Happy New Year!
Insight News January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016
Vol. 43 No. 1 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Black lives matter… too Commentary by By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer The Dec. 23 protest at the Mall of America was short lived; and that was by design. The organizing forces behind the Black Lives Matter movement had a different target in mind. The Mall of America protest was a crafty diversion … their real target was the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. And while it will be debated for some time to come as to if that was a just destination for protest, what can’t be debated is the impact the movement is having in Minnesota and across America. A conversation is taking place. Actually, several conversations are taking place about race and racism in America. And while much of media is focusing on … fixated on … the unrest between Black and white, the real unrest is between white and white. As I mentioned, the Mall of America protest was a stopping point for Black Lives protesters. But the mall didn’t know that … hell, I didn’t know that (though I always suspected something was afoot). The mall was on high
Africa news in brief: Year end stories In 2015, social media drove youthled movements for change
Harry Colbert, Jr.
The conversation as to do Black lives matter has to take place among whites as well. This is the scene of one such conversation that took place at the Mall of America during a Dec. 23 protest that led mall officials to close its entire east wing for more than an hour, though the protest at the mall lasted less than 10 minutes.
BLM TURN TO 4
New Year’s resolutions for Black America in 2016 Black Press of America By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, NNPA
Whenever we begin a new calendar year, it can be useful to make New Year’s Resolutions to prioritize and focus for the immediate future. Beyond the traditional litany of making very personal and oftentimes private resolutions at the beginning of a new year, Black America as a whole, I believe, should be vocal and public about our determination
to keep pushing forward for freedom, justice, equality and economic empowerment. What should be our collective goals and strategic objectives over the next 12 months? Recent academic studies by the Dominican University of California on the importance of “goal setting” to overcome individual and social procrastination revealed that
writing down your resolutions and sharing your goals with others that you care about will help you work more diligently to achieve those goals. Every time I pick up and read a Black-owned newspaper in America during this season of annual proclamation, it is always informative to see a written list of New Year Resolutions that challenge
Black America to continue strive for excellence and achievement in all fields of endeavor. I am obviously proud of the trusted impact of the Black Press of America. Check us out at www.NNPA. org and www.BlackPressUSA. com. We have another critical
CHAVIS TURN TO 4
(GIN) – Social media networks in 2015 reached new heights in organizing popular protest and calls for change. Some of the most effective campaigns used Twitter with such hashtags as: #BringBackOurGirls to demand action on the fate of 276 girls kidnapped in April 2014 by Boko Haram in Nigeria. Since then 57 have managed to escape but 219 are still missing. #OscarTrial - Under this hashtag, South Africans kept close tabs on the trial of Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, accused of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. With widespread interest in the racial elements at play, the case moved from an initial finding of manslaughter to one of murder. #147notjustanumber was the hashtag referring to the 147 students and school employees murdered by terrorists at Garissa University College last April in Kenya. One of the alleged killers was identified as a son of a Kenyan government official.
AFRICA TURN TO 2
More than just a hashtag The ongoing fight to get justice for Sandra Bland By Jeffrey L. Boney Special to the NNPA News Wire from the Houston Forward Times The Houston Forward Times (HFT) has been covering the latest developments in the case of Sandra Bland. In July of this year, the HFT wrote an article entitled “Wrongful Death: What Happened to Sandra Bland?” in which it was still unknown whether 28-year-old Sandra Bland was murdered by Waller County law enforcement officials or whether she
committed suicide. Whatever the cause of death there is one thing for certain; it was a wrongful death and the family of Sandra Bland has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit to get justice and answers to what actually happened to their loved one. Bland, an African American female, was found hanging in a jail cell by a plastic bag on Monday, July 13, 2015. She had recently come back home to Texas to take a job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M University, when she was
Jesse Muhammad/Houston Forward Times
A group of community activists protest over the wrongful death of 28-year-old Sandra Bland following a traffic stop and arrest in Waller County, Texas.
BLAND TURN TO 5
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Africa From 1 #FeesMustFall and #NationalShutDown were the South African students’ call to arms against school fee hikes. From Oct. 14-16, WitsFeesMustFall, by University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) students, received roughly 20,000 tweets per day. By Oct. 22 the number was 200,000. #ManderaKillings – In a Kenyan city where 14 were killed by Al Shabaab in July, a mass grave was discovered this month, believed to be the work of security forces. Some 59 people are reported missing in that county bordering Somalia. Other Twitter groups include: #BeingFemaleInNigeria, created by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’, #PopeInAfrica, #MugabeFalls, #BurundiCrisis and #BurundiDialogue, and #TheAfricaThatMedia NeverShowsYou. In addition to Twitter, Facebook is also widely used for mobilizations. Politicians have not overlooked the power of social media. During recent elections in Côte d’Ivoire, candidates not only toured cities and villages; they also moved the contest online, feverishly posting campaign updates on Twitter and Facebook.
Thomas Sankara: A martyred hero in Burkina Faso may soon find justice
(GIN) – An international arrest warrant has been issued for the ex-president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, for his suspected role in the 1987 killing of former president Thomas Sankara, according to a statement by Prosper Farama, a lawyer for Sankara’s family.
The unpopular Compaore was ousted in October 2014 after holding office for 27 years and attempting to remain in power for another five. He is believed to be in the Ivory Coast. Sankara pursued a philosophy of Marxism and pan-Africanism and was considered by many to be Africa’s “Che Guevara”. He was known for his trademark red beret and rejection of the lavish lifestyle typical of some African leaders. “Sankara wanted a thriving Burkina Faso, relying on local human and natural resources as opposed to foreign aid,” retired professor of economics, Noel Nébié, told Al Jazeera. “And starting with agriculture, which represents more than 32 per cent of the country’s GDP and employs 80 percent of the working population, he smashed the economic elite who controlled most of the arable land and granted access to subsistence farmers. That improved production making the country almost self-sufficient.” The Compaore regime claimed they had buried Sankara in a simple grave in the capital Ouagadougou but now, following a pledge by the current government to exhume the remains nearly three decades after his death, doubts have been raised about their provenance. “There is no detectable DNA in accordance with the current
state of science,” said Benewende Stanislas Sankara, one of the lawyers representing Sankara’s family. Sankara’s death certificate states that the 37-year-old former army captain died of “natural causes”, but the autopsy results, released in October, found the leader’s supposed remains were “riddled with bullets”. Several reports have since suggested he was executed by a hit squad at government headquarters. Initially known as the
Republic of Upper Volta, after the river, in 1984 Sankara changed the country’s name to Burkina Faso, meaning Land of the Upright People, and he soon made that name the symbol of his nationalization crusade. “When you wake up in the morning and you remember you are a Burkinabe, you automatically recall the person who thought up that local name and stamped it on us,” Ishmael Kaboré, a 47-yearold lawyer in Ouagadougou, told Al Jazeera. “At first, people felt the name Burkina Faso was odd, awkward and far from the modern and foreign names other countries were bearing in Africa. “But they realized after his death that Sankara wanted to give us a unique and special identity that tells our history and depicts our character.” Famously - and eerily - just a week before his death, perhaps sensing what was to come, Sankara said: “While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas.”
