Insight News ::: 04.22.13

Laugh Now, Laugh Later MORE ON PAGE

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April 22 - April 28, 2013

Vol. 40 No. 17 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Racial mockery at Hopkins High sparks outrage;

Black student handcuffed

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

MAKING IT

to the MOTHERLAND

By Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Choosing to answer the call of one’s spirit-work is a sometimes difficult choice when confronted with the realities of life and survival, but in 2007, that is what I did, leaving the certainty of a job as a Vice-President to chase passion. And over the past six years, the more I persist in honoring purposeful work, what my soul compels me to view as divine assignments, the more opportunity seems to present itself to me.

AFRICA TURN TO

It seems like a case of when keeping it wrong goes real.

What started as a celebration of the Hopkins High School’s cross country ski team qualifying for the state tournament culminated is outrage, signs in protest and the suspension and criminal charges of two AfricanAmerican students who decried what they felt was racial mockery.

And, according to supporters of the African-American students, no disciplinary action was taken against the white students who openly mocked AfricanAmericans.

The incident began on Feb. 13; when eight to 10 white members of the school’s ski team came to school dressed in motley ensembles of do-rags, fur coats, white tank top undershirts, sagging pants and gold chains.

One even had a fake marijuana joint tucked behind his ear.

Somehow word spread that the students were celebrating a

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Nekima Levy-Pounds “Ghetto Spirit Day.” Those who came to school in costume dispute this assertion, and claimed to school administrators that they were dressing up to mimic popular white rapper, Macklemore, who sings “Thrift Shop.”

“That’s absurd,” said Nekima Levy-Pounds, a civil rights attorney and associate professor at the University of St. Thomas’

Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe (front row 2nd from left) with Grace Restoration International (GRI) – Serving Others group.

HOPKINS TURN TO 10

TOYOTA UNVEILS THE 2013 AVALON

“Great cars do not happen without great people”

By Yvonne Coleman Bach, Associate Publisher/Editor, Louisville Defender Newspaper Toyota recently unveiled their 2013 Avalon at a press junket in Cincinnati. The event not only provided the media in attendance with a look at the newly designed vehicle, but also an inside look at the company who makes it and their strong commitment to diversity.

Billed a luxury car without the luxury price tag, the Avalon is sure to be a favorite among the African American consumer market. Members of the press got the chance to drive the impressive vehicle and see it being made at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) Plant. The plant sits on 1,300 acres and employs about 6,600 people with a payroll of about $492 million.

Their annual production capacity is an impressive 500,000 vehicles and 600,000 engines. In addition to the Avalon, the plant produces Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid, Venza, 4-cylinder and V6 engines, axles steering components, machined blocks, cylinder heads, crankshafts, camshafts, rods and axles assemblies/dies.

George E. Curry/NNPA

Presidential Adviser Valerie Jarrett makes point as (left to right) Cecelia Munoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Danielle Grey, Cabinet Secretary, listen.

Jarrett: Obama budget protects most vulnerable

By Maya Rhodan NNPA Washington Correspondent

Toyota’s Rob McConnell (principal engineer), Latondra Newton (Group VP, Toyota Motor North America), Wil James (President, Toyota Motor Company Manufacturing/Kentucky) and Jim Colon (Vice President of Product Communications, Toyota Motor Sales/USA).

James S. Colon, Vice President-Toyota Product Communications, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. said, “Great Cars do not happen without Great People.” Although he was not referring to himself when he made the statement, Colon is truly one of the great people at Toyota. He was just one of

Reclaiming the narrative

A key step in eradicating racism in America

PAGE 2

the great people from Toyota in attendance at the Press event.

Toyota has a diversity strategy that is working. According to Colon, 30 percent of the workforce is people of color.

Colon is responsible for gathering and managing information and promotion initiatives for Toyota brand

Business

Forget about the elevator speech

PAGE 3

vehicles in addition to product and sales training. He began his career in 1980 and he has held various roles at Toyota regional offices and at TMS headquarters in Torrance, California, that include general manager for the Portland Region and the

TOYOTA TURN TO

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WASHINGTON (NNPA) – President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget focuses on job creation, strengthening the middle class, and cutting the deficit.

Those are the overall themes of the proposed budget, which seeks to reduce the deficit by $4 billion, President Obama sticks with his State of the Union promises to raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour and increase access to early childhood education. Yet, along with favoring higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans,

Full Circle

Give me my flowers while yet live

PAGE 9

the president’s budget calls for reducing the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries.

According to the White House, key points from the budget include: • Reduction of the deficit by $1.8 trillion over 10 years, bringing total deficit reduction achieved to $4.3 trillion; • Achieving $2 in spending cuts for every $1 of new revenue by closing tax loopholes and reducing tax benefits for the wealthiest; • $400 billion in health savings

BUDGET TURN TO 10

Health

Ways to get a handle on a “sweet” tooth

PAGE 11

Page 2 • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Insight News

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Reclaiming the narrative: A key step in eradicating racism in America

By Dr. Gail C. Christopher America’s Wire Writers Group Just 100 miles from where Trayvon Martin was killed, the slaying of an unarmed Black teenager that unleashed intense racial anger and antagonism, there is a new example of the racism and racial insensitivities that continue to punctuate our society.

With Martin’s death still a bitter memory, a Port Canaveral Police Department firearms instructor did the unthinkable - Sgt. Ron King offered paper targets resembling Martin to fellow officers for shooting practice in the Florida town.

King claims the targets were teaching tools for what not to shoot at, but his supervisors deemed his action inappropriate and he was fired last weekend.

Throughout each day, newspapers, the airwaves and Internet routinely crackle with stories like this one, stories demonstrating that racism and the centuries-old racial hierarchy still exists.

