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March 8 - March 14, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 10 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Education Spotlight We'd like to highlight the achievements of those teachers and students who have made that extra effort at school. Email nominee to info@insightnews.com
Images: Cinematographer Bill Carlson
Komba, featured in Pride of Lions, is holding the prosthetic leg that is being fitted for him. His mother was killed when she was running from the rebels with Komba on her back when he was a toddler. The same bullet that killed his mother also amputated Komba’s leg.
Premiering at the Walker Art Center March 20th
Sierra Leone documentary Pride of Lions March 12-27, the Walker Art Center presents the International Women with Vision Festival, the 17th installment of this renowned film series which recognizes the perspectives women bring to the art of filmmaking. Filmmaker, Louise Woehrle’s Pride of Lions, a documentary film (52-minute)
about Sierra Leone, will premier on March 20th at 3:00 p.m. at the Walker Art Center and is featured along with three other films by Minnesota women documentarians. Pride of Lions will screen with Ida’s Story, directed by Barbara Wiener. Pride of Lions is the first film
about Sierra Leone to combine contemporary history with intimate stories of survivors of a brutal 11-year civil war that ended in 2002. Moving beyond their scars, Sierra Leoneans are leading a global effort to rebuild their country. Within a 50-year historical framework Pride of
Lions gives the Sierra Leonean perspective of war, personal loss, power of forgiveness and hope for the future. Minneapolis natives Louise and John Woehrle, a sisterbrother team never intended to make a documentary film together until John had a life-
changing experience traveling to Sierra Leone in 2004. Sharing stories of this community with his sister Louise, a Minneapolis based filmmaker sparked a project that could shed new light on the
Sen. Linda Higgins (DFL) District 58
Rep. Joe Mullery (DFL) District 58 A
Rep.Bobby Joe Champion (DFL) District 58 B
LIONS TURN TO
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King and the Palestinian struggle for freedom
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The future of General
Assistance Medical
Care (GAMC) uncertain By State Representative Bobby Joe Champion On February 18, the Minnesota House and Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation to restore General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) coverage for 16 months
and provide basic health care to more than 85,000 low-income Minnesotans. Unfortunately, Gov. Pawlenty, in a continued and troubling display of his budgeting priorities, vetoed the bill. Last week, our efforts to
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Women fought valiantly for equality at the polls and pay equity in the workplace “As we celebrate Women’s History Month let us reflect on the generations of women who came before us and their many contributions that have brought us to this place in our history. Whether they were fighting for equal rights and equal pay in the workplace, marching for voting rights or working hard to provide for their families, we pause to pay tribute to the many heroines both known and unknown. “I have been blessed to have a number of women in my life who have helped to shape me into the person I am today. From my mother Mildred Massey to Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm– these women played an intricate role in my decision to become a public servant. “In the spirit of all the women sojourners that came before us, I call upon all women to become mentors to young women and help
DFL selects incumbents in Senate District 58 convention House District 58B DFLers last week endorsed State Rep. Bobby Joe Champion as their candidate for re election to Minnesota House of Representatives. Champion is completing his first term serving North Minneapolis and parts of downtown. The convention also endorsed Joe Mullery for reelection to the seat he currently
holds in the other half of North Minneapolis, House District 58A. Champion and Mullery breezed through the District 58 Convention at North High School, Saturday , Feb. 27, each nominated by unanimous voice vote of delegates because neither had an opponent in vying for the party’s
Book review
nomination. Both will run as the DFL candidates in the Fall primary and General Elections. The two districts together comprise the Senate District 58, whose incumbent, State Senator Linda Higgins also won unanimous endorsement by the
DFL TURN TO
The First: President Barack Obama’s Road to the White House
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Education spotlight
Washburn teacher Faruq Abdul Sabur
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) cultivate our next generation of leaders.” Women’s History Month is celebrated in the United States every year during the month of March.
“Faruq Abdul Sabur teaches Chemistry and AP Chemistry at Washburn High School. He also coordinates the Black Student Association Connections class and runs the ALC after school credit recovery program. He tutors students after school and on weekends. He is often asked by the senior class to give the commencement address and rumor has it he has been voted in for this June’s ceremony. “Faruq was one of a small group of African American students who integrated the white
Floridian high school he attended in the 60s. He graduated from Amherst College and taught for at least seven years in New York City, the Bronx. He has taught middle school science, and chemistry here at Washburn for 13 years. “Faruq is the embodiment of the courageous, hardworking, altruistic, spirit of the great teachers in the Minneapolis Public Schools, who show up each day, every week of every year for the students in room 137.”
Without Tiger, does anybody watch golf these days?
PAGE 12 Faruq Abdul Sabur
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King and the Palestinian struggle for freedom By Sanna Nimtz Towns In one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most memorable writings, his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” he bemoaned the failure of Americans to speak out, to break their silence when witnessing injustice and immoral acts against humankind. He confessed his disappointment that Birmingham’s white Christian and Jewish communities were more devoted to “’order’ than to justice.” Today there is a growing community of human rights activists in the U.S., around the world, and especially in PalestineIsrael whose behavior mirrors and extends King’s confrontation with injustice in their own efforts to break the silence on the injustice of the cruel, oppressive Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian people. They realize that by maintaining a deafening silence, mainstream U.S. media and political leadership keep large segments of the U.S. population ignorant about the true nature of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice, and human rights. Few Americans know that the Palestinian freedom struggle has been predominantly nonviolent for the vast majority of Palestinians, and has always been grounded in some of the same principles expounded by Martin Luther King, Jr. In his “Letter,” King identifies four basic components of a nonviolent campaign: “collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action.” So what are the facts of the Israeli injustices against the Palestinian people? For more than 62 years beginning in 1948, reminiscent of the ethnic cleansing experienced by Native Americans, Palestinian Muslims and Christians (the indigenous descendants of the first Christians) have suffered as the Israeli government expels them from their homelands, creating the state of Israel upon the 500-plus Arab-Palestinian towns and villages. The suffering continues under a 42-year Israeli occupation marked by land confiscations for settlement building and wall construction and by restrictions on movement: to work, markets and
