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FIRST SECURITY BANK & LRSD GIVE STUDENTS THEIR FIRST BANKING EXPERIENCE ON CAMPUS URBANE MAGAZINE’S FINEST OF 2024 FINALIST VOTING IS NOW AVAILABLE SPECIAL FEATURE AS SEEN ON TV BLACK FEMALE NEWS ANCHORS IN ARKANSAS BIRDWATCHING WHILE BLACK UNNECESSARY DANGERS THE CANNABIS AMBASSADOR RECOGNIZING BLACK PASTORS IN ARKANSAS

Actor / Actress Alcoholic Beverage Maker Annual Fesval Author Auto Dealer / Car Salesman(-woman) Auto Service / Tow Service Bakery / Baker Band / Group Bank / Loan Ocer Barber BBQ Restaurant Beauty Salon / Barbershop Bookstore Burger Joint Caregiver / Assisted Living Service Chiropractor City / Government Ocial Comedian Construcon / Contractor Consulng Firm Counselor / Therapist Current Athlecs Coach Current Principal / Dean / Administrator Current Teacher / Instructor / Professor Daycare Facility Denstry DJ Emergency Service Workers Event Planner / Designer / Coordinator Event Venue / Facility Family Doctor / Physician Family-Friendly Event / Facility Fashion Stylist Filmmaker / Movie Producer Financial Advisor / Consultant Food Truck Funeral Home Gospel Arst / Choir Grocery / Convenience Store Gym/Workout Facility Hairstylist Historically Black Colleges & Universies Insurance Agency / Agent Interior / Exterior Designer Law Firm / Lawyers / Aorneys Lawn Maintenance Service Markeng & Adversing Firm Massage Therapist Media Firm Menswear Movers Musical Arst Nail Technicians / Salons Natural Hair Care Stylist Night Club/Lounge Nonprot Organizaon Nurse / CNA / LPN OBGYN / Gynecologist Pediatrician Personal Trainer Philanthropist Photographer/Videographer Podcast / Blog / Radio Staon Poet / Spoken Word Radio / Television Personality Real Estate Agency / Realtor / Agent Reporter / Newscaster Seamstress / Repair Skincare / Facial Soul Food Restaurant Specialty Restaurant Taoo Arst Tax Accountant / Company Web Design / Graphic Design Window Tinng Womenswear Worship Centers / Facilies Writer / Blogger / Columnist Yoga Instructor/Studio ...and more! POTENTIAL CATEGORIES INCLUDE: VOTE FOR YOUR BLACK, ARKANSAS-BASED FAVORITES FOR THE “FINEST IN ARKANSAS” FOR 2024! PHASE ONE—NOMINATION SUBMISSIONS DECEMBER 25, 2023—MARCH 31, 2024 PHASE TWO—FINALISTS' VOTING APRIL 8-29, 2024 Winner Announced June 1, 2024 www.TheURBANEMag.com APR / MAY THEURBANEMAG.COM 1

URBANE Magazine honors Black Arkansas’ culture, identity, and history. We use our print and digital platforms to showcase the infinite melanated treasures within this state and to celebrate our unsung heroes and leaders shaping the next generations. MISSION To ignite conversations, show Us successful and thriving, refute stereotypes, promote empowerment, and induce overwhelming pride in just how dope we are! It is our honor to uphold and reaffirm the , , and  of all Black people. DISCLAIMER All information and content are accurate to the URBANE Magazine’s staff and contributors’ best knowledge. Please accept our apology if there is an error or changes that occurred after publishing that affect accuracy. Our contributors’ opinions are not necessarily the opinion or view of URBANE Magazine, nor is URBANE Magazine liable for how these opinions are interpreted. URBANE holds no responsibility. ADVERTISING We obligate ourselves to display quality in everything we execute, including advertising! Every issue is designed to display positive representation, empowering reflections, and provide valuable information and resources. Our Media Kit is available at www.TheURBANEMag.com/Advertise-With-Us SUBSCRIPTION URBANE Magazine is published bi-monthly in physical and digital form, and is available individually by issue and through subscription. URBANE MAGAZINE P. O. Box 94151 North Little Rock, AR 72190 TheURBANEMag@gmail.com www.TheURBANEMag.com Physical* Digital* · $9.99 per issue · $4.99 per digital issue · $19.95 - 1 year *plus tax and/or shipping THEURBANEMAG.COM APR / MAY 2

