Webzine

SPRING 2014

ECO-TEENS ECO-TEENS ECO-TEENS ECO-TEENS ECO-TEENS

THE 2014

#NAKED FACES

CHALLENGE

THE 2014

#NAKED FACES

CHALLENGE

THE 2014

#NAKED FACES

CHALLENGE

THE 2014

#NAKED FACES

CHALLENGE

THE 2014

#NAKED FACES

CHALLENGE

THE 2014

#NAKED FACES

CHALLENGE

ECO-TEENS “I AM ECO-FRIENDLY”

The Spring 2014 Issue of the Teen Circuit focuses on empowering teens to become conscious consumers of the environment’s resources.

TEENS & HEALTHY LIVING

4 The Junk Food Epidemic: What’s really in your food?

BODY IMAGE & STEREOTYPES

7 Cosmetics: Do we need them? And how to GREEN it Up!

BULLYING & TEEN VIOLENCE

11 Interview with the “Bullied”

SEX & HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

12 Eco Friendly Dating Ideas

TEENS AS CONSUMERS

14 eCycle Secure: Harvesting Parts

EDUCATION & ENTERTAINMENT

16 Behailu Academy: A school for the creative

INSIDE THE SPRING 2014 ISSUE:

IN EVERY ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE

ON THE SCENE

6 I AM not the MEdia, Inc. in the Community Photos

THE 2014 #NAKED FACES CHALLENGE

10 Mixing Natural Beauty with Social Media

MY “PROM”ISE MAKEOVER CONTEST

15 Prom Challenge for teenage girls in Charlotte, NC

POETRY APPRECIATION MONTH

18 Poems written by teens

OPEN MIC NIGHT W/THE EVENING

MUSE

19 Article that looks at a haven of self expression in NODA

Fast Food: Bane of Civilization? By Brandon Kathman

Over the past several years the

fast food industry has faced a

crusade of lawsuits, protests,

and general public outrage over

the so called “childhood obesity

epidemic,” but some doubt

whether or not these chains are

truly liable to take fault for the

full “weight” of the matter.

“I think these types of lawsuits

give the term frivolous a bad

name,” said Steven C.

Anderson, president of the

National Restaurant

Association. “And I think the

idea of everyone being a victim

and wanting to blame someone

else for their difficulties really is

the basis for this lawsuit --- and

I think it’s patently absurd.”

America currently holds 23.4

million children considered by

medical professionals to be

overweight or obese. Right

now, we seem to want to blame

this solely on fast food giants

like McDonalds, Burger King,

and Wendy’s. Lawsuits against

these companies range from

allegations of falsely

advertising, claims that a list of

each meal’s ingredients should

be readily accessible, and

charges that the food is simply

too dangerous to sell in its

present fattening state.

Stephen Gardner, litigation

director for the Center for

Science in the Public Interest,

has repeatedly criticized fast

food advertising, stating,

“McDonalds undercuts parental

authority and exploits young

children’s developmental

maturity through their

advertising campaigns.”

There may be grounds to claim

that the advertisements of fast

food corporations are unlawful,

given that they target young

children too naïve to realize that

some facts are being

downplayed or omitted entirely.

It might not occur to a young

boy that what is advertised as a

“Veggie-Lover’s Burrito” doesn’t

necessarily contain nutritious

ingredients. Most companies

hide certain information in

advertising; to not do so would

be catastrophic for their

businesses. Understandably,

most lawsuits related to

advertising have been

unsuccessful thus far.

With regards to the demand

that ingredients be posted,

there are several flaws. For

one, we don’t require this of any

other restaurants. To ask that a

list of ingredients be available

to the public probably isn’t too

much to ask, but to demand

that it be posted at the location

takes matters a little farther.

….Continued on the next

page

TEENS & HEALTHY LIVING

4

Perhaps, given its standing as a

cause of obesity, the industry

should be forced through

government action to make its

food healthier. The initial

problem of course, is that the

industry hasn’t engaged in

many illegal activities to begin

with, thus government

intervention is difficult.

No one would ever argue that

fast food is healthy or nutritious.

Fast food is unhealthy, but then

again so is nearly everything

else we put in our bodies

nowadays.

