‘Piano Prince of New Orleans,’ Davell Crawford plays the Dakota in tribute to Allen Toussaint aesthetically speaking
MORE ON PAGE 10
Insight News January 11 - January 17, 2016
Vol. 43 No. 2 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Reviving Frogtown’s Victoria Theater By Katie Maren Lentsch, TC DAILY PLANET Along the Green Line, just east of Victoria Street and University Avenue, stands a seemingly abandoned storefront with dark windows and a locked door. But to Denise Mwasyeba, a 25-year Frogtown resident and former chair of the Frogtown Neighborhood Association (FNA) board of directors, it’s the perfect chance to turn the forgotten, historical Victoria theater into a newly renovated center that represents a diverse community greatly evolving from its roots. “I really got involved in the community because I wanted to make the community better,“ said Mwasyeba. “I loved my neighbors and I loved the neighborhood, and I knew working together we could deal with all those quality-of-life issues—crime, crack, housing—all that kind of stuff.” When she purchased her home in 1992, Mwasyeba recalled how people used to say they lived in the East Midway neighborhood rather than admit to living in Frogtown. With struggles involving prostitution, drugs
Annabelle Marcovici
Denise Mwasyeba stands outside the house she’s lived in since 1992, located just a few blocks from the Victoria Theater.
Victoria Theater Arts Initiative
This mock-up shows the potential design for the Victoria Theater’s new marquee.
Thai Phan-Quang
Community residents look over design ideas displayed along University Avenue during an Aug. 13 design party.
and vacancies, the actual artistic and thriving culture within Frogtown couldn’t be recognized. “It’s hard to overcome ideas about your community that are kind of entrenched,” said Mwasyeba. After almost thirty years of working with the city council, Ramsey County
commissioners, the police department, St. Paul public schools, area businesses and city nonprofits, the FNA and district members can finally focus not on crime, but on creative development to engage locals and surrounding communities. “We can really make our community somewhere that
is a destination for people to come,” said Mwasyeba. “Not race past, not try to avoid, but come to Frogtown.” Now serving as part of the steering committee for the Victoria Theater Arts Initiative (VTAI), Mwasyeba, along with other community
THEATER TURN TO 9
The transformative legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Black Press of America By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, NNPA
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
There is no debate concerning the irrefutable fact that The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the greatest leaders recognized, admired and affirmed by millions of people across America and throughout the world. King’s activism and leadership changed America and the world, as did Mahatma
Gandhi and Nelson Mandela in their respective global impacts. As we prepare to celebrate the 87th birthday of Dr. King as part the official federal holiday celebrations, I believe it is very important to focus on how Dr King’s legacy today is still relevant and transformative for all people who cry out for freedom, justice, equality and
empowerment. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a devoted man of faith and a committed freedom fighter for the establishment and building of “The Beloved Community.” Dr. King was clear about the ultimate goal of the Civil Rights Movement. His vision
MLK TURN TO 7
Stanford routs Iowa in 102nd Rose Bowl Game, 45 - 16
Muhammadu Buhari AFRICAN NEWS IN BRIEF
Nigerians grow impatient with president’s unfulfilled promises
By Dr. Valerie Wardlaw NNPA News Wire Sports Reporter PASEDENA, Calif. – The sixth-ranked Stanford Cardinal handily defeated the fifth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, 45 – 16 in front of an announced crowd of 94, 268 at the 102nd Rose Bowl, the “Granddaddy” of all bowl games on Friday, January 1, 2016. Stanford finished the season 12-2 overall while Iowa fell to 12-2. As much as football is a team sport, this game showcased the brilliant play of running back Christian McCaffrey, the son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey. McCaffrey, the one man wrecking ball became the first player to have more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in a Rose Bowl. Jevone Moore/FI360 News
Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw raises the Championship trophy at the 102nd Rose Bowl game between the Stanford Cardinal and the Iowa Hawkeyes, January 1, 2016.
ROSE TURN TO 3
(GIN) – Online petitions are piling up for Nigeria’s new president, Muhammadu Buhari, claiming that a more open and democratic society promised in his presidential stump speeches has failed to appear. One petition is already demanding President Buhari’s resignation over his alleged failure to abide by international law. Nigerian-born Ndubuisi Anukwuem and “Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in their petition, called for “a total boycott of British-Nigeria … a rogue terrorist state that tramples on every conceivable human rights, particularly,
AFRICA TURN TO 7
STEM
Health
Business
Community
NNPA Foundation launches “STEM Reach 2020”
Insight-2-Health: Detox time after the holidays
Building consensus and reaching agreement
St. Paul restricts sale of flavored tobacco
PAGE 2
PAGE 3
PAGE 5
PAGE 9
Page 2 • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Insight News
insightnews.com
NNPA Foundation launches “STEM Reach 2020” WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation (NNPAF) will harness the genius of scientist, engineer and inventor Dr. Thomas Mensah, to launch STEM Reach 2020. The program seeks to increase the percentage of Blacks and women within science, technology, engineering and math arenas by inspiring the K-12 age group to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – collectively known as STEM courses. A chemical engineer and fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Mensah is an innovator in the areas of nanotechnology and fiber optics. He was awarded
seven U.S. and worldwide patents within six years. Ghanaian-born, Mensah currently serves as president of Georgia Aerospace Systems Manufacturing, Incorporated in Atlanta. “It is exciting to support and lead the vision of the NNPA Foundation for STEM Reach 2020,” said Mensah. “This is the only newspaper association in the country that has launched a STEM initiative to reach the K-12 age group who are easily influenced by their environment. The program will identify role models and present youth with alternative paths to success rather than what they see on television. We hope to introduce robotics and science to kids in a way that inspires them and prepares them to
Dr. Thomas Mensah
compete in the 21st Century.” Also, on board as a program sponsor is the American Petroleum Institute (API), a Washington, D.C. based trade association for the oil and gas industry. “API is an ideal partner for us because they bring a wealth of experience and longevity in their industry”, said Kimberly Johnson, the executive director of the NNPA Foundation. “They understand the education and outreach efforts that are needed to achieve the desired outcomes for this program. We are happy to have Dr. Mensah and API on board.” The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) will hold its MidWinter Conference in Coconut Grove, Fla. on Jan. 27-30
where the initiative will be launched during a press luncheon. Mensah will present on STEM and take questions from the media. The launch in Florida will serve as the precursor to Black Press Week, the organization’s conference in Washington, D.C., in March, where Mensah will return to host students and STEM industry leaders for a STEM exposition and presentation. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is the trade association for the more than 200 AfricanAmerican-owned community newspapers across the United States, delivering news, information and commentary to more than 20 million people each week.
