2023 Issue 4 Jul/Aug Focus - Mid-South Magazine

Serving the Mid-South LGBT+ Community and its Allies | Jul+Aug 2023 

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4 Memphis Green | JUL+AUG 2023 | focuslgbt.com

FEATURED WRITERS IN THIS ISSUE 

CONTRIBUTORS 

We rely on Memphis Green contributors for Focus magazine news and stories. 

A huge thanks to these dedicated writers! 

Salamander 

BRANDY 

Salamander is the Executive 

Director of the Path of the Holy 

Hands Church, the co-chair of 

the Memphis-MidSouth DSA, a 

member of Black Lives Matter 

Memphis and the New Black 

Panther party. She was born 

and raised in the city of Memphis and is the descendant 

of Elwood Higginbottom, a hero who was lynched by the 

city of Oxford, Mississippi for trying to start a union for 

sharecroppers. She is on a mission to spread peace on planet 

Earth and to get justice for her family. Until she completes 

her mission, she won’t stop even after her last breath. 

KeOnte 

CRISWELL 

KeOnte is a retired Air Force 

sergeant and fabulous 

40-something mother 

and grandmother who is 

passionate about feminism, 

equality, and brunch. When 

she’s not out organizing 

chaos, she can be found 

sitting in stillness. 

Tricia 

DEWEY 

Tricia is a longtime Memphis 

transplant, who has grown to 

admire the ‘grit and grind’. She 

is also a mom, wife, runner, 

reader, recovering lawyer, tree 

hugger, and ally. 

Moth Moth 

MOTH 

Moth Moth Moth is a Drag 

Queen, Writer and Visual Artist 

from Memphis, TN where they 

host drag shows, contract for 

museums, and secretly write 

short stories about mastodons 

while cuddling with four cats. 

William 

SMYTHE 

William is a local writer and 

poet. He has been published 

in multiple magazines, both 

online and in print, and works 

with the Memphis Green 

creative workshop collective, 

Memphis Writers. 

MUD 

Ethan James "Mud" McVay 

is a writer, stagehand, and 

interdisciplinary artist working 

in sculpture, performance, and 

installation art. 

Other Contributors 

Chellie Bowman 

Tiffany Day 

Leion De Haro 

Minnassa 

Jessica Webster 

Have a story that needs to be told? Pitch your story ideas to editor@focuslgbt.com 

JUL+AUG 2023 | focuslgbt.com | Memphis Green 5

CONTENTS | Jul+Aug 2023 

5 MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

7 THEME: MEMPHIS GREEN 

8 COMMUNITY 

An interview with Ounce of Hope on their 

sustainable growing practices 

12 LIFE 

Expanded parks and wetland restoration are 

coming to West Memphis 

16 LGBT ADVOCATE 

Locally-grown flowers from a charming new farm in 

Bartlett 

18 COMMUNITY 

MBG’s Urban Home Garden Speaker Series 

20 COMMUNITY 

Urban micro farming with Midtown Bramble & Bloom 

24 ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT 

The 8th installment of The Prism Pages! 

28 HEALTH+WELLNESS 

Discover how caring for houseplants can boost 

your mental health 

28 ORIGINAL MEMPHIS 

Don’t forget about MLK Riverside Park, 

a South Memphis gem 

32 FAITH+SPIRITUALITY 

Local activist Salamander Brandy speaks on 

environmental justice for our city 

36 LGBT ADVOCATE 

Learn all about inclusive language practices 

in Spanish 

36 COMMUNITY 

Magical Miss Mothie takes us on a papermaking 

journey filled with memories and how-tos alike 

38 HOROSCOPES 

New full horoscope readings for every sign! 

ON THE COVER 

AND THIS PAGE 

photos by Chellie Bowman 

Find the story on page 20. 


theme 

Flower Friend Farms. 

photo by Chellie Bowman 

Find the story on page 16. 


community 

Cannabis and Koi 

An Interview with Ounce of Hope 

by William Smythe 

The first time I went to a dispensary, I felt like a kid who snuck into a candy store: scared yet elated. This was back 

when I lived in Portland, post-legalization. The employee, a tall friendly man, asked me what I came in for. “Flower,” I 

stammered. “Weed? What strain?” he asked, with the cadence of a Walgreens counter clerk. “I don’t know,” I admitted. 

So he whisked me away behind a door, where I faced a thousand jars, all labeled by name and contents. I was 

overwhelmed. I had no clue what any of the percentages meant or even what would work well for me. 

But the clerk merely looked at me and asked: “What’s bothering you?” Then, he provided an answer to my anxiety. 

THC and CBD work wonders for many ailments, ranging from PTSD to dietary disorders to even, surprisingly, psoriasis. 

A friend of mine uses medical marijuana to alleviate that ailment specifically, so I’ve seen its magic work firsthand. 

The stores here in Memphis use a type of cannabis designated Delta-8, which is just a version of cannabis that is legally 

below the cannabinoid level of Delta-9 THC. It’s naturally occurring in cannabis plants and completely safe to consume. 

Still, I was curious about the industry and its crop. So, I decided to sit down with Cam Heil from Ounce of Hope for a 

discussion. What better way to learn than to ask an expert, right? 


photos courtesy of Ounce of Hope 

So, my first question is: 

What’s the deal with the 

fish? 

The fish are our fertilizer. 

Or, at least, their poop is. 

It’s called aquaponics. We 

started with deep water 

culture, but that doesn’t 

replicate outdoor conditions 

for indoor growing like 

using koi and tilapia waste 

does. It provides us with 

plant nutrients, plus we can 

control the biochemistry 

better. We’re able to track 

ammonia and nitrate levels 

so we can extract the 

proper amounts for our 

cannabis. Cannabis is picky 

about what nutrients it likes, 

so we need to be selective. 

These plants love potassium 

and calcium, which we get 

naturally from fish waste. 

Seems like there’s a lot of 

it. How do you filter it all? 

Good question. Do you 

see those big green filters? 

Well, we run the water and 

fish waste through those 

filters which have beads 

that trap the nutrients and 

chemicals for us, keeping 

the solids separated at 

the bottom. It also allows 

bacteria to cultivate in the 

top layer: a major part of our 

growth cycle. It breaks down 

the ammonia from the waste 

into those helpful nitrates. 

Far out! So where does it 

all go? 

Well, our now freshly 

processed plant food goes 

into these tanks over here. 

As you can see, it’s got no 

smell, meaning no ammonia, 

thanks to those microbes 

you saw. Pure nutrients. 

We even bottle and sell 

our excess supply to local 

farms and agricultural 

non-profits such as For 

the Kingdom and Memphis 

Tilth. And donate to farms in 

Orange Mound and the New 

Chicago area. 

So cool. Well, let’s talk 

about the main attraction: 

the plants themselves. 

Of course. Follow me. 

Let’s clean our shoes so we 

don’t cross-contaminate. 

We usually wear scrubs and 

gloves in our flower room, 

but we won’t be long. 

I imagine it’s hard trying to 

maintain all of this. There’s 

that old joke that plants 

can grow on a sidewalk, 

but when you bring them 

home, suddenly: “too much 

sunlight. I’m dead now.” 

Right! It’s a tricky problem 

maintaining the right soil 

and UV. But it also comes 

down to genetics. If the 

genetics of the plant sucks, 

then the plant won’t grow 

properly. That can be 

important when growing 

medical-grade cannabis. 

Going back to deep water 

vs. aquaponics, we found 

a higher potency growing 

with aquaponics over other 

methods. Better results 

means better bud which also 

means better consistency 

for our user base. 

I’m ready to see a few of 

these bad boys. But, I see 

you’re growing with other 

plants. 

What about the 

contamination? 

Those are cover crops. 

They benefit the soil and 

help our cannabis grow. 

Such as these marigolds 

which attract pests 

away from the crop. The 

dichondra, a common 

garden plant, helps aerate 

the soil. Right now, we 

are experimenting with 

strawberries. 

Our mulch comes from 

old stalks and rice husks. 

