http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/rss/feedsBeautiful Machine is a subscription-free monthly online magazine.Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:02:43 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/michigan-fashion-week-brings-it-to-new-york-fashion-weekhttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/michigan-fashion-week-brings-it-to-new-york-fashion-week By Sherrilynn Colley-Vegh This month Beautiful Machine Magazine headed to New York Fashion Week to cover Detroit/Michigan Fashion Designers debut in the Big Apple. This was made possible thanks to the vision of Loren Hicks, award-winning Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Michigan Fashion Week. Hicks (@thelorendhicks) a clothing designer and the producer of the New York show was also one of the designers who participated in this fashion first, along with Drusilla Arhin (@drusillaarhin); Des & Company (@desandcompany); God Said Couture (@godsaidcouture); Zapenda (@zapendashop); and Emileigh Ruth (@emileiruth). The goal of this show was to increase visibility, positioning and elevation of our local designers and offer them a unique opportunity to participate and gain exposure in one of the greatest fashion centers on a world stage. Hicks wanted to give Michigan designers an opportunity to network and connect with media, buyers, models, creatives, stylists, fashion influencers and the insiders of the global fashion industry. The show consisted of emerging creators, as well as those who have developed a solid collection and brand who are ready to take their designs to the next level and “Bring it” they did. The atmosphere was electric at the sold-out venue located at 155 Suffolk New York, not far from Central Park. The Panel The event opened with a panel of experts hosted by Loren Hicks @LorenDHicks (Founder and CEO of Michigan Fashion Week) and featuring Tina Vartanian @tina_vartan (Founder of Issued Magazine and Creatively Issued Agency), Kaiya Williams @kaiyafinesse (CEO and Executive Director of KAW Management Group, Pia Lindsay @pialindsaystudio (Founder & Creative Director – Pia Lindsay Studio) and AK Brown @Akbrownstl (EIC & Fashion Director Advisor.Magazine A.Studio.) See below for the panels fashion career advice. The Show Des & Co. opened the show with their male and female models wearing stunning white tops with patterns featuring rope detailing paired with dark skirts and the most incredible sand- colored pleated pants that I am still obsessing over. God Said Couture was next showing fabulous streetwear with religious themed logos such as “Famous in Heaven”, “Expensive - Bought with a Price” and “Sinking, Swimming, Walking on Water.” LoJo Fashion + Design by Loren Hicks was next, wowing the audience with rich satin men’s shirts and exquisite sequin dresses, both cocktail length and gowns in gorgeous shades of bright blue, royal purple, gold, bronze silver and black. Emileigh Ruth’s theatrical-medieval inspired fashions floated down the runway in black and rich red velvets with bodice detail and white 16th Century Elizabethan ruff style collars. Drusilla Arhin was the pop of color for the show featuring beach/streetwear of flowered bikini tops and shorts/skirts in an array of bright pink, orange, blue and yellow. Zapenda closed out the show with designers Dextina Booker and Stella Safari who use fabrics and tailors from the Congo in their creations. They featured dresses/jackets, pant suits and tie up robe gowns in interesting colors and patterns of green/purple leaves, red and yellow stars and orange and yellow waves. The After Party After the show Michigan Fashion Week hosted an afterparty “Detroit takes New York” at La Caverna where the celebration and dancing continued. Hicks shared with Beautiful Machine that she felt blessed and super excited to be bring this opportunity to Michigan Designers. “The best part of the show is always the anticipation right before the show and then to see all the excitement of the models and designers after the show,” shared Hicks What’s Next You can experience the talent of our local designers October 16th (Streetwear) at The Edit Detroit & October 17th Interactive Fashion Experience at the Harmonie Club Detroit. Be sure to follow Michigan Fashion Week socials for details. Congratulations Loren Hicks and Michigan Fashion Week from Beautiful Machine Magazine, always supporting Beautiful People doing Beautiful Things! Fashion Experts Panel For those looking to make their mark in the Fashion World here is some of the advice that we gleaned from the opening panel of experts. - Don’t fear rejections – No’s leads you to your Yes! - You need to build a solid brand identity and you need to cultivate your brand - Talk to your audience, pay attention to conversations and partner with others - Get yourself in front of customers - runways, trunk shows, pop ups build visibility - To succeed talent only gets you so far you also need determination to push forward and define your big picture through strategy, consistency, and clarity, on where you are going. To make intentional impact, you also need incredible drive to keep going. - You must be creative and have vision but also be logical, decisive and be able to handle the business side of the industry like contracts, budgeting, costing, break point, margins!Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:41:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/sherry-scott-lmsw--founder--owner--time-together-adult-day-centerhttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/sherry-scott-lmsw--founder--owner--time-together-adult-day-center Sherry Scott, LMSW, is a Michigan-based Licensed Master Social Worker, mental health professional, entrepreneur, and Founder and Owner of Time Together Adult Day Center. With more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field, Ms. Scott has dedicated her career to serving children, adults, older adults, individuals with mental health and developmental challenges, veterans, and families throughout Southeast Michigan. Ms. Scott earned her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Marygrove College and her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Wayne State University. Her professional leadership experience includes serving as Clinical Director at All Well-Being Services, where she now serves as Board of Chair on the FARM Committee. She also served as a manager with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN), overseeing Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) providers throughout Wayne County. Since 2011, her career has centered on behavioral health, clinical leadership, advocacy, program development, and community-based services. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ms. Scott founded Time Together Adult Day Center after recognizing the critical need for structured, supportive, and socially engaging services for vulnerable adults experiencing increased isolation. What began with only three clients has grown into an organization that has served more than 360 individuals, providing community-based services designed to promote dignity, independence, social connection, emotional wellness, and improved quality of life. Ms. Scott's leadership and entrepreneurial journey have received significant community and media recognition. She has been featured by Canvas Rebel, featured twice in Hour Detroit, highlighted by C&G Newspapers and local St. Clair Shores publications, and interviewed on “We Love Detroit” on Detroit's TV20. Ms. Scott and Time Together have also received recognition and acknowledgments from state and local leaders and organizations, including members of the Michigan State Senate, the City of Warren, the Office of Michigan's Lieutenant Governor, the Office of the Governor, and the Macomb County business community. Through her combined experience as a social worker, behavioral health leader, advocate, and entrepreneur, Ms. Scott continues to expand the impact of Time Together Adult Day Center. Her mission remains clear: to create safe, compassionate, and inclusive environments where individuals are valued, connected to their communities, and empowered to live with greater dignity, purpose, and independence.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:21:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/universoul-circus-and-horatio-williams-foundation-partner-again-to-give-detroit-families-a-day-to-rememberhttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/universoul-circus-and-horatio-williams-foundation-partner-again-to-give-detroit-families-a-day-to-remember By Demetrius Carrington When the UniverSoul Circus comes to Detroit it brings much more than acrobats, music and entertainment. It brings an experience that feels connected to the people and culture of the city. This fall that connection continues as the UniverSoul Circus once again partners with the Horatio Williams Foundation to give Detroit families an opportunity to experience one of the most unique circuses in America. The UniverSoul Circus returns to Detroit beginning October 14 with performances scheduled through October 25 across from The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre at 2600 East Atwater Street. For more than three decades UniverSoul Circus has created its own version of the traditional circus experience. The production brings together circus acts, music, dance and audience participation with performers from around the world. That approach has made Detroit a natural home for UniverSoul. Detroit audiences have embraced the circus and UniverSoul has shown that its relationship with the communities it visits goes beyond what happens under the big top. Through community programs the circus has supported families and created memorable experiences for children who might otherwise never have the opportunity to attend. That commitment to the community is also what makes its relationship with the Horatio Williams Foundation so meaningful. The Detroit based Horatio Williams Foundation is dedicated to serving young people through sports, education, leadership development and community service. Its programs encourage discipline, confidence and teamwork while exposing young people to new experiences and opportunities. The two organizations have worked together before with tremendous results. According to the Horatio Williams Foundation a previous event with UniverSoul Circus welcomed approximately 2,000 residents and provided children and adults with a free night of entertainment. This year the partnership continues as the Horatio Williams Foundation prepares to host another special Day at the Circus bringing families together for an afternoon of fun and community. For Horatio Williams the opportunity represents exactly what his foundation was created to do. The Horatio Williams Foundation is honored to once again partner with UniverSoul Circus and host families from throughout the community. Sometimes making a difference means providing education, mentorship or resources. Other times it can be as simple as giving a child and their family a chance to laugh together and enjoy an experience they will remember. Those moments matter. UniverSoul Circus understands that. Its community outreach has always been about more than entertainment. It is also about bringing people together and giving families an opportunity to simply enjoy themselves. That spirit has helped make UniverSoul more than another traveling circus. In Detroit it has become a community partner. The upcoming Detroit engagement will feature the energy that has defined UniverSoul for more than 30 years with acrobatics, skating, motorcycles, clowns, music, dance and performers from around the world. For the Horatio Williams Foundation the most important performers may not be the ones inside the ring. They are the children sitting in the audience. Seeing their excitement, hearing their laughter and watching families enjoy an experience together is a reminder that giving back can take many forms. Detroit has always been a city that understands the importance of showing up for one another. UniverSoul Circus has continued to embrace that spirit and the Horatio Williams Foundation has made serving Detroit’s young people the heart of its mission. Bringing the two organizations together again is the continuation of a relationship built around a simple idea. Every child deserves an opportunity to experience a little joy, a little wonder and a day they will never forget.