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Insight News January 14 - January 20, 2019

Vol. 46 No. 2• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Living among the stars

Governor’s MLK celebration features former astronaut Mae Jemison (pictured) as its keynote and honors “Hidden Figure” Katherine Coleman Johnson and Dr. Retha Clark King.

S TTEEM M 3

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Insight News January 14 - January 20, 2019

Vol. 46 No. 2• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

‘Hidden Figure’ Katherine Coleman Johnson, Dr. Reatha Clark King to be awarded, astronaut Mae Jemison to keynote

Women of STEM take center stage at MLK celebration at the Ordway

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor @HarryColbertJr Pioneering women in the careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will be honored at this year’s State of Minnesota Governor’s Council Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.

The celebratory event commemorating the birth of human rights icon, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., takes place on Jan. 21 (King holiday) from 10 a.m. – noon at the Ordway Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, and will honor NASA’s Katherine Coleman Johnson, Dr. Reatha Clark King and is keynoted by former astronaut Mae Jemison. KARE 11’s Adrienne Broaddus will serve as the event’s host. The event is free and open to the public.

It will also stream live on TPT public television.

Pioneering women of STEM (left to right) Katherine Coleman Johnson (in the photo being honored by former president Barack Obama), Dr. Retha Clark King and former astronaut Mae Jemison will be a part of the Jan. 21 MLK celebration at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul.

Coleman Johnson’s accomplishments were celebrated on screen with the No. 1 film, “Hidden Figures,” in which

Taraji P. Henson portrayed the brilliant mathematician. It was Coleman Johnson’s efforts that allowed NASA astronaut John

Glenn to successfully orbit the earth and return safely. Clark King, a former president of Metropolitan State University, is a

Keith Ellison sworn in as Minnesota Attorney General Keith sworn 30th

Ellison has been in as Minnesota’s Attorney General.

In brief inaugural remarks delivered Jan. 7, Attorney General Ellison declared, “My job as the people’s lawyer is to help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity and respect. The Minnesota Attorney General’s office will be the place where everybody counts and everybody matters.”

Ellison was the first of Minnesota’s five statewide constitutional officers to be sworn in at a ceremony that more than 1,000 people attended at

St. Paul’s Fitzgerald Theater.

He was surrounded by family members on stage as U.S. District Court Judge Michael Davis administered the oath of office.

He is the first African-American and the first Muslim American to be elected to statewide office in Minnesota.

Inaugural remarks of Attorney General Keith Ellison “Let me tell you about Alex Smith. He worked hard as a restaurant manager.

He had a dream of owning his own one day. He was loved by his family and friends.

“Last year, when

By Al McFarlane Editor-In-Chief al@insightnews.com Attorney General Keith Ellison Alex turned 26, he was kicked off his mom’s health insurance. He couldn’t afford insurance of his own on his salary of $35,000. His insulin alone cost him $1,300 a month.

“Alex had to ration the insulin that was saving his life.

“Alex died a month later. He couldn’t afford his life.

“Alex wasn’t alone.

The price of insulin has gone up 1200% in 20 years. This

has enhanced the profits of the corporations that make it, and threatened the lives of the 1.25 million Americans who live with Type 1 diabetes — especially African Americans, Latinos and Latinas, and American Indians, all of whom live with far higher rates of it.

“My job as the People’s Lawyer is to help Minne-

ELLISON AG 4

Managers elevate diversity at Office of Higher Education

By Maya Beecham

Three women leading the Minnesota Office of Higher Education include (left to right) Winnie Sullivan, Nekey Oliver and Ashley Booker. tality, and individual quality of life.” The monetary investment that fuels the work is necessary, but the human capital that puts democracy into action is what makes OHE thrive internally and for every Minnesotan. More specifically there are three African-American women behind the scenes at OHE that serve as a visual representation of post-

Health

Rep. Omar introduces plan to lower drug prices

PAGE 4

Foundation. Jemison made history in 1992 as the first Black woman to travel in space when

STEM 4

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison interview series: Part 2

Mission driven leaders

Every Minnesotan is owed the opportunity to pursue and obtain completion of a higher education credential regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic status.