Ms. Murphy’s 3rd grade class
New resources to make a difference thanks to donors Friendship Academy of the Arts elementary school is off to a fresh new start this year. Funding has been granted to the school for technology, a playground, facility upgrades, uniforms for students, transportation for students who reside in St. Paul, professional and leadership development and the hiring of additional
staff. This was made possible by the Target – United Way Spotlight grant, the firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, an anonymous donor, Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, the South Minneapolis Rotary Club, the Minneapolis Foundation and the Monitor Foundation. Thanks to the donations
teachers are providing interactive lessons in the classrooms using new Promethean boards. Every classroom is equipped with this interactive technology. Also, as part of the technology grant, Friendship Academy will benefit from a Robotics Program to be introduced this year.
Friendship Academy is a top Title I school, achieving the highest award, the “Reward School” status given by the state of Minnesota. This award is given to the top 15 percent of Title I schools for closing the achievement gaps in math, reading and science. Friendship has a new playground thanks to the
HERE FOR YOUR HEALTH Blue Plus is now an option for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare in the Twin Cities and more than 60 counties. With a Blue Plus health plan, you can get: ➜
access to most Minnesota doctors and hospitals
➜
rides to appointments
➜
rewards for getting care
➜
interpreter service
➜
and more
We’re working to improve the health of all Minnesotans. Learn more at bluecrossmn.com/blueplus
DHS_112515_T04 DHS Approved 11/2015 Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota and Blue Plus® are nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
generosity of an anonymous donor who saw the need for a safe outdoor structure where students can play. The increased funding has allowed Friendship to provide additional resources for students, hiring of additional staff, marketing resources to increase brand awareness and student numbers, professional
and leadership development and transportation. “We are very appreciative of the support we have received from the community and look forward to utilizing these resources to further serve our scholars,” said Charvez Russell, executive director of Friendship.
insightnews.com
Insight News • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Page 3
HEALTH Insight-2-Health: Detox time after the holidays By Julie McMahon CHHC
Detox Salad
Oh Boy..... Did you eat the cookies? Did you drink the wine? How about the mashed potatoes and gravy? Feeling a little like, “Yes, I ate the whole darn thing”? It’s so fun to see friends and family at the holidays, but there seems to be food and drink at every event....a little here....a little there....it all adds up! It sounds simple, but in times like these it’s important to keep the water, fruit and raw veggies and salads coming in. I think one of the biggest “mistakes” I see over the holidays (and throughout the year) is that we are just not eating enough uncooked, raw veggies and salads. A carrot stick here and there is not going to cut it when we are taking in so much cooked and prepackaged foods. Think about it....what % of Raw veggies in the form of smoothies, salads and chopped veggies do you take in on a regular basis? 10%? 20%? 30%? Is it 50% or higher? One way to seriously accelerate your detoxification and weight loss is by simply increasing your % of Raw on a daily basis. Check out my favorite Detox Salad. It is full of Raw veggies and seeds! You will love it and your body will thank you too!
This is a recreation of one of my favorite Whole Foods salads! The detox salad, bursting with color and flavor, is a nutritious powerhouse and a perfect “detox” after any holiday indiscretions!!
Rose
much that we tried not to talk about this being the last game, but the guys wanted to go out with a bang, and they did. All I know is today we’re Rose Bowl champs.” Cardinal players McCaffrey took home the Offensive Player of the Game award and Abdulaziz Shittu was honored as the Defensive Player of the Game. He had 10 tackles – 3.5 for losses and 1.5 sacks. For the Iowa Hawkeyes and their estimated 55,000 fans that traveled to Pasadena, the disappointment was clear, but the pride remained. Head Coach Kirk Ferentz summed it up best saying, “I’ll just say it one more time, just how proud I am of our football team. They’ve been a tremendous group all season long. 13 times they’ve prepared well, they’ve competed hard, and today just didn’t work out for us.”
From 1 McCaffrey finished the game with 368 all-purpose yards, another Rose Bowl record. He caught 18 passes for 172 yards, rushed for 105 yards, a touchdown in four carries, and a punt return 63 yards for a touchdown. He also set a Stanford singleseason rushing record with 2,109 yards. When asked if he had extra motivation for today’s game based on this past year’s Heisman voting, McCaffrey said, “I’m someone who believes in being motivated at all times, win or lose, individual awards. I play for my teammates. I play for God and my family. At the end of the day, whether I win anything or don’t, that’s the reason why I play and that keeps me motivated.” The Cardinal defense also dominated the defensive side of the ball, sacking Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard seven times, and Stanford cornerback Quenton Meeks returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter. The 21 points scored by the Cardinals were the most scored by any team in the first quarter of a Rose Bowl. The Cardinal led at the half, 35-0 and held Iowa scoreless until the third quarter. Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan passed for 223 yards and three TDs in his last game for the farm. It was not the afternoon that Hawkeye fans had imagined. The Hawkeyes finally scored on a 39-yard field goal by Marshall Koehn to cut the deficit to 38-3. In the fourth quarter, Iowa quarterback Beathard connected with Matt VandeBerg for a 36yard touchdown pass. The Hawkeyes missed the extra point. With 2:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, Akrum Wadley caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Beathard. Iowa makes good on the extra point, putting 16 total points on the board for the Hawkeyes. Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard passed for 239 total yards, completing 21 of 33 passes. As the Stanford machine rolled on to victory with a final 42-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Rector, Cardinal head coach David Shaw said, “We didn’t talk about it too much, but we played so well this year and enjoyed the process so
Makes 12 cups • 2 heads broccoli • 2 1/2 cups of roughly cut cauliflower florets • 3 large carrots, roughly chopped • 3/4 cup chopped parsley • 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds • 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds • 1/2 cup raisins • 1 cup dried currants • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice • 1/4 teaspoons Himalayan salt • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1. Place the broccoli florets into a food processor and pulse until chopped very fine. Depending on the size of your food processor you may have to work in batches. Empty out into a large bowl. 2. Do the same with the cauliflower florets. Next add the carrots and pulse until finely chopped and add to the bowl along with the broccoli and cauliflower. Give it a good stir to mix everything together. 3. Stir in the parsley, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins and currants. Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper. **Olive oil and a splash of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar can be added to
the lemon juice to make a more robust salad dressing. Remember that raw veggies and fruits are “where it’s at” to get your body back on
track!! Nutrition Julie is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Raw Food Nutrition Educator who is passionate about
Health insurance is un affordable. Everyone deserves insurance they can afford. MNsure can help you get it. MNsure is a free service where you can compare health plans to find the best plan for you, often at a surprisingly affordable price. In fact, most people qualify for financial help. Free in-person or phone assistance is available to help you every step of the way. Caawimo ayaa laguu heli karaa Soomaali.
