Insight News ::: 03.19.18 by Insight News, Inc

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Insight News March 19 - March 25, 2018

Vol. 45 No. 12• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Welcome to Wakanda, Minnesota! TURN TO PAGE 12

Model, Gavin Caldwell, during the “Black Panther” inspired Naked Truth runway show.

Rebecca Rabb

Page 2 •March 19 - March 25, 2018 • Insight News

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TRANSFORMATION: Material installation By Randall Bradley Architect As construction continues on the Thor headquarters building in North Minneapolis, installation of both exterior walls and interior materials has commenced. Noticeable by all is the glass façade at the first floor along Plymouth Avenue. These are for the retail spaces that will soon call this space home. These will become the first new retail shops in this space since the last fast-food restaurant closed in 1996. So, 22 years later we get to exchange money for an over-the-counter product at this location. This should be loudly applauded. The main entrance of the building at the intersection of Plymouth and Penn Avenues is also being installed. There are two sets of double doors that lead into the entry vestibule. One set faces Plymouth Avenue, and the other set faces Penn Avenue. The vestibule is the space between the entry doors and the

main lobby. Another set of doors separate the vestibule from the main building lobby. This lobby hosts the elevators that will have stops at all parking levels and tenant floors. There is a stairway that will also accommodate all parking levels and tenant floors. The vertical shafts for both the elevators and the stairway are being erected. These shafts are constructed of concrete (block) masonry units (CMU). These units are laid in the same way that brick masonry is installed; plumb, level, and in beds of mortar. The handle of the trowel taps the unit into place and the blade scrapes off the excess mortar so that a smooth concave mortar joint can be achieved. Once the final mortar joint rub has been completed, the CMU can be painted on both the interior and exterior surfaces. All materials for this project have been selected, purchased, fabricated where necessary, shipped and stored on site for the eventual installation in accordance with the drawings, specification and current construction practices. As this

Harry Colbert, Jr.

The building at Penn and Plymouth Avenues North in Minneapolis is taking shape; site of the Thor Companies international headquarters and retail space. building nears completion, the materials needed to undertake the interior construction are being delivered and installed. Along with the previously mentioned CMU, steel studs and metal stairs are on site, as well as plumbing pipe, electrical conduit, door frames, wall board and curtain wall components. These components are built

or fabricated off-site by firms, of various sizes, to supply building projects of all sizes and types. For example, the metal stairs are fabricated from sheet steel. The stairs are cut according to the length and width indicated on the drawings. On this project, these are pan-filled metal stairs. The treads are assembled as a large pan into which concrete is

poured to provide a smooth and level tread. Pan-filled stairs may have either open or closed risers. The nomenclature of stairs is articulated as rise and run. The risers are the vertical component that is opened or closed and dimensioned at a height defined by the building code. The stairs in this building are dimensional from floor-to-floor. This height, or rise, is split at the midway dimension and a landing is inserted. This allows for the stair to reverse its direction and in turn allows for the stairwell to use less square footage than long uninterrupted floor-to-floor stair runs. The building code also impacts the design and location of stair wells within a building. These reverse stairs are referred to as “scissor” stairs. On floors three and four the installation of steel stud walls and hollow metal door frames is beginning. These two floors will house offices for the various tenants that will occupy the building. Steel studs can be cut with metal cutting blades and installed in channels anchored to both the concrete floors and

overhead to the concrete ceiling. The hallways, lavatories, equipment rooms are installed to allow access to each tenant space. Tenants are allowed to access elevators, stairwells and lavatories from these common shared hallways. Each tenant space is improved with interior surfaces ﬁxtures, furniture and equipment for their use and at their expense. Agreements are made between tenants and the landlord that are proprietary, contractual, legal and private. All of the activities and meetings regarding this building, public and private, seen and unseen are part of the process of economic development. The goal and result is to bring economic beneﬁt to this community. This goal is much needed to aid in increasing economic diversity in this area of Minneapolis. Since July of 2017, architect Randall Bradley has been writing a multi-part series on the construction of the new development at the corners of Penn Avenue North and Plymouth Avenue North in Minneapolis.

Simultaneous publication in 24 languages worldwide

‘Becoming,’ the memoir by Michelle Obama, to be published in the U.S. and Canada New York – A global publication date of Nov. 13 has been set for the highly anticipated memoir by former First Lady Michelle Obama. The news was announced by Markus Dohle, CEO of Penguin Random House, which acquired world publishing rights to the book. Titled “Becoming,” Obama’s book will be released in the U.S. and Canada in print and digital formats. An audio edition of the book, read by Obama, will be simultaneously issued in digital and physical formats. In a life ﬁlled with meaning and accomplishment, Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady she helped create what many said was the most welcoming and inclusive

White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways families pursue healthier and more active lives and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. In her memoir, Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her – from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. She describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story

as she has lived it; in her own words and on her own terms. “Writing ‘Becoming’ has been a deeply personal experience,” said Obama. “It has allowed me, for the very first time, the space to honestly reflect on the unexpected trajectory of my life. In this book, I talk about my roots and how a little girl from the South Side of Chicago found her voice and developed the strength to use it to empower others. I hope my journey inspires readers to find the courage to become whoever they aspire to be. I can’t wait to share my story.” Obama will embark on a U.S. and international book tour, with details to be announced at a later date. The print edition will carry

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a suggested price of $32.50 in the U.S. and $40.00 in Canada and the digital edition will be priced at $14.99 in the U.S. and $18.99 in Canada. In support of the mission of The Obama Foundation and Penguin Random House, the company will donate one million books in the Obama family’s name to First Book, a Penguin Random House nonproﬁt partner and the Washington, D.C.–based partner for the 2016 White House digital education initiative, Open eBooks. First Book is dedicated to promoting equal access to education by providing new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need in the U.S. and Canada.

courtesy of the White House

Michelle Obama

Howard University students head to Puerto Rico for hurricane recovery By Tatyana Hopkins NNPA Special Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. – When Oluwakanyinsola Adebola signed up to do community service as part of Howard University’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB), she knew she wouldn’t be joining her classmates and thousands of other college students who use their week off to party and play in the sun and surf of Jamaica or Aruba or any of a half dozen other Caribbean locations. Instead, Adebola is part of the hundreds of Howard students who, each year for more than 20 years, have given up their traditional spring breaks to serve in communities in need in places like Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Memphis and New Orleans. Ironically, Adebola traveled to a Caribbean island after all. She was in Puerto Rico aiding the millions of U.S. citizens still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria, which hit the island on Sept. 20. The storm, which had 155 mph winds, caused at least $90 billion in damage, destroying thousands of homes, killing at least 60 people and decimating the island’s already deteriorating power grid. Currently, about 1,200 generators power some of homes, hospitals and schools while seven larger, more powerful energy centers, called microgrids, provide energy to key areas near important buildings like hospitals and schools. Electricity, however remains a challenge. Recurring blackouts plague the island, and about 340,000 people, are still without power. The blackouts have upset traffic and interrupted water service to dozens of neighborhoods, including the historic Old San Juan in the nation’s capital. The Federal Emergency Management Administration has been providing relief and rescue efforts, providing meals and water to residents, but has been criticized by many for not doing enough. Adebola and 47 other students, accompanied by two faculty advisors, landed in Puerto Rico March 9, and begin a week of work on March 12. The ASB participants painted schools and fixed homes and churches in and around San Juan, the island’s capital. Howard students also visited