It’s perfectly clear that

Americans consume odiously

fattening food with every visit to

McDonalds, but we ignore the

fact that we consume too much

everywhere we go. Little known

issues like serving size inflation

and continual snacking

constitute a much larger cause

behind the problem.

Restaurants of every kind have

come to realize that as

American’s get bigger so do

their appetites. As a result, the

portion size that a restaurant is

likely to serve an individual

goes up as well. With larger

portions, Americans tend to eat

more regardless of where they

are eating.

Another part of the problem is

how children in America snack.

Most other nations around the

world base their lifestyle on

three large meals, or in some

case six smaller meals. Here in

America the snacks alone that

our children consume on

average each day contain a

calorie count exceeding that of

multiple meals in other

countries.

According to a study by the

University of North Carolina at

Chapel Hill, “From 1997 to 2006

American children have added

168 snack calories per day to

their diets. This equates to

snack food comprising

27% of their average daily

calories.”

As you read this article new

studies and experiments are

being performed across the

nation as to possible addictive

qualities in the food we

consume. The net has

expanded to cover many foods

and drinks we ingest.

Several years ago a scandal

broke in Nicaragua around the

local Coca Cola factories. It

was discovered that the

company was selling

Nicaraguans cola with nearly

double the sugar that we

receive in our Cokes in the

United States. The effect on

Nicaraguans was nothing short

of addictive, giving the factories

a steady clientele.

What’s to say that a wide

variety of foods in the US aren’t

intentionally amped up with

sugar? Perhaps Cinnabons,

Pop Tarts, or Cocoa Puffs are

packaged to make us want

more, and more, and more.

Americans are not widely

overweight due to the fact that

fast food is unhealthy; we are

widely overweight because

American food in general is

unhealthy. Fast food is the

whipping boy of America, the

corporate leviathans we blame

to rationalize our own faults. ~

5

ON THE SCENE

1 2

3 4

1) Teen Dating Violence Film Screening

Feb 2014 (Cassandra & Erica working

the booth)

2) Career Fair at Vance High School

Feb 2014 (Anthony talking with teens)

3) Teen Dating Violence Film Screening

Feb 2014 (Anthony and Oscar having

fun for a good cause)

4) Project Lift and Communities & Schools

Workshop

March 2014 (Jimmeka presenting to

educators)

5) At Power WPEG Power 98 for Teen

Power Talk with Danny Diaz

March 2014 (Jimmeka and Leyana)

6) At Power WPEG Power 98 for Teen

Power Talk with Danny Diaz

March 2014 (IANTM and teens

discussing Social Media Do’s &

Don’t’s)

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6

5

BODY IMAGE & STEREO-TYPES

Cosmetics: Do we need them? By Leyana Casey

Cosmetics! Cosmetics! Cosmetics! That’s all we

see from magazine ads to billboards. Cosmetics

are a $160 billion industry and it’s not hard to

understand, because the average women uses

up to 12 beauty products a day if not more, and

men six. Why are cosmetics so popular and

especially for women?

Cosmetics didn’t start off this way. The first

record of cosmetic use was during ancient

Egyptian times. Some products were used to

protect the Egyptians’ harsh environment.

For example, they would use scented oils and

ointments to clean and soften skin and mask

odors. Not only were these ointments used to

mask odors but it was also used to protect

workers and slaves from the hot sun. Wigs

existed back then and they were also used to

protect Egyptians from the heat.

The sun brought heat to the people of Egypt and

it affected their eyes as well.

They used a natural object, Khol, like eyeliner,

which protected their eyes from the glare of the

sun and it was said to restore eyesight.

These beauty products seemed to have a

purpose in the Egyptian community, but what

about the other things such as hair pieces, dyes

and paints, for the nails hair and body, and

rouged cheeks and lips? Maybe it was to prevent

them from looking sickly or to enhance their

features.

The Egyptians took great pride in their hygiene

and cleanliness and the products they used

carried over into modern days, but our main

purpose doesn’t seem to stay clean.

We still see people trying to enhance their

features today, which are the main reason

women use make-up and beauty products.