Call 1-855-3MNSURE or visit mnsure.org
Nutrition, Health and Wellness. Julie believes that real, whole, nutritious foods are a powerful tool in living a healthy, conscious, disease-free life and works to educate, inspire
and empower the people she works with through her step by step Food First System. For more information, visit www. NutritionJulie.com
Page 4 • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Insight News
insightnews.com
COMMENTARY Beyond the rhetoric: Have hip-hop and Wall Street destroyed soul music? By Harry C. Alford NNPA News Wire Columnist Black people have always had a strong affinity for music. Soon after our forefathers were let off the slave ships and sold to plantations we started singing. Much of that was developed in the “Mother Land.” During a visit to Kenya, I went to a music event. One of our hosts told us that the entertainment was from the Congo. I started to hear some similarity with Afro-Cuban jazz. Later, the host said that they prefer Congo music as opposed to Afro-Cuban Jazz. The rhythm is pure and unadulterated Congo. It was slaves from the Congo who brought it to Cuba. Blues and Jazz were probably the first commercial genres of Black music. Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey did a lot
to promote that “rot gut” type of blues. Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and the great Lena Horne were leaders in jazzing the genre up. Blacks became some of the best Jazz singers and musicians. Eventually, soul music evolved from those two genres. There wasn’t much money in the business for Blacks. But when it was copied by Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis among others), White radio stations became the biggest vehicle in getting the general population to embrace it. Even goody – goody Pat Boone would wait and copy Little Richard releases and profit handsomely. This type of exploitation was immense. Find hot tunes recorded by Black artists and redo them with acceptable White artists; blast them through White radio stations and ban the original Black artists from radio play. It wasn’t until 1956 that a Black owned radio station, WCHB in Detroit (Inkster, MI), went on the air. This
Soul music is disappearing from radio as conglomerates control the radio population and are beholding to Wall St. investors.
would be the start of the immense popularity of Black music. Soon Black stations would start popping up across the nation. Sales of Black music were jumping. Thus, white owned stations were pressed to start playing Black music. Before then they would only play “acceptable Black artists” such as Nat King Cole, Eartha Kit and Ray Charles.
A big milestone was the great Berry Gordy’s founding of Motown in 1959. His artists had a silky smooth style of music (compared to Rhythm and Blues). It became known as “Soul.” I was eleven years old and immediately fell in love with Motown hits (so did the vast majority of Blacks). What was significant was that Whites, Hispanics, Asians etc.,
were equally in love with this Soul music. There were many Motown subsidiary labels such as Tamla and Gordy. Eventually, Al Bell would rise to become the owner of Stax Records. White businesses would launch Atlantic, which triggered many investors to launch their own labels. The above became a multi-billion dollar industry. There was just one big problem. Where was the money going? Very few of the artists were becoming wealthy. Most lacked proper legal representation. Many of the principles were predatory and managed the lion’s share of the business. A popular arrangement would be the artist would get 2 -3 percent of the sales and much of that was doctored. Major record companies were preying upon Black labels. If they wouldn’t sell their companies for a discounted rate, then the moguls would steal their artists for a signing bonus.
Go see the play “Motown.” It explains what Berry Gordy had to go through in keeping his company. Principal writers like Holland, Dozier and Holland would leave for a nice bonus and then turn on Motown with the aim of ruining them. Popular singer Mary Wells left Motown for a White-owned label. When she realized it was a mistake she tried to blame it on Motown and a long lasting suit was filed. She would soon die of lung cancer – broke and broken. All of her hits still belong to Motown as well as the many Holland, Dozier and Holland blockbusters. Then came cable television and video programs. MTV was immensely popular but they would only play Prince and Michael Jackson. That would change when the great entrepreneur Bob Johnson would change the landscape with Black Entertainment Television – BET. Soon Black
SOUL TURN TO 7
Need customer service from Facebook? Good luck By Bill Fletcher, Jr. NNPA News Wire Columnist It happened very suddenly over the summer. I have been using Facebook for several years. A friend convinced me that once my Facebook “friends” had hit the 5000 mark (the maximum permitted) that I should replace my existing page with a “Fan Page” or “Celebrity Page.” It sounds more important than it actually is. It permits you to get an unlimited number of “Likes” to your page; you can post whatever you choose; you
can get private messages from anyone who likes your page. But you cannot “like” other pages and you cannot have “Facebook Friends.” Let’s leave aside, for a moment, whether or not it was a good idea for me to create this page. In any case, this summer, overnight, the ability to reply to “Comments” that were made on my page disappeared. In other words, anyone “liking” my page was still able to offer a comment on anything that I posted, but I no longer could respond to their comments. I assumed that all I needed to do was to reboot my computer. I did that, yet nothing changed. I
tried opening up Facebook via Internet Explorer rather than Chrome. Nothing changed. I tried opening Facebook via my iPhone; again nothing changed. I sent a “Help” message to Facebook about the problem. No answer. I started asking around, but no one knew what to do. A computer expert friend of mine started looking into the problem and discovered that many other people were having exactly the same problem, yet no one was getting an answer from Facebook. I sent two or three more messages to Facebook asking them for help, but heard nothing. Finally, my computer
expert friend discovered a way around the problem so that I have regained the ability to respond to “Comments.” To this day, Facebook has yet to reply to my inquiries. Why do you need to know any of this? The experience has been very unsettling. Instead of being addressed by Facebook, I felt blown off. To add to this problem, there was no other way to get Facebook to respond to my concerns. In other words, there was no accountability and, simply put, I was stuck. There is no phone number to call, nor any monitoring agency from which I could gain assistance.
We are in an era of incredible dependence on electronic technology, the so-called Information Age. We seem to speak with other human beings less frequently in business, commerce, and even social interactions. Instead we either interact with machines or we are told that we need to get answers from other ‘customers’ rather than being addressed by the company, organization, etc., where the problem lies. We are then left to accept our situation, whether the problem has been resolved or not. The situation we have found ourselves facing is one
with the growth of robotic technology, the massive accumulation of wealth by a small number of people who control this technology, the dismissal of human labor in the supposed interest of increasing productivity, and the burden for resolving problems—or even the burden of carrying out the work of the company or organization—placed on the “customers.” Welcome to 2016! Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the host of The Global African on TelesurEnglish. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and at www. billfletcherjr.org.
