As we walked through the exhibits listening to the history behind each piece, I couldn’t help but admire this young millennial’s passion and you know me and the millennial generation – I love it when they are positively in motion, remember this post?
Before I left the museum I asked Madeline if she would like to be featured on my blog as a “Millennial in Motion” ? She was happy and graciously accepted so today I am honored to present to you the writing and art work of
The Rising Phoenix
Who is The Rising Phoenix?
By Madeline Porter
I have drawn all of my life, starting with simple materials such as crayons, markers, pens and pencils. I still use those materials to draw today, but I have expanded my media to include acrylic paint on canvas. I attended Cab Calloway School of the Arts for middle and high school, as well as Brandywine Summer Fine Arts Camp during the summer break. During those years, I majored in Visual Arts, and minored in Communication arts. In art camp, I majored in Visual Arts as well, but my two exploratories were in the performing arts: Theater and Dance. In actuality, I would have liked to participate in all of the arts offered at Cab Calloway, but we were only allowed to choose two. I very much enjoy cinema, so much so, that I filmed two full-length cardboard and paper animated films as a child. I enjoy singing and eventually learned how to sing in a choir in my second language, Spanish. I used to take piano classes and I can currently play by ear. I have always felt that it is difficult and limiting whenever I am told that I must choose and focus on completing one activity.
I am a procrastinator, a perfectionist, and an over-active multi-tasker. Subsequently, finishing projects and prioritizing have been my biggest struggles. However, I have good mentors that encourage and push me to complete my tasks. Once I left art school and began attending college, I stopped doing art for several years. It was a sad time for me because I found college socially and academically arduous. It was quite a culture shock and difficult to adjust to, because I had lived such a sheltered, strict upbringing. College and graduate school required so much studying, energy, patience, and endurance. I did not feel prepared for all that it would require of me. I encountered many different people from different places with different values. Many of these experiences I would say were positive, such as my encounters with international students. Despite any negativity I encountered, I thankfully, pushed forward, and received my Bachelors in Spanish and my Masters in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language.)
College can be a very frightening and challenging place for a female. Witnessing and enduring sexual harassment and addressing sexual assaults that occurred on campus really disturbed me. I was briefly a resident assistant and I joined the Counseling Center’s S.A.R.A. (Sexual Assault Response Advocates) group to address some of the problematic attitudes and actions taken on campus. Originally I decided to found and lead a new multicultural organization called UNITE to ease growing tensions from our campus’ increasing diversity. Our group also focused on educating the campus on various causes such as Prevention and Awareness of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, HIV & AIDS, Cancer and Suicide. It is not something that I can be silent about because all of these issues do affect our college students. It is common for college students to have breakdowns and crumble under the pressures of school, homesickness, culture shock, peer pressure and financial strain. I wish to illustrate the struggles of college students as well as other social issues within my artwork.
My art’s focus constantly evolves and reflects the changes and climate of the current environment during my lifetime. Before September 11th, my artwork rarely reflected any political issues. At one time, the majority of the characters I drew reflected Japanese anime, comics and superheroes. Unfortunately the majority of those characters were lacking in diversity and I had a warped perception that characters of color were the “exception” not the “standard.” I was horrified by the Islamaphobia that followed the September 11th terror attacks, and I began to focus on highlighting the cruel reality of the hate crimes and social attacks that occurred towards Muslims in my artwork. I am also very passionate about amnesty in regards to immigration issues. I began learning Spanish in high school as well as attending a Pentecostal bilingual church where I made close friendships with many Puerto Rican people. In speaking with and listening to the many Latino people I have met, I became aware of some Latino struggles, and noticed how many of those struggles were similar and different to those of African Americans.
Sometimes I would be questioned as to why, as a Black woman, I rarely depicted Black issues in my art. To be honest, at the time, I endured racism in some ways that were so painful that I didn’t care to address it at all. However, life didn’t allow me the luxury of pretending that racism didn’t exist, because it happened in overt forms that I could not deny, like my family being denied service in a restaurant. I found it much easier to focus on other people’s problems and take on the role of the sympathetic super hero. When I spoke out about other’s problems, I found that sometimes people listened more, because an outside compassionate ally was more noticeable. At other times, however, I felt like an odd teenager, because I was focusing on social justice and activism, while others were focused on more superficial things. Despite my passion for others’ causes, I came to realize that there is a price paid when an individual doesn’t take the time to take care of oneself. Burn out ensues, and that is what happened to me. I felt resentful and underappreciated, because people got so used to me being the helper bee that all my energy and emotion was used up until I had no more for myself.
