Jazz Noir premieres on Jazz88 KBEM MORE ON PAGE 5
April 8 - April 14, 2013
Vol. 40 No. 15 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE
Justin Terrell rages against the machine Harry Colbert, Jr.
Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey (left) and Deputy Commission of Revenue, Mike Masserman discuss the governor’s budget with residents of North Minneapolis at the Minneapolis Urban League
Commissioners outline Governor Dayton’s budget priorities By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer For years, residents of North Minneapolis have felt slighted by state leaders, but Gov. Mark Dayton and his administration have been making efforts to reach out to citizens on the north side. As a part of the efforts to reach out, the state’s commissioner on human rights and deputy
Karen Carter-Richards
commissioner of the Department of Revenue hosted a town hall meeting at the Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N., to inform area residents about happenings with the state budget and various human rights initiatives. The nearly two-hour town hall outlined the governor’s vision for spending in critical areas such as education and job creation
TOWN HALL TURN TO 11
By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer The system is broken and it needs to be fixed. For Justin Terrell it is just that simple. The current way the country goes about servicing and caring for its poor is in dysfunction. In the eyes of Terrell, something has to change, and he is at the forefront of a growing movement for change. Make no mistake, Terrell is not just a voice for change, he is quickly becoming an agent for change. The 32-year-old former college football running back, is attacking poverty in the same bruising style in which he ran the ball. “For the past 10 years I’ve done direct service work,” said Terrell, who is the program manager for TakeAction Minnesota’s Justice 4 All campaign. “After doing 10 years of really cool work I was dismayed at the way the system is
set up to keep people poor.” Terrell said his most recent job prior to him joining TakeAction Minnesota led him to an epiphany. “I used to run a men’s shelter and that job made me realize we need systematic change. Yeah, every night I helped 27 people get a bed, but at the end of the day, the way the system is set up, it still keeps them homeless,” said Terrell. According to Terrell, in order for men to qualify for a bed in the shelter, the men had to have zero income. For many homeless, they receive government assistance in the amount of $203 a month – certainly helpful, but not nearly enough to live off. “We had a policy that if someone got a government assistance check they could not qualify for a bed,” said a frustrated Terrell. “So when you had money you had to sleep on a
TERRELL TURN TO 6
Justin Terrell
Harry Colbert, Jr.
James Washington
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Opportunity to improve, advance health equity; reduce disparities
Sonny Messiah-Jiles
Jake Oliver
Publishers reflect on legacy of the Black press
Pleading our own cause By Eleska Aubespin Special to the NNPA from The Houston Defender March 16 marked the 186th anniversary of the founding of Freedom’s Journal, the country’s first Black newspaper. Its editors, Rev. Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm, proclaimed in the first edition, “Too long have others spoken for us…We wish to plead our own cause.”
Each year, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Foundation – comprised of 200 Black newspapers – celebrates the milestone with Black Press Week. To mark the observance, the Defender interviewed four Black newspaper publishers for their thoughts. They are: Jake Oliver, AFRO-American Newspapers, Baltimore/ Washington, D.C., founded
PRESS TURN TO 7
Roundtable
100% college-bound at Minneapolis College Prep
PAGE 2
OccupyHomesMN
Ellison speaks at Rose McGee’s rally
Judge orders mediation as Rep. Ellison and community rally to halt Rose McGee eviction Close to 50 community members rallied in support of Rose McGee as she faced off against Fannie Mae in settlement court alleging wrongful foreclosure. When Fannie Mae still refused to offer what McGee felt was a fair deal, the judge ordered for them to return for further court mediation on May 14. McGee has been fighting for more than a year to save her Golden Valley home.
Appetite for Change
Fresh Fridays mean free produce at Northside corner stores
PAGE 6
“The outcome of the court process today was very disappointing,” said McGee. “The offer that Fannie has made is unreasonable. If they made a reasonable offer, I would gladly accept it. I think now that I’m being used as a scapegoat because they’re faced with so many cases like mine that they don’t want to set a precedent of losing this one.” McGee, who has been
fighting her foreclosure for over a year, fell victim last May to a process called dual tracking – a process where a lender (in McGee’s case CitiMortgage) tells a homeowner it is modifying the loan, yet at the same time seeks to sell the home in foreclosure. In January, McGee met with Fannie Mae
MCGEE TURN TO 6
Full Circle
Obituary: Christopher was active in community affairs
PAGE 9
By HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius April is National Minority Health Month, a time when we reflect on the incredible opportunity we face as a nation to improve minority health, advance health equity, and eliminate health disparities. Fifty years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to remind America of the “fierce urgency of now.” That message is as meaningful
HEALTH TURN TO 7
Health
Nearly five children a day die from child abuse, neglect
PAGE 11
Page 2 • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Insight News
insightnews.com
100% college-bound at Minneapolis College Prep By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer By now, it is no secret that Minneapolis and much of the surrounding Twin Cities has one of the worst student achievement gaps in the nation when it comes to children of color. It is also no secret that to date, no true across-the-board plan has been implemented to reduce the gap and better educate children of various ethnic minorities. And with much of the talk being about enhancing student achievement, for the most part, students have been left out of the conversation. This was not the case when students from the newly formed Minneapolis College Preparatory School, 2131 12th Ave. N., Minneapolis, recently sat with various members of the community, including a representative from Sen. Al Franken’s office to discuss reasons for – and possible solutions to – the broad achievement gap in the area. And while curriculum was a part of the discussion, much of the discussion centered on external factors leading to the gap. “You can give the students what they need (scholastically) but there has to be that extra push because of what may be going on at the home, especially for minority students,” said Suhaylah Purcell, a student attending
Photo by Harry Colbert, Jr.
Paul Dixon (left) and Minneapolis College Preparatory School Student Council President Sarah Chebli (center) listen to Lara Dreier discuss the area’s student achievement gap. Minneapolis Prep. “If the parent doesn’t show that education is important then the kid won’t see the value of education either.” All the students in the inaugural class at Minneapolis Prep are freshmen. Minneapolis College Prep opened in August, 2012. The
foundation of Minneapolis College Prep is providing a structured, disciplined, and safe environment for a rigorous, college preparatory education. The school’s goal is for 100 percent of its students to attend and graduate from selective fouryear universities. All Minneapolis
College Prep students are admitted via lottery, with the only requirements being that they complete the application on time, and successfully meet their 8th grade graduation requirements. Minneapolis College Prep is a public charter school authorized by the Office of New Schools
(Minneapolis Public Schools). Ann Prichard, a community member invited to participate in the roundtable agreed that a child’s home situation plays a major role in scholastic achievement. “I was talking to a young kid and the kid never wanted to go home and I wondered why he didn’t want to go home; come to find out his mother was always high on drugs,” said Prichard, who said as a student she was initially an underachiever. “I was a Title I (one) student, and I was failing everything – not because I couldn’t learn but because I didn’t have teachers reaching out to assess my needs.” Title I is a provision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act passed in 1965 designed to distribute funding to schools and school districts with a high percentage of students from low-income families. Today, Prichard is an author whose books are written to assist students in reading and to encourage children to stay in school. Dan Soloman, the education director for Franken said the gap in education is a gap in access. “I call it an opportunity gap, where certain kids have access to educational opportunities that others don’t because of resources,” said Soloman. “We need a stronger economy so parents don’t have to work three jobs and can be home more with their children.”
Molly Bahneman, associate dean of student development and services at St. Paul College, said solving the achievement gap is difficult because of the underlying social implications. “Race and culture play a major role in the lives of the haves and the have nots; that’s a really difficult conversation to have,” said Bahneman. Though many outside factors exist when it comes to educating children of color, Paul Dixon, an African-American, said teachers play a key role. “There are some lawyers who should instead be teachers and some doctors who should be teachers, and there are also some teachers who should be doing other things,” said Dixon. Dixon referred to what he calls the “Sunday Night Factor.” If you’re a teacher on Sunday night and you’re not excited about getting to work the next day then this isn’t the profession for you,” said Dixon. Anne Krocak, deputy director with AchiveMpls agreed. “Imagine every day going to school and hearing from a counselor, ‘College isn’t for everybody, let’s just get you through high school,’ versus, if you (the student) show up everyday and the culture is ‘You will go to college, you will succeed; we expect you to do well,’” said Krocak.
Saint Paul Public Housing Agency invests $2.5 million upgrade Dunedin Terrace and Hi-Rise The Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) will mark the beginning of a multi-million dollar upgrade of its Dunedin Terrace public housing development. The 88 rental units in 22 four-plex townhomes were originally built for low income families in 1964, along with the adjacent Dunedin Hi-Rise for elderly residents. Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) announces the Modernization of its Dunedin Terrace Family Development on Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Program at 9:30 AM) at 469 Ada Street, Dunedin Terrace, St. Paul, MN
55107 (north of Cesar Chavez Street, between Highway 52 and Robert Street.) Scheduled speakers at the press event will include Dexter Sidney, Director of HUD’s Minnesota Field Office, elected officials, PHA Commissioner Marty Strub and Executive Director Jon Gutzmann, and other PHA staff and residents. On January 23, 2013 the PHA Board of Commissioners approved a $2,464,800 contract with Crossroad Construction Inc. of Ham Lake to renovate 28 of the units. More than onethird of the money comes from a $825,000 State grant through
the Minnesota Housing Agency. That grant under the “Publicly Owned Housing Program” (POHP) was funded by general obligation bonds approved by the Minnesota Legislature in 2012. The PHA will pay the balance of the contract cost with federal funds from HUD capital grants awarded in previous years. The contract includes extensive renovations inside and outside, including the following: • Remodel all kitchens and bathrooms. • Install all new windows to improve resident comfort and conserve energy.
Dunedin Terrace • Convert to “hipped” roofs for improved drainage, easier maintenance, better insulation.
• Replace old siding on second floor. • Make site improvements.
Following federal and state law and its own contracting policies, the PHA awards to the “lowest responsible bidder” who fully responds to all of the contract requirements. Before awarding a contract PHA staff confirm the contractors’ bid amounts, qualifications, commitments to equal employment practices and subcontracting to qualified businesses owned by people who are racial minorities, women or persons with disabilities. Capital improvements to public housing properties benefit the current and future residents, improve the community and generate economic benefits. A national study by Econsult
PHA TURN TO 3
Obama’s 2nd-term team diversifies By Keli Goff While he has spent much of his second term battling Republicans on a host of issues, from the sequester debate to his Cabinet nominees, President Obama has also endured critiques from fellow Democrats. One of the most common complaints from his base of supporters has been that his administration is sorely lacking in diversity in key leadership roles. Shortly before his second inauguration, a headline blared, “Obama’s Cabinet Shaping Up to Be a Boys Club.” African-American Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) called the White House’s diversity struggles “embarrassing as hell.”