And we put five pounds of 

earthworms in each bed to 

help till the soil. 

Not all flowers work 

well with cannabis, 

however. Clover is a great 

companion plant for 

any other crop but not 

cannabis, because clover 

is a nitrogen fixer, which 

affects cannabis growth. 

We also try to avoid 

reusing certain mulches and 

woods. Pine for instance 

is antifungal, and we need 

fungus for growth. 

Each bed is a different 

strain. If you want you 

can rub the stems and 

get a scent. Try the sour 

pineapple, which is about 

seven days or so from full 

maturity. It takes six weeks, 

give or take, for these to 

mature. We’ve kept track of 

the ratios in each bed to see 

what works best where. 

We’re not chemists of 

course; we’re farmers. But 

experimenting helps us grow 

better and stronger crops. 

Wow. There’s a lot of 

thought and care going 

into the process, I see. But 

recycling seems to be a big 

factor in your methods. 

Absolutely. 

Sustainability is the goal. 

Most growers just dump 

in salt-based fertilizers but 

then end up having to drain 

their entire water systems. A 

usual model in our industry. 

We’ve been able to reuse 

most of our materials 

thankfully, which improves 

our yield and profit margin. 

Regenerative agriculture. 

In fact, as we discussed 

earlier, that model extends 

to our charity work 

and giving back to the 

community. Not many 

cannabis farms do that. 

Speaking of farming, I saw 

you’re able to grow due to 

the Farm Bill from 2018… 

Yes. For now. 

But that expires this fall. 

So, our whole operation is in 

jeopardy. It all comes down 

to what laws are passed. 

And some of those laws, the 

way they get interpreted… 

The Farm Bill allows us to 

call what we extract from 

our crop hemp because 

what we are growing is 

technically hemp. 

It’s like with the queer 

community. It’s all about 

activism and showing 

proof. Stating your case. 

We can’t do this in the dark 

anymore. We have to show 

we are legitimate. 

I’ve noticed that you hire 

from the queer community 

as well. Do you think 

there’s a correlation 

between cannabis and 

queer communities? 

Honestly, both our 

communities live on the 

fringes of society. Also, 

we both tend to have free 

and open-minded thinkers, 

attracted to new ideas and 

ways of living. I think any 

business can benefit from 

that type of person. 


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Jun 10 - 

Oct 22 

MEMPHIS MUSEUM 

OF SCIENCE & HISTORY 

In partnership with

life 

Ducks Unlimited Park 

Wetlands Restoration & Recreational 

Space Secured for West Memphis 

story and photos by Tricia Dewey 


Big River Crossing, the scenic pedestrian bridge adjacent 

to the Harahan Bridge, opened to much excitement in 

2016, providing an almost one-mile span for walkers 

across the Mississippi, with novel views of the river and the 

Memphis skyline. But some might have wondered, “Is that 

it, do we just turn around?” Those looking for more trails or 

a destination after crossing into Arkansas will have a new 

park to visit, Ducks Unlimited Park, nestled to the north on 

the shore of the Mississippi, a work in progress. 

Unlike Shelby Farms Park, an urban park about 

14 miles from downtown, the primary goal of Ducks 

Unlimited Park is restoration of the wetlands back to its 

natural state: bottomland hardwoods and bald cypress 

swamp. According to the EPA, bottomland forests— 

forested wetlands that can survive in areas that are 

seasonally flooded —covered almost 30 million acres 

of the southeastern United States 200 years ago, but a 

majority of this land was lost to farming, with only 40% 

remaining today. With the eventual restoration project of 

the park, many acres of the 1500 total will be restored to 

their natural state to help better control our floodplain 

and improve water quality by filtering pollutants 

and reducing sediment before the water returns to 

the Mississippi. Alongside the restored wetlands, 

the remaining acreage will provide recreational and 

educational benefits to park visitors. 

Chris Ware, executive director of Ducks Unlimited 

Park, says the idea for the park developed after realizing 

that 250,000 people crossed the Harahan Bridge the 

first year it was open. Now that total is 1.5 million and 

counting: the fan base was ready and interest was 

apparent. But a park on the Arkansas side didn’t become 

a reality until the group was fortunate enough to make 

deals with some of the very willing landowners who also 

shared in the new vision for the area. 

Ware says, “We were lucky that the majority of the 

landowners were from the area or were Memphians, so 

they understood the benefit and impact that can happen 

with wild trails and spaces for the city to expand a bit 

recreationally.” Over several years, several million dollars 

for land acquisition was secured and land deals were 

negotiated that were beneficial to all. 

Tenn Green, a Nashville land conservation organization, 

stepped up as the first key stakeholder to buy several 

parcels and start the process of land acquisition for the 

park. Then when the Big River Crossing group established 

that the goal would be wetlands restoration, they reached 

out to Ducks Unlimited (with a national headquarters in 

Memphis), which has an extensive wetlands restoration 

background, to discuss a partnership. Ducks Unlimited 

was excited by the prospect and was interested in coming 

on board—at first as technical assistance, but they quickly 

realized the potential for the area and expressed interest in 

contributing in bigger ways. 

Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam and several other 

local board members saw the possibility to show the 

public their expertise in wetlands restoration work they 

conduct all over North America. Here was the opportunity, 

right in their own backyard, to have a footprint and legacy 

in the Memphis area, in addition to having a campus here. 

Ware says that since Ducks Unlimited has been involved, 

park development has taken off and gone from something 

that might happen to something that is going to happen: 

“This park is a reality now. Ducks Unlimited has been 

instrumental in lining up donors and fundraising partners, 

fundraising at a corporate level and individual donor level.” 

He says they have been great partners, including their field 

resource office in Jackson, Mississippi, which employs welltrained 

scientists and engineers that know exactly how to 

bring property back from agricultural use. Ducks Unlimited 

Part of the existing trail 

system already at the site 


will be leading the charge when it comes to the restoration, 

not just from aesthetic point of view, but also determining 

what area will flood every year and which plants are 

needed to transition the existing fields to hardwood 

bottomland, meadows, and swamp for the long term. 

Currently, Ducks Unlimited Park is in the final stages 

of completing a park master plan with Richie Smith 

Associates, a Memphis landscape architecture firm 

experienced with local parks and parks all along the 

Mississippi. Ware expects a final edited version to the 

master plan later this summer and then they will compare 

and contrast costs and fundraising expectations. 

Fundraising will be ongoing over the next year or two. 

Groundbreaking for the first of several amenities is 

planned for Fall 2023. Ideas include a welcome center, low 

impact meandering trails with an elevated boardwalk that 

connects to an outdoor classroom and hardwood swamps, 

a retriever training area, and an off-leash dog park. The 

ultimate goal will be a raised pavilion at the corner of Dacus 

Lake Road near the I-40 Bridge that will look back toward 

Memphis. The mound itself will be several hundred yards 

wide, an elevated open air pavilion with a sunflower meadow 

out front and multiple staggered seating areas on the mound 

area facing the river. This summer some flowers will again be 

planted that will bloom in July and early August. 

The almost six-mile trail through the park, once gravel, 

is now paved and swings to a viewing area near the river. 

Shade awnings are planned for this trail. There is also a 

connection to Big River Levee Trail, which is currently part of 

a gravel 76-mile trail system that connects the levees from 

Marion, TN to Marianna, AR, and will eventually be part of a 

1,607-mile levee trail that connects from the Mississippi to 

the headwaters of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Entering this park, Ware says, will be a different 

experience. “When you step over there, that land that’s 

in-between the levees over the last 100 years has really 

created its own ecosystem. There’s much more biodiversity 

in that little area than there is basically within 100 miles of 

here. That's the way it is with the entire Mississippi levee. 

There’s different trees, different fauna, different bird 

species that stay on the property there, different insects.” 

Ducks Unlimited Park will complement Memphis River 

Parks Partnership, the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, 

and other Memphis green spaces. 