After doing some soul searching, prayer, and mindfulness meditation throughout my spiritual journey, I have matured and I realize that I cannot help everyone, especially if I am not well-balanced myself. I can care about many issues, but I must always take time out for my well-being as well. Sometimes people will see all the activities that I do and they will say that I am doing too much, but actually, I very much enjoy a full day of activities that promote empowerment and unity. I like to have recreational fun, too. In my spare time, I enjoy attending anime and comic conventions where people of all ages create and purchase elaborate costumes to portray characters in videogames, anime, and comic books. There are also many artists and writers present, as well as a variety of activities to participate in at these conventions. It means the world to young children, girls, and especially children of color, who are marginalized in media. I do plan to create my own novels, comic books, and television movie series with diverse representation. The world includes females, people of color, and people who belong to the LGBT community. Diverse children need to see that they can be heroes, too.
More than anything; I simply want to depict my truth. Very often, I have focused on other’s issues, while rarely depicting my own, in my art because, quite frankly, it has felt too personal. We all have insecurities and struggles, but to put one’s life on display is a very personal and brave decision to make. For this reason, I emulate Frida Khalo as my favorite artist. She was an avant-garde, extraordinary, perseverant, strong woman in society. She painted her pain, her emotions and her experience. Some of her most striking paintings are those depicting the impact of the tragic bus accident that prevented her from having children and shattered many of her bones.
There is a painting of her in an open cast called, “The Broken Column” which depicts her severe injuries. There is another painting of her laid out on a table, bleeding from the inside of her genitals called “Henry Ford Hospital” which depicts her miscarriage. There is also a photo of Frida holding the hand of another Frida. One Frida is dressed as female while the other dressed as male, called, “The Two Fridas.” She is a cultural icon and she was an unapologetic Mexican woman who did not submit to society’s traditional demands of women or follow the status quo. She is celebrated and memorialized as a cultural icon by many still today.
An amazing opportunity occurred when I was eighteen years old in my freshmen year of college. I met Enrique Morones, the leader of Border Angels, which is an immigrant advocacy organization. I shared with him my trilingual artwork called, “We Cannot See Alone/No Podemos Ver Solos & Remember September.” This piece focused on the struggles of innocent Muslims who were not participants in the September 11th and Spanish-speaking Latino Immigrants. I sent it to the entire Google group by accident and it gained the attention of a school in California that asked permission to hang my piece in their hall. It also gained the attention of Professor Sigala at the Metropolitan School of Denver Colorado. She invited me to come out and do a speech on my piece and share my poetry at their annual Lalo Delgado Festival. This festival honored Lalo Delgado, a Chicano poet, and focused on the celebration and experiences of Indigenous Native Mexican American Chicano heritage. I flew out to the West and enjoyed my trip very much. It was my first airplane flight, my first time flying out to Denver, Colorado, and my first paid speech! I hope to visit the Metropolitan School of Denver, Colorado again to speak on my work in the future.
I eventually decided as a former people pleaser that I never want to live my life based on the whims of others or limit my artwork to a “feel good” censored safe space. I paint and I draw for the purpose of education, expression, representation, catharsis, and unity. Our schools fail us when it comes to teaching an accurate American and global history. Ignorance and lies have poisoned the minds of our children, and it is the cause of so many societal problems among adults today. Thankfully, technological advancements allow free access to information, but it is also premature, graphic and, too often, unscholarly. Art does more than just entertain. Art challenges societal norms, and it educates people of all ages about a new perspective they may have never encountered before. Art also validates those who feel marginalized in their ideas, which may seem too radical to a conservative environment. I know that my own perspectives, opinions and values will change and grow over time. I am still young, and I have a lot to learn about the world. I intend to travel to as many places as I can, and learn all that I can, from both children and elders.
