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Join Project MURUA Mpls Urban League invites you to sign up for Project MURUA, a pre-meditated parenting boot camp. Classes are on Thursdays 5:30 - 8:30pm beginning March 4. Call Dr BraVada GarrettAkinsanya to sign up. 612-302-3140

March 1 - March 7, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 9 • The Journal F or Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

US Census Bureau now hiring 4,000 workers in Twin Cities metro area By Lydia Schwartz Contributing Writer The US Census Bureau is recruiting temporary, part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. These short-term jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training, and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses, such as mileage incurred while conducting census work. The US Census Bureau is recruiting about 4,000 people from the Minneapolis area and about 8,000 statewide. The Director of the US Census Bureau, Dr. Robert Groves,

censusprojectblog.org

Dr. Robert Groves

Black Pearl Sings

said that they still “haven’t achieved [their] goals of building the applicant pool.” All census takers must be

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review

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White House budget provides resources Black families need to succeed By Hazel Trice Edney NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON (NNPA) – With Black unemployment rates still on the rise, President Barack Obama – through his 2011 budget proposal is apparently trying to undergird the African American community from other economic angles until change comes. A White House document recently released to board members of the Black Leadership Forum outlines allocations in the president’s $301 billion fiscal budget that specifically “gives African American families the tools that they need to succeed.” The document, titled, “Expanding Opportunities for African

idream.tv

Artist Ta-Coumba Aiken is currently a finalist for a Guggenheim Fellowship. His vibrant canvases are studies of the inner and outer workings of culture and community. His lively lines are visual metaphors for thought, conversation, and healing. Exhibit now through March 7, 2010 at Frank Stone Gallery, 1224 2nd Street NE, Minneapolis. President Barack Obama American Families” concedes that “the economy is back from the brink and is showing signs of

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Marco Dormino/UN/MINUSTAH/Reuters

People displaced by the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12 build makeshift houses in the slum of Bel Aire in downtown Port-au-Prince Saturday.

Haiti’s struggle to survive and thrive amid devastation

By Richard B. Muhammad Special to the NNPA from the Final Call Part 2 in a series PORT-au-PRINCE, Haiti (NNPA) With a major earthquake a little more than a month ago, some 230,000 dead, hundreds of thousands displaced and many still struggling to find food and water, the capital remains in a crisis. Haitians need help, but

aren’t waiting around for anyone to come to the rescue. “From day one the first people that responded to the cry of help were Haitians themselves, getting people out of the rubble. People have this will to survive and get the country back on track,” said Alex Georges, a Haitian businessman and tour operator. “We were going on the right path. It was a big blow but we have to stay strong and get back

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Timothy Geithner makes a stop at Standard Heating & Air Conditioning

International experience, vision connect B. Smith and Alden Group entrepreneurs

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By Al McFarlane and B.P. Ford, The Editors B. Smith swooshed into the interview room, as if she defied gravity. It was like she levitated in the doorway momentarily, then in the span of one beneficent smile, gracefully glided across the distance to our interview table, and gently alighted into her seat. Smith is a global force in the art and business of style. We talked about her desire to grow her business nationally and internationally, with an unwavering commitment to quality. “We now have the umbrella: the B. Smith brand. Under it we

Cashing in B. Smith have the three restaurants. We have the products in Bed, Bath & Beyond, and the furniture collection. And we have the B. Smith Extra Virgin Olive Oil and

on the web

the packaged foods products. “I would like to go more into packaged food. That is an

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Education Spotlight

Obama invited Sojourner Truth Academy’s lunch program invites President Obama to eat in school’s ‘Banquet Hall’ The students at Sojourner Truth Academy (STA) elementary school in North Minneapolis are transforming their daily lunchtime experience through a program called, “Bring the White House to Our House!” The program is centered on the idea that eating lunch at Sojourner Truth Academy is like dining at the White House. The basement cafeteria has been transformed into a White Houseesque “Banquet Hall” where students are learning about manners and participating in local

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NAACP unanimously elects youngest chair Photos: Nicole Gausman Sojourner Truth

Anissa Poindexter (left) and Christianna Hall

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Page 2 •March 1 - March 7, 2010 • Insight News

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COMMENTARY Sick and tired of being invisible: A statue for Fannie Lou Hamer By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist (NNPA) - As Black History Month draws to a close, it is interesting to ponder the many ways we have (and have not) commemorated the month that evolved from Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s 1926 inception of Negro History Week. In the nearly 75 years since the Harvard-educated historian asserted the importance of African American History, African American people have moved from the outhouse to the White House, and many would argue that we are better off than we have ever been. Others would point to the disparities in income, employment, education, and opportunity to suggest that much more must be done before we have attained social and economic justice. One of the glaring inequities

in our space is the difference between the ways whites and African Americans are represented in our nation’s statuary. Every city sports statues of war heroes and politicians, with an activist thrown in here or there. Most of the statues are of white men, with a few white women thrown in for good measure. Every now and then there will be a bust or statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Black women are mostly invisible in the public statuary. There are statues of Sojourner Truth in Battle Creek, MI and Florence, MA. Last April, thanks to the work of the late C. Delores Tucker and the National Congress of Black Women, a bust of Sojourner Truth was installed in the US Capitol. She is the first African American woman to be so honored, and it took a decade and the focused work of the women of the Congressional

Black Caucus to make it happen. These committed Congresswomen have started a Sojourner Truth Movement to empower women in leadership, employment, and federal service. There are also statues of Mary McLeod Bethune in Washington, DC at Lincoln Park and at Bethune Cookman University, which she founded. And, there is a wonderful statue of Harriet Tubman in Harlem. This list is not exhaustive – Oakland is to install a tribute to Ruby Bridges and Dr. Maya Angelou this spring. Still, Black women are woefully underrepresented, virtually invisible, in the public statuary. This is why I was excited when Dr. Patricia Reid-Merritt asked me join the Fannie Lou Hamer Statue Committee that will erect a statue to the civil rights leader in Ruleville, MS. Fannie Lou Hamer is a heroine, an icon, a role model, and an

inspiration, a woman who deserves to be lifted up, commemorated, and memorialized. She was born in 1917 and died of breast cancer when she was just shy of 60, in 1977. As the eulogizers often say, it is not the beginning or end, but the dash that really matters. Mrs. Hamer managed to cram a lot of living and giving into her dash. She joined the Student NonViolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1962 and was the first African American in Sunflower County, MS to register to vote. She was so badly beaten on June 9, 1963, that she carried the effects of the beating (including kidney damage and an injured eye) for the rest of her life. Still, she stated that her goal was “to register every Negro in Mississippi.” She challenged the Democratic Party on the representation of African Americans in its delegation during the 1964 Democratic

National Convention, and challenged both Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey on the righteousness of her position. She was a delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Fannie Lou Hamer dropped out of school in the sixth grade, but her pithy wisdom has informed generations. She was “sick and tired of being sick and tired”, and exhorted Black folks, “with Ph.Ds or no Ds” to remember “we are in this bag together. She reminded Christians “we serve God by serving our fellow man,” and railed against hunger and poverty. She spoke to the way freedom movements are intertwined, asserting that “nobody’s free until everybody’s free,” and she was one of the founders of the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971. Can the sister get a statue? She can if enough people support

the cause. There is information about the statue effort at w w w. f a n n i e l o u h a m e r. i n f o . Check the site out and, if you are so moved, embrace the project. As Black History Month winds down, consider the fact that our public spaces only scantly reflect an African American presence in our nation, either historically or contemporaneously. In the words of Fannie Lou Hamer, we are sic k and tired of being invisible. Helping to erect a Hamer statue will commemorate the legacy of a powerful woman and enhance the public visibility of African American women and our contributions. Julianne Malveaux is President of Bennett College for Women. She can be reached at presbennett@bennett.edu.

Benjamin L. Hooks: Internet Service crucial to advancement By Benjamin L. Hooks NNPA Guest Commentary (NNPA) - The nation’s top officials at the Federal Communications Commission came to Memphis to learn about the state of our high-speed Internet service and how it affects our city. These officials wanted to find out whether high-speed services are being deployed in a way that allows all Americans to benefit. This meeting brought back important memories for me. For nearly five years in the 1970s, I served as one of five FCC

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane

commissioners. While there was no Internet back then, the issues my colleagues and I confronted were every bit as important. We looked at the lack of minority ownership of television and radio stations and investigated minority employment in broadcasting. There were 9,000 radio stations, only 13 owned by African Americans, and 900 television stations, none owned by AfricanAmericans. Perhaps more important, we spoke out about the negative image of African Americans in the media. I was not alone in this. Great African American leaders like Dr. James Cheek, the president of Howard University, joined me in this effort. “We need to build a real-world laboratory,” he would say, speaking about his university, adding, “a place where students learn in the classroom and then get practical experience in

commercial media vehicles.” Only with great effort did we create change. With the cooperation of FCC commissioners, Dr. Cheek founded WHMM, at the time the nation’s only Black-owned public broadcasting station. Slowly, the hard efforts of many people inside and outside of government brought about real change. While the image of African Americans in the media is still not what I’d like, things did improve. Our success back then held an important lesson for today — and it is a lesson that I hope the FCC heard clearly at the meeting. Television and radio may not be as influential today as they were back then. Today’s important medium is the Internet — specifically, high-speed Internet service that allows access to videos, music, entertainment and a range of other video options. This is as important today as television and radio were 30 years

ago. For underprivileged communities, high-speed Internet service is crucial for their advancement, socially and economically. Fiber-optic wires deployed into homes can help unemployed or underemployed people learn new work skills. These lines give students the chance to take classes in subjects not available at their local schools and offer one-click access to a wealth of information. They give small or home-based businesses the chance to succeed against larger, better-funded rivals. But here’s the problem the FCC must address: Millions of Americans cannot afford highspeed service or worse, cannot even access it. It is as if 30 years ago, TV and radio signals suddenly stopped at certain neighborhoods. People living there would have been at a terrible disadvantage — just as people

without high-speed access today are at a disadvantage. In the 1970s, the federal government had a moral obligation to speak out about improving African Americans’ access to broadcasting. Today it must look at speeding up deployment of the Internet to African American homes today. At a minimum, this means adopting policies that make it easier for companies to deploy these high-speed systems. More than $100 billion has already been spent to deploy highspeed systems across America. But tens of billions more are necessary for every American to benefit. The FCC’s focus should be on how it can speed this process, either through federal programs or by helping persuade private companies to commit the resources necessary to make this happen. Above all, the FCC should

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.