insightnews.com
Insight News • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Page 5
BUSINESS Building consensus and reaching agreement FUNdraising Good Times
By Mel and Pearl Shaw This is the second in a series focused on the prerequisites for fundraising success. Agreement is the cornerstone upon which a healthy nonprofit is built. Without agreement amongst an organization’s leadership it is almost impossible
INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com
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
to sustain successful fundraising. You may be in a situation where there was agreement in the past, but changes in board membership, executive leadership, the economy, or needs of the community have eroded prior agreement. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. As we mentioned in part one of this series, it may be time for things to change. Reaching and sustaining agreement is an ongoing process that impacts many aspects of your organization including fundraising. For example, your case for support, fundraising priorities and strategies all depend on prior agreement. Without agreement, leadership may feel they are asked to “rubber stamp” decisions. They may consent in words, but not with actions. You may find “simple” decisions such as approving a grant submission
When people feel their concerns are not addressed, they can make it difficult to reach future decisions, or they may remove themselves from the organization, taking with them their wisdom and relationships. evolve into lengthy discussions that question the organization’s direction. These can emerge because time was not previously allocated to full and open discussion. Here’s a process we suggest for the new year. Both the
board chair and the executive director can schedule individual conversations with board members, senior staff, and key volunteers. The purpose of these conversations is to learn their thoughts regarding current and proposed programming, strategic directions, fundraising,
The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced it will open state individual income tax filing season on Jan. 19, the same day as the Internal Revenue Service. The filing deadline to submit 2015 tax returns is Monday, April 18, rather than the traditional April 15 date. This is also the same day as the Internal Revenue Service. As the filing season nears, Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly is encouraging electronic filing. “Making sure the right refund amount goes to the right person is our top priority,” said Bauerly. “Minnesotans can help by using electronic filing and direct deposit, which is the most secure and effective way to get your refund.”
Last year, more than two million Minnesotans used electronic software to file their taxes. Direct deposit is available to those who file whether they file electronically or by mail. This tax season those filing will be able to track refunds is by using the Where’s My Refund system. The system will help track which of the four stages a refund is in and whether one needs to take any action to complete the processing. Some may qualify for free tax preparation help from IRScertified volunteers at locations across Minnesota for federal and state income tax returns. Qualified taxpayers are age 60 or older, disabled, speak limited or no English, or have income less than $54,000 per
year. Most free tax preparation sites are open Feb. 1 - April 15.
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
Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
years leadership may nod in agreement, reaffirming prior commitments and wanting to get on with the work at hand. What’s most important is that every attempt is made to understand minority opinions and objections. When people feel their concerns are not addressed, they can make it difficult to reach future decisions, or they may remove themselves from the organization, taking with them their wisdom and relationships. Learn more by reading chapter one of our book Prerequisites for Fundraising Success. Next week: commitment. Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw Happy New Year! For more fundraising tips and suggestions visit www.saadandshaw.com
Individual income tax filing season opens January 19, 2016
Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe
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)
staffing, and – in general terms – their level of comfort with the nonprofit and how they want to be involved. Questions should be answered, dissent noted and addressed, and new ideas given proper consideration. These individual conversations should be followed by a leadership meeting. The board chair and executive director should communicate the work that lies ahead for the coming year and invite discussion. They can begin by laying out new ideas raised in individual conversations, or areas where they know there is dissent. This may sound like “a lot of unnecessary work.” Others may feel it “opens up a can of worms.” We believe it is important to the very foundation of your nonprofit. Some years leaders may engage in long, animated discussions. Other
UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS A WILL PACKER PRODUCTIONS/CUBEVISION PRODUCTION A TIM STORY FILM “RIDE ALONG 2” ICE CUBE KEVIMUSICN HART KEN JEONG BENJAMI N BRATT OLI V I A MUNN PRODUCED BRUCE MCGILL TIKA SUMPTER BASEDBY CHRI S TOPHER LENNERTZ BY WILL PACKER p. g. a. ICE CUBE ON CHARACTERS WRITTEN MATT ALVAREZ LARRY BREZNER CREATEDDIRECTEDBY GREG COOLIDGE BY PHIL HAY & MATT MANFREDI A UNIVERSAL PICTURE BY TIM STORY SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC
© 2015 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 CHECK THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES
Page 6 • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Insight News
insightnews.com
insightnews.com
Insight News • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Page 7
10 weird things brought to you by climate change By Frank Bozzo, Environmental Protection Winter is coming! Now, where’s the snow? Are you thinking to yourself… global warming? Why not? Maybe you’re the socially conscious type and you’ve been following the COP21 summit in Paris. Either way, check out these 10 super weird effects of climate change we’re seeing RIGHT NOW. Mixed-up bear sex When the climate gets warmer, grizzly bears go north where they may end up in polar bear territory. Come springtime, a little bit of love is bound to happen. Meet the Grolar bear (or if you prefer, Pizzly bear). Less food, but more importantly.... less wine We have already seen a decrease in major food crops around the world, due to climate change induced drought. Aside from no longer producing their share of wheat and corn, now the world’s supply of wine is at risk
Soul From 4 artists were as successful on television as they were on radio. The bright future was just ahead as soul music was accepted as mainstream.
MLK From 1 went beyond changing laws and winning victories against the forces of injustice and repression. Social change for Dr. King was not an abstraction or just a dream or an unreachable goal, but it was a realistic, achievable and tangible outcome of the struggle for freedom and equality: “The Beloved Community” In his own words, King emphasized, “The nonviolent resister must often express his protest through noncooperation or boycotts, but noncooperation and boycotts are not ends themselves; they are merely means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent. The end is redemption and reconciliation. The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community, while the aftermath of violence is tragic bitterness.” Today, in the bold tradition of Martin Luther King, Jr., we salute the Black Lives Matter movement. It is being led by young, gifted, talented and courageous activists, who are using nonviolent civil disobedience anew to challenge
Africa From 1 the rights of the beleaguered people of Biafra and IPOB.” Another petition, directed to Amnesty International, bore the title “Free Edmund Ebiware”, who, the petitioners claim, “was wrongly convicted for foreknowledge of the Oct. 1, 2010 bombings in Abuja. Ebiware, an activist during the period of amnesty for exmilitants in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, denied he had any part in the Oct. 1 (Independence Day) bomb blasts that killed 12 people. In fact, he said, he was even threatened by members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) after urging the MEND leader to accept amnesty. Ebiware was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 and has been serving his sentence since then in solitary confinement at Kuje prison. But perhaps most troubling to Nigerians and the international community is the persistence of corruption, bribery, kidnapping, and the victimization of ordinary citizens by security officials. Noted Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, recalled the kidnapping of her father earlier this year. “We reported the kidnapping immediately, and the first shock soon followed: Security officials in my home state asked us to pay for anti-kidnap tracking
James Inhofe of Oklahoma, thinks climate change is a hoax. Despite record warm global temperatures in 2014 and 2015, he decided that one snowstorm in Washington DC proved global warming wasn’t real. To make his point he pitched a snowball at his colleagues in the senate chamber.
because of rising and unstable temperatures. Giant craters form in Siberia Permafrost stops being permanent when the weather warms up. When soil that’s been frozen for thousands of years melts, really weird things happen – like these huge craters that were discovered by mistake when a herd of reindeer almost fell into one.
