“Release, Reset, Restart”
Featured This Month:
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Tha Bay 2 ATL - SoCAL Flames
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The Art of Living
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Hood 2 Hood
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Writers Block
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Featured This Month: 〰️ Tha Bay 2 ATL - SoCAL Flames 〰️ The Art of Living 〰️ Hood 2 Hood 〰️ Writers Block 〰️
4EVER INSPIRED: Volume 09 - A monthly newsletter featuring people, stories, places, tips, tools, and inspiration to be our best.
“The Bay To Tha A(TL)” Stories, places, and people that matter to the people.
BAY AREA SPOTLIGHT:
If you think the California fires are only burning a hole in the pockets of the rich and famous, think again. It seems history repeats itself as Black and low-income families are being left in. the dark - figuratively and socially. Unlike popular rhetoric, many of the victims of the SoCal blaze are working class and poor families.
Imagine losing everything from daily possessions to cash, assets, the precious belongings of your children, and even the ashes of deceased loved ones. One Altadena resident was seen asking passersby and camera crews for water or help to save his home. Many black families previously skirted unfair lending and discriminatory housing practices with moves into areas such as Altadena, CA, only to now come face-to-face with the prospects of gentrification and permanent displacement. About 80% of Black residents are homeowners - twice the national average (Associated Press). In recent years, much of California has undergone cultural identity shifts due to gentrification and forced migration. However, with such a devastating and unplanned incident, many individuals may be displaced or remain unhoused after the ashes have cleared. The idea of predatory and imbalanced housing/ownership opportunities is a harsh reality for BIPOC residents of the Golden State.
Homeowners and residents of Altadena, California, account for a community of diverse demographics, including 58% of individuals from minority/mixed backgrounds and only 42% of individuals identifying as White. According to US Census data, the area is 1/4 Hispanic and 1/5 Black. Properties ranging from modest apartments to luxurious mansions paired with people from various backgrounds make this LA neighborhood uniquely attractive for safety, affordability, and opportunity. But the recent stream of wildfires threatens the quality of life and pursuit of happiness for so many, and some say it is all a part of the scandal to capitalize on legal tender. We have seen high-level corruption in government before and know this country is no stranger to illicit behavior for financial gain. Whether true or false, these people are still out of a home and some a job and a place to live. The undeniable truth is that homeowners and renters (like the guy asking the camera crew for bottled water) need real help in real time.
Over 200K people have been displaced in the break of wildfires, which has also left 24 people deceased, 23 reported missing, and thousands of structures annihilated, with others severely damaged. The fires also have a grave impact on artistry and culture. While it is a challenging time for everyone involved, the devastation will likely grow for those with limited or no means to relocate, work, or recover. This trauma is especially debilitating for people who are not able to be fiscally competitive in the current financial climate. Many Black, low-income, or minority families are getting by until payday but have no plan or ability to recover from disaster. The average American is one emergency away from homelessness, depression, or hospitalization, which means that this could happen to any of us and render our families dejected. The often under-discussed issue is that the system is broken. We need a world where the people dispensing hard labor to build the world we live in will also be able to afford it - especially in times of tragedy, epidemic, or pandemic. Kids are unsure what each day will bring, while their parents struggle to find hope and help. Regardless of governmental or corporate influence, communities and people are showing up to help those in need. Humanity will always find a way to persist as long as humans exist. There are many ways to get involved. We have listed some verifiable outlets below.
Our hearts, prayers, and support go out to the victims of the SoCal Fires.
Resources:
Planet Fitness: Free showers for firefighters and residents without membership through the end of January. https://www.planetfitness.com
Santa Monica College: Collecting donations of hygiene products, blankets, baby supplies, and other critical items. Accepting donations to disburse amongst students and faculty. https://www.smc.edu
Screen Actor’s Guild accepting donations to support its members. members.sagfoundation.org/donate
Ca Fire Fund: https://www.cafirefoundation.org
LA Fire Dept Foundation: supportlafd.org/donate/
Ca Community Foundation: https://www.calfund.org
Entertainment Community Fund: give.entertainmentcommunity.org/site/Donation2
Other Common Ways to Help:
Food Bank, Humane Society, Salvation Army, and Veterans Support Services are other ways to get involved.