Nigerian children in refugee camp in Maiduguri, Nigeria: Boko Haram ‘technically defeated’? Skeptics disagree (GIN) – With only days to go before a self-imposed deadline for defeating Boko Haram, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has declared a “technical” victory against the militants. In an interview with the British BBC, Buhari credited his security forces with incapacitating Boko Haram so they could no longer mount conventional attacks against population centers. As evidence,
insightnews.com he said they have reverted to using improvised explosive devices in their heartland of Borno. Buhari won the presidency in March on a platform that included a pledge to wipe out Boko Haram. But if defeated technically or otherwise, how have they been able to carry out deadly suicide attacks, and move into neighboring Niger, Cameroon and Chad? Nigerians on the website NAIJ. com were in strong disagreement with the official statement. Writer Oluwafemi penned: “Yes. Only technical terrorists, and technical sorrow, technical tears and technical blood still flood the north east.” Nsikanabasi Umoffong wrote: “Yes, you’ve technically won by using the press to suppress news about new attacks.” Meanwhile, attacks were stepped up by the militants in the Lake Chad zone where the borders of Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria meet. A report last month said Boko Haram has become the deadliest terrorist group in the world, killing more than 6,000 people in 2014, in addition to several thousand more
preach. Pastor Charlemagne Nditemen said Muslims and Christians would celebrate at the Cameroon Baptist Convention, one of the country’s oldest churches. Of Cameroon’s 23.7 million residents, 40 percent are Christian, 20 percent are Muslim and the rest hold indigenous beliefs.
prices are driving inflation, depreciation and economic crisis. Nigeria, despite its rosy headlines, huge population and massive potential, may soon have an economy smaller than DR Congo and Ethiopia by 2050,” warns Carlos Lopes, head of the U.N.’s Economic Commission for Africa.
Jobseekers in South Africa: In 2015, hopes of ‘Africa Rising’ beset by global downturns
this year. The United Nations Children’s Fund said this week that violence has forced more than 2,000 schools to close and disrupted the education of more than a million children. A U.S. plan to deploy up to 300 American troops against Boko Haram in Cameroon may come up against an unexpected foe – child soldiers. Meanwhile, Cameroon’s religious community is trying out another strategy. Several churches are sponsoring interfaith gatherings for Christmas. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the capital, Yaounde, traditionally invites Muslims to help celebrate Jesus’ birth with a feast. This year a Muslim cleric was given time to
(GIN) –This was the year African economies were poised to rise and invest some of their new-found capital in jobs and infrastructure. But the triple threat of climate change, falling oil prices and ethnic strife has left some heads of state scrambling for alternative ways to fund their ambitious plans. Of the largest economies, South Africa had a very tough 2015. A slowdown in the Chinese economy took a big bite out of South Africa’s export revenues. Excess supply and weak demand for minerals sparked talk of shutdowns and layoffs by the largest employers. Anglo American, employing about 45,000 workers, revealed plans to cut 85,000 jobs in South Africa and worldwide. The mining company Lonmin may cut 6,000 jobs. As far as agriculture, South Africa is reeling from the worst drought in more than three decades. Some parts of the country have been declared disaster areas, thousands of livestock may have to be killed, and the government is spending about 350 million rand ($25 million) on emergency measures. In Angola, the second largest petroleum producer on the continent, oil drove the nation’s growth for decades. Now, low
Nigeria produces just 1.5% of the electricity it needs for its 173 million people. Exasperated Nigerians dub the Power Holding Company of Nigeria the “Please Hold Candle Nearby” company. Industries retain slow, outdated manual processes because they don’t have the power to run machines. Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, its total mineral wealth at a mind-boggling $24 trillion, more than the GDP of Europe and the US combined, thousands of mine workers fear for their future. Production at the Katanga mine has been suspended since September, responding to a six-year low in copper prices. That leaves Ethiopia. At nearly 100 million, the country posted blistering economic growth in the past decade or so. More importantly, it is fast closing the infrastructure gap, laying down a flurry of roads, railways and power projects, which would give it a competitive advantage in the region, particularly over DR Congo that is notoriously poorly connected. But this mega-infrastructure binge has put enormous pressure on Ethiopia’s public finances, analysts fear, which are already strained following the first growth and infrastructure plan that expires this year. A West and Central Africa Mining Summit takes place in Ghana this May. A more realistic vision for Africa’s resourcebased economies might well emerge.
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Insight News • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Page 3
HEALTH Tobacco treatment free for Minnesotans on Medical Assistance Keeping that New Year’s resolution to quit smoking may be easier in 2016, since tobacco treatment medication for Minnesotans on Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare became completely free as of Jan. 1. Changes passed during the 2015 state legislative session waive copays for preventive services that are “A or B” rated by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, such as tobacco treatment counseling as well as FDA-approved smoking cessation medications. This means Minnesotans insured by Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare will have no copays for quit-smoking treatments. According to health officials, in Minnesota, nearly 5,900 people die every year due to smoking, and it causes nearly $2.5 billion annually in medical costs. This change removes significant barriers for more Minnesotans who want to quit smoking and is expected to save state taxpayers money in the long run by reducing the number of people who smoke. “Expanding access to tobacco treatment medication will further support our state’s efforts to reduce tobacco use,”
said Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Emily Johnson Piper. “By ensuring more Minnesotans can afford these medicines, we can work to increase the success rate for quitting smoking in Minnesota.” Despite declines in the overall number of Minnesotans who smoke, many communities still smoke at disproportionately higher rates. Low-income Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid smoke at approximately twice the rate of the general population, and health care costs for smokers are 34 percent higher than for nonsmokers. According to Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Edward Ehlinger, making it easier for people to quit smoking is good news all around. “Quitting smoking is one of the best things people can do to improve their health,” said Ehlinger. “To help all Minnesotans realize the benefit of being smoke-free, we need to remove barriers, especially financial barriers, to quitting. This is particularly important for people with low incomes who may not have the resources to pay for essential tobacco use cessation programs.”
DHS funds seven organizations serving sexually exploited youth The Minnesota Department of Human Services recently awarded $3.3 million to seven Minnesota organizations providing emergency shelter, outreach services, and supportive housing specific to the needs of sex-trafficked minors. The funding will expand and continue services to youth. “Sex trafficking is a horrific crime that is devastating to victims,” said Human Services Commissioner Emily Johnson Piper. “With this funding, we want to ensure youth get the services they need to heal and move on with their lives in safe, supportive communities across the state.” Organizations receiving this funding through Minnesota’s Safe Harbor law include: • 180 Degrees, St. Paul, which provides 14 shelter beds for young women aged 1017 through Brittany’s Place • Heartland Girls Ranch, Benson, which operates eight supportive housing beds for young women aged 12-17 • Life House, Duluth, which coordinates two emergency shelter beds for youth aged 11-17, and a fivebedroom supportive housing unit, Sol House, for 16- to 17-year-olds • Lutheran Social Service, Brainerd, which will develop a specialized foster care program, Saving Grace, for youth and children under 18-years-old • Tubman, Maplewood, which is opening supportive housing and services for 16and 17-year-olds and their children in March 2016 • The Link, Prior Lake, which provides six emergency shelter beds for youth aged 1317 and five supportive housing units for youth aged 16-24 • S t r e e t Wo r k s Collaborative, St. Paul and Minneapolis area, which will incorporate specialized training on outreach to sexually exploited youth for homeless youth outreach workers. With additional funding for the 2016-2017 biennium, the number of shelter beds available to sexually exploited youth will increase from 25 to 48 in Duluth, Brainerd and the east Twin Cities’ metropolitan area. The department will continue support for established shelter and supportive housing beds in the west Twin Cities’ metropolitan area, Benson and Duluth. Organizations model their work after the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s No Wrong
Door: A Comprehensive Approach to Safe Harbor for Minnesota’s Sexually Exploited Youth report. The Safe Harbor law, passed in 2011, included a collaborative effort among the Minnesota Department of Health, which employs a statewide director and six regional navigators; the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, which provides training on the new approach and best practices for working with victims of sex trafficking; and the Minnesota Department of Human Services, which, in partnership with community organizations, developed models for shelter, foster care, and supportive housing for sexually exploited youth. Services are culturally specific and trauma-informed, with special consideration to populations vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking.