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:15:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/what-a-night--serious-magazine-launch-party-brings-out-detroits-whos-whohttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/what-a-night--serious-magazine-launch-party-brings-out-detroits-whos-who By Beautiful Machine Magazine Detroit knows how to make an entrance, and on Friday, October 2, the city did exactly that. Beautiful Machine Media Group, along with SERIOUS Magazine, introduced the publication at ORA Detroit with an elegant evening hosted by the legendary Chuck Bennett. The room brought together familiar faces and some of Metro Detroit’s most recognizable names from business, law, media, philanthropy and entertainment. Dr. Robert DiPilla and his wife, Annabelle DiPilla, were among those in attendance. DiPilla is a family and cosmetic dentist and a member of the Detroit Pistons medical team. Attorneys Jeffrey Lance Abood of Abood Law Firm and Ven Johnson, a personal injury and trial lawyer, were also in the house. Abood Law Firm was one of the evening’s sponsors. Vivian Pickard, former president of the General Motors Foundation and CEO of The Pickard Group, joined the celebration along with Janice Cosby Adams, retired health care executive, author and creator of Jan’s Gray Glam. Her husband, Dean Adams, was also in attendance. Sofi K, owner of Sofi K LLC, Experiential Events, was among the guests as well. Danialle Karmanos, CEO of MadDog Technology and the woman featured on the cover of SERIOUS Magazine, was also there, giving the evening an added sense of occasion. Larry Alebiosu, owner of Fashion International, did not disappoint. He arrived polished and confident, reminding everyone why his name has long been part of Detroit’s fashion conversation. Chuck Bennett’s Best Dressed 2026 recognizes Danialle Karmanos, Janice Cosby Adams, Ven Johnson, Amber Lewis, Rayford Jackson, Larry Alebiosu, Antonino and Liz Cutraro, Nicole Eisenberg, Leo Salvaggio, Jeffrey Lance Abood, Brandon Hudson, Rhonda Walker, Montee Tayion Holland, Rick Mahorn, Vivian Pickard, Robert and Annabelle DiPilla, Lane Coleman, Jehan Crump-Gibson and Sofi K. View Best Dressed 2026 Throughout the evening, business leaders, attorneys, creatives and longtime friends mixed easily. Conversations moved across the room, old friends reconnected and new introductions were made. It was the kind of gathering Chuck Bennett has long been known for creating, bringing together people from different circles and making the room feel connected. There was laughter, conversation, plenty of pictures and no shortage of compliments. More than anything, the night felt like a celebration of Detroit, its people and the personalities who continue to make the city interesting. SERIOUS Magazine may be new, but it already feels at home here. Detroit showed up, the room delivered and SERIOUS Magazine made its entrance. What a night. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:44:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/more-than-a-gamehttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/more-than-a-game Hoops and Culture Returns to Detroit for Its Second Annual Celebration of Sports, Education and HBCU Excellence By Demetrius Carrington Basketball may bring people through the doors, but the second annual Hoops and Culture Weekend is designed to deliver much more. Hosted by the Horatio Williams Foundation in partnership with Wayne State University Athletics, the October 23 and 24 event will combine college basketball with HBCU education, financial empowerment and important conversations about health and wellness. “Basketball creates excitement, but education is at the heart of everything we do,” said Horatio Williams, founder of the Horatio Williams Foundation. “We want people to enjoy the games while learning about institutions, careers and resources that can change their lives.” The weekend begins Friday, October 23, with programming focused on personal and financial wellness. Wellness Meets Culture will be held at Hollywood Casino at Greektown, located at 1200 Saint Antoine Street in Detroit. The program will include a discussion about mental and emotional health with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. MeYonna of Raw and Explicit will lead a candid conversation about sexual health. These discussions address subjects that are often ignored or discussed only in private. By placing them within a larger cultural event, the foundation hopes to make reliable information more accessible and encourage healthier conversations throughout the community. Friday evening will feature Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal, the nationally recognized hosts of Earn Your Leisure. Their platform has introduced millions of people to conversations about investing, entrepreneurship, business ownership and financial freedom. The panel discussion will take place from 7 PM until 9 PM at Elevate at One Campus Martius, located at 1000 Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. The event is free with limited seating, and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. “We have to connect our community with information that can improve the way people live, think and plan for the future,” Williams said. “Financial education and personal wellness belong in the same conversation because both influence the strength of our families.” On Saturday, October 24, the weekend moves to the Wayne State University Fieldhouse for the Hoops and Culture HBCU Expo and three college basketball games. The HBCU Expo will be held from 10 AM until 1 PM. Students and their families will have an opportunity to learn more about Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the academic, cultural and professional experiences they provide. HBCUs have educated generations of leaders in business, medicine, law, science, education, politics, athletics