More green space here will also help to attract 

corporations, Ware hopes. He explains that Tennessee has 

many advantages for corporations to relocate here and 

this park will be another reason for them to prefer Memphis 

over Nashville and Chattanooga, in addition to encouraging 

the wonderful people who are growing up here to choose 

Memphis, and for those of us who live here to enjoy it. Ware 

says the city of Memphis has been supportive of the park 

and he notes that Tom Lee Park and Ducks Unlimited Park 

will literally and figuratively connect by way of the bridge– 

one park will be extended to the other. 

“Coming out of the pandemic, any small business owner 

will tell you that quality of life was important before, but 

that factor has gone through the roof. We recognize that, 

the city recognizes that, Arkansas recognizes that, and I 

think that's why a lot of major corporations are willing to 

step up. We hope to be just one of the many parts of a 

bigger partnership project that extends this kind of habitat 

restoration up and down the river all the way down to New 

Orleans. There is actually a lot that could be done without 

very much effort.” A green, sustainable investment in the 

future of Memphis: this is a reason for Memphians to keep 

walking across the Big River. 


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lgbt advocate 

Flower 

Friend 

Farms 

story & photos by Chellie Bowman 


In early June, I left 

Midtown and ventured 

out to Bartlett to visit 

Angie Arnold at her newly 

established flower farm. 

The farm sits on three 

acres of property that was 

a dairy farm at the turn 

of the century and, along 

with the home she shares 

with her partner and son, 

includes a large silo and a 

repurposed barn and pump 

house. Gardening since 

she was in her twenties, 

Angie has only been 

operating Flower Friend 

Farms since last spring and 

is slowly expanding. Upon 

entering the garden, there 

is a tangle of blackberries 

and raspberries that have 

enveloped the chain 

link fence, then rows of 

deliciously sweet sunripened 

blueberries pop 

into view. I’ll stop here to 

say that the raspberry I 

tasted during my tour was 

the most raspberry-tasting 

raspberry I’ve ever had, 

the most delicious candy. 

(Sorry folks, none of the 

food grown at the farm is 

currently available to the 

public!) What begins next is 

the vast array of rows and 

rows of colorful flowers: 

gladioli, lilies, roses, dahlias, 

heirloom mums, zinnias, 

liatris, figwort, blushing 

lanterns, vervain, marigolds, 

hydrangea and so much 

more. 

Growing has its many 

challenges. Inhospitable 

city ordinances and 

unpredictable weather 

(which most likely will 

continue to worsen as 

climate change progresses), 

can ruin or delay growing 

seasons and farming 

practices. This year, for 

example, spring came early 

encouraging young buds 

and new growth that late 

frosts subsequently killed. 

Arnold lost plums, peaches, 

blueberries, and apples, 

among others. And as many 

gardeners and home owners 

can attest, the extreme 

weather of last year—the 

summertime drought 

followed by extreme 

and prolonged freezing 

temperatures in winter— 

killed or damaged many 

trees, shrubs, and perennials 

around town. I, for one, 

haven’t seen a single fig tree 

that emerged unscathed 

(or even alive) and the list of 

beloved plants lost (azaleas, 

camellias, tropical milkweed, 

etc.) goes on and on. It’s 

important to note here that 

native plants fare the best 

in this extreme weather and 

will continue to be more 

robust than exotic or tropical 

species in the face of this 

new normal. The questions 

that Angie is already asking 

herself—“How do I deal with 

this unpredictability? Do I 

select for heartier crops? 

Or later blooming ones?”— 

are questions that all of us 

will eventually be asking 

ourselves. 

While the Bartlett 

operation is still quite 

modest and mainly focuses 

on selling quality cut 

flowers to local florists 

and event planners—such 

as Everbloom Design on 

Broad Ave. and Snapdragon 

Floral out East—Arnold 

has plans to eventually 

acquire a second property 

to grow annuals exclusively 

so that she can continue to 

expand and focus on her 

perennial operations at the 

original site. Additionally, 

a recently installed walkin 

cooler in the old pump 

house will allow the farm 

to keep and store flowers 

for much longer. Angie has 

also become a member 

of the Memphis Flower 

Collective, a recently 

organized group that builds 

direct connection and 

relationships between local 

flower farmers and florists. 

Wondering what you can 

do to support growers like 

Flower Friend Farms? Buy 

locally-grown flowers from 

florists. Ask for them! Look 

for them! Like Angie says: 

“Your flowers should be 

grown by people who love 

them.” As I’m sitting down 

to type this, the lilies she 

gifted me have opened and 

are filling the room with the 

most fragrant smell, made 

all the sweeter by knowing 

they were grown right here, 

with love, in Memphis, TN. 

Find Angie on Instagram 

at @flowerfriendfarms or her 

website flowerfriend.farm. 


community 

URBAN HOME GARDEN SPEAKER SERIES 

The Memphis Botanic Garden presents the Urban Home Garden Speaker Series with support from Memphis 

Horticultural Society. This series features topics about gardening with a purpose from horticultural experts. 

JUN 13 

5-8 PM 

SEPT 12 

5-8 PM 

NOV 7 

5-8 PM 

CLAUDIA WEST | REBUILDING ABUNDANCE WITH 

INNOVATIVE AND RICH PLANTING 

Our cities and suburbs desperately need more inspiring, ecologically rich planting. Yet budgets are tight 

and gardeners are often unfamiliar with more diverse, ecologically functional planting typologies. Claudia 

will share the scientific models and hands-on techniques her landscape architecture firm, Phyto Studio, 

applies to create beautiful, ecologically rich planting. You will walk away with a new understanding of 

planting design and its role in rebuilding nature where we need it the most. 

Claudia West is also the designer of the Garden’s Arboretum revitalization project as part of the Rooted 

at Park & Cherry capital campaign. The guided tour preceding the talk will feature this new area of the 

Garden with Claudia. 

ELLEN ECKER OGDEN | REWILDING THE KITCHEN GARDEN: 

HOW TO GROW A HEALTHY ORGANIC GARDEN FOR PEOPLE 

AND POLLINATORS TO FLOURISH 

I’ve been rethinking the kitchen garden, just as I have been planting more natives in my flower beds. In this 

new lecture, you will learn the six steps to design but also how to unwind our gardener’s tendency to be too 

neat and tidy in the garden. We are trained to pull lettuce before it bolts or deadhead dill when it forms a 

seed head, but these are necessary for a wide range of pollinators to thrive. Let’s look more closely at all the 

pollinators in our gardens, going beyond the honeybee to the wasps, flies, and moths. What can you plant 

in your kitchen garden that brings you good food, while nourishing the edible landscape with pollen-rich 

plants, and nectar? Take a fresh perspective and discover new ways to let your garden grow a little wild. 

Ellen Ecker Ogden is an award-winning garden author and kitchen garden designer. She is the author of five 

books including "The Complete Kitchen Garden" and "The New Heirloom Garden." 

DOUG TALLAMY | THE NATURE OF OAKS 

Scary headlines about the decline of the natural world that serves as our life support have spurred 

homeowners across the country to take action by planting natives that will help reverse this trend. No plant 

will achieve this faster than one of our 91 species of oaks. Oaks support more species of animals, sequester 

more carbon, protect our watersheds, and nourish soil communities better than any other plant genus in 

North America. Tallamy will discuss these roles by following the many fascinating things that are happening 

on the oaks in his yard each month of the year. His hope is to supply the knowledge about oaks that will 

generate interest in them, and, with any luck, compassion for these magnificent trees. 

With "Bringing Nature Home," Doug Tallamy changed the conversation about gardening in America. His 

second book, the New York Times bestseller "Nature’s Best Hope," urged homeowners to take conservation 

into their own hands. In his newest book, he turns his advocacy to one of the most important species of the 

plant kingdom—the mighty oak tree. 

5-6 PM 

GUIDED TOUR OF A RELATED 

URBAN HOME GARDEN SPACE 

6:30 PM 

TALK, FOLLOWED BY A CLOSING BOOK 

SIGNING AND/OR SPEAKER MEET AND GREET 

FEE: MBG & MEMPHIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEMBERS: $10 | NON-MEMBERS: $15 

CASH BAR WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 6-8PM 


8 th ANNUAL 

ESTEEMED FRIENDS! 