This destructive belief that skin color makes one group of people superior to another has dominated American culture, our institutions and our narratives consciously or unconsciously for centuries.

When Roland Martin says race played a role in his firing from CNN, when racial incidents erupt at a high school in Grand Haven, Mich. or when there are a series of hate messages at Oberlin College, all these events are widely reported in the media. Not much adverse news about racial bias is missed with the 24/7 news cycle, abundant talk radio, social media channels and the everexpanding blogosphere.

Americans are working together, finding common ground in diverse neighborhoods and bridging their differences to sustain racial harmony in their communities America’s Wire Writers Group

Dr. Gail C. Christopher

But do these stories represent the real story about our communities?

Not long ago, reporting on acts of racism was considered progress: after these media reports, it becomes less likely that incidents can be coveredup. Once hostilities are out in the open, frank and honest discussions can occur and perhaps lead to solutions that address the root causes of racism.

Yet those committed to positive change and healing the wounds of racism, both past and present, recognize there is also a changing America out there.

This is also a nation of people with positive stories to tell about our communities, to tell about families of all different races and ethnicities -- the neighbors that we love and respect regardless of the narratives dividing us.

Americans are working together, finding common ground in diverse neighborhoods and bridging their differences to sustain racial harmony in their communities, in their schools and in an array of public and private institutions, including the criminal justice system. But these are the stories that aren’t reported in the media and aren’t

reflected enough in narratives regarding race.

In Michigan, the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services is healing divisions between Arab and non-Arab Americans. The center engages communities to document and share personal narratives and collective histories of the national Arab American community’s experience after 9/11. It includes an exhibit, a series of public programs, educator’s workshops and community dialogues.

In New Orleans, the Ashé Cultural Center is utilizing art and culture to create a safe and healing space for all who come through its doors, especially young people in the community. Its Truth Be Told project includes commissioning and producing original art works that are made available to other groups, gatherings, and events to stimulate thinking and dialogue in the community.

The center is expanding interracial participation in their commemorations and producing a series of film screenings, panel discussions, roundtables, and lectures to upgrade knowledge, thinking on race and the impact and influence of racism.

And in Chicago, the Collateral Damage Project conducts interactive research on gun violence, racial discrimination and gang participation in urban communities. It has resulted in a traveling exhibition, multi-media documentary and the development of a social networking website for youth.

Their work explores the lives of 46 youths who lost their lives to gun violence and examines the destructive role that violence, discrimination and residential segregation play in urban communities.

These stories belong in the narrative and must be shared and leveraged for meaningful change to take place.

In Asheville, NC from April 22 to 25, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will hold its 2013 America Healing Convening.

The theme for this year is Reclaiming the Narrative. We want to raise awareness of the diverse stories that are omitted from our nation’s collective history and examine that impact. More than 500 national and community-level leaders, community-based organizations and civil rights groups will gather to share stories, and create

a richer and more reflective narrative of our collective human experiences. We will share stories of successes, challenges and hopes for healing communities and creating better life outcomes, especially for vulnerable children. Our gathering will not only present a pathway to overcome racism and divisiveness, through healing, but showcases how it is happening today in communities across the country.

The first full day, Tuesday, April 23, will facilitate small group conversations about the stories that demonstrate the effectiveness of our work. The second day is committed to sharing stories of barriers and demonstrated outcomes in law, justice and racial equity, while using a narrative for structural change through interactive plenaries and concurrent sessions. On the final day, we will explore the catalytic power of a reframed narrative, while exploring the neuroscience and psychological power of narratives.

Reclaiming the narrative is vitally important to our nation’s future. Most of the children born in our country today are children of color; we must eliminate the barriers to their opportunities if America is to flourish in the future.

Our stories will spur conversations about the legacy of racism in America. The past must be acknowledged and understood before we can heal the wounds caused by racial bias that limits opportunities for families and communities.

Any progress towards achieving equitable outcomes for disadvantaged families, people of color and vulnerable children will require a collective commitment to taking actions that will bring urgently needed change.

It’s the narratives that can create momentum for this societal change, building unwavering confidence that a new a day is indeed possible.

Working with the Southwest Georgia Project (SWGAP), high school students in Wilcox County, Ga. are organizing their high school’s first ever integrated prom. In the past, Black and white students held separate proms. The integrated prom is not supported by the school system and has drawn opposition from some students.

But students, some of whom have been friends for years, are embracing diversity, and an opportunity to bring change to a community stubbornly bound by segregation.

By telling this story to the public, these students are revealing that racial bias remains rooted in their community, and they are doing something about it. Their story, which has received international attention, is the type of narrative that will inspire others, the type of courageous action that exemplifies the racial healing that is occurring in other communities.

The Kellogg Foundation, through its America Healing initiative, supports SWGAP, as well as the programs cited in Michigan, New Orleans and Chicago that are promoting healing in communities today, so we can all have a brighter tomorrow.

Dr. Gail C. Christopher is vice president - program strategy for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and leads the foundation’s America Healing initiative that is committed to addressing structural racism in America on behalf of vulnerable children.

Time to get smart on crime

By Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO, NAACP The United States has five percent of the world’s people but twenty-five percent of the world’s prisoners. For the sake of our families and future we must do better.

Our nation leads the world in the incarceration of our own citizens, both on a per capita basis and in terms of total prison population. The problem stems from the decades-old “tough on crime” policies from the Nixon/ Reagan era. We are stuck in a failed “tough on crime” mind state that is characterized by converting low-level drug addicts into hardened criminals by repeatedly locking them up when they should be sent to rehab for drug treatment.

More than 500,000 of the

2.3 million people behind bars in the U.S. are incarcerated for nothing more than a non-violent drug offense. And over 40% of them are people of color.

