Vol. 5 Issue 6 June 2024
Inside
WW.CLEOBSERVER.COM
East Tech Warriors Win FIRST Robotics
Competition Ohio State Championship
Review: Civil War Movie Por-
trays Consequences of Politi-
cal Division
The full-scale modern-day mil-
itary seizure of the U.S. Capitol.
Page 4
By Khalil Anderson
CLEVELAND, OH - The Tech
Warriors from East Technical High
School in Cleveland made history
by becoming state champions at
the FIRST Robotics Competition
Ohio State Championship. Their
success would not have been
possible without the extraordinary
teamwork and coordination of The
Tech Warriors and their alliance
partners, Team 4028 The Beak
Squad from Cincinnati, Team 1787
Flying Circuits from Pepper Pike
and Team 8243 Astro Circuits from
Cleveland.
The FIRST Robotics
Competition (FRC) is a competitive
robotics competition that
challenges high school students to
design, build, and program robots
to perform specific tasks. The
Tech Warriors proved their skill,
determination and professionalism
throughout the year competing at
competitions such as The Finger
Lakes Regional in Rochester, New
York, The Buckeye Regional in
Cleveland, and The Miami Valley
Regional in Cincinnati. After
competing at three competitions,
The Tech Warriors ranked among
the top teams in the state.
Connued on page 2
After finishing all their
qualification matches and ranking
25th, their journey to the state
championship round began with an
alliance selection process, where
they secured a spot on the number
one of the alliance to enter the
playos and compete for the state
championship.
During the playos, the top
eight alliances faced o in a series
of elimination rounds. The Tech
Warriors and their alliance partners
exhibited exceptional agility, and
precision with their robots, allowing
them to score high points and go
unbeaten in the playos, ensuring
their position in the finals.
The alliance went up against
an extremely skilled alliance in the
finals, but The Tech Warriors and
their alliance partners weren’t
about to back down. They went
Opinion: Cleveland At the Crossroads of
Courage and Power of the People
By Imani Capri
“Never underestimate the power
of a small group of people to
change the world. In fact, it is
the only thing that ever has.” –
Margaret Mea
Cleveland’s leadership and
residents are facing a crossroads
on various issues. The hiring and
resignation of Philip McHugh
as the former senior safety
advisor is a teachable moment.
The lesson is loud and clear.
The voices, votes, and
interests of Cleveland residents
maer. When residents, grassroots
organizations, and elected oicials
engage, change is possible and
tangible.
Courageous people change
the world. Throughout history,
we see examples in every area of
human endeavor.
Whether we examine the
lives of individuals like Martin
Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and
Fannie Lou Hamer, one theme
rings consistently true: everyday
people possess incredible power
to change unjust realities. The
health, well-being, and future of
democracy and our communities
depend on it.
However, courage alone is
not enough. History shows that
all people striving to make change
eventually face a crossroads where
a choice must be made.
Will they maintain the status
quo to avoid the conflict that
creating change usually brings, or
meet the moment with courage
and organized action in pursuit of
a beer reality?
Punching Bag or
Accountability to the Power of the
People?
The hiring of Philip McHugh
as senior safety advisor in
Cleveland was a flagrant mistake
from the beginning.
The people of Cleveland had
every right to voice their concerns
consistently and confidently.
How safe or sound was it to
hire a former police oicer, who was
the subject of a civil rights violation
lawsuit brought by an elderly Black
couple in Washington, D.C., to
oversee safety in Cleveland, a city
still under an extended consent
decree?
Accountability Is Not Aack.
McHugh resigned on May
9 via a leer from defamation
aorney Andrew Stebbins to Mayor
Justin Bibb. McHugh stated his
reason for leaving was his refusal
to allow “certain disingenuous
media outlets and members of City
Council to use him as a punching
bag” or “to hurt Bibb and distract
from the work to be done in their
communities.”
A review of the facts
surrounding McHugh’s problematic
hiring, who was also Bibb’s former
college roommate, reveals
Connued on page 2
East Tech Robioc team: From le back Stephen Marquez,Jr., Marvell Womack, Khalil Anderson, Malik Frazier,Alimasi Abumba, le front: J’Dian
Farris, Siy Stoutemire, Harmony Reed and Mecyah Mills Photo Credit Mertyl Johnson
Vol. 5 - Issue 6 June 2024
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2
Cleveland Observer
East Tech Warriors: State Championship
undefeated in the finals and
won the title of state champions
because of their excellent
teamwork and execution.
