Insight News ::: 04.18.16

aesthetically speaking

Grammy Award-winning Angelique Kidjo at The O’Shaughnessy

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Insight News April 18 - April 24, 2016

Vol. 43 No. 16 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Mentoring

Susan L. Taylor’s true calling

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer Your service is required.

That was the message delivered by former editor-inchief of Essence Magazine, Susan L. Taylor, during her

keynote address at the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Minneapolis/St. Paul Alumnae Chapter’s 20th Annual Literary Luncheon. Taylor, who is also a bestselling author and founder of National CARES Mentoring Movement, said donating just one hour a

week of one’s time can be transformative in arresting ills plaguing the Black community.

“Mentoring is truly my greatest calling,” said Taylor, who was with Essence almost

TAYLOR TURN TO 9

Photo: David Bradley

Susan L. Taylor

Jeff Hayden

Jeffrey A. Hassan

Community recommends solutions in Jamar Clark case

Bobby Joe Champion

Hayden, Champion Senate Equity Subcommittee seek to deliver The Senate Equity Subcommittee co-chaired

by Sen. Jeff Hayden (DFLMinneapolis) and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (DFLMinneapolis) convened its first hearing on the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which provided for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or national origin.

The recently appointed committee of nine DFL senators and six republicans

EQUITY TURN TO 6

The White House is encouraging more children of color to participate in STEM WASHINGTON, DC – There are 500,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) job openings, yet unemployment is high among communities of color.

The juxtaposition suggest there are not enough people of color trained to fill the available STEM jobs. As a part of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, the White House announced programs to spur STEM learning in traditionally underrepresented communities. All total, the White House is pledging $50 million to invigorate STEM learning in communities of color.

A portion of that $50 million is going to the King Me program,

the male offshoot of Black Girls Rock. According to the program’s founder, King Me will begin introducing African-American boys to STEM learning as early as kindergarten.

“Although they (young African-Americans) are exposed to technology, they are becoming consumers instead of innovators,” said Beverly Bond, founder and CEO of Black Girls Rock and King Me. The announcement coincided with the White House Science Fair where 130 youth were invited to the White House to celebrate the student competitors and winners from a broad range of competitions throughout the nation.

additional 125,000 students.

The My Brother’s Keeper announcement and the White House Science Fair were part of a week of activities celebrating science and technology, featuring the President’s participation as a guest presenter throughout this week on the Science Channel’s nightly science news segment.

White House officials said the nation is more than halfway towards achieving the goal the President set in 2011 of preparing 100,000 new math and science teachers by 2021 and STEM efforts have led to 25,000 more engineers graduating each year from American universities.

Obama established the tradition of the White House Science Fair at the start of his administration to personally celebrate young scientists and innovators.

“If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you’re a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too,” said Obama when explaining why he chose to initiate the White House Science Fair.

In addition to the White House investment, a $200 million investment by Oracle is being made to support education for an

As leaders in the African American community, we are troubled and deeply disappointed by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman’s decision not to prosecute Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) Officers Dustin Schwarze and Mark Ringgenberg for the November 14, 2015 killing of Jamar Clark. We are unpersuaded and bewildered by the rationale and logic the county attorney offered in support of his conclusion that the accused officers justifiably killed an unarmed human being.

Freeman relied on the unsubstantiated and uncorroborated assertions of officers Ringgenberg and Schwarze and, completely disregarded the statements of multiple eyewitnesses to the event. According to Freeman,

SOLUTIONS TURN TO 9

Business

Commentary

Health

Lifestyle

It’s April: How is your year-end fundraising?

Income inequality: The housing struggle

The real cost of a poor diet

Inspirational author helping others to find God’s purpose in their lives

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Insight News • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Page 3

Minnesota’s gender wage gap costs the state’s women nearly $8 billion per year, new equal pay day study finds WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 11, 2016 – On average, Minnesota women employed full time, year round are paid just 81 cents for every dollar paid to men – a yearly pay gap of $9,559. That means, in total, women in Minnesota lose nearly $8 billion every year, which is money that could strengthen the state economy and the financial security of Minnesota’s women and families, including the nearly 204,000 Minnesota households headed by women.

These are some of the findings of a new analysis conducted by the National Partnership for Women & Families and released for Equal Pay Day tomorrow.

The analysis spans all 50 states, all 435 congressional districts in the country, and the District of Columbia. It can be found at NationalPartnership. org/Gap. The full set of findings for Minnesota is available here.

These findings include that, for every dollar paid to white, nonHispanic men in Minnesota, African American women, Latinas and Asian women who work full time, year round are paid 62 cents, 51 cents and 71 cents, respectively.

“This analysis is a sobering reminder of the serious harm the wage gap causes women and families all across the country,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership. “At a time when women’s wages are so critical to the economic wellbeing of families, the country is counting on lawmakers to work together to advance the fair and family friendly workplace policies that would promote equal pay. There is no time to waste.”

According to the new analysis, if the gap between women’s and men’s wages in Minnesota were eliminated, each woman who holds a full-time, year-round job in the state could afford to buy food for 1.4 more years, pay for mortgage and utilities for seven more months, or pay rent for more than 11 additional months. Basic necessities like these would be particularly important for the 27 percent of Minnesota’s woman-headed

households currently living below the poverty level.

Minnesota is not the only state with a wage gap. In fact, every state and 98 percent of the country’s congressional districts have one. The National Partnership’s national analysis finds that the 10 states with the largest cents-on-the-dollar wage gaps in the country – from largest to smallest – are Louisiana, Utah, Wyoming, West Virginia, North Dakota, Alabama, Idaho, Oklahoma,

Montana and Michigan. A ranking of all 50 states and the District of Columbia can be found here.

Nationally, women who are employed full time, year round are paid, on average, 79 cents for every dollar paid to men. The gap is larger for African American women and Latinas who are paid 60 cents and 55 cents, respectively, for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. For Asian women in the United States,

the gap is smaller but persists.

On average, Asian women are paid 84 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men, although some ethnic subgroups fare much worse.

“It is unacceptable that the wage gap has persisted, punishing the country’s women and families for decades,” Ness continued.

“Some state lawmakers have taken steps to address the issue by passing legislation to combat discriminatory pay practices

and provide other workplace supports. It is past time for federal lawmakers to do the same. We need Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is a common sense proposal that has languished for much too long.”

Currently before Congress, the Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act, help to break patterns of pay discrimination, and establish stronger workplace protections for women. The National Partnership argues that the bill, along with other supportive policies – such as paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, minimum wage increases, fair scheduling and protections for pregnant workers – are what is needed to close the gap and should be top priorities for lawmakers.

The National Partnership’s analysis of the wage gap was released in advance of Equal Pay Day on Tuesday – which marks how far into the new year women must work in order to catch up with what men were paid the year before. The analysis uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The findings for each state, along with state rankings, are available at NationalPartnership.org/Gap The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace, access to quality health care and policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family. More information is available at www.

NationalPartnership.org.

Voting is key to education reform

By Brian L. Pauling, National President and CEO of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Education – the answer to many of the problems ailing our country – is getting the least amount of attention from the candidates on the presidential campaign trail.

According to a November 2015 Gallup poll, only 4 percent of Americans consider education or education policy to be the most important problem facing our nation. Respondents instead cited the economy, poorly run government, immigration, gun control and health care of most concern. While I agree that these are important issues, we at 100 Black Men of America, Inc. (The 100) believe that without a quality education, many young people, particularly African Americans, will be condemned to lives of poverty, incarceration and despair.

