7 Tips to Stay Creative
by Ray Rico As someone who goes between being an introvert and an extrovert, I have found that it sometimes takes clear focus to stay engaged in the work I’m
June 14, 2021
Ray Rico
Posts by this author
Be Creative: Toonky Berry, Muralist
with Joan Allison | photo courtesy Toonky Berry On a scale of 1-10, how strict were your parents?Dad 10 and Mom 5 Who was your favorite teacher? Why?I had too
June 14, 2021
Memphis Movie Master Craig Brewer
by Chellie Bowman | photos courtesy of Craig Brewer Brewer is a Memphian, first and foremost. And yes, he is also an extremely successful film director, producer, and screenwriter. His
June 1, 2021
Pop Culture: Reading is Fundamental!
Curated by Ray Rico (he/him) and Chellie Bowman (she/her) The Hill We Climbby Amanda GormanA poem of acknowledgment of the past and hope for the future. As recited by Amanda
May 28, 2021
Ray Rico Freelance & Sowell Realtors Create Black Lives Matter and Rainbow Crosswalks
by Joan Allison | photos by Terrence Jenkins “Love is Love” and “Black Lives Matter” are three-word phrases that were visually realized this past Saturday, April 17, on Cooper Street
May 7, 2021
Pop Culture Sneak Peek
Curated by Ray Rico (he/him) and Chellie Bowman (she/her) BOOKSThe Over the Rainbow committee of the American Library Association’s Rainbow Roundtable released their 2021 Booklist: Go to https://www.glbtrt.ala.org/overtherainbow/ for more
May 3, 2021
Earth & Us: Religious or Not, It’s a Covenant Relationship
by Joan Allison (she/her) I was once a volunteer for Inner City Outings. It was a youth-outreach program of the Sierra Club. We identified at-risk youth in Memphis schools, got
April 23, 2021
Q & A: Darren L. Bradford
Pronouns: He/Him/His Hometown: Galesburg, Illinois Current city: Nashville Spouse? Yes. My husband’s name is David E. Plazas Training: Bachelor’s in Business Degree and 30 years of hands-on experiences in and around building, remodeling and interior
April 2, 2021
Concrete Steps the Biden-Harris Administration Must Make to End the HIV Epidemic
by AIDS United | photos from Shutterstock The first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration mark a unique opportunity to revitalize efforts to end the HIV epidemic in the United
March 29, 2021
MTSU’s 2021 LGBT+ College Conference
The 2021 LGBT+ College Conference will be held as a virtual event April 1-3, 2021. The conference is FREE to attend for everyone. Please register to help in planning. Conference
March 25, 2021
Focus Magazine Publisher Ray Rico Freelance Launches Web, Social Channels ‘End HIV 901’
by Joan Allison (she/her) The St. Jude-led community coalition aims to achieve zero HIV transmissions by 2030. With leading centers for children’s cancer research, organ transplantation, and stroke and cardiac
March 18, 2021
Slate of Hate is Still Trying to Find a Home in Tennessee
by Joan Allison, Focus® Managing Editor (she/her); edited by Shahin Samiei, MPH (he/his)Shelby County Committee Chair, Tennessee Equality Project (ssamiei_mem@yahoo.com) Each year, certain legislators take it upon themselves to propose
March 15, 2021