Justin D. Knight/Howard University

Ivon Alcime, a graduate communications major, helps build a cement wall at the School of Good Samaritans as part of a previous Alternative Spring Break in Haiti after the country was struck by an earthquake that devastated much of the island. and assisted in the daily activities at two Boys and Girls clubs in Las Margaritas and Bayamón, about 20 minutes outside of San Juan. Students and faculty stayed about an hour west of San Juan at a campsite in Arecibo, six people to a room. This year, no students applying for ASB knew where they would be placed when they signed up for the annual service missions. Applicants selected a service preference ranging from “children/orphanages” to “prison rehabilitation.” The luck of the draw would determine at which of this year’s 15 service sites they would be placed. Adebola, an ASB ﬁrst-timer, said when she checked “recovery” on her application, she thought she would be going to Houston or Belle Glade, Fla., two U.S. cities that also were hit hard by hurricanes last fall. She said she never expected to be placed in Puerto Rico. “I’m really excited,” she said. A native of Nigeria, Adebola moved to the United States to learn mechanical engineering to further technological advancement in her country. Adebola, who created a nonproﬁt organization at 13 to

help Nigerian children, said that the goals of ASB align perfectly with hers. “The purpose of ASB is to help people, and it gives me something productive to do,” said Adebola. More than 700 students participated in ASB service missions to 14 other underserved areas and regions devastated by natural disaster this year, including St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Martin, Anguilla, Haiti and Ghana. Groups also went to Chicago, New Orleans, Port Arthur and Beaumont in Texas, the Florida Keys and Flint, Mich. “We decided to go to places hit hardest by the hurricane,” said Puerto Rico site coordinator Kyliah Hughes, 20. According to Hughes, ASB planners wanted to “make a statement” about their commitment to service by visiting places further than the usual domestic sites. Dijon Stokes, 20, a team leader for Puerto Rico, agreed. “We have to help beyond borders,” said Stokes. “We go where we’re needed, and we will visit those places devastated by the hurricane until we see real recovery.”

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Insight News • March 19 - March 25, 2018 • Page 3

aesthetically speaking

Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities

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W I N N E R : 2 017 N N PA M E R I T AWA R D S : 2 N D P L AC E B E S T S P E C I A L E D I T I O N

Insight News March 19 - March 25, 2018

Vol. 45 No. 12• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

V3 visionaries see a state-of-the-art training facility in North Minneapolis By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor @HarryColbertJr Imagine a facility with a 10-lane Olympic-sized swimming pool and Olympic-sized track that is also a state-of-the-art training facility for youth triathletes. Now imagine it in North Minneapolis. That is the vision of V3. Founded by Erika Binger, V3 (www.v3sports.org) is a notfor-proﬁt that for close to a decade has been training North Minneapolis youths to compete in triathlons – endurance events that involve running, biking and swimming. The overwhelming number of American triathletes are white, but Binger wants to diversify the sport and at the same time teach life lessons to the young athletes. “V3 is victory in three. It’s running, biking, swimming, but it’s also community, character and commitment and life, leadership and learning,” said

Binger. V3 youth have already sent shockwaves throughout the sport. In 2011 – in just the club’s second year ﬁelding a national team – the youth earned top team honors at the junior and youth national championship held that year in San Diego. That same year V3 athletes also assisted following the devastating tornado that struck North Minneapolis. “The kids began to realize they were more than triathletes, they were change agents,” said Binger. Throughout the life of V3, the athletes trained at various facilities throughout the metro, but many training locations, such as the University of Minnesota, were somewhat cumbersome to get to considering the youth were not of driving age and many were in households where automobile access was limited. Binger realized the best solution was to have a training facility located in North Minneapolis. “There aren’t many places in North Minneapolis with yearround swimming,” said Binger.

Harry Colbert, Jr.

V3 visionaries, Erika Binger (left), founder of V3 and Sherman Patterson, Jr. V3 board member. “That’s an issue of racial equity. For so long, so many AfricanAmericans didn’t have access to

swimming pools.” In fact, according to a USA Swimming study, more

than 60 percent of AfricanAmericans cannot swim due to lack of access and intentional

discrimination, as many pools –

V3 9

The Black Press honors Sen. Kamala Harris with the NNPA’s 2018 Newsmaker of the Year Award during Black Press Week

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Community members, leaders and government officials gathered on the roof of Shiloh Temple in North Minneapolis to dedicate the area’s first “solar garden,” which will provide power to Shiloh Temple, Masjid an Nur and 26 North Minneapolis residents.

Solar garden on roof of Shiloh Temple to power parts of North Minneapolis

Powered by the sun By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor @HarryColbertJr Environmental justice is not just a civil rights issue, it is a human rights issue. Sadly, when discussing issues of civil rights, environmental concerns tend not to register as high as others, nor as high as they should. Issues of pollution in predominantly

African-American communities lead to a myriad of health problems including, lung disease, asthma and overall diminished quality of life. For years, the residents of North Minneapolis have been calling on officials to address their environmental concerns and it appears some are listening. On the sunny afternoon of March 9, government officials and community partners unveiled the first “solar garden” in North Minneapolis, atop the

Business

Alicia Boler Davis honored with 2018 Black Engineer of the Year Award

PAGE 4

roof of Shiloh Temple, 1201 W. Broadway Ave. Shiloh’s roof will host 630 solar panels providing 204 kilowatts of electricity that will power Shiloh Temple, Masjid an Nur, 1729 Lyndale Ave. N., and 26 neighborhood residents. The project is a partnership between Shiloh Temple, Masjid an Nur and Community Solar Gardens. In addition to providing needed clean energy, the project is providing economic opportunities for people of color.