This is the mission driving the work at Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE). In fiscal year 2017, OHE, a cabinet level state agency under the former Gov. Mark Dayton, was allocated $336 million from the State of Minnesota budget to operate according to the tenets of OHE’s mission. This investment is deemed critical for operations, as the mission reads, “in order to enhance our democracy, the State’s economic vi-

chemist by trade who plied her craft working for General Mills where she later became vice president of the General Mills

secondary and professional success for diverse communities impacted most by disparities.

These individuals are in critical leadership posts.

Winnie Sullivan had relocated her family to Minnesota more than 20 years ago when she started her career with the state.

She planned to take the first few months to get acclimated with

the state and culture, however, in less than two months from her arrival an opportunity for employment presented itself and she took it. For six months she worked in a temporary position with the Minnesota Secretary of State. As that assignment came to an end she landed a full-

OHE 4

On being elected Minnesota’s Attorney General: Keith Ellison: As Attorney General, I don’t write law anymore, but it’ll be my job to enforce it. So, it’s kind of interesting. I’m working on another side of the same issue. I helped pass the Affordable Care Act. Now as the Attorney General, I’m going to be defending the Affordable Care Act. I help write the law for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the CFPD. Now, I’m going to be enforcing consumer protection laws.

There are many other examples of that very same thing. As a lawyer, I’m getting back to my roots. When you met me, Al, I was a law student.

Now, I’m going back to the law business, and I’m excited about it. I always loved it. It was fun. I enjoyed practicing law. Before, I was just pure lawyer, then I became a politician. Now, I’m kind of both. The Attorney General is an elected office, but it’s a legal job. So, I’ll be doing both of those things.

Al McFarlane: As Attorney General, who do you report to? Is the governor your boss?

Is the lieutenant governor your boss? Who’s your boss? Who are you accountable to?

AS

News

Midshipman Patrick Hennessey sets sights on Navy service

PAGE 5

Flying high: Rexy Rolle changing the game in the airline industry

PAGE 6

Keith Ellison: Al, you’re my boss.

And the folks who work at KFAI are my boss. Everybody listening to this show is my boss. The governor is not my boss. I used to tell people ... Somebody one time said to me, “Well, you should tell your boss, Obama.” I said, “Obama is not and never was my boss.”

As a matter of fact, the Congress and the presidency are coequal branches of government.

Nobody’s a boss. If you wonder about whether the president is the boss of a member of Congress, ask yourself why we have a shutdown. Because the Congress said we’re not giving you 5 billion for some hate wall. The President says, “I want 5 billion for my hate wall,” and it didn’t pass.

So now, the governor and I are both Executive Branch officers, but I have my own independent election certificate.

The people voted for me to do what I have to do. I won, he won. So, it’s good that Tim Walls and I are good friends, and we’ll be working on a very productive partnership.

Al McFarlane: How long was he in the Congress?

Keith Ellison: Same as me, man. He came inAl McFarlane: So, you guys have history?

Keith Ellison: Our lives are tracking parallel. He got in in

ELLISON 4

SNAPSHOTS

Adora Land’s 30th birthday at Exchange Night Club

PAGE 7

Page 4 • January 14 - January 20, 2019 • Insight News

Insight 2 Health

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Rep. Omar introduces plan to lower drug prices WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN) along with more than two dozen of her colleagues in the House and Senate, introduced sweeping reforms Jan. 10 that they say would enhance the U.S. healthcare system and dramatically reduce prescription drug prices in the country.

The plan to reduce the cost of prescription drugs includes three bills – the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act, which would stop drug compa-

Rep. Ilhan Omar

nies from using their monopoly power to prevent more affordable, generic alternatives from coming to the market, the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Act, which would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D and the Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act, which would allow patients, pharmacists and wholesalers to import, affordable medicine from Can-

ada and other major countries.

“I believe that healthcare is a basic human right,” Omar said. “And the right to healthcare extends to being able to access prescription drugs at an affordable price. Americans pay the highest prices to access drugs in the world – including three times the price of drugs in Great Britain alone. Instead of taking donations from the pharmaceutical industry, we need to hold them accountable for taking advan-

tage of the American people.”

