PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MINNEAPOLIS MN PERMIT NO. 32468
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Regina Carter’s Reverse Thread
Regina Carter brings her tenacious force to the Ted Mann stage to coincide with the release of her upcoming album, Reverse Thread. Her latest contribution to the world of contemporary jazz. Mon, Mar 15, 7:30 pm, $40.00 Ted Mann Concert Hall or call, 612-626-1892.
February 8 - February 14, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 6 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
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Capri Theater presents a Valentine for music lovers
Q and A with Minnesota gubernatorial candidates PAGE
(L-R) Thomasina Petrus, T. Mychael Rambo and Regina Marie Williams
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Photos courtesy of the Capri Theater
Changing the image
Eyewitness report on the Haitian relief effort
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By Maya Beecham Youth are impressionable. Images can influence their behavior, and often serve as a mirror to their future. James Burroughs II, Director of Minneapolis Public Schools Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, and staff, are deliberate in presenting positive images of education and professionalism to students of color in their district. 100 Strong Who Care: Building Bridges for the Next Generation, is a series of events hosted by Minneapolis Public Schools, that brings 100 business professionals into one school to meet with students, talk about their careers and work with students on service-learning projects. Students make a tangible connection with professionals leading successful careers in marketing, science, law, human resources, computer technology, and other industries. Four events will take place at Minneapolis Public Schools in partnership with professional organizations. On February 8 and 9, Lucy Craft Laney School will partner with Multicultural, Multi-Faith based institutions; February 16 and 17, Olson Upper Academy, will partner with Twin Cities Black Employees Network; February 24, Elizabeth Hall International Elementary School will partner with Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers and General Mills Black Champions Network; and the last event of the year will take place at South High School, April 22 and April 23, in partnership with the National Pan Hellenic Fraternities and Sororities. A typical event day lasts two hours and includes a mini networking session with students and professionals; greetings from Superintendent William Green; students and professionals paired in individual classrooms; presentations by professionals; a Q & A session for students to engage professionals; and students and professionals working on a
STRONG TURN TO 11
Photos: Suluki Fardan
Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein, far left, joined other concerned Minneapolis residents at a full-capacity transit meeting last Thursday.
North Minneapolis weighs LRT options By Al McFarlane & B.P. Ford The Editors Metric Giles, the St. Paul-based environmentalist and community organizer, beamed with pride. “This is awesome,” he said, addressing a standing room only audience of North Minneapolis residents, business and agency leaders, and politicians who responded to State Rep. Bobby Joe Champion’s (DFL58B) call to consider Light Rail
Transit options for North Minneapolis. Over 250 people overflowed a first space, then a larger space at the University Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC) at 2100 Plymouth Avenue North. “I expected to see a lot of white people here, but to find, instead, a room full of Black people, Asian people and Latino people is awesome. That’s what this is all about….all the people being on board,” said Giles. Giles said he was introduced to
the concept of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) at a seminar in Utah several years ago. Still, he said, most people are not aware of the opportunities, and the attendant pitfalls and challenges on the near horizon. These transit decisions will shape the long term character of our community. Martin Luther King, Jr, over 40 years ago, described transportation policy as a major tool of racism. With that statement in mind, said Giles, people should remember the devastating impact of transportation
policy in St. Paul’s Rondo community, and examine how transportation policy led to dismantling Black business districts in St. Paul and other urban centers nationwide. Transportation policy has been a tool to impede rather than enable wealth creation by us in our own community, he said. Giles said aggressive civic engagement by community residents is critical, this time around. “Participation is key.
TRANSIT TURN TO
The Love Series: Baby lovecelebrating love with children
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Preventing homelessness is highest priority Congressional hearing examines impact of foreclosure crisis By Lydia Schwartz Contributing Writer
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big moment is an inspiration
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On January 23, the US House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, held a public hearing at the Minneapolis Central Library. It was headed by Subcommittee Chairwoman Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN). The Subcommittee hearing consisted of two panel discussions with politicians and community members and activists on lowincome housing and the
FORECLOSURE TURN TO
Henderson's
Nominate
US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Subcommittee Chairwoman Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
someone for Insight's Education Spotlight. We'd like to highlight the achievements of those teachers and students that have made that extra effort at school. email nominee to info@insightnews.com
Page 2 •February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Insight News
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Part 3 in a series
Measuring candidates by our interests In an effort to motivate greater numbers of Insight News readers toward caucus attendance, and informed and early participation in the political process, Insight News invited all gubernatorial candidates competing for DFL endorsement to respond to 10 questions which focus on how they will address the concerns of Minnesota’s communities of color in their campaigns and should they be elected governor. We asked candidates to discuss ending the education achievement gap and their ideas for improving state government’s hiring and contracting from communities of color. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order according to last name.
What will you do, through policy and practice, to make best use of public resources for Justice and Public Safety system reform? Tom Bakk www.bakk2010.com As governor, I will use public resources as efficiently and effectively as possible in all areas. Our justice and public safety systems are large and complex. There has long been debate about Bakk where to prioritize and how to minimize waste. There are definitely places where we can streamline or combine services to maximize efficiency both in urban and rural parts of the state. Matt Entenza www.entenza.com In the last eight years our judicial system has been hit hard by Pawlenty’s budget cuts, which has led to a de Entenza facto privatization of our legal system. The increased fees have made it difficult
INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Elliot Stewart-Franzen Web Design & Content Associate Ben Williams Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. MinneAPOlis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC) Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI) National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
for defendants and their public defenders to make to the court-room and move the judicial process forward. As governor I will work to ensure our judicial system is fair and equal to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity or economic-status. It might be of interest to you to know that I am hosting a meeting regarding the state of the judiciary and whether it reflects the growing diversity of the state, and I welcome you to attend. Margaret Anderson Kelliher www.margaretforgovernor.com Everyone deserves to live in a safe neighborhood, and I support law enforcement efforts to Anderson provide that safety and Kelliher security to all of Minnesota’s families. However, it’s important to speak out against practices that disproportionally single out one group and to address any imbalance in the justice system. As governor, I would take the initiative to really look at whether penalties are handed down fairly, and also look at ways to reach out to youth to focus on crime prevention and education. Steve Kelley www.stevekelley.org The criminal justice system in Minnesota needs reform. I would consult with law enforcement agencies, people who work in Kelley the criminal justice system, and reform and civil rights advocates to comprehensively examine the current system and generate ideas for reform that improve safety and protect civil rights. Additionally, the irresponsible budgeting of the Pawlenty Administration has had a ripple effect across a number of essential state functions, including our public safety and criminal justice system. Cuts in Local Government Aid have strapped our law enforcement agencies, taken police off the streets, slashed important prevention and afterschool programs, and curtailed civil rights. The idea that we can cut our budget without consequence is ridiculous. Another step to creating a fair criminal system is to restore responsible budgeting so that we take into consideration both short-term savings and long term costs of our actions. Senator John Marty www.johnmarty.org My administration will focus on preventing crime by addressing its root causes. For instance, we need to treat mental health and Marty chemical dependency issues as health problems to be treated, instead of treating them as crimes to be punished. While treating these health concerns upfront may be costly, it is far less expensive – in both human and economic terms — than ignoring problems and paying to lock people up for many years in prisons. We will reform the system so that when people leave prison, they are able to start their anew, with the educational, housing and economic opportunities available to enable them to fully engage in the community. Under our current system, we deny them those opportunities, leaving them trapped where their only option is to reoffend. We will put more money into restorative justice and less into punitive justice. The Marty administration will work to make sure our laws are not discriminatory and will aggressively push to ensure that enforcement of those laws is no longer discriminatory. Rep. Tom Rukavina www.rukavinaforgovernor.com One of my main emphasizes has been to give everyone a second chance, particularly young people. My goal is LESS incarceration, Rukavina LESS probation, MORE rehabilitation. Quite frankly we need to quit turning Petty Misdemeanors into Gross Misdemeanors and Gross Misdemeanors into Felonies. It is getting out of control at the state level. I want to place less emphasis on the militarization of the police forces in Minnesota and more resources on rehabilitation, the spread of justice, and community policing. R. T. Rybak www.rtrybak.com I am exceedingly proud of the success we’ve had in Minneapolis preventing youth violence. After a Rybak terrible spike in violent crime in 2006, which was driven by youth participation, we convened all stakeholders in Minneapolis to look at what was not
working and come up with innovative new strategies that we hoped would work. Out of that effort came the recognition that youth violence is not a problem merely of crime, but is in fact a public-health epidemic that requires the same holistic, multifaceted response that we bring to addressing other epidemics. Drawing on a mix of community-oriented law enforcement and public-health strategies to address the root causes of violence and significantly reduce and prevent youth violence in Minneapolis, our broad cross-section of community stakeholders created a Blueprint for Action. The Blueprint identifies four goals: • • • •
Connecting every youth with a trusted adult; Intervening at the first sign that youth are at risk for violence; Restoring youth who have gone down the wrong path; Unlearning the culture of violence in our community.