Julia Pierson (Pool/Getty); Danielle Gray (White House); Miguel Rodriguez (Pete Souza/The White House) The president’s high-profile nominations of white men to major Cabinet posts -- including Sen. Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense and Sen. John Kerry as secretary of state -- combined
with the high-profile derailment of United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice’s rumored Cabinet
OBAMA TURN TO 10
MINNESOTA MEETING RESET EDUCATION SERIES
The Leadership Factor with Dr. Steve Perry. Monday
April 22, 2013 | 7pm Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN One of the nation’s most talked about and innovative educators, Dr. Steve Perry will discuss leadership that gets results. A principal and author, Dr. Perry has been featured on CNN’s Black in America.
COMING UP: An evening with John Legend Wednesday, May 22, 2013 | 7pm
Purchase tickets at:
RESETEDUCATION.ORG
insightnews.com
Insight News • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Page 3
BUSINESS
Take time to recharge Plan Your Career By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com For many, the end of March is the beginning of Spring Break. School’s out and families are forced to find a way to get through five or more days of alternative child care arrangements. But maybe the best arrangements you can make are for days off work. Whether you go away or stay and play, taking a break from work is good for you.
While many Americans have fewer than two weeks of paid vacation every year, many who do have time coming to them never take it. On average, people who are entitled to fourteen vacation days only use twelve. People are too busy to take time off; the work is still there when I get back, they say. Concerns about job security also keep people from taking much needed breaks. Not taking vacation time can lead to the ultimate vacation, the permanent kind. According to various studies, men who do not use vacation time are somewhere between thirty and forty percent more like to have a heart attack than those who do. Women, too, are less likely to suffer a heart
Away from the structure and routine of regular worklife, a vacation creates an opportunity to rethink who you are and where you are going in your career.
attack when there’s time off on the schedule. A vacation does not have to
be an expensive long distance trek. While that kind is fun, it can also be stressful if money is
a concern or planning is a hassle. A vacation from work can mean simply spending a few days spring cleaning with the kids. You sleep in, whip up some pancakes and maybe take a walk later on. That’s a legitimate vacation which will provide you the kind of benefits a forty hour work week cannot give you: rest, relaxation and reconnection with family. Away from the structure and routine of regular worklife, a vacation creates an opportunity to rethink who you are and where you are going in your career. You might get some creative perspective by being away from it all for a while. You might be able to curb a bad habit (like nailbiting) or take up
a good one (like riding a bike). When you return to work, you can bring that new perspective along with you. Vacations enable employees to recharge and return to work with new energy and focus. Taking the time you are entitled to is a favor to everyone: you, your family and your boss. It doesn’t have to cost an arm or a leg, it doesn’t have to be exotic; it just has to be time… away from work. Vacations of any kind last a lifetime, and just might make that lifetime last longer. Julie Desmond is IT Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. and she is on vacation this week.
What you need to know to ‘make the ask’ FUNdraising Good Times
By Mel and Pearl Shaw How do you ask someone to make a gift to a nonprofit that you believe in? What do you say? When do you ask? What if the person says “yes?” What if she says “no?” When it comes to soliciting
PHA From 2 determined that each dollar of HUD capital funding generated
a gift for a nonprofit here’s what you need to know. First off, if you are new to fundraising, it is natural – and healthy! – to feel a bit nervous. One way to reduce nervousness is to prepare and rehearse. Think about what might encourage a potential donor to give, and what his or her objections might be. Be prepared to overcome potential objections with information. And don’t worry – the most important thing is to ask. You can’t predict the response, but you can prepare your presentation. And, once you start getting a few “yeses” you may get addicted to fundraising:
it is fun to secure resources for organizations and institutions you believe in. Here are a few suggestions for getting started. First off, don’t work alone. If you are asked to solicit a gift for a nonprofit, college, or hospital ask who on the staff will work with you to get you prepared. When you meet with the staff person be sure to discuss who you should solicit. You may have several people in mind, the organization may also have a few people they would like for you to ask. In general, you should solicit people you know
or have a relationship with. You will want to learn about the relationship between the organization and the people you will be soliciting. For example, will you be soliciting current donors or volunteers, or people who don’t yet have a relationship with the nonprofit? You will want to know how much money the organization is seeking to raise in total, how much has already been raised, as well as what size gift you should ask your prospective donor to give. Make sure that you have access to printed and online information about the organization, its
mission, vision, impact, programs and leadership. Ask for a brochure to take with you. Be sure you can communicate how the funds raised will be used. Ask as many questions as you feel the donor may have. It is most important that you are both knowledgeable about the organization and comfortable answering questions that may arise. If you are new to fundraising, or feel uncomfortable making the ask, request that the staff person spend some time role playing with you. You may also want to accompany a staff person or
more experienced volunteer or board member as they solicit a gift. This can help decrease any nervousness or discomfort you may feel. Most importantly – make your own gift before you ask someone else to give! Next week: details on what to say when soliciting a gift.
$2.12 in economic activity in the community, and almost 15 jobs created or supported for each $1 million construction project. (In capital improvement projects much of the money buys materials, equipment, etc.) Following that estimate, this
PHA contract would support almost 35 jobs. The PHA intends to complete this construction by the end of calendar year 2013. Some landscape work may be deferred due to weather so it is to be completed by May 31, 2014. One of the Dunedin Terrace
four-plexes was modernized earlier as a prototype. The remaining 56 units will be renovated over the next several years, depending on how much money Congress approves for capital improvements in public housing each year. Jon Gutzmann says,
“Dunedin Terrace has served its residents and the community well for almost 50 years, and this major renovation work will preserve and improve the asset for future generations. The State of Minnesota’s commitment to help preserve federally-funded public housing is demonstrated
here. We applaud the Governor and the State Legislature for approving $5 million last year for capital improvements to public housing throughout the State. We encourage them to do more of the same this session and in the future.”
Mel and Pearl Shaw are the authors of “Prerequisites for Fundraising Success.” They provide fundraising counsel to nonprofits. Visit them at www. saadandshaw.com.
Kitchen looking more like an office? At this rate, you might want both. Get a great rate on a Home Equity Line of Credit. Home Equity Line of Credit
1.99
% APR*
Introductory Rate for 6 Months
There’s never been a better time to make those home improvements you’ve been thinking about. U.S. Bank is offering a Home Equity Line of Credit at a great rate with no closing costs. Not to mention potential tax advantages, great service and convenient branch locations. Start adding value to your home today.
Rates As Low As
3.99
% APR*
Variable Rate after Introductory Period
branch
usbank.com/lowrate
800.209.BANK (2265)
*1.99% Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available on Equiline Home Equity Lines of Credit with a U.S. Bank Package and a 70% or 80% loan-to-value (LTV) or less, depending upon the market. The introductory interest rate will be fixed at 1.99% during the six month introductory period. A higher introductory rate will apply for a credit limit of $15,000 to $24,999 and an LTV above 80%. After the six month introductory period: the APR is variable and is based upon an index plus a margin. The APR will vary with Prime Rate (the index) as published in the Wall Street Journal. As of February 1, 2013, the variable rate for home equity lines of credit ranged from 3.99% APR to 8.99% APR. Higher rates will apply for a credit limit below $99,999, an LTV above 80%, a low credit score and/or not having a U.S. Bank Package relationship. The rate will not vary above 25% APR, or applicable state law, or below 1.99% APR. An annual fee of up to $90 may apply after the first year. Offer is subject to normal credit qualifications. Rates are subject to change. Property insurance is required. Consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of interest. Other restrictions may apply. Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit are offered through U.S. Bank National Association ND. © 2013 U.S. Bank. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.
Page 4 • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Insight News
insightnews.com
COMMENTARY The State of Equality and Justice in America: Masters of our own fate To Be Equal
By Marc H. Morial “It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.” Whitney M. Young In 1963, more than a quarter-million people gathered in Washington, DC to march for jobs and equality. The Great March for Jobs and
INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com
Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler
Freedom was a watershed moment in American history birthing now-iconic speeches that voiced the hardships facing blacks as they sought a fair shot at an elusive dream. As we fast-forward 50 years and reflect on the progress we’ve made toward economic equality, we meet the sobering truth that much has been achieved, but much more needs to be done. Some people use apparent proofs of progress - that Blacks are no longer barred from living, learning and earning where they want because of their race, not to mention the election and reelection of our first Black president - to conclude that Blacks in America have overcome. However, a shiny veneer of progress cannot justify the elimination of affirmative action in education and employment; the roll-back of voting rights protections and relegation of this precious franchise to increasingly partisan legislatures; or a cut back on social investments that can help current and future generations thrive in a fastchanging economy. Taken alone, our achievements could be hailed as good progress in the pursuit of full equality. But unfortunately, the AfricanAmerican condition has only improved primarily within our own community. This means
that economic disparities with whites persist and cast doubt on what we thought was meaningful change.
Putting Urban America back to Work. We expanded the program in January of this year with a ground-breaking
Our experience since the Great March says that we must be vigilant in protecting our hardwon rights These disparities underscore the need to reinforce our fight for lasting economic empowerment and for policies driving development in underresourced communities. For example, the National Urban League launched our ongoing “War on Unemployment” in 2011, which included the release of our 12-Point Plan:
endeavor, Jobs Rebuild America - a series of public/ private investments totaling more than $70 million over the next five years. Beyond each of us actively working toward solutions, our ongoing struggle cries out for the kind of coalition advocacy that drove many of the civil rights and economic
victories in the 1960s. Between November 2012 and January 2013, I helped to organize a historic convening of civil rights, social justice, business and community leaders to identify and push for public policy priorities to drive economic recovery and rebirth for African-American and urban communities and all low-income and working-class Americans. This policy agenda was embodied in an official Communique that included specific recommendations with clearly defined objectives to move us forward as a community. When I compare these recommendations with the demands made on that August afternoon in 1963, I am struck by how little has changed. In 1963, as today, the most pressing demands centered on economic equality, educational opportunity and parity, and civil rights. But instead of fighting against discrimination in hiring or a $2 minimum wage, we’re fighting for job training and wage equity. Instead of calling for school segregation to end, we’re demanding an end to disparities in educational investment. Rather than calling for meaningful civil rights legislation, we’re fighting to preserve those very rights our ancestors fought and died for and to retain the practical application of civil rights and equality through affirmative
measures to achieve diversity in jobs and education. Our experience since the Great March says that we must be vigilant in protecting our hard-won rights. To paraphrase William Ernest Henley’s poem “Invictus,” we must become masters of our own fate to fully realize the economic prosperity we demanded on that day in 1963. If we are to honor Whitney M. Young, one of the unsung visionaries of the Great March and the Urban League’s leader from 1961-1971, we must not only be prepared to seize opportunity when it comes, we must be committed to creating opportunity when it does not. Marc Morial is President/ CEO of the National Urban League. This article - the twelfth of a 20-part series - is written in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The Lawyers’ Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to enlist the private bar’s leadership and resources in combating racial discrimination and the resulting inequality of opportunity - work that continues to be vital today. For more information, please visit www.lawyerscommittee.org.
Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford
A year later, Trayvon Martin tragedy still stings
Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White
By Benjamin Todd Jealous, President/CEO NAACP
Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin
One year later, the Trayvon Martin tragedy still stings - and some people are still throwing salt on the open wound. Last week George Zimmerman’s brother, Robert Zimmerman, posted a tweet comparing Trayvon Martin to De’Marquis Elkins, 17-year-old Black teenager charged with fatally shooting a one-year-old baby. The tweet showed a photo of Elkins side by side with a photo of Martin, both making inappropriate gestures, with the caption “A picture speaks a thousand words. Any questions?” Zimmerman’s follow-up tweet read “Lib[eral] media [should] ask if what these [two] Black teens did [to] a [woman and her baby] is the reason [people] think Blacks might
Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Cordie Aziz Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Oshana Himot Timothy Houston Alaina L. Lewis Photography Suluki Fardan 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.
Benjamin Todd Jealous [be] risky”. The implication was that Trayvon Martin’s actions on the night he was murdered were equivalent to the killing of an innocent child. This would be worrisome enough if it were just the opportunistic cry of a family embroiled in racial controversy. But this belief that male “Black teens” are inherently more likely to be criminals - is ingrained in our society. It has seeped into our institutions in the form of racial profiling, and too often it
poisons the judgment of those who are supposed to protect us. Last year I visited Sanford, Florida in the wake of the Trayvon Martin case. The NAACP hosted a forum where residents could report incidents of police abuse. A number of African American mothers alleged that their teenage sons had been profiled, abused or even assaulted by the police. I found that the attitude of the local police department toward “Black teens” was uncomfortably similar to that of Robert Zimmerman. But the fact is that fifty years after the Civil Rights Act, racial bias still runs rampant among law enforcement in this country. And Zimmerman’s attitude infects an institution much more influential than the Sanford Police Department: the NYPD. The New York Police Department is currently fighting a class-action lawsuit against their racially biased practice of “stop-and-frisk” policing. Stop-and-frisk allows officers to stop, question and physically search any individual they consider suspicious. In 2011 NYPD officers stopped nearly 800,000 people for alleged “suspicious
activity”. Nine out of ten were innocent, 99 percent did not have a gun - and nine out of ten were Black or Latino. The most revealing tidbit to come out of the class-action trial is a secretly recorded conversation between a deputy inspector and a police officer. The inspector is discussing a high-crime neighborhood, and he can be heard telling his patrolman: “The problem was, what, male Blacks... And I told you at roll call, and I have no problem telling you this, male Blacks 14 to 20, 21.” In other words: stop more young Black boys. Other evidence indicates that patrolmen may be encouraged to meet arrest quotas. A tape played at the trial reveals a supervising officer asking for “more 250s” - or more stop-and-frisk forms. One plaintiff, a police officer, testified about the pressure he felt from supervisors - “they were very clear, it’s nonnegotiable, you’re gonna do it, or you’re gonna become a Pizza Hut delivery man.” A picture may speak a thousand words, but leaked recordings speak volumes about an institution’s priorities. These tapes reveal that the
NYPD has effectively placed a bounty on “Black teens”. By profiling young teens of color, they are using the same grisly logic as Robert Zimmerman. And the result is apparent: in 2011, Black and Latino men between the ages of 14 and 24 made up 42 percent of those targeted by stop-and-frisk. That group makes up less than 5 percent of the city’s population. The crime attributed to De’Marquis Elkins’ was truly horrific and despicable. But Elkins does not represent an entire demographic, just like Adam Lanza did not act on behalf of all young white men. Racial profiling punishes innocent individuals for the past actions of those who look and sound like them. It misdirects crucial resources and undercuts the trust needed between law enforcement and the communities they serve. It has no place in our national discourse, and no place in our nation’s police departments. Ben Jealous is President/CEO of the NAACP. Ben Wrobel, 202-292-3386, bwrobel@ naacpnet.org.
$250k a year: Rich or not rich? By Dedrick Muhammad, Sr. Director of NAACP Economic Department How much should you earn to be considered middle class? To be considered rich? Pinning down clear numbers is more complicated than you might think. During his presidential campaign, Mitt Romney stirred controversy when he grouped households earning $250,000 with the middle class. Rich and poor are relative terms, and our judgment of these categories is often informed by feeling, not fact. For example, households earning $160,000 would probably identify themselves as middle class, yet a quick breakdown of U.S. incomes shows just how far from the middle they are. The bottom 20 percent (quintile), a large portion of which falls below the poverty threshold, earns $0–$17,500. The second lowest quintile makes $17,500–$33,400. If your household takes in $60,000 a year, you’re making more than 60 percent of the country does. Overall, the median household income in the U.S. as of 2011 is roughly $50,054, according to the U.S. Census.
So where would a household with an income of $160,000 fit in all this? It would rank in the top 10 percent, tripling the median household income and earning more than 90 percent of all households. And if you’re earning $250,000, you’re even better off — you’re among the top 4 percent of all earners in the U.S. Which begs the question: if you’re doing better than the vast majority of your peers, aren’t you rich, not middle class? These terms are also influenced by a multitude of other factors such as geography and lifestyle — money doesn’t go as far in expensive coastal areas such as New York City or San Francisco. And if you live in an affluent neighborhood of multimillionaires where you feel pressured to spend more to fit in, $250,000 might not feel like enough. But even accounting for such adjustments, it’s clear that these six-figure incomes represent an elite minority — not the broad-based majority. Defining the middle class is a crucial step toward creating a fair tax system that evens the playing field for struggling American families. As of 2011, the income gap between the rich and poor is the widest it’s
been in four decades, and the poverty rate has remained at a near 20-year high. Median household incomes among the bottom 80 percent fell 1.7 percent last year while the top 1 percent saw their earnings rise by 5.5 percent. Incredibly, the top 1 percent of the country (earning $506,553 or more) captured 93 percent of the country’s income growth in 2010. We shouldn’t lose sight of our fight to stem the growing concentration of wealth at the very top. But we must also understand that no matter what our income, spending more than we make will always ensure that we’re poor. Unsustainable spending, ballooning debts, and lack of savings always leave you one paycheck away from financial disaster. That’s why developing a sound financial budget should be a part of everyone’s plan, whether you’re part of the top or bottom five percent. True wealth isn’t defined by fancy cars or designer clothes — it comes from living within your means and creating a savings plan that leaves you in a position of financial strength and security for years to come. (This piece was originally published on BET.com)
insightnews.com
Insight News • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Page 5
AESTHETICS
‘The Host’ fails to excite Movie review by Alaina L. Lewis The words of Stephanie Meyer are back gracing the silver screen with an adaptation of her post “Twilight” series novel entitled “The Host.” The film is set in the future where our world is now inhabited by alien parasites that hunt humans to invade their bodies and turn them into “hosts.” We begin our journey in this film when Melanie, a human, is captured by a seeker and forced to become a host for an alien parasite named Wanderer (or Wanda as she’s called throughout the film). Melanie, who is one of the last humans left in the world is as stubborn as her alien invader, whose personal politics on the wrong in taking over earth, are interfering with her ability to do her job. Wanda had been tasked with tracking Melanie’s memories and uncovering where all of the other human beings are hiding, but she unfortunately succumbs to Melanie’s will and refusal to give up her friends, causing this parasite and her host to suffer the arduous task of sharing the same mind and body with two very different agendas.
Saoirse Ronan as Melanie/Wanda Are you still following? This mental issue leads the two through a tug of war of survival, trust, and love, that is bookend by two men who split Melanie apart when one falls in love with Melanie and the other falls in love with Wanda. Love can’t get anymore complicated then this. What “Twilight” was to the vampire and werewolf brood, “The Host,” is its complete
opposite wherein it falls into the category of pure science fiction. Although the surface elements are different, the romantic theme in the film is in fact merely identical to its predecessor flicks – love triangles, impossible romances, unattainable goals, and a yearning for an out of this world romance that only exists in books and films – definitely not the world any of us know as mere humans.
Open Road Pictures
The film was adapted for the screen and directed by Andrew Niccol, and stars newcomer Saoirse Ronan as Melanie/ Wanda, Max Irons as Jared, Jake Abel as Ian, and William Hurt as Jeb. As an unapologetic superfan of Stephanie Meyer’s work as a creator of characters and enchanting storylines, I must admit that this film, although quipped with what should have been an awesome plot structure, lacked the same essence and finesse that both the book and its cousin flick the “Twilight Saga” brought to the table. It’s understood that “The Host” is an entity all its own and shouldn’t have to suffer the comparison, however with the film version being so similar in plot to “Twilight,” you can’t help but be blinded by the differences and notice where the pulse of the film starts and stops repeatedly.