Omar cited specific examples as to how high drug prices are affecting everyday Americans.

“It is a mark of shame that in the wealthiest country in the world people are dying because they can’t afford lifesaving medicine. That includes Alec Holt-Smith, a Twin Cities resident who passed away after he couldn’t afford enough insulin,” said Omar. “In America, no one should die because

they can’t afford healthcare.”

The 5th District representative said the proposed reforms are just the first step to healthcare reform.

“I will fight for a Medicare for all single-payer healthcare system to guarantee quality healthcare for all Americans,” said Omar. “It is unacceptable that millions of people are unable to seek care because they live without or cannot afford insurance.”

Diving into the genetics of sickle cell disease

By Dr. Kevin Williams Chief Medical Officer for Rare Disease, Pfizer In recent years, genetics has become a hot topic in popular culture, frequently making news headlines and serving as a key theme in movies and television shows—and for good reason … our genes are what make us unique.

Genes not only help to shape our tastes and preferences, but they also can influence our health. In some cases, our genes play silent roles within our bodies. In others, genes take on a more prominent role, even determining our likelihood of having specific diseases.

This brings me to sickle cell disease (SCD), a topic I am passionate about and have

STEM From 3 she was a member of NASA’s Space Shuttle Endeavour crew.

James Burroughs, the state’s former director of Chief Inclusion Officer, was lead on the team that put this year’s celebration together. He said the planning council wanted to be intentional in not just celebrating a man but elevating a community.

OHE From 3 time permanent position with the Department of Administration. By her seventh year at the agency she worked her way up from receptionist to a position within the commissioner’s office. After 10 years of establishing relationships and broadening her network she received a call from Dayton’s office with an opportunity to work for the governor’s chief of staff. As a liaison for cabinet level positions and the governor’s office, she established relationships with various commissioners.

Larry Pogemiller, the commissioner of Minnesota Office of Higher Education, at the time, contacted her regarding an opening for the agency’s deputy commissioner position. Sullivan thought about it, talked with her family, and determined she has always had a passion for education. In June 2017 she began her position as Deputy Commissioner of OHE. She believed this opportunity would put her in position to provide aide and access to underrepresented groups.

“My first perspective was

Ellison From 3

Ellison AG From 3 sotans like Alex afford their lives and live with dignity and respect.

“In this time of the worst income inequality in

Dr. Kevin Williams discussed in previous commentaries. In this commentary, I’d like to focus on the often underrecognized fact that SCD is a genetic disease and is inherited from the passing of the sickle cell gene from parent to child.

Not everyone who inherits the sickle cell gene has SCD. Only people who inherit the

gene from both parents develop this condition. This is an important distinction, as a person who inherits the sickle cell gene from only one parent while inheriting a normal gene from the other will have sickle cell trait, and typically will live a relatively normal life. However, people with sickle cell trait have a 50 percent chance of passing the gene to their children.

I’m here to answer some of the most common questions that I’m asked about the sickle cell trait and suggest available resources for additional information.

How prevalent is the sickle cell trait?

Research indicates that as many as 3 million Americans carry the sickle cell trait, primarily impacting African-Americans.

In fact, nearly 1 in 12 African-

Americans have the sickle cell trait.

Worldwide, more than 100 million people carry the sickle cell trait. It is most prevalent among sub-Saharan Africans, Hispanics, South

Asians, Caucasians from southern Europe, and people from the Middle East.

Dr. Kevin Williams is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Pfizer Rare Disease.

In this role, he leads a Medical

Affairs organization of approximately 150 medical colleagues around the globe supporting Pfizer’s efforts and portfolio in Rare Disease.

“Recognizing the lack of female representation, particularly Black women, in the STEM fields we want to raise awareness for diversity inclusion and equity in STEM careers by incorporating this theme into every aspect of this year’s celebration,” said Burroughs.

