Insight News ::: 4.13.09

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April 13 - April 19, 2009 • MN Metro Vol. 35 No. 15 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

A season of change

Spirited challenges afoot in 4th & 5th Ward contests

PZI Jeans launches the premiere Skinny Jeans Collection for Curvy Women

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Analysis by Al McFarlane Editor-in-Chief al@insightnews.com The Kenya McKnight campaign for 5th Ward City Council seat and the Troy Parker campaign for 4th Ward City Council seat both signal rising confidence and energizing enthusiasm that likely will remake North Minneapolis and give North Minneapolis residents a greater say in their communities and in the city at large.

McKnight’s challenge to incumbent Don Samuels at the DFL 5th Ward Endorsing Convention at North Commons Park Building March 28th, and Parker’s spirited challenge a week earlier to the reign of the Rainville clan, show the line of division separating on the one hand residents who operate with a sense of entitlement and on the other hand, the ever growing body of residents who feel marginalized, left out, disregarded and disrespected by the relatively small group of power players and power

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Weekly previews for movies opening April 17

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Kenya McKnight

StudioTobechi

Troy Parker

Build green economy

By Batala-Ra McFarlane Publisher Batalara@insightnews.com

nymag.com

(L-R) Barack Obama, Sarah Brown, Michelle Obama, and Gordon Brown

Michelle Obama wows Londoners

By Dorothy Rowley Special to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspapers (NNPA) - Stylish hair, clothes and shoes. Buffed arms and an unmistakable air of grace, beauty and poise.

They’re all synonymous with first lady Michelle Obama who continues to wow crowds everywhere she goes - and her recent trip to the United Kingdom along with President Barack Obama has been no different.

While the president dove right into the serious business of the G20 economic summit, the first lady was becoming the toast of the town, cosying up with the Queen of England, sitting for tea,

visiting an inner city all-girls school, and touring a cancer ward.

“She’s a real breath of fresh air,” CBS anchor Katie Couric was quoted as saying by phone on Thursday from London.

Meredith Vieira from NBC’s “Today” show gushed that “Everybody in Europe is enthralled with her.”

Both women, no doubt, were echoing the sentiments of many who said Mrs. Obama had acquired a powerful presence in London.

During her visit to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School which enrolls about 1,000 girls ages 11-17, the students were in awe.

“The amazement and

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In advance of Earth Day, Van Jones, Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), hosted a tele-conference with members of the Black press last week April 8.

Prior to joining the CEQ, Jones served as the CEO for Green for All, an Oakland, CA based non-profit organization focused on developing and educating individuals about opportunities in emerging green industries.

President Barack Obama has made the development of green jobs a formal plank in his comprehensive economic recovery plan through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This unprecedented legislation is designed to address America’s

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economic crisis by putting Americans back to work. According to the Department of Labor, since the recession started in 2007, 5.1 million jobs have been lost, with almost two-thirds (3.3 million) of the decrease occurring in the last five months.

Jones, a lawyer, has been internationally-recognized for his advocacy work in underserved communities. This work is centered around promoting green-collar jobs and opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

“The African American community has been hit twice as hard during this recession,” said Jones. African Americans and other communities of color are disproportionately unemployed; 13.3% compared to 7.9% for white men.

Green jobs, said Jones is one way to get Americans back to work.

To fix the unemployment crisis, said Jones, rungs need to be placed on a ladder “and those are green rungs;

Boredom-busters for kids this summer

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MN House of Representatives DFL Caucus

Van Jones

the president understands this. In reality, Obama is the first green president,” he said Under Recovery Act, specific funds have been allocated for the development of and training

JONES TURN TO

Ida B. Wells helped pave the way

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NATO allies back Obama’s Afghan initiative

By Special to the NNPA from the St. Louis American (NNPA) - President Obama has won commitments from NATO allies for an additional 5,000 troops, trainers and mentors in Afghanistan, according to wire reports.

The president expressed satisfaction with the result, even though the promises don’t come close to matching the planned

addition of 21,000 U.S. troops.

Obama also won a strong endorsement for his new policy in Afghanistan, which is focused on rooting out al-Qaeda from the border with Pakistan, stepping up training for Afghan military and police forces, and working closely with Afghanistan’s neighbors, according to the Associated Press.

The president called pledges from Britain, France, Germany and others to help in Afghanistan “the kinds of commitments that historically you don’t see at a

conference like this,’’ adding, “What was pledged here today was significant.’’

NATO officials said more than 10 countries had promised additional troops, trainers or money. ‘’Many of us have stepped up to the plate this morning,’’ said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

“When it comes to Afghanistan, this summit and this alliance have delivered.’’

French President Nicolas

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Metrodome or bust!

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Page 2 • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Insight News

Change

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deliver job and business gain broadly, and particularly to the emerging Black business sector, as to Cherryhomes’ relentlessness as a campaigner.

But Cherryhomes herself was unceremoniously dumped at the height of her power. She had risen to become the definitive power broker and was President of City Council. She was blindsided by voters who ignited the rising star of Natalie Johnson Lee. Johnson Lee bypassed the Northside power grid by running as a Green Party candidate.

Anybody beating a DFLer in North Minneapolis was improbable to impossible.

The 2000 Census conspired to place Johnson-Lee and Don Samuels in contention for a newly drawn 5th Ward. The seat that should have been JohnsonLee’s to keep for as long as she wanted was in play because

have been broken and who are mending, and, she is reaching out at the same time to the solid middle class and working class residents that form the core fiber of the community. Keeping people who are already here in their homes by finding solutions for those threatened with displacement by the housing and mortgage crisis, and, making sure businesses and agencies owned by and led by members of our own community are empowered to negotiate and create better futures for their customers and clients, are central to McKnight’s vision of putting the people first in 5th Ward.

Natonia Johnson, who runs the Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus and serves as DFL chair for the Northside Senate District 58, which includes 4th Ward and 5th Ward, said anybody running for City

contemplative, Troy Parker and his people are making it perfectly clear: They intend to defeat Barb Johnson and seat Parker as the next 4th Ward Council Member.

Parker said he was shocked but not discouraged at what he called the line-up of downtown power-brokers, who, he alleges, broke the rules of the convention to deliver the endorsement to the incumbent. He said new members of the ward are not beholden to the Rainville family political machine.

Barb Johnson is the daughter of the former 4th Ward Council Member, Alice Rainville.

Rainville was the aunt of the preceding 4th Ward Council Member, John Derus. Derus was an original member of rough and tumble Northside political juggernaut most often referred to as the DeLaSalle Mafia. State Representative Jim

Don Samuels

Natalie Johnson Lee

Natonia Johnson

Barb Johnson

incumbent and who want her to become the next 5th Ward Council Member. “Producing 500 to 1,000 signatures in petitions for her to run speaks volumes,” one observer said.

There is significant precedence for the likelihood that McKnight can succeed in wrestling the seat from Samuels.

Part of the precedence is the temperament of the ward itself.

Jackie Cherryhomes, a community organizer, propelled by a willingness to work hard and dogged determination, unseated Van White, the Ward’s and the City’s first Black person to be elected to City Council.

Observers attribute Whites’ loss as much to his own failure to

incumbent Don Samuels was gerrymandered into JohnsonLee’s ward.

Samuels had come to City Council replacing the convicted and imprisoned Joe Biernat for the remainder of Biernat’s term representing the 3rd Ward.

Head to head, Samuels prevailed. Why? Johnson-Lee didn’t deliver.

