< Previous50 AZFOOTHILLS.COM WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME, THE FIRST THING THEY SEE IS THE COLOR OF MY SKIN. I am often prejudged every- where I go. I can tell by the looks on their faces that they are painting a story for my life. Judging by their disdain looks on their faces, it’s often not a pretty story. It amazes me how quickly someone can try to create a full account of your life based on your skin color and preconceived notions. I am a young mother who often goes out in public with my daughter. I often get glances from people trying to cal- culate my age compared to my daughters as she is an ele- mentary student. These same glances often come with their noses turned up and whispers. To them, I am just another young black mother who is living off of the government. I hear the whispers, here is another black mom spending my tax dol- lars as I shop for groceries with my own money. Even if I were, it would not be their business. In my beginning years of being a young mother, I found the glances and whispers to be very hurtful. It impacted my self-esteem a lot and made me embarrassed. I almost always wanted to defend myself and share my resume with them. I am more than a young mother. I used to want to scream back that I am not even on welfare, I have degrees, I own a business, I am probably more educated and successful than you. But I never had the courage to and later became that I would be just as bad as them. Stereotypes are damaging as they create false narratives around racial identities. Stereotypes allow people to believe they know racial identities as a whole, but they do not. Every member of a racial group is not the same. You cannot accu- rately tell someone's story by looking at them. You have to get to know someone for themselves. Dai Baker is a marketing and branding strategist, serial entrepreneur, academic scholar, and a mother. In September 2015, she launched Dai Baker Creative Group LLC. DBCG is a full-service creative agency specializing in branding, mar- keting, public relations, graphic, and web design. Her agency is a reflection of her creative passion. In June 2020, she launched Empowering Young Mothers LLC, a social good business to mentor, empower and advocate for young moth- ers. Dai enjoys empowering young mothers and women to achieve their goals. Twitter: twitter.com/meetdaibaker Facebook: www.facebook.com/daibakercreativegroup Instagram: www.instagram.com/meetdaibaker Website: www.daibaker.com www.daibakercreativegroup.com www.empoweringyoungmothers.com THE ARTISTS THE BUSINESS OWNERS THE LEADERS THE ORGANIZATIONS THE RISING D a i B a k erHi my name is Demitri Downing. I am an ex prosecutor and I have been fortunate enough to be the leading connector in the cannabis industry since 2012. In 2016, after getting tired of all the texts, phone calls and free dinners I founded the Marijuana Industry Trade Association to help Arizonans navi- gate their own path through the new cannabis market and economy. Visit our website at mita-az.org to learn more. www.mita-az.org An Industry Together Is Stronger As One. WE ARE MIT A - ARIZONAMore children are diagnosed with cancer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital every year, in fact almost 430 received this news in 2019. With your help, we can step up to cancer by funding research and clinical trials that get us closer to a cure – helping kids be kids again. Join the 昀ght at StepUpWithPCH.org STEP UP. STOP CANCER. More children are diagnosed with cancer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital every year, in fact almost 430 received this news in 2019. With your help, we can step up to cancer by funding research and clinical trials that get us closer to a cure – helping kids be kids again. Join the 昀ght at StepUpWithPCH.org STEP UP. STOP CANCER.@azfoothills #azfoothills 53 THE ARTISTS THE BUSINESS OWNERS THE LEADERS THE ORGANIZATIONS THE RISING Donovan McNabb INTERVIEW BY CIERRA LUNA With the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement spreading throughout the country. What do you believe the impact of these two significant events will have on the NFL? “Regarding the pandemic, there is more of a safety concern for the players and their families. You have to make sure as a league; you are going through the right channels to address and focus on health concerns rather than just focusing on getting back to playing. And then when you do get back to play, you involve more than just players. You have coaches, general managers, the staff running the building and tending to the field, and trainers to take into account, so those are some of the things the league is going to consider when getting the season back.” On The Black Lives Matter Movement: “We have to listen to the message. And my message in particular to Black Lives Matter is if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask. Asking opens up the forum for communication of what African Americans have been going through. I think