Although rates of drug use and selling are comparable across racial and ethnic lines, blacks and Latinos are far more likely to be criminalized for drug law violations than whites. One in nine black children has an incarcerated parent, compared to one in 28 Latino children and one in 57 white children.

This failed approach to criminal justice has both a direct and indirect impact on our children. Immediately, many children are faced with foster care as their parent is locked away for a non-violent drug offense. In our report, “Misplaced Priorities: Over Incarcerate, Under Educate”, we found that situations like this lead to achievement gaps as early

as grade school in communities that have high incarceration rates. The report also shows that mass incarceration siphons funds from our schools, leading to skyrocketing public education costs for students hoping to attend college.

There is no question that violent criminals must be locked up. Unfortunately, the “tough on crime” strategy of the last four decades has become a dangerous distraction for law enforcement, diverting attention and resources away from violent offenders and onto non-violent acts that require counseling, not incarceration.

The fact is that so called “tough on crime” policies have failed our nation and its families. It is time to move to “smart on crime” policies that reduce sentences for drug offenses - most notably mandatory minimum sentences - and focus on rehabilitation

and prevention rather than punishment. Encouragingly, this kind of reform is being sought on the state, local and national levels.

In the United States Senate, Chairman of Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have introduced the “Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013”. The bill would allow federal judges to bypass federal mandatory minimum sentences when the sentence does not fit the crime. It is encouraging to see a bipartisan effort on criminal justice reform, based on the notion that mass incarceration is draining state budgets and national prison capacities.

Meanwhile, President Obama released his budget proposal this week and called for the largest increase in drug treatment and prevention funding in at least a decade. This is a promising

sign that key players in the White House are looking at drug addiction as a public health issue, instead of an issue of crime and punishment.

Progress is also being made in statehouses, where rising prison costs are straining state budgets.

In Georgia, South Carolina and Texas, the NAACP and progressive groups have teamed up Republican legislatures to reduce mandatory minimum sentences and increase options for parole. In Texas, the NAACP worked with Tea Party leaders and a coalition of activists to pass 12 “smart on crime” reforms that resulted in Texas scheduling its first prison closure in state history.

Support for criminal justice reform is not just limited to civil rights activists. This month, the NAACP, hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons, Dr. Boyce Watkins and coalition of over 175 artists,

actors, athletes, elected officials and advocates brought national attention to this issue by presenting an open letter to President Obama, urging him to double down on his efforts to move to a criminal justice model based on prevention and rehabilitation. With signers like Will Smith, Scarlet Johansen and Richard Branson, the letter has expanded the movement to bring and end to the failed “”tough on crime” policies.

If we allow the current trends continue, one in three black males born today can expect to spend time in prison during his life.

The time has come for all of us to do all that we can. The future of our families, states, and nation demand it. If we are going to find our way back to first in education and job creation, we must first decide to stop leading the world in incarceration.

A world where poor see each other as enemy Nobody Asked Me

By Fred Easter

Nobody asked me, but, I’m having increasing difficulty remembering why we need a Congress in this country. They don’t do doodly squat except get in the way of the wishes of the voting public. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly clear that they don’t represent the people at all. They represent

the big money interests that finance their campaigns, their investment portfolios and their travel junkets.

It’s inconceivable, and more than a little frightening, to me that this obstructionist Congress cannot see its way clear to requiring registration of weapons and background

checks of all weapons buyers.

In the wake of the Giffords attack, the Aurora and Newtown tragedies, that seems like a too small step. I hear some Congressfolk and NRA flunkies arguing that mandatory gun registration violates the rights of law abiding gun owners.

Whose rights are violated by

mandatory auto registration?

Did GM, Chrysler and Ford fight mandatory vehicle registration? Somehow, I doubt it. Did Cessna and Beechcraft fight mandatory registration of private aircraft? I doubt that, too. Don’t you have to pass a test and get a license to drive a car or pilot an aircraft?

Critical Conversations Scholars, historians, artists, and community leaders on urban issues and ideas

Trauma, Faith and Healing in the Community: ;gfn]jkYlagfk oal` Kgml` 9^ja[Y k Lmlm Kakl]jk Find out how faith, consensus-building, and communal reconciliation can heal community spirit in two special public discussions with the daughters of renowned South African social rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu: the Rev. Mpho Tutu; race and gender activist Naomi Tutu; and researcher Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe.

Tuesday, April 23, 6 p.m.

Shiloh Temple International Ministries 1201 W. Broadway Ave. N., Minneapolis

Wednesday, April 24, 2 p.m.

University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Union, Great Hall 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis

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Only weapons manufacturers want weapons to be viewed differently. Why? Would it hurt sales? That doesn’t seem likely.

Allowing military style assault weapons to proliferate in the hands of private citizens is lunacy. Trained military personnel cannot return home from the armed forces with their favorite rocket launcher or an AR 15 in their duffle bag. Soon, maybe, you’ll be able to pick up a small tank at your car dealer or trade-in your Beechcraft for an F-16.

This is all more than a bit frightening because I detect a pattern in the positions Republicans are taking and their habit of confusing the truth with lies. I sense malevolence in their working to limit paths to citizenship, voting rights, abortions, marriage rights, opposing unionization and then supporting the arming of citizens against a government “bent” on taking away peoples’ rights. I suspect they want a labor force here in America that has no more rights than those in the 3rd world. They are crafting a world where poor people see each other as the enemy, and are armed to the teeth. In a multicultural society, this is a recipe for race war. Republicans in the minority is proving dangerous.

Republicans in the majority and the White House is too scary to contemplate.