And now, many contend, it is Samuels who has not delivered.

And that is why 5th Ward voters may say at the polls, “Don’s gotta go!”

The likely McKnight candidacy suggests a turn in the road for the Ward. An unknown, at least in the realm of politics, McKnight is appealing to young people, new people, people who

Council in 5th Ward has to address livability issues like crime and safety, noise pollution, transportation and unemployment, and gaping disparities in health and education resources and outcomes.

She said the young residents and many seasoned voters are tired of the lip service politicians have doled out. “They want action and they want it now. And they are not afraid to work for what they want,” she said.

She said the 10 ballot contest in 4th Ward in particular suggests a strong current in the community challenging the status quo.

While McKnight’s short term strategy is reflective and

Rice was godfather over political triads that controlled Hennepin County Board, the Park Board, North Minneapolis House and Senate Legislatives seats, and the Minneapolis Schools.

That power group began dissipating over the past two generations, and now, in the face of new and emerging cultural and ethnic communities, may simply fade into history. At least that’s the story Parker says will emerge from the new and invigorated political environment in the 4th Ward.

While Parker and McKnight say the unemployed and underemployed, the people most often redlined by banks and mortgage lenders, and home and

From 1 brokers.

Though she hasn’t formally announced, McKnight likely will go to work immediately building a campaign seeking to unseat Samuels. Her strategy: 1.

Mine the ward to harvest the active and latent discontent with Samuels’ failure to deliver appreciable gain to the 5th Ward.

2. Clarify and project her own vision for the 5th Ward if its Council Member championed the concerns of all the Ward residents.

McKnight is watching and encouraged by indications that some people who are excited by her candidacy, over the next 20 days, say they will collect signatures, petition-style, of Northside residents and voters, who are unhappy with the

First Person

New to political process, Antwan Floyd vows to energize, mobilize

By Antwan Floyd (Floyd delivered one of the nominating speeches supporting Kenya McKnight’s bid for the 5th Ward DFL Convention endorsement) My name is Antwan Floyd. I live in the 5thWard, Precinct 7.

I’m not big on public speaking, so I won’t take too much of your time. I must say all of this is exciting to me. I never knew engaging in my community in the political process would affect me in such a positive fashion.

This is my first time getting involved. I am a first time caucus attendee. I am serving on the credentials committee. and I, for one, the next time around, will encourage more residents from the community to step into the arena.

I have lived all my life in Minneapolis, more specifically North Minneapolis. This is my home and I am proud to say this. I can say with passion from the core of my heart what potential my community has to offer.

I know this because I teeter between both worlds.

Let me clarify what I mean when I say both worlds.

I’m old enough to know that I not only need but should seek and embrace guidance from the elders of the community. But I am not too old or too far removed from my peers and those that may be younger than me, to relate and feel where they come from.

And my realizing that, I know that we need someone auto insurers, the people bearing the brunt of disparities in health and education, tend to be our people, their campaigns are not about race.

Rather they say, they are

who will advocate on our behalf and act as a bridge to close a sometimes uncompromising gap between the young adults and the elders.

I believe we have that in Kenya McKnight.

I believe we can all have an opportunity to acquire and enjoy the basic needs in life: adequate food, shelter, and clothing. I believe we should have work opportunities within our community, so we can earn, raise and support our families, rent apartments and buy homes and be able to invest our earnings back into our community.

We can grow and prosper as a community.

I believe that Kenya McKnight will work toward making that a reality. Because if we don’t elect someone who will look out for us and work for us, and who has our best interests at heart, we all know the outcome.

Look around. We see it.

We need businesses that will take part in the community and not just take from the community.

We need a community that takes time to get involved, and that is not afraid of the neighbors or the neighborhood. I speak with Kenya McKnight I hear no fear or doubt or hidden intent behind her words. I agree with Kenya McKnight that we must get the kids and the young adults before the streets do. We know the alternative. As Adam Clayton Powell Jr. once said “A man’s respect for law and order exists in precise relationship to the size of his paycheck!”

We want to work. running to demand and deliver a fair shake and a fare share for the residents of North Minneapolis.

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Obama From 1 adoration on the face of the girls and the authentic way Obama reacted to them was just wonderful thing to watch,” London’s Daily Mirror reported.

The paper also noted that about 300 students and residents had shrieked, “We love you!” as the first lady arrived at the school in Islington, North London.

Greeted by 100 students, Mrs. Obama applauded enthusiastically after they regaled her with a string of stirring performances, and in a show of the informal style that has endeared her to millions around the world, she high-fived one of the solo singers and hugged students, according to the Daily Mirror.

“Wow! I can’t follow that.

Thank you for that warm welcome. My husband is going to be very jealous of my afternoon because I am spending it with all of you,” Obama said.

“When I look at a performance like this, it reminds me that there are diamonds like this all over the world.”

Mrs. Obama’s visit with the Queen went just as well.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Obama who reportedly cannot be seen wearing the same outfit in public more than once, has been the talk of the fashion world for her simplistic yet sophisticated choices.

And, while her propensity for selecting items from J. Crew has endeared Obama to moneyconscious shoppers, high-end stylists say her choices from up and coming clothing designers have given a whole new meaning to buying off the rack.

In the process, Obama keeps gaining in popularity. According to recent polls, the first lady’s approval rating in this country has more than doubled since last summer. At that time she had a 32 percent favorable rating compared to the current high rating of 76 percent.

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 Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Elliot Stewart-Franzen Web Design & Content Associate Ben Williams Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Marcia Humphrey Mehgaan Jones Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Mpls., 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.

Insight News • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Page 3

PZI Jeans launches the premiere Skinny Jeans Collection for Curvy Women ATLANTA, GA –Atlanta-based PZI Jeans recently announced the launch of a unique collection of skinny jeans made just for curvy women. PZI Jeans is now offering 10 different styles of skinny jeans that are becoming all the rage of curvy fashionistas.

“PZI Jeans was one of the first denim lines to develop a skinny jean for curvy women, we have taken it a step further to offer an entire collection of PZI Skinny Jeans, designed especially to meet the fit challenges of curvy women,” said PZI Jeans Co-Founder and Vice President Claire Jason.

PZI Jeans tested their fit on various models, then fine tuned their fit, adding more fabric in the hips and rear and that special PZI Jeans tapered waist. “We finally had a Skinny Jean that really fits the not so skinny curvy woman! We were very surprised at our customers’ reaction and cannot begin to tell you how fast our PZI Skinny Jeans flew off our store’s shelves!” said Jason.

PZI Jeans has mastered the science behind fitting the curvy woman with all of their denim products. PZI Jeans will now

offer many different styles and colors of Skinny Jeans for curvy women, including the Curve Skinny, The Lindsay Skinny, The Victoria Skinny, The Classic Skinny, The Black Jet Skinny, The Buckle Skinny, The Annie Hall Skinny, The Pewter Skinny, The Olivia Skinny and the Sky Ankle Skinny. PZI Jeans also has priced their jeans at recession friendly prices everyone appreciates, PZI Skinny Jeans retail at 69.00-79.00.

“The industry said curvy women should never wear skinny jeans or they would look like an ice cream cone, so many lines did not offer a skinny jean for curvy women. Initially we did not offer our customer the skinny jean either. But, our customers kept asking for the skinny jean. So we started researching, studied and developed the perfect skinny jean for curvy women,” said Jason.