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 PEOPLE Sharon Boyd shares how providing care for her ailing mother sparked her journey to entrepreneurship Little Rock native Ebony Blevins is Arkansas’ official Brand Ambassador for hip-hop icon Method Man’s medical marijuana brand, TICAL PROFESSIONALS Highlighting a few Black female news anchors in Arkansas COMMUNITY First Security Bank & the Little Rock School District bring the banking experience to schools VISITORS A negative moment of racism could not deter Christian Cooper from his love for birdwatching COVER FEATURE Recognizing Black Pastors in Arkansas THEURBANEMAG.COM APR / MAY 4 photography for cover feature by Rose Gold Lens Photography

Interested in sharing your voice and skillset with Arkansas? Send your résumé and your sample work or its link to: TheURBANEMag@gmail.com — SUBJECT: Contributor Submission NishaSpeaks Tonisha’s, affectionately known as “NISHA,” talents have made room for her with several on-air radio broadcasts, including her podcast, The NishaSpeaks Podcast, JoyNet Radio, Hot 96.5 LR, and KWCP 98.9. She has also been featured in Curvy Connect Magazine. Her experiences have inspired her to become one of the Greats. NishaSpeaks is an advocate for plus-sized women and an active model for the Kurvy Kuties Full Figure Modeling Group. “WORTHY WOMEN”, page 31 Kimberly M. Lee Content Creator Kimberly M. Lee is a proud resident of Little Rock. She is a graduate of McClellan High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UA Little Rock; also enrolled in the MBA program at the University of Phoenix earning a master’s in business administration and public administration. Kimberly has additional education certifications from the 34th Entrepreneurial Training Course offered by UA Little Rock’s Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and the Facebook Digital Marketing program at UA Pulaski Tech. Kimberly has over fifteen years of banking experience. She has been fortunate to work in different areas and departments of banking which has helped shape her expertise. She is currently employed with Hope Credit Union as a Financial Inclusion Officer where she is responsible for building memberships and partnerships while providing financial literacy and education to the members she serves. Kimberly is highly active in her community. She has always had a passion to serve others. Her current servant leader obligations are; being a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Southwest Little Rock Community & Business Group, City of Little Rock Land Bank Commissioner, board member of Friends of Little Rock Public Radio, and in 2023 she served on the City of Little Rock Food Desert Task Force. She is a sickle cell warrior and advocates for those battling the rare disease. She enjoys networking, building relationships, and has a passion to bridge the gap in financial wellness, community service, and advocacy. Kimberly has been married to her husband, Darryl for ten years. Together they have a well-blended family of five adult children and nine grandchildren. “PASTORAL LEADERSHIP”, page 34 APR / MAY THEURBANEMAG.COM 5

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A side from allergy season and Arkansas’ regular threat of tornadic weather around this time, I’m so glad spring is here! I personally have had enough of cold weather! Spring is here… daylight saving time is over…and I’m alive to see it. And so are you. That’s dope, huh?! In this issue, I decided to do something that I think is fairly new in Arkansas – or at least not common enough outside of church circles – and that is to recognize Black pastors. I am the daughter of an evangelist and a preacher. I am the granddaughter of a Bishop, First Lady/Missionary, deacon, and a mother of the church. I am a product of the COGIC and Baptist denomination, with a side of Pentecostal. I grew up around “church folks” impacting lives every day, but rarely ever heard of them celebrated publically unless it was during the Pastor & First Lady’s Anniversary or a church event. I don’t know if this is intentional or not, but they say if you want to see change, be the change. Often pastors get a bad rap, are only seen in a negative light, or are not regarded altogether, but some good pastors are doing good things out there. Hopefully, this issue will initiate some change. I dedicate this issue to my grandparents. Thank you for the exposure, and for setting an example and a foundation for knowing God. I also dedicate this issue to Apostle Dr. Lawrence E. Braggs. When I was still cooking up the idea for this magazine many years ago, I asked him if he would be in it. He said yes, with no hesitation. Years later – surely forgetting that conversation – he prophesied that this magazine would exist at a moment when I was experiencing inner turmoil about it. I am truly thankful for him and his dedication to the call on his life. You all are truly missed and appreciated. You will find many inspirational gems in this issue, including churches that may strike the interest of someone looking for a church home. I hope it blesses you abundantly. Founder & Editor-in-Chief

is available wherever you are! -  The current, individual issue is available for partial viewing on most operating systems and internet browsers for free. THEURBANEMAG.COM APR / MAY 8