Having faith in oneself is important, but also, as a Christian woman, having faith that God will come through is also just as important. It’s not easy keeping faith in a world that is broken, but it is important to recognize and appreciate all the good things in life as well as the bad. Fear can blind us from joy if we let it. Surrounding myself with inspiring artists such as Terrance Vann and Alim Smith has really empowered me to have the strength to depict my truth as a Black woman. Terrance and Alim both focus their artwork on Afrocentric and urban themes as well as the empowerment of Black people. They both depict their environment and their truth. They have impacted others’ lives and they have certainly impacted mine in a very positive way!
Viewing Alim’s “Planet Her” exhibit during a Winter art loop in 2015 was the first time that I ever saw an entire gallery dedicated to the beauty and accomplishments of Black women. It was at that show that I completed my first painting in years named, “The Rising Phoenix Empress.” Truthfully, it is a choice to live a happy or sad life, but finding oneself and achieving self-actualization amongst all the negativity from the world can be quite difficult. The way I see it, adversity may be a rock that can crush me if I let it, but it’s also a rock that I can throw through the brick wall of “I can’t.” As my grandma used to say, “Can’t is dead and buried!” She would never let me talk negatively about myself around her. My family is full of achievers and legacies of which I take much pride in. I plan to create my own legacy as well!
First and foremost, I want to be seen as an individual. Being Christian, Black, female, and an advocate for the LGBT community are just societal labels. I am a hue-man being first and foremost. I prefer the term hue-man, because it’s a term that acknowledges my humanity, but also highlights how my life experiences differ greatly from someone who is not of color. Too often our experiences are dismissed and condemned as divisive and race-baiting. Our truth is very real, harsh and triumphant, and there is not one singular Black experience. I want to show my unique life in my art, as well. I am the daughter of a Methodist pastor and a Catholic mother. I have French Creole heritage from Louisiana and Mississippi and I have visited my extended family in New Orleans several times. Those visits gave me a sense of cultural identity because it was tangible and visible.
Too often, when it comes to Pan-Africanism, I feel that my African heritage is too distant to relate to. My African heritage is seven generations behind me from Sierra Leone. I am proud of my heritage, but often times I question if the term African American is really an accurate way to describe myself, not out of shame, but out of cultural and national relate ability. As a Black person in America, there is pressure from both sides, Black and White, to act, speak, dress and think a certain way. I don’t care to be boxed by either side. I know who I am and whose I am (A child of God). I am proud of myself and I don’t want to change myself for anyone else’s pleasure or comfort. I have always been different and unique, but I have struggled to become comfortable with my own individuality. Now, as an adult, I can proudly say that I am “rising from the ashes” and coming into my own.
Rising Phoenix is my artist name and the name that I gave myself for the purpose of empowerment. I researched the significance of renaming ceremonies for indigenous children. I cannot change the horrid past of colonization, slavery, or assimilation, but I can determine my own future. A phoenix is a legendary bird that resurrects from fire. A phoenix is always in flight, and never touches the ground. A phoenix flies so high it cannot be seen. When I picked my artist name, my father used to tease me and say that I should just call myself “Phoenix,” because adding “Rising” is redundant. However, the “Rising” part of my name is just as important as the “Phoenix” part. To rise means to ascend, to progress, to lift up from something low. That is a goal that I am not only trying to accomplish for myself, but a goal that I aspire to help others accomplish, as well. Everyone needs help sometimes, and I am more than grateful to God for blessing me with a loving, accepting family. They are my rock and foundation, and they always keep me humble with their well-intentioned teasing.
I told my mother that she better stop teasing me, because one day, I might become as famous as Leonardo Da Vinci! She replied, “Well good, I hope that you do, so that you can pay your own bills, and move out of the house!” My parents are very humorous people. They also joke that I am a linguist simply because I am so loquacious, that one language wasn’t enough to satisfy my wagging tongue. I love all the people that have supported me and helped me to grow and pursue my dreams. I cannot wait to publish more of my art and poetry in the future! I also plan to teach different languages across the world and bring people together.