water; to agricultural land and olive trees; to health facilities and educational institutions; and to Christian and Muslim religious sites, all but destroying family ties – discrimination similar to America’s segregated past. The separation wall and Israeli-only roads and settlements in Palestine divide populations racially for the benefit of illegal Israeli settlers (echoes of apartheid South Africa). Israel’s apartheid system has caused thousands of civilian deaths, many of them children, and widespread human rights violations. While the injustices mount, Israel has defied rulings by the International Court of Justice, violating more than 65 UN Resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention. Americans have been led to believe that Palestinians have not been “honest partners for peace.” The truth is, however, negotiating for their freedom has been a daunting task. Palestinians have experienced the same broken
illegal Israeli settlement expansion in Palestine, a policy that President Obama attempted but failed to enforce upon Israel. Surviving this imbalance and the suffering it causes has been traumatic for Palestinians, requiring unimaginable resources of strength and faith. King would have identified with their plight and their need to find ways to cope with and confront their circumstances in ways that enable them to sustain themselves. King describes the process of self-purification as selfanalysis and a way of discovering the extent to which he and his fellow protesters were prepared to endure the ordeals of their nonviolent actions. For many Palestinians, their lives as devoted Muslims and Christians make selfpurification through fasting and prayer a much-practiced tradition and surely one that has empowered them during nearly 100 years of suffering and injustice. One ultimate self-purifying act within Palestinian society is articulated in
Americans have been led to believe that Palestinians have not been “honest partners for peace.” promises, “blasted” hopes, and deep disappointments that King describes in his negotiations with Birmingham’s white leaders. President Clinton’s famed Oslo Peace Process began in 1993 with negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli leadership and the promise to end Israel’s occupation and the formation of a Palestinian state. Essential to these negotiations, however, was a blatant imbalance of power: on the stronger side, the nation of Israel, militarily superior and prosperous, supported by the wealth and power of the U.S., controlling more than 78% of original Palestine; on the weaker side, the Palestinians, barely surviving and holding on to the remaining 22% of land. Currently, Palestinian leadership has refused to return to negotiations due to Israel’s unwillingness to abide by past agreements and to cease expanding illegal settlements. Israel has scoffed at and dismissed longstanding U.S. policy of ending
the recent Kairos Document by Palestine’s Christian leadership, a document that proclaims “that our Christian word in the midst of all [the tragedies in our lives], in the midst of our catastrophe, is a word of faith, hope and love.” http://www.voltairenet.org/article1 63282.html While Americans know well the direct action tactics of the movement King led, little do they know about the decades of Palestinian engagement in nonviolent, civil resistance for justice and freedom. As far back as 1902, Palestinian villagers, in what is now Israel, staged peaceful protests against confiscation of their land by European Zionist settlers. From 1987 to 1993, during the largely nonviolent mass movement of the First Intifada, Palestinians were involved in mass public demonstrations, refusing to pay taxes, boycotting Israeli goods and facilities, and planting olive trees on land confiscated by
Israelis. But the most effective resistance to Israeli expulsions, expansionism, and occupation has been their refusal to stop “living in their homes, going to school, eating and living.” According to Palestinian scholar and human rights activist Mazin Qumsiyeh, “this colonial occupation wants all Palestinians to give up and leave the country. . . . When Shepherds go to their fields despite repeated attacks by settlers and even the attempted poisoning of their sheep, that is non-violent resistance. When Palestinians walk to school while being spat on, kicked and beaten by settlers and soldiers, that is non-violent resistance. When Palestinians spend hours at check points to get to hospital, their farm land, their work, their schools, or to visit their friends, that is nonviolent resistance.” http://www.qumsiyeh.org/palestini annonviolentresistance/ More recently, Palestinians, along with Israeli and international activists, are resisting by protesting the construction of the separation wall that is stealing more of their land. In February, demonstrators in the village of Bil’in cleverly invoked Hollywood, reenacting the film Avatar by dressing up as the blue Na’vi natives opposing the encroaching occupation of an Alien (human) corporate empire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Chw32qG-M7E Israel’s typical response to these nonviolent protests and others by Palestinians against home expulsions in East Jerusalem includes shooting rubber bullets and live ammunition, tossing tear gas, and showering protesters with sewage – the Israeli equivalent of Alabama’s Bull Connor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= WC1xG4j5kdA&feature=related While dozens of Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations are participants in this nonviolent, civil rights movement, the international community is also supporting the campaign by heeding the call of Palestinian Civil Society in 2005 for boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel. This international campaign (inspired by the international BDS campaign against apartheid South Africa) is the most politically and morally sound civil resistance
Sanna Nimtz Towns with young people at the Dheisheh Refugee Camp
Sanna Nimtz Towns at the Israeli separation wall; an example of the resistance art found all along this wall. strategy for ending Israeli occupation of Palestine until Israel complies with International Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights. Closer to home, human rights activists here in Minnesota recently received extraordinary support at precinct caucuses for the “Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign: Divest for Justice in Palestine,” a campaign calling on the state of Minnesota to divest from Israel Bonds. King’s appeal to the Birmingham clergy, pleading with them to break their silence and speak for justice, is equal to the pleas of the Palestinian Christian leadership of the Kairos Document as they call on Christians and Muslims, Palestinians and Israelis, and the world community for a serious commitment to justice and freedom for the Palestinian people. Furthermore, King is critical of the lax leadership of his fellow clergy and reminds them of the early
Christians; they, too, struggled against injustices and endured criticisms but remained steadfast in their beliefs, thus, determined to transform “the mores of society.” How ironic that the descendants of the first Christians, the Palestinian Christian leadership, find themselves repeating the struggle for justice of their ancestors. Today this is their message to the world: “These days, everyone is speaking about peace in the Middle East and the peace process. So far, however, these are simply words; the reality is one of Israeli occupation . . . [and] deprivation of our freedom.” Sanna Nimtz Towns, Ph.D., is a Retired Teacher and has traveled twice to Palestine-Israel, in 2005 on a research-related St. Paul Schools Travel Grant for teachers and this past summer. Much of her work on Palestine-Israel involves educating others and especially students about the conflict.