ATLANTA SPOTLIGHT:
We will return with ATL ‘places to be’ in February. For now, check out our last newsletter for a pulse on places to visit in ATL.
The Art of Living
Bela. B, Artist
“Art brightens our lives by transforming our spaces and influencing how we feel.”
Pause…
Poignant messaging is woven into the traces of distinctive visuals, blended with tender detail in every stroke. Rich skin tones and natural shading make each piece not only beautiful but believable. This piece made us breathe, pause, and reflect.
Fortress…
The art of living is that the view of the journey is largely based on the perception of the vision. This piece reminds us that we can be both a blockade and a fortress.
Awaken…
The brightness of the moon, the detail of the mind garden, and the reflection of the water are all stunning. Every detail is captivating—almost to a trance state.
We recently spoke to BELA B. about art, color, life, and why she continues to create.
1. What inspired you to create art?
Art is my favorite way to communicate! I truly believe that everyone has a unique message and gift to share with the world. For me, making art goes beyond just expressing myself; it’s all about connecting with others and encouraging everyone to discover and share their own gifts too. My artwork is my little present to the world, designed to spark conversations and inspire some thoughtful reflection.
2. How does your art connect with people and society today?
My art is a reflection of the life lessons I've gathered along my journey. I think it’s really important to share these insights because they can resonate with others who might be going through similar experiences. By expressing what I’ve learned through my work, I hope to create connections and foster empathy, reminding everyone that they’re not alone in their struggles. Art has this incredible power to bring people together and encourage dialogue and understanding in our ever-changing world.
3. Why do you think art is so important?
Art is all around us in so many ways, often in forms we might not even notice at first! While we usually think of art as paintings or sculptures, it can also be found in the design of everyday items, like the shape of a pencil or how a webpage looks. Art brightens our lives by transforming our spaces and influencing how we feel. It sparks creativity and innovation, lets us express ourselves, and helps us understand different cultures. It’s a lovely reminder of the beauty and thoughtfulness that can be seen in the little things we encounter everyday, making art an essential part of our human experience!
4. where can we find you now/next?
Everyone can find me on Instagram as @belab_art, on Facebook as BelaB, or on my website www.artbelab.com.
“HOOD 2 HOOD”
Everything in between parenthood and adulthood; we’re just tryna make it out!
FAIL FORWARD
Why didn’t anybody tell me that babies do not come with their own individual handbooks? It’s no secret that I became a mother as a teenager. Naturally, that meant a variety of parenting classes. I know how to keep kids safe all of the time and off my nerves most of the time. That is until they became teenagers. Nobody gave me lessons on how to navigate the complex realities of their lives. How can we have the balance of being a mother and a confidant?
The uniqueness of being a mother in development is that, with time, the art of parenthood becomes more refined. A parent’s guilt is the little voice that goes to war in the mind, wondering if we said or did the correct thing. It’s setting up the expectation for how we will be with our children, and when plans go wrong or bump up against something in our blind spot, that voice can get louder. Practically screaming that we are the worst parents, and society often mimics that. I am just trying to have a place to live in this economy. I am frequently contending with social media, marketing, and the ever-changing world my children have to navigate. I receive thousands of mixed messages about how to raise my children so they grow up to be productive members of society. I receive messages about how to be a gentle parent, encourage emotional regulation and intelligence, and make strong, free-thinking children. I did not come from a place where any of this language was used. I was a teen parent in foster care with drug-dependent parents. Failing forward was the name of the game. Plugging and playing, planning and praying. As I grew up with my children, the core value I held onto was that if nothing else were true, my children would be kind, respectful, and compassionate. It was instilled into them to care about each other and the people and places around them. I searched for all the ways to support my children. I learned to be okay with getting it wrong.