To any aspiring artists, I encourage them to pursue their dreams no matter what. I think to myself about all the talented people I have encountered who are too afraid to sing outside of the shower, hang up a picture that they drew, or dare to dance outside of their bedroom. It is true that the world’s stage can be scary, but it is a stage worth performing on. There are people in the audience, waiting and hoping for that inspiration that will give them the courage to perform, too. My life motto is: “Each one, reach one, teach one!” Everyone isn’t going to appreciate everything an individual does and that’s okay. What matters is that an individual does what they do because it fulfills their life’s purpose. Live life to the fullest and live it in your truth!
If you are anything like me you bought a few bags of Tortilla Chips and a jar of Salsa to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but also like me you didn’t use the entire jar of salsa. So there it sits in the refrigerator until the next time you want to dip in a tortilla chip … which is no time soon.
I kept pushing that jar of salsa from one side of a shelf in the refrigerator to the other until I realized that I could probably use it to make a meatloaf or even turkey burgers instead of throwing it away.
Using the following ingredients I decided to make enough meatloaf to last two days because I had a meeting the next day after work and wouldn’t get home until late.
Ingredients
3 pound package of Jennie-O Ground Turkey
1 – 1/2 cups salsa
1 – 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 – 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 Package of Taco Seasoning
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, salsa, bread crumbs, cheese, eggs, and seasoning package. Transfer to a 5×9 inch loaf pan.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F (72 degrees C).
I also made a pot of Kale which is one of my favorite veggies to serve with any meal. To the boiling water I added one bunch of kale, Apple Cider Vinegar, chopped onions and a few sprinkles of white sugar.
Every time I make meatloaf, I think about Ralphie, the kid from “A Christmas Story” remember when he complains about this all too often served meal – meatloaf meatloaf beetloaf!
What is your favorite way to cook meatloaf?
Disclosure: I am a member of the Jennie-O Switch Circle and have received products to facilitate my reviews. All opinions are 100% my own.
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On Friday, May 27, 2016, our son, Tayair Ishmael Blake participated in a Convocation held at the University of Delaware where he received a Certificate of Successful Completion of Career and Life Studies (CLSC).
He along with his fellow classmates were part of the ceremony which also included hundreds of graduating students receiving an undergraduate and graduate degree from the College of Education and Human Development. Oh by the way, there was a gentleman who received his degree at the age of 64 which was also awesome!
If you remember from previous posts, due to Tayair’s early medical history he is classified as Intellectually Disabled, but you also know from his recent presentation at a staff meeting at the Delaware Health and Social Services his motto “Being Disabled Does Not Mean We Are Not Able”. The events of the day is only further proof that anything can be done when you decide not to give up.
Needless to say, his father and I were super excited as was his brother and even the misspelling of his name on the certificate couldn’t put a damper on the day.
There are also more pictures on my Facebook and Instgram pages.
I could write more about the event, however, for this post I am just going to let the pictures and video speak louder than my words!
Being Silly Before Being Serious!
This sums up the day!
For more information on the CLSC Program check out their website
The CLSC program offers specialized coursework in career studies and life skills, as well as other inclusive learning opportunities on campus, including participation in UD undergraduate classes, clubs and activities. An individualized plan is created with each student that includes peer mentoring, staff coaching and support as identified through person-centered planning.
Disclosure: I was provided a sample of the Luis The Marinero Sangria to facilitate this review, however, all opinions are 100% my own. Drink Responsibly. #luisthemarinero #sangriasummer #ad
Hello Summer!!!
Family fun in the sun with backyard pool parties and lots of food on the grill are great ways to kick off this year’s summer season. So why not make the days even sweeter with a Summer Sangria Slush and enter for a chance to win an authentic Sangria pitcher from Spain.
Luis The Marinero Sangria wine was recently introduced exclusively in Delaware, New York and New Jersey and when my friends over at Regal Wine asked if I’d like to toast in the summer with a sample, you know me…I had to say, “sí”
I checked online and found several Sangria Slush recipes but decided to make a simple three ingredient slush using the Red Sangria, Ice and Watermelon.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Red Sangria
1 Cup Ice
1/3 Cup of Watermelon
Combine Sangria Red wine, ice cubes, and watermelon in a blender; process until smooth. Serve immediately or freeze. This quick and naturally sweet (sans sugar) summer slush got me in and out of the kitchen in a jiffy.