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Our Pledge To Toyota Drivers When Kiichiro Toyoda brought Toyota into the auto business in 1937, he created a set of principles that has always guided how we operate. The pillars of the “Toyota Way” are “respect for people” and “continuous improvement.” These remain core values – and we’ll adhere closely to them as we make vehicle safety our top priority. We have already taken decisive steps to make things right for our drivers. - All 172,000 team members and dealers across North America are working day and night to fix our recalled vehicles – and one million have already been repaired. - Our solutions are effective and durable – and we are confident that no problems exist with our electronic throttle control system. - We’ve asked a world-class engineering firm to conduct a comprehensive independent analysis of this system. Their interim report confirms that its multiple fail-safes work – and we will make their final report public. But we are not stopping there. Toyota will set a new standard for speed of response on safety issues. For example, we are expanding our field monitoring team with the goal of conducting on-site inspections of unwanted acceleration reports as soon as possible. And we’ll be a leader in introducing advanced safety technologies to provide you with added confidence – including an advanced brake override system that automatically cuts engine power when the accelerator and brake pedals are both engaged. We’ll ask distinguished independent safety experts to ensure that the enhanced quality controls we’re putting in place conform to best industry practices. We continue to produce many of the best vehicles on the road. Many of you who are bringing your vehicles to our dealers for repair continue to tell us that, and we deeply appreciate your loyalty. More than anything, we want you to feel safe, knowing the vehicles you are driving are among the safest, most reliable in the world. Sincerely,
Jim Lentz President and Chief Operating Officer Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
To learn more about what we’re doing for customers, please visit:
toyota.com ©2010 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Customer Experience Center: 1-800-331-4331
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Lions From 1 people of Sierra Leone as they rebuild their lives and country. Louise specializes in telling stories that need to be told—from going into the complicated lives of teens, into the homes of hospice patients living until they die, to remote mountain villages in Haiti where children walk 3 hours to school to eat their only meal of the day, and into 3 remote Cree Communities where diabetes is considered an epidemic. Her films reflect her heart and win awards. The Woehrles’ are committed to outreach and support efforts in
Scene from Pride of Lions, a documentary film (52-minute) about Sierra Leone, will premier on March 20th at 3:00 p.m. at the Walker Art Center
Scene from Pride of Lions Sierra Leone through the screening of their film worldwide, including Sierra Leone. The documentary features the founder of Global Action
Foundation, Dr. Dan Kelly and Sierra Leone Dr. Bailor Barrie, Managing Director of the Kono Clinic-two humanitarians dedicated to tackling extreme
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poverty in war-disabled communities by providing affordable healthcare and sustainable businesses. Organizations like Global Action Foundation, The Center for Victims of Torture and several others serving the needs in Sierra Leone are using the film to raise awareness and unite people. The filmmakers’ intention for the film is becoming a reality. The 84-minute version of the film was screened at the 2009
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival and received 2nd place “Audience Choice” award for best feature documentary, also winning “Best Feature Documentary” at the Hardacre Film Festival and “Audience Award” for best feature documentary at the Red Rocks Film Festival. It will also be screening Aril, 29 in the World Bank African Film series in Washington D.C. Crew: Directors: Louise &
John Woehrle, Producer: Louise Woehrle, Director of Photography: Bill Carlson, Second Camera & Location Audio Jim Dreher, Editor: Ben Watne, Post Production: Splice Here in Minneapolis, Executive Producer: John Woehrle
GAMC
supportive of this model. Their support was based on the reality that the alternative, uncompensated care provided in emergency rooms, affects everyone in the form of higher health care premiums, higher medical costs, and higher property taxes.
To paraphrase the bill’s author, Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL65A), our state may be short on resources, but we’re rich on conscience. Minnesotans who receive GAMC benefits all earn less than $8,000 per year. Eighty percent have mental health issues and 60 percent have chronic
From 1
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override his veto fell short, with an 86-47 vote, although a future reconsideration vote is still a possibility. The GAMC program is scheduled to expire on April 1st and the Department of Human Services (DHS) is moving ahead, per the Governor’s instructions, to auto-enroll recipients in the illsuited MinnesotaCare program. The legislative solution, Senate File 2168, was drafted after months of discussion and compromise with key advocates and interest groups. It restored the GAMC program for 16 months in a financially responsible manner by instituting system reforms, including a coordinated care delivery option, mental health urgent care, and rapid access to psychiatry. Other cost-cutting measures, including the tightening of eligibility guidelines and provider rate cuts, made the temporary program less expensive to run. Hospitals and other providers recognize that action is needed and despite the difficulties presented by the funding mechanism were
To learn more and view trailer go to: www.prideoflionsfilm.com
In short, the Governor’s proposal is not a solution. The Legislature’s solution is significantly less expensive and more cost-effective than Gov. Pawlenty’s proposal to autoenroll GAMC recipients into MinnesotaCare. The Governor’s plan would provide care to 21,000 Minnesotans per month at a cost of $937 per enrollee for six months, while our legislative solution would provide care to 38,000 per month at a cost of $457 per enrollee for 16 months. More specifically, the Governor’s plan would impose a $10,000 cap on inpatient care, a four-month waiting period for coverage, and a monthly premium on a population that earns less than $8,000 per year. In short, the Governor’s proposal is not a solution.
medical conditions. The House gallery on the day of our debate included several veterans, who are representative of the 8,000 veterans served by this program. This legislative solution was designed as a step in the direction of stable housing, employment, and health for a vulnerable portion of our population. Key House and Senate leaders are continuing negotiations with the Governor’s office and it is possible that outside organizations will mount legal efforts to try to stop the auto-enrollment process. Please be assured that I will continue to fight for this fiscally and morally responsible bill.
ACKNOWLEDGE APPRECIATE REMEMBER REJOICE
Comcast Celebrates Black History
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AESTHETICS Book review
The First: President Barack Obama’s Road to the White House By Kam Williams “On February 10, 2007, Barack Hussein Obama stood before thousands waiting in the cold in front of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois and made his intentions known: he was running for president. This book traces tracks this journey through my eyes as I covered the improbable road to the presidency of Obama... My aim in publishing this book is to offer an historical account of covering this stunning and exciting race, but to also offer in real-time the ups and downs of the campaign, and even take a look back at various moments from my perspective, as well as those of some of the entertainers and others I crossed paths with along the way.” Excerpted from the Introduction
(pgs. xxii-xxiii) If you’re interested in revisiting the 2008 Presidential campaign from the perspective of an African American journalist afforded access to candidate Barack Obama, then this coffee table keepsake was undoubtedly
nationally-syndicated columnist. The First: President Barack Obama’s Road to the White House is essentially a chronological rehash of Martin’s interviews, articles and news stories which collectively paint a complete picture of the evolution
“Essentially a chronological rehash of Martin’s interviews, articles and news stories which collectively paint a complete picture of the evolution of Obama from long shot to contender...” designed with you in mind. For, between December of 2006 and Election Day a couple years later, Roland Martin filed hundreds of reports, in his capacity as a political correspondent for the CNN and TV-One Networks, as a radio talk show host, and as a
of Obama from long shot to contender to favorite to the first Black President of the United States. What is likely to make this opus fairly absorbing for the average history buff is the fact that these real-time entries
Opera serves as fulcrum for unfunny, unlikely-buddy comedy By Kam Williams Anton (Gabriel Casseus) is a mildly-retarded 28-year-old reminiscent of that title character Cuba Gooding played in Radio. The difference here is that this idiot savant is blessed with a love of opera and a great singing voice. Unfortunately, the prospects aren’t exactly brilliant for
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Anton, given that he’s stuck working in a dead-end job at a laundromat. Plus, he lives with his overprotective aunt (Eyde Byrde) because his gullibility and generosity make him easy prey for the unsavory vultures prowling around his Harlem neighborhood. Everything changes the day he decides to run away from home to pursue his passion and ends up in Greenwich Village where he forges an unlikely friendship with homeless Wes (Damon Wayans), one of those bad things that happens to good people. The fast-talking street hustler introduces his mark to Matthew (Christian Camargo), a classical pianist playing requests for passersby in Washington Square Park. Soon, Anton and Matthew are performing together, with
Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Elliot Stewart-Franzen Web Design & Content Associate Ben Williams Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. MinneAPOlis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC) Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI) National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
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Damon Wayans in a scene from Harlem Aria
conniving Wes serving as their manager and collecting tips for the suddenly popular panhandling duo. Don’t be fooled by Harlem Aria’s promising premise or syrupy sweet resolution, since the problems with the production betwixt and between are plentiful, starting with Wayans’ portrayal of Wes as a jive and relentlessly-crass creep. From his use of the nword (like “Niggerati” in lieu of the Blak Pavarotti) to his homophobic asides (ala “You look like a gay Ninja Turtle”) his lines are more apt to offend than to induce laughter. And I wasn’t sure what to make of half of his ostensibly improvised non-sequiturs, such as “My d*ck is bigger than your d*ck, and I’m going to hit you with it if you don’t shut the f*ck up.” Co-star Gabriel Casseus‘ interpretation of Anton was equally troubling, given that here’s a half-wit who seemingly can’t even boil water who somehow magically morphs into a talented tenor capable of crooning all the classic operas in their native languages perfectly, simply by donning a tuxedo replete with tails. Harlem Aria marks the ignominious directorial debut of William Jennings, who made the movie way back in 1999. It tells you something when a film takes over a decade to find a distributor. Basically, a oneman coon show that relies on crude jokes delivered in African American cadence for comic relief. 100 minutes of Hell that had me reaching for my meds.