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Most patients comfortable with sexual orientation and gender identity questions, research finds

PAGE 6

According to representatives from Community Solar Gardens, 50 percent of the panel’s installers will be people of color. Bishop Richard Howell, pastor of Shiloh Temple, said the project is one of divine order. “This is a movement of faith, which recognizes the dismantling of systematic poverty and creates opportunities

SOLAR 10

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) honored Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) with the 2018 Newsmaker of the Year Award during the NNPA’s 2018 Black Press Week. The Newsmaker event was held at the Rayburn House Office Building on March 14. “The Honorable Kamala Harris, the second AfricanAmerican woman and first South Asian American senator in U.S. history, is an outstanding choice for the NNPA’s 2018 Newsmaker of the Year Award,” said Dorothy Leavell, the chairman of the NNPA and publisher of the Crusader Newspapers in Chicago and Gary, Ind. The NNPA celebrated the senator’s efforts to raise wages for working people, reform the criminal justice system, and expand healthcare access for all Americans. “In all of my years of covering news in our community, Sen. Harris has been one of the smartest, most fearless, steadfast and caring politicians that I have come to know,” said Amelia Ashley-Ward, the new NNPA Foundation chair and publisher of the San Francisco SunReporter. “She has a lot to offer the world … we are so fortunate to have her advocating on our behalf.” The theme of this year’s Black Press Week was “Celebrating 191 Years of the Black Press of America: Publishing Truth to Empower.” Black publishers, media professionals, civil rights leaders and lawmakers from across the country attended the annual event that took place March 14 – March 16.

Commentary

Trump era rollbacks in lending regulations could make life harder for Blacks in the housing market

PAGE 9

Sen. Kamala Harris Democratic strategist and author Donna Brazile delivered a March 16 keynote address on the state of the Black Press in America. “When John B. Russwurm and Samuel E. Cornish printed that ﬁrst issue of Freedom’s Journal they sought to empower Black people to determine their own destiny and to deﬁne themselves,” said Leavell. “How iconic, that in 2018, our theme still rings true – ‘Publishing Truth to Empower.’” Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA, touted a new strategic partnership between the NNPA and the NAACP. “This year, Black Press Week convenes at a time of profound opportunity and responsibility to ensure a record turnout for Black American voters in the upcoming midterm elections across the nation,” said Chavis. “The new strategic alliance between the NNPA and the NAACP bodes well to advance civil rights and the economic, political, and cultural empowerment of Black America.”

Meshell Ndegeocello performs at the Dakota Jazz Club

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Page 4 •March 19 - March 25, 2018 • Insight News

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Business

Alicia Boler Davis honored with 2018 Black Engineer of the Year Award By Freddie Allen (NNPA Newswire Contributor) The US Black Engineer & Information Technology (USBE&IT) magazine recently celebrated the history-making career of Alicia Boler Davis, the executive vice president of global manufacturing for General Motors, by honoring her with the 2018 Black Engineer of the Year Award, during the BEYA gala in Washington, D.C. Boler Davis is the sixth woman to receive the award.

USBE&IT recognized, Boler Davis “as a global ambassador of goodwill for underrepresented minorities in science and technology, and for women in STEM,” read a press release about the award.

USBE&IT magazine is published by the Career Communications Group, Inc., which was founded more than 30 years ago to promote signiﬁcant achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics professional careers, according to the group’s website. Boler Davis began her GM career in 1994 as a manufacturing engineer at the Midsize/Luxury Car Division in Warren, Mich. She has held many positions of increasing responsibility in manufacturing, engineering and product development, according to her biography. Boler Davis was the ﬁrst African-American woman to serve as the plant manager at a GM vehicle manufacturing plant at the Lansing, Mich. The press release also noted in February 2012 Boler Davis was

Photos courtesy of General Motors

Jose Tomas, the senior vice president of global human resources and the executive vice president for Lockheed Martin (Ret.) (left) and Linda Gooden from the General Motors Board of Directors (right) present Alicia Boler Davis, the executive vice president global manufacturing for General Motors with the 2018 Black Engineer of the Year Award.

appointed U.S. vice president of Customer Experience. Later that year, her role was expanded to vice president of Global Quality and U.S. Customer Experience. “Under her leadership, GM improved vehicle quality and redeﬁned customer care and its interaction with customers through social media channels and Customer Engagement Centers,” read the release. “More recently, Boler Davis was senior vice president, Global Connected Customer Experience where she led the company’s connected customer activities, including infotainment, OnStar, and GM’s Urban Active personal mobility initiatives.” In June 2016, Boler Davis was named the executive vice president of General Motors Global Manufacturing.

New report concludes the Black-white wealth gap is widening and targeted policies are necessary to close it Washington, D.C. — The wealth gap between Black and white families in America is inextricably linked to America’s history of structural racism, according to a new report. The report concludes the gap is deepening and recommends targeted policies are necessary to ensure African-American families can build wealth similarly to white families in America. The Center for American Progress (CAP) found even when African-Americans pursue higher education, purchase a home, or get a good job, they still lag behind their white counterparts. The report, “Systematic Inequality: How America’s Structural Racism Helped Create the Black-White Wealth Gap,” details the key factors that contribute to the vicious cycle of persistent wealth inequality, including structural obstacles such as employment discrimination, housing discrimination and segregation, less access to critical savings vehicles and costlier debt. These factors result in

African-Americans having fewer opportunities to obtain and build wealth over time. The ﬁgures compiled by CAP are disturbing. In 2016, the median wealth for nonretired Black households 25 years old and older was less than one-tenth that of similarly situated white households—or $13,460 compared with $142,180. The report also found the black-white wealth gap has not recovered from the Great Recession. In 2007, immediately before the recession, AfricanAmericans’ median wealth was almost 14 percent that of whites. Although African-American wealth grew at a faster rate than white wealth in 2016, AfricanAmericans still owned less than 10 percent of whites’ wealth at the median. College educated AfricanAmericans have less wealth than non-college educated white Americans, according to the report. For instance, the median wealth for African-American

households with a college degree equaled about 70 percent of the median wealth of white households without a college degree. According to the report, as households grow older, whites pull farther away from their African American counterparts. In 2016, African-Americans near retirement – between the ages of 50 and 65 years – had only about 10 percent of the wealth of whites in the same age group. This is down from about 24 percent when the same groups of people were between the ages of 32 and 47 years in 1998. The report found AfricanAmericans are less likely to be homeowners, to own their own business, and to have a retirement account than whites. And in 2016, the most recent data available, when African-Americans owned such assets, they were worth signiﬁcantly less than assets owned by whites. For example, 41 percent of African-Americans were homeowners in 2016, compared with nearly 72 percent

of whites, and African-Americans who did own homes had half as much home equity as whites. African-Americans have less but more costly debt, said

they typically owed was more expensive. “The measure of a family’s ﬁnancial net worth, their wealth, provides all sorts of opportunities