Whether it was poor execution, or possibly a lag in the performance of the actors, something about “The Host,” falls short, and doesn’t tug at the heartstrings like I was anticipating it would. The story, in a sense felt a bit disjointed, and by the time I got into it, the film was just about over. The good news is, there’s enough of what it is needed to get the teens/tweens to come out to the movie theater and support another installment of Stephanie Meyer’s journey through film. If you’re merely interested in seeing something fun, check this one out, but I wouldn’t go expecting to feel the same way you did when your heart crossed paths with that one enchanting vampire or that one loveable werewolf. Some fairytales just can’t be repeated. Grade: C
EARTH IS A MEMORY WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Jazz Noir premieres on Jazz88 KBEM For those who long for “the grand old days” of radio, Jazz88, KBEM, has answered the call. “Jazz Noir” is a new original radio series complete with live voiceover actors in front of a studio audience, just like in the days of radio’s infancy. Jazz88’s first episode is an original drama, “Charles & Avon,” that will be performed, recorded and broadcast in front of a live audience from the Artists’ Quarter in downtown Saint Paul on Sunday, April 28, with shows at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The 8 p.m. performance will be broadcast live. Ticket information is available at www.jazz88fm.com. The radio show will be rebroadcast on Jazz88 KBEM in June and on several AMPERS radio
stations throughout Minnesota, with potential broadcasts on several public radio jazz stations nationwide. Originated and produced by Kevin Barnes, a Minnesota-based team collaboratively created this new drama with the writing expertise of Alex Lewin and a jazz music score composed and performed by George Maurer. The Playwright’s Center and American Composers Forum partnered to assist with the call and jury process for the writer and composer for this initial “Jazz Noir” production. KBEM conducted auditions for the four characters performing in this live radio drama last month. Character Avon Davis is a selftaught savant jazz pianist and an
only child who has spent her entire life helping her father. Latisha White, an emerging young talent with a great range, portrays Avon. Ezekiel Davis, Avon’s father who owns and operates a boarding house, will be played by David Copper. Edwin Strout, who has extensive Guthrie acting credits and voiceover experience, will play crime writer Kelly Long. Narrator Jack Marshall, the private-detective hero of Kelly’s crime stories, will be played by Bruce Bohne, who is known for his film roles as Officer Lou in “Fargo” and Andy in “Dawn of the Dead,” plus television work in “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Jericho,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “The Pretender.” Ed Jones, Jazz88’s morning show host and theater veteran, is directing the play. The plot unfolds in the late 1920s in the predominantly AfricanAmerican Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul. Americans have been having too much fun to realize the roaring twenties are about to abruptly end with the onset of the Great Depression. Avon has been working with her father Ezekiel to operate his boarding house. She taught herself the piano and her talent is prodigious. The parlor of the boarding house becomes a focal point for the Twin Cities jazz scene. Crime writer Kelly Long, a resident of the house, can see that Avon is flying too high and tries to save her from the despair of the eventual crash landing and the ultimate despair unique to artistic souls. The production of “Jazz Noir” is made possible through funding provided by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more information, visit www.jazz88fm. com. Front page photo: Jazz Noir Group L to R: Bruce Bohne, Edwin Strout, Latisha White and David Copper - Photo by Patrick Photography
UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH RELATIVITY MEDIA A CHERNIN ENTERTAINMENT/MONOLITHMUSICPICTURES/RADI CAL STUDIOS PRODUCTION A JOSEPH KOSINSKI FILM EXECUTIVE DAVESCREENPLAY MORRISON JESSE BERGER JUSTIN SPRINGER TOMPRODUCEDCRUISE “OBLIVION” OLGA KURYLENKO ANDREA RISEBOROUGH NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU BASED AND MELISSA LEO BY M83 PRODUCERS ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL ORIGINAL STORY BY JOSEPH KOSINSKI BY KARL GAJDUSEK AND MICHAEL DEBRUYN BY JOSEPH KOSINSKI PETER CHERNIN DYLAN CLARK BARRY LEVINE DUNCAN HENDERSON DIRECTED A UNIVERSAL PICTURE BY JOSEPH KOSINSKI FEATURING THE ORIGINAL SONG “OBLIVION” BY M83 (FEAT. SUSANNE SUNDFØR) SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC
© 2012 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
IMAX® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF IMAX CORPORATION
LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, APRIL 19 CHECK THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES AN ORIGINAL SERIES. MONDAYS 9/8C. PREMIERES APRIL 15 ON
Page 6 • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Insight News
insightnews.com
Fresh Fridays mean free produce at Northside corner stores survey respondents, more than 70 percent said they would buy fruit snacks, fresh trail mixes, and carrots and ranch at their corner store if these options were available. Over 70 percent also said they would buy fresh and affordable oranges, apples and strawberries. More than half are ready to buy lettuce, bell peppers, peaches, cherries, mango, and sweet potatoes, among other items, at local corner stores where they are fresh and affordable. Nationwide, communities are implementing Healthy Corner Store programs both to help owners cover the investment required for selling fresh food and to reach out to the community to change perceptions about corner stores. In the neighborhood of Bryn Mawr, organic produce options have come to the local corner store, the Bryn Mawr Market. Buyer Barb Anderson said that in her two years of testing which organic products are most profitable, she has always found that customers will buy the products that taste good. Last fall, she, “couldn’t keep the $1.25 Sweet Tango apple on the shelf.” Maybe taste is the ticket for all corner stores. People buy fresh from the corner store when the corner store delivers a good product.
By Shaina Brassard, West Broadway Coalition and Megan AndrewsSharer, Appetite for Change Every Friday during the month of April, fresh produce purchases at eleven participating Northside corner stores will be matched up to $3 per customer. Customers can pay by cash, EBT or credit card. This exciting deal is called Fresh Fridays, a promotion of fresh fruits and vegetables at the neighborhood stores many depend on for snacks. During Fresh Fridays, shoppers can walk away with a bag of carrots and a few apples and oranges for only three dollars. Whoever said that fresh food had to be expensive? The stores participating in Fresh Fridays are all part of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative, funded through the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP). Store owners worked in partnership with communitybased Appetite For Change, The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition, and the City of Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support to set up displays of fresh fruits and vegetables. Produce available includes apples, bananas, oranges, lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers and more. The Healthy Corner Store Initiative is in its second year. Last year, the Lowry Food Market (628 Lowry Ave. N.) participated and continues to successfully sell fresh fruits and vegetables year round. Introducing fresh food can be a risky step for small store owners as it takes time for customers to develop the habit of buying fresh food at corner stores. While bags of chips last forever, fruits and vegetables only last a week in the cooler. Store owners have to keep high quality produce on display to entice customers. Another barrier to introducing fresh food to corner stores is customer perception. According to Appetite For Change community surveys, many people buy chips, pop,
Alicia Uzarek
Produce on display at Brix Grocery & Meat, 915 W. Broadway and cigarettes at corner stores. Owners have to hope that once customers have seen quality fruits and vegetables available for good prices for a period of
time, perceptions will begin to change. Luckily, Appetite For Change’s research suggests the public is hungry for healthy foods nearby. Of the 130+
Participating Northside Corner Stores: Fremont Gas 1120 West Broadway Quick Stop 3601 Penn Ave N Penn Gas Stop 2606 Penn Ave N Pantry Food Market 5200 Bryant Ave Star Food Market 818 Lowry Ave N Roger’s Market 2007 Glenwood Pennwood Market 2125 Glenwood Skyline Market 1821 Glenwood Ave Brix Grocery & Meat 915 W. Broadway Janine’s 1510 W. Broadway K’s Dollar 1021 W. Broadway
Terrell From 1 floor and when you didn’t have money you could get a bed; $203 isn’t enough to live on. That right there made me angry. Yet for (the shelter) to get funding we had to make sure the beds were full. So in the middle of the night I would have to go across the street to other shelters and wake people off the floor and ask if they had any money and were they sober. It was on one of those nights when I was waking people up off the floor and I realized I’m not really helping anybody, I started asking how do you really change things.” Terrell fights for the homeless and those living in poverty and despair because he knows firsthand the struggles they face. “When my family moved here (Minneapolis), we were homeless, so I know what it’s like to go through poverty,” said Terrell. “My mom worked three jobs. I remember at seven-yearsold I’d say to her to go on welfare and she’d say, ‘welfare keeps you in poverty, but it doesn’t help you get out.’” Terrell wants to help others get out. “I would talk to men at the shelter and they would say we don’t want to abuse the system and I’d tell them the system is abusing you,” said Terrell, his tone slightly angry.
McGee From 1 executives in Washington, D.C. who promised they were working on a loan modification, but she was dual tracked again when the lender continued pushing forward with the eviction at the same time. This legislative session, McGee became the primary spokesperson for a Minnesota Homeowner Bill of Rights that would ban many of the foreclosure abuses she experienced. Although that bill died in committee, federal limits on dual tracking will go into effect in January 2014. Tuesday’s rally came as part of New Bottom Line’s national Dump DeMarco
A graduate of Minneapolis’ South High School and Bethel College, Terrell said he was introduced to TakeAction Minnesota while studying for his master’s at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. There, he met Dan McGrath, executive director of TakeAction Minnesota. “I loved what I was doing, but I didn’t feel like I was making change,” said Terrell of his prior work. “With TakeAction we’re doing our best to get people to see that this is a systematic problem that requires systematic change.” Terrell said with the Justice 4 All campaign, TakeAction Minnesota is fighting the injustice in the criminal justice system. “We know that a Black kid on the Northside smoking a blunt is 10 times more likely to go to prison than a white kid smoking a blunt in a dorm room,” said Terrell. “That’s a systematic problem. We can change that. Thirty-five percent of the state prison population is Black, but five percent of the state population is Black. We have a systematic problem. We know that a white person in the state with a high school diploma has a higher employment rate than a Black person with a college degree. That’s systematic. My vision is where a community stands up and we call (bull) on that and we force change.”
campaign, calling on the Obama administration to fire Ed DeMarco, the federal administrator overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and replace him with a permanent director who will implement national principal reduction; resetting mortgages to fair market value. “We need to be finding ways to keep people in their homes, not kicking them out,” said Rep. Keith Ellison (D-5th), who spoke at the rally. “Ed DeMarco has consistently refused to write down these loans to make them affordable. Other members of Congress and I have taken the extreme but reasonable step of calling for him to be fired. Big banks need to change the way they’re doing business in
MCGEE TURN TO 10
insightnews.com
Insight News • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Page 7
RJ “The Beast” Chakolis By Richard Chakolis, Sr. Over the last two seasons Richard “RJ” Chakolis, Jr. has been amazing. His wrestling record is 100-1 in Folkstyle Wrestling. He has won back-to-back city championships for Farview Park. He is a two time state champion, winning his weight class last weekend in Rochester. He pinned all of his opponents. Due to his wrestling success, Chakolis, Jr. now has the option to attend the Cliff Keen National Wrestling Tournament in Iowa on the Northern Iowa University campus. This year Chakolis, Jr.’s football team won the 5th grade AUU state championship played at the Metrodome. He started as a 4th grader (he is the only 4th grader on the team) and played both offense and defense in several games. This year his team played teams from Canada, Big Lake, Iowa, St. Francis, Woodbury, Andover, Blaine, and
RJ with Coach Kill at the U of M Football camp. He received a jersey for being one of the top kids in his grade.
PUZZLES
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: EARTH DAY ACROSS 1. It’s a wrap 6. *A call to being green, acr. 9. Fog effect 13. Solo 14. Mother, sister or daughter 15. “_____ truly” 16. Teacher’s pet, e.g. 17. Radio knob 18. Consume 19. Bungle 21. *Biology branch 23. Long time 24. Niels Bohr’s study object 25. Cleopatra’s killer? 28. Christening acquisition 30. On which Romney and Obama were found 35. It must go on? 37. *Like animal near extinction 39. Marilyn Munster to Herman
Health From 1 today as it was in 1963. While our nation has made significant progress in reducing health disparities over the last fifty years, historically minorities have been less likely to get preventive care, and more likely to suffer from serious illnesses. They have been less likely to have access to quality health care and insurance coverage. Because of the Affordable Care Act, the landmark legislation signed by President Obama, we are making strides in advancing quality, affordable health coverage regardless of race or ethnicity. The health care law addresses the needs of minority populations and other underserved groups by investing in prevention, supporting improvements in primary care and Medicare, and making health care coverage affordable and accessible for all Americans. The theme for National Minority Health Month this year is “Advance Health Equity Now: Uniting
more. Two years ago, Chakolis, Jr. was nominated by his baseball team to represent them in the all-star game. Last year he played up for the Robbinsdale Little League and had a very good season being one of the youngest players on the team. Chakolis, Jr. lives in North Minneapolis and wrestles for Farview Park, he plays football for the Brooklyn Center Giants, and played baseball for the Robbinsdale Mets. He has been nominated for Sports Illustrated Kid magazine. This is a great story. Being that Chakolis, Jr. (or as we call him, RJ) is my son and I did the same thing in wrestling by winning the state championship and placing in nationals; although I lost more matches than he did. His grandfather worked for North Community High School for 25 years teaching and coaching wrestling. He was my coach, and I am RJ’s coach for wrestling. The legacy continues.