Burroughs offered several statistics to highlight the need for more AfricanAmerican women to participate in careers of STEM. He said in 2012, white women earned 6,777 PhDs in STEM fields and

white men earned 8,478 PhD degrees. But for African-American women, that number dwindles to 684 – 10 times fewer scientific doctorates than their white counterparts, with only 3.5 percent of STEM bachelor’s degrees.

Women comprise 56.8 percent of the U.S. workforce and a mere 8.5 percent of the country’s engineers. Approximately 87 percent of all engineers are white males.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts STEM professionals will experience the highest growth in job numbers

between now and 2030, yet only a fraction of girls and women are likely to pursue degrees that enable them to fulfill these news jobs. To that respect the planning council was again intentional in its actions. Burroughs said the council partnered area Black professionals in STEM with high school and middle school students at schools that included North Community High School, Minneapolis, Como Park High School, St. Paul and Franklin Middle School, Minneapolis, to introduce them to careers

in their various fields. Studies show girls have great interest in STEM careers during ages 5-12, but this interest quickly dwindles in middle and high school.

Faith Jackson, the event’s planner and founder of 612 Media Management said getting STEM superstars Coleman Johnson, Clark King and Jemison was Burroughs’ vision.

“James had the idea to bring Mae Jemison and Katherine Coleman Johnson to honor them and things just grew from there,” said Jackson. “We were

talking about the underrepresentation of Black women in STEM and we wanted to do something to address the issue while at the same time honoring these amazing women.”

In addition to honoring the pioneering women, Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will provide remarks and musical performances will include Ray Covington, the Minnesota Orchestra, Indigenous Roots and others.

that there was no direct contact with the students. However, we provide services without direct contact by helping students go to college and find the best fit,” said Sullivan.

Pogemiller marveled at the qualities and experience that make Sullivan critical to her position at OHE. “She got her college degree later in life after raising her family. She is now managing the entire operations of the agency.

She has toughness that is exceptional, and she has the ability to provide bad news to somebody in a way that they thank her.

She has an exceptional ability to read people that she manages and provide to them whatever assistance they need,” said Pogemiller.

Sullivan manages the operations of the agency by serving as the Human Resources director and supervising 13 managers.

Two managers under Sullivan’s direction, Nekey Oliver, Grants and Government Relations manager and Ashley Booker, OHE Get Ready program director, maintain key functions at OHE that control the external and internal reputation of the agency through messaging, relationships, local and federal funding and policy.

In 2012 Oliver was a gradu-

ate student at the University of Minnesota, in the Master of Education in Youth Development Leadership program. She was participating in outreach initiatives organized by her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. when she learned about an internship position at OHE from Dr. Nancy Walters, the now retired Competitive Grants manager at OHE. Oliver was hired as an intern, while continuing her graduate school studies.

In the past six years her trajectory has made monumental strides. From intern she went on to become a program assistant, legislative liaison, and now Grants and Government Relations manager. She is proud of an early assignment that allowed her to cut her teeth in the work.

She had opportunity to develop a major proposal with Commissioner Pogemiller and present it to Governor Dayton.

“I helped Commissioner Pogemiller reframe and rename the equity package proposal (a package of equity grants being proposed for additional funding) so it would be sellable to the governor’s office. The commissioner let me go into the meeting to pitch all of our proposals to the governor. The governor not only decided to fund our request but he decided to put $20

million into it. The legislature didn’t do it, but the governor did it. I was really excited about that happening,” said Oliver.

Keen observation is a skill that Ashley Booker has utilized as she climbed the ranks at OHE to her current position as program director of Get Ready, a federally-funded college and career readiness program administered through OHE. The program is geared towards students who are low-income, and those from communities of color and indigenous communities.

From 2012 to 2018 Booker has catapulted in leadership while serving in different capacities for the Get Ready program, from evaluation specialist to program development manager, to her current role as program director.

“I provide oversight for the Get Ready program. I represent our office to the U.S. Department of Education as the project director. I am the one that has to be present at all the federal meetings to make sure we are in compliance with the grant, and to make sure we are being good stewards of the money we receive,” said Booker.