College educated African-Americans have less wealth than non-college educated white Americans, according to the report.

the report. In 2016, AfricanAmericans with debt typically owed $35,560 – less than 40 percent of the $93,000 in debt owed by whites. However, because African-Americans typically owed larger amounts of high-interest debt, such as installment credit and student and car loans, the debt

and security for families in America, whether it’s changing jobs, moving to a new school or neighborhood, or enjoying retirement after a lifetime of work,” said Danyelle Solomon, senior director of Progress 2050 at CAP and co-author of the report. “Unfortunately, we see

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wealth in this country is unequally distributed, especially by race and particularly between white and Black households. In concrete numbers, we ﬁnd AfricanAmericans have been consistently denied opportunities to realize the American dream.” According to the report, these disparities that exist can be traced back to public policies, both implicit and explicit, from slavery to Jim Crow, from redlining to school segregation and from mass incarceration to environmental racism. The report challenges policymakers to take bigger and bolder steps to ensure greater racial equity. This includes a speciﬁc list of policy recommendations to comprehensively address the racial wealth gap in a meaningful and systematic way, including policies that help families build savings, reduce debt and ensure more equitable access to education and employment, and other targeted prescriptions outlined in the report.

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Most patients comfortable with sexual orientation and gender identity questions, research finds By Adam Harringa Mayo Clinic Staff ROCHESTER – New Mayo Clinic research suggests up to 97 percent of patients are comfortable with their health care provider asking sexual orientation and gender identity questions. Before this research, it was unclear if the questions – which researchers say are important to reduce health disparities among LGBT patients – would offend patients. The findings were published in Health Services Research. “Our results should help ease the concerns of providers who want to deliver the highestquality care for their patients but may not ask sexual orientation or gender identity questions for fear of distressing or offending their patients,” said Dr. Joan Griffin, a health services researcher at Mayo Clinic who is a co-author. Griffin is the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern scientific director for Care Experience at Mayo Clinic. Although multiple governmental reports

have recommended asking these questions, there was little evidence about patient acceptance of these questions, the researchers say. Why is this research important? Sexual and gender minorities are at an increased risk for a number of health threats, including higher rates of alcohol and tobacco use, and psychological distress. They are also less likely to seek medical care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, to decrease health inequities for these patients, health care providers first need to identify them. Previous research showed many health care providers assumed sexual orientation and gender identity questions would offend patients. “In previous studies, there was more concern from health care providers about using the questions, but nobody had asked patients about their thoughts,” said Griffin. “Therefore, we were not sure what to expect from patients, but we were not surprised that patients were less concerned about the questions than the providers in other studies thought they would be.”

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A new study finds 97 percent of patients are comfortable with doctors asking sexual identity/ gender questions. Patients will receive the questions at Mayo Clinic as it switches to a single, integrated electronic health record system. The system was implemented across Mayo Clinic Health System in 2017 and is scheduled to launch on Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus in May, and on Mayo Clinic’s Arizona and Florida campuses in October.

“These questions will help Mayo Clinic identify the unique, unmet needs of LGBTI patients and highlight that equitable care for all people is a top priority,” said Griﬃn. The

questions The researchers conducted the study at three Mayo Clinic sites in Minnesota between June

29, 2015, and Feb. 29, 2016. The sites were chosen for their diversity in patient populations. One site is a women’s health clinic serving local, regional and national patients. Another serves regional and national patients 65 and older. And the third site is in a rural community of less than 10,000 people. They gave 491 new

patients routine intake forms, or intake forms with sexual orientation and gender identity questions. Both groups received feedback forms that inquired about the intake questions. Responses between the two groups then were compared. The researchers say while their study looked at multiple patient populations, more research may be needed to capture other concerns. “These findings may generalize to relatively similar areas in the country, especially the Midwest, but there may be differences in other regions in the U.S. or by cultural groups that we did not capture in our sample,” said Griffin. As institutions adopt sexual orientation and gender identity questions, a simple explanation of why the information is being collected may increase patient participation, the researchers suggest. Patients also may benefit from being reminded of their health care institution’s nondiscrimination and confidentiality policies, they say. The study’s lead author is Dr. Jordan Rullo, a psychologist at Mayo Clinic.

Does whitening toothpaste work? Dr. Thomas J. Salinas, D.D.S. Mayo Clinic Whitening toothpaste can appear to whiten teeth slightly by removing surface stains, such as those caused by drinking coﬀee or smoking, however, whitening toothpastes can’t change the natural color of teeth or lighten a stain that goes deeper than a tooth’s surface. Unlike other tooth-

whitening products, whitening toothpastes don’t contain peroxide. To remove surface stains, whitening toothpaste typically includes special abrasives that gently polish the teeth and chemicals that help break down or dissolve stains. Some whitening toothpastes contain the chemical blue covarine, which adheres to the surface of the teeth and creates an optical illusion that can make teeth appear less yellow. When used twice a day,

whitening toothpaste can take from two to six weeks to make teeth appear whiter. Whitening toothpastes that contain blue covarine can have an immediate eﬀect. Although whitening toothpastes are typically designed to maximize cleaning and minimize wear on tooth enamel, be careful to follow manufacturer recommendations. If considering using a whitening toothpaste, look for a brand that has a seal of approval from a reputable

dental organization such as the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. This seal indicates that the toothpaste is safe and effective at removing surface stains. If not satisfied with the effect of whitening toothpaste, ask a dentist or dental hygienist about other tooth-whitening options such as over-the-counter or professional bleaching products.

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Whitening toothpaste offers the appearance of whiter teeth but do not go deeper than the tooth’s surface.

Yoga benefits the mind, body and spirit By Mayo Clinic Staff

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Your mobile phone is ringing, your boss wants to talk to you and your partner wants to know what’s for dinner. Stress and anxiety are everywhere. If they’re getting the best of you, you might want to hit the mat and give yoga a try. Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines physical poses, controlled breathing and meditation or relaxation. Yoga may help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and lower your heart rate. And almost anyone can do it. Yoga is considered one of many types of complementary and integrative health approaches. It brings together physical and mental disciplines that may help achieve peacefulness of body and mind. This can help you relax and manage stress and anxiety. Yoga has many styles, forms and intensities. Hatha yoga, in particular, may be a good choice for stress management. Hatha is one of the most common styles of yoga, and beginners may like its slower pace and easier movements. The core components of hatha yoga and most general yoga classes are poses, breathing and meditation/relaxation. The potential health beneﬁts of yoga include stress reduction, improved ﬁtness and management of chronic conditions. Yoga is generally considered safe for most healthy people when practiced under the guidance of a trained instructor. But there are some situations in which yoga might pose a risk. See your health care provider before you begin yoga if you have conditions or situations such as herniated disk(s), a risk of blood clots, eye conditions, including glaucoma, pregnancy (although yoga is generally safe for pregnant women, certain poses should be avoided), severe balance

Yoga offers benefits beyond strengthening the body. It can also benefit one’s mind and spirit. problems, severe osteoporosis or uncontrolled blood pressure. One may be able to practice yoga in these situations if certain precautions are taken, such as avoiding certain poses or stretches. Although yoga can be learned from books and videos, beginners usually find it helpful to learn with an instructor. Classes also offer camaraderie and friendship, which are also important to overall well-being. Every person has a different body with different abilities.