ANSWERS TURN TO 10
Munster, e.g. 40. Delhi dress 41. Sends by posts 43. Imitator 44. Are not 46. Mosquito net fabric 47. End of the line 48. Noontime 50. Give certain impression 52. DNA transmitter 53. Boll weevil, e.g. 55. Car display 57. *Garden helper 61. Iron Man’s robotic nemesis 64. French farewell 65. Galley tool 67. Vociferously praises 69. Choral composition with sacred lyrics 70. Fix a game 71. He lives on Sesame Street 72. *You do it to your garden’s soil before planting 73. “... ___ he drove out of sight”
74. Homes are often tested for this
Our Communities to Bring Health Care Coverage to All.” Later this year, millions of Americans, will gain access to health coverage that meets their needs and fits their budget no matter who they are or where they live. New Health Insurance Marketplaces will give all Americans who are uninsured or who buy their own coverage a simple way to shop for insurance. Starting Oct. 1, 2013, Americans can enroll through the Marketplaces for health coverage beginning as early as Jan. 1, 2014. For the first time, Americans will be able to go to one place to learn about their coverage options and be able to make side-by-side comparisons of private insurance plans. With a single application, they will also be able to find out if they qualify for a new kind of tax credit that lowers their monthly premiums. And because the law finally bans discrimination against pre-existing conditions like diabetes or asthma, nobody will be turned away because of their health status. Achieving health equity means each of us has an equal opportunity to attain
optimal health. Let’s recommit ourselves and our communities to act now to eliminate health disparities and increase access to quality care. We cannot afford to wait.
DOWN 1. Maple syrup precursor 2. Reunion attendee 3. Lariat, e.g. 4. Used in some liquors 5. *Earth Day founder 6. Please get back to me 7. 17th letter of Greek alphabet 8. Rent again 9. Delivered by a mare 10. *Its emissions are regulated 11. Pharma product 12. Grammy of sports 15. Tower of London guard 20. Render harmless 22. *Corn holder, often left behind to protect soil quality 24. Most aerial 25. Indian state 26. Harry Belafonte’s daughter 27. Focused or riveted 29. “Yes, ___”
31. One who fabricates 32. _____ colony, middle ages 33. *An earthly body 34. *Earth to ancient Romans 36. *Prop pusher 38. Do it “or ____!” 42. Beach souvenir 45. To give up or bow out 49. Up and down nod 51. *______ earth 54. Mercantile establishment 56. Kate Middleton’s head gear 57. Barack’s David 58. One wafting 59. Possible indoor allergy cause 60. Voyeur’s glance 61. Impulse 62. “____ your manners” 63. Assortment 66. *Clean ___ Act 68. Congressional title
To learn more about National Minority Health Month and what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is doing to reduce health disparities and achieve
Press From 1 in 1892; Karen Carter Richards, Houston Forward Times, founded in 1960; James A. Washington, Dallas Weekly, founded in 1955; and Sonceria “Sonny” MessiahJiles, Defender Media Group (Houston), founded in 1930. Defender: What is the secret to your publication’s survival in light of papers across the country folding? Jake Oliver: We have never been shy about experimenting with technology, a key to our ability. Technology can reach more people faster and it’s cheaper. We are the first Black newspaper to have a website. We have e-blast, iPad and iPhone applications, e-editions and are consistent in posting social media transmissions, so we are out there throwing our stuff everywhere and that’s the secret. Karen Carter Richards: I believe our success has been the fact that the community has come to trust our publication. We have been reporting the truth without fear or favor for over 53 years and are very proud of the fact that we have never missed an issue. There is a special niche to the African-American market. We report on issues in a way that mainstream media will not report in our community. James Washington: We are a communications vehicle and a trusted vehicle based on 55 years of operating in our community. With the Dallas Weekly, there is a certain level of trust and belief in us. But while Black media has a grounded history in our community, we are still around because the owners of these Black newspapers are very astute business people who have to survive with certain adaptability as it relates to technology and understanding the market we serve. Sonceria “Sonny” Messiah-Jiles: The secret to the Defender’s survival and success is maintaining a quality product that addresses the needs of our audience, being true to our goal of advocating, educating, entertaining and informing our community. Defender: How are you adapting to address customers’ needs? Oliver: You have to always be flexible because the customers’ needs have to reflect the changing ways in which they want to absorb news. For example, you have to tweet. We are covering major events by having a
person tweet right then. Richards: Our Web site and social media has been a great asset to us. It has allowed us to complement our print publication, reaching a very large and different audience. Washington: Our role has been to adapt, so if there is no use of technology then we lose to the big boys. We are now a multimedia brand that consists of print, online, website and radio. Also, we serve a niche market and niche markets are in fact growth markets. Messiah-Jiles: The Defender has constantly changed to address the needs of our community: going from a paid publication to a free newspaper, expanding our distribution beyond the traditional Black neighborhoods, creating the website defendernetwork. com, and this year we are launching a number of new projects starting with “Faces of Black Houston.” Defender: What role does Black Press play in the community? Oliver: Consistently, we are one of the most important guardians of the interest of the community. We are so terribly important because Blacks rely on us to tell them what is happening and give perspective. Richards: The Black Press is still a powerful voice in our community. We continue to be that powerful voice to tell our story like no other media can. We are still the voice that is trusted on issues that affect our community. Washington: If you look at the role Black newspapers have played throughout our existence, out of the challenge of segregation and atrocities that were put upon us, to say that we started newspapers in a truly segregated society, then the magnitude of the success of our newspapers is tremendous. The Black newspaper is a conduit of being the advocate of the rights, issues and challenges that still face us as AfricanAmericans because America is still America. Messiah-Jiles: Our role is educating the community about the issues (pros and cons), empowering the community with information, advocating for changes that better our communities, and entertaining and recording our existence and contributions for historical purposes. Without the Black Press, there is a void of who will tell our story from our perspective.
Page 8 • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Insight News
insightnews.com
EDUCATION Johnson proposes balanced budget to school board Building Creative Capital By Bernadeia H. Johnson MPS Superintendent On March 15, Chief Financial Officer Robert Doty and his finance team presented the preliminary fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget to the finance committee of the Minneapolis Board of Education. You may recall that our school district faced a $25 million budget shortfall for FY 2014, which begins July 1. I worked with my leadership team to make tough
choices, knowing that strategic cuts at the central office level would be necessary to continue to focus on our priorities for schools. I am pleased to report that the staff budget recommendation puts forth a balanced budget for MPS. The budget recommendation is preliminary and will be discussed by board committees, schools and the community this spring. The finalized budget will be presented to the full school board in early June for a vote in late June. We began this year’s budget process with the goal of adopting a structurally balanced budget that would align with our operational and strategic priorities and keep reductions
as far from the classroom as possible. While in recent years we have relied on our fund balance to partially address budget deficits, this practice is not sustainable. We can no longer afford to meet annual budgetary obligations by using our fund balance. The proposed budget addresses $7 million of the deficit by accelerating some projects previously scheduled for FY 2014 to this school year and anticipating additional FY 2014 funding from the state while cutting $16.3 million from our general fund and an additional $1.6 million from MPS departments with an across-theboard cut of approximately 1.8 percent. Schools were exempt from this across-the-board cut
and schools as a whole received the same core allocation as in FY 2013; however, increased enrollment at sites receiving the same funding causes the dollars to be spread thinner. Approximately 80 percent of all school district costs are directly associated with staff. When we have significant budget shortages, we need to make position reductions. The proposed budget eliminates 50 full-time positions from the central office and three fulltime positions from schools in the form of administrative support and dedicated reading specialists. In addition to making reductions, we are also doing strategic investment and restructuring to ensure that
we are dedicating appropriate funds to the areas that matter most. This includes expanding the Go-To Student Pass program, implementing 21st century learning technology, realizing substantial print cost savings through our centralized document center, funding some services previously included in individual school budgets through a central service delivery model and allocating 12 positions to schools for English as a Second Language teachers. Our detailed budget proposal is available at www.mpls. k12.mn.us. I encourage you to review the information and submit feedback online. You can also sign up to receive updates by email. The school board and MPS
leaders are eager to engage the community and hear your comments and concerns regarding the proposed budget as we work toward a final budget. We plan numerous engagement opportunities this spring, including conducting inperson presentations, providing online content updates and creating a new citizen budget advisory committee. We value your perspective and seek to ensure that our community understands the budget that is eventually approved. As stewards of public funds, we must make tough choices in the best interests of our students. I would like to thank all of you for the passion and professionalism you demonstrate every day.
Investments in early education will place kids on path to success By Brenda Cassellius, Minnesota Commissioner of Education Much has been written about the long-term benefits of high quality early education and all day kindergarten, especially for poor children. Research abounds to support investments in young learners as a critical way to close achievement gaps and improve student outcomes. Governor Dayton’s budget contains significant new investments for both early childhood education and all day kindergarten, and every sign indicates that substantial investments for early learning will be coming out of the legislature as well. Minnesota is home to some of the most compelling research on the high return of investment for early learning – up to sixteen dollars for every one dollar invested according
Brenda Cassellius to former Federal Reserve Chair Art Rolnick. And there’s more: Child-development researchers at the University of North Carolina recently published a study that found low-income students who attended preschool had higher math and reading scores in third grade than their low-income peers who did not. City University of New York conducted a study showing that
one in six students who can’t read at grade level by third grade will not finish high school by age 19 – nearly four times the rate of their more proficient peers. A study begun in 1962 in Michigan tracked two groups of low-income students - those who attended preschool and those who did not - and found that at age 40, participants who attended preschool had attained higher levels of education, earned higher wages, were more likely to own a home and were less likely to have been incarcerated than those who did not attend preschool. Yet, despite the evidence, pockets of opposition continue to question the wisdom of early childhood education. To which I say this: if you want a real life success story that illustrates the potential for high quality early education to change a life, look at me. I was a Head Start baby. I can personally attest to the value of early learning, not only the early benefits to a poor girl
growing up in the projects of south Minneapolis, but the longterm effects on my life. I could easily have ended up in a cycle of poverty and dependence, but I didn’t. Why? For many reasons, including hard work and a little bit of luck, but also because of the early opportunities I received and the parenting support given to my mother, who had my sister at 16 and me at 20. Head Start allowed me to develop school readiness skills and a love of learning that have lasted a lifetime. I remember the fun of outlining my 4-year old body on a big sheet of paper and labeling my parts, of watching a celery stalk turn red in a glass full of tinted water, of reading my first book, Harold and the Purple Crayon, and imagining my own dreams for adventure as I drew them with a purple crayon. My best memory, though, is when my teacher would round us up in a circle at the end of the day to touch the tip of her “magic wand” to the top of our heads,
and if we were good and had done all of our work, the magic star on the end would light up. Why do these experiences matter now, nearly four decades later? Because they taught me perhaps preschool’s biggest contribution to a students’ future success; the so-called “soft skills,” which help children learn how to pay attention and stay on task. My earliest teachers shaped me by instilling not only a love of learning, but also the principles of hard work, goodness and perseverance. These qualities cannot be measured by a test, but they matter a great deal in a competitive and diverse global economy and are necessary for success in life. I’ve been lucky. Lucky to be born in the right decade and that my mother had access to resources and support. Lucky to have had great teachers who pushed me to be my best. Lucky that wise Minnesotans who came before me realized that a good education for every child
was the surest way to strengthen our state’s competitive edge, leading a generation’s War on Poverty and crafting a Minnesota Miracle along the way. But should it come down to luck? The Governor and I believe not. We believe all children deserve access to the same great start I had. Investing now, this year, in our youngest learners - with more scholarships for high quality early education programming and increased access to all-day kindergarten – gives us the best chance to fully leverage the potential that lies within every child. We may never be able to fully measure the profound impact early learning has on life success. Or maybe we can. Maybe we’re just waiting for a future education commissioner – a little girl or boy learning and dreaming in a sun-filled classroom today - to show us just how it’s done.