Brian Pauling As a nonprofit mentoring organization, the education of our youth is one of our top concerns. In our advocacy work, The 100 has sought to raise public awareness about the need to reform our nation’s education system, especially in predominately AfricanAmerican and low-income communities where far too many of the schools are failing our children. We are working to ensure that every child, no matter

their zip code, has access to highperforming schools. Schools with caring and nurturing environments, high-performing teachers, rigorous curriculum, and the proper materials and technology are some of the key ingredients to preparing our kids to successfully graduate high school, handle college-level coursework without requiring remediation, compete in a global marketplace and become productive members of society.

How we get there is the real question. One answer is by voting. When we go to the polls in November, we will not only elect the next president.

We will use our voting power to also make important decisions about our children’s education.

In some states, for example, the electorate will be asked to decide whether to turn the operational and decisionmaking control of failing schools in their communities over to their state governments.

Others will be asked whether more charter public schools

should be permitted to open in their communities to provide families with an option to traditional public schools. Still others will be asked how money raised through state lotteries, property and sales taxes, and state and federal allocations should be earmarked to support educational initiatives from cradle to college.

As voters, we are facing some tough choices. Many of our local public schools are struggling and some even failing, but is a state government takeover the answer? There has been a decades-long imbalance in the distribution of educational quality and opportunity due, in part, to how public schools are funded, but will proposed

funding formula changes address those inequities and produce successful outcomes? If we allow more charter schools, will that irreversibly damage our traditional public schools or will the competition make both stronger?

What happens to the children and schools in our communities will depend largely on the actions we take as voters.

Elections at both the federal and local levels – from the school board to the statehouse and from the assembly to the White House – are vitally important.

We need to be talking about education in our households and at PTA meetings, in our barber shops and coffeehouses, and in our workplaces and houses of

worship.

But transformation doesn’t come by talk alone. We also must take decisive action.

We can start by increasing our knowledge of the issues, committing to exercise our right to vote, encouraging others in our communities to do the same and then casting ballots for candidates for whom education and the academic success of our children are top priorities.

The choice – and the vote – is ours.

Brian L. Pauling is national president and CEO of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Learn more about the work of The 100 at www.100blackmen.org.

Introducing HWMR a lifestyle brand whose mantra is Excellence, more specifically, Black Excellence.

HWMR was born out of the barbershop in the Camden section of North Minneapolis. It’s founder, Houston White, believes the barbershop is the mecca for black men across America.

It’s a place where black men from diverse backgrounds converge. It’s for us, by us – the music, the incense burning, and the pictures on the wall – a reflection of our greatness. The networking potential is unbelievable.

In fact, it’s the very place where H. White laid the foundation for the wildly successful H. White Custom Homes.

Registration is Open!

Young Women’s Issues Forum An African American Perspective Young Women Ages 12 - 18 Saturday, April 30, 2016

The HWMR brand is a reflection of our times; it borrows from the past, yet aims to propel the classic style of yesteryears into the future. It’s vintage modernism.

Check-in starts at 9:00 am Program begins promptly at 10:00 am Program ends at 3:00 pm Minneapolis Community & Technical College

“It feels like the men of my generation have dropped the ball when it comes to the way we as a whole present ourselves to the world. As stated

by G. Bruce Boyer, we make decisions based on peoples appearances.”

Technical Building Plaza 1501 Hennepin Avenue – Downtown Minneapolis

The Young Women’s Issues Forum is FREE and includes lunch!

Forum Highlights:

An informative and interactive introduction of the day by nationally renowned author of Black Lives Matter and Black Feminist Politics from Clinton/Obama, Duchess Harris, JD, PhD.

Photo: Rebecca Rabb

http://ywif2016.eventbrite.com

Empowering discussion exploring Activism in Art, led by Actress, Traci Shannon.

Informative workshops on education, leadership, health & wellness, self-esteem and more.

Register now at:

— H. White

Register before April 27, 2016 go to:

For questions or more information, call (763) 772-5319

http://ywif2016.eventbrite.com

Presented by the Minneapolis – St. Paul (MN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated

“It is both delusional and stupid to think that clothes don’t really matter and we should all wear whatever we want. Most people don’t take clothing seriously enough, but whether we should or not, clothes do talk to us and we make decisions based on peoples appearances.”

— G. Bruce Boyer

The goal of HWMR is to provide superior products with excellent service while inspiring greatness. Please join in as we realign with the awesomeness of our forefathers vision and forge the new frontier of Black Excellence.

A portion of every dollar earned by HWMR will go towards the HWMR Scholarship fund for future entrepreneurs. •

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EDUCATION Shaping an identity-affirming space for Black males at Henry High School scholars. We believed identity was a key component and set about creating a curriculum that deconstructed Black male identity using the media, social institutions, and American culture as tools. We spent a summer building a curriculum using research, our experiences and shared values.

When class began, we asked the students, “Who are you?” and analyzed narratives from current and historical perspectives of Black male identity. Equal time is spent comparing those narratives to their own. In addition, students spent time identifying their strengths and unique qualities.

We aimed to help students define themselves, so others couldn’t. We believed that with help, they would create an identity affirming their self-worth, acting as a shield to protect them from the daily messaging that tells them otherwise.

As Black males and educators, we know the importance of creating a space where students can explore themselves and these concepts. This space had to be different than the traditional authoritarian-style classroom.

As we envisioned this, I (Marcus) was reminded of an important moment during my senior year at Minneapolis North Community High School in 1997. I had a language arts class with a popular teacher.

He was a middle-aged white man who we called by his first name. He said he wanted to be on the same level as his students. That alone captured my attention. It gave me a different level of respect for him.

He asked students to begin each class by selecting a song of their choice. The class would discuss the lyrics and meaning of the song. One day a classmate brought in the song “White Man’z World” by Tupac Shakur. He explained that he chose the song after witnessing an incident involving police brutality in his neighborhood.

North High was mostly Black, and it gave Black students in the room a chance to share their experiences with police brutality. We began to dive deeper into the inequalities we witnessed everyday. We talked about our experiences with institutional racism, discrimination and prejudice.

By The Ujima Collective, Twin Cities Daily Planet Imagine entering a place every day where you can gain the skills you need to make your dreams come true. A place where you are nurtured, loved and valued. Your unique skills are recognized and celebrated, your experiences validated.

Your sense of self affirmed.

Idealistic? Perhaps.

And yet, this is how Black male scholars describe their ideal school experience. For 15 years, the responses have been consistent among our students: This is school as they would like it to be—a stark contrast from the schools where they spend most of their days. Many say they struggle to even feel welcome.

As many Black males start their education, their views on school are optimistic. Then something happens. As they matriculate, their optimism is replaced with feeling unwelcomed and unwanted.

Research shows that African American boys in kindergarten through third grade perform comparably to their peers.

But after fourth grade, things take a turn. They become less engaged. Once this begins, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep them engaged. This is reflected in poor graduation rates, attendance, behavioral concerns and even worse academic performance.

There are no inherent flaws in our boys. So why is this happening? Why does the school system keep producing these outcomes?

In Spring of 2013, I (Alex) was offered the opportunity to teach a class for ninth grade Black boys at Patrick Henry High School. I immediately called Adrian Mack and Marcus Zackery. For the past 12 years, our work in the community frequently intersected, and we became close friends and collaborators. We often spoke about having a space to support success of our students. This was our chance. Later, we were joined by my long time colleague Rosa Costain, a firstyear teacher and former dean of students. Rosa was asked to teach PREP, a new freshman college preparatory program.

Our task was to create a curriculum that supported the success of Black male

Students, particularly young Black males, must have some ownership of their learning space so they feel connected to what they learn.

The teacher then asked us, “Why do you believe that this is a white man’s world?”