Enjoy a Sangria Summer
This authentic Spanish sangria is the perfect beverage for a sunny afternoon. Infused with citrus and cinnamon, Luis the Marinero is light on alcohol and refreshing in taste. Try it in red, white, and rosé.
Sangria Summer Promotion
Win a Sangria Pitcher from Spain! Simply upload a photo of yourself enjoying a sangria summer to www.regalwine.com/sangriasummer for a chance to win.
Regal Wine will select one winning photograph each week, from June through August, and post winners on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Wine:
White Sangria
Alcohol level 6%
Infused with citrus and tropical aromas, this crisp white wine offers a clean, fruity taste and a refreshing finish.
Red Sangria
Alcohol level 6%
Ruby red wine mingles with blueberries, cherries, and a hint of citrus and cinnamon. This rich sangria has a sweet and satisfying aftertaste.
Rose Sangria
Alcohol level 6%
A fresh pink wine blends with strawberry, raspberry, and citrus flavors. Sparkling and sweet, the rose sangria has an effervescent finish.
About the Winery:
Regal Wine is the exclusive American importer of Luis The Marinero. Bottled by the Spanish winery Bodegas Valdepablo, this authentic sangria celebrates wine-based drinks passed down from generation to generation since 1928. Luis The Marinero sangria pays tribute to the winery’s history, summer, and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.
Hello friends, are you ready – this is it – the first official weekend of the summer – woohoo. The sun is shining, the temps are rising and I am ready to be outdoors until late into the evening.
This afternoon we will be heading over to the Bob Carpenter Center at the University of Delaware to see our son graduate from the CLSC Program and I am so excited!!!
CLSC stands for Career and Life Studies Certificate. CLSC is a two-year, nonresidential certificate program at the University of Delaware for students with intellectual disabilities (ID). CLSC provides integrated academic, career/technical and independent living instruction in preparation for gainful employment. CLSC students attend classes, participate in internships and work experiences, and engage in all aspects of campus life.
Keep an eye out on my Instagram and Facebook pages to see our smiling faces! Speaking of which, if you saw the pic of my #OOTD on Monday you would have known that I wore white shoes and carried a white purse which according to old fashion rules is a no-no!
Do you still adhere to the “no white before Memorial Day” rule – or is it alright to wear white right after Easter? This skirt is a recent purchase from Ross and initially I was going to pair it with a different top, but with all the rain we had this month I decided to wear it instead with a crisp white shirt.
Then after looking deeper into my closet, I said, hey what the heck and grabbed these white sandals and purse. I was comfy all day and with just a few pops of orange this outfit really made the start of my week less dreary.
So are you ready, will you be heading to the beach or the shore or just hanging at home with family and friends? Whatever, you decide to do – be safe and have fun.
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“No, she didn’t have classes today…why…what’s up?”
“Tayair…he left the house this morning at 7:00 am and it’s almost 10 pm. He’s not answering his phone or responding to his text messages. His father left to check the parking lot at his job….”
My mind was racing a mile per minute and the only thoughts in my head were negative which directed me to this question…
Would you chip your kid?
Granted, my son is no longer a kid, he’s 23 years old , but he’s also intellectually disabled, but even if he wasn’t – I still would have been beside myself the night he didn’t come home after being out all day without a call or response to a text message.
Thankfully, the story ended well but it started me wondering, would I have chipped him when he was a kid. I remember BC, before children, I often thought negatively of parents who put those backpack leashes onto their kids but once I had mine, it only took losing Malik for 3 minutes to understand why they did.
One minute he was standing besides me and the next minute he was gone…he had followed a waitress into the kitchen as we were being walked to our table in a very large restaurant. Needless to say, I swallowed my heart that day as well. I almost bought a backpack leash the first time we traveled to Disney World, but chose instead to keep him in an umbrella stroller.
When the boys entered high school and started driving they each had a cell phone so I signed up for the ‘Family Locator”. Having this phone app with Verizon provided me with a sense of security. I could set the alerts to text me when they arrived at school and also when returned home in the afternoon.