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Page 3

BUSINESS Forget about the elevator speech Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com You have ten seconds. From the time I shake your hand to the time I’m looking for someone else to meet, you have me for ten seconds.

No, this isn’t about speed dating.

This is about what to do every time you meet someone new.

Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.

Your future depends on it. Of course, everyone’s in a rush today.

Cars move fast, food moves fast, information moves fast, time flies.

It seems like the only thing taking its time these days is springtime.

When you get on board the fast

train, you can fast track yourself to reaching your goals, whether your goals are a new job, a promotion, or something entirely different.

Don’t make me wait. Tell me what you need, so I can help you.

Ten seconds?

That’s not much, you say. Ten seconds?

My story is bigger than that. My background is richer. My story is complicated, you say.

Math is complicated. 1000 piece puzzles are complicated.

You are complicated. But your story doesn’t have to be. It can’t be. Your story has to be compelling, so that after ten seconds, I will ask you a question and give you ten more seconds.

It has to be memorable, so when I walk away, I’m thinking of helping you get what you want.

Consider these six statements: I’m starving. You win. I love you. Last call. All aboard. Elvis has left the building. Every one

of these can be stated, heard and understood in under ten seconds.

Are they less impactful than, for

be leaving the station in a few minutes and anyone who is not in their seats when it’s time will be

Your story has to be compelling, so that after ten seconds, I will ask you a question and give you ten more seconds. example, “Everyone has to walk to the steps and get on the train right now because the train will

left behind?” Suggestion: save your breath.

Your story only needs three

parts: Small talk, Focus statement and Connecting question.

Small talk refers to the first thing that comes out of your mouth as you look someone in the eyes and shake hands. Usually, it’s your name. Usually, there’s a lot of subconscious appraising going on, so if you say your name early, you’ll want to repeat it when you part ways. So, what’s your name? Write it down.

Focus refers to the thing you’re passionate about: computer programming, oil paints, race cars, baking. In a handful of words, what are you passionate about?

Write it down.

Connecting questions do two things: they let someone know what you need from them, and they engage the other person. It’s a way to say, “Tag. You’re it.”

Your question should get them thinking, and responding to you.

For example, if you are looking for

work in programming, you might ask, “Do you know anyone who works in programming?” If the person says, “Yes,” your response is to request a meeting: “Really?

I’d give anything to meet your Uncle’s neighbor’s friend.”

My ten seconds goes like this: “I’m Julie. I’m an employment recruiter. (Pause for effect). Do you know anyone who’s looking for work?” I have said this so often, to so many people, that it’s almost automatic. But it is sincere; I do want to talk with anyone who is looking for work, and I do follow up on all introductions.

Spend five minutes creating your own ten second story, and you will get where you’re going… fast.

Julie Desmond is IT Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Send your resume and career questions to jdesmond@georgekonik.com.

Your mobile device: friend or foe?

FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw

Who is more important: you or a group of your fellow nonprofit volunteers or professionals? What signal are you sending when you direct your attention to your mobile device instead of the group’s discussion? If you believe the work of the organization or institution is unimportant, say so and work with your peers

to restructure meetings. If not, give your attention to the business at hand. Each of you has carved out time from your busy schedules to attend the meeting: make the most of it.

For many, time is now considered a resource even more valuable than money.

Increasing demands on our time from work, family and

volunteer commitments make it all the more important that time allocated for meetings be most productive. As nonprofit professionals are asked to take on more responsibilities the time dedicated to staff meetings becomes even more valuable.

Checking your mobile device removes your attention from the discussion at hand.

Your knowledge, expertise and insights are removed from the conversation. The opportunity for synergistic thinking, problem solving and strategizing diminishes as participants mentally enter and leave the group’s work with a glance at their device.

And then there’s hurt feelings. Some people are

offended when they are talking and others are texting or checking email. The sentiment can be, “Why should I bother if they aren’t interested?”

The result can be a process of gradual or immediate disengagement.

SHAW TURN TO

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African American investors optimistic about financial future and the economy, but concerned about retirement, according to recent Wells Fargo survey (BLACK PR WIRE) – African American investors report high levels of confidence in their financial future, along with optimism about the political and economic future of the country, according to a recent

Wells Fargo nationwide survey.

Despite proactive planning and intentional cuts in spending, African American investors remain focused on day-to-day living expenses, with a large majority concerned about having

enough money to retire.

Three in five (60%) African American investors express confidence in their own financial future, slightly higher than the national response (52%), while half (52%) report they are better

off now than they were three years ago, same as the general population.

“The optimism and confidence articulated by African American investors is encouraging, particularly as those surveyed are

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feeling financially better off than they were three years ago,” said Jeff Cosby, Financial Advisor and Vice-President, Investment Officer in the Bloomington, Minnesota office of Wells Fargo

Advisors, Wells Fargo. “Where we see the biggest opportunity is helping people really consider

INVESTORS TURN TO 10

Page 4 • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Insight News

insightnews.com

EDUCATION Literacy project teaches writing and publishing Celebrating the power of words and the art of writing, Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) Academy School students will be afforded the opportunity to express their personal viewpoints, learn about publishing career pathways, produce their own book, and be taught first hand that English class and communication skills do matter and can serve them well for a lifetime.

Serving students in grades 6-12, the MUL Academy School located at 2201 Blaisdell Avenue South is a learning community that offers academics classes for high school graduation, STEM project based learning, career development experiences

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 Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Cordie Aziz Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Oshana Himot Timothy Houston Alaina L. Lewis Alysha Price Photography Suluki Fardan Michele Spaise 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.

coupled with hands on social enterprise activities.

Last week, MUL collaborated with noted author Kwame Alexander to bring his Book-in-a Day (BID) program to the school.

