their fashion comfort box and try something different, Lisa Bradford’s styling is being featured in the CVFAC Expo. Lisa finds inspiration from TV, fashion magazines and simply observing people walking down the street. She loves to find pieces that are sleek and different than what you typically see in stores every day. One of Lisa’s future goals includes opening a brick-and-mortar fashion store in the community. This way, Lisa can carry out her passion of providing unique merchandise to help put smiles on peoples faces. Fashion is a great way to connect people and gives Lisa great joy in her life. Contact Lisa Bradford Email: lisabradford71@yahoo.com Phone Number: 319-215-6266 Instagram: @whatevvs_mane True Talent Dance // Tashshay Williams & Tierra Starks Dancing is everything to the founder of True Talent Dance, Tashay Williams. Tashshay has always dreamed of teaching kids, while working at a daycare center, she started to teach dance lessons in the recreation room. It started off with about 7 girls and continued to grow to a point where Tashay knew that their community needed a dance studio that welcomes all levels of dance ability. True Talent Dance has around 24 dancers performing in the CVFAC Expo ranging from ages 5-16 years old. This isn’t their first performance — the studio participates in many different local parades, events and at churches. True Talent Dance opened two studios within the community which allows the kids to practice and perfect their craft. The future goal is to continue to expand to more locations, along with growing their classes to include 3-4 year olds, a boys division and some adult classes. Tashshay’s passion for dance and teaching others inspires the youth to push past their comfort zones. She makes the “littles” learn the same choreography as the “bigs” which challenges them to push for excellence. Check out True Talent Dance’s performance to see some T.R.U.E. (Talent, Revealing, Unlimited, Excellence). Contact True Talent Dance Email: truetalentdance@gmail.com Phone Number: 319-229-6630 Other Performers, Artists, and Designers -- Designer // Blaine and Justin Featured // Black Greeks This incredible event was put together with the help of many leaders in the community. Thank you to Joy Briscoe, Kristin Kruse and Textiles and Apparel Intern, Britni Perkins. If you would like to help intern for future shows please contact Annette Lynch with University of Northern Iowa Textiles and Apparel Program: annettee.lynch@uni.edu. The Cedar Valley Fashion, Art and Culture Expo is a positive highlight of 2020. Make sure to support local and reach out to these talented individuals for collaborations, questions or opportunities. Words / Cassie Hendrix Photography / Isaac Hackman, Isabel Smith, Fabiola Mukobwajana, Jorge Garcia Graphic Design / Kailie Hesner Art is a method of inspiration, it shares stories and connects with audiences. Its presence is something deeper than ourselves, which creates emotions and discourse. As a Cameroonian-American, Akwi Nji incorporates her ancestry and cultural experiences into her artistic expressions, including performance, words, textile narratives and visual arts.