Poor (0 stars) Rated R for crude and profane language. Running time: 100 Minutes Distributor: Magnolia Pictures To see a trailer for Harlem Aria, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=a-AUhze9CHM
accurately reflect the pulse of the country at each moment of the campaign, as the political sands shifted back and forth beneath the feet of the pivotal players. It’s all recounted here, mostly in the author’s own words, from the Iowa caucuses (“All of a sudden, there is a sense that Obama actually could win this thing.”) to the Michelle Obama patriotism question (“Was it a big deal. Nope?”) to the Rev. Wright controversy (“I fundamentally believe that whites and Blacks reacted differently [to] the snippets of Wright’s preaching.”). Overall, the astute observations of a partisan who never hid his allegiances yet still proved pretty prescient in terms of forecasting the outcome of the landmark presidential election.
Regina Carter’s
REVERSE THREAD MON MAR PM TED MANN Contemporary violinist brings her tenacious force in an African movement reflecting music from Mali, Senegal, Uganda, and more. This activity is made possible in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts In addition Jazz
KBEM-FM and the Twin Cities Jazz Society provide partnership support for Northrop Music Season Special support provided by Jazz is NOW! The presentation of Regina Carter Quartet has been made possible with the support from Chamber Music America’s Presenting Jazz Program funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Sponsored by Global Spotlight the Office of International Programs at the University of Minnesota
Celebrating 80 Years
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HEALTH Wrong Place, Wrong Time explores trauma By Marian Wright Edelman When young Black men are the victims of violent injuries in their urban neighborhoods, what happens next? This question haunted Dr. John Rich, who was educated at Dartmouth, Duke, and Harvard, was a primary care doctor at Boston Medical Center, and was the founder of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Young Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Clinic. In both settings he was in constant contact with young men who had been victims of violence, and of course he was
deeply concerned about the physical scars he kept treating. But as a Black doctor dealing with the aftermath of violence in young Black men day after day, Dr. Rich felt a special connection with his patients and wanted to know about more than just the medical effects of the gunshot and knife wounds he was seeing. He wanted to understand their emotional and psychological impact. Dr. Rich and his colleagues kept asking themselves why they were seeing so many victims of violence and what they could do to try to
break the cycle, and he believed listening to survivorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories might help him find an answer. He began interviewing young men in the hospital as they were recovering from their injuries, often following up after they returned home and sometimes staying in touch for months or years. He shares some of these stories and what he learned from them in his powerful new book Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Trauma and Violence in the Lives of Young Black Men. In his preface he explains that even though violent murders often grab headlines, with violence, deaths are only â&#x20AC;&#x153;the tip of the iceberg.â&#x20AC;? He notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated that for every homicide there are about 100 nonfatal violent incidents. He says studies have found that as deadly as guns are, â&#x20AC;&#x153;for every person who
gets shot and dies, another four get shot and survive.â&#x20AC;? Dr. Rich believes we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay enough attention to surviving victims and have â&#x20AC;&#x153;underestimated the impact that violence has on these young men and their communities.â&#x20AC;? When Dr. Rich started collecting his patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories, he realized that although little research had been done on trauma among young Black victims of violence, their stories were echoing research on responses to trauma in other groups like rape survivors and soldiers returning from combat. These responses include hyper vigilance and the constant feeling of being in danger; being unable to feel at all and exposing themselves to more danger in an attempt to feel something; returning to danger to prove to themselves they had mastered their fears; or using alcohol or drugs to try to ease pain.
It became painfully easy to connect the dots and see how these common responses to trauma play out in the lives of many survivors of innercity violence, and why, in many cases, they lead to more violence. When many survivors are concentrated in a single area, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also clear how these cycles of trauma and violence repeat themselves and infect that entire community. Dr. Rich also came to understand more about why violence made sense to some of the patients he was treating. One epiphany occurred after 17-year-old Jimmy explained that his friends were anxious to have some sort of â&#x20AC;&#x153;repâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;[j]ust to be known. People donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to be nobodies these daysâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? Dr. Rich realized, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had gotten used to talking about senseless violence. How could violence be anything but
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senseless?...But Jimmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s argument, when I laid it out front of me, told me that violence made sense to him.
RICH TURN TO
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Sabathani seeks community help for food bank Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that time of year, and Sabathani is once again asking the community to help fill the stomachs of hungry children and adults who rely on its food shelf every day. Sabathani hopes to be a recipient of people responding to Minnesota FoodShareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March Campaign, an annual effort focusing on the problems of hunger in communities across the state. Sabathani encourages individuals, schools, churches, businesses and civic groups to â&#x20AC;&#x153;be a superhero in the fight against hunger,â&#x20AC;? this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign giving slogan. Sabathaniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food shelf is the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most used program, distributing more than a half million pounds of food a year to more than 6,000 families throughout South Minneapolis and beyond. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If it werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for Sabathani, many, many people [in the community] would have a hard time getting access to food,â&#x20AC;?