After endless hours of
competing and strategizing,
The Tech Warriors and their
alliance partners put into building
chemistry, their work had finally
paid o. The four teams worked
flawlessly together, bringing
home a championship banner and
trophy.
Khalil Anderson is a senior at
East Technical High School.
He participated in the eight
Saturdays Cleveland Media
Academy sponsored by the
Plain Dealer and cleveland.com
Cleveland: At the Crossroads
something else: the democratic
system and process of holding city
government and elected oicials
accountable worked.
The Power Is with the People:
That’s Democracy!
Residents of Cleveland circulated,
signed, and submied a petition
with 258 signatures, spearheaded
by the Cleveland NAACP,
demanding the termination of
McHugh for inadequate policing
in Black communities prior to
coming to Ohio.
Cleveland residents lobbied
their City Council representatives,
who spoke up and out consistently
on behalf of their constituents
despite obstacles and scrutiny.
Media outlets, both local
and national, covered the stories.
The Plain Dealer and
Cleveland.com reported on
contradictory statements McHugh
made under oath in a deposition
and to their news editorial board
about his involvement in the
Washington, D.C., case where
he was sued for violating the
civil rights of Eugene and Vashti
Sherrod.
Is this not the democratic
process at work?
Is this not a demonstration,
in real time, of courageous citizens
geing involved, making their
voices heard, and community
engagement aecting change?
Is this not journalism performing
its function as the fourth estate
“watchdog” of government?
What some have labeled as
backlash, uproar, and outrage from
Cleveland residents, stakeholders,
and several elected oicials is the
voice of the people, not a “smear
campaign.”
McHugh’s resignation is
the result of everyday people
exercising their power through
their voices and the ability
to organize and engage their
communities.
Kayla Griin, president of
the Cleveland NAACP, stated the
following via an Instagram post
on behalf of the local branch:
“We acknowledge the recent
resignation of senior safety adviser
Phillip McHugh. This change
marks a pivotal step forward in our
continuous fight for justice and
equity in policing. Our commitment
remains steadfast to bridge the
trust gap and advocate for the
fair treatment of all Cleveland
residents, especially within our
Black communities. Let’s keep
the momentum going. Together,
we can ensure meaningful reform
and true safety for everyone.”
Mayor Bibb did not fire
McHugh, as demanded, but he did
issue a statement acknowledging
the resignation and appealing
to Cleveland to keep working
together with him.
The masterclass message of this
moment is this:
The power to reshape the
city of Cleveland rests in the hands
of the people and their ability to
stay engaged and hold those
elected to oice accountable.
People are always the real
power behind making change.
That is democracy at its best.
The question now is, will the
people meet the next challenge
and crossroads with the same
courage and engagement?
Links:
Petition Demanding Termination
of Phillip McHugh
Court Order (10/13/22)
Extending CPD Consent Decree
From front Page
From front Page
East Tech Robioc team:Celebrates FIRST® Robocs Compeon Cahmpionship Photo Credit Mertyl Johnson
Vol. 5 - Issue 6 June 2024
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3
Cleveland Observer
Book Review: America’s ‘Nap
Bishop’ Oers Strategies for
Rest As Resistance
CLEVELAND
OBSERVER
The Cleveland Observer is a
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monthly newspaper dedicated
to providing information and
resources that will uplift and
enhance the Cleveland community.
Copyright 2024
PUBLISHER
Ronald A. Calhoun
EDITORS
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The views and opinions expressed
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writer, and not those of the publisher,
editor or any other entity.
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By Sheila Ferguson
Tricia Hersey is the New
York Times best-selling author of
“Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto.”
The Atlanta, Georgia-based
theologian, artist, poet, life coach,
and community organizer is the
self-anointed “Nap Bishop.” Since
2016, she has shared a compelling
message about the power of rest
to break the cycle of oppression.
The book reads, “Your body
is a site of liberation, It doesn’t
belong to capitalism, Love your
body; Move your body and Hold
your body.”
