Moving Ahead

        Well, my few days of rest is over. I'm already moving on to the April issue. Time does not stand still and it seems I'm constantly working on the magazine. But because I realize this is my purpose, in order for it to be a great publication I have to put in the hours and the time. Anyone who has a job or own their own business understands time is of the essence and working hard is the mantra to make anything good that you do. 

If you haven't read the March issue of Ujima, please do. You will find a couple of young, intelligent, mission driven twin brothers who are shaking up Austin. They are helping the homeless. They are amazing and a inspiration.   You will also enjoIf yy learning about more young people who make up the band Music Hertz. They will be a part of the Urban Music Festival. They are great too! You will find information on improving your dental care as well as a good Squash casserole. And lastly, you have to check out the book "Mistress Memoirs" by Austinite Lorraine Elzia and much much more. 

As I turn toward tomorrow, writing is all I will be doing for the rest of the week.  See ya soon!

Central Texas African American Family Support Conference

On Friday, I attended the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference. It was the first time I had attended. I went because I wanted to hear Terrie Williams speak. She was the keynote speaker. She wrote the book "Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting." She was such a dynamic speaker. I read her book from cover to cover about a year ago and found it comforting. I told her this when I had her sign my book. But in listening to her speak she reconfirm my feeling that what I'm doing is important. She is a Social Worker by trade as I am. But she knew something else was out there for her besides just what she was doing. I felt the same way. I wanted to use my writing skills to explore other areas and it lead to Ujima Magazine which I publish each month. I also felt having some down days is ok, because with Gods help and guidance I will be ok. So, she she gave me a second push to do what I love and make it the best magazine I can make it. I'm so glad I went. 

Another aspect of her speech that touched me was her discussion about being shy. I have been shy all my life. Over the past five years, I have come out of my shell just a little bit. Having my own business is causing me to come out a bit more. I try hard to stay in the background and do my thing, but I'm finding that having a public product may not allow me to do it as much as I like. But hearing her talk about being shy but finding she is more outgoing when she is working, I found I may be able to come out for my magazine. But I know I can if I have too but hopefully not too soon. Doing something new and exciting I find I seek out other people who I can learn from and take what I hear and put a twist on it for my success.

So anyone who wants to learn about living with depression or "down days" as I call it read Terrie's book. It speaks to Black people in a way no other book I have read does. I hope you learn some things from it as I have and repair your own spirit. I am working on my spirit everyday and with the help of God, I will not fail.

New Experiences

This weekend I had a new experience. Ujima Magazine participated in it's first expo. The Austin Black Expo. It was a great event. I had never done anything like this before. Promoting my magazine was exciting and I got to meet a lot of new people. Many people showed interest in the magazine and they liked the concept. Having your own business is hard work, but when I was speaking to people, I realized this is what makes it worth every moment of feeling tired and many late days. Having people appreciate your effort to give back to the community and bring our people into the light.

The whole Ujima team turned out for the event and we supported each other throughout the day. It helps that we work well together and we all believe in the mission of the magazine. I look forward to reaching out to the community more often. The more Ujima gets out there, the more readers we can possibly receive. Today I sit trying to focus on what I need to do next and I'm finding it hard to do. I want to sit back and bask in the success of this weekend but there is not any time. My March deadline is fast approaching and I got to get to work. But if only for a short moment, my new experience made me feel good about what I'm doing and made me believe more in myself. 

I really enjoyed this new experience... Living for many more.

Would You Have Compassion?