One may need to modify yoga postures based on individual abilities. An instructor may be able to suggest modiﬁed poses. Choosing an instructor who is experienced and who understands safely is paramount. Regardless of which type of yoga one practices, not every pose needs to be achieved. If a pose is uncomfortable, don’t do it. Good instructors will understand and encourage participants to explore – but not exceed – personal limits.

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Insight News • March 19 - March 25, 2018 • Page 7

Minneapolis community gardeners discuss Urban Agriculture Policy By Nadvia Davis With spring just around the corner, policy organizers and local community gardeners are starting to brainstorm how to improve Urban Agriculture in Minneapolis. On March 6, organizers from both the Northside Fresh Coalition and Parks and Power collaborated at Breaking Bread Café to host a discussion about the current draft of the Urban Agriculture Implementation Policy. The purpose of the gathering was to talk with community members – both gardeners and non-gardeners – about ways to push for equitable opportunities for urban gardens in Minneapolis parks. With weeks of planning, organizers had great expectations to receive a generous amount of feedback

from community members to enhance the language of the policy before presenting it to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation board. The preliminary planning for the policy began in 2002. Since then the Urban Agriculture Implementation Policy was last revised in August 2017. “What we are gathering here today to do is we’re looking at a speciﬁc policy that is possibly going to be advanced through the Minneapolis Park and Rec board,” said Miah Ulysses, Northside Fresh coordinator and policy manager. Rogue Farmer, Urban Agriculture Implementation committee member took to the ﬂoor and opened the discussion by giving an overview of the Urban Agriculture Activity Plan. The plan was adopted in 2014 to support the Urban Agriculture Implementation Policy. “This is a comprehensive

plan. If you look through it, there are three sections – facilities, there’s one that talks about procurement and vending and then there’s one that talks about programing,” said Farmer. Ulysses chimed in to explain the policy itself and activity plan go hand in hand. “This (implementation policy) is just one piece of the puzzle,” said Ulysses. As Farmer continue to outline the sections of activity plan, he emphasized that much of the committee’s conversation that occurred while creating the activity plan derived from thinking about racial equity and a better use of the natural food system in Minneapolis. “Were trying to dig deeper into not just those practical in the weeds pieces, but also the racial equity pieces,” said Farmer. “This (policy) is not just a Northside eﬀort or just a

Southside effort, it’s focused on the overall coverage of the Park board land,” said Ulysses. Toward the close of the discussion, attendees offered questions and concerns about financial support, monitoring community gardens and how tools will be transported to various garden sites given some restrictions. Moving forward, the organizers hope community members will be “taking advantage and utilizing this policy once it’s implements and people that can spread the word and connect the policy to other interested parties that might not be here,” said Ulysses. A park board commissioner meeting will be held on March 21 to share further feedback that will potentially help finalize the Urban Agriculture Implementation policy.

Nadvia Davis

Miah Ulysses, Northside Fresh coordinator and policy manager, reads the Urban Agriculture policy to attendees of a session at Breaking Bread in North Minneapolis.

Turning Point to host sixth annual honors gala According to a recent CNN report, experts say the United States is in the throes of a chemical abuse epidemic, as more than two million Americans have become dependent on or abused prescription pain pills and street drugs. In communities of color and low income the chemical abuse crisis is not new. Founded in 1976 to provide culturally speciﬁc services support to African-Americans who are chemically dependent, Turning Point, 1500 Golden Valley Rd., Minneapolis, has helped positively change the lives of more than 24,125 people. Turning Point, under the direction of Dr. Peter Hayden, has become recognized locally and nationally as a leader in providing culturally

Turning Point founder, Dr. Peter Hayden (left), with former Minneapolis mayor, Sharon Sayles Belton.

Turning Point

speciﬁc behavioral health services and training. It provides housing options for chemical dependency treatment, Individual and group counseling and skill development including sober living skills. Turning point will present its sixth annual Turning Point Honors Gala at the Earle Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Dr., Brooklyn Center, on April 20 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. The 2018 Turning Point Honors Gala will recognize Rep. Keith Ellison – Person of the Year, Patricia Carter – Employee of the Year, Marvin Clark – Client of the Year and Elizabeth Reed – President’s Awards recipient. For more information on Turning Point programs and the Honors Gala go to www.ourturningpoint. org or call (612) 520-4004.

Page 8 •March 19 - March 25, 2018 • Insight News

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Insight News â&#x20AC;˘ March 19 - March 25, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 9

Minnesota Historical Society Native American Initiatives announce new exhibit, Dakota and Ojibwe outreach The Minnesota Historical Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (MNHS) department of Native American Initiatives announced a new permanent exhibit focusing on NativeAmericans in Minnesota. The exhibit is slated to open in fall 2019 at the Minnesota History Center and will feature the history of the Ojibwe and Dakota, from ancient to contemporary works, and recognize the HoChunk legacy in Minnesota. Using Western research methodologies and Native cultural stories, this new gallery will guide visitors through the stories of Minnesotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst inhabitants, their history, cultural traditions and what it means to live here. The exhibit is just one of many projects being undertaken by the new Native American Initiatives department. Created in December 2016, the department is charged with developing and implementing a strategy for Native-American

programs and services in collaboration with NativeAmerican communities throughout the state and beyond. MNHS hopes this collaboration will result in programs that better represent and honor Native American peoples, stories and experiences at MNHS historic sites and museums. MNHS hired Joe Horse Capture to serve as director of the new department. Horse Capture is a member of the Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aninin tribe of Montana and has worked as a curator at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cultural institutions are in a unique position to collaborate with Native communities to better share their rich stories, especially since many institutions have the objects their Ancestors created,â&#x20AC;? said Horse Capture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As stewards of this cultural material, it is our