and the arts. They remain places where students can receive a quality education while developing a deeper understanding of their history and identity. “My job is to help people understand the beauty of HBCUs and connect them with schools they may not have considered,” Williams said. “These institutions offer education, tradition, community and a strong sense of belonging. Sometimes one introduction is all it takes to change the direction of a student’s life.” After the expo, attention will turn to the basketball court for three matchups bringing HBCU programs together with Michigan universities. Wilberforce University will face Wayne State University at 2 PM. Alabama A&M University will play the University of Detroit Mercy at 4:30 PM. Tennessee State University will close the evening against Oakland University at 7 PM. Guests can attend all three games for $20. The HBCU Expo and basketball experience are powered by Amazon. The games give Detroit families an opportunity to support student athletes while experiencing the pride and tradition associated with HBCU culture. They also create a setting where education and entertainment can exist together without either losing its importance. The Horatio Williams Foundation has built its work around mentorship, community involvement and introducing young people to positive people and environments. Hoops and Culture reflects that mission by bringing valuable resources directly to the community in a way that feels engaging and welcoming. The second annual Hoops and Culture Weekend is not simply a basketball event. It is a celebration of education, culture, health, business and the institutions that have helped shape generations of Black excellence. Detroit has never lacked talent or ambition. Events like Hoops and Culture help connect that potential with knowledge, relationships and possibilities. Event Information Friday, October 23 Wellness Meets CultureHollywood Casino at Greektown1200 Saint Antoine StreetDetroit, Michigan 48226 Earn Your Leisure Panel DiscussionFeaturing Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal7 PM until 9 PMElevate at One Campus Martius1000 Woodward AvenueDetroit, Michigan 48226Free admission with limited seatingHors d’oeuvres provided Saturday, October 24 Hoops and Culture HBCU Expo10 AM until 1 PMWayne State University Fieldhouse1290 West Warren AvenueDetroit, Michigan Wilberforce University versus Wayne State University2 PM Alabama A&M University versus University of Detroit Mercy4:30 PM Tennessee State University versus Oakland University7 PM Admission to all three basketball games is $20.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:27:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/jealous-or-justified-i-am-falling-in-love-with-a-man-who-cannot-readhttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/jealous-or-justified-i-am-falling-in-love-with-a-man-who-cannot-read WHAT DOES JEALOUS OR JUSTIFIED MEAN? In this feature, jealous does not always mean jealousy in the usual sense. It can simply mean that you disagree with the reader’s feelings or point of view. Justified means that you believe the reader has a good reason to feel the way they do. Read the letter and decide for yourself. Is the reader jealous or justified? I Am Falling in Love With a Man Who Cannot Read Each month, a reader shares a personal situation and asks Beautiful Machine readers to offer their opinions. Names and certain details may be changed for privacy. Dear Beautiful Machine, I am a successful businesswoman with an advanced college degree. I have worked hard to build my career, my reputation, and the life I enjoy. The men I normally date are college educated. Most are entrepreneurs or professionals with office careers. Education, intelligence, and ambition have always been important to me. Several months ago, I met a man who was completely different from the men I usually date. He owns a construction business and is successful in his own right. He is hardworking, resourceful, and very good at what he does. He treats me well and has qualities I have not always found in men with impressive degrees and job titles. As we spent more time together, my feelings for him became stronger. The truth is, I have almost fallen in love. Everything changed one evening when we went to dinner. He had trouble pronouncing several words on the menu. Later, he admitted that he does not know how to read. I was stunned. I asked how he operates a successful business without being able to read contracts, estimates, measurements, or instructions. He explained that his assistants help him. He has worked in construction for so long that he has developed his own methods. He also limits himself to jobs that he knows he can handle. Since that conversation, I have felt disappointed, confused, and embarrassed. I am afraid to bring him around my friends because I worry they will notice or judge him. I also wonder if his inability to read could eventually affect our relationship or cause serious problems in his business. Part of me feels terrible for thinking this way. He is a good man who has managed to become successful despite facing an enormous obstacle. Another part of me feels that I worked too hard to build my life and reputation to be with someone who cannot read. I care deeply for him, but I am seriously considering ending the relationship. Beautiful Machine readers, am I wrong for feeling this way? Should I look beyond his inability to read and focus on the man he is? Or am I justified in believing that the differences between us are simply too great? Conflicted Kim What Do You Think? Is Kim jealous or justified? Created with Poll Maker Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:40:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/men-its-our-faulthttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/men-its-our-fault By Patrick Edwards LLMSW There comes a point when men have to stop looking around the room for somebody else to blame. Men, it’s our fault. Not every crime, injustice or terrible thing that has ever happened, and certainly not every individual