She is also responsible for participation in the College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium (CCREC) a multistate evaluation project for Gear

UP, a federal grant program for states and partnerships, administered by the Department of Education. Booker is the chair of the CCREC executive committee.

When she became program director in 2016 she revamped the program.

“It was a very hierarchical, prescriptive program in the sense that direction kind of came from the top down. Decisions were made from the top down and there wasn’t much of an opportunity from those in the field engaging in the work, working with the populations directly, to weigh in,” said Booker. “There was no room for students, family, and school staff at the table.

I restructured the division really from the top down. I created positions that I thought needed to be there that weren’t, and I looked for opportunities to empower people that I felt had been written off because they challenged things. When people feel that they own the program and they have the power and influence to make changes that need to be made that improves team cohesion. To lead is to provide vision, direction and guidance to the team but also to make sure they are growing and evolving and doing what I can to support them even if it means you don’t stay here.”

While Pogemiller transitions from his post under the Dayton administration he reflects on the leadership Sullivan, Oliver and Booker bring to the agency that transcends their current roles.

“In their life experiences and the way they do their work, they personify the entire notion of equity in our community,” said Pogemiller. “They are exceptionally talented women who just happen to be women of color. So, for the state, it’s like a trifecta. The ability to listen, read situations, and understand people are attributes they bring to their roles as managers. Some of that you can learn but some of that you are born with. In the instance of these three women they are born leaders.”

Booker has a request expressed by all three leaders and others in the enterprise for the Gov. Tim Walz administration.

“Even though we might be diversifying the state’s workforce we should not become complacent. We really need to do the work necessary to change the culture and climate at these different agencies to retain good talent and ensure the folks we have been charged to serve are represented so we don’t lose them. I just hope that this remains a priority,” said Booker.

2006, so did I. Swore in 2007, just like me. Now, we’re both going to be working in Minnesota state government at the very same time. It’s fun. The good thing is he and I can talk. He

and I have a relationship. We’ve agreed that we’re going to have very regular meetings to make sure that we’re coordinating our work for the benefit of the people of our state. That’s going to

be a benefit.

Peggy Flanagan’s awesome. She used to be a Minneapolis School Board member.

She’s now the Lieutenant Governor, highest ranked Native-

American woman in the United States. There has never been a Native woman as a statewide officer in any state. This is a big deal. Then I think there’s a woman name Deborah Haalland

who is Native American woman in Congress from New Mexico.

I think she’s the first. These are important developments. These things are happening right now and all over the place.

America in a century, one of the last bastions of power for regular people is our democracy.

“But the demands of profit over people are putting pressure on our democracy.

“As the People’s Lawyer, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office will be the place — as it has been from Walter Mondale to Lori

Swanson — where we protect the rights of the people.

“Minnesotans deserve an Attorney General’s Office where they can count on fair treatment and equal justice. And they won’t just come to us — we’ll go to them.

There is no town or county too small or too far from the metro that my office won’t help.

“The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office will be the place where everybody counts and everybody matters.

“That’s what it looks like to help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity and respect.

“Protecting people before profit is hard work. Protecting our democracy is hard work.

“What makes the work easy is this: Minnesotans already know how to help each other afford their lives and live with dignity and respect — because we do it every day. It’s who we are.

“I want to thank Minnesotans for letting me serve as the People’s Lawyer. I want to thank my mother, Clida Ellison, and all my family and

friends. I want to thank Mónica Hurtado for standing with me through thick and thin.

“To all my fellow Minnesotans, no matter how you voted or even if you voted: You count. You matter. I am on your side.

“Thank you. Let’s get to work.”

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 14 - January 20, 2019 • Page 5

Cretin-Durham Hall High School graduate is mechanical engineering student at Iowa State University

NROTC midshipman Patrick Hennessey looking to serve aboard the USS Somerset MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Navy Midshipman Patrick Hennessey from St. Paul participated in the 2018 winter Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) ship selection draft as a future member of the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community.

More than 40 midshipmen from NROTC units around the country chose to serve as surface warfare officers. Each selecting midshipmen is ranked according to grade point average, aptitude scores and physical fitness.