Page 4 • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Insight News
Chavis From 1 election year coming up in 2016 and the Black American vote will have to be mobilized in every primary election and across the nation next November in elections in every precinct in every state, county by county. Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) efforts, therefore, will be a top priority and we must collectively resolve that in 2016 we will ensure the largest voter turnout of Black voters in the history of the United States. Remember, we had a record voter turnout of Black voters both in 2008 and in 2012. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “66.2 percent of Blacks who voted in the 2012 presidential election, higher than the 64.1 percent of non-Hispanic Whites who did so…This marks the first time that Blacks have voted at a higher rate than Whites since the Census Bureau
started publishing statistics on voting by the eligible citizen population in 1996.” We cannot afford to let the Black vote be taken for granted in 2016. Politics and economics are inseparable in the United States. Yet, even though Black Americans spend in excess of $1.2 trillion annually in the nation’s economy, that kind of spending volume has not translated into real economic power: increasing the ownership of global businesses and billion-dollar revenuegenerating investments. We still have a long way to go to achieve economic equality and parity in America. We should resolve, therefore, in 2016 to improve and expand the economic development of Black American families and communities. Although the American economy continues to recover under the Obama Administration, for Black Americans we have not closed the wealth gap. White Americans today have 12 times
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We should resolve, therefore, in 2016 to improve and expand the economic development of Black American families and communities.
the wealth of Black Americans. We must without hesitation and without apology be more determined to end poverty and to generate more wealth for Black America. Therefore, we join in complete solidarity with the resolve of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) in the goal of striving to increase Black homeownership in 2016. We are very encouraged that the 2016 NAACP Image Awards will once again be
broadcast on TV One. We all should support Radio One, TV One and Interactive One. We all also should support The Impact Network and other Black-owned media companies as well as the publishers of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). Ending mass incarceration, reforming the criminal justice system, and stopping police brutality are related urgent matters that demand the resolve and activist involvement
BLM
I was two floors away and with the wing entirely shut off, I had to make my way through the outer interior ring of the mall to get to the voice. By the time I got there I pulled out my camera and began snapping pictures of a woman – white, gray hair, glasses, but otherwise nondescript. She was the “average” American. This was the voice. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t part of the “official protest.” She had a couple of large shopping bags of just-purchased items. She was a shopper who just happened to be there … and who just happened to be fed up with the almost daily killings of people of color at the hands of American law enforcement. So there she was holding her one-woman protest yelling so that everyone around could here that Black lives matter. Then it happened. Angered with the protest that wasn’t, and angered that her shopping had been interrupted, another white woman – this one younger than the first, but far from youthful – decked out in flannel and cowboy boots began yelling,
From 1 alert with law enforcement armed with full-on riot gear. They were expecting the worst, as evidenced by the announcement that played over the mall’s loudspeakers warning that, “Those who are not in a secure location seek shelter immediately.” The entire east wing of the mall was locked down – no one in or out. While it was business as usual everywhere else throughout the mall, the east wing – all four floors was eerily silent – minus, of course, the bullhorn announcements that the protest (that had moved out almost as soon as it moved in) was “unauthorized and a violation of mall policy.” But in that strange silence a voice arose. From a third floor railing a voice could be heard throughout the entire east wing. The voice was yelling, “Black lives matter … Black lives matter … Black lives matter.”
of Black America. Yes, in 2016 our national outcry will continue to be “Black Lives Matter!” The highest quality education for our children and our young adults requires our vocal support and energetic involvement from pre-school to post graduate higher education. At every level of the educational process and journey we must be vigilant in our demands and commitments to attain the best education for our families. Thus let’s renew and strengthen our dedication to support the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) as well as work to sustain all of our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and predominantly Black institutions (PBIs). Lastly, we are a spiritual people. All African people are spiritual. We resolve lastly to support
and strengthen our religiously institutions: churches, temples, mosques and synagogues. I asked the Chairman of the NNPA, Denise Rolark Barnes, who publishes the Washington Informer for her perspective about 2016 New Year Resolutions. She emphasized resolutely, “In 2016, our first priority should be to commit our lives and our dollars to those individuals and institutions that represent our best interests. Let’s strive to be the ones that will make a difference in our own communities. Be mindful that ‘If it is to be, it is up to me.’”
“All lives matter” after the Black lives matter call. Then she approached the older woman and red-faced, began to argue. The argument was that the protest was “stupid” because “all lives matter,” to which the elder’s retort was, “If all lives mattered, Blacks and Browns wouldn’t be getting murdered for no other reason than the color of their skin.” The woman in flannel again said, “All lives matter, why aren’t you saying that?” And that’s where that “ah ha” moment occurred. The gray-haired woman in her wisdom said, “Of course all lives matter … and that includes Black lives. How about this? How about I say, ‘Black lives matter, too?’ Does that make it better? Here, let’s see.” And the average American white woman turned toward the railing and began yelling, “Black lives matter … too. Black lives matter … too.” “Are you OK with that,” she asked the younger woman, to which the younger woman had no reply. “That’s what I
thought: you still don’t like it because you can’t even say that Black lives matter at all.” I stood there snapping pictures of the conversation, stunned that I was finally given an insider’s view to the conversations that are taking place when Blacks aren’t around. I wish I had gotten the name of the gray-haired woman because I would love to thank her. See, here’s what we have to understand. If we’re going to change the conditions in America we are going to have to have white liaisons to have these conversations with other whites. The reality is many white people have tuned us out long ago … whether intentional or subconsciously. It doesn’t matter if we speak calmly or yell it while blocking an international airport, they’re not hearing us. But maybe, just maybe, they’ll listen to some of their own.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http:// drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/ drbfc.
Maybe it’s as simple as getting them to say that Black lives matter … too.
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Insight News • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Page 5
BUSINESS Nonprofit mission creep: good or bad? FUNdraising Good Times
By Mel and Pearl Shaw This is the first in a series focused on the prerequisites for fundraising success. Happy New Year! We hope you are energized and ready to embrace a new year and new fundraising success. We
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Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin
start 2016 by sharing a few nonprofit fundamentals: your fundraising should focus on securing funds and resources to implement your strategic plan. Your strategic plan is a road map for the activities which bring your mission to life. Your mission is the way your organization expresses its vision. This means your mission is at the very core of your fundraising. Your mission may be unwavering, or it may change over time. Sometimes that’s “good” and sometimes it’s “bad.” Most of the time it lies somewhere in-between. Let’s say your nonprofit’s vision is “a world without violence” and your mission is “to teach conflict resolution to teenagers.” Your board has focused on conflict resolution because members have seen how young people quickly move from conflict to violence without knowing how to “deescalate” the situation and move to resolution.
