Humanity [a word from the /CW Fam to our Community]

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Our community means everything to us. It is our inspiration, our guiding force, but most importantly it is our family. Without collaboration, commitment, and active practices of humanity, we all fall. 

& that is not an option. 

As the Milwaukee creative community [our family] navigates trauma, healing, repentance, and change, we will continue to #supportthelocal. We will reflect on ways we can do better as individuals and we will strive to give others grace even when they have lost their ability to do the same. 

We are also offering /CW HQ as a safe space for our community to use. If you need a space to have a hard conversation, vent, rest, or just reflect, please reach out. No judgment. No media stunt. We don't even have to be there. This is for you.

Check on your people.

Actively respect yourself & others.

Do better.

Love & All Things Urban

/CW Fam


2022? We will be here, doing all the things we do!

/ CopyWrite Mag/

No speech this year. You see the world. We see the world. Shit. . . Anything could happen. But one thing for certain, we will be here doing what we do! 2022 we will be staying focused on our mission with humanity in mind every step of the way.

/CW

" 21, 21, 21 ": A 2021 Perspectives From The CopyWrite Team /CW Fam

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As 2021 comes to an end we would like to share perspectives from our Team [Family] at CopyWrite. This year has been a world wind of “Ohhhhhhhh my worrrrrrddddd”, “Aint that ‘bout a b’thch” and “Wont he do it!?!”. So for this years perspective we decided to just let the “21, 21, 21” (in our 21 Savage voice) come and out by each member of the Fam sharing 21 things with YOU, our community. It could be 21 of anything. 21 words, 21 pictures, 21 hashtags, 21 ways they got you messed up, etc. This is what we like to call experimental research. By taking on the “21, 21, 21”, they way you respond and what you shares lets us understand each-other a little better. And in this time and place in humanity. . . isn’t that what we need?

Love & All Things Urban,

/CW Fam

Lexi S. Brunson - /CW Owner & Editor-in-Chief

‘21 Gems - Things We Should Remember

I say deep things. But that’s because I experience the world as if it was always teaching me something. So here are those gems that weigh me down and make me sparkle in all the right ways.

/Lexi

  1. Remorse is not regret. Learn from hardships by taking time to reflect.

  2. Be a student of your craft. But remember it's not "who" did it, it's "how".

  3. Quality is not a prerequisite to success. But you still have to stomach your gains.

  4. "No good deed goes unpunished". So praise yourself.

  5. Most people need some sort of validation. Be mindful of where you receive yours from.

  6. Your intention may not always show in your execution. Don't jump in the ring if you can't take a few hits.

  7. Don't forget to mention the joy. Even the heaviest of circumstances has joy.

  8. Give people grace, even when they forget to give it to themselves.

  9. Sometimes you have to lose it all to gain what was really meant for you. 

  10. Codes switching is an art. It's when you change the message that you become a poser.

  11. Everybody can not be a boss. Somebody has to be a worker. You have to know your role and do it well.

  12. Context is everything. Character is the only thing. 

  13. Being loyal to a fault is worse than not being loyal at all. 

  14. When people tell you who they are, believe them. When they show you who they are, they do not believe what you see.

  15. Don't poke holes in people who pour into you.

  16. Virtual reality can not fix humanity.

  17. Assimilation is not cultural integration. "STILL N*GGA"

  18. Don't lie to yourself. Some things are just funny. Laugh!

  19. That euphoric feeling you get when you're doing something you love; chase that.

  20. Value the human experience. We need each other more than any of us will ever admit. 

  21. Slow in the right direction is better than fast in the wrong one.

Carie Mahone - Head Entertainment Journalist

21 Slide Show

Naomi Rea’ - Intern Content Creator

21 Words that describe My 2021 experience

When I get passionate about explaining, describing, or sharing in general, I get very WORDY which is why I chose this way to describe how 2021 was for me. Also with ending the year as a blogger for CW, I thought that this was fitting…