While all four goals are important, I find the second and the third especially compelling. We know from our collaboration with Hennepin County that intervening with youth early and keeping them out of detention and the juvenilejustice system works: 80% of the young people who come through our Juvenile Service Center never come back. This is a victory not only for these young people and their futures, but for taxpayers. We need to continue to partner with community so that there is quick, effective intervention at the first sign of trouble. We also know that returning a young person to heal in the community from which they come, with effective support services, is the most effective way to restore him or her to full, productive citizenship in the broadest sense of the term. This is difficult work, but it must be built in. I am concerned, however, that with state cuts to local governments, effective probation and other necessary support services continue to suffer. Until our state’s fiscal situation improves and we once again have a governor who believes in honest budgeting, we are going to have to keeping finding creative ways to partner with communities to ensure that we have the resources to restore our young people. While many factors go into the overall decline in crime rates that we have seen in Minneapolis, we believe that our focus on treating youth violence holistically as a publichealth issue has worked: since 2006, violent crime involving juveniles has dropped 47%. The decline of youth involvement in homicides is even more dramatic: while homicides in Minneapolis dropped from 54 in 2006 to 19 in 2009, youth involvement in homicide dropped from 42 (of the total 54) in 2006 to just 2 (of the total 19) in 2009. This success is a sign that we should take to the statewide level the local work being done to wrap our arms around our youth in community to steer them away from involvement in the juvenile-justice system and toward productive citizenship. While we celebrate that success, we know we have more work to do, particularly in the Somali community: the fact that the two people arrested in the recent, tragic triple homicide on Franklin Avenue were both 17-year-old Somali men is a sign to us that we have fallen short on that front. We must also look a systemic reform of sentencing for both youth and adults. The disparities between whites and people of color — especially African Americans — in rates of incarceration has grown shamefully in Minnesota in the last decade, and we must eliminate that gap. On the adult front, we must review disparities in sentencing (for example, around drug possession) that have led to results that are racist in their effect. Justice, compassion and good government together compel us to rethink our sentencing practices and develop effective, community-based alternatives for adults, as we have begun to do for our youth. Right now, our system is neither compassionate enough or effective enough. It must be both. The same principles of justice, compassion and good government should also drive us as a state to work harder on effective reintegration and reenfranchisement once time has been served and debts have been paid. We must explore all our options in Minnesota for taking advantage of the federal Second Chance Act, and look for areas where we can reform our practices beyond the steps the federal government has taken. I am also proud to have advocated for and instituted the policy in the City of Minneapolis that eliminated questions about prior arrests and criminal record from the City’s job application. I took some heat over that policy but I stood up for what we know was the right thing to do.
When I can governor, you will have someone leading our state who has already gone on right-wing talk radio and fought back on these issues that others have shied away from. You will have a governor who has gone to community meetings, taken tough questions, listened and won people over. Too often, Democrats and progressives are timid about defending and advocating for our views on the criminal justice system and public-safety reform. I am not. Ole Savior Response for all questions: Rebuild the old neighborhoods - New schools. More teachers. Jobs, “full” employment goals in MN at decent pay and Savior better living conditions. Higher educational opportunities for advancement of “all” people. Job creation by building a new Viking Stadium, construction etc. and also opening up new areas of jobs like the MN State Fair which is closed 50 weeks a year - create a new “year round “playland” like a “Disneyland” of four seasons (thousands of new jobs here). MN Immigration policy will be fair and good welcoming new citizens. Tribal government needs to represent all “not” just a few like Mystic family. More LRT between cities. Everyone will benefit. Paul Thissen www.paulthissen.com The Minnesota judicial branch has suffered greatly as a result of recent administration failures to establish a stable and fair system Thissen for its funding. Public defender’s offices do not have the resources needed to fairly serve their clients and the courts have had to raise filing fees in order to offset a decrease in funding. Unfortunately, as court fees increase low income Minnesotans are excluded from the judicial system. Unlike recent administrations I will listen to judicial leaders like Chief Justice Magnuson and do my best to give our justice system the resources needed to serve all Minnesotans. We also need to have a serious discussion about equity in our sentencing guidelines, focus on postsentence reintegration from the time of sentencing, and utilize models of restorative justice in approaching cases. I authored and passed legislation to adopt a public health approach to reducing youth violence by focusing on broader community support.
What are your key immigration related concerns, and how will you go about addressing them as governor? How will you ensure that our systems solutions meet the needs of New Americans? Tom Bakk www.bakk2010.com America, and Minnesota, was built by immigrants. Our state must continue to be a welcoming destination for new Americans. As governor I will work with immigrant communities to create a two-way dialogue on how the state can work on easing the transition for new Americans and providing an environment where immigrant communities can thrive. Matt Entenza www.entenza.com I have a proven record of standing up for New Americans. In the state House I opposed putting immigration status on licenses, supported immigration “Sanctuary Ordinances,” opposed requiring English proficiency to drive, sponsored a bill to decriminalize burkas, and worked to increase increased enforcement of antidiscrimination laws. As governor I will continue to work to ensure that New Americans are welcomed and respected for their commitment to Minnesota by making sure our New Americans get the ELL and continuing education they need to succeed. I will also continue to advocate for the passage of the DREAM Act. Margaret Anderson Kelliher www.margaretforgovernor.com I am concerned that immigration continues to be used as a wedge issue. We cannot allow our society to be divided where immigrants are falsely blamed and demonized for a variety of issues, including our economic crisis. I will ensure that immigrants’ human rights are protected, and that New American’s needs are addressed particularly in education and higher education opportunities. Steve Kelley www.stevekelley.org I want to make sure that New Americans have equal opportunity to have a prosperous life in Minnesota. I’m concerned about recent federal raids in places like Worthington that
KFAI Public Radio’s Gubernatorial Forum Series Join KFAI for a series of live, on-air gubernatorial forums beginning February 8 from 6-7 PM on the KFAI Evening News. Co-hosts Bob Hines and Marty Owings will moderate the first forum featuring DFLers Margaret Anderson Kelliher, John Marty and Tom Rukavina; Independents Rob Hahn and Tom Horner; and Republicans Tom Emmer, Bill Haas, and Marty Seifert. KFAI is asking its listeners to be a part of the forum by submitting a question for the panel. Submit questions to News Director Ahndi Fridell at newsdepartment@kfai.org or 612-341-3144 ext. 16. Questions will be chosen from those submitted by our listeners in the week leading up to the forum. Next forum will be held Thursday, March 25th, 2010 and will include gubernatorial candidates not participating in Monday’s forum. separated families and disrupted the entire community. That’s why I would partner with the Congressional delegation to get comprehensive federal immigration reform passed. No matter how hard Minnesota works, we can only put band-aids on the challenges faced by immigrants until federal reforms take place. However, we can take action in Minnesota to improve the lives of New Americans. We should pass the DREAM Act to get Minnesota children of immigrants access to college. Just as we need to keep the educational promises that we make to African-American students, we can and we must keep that same promise to children of immigrants. Another concern is that contractors who are trying to evade the state’s labor laws not exploit new immigrants. All Minnesotans deserve to work for a living wage, including those who have recently made Minnesota their home. I would enforce labor laws to ensure that contractors pay all of their workers, including immigrant laborers, a fair wage. Senator John Marty www.johnmarty.org The federal government must reform immigration and allow a pathway to citizenship. As governor I will advocate for fair immigration reform. One of my fundamental beliefs is that all people should be treated with dignity and respect. As Governor, I will work with immigrant communities and New Americans to better understand and address their needs. In particular, we need to focus on providing the resources to help people find work that will allow them support their families and to provide culturally sensitive resources, such as child care and health care, which will allow them to continue working. I will speak out against hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric in the community. Unless we respond clearly, such rhetoric creates fear and leads to violence against immigrants. Rep. Tom Rukavina www.rukavinaforgovernor.com My main concern is our ability to offer education to New Americans in the same manner that my parents were offered education when they immigrated to this great state, with the same basic hopes and dreams of today’s immigrants. I am particularly concerned with educating our future workforce and my record shows that I have worked toward improving accessibility of education to everyone. This is something that will continue to be a focus of mine in the Governor’s Office as well. I will also work to welcome immigrants to our great state instead of using them as targets for angry political purposes. R. T. Rybak www.rtrybak.com I was elected mayor of Minneapolis right after the attacks of September 11, 2001, in the midst of the most anti-immigrant frenzy in recent history. From the moment I took office, I had to stand up during the height of the Bush/Pawlenty attacks on immigrants and defend, for example, our city’s wise decision to separate basic police and publicsafety functions from the functions of the immigration system. Minneapolis as a city, and I as its mayor, have been attacked and threatened by rightwingers at the State Capitol and across the country for our City/ICE separation ordinance. But we have stood firm in the face of these attacks because we know we are right. In Minneapolis, we not only defend new Americans, we celebrate them. Eight years ago the common way to talk about the kids in Minneapolis was to say: “They are the most diverse generation we have ever raised, they speak 100 languages, they come from all over the world — and that creates tremendous challenges.” But today when we talk about our kids we say: “They are the most diverse generation we have ever raised, they speak 100 languages, they come from all over the world — and that makes them the most valuable generation we have ever raised. In a global world, where the most important asset is to cross cultural barriers, the young people coming out of our schools are the key to our success.” The Minneapolis promise
has played a key role in bringing about this important transformation. When it comes to economic development, in Minneapolis we have focused resources on building prosperity in immigrant communities. To name a few examples: We have successfully launched and supported showcases of immigrant entrepreneurial innovation like the Global Market and Plaza Verde. Our Great Streets program, which I have championed, directs low-interest loans, grants and technical assistance to small businesses on our main commercial corridors, like Lake Street. These grants and loans have leveraged millions more in private capital. Through Greet Streets we have partnered closely with the Latino Economic Development Center. In conjunction with the African Development Center we have developed culturally-sensitive loan products and no-interest financial instruments for entrepreneurs of the Islamic faith. On the public-safety front, we have worked hard for several years to build bridges with the Hmong and Somali communities. In the aftermath of the recent triple homicide on Franklin Avenue, the Somali community and the Minneapolis Police Department worked in close partnership and cooperation as never before. I am gratified to have heard from so many Somali community members that in their moment of crisis, they felt they could trust the police and the City. When I am governor, we will work on building trust and prosperity with and for immigrant communities and new Americans, as we have done in Minneapolis. New Americans no longer make their homes only in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and Latinos, Asians and Africans now live in every corner, every city and every small town of our state. Our state’s rich cultural diversity is not tangential to why I am running for governor, it is central. When I’m governor, the kind of old politics that has intentionally sought to divide Minnesotans from one another will come to a crashing halt. There is an old attitude at the Capitol that seeks to divide us into groups that can be scapegoated or pitted against each other. This has gotten us nowhere, and I have fought back against it: I have stood with Latino and Muslim communities when they have come under attack by those seeking cheap political gain, and I will take that heat again anytime that it’s necessary to do so. Instead, when I am governor we will reconnect Minnesota and Minnesotans, because the more we are connected to each other, the more equality and opportunity we create. My Czech immigrant ancestors faced challenges in an earlier time that they met by forging connections with each other. I cannot forget that it took four generations to send my father to college so that he later could send me to college. We as a state can and must come together to forge the connections with each other that create prosperity, and I am prepared to lead that effort. Paul Thissen www.paulthissen.com As the population of Minnesota ages and our workforce declines, new Americans will play an essential role in growing and protecting a prosperous economy. Therefore, it is not only a moral imperative, but an economical necessity that ALL Minnesotans have equal access to educational and employment opportunities. New immigrants in Minnesota (legally or not) need a path to citizenship that helps bring all residents of Minnesota out of the shadows and helps them more fully participate in our society. And we need a sensible policy that does not tear families apart. We must transform the political discussion when it comes to issues of immigrants living in our communities. We need a candidate who will call upon what is best in Minnesotans — a belief that this is a special and extraordinary place — and challenge Minnesotans to turn that belief and hope into reality.