Bland From 1 stopped on Friday, July 10, by Waller County State Trooper Brian Encinia, who verbally and physically confronted Bland. Another driver recorded cell phone video of the incident and you can here Bland telling the officers that she is in pain and cannot hear after her head was slammed on the ground by the male arresting officer. Authorities immediately released reports saying Bland hanged herself in her Waller County jail cell – which is about 60 miles northwest of
Houston – three days after having her head slammed to the ground and being arrested for allegedly getting into a physical altercation with an officer during a routine traffic stop – Bland supposedly failed to signal a lane change. On Thursday, December 17, concerned citizens and community activists from all across the Greater Houston area gathered downtown in front of the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse to hold a Sandra Bland Solidarity Rally. The rally was held prior to the second status hearing on the case in U.S. District Court Judge David Hittner’s court that same day. Supporters outside the
federal building chanted Sandra Bland’s name repeatedly and after the rally, flooded Judge Hittner’s courtroom to show strength in numbers and support for the family of Sandra Bland. The courtroom was packed with roughly 100 people, with the hallways outside the courtroom filled with about 50 more supporters who could not get in. “The community, Houston and the surrounding area and across the country are standing with [the Bland family] in support of getting justice,” said Jinaki Muhammad , who serves as the National Black United Front’s (NBUF) Vice Co-Chair of Women’s Affairs. “Our actions here today let the judge, and the world, know
Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Carmen Robles Lydia Schwartz Ryan T. Scott Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
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Your responsibility as a nonprofit leader is to keep your eye on the relationship between vision and mission and to understand the needs of the community you serve. You may find a donor wants you to pilot a new program believing it is a step towards your vision of a world without violence. It makes sense to the board, and the donor wants to fund it. So you add a new program. It is well received by the families you serve, and more donors join with gifts to sustain and grow this new program. Over time the board looks at the organization and its programming and realizes the “new” program is now it’s largest. This is one manifestation of “mission creep.” Is that “good” or “bad?” That is something for the board to grapple with. When reviewing your programming against your mission and vision make sure you have both quantitative and qualitative information to
guide your assessment. You don’t want your own opinions and experiences to be the only lens that guides your decision making. For example, it could be that new programming has helped your organization serve people it hadn’t been able to reach before. Or maybe the causes of youth violence have shifted and your initial programs aren’t able to impact teenagers as they had in earlier years. What’s most important is that you evaluate your programs and the environment you are working in to make sure you are in sync with community needs. Your mission may change over time, and that may be good.
that the family of Sandra Bland is not alone. We know that nothing could replace losing a loved one, but we will continue to show the family support over the next year as the legal process continues to play out on their pursuit towards justice.” After the hearing, which lasted a little more than an hour, Judge Hittner set a trial date for January 23, 2017, as it relates to the lawsuit filed by the family of Sandra Bland. The family seeks unspecified damages from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Trooper Brian Encinia, the state trooper who
arrested her; Waller County; as well as two jailers. The family of Sandra Bland was also at the rally and hearing Thursday. “I’m coming here in front of you to let you know, I am not okay coming out of this hearing today,” said Geneva Reed-Veal, the mother of Sandra Bland. “I have not celebrated one holiday without her and it is tough. I want all of you to know Sandy was more than a hashtag. That’s what I want everybody to know. Sandra Bland was more than a hashtag. And we will continue fighting for justice for her.”
Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl wish you a Merry Christmas! For more ways you can make a difference in your community visit www. saadandshaw.com
Page 6 • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Insight News
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COMMENTARY Abusive debt collectors target Black consumers Center for Responsible Lending By Charlene Crowell An old adage teaches that one man’s pain is another’s gain. That adage is a truism when it comes to the debt collection industry. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), debt buyers pay just 3.1 percent on the dollar for defaulted debts. Additionally, 94 percent of these debts are sold without documentation. So why would a business bother with buying old and potentially inaccurate credit
claims? The answer is money and lots of it. After paying pennies on the dollar for old accounts, debt buyers pursue consumers for the full dollar value shown. Ignoring whether the debt is already paid or even actually belongs to someone else, debt collection lawsuits have flooded courts across the country. If an affected consumer is unaware of a legal challenge, default judgments can and have been entered resulting in wage garnishment, bank account seizure and negative items on credit reports. This fall ProPublica, a nonprofit news organization specializing in investigative journalism published a groundbreaking analysis that documents how debt collection lawsuits hit Black neighborhoods the hardest.
In 2014 and in 2015, debt collection remains the number one concern measured by consumer complaints
Analyzing lawsuits over a fiveyear period in the metro areas of St. Louis, Chicago and Newark, ProPublica found that the rate of judgments was twice as high in mostly Black neighborhoods in each of these cities.
The report states that “generations of discrimination have left Black families with grossly fewer resources to draw on when they come under financial pressure…Collection suits – typically over smaller
amounts like credit card debt – fly across the desks of local judges, sometimes hundreds in a single day. Defendants usually don’t make it to court, and when they do, rarely have an attorney.” In Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, once a solid middle-class area in the 1950s and 1960s, was found to have the highest rate of judgments in all of Cook County, Illinois. Nearby suburban Matteson residents with median household incomes of $76,055 suffered the most judgments – 700 – in all of Cook County. Similarly in Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, median household incomes greater than $52,000 were not enough to spurn debt collection lawsuits in Upper Vailsburg. This middle-class neighborhood with a large Haitian and West
Indian community accounted for about 60 percent of Essex County lawsuits. In metro St. Louis, debt collection lawsuits have been brought based on a range of reasons including medical providers, public utilities, highcost lenders and those unable to pay traffic tickets and/or court fines in several neighborhoods including Jennings, Normandy, Kinloch and Berkeley. Weeks following publication of these startling findings, on December 3, Missouri Attorney General (AG) Chris Koster proposed judicial reforms to curb abusive debt collection. Taking the opportunity to bring the issue to the attention of the state’s recently-formed Commission
DEBT TURN TO 8
Open expressions of racism By Bill Fletcher, Jr. NNPA News Wire Columnist The other day a friend of mine, after hearing the latest rants by Presidential candidate Donald Trump, asked whether we are better off with open expressions of racism than having such expressions silenced. I found the question quite interesting and provocative. It spoke to the nature of race in the contemporary United States and the emergence from the swamp of what one might call reconstructed racism. It was only in late 2008 – early 2009, that the mainstream media heralded the coming of
an alleged post-racial U.S. Yet within a few months of President Obama’s election, it was clear for all to see that this was far from the case. The rise of the Birther movement, questioning the citizenship of the President; the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates; and the uptick in racial terror against those of us of color, all pointed to something very ugly on the scene. It, therefore, did not take very long for us to arrive at a situation where, Islamophobia has become the acceptable means through which Whites can be racists, where political candidates are making the most outrageous and inaccurate arguments about the current status of race in the U.S., and where a Supreme Court Justice
seems to feel quite comfortable implying the inferiority of African Americans in academia. To the question that was posed, I responded that, yes, it is better that there are these open expressions. It is not “better” in the sense that this is the preferable climate. Certainly, we should all wish to exist in an anti-racist environment. But it is better that we know what the actual terrain is in which we are operating lest we fall prey to significant illusions. What demagogues, such as Trump, have accomplished has been the facilitation of a discussion that was only slightly beneath the surface. Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and other right-wing
provocateurs did not create this situation. The illness was already in the system. It only needed an opportunistic element to unleash it. Trump and the others provided that element. They were willing to be outrageous in their rhetoric. They were willing to say what many (particularly older) White people thought. They have been able to dismiss critics by either bullying them or simply ignoring them. The underlying illness of racism is integrally linked to the dramatic economic and demographic changes underway in the U.S.A. Trump and other right-wingers have seized on this and played to those fear born of ignorance. They have also played to the fact that
too few political leaders are pointing to a positive direction out of this overall crisis. Yet there is one other aspect to this situation. The fact of the matter is that when Trump and others like former Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, began their rants, some years ago, those who knew better did not take it seriously. They were allowed to get away with the most provocative language when it came to President Obama, language that was as inaccurate as it was racially incendiary. Yet, most of the mainstream media and mainstream political figures either sat silently or, in some cases, encouraged this dangerous rhetoric. There is a scene in the famous
comedy “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein” where Count Dracula has recreated Frankenstein’s monster, with the help of a corrupt scientist. At a certain point, the monster awakens and goes berserk. The corrupt scientist believes that she can stop the monster only to be thrown out a window by that creature. To the mainstream media and the Republican Party leadership I have an announcement: the monster has been unleashed. Watch out for windows. Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the host of The Global African on Telesur-English. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and at www. billfletcherjr.com.