Let us transport you to a magical realm where dreams 

come true and fairy tales come to life! 

Join us for an enchanted evening of glamour, glitz, and endless 

possibilities at our upcoming Focus Awards. 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2023 • 7:00 PM 

BALLET MEMPHIS | 2144 MADISON AVE | MEMPHIS, TN 38104 

We invite you to indulge in the whimsical world of fairy tales and let 

your imagination run wild. It will be a night to remember, complete with 

an alluring atmosphere that will leave you spellbound. 

Our event wouldn't be complete without the presence of our esteemed LGBT 

family, local community partners, sponsors, and supporters. We welcome all 

who believe in love and acceptance to join us in this magical experience. 

This year, we're bringing back the highly anticipated People's Choice Award, and we 

couldn't be more thrilled. It's an honor to have your voices heard and celebrate the 

excellence and impact of those within our community. As part of the prize donation, 

we're offering a mix of cash and advertising to help our winners soar to new heights. 

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and don't miss out on this oneof-a-kind 

event. Come and be a part of the enchantment, where your 

dreams will become reality, and the possibilities are endless. 

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE! SAVE THE DATE! 

2023 

SPONSORS 

Dr. Thomas Ratliff 

The Pumping Station 

Fish & Associates 

Planned Parenthood 

Warrior Trucking Company 

FedEx 

Law Office of Joe Ozment 

MidSouth LGBT Chamber 

Rowe Realtors 

Pavo 

CHOICES 

Susan Mackenzie 

Utopia Animal Hospital 

TEP 

The Haven 

Raymond James 

OUTMemphis 

For full details and tickets visit thefocusawards.com

community 

Urban Micro 

Farming 

with Midtown 

Bramble & Bloom 

by Mud 


Bramble & Bloom owner Marisa 

Mender-Franklin at her large 

garden on New York Street 


At the start of 2021, Marisa Mender-Franklin posted on a 

local “Buy Nothing” Facebook group asking for available 

land in Midtown to start micro flower farms. Swiftly, 

around 40 plots of land were offered in response, and 

thus was the genesis of Midtown Bramble & Bloom. Her 

goal was to create a symbiotic relationship “tucked away 

in the backyards” of her Midtown community. 1 She offered 

regenerative and maintained flower gardens in exchange 

for paramount land. 

Currently, Midtown Bramble & Bloom manages and 

cultivates nine separate plots. Although there are a 

few properties with planter rows, most of the flowers 

are incorporated into garden beds that can be seen by 

pedestrians. You can take a stroll down New York St. in the 

Cooper Young neighborhood and see one yourself. For 

this particular garden, Marisa also had the opportunity to 

work with local muralist, Kristen Sandlin. The mural proudly 

states in blue hand lettering, “Memphis is Blooming.” 

By pairing flower gardens with public artwork, Midtown 

Bramble & Bloom is creating landmarks, visual cues to a 

beautiful relationship between community, ecosystem, and 

urban architecture. 

Bramble & Bloom grows mostly native plants and around 

40% perennials, more than your average flower farm. 

They’ve had a booth at the Cooper Young Farmers Market 

for three years and have consistently been there weekly 

for a year. They work year-round, with their peak seasons 

being spring, summer and fall. During these seasons, 

bouquet subscriptions (these are GREAT gift ideas, by the 

way!) are available with local delivery or through pickup 

at Urban Earth (80 Flicker St.). Urban Earth, a unique 

Midtown nursery, offered Bramble & Bloom one of 

their empty fridges for local customers to pick up 

bouquets. It got them more foot traffic and Marisa 

gained an additional space for transactions. It has 

also freed up precious time that can now be used 

to tend the gardens. In addition to individual 

flower arrangements, Bramble & Bloom also 

offers wedding and garden plot consultations, 

as well as workshops, such as wreath making 

in the winter, at Memphis Made Brewery (768 

Cooper St.). In the coldest part of the year 

they are busy landscaping and building new 

beds for the upcoming growing season. 

By emphasizing regenerative, sustainable, 

and organic farming processes, Bramble & 

Bloom creates synergy with the local community. 

The trade between available urban farm land 

offered by the community for maintained flower 

gardens goes to show that in Memphis, you really can 

“buy nothing.” 

Follow Marisa on Instagram at @midtownbramble or visit 

her website at midtownbramble.com to learn more about 

her consultations, workshops, and bouquet subscriptions. 

REFERENCE 

1 . “Midtown Bramble and Bloom.” Midtown Bramble & Bloom. Accessed 

June 12, 2023. midtownbramble.com. 


22 Memphis Green | JUL+AUG 2023 | focuslgbt.com 

Beautiful varieties of strawflower, 

delphinium, and rudbeckia are some of 

the many plants that thrive in this plot

Focus 

on healing, 

we’ve got 

everything else. 

We offer a wide range of services, so your family is 

assured of receiving the choices you need. 

Mid South Mortuary Service 

“When You Need Us, We’ll Be There” 

3774 Summer Ave. • Memphis, TN 38122 

(901) 458-8575 • midsouthmortuary.com 

Organize 

Educate 

Advocate 

We need volunteers throughout the 

community to fight for equal rights! 

3788 Summer Ave. | Memphis, TN 38122 

(901) 454-5795 | highpointchapel.com 

COMMITMENT, COMPASSION, VALUE, HONESTY & PROFESSIONALISM 

TNEP.org 

@tnequality 

WE IMPACT COMMUNITIES 

BY DRIVING RESULTS. 

We are a multicultural and diverse agency producing meaningful 

work for our communities in Memphis and beyond. 

2294 Young Ave.| Memphis, TN 38104 | 901.800.1172 

rayricofreelance.com |

arts+entertainment 

the 

no. 8 

The Young Decade 

by Ray Rico 

In shadows cast upon familiar walls, 

A decade's worth of stories now recall. 

Where time's hands danced with every stride, 

In the office space where dreams reside. 

Through countless days, we toiled as one, 

Our hearts ablaze, a collective hum. 

A tapestry woven with laughter and tears, 

Memories cherished, etched through the years. 

But the winds of change blew fierce and bold, 

An office left behind, a story untold. 

From bustling halls to a virtual embrace, 

We embarked on a journey, a different space. 

Oh, the bittersweet taste of farewell's sigh, 

Leaving behind a piece of soul, oh my! 

The desk we called ours, the walls that knew, 

Now echoes fade, bidding us adieu. 

Yet, let not melancholy darken the skies, 

For a new chapter unfolds, hope in our eyes. 

Remote horizons await, vast and unknown, 

With freedom's wings, we're no longer alone. 

In the realm of pixels, our worlds align, 

Boundaries erased, the distance we redefine. 

The office within us, forever resides, 

As we navigate the virtual tides. 

Embrace the change; let it be your guide, 

For transformation calls from deep inside. 

Find solace in the moments yet to come, 

A symphony of possibility, yet unsung. 

With every keystroke, a story unfolds, 

Unveiling chapters, as life gracefully molds. 

Let your spirit soar, be bold and true, 

For within you lies the power to renew. 

Though office walls may fade from sight, 

The memories held within, forever ignite. 

Through virtual realms, our spirits mend, 

Embracing change is a journey without end. 

So, fear not, dear friend, for you are strong, 

Adapting, evolving, where you belong. 

In this new chapter, let your vision shine, 

And seize the reins of destiny as yours align. 

For life's tapestry is woven anew, 

With every step, the courage in you. 

Embrace the remote, the freedom it bestows, 

And let your heart's desires truly transpose. 

This poem was written as a form of closure and looking forward after closing the brick-and-mortar 

building which housed the Focus LGBT magazine offices after a decade on Young Avenue in 

Memphis, TN and moving to a fully remote business model. 