man. But if we are willing to accept the privileges that have historically come with men holding most of the power in governments, corporations, religious institutions, universities, militaries and families, then we also have to look at what men have done with that power and what we have allowed to happen around us. The Allegations We Cannot Ignore The allegations surrounding seven former or current Cornell University students should make us take that look. A former Cornell student filed a civil lawsuit alleging that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted her during a night in October 2024 after she consumed alcohol and drugs. The allegations remain allegations. No court has determined the seven men named in the lawsuit to be criminally guilty. The Tompkins County District Attorney initially declined to bring criminal charges but reopened the investigation in September 2026. Cornell says its disciplinary process resulted in sanctions that included expulsions and suspensions. The legal process will determine what happened in that case, but there is a much bigger conversation we need to have. Whenever allegations like these become public, the conversation quickly turns toward the woman. What was she doing there? Why was she drinking? Why did she go upstairs? Why didn’t she leave? Why didn’t she report it immediately? Instead of looking at the behavior of the men involved, we start examining everything the woman did. The Excuses We Make We have become very good at making excuses for conduct we would never want inflicted upon our mothers, daughters, sisters or friends. “She shouldn’t have been drinking.” “She knew what kind of party that was.” “Boys will be boys.” “He was drunk too.” “She went there willingly.” “He’s a good kid who made a mistake.” A woman can make a bad decision without giving up her humanity. She can drink too much and still deserve protection. She can walk into a man’s bedroom and still have the right to walk out untouched. She can change her mind. She can say no. If she is incapable of giving consent, her condition is not an opportunity for someone else to take advantage of her. Our Silence Is Part of the Problem Terrible behavior rarely develops completely in private. Somebody heard the story. Somebody saw how he treated women. Somebody heard the joke. Somebody watched his behavior at the party. Somewhere along the way there was probably a man who knew something was wrong and decided it was easier to stay out of it. That man may never commit an assault or hit a woman. He may consider himself a good man. But sometimes being a good man means doing more than simply not being the person causing harm. It means saying, “That’s enough.” It means pulling your friend aside. It means getting an intoxicated woman somewhere safe. It means refusing to laugh at the joke. Too many of us have convinced ourselves that if we are not personally doing something wrong, whatever happens around us is none of our business. Men also give other men a lot of room. We call aggression confidence, recklessness masculinity, cruelty toughness and domination leadership. When one of our friends crosses the line, we become his defense attorney. “He didn’t mean it like that.” “You know how he gets when he’s drinking.” “That’s just him.” “He made a mistake.” There are mistakes, and there are choices. Some behavior is too serious to simply call it a mistake and move on. Friendship should not mean protecting another man from the truth. Sometimes being his friend means being the first person willing to tell him he is wrong. The Problem Is Bigger Than Sexual Violence This conversation cannot end with sexual violence. For most of recorded history, political, military, economic and religious power has largely been in the hands of men. Kings, presidents, generals, corporate leaders and religious leaders have mostly been men. Men have made many of the decisions about when armies go to war, who controls land and property, who has political power and who does not. That does not mean women are incapable of cruelty, corruption, violence or oppression. Of course they are. But when one group has historically controlled most institutions, we cannot talk about the systems those institutions created without talking about who controlled them. We cannot celebrate men for building civilization and then disappear when the conversation turns to the parts of civilization that are broken. Men built governments, armies, corporations, financial systems and laws. Men controlled property, drew borders and created institutions. Wars have been fought over land, resources, money and power. Racism has been written into laws and economic systems. Sexism was built into rules that kept women from voting, owning property, receiving an education, holding certain jobs and fully participating in public life. Throughout history the language changed, but too often the basic idea stayed the same. Somebody had to be on top and somebody had to be underneath. Then we found reasons to explain why that arrangement was acceptable. Maybe Our Definition of Strength Is Wrong Men have been taught that strength means control. Control your household. Control your woman. Control your employees. Control the room. Maybe we have spent too little time teaching men that real strength also means being able to control ourselves. There is strength in restraint. There is strength in walking away from violence and admitting when you are wrong. There is strength in hearing “no” and accepting it. There is strength in seeing someone who is vulnerable and not taking advantage of that vulnerability. There is strength in challenging another man and changing your mind when you realize something you were taught was wrong. Stop Asking Women to Fix Men Every time men behave terribly, we give women another list of things they need to do to protect themselves from us. Watch your drink. Don’t walk alone. Don’t dress that way. Text when you get home. Don’t trust strangers. Don’t trust friends too much either. Of course everyone should take reasonable precautions. But imagine if we put the same energy into teaching boys about