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Insight News • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Page 7
Transgender and queer youth mental health group finds new home By Hannah Jones TC Daily Planet RECLAIM is an organization in flux. Change has been the natural state of being for the nonprofit for all of its seven years providing mental health support to queer and trans youth in the Twin Cities. This latest change has been one of its biggest: a change of address. Until recently, if you wanted to get to RECLAIM, you had to seek out its Uptown office. Staff who remember it generously describe it as a former residence possessing “vintage charm.” They shared this building with a few other practitioners and businesses, and to top it off, the office was located up a flight of stairs. A healing journey at RECLAIM literally began with an uphill climb. That is, until Dec. 1. After a year of searching, RECLAIM staff found a new home. Founder and senior therapist Janet Bystrom couldn’t be happier. The move isn’t just a change of scene. It’s a transformation. With this space, it’s poised to triple its client capacity, become far more accessible and expand its services. “I’m overjoyed with where we are,” she said. “Just overjoyed.” Reclaiming access RECLAIM’s new home is in St. Paul, just off University Avenue at 771 Raymond Ave. Interim Executive Director Autumn Brown said they never originally planned on leaving Minneapolis, but as soon as they considered the idea, it started to make more and more sense. The new location sits at a nexus of public transportation, and even if the distance is physically longer for some of their clients, she said, their commute often ends up being shorter. Most of the excitement, however, happens inside the doors. “It’s been really fun, actually, to see how clients respond when they walk in here,” Brown said. “Their words are usually literally, ‘Oh my God, I did not expect this.” Where RECLAIM now calls home used to to be the Swift School of Music, and some of that artistic spirit is still in the space. The floors are gleaming hardwood. A high-ceilinged front lobby leads back into a second waiting room just for clients. There’s a parking lot in the back, and even a performance venue in the basement. On top of it all: a kitchen, and not one, but two bathrooms. Brown’s office is right in the center of the front lobby. Her door has a clear glass pane, but it’s almost always open anyway. At
Hannah Jones
Autumn Brown stands at the threshold of her purple office space. Open doors and easy access are a priority at RECLAIM.
RECLAIM
RECLAIM’s staff is growing to meet client needs. Pictured left to right: (back row) Lola Osunkoya, Jen Witt, Founder and senior therapist Janet Bystrom, Jeff Cronin-Hnilicka, Chriss Joyce (front row) Qamar Saadiq Saoud, G Zachariah White, Maryrose Dolezal and Interim Executive Director Autumn Brown RECLAIM, accessibility is one of the biggest priorities. The new space has wheelchair-accessible entries and bathrooms, and quiet, warmly lit environments designed to prevent overstimulation. The majority of their clients don’t need these accommodations, Brown said, but that may just be because they were never available to them before. “We want to anticipate needs as opposed to adapting to the needs of clients as they arise,” she said. While they may not have everything right already, they’re always going to be working toward that goal. That’s what RECLAIM is to her: a series of journeys, for clients, staff and the organization itself. “It’s not that there are people who are broken and need to be fixed and people who aren’t,” she said. “We all have wounds that need healing. Everyone’s included into that work.” Reclaiming healing RECLAIM is all about the healing that surrounds identity. Its immediate goal is to provide caring and competent mental health services to queer and trans youth, because historically, the mental health field has pathologized differences in gender and sexuality. It’s not that things aren’t changing, Brown said – but
there’s plenty of unmet needs still out there. That’s why RECLAIM’s also using the space to train other practitioners, in hopes that they can “seed” Minnesota with professionals who understand the needs of these young people. According to staff, about 90 percent of RECLAIM’s clientele come to them fresh from other therapists, who wouldn’t or couldn’t meet their needs. Ilana Sperling was one of them. She now works as an intern in an office kitty-corner to Brown’s. She had been going through a tough time until she joined RECLAIM’s weekly gender support group several years ago. “I’d gone to a bunch of places in the Twin Cities,” she said. “RECLAIM was the first place I found for therapy where I felt respected and seen.” These days, she’s working on RECLAIM’s communication materials and creating a new intake system for clients. She also co-facilitates the gender support group. Every week, she said, the youth in that circle amaze her. But more and more, she’s seeing rosters and waitlists filling up. Before the move and expansion, RECLAIM had to turn away two-thirds of its potential clients. With more space and staff, it can take on more people. But even that might not be enough in the near future. Brown can’t
shake the feeling that they’re only “scratching the surface.” “The reality of the experience we’ve been having is that it’s all happened even without doing major outreach about our services,” she said. “I expect we’ll find that even as we triple client capacity, we’ll find that there’s additional need.” But, their first priority, Bystrom said, is depth rather than breadth. They want to give the best quality care they can. The need for a safe social space is out there, too, and Brown spoke of potential partnerships with other area nonprofits, like the Link and Shades of Yellow. There are many ways forward, and not all of them are certain, but the overwhelming feeling is excitement. “People can see that we’re growing, and they respond positively when they see that,” Bystrom said. “Now, we really have a place where we can feel ownership.” Reclaiming space RECLAIM’s expansion has been exhilarating for staff and clients, but it’s just the latest step of many that brought it where it is today. They couldn’t have gotten this far, Bystrom said, without friends. “What makes RECLAIM really unique and special is how loved and supported it is by the community,” Bystrom
Hannah Jones
RECLAIM’s new home used to be the Swift School of Music, and some of that artistic spirit is still in the space.
said. “That’s the whole reason RECLAIM exists to begin with.” RECLAIM began in 2009, right after two other LGBT support and community center programs – District 202 and Bystrom’s former practice, Face to Face – were cut. The recession was taking a heavy toll on services for queer and trans youth. But rather than let them go quietly, Bystrom and the surrounding community rallied and gave what they could. People donated small sums of $25, $50 and sometimes $100; not just people in the LGBT community, Bystrom said – all kinds of people. In the end, they raised $35,000 in just three weeks. RECLAIM was born. Today, the same grassroots support keeps RECLAIM going and growing. On Give to the Max Day on Nov. 12, RECLAIM received $12,000 in donations, including an anonymous donation of $5,000 made specifically in Bystrom’s honor. Even as the organization keeps changing, that aspect of it has remained exactly the same.