Although PZI Jeans designers constantly follow fashion trends they do not take everything written in the media about what a curvy woman should or should not wear to

heart. “The curvy woman’s concept of her fashion style is misunderstood by a many in the fashion media, the success of our PZI Skinny Jeans is proof of this fact,” said Jason.

PZI Jeans was founded in 2002 by Atlanta attorney, Daniel C. Jason and his wife, Claire Jason, also an Attorney. PZI Jeans was recently tapped by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in America. An accolade shared by companies as notable as Microsoft and Oracle.

PZI Jeans are available in sizes 4-16 with short, regular, long and extra-long lengths/inseams so that women short and tall can buy her jeans off the rack with no more costly alterations.

PZI Jeans are available at select Macy’s Stores and over 600 retail stores in the United States and overseas with plans to expand into South America.

For more information about PZI Jeans, log on to www.pzijeans.com.

PZI Jeans

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COMMENTARY African-American females also victimized by the U.S. Criminal Justice System Commentary

By Dr. Elsie Scott NNPA Special Commentary When the subject of the criminal justice system and its impact on the African American community is discussed, the emphasis is usually placed on males.

This is understandable if we focus exclusively on numbers.

Black males are victimized, arrested and incarcerated in much greater numbers than Black females. For example, in 2007, Black males were incarcerated at a rate of 3,138 per 100,000 Black

males in the population; Black females were incarcerated at a rate of 150 per 100,000.

The number of females arrested and incarcerated has been steadily increasing, but the criminal justice system has been slow to make the accommodations necessary to address their needs. The physical facilities and institutional policies are often designed to address a male population.

When I worked for the New York Police Department, I headed a group that looked at the integration of female police officers into the department. We found that the precincts were built with no female showers, locker spaces and bathrooms; there was no pregnancy policy; and no accommodations were made for officers with children. Similarly, female prison facilities tend to be designed by males for a smaller female

population. Maximum-security inmates are housed with nonviolent offenders; and in the older jails female detainees are confined to spaces that were not designed to accommodate the special needs of females.

The unique social needs of female inmates often are not addressed in prison policies and programs. The cost of incarcerating a female tends to be higher because convicted females are more likely to have dependent children, and female inmates are more likely to need mental health services.

It has been estimated that over 60 percent of incarcerated Black females have dependent children.

Many of these children have to receive governmental assistance after their mother is imprisoned.

Many Black female inmates were victims of abuse as a child and/or as an adult. The history of

abuse contributes to the need for mental health services, which may not be available at the facility where they are incarcerated.

President Obama’s agenda calls for support for ex-offenders, eliminating sentencing disparities between crack and powder-based cocaine, and expanding the use of drug courts. If implemented, these programs will help improve the plight of males and females who are caught up in the criminal justice system.

In addition, the agenda also calls for measures to reduce domestic violence and strengthen domestic violence legislation. A number of highly publicized cases of Black female domestic abuse draw attention to the need for these measures.

There is, however, a need for additional policies and programs to target specific conditions and

circumstances that directly affect females, especially Black females.

The President’s agenda calls for job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling for exoffenders. Similar programs are needed as crime prevention tools and for females in prison.

Job training at female prisons tends to prepare women for “female” jobs such as cosmetology and culinary arts, which is needed.

But there is also a need for training that will prepare them for the new technology-driven jobs. Mental health counseling can help them prepare psychologically for what they will face in the job market after they are released.

One of the biggest needs relates to keeping mothers connected to their children. Studies have shown that the disconnection to a mother can lead to psychological scars to a child. The female prison in many

states is located in rural areas, creating challenges for family visits, especially for poor families and young children.

Most Black female inmates are from urban areas, and most are poor or in the lower income category.

Creating more community-based corrections programs can help incarcerated mothers remain connected to their children and can created more job opportunities for those inmates who qualify for work outside the prison facility.

Elsie Scott, Ph.D., is the president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and a contributor to Black Women’s Roundtable, the sponsor of this series.

Hard work-just this year, more than 2 million have lost jobs

By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist The unemployment rate rose from 8.1 percent to 8.5 percent and more than 600,000 people lost their jobs last month. Just this year, more than 2 million have lost jobs. Since the recession began more than 5.1 million have been separated from their work. Some have gone back to work, but many have not been able to find employment.

By anyone’s assessment, this is an employment crisis that undermines the possibility of economic recovery.

President Obama managed to zip through European capitals with his message of hope and

confidence, but the numbers belied his message. He says we can fight this economic slump and he is right, but the fight is likely to be longer than he plans.

Our unemployment rate of 8.5 percent is high, but it is an underestimate of the real deal.

When part-timers and those who have dropped out of the labor force are counted, we are speaking about 15.6 percent or more.

African Americans are experiencing 25 percent rates or more, rates that are greater than those experienced in the Great Depression.

The numbers are a cold reflection of the everyday realities of people who struggle to eke out a living and maintain their lives

and lifestyles. Unemployment rates are a harbinger for other challenges, such as the foreclosures that affect too many people who can no longer pay their mortgages.

Why can’t we let some of these people stay in their homes?

Who benefits from vacant properties sitting on the market?

Our attention tends to focus on those who lose their jobs, but what about those who remain? It is hard work to be a labor market survivor, to pick up the work of those who were let go, the work of those whose essential contribution to the workplace is undermined by our shaky and shady economy.

What do you do when you are the one left? Do you rejoice that

you maintained employment?

Mourn the loss of a co-worker?

Ask for more money because you are now doing two or three jobs?

Cower at asking because all jobs are at risk? For all the sympathy we have for the person fired, is there equal compassion for the survivor who wonders when the next shoe will drop, when the next job will be lost.

It is hard work to navigate survival in this recession.

Hundreds of thousands of workers rise every morning to go to workplaces that are in peril.

They go to work hoping to contribute and knowing that they are walking on a tightrope, tottering someplace between hope and despair.

It is hard work to manage the balance, providing best effort while at the same time managing expectations about a future with or without a job. It is hard work managing one’s way through this employment cycle, navigating the jobs that are out there and the jobs that are being lost.

And yes, there are jobs out there. Even as the unemployment rate soars, there are companies that are hiring people in the middle of recession. People cannot internalize statistics to the point that they are paralyzed by negative possibilities.

In other words, even as we hear that the unemployment rate is high, we must know that somebody is hiring, that there is

turnover, that there are opportunities and possibilities.

More than one hundred young women will graduate from Bennett College for women on May 9. Some of them will go to graduate or professional school, and some of them have found employment.

Those who have not yet solidified their plans cannot give up – there are still opportunities and possibilities, including entrepreneurship and the possibility of self-employment.

The challenge for these young women is to embrace the roller coaster of our nation’s economic life and stake their claim in the midst of this unsettling climate.

It’s hard work to enter the labor market in the middle of a weak economy; hard work to try to claim a space even as others are being shed from the economy.

While the class of 2009 faces tremendous challenges, my experience suggests they are equal to the challenges. They are fired, fierce, and focused. Ready to take the world on. Ready to invest the hard work that will be necessary for economic survival.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is President of Bennett College for women. She can be reached at presbennett@bennett.edu

NATO From 1

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Sarkozy, who co-hosted the conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Obama made a strong case for the assistance in outlining his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The strategy focuses more resources than in the past on rooting out al-Qaeda havens between the two countries.

“It was so easy to work with him,’’ Sarkozy said of Obama.

“He showed his leadership. He showed how committed he was.’’