“Nap Bishop’’ followers
believe that taking a break from
burnout is lifesaving. They see rest
as a pathway to revitalizing your life.
Hersey’s book, “Rest Is Resistance:
A Manifesto,” published by Lile
Brown Spark (2022), focuses
on two points: giving yourself
permission “to live the ‘so life’
through rest and restoration, and
“quiet quiing” the corporate grind
and releasing academic pressures
that cause fatigue and social and
emotional oppression.
Hersey’s views come from
her years of struggle as a graduate
student at the Candler School of
Theology at Emory University.
Those were tough years, she
recalls. As a grad student of humble
means, Hersey was crushed by
financial burdens, daily travel on
public transit, and the grind of
studying tirelessly with lile to
no sleep. She also cared for an
ill family member. All of these
pressures were compounded by
the COVID-19 pandemic and the
horrors of racism in America.
Out of the struggle,
exhaustion led Hersey to take
daily naps, to daydream, and to
have periods of rest and respite.
Experiencing this burnout, and the
refreshment gained from these
simple lifestyle changes, gave birth
to Hersey’s Nap Bishop ministry.
The author’s core
message is that Black people’s
exhaustion stems from a legacy
of enslavement, Jim Crow
segregation, and modern-day
racism. More importantly, Hersey
says the recovery of Black people
depends on the remembrance of
the following:
•
Watching our elders rest by
reading scripture, meditating,
and resting their eyes or feet
daily to rejuvenate and renew
•
Knowing that allowing rest,
sleep, naps, and daydreaming
slows us down enough to
awaken to the beauty in
ourselves
•
Releasing ourselves from the
grind to resist the capitalist and
white supremacist mind
Hersey also stresses that
rest is necessary and natural for
all of us. Without rest, she says,
“we won’t make it! Thus, collective
rest will liberate us and shi our
consciousness.” Hersey gives the
message of rest as resistance with
the intent of undoing the harm of
exhaustion done to Black bodies.
In her words, it starts by moving
away from society’s demand for
perfection and beliefs.
Today, you can read
Hersey’s message in book form,
watch and listen online, or aend
her live sessions. During live
sessions, the author preaches
and leads meditation while the
participants experience a state
of collective rest. Hersey works
to jar people enough to wake up
through sleep. Rather than
using free time to do extra work,
Hersey’s movement inspires
people to sleep and rest to stave o
burnout, exhaustion, and the risks
of premature death. It is also a tool
for helping others recognize their
full potential beyond fulfilling the
role of a slave to society’s demands
for mass production and speed in
delivering work products.
The How-Tos of Self-Liberation
From Obtaining Rest
Though daily sleep and rest
are the starting points of Hersey’s
theory, healing and self-liberation
are its endpoints. She says geing
there requires that you:
1.
Stop worrying and reflect
on your needs for peace and
comfort. It’s about collectively
refusing to run ourselves into
the ground
2.
Rest and reset for good health.
3.
Use rest as a form of resistance
against oppression because it
is life-saving and liberatory.
4.
Start a daily practice of
daydreaming.
5. Know that change takes time.
6.
Slow down, connect, and
reimagine your life.
7. Know that you are enough.
8.
Know that exhaustion is not
productive.
9.
Listen to yourself and others
more.
10. Create systems of community
care and support.
Daily Resting Practices
Finally, begin and continue a
practice of valuing self and the
grace of loving yourself by:
•
Closing your eyes once or twice
daily,
•
Taking long showers in silence,
•
Meditating on the couch for 20
minutes,
•
Daydreaming by staring out the
window,
•
Sipping warm tea before bed
in the dark,
•
Slow dancing with yourself to
slow music,
• Taking a twenty-minute timed
nap,
• Praying daily,
•
Taking regular breaks from
social media, and
•
Commiing to deep listening
and enjoying musical albums.
To learn more about Tricia Hersey’s
work as the Nap Bishop, search
these titles on YouTube:
Tricia Hersey: Rest & Collective
Care as Tools for Liberation
Tricia Hersey: Creating a Guided
Meditation for “Promise, Witness,
Remembrance”
NO MORE GRIND: HOW TO
FINALLY REST WITH TRICIA
HERSEY - WCDHT EP 139
Author Tricia Hersey
Vol. 5 - Issue 6 June 2024
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4
Cleveland Observer
Movie Review: ‘Civil War’ Movie Portrays
Consequences of Political Division
By Gregory Moore
“Civil War” was released on
April 12, directed by writer-director
Alex Garland, starring Kirsten
Dunst, Wagner Moura, Steven
McKinley Henderson, and Cailee
Spaeny, and is 1:49 in duration.