Rev. Benjamin L. Hooks of Memphis is a former executive director of the NAACP and a former member of the Federal Communications Commission.

Stimulus plan averted a second Great Depression

CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane

obey the first rule of medicine: It should do no harm. The commissioners should turn away any efforts to increase undue regulation that could stifle investment. Increased regulation would lead to court battles, delays in deployment and greater expense — and for no good purpose. Unfortunately, far too many Tennesseans are still waiting for their first option for high-speed access. Meanwhile, America lags behind nations in Asia and Europe that are using high-speed networks to build an educated work force and economic growth at our expense.

NNPA Columnist

By George E. Curry Although President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus plan created or saved enough jobs over the past year to prevent the United States from plunging into the second Great Depression, most Americans grossly underestimate what the package has accomplished. “One year later, it is largely thanks to the Recovery Act that a second depression is no longer a possibility,” Obama said at an event marking the bill’s anniversary. He said the stimulus package has saved or helped create 2 million jobs. Not surprisingly, Republicans disagree. “In the year since the Democrats’ stimulus program was enacted, over 3 million jobs have been lost, billions of dollars have been wasted and an unprecedented debt has been passed on to our children…” said House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA). So, who’s telling the truth? An analysis by nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office supports the president, saying the stimulus package helped to end the recession and created or saved at least 2 million jobs. That would put Obama on track to reach his goal of 3.5 million jobs over two years. But try explaining that to your fellow citizens. According to a New York Times/CBS News poll conducted earlier this month, only 6 percent of those questioned believe the stimulus package has created any jobs. Why such a large disconnect? Only about 30 percent of the funds have been spent so far, with that figure expected to rise to 70 percent before the end of the year. Another factor is that much of the money has gone directly to the states to preserve jobs that would have otherwise been eliminated or used to extend unemployment and

insurance coverage. According to the White House, 95 percent of American families received a tax cut of approximately $800 for both 2009 and 2010 as a result of the stimulus package. However, because the money was left in the employee’s paycheck in the form of reduced taxes rather than mailed as a separate check, most Americans did not notice the cut. In fact, only 12 percent of those polled by the New York Times/CBS said they had received a tax cut. Until recent weeks, the White House did a poor job of touting the success of the program, failing to put a face on those directly benefiting from what is formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As the 1-year anniversary approached, however, various federal departments and agencies were rushing to paint a different picture. Obama has not been helped by high unemployment rates. When the bill was signed into law, the unemployment rate stood at 7.7 percent. Since then, it jumped to 10 percent before falling last month to 9.7 percent. Republicans gleefully circulated earlier administration projections that the unemployment rate was expected to rise no higher than 8 percent as a result of the stimulus plan. In an effort to be more transparent, the administration posted stimulus-created jobs on a special Web site. However, some of the jobs were posted in Congressional districts and zip codes that do not exist. Administration officials weren’t the only ones embarrassed. The Wall Street Journal reported that more than a dozen Republicans in Congress voted against President Obama’s stimulus plan yet wrote to federal agencies on behalf of businesses in their districts seeking stimulus funds. Senator Richard Shelby (RAL) called the stimulus plan “the socialist way.” Yet, he was part of an Alabama delegation contacting the U.S. Forest Service with a $15 million request for a state program that

STIMULUS TURN TO

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Stimulus From 2 ended up receiving a $6.3 million grant. Another Republican, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, said the stimulus program amounted to “a wasteful spending spree.” Later,

Budget From 1 health, but this positive news has barely been felt in the labor markets. While we are no longer hemorrhaging jobs at the rate we were last year, unemployment is still unacceptably high.” The document, issued February 5 from the White House Office of Public Engagement lists at least 30 specific areas aimed to boost the economy and quality of life for the disadvantaged, including African Americans who, at 16.5 percent, have the highest unemployment rate of major racial groups in America. “The President’s Budget takes the steps to help jumpstart job creation, works to strengthen the economic security of American families, and makes the tough choices to put our Nation back on the path to fiscal responsibility,” the document reads. The following are nutshell descriptions of shortterm programs and initiatives among the budget proposals, which have yet to be formulated into a bill to be approved by Congress: • Spur Job Creation: “In addition, to help those most affected by the recession, the Budget will extend emergency assistance to seniors and families with children, Unemployment Insurance benefits, COBRA tax credits, and relief to states and localities to prevent layoffs.” • Reforming the Job Training System: “The Budget calls for reform of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which supports almost 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers nationwide and a range of other services. With $6 billion for WIA at DOL—and an additional $4 billion in the Department of Education—the Budget calls for reforms to improve WIA.” Strengthen AntiDiscrimination Enforcement: “To

Insight News • March 1 - March 7, 2010 • Page 3 he worked to be part of that spending spree, supporting a grant application to the Department of Labor. There is no doubt that stimulus package improved the American economy. The American Chronicle rounded up and posted the following quotes on its Web site: “Cut through all the numbers,

though, and this is what you find: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act saved us from plunging into a second Great Depression.” -Stephen Herzenberg, Economist and Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center

strengthen civil rights enforcement against racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, religious, and gender discrimination, the Budget includes an 11 percent increase in funding to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. This investment will help the Division handle implementation of a historic new hate crimes law. The Budget also provides an $18 million, or 5 percent increase, for the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC), which is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee. This

larger credit. The Budget also provides critical support for young children and their families by building on historic increases provided in ARRA. The Budget provides an additional $989 million for Head Start and Early Head Start to continue to serve 64,000 additional children and families funded in ARRA.”

“We were looking over the precipice, possibly into a Great

• Reform Elementary and Secondary School Funding: “The Budget supports the Administration’s new vision for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) … The Budget provides a $3 billion

Depression…I think it was appropriate to enact a very aggressive stimulus bill. I think it is fair to say that, without the stimulus bill, state and local government budgets would be in even worse shape than they are now.” -Robert Dye, senior economist for PNC Financial Services Group

A year after it began flowing, the stimulus money still has not reached many small Black businesses. Still, it is far from being the failure that Republicans claim. Given the relative success of the program, perhaps the Obama administration will be stimulated to do more for African-American businesses.

George E. Curry, former editorin-chief of Emerge magazine and the NNPA News Service, is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. He can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge.

shortening the repayment period so that overburdened borrowers will pay only 10 percent of their discretionary income in loan repayments and can have their remaining debt forgiven after 20 years. Those in public service careers will have their debt forgiven after 10 years. The Budget also expands low-cost Perkins student loans.”

1.3 million affordable rental units through increased funding for contracts with private owners of multifamily properties. This critical investment will help lowincome households to obtain or retain decent, safe and sanitary housing. In addition, the Administration requests $350 million to fund the first phase of this multi-year initiative to regionalize the Housing Choice Voucher program and convert Public Housing to project-based vouchers.”

violence among youth gangs in cities and towns across the country, and $37 million for the Attorney General’s Children Exposed to Violence Initiative, which targets the youth most affected by violence and most susceptible to propagating it as they grow up.”

• Revitalize Distressed Urban Neighborhoods: “The Budget includes $250 million for HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods program, which will target neighborhoods anchored by distressed public or

"In addition, to help those most affected by the recession, the Budget will extend emergency assistance to seniors and families with children, Unemployment Insurance benefits, COBRA tax credits, and relief to states and localities to prevent layoffs." increased investment will allow for more staff to reduce the backlog of private sector charges.” • Support Historically Black Colleges and Universities: “The Budget proposes $642 million, an increase of $30 million over the 2010 level, to support Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In addition to this discretionary funding increase for MSIs, the Administration supports legislation passed by the House of Representatives and pending in the Senate that would provide $2.55 billion in mandatory funding to MSIs over 10 years.” • Help Families Struggling with Child Care Costs: “The Budget will nearly double the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for middle-class families making under $85,000 a year by increasing their credit rate from 20 percent to 35 percent of child care expenses. Nearly all eligible families making under $115,000 a year would see a

increase in funding for K-12 education programs authorized in the ESEA, including $900 million for School Turnaround Grants, and the Administration will request up to $1 billion in additional funding if Congress successfully completes ESEA reauthorization.”

assisted housing with physical and social revitalization grounded in promising, measurable, and evidence-based strategies.”

• Increase Pell Grants: “The Recovery Act and 2009 appropriations bill increased the maximum Pell Grant by more than $600 for a total award of $5,350. The Budget proposes to make that increase permanent and put them on a path to grow faster than inflation every year, increasing the maximum grant by $1,000, expanding eligibility, and nearly doubling the total amount of Pell grants since the President took office.”

• Increase Funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program: “The President’s Budget requests $19.6 billion for the Housing Choice Voucher program to help more than two million extremely low income families with rental assistance to live in decent housing in neighborhoods of their choice. The Budget continues funding for all existing mainstream vouchers and provides flexibility to support new vouchers that were leased and $85 million in special purpose vouchers for homeless families with children, families at risk of homelessness, and persons with disabilities.”