Reading, math tutors help students achieve academic success In the 2013-14 academic year, more than 900 Minnesota schools will be providing students additional help in achieving academic success in the face of sobering statewide statistics. Those schools have been named Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps sites to proactively help with literacy and math learning issues facing many Minnesota students. According to data from last year’s state standardized tests, 40 percent of Minnesota of 8th graders do not
demonstrate proficiency in math. Equally sobering is the statistic that one-in-five third graders is not reading at grade level. Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps are statewide, research-based initiatives designed to help every Minnesota child become a successful reader by the end of 3rd grade and/or proficient in math by the end of 8th grade. Both programs have been highly successful. Minnesota Reading Corps sees 80 percent of 3rd graders who successfully
completed the program -- all of whom previously were not on track to succeed -- pass the statewide reading exam. This matches Minnesota’s overall pass rate. In Minnesota Math Corps, 74 percent of students meet or exceed their growth targets, as measured by Measurement of Academic Progress. This statistic is significantly higher than the gains made by typical 4th through 8th graders nationally. “We have been able to realize these impressive results
because of the people power and commitment of our members,” said Sheila Piippo, executive director at Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps. Research shows that when students get off to a poor start academically, they rarely catch up with other students. For example, the 2011 Hernandez study noted that students who do not read proficiently by 3rd grade are four times more likely than proficient readers to drop out of high school. A study from
Johns Hopkins University found that only 11 percent of students who failed 6th grade math went on to earn high school diplomas. Piippo noted that there’s reason to be optimistic. In the context of literacy, research supports that 95 percent of all children have the capacity to learn to read proficiently if effective interventions are provided. Piippo encourages anyone who is interested in making a difference in the lives of struggling students to consider
becoming tutors. “I encourage others to seek out this rewarding position. There’s an opportunity to make a real impact students lives, which will ultimately help the entire community. “ Those interested in learning more about Minnesota Reading and Math Corps, or to apply to serve as a tutor, are encouraged to visit www. MinnesotaReadingCorps.org or www.MinnesotaMathCorps.org, or contact 866-859-2825.
Summer School Summer isn’t just a great time to catch up, it’s a great time to speed ahead.
MPS summer school provides a strong and engaging academic program with free transportation and great food. Six-hour Sessions, Monday - Thursday Grades K - 8: June 17 - July 25 Grades 9 - 12: June 17 - July 11
Register by May 24, 2013 Registrations received after this date will be placed on a waiting list, so be sure to enroll early.
Contact your school office for more information or to register. Breakfast and lunch are served daily at no charge. 612.668.0000 www.mpls.k12.mn.us
insightnews.com
Insight News • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Page 9
FULL CIRCLE OBITUARY
Christopher was active in community affairs By Ivan B. Phifer Staff Writer James Edward Christopher was born in Minneapolis, on Jan. 2, 1926. Christopher is preceded in death by his parents; George and Bertha Christopher, his four siblings George Christopher, Jr., Florence Christopher, Rosemary Christopher, Ernest Christopher and his stepson Joseph Simmons. A high school football star, Christopher was a graduate of Minneapolis Vocational High
School and in 1943 he became co-captain of his football team. Christopher attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. and in 1944 entered the armed services, receiving an honorable discharge in 1946. Christopher was formerly married to Earlene Christopher who preceded him in death. He was married to Doris Slaughter Christopher, who he married on June 2, 2001. A member of Living Spirit United Methodist Church, he was an active participant for several years before his
James Edward Christopher
transition. Christopher retired from the Minneapolis Post Office in 1983. After retirement, he worked as co-owner of C&L Landscaping Services located in South Minneapolis. He loved gardening in his spare time and cultivated a variety of vegetables to share with friends and neighbors. Active in community affairs; Christopher was a member of Park Elder Senior Center Breakfast Club, the U-Meet-Us Club at Sabathani Community Center, AARP Chapter 5203, the
Building Bridges Committee, Building Bridges Book Club and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Advisory Council. He also attended many community forums and was a former volunteer with the Minnesota Historical Society. Christopher passed away March 28 in Minneapolis at the age of 87. He leaves to mourn his loving wife, and a host of stepchildren; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Jumping the broom ceremony has evolved Man Talk
By Timothy Houston On June 22, 2013, my son Tim Jr. and his fiancé Shaunte
will be joined together in holy matrimony. They are a beautiful couple with 2 beautiful children, Tim III, and baby Meia. The thought of my one and only son getting married has me looking forward to the day he jumps the broom. Although I have heard and used the term “jumping the broom” as a synonym for getting married, I never truly gave much thought to where the term originated.
Jumping the broom goes all the way back to 18th century Ghana. The ceremony is a part of African culture that has survived for hundreds of years. During the period of slavery in the United States, AfricanAmericans were not allowed a traditional European-style wedding and continued on with the tradition of jumping the broom to symbolize marriage. Once slavery was abolished
and African-Americans could marry legally, the tradition all but disappeared. It resurfaced in the 1980s when the book “Roots,” by Alex Haley, and the subsequent television mini-series brought about an increased interest in Black history and traditions. The term jumping the broom has also been linked to other cultures and time periods, and it has meant different things to
different people depending on the culture. To those who came through slavery, the custom was believed to determine who ran the household. It was said that whoever jumped highest over the broom was the decision maker of the household, or whoever landed on the ground first after jumping the broom was believed to be the decision maker in the marriage. Not all Blacks interpreted
the term jumping the broom the same way. African-Americans in the south who were not a part of the Atlantic slave trade had a different view. To them, it was believed to represent the wife’s commitment or willingness to clean the courtyard of the new home she had joined. Other sources have stepping over a
HOUSTON TURN TO 10
Critical to be present in relationships The Moore Therapy Movement By Dr. Darren D. Moore Ph.D., LMFT On Friday, March 29, I, like many of you, flocked to the movie theatre to see “Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor” by actor, screenwriter, producer, and mogul Tyler Perry. While I could critique this film and talk about what I liked or did not like, I am choosing to highlight what I thought was one of his most important messages. Beyond the drama, the infidelity, the drug addiction, among other things, there was one main piece of information that I hope audiences took away with them, as they left the crowded theatres and returned to their daily lives. Simply put, it is extremely important, critical, and necessary that we be present in our relationships. It is clear that the main characters Judith and Brice loved one another from the beginning. However, one of the things that can happen in relationships over time is that individuals can begin to lose interest. We fall victim to patterns, we get comfortable in the way that things have always been, we stop bringing out the red carpet, and we
stop remembering what it means to truly be in love. Ladies, have you ever experienced a brother (or nonbrother) who wines and dines you in the beginning; the guy who takes you out to dinner, who foots the bill, who dresses to impress, who makes time for you? Hold on. Hey fellas, have you ever experienced that sister (or nonsister) who kept her hair fresh in the beginning; that women who put a little extra attention into her appearance, that women who kept her nails done, among other things? Ladies, do you remember
that man you fell in love with, how he made you feel during the early stages in your relationship, how he valued your opinion, how he supported you dreams, how he made you feel like the princess that you are? Men, don’t you remember that beautiful lady that you fell head over heels for, that lady that also supported you, that held it down while you were trying to get it together, that accepted you for who you were, and that did not try to break you down? Where did he or she go? What happened to that person?
Did that person run away? Did that person get lost? Why did the person disappear? We have to move beyond the courting stage and we have to work to maintain our relationships. It is no longer simply enough to “get the girl” or guy. We have to keep her or him or else someone else will be knocking on the door. We must not get so comfortable with ourselves, that we forget that our loved ones need us. During the film there was a scene where Brice forgot
MOORE TURN TO 11
Page 10 • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Insight News
insightnews.com
COMMUNITY Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota offers job training, credits, employment support Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota has immediate openings in job training classes in several industries. The programs prepare individuals for new careers by teaching job skills, job searching and interviewing techniques; earning certifications, credits or CEUs; and providing ongoing employment and support services. Scholarships are available for training
if certain enrollment and eligibility criteria are met. Goodwill/Easter Seals Employment Training programs offer transferrable, stackable credentials and opportunities to earn prior learning credits with local colleges. The training programs range from eight to 12 weeks long, consist of more than 150 hours, and include paid training in some cases.
All Goodwill/Easter Seals training programs are available to those who meet eligibility requirements and complete the required enrollment process. To find out more, interested parties should come to a prerequisite information session held at 1:45 p.m., the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the main office, 553 Fairview Ave. N, St. Paul, Minn., 55104. For more
Calendar • Classifieds
EVENTS
November (depending upon the weather). Ongoing volunteer opportunities are also available. Please contact Jeanne the NIP Seniors Program, Volunteer Coordinator at srvolunteer@ neighborhoodinvolve.org or call 612-746-8549 for more information. Our website is www. neighborhoodinvolve.org
RAKE IT Spring Yard Clean-Up Improve your health while helping a senior citizen in Minneapolis remain independent in their home! You choose the date and time to rake and clean up the yard. Perfect for individuals, groups, and families. Seasonal: April –
Marshall Avenue Community Meeting Apr. 10 Community members are invited to attend a public meeting to discuss ways that Marshall Avenue, between the Mississippi River and downtown Saint Paul, can better accommodate a mix of
Send Community Calendar information to us by email: info@insightnews.com, by fax: 612.588.2031, by phone: 612.5881313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411. Free or low cost events preferred.