Book-in-a-Day (BID) is a groundbreaking writing and publishing program that focuses on student-run publication— in one day. Educators spend hours looking for exciting ways to bring literature to life. The solution is Book-in-a-Day, a new fun-filled, hands-on literacy project that teaches students the fundamentals of creative writing and book publishing.

Through the Book-in-a-Day intensive writing and publishing workshop students not only become authors, but they take on the responsibility of publishing their book. Three-to-four weeks after the workshop, copies of the

Kwame Alexander student book are delivered and a launch is held to showcase the book.

Kwame Alexander, Founder and Creator of BID, is the author of fourteen books including the children’s books Indigo Blume and the Garden City

and Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, both of which received NAACP Image Award Nominations for Outstanding Children’s Literature. His first YA Novel comes out in 2013 from HarperCollins, and his debut middle reader novel will be published by Houghton Mifflin in 2014. Kwame’s Bookin-a-Day writing & publishing program has created more than 2500 student authors in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. He has led delegations of writers to Brazil, Tuscany, and Ghana.

According to Publisher’s Weekly, Midwest Book Review, and the National Association of Women in Publishing, Alexander is a pivotal figure in contemporary American literature and publishing. As a literary expert and commentator, he has appeared on a variety of television and radio programs

including NPR’s Tell Me More, Tavis Smiley, BET’s Teen Summit, News Channel 8’s Entertainment Forecast, and several NBC and Fox affiliates. He has also been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, the Washington Post, Poets and Writers Magazine, Detroit Metro-Times, Washington Times, Sacramento Observer, Baltimore Sun, Vibe Magazine, Source Magazine, and The Virginia Pilot-Ledger Star.

The Kwame Alexander Papers, a collection of his professional and personal documents, is held at George Washington University’s Gelman Library. Recently, Kwame served on the advisory board for Nikki Giovanni’s The 100 Best African American Poems (Sourcebooks, 2010).

Most recently, he co-founded the L.E.AP. for Ghana initiative,

Toyota From 1 Chicago Region.

He was also vice president of sales and dealer development for the Lexus Division.

Most recently, he served as vice president for sales for the Toyota Division where he was responsible for sales support for Toyota’s regional offices, public companies and private distributors.

His education background includes a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees along with Clark University in Atlanta, GA. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from Martin University in Indianapolis in May, 2011.

Colon serves on the Board of Directors for the Black Star Project, The First Tee of South Los Angeles, California State University -Los Angeles and others. Most recently, he was appointed to the board of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, where he supports its mission by contributing to developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public.

Another great person of Toyota is Wilbert W. (Wil) James, Jr. James is President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. When he gave an overview of the facility, he talked with great pride. He said, “We are proud of the way we do business.”

James became the seventh president of TMMK in July 2010. It is the largest plant in North America. His first

A new fleet of 2013 Avalon coming off the assembly line of the Georgetown, Kentucky plant. Two cars roll off the line about every 55 seconds, resulting in about 2,000 new vehicles a day. position at Toyota was actually at TMMK in 1987. Over a 20 year period, he served in various positions including General Manager of Assembly and General Manager of Production Administration.

He served as vice president of Manufacturing from 20032006. He has also served in positions at other facilities including Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana facility as Senior Vice President for Manufacturing and Quality. He also worked in Long Beach, California as President of TABC Inc. He was educated at Old Dominion University where he received his Associate’s degree (1976) and Bachelors of Science degree (1978) in Mechanical Engineering Technology.

James believes in diversity.

A Diversity of Champion for TEMA, he leads company-

When asked how he has been successful in making Diversity Work at his facility, James said he is involved at the grassroots level.

wide diversity and inclusion initiatives across North America. He is an active member of the Community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement. He is also involved with the Executive Leadership Conference and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

When asked how he has been successful in making Diversity Work at his facility, James said he is involved at the grassroots level. He said he believes that everyone is an integral part of the team and makes that known to everyone.

“That is the Toyota Way,” he said. James also said they work to set up programs where the employees can also work together going out and helping people in the community. He said in addition, Toyota donates money for a variety of causes in the community.

The company has received numerous awards in the area of diversity that include: “Top 50 Company for Diversity” by DiversityInc for six years. In 2012, in addition to the being included in the list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity overall, Toyota also

ranked seventh in DiversityInc’s Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees.

“40 Best Companies for Diversity” by Black Enterprise Magazine for the past seven years.

Hispanic Business Magazine’s “Top 60 Company for Diversity” for the past three years.

2011 “Corporation of the Year” by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

Proud member of the “Billion Dollar Roundtable” , recognizing more than $1 billion in annual spending with certified ethnic and womenowned suppliers.

Another great person at Toyota, Latondra Newton, was promoted to Group Vice President at TMA in 2013. She began her career at Toyota in 1991. She has held a variety of positions including general manager of the Team Member Development Center (TDC) at Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA). As assistant general manager of Human Resources, Newton started the corporate diversity function for North American manufacturing. She was also

Shaw

hand?

Make sure your meetings are worthy of the time you ask each person to give. Develop a protocol for the use of mobile devices. One corporate board asks members to place devices in a basket upon entering the meeting, and provides breaks for the purpose of checking calls and messages. Your nonprofit is as important as a corporate board. Reach agreement regarding the use of devices and hold each other accountable. Remind people of the policy when meetings are being scheduled, and again at the beginning of each meeting.

You can use mobile devices to help advance the

From 3 Observe your behavior and that of others in the next meeting you attend. How often do people check their devices?

What is accomplished in the meeting? Ask reflective questions of yourself and others in the room: are our meetings boring? Too long?

Are they structured to take advantage of the best thinking in the room? Are people coming prepared to meetings?