• Help Relieve Student Loan Debt: “To help graduates overburdened with student loan debt, the Administration will strengthen income-based repayment plans for student loans by reducing monthly payments and

• Preserve 1.3 Million Affordable Rental Units through Project-Based Rental Assistance Program: “The President’s Budget provides $9.4 billion for the Project-Based Rental Assistance program to preserve approximately

• Promote Affordable Homeownership and Protect Families from Mortgage Fraud: “The Budget requests $88 million for HUD to support homeownership and foreclosure prevention through Housing Counseling and $20 million to combat mortgage fraud. In addition, the Budget requests $250 million for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation’s (NRC) grant and training programs. Of the $250 million, $113 million is requested for foreclosure prevention activities, a $48 million increase (74 percent) over 2010.” • Fight Gang Violence and Violent Crime: “The Budget provides $112 million for placebased, evidence supported, initiatives to combat violence in local communities, including $25 million for the Community-Based Violence Prevention Initiatives that aim to reduce gun and other

• Expand Prisoner Re-entry Programs: “The Budget provides $144 million for Department Justice prisoner re-entry programs, including an additional $100 million for the Office of Justice Programs to administer grant programs authorized by the Second Chance Act and $30 million for residential substance abuse treatment programs in State and local prisons and jails. In addition, the Budget provides $98 million for Department of Labor programs that provide employment-centered services to adult and youth exoffenders and at-risk youth..” • Fully Fund the Community Development Block Grant Program: “The Budget provides $4.4 billion for the Community Development Fund, including $3.99 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Formula Program (CDBG), and $150 million for the creation of a Catalytic Investment Competition Grants program. The new Catalytic Competition Grants program uses the authorities of CDBG, but will provide capital to bring innovative economic development projects to scale to make a measurable impact.”

Page 4 • February 22 - February 28, 2010 • Insight News

Education From 1 and national government through a school wide letter campaign to invite President Obama to have lunch in the Sojourner Truth Academy Banquet Hall. And all this is taking place during lunch! “Bring the White House to Our House!” brings structure to lunchtime, learning to the “Banquet Hall,” and unites the students around a common goal: to host a lunch for President Barack Obama at Sojourner Truth Academy. Lunch program director, Mary-Eileen Gallagher, Lutheran Volunteer Corps /Americorps Fellow, affectionately called Ms. G., is amazed by what she sees happening in the Banquet Hall. “What excites me the most is that our students are writing with passion and purpose, and they look forward to doing it! The practice they are gaining is invaluable. Every day our school writes 40-80 letters to President Obama. It’s extraordinary!” During their lunch period, students are participating in minimanners lessons such as, “Say YES the First Time, Not the Last Time” and “The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword,” which they review and practice throughout the week. When they finish eating they write letters to President Obama. Students are writing about issues that are important to them—family life, immigration, gang violence, lunch food, self-improvement, and the war in Iraq. They are inquiring about life in the White House, presidential duties, and the lives of Malia and Sasha Obama. Ultimately, the letters all end with the same desire: “President Obama, will you please come to lunch at our school?” “Two weeks ago, we received mail from The White House! Five packages arrived with letters and pictures from President Obama,” said Gallagher. In addition to writing letters to President Obama, the students are writing to U.S. Senators and Representatives, State Senators and Representatives, the Mayor, City Council Members, and are inviting them to lunch. Last Wednesday, 25 students had lunch at City Hall and met Mayor Rybak, and invited him to have lunch with us at STA. On March 9th, City Council President Barbara Johnson will have lunch with the 5th and 6th graders; and on March 25th City Council Member Don Samuels will be the lunch guest. Still in the works, said Gallagher, is a visit from an

NBA player, and members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation. “I started this program because I believe culture is created and community is built around meal sharing, and I wanted to make lunchtime at our school a safe and fun experience for all of our students. I believe that all children deserve the opportunity to fulfill their highest potential, and I am so proud of the hard work and dedication of our students. They are smart, kind, and resilient, and are the pioneers of this lunch program, living every day knowing that anything is possible. “We are taking students to the White House on April 23-25 to deliver a special lunch invitation from our school to President Obama. This trip is what our students are working for! Each time they write a letter, they receive a “Ticket to the White House.” A drawing at the end of March will determine which students will travel to Washington, D.C. Currently, we are fundraising to send 10 students and five chaperones to Washington D.C. on April 23-25,” said Gallagher. To follow the school’s progress and to learn more about the project, visit www.whitehouse2ourhouse.org

In addition to writing letters to President Obama, the students are writing to U.S. Senators and Representatives, State Senators and Representatives, the Mayor, City Council Members, and are inviting them to lunch.

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Lisa Watson and Jaquan Harris >>

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Insight News • March 1 - March 7, 2010 • Page 5

AESTHETICS Review: Penumbra’s Black Pearl Sings By Alaina L. Lewis The latest production to grace the stage of Penumbra Theatre is a piece that not only challenges the heart, but also reminds everyone who sees this production that within all of our differences comes a stroke of similarity. Black Pearl Sings, a play set during the Great Depression, follows two dramatically diverse women on their quests to obtain their portion of one of life’s Happy Endings. Susannah, a white researcher from the Library of Congress, is on a journey to immortalize the musical hymns sung “‘round the days of slavery” in order to secure a position with an Ivy League College- but only if she stumbles upon a song old enough to solidify her worth. Pearl is a prisoner in a Texas facility, who when her daughter comes up missing, devises a plan to sing her way into Susannah ‘s life by trading fragments of her musical heritage for a ticket to freedom in order to search for her one and only daughter. Throughout this two-woman production, we’re hit with seasons of emotions that subdue and subject us through a whirlwind of changes. Through the use of music, we’re able to travel through time and explore the dynamics of two women trapped inside the world of fallen notes, unspoken rhythms, and celebrated hymns. At first glance you question how these uniquely strong characters will find room to undo each others fears of the next person long enough to work

together, but alas justice prevails in what seems like seconds and the two stroll into a partnership that is everything but a smooth ride. Although the story reads clean-cut, when you brush over the synopsis this clever piece by playwright Frank Higgens, spoken through the lips of talented actresses Crystal Fox (Pearl) and Stacia Rice (Susannah), is tight ended with a trapdoor of critical content that’ll leave you vulnerable to the messages hidden. The fascinating thing about Lou Bellamy, Director and Founder of Penumbra Theater, is that he’s not afraid to bring a racially charged, powerfully dramatic production to the halls of his theater. Black Pearl Sings is like the sweetest sting that comes seconds after accepting the hit; its raw, it’s real, it’s witty and life changing. It’ll thump you in the heart and make you beg to forgive yourself for clinching to your anger, while accepting the tears. Simply put, it’s history told through a genuine platform and it’s rare to find a play packed with such a howling message that’s lined with such a gentle spirit. From the soulful music, to the clever stylings of two powerful actresses that captivate throughout the production, this play is a must see for any lover of theater and anyone ready to delve into a new theatrical experience. With Black Pearl Sings you’ll learn a colorful message: in order to attain that Pot Of Gold, you have to be willing to consume all that comes with exploring the rainbow.

Crystal Fox (Pearl) and Stacia Rice (Susannah)

Ann Marsden

Page 6 â&#x20AC;˘ March 1 - March 7, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ Insight News

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HEALTH Social networking strategy asks you to take 2 minutes to text 2 friends (BLACK PR WIRE) Life is a precious gift and so are loved ones. The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, last week launched a campaign that provides people an array of lifechanging health messages to send to those who may be at risk for stroke. Take 2 To Save 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; part of the Power To End Stroke cause campaign reaching African Americans â&#x20AC;&#x201D; calls for people to take two minutes to text two loved ones â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take 2â&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;64244.â&#x20AC;? The text sends a personalized health message to recipients that could help save their lives. Also,

participants can get viral messages to send via a phone call, e-mail, Facebook, or other formats. Mark McEwen, network television news veteran, was enjoying life at the top of his game when he suffered a stroke. In 2005, while traveling, he experienced symptoms that led him to the hospital. Two days later, he was diagnosed as having suffered two strokes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m taking two minutes to reach out to two friends today and you should, too,â&#x20AC;? said McEwen, American Stroke Association spokesperson and former CBS Early Show weatherman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take

two minutes to send two messages and help save lives.â&#x20AC;? Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability in the United States. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Think about two people you care about who smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease or stroke,â&#x20AC;? said Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., American Heart Association president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People with these risk factors have a greater chance of being disabled or dying from a stroke. People who have already suffered a stroke or heart attack are at higher risk for another one.

This campaign will make more people aware of their risk for stroke and it only takes two minutes.â&#x20AC;? Reaching out to loved ones who may be at risk helps raise awareness of stroke, its warning signs and the importance of a healthier lifestyle, said McEwen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have survived two strokes and know how devastating it can be,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My goal is to educate others and offer them the hope that they cannot only recover from stroke, but prevent one.â&#x20AC;? African Americans are at particularly high risk due to increased risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and

family history of heart disease or stroke. In fact, about 100,000 African Americans will suffer a stroke this year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Too many African Americans continue to have unrelenting exposure to known important risk factors for stroke,â&#x20AC;? Yancy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a cause for alarm and a trend we need to stop now. The idea that we can give hundreds of thousands of people a chance to live longer and better lives â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the greater good.â&#x20AC;? In addition to participating in Take 2 To Save 2, people are encouraged to talk to their doctors to determine if they have health risks and to follow the American

Heart Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Simple 7 to prevent a stroke. The seven steps â&#x20AC;&#x201D; found at www.heart.org/mylifecheck â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are: Get active, eat better, lose weight, stop smoking, control cholesterol, manage blood pressure and reduce blood sugar. For more information about the Take 2 To Save 2 campaign, log on to PowerToEndStroke.org/take2. Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership is a proud national sponsor of Power To End Stroke.