Warmer climate = shark attacks With the inconsistency of the temperatures in our oceans, sharks are looking for environments in which they feel more comfortable, without consideration for our beach culture!
Bigger stronger faster... heroin Rising CO2 levels cause poppy flower opiates to have a much higher potency. The current crop is twice as potent as the crop in 1950, and is expected to increase threefold by 2050. Speaking of melting ice: Cavemen, ancient puppies and mammoth blood appear Melting glaciers are giving up long buried secrets, like the famous prehistoric man nicknamed “Ötzi” found in the Alps. In Siberia, the corpses of ancient puppies have been dug up, along with a frozen mammoth whose blood is still liquid – at 10 degrees below
A snowball fight in the US Senate Some people, including Senator
Nuclear kitty litter One alternative to burning climate-warming oil and gas is nuclear power for making electricity. Too bad it creates dangerous nuclear waste that can poison people 10,000 years from now. In one underground storage facility, the radioactive waste was packed in the wrong kind of kitty litter (there is a right kind!) which caused an explosion radiating at least one worker. Bad kitty!
Recycle/Alicia Solario via freeimages.com
zero! Our ruins might get ruined With 40% of world’s population living within 63 miles of coasts that are threatened by rising oceans, the issue of relocating millions upon millions of people becomes almost insurmountable. Aside from
the inconvenience of such an undertaking, there is also the reality that much of our history, many of our monuments, and a lot of our heritage will be drowned in the years to come.
Scary airy In the US, we might not readily feel the effects of poor air quality, but recently Beijing practically shut down the entire city as a result of smog. Conclusion So, if you don’t get eaten by a shark, or overdose on some of that extra strong heroine, what are we going to do about these serious (talking about the wine here) issues? To help with the ever increasing global temperature, you could always join Greenpeace or put up a windmill in your backyard, but (if you’re like me) you could start with the little things. There are some listed here. In a nutshell, Reduce – Reuse – Recycle. Frank Bozzo sold the bulk of his worldly possessions and moved from the northeastern United States to a small town in Ecuador to pursue a location independent lifestyle... a pursuit that he chronicles at Wealthy in Ecuador. Frank is a freelance writer, developer and entrepreneur.
But then came a negative shift. Hip-Hop was born in New York City in the 1970s. As the crack epidemic exploded in the 1980s, drug-dealing street gangs began to pop up in every city and town. The merging of these two things became a cult. Wall Street saw this as a vehicle to take over
or even kill the ever-growing soul music industry. According to Village Voice: “The Hip-Hop movement has become increasingly mainstream as the music industry has taken control of it. Essentially, from the moment ‘Rapper’s Delight’ went platinum, ‘Hip-Hop: the folk
culture,’ became ‘Hip-Hop: the American entertainment industry sideshow.’” Soul music is disappearing from radio as conglomerates control the radio population and are beholding to Wall St. investors. Television is no better. Even with many of the Black-owned stations
spending valuable time showing old reruns of Black family shows, soul music is going away. According to Time Magazine: “In 2013, no African-American musician had a Billboard/Hot 100 number one. This was the first time there was no number
one in a year by an African American in the chart’s 55 – year history.” Mr. Alford is the co-founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. Website: www.nationalbcc.org Email: halford@nationalbcc.org.
racial injustice and the wanton police violence and murders that have become too frequent against Black Americans and others. But today we must also assert in King’s transformative tradition that “All Black Lives Matter!” In other words, yes we have to stand up effectively against police brutality and prosecutorial misconduct. Yes, we urgently have to reform the criminal justice system in its totality. Yet, we must also stand up effectively with our activism to stop the self-destructive violence and murders that too many of us perpetrate on each other in our own families and communities. In principle and in faith, the truth is we have to be against all forms of violence and all forms of the destruction of humanity. There is no justification to take the life of another human being. It would be a gross contradiction to everything Dr. King worked and sacrificed for if we remained silent about the surge in self-destructive gun violence that prevails today in too many of our communities. Reconciliation for Dr. King was not reconciling or compromising to leave injustice or racial bigotry in place. However reconciliation was the active and involved process that resulted in specific
social transformation that inured benefits to all people. The success of the Civil Rights Movement under Dr. King’s leadership not only benefited Black America, but also the success of this movement for change provided benefits to all people. King never suspended his faith in the God of justice and liberation. He refused to bend his principles and beliefs on the effectiveness of nonviolent social change activism and multiracial movement building. The organization of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) by Dr. King and other Black church leaders was a prophetic step forward that kept the Black church in America at the forefront of the battle for civil rights and human rights. King was an intellectual genius who stood on the universal theological principles of the oneness of God and the oneness of all humanity. In my younger years, I personally worked with Dr. King, Golden Frinks and Milton Fitch in the North Carolina SCLC. I witnessed firsthand how Dr. King transformed and inspired the consciousness of people to believe and exert a grassroots power to promote social change. We could use
that kind of grassroots power today to get a massive voter turnout. Dr. King was not a “weak” leader who sought to appease or to entertain the powerful in the high places and principalities of oppression. Martin Luther King, Jr. was in complete solidarity with the poor and marginalized, but yet determined to end poverty and injustice wherever those evils were manifested. Thus, we should also revisit Dr. King’s economic justice demands. It is my opinion that if Dr. King were alive today he would be encouraging “principled youth entrepreneurial development.” Participating in the U.S. economy as business owners that help to financially sustain our communities should be a priority. In his last public speech on April 3, 1968 on the night before his tragic assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, without fear Dr King asserted, “The nation is sick; trouble is in the land, confusion all around...But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century. Something is happening in our world. The masses of people are rising up. And wherever they
are assembled today, whether they are in Johannesburg, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; New York City; Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi; or Memphis, Tennessee, the cry is always the same: ‘We want to be free.’” In 2016, “We want to be free!” We want an end to racial injustice and all manifestations of inequity and inequality. But we realize from the living legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. that we all should remain vigilant and active. Let’s keep
Dr. King’s transformative legacy alive and vibrant with renewed energy and support.
equipment, a large amount, enough to rent a two-bedroom flat in Lagos for a year. This, despite my being privileged enough to get personal reassurances from officials at the highest levels. “How, I wondered, did other families in similar situations cope? We made endless phone calls, helpless and frustrated... To encounter that underbelly, to discover the hollowness beneath government proclamations of security, was jarring.” Writer Bayo Oluwasanmi,
writing in Sahara Reporters, expressed similar disappointment. Candidate Muhammadu Buhari, he observed, was no Barack Obama. “Buhari didn’t electrify the way Obama did. But the earnestness is remarkably similar. After soaring through Nigeria’s political stratosphere on the promise of killing corruption before corruption kills us, Mr. Buhari was overwhelmingly elected president.” This month, in his New
Year’s Message, President Buhari restated his pledge: “Our crackdown on corruption will continue to be vigorously undertaken. I urge the courts to support our efforts and help in the recovery of stolen funds by speedily concluding trials and showing that impunity no longer has a place in our country.”