The Wax 

by Leion De Haro 

The wax that wanes from steady burn 

Has yet to truly reach what it yearns 

So much beauty and so much light 

A true beauty for smell and sight 

Is this wax everlasting? 

2, 4, 7, 8, how many candles have been made 

from this tiny little flame? 

The scent has started to wear thin again 

Who was the wax and who was the stem? 

The wax knows not the question within 

Leion is an indigenous, two spirited man and abstract artist — 

native to the land, but not any single place. They believe that life 

is full of exciting challenges that bloom from the reality you make. 

They go by the personal philosophy, "There’s no such thing as a low 

point, only a new mountain to climb.” 

Sequoia 

by Salamander Brandy 

Another child dies and the sky cries, 

Po’ baby being left outside. 

Heaven gonna be feelin’ dis heat, 

right before Juneteenth. 

Send help–rain relief, 

We need help in a city where even God cried– 

She weeps, “O sweet lord have mercy for the 

people of Memphis.” 

Salamander Brandy is the Executive Director of the Path of the 

Holy Hands church, the co-chair of the Memphis-MidSouth 

DSA, a member of Black Lives Matter Memphis and the New 

Black Panther party. She was born and raised in the city of 

Memphis and is the descendent of Elwood Higginbottom, a hero 

who was lynched by the city of Oxford, Mississippi for trying 

to start a union for sharecroppers. She is on a mission to spread 

peace on planet Earth and to get justice for her family. Until she 

completes her mission, she won’t stop even after her last breath. 

Want to see our full collection 

of The Prism Pages? 

Visit our website. 

The Prism Pages is a new literary section in the magazine where original works of poetry and fiction from the 

community will be showcased. As a publishing company, we are committed to saving space for up-and-coming 

LGBTQ+ writers. Interested in submitting something? Email editor@focusmidsouth.com. 

This section is brought to you by the Focus Center Foundation 501(c)3. To learn how to support this and become 

a sponsor, please email info@focuscenterfoundation.org. 


health+wellness 

Mental Health 

Benefits of 

Houseplants 

by Jessica Webster, LPC-MHSP 

Ferren Family Counseling 

Vera Prokhorova /Shutterstock 


The COVID lock down 

of 2020 affected us all 

differently in many ways, 

some positive and some 

negative. For me, I found 

and cultivated a love of 

houseplants. They became 

a great way to cope with 

my own mental health. I 

never stopped my work 

as a therapist during the 

lockdown. Instead, I just 

switched to Telehealth 

sessions to provide my 

clients with continued 

mental health help. I had to 

find my own ways to cope 

at the very least so I could 

support my own clients and 

family. I found taking care 

of my houseplants greatly 

reduced my stress and also 

created these lovely spaces 

in my home that I found 

myself enjoying everyday. 

I always have known that 

green plants will put extra 

oxygen into the air which 

was a benefit I had begun 

to explore before the 

pandemic. I also knew that 

with more oxygen in the 

air that cognitive abilities 

would also be improved. 

There has been study after 

study completed over the 

last few decades that also 

proves these facts—that 

people and plants are 

naturally connected. 

The review data, collected 

and analyzed by researchers 

Charles Hall and Melinda 

Knuth at Texas A&M 

University and published in 

the Journal of Environmental 

Horticulture, 1 supports 

the notion that living in or 

near green spaces, and 

spending as much time as 

possible in both natural 

settings and cultivated 

gardens can improve 

mood, reduce the negative 

effects of stress, encourage 

physical activity and 

other positive behaviors, 

improve cognition, reduce 

aggression, and enhance 

overall well-being in people 

of all ages under many 

different circumstances. 

Through research, people 

have found that spending 

time in natural settings can 

reduce stress by slowing 

down heart rate, reducing 

high blood pressure, and 

lowering anxiety. 2 People 

also experienced reduced 

symptoms of depression 

and were better able to 

focus and concentrate 

on a test of their working 

memory after a walk in 

nature compared with one 

in an urban setting. Short 

nature breaks increase 

well-being and improve 

attention span, working 

memory and cognitive 

functioning in children as 

well as adults. Students and 

employees with a view of 

nature, either 

indoors or right outside 

their windows, were not 

only found to be more 

productive but also more 

alert, more attentive, more 

relaxed, in better moods 

as well as having increased 

creativity. 

Seeing plants around 

my space gave me 

something to smile about 

and increased my positive 

emotions. When my job 

moved to Telehealth, being 

focused on a computer 

screen led to quite a bit 

of mental fatigue. Even 

the act of watering them 

was soothing and gave me 

something to focus on and 

helped me get out of my 

own head. I found myself 

loving when my plants 

would sprout new leaves 

and learning about what 

each needed to thrive. 

There was definitely some 

trial and error and I have 

lost quite a few through 

the learning process. 

Houseplants have also 

been helpful in teaching 

myself to have compassion 

when my plants don’t do 

well. If this has been your 

experience don’t 

let this stop you from 

trying again. 

Just like I was learning 

how to take care of my 

own plants (and myself), 

I continue to encourage 

my clients and others to 

keep learning about their 

own healing. This work 

is ongoing, but you have 

the strength within to get 

through this. Learn as much 

as you can about your 

own habits, triggers, how 

you cope, your support 

network, and how to 

practice self-care. Just like 

plants, we humans need 

nourishment: get some 

Vitamin D, a healthy diet, 

exercise, sleep, etc. During 

the repotting process, you 

may have to trim away any 

dead pieces that are no 

longer contributing to the 

plant’s growth. Doing this 

can serve as a reminder 

of your own growth: as 

you approach different 

life stages, you sometimes 

have to let go of who or 

what may be stopping 

you from thriving. It’s a 

reminder to always keep 

going and keep growing. 

REFERENCES 

1. Hall C and Knuth M. An update 

of the literature supporting the 

well-being benefits of plants: A 

review of the emotional and mental 

health benefits of plants. Journal of 

Environmental Horticulture. March 

2019; 37(1). 

2. psychologytoday.com/us/ 

blog/cravings/201909/11-waysplants-enhance-your-mental-andemotional-health 

3. Salingaros, Nikos. Biophilia & 

Healing Environments. Healthy 

Principles for Designing the Built 

World. (Terrapin, Bright Green 

LLC. 2015.) 

Therapy Is For Everyone. 

Ferren Family Counseling 

Call To Schedule Your Appointment: 901-498-9126 Midtown & Cordova Locations

original Memphis 

–––– South Memphis Gem –––– 

Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Riverside Park 

by KeOnte Criswell 

28 Memphis Green | JUL+AUG 2023 | focuslgbt.com 

Riverside's fishing pond, 

encircled by a walking trail

I am a fall baby, but deep 

in my core I’m a summer 

child. Summer is my favorite 

time of year. Something 

about the sun and the 

sweet heat of 80 degree 

weather puts a battery 

in my back. As an active 

little rogue who was prone 

to getting into mischief, 

my grandparents had the 

near-impossible task of 

keeping me occupied (and 

out of trouble) during the 

summer. The most effective 

methods included Vacation 

Bible School, huge slices of 

watermelon on the porch, 

and trips to Martin Luther 

King Jr. Riverside Park. 

Designed by landscape 

architect George Kessler 

in 1902, Martin Luther King 

Jr. Riverside Park spans 

297 acres and is home to 

McKellar Lake, walking trails, 

playgrounds, a marina, a 

fishing pond, and a couple 

of tennis courts. While it 

may not be viewed as a 

“hangout” park, Riverside 

Park was once home to one 

of the biggest events in 

the city: the WLOK Stone 

Soul Picnic. Hosted by the 

Gilliam Foundation, the 

Stone Soul Picnic has been 

a Memphis staple since 

1974. One of my favorite 

childhood memories is of 

walking to the park with my 

family, excitement running 

through me as we made the 

trek from our family home 

to the park. The sound of 

the music in the distance 

energized me and pushed 

me forward when the path 

seemed neverending. When 

we finally got to the open 

area, seeing the sea of faces 

filled me with joy. Every kid 

was a potential new friend 

and the park was ours to 

explore in relative safety. 