Many families today could benefit from a little help â&#x20AC;&#x201C; look at WIC As families struggle with tight budgets, Hennepin County would like to remind women who are pregnant or have children under the age of five that they may be able to receive nutrition advice and food assistance through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

Championed by one of Minnesotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous sons, Hubert H. Humphrey, the program was created in the 1970s to improve the health of women and children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;WIC has been around for a long time, but many families that have never needed any extra help before donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know

about WIC,â&#x20AC;? said Hennepinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WIC Coordinator Karen Mayer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We really want families to know that they may be eligible for WIC benefits, especially if a family member has lost a job or their life circumstances may have changed. We encourage anyone who is pregnant, recently had a baby, or has a

child under the age of 5 to call us to learn if WIC is right for them.â&#x20AC;? WIC provides one-on-one nutrition assessment and education and support for mothers who are breastfeeding. WIC helps families buy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, lowfat milk, cereal, and infant

Census

knows that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there. Without knowing that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re invisible,â&#x20AC;? Groves said.

new construction such as highways, and many other essential public needs. It is also used to determine locations for

An undercount of the local population could reduce the voice of people in Washington, DC. The US Constitution requires a national census once every ten years to count the population and determine the number of seats each state will have in the US House of Representatives, Minnesota currently has eight. Ellison encourages his constituents to participate in the census because it â&#x20AC;&#x153;is vitally important to the well being of our communityâ&#x20AC;ŚOur participation is important for the resources. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also good citizenship because the census is a Constitutional mandate, and just like participating in a jury, or just like voting, or just like stopping at a stoplight itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of what it means to be a good, active citizen to participate in the census. For all the material reasons and the benefits we stand to get are important but letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not forget that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of our duty as residents of this great country that we participate,â&#x20AC;? he said. The 2010 Census asks only a small number of questions: your name, age, sex, ethnicity, whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re of Hispanic background, your race, and whether you live somewhere else. Groves stresses the simplicity of it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is misinformation out there that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s filled with intrusive questions about income, and your social security number, and stuff like that. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like that; this is a very simple form. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve answered these questions a thousand times in our life and so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an easy thing to do,â&#x20AC;? he said. The 2010 Census questionnaires are mailed out in March. Working in May through July, census takers will visit households that did not mail back the questionnaire. People who are worried about the federal deficit and federal spending are concerned about the cost of the count. The US Census Bureau receives its federal funding in advance because they do not know how many people are going to return the questionnaire so they have

From 1 able to speak English, but people who have bilingual skills are needed in communities where a large number of residents primarily speak other languages. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hire people to work the neighborhoods where they live because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more efficientâ&#x20AC;ŚWe need people that speak the language of the neighborhood,â&#x20AC;? said Groves. For new immigrant groups, the census has traditionally been their way of making their mark in the society. If you â&#x20AC;&#x153;get an accurate count of your group, then the whole society

For new immigrant groups, the census has traditionally been their way of making their mark in the society. If you â&#x20AC;&#x153;get an accurate count of your group, then the whole society knows that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there. An accurate count in the census is important because it directly affects the amount of federal funding we receive. The collected data will determine the fund allocation for community services such as school lunch programs, senior citizen centers, health care,

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new retail stores, schools, hospitals, housing developments, and other community facilities. The census is especially important for minority groups because there are large sums of taxpayer money that return to their local communities based on the counts. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get counted, you cheat yourself of that money. US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about $400 billion dollars per year and 170 different programs including transportation resources, educational resourcesâ&#x20AC;Ś If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re undercounted, you simply get less.â&#x20AC;? The privacy of census information has long been an issue for US citizens and new immigrants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should all remind ourselves that this country was built from immigrants and the laws set up around the census reflect that this is used only for statistical purposes and there are strong laws that make it safe to participateâ&#x20AC;ŚYou cannot be harmed by the census because of these strong laws. The President of the United States can ask me for your census form and I can say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and the courts would uphold me,â&#x20AC;? Groves said. Every Census Bureau worker, including temporary employees, takes an oath for life to protect the confidentiality of census responses. It is a felony to violate these privacy laws which carries a penalty of a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine of up to $250,000 (US Code Title 13).

formula. Plus, WIC helps families connect to other supports, such as parenting classes, health care services, early childhood development programs and more. WIC does have income guidelines. For example, a family of four earning up to $60,000 could qualify.

To learn more about WIC, go to www.hennepin.us/WIC. If you live in Hennepin, call (612) 348-6100 to find the closest WIC clinic. If you live in other counties, please call the Minnesota Department of Healthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WIC line at 1-800WIC-4030.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) to prepare for the worst. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For every 1% of the population that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fill it in, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to spend $85 million dollars sending people out. So if you care about the federal deficit, this is the one thing we can all do, fill it out, mail it back, you save us all money and I can actually return to the Treasury hundreds of millions of dollars if people fill this out,â&#x20AC;? Groves said. Census questionnaires are available at select public sites

for individuals who did not receive one by mail or need assistance reading or understanding it. For Questionnaire Assistance Center locations, call the Kansas City Regional Census Center at 1-816-994-2000. To apply for a Census Job, visit www.2010CensusJobs.gov or call 1-866-861-2010.

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Insight News • March 1 - March 7, 2010 • Page 7

BUSINESS US Treasurer Geithner visits Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Early on the morning of January 28th, Standard Heating & Air Conditioning officials were alerted to the likelihood that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner would visit later that day. With quick preparation, members of this family-owned Twin Cities business rolled out the welcome mat to give Geithner a tour of their new facility, a chance to meet with employees, and to see first hand what has made this small business a big success for 80 years. The new facility is located just off Plymouth and Washington Avenues North (130 Plymouth Avenue North). “We were sincerely honored,” said Standard Heating & Air Conditioning co-owner Ted Ferrara. “It’s not every day that you get to host a cabinet member at your place of business. What a privilege it was for us that Secretary Geithner took time to visit our headquarters while he was in the Twin Cities.” Geithner’s visit came on the heels of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union call for a new jobs bill. While in the Twin Cities the Secretary visited Honeywell, attended a luncheon and participated in a round table discussion with area political and business leaders, all in an effort to learn how the administration’s policies are being implemented,

and hear area business owners’ concerns. The Secretary’s trip to Standard Heating & Air Conditioning was coordinated through officials at Sunrise Community Banks. Sunrise Community Banks is comprised of three Twin Cities community development banks; Franklin Bank, Park Midway Bank, and University Bank. The three banks are part of a limited number of banks recognized as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). The banks are certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s CDFI fund, and Park Midway Bank is Standard Heating & Air Conditioning’s banking partner. “CDFI banks like Sunrise Community Banks promote community development through financing local businesses like Standard Heating & Air Conditioning in underserved areas in Minneapolis and St. Paul,” said David Reiling, CEO of Sunrise Community Banks. “We were delighted to be chosen as a model CDFI bank and given the opportunity to highlight one of our great small business customers. Standard Heating & Air Conditioning was a natural fit. Their longevity, outstanding reputation, and commitment to the community make them the kind of business we strive to

support, and made them the perfect candidate for the Treasury Secretary’s visit.” As a fourth generation business with a reputation for quality service, professional staff and community engagement, Standard Heating & Air Conditioning was an ideal representative for Secretary Geithner to witness what is working well in America’s small business sector. “We had a meaningful dialogue,” said Ted. “Secretary Geithner spent time talking with our leadership and staff, and was genuinely interested in our business and what we had to say. He asked about our concerns, and what message we wanted him to take back to Washington.” Ted continued, “We shared that we are seeing a better business climate emerging and are in an anticipatory hiring mode. We let him know that our financial needs are being well met through our banking partner. Our concern is for our customers—homeowners throughout the Twin Cities—to ensure their credit needs are being met. If our customers are financially healthy, we’ll be healthy.” As Geithner toured Standard’s new facility in North Minneapolis, considerable time was spent in both the training room and metal shop. The

Secretary was interested in the company’s commitment to staff training and retention. “We conveyed our belief that training is the great competitive unequalizer and is critical to attracting and retaining exceptional employees.” Ted added, “Not only does it provide our clients knowledgeable, skilled service providers, but an investment in our staff provides stability for our employees, our company, and the economy at large. Everybody wins.” Co-owner Todd Ferrara was equally enthusiastic about Secretary Geithner’s visit. “As we embark on a new decade, it’s also a new era for our business. Secretary Geithner’s interest in our company—a business that invests in its employees, the surrounding community, and is contributing to this economy—is a wonderful acknowledgement of our commitment and success.” Todd added, “We are optimistic about the future, and look forward to serving our customers for many, many years to come.” “It was a truly extraordinary day. A real thrill,” said Ted. “We are grateful to our partners at Sunrise Community Banks not only for their ongoing financial support and expertise, but for helping make this amazing day possible.”