The highly acclaimed movie,
“Civil War,” set in modern times,
tells the backstory of four reporters
from three dierent generations
going on a dangerous and risky
road trip to cover the military
conflict taking place in the US aer
two states secede from the United
States. Lile is said in the movie
about how the conflict started or
why. All we know from the movie is
that a “Western Alliance’’ between
Texas and California have seceded
from the Union and are launching a
modern-day military march to the
nation’s capitol in Washington, D.C.
The first few minutes of the
movie mark the only time we hear a
full explanation of the conflict which
comes through sporadic breaking
news reports on television. On the
journey between New York and
Washington, we see bombed-out
cities, abandoned cars on empty
highways, and what appears to
be the complete collapse of the
U.S. economy. There are periodic
glances of a dystopian population
seeking to survive, hunkered down
with their shotguns, or seeking
refuge in disaster relief camps.
It’s a familiar picture frame that
we see every day on the evening
news. However, in this instance,
instead of Gaza or the Ukrainian
war-torn landscape, it is the cities
and towns of the United States that
are displayed in haunting detail.
The bulk of the movie is
centered around the personal
dynamics between three
photojournalists and an elderly
sage Black reporter seeking to
scoop the first pictures of the
Western Alliances’ seizure of
Washington, D.C.
Presented in a fast-paced
one hour and 49 minutes, “Civil
War” follows the adventures of four
main characters led by Lee Smith,
an aging, trailblazing journalist
portrayed by actress Kirsten
Dunst; Sammy, a seasoned veteran
reporter portrayed by veteran
stage actor Stephen McKinley
Henderson; Jessie Cullen, a very
eager student photojournalist
played by up-and-coming actress
Caliee Spaeny; and Joel, the South
American photojournalist portrayed
by Brazilian actor Wagner Moura
Seeing the White House
under fierce military siege was
jarring and a reminder that the
conflict, for whatever reason,
had led to this level of carnage.
Eventually, the journalists were
embedded with the rebel forces
of the Western Alliance as they
made their way closer to the U.S.
Capitol. Their deadly encounters
with the warring factions along the
way would reveal their personal
journeys as photojournalists
covering past foreign U.S. wars.
The character that resonated
the most was Sammy, movingly
portrayed by Henderson, who
carried with his large frame a wealth
of knowledge and experience that
he repeatedly tried to impart to the
younger, adventuristic journalists.
Despite his poor health, Sammy
takes up with the three younger
journalists and helps guide them,
and rescue them, through some of
the more dangerous encounters in
the movie.
“Civil War,” despite its
title, directs the aention of the
moviegoer, not so much on the
deadly conflict itself, but on the
coverage of it by the four reporters
and the desperate citizenry
they encounter along the way.
Geing “the photo” of the graphic
carnage and “the interview” with
the beleaguered president under
siege becomes the most important
goal of the group – not saving the
country from complete collapse.
The full-scale modern-day
military seizure of the U.S. Capitol
was depicted in the final minutes of
the movie with still no clear reason
why it had come to this and who
or what was driving the rebellion.
Ironically, the succession that
reportedly started thousands of
miles away from Washington,D.C.,
was now at its doorstep seeking
its complete overthrow. The team
eventually ended up embedded with
the rebel forces as they marched
toward the nation’s capital. It also
became increasingly clear as the
movie progressed which side of
the conflict the media was on.
“Civil War” is a stark
reminder of the inherent tragedy
of war between the states and
makes a strong case for why we
should always aim for diplomacy,
reconciliation, and peace over
division, retribution, and pestilence.
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Vol. 5 - Issue 6 June 2024
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5
Cleveland Observer
Death: Myths and Truth
By Pastor Larry Frazier
Benjamin Franklin, an
American diplomat and publisher
once said, “In this world, nothing
is certain except death and taxes.”