When are people checking their devices and does that correlate to the discussion at

which provides literacy, school improvement, and girls’ empowerment programming in the community of Konko Village, in the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa. Visit him at www.kwamealexander.com.

MUL Academy School Director, Ron Simmons commented, “We are exacted to have Mr. Kwame Alexander working with our middle and high school students through his Book in a Day Program. The staff and students are looking forward to the experiences of writing, editing, and publishing their own book. This experience offers our student learners the opportunity to mesh the academics of their English class with creative writing and critical thinking. Our entire learning community is looking forward to the book that will result from their efforts.” responsible for state and federal legislative/regulatory activity, media relations and community relations in her role as assistant general manager of Corporate Affairs.

Newton received her bachelor’s degree in management systems from Kettering University in Michigan. She was named as of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry in 2010 and she was recognized as a Rising Star under 35 in 2000. As a member of the Board of directors for the Manufacturing Institute, she chairs a new initiative focused on enhancing opportunities for women to enter and grow in professional careers in the manufacturing industry.

It was Rob McConnell, Sr. Design Engineer at the Toyota Technical Center in Michigan, however, that brought the focus on the Avalon. McConnell is the Principal Engineer having worked on the design team for the 2013 Avalon.

A member of the Michigan Design Team, McConnell is just 35 years old and is moving up the ladder fast.

He has been with Toyota for his entire professional career.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, he interned at Toyota while attending college.

After graduating in 2001 with a degree in mechanical engineering, he remained at the Technical Center and began his employment in the Body Design Department, which he now leads the team of 10 plus. He said his team is unique in there are a lot of young people on his team. According to McConnell, on a typical day he and his team members can be seen with their headphones on rocking to The Roots or Common as they are getting inspired.

McConnell’s team has taken the lead in seven different Toyota vehicles including the Venza, Solara and Tundra, however, the Avalon was the first car that was totally designed and built outside of Japan. He said the Avalon has completely been re-styled and it has been eight years in the making.

The sleek design and body style of the 2013 Avalon makes it “Sexy.” The vehicle makes a bold statement with the larger grill, the larger standard rim sizes and the innovative headlamps. The car has been designed to attract the African American and Urban markets.

Actor Idis Elba is the vehicle’s new spokesperson.

McConnell is making the imaginary possible at Toyota.

He takes a design on a piece of paper and puts it on the road. He is truly one of the Great People at Toyota making Great Cars.

organizations you are involved with. Engaging and updating friends, colleagues, donors and supporters via Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest or Instragram increases the organization’s social media presence and reach. The same with calling and emailing to set appointments and provide updates. Mobile devices bring us together. Don’t let them drive us apart.

Mel and Pearl Shaw are the authors of “Prerequisites for Fundraising Success.”

They position nonprofits for fundraising success. Visit them at www.saadandshaw.com.

LAUGH NOW, LAUGH LATER St. Paul native Vanessa Graddick making a name for herself in Hollywood

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

T

here are many dates of historical significance.

There’s Jan. 1, 1863; the date President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. On Aug. 28, 1963 the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the March on Washington. On

July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 landed on the moon. And Sept. 11, 2001 shall forever be a date of infamy.

For Vanessa Graddick, her date of significance is Nov. 1, 2006.

On Nov. 1, 2006, Graddick, a native of St. Paul, was living and working in Los Angeles when she got a phone call that changed her life.

“That was the date my mom got diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Graddick. “When I found out

she was diagnosed, I was so upset that I wasn’t there with her. I called a couple of (comedy) bookers and said, ‘I need to go on stage … tonight.’ After that, it was all she wrote.”

Since then Graddick has not looked back. Neither has her mother, who is now a six-plus year survivor. In many ways Graddick is showing that she too is a survivor; crushing through a maledominated industry of stand-up

comedy.

A 1998 graduate of St. Paul’s Central High School, Graddick is not the “typical” comic. For starters, Graddick not only has a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, but she also has a master’s in social work from the University of Minnesota and worked as a social worker for Ramsey County and in Los Angeles. “(Being a social worker) shows you how to deal with people,” said

Graddick. “If you can deal with a crackhead, a heckler ain’t nothing.”

With the recent success Graddick is experiencing, she hasn’t had to deal with too many hecklers (nor crackheads). The visually pleasing Graddick was able to quit her job as a social worker nearly a year ago and is now a fulltime comedian and actress.

Yes, actress.

GRADDICK TURN TO

6

Paint the town red Men weigh in on lipstick color

By Alysha “AP” Price Rapper A$AP Rocky has found himself in a bit of a controversy and it has nothing to do with rap lyrics and everything to do with … lipstick.

The young rapper openly voiced his opinion on whether or not certain women should wear red lipstick based on their

skin tone and he has more than ruffled a few feathers.

A$AP explored make up tips in a recent interview with fashion and beauty blog, ‘The Coveteur,’ saying, “I feel like with the red lipstick thing, it all depends … complexion. I’m just being for real. You have to be fair skinned to get away with that.”

DAT PMF, as A$AP refers

PhotoXpress

to himself, also gave the secrets of his skin care regime; which included daily exfoliating and cleansing his face with Witch Hazel. In a world where men are getting manicures and pedicures is it really a stretch to

MORE

• SPNN’s Doc U program wins national award

know they also have an opinion about lip color?

After surveying a select group of men, I found that A$AP Rocky isn’t the only man who notices lipstick and the self-advertisement that comes

• Veni!

Vedi!

Varis!

along with it.

Here are some comments I received when I posed the question on social media.

“If your face is a canvas and the color that stands out doesn’t blend with the canvas then it’s a

no go,” said Anthony Jackson.

“It just depends on how it, and everything else is presented,” said Dwayne Morris.