21 Words that describe My 2021 experience:

  1. Team Building

  2. Servitude

  3. Humbling

  4. Foundational

  5. Revealing

  6. Musical

  7. Paced

  8. Friendly

  9. Mature

  10. Obscured

  11. Energetic

  12. Shifting

  13. Compatible

  14. Emotional

  15. Finalized

  16. Preparational

  17. Monumental

  18. Crisis

  19. Faceted

  20. Purposeful

  21. Confrontational

Vato Vergara - /CW Fashion Editor + Creative Director

21 Words to Reflect on the Year

To know who you are, brings the joy of life. Taking what you have and making the world understand. That’s POWER! 

/Vato

Imani Ortiz - Specialized Content Journalist

21 things that made a little more sense this year that’ll probably resonate with you as well:

  1. It’s okay to disappear some times. More often than not, we tend to jump to the way *others* will react to us taking time to ourselves when they're not the ones who need the focus. Just disappear and come back later. You’re not missing as much as you think. Everything will still be there when you come back.

  2. It’s about the principal, not always the problem. The problem could be very minuscule but it’s the principal of the situation that matters in the long run. Problems can be solved, principals are non-negotiable. Your principals can solve problems on their own if you have the right ones. It’ll make the decision making process a lot easier. I knew this before but I didn’t realize how many others don’t have any principals and they’re okay with that. How odd.

  3. Nothing will align with what you want until you get your sh*t together. Get your shit together. Nobody likes miserable people. If you can’t figure it out yourself, look into external help—like therapy. I liked it and I turned out fine.

  4. Less talk, More do. You can talk until you’re blue in the face but unless you actually do what you say, you’re just talking.

  5. Reevaluate your circle. You have your BFFs, close friends, regular friends, associates, strangers that you are vaguely familiar with, whoever it is, you know who you spend your time with. At the very least, make sure they are like-minded in a resourceful way. You should be able to profit mentally from everyone in your circle. Knowledge is power. If everyone knows all the same information, why are y’all friends? That relationship isn’t beneficial if it’s not transactional.

  6. All money ain’t good money. That’s self-explanatory.

  7. Odds are if you think it’s off, it’s off. Trust your gut and discernment, my friend.

  8. Never stop learning. The moment you decide to stop learning, you’re deciding to be basic. Don’t be a basic b*tch.

  9. Sometimes the road is less traveled because it f*cking sucks. Do you really wanna do things the hard way for the sake of saying you did things the hard way? Get over yourself.

  10. Only answer the question at hand. By focusing on just the question at hand, It’ll kill the opportunity for oversharing. “Is the sky blue?” “Yes.”

  11. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do for the sake of someone else’s feelings. You know better. If it makes you uncomfortable, comfortably say no.

  12. Nobody cares until you do. So ask yourself, do you really give a f*ck?

  13. Other people are dealing with their own sh*t. Even if it’s personal, don’t take it personal. People tend to project their insecurities and problems onto other people. If you know you’ve done nothing wrong, let it go. People have bad days and so do you.

  14. Most things we care about are ego-driven. Odds are you don’t actually care about whatever “thing” it is but it threatens your ego—so you fake care until you feel avenged. Please stop fake caring for your own good.

  15. If you sleep on yourself, why would people support you? It’s giving… you don’t want *it* bad enough.

  16. Even then, everyone is not going to support you. And that’s okay. Find your audience. Market to them.

  17. Networking is extremely important. Know somebody who knows somebody so you can know that somebody eventually. Patience is key, grass hopper.

  18. Stop working for free. While a favor here and there is fine, stop working for people for free. It took time to know what you know and if people want to know about what YOU know, tax ‘em.

  19. Do not cut corners with anything you care about. Don’t half ass anything you care about, whole ass!

  20. Half full, never half empty. Life is always about perspective. The way you view and value your life dictates your reality. Remain positive and always look at the bright side even if it’s dimmer than usual. The glass is half full, never half empty.