obligation to work with Native communities as partners to share these stories and history with a diverse audience. This type of partnership can be very profound.â&#x20AC;? Horse Capture is joined by two outreach and program managers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kate Beane, a member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe in South Dakota and Mattie Harper, a member of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe. The department is also charged with managing historic sites and museums with Native American interpretive content at three sites; Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, JeďŹ&#x20AC;ers Petroglyphs and Lower Sioux Agency. One of the departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst initiatives has been the creation of a Dakota Community Council (DCC), known as a wiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;wahokichiyapi or partnership, made up of Dakota members from Minnesota and surrounding states. The DCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s objective is to ensure

that Dakota people, history, perspectives and homelands are honored and sustained at MNHS properties within an area deďŹ ned by the ďŹ rst treaty between the United States and the Dakota people in 1805. The DCC and other stakeholder groups are collaborating with MNHS on the revitalization of Fort Snelling, which includes a restoration of the landscape to include indigenous plants and medicines, renovating two historic buildings into a visitor center and orientation space and presenting a new interpretive plan that tells the many complex histories of the area. Fort Snelling is located at Bdote near the conďŹ&#x201A;uence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers which is sacred homeland to the Dakota. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is an important milestone for MNHS,â&#x20AC;? said D. Stephen Elliott, director and CEO of MNHS. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The DCC partnership will support lasting

educational opportunities for Dakota people and MNHS to create ecological landscapes, deďŹ ne land accessibility, incorporate Dakota language and increase understanding that the site is Dakota homeland by Dakota sharing their own stories there.â&#x20AC;? Regular meetings between the DCC and MNHS will be scheduled through the end of the Historic Fort Snelling revitalization project in June 2020, at which time the partnership will be updated and renewed to continue further collaboration. The Native American Initiatives team is looking into forming an Ojibwe community council. Another major focus of the Native American Initiatives department is to gather community feedback about how to preserve for the future the Grand Mound historic site located near International Falls. MNHS closed the site in 2002

following a steep reduction in state funding. For more than 2,000 years, Grand Mound has been a regional monument, sacred place and burial site. Many indigenous peoples have had cultural relationships with this place, including the Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aninin, Assiniboine, Blackfeet, Cree, Dakota, Ojibwe and others. Today the descendants of these people live across Minnesota and outside the state. To honor the history of the site and its relevance to many people, MNHS is expanding community outreach â&#x20AC;&#x201C; building on work already done within Koochiching County and with the Rainy River First Nations in Canada. MNHS is seeking input from additional Native nations and communities, including those whom researchers believe are the direct descendants of the people who built the mounds. Outreach will continue through spring 2018 with a preliminary report expected by summer.

Trump era rollbacks in lending regulations could make life harder for Blacks in the housing market Center for Responsible Lending

Commentary by Charlene Crowell In recent days, threats to the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing ďŹ nance system have emerged. At the center of the controversy are two key issues â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the obligation of mortgage lenders to ensure broad mortgage credit for all credit-worthy borrowers, and secondly, whether the nation will enforce its own laws banning unlawful discrimination. On Feb. 2, a leaked Senate proposal to overhaul the secondary mortgage marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governmentsponsored enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, would drop important access and aďŹ&#x20AC;ordability provisions that now govern the system. For example, the GSEs now are required to always serve all markets, as well as have in place aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable housing goals. The proposal from Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) was quickly

V3 From 3 even public pools â&#x20AC;&#x201C; throughout the nation were segregated until the 1960s. A permanent home for V3 Binger said she has been on a three-year quest to ďŹ nd a location in North Minneapolis to

and unanimously rejected by a broad coalition of civil rights and housing advocates that included the Lawyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza), National Coalition for Asian PaciďŹ c American Community Development, National Fair Housing Alliance, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, National Urban League and the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ten years after the 2008 housing crisis, it is disheartening to turn the secondary mortgage market back over to Wall Street,â&#x20AC;? wrote the coalition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who can forget the 7.8 million completed home foreclosures and trillions of dollars in lost family wealth? Many Americans still face immense housing challenges. This ill-conceived approach places the risk on the backs of hardworking families, who already rescued the big banks.â&#x20AC;? The draft legislation also fell short for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AďŹ&#x20AC;airs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I appreciate the dedication Sens. Warner and Corker have shown to address this critical issue, but this draft isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even

house her training facility. That quest culminated in the purchase of a former book bindery at the corner of Lyndale and Plymouth Avenues North. When Muscle Bound Bindery closed its doors, V3 acquired the property with plans to transform it into the permanent training home for its athletes and, more importantly, for the community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want this to be a place where all in North Minneapolis will have to opportunity to train, learn how to swim and take

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close to a solution that works for families who hope to buy homes,â&#x20AC;? said Warren. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This bill would end up creating more problems than it solves.â&#x20AC;? As early as 2008, Congress moved swiftly to enact the Housing and Economic Recovery Act. This bipartisan legislation provided strong regulatory oversight of the housing ďŹ nance system and brought forward important aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable housing goals to ensure that hard-working families would be able to access mortgage loans. But with the housing marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lengthy path to recovery, many have renewed calls for legislative reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And just as the GSEs are now pledged to serve the entire market, some want to take away the systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s access and aďŹ&#x20AC;ordability requirements. That kind of change would harm Black families and communities, as well as other low-wealth families. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The big-ticket items that we are looking for is the national duty-to-serve and aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable housing goals that have a regulator able to enforce those,â&#x20AC;? said Scott Astrada, CRLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director of Federal Advocacy. Days later, on Feb. 5, Mick Mulvaney, the White House handpicked Acting Director for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced he

advantage of all the facility has to oďŹ&#x20AC;er,â&#x20AC;? said Binger, who hopes to oďŹ&#x20AC;er the services at no charge to the youth and with nominal charge to adults who may not have the means to aďŹ&#x20AC;ord a membership at a traditional gym. Sherman Patterson, Jr., V3 board member and retired community liaison for the Minneapolis Police Department, said V3 is embarking on uncharted territory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is going to be a game changer,â&#x20AC;? said Patterson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re

would move the Bureauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staďŹ&#x20AC; for its OďŹ&#x192;ce of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity (OFLEO) directly under his control. The Dodd-Frank Act mandates that OFLEO perform â&#x20AC;&#x153;oversight and enforcement of federal laws to ensure the fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory access to credit.â&#x20AC;? By moving fair lending experts to the CFPBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oďŹ&#x192;ce, to focus instead on consumer education and coordination, there are real concerns that the OFLEO will be unable to perform its enforcement and oversight mission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This action could open up the ďŹ&#x201A;oodgates on lending discrimination, which would damage the ability for people of color to build wealth,â&#x20AC;? noted Debbie Goldstein, CRLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive vice president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the reasons the CFPB was established was because lending discrimination targeted people of color with predatory, high-cost loans that led to foreclosures.â&#x20AC;? Mulvaneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personnel shift is yet another consistent sign that the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ nancial cop-on-the-beat is walking a new patrol. Since assuming â&#x20AC;&#x153;unlawfulâ&#x20AC;? leadership at CFPB, Mulvaney has also dropped a lawsuit against predatory payday lenders, supported repeal of the Bureauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