boundaries and consent that we put into teaching girls how to avoid dangerous situations. Imagine fathers talking to their sons about consent as seriously as they talk about sports. Imagine older men correcting younger men when they hear them degrading women. Imagine a group of friends seeing an extremely intoxicated woman at a party and making sure she gets somewhere safe instead of allowing someone to take advantage of her. We Need a Different Kind of Man The answer is not teaching men to hate themselves. Masculinity does not need to disappear. It needs to grow up. Courage, strength, ambition, leadership, protection and discipline can all be good qualities. But without character, those same qualities can become dangerous. Strength without morals can become intimidation. Leadership can become control. Ambition can become greed. Power can become abuse. None of those things should be confused with being a man. Boys watch us long before they listen to us. They watch how we speak to women, how we handle rejection and how we treat people who cannot do anything for us. They watch what makes us laugh and what we are willing to tolerate from other men. If we make excuses for bad behavior, they notice. If we stay quiet because speaking up might make the room uncomfortable, they notice that too. What We Allow Becomes Part of Us The allegations involving the Cornell students will move through the legal system. The evidence should be examined. The accused are entitled to due process. The woman who brought the allegations deserves to have them taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. All of those things can be true at the same time. Whatever ultimately happens in that case, men should not miss the bigger question. What kind of culture are we creating when another man’s bad behavior becomes none of our business until it becomes a headline? When your friend is about to hurt someone, it is your business. When another man humiliates a woman in front of you, it is your business. When racism is disguised as a joke, it is your business. When cruelty is treated like strength, it is your business. When someone uses his power against somebody who cannot defend themselves, it is your business. Men have occupied a lot of seats at the tables where the world has been shaped. We cannot take credit for everything that was built at those tables and pretend we have nothing to do with what was broken there. Where We Go From Here Men, a significant part of this is our fault. That does not mean men are naturally bad. It means we have inherited some ways of thinking about power, women, strength and manhood that need to change. We do not need another generation of boys believing that controlling people makes them men. We need men who can hear “no” and accept it. Men who can walk away. Men who can control themselves. Men who can challenge their friends. Men who can admit when they are wrong. If previous generations taught boys the wrong lessons about manhood, we can teach different ones. And if our silence has made it easier for bad behavior to continue, change can start in a very simple place. One man being willing to look at another man and say, “Not around me. Not anymore.”Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:29:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/dan-austin-is-building-bridges-through-education-art-and-detroit-culturehttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/dan-austin-is-building-bridges-through-education-art-and-detroit-culture By Beautiful Machine Magazine For Dan Austin, making an impact in Detroit is about more than choosing one path. His work moves between education, art, culture and community, but each part of his journey is connected by the same purpose: creating opportunities for people and bringing them together. Born and raised in Detroit, Austin has built a career around helping others move forward. As a higher education professional, he has spent years working with high school students and adult learners who want to earn college degrees. Much of that work involves helping people overcome the obstacles that can make higher education seem complicated or out of reach. From understanding financial aid and navigating admissions to providing individual guidance, Austin works to make the college process easier to understand. He believes access to education should not be limited by a person’s familiarity with the system. Sometimes the difference between someone abandoning a goal and pursuing it is simply having the right person available to explain the next step. That same belief in access and connection extends into Austin’s creative work. He is the founder of Culture Wave Collective, a Detroit based creative startup centered on art, community and collaboration. Culture Wave creates immersive and interactive experiences where people can gather, meet one another and express themselves through art and culture. For Austin, these events are about more than entertainment. They provide local artists with opportunities to be seen while creating environments where people from different backgrounds can connect. Culture Wave reflects his belief that creativity can strengthen communities when people are given the space to participate in it together. Austin has also expanded his creative work through content production. In addition to producing content for Culture Wave Collective, he has worked with organizations and businesses he believes in, including Black Tech Saturdays, Golfing Around Detroit, The Ice Cream Detroit and JoJo’s Pumpkin Patch. His approach to storytelling is grounded in authenticity and pride in Detroit. He wants his work to introduce audiences to the people, organizations and ideas helping shape the city’s future while giving innovators and changemakers another platform to tell their stories. As important as his professional and creative work may be, Austin’s greatest source of inspiration is much closer to home. He is the father of his two year old daughter, Carmen. Much of his time outside of work is devoted to supporting her early development through swimming, gymnastics and recreational activities. Fatherhood