  21. Love yourself or you’ll settle. Read it and weep.

This is no by any means a self-help guide or no sh*t like that. Think of it exactly as what it is… “21 things that made a little more sense to me this year that’ll probably resonate with you as well.”

/Imani for CW

Tanasia Shaw - Journalism Intern

Tanasia’s 21 in 21 words

2021 has taught me more than any other year in my life. To celebrate and remember 2021, I’ll be listing 21 words that encapsulate 2021.

  1. Growth

  2. Faith

  3. Consistency 

  4. Struggle 

  5. Love 

  6. Serendipity 

  7. Truth 

  8. Patience 

  9. Veracious 

  10. Humble 

  11. Humility 

  12. Pressure 

  13. Trust

  14. Guidance 

  15. Community 

  16. Following 

  17. Intent

  18. Believing 

  19. Integrity 

  20. Strength 

  21. Urban <3

These words represent this past year, the good and the bad. Throughout the year and going into the next, I’m thankful for the CW/ team CW/. The community and support has opened doors for me(and many others) in 2021. 

Happy Holidays from your /CW Fam!

/ CopyWrite Magazine, Media & Design LLC./

We are headed out of the office.

We wont be responding to emails or making post.

We are giving our staff a well earned break, time to be with family, and permission to not be “on call” or “on the scene”.

We will be back soon enough #SupportingTheLocal, doing #AllThingsUrban. providing Creative Media Services, Rentals and more.

But for now…. “Aye, yo hit the switch and lock the door!”

Happy Holidays from your /CW Fam.

Have we Blossomed? [A reflection on Carvd N Stone's first documentary "Blossom"]

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Have we Blossomed?

The question is one I would like you to ponder as you continue to read this reflection.

CopyWrite Magazine was recently invited to see Carvd N Stones first documentary project "Blossom". The journalistic piece previewed at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, with the help of Alderwoman Milele Coggs on December 14th, 2021. The project featured Mikel McGee, the owner of 414loral, a florist shop in the heart of Milwaukee's Bronzeville Culture & Entertainment District.

The documentary was a micro-capture of how Black entrepreneurship in Milwaukee is possible, though the idea of the project was to show business elevation despite pandemic impact. As it showed McGee's recollection of her story [a very positive one indeed], and small anecdotes from her staff, it also triggered questions [for me] about community we don't often ask publicly.

Questions like:

When an individual in our community has a craft that brings joy, how is it celebrated?

What defines Black Entrepreneurship in Milwaukee, and who does it have to benefit to be acknowledged?

What is the media's role in expanding what stories should be told? Or, What is the community's role in supporting their local [no-conglomerate] media?

Is being seen more important than creating systemic impact?

Are wins, wins without communal validation?

Is quality a prerequisite for success? Or can that be negotiated?

What is a local media maker's responsibility to another local media maker? 

Blossom may be a niche story but the fact that it exists adds to a larger narrative. It's a community story. A community story of how one Black Journalist [Stone], received a grant, and used it to tell a Black business owners story [McGee], and asked a public official to help with its showing [Coggs], then in turn invited their community [Me, a Black Journalists? Us? Ours?] to see it. 

The narrative was even further pushed forward with a talk back panel discussion with Mikel McGee (star of the film), Tonda Thompson (owner of She Slangs Wood) and Corey Fells (co-founder of Black Space), that unfortunately I couldn't stay for, but am sure had nuances of hope and rhetoric of change we strive to suggest.

So to return to my initial question, "Have we blossomed?", is to suggest we think about how we pour into each other as a city and a people. Have we grown out of the idea that we can not build community or businesses alone? Have we cultivated enough relationships to suggest that the foundations we have made may have been watered by many? That when we break ground it gives seeds a chance to grow. 

It's nice to see that there are flowers being given [all puns intended] to those who are just at the start of their journey's and I hope that pushes more flowers to be given [maybe more documentaries?] to those who tilled the soil.