One of my classmates, who is a Black male, discussed an experience he had working at a grocery store. A customer, who was white, had completed checking out her groceries when she realized she left her checkbook at home. The manager told her she could take the groceries home and come back to pay later. My classmate was not convinced his mother would have received the same treatment. In those days, we were still unfamiliar with terms like “white supremacy” or “white privilege.”

In retrospect, I am still in awe of how my teacher created a comfortable space to talk about those topics. Not only with Black students, but other ethnicities and backgrounds, including white students.

What was his process? One thing he did was take time to build relationships with his students. He got to know us as individuals, and not simply a group of students in a class.

For example, I had voiced many times in class that NAS was my favorite rapper. A few weeks later, he printed off an article about NAS that he believed I would find interesting. I was one among many students to whom he made these small gestures.

It was his attentiveness and interest in us that allowed him to have great relationships with us. We knew he cared.

Knowing our teacher cared allowed us to develop a level of trust. It went both ways.

As students, we could voice our opinions without the fear of being right or wrong. He trusted that we could engage in difficult dialogues about race, prejudice and discrimination

with the maturity needed to agree or disagree respectfully.

That experience shaped me as an educator. Building relationships and establishing trust would be foundational to our work.

School often emphasizes rote learning, limited learning styles and a lack of appeal to students. It’s an uncommon practice to incorporate student input about the learning process, and consider how what they learn impacts their lived experiences. We worked to provide a space for this to happen.

Our classroom is nontraditional and unconventional, in philosophical approach and set-up. Students, particularly young Black males, must have some ownership of their learning space so they feel connected to what they learn.

Traditional classroom settings place the teacher at the center and as the authority. Within our first week, we even realized the traditional classroom seating didn’t work for us. Rosa suggested we create a semicircle.

It allowed us to create a shared space where students and teachers could easily interact with each other, and shift the teacher-centered dynamic to one where we were all participants.

The instructors could move freely and interact with all students. The students were able to interact with their classmates and instructors alike.

We’re still in a traditional classroom, but students find ways to get comfortable. It is not uncommon to see students sitting on a radiator, or laying on top of two desks. This was a compromise we made, since our priority was student

engagement. We noticed when the students took ownership of their learning space, the ownership of the content followed.

Often, students will remind us that this class is different.

“It’s not like my other classes,” they say.

A shared learning space fostered another primary goal to level the learning experience. This translated in two ways. First, that the teacher is not always the authority on knowledge and content. We aimed to create lessons that sparked interest and curiosity.

We made efforts to highlight our limitations on the subject.

We elicited their knowledge and experience, while highlighting our limitation on the subject. We couldn’t simply teach them our definition of Black manhood and declare it as the gospel. It was important they understood Black men did not belong in a monolithic perspective. We relied on the students’ understanding of Black manhood, and respected their knowledge.

Second, the value of that knowledge stems from all our shared experiences. The students’ interpretations, opinions or reflections are just as valuable as the instructors’.

As a result of the increased media coverage of police violence and shootings of Black men and women, we often had to use the classroom space to talk about it. With Ferguson, Baltimore, and most recently Jamar Clark, we have accepted the responsibility of creating a space for students to process their thoughts and feelings.

We cease being instructors and enter the space with them. Not only as a Black male, but as fathers and husbands who are susceptible to the same fears and feelings.

After Jamar Clark was killed, I (Alex) struggled to begin class. Protesters had just taken over the Fourth Precinct.

I opened the space and shared that I was overcome by personal frustration. I felt helpless, and it sickened me. As a man, I couldn’t protect my son, or my students, for whom I cared so deeply. I stopped being an expert and became a part of the classroom community, trying to make sense of it all. We listened as the students shared their opinions and feelings.

They were experts, too. We

spent several minutes in silent reflection, knowing that on some level our pain was shared.

We do not regret using classroom time this way.

Those dialogues supported the curriculum. We touched on policy reform, the historical relationship between Black men and the police, social movements and our duty as citizens. When we approached this content, it was easier to teach, as we had created an authentic and organic learning space.

If we are lucky enough, we can all recall a teacher who challenged us, and made us think differently about a subject. More than likely, that teacher offered a little information, pushed you to think critically and then elicited your reflections. By doing this, that teacher affirmed your value. Black male students must be able to share their opinions and stories, and take ownership of their learning. It affirms them and validates what they know. Like most of us, if they can’t find the value in the subject matter, and know how it applies to life experiences, they won’t care to learn it.

To be valued in a classroom creates trust. It allows students to feel comfortable relating to one another, contributing to the class and demonstrating leadership. Too often, Black students feel insecure about what they know and have to offer in school. Furthermore, when their sense of value and worth in the classroom is low, they lose the ability to relate and “feel” the content. The result is usually to disconnect from the content.

As Dr. Joy Degruy, Clinical Psychologist and PhD in social work research, articulates in her research, “When [Black] students do not see the connection between the subject and their lives, they tend to become bored and unmotivated. Conversely, they will become highly motivated and excited when they do see the connections.”

Several of our students have daily stories to share.

When discussing prejudice and discrimination, one in particular contributes by sharing his own encounters with prejudice or perceived discrimination. Black male

HENRY TURN TO 9

Reading Partners promotes literacy in local communities Reading Partners, a national nonprofit that collaborates with community volunteers and local public schools in the Twin Cities is working to equip students with foundational skills needed to read at grade level by fourth grade.

The early literacy organization has been providing volunteer-led, individualized reading support to students in under-resourced public elementary schools since 1999. April is National Volunteer Month.

“In our inaugural year of operations in the Twin Cities, Reading Partners has been inspired by the response to our call for volunteer tutors,” said Karen Casanova, executive director of Reading Partners Twin Cities. “Since the start of this school year, more than 350 community members have been volunteering at least once a week to work with a student who struggles with reading.

A Reading Partners tutor works one-on-one with a student to help build reading proficiency.

This kind of commitment will absolutely begin to reduce the reading achievement gaps we

Our Schools

Harvest Network of Schools

The Harvest Network of Schools is a group of high-performing K-8 public charter schools, which include the The Mastery School, Harvest Preparatory School, and Best Academy.

THE MASTERY SCHOOL leverages the strengths of boys and girls in single gender classrooms. Boys will learn in an atmosphere that encourages self control and focus on achievement. Girls will learn in an environment that gives them confidence to shine.

HARVEST PREPARATORY SCHOOL is the flagship school of the Harvest Network of Schools. Harvest was established by Eric and Ella Mahmoud in 1992, after the success of their SEED Academy preschool. Initially a private school, it was chartered in 1998 to give more north Minneapolis children a great education.

BEST ACADEMY is a national award-winning school.

Opened in 2008 with an initial focus on educating boys, today it has both single gender and co-ed classrooms.

All Harvest Network Schools are tuition free.

Class of ’29 & ‘27

K - 8 S ch ool s i n N or t h M i n n e a p ol i s 3 -yea r Avera ge MMR f o r 2011- 2013 Area Schools City View WISE Lucy Laney Bethune Nellie Stone Johnson Hall Hmong Int’l Sojourner Truth New Millennium Jenny Lind Bryn Mawr Noble Loring State

7 10 15 17 19 19 20 24 29 33 33 44 45 58

Best Academy Harvest Prep

80 82

Love chapter books Aspiring astronaut & businessman

0

20

40

60

80

100

see in Minneapolis and St. Paul.”

Volunteer efforts included

congregants from Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis served at schools throughout the community.

Firstand second-year education students in Tish Basford’s classes at Hamline University in St. Paul are tutoring students at Hamline Elementary School.

In addition, retired teacher Sue Edwards was one of Reading Partners’ first volunteers at Maxfield Elementary School in St. Paul. After some recent health challenges, she decided she wanted to engage deeply in her community.