Administrative Assistant TCC Land Bank, a nonprofit financial service org., seeks Administrative Assistant to provide clerical and organizational support to acquisition and lending programs. Letter of application and resume received at hr@tcclandbank.org through April 15, 2013 will be considered.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Hennepin County’s Northpoint Health & Wellness Center is seeking candidates to fill a CFO vacancy. The person hired will develop, implement, maintain, and evaluate its financial systems, financial best practices and fiscal services. Candidates need a master’s degree and at least 5 years of finance experience in a health care setting. Complete posting can be found on line at www.hennepin.jobs until 5:00 pm April 12, 2013. Strong careers. Strong communities. eeo employer
Classified Sales Representative Insight News is looking for a Classified Sales Representative to start immediately. This is a part-time position perfect for a college student or someone looking for supplemental income. Candidate must be a motivated self-starter with the desire to grow the business. Candidate must be focused, must have the ability to work under deadlines and to meet or exceed set sales goals. Responsibilities include calling and emailing new clients and following up with past clients for classified sales. Please e-mail cover letter and resume to batalara@insightnews.com. Please: No walk-ins and NO phone calls.
Obama From 2 nomination, led some to presume that diversity was not a priority of the administration. But recently the president had begun to debunk that perception. Last week President Obama named Julia Pierson the first woman ever to head the U.S. Secret Service. This weekend, it was revealed that Lisa Monaco, one of the president’s top counterterrorism advisers, is in the running to become the first woman to serve as FBI director. Weeks ago, the president nominated Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be director of the Office of Management and Budget, a Cabinet-level post that would make her one of the most influential voices in defining the country’s budget over the coming year. But Pierson, Monaco and Burwell, all of whom are white, are not alone. In recent months, the White House has begun to hire, promote and nominate more white women and people
McGee From 6 our communities. Enough is enough.”
Houston From 9 broom as a test of chastity, and still others believed that putting a broom out was a sign that the housewife’s place was vacant. It today’s terms, the phase jumping the broom has evolved to symbolize sweeping the past
Phone: 612.588.1313
transportation options, including bicycling and walking. Local residents as well as representatives from nearby schools and businesses will meet on Wednesday, April 10, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, at Oxford Community Center, Multipurpose Room, 270 N. Lexington Parkway, Saint Paul, MN 55104 to discuss options for making Marshall Avenue in Saint Paul a “Complete Street,” one that is safer and greener for all users, whether they are driving, bicycling, walking, or using a wheelchair. For more about planning studies funded through Bike Walk Twin Cities, visit “Bike Walk 2012 Street Solutions” at www.bikewalktwincities.org.
Training Manager The Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS) is seeking a highly-motivated individual to fulfill the Training Manager position. This position oversees the statewide business and marketing plans, budgets, and reporting mechanisms of the MOFAS training department. The manager will monitor training results and oversee the development and implementation of continuous improvement plans. More information and to apply: www.mofas.org.
Assumed Name 1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Cedar Lake Wireless Corp. 2. State the address of the principal place of business: 1501 Glenwood Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412 3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address. Attach additional sheet(s) if necessary: Gilvia Anderson, 1501 Glenwood Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412 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: Gilvia Anderson Date Filed: 03/15/2013 Insight News 04/08/2013, 04/15/2013
information call 651-3795997. Those interested can choose from one of the following industries training courses: • Automotive Service Technician Training: Prepare for positions in vehicle maintenance and repair with career advancement opportunities. (Includes approximately 10 hours a week of minimum-wage paid
Fix-It Clinic offer help to the unhandy Apr. 13 Hennepin County, as part of its waste reduction efforts, is asking residents to sort through basements, closets and garages for clothing and household items that need repair. At the Fix-It Clinic, skilled volunteers will help you learn to disassemble, troubleshoot and fix your broken household items and electronics, clothing in need of mending, and more. The FixIt Clinics is Sat. Apr. 13: 10am – 2 pm South Minneapolis Housing Fair, Minneapolis Sports Center at the YWCA 2121 E. Lake St., Minneapolis. The clinic is first-come, first-served – no pre-registration. Items must be carryin (no oversized
training.) • Banking and Finance Skills Training: Learn the skills needed to start a career in finance; teller associate, operations and related occupations. • Construction Training: Learn the skills needed to enter the construction trades as a carpenter, roofer, laborer, etc. (Includes 6 weeks of paid onsite work at minimum wage.)
Fax: 612.588.2031
• Customer Service Call Center Skills Training: Prepare for a career in customer service; product support specialists, call center representative, operations and related positions. • Medical Office Skills Training: Learn the skills needed for a career in health care; patient representative, office assistant and related positions.
Email: info@insightnews.com
DAVID NOBLE LECTURE SERIES Maroon the Implacable: The Writings of Russell M. Shoatz Sunday, April 14, 7 p.m. Macalester College, Weyerhaeuser Chapel, 1600 Grand Avenue Russell Maroon Shoatz is a dedicated community activist, founding member of the Black Unity Council, former member of the Black Panther Party and soldier in the Black Liberation Army. He is serving multiple life sentences as a U.S.-held prisoner of war. Join coeditor, Quincy Saul, and daughter, Theresa Shoatz, for a discussion of his new book, Maroon the Implacable: the collected writings of Russell Maroon Shoatz. Visit www.thefriends.org or call 651-222-3242 for more information.
items). Please bring any tools that might be helpful, a digital camera to document the disassembly, and small boxes or bags to organize and carry home parts. This event is family-friendly. For more information, visit www.hennepin. us/fixitclinic or call 612-348-3777. Twin Cities NanoFEST 2013 Thru-Apr. 13 Celebrate Twin Cities NanoFEST 2013, a festival of educational programs about nanoscale science, engineering and technology on March 30-April 13. Special event dates include:
of color for key roles. Sally Jewell has been nominated to serve in the Cabinet as interior secretary, while Gina McCarthy has been nominated to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Although Valerie Jarrett is the most visible female White House adviser, there are others. Danielle Gray, who is African American, formerly served as deputy National Economic Council director but has been promoted to assistant to the president and Cabinet secretary, making her the highest-ranking White House liaison to the various Cabinet members. Meanwhile, Jennifer Palmieri, a veteran of a number of Democratic campaigns, was named White House communications director. Additionally, the following prominent appointments of African-American women have been made: Danielle Crutchfield, the current director of scheduling and advance; Racquel Russell, a deputy assistant to the president for urban policy and economic mobility; Tonya Robinson, a special assistant to the president for justice and regulatory policy;
Nicole Isaac, a special assistant to the president for legislative affairs; Heather Foster, director of African-American outreach and associate director in the Office of Public Engagement; and Samantha Tubman, deputy social secretary. Micaela Fernandez, appointed special assistant to the president and director of protocol, is African American. The administration also has a number of senior advisers and staff who are black men, including Awenate Cobbina, who serves as special assistant to the president and chief of staff for legislative affairs; Jay Williams, deputy director of intergovernmental affairs; Jason Green, special assistant to the president and associate counsel to the president; Jonathan McBride, deputy director of presidential personnel; and Rob Nabors, a longtime aide who was recently promoted to White House deputy chief of staff. Miguel Rodriguez, assistant to the president and director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, is Latino. There are also a number of
black candidates thought to be in contention for other high-profile roles, including Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx, who has been mentioned as potentially the next transportation secretary; while Rep. Mel Watt’s (D-N.C.) name has been floated for head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. But the name generating the most excitement is a familiar one. As I have written, Susan Rice has been mentioned as a front-runner to become the next national security adviser. Rice has become a symbol of the president’s struggle to win support for his nominees from a partisan Congress, as well as a symbol of his own struggle to ensure that his administration reflects the diversity of the nation it represents. It remains to be seen if, ultimately, he will be able to achieve the level of diversity he has said he aspires to, in the White House and beyond.
President Obama has come under fire recently for his reluctance to fire DeMarco, as well as his administration’s “too big to fail/jail” policy toward the Wall Street banks. Prior to McGee’s court appearance, her supporters delivered
330,000 MoveOn and CREDO petition signatures demanding President Obama prosecute the bankers whose criminal actions crashed the economy to the U.S. Attorney’s office, where a federal representative accepted them. More than a
dozen other cities around the country organized similar petition deliveries as part of a national day of action with Home Defenders League and Campaign for a Fair Settlement.
behind you and starting fresh in a new life together. Today, the couple that jumps the broom has moved beyond the actions of the past to a step or more importantly, a leap in the right directions. This imaginary barrier serves as a reminder to the marrying couple that forward is the only direction possible. To Tim Jr. and Shaunte, as
their special day approaches, I wish them nothing but love. Whether you jump the broom physically, figuratively, or spiritually, leap high, land firmly, and let the peace of God, wisdom of your parents, and the love that is in your hearts be your guide to a wonderful, prosperous life together. To all the other couples out there jumping the broom, look
forward, leap high, love long, and live prosperously.
Keli Goff is The Root’s political correspondent. This story can be found on theroot.com.
Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. To get a copy of my book, or for questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.
Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul – Noon-4pm March 30 & April 4-6, at Social Science 6-11pm; UMN Nanofabrication Center, Keller Hall, Amundson Hall, Tate Hall, & Smith – 8:30-11am April 4; The Bakken Museum, 3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis – 11am-3pm April 2-6 & “Free Second Saturday” April 13; SELF International, Sabathani Community Center, 310 38th St, Minneapolis – 1-5pm April 6 and Minnesota Children’s Museum, 10 7th St. W, St. Paul – 10am-3pm April 6-7. For more information about Nano please visit: http:// www.whatisnano.org
Answers From 7
Student Salon 2013 art exhibit Thru-Apr. 19 Metropolitan State University Gordon Parks Gallery present Student Salon 2013. The exhibit runs March 29 through April 19 with a reception on Thursday, March 28, from 4:30–7 p.m. Gallery hours are Mondays– Thursdays 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; and Fridays–Saturdays, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The gallery is located at the Saint Paul Campus in the Library and Learning Center, 645 East Seventh Street, Saint Paul. For more information about the exhibit, contact Amy Sands at 651-793-1631 or e-mail amy. sands@metrostate.edu.
insightnews.com
Insight News • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Page 11
HEALTH Nearly five children die a day from child abuse, neglect
2012, most were female victims of sexual abuse, and usually, most perpetrators were relatives of the victim. CornerHouse is an agency in Minneapolis that provides evaluations for child sexual abuse. They have promoted a mission of children first for over two decades. Information about their services and resources can be found on their website at www. cornerhousemn.org or by calling them at 612-813-8300.