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.
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 11 - January 17, 2016 • Insight News
insightnews.com
LIFESTYLE Leadership Conference 2016: “Bursting into new Dimensions!” Man Talk
By Timothy Houston I have been invited to speak at the 2016 Minnesota Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Leadership Conference. This year’s theme is “Bursting into New Dimensions with Education, Edification, and Empowerment.” The need for empowered, well-trained leaders within our community will always be paramount. Because of this, Jurisdictional Prelate Bishop Fred W. Washington, State Supervisor Mother Patricia Hayes, and Conference Chairman Pastor Devale Hodge are all excited to share this event with the community. Here are the three keys themes the conference will emphasize. First, leaders of today must be educated. What is leadership? What characteristics must a leader possess? During my days as a young marine, I was introduced to one of the most powerful definitions of leadership that I have ever come across. It was a quote by General John A. Lejuene. He described leadership as follows: “Leadership is the sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, and moral
Bishop Fred W. Washington character that enables a person to inspire and control a group of people successfully.” For the Minnesota COGIC leadership conference, education is at the core of its values, and its mission necessitates educating leaders and empowering them to edify others. Secondly, leaders of today must be edified. This requires
Mother Patricia Hayes
leaders (me included) to work collectively as building blocks in the communities’ leadership foundation. Pastor Devale Hodge asked me to serve on this year’s leadership committee as well as speak at the conference. I was both honoured and humbled by his request because while he is three decades my junior, he is still wise enough to know
that leadership spans across generations and leaders of all ages will need to be edified. His leadership, youthful energy, and powerful presence have inspired me to stay in the struggle. This new dimension of young men edifying the old generation is just the catalyst for more to come. Finally, leaders of today must
Pastor Devale Hodge be empowered. Even though the young leading the old is a new dimension within the modern day church, it is not new to our community. In 1957, at the age of 28, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. burst on the scene and joined the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, and other civil rights activists who founded the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). This group of young leaders, most in their twenties, was created to harness the moral authority and organizing power of the Black churches to conduct nonviolent protests in the service of civil rights reform. These young leaders within SCLC empowered by the Black churches and community were there to stand against injustices. Empowering future leaders of all ages is one of the key missions of the MN Jurisdiction 2016 leadership conference. The Minnesota Jurisdiction Leadership Conference will be held Jan. 13-16, with seminars at 7:00 PM, and services at 7:45 PM nightly. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night services will be held at Faith Tabernacle COGIC, 2501 Taylor St. NE, Minneapolis, and the luncheon will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM at New Creation COGIC, 5144 13th Ave. N, Minneapolis. Bishop Washington is determined to educate, edify, and empower future leaders of all ages to lead our community though the difficult days ahead. The event is open to the public. 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.
FAMILY LIVING
Family ideals remain consistent in changing times
Courtesy of StatePoint
(StatePoint) While the concept of family once had quite specific meaning, the face of families in the US today is more diverse and wide-ranging than ever, yet their values and challenges remain the same. Results from the latest census found that the traditional, nuclear, one-mom-one-dadwith-kids family model is actually the minority now. However, families of all shapes and sizes share similar ethics and face related struggles, whether they are drawn together by biological ties or a deeply rooted friendship. Here, some heads of households share some insights into what defines a family and
their concerns: You Define Your Family “Home is where your story begins, and family is a part of that story. It’s who we are and what we give to others that determines our value within ourselves,” says Melanie Harper, a teacher and divorced mother of two boys. As part of the # R e a l F a m i l i e s R e a l Va l u e s campaign sponsored by White Cloud Bathroom Tissue, at Walmart. Harper and her two sons were featured in a video where she discussed the challenges and rewards of raising children on her own. The campaign’s goal is to capture and share the things most important
about family, and White Cloud is encouraging the full range of American’s families to tell their stories. “I don’t have to try to be a father. I can just be the best mother that I can,” says Harper. “My main concern is that my boys are happy. You’re Normal “Single moms are part of the fabric of life,” says Emma Johnson, the brains behind Wealthy Single Mother, a blog for single moms where they can get advice and connect. “We’re everywhere! In middle class communities, poor rural communities, rich suburbs, and in every part of every city. We are loaded and we are poor. We
run companies, own businesses, nurse, teach, farm, stay at home full-time and work in factories.” Johnson stresses that while the typical message out there is that it’s possible to survive as a single parent, you can go beyond that and truly thrive, and many families are doing just that. Luckily, there are new TV shows, books and even home product brands out there like White Cloud that are working to change the discourse and be inclusive to all kinds of families. While the iconic American family may not look the same as it did in the past, the same values of kindness, strength and love remain.
insightnews.com
Insight News • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Page 9
COMMUNITY St. Paul restricts sale of flavored tobacco The St. Paul City voted unanimously to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products to adult-only tobacco stores and increase the minimum price for single cigars. All cigars sold in packages of four or less must be priced at $2.60 each, while cigars packaged at four or more must be at least $10.40. “It’s a big deal that we’re going to make it harder for youth to access these products,” said Council President Russ Stark. St. Paul joins Minneapolis in restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products. Other places to restrict flavored tobacco sales include Providence, R.I. and New York City. St. Paul was one of the first cities in the state to set a minimum price for cigars, but the ordinance will raise the price to $2.60 to match surrounding cities.
“I think this is a good ordinance that sends a strong message to the tobacco industry,” said Councilmember Dai Thao, one of five co-sponsors of the ordinance. “We can’t trade the health of future generations for the tobacco industry’s profit.” The room turned green as Councilmember Amy Brendmoen, who first introduced the ordinance, had supporters of the ordinance stand up. Most of the advocates sported a green shirt that read, “The tobacco industry targets youth with flavored tobacco … but there’s nothing sweet about tobacco.” Alicia Leizinger, from the Ramsey Tobacco Coalition, said she is thrilled St. Paul is taking action to stop that. “Saint Paul has once again proven itself to be a leader willing to stand up to the
St. Paul City recently voted to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products and increase the minimum price for single cigars.
tobacco industry’s blatant attempts at hooking kids with candy flavored tobacco,” said Leizinger. “I’m proud of the young people who brought this issue to the attention of the City Council and urged them to take action to protect St. Paul’s youth.” Council newcomer Jane Prince, who was sworn in just a week ago, also voiced her support. She pointed out how naysayers said the bar and restaurant industry would go under if smoking were banned in those places. “But we’re thriving,” said Prince. “I’m supportive of this and appreciative of the young people who worked on this. The young man (Traielle Godfrey) who testified said it best. ‘Candy-flavored tobacco products don’t have a place where children can enter.’”