Courtesy of Standard Heating & Air Conditioning

Todd Ferrara (left) talks with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner

Up in the Air: Every job is a jumping off point to something else Plan your career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com A manager at a middle-sized but high-profile organization in the Twin Cities is never bothered when great employers move on. “This is not a place people

stay,” she said. “It’s more a place you leap off from.” This is a positive attitude, and also generous, considering the time she invests in training new employees on the same positions every year or two. Maybe the reality is that, if you’re good, most companies, most jobs, are simply a jumping off point; maybe people who are good are constantly assessing their next giant leaps. If you are finally working again after the economicallyimposed vacation many people have been on, you might think it’s absurd to start looking for

something new. When you peer down the road, however, you will see that nothing stays the same. You are in your dream job now; any chance that position will look the same in a year? In three years? And if the job does stay the same, what will you look like in a year or two? Will you be the same person, having mastered the challenges this position affords you right now? Star employees go into each work day with an eye open to opportunities. Ask yourself, “What can I do with this meeting, this conversation, this

day to move toward something better?” This Leaping Off approach forces you to think creatively, learn continuously and treat people as if they matter because, actually, they do. The “something better” you discover could be benefit to your company or to yourself and, either way, you win. Keep an eye on the door you are more likely to see an opportunity if you are looking for it - but don’t let a foot get

out the door until it’s time. You will be prepared to take a leap forward if you have been performing well in your current position. Our manager was proud to send her people on; she was able to provide an excellent reference because she knew these employees were that good. During job search workshops, I tell people this is only one of their many future job changes. To a one, job

seekers nod their heads and sigh and seem to want to strangle me for saying it, but it is true. Think forward, expand your outlook and earn stellar references and you’ll find you are soon leaping in any direction you choose. What challenges are you facing in your career right now? Write to julie@insightnews.com

Page 8 • March 1 - March 7, 2010 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE So much to discover: Start cashing in on the web Style on a dime

By Marcia Humphrey After a recent Sunday morning church service, Stacie and I struck up a conversation in our fellowship café. She informed me that she is a professional blogger

and thought my readers would be interested in following her dollarstretching blog at www.thecouponsista.blogspot.com. While I was excited to hear that one of my Christian sisters is finding creative ways to make money and help others, I was really excited to hear that the focus is on discovering bargains (a woman after my own heart, sniff). On her blog you’ll find information on freebies, discounts, and coupons from retailers and manufacturers. In honor of her recent birthday, she even listed a whole page of

restaurants, retailers, and specialty shops that offer free (or discounted) birthday treats For my next b-day, I’m going to try to hit them all! If you want the 4-1-1 on how to snag some great deals, be sure to check out Stacie’s blog www.thecouponsista.blogspot.com. More and more, people like Stacie are combining their passions with their entrepreneurial spirit and coming up with ways to earn money on the web. Becoming a professional blogger is certainly one of them. You’re probably asking, “What exactly is a professional blogger and how exactly do you make money doing it?” In a nutshell, a professional blogger is usually a person who starts off talking or writing about a hobby, interest, or topic that is personally meaningful, and then realizes that knowledge has money-making potential. To make the money, the blogger signs up to have her blog linked to various store websites, and when viewers click on the links and make purchases, the blogger can earn a commission-anywhere from 2%-

Smith From 1 important place for us to go. And I want to continue to work on health and wellness, too. “I’d like the brand to be an international brand,” Smith said. Smith visited Minneapolis last month; she was the keynote at the SuperValu corporate Black History Month Celebration. The event was organized by the company’s Black Leadership Network (BLN), a professional association of executives, managers and employees whose mission is to increase sales and profits for the grocery retailer and wholesaler, by creating preferred access to Black consumer markets based on their knowledge of community and cultural priorities and preferences. Outgoing BLN chair, Avery Adams said BLN identified and

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/

15%- from that sale. Those experienced bloggers who have built a strong following can earn from $10 to $100 (or more) by writing and posting their opinions and reviews about products or services. While some experienced bloggers can make a six-figure income, like any start-up business, it requires much patience and perseverance to achieve those types of results. Successful bloggers make posts at least daily, and have easy-to-follow sites. You can get started with a free blog at www.Blogger.com or

www.WordPress.com. Your next step is to sign-up with an affiliate program, which gets you connected with the store websites. One of the large ones is www.CommissionJunction.com. There is just so much to discover on the world-wide-web! Whether your aim is so save money by finding deals, or make money to pay your bills, there is room for all! Become inspired by folks like our own local blogging sista, Stacie, in one of two ways: 1. Step out of your comfort zone and consider starting a blog-

executed Black history and Black cultural food demonstrations in several markets as part of the Black History Month program at SuperValu. “We demonstrated a 500% increase in sales over the previous week for Black manufactured grocery products we presented,” he said. Smith’s newest product in the SuperValu chain is B. Smith’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a product developed and manufactured by Twin Cities based consumer products firm, the Alden Group. Smith introduced and thanked Alden Group president Don Bryant, Jr. for bringing the olive oil product to B. Smith, Inc., for a licensing deal that included distribution in the SuperValu chain. Alden’s relationship with SuperValu reflected the company’s core mission to connect with its customers by acknowledging and celebrating

and marketing directly to the diversity of its customers. “At SuperValu, our goal is to create an environment of diversity and inclusion for people of all backgrounds. This environment will give us a competitive edge and enable us to build an associate population that more accurately mirrors the customers who shop in our stores. What’s more, we’ll have an atmosphere where each person feels comfortable and eager to contribute fully,” the company says on its website page on diversity. That attitude comes from top management at SuperValu. “Few things represent a person’s culture and traditions more than food. As a food retailer and wholesaler, understanding diversity is vital to our success and to meeting the needs of our customers and communities,” said Jeff Noddle, former SuperValu chairman and CEO. SuperValu is the nation’s largest grocer, operating under established banners in different regions of the country. In Twin Cities, for example, the company operates Cub Foods, and SuperValu stores, and enjoys the lion’s share of the grocery market. In Chicago, SuperValu’s leading brand is Jewel-Osco Foods. Other regional and national retail brands include Sav-A-Lot, Shop ‘N’ Save, and Albertsons. Bryant describes the Alden Group as a consumer product manufacturing and marketing company. Besides the B. Smith Extra Virgin Olive Oil products, Alden manufactures and markets the break out Green Clean Organic Wipes, 100% pure organic cotton wipes infused with a natural and pleasant formula for personal hygiene. “Our unique products can be found on the shelves in many of the top retailers in the US and in over 1100 stores nationwide. We also provide strategic services for launching retail products within the United States. Our mission is to deliver unique products within markets that positively impact the lives of our consumers,” Bryant said. “Our multi-industry expertise has enabled us to establish solid relationships with many of the largest retail channels and mass merchandisers in the nation,” he

whether for fun or for profit. 2. Discover some new blogs to follow (like www.thecouponsista.blogspot.com) that help to enhance your life in some way. Happy blogging. 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.

President Obama with Donald Bryant said. Bryant got into the product and brand development business by working in international product development and marketing for multi-national corporations. The knowledge, experience and contacts he gained guide his company’s path to establishing consumer products for US and global markets. “Success is not built on your product and marketing branding strategy alone. Success is getting the word out to potential customers. Success is using realworld experience to get beneficial results—creating value, conversion and sales,” Bryant said. Smith similarly is parlaying her international experience and contacts, and considerable business savvy to focus on growth. “You start by capturing the easiest market, and that is right where you are, here in the United States. Then you move into the Caribbean, Bermuda on down. London and Paris have huge Afro European populations. I need to do a little more homework but I have lived in Paris and London. “I want to continue to work with the military,” she said, noting her food products provide exquisite soulful “flavor” to food staples served to military personnel worldwide. But her real aim right now, she said, is to expand her branded packaged foods business into supermarkets from coast to coast. “It is so hard to get into the businesses that I am in, so

SMITH TURN TO 11

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Haiti From 1 on track and you can feel that at every refugee â&#x20AC;&#x201D;or I would sayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; victim camp. The people have the will and the desire to survive and they are not just waiting for help. They are trying to do whatever they can to survive in a positive way,â&#x20AC;? said Georges, who also works as a translator. He helped Haitian Boy Scouts set up tents at a camp for those whose homes were destroyed or whose houses are too dangerous to live near. Others may not have had homes at all, but the tent city not far from the once-gleaming National Palace teems with activity. Children play, families sit togetherâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one group of young men even competed on an improvised basketball court. Life, it seems, must go on. Amid the tents and the people are makeshift shops and kitchens. There is an outdoor clinic run by young Haitian medical students who live with their patients. Motorbikes are parked beside tents. Along nearby sidewalks are peddlers dealing everything from jewelry to bananas and from jeans, paintings and wood carvings to communications services. Jean-Baptiste Jemmi was lucky enough for his home to survive the earthquake. The place where he worked was destroyed. Undeterred, the 26-year-old is running a mobile cell phone charging station and mobile Internet cafĂŠ from the back of a truck with a canopy overhead. For a few gourds, Haitian currency, people can access email, update Facebook pages, get information, connect with the outside world and recharge cell phones. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for people to communicate with their relatives that are abroad, check their email and communicate with family members,â&#x20AC;? said Jean-Baptiste. Such contact can be a literal lifeline with so many Haitians dependent on relatives for money to survive. The leading source of income for the country is money sent from Haitians in America, Canada, France, Jamaica and other places around the world. Lines for Western Union offices bore witness to the importance of remittances from abroad. Traffic jams in the city could be a good thing, a sign lives are under reconstruction.

Insight News â&#x20AC;˘ March 1 - March 7, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 9 A drive from the outskirts of the city to its center bypassed lines of women collecting food, trucks filled with items, markets packed with produce and goods and even crews repaving a road. It takes money, of course, to buy cell phones and cabbage or candles and shoes. Money is still scarce for many in this already poor country. The lucky ones are back to work or are making a way for themselves on the streets, usually while sleeping on the streets. Thousands still line up at 16 emergency food sites run by the U.S. Agency for International Development and others managed by the many non-profits operating in the city. Life is still hard, but the determination to live is fierce. Haitians remain unbowed as many face realities that could easily reduce grown men to tears. As a Black Press delegation toured Port-Au-Prince February 9-12, the destruction was apparent and massive. Collapsed buildings and rubble were everywhere, starting with cracks in the walls at American-controlled Toussaint Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Overture International Airport. Some blocks were nothing but the remains of shattered structures, often with industrious Haitians scrounging and salvaging pieces of metal, bricks, furniture, documents or any useful item. Men were seen atop lopsided roofs and piles crumbled of concrete. Others busily repaired walls and painted over buildings that may have to be destroyed as the city will have to be rebuilt. Women hawked their wares on the streets and one drove a steam roller, flattening a lot in center city. The buildings and shops are so close together and the

Hazel Trice Edney/NNPA

A cultural norm, this woman carries a heavy basket of goods on her head.