Lexi S. Brunson

Editor-in-Chief /CW

Kennita Hickman is First Black Woman to Win Local Music Award

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We would like to congratulate Kennita Hickman on the win!

Making history is one thing, getting that love from home is another! Your /CW Fam just want to say. . .

“Look at that Black Women in her greatness. SHE DID THAT!”

information provided by Catera Omnivision

Kennita Hickman, owner and chief culture curator of Catera, a musician management and media company, won the 2021 Radio Milwaukee Music Ambassador award. This award is given to individuals or organizations for their outstanding work towards advancing and elevating the Milwaukee music scene. Kennita is the first Black woman to win the Radio Milwaukee’s Music Ambassador award since the awards began in 2007.  

Radio Milwaukee emailed in a statement, “Anyone who knows Kennita knows she’s a BOSS. Through her work with Catera, she uses her creative marketing know-how and entrepreneurial spirit to uplift our music community and show them new and unique opportunities.”    

Catera’s recent projects include the curation, promotion, and production of Artist Eats, a series highlighting independent musicians and local restaurants as a bridge to food and music, two avenues that bring diverse groups of people together. Hickman also lined up local musicians for Lakeside at MAM, a summer activation program at the Milwaukee Art Museum to encourage a safe gathering place outdoors. In addition, Hickman facilitated local talent for Music on the Beerline, a one-day event with Riverworks MKE to activate underutilized outdoor space in Harambee. Hickman has also penned several opinion pieces for local news outlets on the importance of pay equity, and work balance for creative entrepreneurs. 

“I’m humbled to have been chosen as the winner for this prestigious local award. Thank you in part to Radio Milwaukee for ensuring that Milwaukee's music scene continues to thrive. Catera is proud to be a part of it,” Hickman said. “As a Black-woman entrepreneur, this is, even more, special because of those who continuously work to amplify artists of color but are often overlooked. This award is for them,” Hickman added.  

Past recipients of the Radio Milwaukee Music Ambassador award include Milwaukee Public Library’s “Library Loud Days,” Vic Thomas, Milwaukee World Festival, Jim Linneman, Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, and Kelsey Kaufman, Cactus Club. 

About Catera 

Kennita Hickman is the Chief Culture Curator for Catera. She is a brand influencer strategist, project manager, and event producer for creative entrepreneurs. She serves as a board member for #IVoted and Milwaukee Theatre Alliance. Prior to her work at Catera, she wrote for various music publications including Urbanology, Relevant, and The Source, and served as Director of Artist Support and Outreach for Imagine MKE, an arts non-profit. Learn more about Kennita and Catera’s work at https://www.instagram.com/cateramusic or https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennita-hickman

Miss Mocha Presents: “Black Vibeday” w/ DJ Freakish Nerd [ Post Event Recap]

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What a Room it was when thinking back to the faces seen at Company Brewing on Black Fri- I mean ‘Vibeday.’ DJ FreakishNerd kept our favorite musical artists, both mainstream and local of course, in a grand rotation as the space was overtaken by creatives, known and unknown, along with the ‘average joe’. This was very tactful of  Miss Mocha; bringing the Artistic Community together as an indirect way of experiencing a bit of that Thanksgiving energy with our peers. Watching the room gradually fill up with so many way makers, innovators, and game changers is something to be thankful for. Now of course when that first hour or 2 goes by, we start feeling good, including the DJ, having had a few shoots himself, we all get to hittin’ that two-step, whether we're still hesitant and keeping near to our seats or are casually making our way to the main floor, but that was not the case for too long. Towards the night’s end, the spirit of Milwaukee’s golden age of fun and youth came out as a circle of models, rappers, CEO’S, dancers, musicians, and entrepreneurs alike were provoked to form a circle at the sight of two creatives engaging into a battle: I’m talkin’ bout hittin’ the stollie and bangin’ like its ‘09! ‘Aye, Aye! Huh, Huh!’ Everyone was shouting and cheering altogether. Personally, what I believe to be the highlight of a night like this.

/Naomi-Re’a for CW