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Insight News • February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Page 3
Admission Possible coaches: Mentoring for a brighter future The ninth annual Mentoring Month came to a close last week across the nation, but the spirit of the month will carry on all year at the 19 Twin Cities-area high schools in which Admission Possible AmeriCorps coaches are serving as mentors to students with dreams of going to college. Nankya Senungi serves as an AmeriCorps coach and mentor for seniors participating in Admission Possible’s free afterschool college access program at North Community and Columbia Heights High Schools. Senungi’s students are in their second year of the two-year program and will work with her until the end of the school year in May. Senior Muno Ali said Senungi has made a real difference in her life. “I know
that if I have a problem Nankya is always there, and I have no doubts in my mind about the advice she gives me,” Ali said. “She has influenced my future for the better.” Without the mentorship provided by Senungi and 49 other Admission Possible AmeriCorps coaches, the future would look very different for the 1,400 Admission Possible high school students in the Twin Cities metro area and the 2,200 program graduates pursuing college degrees. Historically, students in the program have raised their ACT scores by 20 percent, and 98 percent of Admission Possible students have earned admission to college. Mentoring has touched Senungi’s life, too. “My relationship with my students is
very special - I treat them like I would think I would treat my own children,” she said. “I want to nurture their dreams and help those aspirations come true through college education.” Mentoring Month is a national initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Harvard Mentoring Project of the Harvard School of Public Health and MENTOR. AmeriCorps is just one of the numerous mentoring projects across the country that help young people transition from poverty to promise, and aim to broaden the possibilities of success for thousands of young people through service. Admission Possible’s high school program manager and AmeriCorps recruitment leader Lara Dreier hopes Mentoring
Month will highlight the value of mentoring to the broader public. “Mentoring has profound impacts,” Dreier said. “At Admission Possible, I see how the strong relationship that coaches form with their students opens doors for students, challenges coaches to grow and provides a brighter future for Minnesota.” As Dreier works on recruiting next year’s team of AmeriCorps coaches, she’s encouraged by the volume of applications the program receives. “Many recent college graduates who have benefited from the support of professors and other adults understand the role that mentoring plays in educational achievement and are electing to commit a year of their lives to providing that critical support for
Nankya Senungi others.” Applications for next year’s AmeriCorps team are open until March 8, and applications
Admission Possible
can be found online at www.admissionpossible.org/Am eriCorps.html.
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Eyewitness report on the Haitian relief effort By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com In the wake of the Haitian earthquake, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien rushed to the region to deliver the same sort of highquality, eyewitness coverage that she has dependably broadcast in the past. Because of her seemingly effortless style and her People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People List looks, what tends to get lost about this intrepid, Emmywinning reporter is that she’s also a Harvard grad with a keen intellect, a razor sharp wit, a great sense of humor and an everinquiring mind. I’ve interviewed a bunch of bright people in my day and, trust me, Soledad might very well be the brightest. You’ll instantly see what I mean, if you ever have the pleasure of engaging her in conversation one-on-one. Until then, I hope that this revealing tete-a-tete about the Haiti relief effort effectively conveys the essence of her brilliant mind and very likable spirit. Soledad is never one to shy away from a difficult or probing question, but is rather refreshingly frank and forthcoming in addressing, in considerable depth, whatever issue she’s asked to address. That’s the reason I sought her out in the first place to get the scoop on what’s really happening in Haiti. Keep in mind that this interview was conducted soon after her return to the States, while she was cooking for and frequently distracted by a house full of rambunctious kids, and she even paused briefly from our conversation to pull one of her fived-year-old twin’s baby teeth, all without ever missing a beat. Kam Williams: Hi, Soledad, thanks again for the time. Soledad O’Brien: Hey, how’re you doing? KW: Well, I guess my first question is, how’s Haiti? SO: Haiti’s a mess for a host of reasons: because it’s historically never been given a chance, because it currently has no real infrastructure, and because, of course, in the wake of the
CNN’s Soledad O’Brien in Haiti earthquake those factors combine to make for a country that’s going to have a very slow recovery. These conditions don’t exist in a vacuum but are correlated to how fast Haiti is going to be able to recover. There’s a reason why people aren’t getting food and other resources quickly, even when supplies have arrived to hand out, namely, that it’s really hard to get to folks in the absence of an infrastructure. KW: You also covered the tsunami and Katrina. How do these disasters compare to each other? SO: To me, the scope of Katrina was so much bigger than where I was in Thailand. In Thailand, after a couple of days everyone could kind of get their act together, except for in the affected area which they needed to continue working on rebuilding. By comparison, Katrina was just giant, space-wise. As for Haiti, the damage caused by the earthquake is even more widespread than Katrina, and they have much less infrastructure. I found the same sort of devastation I saw in Portau-Prince, when we drove to Jacmel and beyond. Plus, the population density is so much greater in Haiti where they build homes right on top of each other into these hills. So, there was a domino effect when they collapsed, especially because of the substandard construction work. KW: I write for a Haitian
Soledad O’Brien/CNN
publication, Heritage Konpa Magazine, whose publisher, Rene Davis, is from a place called PetitGoave located 30 miles outside of Port-au-Prince. He emailed me to say that still nothing in the way of help has reached his hometown. SO: Part of the problem is just the logistics. Some of those places you can’t reach simply because the roads are physically impassable. The other issue involves the challenge of delivering supplies to Haiti. Is the port open? How do you get shipments in? So, even right in Port-au-Prince, where you have such population density, you have a real problem just figuring out how to hand out stuff. KW: Tony Noel wants to know, to what extent this is an international relief effort? Are there other countries contributing that might not be mentioned by the American mainstream press? SO: Oh, yeah. Absolutely! What I found interesting from the get go, when we went to the hospital in Jacmel, was that the first people I encountered were Cuban doctors. They already had a longstanding, joint project with Haiti, so they were the ones who immediately set up the outdoor, triage hospital. Those were Haitian and Cuban doctors. And at that hospital there were also medical teams from Costa Rica, Canada, Sri Lanka and the United States. It was truly an international response. No question. It was strange to be yelled at in so many different
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Insight News • February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Page 5
AESTHETICS A Valentine for music lovers from the renovated Capri Theater The Capri Theater’s “Legends” series has a special treat for lovers and music lovers at 7 pm, Saturday, February 13 with “They’ll Say We’re in Love.” The concert stars T. Mychael Rambo, Regina Williams, and Thomasina Petrus. Tickets are $25 and can be ordered online at thecapritheater.org, or by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111. “We’re going to offer a romantic evening with a latenight vibe,” says Capri Theater artistic associate Dennis Spears, who produces the Legends series. The song list at the Capri will include “Lush Life,” “Lucky So
Haiti From 4 languages. KW: After both 9/11 and Katrina, the Red Cross solicited donations, but later admitted that it only distributed a small fraction of the funds raised during those ad campaigns. You were down there in Haiti. Laz Lyles asks, what’s the most effective way people can help? SO: From my perspective, I would wait now. They have a lot of immediate money in. And people have started bringing in supplies. The initial first phase of the crisis is over. The rebuilding effort is going to take so much time that whether I wanted to send $1,000, or $5,000 or even $50,000, I’d hold on and wait to see what’s coming down the line, because that money is really going to be needed later. You might, for instance, be able to help rebuild a school, or some other project that nobody’s thinking about right now. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful way to help? But still, if you’re not going to send any money when the hoopla dies down, then send it now. Otherwise, wait to see what projects emerge, because the initial response has been tremendous, financially. KW: How did it feel to be in the midst of the continuing crisis? SO: It’s sort of the same feeling you get at any of these disasters. You don’t have a 500 lb. bag of rice to feed people who are really hungry, or a dump truck to remove cement from a spot where someone might be trapped. It’s frustrating, but I think I’ve sort of reconciled in my own head that my job is to bring notice to the world of these people’s plight. And if I try to get involved in rescuing, too, I’ll end up not doing either job very well. Although at one point, I helped out at an
Foreclosure From 1 foreclosure crisis. US Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-4) was also present at the hearing. “The needs of low- and middle-income Americans have been neglected for the last decade. The victims here are working families and those who want to work but have no job opportunities in this economy,” she said. In 2008, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) established the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), a grant program for nonprofit organizations to acquire foreclosed homes to specifically be used for lowincome housing. However, before a nonprofit organization can make a bid on a foreclosed property, they have to make sure the building meets certain environmental requirements, such as lead hazards. While these regulations are meant to prevent placing lowincome families in an unsafe environment, the outcome is usually the opposite. NSP regulations have created a competition between cash investment speculators and nonprofit organizations. One panelist, Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman, said, “It can take months [for a nonprofit] to acquire the property, go through an environmental assessment, and inspection. Someone else can just lay down the cash and not have to go through the regulations.” Since the selling agent usually does not want to wait, they end up refusing buyers who actually want to invest in the neighborhood and live there. Cash investors will buy foreclosed property for pennies, not fix the house, and then rent it out anyway. Tom Steitz, the Director of Housing Policy and
FORECLOSURE TURN TO
7
and So,” and of course “My Funny Valentine.” Special touches make “They’ll Say We’re in Love” the perfect “date night” for Valentine’s Day. Show your special someone how sweet love can be with an individual-sized sweet potato pie, served with a cup of coffee, both before and after the concert. Looking for a Valentine’s Day gift? CD’s by “Legends” performers will be available for purchase in the lobby. “All three of these performers are outstanding actors as well as fabulous vocalists,” Spears says.