I have age-gap kids, and my older children grew up with a teen mom just learning how to be in the world. Imagine all the things I got “wrong” and the amount of times I wanted to listen to the voice that told me I could not succeed as a teen mom. From how I disciplined my children to how I showed them love, it was all based on what I knew then. I didn’t know hugging my children was important, talking to them as if they were competent, and having patience! Those are all skills I developed over time. My youngest has an entirely different mother than my older children have had to experience. I had to fail forward, make mistakes, learn, and be accountable for making necessary changes. I am never afraid to apologize to my children. I apologize for many things, even if those were from years ago. Their feelings and thoughts matter to me.
Black moms are held to an incredibly high standard and frequently have the least amount of support and resources. Stigma and stereotyping can skew how we show up for our children. Afraid to make mistakes or openly admit to the mistakes we’ve made because of the standard that is placed on us. In my opinion, it only further isolates us from having genuine, authentic conversations about failing forward. Perfection is not the goal of my parenting. However, progress is. I recently learned about these “pink tote lid moments” on TikTok, a trend on social media where people recount moments when a parent erupted in anger over something that wasn’t serious enough to warrant the reaction. On one hand, I can understand how harmful the experiences can be. On the other hand, I can see how the point of view can be misrepresented—the idea of what happened and the story of what happened.
As a single mom, I can attest to being overwhelmed and burnt out. My children probably have a few “pink tote” moments when I have gotten angry about things, but in retrospect, it wasn’t a big deal. Those are the moments I have often gone back to apologize about. I learned to work on methods not to let my frustration boil over. I believe the insight I have gained from these stories is that the breakdown occurs when harm is done and it goes unacknowledged. Some of the stories are just abusive, and that is never ok.
How do we move forward? We can speak out and share our parenting fails, take ownership of our actions, and apologize to our children. We can also forgive ourselves because we are just human, no matter how superhero-ish our lives may feel. I think this point is most important because it provides a nonjudgmental space for ourselves and others who are just trying to work it out.
Jenna
Writers Block
If I could sit somewhere and write all day long, I would probably end up with more time and drinks on my hands than I could handle. This December taught me to respect failure, challenges, and the lessons they teach. But it also taught me to start patting myself on the back for how I handle these things and for living in the truth of what I say and write. That said, this January will be a snowstorm of raining down things I have never said but should and shuffling the black ice off of my heart word by word. Writing often feels like a drug deal in which I am the dealer and the user. Both ends of the experience excite me; I live for this high; I love it here and do not want to become sober or sophisticated or reasonable. I try to convince myself otherwise, but somehow, I end up back doing the work, buying the product, and back on the block. I know purpose and fulfillment are a married couple that no one can separate; I keep turning to them for help, and they keep giving me writing. It is as if the very thing I aim to escape is the one that is made for me; this life hurts, but somehow, I love it. And in a moment of worry, I look around only to find distractions, constructs, disasters, and fires. And I realize the world is sick, and all of us are hurting in one way or another. If it has to be painful I might as well be fulfilled, I might as well make something beautiful and lasting in the process. I hope that however the universe moves, it guides you towards your thing. I hope you get so enthralled with something inside of you that it makes all the pain and anguish worth it. I hope your purpose catches you so strong it never lets go and that one day you fall so deeply in love with that sense of fulfillment that you never want it to.
Here are a few ways to get inspired:
Go to an arcade and play some games, drive the bumper cars.
Start a coloring book for mental health.
Pull out that bin of crafts and start making things.
Grab a 100-piece puzzle and start working on it with friends, guests, or solo.
Watch Inside Out - 1 and 2. Game changers.
Learn how to play a new video game.
Grab a notebook/ pen and write for 20 minutes - write anything and see what happens!
Whatever you do, I hope you find more joy, more balance, and more you.
Love and light,