“It brings tears to my eyes,” she said. All together, it’s almost enough to pay the rent difference for RECLAIM’s new home: about $13,000. Brown called the whole thing “magical.” She’s not the only one, according to Bystrom. “Everybody talks about the RECLAIM magic,” she said. “Things just happen, just in the right way and at the right time.” Later this winter, Brown hopes they’ll be able to hire the right permanent executive director to keep them going. Her position was never meant to be long-term. But her time at RECLAIM has been a healing journey for her, too, and a chance to be the most authentic version of herself she can be, wherever she is. “One of the unacknowledged realities is that we cause a lot of harm to each other every day. The predominating philosophy seems to be that you just suck it up,” she said. “But, no: we can shift that. We can tell a different story.”
State of LGBT equality in six Minnesota cities detailed WASHINGTON D.C – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released its fourth annual report assessing LGBT equality in 408 cities across the nation, including six in Minnesota. The 2015 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the only nationwide rating system of LGBT inclusion in municipal law and policy, shows that cities across the country, including in Minnesota, continue to take the lead in supporting LGBT people and workers, even when states and the federal government have not. For LGBT Americans, legal protections and benefits vary widely from state to state, and city to city. In 31 states, LGBT people are at risk of being fired, denied housing or refused service because of sexual identity. The average score for cities in Minnesota is 76 out of 100 points, which falls above the national average of 56. Minneapolis and St. Paul scored a perfect 100 with Bloomington (59), Duluth (71), Rochester (69) and Saint Cloud all scoring above the national average. “Across our country, cities and towns both big and small aren’t waiting for state or national leaders to move LGBT equality forward,” said HRC president, Chad Griffin. “Instead, these municipalities are taking action now to improve the lives of countless LGBT Americans. In what has been an historic year for equality, a record-breaking number of municipalities this year have earned top scores in
our Municipal Equality Index for their inclusive treatment of their LGBT citizens and workers. They are making a powerful statement that no one should have to wait for full equality – the time is now.” “This year, an unprecedented wave of discriminatory legislation attempted to rollback our efforts for LGBT equality,” said Rebecca Isaacs of the Equality Federation. “Despite that challenge, over 20 towns and municipalities passed non-discrimination ordinances – some in the most unexpected places. These wins, along with historic LGBT visibility, speak to the tenacity of our advocates all across the country, many
of whom donate their time to achieve fairness and equality.” The cities researched for the 2015 MEI include the 50 state capitals, the 200 most populous cities in the country, the five largest cities in every state, the city home to the state’s two largest public universities, and an equal mix of 75 of the nation’s large, mid-size and small municipalities with the highest proportion of same-sex couples. Forty-seven cities earned perfect 100-point scores, up from 38 in 2014, 25 in 2013 and 11 in 2012, the first year of the MEI. The MEI rates cities based on 41 criteria falling under five categories – non-discrimination
laws, municipality’s employment policies, including transgenderinclusive insurance coverage, contracting non-discrimination requirements, and other policies relating to equal treatment of LGBT city employees, inclusiveness of city services, law enforcement and municipal leadership on matters of equality. The full report, including detailed scorecards for every city, as well as a searchable database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.
A Non-Traditional, Cutting Edge Experience! Be Ready for Truth, Healing, Teaching and Transformation!
Circle of Healing Ministry The Only “Worship in Circle” Church Experience
Pastor Roslyn Harmon Sundays 2-4pm
1015 4th Avenue North|Minneapolis, MN 55405
Visit Us: Circleofhealingministry.org For More Info: 612.564.9962
Page 8 • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE
Your future is bright in 2016! Man Talk
By Timothy Houston You have to believe that in this New Year your future is bright! You are here for a reason. You are here for a greater purpose than you may have realized. You must never give up the quest to find it. Your future goals in life should
be connected to your divine purpose that can and will be revealed to you by God. I know the end from the beginning ... my purpose will stand,” (Isaiah 46:10). God’s plan for your life will establish your end from your beginning and allow you to look optimistically into the New Year. Your future is bright! Look forward, take courage, and think positively! First, finding your bright future is a forward thinking activity. Look inwardly. Your past failures will no longer be relevant. They will only cause you to focus on your mistakes
and that will take away from your future potential. Look forward. Your brightest days are ahead of you! You will always be greater in the future because there, you can benefit from your current choices. Look up. Even if life knocks you on your back, you can still look up. And if you can look up, then you can get up. Let go of last year’s mistakes and focus on your brilliant future! Secondly, finding your bright future takes courage. Take heed. Don’t try to be something that you are not. The real you is the most powerful version of yourself that you can share
with the world. We all have our strengths. Some can run like the wind, sing without trying, or do complex math in their heads. Others like me have to look harder to find their gifts. Take courage. I was 40 years old before I realized that I could write something worth sharing. Stay true to yourself, the real you is still your most valuable possession. Finally, finding your bright future requires positive thinking. This positive thinking comes from God because he has established your end from your beginning. This means that he
knows you from beginning to end. He is the only one that can give you the thoughts that lead to prosperity, hope and a future. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s words are your true measurements for your bright future! What you have done in the past will always be minuscule in comparison to what you are able to accomplish now. Be encouraged! Your greatest days are truly ahead of you. Be
optimistic! Real success in life can only be measured by the maximizing of your potential. Be hopeful! God is not through with you yet so your future will always be bright! Look forward, take courage, and think positively! Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.
Brother and sister duo opening first vegan butcher shop in the U.S. Brother and sister Kale Walch and Aubry Walch are opening the first vegan “butcher shop” in the U.S and it is in Northeast Minneapolis. After years of producing meat-free meats and cheesefree cheeses, The Herbivorous Butcher has grown from a sixfoot farmer’s market table to a brick-and-mortar location at 507 1st Ave. N.E. – thanks to a vocal following from around the world and a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $60,000. The Walches have crafted small-batch, locally-sourced, all-natural meat alternatives to
the foods that they both grew up with, capturing the flavors, textures and nutrients of animal products without what they call the negative impacts on health, animals, and the environment. The retail storefront, which opens Jan. 23, will be open six days a week and will feature deli cases stocked with dozens of meat and cheese alternatives such as Italian sausage, deli meats, porterhouse steak, meatballs, brats, BBQ ribs, pepper jack, camembert, smoked gouda, dill Havarti, and weekly and seasonal specials.
Debt
a trial setting; and 3. Require debt buyers to certify that cases are brought within the allowed time period with an itemized explanation of fees and costs sought. Commenting on the proposed rule changes, AG Koster wrote, “In Missouri and elsewhere, abusive litigation practices in the collection of consumer debts result in a disparate negative impact on racial minorities.” A few days later on December 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a complaint against a Massachusetts-based
From 6 on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, AG Koster outlined three specific ways that Missouri’s state courts’ rules could end this financial abuse: 1. Require debt collectors to establish the right to collect the debt in court with documents showing ownership; 2. Deny the issue of a default judgment until after a consumer has received adequate notice of the suit and additionally failed to appear at
Kale Walch and Aubry Walch debt collection firm that was reporting and collecting on old cell phone debts that consumers disputed. Further, the debt collection firm, EOS, failed to correct information that it determined to be inaccurate. “After buying a portfolio of debt, EOS soon learned of several red flags that raised doubts about the debt’s validity,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Even so, EOS still proceeded to collect certain disputed and unverified debts. It is unacceptable that consumers were harmed by these practices and that the company supplied inaccurate
information to the credit reporting companies.” CFPB’s enforcement followed more than a year of continuing investigations of major debt collection firms and their practices. In 2014 and in 2015, debt collection remains the number one concern measured by consumer complaints, more than mortgages, credit cards or bank accounts. In the past year, debt collection represented 50 percent of complaints by service men and women. Earlier this year the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) released a report on debt
collection that recommended state reforms include protections that ensure people are not sued in connection with debt they do not owe, or for amounts they do not owe. At a minimum, CRL called for state protections to set standards for adequate information and documentation to collect a debt, and require documentation on it before obtaining a judgment against a consumer. “The debt collection and debt buying practices highlighted in recent state and federal regulator actions demonstrate the harms individuals often face in the
Courtesy of Herbivorous Butcher
debt collection market,” said Lisa Stifler, Senior Policy Counsel at CRL. “Every consumer should be free from abusive and harassing debt collection. Decisive actions at both the state and federal levels combined with aggressive enforcement will together hold debt collectors accountable for their wrongdoing.” Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@ responsiblelending.org.