Today, only four in 10 fourth graders in Minneapolis and St. Paul are reading at grade level. More than 14,000 volunteer tutors in Minneapolis and St. Paul and across the United States are working with more than 10,000 students.

“I was one of the first people to work at Maxwell School Reading Partners,” said Edwards. “I am truly enjoying my life and I am so happy to have Reading Partners be a part of it.”

Azell Smith Scholarship accepting applications The Minnesota Alliance of Black School Educators (MABSE) is accepting applications for a scholarship to be awarded to graduating high school seniors.

This scholarship provides financial assistance to AfricanAmerican students who wish to attend a post-secondary institution. The Azell Smith scholarship honors Smith, who

had a distinguished record in public education. Smith was a teacher, a counselor, a principal and for many years a champion for education and diversity in Minneapolis.

The scholarships range from $150-$500, contingent upon the number of applications received and funds.

Applicant must be a

graduating senior, be enrolled or accepted to post-secondary institution, and must write a one page essay on career goals and why those goals have been chosen.

To apply call MABSE at (612) 382-2412 or e-mail mabse2011@gmail.com.

The deadline is May 4.

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Insight News • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Page 5

BUSINESS It’s April: How is your year-end fundraising?

FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw Have you considered “front loading” your yearend fundraising?

Start now. Plan now. Put your systems in place. Mark your calendar. Build your team. Identify your prospective donors. You may think we’re joking, but we’re not.

Imagine you are a private business and the bulk of your sales take place in the last quarter of the year. You know it’s scary to bet on the Christmas shopping season so you begin planning early for how to make the most of that small window of time when sales are hot.

As a nonprofit your fundraising is a major revenue stream.

While many donors make giving decisions at the end of the year, many give throughout the year.

Our suggestion: plan to raise as

much as you can before September 30th. Schedule cultivation and solicitation activities earlier in the year. Don’t start your planning and cultivation during year end “crunch time.”

Here are 10 things you can begin to put in place now to help ensure you meet your yearend fundraising goals.

1. First, be sure you take care of your 2015 donors.

Acknowledge and recognize them. It is much easier to retain and grow your current donors than to attract new ones.

2. Develop an ongoing communications and awareness program that highlights your organization’s impact.

3. Create a series of events and VIP tours to engage current and prospective donors.

4. Prepare and circulate a short state of the organization report for print and online distribution and sharing during conversations and public talks.

5. Recruit and train volunteers who have determined who

10. Create your “Plan B” in case your initial plans fail to materialize.

Too many organizations rush to raise a large percentage of their budget in the last three months of the year.

they will cultivate and solicit, and how much they will raise.

6. Develop a week-by-week timeline and activity chart to guide your fundraising preparations and activities, and assign staff to manage the process and ensure timely completion.

7. Develop a “sanitized” donor and prospective donor list.

That means checking to see

that all the names are spelled correctly and that donors who have passed away in the prior year are removed from your mailing list.

8. Create donor benefit programs where appropriate.

9. Schedule working sessions for staff, board and volunteers focused on rating prospective donors, and agreeing on who should cultivate and solicit who and when.

Thor Construction CEO named a 2016 Progress Minnesota honoree Cities, cars, cell-phones, teenagers – they’re all getting smarter thanks to new technologies.

So must the construction and real estate development industries as well, says Ravi Norman, chief executive officer of Minneapolisbased Thor Construction.

Norman was selected as one of four Minnesotans to receive the 2016 Progress Minnesota Individual Award. The award honors Norman’s civic and professional commitment to activities and projects that generate greater economic growth, jobs and

Ravi Norman prosperity for all Minnesotans.

Among the contributions cited by the awards committee is Norman’s commitment to recruit and train more members of

minority communities to work in the building trades, and foster entrepreneurial opportunities for minority business owners.

“Progress Minnesota recognizes those companies and individuals that lead the way for the entire region to increase its economic competitiveness and build a more prosperous community for all its citizens, and I am honored to be included as one of this year’s honorees,” said Norman.

Progress Minnesota cited Thor’s leadership in working to

involve more minority workers in the building and construction trades.

“It’s no secret that the construction industry needs more skilled workers,” said Norman.

“We have a real expertise in engaging with the minority communities to bring in more workers and subcontractors that we have honed through years of experience in the Twin Cities area.

In so doing, we have developed a community-based model that we believe can be replicated in any metropolitan area in the country.”

For those who read our column regularly you may be familiar with some of these suggestions. We always suggest starting yearend fundraising long before December is a blip on your horizon. Too many organizations rush to raise a large percentage of their budget in the last three months of the year. And, if you don’t have the capacity and

volunteers to focus on fundraising in the way you would like to, the yearend rush can feel oppressive and overwhelming. We hope the above ideas can help you plan to keep the “happy” in your 2016 holidays!

Copyright 2016– Mel and Pearl Shaw For help growing your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

Page 6 • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Insight News

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COMMENTARY Income inequality: The housing struggle Child Watch

By Marian Wright Edelman “I was in Newark and Harlem just this week. And I walked into the homes of welfare mothers. I saw them in conditions—no, not with wall-to-wall carpet, but wallto-wall rats and roaches. . . . [One mother] pointed out the walls with all the ceiling falling through. She showed me the holes where the rats came in. She said night after night we have to stay awake to keep the rats and roaches from getting to the children.

Equity From 1 held a hearing on 19 bills.

Bills ranged from communityspecific business grants and incubator services, workforce development programs, to youth and community resilience programs. Several of the bills heard would provide outreach and services outside of the urban core, to people of color and low income individuals in suburban and Greater Minnesota.

The Equity Subcommittee was appointed to review and develop recommendations for addressing Minnesota’s significant and growing racial and economic disparities. The subcommittee will receive a budget target later this week and release its recommendations publicly in the coming weeks.

Five bills chief authored by co-chair Champion were

. . . And the tragedy is, so often [poor Americans] are invisible because America is so affluent, so rich.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke these words during his last Sunday sermon on March 31, 1968 at Washington National Cathedral calling for support for a Poor People’s Campaign. Almost fifty years later questions about how much poor Americans are forced to pay for housing – and what happens when they can’t afford it – are back in the national spotlight. The new book “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” by Harvard University sociology professor and Justice and Poverty Project codirector Matthew Desmond, is calling renewed and urgently needed attention to a tragic eviction cycle invisible to

many but all too familiar to families trapped in the cruel prison of poverty.

Dr. Desmond found that in the face of stagnating or falling incomes and soaring housing costs eviction has

presented. He said his bills support Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) revolving loans, provide funding to Hennepin County for programs designed to support education and training for several populations including East African youth and participants in the Sentenced to Serve program, funding for Twin Cities Rise for Metro Transit technician training, creates a pilot program with the city of Minneapolis and the Unity Opportunity Collaborative (Minneapolis Urban League, Emerge, Sabathani Community Center, Stairstep Foundation and Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Basic Education), funding for a Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) business incubator, and funding for North@Work for strategic intervention.

“The economic disparities that have manifested among communities of color in Minnesota are extremely

detrimental, and serious action must be taken to end the inequality,” said Champion.

“Progress is key, and today’s committee meeting is a step toward the socioeconomic advancement of our wonderfully diverse communities. We need to equip people with the skills they need to succeed in business and our workforce – and the many economic development bills proposed today aim to do just that.”