NATO countries currently have about 30,000 troops in Afghanistan. In contrast, U.S. forces number about 38,000, and Obama is adding 17,000 more combat troops and 4,000 trainers.

The president stressed that troops to train and mentor Afghan forces and police are needed just as much as combat troops in the country’s dangerous south, where the Taliban is strongest. ‘’The troops that we’re sending in are no less important,’’ he said.

New NATO contributions that were announced prior to the summit include: • About 3,000 troops to provide security around the August 20 Afghan elections, including from Britain, Germany and Spain.

Unless those elections come off smoothly, “a lot of the security going forward won’t matter,’’ White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

• Between 1,400 and 2,800 troops to serve as trainers for Afghan military units in the field.

• More than 300 paramilitary trainers and mentors to work with Afghan police forces. It marks the first time NATO has committed to police training. Top contributors: France and Italy.

• About $100 million in new aid to help Afghanistan expand the size of its army. Germany led the way with $57 million.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Insight News • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Page 5

BUSINESS This may be a good time to launch a small empire of your own

By Julie Desmond Have you given up on looking for work yet? If your job search has stalled out, and your expenses haven’t, you know you’re going to need to generate some income.

Bill Gates launched his empire during times like these. Maybe out of necessity you’ll find this a good time launch a small empire of your own.

Start by thinking about what you already know best. Word

processing, sewing, gardening, baking, coaching, construction?

People continue to spend money on things they need. Consider offering your service at a reasonable rate.

Mary is a shop owner whose sales are down right now. She knows things will pick up, but has to supplement that income for a while. She happens to be a talented seamstress, so she has added tailoring to her service line, and is designing wedding dresses which she sells online. It means

long nights at the sewing machine, but the extra income is definitely worth the effort.

Letting others know you’re out there is obviously your most important task. You are going to have to speak up. Let friends and family know, through email and phone calls, that you are available.

Tell strangers, too, when it makes sense to do so. A server in a restaurant overheard me describing a problem we are having with the closet doors in our house. He told me he does some

handy work on the side, and handed me a business card from his pocket. It’s a small job, but those dollars add up.

Consider spreading the word by teaching your skills to others.

Call your local park and recreation or community education office to find out how to offer a class. You typically set your course fee, and the community education department collects a percentage of that per student who attends. They handle the advertising and registration;

all you have to do is create and teach an awesome, engaging class to people eager to learn.

Consultants are in demand right now. Consider going back to the company who laid you off, and offering to work as an independent consultant. Their headcount stays where it needs to be, but their work gets done, too.

Win win.

If you decide to charge money for a service, pay attention to ordinances, laws and regulations, of course. You will have to claim

your income at the end of the year and maybe pay some taxes. But your efforts can pay off both by bringing you a little extra income during tough times, and by giving you something to think about besides your job search.

Julie Desmond is Senior Talent Consultant for the Walstrom Group in Minneapolis. Write to Julie@insightnews.com.

In one way or another, Social Security benefits everyone

By Rhonda Whitenack and Jim Czechowicz Social Security Public Affairs Office in Mpls Social Security reaches almost every family, and at some point touches the lives of nearly all Americans. It has an impact on the very fabric of the American

economy.

Social Security helps not only older Americans, but also workers who become disabled and families in which a spouse or parent dies.

Today, about 162 million people work and pay Social Security taxes and more than 51 million people receive monthly Social Security benefits. In 2008 alone, those benefits came to

about $614 billion.

In one way or another, Social Security benefits everyone. The payments made to beneficiaries help individuals and families to stay afloat. But Social Security goes beyond that. In many areas across the nation, Social Security is essential to keeping the economy going.

Take, for example, Siskiyou County in

Northern California. Nearly 20 percent of the entire economy comes from Social Security.

About 30 percent of the population receives Social Security or SSI benefits.

In Siskiyou County and other counties around the nation, the benefits paid don’t stop at helping the beneficiaries who depend on them. These people spend their

benefit payments at the local grocery store, the local clothing stores, department stores, and mom-and-pop shops. Benefits are used to pay for goods and services that sustain the local economy.

It’s no coincidence that Social Security finds its origins in another financial crisis: the Great Depression. The program played

a part in that recovery. There’s no denying that it’s playing a part in helping the current economy as well.

It’s clear that in one way or another, Social Security benefits everyone.

To learn more about Social Security, visit www.socialsecurity.gov.

Insurance coverage no household should be without

By Jason Alderman Some people looking to reduce expenses drop or trim their insurance coverage, gambling that they won't become sick, have a car accident or suffer a fire or other catastrophe.

Unless you've got unlimited savings, however, forgoing adequate insurance could place you just one unexpected event away from financial disaster.

Here are insurance policies no household should be without: Medical. This is the most critical and unfortunately, the most expensive - coverage you need.

When comparing plans, consider: • Are your doctors in their provider networks? If not, can you afford the out-of-network charges or are you willing to find new doctors?

• Do they restrict specialized

services you might need like maternity benefits, out-of-state coverage, mental health coverage, etc.?

• If you choose catastrophic coverage to lower premiums, can you afford the high deductible in case of an accident or major illness?

• If your employer doesn't offer medical insurance, can you obtain coverage through your spouse's employer?

Homeowner/renter.

Faulty plumbing, fires, theft and homeaccident lawsuits are only a few catastrophes that could leave you without possessions or a place to live. A few tips: • "Actual cash value" coverage repairs or replaces belongings, minus deductible and depreciation, whereas "replacement cost" coverage will replace the items in today's dollars.

Depreciation can significantly lower values, so replacement coverage is often worth the extra cost.

• Jewelry, art and computers usually require additional coverage.

• Consider additional liability insurance, especially if you have significant property, investments or savings.

• Review your coverage periodically to account for inflation, home improvements, new possessions, change in marital/family status, etc.

Car insurance. You probably can't even get a driver's license without demonstrating proof of insurance.

Consider these coverage options: • "Liability" pays if you cause an accident that injures others or damages their car or other property.

• "Uninsured motorist" pays for damage caused to you or your car by

an uninsured motorist.

• "Collision" pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision and "comprehensive" pays for damage to your car caused by things like theft, vandalism and fire.

However, they only pay up to the actual cash value (ACV) minus deductibles. Because the ACV for older cars is low, repairs often cost more than the car is worth; therefore many older-car owners drop these coverages and increase liability instead.

• Common ways to lower premiums include: Raising deductibles; discounts for good drivers, exceeding age 55 or installing security systems; comparison shopping; and buying homeowner and car insurance from the same carrier.

Life insurance. If you're single with

no dependents, you may get by with minimal or no life insurance. But if your family depends on your income, you should probably buy coverage worth at least five to 10 times your annual pay. A few other considerations: • Many employers offer coverage, but if you're young and healthy you may be able to get a better deal on your own.

• After your kids are grown you may be able to lower your coverage; although carefully consider your spouse's retirement needs.

Long-term disability insurance is

also extremely important - especially if you're single - since other sources of income may not be available in the event of serious illness or disability. To learn more about disability insurance, visit Practical Money Skills for Life, Visa Inc.'s free personal financial management site (www.practicalmoneyskills.com/une xpected).

Insurance is there to protect against unforeseen circumstances; don't risk your financial future by gambling that you're immune to accidents, large and small.

Page 6 • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Insight News

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AESTHETICS Filmmaker a success, despite geographical odds

By Alaina L. Lewis For any other city kid growing up in a single parent home amidst the allure of the mean streets of New York City, the end result from looming in the shadows of continual chaos, could’ve easily led to a journey ending in demise.