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Insight News • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Page 9
COMMUNITY
Angela Glover Blackwell
Michael McAfee
United Way to host race and equity forum The Greater Twin Cities United Way is set to host “Cultivating Conditions for Change,” a forum on race and equality. The forum, set for Wednesday,
Jan. 27 at 8 a.m. at the Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Ave. S., will examine inequities in education, employment and health that persist in Minnesota.
Keynote speakers for the event are Angela Glover Blackwell and Michael McAfee. Glover Blackwell is the founder and CEO of PolicyLink, an organization
dedicated to improving access and opportunity for low-income people and communities of color. McAfee is the vice president of programs at PolicyLink and
works to create “cradle to career” initiatives for children of color. Admission is $35 and the group rate is $20 (of five or more).
Car review: 2016 Mazda 6 By Frank S. Washington NNPA News Wire Cars Columnist DETROIT – It is near impossible not to like a Mazda, in this case the automaker’s flagship sedan, the Mazda6. Swept lines and smoother curves gave the car a take a second look design. Many noted its good looks and wanted to know what kind of car it was. That might be Mazda’s only problem: a lack of marketing money. But then again, the company sells about every vehicle its factories can churn out. This rendition of the Mazda6 has been on the market for-two years but Mazda
chose to update the car. That’s what small, quick and nimble companies can do. Amongst many tinkerings for 2016 was a new grill, fog lights, surround and LED headlights. We had the touring package so those LED headlights were standard and they were adjustable. The Mazda6 had a winged grill motif that carried through all of its exterior design. Fenders were curved over the wheel and the belt line was a bit pinched at the center of the car and then it open up as it flowed to the rear end. In a sense, the car looked like sheet metal in motion even when at a standstill. Inside, stylists improved on what was already a competent interior. They upgraded the materials and, for the intrepid,
pure white leather is now available. The interior of the test car was parchment but it looked awfully white, especially at night as the interior lights came on when we approached the car with FOB in pocket. The Mazda6 was comfortable, relatively quiet and the front-wheel-drive sedan handled well. There was plenty of room in the front seats, two adults could get in the car and not touch elbows. The back seats were surprisingly spacious given the cars sloping roof line. It looked as though two adults would have plenty of head and hip room and could ride in comfort. The car was powered by a 2.5-liter four cylinder engine that made 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. The
test car had what Mazda called the i-ELOOP brake energy system for improved fuel economy. The 2016 Mazda6 with this system had a fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg combined. This engine was quiet, responsive and it had some pep. However, when we put some pressure on the metal it did get kind of loud. But in defense of Mazda’s engineers, the car was still cold. We’ve got to go across town so it will be tried again. After the car had warmed-up, it was more quiet. Armed with Mazda’s SkyActiv technology that lessens noise, vibrations and harshness, the tester had the ambience of a more expensive sedan. It didn’t hurt that among
Classifieds North Memorial Needs Volunteers to Help Victims of Domestic Abuse SafeJourney, a program serving North Memorial Medical Center and Maple Grove Hospital, helps patients and individuals in the community who are experiencing domestic abuse. Volunteer advocates are needed to provide a listening ear, support, safety planning, information and referral. You do not have to have previous knowledge or experience, but rather looking for people who are sensitive to the issue, caring, and nonjudgmental. Advocates sign up for 2 on-call shifts per month. Flexible scheduling - daytime, overnights, and weekends. Training is provided. Deadline to apply and schedule a short interview is January 26. Please call Suzy at 763-581-3942.
its equipment was door trim plates, rain sensing wipers, heated side mirrors, blind side alert, parking assistance, paddle shifters, rear view camera, keyless entry, a moon roof, satellite radio, an infotainment system and more. The equipment and the package made the 2016 Mazda6’s base price of $30,195 awfully reasonable. Even after adding options and freight charges, the sticker came to $33,605. That’s not bad for a high quality sedan that has some exclusivity. In other words, you’re not going to see the 2016 Mazda6 parked in every other driveway. Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.
Obituary: Bettie Claire Thomas Withers Bettie Claire Thomas Withers, born Dec. 20, 1946, died peacefully on Dec. 26. Bettie Withers was the eldest of five, born to Robert Claire and Exzenia Grace Thomas. She was lovingly raised by her grandmother in Pelham, Texas. In 1965, she relocated to Minneapolis to pursue her career in the medical field, where she became affectionately known as “Ms. Bettie.” In 1970, she married Edward Withers, Jr., and continued to serve as a patient advocate and community representative for Hennepin County Medical Center for nearly 30 years. Bettie Withers devoted her life to her family and is survived by her two daughters Courtnie Withers and Lindsay Withers. Bettie Withers leaves behind a host of family and friends who will forever cherish her memory. The family appreciates all prayers and support.
Heather Champine
PR workshop set for Jan. 19 The Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Woman Business Owners (NAWBOMN) is hosting a seminar on public relations. Media Relations, Inc. partner and vice president of media production, Heather Champine will present the seminar, “Has your PR strategy gone into hibernation?” Among the topics to be discussed are best times to use publicity, advertising and other key promotional channels, how to work with media professionals, and how to customize a business approach. The event takes place on Jan. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 2501 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis. Admission is $10 for NAWBO members $10 and $40 for non-members.
Phone: 612.588.1313 Fax: 612.588.2031 Email: info@insightnews.com
Volunteer Greeters Hennepin County is seeking volunteer greeters for its North Minneapolis human service center at 1001 Plymouth Avenue North to welcome and guide visitors, answer questions and assist with special projects. Reliable adults who enjoy working with people and who are available for a few hours twice a week are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates will be able to volunteer for a minimum of three months. Volunteers are integral to Hennepin County’s mission of enhancing the health, safety and quality of life of its residents and communities in a respectful, efficient and fiscally responsible way. Get involved by visiting http://www.hennepin.us/humanservicevolunteer and submitting a volunteer application.
CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE
612.588.1313
CLIENT SERVICES/INTAKE Central Minnesota Legal Services FT Client Services/Intake for Mpls office. Exc. Oral & written communication skills req. WORD+. Second language+. Sal: D.O.E. per CMLS salary schedule. Excellent benefits, generous vacation/ sick. Casual/friendly work environ. Resume, refs, & cover letter by 01/04/16(late appls accepted until filled), specifying interest & skills to Lynelle Wells: CMLS, 430 1st Ave N, #359, Mpls, MN 554011780. cmls@centralmnlegal.org EOE No calls.