“NROTC provided me the opportunity to lead my peers in both large and small group settings,” said Hennessey.

According to their rankings, each midshipman provided a preference of ship or homeport to the junior officer detailer at the Navy Per-

Navy Midshipman Patrick Hennessey sonnel Command in Millington, Tennessee. If these preferences were available, they were assigned as requested.

“I am looking forward to leading and influencing the sailors in my division when I get to the ship,” said Hennessey.

Hennessey, a 2014 Cretin-Durham Hall High School graduate, has selected to serve aboard USS Somerset. Hennessey is majoring in mechanical engineering while attending Iowa State University. Upon graduation, he will

receive a commission as a Navy Ensign and report aboard Somerset as a surface warfare officer.

Commissioned in 2014, Somerset is home ported at Naval Base San Diego. Somerset is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. The ships are generally designed to transport troops into a war zone by sea, primarily using landing craft, although invariably they also have the capability to transport helicopters.

“I hope to show up at my ship ready and to learn and lead by example in everything I do,” said Hennessey.

“NROTC units across the country instill essential warfighting fundamentals, professional core competencies,

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board seeks volunteers The Hennepin County Board is accepting applications for two vacancies on the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board.

Current board members William Becker and Brian Shekleton are nearing the end of their terms of office. Becker, first appointed in March 2016, does not intend to seek reap-

pointment. Shekleton, appointed in March 2007, has not decided if he will seek reappointment.

year terms.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board coordinates the management of water and related land resources in the watershed that drains into Lake Minnetonka and Minnehaha Creek. Members serve three-

Members must not serve as a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must reside within the watershed district. It is helpful for members to have a background in water conservation, develop-

Qualifications

ment, law, engineering, environment or public administration.

Openings for the board close Feb. 21. The county board will hold interviews in March during two County Administration Committee meetings.

The dates are to be determined.

To learn more and/or apply go to www.hennepin.us/ advisoryboards.

Southdale courthouse to close in February The Southdale Courthouse, 7009 York Ave. S., Edina, will close permanently at the end of the day on Feb. 1.

Starting Feb. 4, misdemeanor criminal and traffic cases that would have been scheduled for court at Southdale will be moved to Ridgedale, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, and two downtown Minneapolis locations – the

Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. 6th St. and Public Safety Facility, 401 S. 4th Ave. Cases prosecuted by Bloomington, Metropolitan Airport Commission (Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport) and Richfield cases will go to the Hennepin County Government Center and Public Safety Facility. Edina and St. Louis Park cases will go to

the Ridgedale court location.

Also, as a result of the restructure, Golden Valley, Plymouth, and Maple Grove cases will move from the Ridgedale to the Brookdale court location. Because of this change, courtrooms and administration offices will be located in seven buildings, including five in downtown Minneapolis and two in the suburbs.

Metro Transit bus routes 614, 615, and 645 serve the Ridgedale Courthouse, and route 722 serves the Brookdale Courthouse. Multiple bus routes serve the Hennepin County Government Center, as well as the Blue Line and Green Line light rail trains.

and ethics required in a Navy or Marine Corps officer,” said Rear Adm. Mike Bernacchi, commander, Naval Service Training Command, which includes the NROTC Program.

“I am enormously proud of our graduating midshipman for completing this demanding program, and look for-

ward to them joining the fleet.”

“Ship selection means a lot to me because it allowed me to control where I start my career based on my performance during my time at NROTC,” said Hennessey.

Source: Navy Office of Community Outreach

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Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Culture and Education Editor Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed

Contributing Writers Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Abeni Hill Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker 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,

Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Intern Kelvin Kuria

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Page 6 • January 14 - January 20, 2019 • Insight News

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iLLism

Monday, Jan. 14 HIP-HOP/R&B TrapSoul | A Lit Affair Nomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

21-plus $5

Monday, Jan. 14 – Sunday, Jan. 20 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

DJ Cam Jones presents a night of new R&B with performances by Nuelz, Jus Will, Josiah Woods, Travid Ruffin, Shardae Robinson, ShayMarie WitIt and Cariah Brinae’.