LIPSTICK TURN TO

• Snapshots

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Page 6 • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Aesthetically Speaking F i l m

Coming soon For movies opening April 26, 2013

By Kam Williams

BIG BUDGET FILMS “The Big Wedding” (R for profanity, sexuality and brief nudity) Hollywood remake of Mon Frère se Marie, the French farce about a long-divorced couple (Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton) pressured to pretend they’re still happily married at the wedding of their adopted son (Ben Barnes) when his conservative birth mother (Patricia Rae), a devout

Catholic from Colombia, unexpectedly decides to attend.

Ensemble includes Susan Sarandon, Katherine Heigl, Robin Williams, Amanda Seyfried, and Topher Grace.

(In English and Spanish with subtitles) “Kon-Tiki” (PG-13 for violence) Seafaring adventure recreating Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s (Pal Sverre Hagen) 4,000-mile voyage via raft across the Pacific in 1947 proving it was possible that South Americans had migrated to Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. With Anders Baasmo

Christiansen, Gustaf Skarsgard and Tobias Santelmann.

“Pain & Gain” (R for graphic nudity, bloody violence, crude sexuality, drug use and pervasive profanity) Michael Bay directed this action-oriented crime comedy chronicling the real-life exploits of a trio of bodybuilders (Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Mackie) whose scheme to kidnap a wealthy businessman (Tony Shalhoub) for ransom goes horribly wrong. Cast includes Dr. Ken Jeong, Ed Harris, Rebel Wilson and Rob Corddry.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS “Arthur Newman” (Unrated) Midlife crisis dramedy about a depressed, recently-divorced man (Colin Firth) who fakes his own death and assumes a new identity before taking to

insightnews.com/aesthetics the road where he becomes beguiled by a kleptomaniac (Emily Blunt) he finds passed out at a seedy motel. Support cast features Anne Heche, Autumn Dial and David Andrews.

“At Any Price” (R for profanity and graphic sexuality) Prodigal Son saga about the rebellious offspring (Zac Efron) of a struggling farmer (Dennis Quaid) who’d rather pursue his dream of becoming a race car driver than try to save the family business by following in his father’s footsteps. With Heather Graham, Maika Monroe and Red West.

“Graceland” (Unrated) Filipino crime thriller about a corrupt politician’s (Menngie Cobarrubias) chauffeur (Arnold Reyes) forced to take the law into his own hands after ruthless mobsters kidnap his daughter (Ella Guevara) for ransom. With Leon Miguel, Dido De La Paz and Marife Necesito. (In Tagalog with subtitles) “King’s Faith” (PG-13 for violence, drug use and mature themes) Christian-themed morality play about the challenges faced by a former gang member (Crawford Wilson) when his troubled past comes to threaten his newfound commitment to

faith, family and a better future.

Supporting cast includes Lynn Whitfield, James McDaniel, Kayla Compton and Kristen Royal.

“Midnight’s Children” (Unrated) Screen adaptation of the Salman Rushdie bestseller, set in Mumbai on Independence Day in 1947, following the contrasting fates of babies switched at birth, one (Satya Bhabha), born to a lowly beggar, the other (Siddharth Narayan), to a prominent family. Featuring Shahana Goswami, Rajat Kapoor and Ronit Roy. (In English, Hind and Urdu) “Mud” (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexual references, smoking and mature themes) Mathew McConaughey stars in this fugitive drama set on an uninhabited island in the Mississippi River about a couple of 14 year-olds (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland) who try to help a man wanted for murder elude bounty hunters so he can reunite with his the love of his life (Reese Witherspoon).

With Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon and Joe Don Baker.

“An Oversimplification of Her Beauty” (Unrated) Animated romantic comedy revolving around an optimistic artist’s reaction to being stood up by an intriguing young woman he

was hoping to date. Voice cast includes Terence Nance, Namik Minter, Chanelle Pearson and Shante Cozier.

“Paradise: Love” (Unrated) First installment of a trilogy directed by Ulrich Seidl revolving around a 50 yearold, Austrian sex tourist’s (Magarete Tiesel) trip to Kenya where she plans to spend her vacation sleeping with young African men. Co-starring Peter Kazungu, Inge Maux and Dunja Sowinetz.(In German, Swahili and English with subtitles) “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” (R for profanity, violence and brief sexuality) Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) directed this adaptation of Moshin Hamid’s novel of the same name about a Pakistani Princeton graduate (Riz Ahmed) working on Wall Street who, in the wake of a hostage crisis, finds himself torn between the American Dream and the call of his homeland. With Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland and Liev Schreiber.

“Tai Chi Hero” (Unrated) Historical biopic about martial arts master Yang Lu Chan (Yuan Xiaochao) who founded Tai Chi in the 19th Century.

With Qi Shu, Tony Leung and Angelababy. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

SPNN

Theresa Crushshon

SPNN’s Doc U program wins national award Theresa Crushshon, a participant in SPNN’s Doc U program, has won the award for Documentary Biography from the Alliance for Community Media’s Hometown Media Awards.

Her film about Jazz legend Irv Williams was created in Doc U, a program funded in part by the Minnesota State Arts Board. The program gives lowincome adults hands-on skills in all aspects of documentary production. In the first year of Doc U, seven participants,

Graddick From 5 Fans of the wildly popular Kevin Hart show, “Real Househusbands of Hollywood,”

including Theresa, created short films on a diversity of subjects. The upcoming class of Doc U is recruiting now and will train a dozen new documentarians.