Co-chair Hayden presented three bills to the committee that would provide additional funding to the five existing Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) small business incubators and create two additional incubators, fund North Central Minority Supplier Development Council to increase minority-owned businesses receiving state and private business contracts and provide YWCA Minneapolis funding to support career counselling and job placement assistance for

become more commonplace in America than ever. He spent months in Milwaukee, Wisconsin living first in a trailer park and then in an inner city rooming house documenting the experiences

of eight families he met. In a recent interview he explained: “Most Americans, if they don’t live in trailer parks or in the inner city, think that the typical low income family lives in public housing or benefits from some kind of housing assistance, but the opposite is true.” In reality, only one in four families who qualify for housing assistance receives it: three in four are forced to struggle on their own. Dr. Desmond says, “We’ve reached a point in this country where the majority of poor renting families are giving at least half of their income to housing costs and one in four are giving over 70 percent of their income just to pay rent and keep the utilities on.”

When Dr. Desmond met Arleen, a single mom with

two boys, she was paying 80 percent of her income to rent a run down two bedroom apartment in Milwaukee: “I saw Arleen confront terrible situations. Should I pay my rent or feed my kids? Should I pay my rent or get the kids clothing they need for a new school year? Should I chip in for a funeral for when my sister dies?”

Arleen and her boys were evicted so many times as he followed her trajectory, they lost count. One time her son threw a snowball and hit a passerby, and that person retaliated by kicking in the door to their apartment. The landlord evicted Arleen’s family because of the damage to the door. Dr. Desmond says Arleen then missed an

individuals interested in early childhood education.

“I’m proud and honored to co-chair this committee on behalf of our caucus and Minnesotans. My community is one of the most-significantly impacted by disparities, but as we heard today, it is certainly not the only community that needs our support. I am heartened by the innovative and promising programs we heard about today.

Minnesotans of color will succeed when given an equitable opportunity to do so and growing our economy depends on all Minnesotans working to their full potential. I look forward to working with my co-chair and committee members as we continue to review proposals and develop our recommendations to the full Finance Committee in the coming days,” said Hayden.

Sen. Kari Dziedzic (DFLMinneapolis) highlighted in her remarks to the committee that her district includes the largest Somali community

in the U.S. Two bills chief authored by Dziedzic were heard by the committee. Her bills would fund a Youth-atWork program available across the state to provide employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged youth ages 14 – 24, and fund programs through the Department of Public Safety to do outreach to Somali youth, and fund community liaison officers to improve community policing initiatives.

“The work of the Equity Budget Division is so important to the economic and educational success of our entire state.

In particular, we have a huge opportunity to make a real impact on youth in minority and immigrant communities.

Through programs approved by this division, we will make real progress on improving youth employment, educational opportunities, and resilience as they navigate the challenges of growing up,” said Dziedzic.

Committee member Sen.

Chris Eaton (DFL-Brooklyn Center) had a bill heard by the committee today that would provide micro-loans and technical assistance to small businesses owned by women of color. In her testimony Eaton highlighted that lack of access to capital is a challenge for both new and expanding businesses, especially those owned by women of color.

“Today’s meeting was a step forward in addressing the disparities that communities of color face in Minnesota,” said Eaton. “The committee heard a bill I authored that provides assistance through a revolving loan program for the startup and expansion of small businesses owned by women of color. We know that when small businesses thrive, communities thrive, and I’m hopeful this legislation will help many small business owners across the state.”

In that final Sunday sermon Dr. King reminded us: “Ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation. America has not met its obligations and its responsibilities to the poor.

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Insight News • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Page 7

HEALTH

The real cost of a poor diet The Orange Moon

By Michelle Mitchum, MPH. HHP To be healthy the natural way has proven to be expensive.

With the cost of organic food being at least 20% more than its counterpart, it can be costly to maintain an organic and

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane

healthy diet.

Statistics support that communities with the most instances of diet related chronic illnesses, are neighborhoods that are in financial distress.

The residents are lower middle class, or at the poverty level, and the food options available are of poor quality/low nutritional value. Sugary snacks, processed foods, and low-grade meats are inexpensive and easily available.

Most fast food restaurants are in impoverished communities.

So, while the foods are ‘cheap’ and ‘easy’ the side effects are extreme and lasting.

As mentioned earlier, diet related chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, etc., are all a result of poor diet. The foods that cause these diseases are cheap, and maintaining health after a diagnosis is absurdly expensive.

Once a person is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, the average medical cost for that person is an estimated $10,000 annually and this does not include clinic visits or hospital stays. This

averages about to $28 per day, with costs of eating three wellbalanced organic meals every day averages $12 per day (when meals are prepared at home).

There are other components

that contribute to the expense of disease that are not always considered, including time away from work due to disease related illness, this results in loss of wages for the person- which

leads to loss of productivity for the employer- ultimately loss of income for both.

Ideally, it would be best to reverse the system, exchanging the costs associated with

treating diet related illness, with providing affordable, healthy food options to everyoneespecially areas in financial distress.

Beware of binge-watching negative news

Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham

frightening stories are often in the news, but many positive, affirming activities occur, too.

“Try to find out more about the successes in the world,” Dr.

Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford

Jowsey adds. “See if you can add your energy and ability to those efforts. Volunteer and help others, and that will help to offset the drumbeat of bad news.”

Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe 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

Courtesy of Mayo Clinic

By Jeff Olsen, Mayo Clinic News Network Media coverage of tragic events happens almost immediately and continues for days. While being informed is important, there are risks associated with compulsive viewing of reports such as those coming out of Brussels this week.

“You can kind of be bombarded by the news,” says Dr. Sheila Jowsey, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist.

Dr. Jowsey says, during repetitive coverage of negative news, it’s important to be aware of, and avoid, media overload. The graphic images create an emotional reaction that can amplify the impact of the information being

conveyed. For individuals with a past history of trauma exposure, it may reactivate experiences of previous distress.

“You have to be careful, especially if there are very frightening or distressing images,” explains Dr. Jowsey.

“Once you’ve seen them, don’t go back again and again, and let yourself be stimulated and distressed.”

This is especially true in young children. Dr. Jowsey says, adults should limit children’s exposure to graphic media images. “If they do see disturbing images, offer them the opportunity to speak about it.”

Symptoms of excess negative media coverage include: • Sleep disruptons • Appetite changes • Mood changes

• Increased anxiety levels • Feelings of hopelessness • If bad news is creating persistent symptoms for you, Dr. Jowsey suggests making an appointment with your doctor or a counselor.

Reaching out to those who have been affected by tragic events also can help you cope with the feeling of helplessness in the face of tragedy. “Support organizations that support others,” says Dr. Jowsey. “Volunteer to raise funds, gather supplies or raise awareness of the need for assistance. These can all be meaningful ways of helping others.”

Also, Dr. Jowsey says, in cycles of widespread negative news, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Sensational,

Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Carmen Robles Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley 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.

Jokes about having gas are funny.

Until they find a tumor in your colon.

Julia, age 58, Mississippi

Most people don’t know that smoking can cause colorectal cancer. For Julia, it was a lesson she’ll never forget. The good news? Quitting tobacco decreases your chances almost immediately. For free help – including nicotine patches, gum or lozenges – call 1-888-354-PLAN or visit quitplan.com.

1-888-354-PLAN

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Page 8 • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE Inspirational author helping others to find God’s purpose in their lives engage the readers and encourage them to set appointments with God to find His purpose for their lives.

Readers of her book have expressed great enthusiasm for the project. They are proud of Queen and how she has stepped out on the stage in spoken word and in literature.

“I loved it. It made me take a look at where I am right now regarding defining moments!” ~Christine Free, Belfrey Books~ “Powerful, Curious and REAL!” ~Maurice Draine~ “Fill yourself up with Joy so that the overflow can enrich the lives of others” ~Queen~ As a self-published author, I know how difficult it is to get a book project off the ground.