Tuesday, Jan. 15 NIGHTLIFE/TRIVIA

Drunk Queer History Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater 810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. $10 advance, $12 door Drunk Queer History is a night of improv and comedy on queer issues.

Thursday, Jan. 17 STORYTELLING/ OPEN MIC Story Club Minneapolis Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater 810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. $8-$15

Wednesday, Jan. 16 Story Club Minneapolis BIG BAND Louis Armstrong Night with Southside Aces Vieux Carré 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul 8 p.m. $8 Enjoy a whole night of the music of Louis Armstrong with the Southside Aces Big Five.

is a monthly storytelling show featuring both an open mic segment and a curated set of performers. This month check out poet and essayist Michael Kleber-Diggs.

Friday, Jan. 18 HIP-HOP/R&B ILLism - iLLuminate Album Release Show Amsterdam Bar and Hall

6 W. 6th St., St. Paul 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

18-plus $7

A public classroom covering Black poetry in the state of Minnesota.

iLLism along with their band will debut new music from their much anticipated second studio album, “iLLuminate.”

Additional sounds

by DJ Huh What and hosted by Leviticus.

Sunday, Jan. 20

Saturday, Jan. 19 WRITING Black Lines Matter: Where Black Writers Meet The Loft Literary Center 1011 Washington Ave. S., Ste. 200, Minneapolis 6 p.m.

All ages No cover

KING CELEBRATION 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert Ted Mann Concert Hall 2128 4th St. S., Minneapolis 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

All ages No Cover The University of Minnesota will host the 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert, curated by G. Phillip Shoultz, will feature VocalEssence, Singers of this Age, Ginger Commodore, Jacob Dodd, Brian Grandison, Madalyn McCurdy and others.

Flying high: Rexy Rolle changing the game in the airline industry

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Although she acknowledges setting “big goals,” Sherrexcia “Rexy” Rolle said the magic really happens in the small steps it takes to reach those ambitions.

“That’s where the victories are won, in your daily to do list,” said Rolle, whose boardroom and classroom accomplishments are turning heads.

At 30, Rolle serves as vice president of operations and general counsel of Western Air Limited, her family’s company and the largest privately-owned airline in the Bahamas. She’s climbed the corporate ladder, but nothing was handed to her – Rolle clearly has earned her wings.

“My family instilled a very strong work ethic in me as a child. We strongly believe in the principle of big faith and hard work,” Rolle said.

COMMON CHORDS NORTH MINNEAPOLIS

FREE MUSIC EVENTS Community Meal and Sing-Along

Music Together: Finale Concert

Tue Jan 22 Sanctuary Covenant Church

Sat Jan 26 7pm North High School

6pm free meal / 7pm sing-along Catered by Breaking Bread Café.

Featuring the Minnesota Orchestra, trumpeter Charles Lazarus, The Steeles, Juxtaposition Arts and MacPhail Northside Youth Orchestra.

JOIN US!

Registration and information at minnesotaorchestra.org/commonchords

612-371-5656

/

#mnorch

Photos: Instagram and Twitter

At 30, Sherrexcia “Rexy” Rolle serves as vice president of operations and general counsel of Western Air Limited, her family’s company and the largest privately-owned airline in the Bahamas.

Western Air, a commercial airline that operates daily scheduled and on-demand flights to major destinations throughout the Bahamas, including Nassau, Grand Bahama, Exuma, Bimini, Abaco and San Andros, also provides charter services to the Caribbean, Central and South America. In business since 2000, Western Air was founded

by Rolle’s parents, Rex Rolle and Shandrice Rolle. The airline conducts an average of 42 flights per day, 365 days a year and has a team of 165 employees.

“My dad was a private pilot at the time and my mom was an international business major, just graduating college,” Rolle said. “My Mom and I went to Andros for my great grandmother’s funeral and on our return, we were stuck at the airport for almost the entire day. I remember her and I saying, that there must be a better way to travel from one island to the next. It wasn’t difficult to convince my dad who is an aviation enthusiast. We sought financing for one aircraft and the aircraft financier believed so much in the idea and offered to finance three aircrafts, zero down as a package.”