has given Austin another perspective on the importance of opportunity and the impact one generation can have on the next. That idea is also influencing what he hopes to build in the years ahead. Austin wants to become a bridge between Detroit’s emerging young professionals and established leaders who have experience, knowledge and resources to share. He understands that talent exists throughout the city, but opportunity often depends on access. By connecting people who are beginning their journeys with those who have already traveled similar roads, he hopes to create relationships that can lead to mentorship, collaboration and growth. Through Culture Wave Collective, Austin also plans to establish annual scholarships funded by proceeds from its events. The scholarships will support students pursuing careers in the arts and help strengthen the next generation of Detroit’s creative community. Education, creativity and community may appear to be separate worlds, but Austin sees the connection between them. Each can open doors. Each can introduce people to possibilities they may not have considered. And each can become more powerful when people are willing to share what they know with someone coming behind them. For Austin, success is not simply about building something for himself. It is about creating opportunities that allow other people to build something of their own. Follow Dan Austin on Instagram at @iam_danaustin and follow Culture Wave Collective across all platforms at @culturewavecollective. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:30:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/dice-clarks--the-energy-you-leave-behind-is-a-call-to-make-a-differencehttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/dice-clarks--the-energy-you-leave-behind-is-a-call-to-make-a-difference There is a simple truth about life that we sometimes fail to consider. Long after a conversation ends, a meeting is over, or we leave a room, something of us remains. People may forget exactly what we said. They may forget where we were or what we were doing. But they often remember how we made them feel. They remember the encouragement, the kindness, and who showed up when they needed help. They also remember the moments when someone could have made a difference and chose not to. That is the life lesson at the heart of Cecil “Dice” Clark’s new book, The Energy You Leave Behind. For Clark, the idea is bigger than simply having a positive attitude. It is about recognizing that every person leaves something behind through the way they live, the way they treat others, and the way they respond to the needs around them. It is a message Clark understands because community has never been an abstract idea to him. Community is the people who need encouragement, the young people who need a safe place to gather, the families who need support, and the neighbors who deserve to know that someone sees them and cares. The Energy You Leave Behind asks readers to consider a question that stays with them long after the final page: What do people feel, learn, or carry with them after spending time with us? The answer is different for everyone, but Clark believes we all have the ability to influence the people around us. Sometimes that influence comes through a major act of generosity. More often, it happens through smaller moments that may seem insignificant at the time. A word of encouragement can change someone’s day. A moment of patience can prevent a situation from becoming something worse. Taking the time to listen can remind someone that their voice matters. Helping a person when there is nothing to gain in return can restore their belief in people. We do not always get to see what happens next, but the person we encourage today may encourage someone else tomorrow. A young person who receives guidance may eventually become a mentor. A family that receives help during a difficult moment may one day find itself in a position to help another family. That is how energy travels. That idea is reflected in the work Clark has built throughout Detroit. He founded Love Our Kids, Families, and Community, an effort focused on uplifting families and underserved communities. His community initiatives have included school and holiday giveaways, support for seniors and people experiencing homelessness, youth mentoring, mental health awareness, and autism advocacy. He also created Takers Game Vault, a supervised space where young people can connect through gaming and community. While the programs may serve different needs, the purpose behind them remains consistent. Clark wants to create spaces where people feel supported, included, and valued. His work also recognizes something important about community service. Helping people is not always about solving every problem. Sometimes it begins with simply being present. Showing up, listening, creating a safe environment, offering an opportunity, or letting someone know that another person genuinely cares can make a difference. Clark has also used media as another way to bring people together and create conversations. He co owns the podcast What Up Doe and co hosts Spectrum Talk, which spotlights autism, community needs, and cultural resilience. His new book becomes another extension of that work. Instead of limiting the conversation to a community event, a podcast, or a single interaction, The Energy You Leave Behind allows the message to travel into homes and into the lives of people Clark may never personally meet. In a recent FOX 2 Detroit interview, Clark discussed The Energy You Leave Behind along with his new Positive Vibes podcast. The conversation explored the effects of negative energy, the importance of positive stories, and the decision each person can make to become more intentional about what they bring into the lives of others. Faith and community are also part of the personal journey behind his message. The book also challenges the idea that legacy belongs only to famous people, wealthy people, entertainers, athletes, elected officials, or people whose names appear on buildings. Much of what a person leaves behind