said Sandra Richardson, program manager in Family Resources at Sabathani. Sabathani is asking as many people as possible to donate non-perishable food items this month. Cash donations are acceptable, too. Groups and organizations are encouraged to have fun and be creative. Donating for casual days at work, giving competitions between company departments or church ministries, food donations in lieu of wedding gifts or home fund raising parties are a few ideas that people use to get food donations. Of the families who use Sabathaniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food shelf, nearly 90 percent earn less than the federal poverty levels, while the remaining subsist with household incomes between 100% and 200% of poverty. However, a growing number of food shelf users are middleincome families struggling in the present economy with lower wages because of reduced hours
on their job or surviving on unemployment income, said Richardson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These are people who have not used a food shelf or other support services before. When they do find out about Sabathani, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve often been suffering for a while. We want everybody to know that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here for them.â&#x20AC;? Food donations can be made directly to Sabathani MondayFriday between 9 am and 3:30 pm. Weekend deliveries can be made by appointment by calling Kevin at (651) 276-9646. Dropoff is in the left rear of the parking lot through the large gates. Cash donations can be mailed to the building address at 310 E. 38th St., Suite 200; Minneapolis, MN 55409 or made online through the website at http://www.sabathani.org. The building is located on 38th Street in a former school building between Third and Fourth avenues. Sabathani was created in 1966 to provide structured activities for area youths. Today
EVERYBODY NEEDS CARE No matter who you are, everybody needs care at some point. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why UCare welcomes all members of our diverse community. While the needs of every body may be different, health is something we all have in common, so quality health care
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Sabathani serves 20,000 people a year through four core programs: Family Resources (food shelf, free clothing and household goods, emergency assistance and navigation services);\ Horizons Youth Program (after-school academic support through mentoring and behavior modification); Senior Center (onsite medical services, transportation and shopping assistance, physical fitness and social engagement); First Access Health Center (free medical and low-cost dental care for children, registration for fitness classes, gardening education and a Farmers Market). Sabathaniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to strengthen youth, children and families and to build the capacity of the community that it serves. The overall goal of the organization is to move families from crisis to stabilization and self-sufficiency.
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Insight News • March 8 - March 14, 2010 • Page 7
BUSINESS Where Have You Been? Look to pastimes for better career planning Plan your career
By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Hella Buchheim is a story-teller. She has landed a vocation that meets anyone’s criteria for a great job: she sets her own hours, works with fabulous characters and makes a little money. If she had health insurance, it would be perfect.
On her website, Hella writes, “Most writers lament the road not taken. It brings us into a loop of should-as, could-as, would-as. But I want to celebrate the road taken.” Watching Hella write her own story and considering that all of us have loops of shouldacoulda’s, I got to thinking that a really great career is the one that capitalizes on the road taken. Every connection, every hobby, everything we do to relax comes out of choices we make on our own behalf: The road taken. What have you done in the past that really lights you up? Finish this sentence: I always smile when I think about the time… (we built that go-kart, I closed that sale, they gave me
that award). What did that feel like? What else were you doing at that time? How did you get to the point where you made the choices that made that situation happen? Are you looking for work? Or are you looking for opportunities to get that smile back all over again? When your choices take you on a road you enjoy, it shows in your eyes, your face, your attitude. Walk into a business and apply for a position you want, one you know you can do well and you know you’re going to smile about, and the hiring manager will catch your excitement before they even look at your application. The road taken might include
scenic routes and roundabouts. Look at these side-trips for ideas on where you should be looking for work. Maybe your career has been in purchasing, but your passion is photography. Every weekend you drive around the city taking photos. You sell some online; you give some away to friends. It’s a hobby and it is also a road taken. You made the choice to learn lenses and you get jazzed about cameras. Any film shop or camera dealer would be thrilled to bring you on board. Soon, many Minnesotans who have been looking for work are going to find opportunities to become employed. In planning your next career move, look back
At 700,000 pending cases, Social Security backlog lowest since 2005 Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, last week announced that the number of disability hearings pending stands at 697,437 cases — the lowest level since June 2005 and down more than 71,000 cases since December 2008, when the trend of month-by-month reductions began. In addition, the average processing time for hearing decisions has decreased to 442 days, down from a high of 514 days at the end of fiscal year
(FY) 2008. “We have decreased the number of hearings pending by almost 10 percent over the last 14 months and cut the time it takes to make a decision by nearly two and a half months. This remarkable progress shows our backlog reduction plan is working,” Commissioner Astrue said. “With ongoing support from the President and Congress as well as the efforts of our hardworking employees, I am confident the hearings
backlog will continue to diminish.” Social Security has actively addressed the hearings backlog and increased the capacity to hold more hearings. The agency hired 147 Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and over 1,000 support staff in FY 2009, and has plans to hire an additional 226 ALJs this year. The agency now has four National Hearing Centers to help process hearings by video conference for the most
hard-hit areas of the country. The agency also has aggressive plans to open 14 new hearing offices and three satellite offices by the end of the year. The first of these offices was opened in Anchorage, Alaska on February 19, 2010.
Rich
for Nonviolence and Social Justice and Professor and Chair of Health Management and Policy at the Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia. The Center’s goal is to change the dialogue about violence “away from terms of blame and dehumanization and toward a language of injury and healing.” The Center hopes to help health, mental health, juvenile justice, and education systems understand the relationship between trauma and violence and how healing is critical to serving these young people. One key program reaches out to injured
youths in a Philadelphia emergency department, pairing them with professionals who can help with their trauma and a community outreach worker who helps with basic needs like enrolling in school or getting a job. This idea is starting to be replicated in other cities. In 2006 Dr. Rich was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” Fellowship for his work. Scholar-practitioners like him are helping find the answers we urgently need to better understand the cycle of violence and save our children from being its next victims.
Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.
From 6 Violence worked in his world to accomplish something that all of us wanted—to be somebody—but that Jimmy could not find any other way to do.” Dr. Rich believes we all need to better understand why young men like these are getting caught up in the cycle of violence—not to excuse their behavior, but to help change it. He is now the Director of the Center
For more information about Social Security’s hearings process and backlog reduction initiatives, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/appeals.
at the road you’ve been on and think about how you can let your past choices show you where you should go next.
Julie is Director of Help Wanted! Workshops in Minneapolis. Write to julie@insightnews.com.
Page 8 • March 8 - March 14, 2010 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE Saying no to instant fixes; celebrating Spring by getting active outdoors Style on a dime
By Marcia Humphrey I’m getting a late start on this week’s article because I just came in from riding my new bike (got it
from Costco for a good deal-it would’ve cost at least $100 more at Dick’s Sporting Goods). I couldn’t resist the beautiful sunny weather and warm temperatures. Spring is definitely coming and that’s my cue to put my fitness activities into high gear-I’ll soon be peeling out of my long heavy sweaters, and I need to make sure that I can comfortably fit back into my warm-weather clothing. After all, who has money to buy a new wardrobe just because of gaining a few pounds??