Joint Religious Legislative Coalition Executive Director 40 hours. Act as official lobbyist, promote and develop organization, develop policy positions. Open until filled. www.jrlc.org/job-opportunities
Page 10 • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Insight News
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Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in Creed - Courtesy of Warner Bros
Blacktrospective 2015 THE 10 BEST IN BLACK CINEMA By Kam Williams
Best Big Budget Black Films
Best Independent Black Films
1. Creed 2. Concussion 3. Straight Outta Compton 4. The Perfect Guy 5. Chi-Raq
1. Dope 2. Tangerine 3. Beasts of No Nation 4. Brotherly Love 5. War Room
Best Black Documentaries 1. 3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets 2. What Happened, Miss Simone? 3. Holler If You Hear Me: Black and Gay in the Church 4. The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution 5. Rosenwald 6. Bass Clef Bliss 7. Tango Negro 8. Fresh Dressed 9. Terror 10. In My Father’s House
Best Actor
Best Actor
(Supporting Role)
(Lead Role) 1. Will Smith (Concussion) 2. Michael B. Jordan (Creed) 3. John Boyega (Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens) 4. Shameik Moore (Dope) 5. Anthony Mackie (Shelter) 6. Davide Oyelowo (Captive) 7. O’Shea Jackson, Jr. (Straight Outta Compton) 8. Kevin Hart (The Wedding Ringer) 9. RJ Cyler (Me & Earl & the Dying Girl) 10. Nick Cannon (Chi-Raq)
1. Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation) 2. Samuel L. Jackson (Kingsman: The Secret Service) 3. Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation) 4. Anthony Mackie (Our Brand Is Crisis)
5. Derek Luke (Self/Less) 6. Morris Chestnut (The Perfect Guy) 7. Forest Whitaker (Southpaw) 8. Quincy Brown (Brotherly Love) 9. Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Martian) 10. Stephen “tWitch” Boss (Magic Mike XXL)
CINEMA TURN TO 12 Straight Outta Compton Courtesy of UniversalPictures/LegendaryPictures
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Insight News • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Page 11 Keno Evol
Jan. 4 - 10
Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com
Monday, Jan. 4 SOUL/DISCO/DANCE NIGHT Coloring Time Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 21-plus No cover 10 p.m.
Motown on Mondays Clubhouse Jager 923 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis 9 p.m. 21-plus DJs Willie Shu and King Otto spin as part of the national DJ event. On Motown Mondays DJs from across the country spin classic music from the label that brought us the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and more.
Tuesday, Jan. 5
With a cast that includes Joe Horton of No Bird Sing, Kristoff Krane and a who’s who of musicians, Coloring Time has become a staple event in the Twin Cities. Once a month the players get together to play fully improvised sets of music.
New Primitives Gluek’s 16 N. 6th St., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus Every Wednesday night reggae band New Primitives jams for a live audience.
Thursday, Jan. 7 ART EXHIBITION
Wednesday, Jan. 6
ECLECTIC/PERFORMANCE REGGAE/PERFORMANCE
Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC) 20th Anniversary CO Exhibitions 1101 Stinson Blvd.
WALKER ART CENTER
walkerart.org
“Art is our best hope.” Jack Whitten in his 40 Crosby Street studio, New York, circa 1974–1975 Courtesy the artist and Alexander Gray Associates, New York”
– Jack Whitten
FIVE DECADES OF PAINTING
Explore five decades of work questioning history, culture, race and identity in America. Closing Jan 24
Jack Whitten: Five Decades of Painting is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and made possible by generous lead underwriting support from Dr. Paul Jacobs. Additional funding has been provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the LLWW Foundation. Major support for the Walker Art Center’s presentation is provided by Elizabeth Redleaf.
The Walker Art Center’s presentation is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management.
Hotel partners
#2, Minneapolis Free WACTAC celebrates its 20th anniversary with a free exhibition that kicked off in late December. This diverse group of high school students from throughout the Twin Cities metro area developed arts programming and projects at the Walker for their peers as well as the general public.
Friday, Jan. 8 DANCE BATTLE Roosevelt Beacons High School Winter Crew B-Boy Battle Roosevelt High School
4029 28th Ave. S., Minneapolis 5 p.m. $5 Check out the Roosevelt High School crew in a B-Boy (and B-Girl) breakdancing battle.
dedicated to the writings of Black artists and people of color. The public is welcome to attend, though the sign-up sheet is exclusively reserved for a specific identity group.
Saturday, Jan. 9 Sunday, Jan. 10 OPEN MIC The Free Black Table: Open Mic Illusion Theater 528 Hennepin Ave., 8th floor, Minneapolis All ages No cover Hosted by Keno Evol The Free Black Table is a free of charge all ages open mic,
SALSA Salsa Del Soul Santorini 13000 Technology Dr., Eden Prairie Every other Sunday night head over to Eden Prairie for a night of salsa music.
Page 12 • January 4, 2016 - January 10, 2016 • Insight News
insightnews.com
Cinema From 10
Will Smith in Concussion - Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Michael Ealy and Sanaa Lathan in The Perfect Guy - Courtesy of Screen Gems
Chi-Raq - Courtesy of 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks
Best Actress
Best Actress
Best Director
Best Director
Best Director
(Lead Role)
(Supporting Role)
(Big Budget Film)
(Independent Film)
(Documentary Film)
1. Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Concussion) 2. Zoe Kravitz (Good Kill) 3. Kiersey Clemons (Dope) 4. Kitana Rodriguez (Tangerine) 5. Sanaa Lathan (The Perfect Guy) 6. Zoe Kravitz (Treading Water) 7. Keke Palmer (Brotherly Love) 8. Zoe Kravitz (The Road Within) 9. Priscilla C. Shirer (War Room) 10. Teyonah Parris (Chi-Raq)
1. Tessa Thompson (Creed) 2. Zoe Kravitz (Insurgent) 3. Phylicia Rashad (Creed) 4. Chanel Iman (Dope) 5. Vivica A. Fox (Chocolate City) 6. Lupita Nyong’o (Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens) 7. Jada Pinkett Smith (Magic Mike XXL) 8. Jennifer Hudson (Chi-Raq) 9. Zoe Kravitz (Mad Max) 10. Macy Gray (Brotherly Love)
1. Ryan Coogler (Creed) 2. Antoine Fuqua (Southpaw) 3. Rick Famuyiwa (Dope) 4. F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton) 5. Spike Lee (Chi-Raq)
1. Jamal Hill (Brotherly Love) 2. Julius Onah (The Girl Is Trouble) 3. Jean-Claude La Marre (Chocolate City) 4. Dean Taylor (Supremacy) 5. Charles Stone III (Lila & Eve)
1. Clay Cane (Holler If You Hear Me: Black and Gay in the Church) 2. Stanley Nelson (The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution) 3. Dom Pedro (Tango Negro) 4. Sacha Jenkins (Best Dressed) 5. Lyric R. Cabral (Terror)
BALLET HISPANICO
DYNAMIC LATIN DANCE THAT FUSES GRACE, FLAIR, AND PASSION
JAN 14 2016
ORDWAY.ORG • 651.224.4222
“Exquisite”
—Amsterdam News
DENGUE FEVER CAMBODIAN INDIE ROCK OUTSTANDING
TICKETS $20
JAN 9 2016
ORDWAY.ORG • 651.224.4222