“One of the hallmarks of the ‘Legends’ series is that it combines music with theater. The sets, the costumes and the lighting all support the musical performances.” The three will also give a live TV preview on “Almanac” on TPT Channel 2, Friday, February 12 at 7 pm, which will include two of the songs they will perform at the Capri. The Capri Theater is owned and operated by Plymouth Christian Youth Center (PCYC), a non-profit human services organization that serves north Minneapolis children and
families through education, community programs and community development. For more information, visit www.pcyc-mpls.org
orphanage when an overwhelmed doctor pointed out a dehydrated baby that basically had about a couple of hours to live unless she got an IV. She was so dehydrated, it was obvious that she wasn’t going to make it. After I got the IV in, I had never been so relieved in
my life, because the risk had been so high. Fortunately, once we did get the IV running in her, she was fine.
readers. SO: Thank you.
KW: Well, thanks again for taking the time to share what you witnessed in Haiti with me and my
Capri Theater “Legends” Series
2009-2010
THEY’LL SAY WE’RE IN LOVE (featuring Regina Williams, T. Mychael Rambo & Thomasina Petrus) 7 p.m. Saturday, February 13, 2010 DOWN ON BROADWAY (Live Recording featuring
To see a video of Soledad O’Brien reporting about orphans in Haiti, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =y1UKha9yoEw
Dennis Spears) 7 p.m. Saturday, April 17, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 18, 2010 THE GREAT SONGBOOK
AMERICAN
(featuring Debbie Duncan with her original trio: Adi Yshaya, Gary Reynor and Nathan Norm) 7 p.m. Friday, June 4, 2010
Page 6 • February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Insight News
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SNCC activists had lasting impact on civil rights movement, nation By Marian Wright Edelman NNPA Columnist (NNPA) - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday every January becomes an occasion for looking back at the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. As the celebration of the King Holiday leads into February and Black History Month, it’s a time to consider not only how far we’ve come but how far we still have to go, and to reflect on some of the milestones in movement history. This year, one of those national and personal milestones is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). On February 1, 1960, when I was a senior at Spelman College in Atlanta, four Black freshmen from North Carolina A&T State University sat in at the Whites-only lunch counter
in the Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth’s store. It was just the spark I and so many Black youth were waiting for to stand up against the segregation that daily assaulted our dignity and lives. I and thousands of other students were galvanized to strike our blow for freedom, giving birth to the sit-in movement, the formation of SNCC, and a new era of student activism that energized the larger Civil Rights Movement. People often forget that children and youth were major frontline soldiers in the Civil Rights Movement. Little Ruby Bridges in New Orleans and the Little Rock Nine and other young Black children desegregated schools across the South, often standing up to howling mobs. They were instrumental in Brown v. Board of Education. Young people coordinated voter registration drives, participated in Freedom Rides testing segregation laws
on interstate buses, conducted voter education and other activities during 1964’s Freedom Summer in Mississippi including Freedom Schools, and more. My generation was blessed beyond measure to be in the right places at the right times to experience and help bring transforming change to the South and to America. One key point about the student leaders from that time is that many of us continued to build on the passion and commitment unleashed as teenagers and twenty-year-olds and dedicated our entire adult lives to advocacy and service. While SNCC lasted only six years, SNCC alumni carried on. Representative John Lewis has been a member of Congress since 1986 and continues to be one of our country’s strongest advocates for equality and justice, fighting his battles nationally as he did earlier in
the streets of Selma. Julian Bond served in the Georgia General Assembly over twenty years before becoming chairman of the NAACP. The quiet and brilliant Bob Moses— who we all looked up to although he was just a few years older—returned to his calling as a teacher, later founding the Algebra Project to improve math education for children of color. They and so many others followed up on the ideals we believed in and continued doing our part to make a better world for the next generations. The adults who became advisors and colleagues to SNCC students and nurtured us were some of the most extraordinary people in the Civil Rights Movement. When the first sit-ins began there was no mechanism in place to connect us all, but Mrs. Ella Baker, who worked with Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), reached out and organized the April 1960 meeting at Shaw University which brought student sit-in activists together. I took my first plane ride traveling from Spelman to Shaw on a plane chartered by SCLC to join Dr. King with about 200 other college students that Easter weekend, which led to SNCC’s creation. Ella Baker insisted that we find our own voice and form our own organization and not become the youth arm of SCLC or an established civil rights group. She became a trusted SNCC advisor and mentor who demanded the best
of me and all the young and older adults around her. When SNCC activists began the Mississippi voter registration effort in Sunflower County, Mississippi and appealed for supporters Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer was the first to raise her hand. She became a SNCC field secretary; helped organize voter registration drives at great risk to life and limb during the 1964 Freedom Summer; and was the most prominent member of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party that famously challenged Mississippi’s allWhite official delegation to the 1964 Democratic National Convention which led to a new Democratic Party. She remains a mighty lantern for all of us who knew, looked up to, and learned from her great spirit and courage. Every time my courage wanes I think of her. The feisty and empowered children and youth of the 1950s and 1960s are examples for today’s teenagers and collegeaged young people. They need to hear that you are never too young to fight for what you believe in and they need to be empowered to stand up for themselves and their communities. They need to know their proud legacy of struggle and how SNCC and many younger children challenged the entrenched White power structure and faced daily risk of arrest, injury, or death. When Dr. King was in jail in Birmingham, trying to stop Bull Connor’s brutal rule, it was the children of Birmingham who responded
with the marches and withstood fire hoses and police dogs to topple segregation in that city. Nothing was more important to us than our freedom and justice. I wrote in my college diary the day after being arrested in a sit-in at Atlanta’s city hall cafeteria: “SOMETHING WORTH LIVING AND DYING FOR!” Several weeks later I wrote: “These are the most exciting, rewarding, and gratifying days of my life. Change is pervading—change I’m helping bring in. I’m useful and I’m serving and I’m so grateful.” How do we give our young people today a similar sense of purpose and a cause worth dying for as they face the war zones in their cities and a cradle to prison pipeline that threatens the last 50 years of social and racial progress? How do we catalyze the next Civil Rights Movement to end the pervasive poverty, illiteracy, and racial disparities that staunch the hopes and dreams of millions of our children? It’s time. Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.
Blood sugar lowering foods By Special to the NNPA from the St. Louis American (NNPA) - If you are looking for ways to lower your blood sugar, incorporating certain foods into your diet is a way to do it, according to Livestrong.com. Those foods include the
following: • Cinnamon – ½ teaspoon per day can lower blood sugar by 25 percent, according to a USDA study. • Green Tea – consumed daily can prevent diabetes, according to a 5-year study in Japan •
Fenugreek – One gram of this
Indian herb or spice daily can lower blood sugar by 20 percent. • Magnesium-rich foods – 100 grams of magnesium daily reduces blood sugar by 10 percent. Magnesium rich foods include low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, whole grains, beans, nuts and green leafy vegetables. Source: Livestrong.com
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Insight News • February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Page 7
BUSINESS A Good (God) Thing: Is there a place for spirituality at work? Plan your career
By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Congratulations goes out to my friend Tryg, who was just hired after several months looking for work. He writes, “The house is done, I’m starting a new job, and the taxes are in the mail. The job gives me a boost of confidence and energy after five months on the sidelines. It turned out to be a good (God?) thing as I look back…” I was surprised by Tryg’s note.
Foreclosure From 5 Development Division, Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development, noted that “many of these cash investors live outside of the state or even outside of the country…and aren’t available to make repairs once a family is moved in.” Ellison argued, however, that “rolling back these regulations would undermine what we’re trying to accomplish.” Empty buildings pose a number of problems for neighborhoods and North Minneapolis has been ground zero. “There is more crime on blocks with vacant buildings…They are subject to being vandalized, being copper stripped, having trespassers and squatters, are at risk for fires starting, pipes freezing, and being condemned,” said State Sen. Linda Higgins (DFL-58). Providing short-term financial help to struggling homeowners, rather than let the property go into
Not that he’s paying taxes (I figured as much), but because we hadn’t talked about a higher power during his job search, and most people leave that out of professional conversations. It got me thinking. Is there a place for spirituality in the working world? Believers say, emphatically, yes. But what about non-believers, or those that just don’t know whether they believe in a higher power or not? And what is spirituality, anyway? How can reaching out toward something you can’t see, something beyond your ordinary self, bring better luck to your career? Spirituality implies godthings, praise and worship and wish granting, but it is not limited to higher powers. By definition, spirituality refers to the more broad concept of anything relating to the soul or spirit, the intangible,
emotional things in contrast to worldly or material things. Whether practiced through meditation, exercise, prayer, song, volunteerism, or any of its many formats, spirituality is really about moving beyond the task list and the white board, and getting to gut-check level. In careerplanning terms, it means you take a computerized strengths assessment (material thing), and then listen to the urge inside you (the intangible) that agrees with the findings; in business, spirituality allows you another perspective, a link between information and emotion that strengthens resolve and improves outcomes. According to Kees van Amersvoort, who manages an internet group called Business Spirituality, “People are struggling, trying to cope with the
accelerated rate of change. Stress levels are high and many people live in fear, feeling ‘lost’ and out of balance. Business Spirituality means living and working consciously and authentically.” To work consciously means to be well-informed, awake physically, mentally and emotionally and responsive to the stimuli around you. It requires deliberate action over impulsive, knee-jerk reactions. Working consciously means taking ownership for decisions and their consequences. The greater challenge might be working authentically. Are you genuine in the way you work? Are you trustworthy? Working consciously and authentically enables you to access the intangibles, the knowledge beyond what you see on paper. Moving toward a more spiritual approach gives you
foreclosure, is the most important thing the government should be focusing on the ease the crisis. “Preventing homelessness is more cost-effective than getting them out. Plus, they become assimilated into that lifestyle. We need to teach people to take care of themselves so we can eliminate the homeless industry…We need short- and long-term aid for rent beyond Section 8. We should help people who get sick or their kids get sick and they can’t work for a couple of days to pay their rent,” said Richard Amos, the Director of Housing Services at St. Stephen’s Human Services. “We need to get lenders to the table to discuss mortgage restructure so both parties can win,” Higgins said. Section 8 is a government voucher for low-income people to receive financial aid to pay rent. One panelist at the hearing, Christina Lauden, who has two daughters, had waited over six years to receive her rent vouchers. “People have been on the waiting list for affordable housing since before the recession. The HUD budget needs to reflect the need
that’s out there,” said Michael Dahl, the Public Policy Director of HOME Line. The waiting list to receive Sect. 8 vouchers is currently closed. In addition, landlords are not obligated to accept the vouchers. Lauden was in a disabling car accident but is working on earning a B.A. degree online in hopes of getting a better job. “A low-paying job does not provide enough to meet a family’s basic necessities...Having a home, their own bedroom, and having a routine is essential for children. Having to move is destabilizing and they act out,” she said. Section 8 vouchers should be seen as an investment in the community instead of a hand-out. “It is fiscally responsible to prevent homelessness and invest in education…We also need to get more money to city and county governments to create jobs for people,” Ellison said. For one panelist, Marion Anderson, the apartment building he is living went into foreclosure without the tenants knowing it. The landlord took appliances out of the building and manually shut
off the furnace. The tenants received notices for utility shut off, abandonment and condemnation notices, and squatters living in the unsecured basement; all without the landlord ever telling them the building had been foreclosed. Dahl also pointed out that “new landlords of foreclosed rental properties often don’t honor a tenant’s lease.” Anderson received help to stay in his apartment from The Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis. Legal Aid helps low-income people and seniors with civil cases by answering questions, giving advice to clients, going to court, or by working out an agreement. To make a request for help from Legal Aid, call (612) 3345970 or (651) 222-4731. Legal Aid is an affiliate of HOME Line, which provides free legal, organizing, education, and advocacy services so that tenants throughout Minnesota can solve their rental housing problems. HOME Line can be reached at (612) 728-5767 or 1-866-8663546.
another level of information and purpose, and a better, more satisfying career to look back on. Julie Desmond is Director of Career Planning Resources for
Help Wanted! Workshop Minneapolis. Write julie@insightnews.com.
in to
Page 8 • February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE The Love Series: Baby love-celebrating love with children Style on a dime
By Marcia Humphrey Soon after moving to Georgia, our family quickly learned that Valentine’s Day was a pretty big deal in that part of the country. I happened to volunteer to help out at the school that day, and I couldn’t believe my eyes as I walked into the library to find it filled with all kind of Valentine’s gifts: elaborate balloon bouquets, teddy bears holding chocolates, and of course candy galore! I initially thought that these beautiful gifts were for the hard-working and dedicated
teachers, but soon learned that these treats, from parents and grandparents, were for the students. Resisting the urge to follow the crowd and run out to get my babies “a little somethin somethin,” that afternoon I spent my time sorting the gifts by class and making certain the children received all of their tokens of love. While I felt that in some ways that this display at school was excessive (after all, why couldn’t they wait and present these gifts to their children at home?), I am in full support of the overall message: we should spend some time courting our children and demonstrating to them how important we think they are. More important than the cards and candy, if we as parents (and grandparents, aunties, and uncles) can recognize and help our children to see their own positive qualities, strengths, and gifts then they will have a confidence that will help
them to give love, receive love, and follow their dreams throughout the year. Notice your child’s particular character strengths and focus on them. Is little Brandon compassionate? Is he generous? Tell him so! Most likely others, like a teacher, comment about that same trait. Next, place him in situations where he can exercise his skills: Bake some valentine cookies together and share some with an older neighbor. Maybe he can help start a fundraising campaign in his school for the people of Haiti (What better way to spread the love?) Notice your child’s intellectual or physical strengths. Is your little Kennedy a whiz at math? Does she swim like a fish? If so, point it out to her and do your best to keep her involved in related activities throughout her school
career. When children have an activity on which to focus and channel their energy, it helps to keep them on the right track. Remind her that she’s your #1 girl by writing her a special love note to tuck in her lunchbox. Help your child to notice and appreciate the qualities of others and cheer them on. Encourage the children in your life to lift up their brothers and sisters by paying them genuine compliments. Instruct them on the art of being a good sport and how to comfortably say to others, “Great job!” or “Way to go!” Help them make a Valentine’s Day card for a friend that says ,“You are special because…” Also let the children see you observing the strength and skills of others and providing positive feedback. In this way they learn to appreciate the fact that God has given us all various gifts and abilities, and that the strength of
others in no way diminishes their strength. Finally, show your child how to be teachable. Assist your little one in learning the value of humbly seeking and receiving wise counsel from someone more experienced. At Valentine’s Day and all year long, our words and actions should send a message to our children that they are significant. If we don’t help them see their value, they could easily find themselves being courted by the predators of our society; drug dealers, gang members, physical and mental abusers. Whether you buy your child a cone of his favorite ice cream, or spend quality time at home playing a game or doing a puzzle in celebration of this year’s V-Day, take a moment to look into the eyes of your child and, in your own words, clearly state, “You are beautiful, you are special, and you priceless!” Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward
/tlc.discovery.com
from him. Psalm 127:3 Enjoy! Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.
Chef Rose McGee, Chef Jackie Williams present the culture at Macy's In celebration of the remarkable contributions made by African Americans, Macy’s commemorates Black History Month with special events that celebrate you. In honor of African Americans past and present who have made an impact in their communities and have inspired others to be their best selves, Macy’s “Celebrates You” events will help individuals to discover their own “brand” - their unique voice, style and personality that
will empower them to advance and achieve success, like the trailblazers before them. In the tradition of storytelling, Macy’s “Celebrates You” events will consist of panel discussions with local African American leaders from community organizers and business executives to local trendsetters. These homegrown leaders will share with audiences their personal philosophies of success and give insight into the decisions and
actions that have led them to be their best while inspiring others. Sheila P. Coates, founder and president of Be Your Own Brandä, will moderate these spirited discussions. Coates, a marketing and brand development expert with nearly two decades of experience, has guided the images of wellknown celebrities at major entertainment conglomerates including Sony/BMG and Universal Music Group. Coates will also help participants understand the importance of personal branding and how defining an individual’s visual brand can make a positive and enduring impact upon one’s life and career. in addition to the panel discussions, Macy’s fashion experts from Alfani and Lancôme will be on hand to put some of those image-making tips to use as they help customers enhance their personal brand with new clothing and makeup. Participants will also receive a one-day saving pass and a Black History Month engagement calendar with any
purchase of $50 or more. Chef Jacqueline Williams Cooking Demonstration –12noon – Jackie Williams has been cooking up critically acclaimed dishes for over a quarter-century. Highlights of Ms. Williams’ career include: Owner, Abundant Bistro; St. Paul, MN (Feb., 2004-Dec., 2007). While at Abundant Bistro, Jackie has been received critical acclaim in numerous newspapers and magazines as well as on KARE 11 television. In fact, her recipe for Sea Bass Wrapped in a Potato Skirt was one of KARE 11’s most requested recipes in 2004. Williams gives tribute to Frederick Douglass. This Recipe is one of his all time favorite. Rabbit Tenderloin on a Grits Cake, with Sautéed Onion and Pan Gravy 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 5 cups water 1 teaspoon salt
Chef Rose McGee
Chef Jackie Williams
1-1/2 cups white grits 6 rabbit tenderloins, seasoned Lawry garlic seasoning salt 1 cup all purpose flour 1 cup vegetable oil Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
thickening and flour taste is gone. Add salt pepper. To serve: On each serving plate, put 1/4 cup of the Pan gravy, 1 grits cake, 1 rabbit tenderloin. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings.
The vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season each rabbit tenderloin with about 1/2 teaspoon seasoning. Put the flour into a shallow pan and season with 1 teaspoon seasoning. When the oil is hot, add the tenderloins and cook about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove the tenderloins and place them on a paper towel to drain. Season with salt, pepper to taste. Pan Gravy the ½ vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat add ¼ cup flour
Chef Rose McGee Cooking Demonstration – 1PM – Get the sweet-and-lowdown from Chef Rose McGee, owner of Deep Roots Desserts, on baking sweet potato pie. Chef McGee will show you why her famous pie received the prestigious honor to be chosen for a 2009 Presidential Inauguration party in Washington, D.C. Writer, producer and director of “Kumbayah…The Juneteenth Story,” the multi-talented Chef McGee is currently completing her next book, Can’t Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie Like My Mama.
Cooked until golden brown and 1 cup of slice onions sautéed for 3 minutes then with salt and pepper 3 cup of hot water cook until
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Insight News • February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Page 9
COMMENTARY Student sit-iin triggered movement that challenged and changed nation By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist (NNPA) - It has been 50 years since four young North Carolina A&T State University students sat in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter for a cup of coffee, 50 years since their action triggered a movement that challenged, and ultimately changed a nation. While a gala and concert were snowed out, thousands will line the streets of Greensboro to celebrate the museum’s opening. The International Civil Rights Museum is an absorbing exploration of our nation’s past. There are poll tax receipts, photos of some of those arrested, and the actual lunch counter where the four young men –Ezell A. Blair
(now known as Jibreel Khazan), Joseph McNeil, David Richmond and Franklin McCain – sat down on February 1, 1960. There are also photographs – of Emmitt Till in his casket, of lynching, of segregated classrooms, of slaves working. A visit to the museum is a reminder of how far our nation has come in fifty years, but also a reminder of how much more work we have to do before we reach the goal of social and economic justice The Rev. Jesse Jackson was among those on a panel that attempted to place the sit-in movement in contemporary context. He talked about the arc of history, and the many ways each generation stands on the shoulders of the previous generation. He was the absolute right person to make this point,
given that his two historical races for President of the United States undeniably laid the groundwork for President Barack Obama’s historic win in November 2008. These times, they are a’changing. The signs no longer say “white” or colored. The question is not whether one rides at the back of the bus, but whether one has bus fair, can own a bus company or zone one, or decide whether bus parts should be manufactured domestically or imported. There are no segregated lunch counters anymore, but don’t sit down if you can’t afford that cup of coffee. In some neighborhoods, there are no segregated lunch counters; there aren’t even grocery stores. It is not clear that the tactics of the sitin movement would bring affordable and healthy food to the ‘hood, where often fresh fruit is
scarcer than antiquarian bookstores. In honor of the A&T Four, each of us must ask a question of ourselves. What would you sit in for? What would make you juggle the many emotions that the A&T Four experienced – audacity, anger, fear, trepidation, anticipation, and righteousness – and choose to make a stand? Would you sit in for the environment? To stop the spread of AIDS? To increase wages? To stop foreclosures? What would make you risk everything to make a point, to take a stand? Or has complacence so invaded our consciousness that there is nothing that would make us want to sit in In his State of the Union address, President Obama placed priority emphasis on job creation.
It is one of the most pressing concerns in our nation, with more than 15 million people out of work, half of them for more than half a year. He can’t do anything about employment, though, without action from Congress. The House seems willing, but the Senate is dragging, with some of them suggesting that a balanced budget is far more important than job creation. They ought to ask the people who aren’t working how they feel about that! How many of the unemployed would be willing to stand or sit outside the Senate until those august representatives take action on job creation. President Obama has asked that $30 billion be set aside for job creation initiatives, but the Senate is balking, perhaps emboldened by the election of Scott Brown in
Massachusetts. Wouldn’t it be a powerful statement if unemployed people were willing to flood the streets of Washington, DC, even in winter cold, demanding that the Congress take action on jobs? This is the kind of action that Dr. Martin Luther King contemplated when he conceived of the Poor People’s campaign, the kind of action that outraged Americans were once capable of. What did we sit in for now? If you need to have your fire for justice rekindled, a good place to start is with a visit to the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro. Kudos to Amelia Parker, and to founders Skip Alston and Earl Jones, for their work in memorializing such an important part of our nation’s history.
Correction: MCTC's intercollegiate men's and women's basketball teams In reference to the Jan. 25 issue of Insight News, the article titled “New MCTC Intercollegiate Fundraising Committee Launches Campaign for Basketball Teams was published with dated information from June ‘09. The article was outdated and the information was no longer accurate. Insight apologizes for the error and submit a correction,
as much has happened since that time. MCTC’s intercollegiate men’s and women’s basketball teams historically have been funded through Student Senate’s Student Life fees, but this year budget challenges led to the decision to seek private funding. In July, the College formed an Intercollegiate Fundraising
Committee and actively solicited grants and donations of $118,000 from employees, businesses and foundations to keep the teams operating for the following season. In October, with only five gifts and pledges in hand, and grant requests from sports oriented organizations including the Timberwolves Fast Break
Foundation and the Nike Foundation that were turned down, it became clear that the March goal would not be reached. MCTC’s president gathered the faculty president and student senate president to discuss this scenario and, as a result, the three agreed to suspend fundraising for intercollegiate basketball and to close the basketball program after
the 2009-10 season. The College’s enrollment has grown nearly 50 percent in the past six years, while state support has shifted. This has led and will continue to lead to difficult decisions for the College. There is no doubt that the basketball program has been important in many of the players’ lives. They’ll remember it as pivotal, as many
students do for several of MCTC’s academic and extracurricular programs. Please join us in celebrating the final season of MCTC’s basketball program. Visit www.minneapolis.edu for game times and locations.
Transit
we must exercise our right and responsibility to define ourselves, to define and support our own interests, and to shape the transportation policy and project that would work for us,” he said. The result was the major announcement last week announcing federal policy changes and fund allocations that support the community demands for LRT Stations that support and serve community residents and business along the Central Corridor LRT that will connect Twin Cities downtowns. Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein
credited that change in federal policy to 5th District Congressman Keith Ellison. “Ellison did away with the CEI (Cost Effectiveness Index) rule that prevented development in communities like ours. This line would not be built under CEI rules. Ellison did away with that,” Stenglein said. Now, “the heart of the matter is that LRT is coming through. This is the start of a journey that will end in a LRT train coming through North Minneapolis. It will be an exciting line. You will love it. We got alternative needs analyses and created several variations for the
routes the train might take. Nothing is cast in stone right now and it will be hard to get to the final decision. People will throw dirt on any plan that goes forward. That is what happened with the Hiawatha Line, but look at it now,” Stenglein said, noting the Hiawatha Line, the Northstar Train, the Central Corridor, the planned Southwest Transitway, and North Minneapolis Bottineau Transitway form the core access grid connecting within the Metro area, and connecting the Metro to a regional and national high speed transportation system. Champion agreed. “This is more than a rail line coming
through North Minneapolis. We are talking about connecting our neighborhoods to high speed access to Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City and Los Angeles. The plans are already on paper and the money is being allocated. This is bigger that whether the LRT will pass in front of your house. We have to think globally,” he said.\ Minnesota and North Minneapolis have a unique advantage in exploring and pursuing transportation options, according the Sherrie Pugh Sullivan, Executive Director of Northside Residents Redevelopment Council, (NRRC),
the pioneering civic engagement powerhouse for North Minneapolis. Minnesota’s senior Congressman, James Oberstar, chairs the House Transportation Committee, on which Ellison serves. Their combined presence and leadership is “formidable and bodes well for North Minneapolis,” Pugh-Sullivan said. At the end of the day, Giles said, “the mission is to create livable communities that provide exceptional housing, education, health care, food, and work, supported by a transportation
From 1 Elected officials must know we are present and involved. In St. Paul, at first our community was being defined by other people from outside of our community. They decided who we were. They decided what we needed and what we wanted. They determined what was best for us…all without bothering to consult us in the decisions they were making that would affect us,” Giles said. “We rejected that and decided
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Page 10 • February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Insight News
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, ben@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Ben Williams. Free or low cost events preferred.
Black History Month Henry’s Freedom Box by Christina Ham, Music by David Simmons - Ongoing Feb 5 to 27, Purchase tickets in advance online for discount tickets (buy before 8:00pm Thursday evenings for weekend shows). SteppingStone Theatre, 55 Victoria Street North, St. Paul. Performance times and tickets are available at (651) 225-9265 or www.steppingstonetheatre.org, http://www.steppingstonetheatre.org Family (Organization) Feud Feb 8 Monday, Feb. 8 at Minnesota State University, Mankato, 7 p.m., CSU 284, hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. (507) 3896300, www.mnsu.edu.
Real Talk: The Future is in Our Hands - Feb 9 Tues, Feb. 9 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Student panel and discussion, 1 p.m., CSU 201, facilitated by Connie Johnson. (507) 389-6300, www.mnsu.edu. Faculty/ Staff Extravaganza (talent show) - Feb 9 Tues, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Ostrander Auditorium. Master of ceremonies will be Avra Johnson and James Gullickson. (507) 3896300, www.mnsu.edu. NAACP Saint Paul Chapter Meeting of the Members - Feb 9 Tues, Feb 9, 6:30 - 7 p.m. at Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, 270 North Kent St., Saint Paul. Open to active members of the St. Paul Chapter. (651) 649-0520, www.naacp-stpaul.org Panel of Success: “Realization of a Dream” - Feb 9 Tues, Feb. 9, 6 - 8 p.m. at Buenger Education Center, Concordia University, St. Paul, 275 Syndicate Street North St. Paul, MN 55104 (One block south of I-94 at Hamline Avenue).
Real Talk: We are all in This Together - Feb 11 Thurs, Feb. 11 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Student panel and discussion, 10 a.m., CSU 201, hosted by the African Student Association. (507) 389-6300, www.mnsu.edu. Sowah Mensah and Friends Feb. 13 Sat, Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. until noon at the Rice Street Branch Library (1011 Rice Street, St. Paul). Drums, xylophones and other instruments that define African music will be featured in this program. Free. 651-266-7000, www.sppl.org Hip Hop Extravaganza - Feb. 14 Sunday, February 14, 2 - 4 p.m. at the Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 N. Dale Street, St. Paul. Hosted by Tish Jones, with performances by Unicus Harry of Kanser, Niles Miller, Alissa Paris, Aneka McMullen, MC Isreal Coleman, Brittany Delany and BBoy Showcase. Free and open to the public. For more information call 651-266-7000. www.sppl.org Real Talk: Navigating through the Maze - Feb 16 Tues, Feb. 16 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Student panel and discussion, 1 p.m., CSU
LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF HENNEPIN FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT FAMILY COURT DIVISION Court File No. ______________ In Re the Marriage of Peter Osora, Petitioner and SUMMONS
Project Director Tubman is seeking a FT director for a collaborative project with the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota. BA, 5 yrs exp mgmt and planning, exp with non-profits, particularly human serv. Salary DOQ, full benefits. Go to www.tubman.org for full announcement. Send cvr ltr & resume by February 22, 2010 to Gail Burke, HR Dir, Tubman, 4432 Chicago Ave. So, Mpls., MN 55407 or to gburke@tubman.org
Evelyn Birai, Respondent THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT.
Assumed Name
WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE, PETER OSORA HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OFYOUR MARRIAGE. A COPY OT THE PAPERWORK REGARDING THE LAWSUIT IS SERVED ON YOU WITH THIS SUMMONS. THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM THE COURT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. READ THIS SUMMONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE.
1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: JELD-WEN - The Perfect Fit
1. The Petitioner, Peter Osora, has filed a lawsuit against you asking you for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this summons.
3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name: JELD-WEN Door Replacememt Systems, Inc 401 Harbor Isles Blvd., Klamath Falls, or 97601
2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the Court Administrator's Office. You must serve your answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer, the Court may give your spouse everything he is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. This proceeding does not involve real property. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS UNDER MINNESOTA LAW, SERVICE OF THIS SUMMONS MAKES THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO BOTH PARTIES TO THIS ACTION, UNLESS THEY ARE MODIFIED BY THE COURT OR THE PROCEEDING IS DISMISSED: (1)NEITHER PARTY MAY DISPOSE OF ANY ASSETS EXCEPT: (i) FOR THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE OR FOR THE NECESSARY GENERATION OF INCOME OR PRESERVING ASSETS, (ii) BY AN AGREEMENT IN WRITING, OR (iii)FOR RETAINING COUNSEL TO CARRY ON OR TO CONTEST THIS PROCEEDING (2) NEITHER PARTY MAY HARASS THE OTHER PARTY; AND (3)ALL CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INSURANCE COVERAGE MUST BE MAINTAINED AND CONTINUED WITHOUT CHANGE IN COVERAGE OR BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION. (4)PARTIES TO A LEGAL SEPARATION PROCEEDING ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEMPT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA LAW. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION INCLUDES, MEDIATION, ARBITRATION, AND OTHER PROCESS AS SET FORTH IN THE DISTRICT COURT RULES. YOU MAY CONTACT THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR ABOUT RESOURCES IN YOUR AREA. IF YOU CANNOT PAY FOR MEDIATION OR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, IN SOME COUNTIES ASSISTANCE MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH A NON-PROFIT PROVIDER A COURT PROGRAM. IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE OR THREATS OF ABUSE AS DEFINED IN MINNESOTA STATUTES CHAPTER 510B, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TRY MEDIATION AND YOU WILL NOT BE PENALIZED BY THE COURT IN LATER PROCEEDINGS. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. Dated: 1/19/2010 Signed by Petitioner: Peter Osora 7841 Zen Avenue #06 Brooklyn Park, MN 5443
2. State the address of the principal place of business: 401 Harbor Isles Blvd., Klamath Falls, OR 97601
4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath. Signed by: Johanna Scholer, Secretary Date Filed: 1/25/2210
201, hosted by Reggie Edwards. (507) 389-6300, www.mnsu.edu. “Together We Can, Together We Did!” - Feb. 17 Noon at Concordia University St. Paul, Buenger Education Center, 275 Syndicate Street North, St. Paul, MN. (One block south of I94 at Hamline Avenue). For more information contact: Jill Johnson, 651-641-8755, jjohnson@csp.edu. Real Talk: Student Leadership and its Challenges - Feb 18 Thurs, Feb. 18 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Student panel and discussion, 10 a.m., CSU 291, hosted by the Black Student Union. (507) 389-6300, www.mnsu.edu. “Stories of Hope” presented by Isabell Monk O’Connor - Feb. 20 Sat, Feb 20, 10 a.m. at Merriam Park Branch Library (1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul). Free and open to the public. For more information call 651-266-7000. www.sppl.org “My People” - Feb. 20 Sat, Feb. 20, 1 p.m. at the Central Library (90 W. Fourth Street, St. Paul). A genealogical journey by Twin Cities’ jazz archivist, historian, memoirist and family history aficionado Tony Garrett. Free and open to the public. For more information call 651-2667000. www.sppl.org
ABA Minnesota Blizzards Basketball The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The program will consist of five teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration. Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments. We are looking for college students majoring in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 interns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits. Interested Parties please send resume to: The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program 10125 Crosstown Circle #200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Insight News 2/8/2010, 2/15/2010 952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040 www.minnesotablizzards.com
University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality - Two Open Positions The Center for Community Vitality of the University of Minnesota Extension enhances Minnesota's social, economic, civic, and technological capacity. We seek the following candidates to join our innovative, intelligent, entrepreneurial staff and help Greater Minnesota's communities build a stronger future. Extension Educator-Leadership and Civic Engagement: Based in the UMD Center for Economic Development. This educator will serve a seven-county region in northeastern Minnesota. This educator will assess, deliver and evaluate outreach educational programs. A master's degree required. Community Leadership Development Specialist: Located on St. Paul Campus. This person will provide staff and professional development opportunities for Extension educators and collaborate on evaluation, applied research, materials development, program development and other projects. A doctoral degree required. Application deadline: February 15. Read more about this position and apply online: http://www.extension.umn.edu/About/positions.html or call 612-6243717.
Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer
Remembrance March commemorating Black History Month - Feb 22 Mon, Feb 22, march begins at 10 am, presentation begins at 10:30. Beginning at the Bloomington Ice Garden (3600 West 98th St, Bloomington, MN) with presentation at Normandale Community College Fine Arts Auditorium (9700 France Ave S, Bloomington, MN) www.normandale.edu Maafa21, a Feature Length Black History film - Feb 22 Mon., Feb 22, 6:30 PM at The University of Minnesota, Coffman Memorial Building, Room # 303 Free to the public and students. Q & A to follow. students4humanlife@gmail.com Tel. 651-485-2313. Tommy Watson - Feb. 22 February 22 at 7 p.m. at the Sun Ray Branch Library (2105 Wilson Avenue, St. Paul). Tommy Watson, subject of “A Face of Courage: The Tommy Watson Story – How Did He Survive?” shares his story. Free and open to the public. For more information call 651-266-7000. www.sppl.org Warm Up to Super Cool Miles Davis - Feb 28 Sun, Feb 28, 2 until 4 p.m. at Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 N. Dale Street, St. Paul. Free and open to the public. For more information call 651266-7000. www.sppl.org Dreamgirls film showing - Feb. 28 Sun, Feb 28 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul Central Library in the 4th Floor
Meeting Room. (Note: This film is rated PG-13.) enjoy the music and drama of “Dreamgirls,” a 2006 Academy Award-winning film starring Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson. Free and open to the public. For more information call 651-266-7000. www.sppl.org
Events How Secretaries Changed the 20th-Century Office: Design, Image, and Culture - Ongoing Gallery runs Now through May 23; Opening Friday, Feb 5, 6-8 pm at Goldstein Museum of Design, College of Design, University of Minnesota, 364 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul. http://goldstein.design.umn.edu KFAI Public Radio’s Gubernatorial Forum Series – Feb 8 Mon, Feb 8, from 6 pm to 7 pm on KFAI Radio 90.3 FM Mpls, and 106.7 FM W St. Paul, or stream online at kfai.org. Questions will be chosen from those submitted by listeners in the week leading up to the forum. Submit your questions to News Director Ahndi Fridell at newsdepartment@kfai.org or 612341-3144 ext. 16. Hayor Bibimma African Music and Dance Fundraiser - Feb 9 Tues, Feb 9, 7:00 p.m. Boeckman Middle School Auditorium, Farmington, MN. Student—$7.00 Adult— $12.00 4 & under—free. 100% of the proceeds go to the purchase of African drums for our elementary schools.
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Transit From 9 system that enables the best options for our residents. We have to move beyond negative experiences of the past and fashion futures tat bring all these elements together. We have to educate ourselves about the process. You have to know what you want.” Jamil Ford, a design engineer, said it is important that the community clearly define transportation and livability challenges for residents, “and explore how to address those challenges in multiple formats, not just the LRT or just a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) alone strategy. “We must make sure that everybody is treated fairly,” Ford said, noting too often the interests of low income and minority residents get sidelined. Hennepin Transit Authority engineer, Joe Gladke said in 2000, the Metro Council determined that there should be a LRT systems serving North Minneapolis. He said, “When the Hiawatha LRT came online with great success and ridership beyond projections people began to ask, ‘Why does South Minneapolis get Light Rail, but North Minneapolis only get
Strong From 1 service-learning project focused on careers and education. Within Minneapolis Public Schools there are 34,000 students and 70% are students of color. When the events began in February 2009 there was an intentionality of giving these students opportunity to meet business professionals of the same ethnicity, leading successful lives. Burroughs said, “The e-mail initially that I sent out to folks even before 100 Strong got formulated was: ‘is there the next Barack Obama?’ I believe that if we don’t do a better job of educating our young people, especially our young kids of color, there will not be a next Barack Obama because of the low high school graduation rates or the low attainment rates on test scores of kids of color. And it got the motivation of folks I e-mailed to say, ‘okay well what do we do?’, ‘how do we improve that?’And one way of doing it is getting kids the inspirational models of seeing
Insight News • February 1 - February 7, 2010 • Page 11 busses?’” The Options: Bottineau Corridor The Bottineau Corridor extends between Downtown Minneapolis and North Minneapolis through the Northwest suburbs of the Twin Cities, including Golden Valley, Crystal, Robbinsdale, New Hope, Osseo, Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove. Population and employment along the corridor is growing and greater accessibility to jobs is needed, as it is a key element to the region’s economic development. Traffic congestion is expected to worsen in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area through the Year 2030 planning horizon. While transit options currently exist for some travel markets in the study area, transit options for northbound commuters are limited. The Bottineau Transitway Alternatives Analysis Study identified a range of transitway alternatives that encompass two modes (bus rapid transit and light rail transit) on several different alignments within the study area. Twenty-one transitway alternatives have been evaluated, resulting in nine light rail transit and 12 bus rapid transit alternatives. people who look like them who have been successful so they can envision themselves being successful.” The e-mail dialogue morphed into positive action steps when Minneapolis Public Schools Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity started 100 Strong Who Care in February 2009. Burroughs said, “So we started 100 Strong Who Care at Cityview Performing Arts Magnet in North Minneapolis and over a two day period in February we brought in 106 volunteers from the African American business community to talk to the kids about their careers and the importance of education.” Additionally, on other days volunteers from the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, Minnesota Corporate Asian Network, and other professionals from the Asian business community, were paired with students at Hmong International Academy; and volunteers from Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter of Hispanic MBAS were paired with students from Andersen United Community School. This year professionals of all ethnic backgrounds are welcomed to
Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority said the twentyone transitway alternatives were evaluated by how well each alternative address the five project goals and thirty-one related evaluation measures. The five project goals are: 1. Enhance regional mobility 2. Expand the effectiveness of transit within the corridor 3. Provide a cost-effective and financially feasible transportation system 4. Encourage transit-supportive land use and development patterns 5. Support sustainable communities and sound environmental practices The evaluation measure results are used to compute an overall ranking for each alternative.
Jamil Ford • Construction million
Cost:
Rep. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-58B) $885
Light Rail Transit: From Brooklyn Park along BNSF Corridor West Broadway to BNSF to Olson Highway (12.6 miles) • Running Time: 28 minutes • Daily Ridership: 16,500 • Construction Cost: $932 million
The four highest ranked alternatives propose: Light Rail Transit: From Maple Grove to Downtown Minneapolis along Burlington Northern San Francisco (BNSF) Rail Corridor Arbor Lakes Parkway to BNSF to Olson Highway (12 miles) • Running Time: 26 minutes • Daily Ridership: 19,500
Light Rail Transit: From Maple Grove along Penn Avenue Arbor Lakes Parkway to BNSF to Broadway via 36th Street to Penn Avenue to Olson Highway (11.9 miles) • Running Time: 31 minutes • Daily Ridership: 18,500 • Construction Cost: $932
volunteer with students. Volunteers can have blue collar or white collar careers, or individuals who have had careers that can offer expertise to youth. Major successes of last year’s program are the measurable outcomes, including reciprocal benefits and sustaining relationships between students and professionals. “A lot of these volunteers will come back and volunteer in the classroom as reading tutors and math tutors and help close that achievement gap we talked so much about.” Terry Austin, a sales executive and founder of Positive Image, a non-profit geared toward eliminating health disparities in communities of color, served as a volunteer last year at Cityview Performing Arts Magnet and is currently working with young African American males at North High School, helping them achieve academic success. The inspired collaboration stemming from the 100 Strong Who Care events didn’t stop there. Target Corporation’s Asian American Business Council invited students from Hmong International Academy to a Career
Day at Target Corporation Headquarters, and continue to work with the school for future opportunities. National Hispanic MBA Association is in preliminary stages of developing a 100 Strong Who Care Business Competition with Minneapolis Public Schools. Seven high schools in the district will select students to participate in a competition between the schools focused on marketing, and kids who participate will receive scholarship dollars and winners will receive increased scholarship dollars. Miguel Ramos, Emerging Markets Manager with the Minnesota Twins, served as a volunteer at Andersen United Community School, and received a student named Miguel Rodriguez as his mentee. Since that day Ramos challenged Miguel to get good grades in exchange for Minnesota Twins tickets and other incentives. The events were a gift for school administrators who work with students on a daily basis. Chai Lee at Hmong International Academy said the 100 Strong Who Care event was, “very important because many of our
million Bus Rail Transit: From Maple Grove along BNSF Corridor Arbor Lakes Parkway to BNSF to Olson Highway (12 miles) • Running Time: 31 minutes • Daily Ridership: 13,000 • Construction Cost: $464 million Pugh-Sullivan said , “Residents need to give their input on the LRT to elected officials. The meeting last week provided residents with good base information. Our hope is that people will take that information and study the opportunities. Northside residents will make the best decision for community with comprehensive
Sherrie Pugh Sullivan information. We plan to continue to provide that. NRRC is working with Rep. Champion and we would gladly host another meeting to inform residents.” While the Jordan neighborhood association has formally endorsed Option 3 above, which is referred to as “D2, , which routes the LRT down Penn Avenue to Olson Highway, Pugh Sullivan said, “At this time the NRRC Board has not taken a position because they want to hear from their fellow residents on this issue.” She said many people signed up to work on an advisory group to study the issue and formulate recommendations and NRRC will work to promote their open public meetings to the greater community.
Terry Austin and Robbie Burnett have a one on one with student. students don’t have the knowledge or support to show them what working culture is like. So having those employees from different agencies show students exactly what they do opened the students eyes to different career paths and I think that motivated students to study hard.” Burroughs and staff aim to build bridges between professionals and youth, because “the next Barack Obama, whoever
he or she may be, will hopefully come out of the 100 Strong.” For more information on 100 Strong Who Care, contact Adebisi A. Wilson, Minneapolis Public Schools Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, at (612) 6680018 or adebisi.wilson@mps.k12.mn.us.
Page 12 • February 8 - February 14, 2010 • Insight News
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SPORTS Henderson's big moment is an inspiration Mr T’s Sports Report
By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Being a University of Southern California football fan, I naturally thrust my victorious fist in the air, while lying in bed early in the morning and hearing Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) report that Seantrel Henderson signed with my favorite college
football team. Henderson said of the decision: “I’m finally at peace.” Coincidentally, the hand symbol for Trojan Football fans is the “Victory Sign”, otherwise known as the “Peace Sign.” To quote an Ice Cube song, “It was a good day.” As a result of his decision, Henderson will enter a Southern California football institution that puts out National Championships, NFL superstars, and Hollywood media adoration like none other. It’s a good thing that Henderson is a well-grounded individual, and strongly focused on his education; likely these are the qualities that have led him to his
current level of success. Many times I’ve ranted about the quality of student
academically sound, athletic superstars are providing. At this point I would think that the case
BEWARE: Seantrel Henderson and the USC Trojans are coming September 18th. athletic talent in Minnesota. Henderson is just the latest and greatest (I mean he did choose USC) example to prove that point. Hopefully, Twin Cities’ student athletes seriously grasp the momentum that Henderson and the many recent
Seantrel Henderson with his USA Today Offensive Player of the Year trophy
should be closed as to whether Minnesota athlete’s can consistently make it big. Like most former athletes, I have a big heart for trying to influence those many talented, bright young stars that take the wrong routes in their early life and miss out on all the opportunity that is available to them. Minnesota Gophers Head Coach Tim Brewster commented that Henderson could embark on an amazing journey if he were to join the Gophers. Somehow, I think that the light from the torch that Henderson carries will benefit the Gophers, and the state of sports participation overall in the Twin Cities. As for the Gophers 2010 football recruiting class, at a glance, I do believe that the team will be improved from the additions. In terms of Minnesota recruits, the Gophers snagged Lamonte Edwards of Woodbury High School (ESPN Top 100 player ranking) who looks to be a big bruising running back, although his more prominent high school position was on defense. The Gophers seem to be preparing to launch a much more athletic approach towards the position of quarterback through the addition of talented Totino-Grace High School quarterback J.D. Pride. Pride’s abilities mirror that of current Gopher back-up quarterback Marquis Gray, who often entered games to spell the less athletic (at least in terms of speed and quickness) starting quarterback, and Minnesota High School product, Adam
Weber. The biggest name for the Gophers, in terms of Minnesota recruits, is Jimmy Gjere, a 6’7” 300lb lineman from Irondale High School. Gjere was ranked in the Top 20 by ESPN, and any team that lands a Top 20 player in a lineman position has a good reason to be hopeful. In addition to the hometown recruits for the Gophers, it was also interesting to see the successful pursuit of national junior college football stars. Names such as Tiree Eure, a 6’7” tight end from Lackawanna College, as well as others from prime national recruiting areas, show that Gopher recruiting has a strong, intelligent approach towards developing the talent on their team.
The Gophers did not land Seantrel Henderson, but through the well-respected recruiting abilities of Head Coach Tim Brewster, and the looming presence of national studentathletic superstars from Minnesota, there should be a brighter day for football, and sports overall, for Twin Cities youth. It should be a magnificent homecoming in front of many Minnesota television sets when Seantrel Henderson and the USC Trojans come to visit TCF Bank stadium on September 18, 2010. We USC fans apologize in advance for the beat down, but with Seantrel Henderson on the line, at least it’ll be with Minnesota Love.