MLK forum: “How Democracy Works in Minnesota” In honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Think Again Brooklyns will present a forum, “How Democracy Works in MN” on Tuesday, Jan. 19th in the cafeteria of Hennepin Technical
College, 9000 Brooklyn Blvd. Secretary of State Steve Simon will take part in the discussion and will talk about what Minnesota does to most frequently achieve one of the
nation’s highest voter turnouts. Benjamin Kruse, founder and principal consultant of the Citizen Lobbyist and former Minnesota senator, will explain the history of how citizens politically organized
to create the current caucus system and Mohamud Noor, executive director of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota and 2014 candidate for the state House will also present during the
forum. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. with a discussion of Minnesota’s open electoral process. Prior, there will be a light dinner and social, starting at
6 p.m. For further details and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page at on.fb.me/1MvPPb1 or contact Carol Woehrer at (763) 537-0816. The event is free to attend.
UNCF National Faith Initiative week of giving kicks off Feb. 21 The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) National Faith and Education Initiative kicks off Feb. 21. The initiative is an effort to broaden awareness of the longstanding ties between UNCF
and the faith community. For more than 70 years the faith community and UNCF have helped more than 430,000 low income students have access to an affordable education. Last year, the Twin Cities UNCF
office gave almost a $1 million in scholarships to students from Minnesota. This year the area UNCF is reaching out to all the local faith based congregations in an effort to raise $100,000
to launch the UNCF MN Faith Initiative Scholarship Program. The Minnesota Faith Initiative Scholarship Fund is designed to give a helping hand to deserving young men and women from Minnesota.
Theater From 1 supporters, are devoted to giving the landmark venue and Frogtown area a sustainable future. “There are all kinds of development going on around the city and the Metro, and Frogtown can sort of be overlooked in this regard,” said Aaron Rubenstein, consulter with VTAI. “I think this is the next step along the lines of the vision people in the community have to make it a better neighborhood for the people who are there, and not allow it to gentrify.” The inspiration struck Mwasyeba and close community members six years ago to revive the old theater, which was once a silent movie house turned Prohibitionera cafe and nightclub in the 1900s. In 2009, however, the building almost became a parking lot site and its materials lost in a landfill. There was “kind of a community uprising at that point to save the theater,” recalls Sam Buffington, the organizing director at the FNA. “The developers were good people. When they realized there was historic significance to the building and community desire to see it stay, they backed off.” Since saving the building, the amount of support and awareness for the Victoria Theater has grown. “The political and moral support for the project— and just excitement for it— is really coming from the community,” said Buffington. The innovative project spurred involvement from various areas and groups of all ages, including the Midway and Rondo neighborhoods, while making partnerships with Kings Crossing senior
Annabelle Marcovici
Sam Buffington sits inside the new Victoria Theater space, which he expects will be under construction until 2017. apartments in Frogtown Square and with students at Gordon Parks High School. “My personal vision is to see during the day there might be classes for people of all ages,” said Mwasyeba of the theater reopening. “Community meetings, a place where people can just hang out. Maybe at night there might be a play, performing artist or art show.” From hip-hop music to Irish dancing, or from senior gatherings to youth activities, the theater intends to be of multicultural and multigenerational use, acting as a home for the expression of locals as well as an open door to visitors outside of the Rondo and Frogtown neighborhoods.
To help make this vision a reality, a $75,000 grant from the Knight Foundation’s Green Line Challenge allowed VTAI to formalize. “We used that money to hire artist organizers and an architecture firm to shepherd the project through the real community visionary stage,” said Buffington. Community members gave a variety of feedback during two design parties, hosted by VTAI this summer. Building a versatile space available for anything from afternoon meetings, coffee and art events to vibrant evening plays or concerts was unanimously important. “It seems that the community really wants a gathering spot that expresses
the community’s identity and is a spot for diverse cultural expression,” said Rubenstein. A reveal party in October previewed reconstruction details to the public, such as incorporating two performance spaces in the theater: one space large enough for 125 seats in the back of the building, and a smaller space for about 50 seats in the front, as well as having a small coffee shop and second level office space. The turnouts for the parties were successful, with over 200 attendees at each event. “A nice part of this project is that it touches on historic preservation, community building, diversity and art,” Buffington said. “Changing blighted spaces into neighborhood assets.”
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.
The Twin Cities UNCF office is hosting a week of giving, Feb. 21. The Faith Initiative is led by the Rev. James C. Thomas, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman and other clergy.
In January 2014, the Twin Cities Community Land Bank stepped in and purchased the building for VTAI, making the pathway of rejuvenation official. Much like they do for houses, the nonprofit organization, formed by the Family Housing Fund, salvages vacant spaces and provides opportunities for partnering developers. The next 18 months will continue to involve strong community engagement, business planning, and fundraising in the form of foundational support, donations, campaigns and outreach to government sources and entities. A month-long crowdsourcing campaign in November, called Give To The Max, helped VTAI raise enough funds for an antenna needed for a partner organization, Center for Hmong Arts and Talent’s low power FM community radio station. The online station, WFNU, currently serves the greater Frogtown area and will eventually be housed at the restored Victoria theater. “One of the things we learned from this crowdsourcing campaign for the radio is that there are people willing to donate money, even though this is not a wealthy neighborhood,” Buffington said. In the eyes of Mwasyeba, nothing can hold back the passion of the community or the possibilities of the theater in the Frogtown neighborhood. “The sky is the limit,” she said. “Folks think other folks live in the inner city because they have to. I love the inner city. I love the convenience of living so close to University Avenue and I love that we are a community that is very diverse in age, race and talent.”
For more information contact Tene Wells, UNCF development director at tene. wells@uncf.org or (612) 338 5742.