doing this the right way. This is a genuine and authentic endeavor.â&#x20AC;? It is also a costly one. Binger and Patterson estimate it will take $40 million to see the project to fruition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now that we have the space we need to start fundraising,â&#x20AC;? said Binger. A date-to-be-determined fundraiser will feature South African artist Kealeboga Tlalang, with several of his works available for purchase and proceeds beneďŹ ting the V3

auto lending guidance that took direct aim at pervasive and discriminatory practices. He has also made clear his plans to reopen rulemaking under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). HMDA is a federal law that requires most ďŹ nancial institutions to provide mortgage data to the public. It ensures that mortgage lenders are serving the credit needs of communities in which they are located. The annual HMDA report is the only comprehensive one that enables a comparison of private mortgage lending compared to that of government-backed mortgages like FHA, VA and USDA. This report is also unique for its tracking of mortgage lending and denials by race and ethnicity. This unique feature enables policymakers to discern discriminatory trends. As 2018 commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assassination, we must remain vigilant in the ďŹ ght for access to safe and aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable mortgage loans â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for many consumers, the single, largest investment of their lifetimes. With hard-fought antidiscrimination laws now under assault, this generation has a duty to protect and defend all civil rights laws. Failure to do so would be to forget that the nation enacted

facility project. In addition to housing the V3 training facility, Binger said a portion of the building will be available for retail space, including housing a community room and event/banquet space. V3 will continue to train youth until its permanent home becomes a reality. As a service to the community, on Sept. 9 Cullen Jones, a V3 volunteer, will host a swim clinic with the aim of teaching 300 youth â&#x20AC;&#x201C;mostly from North Minneapolis â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to swim.

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

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Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Abeni Hill

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the 1968 Fair Housing Act for this very purpose. Charlene Crowell is the deputy communications director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@ responsiblelending.org.

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Contributing Writers Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

Page 10 •March 19 - March 25, 2018 • Insight News

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Shed G

Damien Lemon

Monday, March 19 KARAOKE The Return of Autotune Karaoke Mortimer’s 2001 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. 21-plus No cover Sing some of your favorite songs, auto-tuned at Mortimer’s.

Tuesday, March 20 March 19 April 1, 2018

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

COMEDY Damien Lemon Acme Comedy Company 708 1st St. N., Minneapolis 8 p.m. 18-plus $15, $30 Star of MTV’s “Guy Code” and featured in “Spider Man,” comedian Damien Lemon stops through Acme Tuesday and Wednesday.

Wednesday, March 21 COMEDY Shed G Comedy Series feat. Keedar and Montee Rogers Rick Brunson’s House of Comedy – Mall of America 408 E. Broadway Ave., Bloomington 7:30 p.m. 21-plus $15 advance, $20 door Shed G’s popular monthly comedy series is back, this time

with two headliners, Keedar and Montee Rogers

Thursday, March 22 CULTURE Black History 365 Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association 821 E. 35th St., Minneapolis 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. All ages No cover Black History 365 presents youth from throughout the Twin-Cities showcasing their talent with a focus on the greatness of Black history. The event also puts an emphasis on celebrating Black history year-round. The event features poetry, monologue readings, hip-hop, R&B, dance and visual arts.

Friday, March 23 COMEDY 3rd Annual Black and Funny Improv Festival Huge Improv Theater 3037 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 6:30 p.m. $10 What started out as a small, one day workshop and panel has evolved into a weekend full of shows, classes, and celebration featuring performers of color from across the country – open to audiences of every ethnicity.

Saturday, March 24 WORLD BEAT

Afriquency - Dancehall/ Afrobeats Party Pimento 2524 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. 21-plus $10 general admission, $20 VIP Join Soul Tools for the followup to the popular new night Afriquency, featuring dancehall, Afrobeats, hip-hop, and electro soul at the newly renovated Pimento Rum Bar.

Sunday, March 25

Powers to come closer to what scholars believe Shakespeare originally wrote in “Measure for Measure,” a story about justice in the #MeToo scenario of the 1600s. “Measure for Measure” runs through April 8.

Tuesday, March 27 R&B/JAZZ Meshell Ndegeocello Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. $35-$55

to town with Guy, Ginuwine, 112 and Jagged Edge.

Friday, March 30 JAZZ/SOUL Debbie Duncan: «Full Circle» Album Release Party Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $25 Versatile jazz singer Debbie Duncan releases her new album, “Full Circle,” at the Dakota.

THEATER “Familiar” Guthrie Theater 818 2nd St. S., Minneapolis 1 p.m. $37-$72 There’s something old, something new and something borrowed in this feisty, heart-warming play about a Zimbabwean-American family preparing for their daughter Tendi’s wedding. “Familiar” is written by Macalister College grad and “The Walking Dead” and “Black Panther” star, Denai Guerrero. “Familiar” runs through April 14.

Monday, March 26 THEATER “Measure for Measure” at Theatre Unbound Gremlin Theatre 550 Vandalia St., St. Paul 7:30 p.m. $5-$22 Theatre Unbound presents the world premiere of a text freshly restored by director Kate

Fresh of the release of her cover project, “Ventriloquism,” 10time Grammy nominee Meshell Ndegeocello plays the Dakota.

Wednesday, March 28 REGGAE/DANCEHALL Reggae Dancehall Wednesdays The Red Sea 320 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 10 p.m. 18-plus No cover DJ Fujun plays Wednesday nights at The Red Sea.

Saturday, March 31 WORLD/DRAG BeBe Zahara Benet›s “Roar” Mercy 901 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. 21-plus $15-$25 “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season One winner Bebe Zahara presents “Roar” at Mercy in downtown Minneapolis.

Sunday, April 1 VOCAL

Thursday, March 29 R&B Minneapolis 90s Block Party The Armory 500 6th St. S., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. 21-plus $59-$217 Hometown heroes Next return

Robert Robinson with Sam Reeves, Gwen Matthews and Michael Pilhofer Crooners 6161 Highway 65 N.E., Minneapolis 6:30 p.m. $35-$45 Celebrate Easter with gospel star Robert Robinson and a host of others.