Like many women, I am always looking for a new, quicker way to reach my fitness goals, without expensive meal plans like Jenny Craig or high-cost personal training sessions. By visiting the library and borrowing, not buying, a few key fitness magazines, like Self, Shape, and Women’s Fitness, I have combined a few principles to make my own DIY Spring Fitness Program-I’m calling it “Just Say, ‘NO!’” So join me on my fitness quest, and hopefully we will soon be putting away winter coats with confidence! NO More Shooting for Instant Results! Since I know that slow and steady gives better results, I plan to lose 1-2 pounds a week by eating several small meals throughout the day, which helps to keep my metabolism moving. I’m not going with my old strategy of fasting to shed pounds quickly, only to find them, plus one additional pound, a week later. Also I will give myself two to three weeks to slowly reduce portion size and I’ll begin keeping a food journal. NO Starving Myself! Lots of unsuccessful dieters complain that it’s hard to stick to a diet, because they feel deprived. For me, when I still feel unsatisfied after eating a meal, I go on an eating rampage!
DFL From 1 convention. Higgins however, was challenged by Northside architect and community
walkingfit.ucr.edu
I have been known to hit two, even three drive-thru windows, in one day, trying to satisfy my demanding taste buds. Truth is, there are some foods that are far more satisfying than others: vegetable and bean-based soups and chilis, lean grilled meats, brown rice, whole grain couscous and pastas, are all good choices that keep you feeling full. Don’t forget the nuts; just don’t overdo it — about a handful will do. NO Being a Couch Potato! Now that my neighborhood streets are no longer covered with a sheet of ice, I’m going to take my new activist, Raymond Dehn, who conceded the contest to Higgins after the first round of balloting resulted in nearly 70% of delegates voting for Higgins. Sixty percent of votes were required to secure the endorsement. Dehn conceded
bike out for a spin or lace up my gym shoes and take a brisk walk at least 3 times weekly (as long as the weather is at least 35 degrees). When I can’t go out, I plan on using the free On-Demand feature of my Comcast cable service to access fitness videos that I can do in my family room. So you see, there is absolutely no reason why I have to pay big bucks to jumpstart my fitness program (no reason for you to either). Since successful eating is probably 85% of the fitness equation, and exercise is the other 15%, my goal is to say, “NO” to mindless eating; say, “NO” to
supersized meals; and say “NO” to the notion that eating is the only social activity that there is! Finally, I plan to celebrate spring by going outdoors as often as possible and moving —it’s a gift from God to have strength to do so. Enjoy!
and moved unanimous endorsement for Higgins in a move to promote DFL Party unity in North Minneapolis. Delegates applauded Dehn for his effort and for his cooperative and conciliatory spirit when he withdrew and offered the motion selecting Higgins. In other convention business, the District elected Makeda Zulu Gillespie to succeed Natonia Johnson as District chair, and elected Shirlynn LaChapelle to District 58 Affirmative Action Officer. Jeff Strand, Associate Chair, Sandra Bates, Secretary, and Jim Moran, Treasurer were reelected to their existing officer posts. The convention named
Natonia Johnson, Brett Buckner, Kenya McKnight, Jerry Moore, Terra Cole, David Young, Marie Castle, Al McFarlane, Caroline Duffy, Linda Elston, and Brian Bushay as Directors for the Senate District 58 DFL Party, and named the Rev. Randolph Staten, Deven Nelson, Kevin Shannon, Nada Jones, and Sellano Simmons to the DFL State Central Committee, and named Michael Brown and Sylvester Seward as delegates to the Congressional District 5 Convention.
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.
For further DFL58.org.
information
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Insight News • March 8 - March 14, 2010 • Page 9
New hires, promotions strengthen Northeast Bank team Recently Hired Officers Mark A. Ethen has recently accepted the position of Executive Vice President – Chief Credit Officer at Northeast Bank. Mark has over 18 years of experience in banking. Mark earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University and his MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking in Norman, Oklahoma. Mark’s office is located at the main bank location in Minneapolis. Annette J. Wanchena was recently hired as Vice President/Cash Management at Northeast Bank. Previously, Annette was a Retail Branch Manager/Cash Management Specialist/AVP. Annette volunteers for Junior Achievement, Best Prep, and her church. Annette’s office is located at the Minneapolis bank location. Recently Promoted Officers Andrea K. Murphy has been promoted to Assistant Vice President - Commercial Loans. Andrea started with Northeast Bank in June 2001 as a Credit Analyst. She became Senior Credit Analyst in 2004, Credit Officer in 2006, and then Commercial Loan Officer in
Mark Ethen
Annette Wanchena
Andrea Murphy
Barb Wagner
Pam Harris
2009. At that time, Andrea was relocated from our Minneapolis location to our Columbia Heights location where she currently offices.
Northeast Bank is proud to announce the addition of Pamela M. Harris to their Board of Directors. Ms. Harris is a Partner with the firm of Martin & Squires, PA in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has been practicing law since 1978, focusing in the area of employment law since 1985. She holds a B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota (1970) and a J.D. with honors from Hamline University School of Law (1978). Ms. Harris devotes a substantial portion of her practice to assisting public and private employers in preventing legal problems. She is the author of the American Red
Cross national training materials dealing with disability discrimination and HIV/AIDS in the workplace, and three joint publications with the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development, including: An Employer’s Guide to Employee Handbooks in Minnesota; Leave Comparison for Minnesota Employers; and Why and How to Conduct a Human Resources Audit in Minnesota. She frequently provides employment law training for managers, and taught “Employment Law for Nonprofit Managers” at the University of St. Thomas from 1991 to 2005. She also taught “Employment Law” to second and third year law students at
Hamline University School of Law for two academic years. Pam has been a member of nonprofit boards of directors
since 1986. In addition, she currently is an elected member of the Falcon Heights City Council.
Barb J. Wagner has been promoted to Vice President Operations. Barb started with Northeast Bank in November 1996 as a Head Teller at our Columbia Heights location. In 1999 she was promoted to Teller Supervisor, then Teller Manager in 2002, Operations Officer in 2003, then Assistant Vice President - Operations in 2008. Barb currently offices at the Minneapolis location. Newly Appointed Board of Director
Remembering the Hon. Linda J. Wejcman The Hon. Linda J. Wejcman, of Minneapolis, passed away from acute leukemia February 22, 2010. She was 70years-old. Wejcman is preceded in death by her parents Keith and Violet Emrich. She is survived by husband, Jim; siblings, Jerry (Lillian) Emrich, Arlington, VA, Dr. Keith Ross (Samsiah Abdul-Majid) Emrich, Briarcliff Manor, NY; nieces, Leith and Mandy Emrich; and nephews Adam and Shamsul Emrich. Wejcman was a former Minnesota state legislator who represented South Minneapolis for10 years (1991-2001).