However, for author and filmmaker Nelson George, an ability to supersede the statistical guidelines attributed to living life in the ghetto is not only a testimony of his determinate will, but also a notation of the strength that rests at his core.

City Kid: A Writer’s Memoir of Ghetto Life and Post-Soul Success, is the latest literary offering to escape the mind of this incredible author. It’s his chronological journey from the whisper within an idea towards his discovery of a tangible dream as a writer. Apart from giving the reader a storefront view of his personal trip to the top, it also masquerades as a love letter to New York, and tells an intimate account of the evolution and influence of African American culture and the Arts.

From his early days of reciting the usual, “I’m with him,” when clubbing with a pre-Def Jam Russell Simmons, to taking risks with a young Spike Lee and investing in his vision for, She’s Gotta Have It, he paints a portrait of determination, not just within himself, but also within some major counterparts, who were also poised in their attempt to excel in their every endeavor.

For George, growing up and maintaining a personal identity in the Tilden Projects of Brooklyn, NY in the 60s was seemingly an implausible fete for a “nerdy” kid obsessed with Marvel comics and Hemingway. While others were succumbing to street life, George was exercising his mind and indulging in the world within literary classics. “My interest in reading did, over time, separate me from a lot of my peers. By adolescence I was spending more time with my books and my imaginary life, than in the streets,” he said.

Early life in New York for the George family was rich in possibility, but not always as smooth as the soulful spins the family grooved to on his mothers Motorola high fidelity stereo. For a single parent raising two children alone, her goal to get them out of the Brownsville Projects could’ve easily been lost to any turbulent turn, but through will and perseverance she stayed the distance. Accrediting his mother as both his hero and a visionary, for a family rich harmony, her actions and determination read as slick as the “liner notes” in a compilation CD towards attaining personal

success.

“What I got from my mother was a work ethic. When my father and her broke up she was working as a checkout counter girl at A&P Supermarket and she was also doing some work at a bank as a clerk. When I was in the first grade, she was doing that kind of stuff. By the time I graduated in the 6th grade, she was a teacher,” he said. “That’s the model I still use to this day. If you’re going to do something it is in your power to control your destiny.”

Opting to not become a drug dealer like his estranged father, and believing in himself as a potential writer, George carried that paradigm of promise in his heart like a personal manifesto. It afforded him the formula for garnering his own set of wings and eventually over time he was able to

fly his way out of the ghetto life for good.

George defied his own odds and conquered his own set of stakes and went from a career as a journalist, to a novelist, and later on made a name for himself as a screenwriter. He’s the filmmaker behind Strictly Business, CB-4, and the award-winning movie Life Support, which is based on the life of his sister.

As an author he’s made an impact in the writing world with a library of fiction and nonfiction works that highlight his love for Hip Hop and music and his ability to draw in a reader through his knack for story telling. Hip Hop America, Blackface, One Woman Short, and Show & Tell, are just a few notable mentions is his catalog of literary achievements.

Currently as the host of VH-1

Soul’s travel show, “Soul Cities,” and having come full circle in a vast array of accomplishments considering the circumstances in his rocky adolescence, George provides the perfect outline to dispel discouragement in the next person that comes along and feels that, “they can’t do it.”

His story of success is very clear. Whether it’s penning a story for Billboard or The Village Voice, sipping fresh squeezed apple juice at the home of Quincy Jones, or hanging with Chris Rock on the set of The Chris Rock Show, City Kid is an exciting frame-by-frame account of a boy transitioning from chasing rainbows to being the man at the center of his own Pot of Gold.

Previews for movies opening April 17

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com Big budget films 17 Again (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and teen partying) Timetravel comedy about a miserable,

middle-aged man (Zac Efron) stuck in a bad marriage and going nowhere in a dead-end job who gets a new lease on life when he is miraculously turned into a teenager after falling into a river. Cast includes Matthew Perry, Thomas Lennon and Leslie Mann.

Crank: High Voltage (R for nudity, gory violence, graphic sexuality and pervasive profanity) Jason Statham reprises his role in this adrenaline-fueled sequel which finds the frantic hit man with heart disease on the run from Mexican and Chinese mobsters while trying to get some urgently-needed medical assistance. Returning cast members include Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakum, and Efren Ramirez, while among additions to the ensemble are David Carradine and Corey Haim.

State of Play (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexual references and brief drug use) Screen adaptation of the BBC mini-series of the same name revolving around a team of reporters working in conjunction with the police to solve the murder of a congressman’s (Ben Affleck) mistress. Talented cast includes Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren, Viola Davis, Robin Wright Penn, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Jeff Daniels.

behind-the-scenes peek at the audition process involved in the casting of the Broadway revival of The Chorus Line.

With appearances by composer Marvin Hamlisch and choreographer Bob Avian.

Is Anybody There? (PG-13 for profanity, sexual references and disturbing images) Unlikely-buddy drama, set in the Eighties at an old folks home on England’s seacoast, about a lonely 10-year-old (Bill Milner) befriended by a recentlywidowed, grieving magician (Michael Caine).

Lemon Tree (Unrated) Middle East drama recounts the real-life ordeal of a Palestinian widow living on the West Bank forced to fight to preserve her way of life when the Israeli Minister of Defense (Doron Tavory) moves in next-door and threatens to level the grove of lemon trees which has been in her family for generations. (In Hebrew, Arabic, French and English with subtitles)

Independent & foreign films American Violet (PG-13 for profanity, violence, drug references and mature themes) Fact-based drama revisits the case of an African American single-mom (Nicole Beharie) desperate to clear her name after being wronglyarrested for drug dealing during a sweep of the Black community in her tiny Texas hometown. Cast includes Alfre Woodard, Will Patton, Tim Blake Nelson and Michael O’Keefe.

Every Little Step (PG-13 for profanity and sexual references) Dance documentary takes a

Oblivion (Unrated) Compassionate documentary, set in Lima, Peru, chronicles the everyday lives of the city’s Salt of the Earth, including a variety of working-class heroes like waitresses, bartenders and street performers. (In Spanish with subtitles) Perestroika (Unrated) Glasnost drama, set in 1992, focuses on a Soviet astrophysicist (Sam Robards) who returns to Russia for the first time in 17 years when he’s invited to address a scientific conference in Moscow. Cast includes F. Murray Abraham, Ally Sheedy and Jicky Schnee.

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Insight News • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Page 7

HEALTH Preventing youth violence and promoting the healthy development of young people

By Linda Bearinger As we learned from the shooting in Red Lake, MN, youth violence permeates U.S. communities of every description. The problem of violence infects our towns, neighborhoods and schools — every aspect of the daily lives of our children. What strategies can we use to help curb this problem?

A research project conducted by the Center for Adolescent Nursing at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing sheds light on how we can be most effective in promoting the healthy development of young people.

The project involved Native American youth in six Minneapolis schools over four years — but the lessons learned may be instructive to all parents, schools and

communities.

The research showed that three factors put young people at higher risk for violent behavior. The experience of being victimized can create the

and suicide were part of their lives, youth involvement in violence could be greatly reduced — if the community established strong connections among schools, youth and

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN SERIOUS VIOLENT BEHAVIOR WHEN THEY REGULARLY USE ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS OR HAVE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS LEADING TO A SUICIDE ATTEMPT. highest risk, but we also found that young people are two to three times more likely to engage in serious violent behavior when they regularly use alcohol and other drugs or have emotional distress leading to a suicide attempt. When all are present, the risks for violent behavior climb exponentially.