Hazel Trice Edney/NNPA

The clean up will be monumental as rubble lines the streets and more buildings must be demolished because of instability. without planners. His countrymenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s independence streak has been a cursing and a blessingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;homes were built willy nilly without regard to city codes, plans or permits. But it had also been a couple hundred years since the last great earthquake. The people are busy, but a collective plan is needed and in the works, said the Howard University graduate, who lost his parents in the disaster. From a building in the PĂŠtionville section

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have got to stay strongly engaged in the process in aiding and assisting Haiti over the next several months and even years to bounce back and to be built stronger and better,â&#x20AC;? damage so widespread that a multi-year reconstruction plan is needed. Patrick Delatour, the minister of tourism who is heading the Office of National Reconstruction, joked with Black journalists about Haitians building without builders and planning

of city, where the toilet doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t flush, he huddles with architects. He plots the new vision and tries to carry out the wishes of President RenĂŠ Preval. Port-Au-Prince will remain the capital as called for in the constitution, but the city will be smaller and more services and

housing will be spread out, Delatour explained, pointing to a map. He bristled at charges of corruption, saying it is a pretty bad thief that steals from government, but remains in poverty. The top official told Black journalists the PrĂŠval government has ceded delivery of food, tents, medicine, clothing and other items to aid groups, charities and international groups helping out in the country. The government doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the capacity to handle distribution and delivery, Delatour explained. The major task is coordination of more than 400 large and small non-governmental groups or nonprofits, he said. Shorthanded government suffers a major disadvantage: The January 12 quake killed several lawmakers, government ministers and personnel, policemen and those who do the daily work of administration. There are no secure bunkers here, so a bus ride around the city is a showcase for destroyed ministriesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;everything from the presidential palace, which is also the work space for the president, to the internal

revenue service with tax and property records ruined. The parliament building caved in. Huge churches and cathedrals stand as shells of their former grand selves. The disaster injured some 300,000 people with 700,000 people displaced and the disaster affected the lives of about three million people, say U.S. and Haitian officials. Eight thousand schools have been destroyed, according to Delatour. Still, citing his countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, Delatour stressed moving forward. Help from the international community is needed but projects in the pipeline after three years work need to continue, he said. Aid money should be for new projects, Delatour added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have got to stay strongly engaged in the process in aiding and assisting Haiti over the next several months and even years to bounce back and to be built stronger and better,â&#x20AC;? commented Dr. Ron Daniels, founder of the Haiti Support Project and organizer of the journalists mission. He has been working in Haiti for 15 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certainly this earthquake was an equal opportunity devastator and to rebuild Haiti it has to be all hands on deck,â&#x20AC;? said Daniels, whose column Vantage Point is syndicated to Black and progressive outlets across the country. Money for ongoing projects needs to come in; legislation is needed to protect Haitian agriculture to rebound and all debt must be forgiven, he said. This is the time for the long suffering Haitian people to be in the thick of the process and the people have already injected themselves into the process by starting to rebuild, said Daniels. He believes the time is ripe for the involvement of the masses. Haitian institutionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;whether the damaged State University Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or makeshift aid stations provide services for people. People also care for one another as best they can. Dr. Alex Lasseque, executive director of the State Hospital, which had tents on parking lots that served as triage centers, patient wards, laboratories and staff housing, said the emergency situation and crush injuries have largely been dealt with. His current waves of patients standing quietly or sitting in long lines are largely coming in with

pre-quake illness, like diabetes or asthma, or for follow ups to treatment or handling things like infections. Many Haitians had limbs amputated in the early aftermath of the earthquake. Lasseque said a team is set up to help staff and patients deal with the psychological trauma of their experiences. A national commission has the psychological impact of the quake as a major item to deal with, he added. Dr. Lasseque and his wife are living next to their damaged home. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am living outside like every Haitian,â&#x20AC;? he said. Some of his staff members are living near their homes or in camps providing services, he said. Others have lost family, left the city or left the country. Humanitarian workers from different countries are helping out, with integrated teams, he said. These teams have also been dispatched to help people in camps around the city and the hospital sees 500-600 patients per day at the triage zone and does 2050 operations a day, added Lasseque. The hospital needs to be completely rebuilt, half of the buildings are not safe, he said. Before the quake the medical staff included 250 doctors, now there are just 50 doctors, 350 nurses and 500 support personnel, said the Haitian physician. Some buildings and restaurants and hotels still stand and the wealthier neighborhoods in the hills were sometimes spared some damage. These establishments operate in a relatively normal way to be surrounded by rubble. Some street lights are on. Cars zoom up and down streets, competing for space with â&#x20AC;&#x153;tap tapâ&#x20AC;? taxis and motorbikes that ferry passengers and goods across town and to its outskirts. Sultane Bernard Ratchse, a onetime cosmetologist, lives in a camp. She clutched a pillow as she spoke with this writer, her beautiful 17-year-old daughter standing nearby. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No future, for the kids,â&#x20AC;? she said. Ratsche sees education as the way out for her children, but everything has collapsed. She has heard about aid but has received little. She understands the need is huge and others need help too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Haiti has to be rebuilt, even with the aid in a few months what is going to happen once the aid is gone?â&#x20AC;? She said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to rebuild Haiti.â&#x20AC;?

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Page 10 • March 1 - March 7, 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.

Events The Sports Family Forum - Mar 2, 9 Colin Powell Center, 2924 4th Ave. S., Mpls. Session I: Tues, Mar 2, Session II: Tues, Mar 9. Both Sessions 6 pm - 9 pm. Student Athletes Free. Adults $10 per person (Includes Sessions I & II) Presented by the Lewis Sports Foundation, lewissportsfoundation@comcast.net, 952-886-3399. Public Hearing on Reappointment of MPD Chief Dolan - Mar 3 Wed, Mar 3, 1 pm - 5 pm at City Hall Council Chambers, 350 S. 5th St., Room 317, Mpls. This meeting is the only opportunity for public input before the city council votes on whether to reappoint Minneapolis Police Chief Dolan for another three-year term. Cuban Movie Festival 2010 - Mar 4 to Apr 8 Opening reception: Mar. 11, 4 - 7 p.m. Regular hours: 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Mar. 4 – Apr. 8. St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 Main Street, SE, Mpls. http://www.stanthonymaintheatre.com. Free parking in ramp at 2nd Street SE and 2nd Avenue SE. Admission: $6; 4 for $20. 15th Annual International Women’s Day Celebration - Mar 6 Sat., Mar. 6, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Coffman Memorial Union, U of M, Minneapolis. www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org NAMI presents Family-to-Family - Mar 6 Saturdays, starting March 6, 12:30 to 3:00 pm at Park Avenue United Methodist Church, 3400 Park Ave. (lower level dining room), Mpls. This class is for family members who have a loved one living with a mental illness. Learn about mental illness, identify resources, build communication skills, reduce stress and find support. Join others for this free 12-week

series taught by experienced family members. Preregistration required. To register, please contact Darryl at 612-584-3597 or Kwasi at 612-359-0077. Keys to Successful Rental Living - Mar 6 A three-hour workshop that will be offered by Lutheran Social Service to help individuals learn how to be successful renters on Sat, Mar 6, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Center for Changing Lives in Mpls, located at 2400 Park Ave. 612-879-5250. 2010 South Minneapolis Housing and Home Improvement Fair - Mar 6 Sat., 10 am - 3 pm at South High School, 3131 19th Ave S., Mpls. Free Admission. www.housingfair.org. Minnesota’s Second Annual World Affairs Challenge - Mar 6 Sat, Mar 6, from 9 am - 4:30 pm, Macalester College 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul. Kagin Ballroom & Olin Rice Hall. The World Affairs Challenge is an academic competition focused on this year’s central theme: Water around the World. charmagne@worldsavvy.org, www.worldsavvy.org. Ta-Coumba Aiken: Painting; Robin Savage: Stone Jewelry – Now to Mar. 7 Regular Hours: Thursday - Sunday 12 - 5pm. On view February 25 - March 7, 2010. Frank Stone Gallery, 1224 2nd Street NE, Mpls. 612-617-9965. “If I Can Help Somebody” Musical - Mar 7 Sun., March 7, 5 pm - 7 pm, Shiloh Temple International Ministries, 1201 West Broadway, Mpls. For information call Community Fitness Today, Inc., 612-824-8610; Email: communityfitness@hotmail.com Website: www.communityfitnesstoday.org. Free will offering. St. Joan of Arc 2nd Monday – Mar 8 Mon, Mar 8, 5:45 - 8:15 pm at St. Joan of Arc Church Mental Illness Ministry, SJA Church Hospitality Hall, Door 1, 4537 Third Ave. S, Mpls. Free, open to all; no pre-registration needed; Roseann 612.823.8205; Mary, claudemaryparadis@comcast.net; www.stjoan.com/mimfr.htm.

Evening Maintenance and Security Worker JOB LOCATION: Twin Cities Metro

Ojibwe in Minnesota - Mar 11 Book launch with Anton Treuer. Thursday March 11th at 7:00 p.m. at Birchbark Books, 2115 West 21st St. Mpls. birchbarkbooks.com.