Please lend your support by attending her book signing event, Saturday April 23, 2016 between 1:00 and 6:00 PM at the Park Plaza community room, 505 Humboldt Ave. N, Minneapolis. You can also visit www.MsMarlenesOffice.com for copies of her book, contact details, photos, and an author bio.

Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Ms. Marlene’s Office is now setting appointments. It is my pleasure to introduction the community to Queen (Marlene Frye), author of Defining Moments: Finding God in the Midst of it Al.l She is Minnesota’s rising literary artist inspiring others to find God’s purpose in their lives by sharing her testimony of how she used the word of God to solve yesterday’s and today’s problems. Often sought after for her insight, Ms. Marlene’s Office advice has now been summarized in her books.

Her writing is clear, thorough and provides readers with an ultimate transparency experience.

Queen became a woman after God’s heart 12 years ago and ever since she has been studying to find understanding in the purpose that God has for her life, thus finding God in the midst of it all.

Her book is an inspirational story based on that experience. Each chapter is an office visit to Ms. Marlene’s Office that connects with the reader through shared experiences.

Queen (Marlene Frye)

Queen sees “Defining Moments” as a book series, beginning with book one,

“Finding God in the midst of it All” and continuing with “My Real Testimony”. The books will

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For copies of his book, questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.

Forgive yourself: Mistakes are blessings in disguise Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson Is it easy for you to forgive yourself? Or are you one of those people who constantly holds on to all the wrong you’ve done? I

Housing From 6 appointment with a welfare caseworker because the letter about the appointment went to her old address. So she got evicted from the new apartment. The crises families face trying to pay for housing are “not just a consequence of poverty, but a cause of poverty” he says. He also noted Black women are often overrepresented in eviction proceedings, just as Black men are in prison: “Poor black men were locked up. Poor black women were locked out.”

Last year, the Children’s Defense Fund included in our “Ending Child Poverty Now”

know many people who can fit into this category. I was once there, too. Why is it so hard for us to move on from our past mistakes and admit that there is nothing we can do to go back and fix them? One lesson is to learn that the past is gone and that mistakes are blessings in disguise.

I can remember a time in my life when I would relive countless mistakes in my past and spend hours worrying about what I could have done to prevent the

outcome I was experiencing.

Through the many tears I cried and all the many hours of thinking about the mistakes I had made, I learned that all of it was just wasted tears and worry.

I couldn’t do anything to change what had already happened. The key for me was to not dwell on any of it anymore and to accept the life lessons I gained and move on.

You will never learn a better way to do something if at first you don’t fail at it. No one learns

to walk without first falling down. That is a sure way to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t work. While working on your goals, there will be many times when you fall. There will be many mistakes made and wrong roads traveled. But NEVER let any of those things stop you from achieving your greatness!

I’ve often heard people say that, “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger!”

Now I know how strong I truly am! I have had to be stronger in

recent years than I could have ever imagined! I appreciate the lessons and I’ve learned from them.

I met a group of young women who had encountered more pain than I could ever know. These women were survivors who were achieving goals every day. They decided that nothing would ever get in the way of them reaching their goals. They also decided that their pasts would no longer define them and they would work toward their futures. Every time I

think of them, I think of how far I’ve come. NOTHING you say or do will change your past! Be grateful for the lessons!

And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving for greatness.

report an expansion of housing vouchers to all households with children below 150 percent of poverty whose fair market rent exceeds 50 percent of their income. Of the nine policy improvements to alleviate child poverty we proposed, this had the single greatest impact. It would reduce child poverty 20.8 percent and lift 2.3 million children out of poverty. How then do we build the political and public will to do what works?

Dr. Desmond also met Vanetta in Milwaukee who said in a recent interview: “I grew up in every shelter, basically, in Illinois and Milwaukee. I didn’t have a stable place over my head. I didn’t have proper food, or I didn’t even know

a few times how I was going to eat that night. We missed meals multiple nights, and it was hard. And all I ever wanted for my kids was not to put them through that.” Her troubles started during the recession when her hours at the Old Country Buffet were slashed from five days to one day a week. Suddenly she had to choose between paying arrears to keep the electricity on or paying the rent. Falling further and further behind, she received an eviction notice. Terrified of being homeless and losing her children, and desperate to pay the bills, Vanetta participated in a robbery. She’d been on the waiting list for public housing for two years, but after the robbery she became a

convicted felon, which meant her chances of ever being approved were almost zero.

In that final Sunday sermon Dr. King reminded us: “Ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation. America has not met its obligations and its responsibilities to the poor.

One day we will have to stand before the God of history and we will talk in terms of things we’ve done. Yes, we will be able to say we built gargantuan bridges to span the seas, we built gigantic buildings to kiss the skies . . . It seems that I can hear the God of history saying, ‘That was not enough!

But I was hungry, and ye fed me not. I was naked, and ye clothed me not. I was devoid of a decent sanitary house to live

in, and ye provided no shelter for me.’” Dr. King said, “this is America’s opportunity to help bridge the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. The question is whether America will do it.” For millions of Americans, including all those who still can’t afford decent shelter for their families, that question remains unanswered.

Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www. childrensdefense.org.

Mrs. Edelman’s Child Watch Column also appears each week on The Huffington Post.

Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No

Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www. thequeensproject.com or email at penny@thequeensproject.com.

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Page 9

COMMUNITY MPCA announces environmental justice advisory group The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced they will be creating a group to advise agency Commissioner John Linc Stine on environmental

justice issues.

The group will consist of 12 people from many backgrounds, including residents of environmentallyoverburdened communities,

environmental advocates, representatives from nonprofit organizations, community organizers and people interested in health equity work.

The advisory group will meet

regularly to evaluate MPCA’s effectiveness in implementing the environmental justice framework, provide recommendations on policy improvements and collaborate

state.mn.us/about-mpca/mpcaand-environmental-justice.

Information by phone can be received by calling (651)7572557. Applications are due by May 16.

with the agency to improve civic engagement.

The advisory group charter and application materials are on the MPCA’s Environmental Justice page at www.pca.

Taylor From 1 from the start and took over as its editor-in-chief in 1981.

“This (mentoring) is what I’m supposed to do. I’m on assignment and my assignment is to help those of us who are the least of us.”

Leading off her speech with a video of African-American celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Terrence Howard, Spike Lee and others reciting sobering – if not daunting – statistics about Black HIV/AIDS infection rates, homicide rates, high school dropout rates and more, Taylor said now more than ever, every able body needs to chip in.

“The village is on fire,” said Taylor. “And our challenge is we don’t have a plan. There is no national Black plan.”

Taylor laid deficits within the Black community squarely at the feet of the Black middle class, saying when Blacks moved to the suburbs they took their dollars and other key resources with them. She said visits by Black suburbanites to the inner cities are rare and without true, meaningful interaction.

“We (the Black middle

Henry From 4 students need a space to be subjective and reflective. For our class to be effective, we must offer a way to make sense of their learnings. We must also be willing to share our feelings and experiences.

The process of connecting new information with the old, by taking account of their feelings and experiences, fosters the

Solutions From 1 Clark struggled with the police officers when they attempted to cuff him. But multiple eyewitnesses reported that Clark was peaceful when he was in the officer’s custody and did not struggle with them until he was violently thrown to the ground by one of the officers.

Implying that Clark’s death was “suicide by cop,” Freeman stated Clark told the officers, “I am ready to die,” right before Schwarze fatally shot him. But, Freeman admitted at his press conference that no one—not one of the 50 witnesses and bystanders to the shooting— corroborated that statement.