Rolle’s family wasn’t rich, as her dad was one of 13 children who came from very humble means. Rolle, who is originally

from Mastic Point, Andros in the Bahamas, grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. After attending eighth and ninth grade in Andros, she attended Montverde Academy, an international boarding school. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa in Canada where she excelled in a joint honors program in political science and communications.

Later, she earned a Masters in Mass Media and Communications at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. She has a law degree from Thomas Jefferson Law School in San Diego.

Still, her beginnings at Western Air proved quite humbling.

She started as a baggage handler and worked her way up to vice president of operations, eventually orchestrating several strategic acquisitions for the airline – the first of which were two Saab 340A and a multi-aircraft deal with Embraer for the acquisition of three ERJ 145 LR 50-seater jets. She is also training to become a pilot, having logged more than 44 flight hours.

“When I realize what an impact Western Air plays in people’s lives on the daily, it certainly motivates me to keep pushing and progressing to better their experience,” Rolle said.

While her family counts as role models, Rolle said she’s

also inspired by Oprah Winfrey, who is the “Aunty in (her) head.”

“She (Winfrey) inspires me because she seems to have mastered the art of balance and remaining in a state of gratitude, all while being courageous in various business and creative pursuits,” Rolle said of the talk show queen and magnate.

Life and her achievements haven’t been without obstacles, Rolle said. However, she noted that obstacles only serve to propel one forward because “once you’ve survived it, it sets the precedent to similar challenges.”

“I’ve faced the most obstacles when we sought to do things that were never done before. For example, when I was spearheading the opening of Western Air’s Grand Bahama Passenger terminal we got major push back on a number of levels because it was the first of its kind in the Bahamas,” she said. “A passenger terminal with its own security screening, acting independently from the airport itself. Our ability to conduct such operations was challenged by major players in the industry. To say the least I had to cut our way through a number of legal red tapes, take the risk and seek approval from the authorities in the position to validate our right to operate. Opening the passenger terminal was a pivotal point for our company and was instrumental in securing market share on that route. I was a fairly new attorney at that time.

While it was a bit intimidating, it was a rewarding experience.”

Rolle said she refuses to allow negative stereotypes to affect the way she does business or carries herself. As a successful Black woman attorney and executive in the airline industry, Rolle isn’t easily intimidated.

“For some, a lawyer or a VP of an airline should look and act a certain way, perhaps more conservative, perhaps older, white and male. But I thrive on being unapologetic about who I am,” Rolle said. “My hair is big, my heels are high, but my opinion and work ethic is strong. I also understand there is a misconception that working in a family business is easy or that things are handed it to you.

But we believe in demonstrating your individual value and earning your stripes.”

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When one of the nicest, most genuine persons in the Twin Cities has a monumental birthday and you’re invited, you show up, no questions asked.

Insight News • January 14 - January 20, 2019 • Page 7

That was the case when Insight News was granted an invite to celebrate Adora Land’s 30th birthday recently at Exchange Night Club. Land ushered-in

30 with several friends and her Delta Sigma Theta sorors. We at Insight wish Adora a glorious 30th year of life.

Sweethearts, Vance “DJ Advance” McCain and KeLea Randall.

Photos Harry Colbert, Jr.

The woman of the hour, Adora Land (left) and her guy, D’Sean Tolefree.

Insight News contributing writer, Nadvia Davis.

The triple threat of (left to right) of Gigi Santiago, Nick Hooks and Sepia Edwards.

The lovely Eliana Reyes.

Like cold, hard cash? Get your mitts on the new Bold North scratch game. It has a top prize of $100,000. And you don’t need to put on your hat and gloves to play.

mnlottery.com/bold-north

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK

World-Renowned Vocal Ensemble

JAN 24 • 7PM 612.332.5299 • dakotacooks.com

Stunning young ladies, (left to right) Kim Erynkitola, De’Ja Carter, Sherilyn Thomas and Tazz Bentley.

Page 8 • January 14 - January 20, 2019 • Insight News

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