Other reasons they use makeup is be more

physically appealing, gain confidence, cover

scars, and to look younger. Younger girls want to

look older and lastly some people want to look

like someone else for a period of time, but when

is enough, enough? Nowadays you don’t see

simple, natural looking make-up, the cosmetic

user cakes it on. Women are trying to be better

than the next. Living in a world run by men and

them having the final say, women are out to

impress and appeal to men. Shanta Bailey who is

a professional esthetician, a person with special

training in administering facials, aromatherapy,

hair and skin care, and makeup has her own

opinion about makeup.

Image by Feer Arroyo at flickr.com

7

Q: How do you feel about

cosmetics in general?

A: “I love them. Makeup

shouldn’t be the go to item for

cover-ups. Makeup should be

looked at as clothes, it is a

cover up and accessory but

you still have to exercise and

take care of your body, that’s

how you should look at skin.

Makeup is just the icing on the

cake; you still have to make

sure your skin is healthy.”

Q: What types of products

do you suggest to your

clients?

A: “More makeup lines have

created mineral makeup,

which are the best and most

benefited.” Her two favorite

and the ones she usually

suggest are Jane Iredaland

Bare Minerals by Bare

Escentuals

Q: What are the problems

with today’s conventional

makeup?

A: “Conventional makeups

usually have too many

chemicals so the users are

being over exposed to

chemicals and chemical

procedures, to where the skin

has become too sensitive,

especially to the environment.

The pollution in the

environment has made it even

worse. Mineral makeup

doesn’t hold bacteria, it

actually aids in protecting and

restoring sensitive skin.”

During the 20th century

makeup started becoming

safer, which isn’t saying too

much. Today’s makeup has

so many chemicals that are

extremely harmful. The

makeups have carcinogens,

which cause cancer and

neurotoxins and reproductive

toxics that harm the brain

cells of animal including

humans.

Many of the products that we

use daily are toxic and when

we constantly use them they

build up in our body. The

main harmful ingredients in

products are called the Dirty

Dozen*.

These products include:

1.BHA and BHT

Used mainly in moisturizers

and makeup as preservatives.

2.Coal tar dyes:

In hair dyes and in other

products colours listed as "CI"

followed by five digits.1

3.DEA-related ingredients

Used in creamy and foaming

products, such as

moisturizers and shampoos

4.Dibutyl phthalate

Used as a plasticizer in some

nail care products.

5.Formaldehyde-releasing

preservatives

Used in a variety of

cosmetics

6.Parabens

Used in a variety of cosmetics

as preservatives

7.Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance)

Any mixture of fragrance

ingredients used in a variety

of cosmetics — even in some

products marketed as

"unscented."

8.PEG compounds

Used in many cosmetic cream

bases.

9.Petrolatum

Used in some hair products

for shine and as a moisture

barrier in some lip balms, lip

sticks and moisturizers.

10.Siloxanes

Used in a variety of cosmetics

to soften, smooth and

moisten.

11.Sodium laureth sulfate

Used in foaming cosmetics,

such as shampoos, cleansers

and bubble bath.

12.Triclosan

Used in antibacterial

cosmetics, such as

toothpastes, cleansers and

antiperspirants.

Some of these products are

even in products that say that

their “organic, natural, or

herbal”, because in the

cosmetics world those words

have no legal definition, so

companies can put any

ingredients in a bottle and call

it organic, herbal, or natural.

The next time you go

shopping for cosmetics

whether its shampoo or

lipstick check its ingredients is

it worth the risk. Or try

something different and

natural that will help you and

the Earth in the long run.

*For more information on the

Dirty Dozen and how they

affect humans visit

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/iss

ues/health/science/toxics/dirty

-dozen-cosmetic-chemical

8

THE 2014 #NAKED FACES CAMPAIGN

THE 2014 #NAKED FACES CAMPAIGN

THE 2014 #NAKED FACES CAMPAIGN

Photo shoot with last year’s winner Ariel Murchison Provided by Eve Lloyd

TAKING IT ALL OFF!

The #Naked Faces Campaign with I AM not the

MEdia launched for the second year this past

March during Women’s Empowerment Month.

In 2013 nearly 100 women braved the pages of

Facebook and Instagram by posting a makeup

free photo and embracing their natural beauty

with the initiation of the Naked Faces movement

on Social Media. The buzz brought much

needed attention to one of the amazing initiatives

presented by the organization and received

retweets and reposts on other social media sites

such as The Charlotte Woman Magazine and

Share Charlotte. But there could only be one

winner and that young lady was Miss Ariel

Murchison who bravely took the challenge and

campaigned for her family and friends to support

her efforts in embracing her natural beauty with

over 180 likes on instagram and facebook

combined. This year Ariel has passed along her

crown of Natural Beauty with the Naked Faces

Campaign to Instagram winner @Schatzischatzi.

She will receive a Free Facial Gift Card donated

by Aveda Institute, a Free Photo shoot with

professional photographer, Robert Christopher,

and a free I AM not the MEdia Shirt and Bag.

Stay tuned to I AM not the MEdia’s social media

pages for the 2014 #NakedFaces photo shoot.

Pictured Left:

2014 #NakedFaces

Challenge Winner

10

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“From A Bullied Heart” By Kain X. A study by Yale University shows that victims of

bullying are 2 to 9 times more prone to consider

suicide than other non-victims. Bullying has by far

been one of the largest growing problems of the 21st

century. School boards, principals, teachers, parents,

and even law enforcement can't put a complete spot

to bullying. As we see suicide rates rise and statistics

grow, its only a matter of time before bullying is the

new normal.

Q: What do you think makes someone a bully?

A: A bully is someone either sadistic enough or

mentally self harming enough to put another person

down in an attempt to feel joy and happiness.

Q: Why do you think the bully/bullies decided to

make you a victim?

A: Bullies choose targets they believe are also

unstable but on the other end of the spectrum. They

choose people who they know it will deeply affect.

Q: Did you ever feel powerless? - If so explain why.

A: I did feel powerless. The school I was in had a

rather aggressive nature that saw nothing wrong in

bullying. The school administrators did nothing to

improve my situation or the similar situations of

others.

Q: Did you ever bully or feel like bullying someone

else, maybe younger or altogether weaker than

yourself?

A: Yeah, there was a time in sixth grade where i

bullied another kid for about 2 months. I will regret

that for the foreseeable future I’m afraid.

Q: What did you do to stop being the victim, or ignore

what happened?

A: The bullying didnt stop until I moved to another

school.

Q: Did being the victim ever begin effect your

everyday life?

A: It did indeed affect my everyday life. I was very

anti-social and started judging a certain group of

people preemptively without have spoken a word to

them.

Q: Do you appreciate the feeling of life? Where there

ever times that you didn't?

A: I have always loved life. Just because i didn't

particularly like human interaction didn't mean i hated

life. Bullying would never do that to me.

Q: What would you professionally tell the former bully

today, or years from now?

A: I would ask him how it made him feel when i

bullied him, and what it has done for him.

Q: What have you personally learned from the

bullying experience?

A: There are terrible people in this world and if you

let them get you down they won’t stop.

Q: What would you say to thank your loved ones or

someone that helped you get passed this obstacle in

life?

A: I would thank them for keeping me positive.

The American Justice Department bullying statistics

confirm that one out of every four kids will be bullied

sometime during their adolescence. If you are a

victim of bullying stay strong and know that there are

others. What can you do to stop this in your

community?

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to

be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your

life; define yourself. - Harvey Fierstein

BULLYING

& TEEN VIOLENCE

Image from guardianlv.com

SEX & HEALTHY RELATION-SHIPS

ECO

DATING By Leyana Casey

First dates are always the

scariest and most nerve racking.

With so many things to do and

think about; such as what to

wear, where to go, what to do,

when to do it, how to act, and if

the other person will enjoy it,

everything would be less stressful

if the daters were given ideas on

what to do an where to go. With

the new trend of going green and

saving the environment, who

could go wrong with an

environmentally friendly date?

Here are some ideas to make

your date go from litterer to tree

hugger.

Green Volunteerism: Spend

time searching for local

organizations who are doing

beautification projects, feeding

the homeless or walking dogs for

the Humane Society.

Bike or walk to a community

festival or fair: Go back to

childhood and paint each other's

faces with plant-based paints.

Spend the day enjoying local

music, food and fun!

Plan a green camping trip:

Leave the city, phones,

computers, and iPods behind and

embrace nature. Quiet time spent

in the woods promotes deep

conversation and getting to know

one another. Don't use plastic or

paper throw-away products and

do dishes together out of a sudsy

bucket using green dishwashing

soap. Play a game by candle light

or try some star-gazing and bring

a musical instrument to play at

night.

Attend a local game with your

date: Take public transportation

or walk to the stadium. Bring your

own food and drink, preferably

organic, as you cheer on your

favorite team.

Put on a green summer party:

Introduce your special someone

to your friends and family, and

show them what you stand for by

being green. Buy organic foods

and meats to grill and cook for

your guest. Also buy reusable or

regular dished to show that you

support the environment.

Go on a hike and picnic: Pack a

couple of backpacks with an

organic gourmet lunch for two.

When you reach your destination,

find a nice rock to sit on and whip

out the picnic. If there is a lake,

ocean or stream, take a dip and

lie in the sun.

Plant a garden: Get your hands

dirty together, and then spend the

spring and summer watching your

garden grow.

Pick fruit: Don't want to wait for

your garden to grow? Go fruit

picking instead. Pick a bucket or

two together, and then go home

and turn them into something

sweet. Have berry-picking

locations near you? Check out

your local farmers' market

instead.

Enjoy some eco-tourism:

Whether it's an afternoon in your

local botanical garden, a

kayaking trip down a green

waterway or a weekend away at

an earth-friendly resort, eco-

tourism is a great way to see the

world, spend some time together

and maybe even learn a little

something about the planet.

Eat A Green Dinner: No, your

food doesn't have to be all

green — although that would be

pretty impressive! Stop at the

farmers' market to pick up fresh

produce and cook a meal filled

with local eats together. Then,

head to the patio to eat outside or

head to the nearest park with a

picnic blanket. Or, if you're dining

out, go to a local, organic

restaurant nearby. hopefully you

have gained some ideas and can

use them on your next date and

also impress your date with some

eco-friendly and resource savvy.

…Continued pg.13

Image from rollingout.com

12

Eco Dating Continued…

Interview with teens on

their opinion of Eco

Dating

Sophie Sipprell: I think going on

picnics and doing more local things

than driving around and travelling would

be really fun, because its more simple.

I would do the previously listed ideas,

and the one I would most likely do

would be a camping trip, hike, or a

picnics. I would rather do these,

because I like going outside and

embracing nature. I also enjoy looking

and laying under the stars, and when

you go on picnics you can people

watch. My least favorite is planting a

garden or tourism. Tourism isn’t always

fun, it can be really boring. Lastly when

I planted a garden all the animals came

and ate my food.

James Cornett: My favorite activity to

do would be going to a local game,

because I love sports.

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Camping trip

camping trip

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Hike and picnic

hike and picnic

SURVEY ON MOST POPULAR ECO-DATES WITH TEENS

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Volunteerism

Volunteerism

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Bike or walking

Bike or walking

SURVEY ON LEAST POPULAR ECO-DATES WITH TEENS

13

eCycle Secure: A

New Era of

Recycling By Brandon Kathman

Recycling has become a growing

phenomenon of the 21st century.

As our planet’s resources dwindle

away, it becomes increasingly

necessary to recycle and

conserve everything from soda

cans to batteries. Now, thanks to

state of the art technology, North

Carolinians can even recycle their

computers, televisions, and smart

phones through the revolutionary

new company, eCycle Secure.

Today it seems we change our

devices more than we change our

socks. As new laptops, tablets

and phones are produced every

month, we are forced to leave

behind the old and embrace the

new just to remain competitive in

the modern world. Until now, our

devices were destined only for

the local landfill, the precious

circuits and wires inside buried

forever.

eCycle Secure gives us another

option. Founded in 1995, this

company has spent nearly two

decades perfecting a method of

seamlessly repurposing the end

of life and out of use equipment

discarded by America. In doing

so, valuable and nonrenewable

metals are recovered as well as

circuits that can still be of use in

more current technology.

eCycle Secure also takes

customer security very seriously.

Our computers and smart phones

often contain sensitive or

confidential information, and

represent a risk for those looking

to recycle their devices.

“Our procedures for data

sanitizing, purging, and

destruction conform to the

National Institute of Standards

and Technology,” said executive

Brett Rhineheardt. “At eCycle

Secure, we are committed to the

absolute preservation of

confidentiality of any information

stored on any customer’s device

in our custody.”

Through eCycleSecure’s

protected data eradication

process clients are guaranteed

that any sensitive information will

be destroyed with the system

itself. Anyone interested in using

eCycle Secure can rest easy

knowing that they are in good

hands.

If you’re interested in recycling

something more unconventional

than a computer or phone eCycle

Secure has the facilities to

accommodate many different

kinds of equipment. These

include conventional computers

and phones, televisions,

telecommunications, medical

equipment, and even non-

electronic equipment.

Many organizations have been

using eCycle Secure for years.

Some of these entities include the

local, state, and even federal

governments, as well as school

systems and hospitals. At the

same time, eCycle Secure can

accommodate even the smallest

business, making them one of the

most versatile venues on the

market.

Regardless of who you are you

can employ eCycle Secure to

help mankind step towards a

more sustainable tomorrow.

These people do great work, and

have helped the United States

take at least some of its waste out

of the equation forever.

If you want to find out more about

eCycle Secure and their

operations visit their website at

www.ecyclesecure.com or call at

1-855-508-9722

TEENS AS CONSUMERS

14

EDUCATION

AND ENTER- TAINMENT

Behailu

Academy

Behailu Academy is a very friendly non-profit, that

strives to help youth from ages 12 to 18 find

themselves throughout various forms of art

including performing arts, digital media arts, and

visual arts all while providing an atmosphere that

ultimately encourages creativity and teaches

youth the basic skills and mindset to build a

successful future for themselves.

After my interview with Lexis, a day by day Behailu

Academy student, I learned that Behailu Academy

has helped her to grow as an individual artist and

stopped her from wasting any degree of talent

sitting around at home. Behailu Academy gives

students everything they need to set educational

goals in life and become working members of the

community.

" It feels just like home. " - Lexis (Behailu Student)

I found Behailu Academy to be a place like no

other, it was very comfortable, full of fine art, and

incredibly open for creative growth. I certainly wish

there were more places like Behailu Academy

around the country, because they have truly

created a great place for you to find your voice and

nurture your art.

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POEMS WRITTEN BY THE TEEN CIRCUIT WEBZINE TEAM I Am Poem By Brandon Kathman I am the blackbird I want to break free I am the sledgehammer Don’t stand so close to me I am the Eye of the Tiger The eternal flame I am the King of Pain You give love a bad name I am the Superfreak Who can it be now? I am La Bamba The Shakedown I am livin on a prayer Don’t you want me? I am down under I am me I Am I am a stone I am reserved, displaying no emotion I look upon the world with indifference I hear the sounds of nature around me I am unmoved Yet, even stones can be broken As such, I am awoken I now hear the beauty of nature I now see the majestic, awe-inspiring power of life I am excitable, buzzing with energy and passion I am Josh Kayani

I Am Me I see beyond the trees, I feel the cold breeze and water wash over my knees as I dream and believe Of life with thoughts so free. - Kain Xavier I AM POEM By Leyana Casey If I’m what I eat from my head to the soles of my feet Then am I what I wear from the paint on my toes to my hair Or am I my peers that I say what is what I hear Or the TV because what monkey see is what monkey do and monkey fools you Everything around me causes my thoughts My thoughts become words And my words become actions And my actions become habitats And my character is my destiny And my destiny is me, right? I am not a product of influence I am the influence I chose my path and my destiny I know who I am Do you? I am ME By Luna I am ME I am not what the media tells me to be I am ME The most beautiful creation I could ever be I am ME I am not a collection of images on TV I am not an object of obsession in a bad comedy I am ME As I was created As I was conceived My beauty shines from the inside Manifest into what you see I am ME Who are you? Take a moment to breath Take a moment to see

Look inside Your mind, your heart, your soul, That's what matters, that's what's you Forget the superficiality, that's not YOU Be YOU Not what the media tells you to be You are the most beautiful creation you could ever be Be YOU The perfect being you were born to be You see, being YOU is what YOU were meant to be Say it loud, say it proud, I AM ME Not an image on your plasma TV I am ME I am not what the media tells me to be I am ME The most beautiful creation I could ever be I am ME As I was created As I was conceived My beauty shines from the inside Manifest into what you see I am ME I AM reethinkers, Rethinking past decisions. Frustration, In their eyes. Clothed, Torn jean shorts, ragged flannel shirts, and ripped Nikes. This is me Gracious, For every meal. Aroma, Of Afro Caribbean, coconut, rice and chicken. Revitalizing, Pineapple juice that takes away every worry. This is me Ordinary, Yet so meaningful. Natural, Memories made. Traditional, Celebrations with family. This is me ~ Oscar Arc 18

PRO-ME

BIZ

Image from fredphotog.wordpress.com

Finding Your Muse Brandon Kathman

The Evening Muse is the perfect place to celebrate

Poetry Month this March. Whether you seek

philosophical thought, beautiful and mellifluous

music, or just want to add some culture to your life

the Evening Muse has it all.

The Evening Muse celebrates original songwriting,

and has been giving literally thousands of

independent music acts a place to perform since

they first opened their doors in 2001. The Muse has

hosted all genres of music in its thirteen years, from

reggae to full electric, and in that time many locals

have come to love it for its unique and artistic

atmosphere. The Evening Muse is also open to all

ages, unless specified by the evening’s musician in

advance. Children are more than welcome, and an

evening at the Muse can be a great experience for

them.

When you walk through the front door you are

instantly greeted by beautiful original artwork lining

the walls. These stunning pieces alone provoke

quiet contemplation, and add to the overall

atmosphere of the location.

But the environment of the building pales when

compared to the spectacular performances put on

by the musicians who perform. It is rare that artists

as diverse as these perform under the same roof. In

a given week one can see folk music, country, hip-

hop, rap, rock, or jazz and experience the fusion of

many cultures.

Ann Schmitt, a patron of the Muse, said “The Muse

has fabulous new talent every month, and is a very

affordable, very unique little corner bar that has

become a cornerstone of the entire neighborhood.”

Perhaps even more impressive is knowing that you

are experiencing only original music, not cover

songs. Any music you hear was written by that

musician, a product of his or her own thoughts and

feelings. You truly, if only for a moment, catch a

glimpse at another’s emotions.

The Muse also has something for the performer in

all of us. Amidst the various artists it plays host to,

the Muse has regularly scheduled Open-Mic Nights,

where anyone can perform if they so desire. In a

given night, you might have the opportunity to

entertain nearly a hundred people. There are few

places in Charlotte with this kind of opportunity, and

if you feel this is up your alley I would highly

recommend giving it a shot.

“You can’t go wrong with The Evening Muse,” said

Benjamin Goins, a regular at the Muse. “What a

great place for music, poetry, and a general

assembly of friendly people.”

Regardless of whether you go as a performer or

observer The Evening Muse is an incredible place to

spend a Friday Night. Tickets are on sale at

www.eveningmuse.com, or they can be purchased

at the door.

19

What’s Happening: Events for Teens March 20-June 20 Q

Queen City Ghost Tours

Friday and Saturday Nights September 12 through October 4, 2014, and Nightly Wednesday October 8,

2014 thru Friday October 31, 2014.

See more at: http://queencityghosttours.com

101 Inventions That Changed The World

Presented by Discovery Place

April 21, 2014

See more at: http://101inventions.discoveryplace.org/

Repticon Charlotte Reptile & Exotic Animal Show

Apr 5, 2014: 10 am - 4 pm (Sat)

Apr 6, 2014: 10 am - 4 pm (Sun)

Aug 23, 2014: 10 am - 4 pm (Sat)

Aug 24, 2014: 10 am - 4 pm (Sun)

See more at: http://www.repticon.com/charlotte.html

Interactive Improv Comedy Show

Ongoing event 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Call 803-548-6824 for reservations in advance

See more at: http://www.charlottecomedytheater.com/

Summer Food Truck Rally

September 27th

4431 Neck Road Huntersville, N. C.

704.875.3113

See more: http://www.ruralhill.net/FoodTruckRally.asp

Charlotte Motor Speedway AutoFair Hosted by OldRide.com

Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Pkwy S Concord, NC 28027

704-455-3209

See more: http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/autofair/

Arts & Culture Guide

"Changing the Face of Informational & Entertainment Media For Teens and by Teens!" TEEN CIRCUIT WEBZINE Our New Quarterly Online Magazine targeted towards teens with stories and articles written by teen journalists as well as photos and graphics created by teen photographers and graphic designers.

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