Freeman accepted the selfserving account of Clark’s killer and his accomplice over the eyewitness testimony of more

David Bradley

Susan Taylor book signing class) moved out to the county and the only time we go back is to go to church,” said Taylor, who said once church service is over, many drive right back out to the suburbs without regard for those struggling in

the neighborhood. “We ride to church, collect $20,000 for the pastor’s fund and children around the corner don’t even have books … don’t even have toilet paper. Come on, let’s wake up.”

Pointing to an example of volunteerism in East St. Louis, Ill. – a dangerous and impoverished almost exclusive African-American city – Taylor offered a concrete example how mentoring is transforming

lives. She said an area church decided to adopt the freshman class at the area’s local high school, providing tutoring, life coaching and other support.

She said that class eventually graduated 90 percent of its

connection in their lives.

Mainstream educational models have largely been ineffective with Black male students. While heavy research and resources have been devoted to investigating learning styles, teacher practices and class environment, most of the knowledge has not transferred from the realm of theory into practice. Our practice is more than just a rich knowledge of Black identity, racism

and history. The class offers our students something they often don’t find in school: space. More notably, their own space. This space offers them validation, affirmation, relatability and a chance to experience teachers walking alongside them on their journey of learning. The space introduces content that is often not discussed in a typical classroom environment. While the content is provocative, their contributions and reflections to

the content, informs how the content is accepted and shared.

Last year one of our students made a notable observation. “I don’t understand why we can’t talk and do some of the stuff in other classes that we do in here. This class just allows me to talk, say things, things that I normally don’t get to talk about.

Especially in school. I knew I understood the things we learn, but I feel like I have a better voice with it now.” Imagine if they felt this way about every classroom.

We are on the right track.

than 50 African Americans.

Against a backlash of questions and criticism, Freeman has attempted to defend his decision by stating he relied on the forensic evidence – arguing that the presence of Clark’s DNA on Officer Ringgenberg’s pistol and utility belt corroborates the officer’s claim that Clark had struggled to gain control of the firearm and justified Schwarze’s execution-style shooting of Clark.

But there are serious problems with that argument.

The forensic report Freeman relied on said only that Clark’s DNA, which was derived from sweat, could not be “ruled out” as present on Ringgenberg’s firearm and belt, which hardly is conclusive. It’s like saying, “We can’t say for sure.” Ringgenberg had just violently thrown Clark to the ground and was lying on top of Clark. Freeman’s own videotape evidence shows this is the only point at which Clark

appeared to struggle; and who wouldn’t struggle after being placed in a choke hold and brutally thrown to the ground with a so-called “take down” maneuver. Ringgenberg himself stated he grabbed Clark’s hand and thus he could just as easily have transferred Clark’s sweat to his pistol and belt.

Given these and other serious questions, Freeman’s conclusion that the police officers claims were corroborated by the forensic evidence makes sense only if one is predisposed to accepting the veracity of their statements, which Freeman obviously was inclined to do.

So, what can be done to hold police accountable to the law and bridge the divide between law enforcement and the African American community?

We call for the implementation of the following measures: 1) The U.S. Department of Justice

should conduct mandatory mediation with the Minneapolis Police Department and representatives of the African American Community and, if the MPD refuses or walks away from mediation, the department should be placed under federal receivership; 2) All officers assigned to predominately African American communities in Minneapolis should be screened by a panel of African Americans who live and/or work in that community and undergo bias training and evaluation to determine fitness to serve prior to assignment; 3) In the case of all police involved homicides, a special prosecutor selected from a list of attorneys agreed upon by the County Attorney in consultation with the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers should be appointed to investigate and determine whether charges should be brought; and 4) Legislation and/or city ordinance(s) should

be passed to require that Minneapolis police officers purchase and carry at their own expense professional liability insurance for official conduct determined to be negligent or grossly negligent.

The African American community is weary of this system of justice where police officers are never prosecuted for wrongdoing, even homicide.

We await the conclusion of the federal investigation underway and are hopeful for a just outcome. In the meantime, we will remain vigilant in the struggle for justice and equity, moving our community forward—one child, family, and neighborhood at a time.

Classifieds Reimbursed Senior Volunteer Positions Senior Corps is seeking volunteers aged 55+ willing to help seniors as friendly visitors in their homes and for outings in the community OR to help kids in schools as mentors. Tax free stipend, travel reimbursement, and other benefits. Contact Lisa Beardsley at 651.310.9450 or lisa.beardsley@lssmn.org

RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS The University of Minnesota is looking for African American cigarette smokers who are interested in quitting smoking. This study requires 12 visits. Participants will receive up to $390.00.

For more information, call 612-626-5981.

Phone: 612.588.1313

Capitol Region Watershed District seeks a full-time Communication and Outreach Specialist. Performs complex professional work serving as the District’s spokesperson, raising awareness about the District’s work and the importance of water resource protection, working with all District programs to coordinate outreach activities, media relations, organizing special events, presenting to community groups, writing for local publications and related duties. Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of five (5) years professional work experience in journalism, communications, marketing, or related field is required. The salary range for the position is $49,800 - $74,800, depending on qualifications and experience, plus benefits. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume by April 29, 2016 to: Michelle Sylvander, Capitol Region Watershed District, 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4, St. Paul, MN 55108, michelle@capitolregionwd.org (651) 644-8888. For a full description contact our office or visit our website at www. capitolregionwd.org. Position Closes: April 29, 2016.

Jeffrey A. Hassan, Executive Director African American Leadership Forum

Fax: 612.588.2031

Parent Aware Quality Coach: FT

South Minneapolis salon is looking for a mature and responsible Stylist and Nail Technician.

Space available for booth rent. E. SHANELL SALON, 4118 Cedar Ave S Minneapolis MN. 55407. For more information: Call 612-724-4435.

$14.76 - $16.24 DOQ. Some Child Development college credit; 3 yrs. Exp.; 1 yr. RBPD; driver’s license; reliable transportation; Knowledge: Child development; early learning standards; community resources; Abilities: Work independently; meet deadlines; maintain confidentiality; team environment; PC computer; home visiting; work with diverse populations; Duties: Provide TA to providers in Anoka/Washington Counties; recruit child care programs; present recruitment information sessions; Full description app at www.accap.org.

ACCAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer ACCAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Would you like to gain 140 pounds after the Empower older adults to manage their health!

Volunteer facilitator positions have opened at East Side Neighborhood Services (ESNS). ESNS, in collaboration with Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging and the Wilder Foundation, is hosting evidencedbased classes and workshops: Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance, A Matter of Balance, and Living Well with Chronic Conditions. We are seeking leaders who are comfortable and engaging in front of a small group. Experience working with diverse communities required. Facilitators must attend training (varies from two to four days depending on the class), commit to leading two entire sessions of a class or workshop (six to 12 weeks per session depending on the class), and adhere to established curriculum. We anticipate most groups will meet during the day. Classes and workshops meet either twice a week for one hour or once a week for two hours. To apply, contact Brenna Horn, Senior Health and Wellness Coordinator at ESNS: 612-787-4055 , bhorn@esns.org.

High School and currently pursuing a masters in school counseling. Adrian Mack is a frequent lecturer on African American history, having conducted workshops on all academic levels, including college. Marcus Zackery is area director of the Boys and Girls Club. Together the Ujima Collective has been quietly engaging in many initiatives involving Black male achievement throughout North Minneapolis.