We made a hopeful discovery, too. We found that even when both substance use

families, and if it adopted strong positive expectations for youth behavior.

The reason for this lies in the science of human development. We know that all young people need at least one positive adult role model in their life, someone they feel they can confide in, particularly with sensitive and personal issues. Young people need to feel connected to the

More Minnesota kids having kids A new report finds a second year of increases in the state’s teen pregnancy and birth rates; a trend that has teen advocates worried. A study by the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting shows the state’s teen pregnancy and birth rates increased by two percent over the past year.

Spokeswoman Brigid Riley says Minnesota has decreased efforts to educate kids about the consequences of pregnancy, and this is the result.

“There’s a lot less being invested in prevention activities, and in making sure that young people know about how to prevent pregnancy both boys and girls. Also, there’s been a big spike in the

community — to schools, families, peers, mentors and other positive role models — in order to grow up healthy.

Schools are in an ideal position to nurture healthy

cost of prescription contraception.”

That, she says, makes it unaffordable for many. Riley calls this year’s teen birth rate

job, something in their adult lives, then becoming a parent may seem like a viable alternative to them.”

Adults must do better at

“IF THERE’S NOT ANY OTHER PATH THAT THEY SEE FOR THEMSELVES, SUCH AS TECHNICAL SCHOOL, A GOOD JOB, SOMETHING IN THEIR ADULT LIVES, THEN BECOMING A PARENT MAY SEEM LIKE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THEM.” increase, while less than last year’s, troubling. Relying on abstinence-only doesn’t work, she adds, and advocates a balanced approach, including teaching young people the consequences of and alternatives to parenthood.

“If there’s not any other path that they see for themselves, such as technical school, a good

talking with kids about their concerns, says Riley, and the conversations should include families, schools, neighborhoods and the faithbased community.

The report uses data from the Minnesota Dept. of Health Center for Health Statistics.

youth development.

In situations where young people lack support in other areas in their lives, this connection is absolutely critical and an important reason for us to make

sure that schools have the resources to identify and respond quickly and appropriately to signs of student distress.

We have all seen youth violence unfold heartbreakingly in communities rich and poor, urban, suburban and rural. The circumstances may vary, but the underlying cause— disconnectedness and alienation—are the same. In the case of the urban American Indian youth we worked with, their prospects are affected by a number of factors, including their health and their socioeconomic situations.

By supporting our schools and communities, programs can

be implemented that have a positive impact on young people. The future of our communities depends on the investment in young people.

Linda Bearinger Ph.D., R.N, F.A.A.N. is the director of the Center for Adolescent Nursing at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. This column is an educational service of the University of Minnesota. Advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. For more health-related information, go to http://www.healthtalk.umn.edu.

Page 8 • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE Boredom-busters for kids Style on a dime

By Marcia Humphrey As I sit on my comfy couch enjoying this sunny, yet nippy, spring day, my mind wanders off to the even warmer days which are ahead. Of course that thought leads me to

visions of summertime fun freedom from school schedules and homework and freedom to wake up at noon and take an impromptu road trip. In the middle of my pleasant daydreaming session, I suddenly apply the brakes to my warm thoughts, and a nagging question fills my head, ”What in the world will I do with my three children when I run out of road-trip gas money and they get bored with their summer vacation and new-found freedom?” Before pulling my hair out, I’ve decided to figure out some low cost options for keeping my kids’ minds and bodies occupied. If

you are faced with that same challenge, let’s explore some options together.

Park and Recreation Activities Whether you live in the city or the suburbs your local Park and Recreation Department is a great place to find summer activities for children of all ages. Have you always wanted to take up golfing? A variety of classes are offered for preschoolers, youth, and adults all year long and the costs vary, but are usually reasonable. You’ll find tennis classes, swimming lessons, fitness classes, group sport teams, kayaking, climbing, dancing classes,

and dozens of other activities. Keep your little ones (and yourself) moving and grooving this summer and learn a new skill. Check it out at www.minneapolisparks.org and www.threeriversparkdistrict.org Twin Cities Youth Jazz Camp Think your child might be the next Grover Washington or Wynton Marsalis? If he/she is between 13 and 17 years old and plays an instrument, this is a great opportunity! From June 15th - 19th or 22nd- 26th, your son or daughter can have a full day of music instruction. My friends have raved about this camp last year and I am

ymca.com

excited that my eldest daughter is old enough to participate this year.

Lunch is provided and the cost is $160 per person and full scholarships are available for those in need. Hurry, spaces are limited.

Visit www.twincitiesyouthjazzcamp.org or call 763-542-8880.

YMCA Camps Something is always happening at the YMCA and they love old-fashion outdoor play! Try swimming, canoeing, archery, or hiking - a wide variety of week-long camps are going on, from June through August, for your children from 4 years to 9th grade. Fees begin at $130/wk. www.ymcatwincities.org/daycamps/ kids.htm

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University of St. Thomas Students from ninth through twelfth grade who are interested in writing and news reporting can apply for a free two-week summer workshop at the University of St. Thomas from June 17th-29th. Students of color are encouraged to apply. Applications must be postmarked by April 15th. www.threesixtyjournalism.org or call 651-962-5282 Vacation Bible School During the summer many local churches hold week-long services geared toward addressing the spiritual needs of young people in ways that are fun and engaging.

These programs are usually free, although most accept donations. The best way to locate ones in your area is by checking with your local

church and watching for advertisements at other churches in your community.

Volunteering One sure-fire way to fight summer boredom while helping to reinforce qualities like compassion and kindness is through volunteering to help others. It could be something as simple as washing dishes or mowing for an elderly neighbor. Many organizations throughout the twin cities, like the public library and Goodwill Stores, have opportunities for young people to help-even if they are not yet 16 years old. For more ideas, check out options at the Red Cross. www.redcrosstc.org/volunteer.cfm Longing for the lazy days of summer? I know I am. While I do not believe that every waking second of your child’s life should be filled with activity, trust me when I say that your summer will be more enjoyable when your children are not in your ears singing that old classic, “I’m Bored and there is nothing to do!” Take some time in advance to plan low-cost and free activities to keep your children stimulated (and out of trouble) and then everyone will be happier. Remember that the early bird gets the worm. Enjoy!

Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at a low cost. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.

Jones From 1 for0 green jobs which include weatherizing homes, installing solar panels and replacing 30-year-old home boilers with newer, more efficient models. “We can get people working and cut household spending on heating bills,” said Jones.

The Obama administration is committed to developing and moving the country towards the “clean fuels of the future and we need the workers of the future to do this,” said Jones.

These workers include young, urban African Americans and other communities of color. And preparing this demographic for green jobs includes aggressively dispelling the myth of what it means to be an environmentalist, said Jones.

“African Americans think we’re talking about other people when were talking about the green economy. But this is something everyone can participate in. There have been $500 million of job training money that’s going through the Department of Labor which will be for preparing people for these jobs,” said Jones.

He provided a classic example of how the green job movement can create “pathways” out of poverty.

He said, “You have someone who installs solar panels. When the industry grows, that person then becomes a manager, then later on an owner of his/her own solar panel installation business.

“Urban cities produce about 75% of green house emissions and fixing this problem requires jobs,” said Jones. “Creating smarter transportation requires jobs. Solar panels don’t put themselves up.