The Stone Soul Picnic 

united us as a community 

and holds a special place in 

the hearts of all who have 

ever had the opportunity to 

attend. Although the event 

has since been moved, the 

spirit of the Stone Soul 

Picnic and the happiness it 

brought to so many people 

still lingers in its original 

home. Rumor has it if you 

listen hard enough, you can 

still hear the faint sound of 

Sly and The Family Stone. 

In addition to the picnic, 

Riverside Park has been the 

chosen site for many church 

events, family gatherings, 

and reunions. In fact, the 

park has been the site for 

Carver High School class 

reunions every August 

for decades, only pausing 

during the pandemic. 

Though the park’s 

reputation has shifted over 

the years, I believe it's on 

the way back to its former 

glory. 

Riverside Park holds a 

special place in our hearts 

for many reasons. For my 

mom, it was the place where 

she picked blackberries as a 

child. For my dad, it’s where 

he was able to reunite with 

many of his former students 

from his time teaching at 

Riverview Middle School. 

For me, it marks a time in 

my life when I still had both 

of my grandparents and 

the world was mine for the 

taking. For my uncle, it's 

where he chased ducks 

at the duck pond and did 

incredibly reckless things 

that young boys do but 

don’t want repeated. 

As you are out and about 

this summer, celebrating 

with loved ones or taking in 

some solo time, spend time 

in Riverside park making 

your own special memories. 

Let the dog run around, let 

the children laugh and play, 

and most importantly, take 

a moment to connect and 

commune. Namaste. 

Park trees changing colors 

during the fall 



faith+spirituality 

Flower Power, 

People Power 

by Salamander Brandy 

The Goddess calls for me to write another S.O.S. to you, 

dear readers. We are in need of help here in our little corner 

of the cosmos. 

What the people need is public housing that is 

better integrated with the environment; better public 

transportation so people don’t have to rely on CO2 

producing cars; bans on herbicides, pesticides and 

microplastic-producing plastic bags. 

As above, so below. 

Flowers such as the dandelion are versatile in meeting 

our nutritional needs, but are the most sprayed by 

toxic chemicals. These same chemicals that pollute our 

groundwater are trapped in our water cycle and rained 

down on our heads. 

In our “civilized” society, we see lawns that have no 

nutritional value to us as assets but the flowers that grow 

in aesthetically inconvenient places, despite the fact 

they may be used for medicine, are quickly eradicated. 

Please be reminded that this problem is compounded in 

neighborhoods where people are considered weeds by 

society. The rise of chemical farming has coincided with the 

rise of neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases. 

The food that we eat has us disconnected on a cellular 

level. This disconnection has an echoing effect on larger 

scales in our society. 

As within, so without. 

As people develop sickness or cancers within the 

body and mind, their outwardly actions may also be 

considered cancerous to society. People rob and steal 

out of desperation. People kill because they may see 

others as competition to the resources that they need to 

survive. Because we don’t see ourselves as a part of nature 

working as one with the land, we reduce it and therefore 

other people to mere resources. Our public policies are a 

reflection of devaluing life for the sake of capital. 

The politicians that write these laws and codes are 

disconnected from the rest of humanity and believe they 

can treat Memphis as their private garden and the people 

that live here as if we were weeds. They refuse to consider 

that maybe every flower that they can’t sell shouldn’t be 

poisoned or that every person that is unable to produce 

capital for them shouldn’t be brutalized by their system. 

Humanity's relationship with our home planet and to 

ourselves has become cancerous. Cancerous energy is still 

energy and like all forms of energy it coalesces, it builds, 

and it swells. What I’m describing here is the rise of the 

fascist movement here in America. 

By projecting their vision onto the society under their 

control, As within, So without. It almost becomes a 

feedback loop of ill will. When we are unable to empathize 

with our fellow people, we are more likely to not empathize 

with the environment surrounding those same people. 

It doesn’t really take much science or metaphysical 

knowledge to know that if you poison a nearby water 

source with sterilizing chemicals, the people around that 

area are gonna get sick and have low morale. This is the 

case in a South Memphis neighborhood off of Florida St., in 

which the city has known about since 2012 and just recently 

took the barest minimum action to rectify this grave wrong. 

Instead of organizing the cleanup of toxic waste in this low 

income neighborhood they order more police while city 

officials sit on their hands and let people get sick. 

If we want a safe city—a more green city—then we 

need to meet the needs of its most vulnerable citizens. In 

a city where 60% of the budget goes to the police I can 

earnestly say, MORE COPS ARE NOT A SOLUTION!! The 

police are not here to protect us. They are only here to 

protect powerful people and to insulate them from the 

realities of climate change. 

As over here, so over there. 

This is where I need you dear readers. As I type this, 

powerful men are gathering to divide and further colonize 

the city for corporate interest. No one is coming to save 

us but us. I’m running for mayor under the name Brandon 

Price, but I am only one person and I need your help. The 

only way for us to lead our city out of the polluted muck is 

for every citizen to get involved. I need you to know who 

are the key turners of power and exert combined influence 

over them. We need to take up as much space as possible. 

Dear readers, each of us need to take a moment and look 

at our society to see where we are in it. We need to end 

this obsession to commodify and privatize everything and 

come back to balance in order for our species to survive 

into the next millennium. The garden that is Memphis is 

worth saving. 


EQUAL RIGHTS 

EQUAL LOVE 

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Family Law • Estate Planning • Personal Injury Automobile Accidents & More 

SERVICES ONLINE OR IN-PERSON 

292 W. VIRGINIA AVE. • MEMPHIS, TN 38103 

(NEXT TO BIG RIVER CROSSING) 

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attorney at law 

collaborative law 

2157 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 104 | MEMPHIS, TN 38104 

901-272-2729 | susanmackenzielaw.com 

901.272.7600 

1382 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN, 38104 

HOURS MON-SAT 5p-3a; SUN 3p-3a 

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focuslgbt.com | Memphis Green 31

lgbt advocate 

INCLUSIVE SPANISH 

An Interview with Liz Coffield of LC Spanish 

by Tiffany Day 

Memphis-based Spanish instructor Liz Coffield has 

been studying Spanish since she was just six years old: 

she attended a bilingual elementary school, earned a B.A. 

in Hispanic Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, 

Minnesota, and has lived abroad in both Mexico and Spain. 

Prior to teaching Spanish, Liz worked as an administrative 

professional and translator in immigration law. Liz is 

passionate about teaching, passionate about Spanish, and 

passionate about inclusivity in her classroom. 

First, tell us a little about 

yourself: What sparked 

your interest in Spanish, 

and how did you come into 

teaching this language? 

Spanish is not my native 

or heritage language, 

but I did start learning it 

when I was very young 

and I never stopped! As a 

child, my parents put me 

in a Spanish-immersion 

elementary school where 

half my day was taught 

in Spanish and the other 

half was taught in English. 

When I was about sixteen 

years old, I read Isabel 

Allende’s La Casa de Los 

Espíritus in Spanish and 

decided I wanted to study 

Latin America in college. 

I went on to get my BA 

in Hispanic Studies from 

Macalester College—where 

I also had the opportunity 

to study abroad in Mexico. 

In 2022, I burned out 

working as a paralegal 

at an immigration law 

firm and decided to 

take a chance on an 

idea I had been kicking 

around for several years. 

I had previously led adult 

Spanish classes at the 

International Institute 

of Minnesota, where 

I first fell in love with 

teaching and creating 

my own curriculum. 

Working in immigration 

law, I had noticed a 

marked difference in the 

effectiveness and rapport 

that Spanish-speaking 

attorneys had with their 

clients. I saw launching 

LC Spanish online as a 

way I could help improve 

language access for 

Spanish-speakers by 

teaching the language 

to people-centered 

professionals all over the 

country. 

I just hit my one-year 

anniversary of teaching 

with LC Spanish, and I am 

so proud of the courses I've 

created and the community 

of students I've built. 