That has been an enduring quote
throughout the years. Just as are
some of the superstitions about
death that remain in our society.
This article will present some
beliefs and practices concerning
death, and finally explore death
from the words of the Bible.
Some superstitions about
death are aimed at protecting
the living from the spirit of the
deceased. Mirrors were covered
aer death because the first
person to see their reflection
would be the next to die. Family
pictures were turned face down
to keep the living from being
possessed by the spirit of the
deceased. Veils were worn to hide
the mourner’s identity, protecting
them from the dead. Tombstones
were made large to not only mark
the grave but also to keep the
spirit from escaping. Thunder aer
a funeral means the deceased
entered heaven. Tossing a pinch
of spilled salt over the le shoulder
blinds the devil and keeps him
from taking control. Whistling in
a cemetery summons the devil.
These sayings, no doubt,
are embraced to various extents
by people. One thing is certain,
however: from the time we
are born death is in our future.
Bob Dylan said, “He who is not
busy being born is busy dying.”
Michael Landon’s words of
wisdom are, “Whatever you want
to do, do it now. There are only
so many tomorrows.” Somewhat
humorously, Benjamin Franklin
said, “Death takes no bribes.”
Sayings can be thought-provoking,
even entertaining.
The Rev. Dr. Alvin Barry,
President of the Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod, answered the
question “What is death?” “The
Bible teaches that death is not
an annihilation in which we cease
to exist. The Scriptures teach
that death is the separation of
our eternal soul from our mortal
bodies. Our bodies rest in the
grave, awaiting the final day when
soul and body shall be reunited.
At the moment of death our souls
and the souls of all those who die
in faith, immediately are in the
presence of Christ, and will enjoy
His presence, peace, and joy until
the great day of the resurrection
of all flesh.”
Job 14:5 says, “A person’s
days are determined; you have
decreed the number of his months
and have set limits he cannot
exceed.” Jesus Christ gives words
of reassurance in John 6:37-39,
“All those the Father gives me will
come to me, and whoever comes
to me I will never drive away. For I
have come down from heaven not
to do my will but to do the will of
him who sent me. And this is the
will of him who sent me, that I shall
lose none of all those he has given
me, but raise them up at the last
day.”
The following verses further
help our understanding of death.
Proverbs 14:27 says “The fear
of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning a person from the snares
of death.” From 2 Timothy 1:10,
“But it has now been revealed
through the appearing of our
Savior, Christ Jesus, who has
destroyed death and has brought
life and immortality to light through
the gospel.”
John 5:24 says, “Very truly
I tell you, whoever hears my word
and believes him who sent me has
eternal life and will not be judged
but has crossed over from death
to life.”
Vol. 5 - Issue 6 June 2024
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6
Cleveland Observer
By Tonya Sams
Many people suer in silence
when struggling with mental health
issues. These issues can aect
every area of one’s life—even
how they address legal issues that
impact basic needs like shelter,
safety, and economic security.
Client Support Specialists at The
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
recognize how a client’s bale
with mental health challenges can
impact their legal cases. People
work with Legal Aid aorneys to
implement strategies to help them
have positive case outcomes while
improving mental health outcomes.
“Client Support Specialists
are professionals who provide
assistance and support to those
who are receiving legal assistance
from Legal Aid who may have a
barrier related to their legal
case,” said Aisha Midge, a Client
Support Specialist at Legal Aid.
The Client Support Specialists at
Legal Aid make a team of three
trained social workers. For over a
decade, Client Support Specialists,
working closely with aorneys and
paralegals, have played a critical
role in ensuring the best possible
outcomes for client success and
overall wellbeing.
When mental health issues
are involved, it can dramatically
aect a client’s case.
“It can have a significant
By Khemi Adé
The Cleveland Clinic has
found that moving the body
improves blood flow to the brain,
reduces inflammation, promotes
heart health, and lowers stress
hormones. But what else can the
brain do as a result of exercise?
Neuroscientist Wendy
Suzuki said that when exercising,
the hippocampus—which
governs memory—and the
prefrontal cortex—which governs
decisionmaking and focus—get
bigger and stronger. The brain
protects the hippocampus,
prefrontal cortex, and the two
temporal lobes. They “are the two
areas that are most susceptible
Happy Body, Happy Brain: The Benefits of
Exercising
impact in various ways,” said Aisha.