SALARY: $10-$13/hour TYPE: Part Time / 20 hours DEADLINE: Open Until Filled PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: POSITION SUMMARY: Responsible for providing light maintenance and general security for HQB during the late afternoon through evening hours of operation with occasional weekends. Key responsibilities include: end of daily operations visitor control and general facility security, light maintenance and general janitorial duties. POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Responsible for locking all internal and external doors at the end of the facility's operating hours. 2. Ensures that all users of the facility safely conclude their business and appropriately exit the facility on a timely basis. 3. Maintains close monitoring of operations and visitor control, securing St. Paul Police assistance, as appropriate. 4. Provides light maintenance, including changing light bulbs, monitoring HVAC operations, minor equipment repair, painting and checking mechanical operations. 5. Sets-up rooms for use, as directed. 6. Janitorial duties may include but are not limited to: vacuuming floors and furnishings, mopping hard surface floors, cleaning, dusting and polishing furniture, cleaning walls and windows, cleaning and disinfecting kitchen and bathroom, emptying and sanitizing waste baskets. 5. Perform errands and special projects as requested by supervisor. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: Education: High School degree or equivalent. Vocational training in building maintenance and specialized training in the areas of HVAC, plumbing and electrical repair not required but highly preferred. Work Experience: 3+ years of general building janitorial, maintenance and repair experience. Other Requirements: Physical ability to moderately strenuous work safely. Customer service skills Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager. Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines HOW TO APPLY: Submit Resume and Cover Letter or Application available on our website to: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Inc. ATTN: Human Resources 270 North Kent Street St. Paul, MN 55102 651-224-7074-Fax www.hallieqbrown.org hr@hallieqbrown.org

Sixth Annual Twin Cities Arab Film Festival - Mar 11 to 14 March 11-14 at Heights Theatre, 3951 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN. www.mizna.org/arabfilmfest10, (512)7886920.

Director, Center for Transportation Studies University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota invites applications for the position of director of the Center for Transportation Studies (CTS), the center conducts transportation research, education, and outreach programs focused on transportation policy and planning, infrastructure engineering, and intelligent transportation systems in partnership with national and state government agencies and private industry. The director is expected to: • Provide dynamic leadership, direction, and vision for the Center. • Attract additional resources that can be leveraged against federal and state funds to advance research, education, public engagement, and technology transfer activities. • Maintain and strengthen productive relationships with other universities, federal agencies, state and local agencies, legislative leaders, and businesses to shape research policy and serve as a state and national transportation resource. For a complete position description and list of required qualifications please access the University of Minnesota's Online Employment System at http://employment.umn.edu/. The requisition number is (165034), which is needed to access this position. If you have difficulty negotiating the electronic application process, please contact Michelle Wittc off Kuhl in the Office for Public Engagement at witt0160@umn.edu or 612-624-1562. The University of MN is an equal opportunity educator and employer

African Dance Workshop - Mar 7 to 9 With guest artist Djeneba Sako. Learn African dance and rhythms from Mali West Africa. Visit www.duniyadrumanddance.org for more information and registration “Once on this Island” - Mar 11 to 14 March 11, 12, 13 at 7:00 PM, March 14th at 2:00 PM. Washburn High School, 201 West 49th Street, Mpls. Tickets: $8 adults, $5 students/seniors. Reserve Seats can be purchased in advance during school hours or order forms are available online http://washburn.k12.mn.us. 612/668-3432. Youth Leadership Summit - Mar 12, 13 All High School youth are invited to Folwell Park, 1615 Dowling Ave N, Mpls. www.cyepmn.org, cyepmn@yahoo.com, 612-432-8594. Art Squared - Mar 13 Sat, Mar 13, 7 - 10 pm, at Tillie’s Bean coffee shop, 1931 Nicollet Ave. S. 612-874-2840, www.sscoweb.org. An art sale and fundraiser to benefit the Cinema & Civics movies-in-the-park series, the two-day Red Hot Art festival, and other public arts programming in the Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood. Free class: T’ai Chi Practice for Spring Health Mar 14 Sun., Mar. 14, 6 - 7 p.m. at 1940 Hennepin Avenue S., Mpls. Continuing classes begin Sun., Mar. 21, 6 - 7 p.m. www.greatriver.blogspot.com. “Freedom of Information: Your Key to Open Government,” - Mar. 15 with Jane Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota School of

Journalism and Mass Communications. Mon., Mar. 15, Noon at James J. Hill Reference Library, 80 W. 4th St., Saint Paul. 651-266-7000, Ext. 5 or www.sppl.org. Free child support information from Hennepin County - Mar. 16 Hennepin County Family Justice Center, 110 S. Fourth St., Room 172, Minneapolis, on Tuesday, March 16, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. For additional information and reservations, call 612-348-2478. Lutheran Social Service seeks adoptive parents Mar 16 The adoption information meeting will be held on Tues., Mar. 16, from 6 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Center for Changing Lives (Room 182), located at 2400 Park Ave., Mpls. For more info or to register: (612) 8795230, www.minnesotaadoption.org. 4th Annual Business and Community Roundtable: The Changing Face of Homelessness - Mar. 16 Tues., Mar. 16, 7:30 am - 9:30 noon at the Osseo Area School District Office, 11200 93rd Avenue N., Maple Grove. 763-425-6505 ext. 226, rssjoes@yahoo.com. African Violet Society of Minnesota Spring Judged Show and Sale – Mar 19 to 20 Har Mar Mall Snelling and County Road B, Roseville, MN. 651-631-0340. Fri, March 19: 10:00am 8:00pm. Sat, March 20: 10:00am - 4:00pm. http://sites.google.com/site/avsminnesota. Huntington Place Apartments

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 952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040 www.minnesotablizzards.com

The BEST 1 bedrooms in Brooklyn Park! 1 BRs starting at $595 • Huge bedrooms • Tons of closet space • In & outdoor pool • Special Offer! Move in by 3/31/10 And receive $300 off your 2nd month’s rent PLUS half off your deposit! Call today! 763-5600244 www.liveathp.com EHO

PARK MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT Operations & Maintenance Department The City of Brooklyn Park, MN, seeks a division manager to ensure the development, administration and operation of the Park Maintenance Division. Must have college degree, five years administrative/supervisory experience, and valid Class D driver’s license. Hiring range: $5,758-$6,775/month+ FT benefits. Additional information and required application materials at www.brooklynpark.org or at City Hall, 5200 85th Avenue N, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55443, 763-4248000/EOE.

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Insight News • March 1 - March 7, 2010 • Page 11

NAACP unanimously elects youngest chair By Herb Boyd NNPA Special Correspondent NEW YORK (NNPA) - Hours before the NAACP officially announced that Roslyn M. Brock was the new chair of the National Board of Directors, she sat down with the NNPA in her suite at the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan for an exclusive interview. Brock, 44, a vice-president at Bon Secours Health Care, has been affiliated with the NAACP for 25 years, beginning in youth leadership and currently the vicechair of the organization’s board, the youngest person and the first Black woman to hold the post. She is set to replace the venerable Julian Bond, who announced his retirement several months ago. Herb Boyd: How do you feel about the new position? Roslyn M. Brock: I am very excited. HB: Is there a youth movement going on inside the NAACP? You’re in your early forties and Ben Jealous, the president and CEO came aboard at 35. RB: I think the NAACP understood that if it’s to remain relevant, that it really needed to look toward the future to ensure the legacy of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Eighteen months ago we recruited a 35-year-old who would become the youngest president and CEO in the

Smith From 8 partnerships might be the way to go. Partnerships are not the worst thing in the world. Partnerships can be very positive,” she said. “We are a strong business that has continued to grow. I want it to be about quality. Quantity is great, but I want it to be about quality. So that is why it has taken me so long to get where we are today. But I am now at the point where I see us wanting to expand and in the right direction,” she said.

organization’s history. Ben is a Rhodes Scholar, energetic, and very interested in bringing new technology. And, now as we enter the first year of our second century, to have the fourth woman to chair the board is an historic occasion; a generational shift and I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to have the Honorable Julian Bond and Myrlie Evers Williams to pass that mantle of leadership from one generation to the next. HB: Passing the baton, that orderly transition of leadership is something that should be emulated, don’t you think? RB: Yes, I do. Unfortunately in our community, in our organizations the only way the transition of power happens…is through death, scandal or abdication. So this is really an orderly transfer of leadership and the entrusting of a legacy…to a new generation. You used the adage of passing the baton, and for me having that baton is to have a connection to those activists who marched in the fifties, sixties and to hold it at the same time they hold it. And once they feel we have a firm grasp of it they are able to let go.

scale. Because from the vantage point of sitting at the helm an organization that has made so many significant contributions not only for Black Americans but for all Americans, and to have an impact internationally…even to have the song “We Shall Overcome” sang in Russian is to indicate how far we’ve come, but we still have a long way to go. HB: One look at your bio is to see a woman rushing from one organizational meeting to another, sitting on numerous boards. How do you reduce all this activity to one primary mission, how do you focus on the new job with such a busy schedule? RB: What we have to do here at the NAACP is to strategically focus on what our agenda will be in the years to come. We have to recognize and acknowledge that we can’t be all things to all people because there are other partners who have come into the public space that possess better expertise than we have, who are better financed than we are. And we have to reach out and build broad partnerships, extend our membership base, and then convene meetings of all likeminded partners to find out what part of the social and economic problem they are willing to own. No one organization can handle all of the problems. It takes all people coming together to deal with the many problems we have.

contending positions, and sometimes unruly, are you ready for this? RB: (Laughter) My campaign motto was: “I’m ready.” I’ve been brought up and trained in the NAACP for a quarter of a century. People always make reference to the number 64, but they never ask the question who is on the board. Julian Bond is on the board; Ms. Williams is on the board. We have presiding bishops of every major denomination, labor leaders, judges, academicians, and educators, and many of them are from across the country and under the age of 25. There is so much diversity in gender, geography, and occupations on our board and we have to harness all of this wisdom to ensure affordable health care for all Americans; that all our children have an opportunity at the best education; that we have a livable wage and that economic opportunities are provided for reinvestment in small businesses and entrepreneurship, and that we do something about the stemming the tide of incarceration of young Black men, and increasingly of young Black women.

we must ask ourselves is: Am I my brother and my sister’s keeper? If America is to be competitive we must ensure that all of our citizenry is healthy, that they are educated. That they have access to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and here at the NAACP when it comes to health care, jobs, education…we have to be proactive, not reactive.

