Letter from the (Guest) Editor – March
~ Letter from the Guest Editor, Chasity Cooper
The first quarter of the year is always celebratory for me. January marks my personal trip around the sun, February is Blackity Black, and March is an opportunity to uplift women who are running the world. And while it can be a busy time of spreading ‘Black girl magic’ by publishing content, amplifying others, and attending countless events, in recent years, I’ve become more intentional about how I spend my time and energy. FOMO can be real, but I often remind myself that what’s meant for me will never miss me.
As a Black woman in America today, it’s not lost on me that rest is our truest form of resistance. Author and founder of The Nap Ministry Tricia Hershey exclaims that “Rest pushes back and disrupts a system that views human bodies as a tool for production and labor. It is a counter narrative. We know that we are not machines. We are divine.” Rest isn’t just sleep (although, it’s the best and most necessary form) but it could be taking up a calming hobby, creating for the sake of creating, or just some old fashioned doing nothing. Joy is also something we must embrace freely and without permission. And with all that is happening in the world today, it is crucial that we make space to actively tap into happy feelings and most importantly, protect our peace.
Thankfully, I’m doing my best to decrease doom scrolling and keep news alerts from taking over my phone notifications. While I do watch a decent amount of local news, leaning into my various communities is keeping my spirits up and my focus on the bigger picture. From writing more books and traveling the world to one day opening my own wine bar and mentoring the next generation of Black and brown wine professionals, my dreams are very vivid and worthy of coming to fruition.
This month’s featured profile is of a woman who, in my mind, does it all, and still makes time to embrace and encourage her community. Not only is she a talented chef, business owner, wife, mother, and friend, but she is a faith-filled servant and currently on a journey into ministry. Flip to page XX to learn more about Chef Tiffany Williams-Jenkins, and her incredible culinary journey.
And finally, I want to give a round of applause and a big hearty thank you to my friend Charles for inviting me to be guest editor for this month’s issue. Charles, thank you for your vision, your creativity, and your continued support of women across all areas of hospitality. You are appreciated!
Until next time, thanks for reading!
Chasity Cooper
Charles Dion Springfield
Charles Springfield is a certified sommelier, wine educator and book author in New York City. His mission is to help promote wine appreciation through education in the form of classes, events and various forms of media. He has been working in wine in NYC for the last 15 years. His first book, “The Less is More Approach to Wine,” works to deliver wine education in easy to understand and manageable servings. He wants to help wine lovers create a deeper, more personal relationship with wine. In the summer of 2020, Charles released a new book called “Maneuvering Rosé Wine With Style” focused on educating consumers about the rosé wine category and rosé styles from around the world. In January 2025, Charles became publisher and editor-in-chief of DION, a digital wine/lifestyle monthly magazine, centering stories on the Black community and marginalized cousin-communities. For more info, visit @thewinestylings and @dionwinelifemagazine on Instagram or at www.charlesspringfield.com.