“It can aect their ability to make
informed decisions, their ability to
understand the legal process and
legal language. They may not have
the ability to engage with their case,
so they are missing appointments,
won’t return calls, or won’t follow
through on tasks.”
To help clients resolve these
issues, Aisha and other Client
Support Specialists at Legal Aid will
conduct an intake to determine the
obstacles that may cause the client
not to be actively involved in their
case. They help identify the client’s
needs, establish goals to help them
along the legal process, and link
them to community resources and
programs that may help them with
their mental issues. Many of these
resources and programs oer crisis
prevention, suicide resources,
crisis hotlines, and educational
information.
People with low income
experiencing mental health issues
may have additional challenges
when it comes to finding proper
assistance. This may be due to
limited access to therapists,
counselors, or case management
professionals.
Beyond the financial barrier
to accessing care, “There is a social
stigma about sharing mental health
issues with people which hinders
their ability to have access to health
resources,” said Aisha. “There are
also other challenges. People
could be struggling with substance
abuse, domestic violence, and
trauma. They could also be dealing
with chronic health conditions.
All of these things overlap which
can heighten the possibility of
being exposed to mental health
challenges.”
Client Support Specialists
also assist with crisis intervention
for clients who have experienced
a crisis or are at risk by creating
a safety plan. Safety plans are
unique to each individual. They
are designed to help them feel
safe, and connected to people
experiencing a crisis. For some
people, this could be a sheet of
paper that includes information
from emergency organizations,
local hospitals, and others they can
contact when they are in a crisis.
It can also include information on
coping skills.
“There are clients that never
talk about their feelings, but we
give them access to help and get
them linked to organizations to
receive mental health services that
will work with them on a longterm
basis to improve their mental
health,” said Aisha. “Remember,
it is okay to ask for help. You are
never alone.”
Do you need help with a civil legal
maer? Legal Aid may be able to
help. Call Legal Aid at 888-8173777
during normal business hours, or
contact us online 24/7 at lasclev.
org/contact/.
Tonya Sams is a Development &
Communications Manager at The
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.
to neurodegenerative diseases”
like Alzheimer’s. It’s about making
it take longer “for these diseases
to actually have an eect”, said
Suzuki. Suzuki even stated that
there are three shorerm and
three long-term benefits on the
brain when it comes to exercising.
Short-Term Benefits
Suzuki listed three short-
term benefits pertaining to
exercise. Firstly, it “has immediate
effects on your brain.” One
workout session will result in a
mood boost because the brain
releases feel-good hormones
such as “dopamine, serotonin,
and noradrenaline.” Secondly, that
same session, Suzuki shared, will
also improve focus retention and
the ability to shi focus that “will
last for at least two hours.” Lastly,
Suzuki said, it “will improve your
reaction times.”
Long-Term Benefits
Long-term exercise “actually
changes the brain’s anatomy”
which means it literally changes
the brain. First, Suzuki stated that
the brain “produces brand new
brain cells in the hippocampus.”
Secondly, the prefrontal cortex
and focus improve. Lastly, there’s
an increase in mood over a longer
period of time due to the “good
mood neurotransmiers.”
Adapting an active lifestyle
will improve overall health and
provide a sense of “emotional
balance” according to the CDC. The
CDC also highly recommends that
“adults need at least 150 minutes
of moderate-intensity physical
activity weekly or 75 minutes of
vigorous-intensity activity.” Lile
ways to increase physical activity in
day-to-day life can look like taking
multiple walking breaks or jogging
in place while watching TV.
Exercise and overall physical
activity play a huge role in brain
health and mental health. It can
improve mood, memory, focus
retention, brain blood flow, and
reaction timing.
Learn more: Physical Activity
Boosts Brain Health | DNPAO
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Legal Aid Provides Help for Clients
Struggling with Mental Health
Vol. 5 - Issue 6 June 2024
WW.CLEOBSERVER.COM
7
Cleveland Observer
By Sharon Lewis
Just like hair and eye
color, freckles, family recipes,
and heirlooms, trauma passes
from generation to generation.
It is known as intergenerational
or transgenerational trauma.