‘Warm Dark Dusk’ comes to Park Square Theatre The Urban Spectrum Theatre will present the remount of “Warm Dark Dusk.” The play runs April 12 – April 22 at Park Square Theatre, 20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul. This play, produced and directed by the company’s artistic director and founder, Judy Cooper Lyle, is a jazz music and dance interpretation of the poetry of Langston Hughes. Original music, and music from the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s are featured in the play’s four

Solar From 3 for the indigenous to have hope,” said Howell. “Today we recognize that same light (which God provided) has come to this community from a roof that will provide the right light for energy, power and opportunity. Welcome the light … solar powered light. This is a triumphant moment for our community and I’m proud to be a part of the process of restoring economic justice to our community.” In addition to being a partner, Shiloh Temple was selected as a site for the panels because the church’s ﬂat roof

segments, “The Blues,” “Night Life,” “Dance,” and “Love & Sex.” “Warm Dark Dusk” features six dancers, two vocalists, three musicians, and the main character playing Langston Hughes. “Warm Dark Dusk” is choreographed by Florence Lyle and Joey Schad directs the music. Tickets for the show are available online at www. brownpapertickets.com/ event/3319675. Tickets are $20 general admission and $15 for students and seniors.

allowed for the panel’s to be best positioned to capture the sun’s energy. The additional 26 residents who will draw power from the soon-to-be-installed solar panels, will subscribe through Xcel Energy. For this project, removed are income and credit restrictions. “This is bigger than energy, it’s about a larger part of equal access in our democracy,” said Jacqui Patterson, national director of the NAACP Environmental Justice Program. “We want to take what’s happening in Minnesota and replicate it throughout the country.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was on hand for the unveiling of North Minneapolis’ ﬁrst solar panels. He said the

Christopher Lyle

Warm Dark Dusk: Dancers Jovan Valentino and Penny Masuku.

project was funded in part with fees paid to the city by companies considered the “biggest polluters” in Minneapolis. He said the project is what true community investment looks like. “That what inclusion looks like. That’s what progress looks like,” said Frey. Minneapolis Fifth Ward Councilman Jeremiah Ellison, who ran on a platform that included environmental justice, said the solar project is about correcting historical ills. “We have a lot of historic harms to remedy and this helps to remedy one of those harms,” said Ellison. “This is the ﬁrst (North Minneapolis solar garden), but we want this to be the norm moving forward.”

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Ward 5 councilman, Jeremiah Ellison

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The band is back together. Well, it’s not like it wasn’t together, but it’s been a while since #MPLS has performed. In fact, the group’s March 9 and March 10 shows at the Icehouse were the first for the group in 2018. Now that’s not to say the members haven’t been performing. They have been perform-

Insight News • March 19 - March 25, 2018 • Page 11

ing … mostly together … just not as #MPLS. Drummer, Brandon Commodore, singer, Ashley Commodore, keyboardist, David Billingsley and that guy on guitar who was on some television show … oh yeah, Jesse Larson, who was a finalist on “The Voice,” have been working together as the touring band for

Stokley Williams. Members David Glenn and rapper, Beeph, have also been busy with separate projects. But as far as fans getting hear their #MPLS favorites, the Icehouse shows fulfilled the craving. Let’s hope we aren’t kept waiting long for an encore.

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Ashley Commodore (right) and David Glenn going in on a song.

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Singer/dancer, Vie Boheme, sat in with #MPLS during its Saturday night show.

Jesse Larson (center) gave fans what they were longing for during one of his incomparable guitar solos.

#MPLS’ David Glenn.

Meshell Ndegeocello performs at the Dakota Jazz Club By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor @HarryColbertJr

Meshell Ndegeocello has plenty of hits on her own, but one of the all-time soul/ neo-soul/jazz greats decided for her new album to sing some old songs … and be so happy she did. “Ventriloquism,” which was released March 16, pays tribute to some of the classic funk, R&B, and soul songs of the 1980s. But these are not simple re-

makes, these are reimagines. Brilliantly, Ndegeocello has taken some of the most iconic songs and deconstructed them to make each a unique, new creation. Mostly acoustic, “Ventriloquism” is Ndegeocello’s bold interpretation of 11 classic songs that at ﬁrst listen don’t sound anything like the originals. And that’s what makes this project so wonderful. Only a diabolical genius such as Ndegeocello would take George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog,” strip

Meshell Ndegeocello

it complete and ﬂip it into a bluegrass ode to the original that is as much George Thorogood as it is George Clinton. Al B. Sure is given new life with Ndegeocello’s take on “Nite and Day” and TLC’s “Waterfalls” takes on a haunting new persona in the hands of the woman who ﬁrst came to prominence with the neo-soul/ spoken word joint, “Outside

Your Door,” which spent 14 weeks on the Billboard charts in 1994. Proving music is universal, the artist, who plays multiple instruments, gives Janet Jackson’s “Funny How Time Flies” a rock makeover, buoyed by a melodic electric guitar line throughout the 4:33 remake, and R&B classic “Tender Love” could as easily ﬁnd a home on country music sta-

tions as it could on KMOJ. “ Ve n t r i l o q u i s m ” includes remakes of songs by The System, Tina Turner, Sade, Ralph Tresvant, and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, but the one that will probably resonate most with Twin Cities listeners is the cover of Prince’s “Sometimes it Snows in April” – a song to which she devotes 7:05 to adequately pay her respects to the departed favorite son

of Minnesota. Ndegeocello will perform songs from “Ventriloquism” – along with many of her other favorites – March 27 at the Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, during her two shows (7p.m. and 9 p.m.). Tickets for both shows are $35-$55 and on sale online at www.dakotacooks.com or by calling the Dakota at (612) 332-5299.

Page 12 •March 19 - March 25, 2018 • Insight News

The body is a temple. It’s also a canvas. Patrons of the March 11 “Naked Truth” body art and fashion

show, presented by artist Kenneth Caldwell inside the A-Mill Lofts, were transported to Wakanda courtesy of the “Naked Truth’s” “Black

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Panther” theme. Multiple artists participated in this year’s event, showcasing their skills while celebrating the human body in its many won-

derful forms. Insight News photojournalist Rebecca Rabb captured these stunning images.

Photos by Rebecca Rabb

“Duncan is quite simply the star of the show…” – Minneapolis Star Tribune

THE LUMINOUS JAZZ VOCALS OF

DEBBIE DUNCAN

“FULL CIRCLE” ALBUM RELEASE PARTY

MARCH 30 & 31 • 7 PM

EASTER BRUNCH WITH

TWIN CITIES HOT CLUB SUNDAY, APRIL 1 10 AM – 2 PM

MAKE RESERVATIONS TODAY CALL 612.332.1010 www.dakotacooks.com