Today was an emotional day. I had an interview for my magazine (Ujima) with a mother who lost her daughter at 15 years old. She was killed by her boyfriend at their high school. I was very nervous about the interview because of the subject.  I haven't ever done an interview with someone who had lost a loved one; not to mention a daughter. The mother talked about love and forgiveness. I felt her love for her daughter and carrying out the forgiveness for the young man that took her daughters life. So the question that came to my mind is what would I do ? Would I have the love and forgiveness in my heart as she does? I think I would be able to reach out to others and assist them as she does, but I just don't know if I could love someone who hurt me and my family. Someone who took away my love one. But in all of this tragedy, she pointed out two people were lost that day. That statement then changed my mind again. Then I thought to myself she's right. He's hurting too. He lost his family as well as his parents lost him. Some may argue they can still see him, touch him, talk to him. But if you have a heart and compassion as this mother does, I can see where her love and forgiveness comes from. She knew a side of this young man before he committed the tragedy so that may play a part too.  This conversation made me think and wonder about my inner soul and if I would have the compassion and love God wants us all to have. I want to believe I would, but my deepest belief is I wouldn't be so kind. But I learned about love and compassion and caring about other people besides my own feelings. It reminded me it's bigger than me.

What would you do?

February Issue of Ujima Magazine

Today the Ujima team met to review and approve the February issue of the magazine. The process to this day is a lot of interviews, writing, editing, editing again and then the final review. I do have to admit my favorite part is going to the printers and viewing the proof. Everything we have worked on for the whole month is on the table in color. All the photos and words come together into a magazine. It's still amazing how it happens. We usually have a good laugh about something that happened on the way to the final print. It's fun to see the final product. 

In the February issue, you can read about a woman who healed from an abusive relationship through music, the Central Texas African American Family Support conference, hair tips, a turkey recipe, the monthly book list for both children and adults and much more.

Please visit www.ujimamagazine.com for the current issue of Ujima Magazine. Look for the February issue the first week of February. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Where Has The Time Went?

I don't know where the time went? Well.. that's not exactly true. It's been a good while since I wrote anything on my blog, but a lot of life has happened to me also. I have all intention to re-commit myself to this blog. But today I'm taking a break from my magazine Ujima that I launched back in September. I have worked hard to get an issue out each month. I'm proud to say I'm working on my February issue. It's been a fun but a stressful ride at times.

One thing I have dealt with is the fast turn my life has taken and how I try hard to remain quiet and unnoticed. The reason this is a struggle is because I'm a shy person by nature. I have had to learn to talk up and be noticed somewhat in my past job as a caseworker and now as a magazine publisher. My husband and I always laugh because it's sort of funny for me to choose a new career owning a magazine when I don't like to be in any type of "spotlight" per se. I like to be in the background. I have managed to stay in the background so far, but the magazine has received such a good reaction from my community, it may be hard for me to continue my "mask writer" image as my husband calls it. But I'm still very scared of the reaction and good, positive comments I have received about the magazine. My expectations were I would produce this magazine each month and people would read it but no one would want to be apart of it. Why? I don't know, I didn't know what to expect. I pray every day that God doesn't take it away from me. When people say nice things, I freeze but I'm proud of my work and I'm glad people in my community is interested because I'm doing it for my community. It's a Black magazine for my black community. It shows our positive images and all the wonderful things we do. So, I know I got to just go with the flow but it's hard for me.

I'm happy to be able to do something I love; write and interact with people in our community. I love speaking to people and learning something from them. I love bringing out stories of people in my community that are doing positive, good things that sometimes go unnoticed. I don't want them to go unnoticed because so far the people that have been involved are making a difference in people's lives. This is what it's all about. So, if you are thinking about living your dream, work on a plan to do it. We all can contribute something positive to our communities no matter where we live. I plan to remain very low key until things warrant me to be known. Take care world.

Grow and Learn from someone today!

Damita

Virtual Magazine

Today I worked on my virtual magazine.  It's a lot of work but I'm loving it. I'm hoping it will reach many people. I still got a long way to go before it's ready but at least it's beginning to look like a magazine website. Once I have it completed I will look at how to make money from it. But for now, I'm just concentrating on laying it out. I have purchased several books and found good information to help build it. Being able to empty my brain after a long day of work helps me to move on to the next day. Again, if anyone has any experience with magazine websites, please let me know. I'm learning all I can from whomever is willing to give me some advice. Thanks in advance.