is built quietly through everyday relationships and choices. It can be found in lessons passed from parents to children, teachers who refuse to give up on students, mentors who provide direction, friendships that endure difficult moments, and neighbors willing to care about what happens beyond their own front door. Clark’s work reflects that principle. Detroit has long been shaped by families, neighborhoods, churches, businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals willing to invest in one another. Making that investment does not always require money. It can mean giving time, sharing knowledge, creating access, offering encouragement, opening a door, or simply showing a young person that someone believes in them. The Energy You Leave Behind asks readers to think about that influence in their own lives. What happens when you enter a room, and what remains after you leave it? Did you encourage someone? Did you offer something that could help another person move forward? Did you make someone feel seen? The answers may never bring applause or recognition, but their impact can still be lasting. As Clark continues his community service and public conversations, the book gives a larger voice to an idea that has guided much of his work for years. We cannot control everything that happens around us or solve every problem facing our communities, but we can be intentional about what we contribute to the people we encounter. When the conversation is over, the event has ended, and we have walked out of the room, the most important question may be a very simple one, What energy did we leave behind?Sun, 04 Oct 2026 22:38:00 -0700http://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/where-we-stand-on-a-cure-for-breast-cancerhttp://www.thebeautifulmachinemag.com/blog/post/where-we-stand-on-a-cure-for-breast-cancer Every October, pink ribbons return and so does the question millions of families want answered. How close are we to curing breast cancer? The honest answer is complicated. There is no single cure because breast cancer is not one disease. It is a group of cancers driven by different hormones, proteins and genetic mutations. A therapy that works remarkably well for one patient may do little for another. What is undeniable is how far medicine has come. According to the American Cancer Society, the breast cancer death rate in the United States fell 44 percent between 1989 and 2023. Earlier detection and improved care have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. When the disease is discovered before it spreads beyond the breast, the five year relative survival rate is greater than 99 percent. Many patients with early stage breast cancer are successfully treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or a combination of these methods. Doctors remain careful with the word cure because a small number of cancer cells can sometimes hide in the body for years. The longer a patient remains free of cancer, the more confident doctors become that the disease has been eliminated. One of the most important changes has been the rise of precision medicine. Doctors can examine a tumor for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, the HER2 protein and specific genetic changes. This information allows them to choose therapy based on the biology of that particular cancer instead of treating every case the same way. HER2 positive breast cancer was once considered especially aggressive. Trastuzumab changed the outlook by attacking the HER2 protein found on cancer cells. Newer medicines known as antibody drug conjugates can locate cancer cells and deliver powerful medication directly to them. Trastuzumab deruxtecan has shown strong results in several forms of advanced disease, including cancers with low levels of HER2. There have also been important gains for patients with hormone sensitive tumors. Medicines called CDK4 and CDK6 inhibitors can slow cancer growth and reduce the chance of recurrence in certain patients. New hormone therapies may work even after a tumor stops responding to older medications. Triple negative breast cancer remains harder to treat because it lacks the three common targets used by many therapies. Even so, new options are changing the outlook. Immunotherapy can help the immune system recognize and attack certain tumors. Sacituzumab govitecan has extended survival for some patients with advanced triple negative disease. People with inherited BRCA mutations may benefit from PARP inhibitors, which keep cancer cells from repairing damaged DNA. The greatest challenge is metastatic breast cancer, which has spread to distant organs. It is usually considered treatable but not curable. The five year survival rate is now around one third, although an average cannot predict what will happen to any individual patient. Some people live for many years as different medicines control the disease. Scientists are studying blood tests that detect tiny pieces of tumor DNA. These liquid biopsies may eventually reveal signs of returning cancer months before it appears on a scan. Researchers are also testing vaccines designed to train the immune system to prevent recurrence. These vaccines are still experimental and should not be mistaken for an available cure. Medical discoveries have not benefited every community equally. Black women are about 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than White women, despite similar diagnosis rates. Later detection, unequal access to specialists, differences in care and higher rates of aggressive triple negative disease all contribute to this disparity. A breakthrough means little to a patient who cannot receive it. We are not at the finish line, but breast cancer is far more treatable than it was a generation ago. The future will probably not arrive through one miraculous announcement. It will come through earlier detection, treatments designed for each tumor and better ways to prevent the disease from returning. A cure may ultimately arrive one discovery, one type of breast cancer and one survivor at a time.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:42:00 -0700