She also served as Speaker Pro Tempore. A partial list of legislative bills authored by Wejcam: Neighborhood Revitalization Program; Female Genital Mutilation Crime; Safe Houses for Homeless Youth Services; Noncitizen Food Stamp Program; Business Incubator Construction; JOBS, Community Work Program; Disabled Child in-Home Services; and Amendment to the Human Rights Act. Services were held on Sunday at Thomson-Dougherty Mansion, 2535 Park Ave Minneapolis. Linda J.Wejcman
Page 10 • March 8 - March 14, 2010 • Insight News
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COMMUNITY Free tax preparation at Sabathani Community Center Sabathani Community Center will be preparing free tax returns every Saturday through the end of the tax season for people with low to moderate incomes. Generally, service is available to families with an annual income of $45,000 or less and individuals with $30,000 or less. This is a walk in service. The building opens at 8 am, registration begins at 8:30 am. in room 129 and tax services are provided from 9 am until Noon. Tax preparers are IRS-certified volunteers from across the Twin Cities. Sabathani is partnering with Accountability Minnesota a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer tax preparers and financial services to individuals with limited means. Staff from Wells Fargo Bank will be present to open checking accounts for direct deposit of refunds and assist with other banking needs for those interested. Free credit reports will also be available. Sabathani encourages those taking advantage of this free service to arrive prepared —be sure to bring all documentation applicable to your situation. Minimum requirements are:
• •
Calendar of Events
The Sports Family Forum - Mar 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.
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. 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
• • • •
Photo ID Social Security Card or Individual Tax Identification Number Birthdates and social security numbers for all persons listed on tax return Income statements or W2s for each job All 1099 forms received Year-end income for MFIP, SSI, MSA, GA, Veterans benefits, Workers Comp
Additional items to maximize your refund include: • Previous year’s tax return • Direct Deposit Information: voided check or savings account number • Education expenses • Homeowners statements • Renters statements • Charitable donations • Child care expenses • Tuition or other expenses you wish to deduct. Call (612) 821-2396 for information about registration, eligibility or documentation —
MN-NAME Happy Hour - Mar 11 Thurs., Mar. 11, 5:00 - 6:30pm at Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake Street, Mpls. Free, food and drinks will be on individual tabs. (612) 872-4041. www.midtownglobalmarket.org 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
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)788Evening Maintenance and Security Worker 6920.
JOB LOCATION: Twin Cities Metro 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
“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. Huntington Place Apartments 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
Sabathani is unable to process Schedule C. Sabathani was created in 1966 to provide structured activities for area youths. Today Sabathani is a multi-service organization serving 20,000 people a year through four core programs: Family Resources (food shelf, free clothing and household goods, emergency assistance, information and referral & advocacy services); Horizons Youth Program (afterschool academic support through mentoring and behavior modification); Senior Center (onsite medical services, transportation and shopping assistance, physical fitness and social engagement); and First Access Health Center (free medical and low-cost dental care for children, registration for fitness classes, gardening education and a Farmers Market). Sabathani’s mission is to strengthen youth, children and families and to build the capacity of the community that it serves. The overall goal of the organization is to move families from crisis to stabilization and self-sufficiency. collaboration-llc.com
Shiloh Temple Intl. Min. is hosting an all night bash - Mar. 12 1 Party, 3 different locations, $30.00 March 12th at 9 p.m. 612-302-1463. Twin Cities Sustainable Communities Conference - Mar 12, 13 Central Lutheran Church, 333 12th Street S., Mpls. (next to the Mpls Convention Center). Local Government Sustainability Workshop - Fri., Mar. 12 Noon to 5pm, Central Lutheran Church, 333 12th Street S, Mpls. Free. http://www.afors.org/ 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. Gaza—One Year Later - Mar 13 Sat., Mar. 13, 1:00 p.m. at Matthews Community Center, 2318 29th Ave. South, Mpls. Guest Speaker: Jennifer Loewenstein. Sponsored by: The WAMM Middle East. FFI: Call 612-827-5364. 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 SquareLoring 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 Regina Carter, Jazz violinist - Mar 15 Mon., March 15, 7:30 PM at Northrop Memorial Auditorium, 84 Church Street S.E., Mpls. $40.
www.reginacarter.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. Flight of Fashion - Mar 16 Tues., Mar. 16, from 5:30 - 8:00 PM at the Mall of America. Tix: $20 until Mar. 15, $25 at the door. “An evening of networking, a fashion show with the latest spring attire and information on helping women and their children become financially stable” http://wingsfashionshow.eventbrite.com Vail Place 2010 Annual Meeting, “The Road to Recovery” - Mar 16 Tues., 4:30 PM at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Avenue South Mpls. No cost to attend but donations are welcome. All event proceeds will benefit Vail Place’s mental health recovery services. RSVP To: Greg Heaton-Hill, 952-938-9622 Ext. 25. www.vailplace.org Hennepin County Foreclosure Workshop - Mar 23 Tues, March 23, 6:30 p.m. at Hennepin County Library – Augsburg Park, 7100 Nicollet Ave., Richfield. Hennepin County Taxpayers Services and the Minnesota Home Ownership. 952-8475300. 2nd Family Night (Welcome parents and friends) - Mar. 25 Thurs., Mar. 25, 4:30 - 7:00 pm at Hmong International Academy - Minneapolis Public School, 1501 - 30th Avenue North. 612-668-2250
Development Director Assumed Name 1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: KJF Management 2. State the address of the principal place of business: 5516 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419 3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name: Kurt J. Faber, 5516 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419 4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath. Signed by: Kurt J. Faber, President Date Filed: 6/02/2009 Insight News 3/08/2010, 3/15/2010
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, a local non-profit using law and science to protect Minnesota’s environment, has an opening for a full-time development director. The development director is responsible for MCEA’s overall fundraising program—to identify, solicit, and cultivate a diverse funding mix from major and minor individual donors, foundations and other channels to support MCEA’s mission and programs. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, a minimum of five years of significant fundraising experience with general membership and major gift solicitation, familiarity with the local and state philanthropic community, grant-writing experience and excellent communication skills, both oral and written. In addition, the candidate must have excellent computer and development data management and analysis skills. Interested candidates should send a letter of introduction and resume by March 31, 2010, to: Kent Eklund, Cincinnatus, Inc., Riverplace Suite 210, 43 Main Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55414, or by e-mail to employment@cincinnatus.com
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
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Insight News • March 8 - March 14, 2010 • Page 11