“The urban community is ground zero.Young people can put down the hand gun and pick up a caulking gun –it’s safer and they can earn more money,” he said.

Money for green jobs contracts come from the federal government via the Energy and Labor Departments. ‘This money then goes to governors, then city mayors and then to communities,” said Jones.

He advised paying close attention to government websites and actively seeking out information when it comes to competing for green contracts. Further, said Jones, “The Office of Management and Budget has issued guidelines and language that underscores that the Recovery Act should be disbursed consistent with the goals of the administration. There will be a green wave that lifts all boats.”

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Insight News • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Page 9

EDUCATION Ida B. Wells helped pave the way Every year WE WIN Institute becomes inspired and amazed at the progress that students make even when many people in their lives, including educators, tell them they cannot succeed. We continually witness how African American students excel when they learn about the contributions of their ancestors and how they made life better for humanity.

Women like Ida B. Wells helped pave the way for our first African American president. It is incumbent for educators in Minneapolis and throughout

Minnesota to understand that when the curriculum is linked to information which makes our children feel good about people who look like them, it makes them feel better about themselves as African Americans and it helps them understand the greatness of Black people and the enormous accomplishments we have made throughout time. When this happens, a larger percent of African American students will make great strides in school and in life and we will be able to truly address the achievement

gap and the dismal graduation rates of African American students in Minnesota.

Minnesotans should not rest until education becomes a value for all children. When only 38 percent of African American children are graduating from high school in Minnesota while simultaneously 83 percent of white students are graduating (Education Week, June 2008) all Minnesotans need to mobilize and not be satisfied until all our children are succeeding academically.

Quaneasha Coleman and

Latesha Rode are seventh grade students in WE WIN Institute's Rites of Passage program at Olson Middle School. They have learned about many African and African American heroes and she-roes that are not taught in our public schools. As a result of Rites of Passage, not only have their reading and writing skills improved but they have learned that women like Ida B. Wells made sacrifices to make life better for them and that their job is to do the same for the next generation.

Artwork by Jakisha Smith

Ida B. Wells

By Quaneasha Coleman Ida B. Wells was a leader in the anti-lynching movement. She fought for women's rights. She was an early leader in the civil rights movement.

Wells was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi. In 1862, both parents were slaves until they were freed at the end of the Civil War. She was the oldest of eight children. When Ida's parents died from yellow fever she had to care for her brothers and sisters.

Ida B. Wells dropped out of school to find a job. Ida became a teacher to take care of her siblings. Even through her hardships, she continued her education at Rust College in Holly Springs.

In 1880, Ms. Wells moved to Memphis, Tennessee. When she settled in Memphis, she began to fight for racial and gender justice.

In 1884, Ms. Wells was asked by a conductor of Chesapeake Ohio Railroad Company to give her seat to a white man. Ms. Wells was ordered to go into a smoking "Jim Crow" car which was filled with other passengers. Ms. Wells refused to move, so the conductor tried to drag her out of her seat.

She would not move so he grabbed her wrist and she fastened her teeth to the back of his arm.

The conductor called two men to drag her out. After the incident, Ms. Wells sued the railroad company and won her case. Ms. Ida B. Wells refused to give up her seat 71 years before Ms. Rosa Parks In 1892, tensions rose in Memphis when Black grocery store owners took business away from the white owned grocery stores. The Black men were accused of raping a white woman and were put in jail. A large lynching mob took the men out of jail and killed them. Ms. Wells

Artwork by Lee Her

wrote about the lynching. She was eventually run out of Memphis because she reported on the lynching of Black men in the south. She became a leader in the anti-lynching crusade.

Ida B. Wells is important because she fought for womens rights and against lynching. She fought for the rights of African Americans. Her hard work and excellence is why Ida B. Wells is great and important in my life and yours.

The Militant Ida B. Wells

By Latesha Rode Ida B. Wells was a great woman.

She fought for justice for all African Americans and women's rights.

Ida B. Wells was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi on July 16, 1862. Her parents and her little brother died of yellow fever. Ida was determined to keep her family together.

After the funeral, members of her family wanted to split up Ida's brothers and sisters. Ida dropped out of school to find a job as a teacher so she could keep her family together. She also found a family friend to help take care of the children.

In 1880, Ida moved to Memphis Tennessee.

She attended summer sessions at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Ida B. Wells became an editor for the Evening Star and wrote articles for the Living Way newspaper.

She gained a reputation for writing about racial issues in the United States. She was run out of Memphis because of her writings about lynching.

Ida B. Wells was militant in her demands for equality and justice for African Americans. On February 1, 1990, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp in her honor.

Page 10 • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Insight News

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The City of Minneapolis taking applications for free wireless for local nonprofits Minneapolis City officials announced last week another benchmark in how the effort to make Minneapolis a wireless city is going to bridge the digital divide. The City is seeking applications for 100 “Wireless Community” accounts, which are free wireless Internet accounts intended for nonprofit organizations that provide free computer access to the public.

The free “Wireless Community” accounts are one of the tangible community benefits that resulted from the City of Minneapolis’ contract with USI Wireless, the company that is constructing a wireless network to blanket the entire city.

“Keeping Minneapolis

ahead of the technological curve means not only investing in state of the art wireless Internet technology, but it also means making sure that more people than ever can have access to that technology,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak. “Through our unique business model and public-private relationship with USI Wireless, we have been able to go above and beyond what other communities have done to deliver Internet access to our residents and businesses.”

Agencies selected to receive the free accounts will also receive free monthly subscription vouchers that they can use to recruit volunteers who can assist with staffing and training in their community technology centers. In total, $15,000 in free service vouchers will be distributed, in addition to the 100 free accounts.

These 100 free “Wireless Community” accounts are the latest examples of how Minneapolis City residents are benefiting from the robust community benefits agreement negotiated between the City of Minneapolis and USI Wireless, the company that built, owns and manages the wireless network throughout Minneapolis. $400,000 In grants to bridge the digital divide Since the contract was signed between the City of Minneapolis and USI Wireless, more than $400,000 in grants have been distributed to 18 organizations throughout Minneapolis including the Minneapolis Public Library, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, The Bridge for Runaway Youth, Casa De Esperanza and the PACER CENTER. The grants have

Assumed Name 1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Jovonta Patton & Deliverance For Youth (DFY) 2. State the address of the principal place of business: 7102 48th Street North, Oakdale, MN 55128 3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name: Jovonta Patton 7102 48th Street North, Oakdale, MN 55128; Darell Tate 4625 West 110th Street Bloomington, MN 55437; Jacqueline Robinson 7102 48th Street North, Oakdale, MN 55128 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: Jacqueline Robinson Date Filed: 3/23/2009 Contact Person: Jacqueline Robinson Daytime Phone Number: (651) 503-2488 Insight News 4/6/2009, 4/13/2009

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been used to help these groups increase technology access and digital literacy learning to the various communities they serve. It is estimated that about $11 million will be generated to fund digital inclusion efforts in the community over the 10year contract.

Free, online “Civic Garden” for all wireless users The City of Minneapolis and USI Wireless have also created an online “Civic Garden” that provides a free level of service for anyone who can receive the USI Wireless signal. The Civic Garden offers free Web access to a wealth of public sector information about government, education, and community services at www.wirelessminneapolis.org.