Research has shown us that
we can inherit trauma from our
ancestors.
Were your ancestors slaves?
Generational Trauma
Were they in combat? Were they
displaced from their homeland by
war? Were they indigenous people
whose land was taken? Were they
survivors of the Holocaust? Were
they victims of discrimination? Did
they live in poverty? Were they
abused in some way?
While some of these
questions are extreme situations,
any prolonged exposure to an
environment that causes stress
to the body or mind can have a
long-lasting impact on health and
well-being.
According to the Mayo
Clinic, “the body’s stress response
system is usually self-limiting.” That
means once a perceived threat has
passed, hormones return to typical
levels. As adrenaline and cortisol
levels drop, heart rate and blood
pressure return to normal.
Other systems go back to
their regular activities, but when
stressors are always present,
when a person always feels under
aack, that fight-or-flight reaction
stays turned on. The long-term
activation of the stress response
system and too much exposure to
cortisol and other stress hormones
may disrupt many of the body’s
processes.
According to the Mayo
Clinic, stress puts you at higher risk
of many health problems including
anxiety, depression, digestive
challenges, headaches, muscle
tension and pain, heart disease,
heart aack, high blood pressure
and stroke, sleep problems, weight
gain, and problems with memory
and focus. Chronic stress puts
your health at risk.
Starting in the womb, an
unborn child feels the eects
of the mother’s stress. Imagine
being constantly worried about
the day-to-day activities of living.
Do you have a safe place to live?
Do you have a job or some means
of supporting yourself? Are you
geing the medical care that
you need? What about adequate
food? Do you have the support
of friends and loved ones? The
overabundance of those stress
hormones will impact the future
development of that child.
Trauma also causes
epigenetic changes which means
there is a shi in one’s DNA due to
traumatic experiences. Genetics
will still produce someone who
looks physically similar to their
family. Still, due to epigenetic
changes, altered DNA may cause
some of the conditions mentioned
above for many generations.
That may also explain why some
ethnicities are more prone to
certain medical conditions. It is
in the bloodline.
Being a member of a
minority group in America gives
one a bird’s eye view of issues
relevant to this article. Knowing
the story of my people le me
wanting to know the stories of
others.
A coworker connected
me with the child of a Holocaust
survivor named Marilyn Zaas.
Zaas is a lifelong resident of the
Cleveland area. She is active in
her community and lives much
like everyone else. Additionally,
Zaas is well-versed in her family
history, knowing dates, times, and
places. I most wanted to know how
her family history aected her life.
Zaas told me that, never having
lived as anyone else or any other
way, the question is diicult to
answer.
To help me gain a beer
understanding of the Jewish
experience, she invited me to the
Commemoration of the Holocaust
and Heroism Ceremony at the
B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue on
Fairmont Boulevard in Pepper
Pike, on May 5. Six families shared
their Holocaust survival stories.
For the Jewish community, it
is vital to remember and share
so that history does not repeat
itself and no one ever forgets.
The stories were both moving and
heartbreaking.
I met Zaas’s mother, Erika
Gold, aer the ceremony. Gold is
a vibrant, intelligent woman of 94
years. She was born in Hungary
in 1932. In 1944, her father had to
report to a Shell Oil work camp
located on an island south of
Budapest, as ordered by law. Gold
and her mother went to work in a
factory until, one day, the workers
were forced onto a flatbed truck.
Realizing this would end their
journey, Gold’s mother jumped
from the vehicle, signaling Gold
to do the same.
They walked calmly away
from it, throwing away their coats
marked by the Star of David to hide
their Jewish identities. Her mother
recognized the area and knew that
their former housekeeper lived
nearby. They were fortunate that
the former housekeeper hid them
for six weeks until the liberation of
Hungary. The family was reunited
aer the war. Her mother learned
that her entire family, 45 people of
all ages, had lost their lives in the
gas chambers—a problematic fact
for her mother.
In 1948, her parents bought
Cuban visas because the wait for
an American visa in Europe was
exceptionally long. They were in
Cuba for two years before they
received American Visas and
moved to the United States.
Gold came ahead of her parents
because their visas were not all
granted at the same time. Her aunt
and uncle drove from Cleveland
Heights, to pick her up in Florida.
Before the drive back, her uncle
explained to her that she would
see separate bathrooms, water
fountains, and many other forms
of discrimination. She told me that
she found this hard to believe.
This was America, where she and
her family strove to reach for a
beer life. These revelations were
unbelievable to her.
If you have experienced
trauma, you may have triggers
that bring back vivid memories.
For Gold, the sight of a cale car,
no maer what is in it, brings
strong memories of the war. The
sensations of being cold and or
hungry also bring strong memories
but are quelled by the knowledge
that she can get warm and get a
meal. Gold does not say that she
is a Holocaust survivor because,
for her, that denotes victimhood.
Instead, she says that she survived
the Holocaust because that
indicates that she is an overcomer.
While trauma can be passed
from generation to generation, it
can be healed and removed from
the bloodline.
Vol. 5 - Issue 6 June 2024
WW.CLEOBSERVER.COM
8
Cleveland Observer
By Sheila Ferguson
Poor sleep hygiene can
become a major health issue at
any age, especially when you are
under stress—or work the third
shi. The U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
reports that 1 in 3 people in the
United States don’t get the sleep
they need regularly. Approximately
33% of American adults live with
sleep deprivation.
Failure to get enough sleep
can damage your mind and body. It
can also make you accident-prone
and at risk for irritability. Sleep
Basic Facts On Sleep Hygiene
deprived individuals can struggle
to stay awake during the day while
working or driving. Beer rest and
sleep hygiene means consistently
geing 6-9 hours of sleep. When
possible, taking a 15 to 20-minute
power nap each day can also help
keep you rested and refreshed.
Cleveland Clinic sleep
medicine specialist Nancy Foldvary
Schaefer, DO, MS, says sleep is
“foundational to our health and
wellness.” She indicates that geing
enough and good sleep is necessary
for cardiovascular, metabolic, and
brain health.
Geing the needed hours
requires a consistent bedtime
routine and sleep environment.
Experts suggest that you give
yourself the same support rituals
you would give your child or
grandchild. Pamper yourself with
a soothing sleep ritual that includes:
•
Preparing for bedtime with a hot
bath, warm milk or tea, listening
to or reading a story,
• Reflecting on the day’s events,
•
Using a lile aromatherapy to
breathe in soothing fragrances
if you do not have allergies, and
• Slow down gradually, changing
into your pajamas, and listening
to soothing music to create a
satisfying gateway for restful
sleep.
If these methods do not
work, consult with your physician.
It may be time to probe what
disrupts your sleep rhythms or
keeps you under stress. You may
get additional support through
testing and assessment, sleep
studies, prescription medications,
biofeedback, learning mindfulness
meditation, changing your daily
routine to include exercise, and
moving your bedtime to a later hour
to make it easier to rest.
More Steps to Beer Rest:
• Keep a tidy bedroom.
•
Remove all electronic devices
from your sleeping area. Create
an electronics charging or
docking station outside of your
bedroom.
•
Ensure that your bedroom is just
the right temperature that is not
too hot, or too cool.
•
Work to rest and rise at the
same time.
•
Use curtains or drapes that
block the sun or outside lights.
•
Refrain from eating your last
meal at least three hours before
sleeping. This can help reduce
the likelihood of indigestion and
those blood sugar spikes that
prompt waking up for midnight
snacks.
Finally, Dr. Steven Marshall
suggests maintaining sleep hygiene
can improve your longterm health.
Optimal sleep patterns of 6-9
hours a night can protect you
from becoming overweight and
contracting Alzheimer’s disease,
heart failure, diabetes, and kidney
disease. Good sleep habits can
minimize the negative impact of
poor sleep on your overall health
and wellness.
The Cleveland Clinic and
University Hospitals of Cleveland
offer various sleep hygiene
services. Contact Dr. Tina Water
(216) 444-8072 ext. 9500 of the
Cleveland Clinic’s Sleep Medicine
Department to learn more about
proper sleep hygiene. At University
Hospitals of Cleveland, call 855-
404-9456 to contact Adult Sleep
Medicine, Pediatric Sleep Medicine,
Behavioral Sleep Psychologists,
and Sleep Surgery.
Other Resources:
How Sleep Impacts the Top Age-
Related Health Concerns (ncoa.
org)