people tend to want to use excuses so the conversation can’t or won’t happen, but when it involves them individually, they have a concern. So, K OHJIRO KINNO54 AZFOOTHILLS.COM we just have to listen to and take into the account what the actual message is” On Athletes Speaking Out: “I have always been an African American, I became an athlete as I got a little older, but I have always been an African American. Have you faced any social inequality within the NFL, and is there anything in the organization that needs improvement? Do you feel as though there are many advantages to be a white quarterback versus a black quarterback? “African American quarterbacks have to do more. We have to be spectacular; we have to be the player with the pizzazz or always make the great big plays. We cannot ever just be “average” People get enamored by our abilities. However, the expectations are so high, and when we do not meet those expectations, but we still have an above-average season, a good season, we still have to be great. If our numbers are similar to the average quarterbacks, then it is just not good enough.” “How many black backup quarterbacks are there compared to the white quarterbacks? Most of the white backup QBs weren’t excellent starters, but they stay in the league five, ten, fifteen years. But if you are a black starting quarterback in the league, people talk about ‘can they become backup quarterbacks?’ It would be like wait; if I was a starter, why can’t I become a backup to help a team win?” What do you feel is a professional athlete’s role to play in the BLM movement? “We all have a role in it, not just African Americans. If you take a look at the peaceful protests across the country, there are African Americans involved, Caucasians, Hispanics, and the Black Lives Matter movement. All minorities have dealt with some sort of racism, inequality, or injustice. And even some of the white faces among the movement have friends or witnessed the injustice themselves, and they just want to see it stop.” “People look for the athletes to be the front and center of Black Lives Matter when in the grand scheme of things, we need more white Americans, business owners, CEOs, and presidents of companies to come out and speak publicly about BLM.” If you could give one piece of advice to the future generation of athletes, what would it be? “Be very aware of your surroundings; be aware of how people feel and be sensitive to people’s beliefs. Stand up for what you believe in, but do not push your beliefs onto anyone. Believe what you believe and agree to disagree.” “Be able to take care of your money 20 years from now. That means you save money, protect you and your family from a financial standpoint. Put some away.” “Be very aware of your president, your owner, your GM, and find out what it is they believe in, and if you do not agree with it, express those feelings.” Describe the transition from being a professional athlete to “normal” everyday life? “My transition was normal because I did not allow outside influence dictate what I wanted to accomplish in life. My mind was always set on going to college and what I wanted to do after football, like broadcasting. The Caris Sports Foundation helps kids coming from lower-income families. Why was this something you and your wife (Raquel) were passionate about? “Club sports play such a major factor in the future of these individuals, these kids. It gives them an opportunity and platform to be showcased, to be put out there so college coaches can recruit them, and they can fulfill a dream of going to play D1 sports. When I was growing up, college coaches would come to your high school to watch, and it is different now because most of these coaches aren’t coming to high schools unless they see you on the AAU circuit. The thing that stuck in our minds as kids come from single-parent homes or adopted, and they don’t have the financial back to pay AAU and club dues every month. We are providing support for them to be able to do that so that the kids may have the opportunity to be on the same platform as other kids who do have families who can afford to pay the dues.” K OHJIRO KINNO THE ARTISTS THE BUSINESS OWNERS THE LEADERS THE ORGANIZATIONS THE RISING “ Y ou h a v e to close th e door and go into y our ne xt ch apter . I became a dad; I became a coach; I became a mentor , more of a r ole model. ” @azfoothills #azfoothills 55 WHAT IS THE ISSUE? On May 25, 2020, several worlds converged. Actually, they collided in front of our very eyes. The world of race and the world of injustice met the worlds of privilege and power… and these meetings happened on camera. That day, Christopher Cooper would be bird watching in Central Park only to have a woman file a false police report stating that he put her life in danger, all because he asked her to put her dog on a leash. In Minneapolis, on that same day, George Floyd would lie face down on a ground with police officers leaning their bodies on top of him to subdue him. One