Style, form and function meet at the new Cambria Suites Hotel By Al McFarlane and B.P. Ford The Editors Style, form and function meet at the new Cambria Suites Hotel in Maple Grove, MN. It’s an idea whose time has come: Customer focused modern, efficient service at a reasonable price. That is the value proposition for the new Cambria Suites Hotels chain, which opened its second Minnesota property in Twin Cities this past July. The first Twin Cities Cambria Suites opened in Bloomington, near Mall of America in 2007. We visited the Maple Grove hotel last weekend, and found ourselves delighted and impressed with the concept, the facilities, the service, and the location. When form meets function, you get a lifestyle hotel with real staying power. The lobby is the heart and soul of the Cambria Suites experience. The signature premium Wolfgang Puck® coffee or espresso and light fare are presented in a familyfriendly sundrenched lobby lounge. The lobby is also perfect for unwinding with a newspaper, enjoying the Winter Olympics or other big screen sports presentations, or logging on to the Wi-Fi network at ultra-modern computer workstations. Simply put, Cambria Suites gives guests more. The hotel is designed for high-touch service and peak efficiency. As a 100% new construction hotel, the Cambria Suites property complements regional development, blending the best urban and suburban amenities for guests. We used our stay as a weekend holiday and launching pad for family projects including shopping and dining. Saturday, for instance, we visited the Maple Grove Costco, and leisurely drove around marveling at all the retail and residential development that has taken place. We relaxed a while in our suite then went out for a late dinner at Pittsburgh Blue, the famous steakhouse restaurant that had been on our to do list for a good while. Here was the perfect opportunity to explore and enjoy —which is what we did. Shaky economy notwithstanding, the Maple Grove development boom tells you that there is plenty of robust vitality in
the economy, and that people with vision know this is a good time to launch and expand businesses. Of course, the Costco parking lot was completely full. People were stacked up buying things they needed and wanted. Similarly, Pittsburgh Blue was crooooowded. We opted for seats at the bar while we waited for a table. The bar side view gave us plenty opportunity to evaluate the scrumptious looking entrees servers wheeled by on boastful carts to smiling customers. Business was good. And the food was good. So good, we went back for early dinner Sunday afternoon. Sunday morning we took a short ride up to Albertville, just minutes away, for the convenience and excitement of name brand shopping at outlet prices and absolutely no hassle parking. Sunday was just that, a sunny day and we enjoyed walking from store to store, price comparing and purchasing things we thought were too good to pass up. Other people like Cambria because it’s across the road from the new North Memorial Hospital in Maple Grove. So it’s a great place for families to take up short term residence while family members make brief hospital stays. Because of location, and because of the quality of concept and service, it is clear that Cambria
Suites is tailor-made for the new generation of travelers who are focused on convenience, have an eye for style, and look for environments that give them the amenities and technologies that their busy lifestyles demand. Marketing materials indicate Cambria Suites’ primary customer is a 25- to 49-year-old who is traveling for business. Cambria’s guests tend to be upscale in income, attitude and expectations. Accordingly, Cambria Suites delivers a 21st century product that serves this untapped market segment. The hotel’s sleek design and functional space appeal to both the Generation X and Baby Boomer travelers who have been requesting and expecting an updated alternative to today’s lodging options. Sophisticated technology like flat-screen televisions, Media Hub technology and free wireless Internet access complement the state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor pool and spa and barista bar creating a unique environment where style, form and function meet. Cambria Suites has 129 rooms configured in 11 different design and amenity possibilities. In all cases, the suites provide generously ample space, plush beds and flatscreen televisions plus Internet
Images courtesy of Cambria Suites Hotel
service, and sleek, modern bath fixtures. Room prices right now range from $79 a night to the $139 per night range. Comparable amenities downtown Minneapolis would easily be from $279 to $579. And you’d have to pay for your Internet, parking and make a special request to have linens changed. Amy Isaacson, Director of
Sales, says she is excited about being part of the launch of a new concept and new property. She has been with the company, Grove Hospitality, for about a year and in the hospitality industry over 12 years. “We enjoy ourselves and we want people to enjoy themselves. We are a family friendly property and have lots of family business on
the weekend; with the business traveler being our main customer during the business week. We have figured out how to accommodate both with style and class, at an affordable price,” she said. Cambria Suites Hotel, 9655 Grove Circle North, Maple Grove, MN, US, 55369 - (763) 494-5556.
Page 12 • March 8 - March 14, 2010 • Insight News
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Without Tiger, does anybody watch golf these days? Mr T’s Sports Report
By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com The Tiger Woods media attack is turning an interesting corner, and in both directions the issue revolves around ratings…excuse me, I meant revenues resultant of ratings; dollar-dollar bill ya’ll. I’ve oddly been able to sit and watch a golf tournament on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon since childhood. It’s easy to watch golf because you don’t really have to pay attention – watch a shot and then go back to reading your book, writing your article, or washing the dishes. In the past, during this time of year when I stop by the barbershop, or eatery for lunch, at least one television in the corner is usually tuned into a golf tournament. However, not these days, and we all know why. For those who watch ESPN like there’s an umbilical cord attaching the flatscreen television to their brain (I have an excuse), you know that golf has not led off a single episode of sports news, unless you call what Tiger was doing with those mistresses “golf”. Fellow golfer John Daly made this statement regarding Tiger’s absence from golf: “Golf needs him. Because of Tiger is why we’re playing for so much money.” Now Daly may be the fattest, drunkest, gambling-est, golfer on the PGA Tour, but drunks have been known to have moments of clarity (I like John Daly, and always root for him to get better. At the very least he’s an honest dude). Well, Daly hit that nail on the head about as hard as his big butt bashes the ball, and his big butt bashes the ball better than most (naturally it’s the
finesse that Daly lacks). Golf needs Tiger Woods. While people have enjoyed the many amazing moments that Tiger delivers on the course, they have also become accustomed to seeing that level of play on a regular basis. Only a few other golfers seem to be able to match Tiger’s theatre, and none with anywhere near the same level of consistency. I used to watch golf regardless of who was playing, but having seen what Tiger does on a consistent basis, watching a
Black History for 2010. The PGA Tour did not rescind its “Caucasians Only” Policy until 1961. Jackie Robinson RETIRED from baseball in 1956. In 1990, the PGA Tour was still holding events at golf courses that didn’t allow people of color. While the executive leadership of the PGA Tour tries to suggest that things are just fine without Tiger Woods, the players are constantly suggesting that they sure would like to see him back swinging a
Tiger Woods is the boss of “big money” golf. tournament without him is like trying to go back to a bad restaurant: you want to give them a try to redeem themselves, but you’re not in the mood to get let down…so you end up going back to The Favor for chicken wings, or Old Chicago for some pizza. I wrote an article a while back titled, “You Play to the Level of Your Competition”. Without Tiger’s level of competitiveness present on the course, the other players seem to be a bit more relaxed and reminiscent of the “cigar smoking-can’t wait to get a drink after the round-and chum around doing what Tiger just got caught doing” days. Fortunately, the younger golfers on the PGA Tour seem to have a different, more athletic approach to the game than their predecessors – thanks to Tiger – but none have yet been able to reach Tiger’s mental success in playing golf. Business usually gets done better when the boss is in the building. Tiger Woods is the boss of golf, and the business that is not getting done without his presence is the business of ratings and advertising revenues. Now let’s just take a moment and stew on this one as we ease out of the government supported Black History Month and into the other 11 months of
club and kicking their butts. Like most businesses, if you want a true litmus test of what’s going on, don’t ask the leadership, ask the employees. kobebryantpics.blogspot.com