I could track their phones when they were driving to the mall or to after school activities. Unfortunately, Malik learned how to deactivate the app on his phone and when they upgraded to the iPhone I lost the capability to track them. #TeamAndroid
However, with so much going on at college campuses, I sometimes wish that they each had an implanted tracking device so that I could just check in now and again to make sure they were where they were supposed to be.
I know in my heart that it would have been helpful to the parents of missing kids. Pet parents who chip their pets are happy when they find a lost or missing pup. I truly think that it is definitely something worth looking into when it comes to the safety of our kids or adults with disabilities.
I understand that there are security and safety measures to take into consideration, as well as plenty of pros and cons on this issue, but once again my question to you is “would you chip your kid?”
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DotComDIY #CollectiveBias
Guess who’s home from college? Yes, Malik finished his second year at Bowie State University and he is back home. I really missed him and am happy to have him back, but I am also bit apprehensive because it’s also time for him to get another car!
Last year his car was totaled as he was leaving work, we didn’t replace it at the time because he was heading back to school. However, since then, he and his father have both been searching for a replacement vehicle and the time has come to do so.
Knowing that this next vehicle will be used with high mileage, his father will make sure that it’s in good working condition and well maintained which also includes a clean engine.
So while they are out and about searching for just the right car, I will be sitting home searching purchasing just the right motor oil to keep that engine clean.
In today’s busy world, there is little time to make a trip to the store. Why fight the crowds?
Save time and money by fulfilling your DIY oil needs on Walmart.com. Their amazing selection of items, including exclusive specialty automotive items, can be found just a click away.
On Walmart.com you can find many Pennzoil Platinum products currently on rollback (for a limited time), including Pennzoil Full Synthetic and Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage. Based on your car’s needs and the number of miles, one of these two oils is right for you.
Platinum Synthetic: With Pennzoil’s PurePlus™ Technology, the Platinum® motor oil is proven to keep pistons up to 40% cleaner than the toughest industry standard. (Use if < than 75,000 miles)
High Mileage: Perfect for the vehicle with over 75,000 miles as it helps to reduce leaks and oil consumption in a well-used car.
Save yourself a trip to the store and get your oil on rollback at Walmart.com today!
Next month, our oldest son Tayair will be celebrating his 24th birthday which is a miracle.
You see, Tayair was born on June 23, 1992, 3 months prematurely weighing only 2.8 lbs, with a condition called Trachea Esophageal Fistula. He had more surgeries than I care to remember and had a feeding tube inserted into his stomach until the age of 5, which meant he didn’t eat his first real meal until around the age of 6.
He was not able to be around others without health complications so a home nurse was his first friend and formal teacher. When he was able to attend pre-school the nurse would follow behind the bus then sit in the office until it was time to administer his nebulizer treatments and pour a can of Pedisure through his feeding tube which was his lunch.
Tayair struggled through school but was mainstreamed into regular classes so that he was able to learn despite being labeled “intellectually disabled” This miracle son of ours is going to be the next speaker in our house.
A few weeks ago we attended a meeting with his DHSS counselor and she was very impressed in what he stated with regards to his career path as well as his ability to create Powerpoint presentations. He had been chosen to be a representative for the UDel CLSC Program last summer and had presented at a workshop in Virginia.
She asked him if he would be interested in presenting at one of their monthly staff meetings and naturally he said, “yes”.
Tayair’s father and I have been presenting in front of audiences for years and Tayair has been the photographer at many of my Social Media Workshops, therefore, public speaking is literally in his DNA.
However, this was the first time we both had an opportunity to hear him speak and our hearts were filled with pride and excitement!
The audience was quite large and he did an amazing job as you can see from the following video. Tayair spoke briefly of his experience in learning how to drive and being stopped by a cop for speeding and how the Trooper treated him.
His father and I were then asked how we felt about having an adult child with disabilities and letting go so the presentation became a family affair.
Tayair is definitely destined to be the next speaker in our house and I know he will carry on the legacy with greatness. Remember, “being disabled doesn’t mean you are not able!”