Currently based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Awki has made incredible strides in her journey — her art has appeared in California’s Wine Country Festivals to New York’s Fashion Week. Through Akwi’s multidisciplinary art forms, she explores the reflection of cultural issues and their relevance to our society. Awki feels that art in its true sense opens up opportunities for learning about others' experiences, and looking forward to action in terms of “what's next”. Akwi’s art is important now more than ever, in a time when not listening and engaging with the voices of others is unacceptable. *Uprising Magazine’s interview with Akwi Nji was conducted virtually with a journalist and was a question-and-answer based interview.* Noelle Sampson: How did you discover your love for art? Akwi Nji: I’ve loved art since I was in high school, but the moment I discovered I wanted to create art? Oh, man. It was a really specific moment. I’d made my way, solo, to the local theatre […] Most of the production didn’t resonate with me in any especially strong way, but then there was what I still think of as “The Bojangles Moment”. Two performers […] mirrored each other in dance […] so hauntingly and exquisitely, the classic “Mr. Bojangles”. The performance hit me hard, rocked me, knocked me down, and then took me somewhere else entirely. I wept. And I hate crying in public. Then the weeping turned to sobbing. Everything in me said, “This. Art. This is the thing you’re [I’m] supposed to do.” Sampson: What inspires you to create? Nji: Trauma, sadness, anger, frustration, confusion. I wish that light, airy emotions inspired me. But they don’t. Heck, I wish something bigger than my own emotions inspired me. But it’s the completely tangled up ball of yarn (that’s how I imagine it) that sits in my belly and that I have to unravel, straighten out, and make sense of through my art […] being not only creative but an artist is a thing. It’s possible and it’s necessary. Sampson: What does art mean to you? Nji: It’s activism. Even when a creative might not interpret it as such or desires it to be for themselves, it’s such a powerful force that it can’t be innocent in its impact. Art absolutely changes people, reflects and impacts culture, it’s an invitation into expansion. It’s a gateway to understanding the why of our worry, the what next of our actions, the I see now of another’s circumstance/culture/voice/life/humanity, the more intimately present of being, the open door into feeling more alive and not numbed. It’s a living, breathing thing that fundamentally impacts who we are and how we navigate our world. Sampson: Describe a time your art succeeded. Nji: I think any moment when someone views my work and sees something resonant to their own life, their own experience, or even a glimmer of what I’d intended feels like a spark of success inherent in the art. When it feels like it’s in conversation with someone and, thus, the world, is when it feels to me like the art succeeded […] Sampson: Describe a time you overcame an obstacle in your artistic journey. Nji: This spring I finally gave myself permission to create completely unleashed from my own restrictive notions of what kind of artist I have permission to be. It’s been a journey, for sure, with swooshes of energy and productivity throughout the last two decades and then obstacles or blocks that force and foster growth […] Reading and working through The Artist’s Way* was exactly what I needed to overcome the obstacles and get moving again. These textile narratives I’m creating right now are fueling me so deeply right now! Sampson: How do you hope your art evolves? Nji: I’m looking forward to more research-based creativity in the coming years, digging into my ancestry, better understanding the role of textiles and beads in Western Africa and particularly in Cameroon where I grew up. But, generally, I just want to continue to grow, take risks, trust that the art finds its rightful place in the world — however intimate or grand that place is — and let go of my tendency toward perfectionism in order to keep creating it. Sampson: Where do you see yourself in the future? Nji: On NPR! That’s seriously a goal. It’ll be a nice nod to myself that I’m getting something right. But, in the meantime, there’s so much I’m looking forward to! I’m researching MFA programs right now and I’m hopeful that the right path will emerge. I’m currently working on marrying my textile narratives with other art forms to create a sort of conversation between the work. And I’m also eager to continue collaborating with other artists and designing multidisciplinary projects which integrate music, film, dance, and spoken word. Sampson: What advice would you give to budding artists? Nji: I wish, when I’d first started creating, that there were more people in my life who encouraged outside-the-box-thinking. They encouraged creativity, but within established boundaries […] I wish I could shout from the rooftops to any creative: Just keep at it! Keep trusting your inner compass and you’ll find the way! It sounds silly, but I wish I could put that energy out into the world every day all day. As Akwi continues on her artistic journey and advances to her vision for future projects, follow her on social media to keep up with her work. In addition, consider supporting Akwi through the purchasing of her art via her website. Connect with Akwi! Website: akwinji.com Instagram: @akwinji or https://www.instagram.com/akwinji/ Facebook: Akwi Nji or https://www.facebook.com/akwi.nji/ Twitter: @AkwiNji or https://twitter.com/akwinji *The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity is a self-help book by Julia Cameron, written to help with artistic creative recovery, teaching techniques and exercises to assist people in gaining self-confidence in harnessing their creative talents and skills. Words / Noelle Sampson Photography / TINT Graphic Design / Isaac Hackman & Grace Riesing |
AuthorsContributors to Uprising Magazine Archives
November 2021
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