What got you interested 

in exploring options for 

more inclusivity in the 

language? 

I first remember genderinclusive 

language 

being a topic of debate 

when I was in college. 

My professors often 

discussed the feasibility 

of different variations in 

terms of pronunciation 

and grammatical structure, 

as well as their concerns 

about inclusive language 

being confusing to 

students as they were 

learning a new language. 

Now, seven years later, 


Hispanic and Latin 

communities around the 

world have been using and 

modifying these genderinclusive 

structures for 

some time and I think there 

is more of a consensus 

starting to build. 

When I started teaching 

my own classes with LC 

Spanish, I knew I was going 

to have students of all 

genders and identities, so 

it was important to me that 

I teach inclusive language 

throughout. In a time when 

trans, non-binary, and 

gender nonconforming 

folks are under attack, 

I set out to create a 

learning environment 

where students feel safe, 

recognized, and affirmed. I 

also want all of my students 

to have access to the 

appropriate language when 

they encounter someone 

who doesn't identify only 

with the masculine or 

feminine. 

What are the challenges 

to linguistic inclusivity in 

a language like Spanish? 

And how are those being 

addressed? 

It's been a topic of 

conversation and debate 

for many years on how to 

make the Spanish language 

more inclusive to different 

genders because Spanish 

is an inherently machista 

and binary language. For 

example, if there is one 

masculine presence in a 

group of people, the words 

for "we," "y'all," and "they 

(plural)" all default to the 

masculine form, even if 

the rest of the group is 

all feminine or nonbinary. 

Additionally, all nouns 

are either masculine or 

feminine (unlike German, 

for example, which also 

has a neutral). One early 

attempt to include more 

people was using the 

@ symbol to represent 

both the masculine and 

feminine endings. So 

instead of using "nosotros" 

(masculine) or "nosotras" 

(feminine) for "us/we" 

it would be "nosotr@s" 

or "Latin@" instead of 

"Latino" or "Latina." This 

is problematic because 

it reinforces the gender 

binary and excludes any 

other variation in gender, 

erasing nonbinary people. 

Another intermediate 

solution has been to 

use the letter "x" as a 

substitute. So for example 

"nosotrxs" or "Latinx." This 

is generally more inclusive, 

but ends up being pretty 

much unpronounceable in 

Spanish. Another issue with 

these two options is that 

neither one has a gender 

neutral subject pronoun 

(like the singular "they" in 

English). The consensus 

I've been seeing lately and 

what I teach in my classes 

is to replace the masculine 

or feminine ending with 

"e" (nosotres, Latine). 

This also comes with the 

benefit of a gender neutral 

subject pronoun, "elle." 

It is relatively easy to 

pronounce, and it generally 

makes sense grammatically. 

In addition to pronouns 

and new endings for 

traditionally "masculine" 

and "feminine" nouns or 

adjectives, are there other 

developments happening 

in inclusive language 

options for Spanish? 

I think this is an area 

where the language can 

still grow. I haven't seen 

good gender-neutral 

alternatives to words like 

"madre" (mother), "padre" 

(father), "padres" (parents). 

In many cases though, the 

gender neutral "e" ending 

helps modify gendered 

nouns and adjectives. For 

example, when talking 

about professions, you 

could say "abogade" 

instead of "abogada" or 

"abogado" for lawyer. 

This is all really hopeful to 

hear. Do you have an idea 

of what the reception has 

been to these additions 

and adaptations to the 

language? Are queer 

communities facing any 

pushback or criticism over 

them? 

It has been a mixed 

reception, from what I have 

observed. I think in the past 

few years queer Spanishspeaking 

communities have 

embraced gender-neutral 

and inclusive language 

more and are now getting 

traction in pushing it out 

to the broader Spanishspeaking 

world. But at the 

beginning lots of people 

rejected the term Latinx. 

The Spanish-speaking 

world is incredibly diverse, 

and there are conservative, 

reactionary segments 

to it. Plenty of Spanishspeakers 

reject genderneutral 

language because 

they are not accepting 

of trans and nonbinary 

identities in the first place. 

Some people also see the 

words Latinx or Latine as 

a U.S.-centric imposition 

of language and ideology. 

When I introduce genderneutral 

and inclusive 

language in my classes, I 

make sure to point out that 

not every Spanish-speaker 

my students encounter 

will know or accept that 

language. 

Is there anything else 

we should know about 

inclusive language 

practices in Spanish 

specifically, or in non- 

English languages 

generally? 

A good rule of thumb for 

inclusivity in any language 

is to follow the lead of 

the people who hold the 

identity you are describing. 

You can always ask people 

what words they prefer to 

use to refer to themselves. 

This also goes for identities 

other than gender and 

sexuality. Spanish is 

starting to come around 

on having more respectful 

and inclusive words for 

describing race, ethnicity 

and disability, for example. 

I think that vocabulary is 

vitally important to learn 

as well because of the 

intersectionality of queer 

identities. 

Additionally, participating 

in a live Spanish class, and 

learning another language 

in general, helps sharpen 

the skill of correcting 

yourself when you make 

a mistake. This is a really 

necessary skill for being 

in relationship with people 

experiencing a transition 

(using different pronouns, 

for example). You have to 

learn to correct yourself in 

the moment, perhaps study 

the structure on your own 

time, and move on quickly 

from mistakes so they don't 

derail a conversation. 


WORD BANK 

elle 

They (singular) - Ex. Elle es mi amigue Alex. 

(They are my friend Alex.) 

cuir 

Queer - Ex. La comunidad cuir es hermosa. 

(The queer community is beautiful.) 

trans 

Trans - Ex. Mi hermana es trans. 

(My sister is trans.) 

no binario/a/e 

Nonbinary - Ex. Una persona no binaria 

puede usar el pronombre elle o una 

combinación de pronombres. 

(A nonbinary person can use the pronoun 

elle or a combination of pronouns.) 

¿Cuáles son tus 

pronombres? 

What are your pronouns? 

Mis pronombres son... 

My pronouns are... 

ella 

she 

él 

he 

elle 

they (singular) 

el/la/le cónyuge 

Spouse (gender-neutral) - Ex. Su cónyuge 

se llama Toni. 

(Their spouse is named Toni.) 

la pareja 

Partner, couple - Ex. Mi pareja es cantante. 

(My partner is a singer.) 

La pareja es poliamorosa. 

(The couple is polyamorous.) 

Email Liz at lcspanishservices@gmail.com. Visit LC Spanish at lcspanish.com. 

Connect at facebook.com/LCSpanish or instagram.com/lc_spanish 


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community 

Pulp Friction 

A Peek into Papermaking 

story and photos by Moth Moth Moth 

I studied at The Memphis College of Art from 2011- 

2016. While there, I picked up skills in painting, sculpture, 

drafting, design, creative writing, business, and my two 

great visual art loves: printmaking and papermaking. I 

learned printmaking from two incredible women named 

Maritza and Ezter. But I learned papermaking solely from 

Colleen Couch, this rocking derby star who instilled a 

great deal of technical knowledge on her students while 

giving us incredible freedom to grow. I took as many 

paper classes as I could, each one giving me a new set of 

skills and vocabulary. Learning to make paper changed 

the language my artistic brain spoke in. There was 

something very powerful about making a piece of art 

from scratch for me, a sense of control over my media 

that I had simply never considered. While shaking pulp 

back and forth in a tool known as a mould and deckle, on 

my first day of paper making class I saw Colleen quickly 

create a stack of wet papers, which were then pressed 

and loaded into a drying system. She made it look easy 

and cool. 

I would spend the next 3 years in the studio built by 

Dolphe Smith, the hands of a gigantic mural made of 

paper pulp hoovered above me and my friends as we 

spent midnights pulling midnight blue paper and cheering, 

and mornings draining 13-hour abaca and crying. It was 

incredible to be a young person learning this “dance.” I 

love the ache in my back after lifting a mould and deckle 

through water and pulp and couching it onto a wet felt. 