with a knee in Mr. Floyd’s neck. For eight minutes and 46 seconds, Mr. Floyd said he could not breathe, he asked for help, he asked for his mother. He cried for help until his body was unable to. His life was taken. In response, the country came undone. Protests rose up from sea to shining sea. Black communities who remembered Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor (who’s killers still walk free), added George Floyd’s name to their list. #ICantBreathe and #BlackLivesMatter posts returned as people watched the constant replaying of the horrific and tragic last moments of George Floyd’s life. Riots ensued and folks became more concerned about the loss of property than the loss of life – but not all folks. Some of us sat numb in front of our televisions and computers, tablets and phones trying to make sense of it all. Even under the shroud of the coronavirus, the voices of minorities rang out. Hurt people holla’. We wanted to scream to the world that, once again, we were in pain. We watched as our circles divided into those who got it and those who tried to phone a friend and get a clue to what was going on. What was going on? Injustice What was the issue? Racism – as it has been for more than 400 years The dichotomy that played out on that fateful day in May gave credence to what Black people have been saying for years. There is a special kind of power that is levied when someone white makes an allegation about a person of color. Amy Cooper was not in danger from Christopher Cooper. However, because he challenged her to follow the rules, she let him know that she could put his life in danger by calling the police and stating that a Black man was threatening her. She knew what those words would signal and the reaction that they could create. The collision of race and privilege. There is a special kind of attitude that a white person possesses that gives them the confidence that if they take a Black life, all they would have to say is that they were in fear of their own life, or they were upholding the law, and they will be absolved. That was the look on the face of Derek Chauvin as he knelt on the neck of George Floyd – the nonchalantness, “nothing to see here” look that his face bore for eight minutes and 46 seconds. The collision of race and power. What is going on? The reckoning What is the issue? Racism… still As a public relations consultant, my calling is to help companies and organizations build connections with their target audiences. Some of my areas of specialty are crisis communications and multicultural communications. So imagine how busy the past months have been. Over the past weeks, I have • given counsel to companies across the country. This is a synopsis of that advice. This is not a moment. This is • a movement. You must decide which side your company will stand on. To not act or to be in denial is to fail. If you think that racial issues • have no impact on your company, you are wrong. Your employees, suppliers, vendors and customers are humans and racial injustice is an issue of humanity. If you have a past that you • need to atone for, do it. The road to redemption starts with one step and two words, I’m sorry. If you don’t know what to • do, ask for help. Our country is at a crossroad. It is a familiar one that we have visited before. Maybe this is the time that we choose the road less traveled. The one that may make all the difference. It‘s time to be the change. LaTricia Harper Woods LaTricia Harper Woods Founder & President, Mahogany Xan Communications, LLC, www.mahoganyxan.com Founding Principal, The Change Agencies – The first and only national network of independently-owned PR firms focused on inclusive marketing to multicultural and LGBTQ communities. www.thechangeagencies.com (480) 374-1908 THE ARTISTS THE BUSINESS OWNERS THE LEADERS THE ORGANIZATIONS THE RISING56 AZFOOTHILLS.COM In the last few months, it’s been hard to keep up with the news tragedies. And It’s been twice as hard for my emotions to keep up. As soon as I processed my outrage over the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, who was gunned down in February after being pursued by a couple of armed white residents while jogging through a Georgia neighborhood, I learned of Breonna Taylor. Taylor, an EMT, died in March after Louisville police shot her eight times while serving a warrant during an attempted drug sting. As I reacted in disbelief after learning the details of Taylor’s story, the video of George Floyd surfaced in May, showing him lying helplessly on the ground after he was suffocated by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd’s death triggered a wave of protests, which evolved into a broader conversation on systemic racism throughout the society, with people of color sharing their stories of discrimination not only in encounters with police but in the office, newsroom, and everyday life. And this racial reckoning has occurred as we continue to battle a worldwide pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people while disproportionately affecting people of color. Throughout this time, my reactions have cycled between anger, rage, depression, and jadedness, mainly as I reflect on my personal experiences in my life and career. But there’s only one reaction that genuinely describes my mood and the feelings of Black people across the country. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I believe that’s the spirit that’s driven the protests across the country as people have shown they are fed up with police brutality and systemic racism. I believe that’s why journalists of color and other professionals taking to social media share their stories of discrimination and mistreatment in their workspaces. I’m hoping we’ve reached a crossroads as more people of all backgrounds are willing to confront the discrimination that permeates society. But the real question how much will things change? This isn’t the first time people have marched for fair treatment or equal rights. This also wouldn’t be the first time that authorities, policymakers, and business leaders have vowed to do better. Within the last three years alone, I’ve attended at least four events. As a panelist or attendee, that addressed the topic of police brutality against black men and women and the intersection of police, media, and the role of black journalists in the coverage, all in reaction to several unarmed killings of black men and women across the country. These meetings are in addition to the number of panels and conversations I’ve had with journalists, public relations professionals, and newsroom leaders on the importance of improving diversity within these spaces. These conversations were always honest, informative, and cordial with promises to improve. Yet, here we are dealing with the same issues, pleading with the same voices to listen to us. NOW IS THE TIME FOR A CHANGE. Are law enforcement agencies truly willing to repair their relationships with communities of color? Are policymakers willing to make changes that lead to real reform? Are news organizations and other companies willing to truly invest in the careers of minority workers? I hope so. We can’t afford any more panels, town halls, discussions, or promises to work together. Jamar Younger Phoenix Chapter President of the Arizona Association of Black Journalists “ This isn’t the first time people have marched for fair treatment or equal rights. This also wouldn’t be the first time that authorities, policymakers, and business leaders have vowed to do better.” THE ARTISTS THE BUSINESS OWNERS THE LEADERS THE ORGANIZATIONS THE RISING@azfoothills #azfoothills 57 Her passion for film, beauty, and self- encouragement continues to motivate and inspire others to "Follow Your Dreams, Never Give Up and Truly Believe in Yourself !" She now owns her own talent and model development company StaceyeFollowYourDreams. Staceye Beatty, a model, and actor began her career in beauty and fashion at the age of 21 and has never stopped. She obtained a master’s degree in business management and is now CEO & Owner of her own Nonprofit Organization, "StaceyeFollowYourDreams." After taking a short break to become a full-time mother, she continues to market her talents across the U.S., expanding in the film and theater industry, now "featured" in several credited films found on IMDb. You will also find Staceye on the walls of The Scottdale School of Arts, as she is a high demand Art Model painted and sculpted by famous sculptors such as Eugene Daub and more. StaceyeFollowYourDreams demonstrates how to become successful entrepreneurs through seminars, fashion shows, and volunteer programs. With opportunities to interact with successful business entrepreneurs, we bring motivation and excitement back into others' lives while helping them establish solid career goals. Our ongoing training is set up to help others build confidence and self-esteem and rebuild their hope and motivation. Staceye Beatty Email: 1staceye@gmail.com B: (858) 776-0735 Website: staceyefollowyourdreams.com/home IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm10387211/ IG: www.instagram.com/@ms.staceye Our mission: "Believe and You Will Succeed" Staceye Beatty DENNIS LARSON PHO TOGRAPHY THE ARTISTS THE BUSINESS OWNERS THE LEADERS THE ORGANIZATIONS THE RISINGDeveloped in 2017 in Gilbert, Arizona, the Keli May Foundation started as a way to remember the life of Keli Ariana-Renee Rutledge. A local musician, a woman of faith, and a beloved daughter and friend, whose life was tragically cut short at 18 years old due to a head-on collision caused by an impaired driver. After finding out she aspired to attend school to major in social work, her parents, Warren and Cynthia Rutledge decided to devote their time and energy to create a foundation that assisted local foster youth in aging out of the system and gaining their independence. What started as a way to honor Kelis’ passion for her community, The Keli May Foundation, has grown