There are four main types of Child Abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect and emotional abuse. Physical abuse is a nonaccidental injury to a child by a parent or caretaker. You may see frequent and unexplained bruises, burns, cuts or injuries; the child may be overly afraid of the parent’s reaction to misbehavior. Sexual abuse can range from non-touching offenses, such as exposing oneself, to fondling, intercourse, or using the child for pornographic materials Physical neglect is a parent or caregiver’s failure to give the child food, clothing, hygiene, medical care, or supervision. Emotional child abuse may be more difficult to identify and is maltreatment in the form of severe rejection, humiliation and actions intended to produce fear or extreme guilt in a child that results in impaired psychological growth and development. Emotional Abusers regularly reject, ignore, belittle, dominate, and criticize children. In physical abuse, the hurt and pain is
external, in emotional abuse and neglect, it is internal. Consequences of Child Abuse may be physical, psychological, emotional and behavioral and may continue long after the abuse occurred. Adult survivors of Childhood Abuse and Neglect consistently have poorer health outcomes including allergies, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, high blood pressure, and ulcers. Survivors are also more likely to experience emotional and psychological issues such as Depression, Panic Disorder, Anxiety or Personality disorders. Survivors are at higher risk for drug and alcohol problems, antisocial and delinquent behaviors. There is a tendency for survivors of abuse and neglect to see themselves as unworthy, undeserving and sometimes blame themselves for their abuse. Abusive parents may have also experienced abuse and neglect during their childhood. Domestic violence and alcohol and drug abuse are both risk factors for Child Abuse and Neglect. Other risk factors include
Underdeveloped parenting skills, poor understanding of childhood development and lack of support also. Protective factors are strong bonds and nurturance from a caregiver early in life, strong parental coping skills, social support and access to community resources. When someone suspects that a child is being abused or neglected, safety of the child should be the first priority. If you believe the child to be at imminent danger, call 911. It can be difficulty to report suspected abuse for a number of reasons. One can feel like they are interfering in another’s business and that they may feel responsible if the family breaks up. Fear of being identified may result in reluctance to report suspected abuse; however, you do not have to identify yourself if you decide to report suspected. Without identifying yourself, you may also call this number to ask questions. The consequences of unreported child abuse and neglect can impact level of functioning for the victim throughout their lifespan.
Education, strengthening child/parent or caregiver relationships and improving parent’s self-care can be powerful tools in prevention of child abuse and neglect. Those interested in learning more about child abuse and neglect, prevention, positive parenting, and resources that are available may contact Dr. Golden at NorthPoint Health and Wellness, at 612-543-2566. The National Child Abuse Hotline is a resource for confidential information on signs of abuse, questions about reporting suspected abuse and support for abuse survivors. Trained counselors are available 24/7, with communication in 140 languages through translators. All calls are anonymous and toll-free: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-4224453). Resources on parenting including dealing with difficult behavior, setting limits, using time-out effectively, and safety are also available. The Hennepin County Child Abuse reporting number is 612348-3552.
know that would not be fair. Men, I will give you a break for a moment. Our partners have an obligation to communicate their wants, desires, and needs, to us. Sometimes ladies expect us to know what they are thinking. Surprise! We do not read minds. Heck, sometimes we do not get it when it is spelled out in plain English. Ladies you have to communicate with us. You have to let us know what you think, how you feel, and most importantly what you want. Communication is key to every relationship and in my opinion; Judith did not do the best job at communicating. It is not about taking sides, or blaming one person or the other. As I am sure, we all know that it takes two to maintain a relationship. It takes two to stay committed, two to stay in love, and two to keep things fresh even if you have children or have been together for years. You have to move beyond your everyday routines. During the week, we
go to work, we come home, we watch television, we eat dinner, and then we go to bed. On the weekend, we rest and some of us go to church. Are you kidding me? That is boring, if I say so myself. We must get back to the good old days, the days when we felt like we could not wait to get off work, to see our partners. Now some of us hide at work to avoid coming home to our partners. We have to get back to the days when we valued talking to our partners. We have to stop being lazy and we must not take our partners for granted. Why not travel, go away for the weekend, exercise together, play a sport together, go to church together? Or why not take a walk, go to a play, festival, museum, have a regular date night; do something different? Ladies and Gentlemen, grab your partners, tell them that you love them, tell them that you are in love with them, do something special to keep the relationship new. Be present in
your relationships, be aware of what is going on, talk about your problems, and make a conscious effort to fix them before they end in destruction. Let’s be proactive instead of inactive. Be the person you want your partner to be. Stop expecting something to change if you are not actively participating in creating this change. Be happy, and if you are not happy, figure out what you can do to become happy. As I said before, “happiness is love.” In addition, I think it is ironic that the marriage counselor in the film, the person who had the desire to help others in their relationships, was dealing with such a devastating situation. What does that say? To me, it says that we are all human and we all can make mistakes. No one is perfect; not even your pastor. However, at the end of the day, and through it all, Judith used her experience
to help others. One last piece that I think is important for you to remember is that while the film focused on intimate couple relationships, we should work to become Moore present in all of our relationships, this includes our family relationships and our friendships as well. Overall, let me know what you thought about the film as it relates to couple and family relationships. Did you like the film? Could you identify with any of the characters? Did it remind you of your current relationship or a past relationship? Let me know your thoughts. I hope to hear from you soon, but until then, stick around, there’s Moore to come.
He works with individuals, couples, and families regarding mental health and relationship concerns. His research, teaching and clinical interests include general mental health, obesity, weight loss, eating disorders and addictions, within couple and family relationships, with an emphasis in working with men, African-American families, and marginalized populations. Moore is a north Minneapolis native and obtained his bachelor’s degree in African American Studies from the University of Minnesota, his master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Valdosta State University, and his Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from Virginia Tech. Dr. Darren D Moore can be reached by email at ddmoore@vt.edu or (612) 2963758.
society to make sure its youngest citizens are performing well.” Deputy commissioner of the state’s Department of Revenue Matt Masserman said the governor’s proposed budget aims to strengthen education for all the state’s children. According to Masserman, Dayton is proposing $344 million in education funding, with $44 million allocated to early childhood education and another $40 million to fund full all-day kindergarten. “The cost of education has been skyrocketing as we continue to under-fund education,” said Masserman. In addition to addressing the disparities in education, Lindsey and Masserman discussed ways the state can do better in promoting minority hiring – in particular, in the area of construction. “The Vikings Stadium project is a $1 billion project, but keep in mind every year MnDOT spends $1 billion in construction projects,” said Lindsey. “Right now, 10 out of every 11 construction workers are white, non-Hispanic and that population is aging and will be in retirement soon, so there are opportunities to
be had here.” Lindsey said his department is also supporting proposed “Ban the Box” legislation that would no longer allow potential employers from asking applicants about arrest histories until a decision on hiring is being made. According to the human rights commissioner, many – disproportionately African-, Native- and HispanicAmericans – are being frozen out of employment opportunities because of an arrest history; even if that arrest did not involve a conviction or even charges being filed. Citing a 2011 study, Lindsey said in 2010, Minneapolis, along with Detroit, Milwaukee and Las Vegas had African-American unemployment rates of 20 percent or higher, which is comparable to the rates during the Great Depression. The same study noted that African-Americans in Minneapolis were 3.6 times as likely to be unemployed than whites. “If we can all grow and prosper together this is better than keeping one segment of the population in the ditch,” said Lindsey.
By Dr. Deirdre Golden, Director Behavioral Health, NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center April was first declared Child Abuse Prevention Month approximately 30 years ago by Ronald Reagan in a presidential proclamation. Since then, April has been a time to acknowledge and raise awareness about the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse. The statistics are staggering and in the United States alone, nearly 5 children die every day from child abuse and neglect. According to the National Children’s Alliance, there were 287,000 reported cases of abuse and/or neglect in 2012. Of these cases, many were for children most were under the age of 6 and involved sexual abuse. Due to underreporting, the actual number of children abused is likely higher. For the 1,161 cases reported in MN from July thru December
Moore From 9 Judith’s birthday (for the second year in a row). Men this is a major “no, no.” Yes, you may be busy at work, you may have a lot on your mind, you may be trying to expand your business, but you cannot forget your lady’s birthday. Brice made a nice attempt at trying to make things up by his serenade, but the damage was already done. Brice also appeared to have a different vision than Judith as it relates to their future. While Judith worked for a matchmaking firm, she had bigger dreams of opening up her own counseling business. It appears that Judith was interested in this being something that happened sooner than later, while Brice declared that it was something that was more likely in the more distant future. I can rag all day and all night on Mr. Brice, but we all
Town Hall From 1 and efforts to reduce racial gaps in education and hiring. “There’s a widening gulf between the haves and have nots, and Minneapolis has the greatest gap in hiring throughout the nation, said Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey. “Even when you have Blacks and Latinos who are similarly educated (to whites) they are still not employed at the same rate as whites.” Lindsey said his department and other state agencies are working to address the root causes of the educational, employment and economic disparities within the state. Lindsey said the consequences are dire if the problems are not addressed. For example, “In some states, not Minnesota, but some states, if there is a large number of kids in 3rd grade not performing at grade level, that determines the number of new jails to be built,” said Lindsay. “It’s important for a
NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center
Dr. Deirdre Golden
Darren D. Moore, Ph.D., LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an assistant professor in marriage and family therapy at a University in Georgia.
YOUR
VOICE IS STILL BEING HEARD.
WE’VE
BEEN EXPECTING YOU.
At UCare, we know Boomers. So as you make your move to Medicare, consider the health plan that hits all the right notes. UCare for SeniorsSM lets you choose from plans that cover prescription drugs, travel, eyewear, dental, fitness programs like SilverSneakers® and more. There are no co-pays for primary care visits with most plans. And you’ll get to talk to a real person 24/7 when you call customer service. It’s just what you’d expect from health care that starts with you. Learn more about the benefits of UCare for Seniors in our new eGuide to Medicare at ucareplans.org/eguide. Or call (toll free) 1-877-523-1518 (TTY) 1-800-688-2534, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
UCare Minnesota and UCare Health, Inc. are health plans with Medicare contracts. ©2013, UCare H2459 H4270_101512 CMS Accepted (10202012)
Page 12 • April 8 - April 14, 2013 • Insight News
conviction COURAGE
ENERGY
PROCESS
Commitment
Goals FUN
BIG PICTURE
RELATIONSHIP
Heart Colorful
TALENT
Motivation
Promise
COMMUNICATE
Value
Love of the Game
CHARISMA
Aptitude Heart
LEGACY
FAITH
Memories Diversity
Together
FAN
FOCUS
LOVE
Youth
Devotion
Community
COLLABORATION
ENTHUSIASM
Strength
inclusion
HEART
Fun
PLEDGE REMINISCE
Unity
DRIVE
PERSEVERANCE
LOYALTY
LEADERSHIP
History
PASSION
ACHIEVEMENT
GLOBALIZATION
Memories
PRIDE
Hustle
IMPACT
Belief
GRIT
Future
emotion
MINNESOTA TWINS
Grit
Celebrate
Join us for Celebrate Diversity Day on April 15th
MINNESOTA TWINS VS. LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM 1st 5,000 fans will receive a Diversity Day T-Shirt For tickets: 612-33-TWINS or www.twinsbaseball.com
Skills
Impact
Beliefs
Devoted
MY TEAM
eld Target Fi INTENSITY
TEAMWORKHeritage
Respect
Home
DIVERSITY CHANGE
DEDICATION
Courage
CHARACTER
FAMILY
Soul
insightnews.com