Photo: Dennis Adair / Creative Commons
Karl-Anthony Towns announces inaugural shoe drive Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns has partnered with The Salvation Army to host a shoe drive to help those in need of new shoes. From now until Jan. 29, Towns is inviting all fans to bring new and unused shoes to the Target Center Box Office. “Many people are in need of new shoes,” said Towns. “With the support of The Salvation Army and Wolves fans, I’m hoping we can make a difference by supplying new shoes to those in need of a new pair of shoes this winter.” As a thank you to those who donate, Towns will be supplying tickets to the Timberwolves’ Feb. 8 game versus the New Orleans Pelicans and the Feb. 22 game versus the Boston Celtics. Fans will receive a voucher redeemable for two tickets to one of these games for each pair of new and unused shoes they donate (first come, first served basis while supplies last). Towns and The Salvation Army will be accepting new and unused shoe donations at the Target Center Box Office at 600 First Ave. N., Minneapolis, through Jan. 29.
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.
Child Care Assistant Volunteer/ Volunteer Drivers Make a difference in the life of a child. The Mothers First program provides prevention and intervention services for pregnant women who are abusing chemicals. Mothers First is seeking a Child Care Assistant volunteer to help agency staff in providing supervision and care for the children with our Mothers First program while mom is attending counseling sessions. Volunteer Drivers are also needed to provide transportation to mothers in recovery to/from groups with our Mothers First program. Reimbursement for mileage is provided. Contact Ramsey County Health & Wellness Service Team — Volunteer Services at 651-266-4090 for additional information or e-mail to HumanServicesVolunteer@co.ramsey.mn.us.
NOW ACCEPTING WAITING LIST HOUSING APPLICATIONS Birmingham Townhomes is accepting housing applications through 2/10/16 for our waiting list for 2, 3, and 4 BR units with Section 8 rental assistance. Income limits apply. For a housing application, please call 952-876-9203. EHO.
Page 10 • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Insight News
insightnews.com Davell Crawford
‘Piano Prince of New Orleans,’ Davell Crawford plays the Dakota in tribute to Allen Toussaint
D
avell Crawford, nicknamed the “Piano Prince of New Orleans,” will pay homage to one of New Orleans’ most legendary figures, Allen Toussaint. “Allen Toussaint was very apparent at the earliest of my discoveries about the music and culture that I would one day represent,” said Crawford. “I started hanging around his studio after school at the age of 11. He never ran me away, never said stop coming around, nothing negative. The graciousness of Allen Toussaint helped me immensely as a child. It helped develop and shape me into the musician I am today.” For two nights – Jan. 18 and Jan. 19 – Crawford will return to the Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis and pay tribute to his idol by performing a rare show featuring the music of Toussaint. Crawford will perform two shows nightly, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $35. For more information visit www. dakotacooks.com or call (612) 332-5299.
Allen Toussaint
insightnews.com
Insight News • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Page 11
The ten best Black books of 2015 By Kam Williams
for Racial Justice by Drick Boyd
1. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Lawyer as Leader How to Plant People and Grow Justice by Dr. Artika R. Tyner
2. Black Male Frames African-Americans in a Century of Hollywood Cinema, 1903-2003 by Roland Leander Williams, Jr.
Felon-Attorney by TheArthur Duncan II, Esquire My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me A Black Woman Discovers Her Family’s Nazi Past by Jennifer Teege
3. The Face That Changed It All A Memoir by Beverly Johnson
Corruption Officer From Jail Guard to Perpetrator inside Rikers Island by Gary L. Heyward
4. America The Black Point of View by Tony Rose 5. After the Dance My Life with Marvin Gaye by Jan Gaye
The Loneliness of the Black Republican Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power by Leah Wright Riguer
6. Undivided A Muslim Daughter, Her Christian Mother, Their Path to Peace by Patricia Raybon and Alana Raybon
Twisted My Dreadlock Chronicles by Bert Ashe
7. Stand Your Ground Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas
Honorable Mention
8. The Presidency in Black and White My Up-Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America by April Ryan
The African Burial Ground in New York City Memory, Spirituality and Space Andrea E. Frohne
Florynce “Flo” Kennedy The Life of a Black Feminist Radical by Sherie M. Randolph Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March By Lynda Blackmon Lowery
9. Firefight The Century-Long Battle to Integrate New York’s Bravest by Ginger Adams Otis 10. Year of Yes How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes
Infinite Words A Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Publishing by Zane Clean Design Wellness for Your Lifestyle by Robin Wilson
Black Silent Majority The Rockefeller Drug Laws and the Politics of Punishment by Michael Javen Fortner
Son of Virginia A Life in America’s Political Arena by L. Douglas Wilder
Negroland: A Memoir by Margo Jefferson
White Allies in the Struggle
SEE SHAKESPEARE’S ADVENTURE-FILLED ROMANCE!
by
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE directed by JOSEPH HAJ
The Guthrie Theater’s production is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
JANUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 21
612.377.2224 GUTHRIETHEATER.ORG
Restaurant Winners Plain Talk for Bootstrappers Navigating the Foodservice Industry by Mark Radford It All Begins with ‘I’ The “New Rules” of Thinking and the Simple Secrets to Living a Rich, Joyous and Fulfilled Life by Stuart K. Robinson
BOOKS TURN TO 12
Living Colour
Rock Fusion Superstars
January 17 | 7pm " raucous melodies and street-smart lyrics" -Rolling Stone
612.332.5299 | dakotacooks.com 1010 nicollet mall, downtown minneapolis
Page 12 • January 11 - January 17, 2016 • Insight News
Books From 11 Reach 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding Edited by Ben Jealous and Trabian Shorters Foreword by Russell Simmons Child, Please How Mama’s Old-School
insightnews.com
Lessons Helped Me Check Myself before I Wrecked Myself by Ylonda Gault Caviness A Bold Perspective Courage & Empowerment to Take on Life’s Adversities by Tina Marie and Rashon D. Fuller Eye on the Struggle Ethel Payne, the First
Davell
Crawford Tribute to Allen Toussaint Jan 18 & 19 7 & 9 pm “a cross between Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, a male Billie Holiday.” – Jazz Foundation of America
612.332.5299 | dakotacooks.com 1010 nicollet mall, downtown minneapolis
Lady of the Black Press by James McGrath Morris Talking Back: Voices of Color Edited by Nellie Wong Red Letter Press The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae Rock the Boat
How to Use Conflict to Heal and Deepen Your Relationship by Resmaa Menakem, MSW Sunny 101 The 10 Commandments of a Boss Chick by Sunshine Smith-Williams The Street God I Won without Telling by Christian Hayward
Welcome to Death Row The Uncensored History of the Rise & Fall of Death Row Records by S. Leigh Savidge Prince of Darkness The Untold Story of Jeremiah G. Hamilton, Wall Street’s First Black Millionaire by Shane White
The Leader’s Journey by Dr. Artika R. Tyner Fracture Barack Obama, the Clintons, and the Racial Divide by Joy-Ann Reid The Antidote By the Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson