Insight News ::: 02.29.16

Aesthetically It! MORE ON PAGE 10

aesthetically speaking

Insight News February 29 - March 6, 2016

Vol. 43 No. 9 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

$2.1 billion on the table March 7 event will connect small businesses owned by minorities, women, persons with disabilities, or veterans with state agency purchasing officers and provide technical assistance on doing business with the State of Minnesota.

By Al McFarlane Editor-In-Chief Minnesota’s economy and business climate will continue to improve if more small and minority business are able to bring competitive goods and services to the state’s government agencies. State agencies purchase over $2 billion in goods and services annually, and, according to Matt Massman, Commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Administration (Admin), “More small businesses able to compete for state contracts will ultimately strengthen Minnesota’s small business sector and help the state

Minnesota Department of Administration hosts Small Business Opportunity Fair

obtain the best value in purchasing goods and services.”

Commissioner Massman last week announced his department is hosting a March 7th Small Business Opportunity Fair in downtown St. Paul as one of several efforts to champion the policy of “ensuring equal contracting opportunities for all Minnesotans.”

With $176.5 million in annual operating costs and 475 full-time employees, Admin oversees $2.1 billion in state purchases, maintains 4.4 million square feet of owned space and leases an additional 3.6 million square feet of space for over 100 state agencies, boards and councils.

The agency also insures $12 billion in property and 13,400 vehicles, and manages over 400 building projects and $166 million in capital appropriations.

The fair is being hailed as an important and necessary step

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US Bank funds UNCF Ujima scholarships MINNEAPOLIS – U.S. Bank this week announced a $700,000 multi-year scholarship program in partnership with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) at the seventh annual UNCF State of Minnesota Leaders’ Luncheon on Education, and offered a call to action for other Minnesota corporations to join them. This year’s luncheon was sponsored

by U.S. Bank, Target, Medtronic and 3M. In an effort to positively impact the lives of Twin Cities’ students in successfully making it to and through college and into careers, U.S. Bank established the UNCF Ujima Scholars Program. Named after the third principal of the sevenday African American cultural observance, Kwanzaa, the Swahili word “Ujima” (oo-JEEmah) stands for “collective work and responsibility.”

“At U.S. Bank, we invest our time, resources and passion to build and support vibrant communities that allow every

Courtesy of Ramsey County

Vice President Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden visits St. Paul Union Station

Karl Demer, Atomic K Studios

L-R: U.S. Bank Chairman & CEO Richard Davis, U.S. Bank Foundation President Reba Dominski, Dr. Michael Lomax (UNCF), U.S. Bank Executive Vice President of Human Resources Jennie Carlson and U.S. Bank Vice President Customer Experience Greg Cunningham.

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Calls renewed to restore ‘gutted’ Voting Rights Act

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer Washington, D.C. – In the midst of national primaries and caucuses in a run-up to the November election to select the nation’s next president, renewed calls are being made to have Congress restore key protections that were stripped from the Voting Rights Act. According to many civil rights activists and several politicians – mostly Democratic, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2013 5-4 decision to strike down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act greatly limits key protections of the act and has resulted in several instances of voter suppression. Section 4 required that states with history of voter

Creative Commons / HowardMorland

Reverend CT Vivian

suppression be precleared by the Department of Justice before making changes to state voting rules. November’s election will be the first presidential election in 50 years without the full protections in place of the Voting Rights Act. The Rev. C.T. Vivian, who last week received the Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts and participation in Bloody Sunday – the historic march for voting rights from Montgomery, Ala. to Selma, Ala. – said the 2013 Supreme Court decision was just as brutal as the beatings he took in Alabama.

“I was there in Selma and personally was beaten by Dallas County Sherriff Jim Clark, but when the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act it was like being beaten all over

again,” said Vivian. “People want to put us in museums like we are history. If you think this is history instead of present reality, ask Black voters in South Carolina and Texas and Georgia and Virginia. This is not history, this is present day and we won’t allow our legacy to be relegated to a museum.”

Vivian called on Congress to act on one of the two bills before the body to restore provisions that were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Kristen Clarke, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, president and executive director said the ink was not dry before certain states began turning back the hands of time.

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By Carmen Robles Vice President Joe Biden was in St. Paul on Thursday, Feb. 18 “to celebrate just one of the many great examples of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 invested in Minnesota’s future.”

The Vice President stopped at St. Paul’s Union Depot train station to mark the seventh anniversary of the economic stimulus package.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, was a stimulus package signed into law on February 17, 2009

by President Barack Obama. It was designed to boost the U.S. economy in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse.

The event was held in the Union Depot to a virtual who’s who of speakers and more than 100 guests including: St.

BIDEN TURN TO 9

Business

Education

Justspeak

Community

Northside housing fair relaunches March 12th

Social justice and educating diverse societies

The Oscars—The Final Frontier of “White Spaces”?

Lowertown Bike Shop moving to Union Depot

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Insight News • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Page 3

HEALTH UCare hires Michael Ruiz as vice president of Provider Relations and Contracting UCare has hired Michael Ruiz as the not-for-profit health plan’s new vice president of Provider Relations and Contracting.

Ruiz is a healthcare executive with more than 15 years of experience in clinic and project management, provider contract oversight, accountable care organization strategy and Medicare market performance experience. He

has worked with and managed a broad range of provider recruitment, sales, contracting, data sharing, medical cost performance functions and the Medicare star ratings system as it relates to relationships with health plan providers.

As UCare’s vice president of Provider Relations and Contracting, Ruiz will lead negotiations with providers and develop Medicare and

Michael Ruiz

commercial contracting arrangements. He will also manage teams and processes to support improved operations and performance at UCare.

Ruiz reports to Mark Traynor, UCare’s senior vice president of Provider Relations and chief legal officer.

“We welcome Mike’s excellent experience and talents to UCare,” said Traynor.

“Mike will serve the interests

of our UCare members in all he does, while building strong relationships with our provider partners who deliver high-quality health care to our members across Minnesota every day.”

Ruiz was most recently vice president of Medicare Market Performance at UnitedHealthcare in Minnetonka. He previously held positions as senior director

of Accountable Care Strategy at UnitedHealthcare, senior provider contract manager with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, project manager with Medical Management, Inc. of Portland and hospital director with Banfield Pet Hospitals in the Twin Cities area.

Ruiz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota.

Use the Nutrition Facts Label and reduce your sodium intake • Mixed meat dishes (such as beef stew, chili, and meat loaf) • Mixed pasta dishes (such as lasagna, pasta salad, and spaghetti with meat sauce) • Pizza • Poultry (fresh and processed) • Sandwiches (such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and submarine sandwiches) • Savory snacks (such as chips, crackers, popcorn, and pretzels) • Soups

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Carmen Robles Lydia Schwartz Ryan T. Scott Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- February is American Heart Month. In the United States (U.S.), an estimated 56% of adults have either hypertension (high blood pressure) or prehypertension (slightly elevated blood pressure).

Increased sodium intake can increase your risk of developing hypertension, which can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness.

To prevent or manage hypertension, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reminds you to use the Nutrition Facts Label to check the sodium content of packaged foods and beverages.

Look at the Label!

Packaged foods and beverages can contain high levels of sodium, whether or not they taste salty – so before purchasing, check the amount of sodium in the products to make informed dietary choices. Sodium content can vary significantly between similar types of foods.

• Understand the Daily Value The Daily Values are the amounts of nutrients recommended per day for Americans 4 years of age and older. The Daily Value for sodium is less than 2,400 milligrams (mg) per day – that’s

equal to about 1 teaspoon of salt.

Yet on average, Americans eat about 3,400 mg of sodium a day.

• Use the Percent Daily Value (%DV) as a Tool The %DV tells you how much of a nutrient is in one serving of a food. The %DV is based on 100% of the Daily Value for sodium. When comparing and choosing foods, pick the food with a lower %DV of sodium.

As a general rule: o 5% DV or less of sodium per serving is low o 20% DV or more of sodium per serving is high • Pay attention to serving sizes.

The %DV listed is for one serving, but one package may contain more than one serving.

Be sure to look at the serving size to determine how many servings you are actually consuming.

Know the Sources of Sodium More than 40% of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from the following 10 types of foods: • Breads and rolls • Cheese (natural and processed) • Cold cuts and cured meats (such as deli or packaged ham or turkey)

Watch Sodium When Eating Out, Too! When eating away from home, ask if nutrition information is available. If a restaurant item or meal includes a claim about its nutrient content, such as “low sodium” or “low fat,” then nutrition information to support that claim is required to be available at the point of purchase. In addition, as of December 1, 2016, many chain restaurants (and other places selling restaurant-type food) will be required to provide written information on the nutrient content of standard menu items, including the amount of sodium.

Learn more at: http:// www.fda.gov/Food/ IngredientsPackaging Labeling/LabelingNutrition/ ucm315355.htm

Medica has the right Medicare plan for you.

Medica offers a range of Medicare options that can be tailored to meet your unique needs and your budget.

Learn more about our affordable plans at a FREE Medicare Workshop near you.

Go to medica.com/MedicareWorkshops ©2015 Medica. Medica is a registered service mark of Medica Health Plans.

A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-906-5432, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, 7 days a week. TTY: 711.

Medica is a Cost plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Medica depends on contract renewal.

Y0088_4141 CMS Accepted

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Insight News • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Page 5

BUSINESS

Northside housing fair relaunches March 12th The Cleveland Neighborhood Association is excited to relaunch the Northside Housing Fair on March 12th to connect north Minneapolis residents with resources to meet their housing related needs. The Housing Fair will be a one-stop-shop for every housing related resource north Minneapolis residents might be looking for. From contractors to loan programs, legal to neighborhood resources, everyone will be there, including

you! “It’s all inclusive and there will be something there for everyone, whether you’re a renter, a homeowner, or anything in between,� said Kesha Walker, staff at the Cleveland Neighborhood Association. The 2016 Northside Housing Fair will be held on Saturday March 12, 10am to 3pm at Lucy Craft Laney School at 3333 Penn Ave N, near the intersection of Penn and Lowry Avenue. The event is

expected to host 80+ vendors to an audience of more than 1000 residents.

Educational mini-workshops from vendors will be scheduled throughout the day as well as activities for kids, thanks to Minneapolis Community Education.

The event sponsors and partners include: Minneapolis Community Education, Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations, Lucy Craft Laney

Elementary School, TCF Bank, Northside Home Fund, Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin County, the Northside Neighborhoods Council, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Insight News and KMOJ Radio.

The event is free and open to all, ADA-Accessible, and easily reachable by public transportation by taking the 19 or 32 bus routes. All who attend will receive a free lunch and a

chance to receive raffle prizes just for attending! Additional concessions will be available with profits going to local programs. “We know there is a strong need to provide housing resources for prospective homebuyers; education and resources for current renters and homeowners; and support home improvements and reinvestments in the community,� said Lynne Moriarty, committee chair of the

Northside Housing Fair when it first launched and ran from 2006 to 2009. That need is as present as ever with the current economy and changing housing landscape.

As a free community event, the Northside Housing Fair leverages community groups and volunteers to make the events a success. Those interested in volunteering at the event should visit NorthsideHousingFair.com or contact 612-588-1155.

Making the needle move: The birth of the UNCF telethon FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw During its heyday (1980 – 1993), the United Negro College Fund’s Lou Rawls Parade of Stars was the largest African American special event in the United States held on one day. It forever changed African American philanthropy and how African Americans are perceived as donors, volunteers and fundraising leaders.

Lou Rawls played an initiating role and three other men from outside of UNCF played key roles in creating, growing and sustaining this national special event. Here’s the back story.

When Anheuser-Busch signed Lou Rawls as its national spokesperson, the corporation asked which charity he wanted AnheuserBusch to support as part of his contract. Lou replied, “UNCF,� for he had worked with our own Mel Shaw in Texas, promoting Something Special – a forerunner to the telethon.

He had pledged to Mel, “If I ever get in a position to help this grow I will.� The time had come and Rawls asked Anheuser-Busch to help grow the telethon/radio-thon concept

and take it national. Rawls’ manager spoke with the CEO of UNCF, the late Christopher Edley, who spoke with the leadership of Anheuser-Busch.

The timing was perfect, for there was a mandate from the UNCF board to enhance the number of African Americans supporting UNCF with both money and involvement. And Anheuser-Busch was looking to enhance its image in the African American community and grow its market share so that it would become the number one beer with African Americans. Anheuser-Busch wanted to know if UNCF could “make the needle move.�

UNCF’s response was “yes.�

Anheuser-Busch had a history with UNCF as a donor, but it was nowhere near the level of financial investment that it grew to during the Low Rawls Parade of Stars.

UNCF had been developing the telethon/radio-thon concept for five years in the Texas market under the leadership of Mel Shaw. Something Special was hosted by Nancy Wilson, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis and was broadcast in local markets across the state raising funds for UNCF and the Texas Association of Developing Colleges, all of whom were UNCF members.

For this project, the lead for Anheuser-Busch was Wayman Smith, then Vice President for minority affairs. Wayman ultimately provided financial backing in the millions of

dollars, staffing, and all the resources at his disposal. His team included Victor Julien who was responsible for telethon-related marketing and cause marketing partnerships; and Byron Glore who

produced the entertainment for the telethon. Together these three men fulfilled AnheuserBusch’s commitment. They provided the necessary resources to produce the telethon and promote it both

nationally and within local markets, especially through their distributors and key sales outlets.

Next week: more behind the scenes details.

Copyright 2016– Mel and Pearl Shaw For help growing your fundraising visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

You don’t have to move to get that new-home feeling.

Consider a U.S. Bank Home Equity Line of Credit for your next project. With competitive rates and flexible payment options, lasting home improvements could be within reach. Introductory rates start as low as 1.99% APR. Call 800.209.BANK (2265), visit a local branch, or go to usbank.com/dreambig.

HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT

O F F I C E OF E Q U I T Y IN P R O C U R E M E N T

Opportunity Fair

Introductory rate for 5 months Rates as low as

1.99% 4.24% APR*

Rate available 2/20/16 - 4/29/16.

Rates are subject to change.

Small businesses are invited to talk to buyers from more than 20 state agencies about upcoming SURFXUHPHQW RSSRUWXQLWLHV 2IĂ€FH RI (TXLW\ LQ 3URFXUHPHQW VWDII DQG UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV IURP WKH 0LQQHVRWD 3URFXUHPHQW 7HFKQLFDO $VVLVWDQFH &HQWHU 37$& ZLOO EH DYDLODEOH WR DQVZHU TXHVWLRQV DERXW WKH 6PDOO %XVLQHVV 3URFXUHPHQW 3URJUDP DQG KRZ WR FRPSHWH IRU EXVLQHVV ZLWK WKH 6WDWH March 7, 1 - 4 PM 6WDVVHQ %XLOGLQJ Skjegstad Room 600 North Robert Street 6W 3DXO 01 7KLV HYHQW LV IUHH 7R UHJLVWHU YLVLW KWWS ELW O\ 39=9 O

Variable rate after introductory period

APR*

Actual rate may be lower.

Visit your local branch or usbank.com.

*1.99% Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available on Home Equity Lines of Credit with an 80% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. The Introductory Interest Rate will be ďŹ xed at 1.99% during the ďŹ ve-month Introductory Period. A higher introductory rate will apply for an LTV above 80%. Offer is available for new applications submitted from February 20 – April 29, 2016. After the ďŹ ve-month introductory period: the APR is variable and is based upon an index plus a margin. The APR will vary with Prime Rate (the index) as published in the Wall Street Journal. As of February 9, 2016, the variable rate for Home Equity Lines of Credit ranged from 3.24% APR to 8.50% APR. Higher rates may apply due to an increase in the Prime Rate, for a credit limit below $125,000, an LTV above 80%, and/or a low credit score. A U.S. Bank Consumer Checking Package account is required to receive the lowest rate, but is not required for loan approval. The rate will not vary above 18% APR, or applicable state law, or below 1.99% APR. Choosing an interest-only repayment may cause your monthly payment to increase, possibly substantially, once your credit line transitions into the repayment period. Repayment options may vary based on credit qualiďŹ cations.

Interest only repayment may be unavailable. Loans are subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts.

Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Property insurance is required. U.S. Bank and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Your tax and ďŹ nancial situation is unique. You should consult your tax and/or legal advisor for advice and information concerning your particular situation. Other restrictions may apply. Mortgage and Home Equity products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit Products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Customer pays no closing costs, except escrow-related funding costs. An annual fee of up to $90 may apply after the ďŹ rst year and is waived with a U.S. Bank personal Platinum Checking Package. The Consumer Pricing Information brochure lists terms and conditions that apply to U.S. Bank Consumer Checking Package accounts and can be obtained by calling 800.872.2657. Member FDIC Š2016 U.S. Bank. All rights reserved. 160083 2/16

Page 6 • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Insight News

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EDUCATION

This page is sponsored by:

Social justice and educating diverse societies Renowned educator Dr. Sonia Nieto will speak on “Educating a Diverse Society through the Lens of Social Justice” during two presentations at a Metropolitan State University School of Urban Education event co-sponsored with Minneapolis and Saint Paul Public Schools.

The events are from 1 p.m.

– 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. March 3 in the New Main Great Hall of Metropolitan State University’s St. Paul campus, 700 E. 7th St. “Dr. Sonia Nieto and her significant work in teacher education, especially in the areas of multicultural education and Latino (and Latina) education, have shaped generations of teachers and

Dr. Sonia Nieto teacher educators and their approaches to serving children and youth of color,” said School

of Urban Education Dean René Antrop-González. “The School of Urban Education is proud

to have this highly acclaimed and internationally respected scholar visit our campus and raise consciousness centering on the intersections between social justice and serving urban learners.”

Nieto’s work has focused on the development of multicultural education and culturally responsive teaching, devoting her professional life to questions of diversity, equity and social justice in education.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., she began her teaching career in 1966 in an intermediate school in Brooklyn. Her university career started in the Puerto Rican Studies Department at Brooklyn College. She and her family moved to Massachusetts in 1975, where she completed

her doctoral degree at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, returning a year later to begin her academic career there.

Nieto’s research focuses on multicultural education, teacher education and the education of students of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

She has received numerous awards for her scholarly work, teaching, activism and advocacy, including six honorary doctorates. In 2016, she was ranked among the top 35 university-based education scholars in the RHSU EduScholar Public Influence Rankings.

In 2000, she was awarded a Bellagio Residence by the

Rockefeller Foundation. The educator has served as a visiting scholar at various universities in the United States, as well as in Puerto Rico and Spain, and in 2012 she was selected as the Wits-Claude Distinguished Scholar at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In Minneapolis and St. Paul where 67 percent to 77 percent of students are of color, only 16 to 17 percent of teachers are of color. Statewide, students of color represent 30 percent of the school population but teachers of color represent only 4 percent of the 58,200 public school teachers in the state (approximately 900 are Asian, 600 are Black, 500 are Hispanic and 250 are Native-American).

College students to get extra financial help Brandon Campbell, Minnesota News Connection As college student debts continue to climb across the country, Minnesota is giving thousands of students a little extra financial help.

The state is awarding

95,000 students an extra $200 grant increase this year. The extra money is coming in part from a drop in the number of students enrolling in public colleges and a recent bump in the federal Pell grant.

Larry Pogemiller, commissioner of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, said low-income and middleclass students could use the

extra resources.

“This should help with their purchase of books and materials, which usually run somewhere about $1,000 per student over the course of a year,” he said. “And so, hopefully this will just soften that impact a little bit for most students.”

According to the Project for Student Debt, Minnesota has

the fifth-highest debt ranking in the nation. Most state students leave college with more than $31,000 in financial burdens.

The Minnesota State Grant Program has awarded up to $180 million to students in need. With a drop in enrollment, Pogemiller said, the program had about $12 million left over, which now is being redistributed to

students who qualify. So why the drop in enrollment? Since the economy is doing better, Pogemiller said, fewer students are signing up for community college.

“We’re basically at about 3.5 percent unemployment rate now in Minnesota,” he said.

“It’s a natural cycle; when the economy’s going well, enrollments tend to be a little

down at particularly the twoyear colleges.”

According to a statement from Gov. Mark Dayton’s office, he and state lawmakers have set aside an extra $125 million in the Minnesota State Grant Program over the past five years.

Information on the Project for Student Debt MN is online at ticas.org.

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Insight News • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Page 7

The Oscars—The Final Frontier of “White Spaces”?

Justspeak

By Irma McClaurin, PhD Culture and Education Editor We have focused so much attention on “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria* that we missed the obvious—the continued existence of “white spaces.”

These are arenas where white people congregate and make influential decisions but are viewed as “normal.” There is no discussion of “why are all the white kids sitting together in the cafeteria.” White spaces are spheres of influence where social and economic privilege and the power of whiteness intersect. Historically, they developed as the “norm” and “natural” outcome of profound social beliefs in biological, cultural and intellectual white superiority or white supremacy.

How do you identify white spaces? If all the men and women making decisions and leading organizations, businesses, teaching, etc. are white and all the people they supervise or those who hold the least powerful positions are people of color (Black, Latino, Asian, Native American/Alaskan Indian-you choose), then you are in white spaces. White spaces are most visible in politics, education, corporations, board rooms, technology, STEM, and most recently the Oscars nominating committee, to name a few.

Calling Out White Spaces: There are those who will protest the label of “white spaces” (methinks too much). They will offer up examples of exceptions. And it is true that some Fortune 500 companies have Black CEOs: Kenneth Chenault at American Express, Rodney O’Neal of Delphi Automotive, Merck’s Kenneth Frazier,

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Davidlohr Bueso

Heritage calendar celebrates achievers Commentary

By Dr. Julian Stafford Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a doctoral graduate of Harvard University, in February 1926 announced the creation of “Negro History Week,” which eventually evolved into Black History Month.

Woodson selected February because of it being the birth month for three historic figures – presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass.

Douglass, an African-American, was a social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman. Woodson felt that these three individuals embodied the desired signs and symbols that shape minds in reality. For those reason he considered it more than fitting to have February as the month to acknowledge AfricanAmericans’ contributions to America and the world.

Therefore, it was most appropriate for Minnesota African American Heritage Calendar Award under the auspice of Progressive Committee for Economic and Educational Development Foundation (PROCEED) and Progressive Baptist Church in St. Paul to begin a plethora of events and activities to celebrate Black History Month. The annual Black History Month kicked off with the unveiling of the Church’s 10th Anniversary Minnesota African-American Heritage Calendar (MAAHC).

The 2016 MAAHC theme is “The Change Makers.” For

Ozzie Johnson

Pictured left to right are Kim White, MAAHC chair, the Rev. Dr. Melvin Miller, along with 2016 honorees; the Rev. Gloria Thomas, Titilayo Bediako (Matthew Little), Tyrone Terrill, State Rep. Rena Moran, Harry “Spike” Moss, Judge Pamela Alexander, Nekima Levy-Pounds, the Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson, Gen. Dr. David Hamlar, Dr. Josie Johnson, former St. Paul Police Chief William Finney, Sondra Samuels and the Rev. Dr. Earl Miller. each month in 2016, MAAHC profiles an individual of African-American heritage, with a state connection and who has made or is making a significant contribution to the nation, Minnesota and/or his or her community.

The 2016 Honorees are the Rev. Gloria Roach-Thomas, Matthew Little, Tyrone Terrill, Rep. Rena Moran, Harry “Spike” Moss, Prince, Nekima Levy-Pounds, the Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson, Gen. David Hamlar, Jr., Dr. Josie Johnson, former St. Paul Police Chief William Finney, Sondra Samuels. Along with

past MAAHC honorees, Minnesota’s various NAACP branches were recognized for their human justice initiatives and civil-rights advocacy. The 2016 MAAHC Youth Award recipients were Isabel Riemer and Dale Davis. The 2016 Jo Ann Clark Angel Award recipient was Tanya Love.

T. Mychael Rambo, emceed the event and Judge Pamela Alexander served as the event’s keynote speaker.

In an added bonus, Prince invited all attendees to an afterparty at Parsley Park following the ceremony.

From SNCC to BLM Commentary

By Vanessa Young and Kevin Robinson “The most dangerous creation in any society is the man who has nothing left to lose.” ―James Baldwin From Ella Baker to Alicia Garza, from Kwame Ture (formerly known as Stokely Carmichael) to Patrice Cullors, and from Diane Nash to Opal Tometi, all of them are representatives of this great quote from the late Baldwin. History is always present and it’s an important part of a process for growth and new thinking. History helps one to think critically using the components of context, contrast, comparisons, chronology, causes and effects.

“History is inseparable from today.”

It is important that we do not forget about Feb. 1, 1960, when Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, David Richmond, and Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair Jr.), four Black college freshman from North Carolina A&T were the first students to make a real political statement in the history of student

activism. These students took a stand by having a sit down at a “whites only” lunch counter at Woolworth Department Store in downtown Greensboro, N.C. and refused to leave after being denied services. This is what became known as the sit in movement. After they were jailed, it inspired other students to join the movement.

Eventually white students from Davidson College, a southern university, joined the protests, these became known as sympathy sit-ins. By the end of the school year the movement spread like a wildfire. This bold and courageous act sparked other sits-ins, pray-ins, jail-ins, swim-ins, all throughout the southern states, and eventually expanding to the North and the West.

The idea for a locallybased, student-run organization was conceived when Baker, a veteran civil rights organizer and Southern Christian Leadership Council ( SCLC) official, invited Black college students who had participated in the early 1960s sit-ins to a Sunday meeting in April 1960 at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. If we dive deeper into the reason for the sit-ins, you will fully understand that

the four Black students were representatives of their parents who could not protest due to the fear of economic reprisal.

One of Ture’s famous quotes was, “Our grandfathers had to run, run, run. My generation is out of breath; we ain’t running no more.”

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was a fearless and necessary disruptive political force during the Civil Rights Movement, just as Black Lives Matter is today. Baker said, “In order for us as poor and oppressed people to become part of a society that is meaningful, the system under which we now exist has to be radically changed. It means facing a system that does not lend itself to your needs and devising means by which you change that system.” Baker was talking about the evil system of white supremacy. She believed that in order for us to be treated as human beings in America, we must destroy the system of white supremacy.

The system of white supremacy is a system in which African-Americans have been oppressed, marginalized

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MN

Caucus TUESDAY, ST MARCH 1 , 6:30PM FOR MORE INFO, GO TO:

B E R N I E SA N D E R S .CO M / M N

Page 8 • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also Man Talk

By Timothy Houston “Location is everything!” This term has often been repeated in business conversations.

Something as simple as the side of the street a business is located on can determine its traffic pattern, and this subtle difference could be the distinguishing factor between the success and failure of that business. In matters of the heart, locating what a person treasures is very important. Because you cannot see what is in a person’s heart, you must look to what comes out of it to determine

Oscars From 7 Arnold W. Donald at Carnival and the only Black woman, Ursula Burns of Xerox. But corporate America’s diversity problems are well documented and indisputable as recent articles remind us—they are predominantly white spaces.

And where one would expect to see innovation and greater diversity, Silicon Valley has also come under tremendous fire.

Despite advances in technology, Silicon Valley’s employees, board membership and work environments constitute the current and future frontier of white spaces in entrepreneurialism and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Facebook, Twitter, Google, despite being founded and run by Millennials, who have had the greatest exposure to diversity, remain white spaces and those who lead them are clueless as to the problem.

Leslie Miley, one of the few Black engineers who breached the white Millennial space, left Twitter because of the gap in their diversity efforts. In an interview he was quoted as saying he could not remain at Twitter, where its senior vice president of engineering “could see himself as a technology visionary and be so unaware of this blind

BLM From 7

its treasures and values. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matthew 6:21). Before you give someone your heart, you must determine the condition of theirs. Here are a few tips.

First, to determine the condition of a person’s heart, you must locate their values and passions. Everyday men and women show us what they treasure and value by where they place their hands, heart, and money. If a man values biceps over precepts, he will place more value in the way he looks over the value he places in honoring what he says. If he values money over mission, he will treasure the accumulation of wealth over serving his family and community.

For located within a man’s treasures, values, and passions, you will find his heart. This is true for women as well. Locate

spot in his understanding of diversity.” The old leadership and the new leadership in Silicon Valley are exactly the same—white and male.

Data Confirms Existence of White Spaces This is precisely the point that Jack Stripling makes in his 2012 Chronicle of Higher Education article, “Survey Finds a Drop in Minority Presidents Leading Colleges.”

He humorously begins it with this opening: “Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.”

What it should have stated, for greater accuracy was “meet the new [white] boss.

Same as the old [white] boss.”

Stripling goes on to state that the survey is a “troubling, stagnant portrait” of the lack of diversity in the leadership of higher education. Racial/ ethnic minorities comprise only 13 percent of all college and university presidents, down from 14 percent in the last such survey. And a closer examination will reveal that most of that small racial/ethnic minority are concentrated at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) or Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

The fulltime faculty at the college and university level are in no better shape, according to the National Education Center (nec.org): “in fall 2013, of all full-time faculty in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, 79

and disenfranchised ever since we arrived in the America colonies in 1619. We must understand the dictum of Frederick Douglass which is:

moved.

Men and women treasure those things that are in their heart. What is in their heart is impacted by its location and destination. They are all connected together, and they produce our values and principles. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24). Those who build their choices on solid values and principles are wisely choosing a destiny that will stand the test of time.

the passion, and locate the heart.

Secondly, to determine the condition of a person’s heart, you must determine if they are centered. A person’s heart is at the center of their being. It is where their values

come from. How important is honesty to them? How are their relationships with others? Do the things in their life have their proper place and prospective?

Someone who is successful in business, but is a failure in his personal life, is not centered.

A good person’s values come from within. Being centered means you measure yourself not by the yardstick of material possessions, but rather by the virtues stored in center of your heart.

Finally, to determine the condition of a person’s heart, you must determine that they have a solid foundation. A solid foundation of the heart is built on Godly precepts, and this foundation is rooted in serving others over serving self.

Ask yourself, and them, the question, “What am I passionate about?” This will help you to locate your heart first, and locating your heart will help you properly evaluate the heart of others. If a person’s passions are rooted in honoring their words, valuing their family, and building their community, their heart is located upon that solid foundation that cannot be

percent were White (43 percent were White males and 35 percent were White females), 6 percent were Black, 5 percent were Hispanic, and 10 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander.” American Indians/ Alaska Native or those who identify as bi-racial were less than one percent.”

And the future is not getting any brighter since those who might motivate children of color in K-12 to aim for college are predominantly white. The NEC’s 2007-2008 national survey of teachers reports that 84% were white (down from 92% before 2008), 6.7% Black, 6.9% Hispanic, 1.3% Asian, nonHispanic, and that American Indian/Alaskan Natives and those who identify as bi-racial combined constitute 1.2%.

This is not to say that white teachers cannot care about the aspirations of black and brown children. But history has proven to us on the whole that educational inequality exists because of white teachers who believe in brown and black inferiority, and white superiority, as well as unequal educational resources for the schools that brown and black children attend.

in which he proclaimed the Oscar to be “…just fake gold and plastic,” and asked that people not “… get distracted by these lottery tickets and statues.” For him, the Oscar debate is nothing more than a distraction from pressing events of social justice that people of color face daily.

With such backlash and critiques from #SoWhiteOscars, as well as those on the other side who believe this to be an issue of meritocracy and the need for non-whites to have patience with social change, the Film Academy, which oversees the Oscars, was forced to pay attention. First the Film Academy’s Black woman president, Cheryl Boone Issacs, immediately spoke out: “I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion.” Her statement only made visible the reality that being a Black CEO in white spaces is no guarantee of diversity or inclusion.

As it stands, at this moment, the Film Academy has stepped up to the #SoWhiteOscar challenge.

They’ve announced numerous and radical changes to its membership ranks. It is on a mission to increase diversity.

But the Academy must avoid the affirmative action trap.

Adding raisins to the cereal does not immediately change white spaces into diverse space.

Diversity without inclusiveness is simply

tokenism.

Inclusiveness demands real power sharing; the new, diverse members must be treated with the same respect and have a guarantee that their voices/votes will have the same power as those (white members) who have maintained control of one of the last frontiers of the white space of the Oscars for decades.

And what will you do: watch the Oscars and see how white spaces operate or boycott and impact Film Academy’s Nielsen ratings and possibly their advertising income? All of us have a choice in the matter. ** (the title of Dr. Beverly Tatum’s book on “conversations about race”).

What to do?

The Jonas-like storm that exploded around the Oscar nominees was the result of a twitter handle “#SoWhiteOscars” that called attention to the white space of

the Oscars. This was followed

by Jada Pinkett Smith (@ Jadapickett) and Spike Lee (@ SpikeLee) announcing their decision to boycott attending the Oscars. Their actions were a catalyst to others. But it was not until white actors such as Reese Witherspoon (to her credit among the first) began to echo Pinkett’s and Lee’s critique that the media frenzy began.

Of course, their stance also produced criticisms from whites like Sir Michael Caine who advised those non-white actors excluded to “be patient,” given how long it took him to achieve Oscar status, and hinted that maybe those excluded weren’t deserving. “…You can’t say ‘I’m going to vote for him, he’s not very good, but he’s black, I’ll vote for him,” are words that may come back to haunt Caine.”

From an unlikely source in the form of actor Janet “Aunt Viv” Hubert who played opposite Will Smith in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air sitcom came a more personal criticism. In what some media outlets described as a “rant” or “slamming,” Hubert denounced Pinkett’s antiOscar stance, subsequently joined by her husband, Will Smith.

She accused the couple of using the anti-Oscar moment as a photo op.

Nick Cannon also weighed in on the Oscar debate, through the release of a rap video,

the oppressor will always do wrong from choice and right from necessity. In 2016 Black Lives Matter is a necessary movement for liberation of our people because white

supremacy is still reigning supreme in America. We must recognize that the Black Lives Matter Movement is a logical, political descendant of the four Black students who initiated

the sit- in movements.

The Black Lives Matter movement is an extension of SNCC, in its deeds to stand up against this wicked system that has afflicted African-American people in this country for so long. Black Lives Matter is disrupting a corrupt system that allows and tolerates the killings of unarmed AfricanAmerican men, women and children daily in this country.

To believe that we live in a postracial, colorblind, multicultural society would not only be foolish, but irresponsible.

America is shaking in its boots because Black Lives Matter reminds America of the SNCC movement of the 1960s, and Black Lives Matter

is a legitimate threat to destroy white supremacy in America.

“Now, then, in order to understand white supremacy we must dismiss the fallacious notion that white people can give anybody their freedom,” said Ture.

He understood that the corrupt system is bigger than any law, race or person. For you out there who ask, “what about Black on Black crime,” just know that doesn’t validate a reason for our oppression. You don’t have to agree with the tactics that Black Lives Matter administrates, but as long as the moral purpose is right, Black Lives Matter by any measure is right to fight for freedom, justice and equality. They are right to fight against a society that oppresses us. We should support them just as we did SNCC. Remember, SNCC and the SCLC had philosophical differences regarding tactics, but they stood in solidarity together in principle. The two organizations worked side-byside throughout the early years of the Civil Rights Movement.

We want to leave you with one last quote that we all should abide by as a people seeking justice and freedom.

“I am for any movement where there is a just cause to promote a right to be asserted, a chain to be broken, a burden to be lifted and a wrong to be redressed.” – Frederick Douglass.

The struggle continues.

Being centered means you measure yourself not by the yardstick of material possessions, but rather by the virtues stored in center of your heart.

A Non-Traditional, Cutting Edge Experience! Be Ready for Truth, Healing, Teaching and Transformation!

Circle of Healing Ministry The Only “Worship in Circle” Church Experience

Pastor Roslyn Harmon Sundays 2-4pm

1015 4th Avenue North|Minneapolis, MN 55405

Visit Us: Circleofhealingministry.org For More Info: 612.564.9962

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities.

For questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.

Irma McClaurin is an award winning columnist, now available for syndication. In 2015, she received the Black Press of America’s Emory O. Jackson Column Writing Award from the NNPA. She is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News, an activist anthropologist, writer, motivational speaker and champion of diversity and inclusiveness leadership.

Contact: imcclaurin@gmail. com. Find her at: www. irmamcclaurin.comn and @ mcclaurintweets © 2016 McClaurin Solutions; All Rights Reserved. Do Not Reprint without permission.

Vanessa Young is a native of the Eastside of St. Paul with a degree in youth and family studies. She focuses on direct service as a community activist. Kevin Robinson is a native of south Minneapolis and a sociology major. He focuses on various organizing tactics as a community activist.

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Insight News • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Page 9

COMMUNITY Lowertown Bike Shop moving to Union Depot Lowertown Bike Shop has a new home in Union Depot.

Targeting an opening date of May 1, Lowertown Bike Shop will operate a repair shop and the indoor bike storage facility with shower services on the lower level of the Head House. A retail shop will be located on the main level of the Head House also located in St. Paul’s Union Depot.

“Lowertown Bike Shop’s move to Union Depot complements the existing bike infrastructure perfectly,” said Rafael Ortega, chair, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority. “From a professional tune-up to dreaming up a custom bike, the services provided by Lowertown Bike Shop will continue to benefit the Lowertown community.”

The Union Depot space is three times larger than the shop’s existing space in the Jax building.

Crystal Sursely and Jeremy Wagner Lowertown Bike Shop opened in 2011 and specializes in used bikes. Operators Jeremy Wagner and Crystal Sursely believe that biking can change lives.

Voting

Paul Mayor Chris Coleman; Congresswoman Betty McCollum; Governor Mark Dayton; Senator Amy Klobuchar; Ramsey County Commissioners Victoria Reinhart and in the audience Rafael Ortega, to name

UNCF From 1 person to work toward their possible,” said Richard Davis, chairman and chief executive officer of U.S. Bancorp. “Getting to college is a significant milestone in a young person’s life. We want to take it to the next level and help these students get that first job and realize success.

Young people have dreams and we are here to support those dreams and help them realize what is possible. The time to act is now and we look forward to partnering with other corporations in this effort.”

U.S. Bank, the nation’s fifth

Fair From 1 by organizations that have been on the forefront of expanding opportunity for workforce and procurement equity in Minnesota.

Gary Cunningham, President and CEO of Metropolitan Economic Development Association, (MEDA) said, “We know there needs to be much more effort to promote access, opportunity and equity for minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities who want to sell goods and services to our state government. We are pleased to play a role in this effort to increase the pool of individuals and companies who deserve the right to compete on an equal level.

Courtesy of Lowertown Bike Shop

of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the more conservative judges on the High Court and one of the five who voted to strike down provisions of the Voting Rights Act, many are hopeful that either President Obama or his successor if it is either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders will appoint a liberal justice who will shift the balance of the court. That appointment is very unlikely to happen before November’s election, so advocates for voting rights are

mobilizing now in preparation for the national election.

Actor, author and activist Hill Harper said with or without the protections of Section 4, it is the duty of African-Americans to head to the polls this election cycle.

“My civil rights heroes were beaten and died for me to have the right to vote and I take that sacrifice and my duty very seriously,” said Harper.

Mee Moua

that growth is heavily in the South and it’s in those states that Asians are most likely to be victims of voter suppression.”

Moua said hostile and unwelcoming polling places and language barriers allow for many to be easily denied the right to vote.

“Each election cycle we see Asian-Americans harassed because of the way we look our because of our language barriers,” said Moua.

With the recent death

a few.

Minnesota received millions of dollars from the federal government in 2009, including nearly $35 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to restore Union Depot as a major train and bus hub. These upgrades helped create a vibrant transportation center, revitalize downtown and promote economic growth

with greater access to the city’s businesses.

The Union Depot received the $35 million from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package, to help make improvements and remodel for the construction of a

transportation hub.

The 1923 depot was restored

by Ramsey County at a cost of almost $250 million and reopened in 2012 after being closed for more than four decades.

The project renovated the city’s historic Union Depot which is now home to Metro Transit light rail. It co-located Amtrak, intercity bus carriers, local bus, taxis, and bicycle

accommodations.

The depot can provide future capacity for high-speed rail and other planned inter-city and light rail services. It also has thousands of square feet of commercial space. Biden credits Minnesota leaders for capitalizing on the federal funding and making the project happen.

Biden said, “The reason I’m here is to show what partnerships

are all about. Projects like the restoration of an abandoned train hub in Minnesota helped bring the country back from the recession.”

The Vice President visited Mississippi River Cities of New Orleans and Memphis.

Minnesota was his last stop in the three-state visit highlighting successes of the massive federal funding act.

largest commercial bank, and UNCF, the nation’s largest and most effective higher education assistance organization for minorities, aim to establish a pipeline of college-educated professionals of color who are prepared to fill positions at Minnesota companies. Unique to the program, each student will be paired with a mentor at U.S. Bank offering career guidance throughout the entire seven-year period.

The UNCF Ujima Scholars Program will launch this summer selecting African American high school juniors from the Twin Cities region. The program will offer students financial education, academic assistance, a $5,000 annual scholarship award

at colleges that are a best fit for scholars, career preparation, paid internships and full employment opportunities post-graduation with participating companies.

The goal is to expand the program to benefit 90 students─ all whom must demonstrate financial need─ with the support of other peer companies that agree to be a part of the program, which will be administered by UNCF. Davis made a call to action to other Minnesota corporations at the capacity crowd Luncheon on Education, which convened more than 200 policy makers, business and civic leaders, including Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius, St. Paul Mayor Chris

Coleman, and Dr. Ronald Carter, President of UNCF-member institution Johnson C. Smith University. Luncheon guests heard from a distinguished panel of education leaders and social justice activists, moderated by UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax, discussing the theme, “Now is the Time to Take Social Action to Build Better Futures.®” Minnesota, by many measures, outperforms other states in the nation for a highquality of life ─ from education to housing and health─ and has a robust economy with 16 Fortune 500 companies located in the Twin Cities region.

However, despite experiencing the lowest unemployment rate

in nearly 15 years, Minnesota like other states in the country is grappling with issues of inequality and overcoming barriers to economic prosperity for African Americans.

Davis said the Minnesota initiative could be replicated across the broad national footprint on US Bank.

U.S. Bank’s on-site announcement of its significant investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to take immediate action to build Better Futures®, said Lomax, adding that UNCF is excited to create a new partnership to provide opportunities for minority students that will have long-term benefits for the Minneapolis region.

“UNCF is deeply appreciative to U.S. Bank’s pledge to live up to the true meaning of the word Ujima, by building and maintaining our community together, making our brothers’ problems our own, and solving them together,” said Lomax. “We thank Richard Davis and the leaders at U.S. Bank for their foresight and vision to invest in Better Futures® for deserving Twin Cities’ students, and we hope that other area corporations will follow in their footsteps and be inspired to take action now to create positive social change.”

For further details on the UNCF Ujima Scholars Program, visit www.uncf.org

commitment to equity in contracting as outlined in Governor Dayton’s Executive Order 15-02, Admin has worked with public agencies and with legacy organizations representing communities traditionally underrepresented in state contracting: Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce United Veterans Legislative Council North Central Minority Supplier Development Council Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce Association of Women Contractors MN PTAC helps all Minnesota businesses pursue

government procurement opportunities and offers specialized support for Women, Veteran, and HUBZone businesses. MN PTAC is a part of MEDA, which provides business development services, business financing, and access to market opportunities to support entrepreneurs of color. MEDA also operates two business development centers under cooperative agreements with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

More information on MN PTAC services can be found at meda.net/mnptac.

For additional information, contact: Deputy Communications Director Adam Giorgi at (651) 201-2565 or Adam.Giorgi@state. mn.us

“Just hours after the Supreme Court ruling, the state of Texas announced restrictive government issued ID laws that severely limited people’s access to the vote,” said Clarke. “And the laws were very selective targeting minorities, youth and other voters. For instance, a concealed gun permit qualifies

From 1

Alexavier Ojeda Collado and Benjamin Acaso

as a valid ID, but student IDs do not.”

Former Minnesota state senator Mee Moua, president of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said Asians are seeing their path to democracy being blocked based on the 2013 Supreme Court ruling.

“The Voting Rights Act long protected Asian-Americans but that protection doesn’t exist anymore,” said Moua. “AsianAmericans are the fastest growing group in the U.S. and

From 1

Biden

“We focus on discovering the thing that makes each person excited to ride a bike – whether they ride five blocks or 20 miles,” said Wagner.

“The Regional Railroad Authority board of commissioners and the staff team at Union Depot never lost sight of the promise of a truly multi-modal facility offering pedestrian, bicycle, car sharing, commuter bus, regional bus, passenger rail and light rail connections,” said Ortega.

Celebrating 90 years since its completion in 1926, Union Depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority owns Union Depot, which offers transportation services for Amtrak, the Metro Transit Green Line, Metro Transit and MVTA buses Jefferson Lines, Greyhound, Megabus, car sharing (Zipcar and Car2Go) and parking.

We have the businesses; we have the workforce assets. Our goal at Minnesota Procurement Technical Assistance Center is to provide and ensure technical assistance is available for persons of color and minority-, women- and veteranowned businesses.”

The Minnesota Department of Administration is partnering with MEDA’s Minnesota Procurement Technical Assistance Center (MN PTAC), to host the Business Opportunity Fair 1-4pm Monday, March 7, at the Skjegstad Room, Stassen Building (Minnesota Department of Revenue Building), 600 North Robert Street, St. Paul, MN 55101.

The event will be an opportunity for small business owners to connect with purchasing staff from state agencies, the University of

What: Business Opportunity Fair When: Monday, March 7, 1 - 4 p.m.

Where: Skjegstad Room, Stassen Building (Minnesota Department of Revenue Building), 600 North Robert Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/1PVZV7l Details: mn.gov/admin/oep/opp-fair Minnesota, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and learn about upcoming business opportunities. Admin’s Office of Equity in Procurement staff and representatives from MN PTAC will be available to answer questions about the Small Business Procurement Program and how to compete for business with the state.

Admin created the Office of Equity in Procurement in 2015

Classifieds Board Members Sought The Center for Homicide Research is seeking to complete its nine-member board of directors. We have striven toward healthy growth and a focused mission. Each year the Center has expanded to become better-known and increasingly well-respected. It is now recognized as the only homicide research center in the United States.

The Center for Homicide Research is an independent, volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the capacity of the community, criminal justice professionals, and law enforcement to become more effective in identifying, solving and preventing of homicide. The mission of the Center is to promote greater knowledge and understanding of the unique nature of homicide among disenfranchised, underrepresented and disempowered people through sound empirical research, critical analysis and effective community partnerships.

Qualifications, duties and responsibilities of board members can be found at www.homicidecenter.org. The board is seeking individuals with skills in the areas of development, communications, accounting, or law. Individuals with other skills, or an interest in criminal justice, or human rights, are also encouraged to apply.

Prospective board members should begin by first sending a resume and cover letter. All candidates must agree to, and successfully pass a criminal background check. Qualified candidates will be invited to visit the Center, attend a board meeting, and be interviewed by current board members.

To learn more about Board membership, please contact Executive Director, Dallas Drake, at dallas.drake@ mindspring.com or by telephone at (612) 331-4820.

to ensure greater equity in state contracting and construction. The office promotes opportunities to do business with the state, and provides assistance to small businesses owned by women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans as they seek state contracts. More information can be found at OEP’s website at mn.gov/admin/ oep.

To advance the state’s

Phone: 612.588.1313 Fax: 612.588.2031 Email: info@insightnews.com Project Manager

Knutson Construction seeking Project Manager for full-time employment in Twin Cities market – project planning; cost, time, quality, and safety management; and contract administration. 10+ years of commercial general contracting experience and BA in related field. For more information visit: www. knutsonconstruction.com/careers/job-openings/ Knutson is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Contractor.

Project Engineer

Knutson Construction seeking Project Engineer for fulltime employment in Twin Cities market – assist with preparing budget estimates, value engineering, scheduling, subcontract negotiations and award, project administration, and cost control. 0-4 years of construction related experience and a high school diploma or an AA in related field or 5+ years of experience. For more information visit: www.knutsonconstruction.com/careers/job-openings/ Knutson is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Contractor.

Information Services Manager The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Information Services Manager in Minneapolis, MN. Salary range is $71,642 - $116,475. For more information visit the court’s website, www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Programmer Analyst The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Programmer Analyst in Minneapolis, MN. Salary range is $45,762 - $81,711.

For more information visit the court’s website, www. mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Volunteer Opportunities Harvest Network of Schools Community service is calling, no need for stalling!

The Harvest Network of Schools, a group of highperforming charter schools in north Minneapolis that includes Harvest Preparatory (K-4, coed), Best Academy (K-8, single gender), and Mastery School (K-4, single gender), is currently recruiting volunteers to work with our 3rd and 4th grade students. We have three opportunities available; Breakfast Buddies, Academic Intervention, and Classroom Support. Breakfast Buddies help with homework and reading to scholars. This option is available Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. -8:15 a.m. Academic Intervention volunteers help with students needing additional support in math and reading, available Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Classroom Support volunteers help teachers as needed, tasks will vary. This opportunity is needed any time throughout the day 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

We are requesting volunteers commit to 1-2 hours a week for a minimum of six weeks. HNS will provide training, onsite support from volunteer manager, and recognition at the end of the year. Applicants must complete an application and criminal background check. If interested please contact Marquita Butler at mbutler@seed-harvest.org or 612-876-4033.

Page 10 • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Insight News

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Lady Midnight

Dwynell Rowland

Monday, Feb. 29 ROCK/PERFORMANCE Pocket Vinyl and Timisarocker Amsterdam Bar and Hall 6th St. W., Saint Paul 9 p.m.

21-plus No cover

Feb. 29 - Mar. 6

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking.

Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com

Connecticut’s Pocket Vinyl bring minimalist music and a visual arts show to the Amsterdam with Timisarocker.

Tuesday, March 1 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE March in the Catacomb Residency Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

Every Tuesday night in March for five night check out some of the Twin Cities’ up and coming MCs. March 1 see Bonafide NIZ, Softporecorn, Exxe, Phe (Phenom), Prophetta & John Shrimpnose, Dwynell Roland and Devon Reason X Travis Gorman. The show is hosted by Seiler of Catalyst.

Wednesday, March 2 ECLECTIC/PERFORMANCE Polica w/Sarah White and Fraea Turf Club 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul 7:30 p.m. $25 Head down to the Turf Club in St. Paul for a night of standout eclectic performances.

Thursday, March 3

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE Guante & KatrahQuey “Post-Post-Race” Album Release Show UMN Whole Music Club 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis 8 p.m.

All ages Outspoken MC and spoken word artist Guante has built a strong following with deeply social and political content.

Collaborating with soulful Louisiana to Minnesota beat maker, Katrah-Quey, their new project “Post-PostRace” is sure to shake the foundation. The show features additional performances from Jayanthi Kyle and Alicia Steele as Passed Presents, Lucien Parker, Tony the Scribe, G.P. Jacob, See More Perspective and Laresa Avent.

Friday, March 4 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

Timisarocker

Twin Cities Dilla Day 7th Street Entry 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

Sunday, March 6

Celebrating the life and legacy of the late great J Dilla (a.k.a. James Dewitt Yancy) with Ma Dukes (J Dilla’s mother) and family, this event officially endorsed by the James Dewitt Yancey Foundation. The show features the Beat Wars production battle, Niles, OSP, DJ D-Mil, DJ Francisco and more.

ECLECTIC/PERFORMANCE

Saturday, March 5 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE Do or Die, A.G., Tony Bones & Jaron McDaniel The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis9:30 p.m.

Legends Do or Die and A.G. of (Showbiz & A.G.) accompany Long Doe’s Tony Bones & Jaron McDaniel. This one is for the hip-hop heads.

“Launched Vol. 1” Double EP Release First Avenue & 7th St. Entry 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis 7 p.m.

Launched is artist incubator program for emerging musicians created by artist Adriana Rimpel, aka Lady Midnight, in partnership with Kulture Klub Collaborative, an arts nonprofit for youth experiencing or transitioning out of homelessness. Hip-hop producer and MC, BatMN, and EDM producer DJ Teddybear, will be releasing their debut EP’s created in collaboration with artists Greg Grease, K.Raydio, Kristoff Krane, and Medium Zach (Big Quarters).

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Insight News • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Page 11

REVIEW

A CHORUS LINE

By Daniel Vega The sensational songs and dazzling dance numbers of A Chorus Line heated up the Ordway stage on a cold February winter night. The full house was captivated by the passion of the dancers auditioning for the chorus line of a new Broadway show. Each one is asked to tell the director about themselves in order to land a spot in the production.

The musical is based on true stories from several taped workshop sessions with Broadway dancers. A Chorus Line provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers.

A Chorus Line is one of the longest running shows of all times and it is a stunning and unforgettable musical.

It features classic songs like “Singular Sensation,” “I Hope I Get It,” and “What I Did For Love.” A Chorus Line broke records, winning nine Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, the New York Critics’ Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Many of the talented cast is local. The production is co-directed and co-choreographed by A Chorus

Line expert Kerry Casserly and Ordway Artistic Director James Rocco The timeless Broadway hit musical lived up to its Tony Award expectations --cast, music and choreography were absolutely perfect! Not to mention the seats...center stage, main level!!!

For me, the relationship between the “old dancer” and the show’s director was awesome. He feels she is too good to be a member of the chorus line, but she needs a job badly as she has been in Hollywood trying to make it for two years and wasn’t able to get “discovered”.

I thought her solo dance performance was exceptional and my wife accused me of liking it too much! I don’t know about that...but if I were choosing the chorus line, she would be working!!!

It’s sad to think how that as a nation we can continue to spend (who really knows how much) on national security, but artists, musicians, actors and dancers continue to double as waiters/waitresses, Old Navy cashiers, Super America clerks, daycare providers and/or Uber Drivers...just to make ends meet.

The story of artists needing work, chasing dreams, taking risks and overcoming obstacles unfortunately is as true today as it was in 1975.

By Christina Ham Directed by Faye M. Price

MAR 8 – 26 Andy Boss Thrust Stage One of America’s most prominent musicians and activists comes to life in a world premiere play with music.

featuring the talents of Faye M. Price

Aimee K. Bryant*

Thomasina Petrus*

Traci Allen Shannon*

Regina Marie Williams*

*member, actors’ equity association

651.291.7005 | parksquaretheatre.org Historic Hamm Building, Downtown Saint Paul

Brian Blade and THE

Fellowship BAND Folkloric Gospel Jazz

March 2 & 3 | 7 & 9 pm "Sparks always seem to fly."

- NPR

tickets: 612.332.5299 | dakotacooks.com 1010 nicollet mall, downtown MPLS

Page 12 • February 29 - March 6, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Race: Inspirational biopic recounts Jesse Owens’ triumphs at 1936 Berlin Olympics being undermined by bigoted officials on the U.S. Olympic Committee, Snyder decided to pay his own way to accompany his promising protégé to the games in Berlin.

There, Jesse was shaken to be greeted with the N-word. He was equally shocked to see signs in stores declaring “No Jews or dogs allowed.” Nevertheless, he managed to block out the madness all around him while concentrating on performing in the Olympic stadium to the best of his ability.

Jesse’s prevailing over Aryan athletes infuriated Hitler who refused to shake his hand, as was the proper protocol, at least with white gold medal-winners. Despite pressure from the Fuhrer and his henchman Joseph Goebbels (Barnaby Metschurat) to follow suit in the snub, German long jumper Carl “Luz” Long (David Cross) went out of his way to embrace the champion ostracized on account of his skin color. (Postscript: The two remained friends until Carl perished while fighting on the front lines in World War II).

Regrettably, Jesse’s reception back home wasn’t much better, given how the White House never publicly acknowledged his remarkable achievement.

A very inspiring, long overdue tribute to a great patriot and African-American icon.

By Kam Williams Jesse Owens (Stephan James) is famous for winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics staged in Berlin. The track and field events in which he competed included the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, the long jump and the 4 x 100 meter relay race.

What makes Owens’ feat remarkable is that he had to overcome not only racism at home but the prejudice he encountered in Germany which had embraced Nazi notions about whites being a master race. So, not only did he have to deal with discrimination in the States, but prejudice on the part of Adolf Hitler (Adrian Zwicker).

Directed by Stephen Hopkins (Lost in Space), Race is a character-driven biopic which has much more to offer than an account of Jesse’s historic assault on the record books.

In addition to recreating the tension surrounding each of the contests, the picture devotes considerable time to fleshing out the protagonist’s personality.

As the film unfolds, we learn about Jesse’s humble roots in Cleveland, and that he was the first of his family’s ten children to attend college. When he left for Ohio State, he already had a baby (Yvanna-Rose Leblanc) with Ruth Solomon (Shanice Banton), the childhood sweetheart he would eventually wed and remain married to until his death in 1980.

At the university, Jesse forged a close relationship with his track coach, Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), who also served as something of a surrogate father. And when his confidence was

Excellent

Rated PG-13 for profanity, mature themes and ethnic slurs In English and German with subtitles Running time: 134 minutes Distributor: Focus Features

Jessie Owens at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany

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