“We are very fortunate that the wireless network allows us the unique opportunity to fund programs to help bridge the

Assumed Name 1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Boyer International Trucks 2. State the address of the principal place of business: 21701 Industrial Blvd, Rogers, MN 55374 3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name: Boyer Ford Trucks, Inc 2601 Broadway Rd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 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: J Bradley Gorsuch Date Filed: 4/8/2009 Contact Person: Jacqueline Robinson Daytime Phone Number: (612) 627-5501 Insight News 4/13/2009, 4/20/2009

digital divide,” said City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden, who is a member of the Digital Inclusion Fund Advisory Board. “By providing increased free access to technology and educating more people on how to use it, we can give them the skills necessary to get a good job and access the information and services they need online to improve their lives.”

In addition to the free wireless accounts, and “Civic Garden,” there will be up to 5 percent of the Minneapolis area (including some parks and plazas) designated as free wireless zones.

The City of Minneapolis will distribute requests for applications for free wireless accounts to local nonprofit agencies. Applications will also be available online at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/wir elessminneapolis.

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ATTENTION: MBE/WBE CONSTRUCTION SUBCONTRACTORS We are requesting quotations for the following project: Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant Liquids Improvements Phase 1, Shakopee, Minnesota Owner: Metropolitan Council Environmental Services. Bids are due in our office no later than: April 22, 2009, 2:00 p.m. If you are interested in bidding this project or need assistance in preparing your bids, please contact our office: Madsen-Johnson Corporation, General Contractors, PO Box 486, Hudson, WI 54016 715-386-8201 / 715-386-5950 Fax An EEO Employer

Accounts will be given to agencies that provide public computer access, technology literacy training, and/or technology support for underserved communities.

Applications are due by Monday, May 18. Applications will be reviewed by the City of Minneapolis staff and the Digital Inclusion Advisory Board, which will make recommendations to the City Council on which organizations will receive free accounts in 2009. The accounts will be good through 2010.

The City of Minneapolis’ public-private partnership with USI Wireless is being held up as a model for how cities and businesses can work together to make the notion of a “wireless city” a reality, and at the same time to improve government services and bridge the digital divide.

Updated 1-2 Bedroom

Apts. in Whittier Clean,quiet,secure, Parking available, Near bus Whittier Community Apartments 6 1 2 - 8 7 0 - R E N T ( 7 3 6 8 ) "equal housing opportunity provider"

Arts-Us Announces Auditions for Kumbayah, The Juneteenth Story All ages, no Experience or preparation needed, just come and have fun! We're especially looking for African American and African actors but all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to audition. April 21st & 22nd, 2009 1221 Marshall Ave., St. Paul, 5-7pm

Jazz Coordinator MacPhail Center for Music, a nationally recognized community music school, has openings for a Jazz Coordinator. 2-5 years teaching experience, Bachelors in Music required, Masters preferred. Strong jazz performance reputation, relationship building skills, and organizational/administrative ability strongly preferred.

Details at www.macphail.org. Cover letter & resume to resume@macphail.org. EEO/AA

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Insight News • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Page 11

SPORTS

I’m all in on this last year of Metrodome baseball Mr T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Note: Watch out for falling clichés The smell of grass. The crack of the bat. Some likeable old dude bellowing: “Ice coooold beer and peanuts!!” The signature of spring is upon us. The apple pie of American sports is underway…Ok enough of that madness.

Many euphoric, memorable moments have been experienced within the confines of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

Whether it’s because of the marathon baseball season, or the World Championships earned, the Minnesota Twins reign supreme through the history of the Metrodome thus far. Last week marked the beginning of the final season for the Twins in the

Metrodome. Attending the season opener provided a lot of reasons for me, and a bunch of you, to enjoy the end of this era, while gathering some momentum into 2010 when baseball will be on display in an outdoor sporting paradise like it’s supposed to be.

On April 6, 2009, I officially began drinking the baseball koolaid that America, and the world for that matter, imbibes in ultrathirsty fashion. For the first time as an aware adult I made a concerted effort to look around

on top. Sprinkle a little magic on top of that and you have 1987 and 1991 type Twins seasons… seasons that everyone still talks about to this day.

As far as the general game of baseball is concerned, it is more of a positioning chess match than any other sport. You have to appreciate that the game is all about the little things, and when I say little things I mean little stuff like which fingers the pitcher hold the ball with to adjust the rotation of the ball, which in turn can

TWINS BASEBALL IS FOUNDED ON FAST, GRITTY, DEFENSIVE, PLAYERS WITH A COUPLE OF HOMERUN BOMBERS AS THE CHERRY ON TOP. and figure it all out instead of just mindlessly looking around for babes.

I’ll admit to not being the biggest baseball fan in the world, but maybe that is because I’m no good at it. I’m only good at sports that involve running back and forth all day long. Behind that theory I suppose that the Twins would be the one team I might love to watch or play for. Twins baseball is founded on fast, gritty, defensive, players with a couple of homerun bombers as the cherry

affect where the batter can hit the ball. Put all of those little things together into a big package and the result is a continuous series of tense cliffhangers…and human beings are addicted to cliffhangers (See Soap Operas). Another attractive element of baseball is that the game is truly not over until it is over. At any point in time it is very well possible that a team puts up a super-barrage of scoring to turn a boring laugher of a contest into the most fun you have ever had watching a sporting

event.

Now the part I really want to get into is the environment of baseball. As I looked around the crowd (not just the girls) I realized an interesting difference between baseball and the other two major American sports. In football there is an inherent environment of “grrrr-tough guy.” There is a lot of muscle flexing going on in the stands and on the field. Thus you end up with a bloodthirsty “Kill’em!” “Knock his head off!” spirit permeating throughout the building.

In basketball it is almost just the opposite. Both the fans and the players prance and posture in a very intimate and pretentious display. Ladies wear their pumps and floss fresh hairdos.

Disengaged businessmen stroll confidently in their Bill Cosby sweaters.

In baseball, you’ll look around, cock your head like a curious dog, and say, “Well I’ll be damned! Everybody is just chillin’ having a good time.”

Groups of friends poke and slap each other around. The whole row crunches and puckers on peanuts and sunflower seeds, and then happily shower the floor with the shells as if it were a paid gig.

http://sacbunt.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/metrodome.jpg

Twins game at the Metrodome There are fun rituals being performed all around. The players have constant nitt-picky rituals, and the fans chant the same this and that back and forth as if a script was handed out with their tickets. The availability of lulls in action provides a consistent opportunity to chat, make new friends, and talk business. And of course, like no other sport, a vast amount of fans come to the game seemingly prepared to play;

equipped with jersey, hat, glove, and cheeks stuffed with something spitable. Consistently they’re rewarded with the potential to be a “section superstar” if they catch one of the many balls that come screaming into the stands. You probably have to be in the very last row with your head touching the Metrodome roof to be officially left out of the “section superstar sweepstakes,” and thus cheap seats in baseball suck less than any other sport. Based on all of that, and plenty more, I’m all in on this last year of Metrodome baseball.

Next year all of the seats will be in play to catch flying balls.

Next year we’ll be able to add a touch of sunshine (and occasionally a goose down parka) to the experience. I asked my “section homies” what they thought about games in the new outdoor stadium next year. Dan Schmidt of St. Paul (shout out to Mercury Office Supply) replied, “It will sound so much different.

The crack of the bat, plus the smell of the grass, …” Oh Lord, here we go. Ice cold beer and peanuts, Dan. You had me at “Ice cold beer and peanuts.”

Page 12 • April 13 - April 19, 2009 • Insight News

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