into a source for positive change in the lives of local youth. Upon meeting Warren and Cynthia Rutledge, you immediately note their uplifting energy and passion for what they are doing. They approach each challenge and obstacle with a positive attitude and a belief that it can be overcome. Turning tragedy into a movement for good, every year, they dream bigger for the organization and move closer towards the devel- opment of the Keli May Campus. A center that will include eight residen- tial buildings, inspiring outdoor spaces, transportation, laundry facilities, cafeterias, education spaces, staff, and more for foster youth into navigating the new obstacles of adulthood. Always recognizing the importance of individual acts of kindness, you can always find the Rutledge’s distributing food and other necessities on the streets and food pantries. The organiza- tion’s heart and soul are easily the people behind it and how they take gen- erous community donations and turn them into the assistance the com- munities need. With Rutledge’s hands-on distribution of supplies to foster pantries, hosting career events for youth, involvement in community events with Foster Arizona and Rock Point Church, and the implementation of a music scholarship, bring the Keli May Foundation closer towards accomplishing their vision. “To provide care and services that complement the unmarried indi- vidual’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and to accept personal respon- sibility while preparing for and making the transition into adulthood.” Warren and Cynthia Rutledge inspire their community to make this cause their own and continue to be the driving force behind the organiza- tion’s growing success. Their work serves as a reminder that strong com- munity ties and a belief in an important cause can make drastic changes in the lives of the next generation, one act of kindness at a time. Due to the epidemic of at-risk young adults exiting the foster care sys- tem who have limited to no direction, support, or stability, The Keli May Foundation’s goal is to be the “Roots” to develop the possibility of a brighter future for young adults. By equipping those young adults with life skills and a connection through community, love, and support. If you would like to help support the Keli May Foundation and learn more about their cause, please visit www.kelimayfoundation.org. Keli May Foundation Keli Ariana-Renee RutledgeWarren and Cynthia Rutledge 58 AZFOOTHILLS.COM THE ARTISTS THE BUSINESS OWNERS THE LEADERS THE ORGANIZATIONS THE RISINGWhat does the Caris Sports Foundation do? “Some foundations are complicated, and we are not. We raise funds to help kids play sports. It is so simple; we fundraise so kids can play.” Why did you start the Caris Foundation? “We (Raquel and co-founders) are all moms involved in youth sports. Many of our team managers are involved in organizations, and we saw a lot of kids who are struggling to pay (for youth sports). And a lot of the burden either falls on the organization, who are struggling to raise money them- selves, or the kids just won’t play. Or the parents reach in their pockets and cover costs for kids. I just felt like we can help this, we can make a change.” “What does it mean to ‘level the playing field’?” “If you look at the statistics, kids from affluent families have more opportu- nities to play sports. When we say leveling the playing field, it is allowing everybody to play. We feel it is important to play sports because of all the other values and skills that come with playing sports and developing as a person, not just playing.” Being an athlete yourself, how were sports an outlet or essential throughout your life? “It gave me the ability to travel places I would never travel otherwise. And the bonds that I made, the relationships built, and all the fun times. That is what was important.” What is your favorite part of starting a foundation (other than helping kids get to play sports)? “I think some of the cool things are meeting with organizations. I have sat down with several different youth organizations and gotten to know them, their struggles, and how they are trying to help kids. So, I think relationships are the best part. I have come across so many people in the valley who just want to make youth sports better and available to everybody.” What is the hardest part about starting and running a foundation? “It is getting people to know who you are and what you do. We get press here and there, so getting people to know about and us a second is fund- raising.” If people want to get involved or donate, where should they go to do that? “Go to our website! You can go on our website and donate, ask questions, or fill out scholarship applications. And hopefully, if Covid-19 allows, we will be holding a golf fundraiser in the fall.” Caris Sports Foundation Founders of CarisRaquel McNabb at Launch @azfoothills #azfoothills 59 THE ARTISTS THE BUSINESS OWNERS THE LEADERS THE ORGANIZATIONS THE RISINGNext >