With: Reverend Alfred BabingtonJohnson, President and CEO, Stairstep Foundation Steven Belton, President and CEO, Minneapolis Urban League Cindy Booker, Executive Director, Sabathani Community Center Al Flowers, Community and Civil Rights Activist Dr. Peter Hayden, President and Founder, Turning Point, Inc. Dr. Josie R. Johnson, Human and Civil Rights Advocate Shirlynn McNeil LaChapelle, President and CEO, Minnesota Black Nurses Association Reverend Jerry McAfee, Pastor, New Salem Missionary Baptist Church

Email: info@insightnews.com

E. SHANELL SALON IS NOW HIRING!

Facilitator Positions (volunteer) Communication and Outreach Specialist

About the contributors: The Ujima Collective is comprised of, but not limited to, Alex Leonard, Adrian Mack and Marcus Zackery. Ujima is a Swahili term meaning collective work and responsibility. As educators, the members of the collective are guided by the term and see it as crucial to the continued success of Black students. Alex Leonard is a student dean at Patrick Henry

students. The class under it was also adopted by another local organization and it went on to graduate 98 percent of its class.

“Mentoring is a low-cost, high result way to change our condition,” said Taylor. “But when it comes to mentoring the first to respond are white women, then white men, then Black women, then finally Black men. We need mentors in reverse order.”

Presiding over Essence during its greatest time of growth, Taylor said the problems facing AfricanAmericans are not beyond repair. She even recounted a time in her life where she was in despair but triumphed to become the national icon that she is today.

The luncheon that took place on April 9 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center drew more than 300 attendees. Proceeds from the event went to fund high school scholars who were honored before Taylor’s speech. Recipients of the scholarships of between $1,000 and $5,000 were Samuel Adeniyi of Roseville Area High School; Breanna Baylis, a senior at North Community High School; Kalid Dalu, Park Center High School; Callie Glanton, a senior at Irondale High School; and Dede Quevi, Edina High School.

Insight News served as media sponsor for the event.

Foster Care

Volunteers of America, MN Would you like to gain 140 pounds after the Holidays? Not physically gain this weight, but weight in the sense of another person!

Volunteers of America-MN is looking for skilled, dedicated parents to provide care for at-risk youth, ages ranging from infants to teenagers. We provide foster parents with lots of friendly training, 24-hour support, and a monthly stipend.

For more information, please contact Brittani Walker at 952-945-4064 or visit our website http://www.voamnwi.org/foster-care

Volunteer Customer Service Assistants Hennepin County is seeking volunteer greeters for its North Minneapolis human service center at 1001 Plymouth Avenue North to welcome and guide visitors, answer questions and assist with special projects.

Reliable adults who enjoy working with people and who are available for a few hours twice a week are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates will be able to volunteer for a minimum of three months. Volunteers are integral to Hennepin County’s mission of enhancing the health, safety and quality of life of its residents and communities in a respectful, efficient and fiscally responsible way. Get involved by visiting http://www. hennepin.us/humanservicevolunteer and submitting a volunteer application.

Page 10 • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Insight News

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Angelique Kidjo

Grammy Award-winning Angelique Kidjo at The O’Shaughnessy The “undisputed Queen of African music” (Daily Telegraph) singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo will perform a solo concert 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2016, at The O’Shaughnessy in Saint Paul. The concert is part of

The O’Shaughnessy’s ongoing Women of Substance series and its inaugural Women of Substance Festival: Charting a Course: Women’s Journeys.

Three-time world music Grammy Award-winner Kidjo is an extraordinary

Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis 4:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

musician, passionate advocate and generous philanthropist. Named one of the Top 100 Inspiring Women in the World by The Guardian, Kidjo’s extensive accolades include worldwide concerts, musical

collaborations with Philip Glass, Carlos Santana, and Alicia Keys, and a spot at #1 on the Billboard World Music chart for her 2014 album Eve. The April 24 concert is presented in partnership with the

Cedar Cultural Center.

Tickets are $25-$48 with discounts for students, seniors, military, MPR, TPT and groups. For more information and tickets, contact The O’Shaughnessy Ticket Office at 651-690-

Lizz Wright

Darin Kamnetz

Vie Boheme

Processing the Pain: Reading the Messages is a “truth telling and community healing ceremony” acknowledging lives we have lost as a community.

Tuesday, April 19 April 18 - 24

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking.

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

Monday, April 18 DIALOGUE Processing the Pain University of Minnesota

JAZZ/PERFORMANCE Lizz Wright Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $40 World renowned jazz singer and composer Lizz Wright returns to Minneapolis to play the Dakota.

Wednesday, April 20 HIP-HOP /PERFORMANCE We Next - Live at the Amsterdam Amsterdam Bar and Hall

6 W. 6th St., Saint Paul 7 p.m. -11 p.m.

19 Exchange St. E., St. Paul 6 p.m. -7 p.m.

18-plus $10

St. Paul hip-hop legend Glo Pesci (DJ Huh What) continues his monthly showcase with performances

by Pledge Empire’s Ced Linus, Just Wulf and Genesis Music.

Tim Dooley of buzz-worthy rock group Timisarocker plays his senior recital at McNally. The performance is dubbed a “little bit of disco, whole lot of punk.”

Come see some of the best local artists in Minneapolis and be part of the climate change movement. Artists include Avalon Moon LXIV the Lily, Mike Queenz, Malcolm Anthony, Me’Lea, Off 10, Doug Mackbee, DJ Michelle Be, Madra T Rosa DJ set and more.

Thursday, April 21

Friday, April 22

PUNK/DISCO/ PERFORMANCE

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

Timothy Dooley’s Disco Punk Senior Recital McNally Smith College of Music

Earth Day Concert Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday, April 23 JAZZ/SPOKEN WORD/ PERFORMANCE

6700; open Mon.-Sat. 12-6 p.m. The ticket office is located on the main campus of St. Catherine University at 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul.

Tickets can also be purchased online at oshag.stkate.edu.

Feel Good RevolutionLate Night Edition Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 11:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. $8 (cash only) The Feel Good Revolution, presented by Jazz 88 KBEM and curated by Brittany Lynch and Toki Wright, is a night of intentional happiness featuring singers, poets, comedians and musicians that perform artistic pieces promoting happiness, healing and triumph. Performers include Vie Boheme, Guante, Anaïs Deal-Márquez, comedian Bruce Leroy Williams, Haamu, Genreal and the band EYT II.

Sunday, April 24 WORLD/PERFORMANCE Angelique Kidjo O’Shaughnessy Auditorium 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul 7p.m.

Grammy Award winning singer and activist Angelique Kidjo is the pride of her native Benin. She returns to the Twin Cities as a part of the College of St. Catherine’s Woman of Substance Series.

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Insight News • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Page 11

Kierce Rabb. Photo location: NE Minneapolis

Use Your Voice. Speak!

Black Girl Speaks is a Movement that seeks to amplify and empower the voice of the disenfranchised through education and the arts.

The “Use Your Voice. Speak!’ campaign encourages people to use their talents to advocate for social change. It highlights those who SPEAK through their action to improve their local communities. When we use our voices and SPEAK, healing begins.

Teaching our children while they are

young to use their voice and SPEAK, like the young children pictured here, is imperative to ensure the next generation knows how to advocate for social change.

Visit the BLACKGIRLSHOPS: http://www.blackgirlshops.com All proceeds from products are contributed to the programming created to aid in the Black Girl Speaks Movement mission.

Photos: Rebecca Rabb

A CHARMING, LIGHTHEARTED FAMILY COMEDY Queen Crushshon. Photo location: North Minneapolis

Keani Rabb and Kennedy Rabb. Photo location: Venture North Bikes & Coffee 1830 Glenwood Ave N. Minneapolis

by

MARY

CHASE directed by

LIBBY

APPEL NOW – MAY 15 612.377.2224 GUTHRIETHEATER.ORG

Troy Bell. Photo location: NE Minneapolis

Olivia Udo. Photo location: New Hope, MN

Page 12 • April 18 - April 24, 2016 • Insight News

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