HB: What’s been the response of the NAACP to the current crisis in Haiti? RB: Under the leadership of President Jealous and our International Affairs Committee, each of our local units has been asked to raise resources, and at the moment the board is working on a strategy of how to best utilize those resources.

business. If I want to explore a business that I am not sure of, I need to do my homework,” she said. “So what young people need to know is that it looks easy, but you’ve got to do the homework. And you’ve got to be realistic. Is there a place in the market for me? Is there going to be longevity? We never really know for sure, but at least have an idea. “So I see a great future. I just understand that there are good times and there are bad times. We are right now still in a difficult period. But maybe now is the time to really think and do the homework,” Smith said.

HB: Any concern about assuming such an awesome responsibility? RB: There is some fear, some trepidation that I’m sure most leaders experience at times when you are given an opportunity to make a huge difference; not only on a small scale but on a national

HB: To be brutally frank, there are rumors that the NAACP 64member board can be a crucible of

HB: You have an extensive background in health care and related issues. What’s your opinion of the Obama administration and its handling of health care reform? RB: I think many of us are disappointed that our leaders in Washington have failed to find some common ground on this issue. A fundamental question

“What I tell young people today is, ‘Do the homework!’ To really do the homework. “I worked in a restaurant for a year to learn the business. I realized then that it was the business for me. You have to know whether you really want to be in a business like this because the profit margins can be very small if you are not doing the right thing,” she said. “It is great that I have my husband, Dan Gasby, as a partner because we balance each other out,” B. Smith said. “It allows me to be the creative person. He is the one that is watching the bottom line on a daily basis although we both understand it

and look at it. You have to be able to do both in order to maintain your business and to grow the business.” “There have always been low periods and high periods. High periods then low periods. It’s cyclical. The key is to not panic but to step back and ask, ‘What can I do to maintain my business and grow my business?’ Right now I have a great business with the military. But I would like to grow my restaurant businesses. I am not so sure this is the right time to do it.” “It is the time if you have the financial wherewithal, because the spaces are out there. They’re available. Maybe that means you

need to have partners. There are many ways to go about creating partnerships. Maybe you need to be partners with the landlord, short term or long term. I think there are ways to do that. You just have to be sure that the business you are in is in a neighborhood that supports the business,” said Smith. “I started with military. Now I want to be in regular supermarkets across the country. It is different from military in that food has to be packaged for the regulated retail environment. “I am my business. If I am not healthy, I’m not doing business. If I am not creative, I am not helping to grow my

HB: What’s your general assessment of the Obama administration? RB: I think he’s doing a very good job given the challenging situations he faces. He inherited a myriad of problems that were not his own. But he has done a tremendous job of trying to do a delicate balancing act and address those issues. Do we want him to do more? Absolutely. Sure, African Americans would like for him to do more for them, but they have to remember that he’s the president of all Americans. We at the NAACP are honored to have him in the White House but he’s not too big that we can’t challenge him and ask him to be accountable for those individuals who voted for him.

Roslyn M. Brock

NNPA

On this matter, we’re taking a page from the Obama administration, that is, we’re not in it for the short term. Haiti is going to need long term support; it can’t just be a blip on the screen. We don’t want Haiti to be like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina where five years later people are still trying to put their lives back together. HB: And a few final words. RB: Well, I am so fortunate to be in this wonderful place at this time in history. For me, my motto in life is, care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible.

Page 12 • March 1 - March 7, 2010 • Insight News

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MCTC shut down its Intercollegiate Basketball Programs By Mike Shelton It is Wednesday, January 6th 2010, and it is a cold day in Downtown Minneapolis. The cars and trucks parked on the street are covered with snow, and the roads are icy; the feeling of “old man winter” is definitely present. At Earl Bowman Hall on the campus of Minneapolis Community and Technical College, there is a different feeling among students, faculty, staff and fans alike. They are hot, energetic, and filled with excitement. The hometown teams, the Mavericks, are getting ready to play longtime rivals, Spartans, from Fergus Falls Minnesota. This game will be the last time these two teams ever meet each other again on the court. How could this be? The teams are in the same conference, and have played against each other numerous times in the past. This final meeting is due to MCTC putting the lid on their Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs. Since 1990, the Minneapolis Community and Technical College Men’s Basketball Programs have been run by Coach Jay Pivec. Pivec, a South Minneapolis native, played his ball at Minneapolis Southwest. Pivec first started his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Minnesota (U of M) for the Gophers Men’s Team. Following his beginning at the U of M, Pivec was an assistant Men’s Coach at Minnesota State UniversityMankato for two years (19781980) before moving on to coach at Augsburg College for one year (1980-1981). Pivec then returned to the U of M, for one year as an assistant, the season they won the Big Ten title. (1981-1982). At the tender age of 27 Pivec got his first chance as Head Basketball Coach at Jamestown College in Jamestown, ND. While at Jamestown College, Pivec compiled a record of 41 wins to 37 losses and a conference championship in 1984. After his stint at Jamestown College, he took the head coaching position at Montana State University Northern (MSUN). There his teams were regulars in the postseason. Pivec’s teams finished runner-up in the Frontier Conference playoffs in 1986,

1988, and 1989. Prior to coach Pivec’s arrival at MCTC the Mavericks teams could be characterized as a doormat in the Minnesota Community College Conference. Previously known as the Minneapolis Community College Marauders. in the 1989-1990 season the team went 0-22. In Pivec’s first season, the Marauders went 16-10 and made the playoffs. Since his arrival, Pivec has led the program to 15 seasons with 20 or more victories, including a school record of 33 wins in 2009. During the 2009 season, the Mavericks clinched the Region 13 Championship with an 80-64 win over Madison Area Tech, Wisconsin. MCTC then traveled to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Division III (DIII) Men’s Basketball Tournament in Delhi, NY, where they advanced to the title game and fell 58-57 to Richland College, Texas in the final seconds. Pivec was inducted into the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2002. He has a record of 428-109 (at MCTC), and an overall record of 539 wins to 236 losses. He has also been named coach of the year in the Minnesota Community College Conference eight times; in 1993, ‘95, 2001, ‘03, ‘05, ’06, ‘07 and 2009. Pivec is more than a coach to the men he coaches. He is a mentor, teacher, and sometimes a father figure to his men. Over half of his team is composed of guys who either did not play high school basketball at all, only made it on the Junior Varsity Team, or it just did not work out for them with the coach of their high school team. That is why his team is nicknamed 2nd chance U. Pivec gives a chance to play to guys who wouldn’t get a chance anywhere else. He has also coached seven NJCAA All-Americans, the most of any Division III program. The MCTC Men’s Basketball team has had 67 of its players transfer four year colleges or universities. Students transferring to other schools to play ball need at least 48 transferable credits, or an Associates Degree, so let’s just say that his men are not only handling business on the court, but in the

classroom as well. Also the City of Minneapolis has declared June 12th Minneapolis Mavericks Day, recognizing the team’s accomplishments over the years, and specifically during the 20082009 season. Now for those of you not familiar with MCTC or the Basketball Programs know that it is more than just a Community College in downtown Minneapolis, it is an institution of hopes and dreams, a place where the citizens of the Twin Cities can get a chance for life improvement. MCTC is the most ethnically diverse college in Minnesota. A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, MCTC offers more than 80 liberal arts, career and technical programs designed to prepare people for good jobs in high demand professions. MCTC has more than 13,000 students a year, and is an active partner in initiatives to strengthen the social, economic, and cultural diversity of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

So your asking, why such a successful athletic program must shut down? It’s the budget. To run the basketball programs for one year at MCTC costs the college $118,000 a year. The program historically has been funded through college funds, but budget challenges have led to the decision to seek private funding. “MCTC is not in a position to fund intercollegiate athletics through its annual operating budget,” said President Phil Davis. “We’re cutting $2.5 million from this years operating budget, closing programs that have served the community for years. Several other colleges have closed their athletic programs over the past few years due to budget pressure,” Davis said. One other thing you should know is that the decision of shutting down the program wasn’t just based on President Phil Davis’s decision. It was recommended by a group of students known as the Student Senate. Also, the Student Senate

decision wasn’t overnight as well. The student senate has been doing three years of surveys to see how $118,000 could benefit the students of MCTC better. According to a MCTC spokesperson, “We are proud of the many important achievements on our campus this past year, including the opening of a health clinic for students, run by Boynton Health Services. In addition, more than 3,000 students have taken advantage of the bus-pass program this fall, up from 400 before the program began. So the President and the Student Senate had to make a decision. Keep a program that helps 30 students, or have a program that can help 13,000 students. No matter what the decision they made there are still some un-happy people out there who are upset, and want the athletic programs in the school.” One person who is not happy with the situation at all, student Layton Smith, said, “The current Student Senate and College President don’t understand the

importance of giving our at risk youth something positive to do, particularly in North Minneapolis. At a time when social programs along with reduced funding for parks and YMCA’s, are putting more and more of our young people at risk, this is not the time to be cutting our MCTC Men’s and Women’s basketball teams.” With all that being said, you can look at the shutting down of the Intercollegiate Men’s and Women’s Basketball Programs at MCTC as a good thing, or a bad thing. The good thing is that over 13,000 people will get some type of help with transportation to and from school, health care services, and much more student services, or the bad thing, 30 at risk, innercity young men and women miss having their dreams fulfilled by playing intercollegiate college basketball, travel the country, and the chance to get a college education. As a reader you decide.

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