The physical work it takes to form a sheet of paper is 

one of my favorite things about the practice. There are 

muscles you can only get from paper making. 

There are also smells you can only get on you through 

paper making. Cultures and chemistry are still happening 

within the pulp, until that pulp is formed and dried into 

sheets it will be suspended in water and completely 

unfixed. It’s so freaking beautiful. 

Ten years have passed and Colleen, now having become 

a supportive friend, has graciously allowed me into her 

private studio to talk about our memories at MCA and 

knock the rust off my elbows. I’d never thought of it until 

recently but I suppose I learned to dance in that MCA 

papermaking studio. Always lifting and tilting and shaking 

pulp into place. Moving and cleaning to Stevie Nicks. 

Since college, I have certainly played mad scientist 

with a blender in my kitchen and put together dozens 

of setups. But Colleen’s studio is equipped to swing a 

little harder with her Hollander beater, which can handle 

recycled fabric, plants, paper, and other natural materials 

in larger amounts (and pulverizes them into a cotton 

candy soft fluffy pulp). The difference between blended 

pulp and beaten pulp is that when you blend pulp in a 

kitchen blender you are cutting the fibers and thus the 

paper has less tensile strength, whereas with beaten pulp 

the fibers are stacked and woven upon one another during 

sheet formation. 

With what we made together, these batches of blue 

and pink and leafy green paper, I’ll use to explore more 

art projects and find my way to new inspiration. But in the 

meantime, I could frankly settle for just making a thousand 

sheets of normal nice paper one at a time. The action put 

me back in my body. 

When you thumb through the stacks of paper you have 

made yourself it gives you a sense of confidence and pride 

in all the artwork that gets put on those pages. So simple. 

So complex. So life affirming. 

So yeah, I guess you should go outside or into your 

kitchen and make some paper now. 

Thank you to Colleen Couch for providing the support, 

space, and instruction so that I could brush up on my skills 

for this article! Also, be on the lookout readers—there will 

be more from Mothie and Colleen online soon! 


KITCHEN PAPER MAKING TIPS: 

Heyo, paper making might sound material intensive, but it doesn’t have to be. While there are some basic things like 

a mould and deckle and some felts, you can make paper almost anywhere and from a variety of natural materials and 

recycled materials if you know where to look. 

If you want to try making paper in your kitchen you’ll need: 

1. a big tub 

2. mould and deckle (order 

online or make one yourself) 

3. felts (sheets of felt cut to 

about the size of a cookie tray) 

4. a blender (do not use this for 

food after this, just ART) 

5. torn up paper that you wish to 

recycle into new paper 

6. sponges 

7. a big soft brush 

8. some windows to use as a 

drying system 

Blend up your pulp mixture. It’s best to make 

recycled paper in the kitchen with a blender. If you want 

to recycle fabric into paper that requires a more powerful 

beating process that doesn’t cut the fibers. You can 

combine in natural materials like dried flowers before or 

after blending. 

Suspend the pulp mixture into a tub of water. I and most 

paper makers prefer a vat of water but anything that your 

tools, hands, and movements fit into will do the trick. 

Wet your felts you dirty bastard! 

Now make a stack of felts and wet papers. 

After couching the paper onto the felt you may want to 

use a sponge and a rolling pin to help wick out some of the 

water and get a little more formation going. 

When you have depleted your felts or pulp 

or preferably both it’s time to press the paper. 

If you don’t have a press of any kind then sponging the 

paper or rolling over the felt with the rolling pin can make it 

easier to deposit the sheet of paper onto the window. 

Deposit papers onto the windows and leave 

them be until they dry. Some papers will dry and 

flake off naturally while others will need to peel off. Drying 

upon a window will create a textured side and a beautifully 

smooth side to choose from when you are making things 

with your paper. 

Now repeat and try recycling totally different 

papers for a new effect. What if you threw in some 

grass clippings from the yard or some cinnamon? Let your 

imagination lead you as you build your first little practice as 

a paper maker. You’ll be a friend of Dard Hunter in no time. 


life 

HOROSCOPES 

Astrology Readings by Minnassa 

CANCER 

JUN 22 - JUL 22 JUL 23 - AUG 23 

Element: Water 

Quality: Cardinal 

Ruling Planet: Moon 

Traits: Creative, tender, emotional, 

protective, and moody 

New Moon in Cancer: July 17, 2023 

LEO 

Element: Fire 

Quality: Fixed 

Ruling Planet: Sun 

Traits: compassionate heart, confident, 

loyal, ambitious, and arrogant 

New Moon in Leo: August 16, 2023 

THE POWER 

OF THE 

NEW MOON 

CANCER 

& LEO 

The New Moon is a powerful time of the month; both the Sun and the Moon are in the same 

sign. The New Moon offers new beginnings, a chance for new perspectives, and the power of 

connecting with your intentions and sowing creative seeds during this fertile energetic time. 

A simple new moon ritual: one day during the week of the New Moon (three days before—the day 

of—and three days after), find a place to be still and reflect. Using the energy of the sign the New 

Moon is in, ask yourself what do you want to create/see bloom in your life? Write down those 

intentions in a notebook. Read those intentions daily (until the Full Moon); ask yourself how you need 

to be and what you need to do in partnership with the Universe to bring these intentions about. 

These two signs bring the joy of Summer—water and sun, hearts full of love and sitting under the 

light of the moon. Allow the nurturing energy of Cancer and the powerful heart energy of Leo to 

inspire you to enjoy where you are in your life currently. Find the joy in your situation and look for 

happiness, fun, and love all around you. It is there!! 

ARIES (Fire-Cardinal) - As a fire sign you know how to go, do, and 

get things done. Your action for the next couple of months is to chill. 

Choose actions that relax, center and recharge you. 

TAURUS (Earth-Fixed) - Yass! This is a great time of abundance in 

all areas of your life. Make space for abundance by clearing out clutter 

(mentally, emotionally, and physically). This is your time to expand. 

GEMINI (Air-Mutable) - You have had a lot of great ideas lately. 

Time to stop thinking about it and time to start moving toward the 

implementation of those ideas. 

CANCER (Water-Cardinal) - Ah... sweet Cancer, as you are at the 

beginning of your Solar year, this is a great time to start anew. Connect 

with yourself at an emotional level, keep what is empowering and 

release what drags you down and is no longer true of you. 

LEO (Fire-Fixed) - Celebration is the word for you! You have been 

working hard and working on the inside as well. Step back and 

celebrate the good you have brought into your life! 

VIRGO (Earth-Mutable) - Keep moving forward. All that you need 

on your path is finding its way to you. Your job, Virgo, is to keep 

moving forward – don’t be concerned with the how, when, and where. 

Move forward! 

LIBRA (Air-Cardinal) - Balance is still your word. You may feel like 

you are walking on a tightrope; you are. However, you are almost to the 

other side. 

SCORPIO (Water-Fixed) - Memories! Now is not the time to 

get bogged down in your past. There is no need to keep looking 

backwards, you are not going in that direction. 

SAGITTARIUS (Fire-Mutable) - Let it go. To get where you want to 

be, dear Sagittarius, you need to lighten the load. Travel light, as the 

road ahead is leading you to new opportunities, new ways of being, and 

new relationships. No need to bring the junk from the past with you. 

CAPRICORN (Earth-Cardinal) - Fortune is finding its way to you. 

What comes to you, receive and then let it go. You are being blessed to 

be a blessing. 

AQUARIUS (Air-Fixed) - Shut down those voices in your head. Listen 

to yourself. Release the weight of other people’s opinions – step into an 

energy of self-love and self-empowerment. This begins with upgrading 

who you allow to have space in your head. 

PISCES (Water-Mutable) - Sit down and take a minute to chill. Let 

your thoughts, emotions, and actions catch up, align, and integrate with 

each other. You are in a great place, take some time to enjoy it! 

* These horoscopes are for entertainment and inspirational purposes only. 

MINNASSA WELLNESS 

Mindfulness in the Workplace 


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