Theresa’s film explores the life and legacy of local jazz musician Irv Williams. As the writer of a local jazz history blog, Jassed, Theresa was in a unique position to tell the story of this community. “I know that people use all different types of new media to find and share information these days,”

Theresa said. “I was interested in the Doc U project because I wanted to learn how to use different kinds of technology to create interesting content for my blog. In the Minnesota community Irv Williams is a legend, I wanted to do something more in-depth and more professional.” Irv is 93-years-old and still performs weekly at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis. With his life story spanning nearly a century, Theresa felt Irv had an important history to share.

While participating in Doc U, Theresa and the rest of the new documentarians gathered for in-depth workshops on everything from interview skills, to lighting, to editing.

They learned how to work with new HD video cameras and tell a story on screen. “It was a great community of people,” says Theresa. “There were different levels of experience, but everyone…. really wanted to see their idea coming to fruition.”

were recently treated to a Graddick appearance as she played Angry Customer in an episode of the BET series.

The St. Paul native said her connection to one of the show’s producers led to her role.

“Chris Spencer was one of the creative producers of the show and I knew him pretty well,” said Graddick, who also added that the role wasn’t just handed to her. “I still had to audition just like everyone else.”

For Graddick, landing the role on “Real Househusbands” is one in a string of coveted bookings. Last year Graddick’s stand-up was featured on Showtime in the all female stand-up series, “Lip Service.”

The highly sarcastic comic was featured on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham” and on Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed.”

Currently Graddick’s stage show can be seen on Nuvo TV’s “Stand Up & Deliver.”

“I’m really excited to see this one because it’s the first show I’ve done since I lost all my weight,” said Graddick who dropped 30 pound within the past few months.

Graddick said after viewing her airing of “Lip Service” she decided she needed to do something about her weight.

At the time of that taping Graddick weighed 175 pounds.

Today, when Graddick steps on the scale it displays 143 pounds. The entertainer, who was recently featured in Muscle and Body magazine, attributed her body sculpting to weight training, cardio workouts and a change in diet that cut down on her carbohydrate intake.

For Graddick, image is not the only concern when it comes to her career. Being a woman in a male dominated industry presents other challenges as well.

“I’ve been told flat out that I could get a lot more stage time if I slept with certain people,” said Graddick. “And if people think you’re desperate enough they will try you. There are a lot of us who will say no, but there are others who won’t.”

Proud of her St. Paul roots, Graddick said her upbringing keeps her from “becoming all Hollywood.”

“I’m a Midwest chick, so I’m very down to earth,” said Graddick. “We’re very genuine people from the Midwest. I never read my own headlines.

insightnews.com/aesthetics

I n t e r v i e w

Aesthetically Speaking • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Page 7

Veni!

Vidi!

Varis!

Riordan. http://www.amazon.com/ exec/obidos/ASIN/1423113454/ ref=nosim/thslfofire-20 KW: What is your favorite dish to eat?

TS: Chicken Pad Thai and cheese pizza.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

TS: When I look in the mirror I see a handsome young man… smart, charming, willing to work hard for his dream… never giving up.

And someone willing to help other people.

By Kam Williams Known to many as “Varis” or simply as “V,” Travaris Spears hails from Rochester, New York where, at an early age, he displayed a charm that was engaging and magnetic. An energy and passion for performing led him to sing, dance, and even imitate his favorite artists and celebrities. Using the world as his stage, Travaris leaves a lasting impression, thanks to a gift for communicating and interacting with people from all walks of life.

In fact after performing in a Tiny Tots school play, the director and audience members expressed to his mother that he had something very, very special. With a desire for the best for her son, his mother, Tanika, moved to Brooklyn in 2007.

From the time they arrived in New York City, she and Travaris set out to strengthen their resolve.

Although Travaris was blessed with natural talents, he committed himself to various activities that enhance his character and improve his chances of blossoming as a professional artist.

The discipline Travaris displays at such a young age is unrivaled and enables him to become fully engaged in a host of skill-building activities. His repertoire includes enrollment at the American Tap Dance Foundation, weekly guitar lessons, as well as voice and acting coaching.

While maintaining excellent grades in school, he has appeared in a Siri/Universal Record Music Video, a television show, print ads and several indie films. Travaris’ charisma is contagious, so

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

TS: My only wish is to become a successful actor, and to be able to take care of my family and to help others in need.

Travaris Spears appreciate him now and avoid the rush!

Here, he talks about his new movie, “Admission,” a romantic comedy co-starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, where he plays Rudd’s adopted son, Nelson.

Kam Williams: Hi, Travaris. It was nice meeting you and your mom at the Princeton premiere. What interested you in Admission?

Travaris Spears: I think the thing that made me most interested in this role was playing a kid that had a life totally different from mine. Nelson is adopted… He travels the world with his father… no stability… no mother. It was interesting preparing myself mentally for this role.

KW: What was it like being on the set of your first feature film?

TS: It was so exciting being on set for the first time. Everyone welcomed me with love. It was a great cast to work with.

KW: Were you at all nervous acting around big stars like Paul Rudd and Tina Fey? TS: Yes, I was nervous at first. I actually auditioned with Tina Fey before I was offered the role, and she made me feel really comfortable.

We connected immediately. I was

also able to meet Paul Rudd before I came on set to discuss some of the scenes, and he was very friendly and cool to work with. After the initial meeting, I was no longer nervous.

KW: How would you describe your character, Nelson?

TS: Nelson is an outgoing kid, very caring and outspoken. He loves to socialize like myself. Nelson is a kid who wants stability, a normal life, a mom and the same friends and the same school, instead of traveling the world with his father.

Nelson hates traveling.

KW: Are you anything like him in real-life?

TS: Yes, Nelson and I are outgoing, caring, not shy, and we like stability.

I couldn’t imagine traveling the world being taken away from my friends and family constantly.

KW: What message do you think people will take away from the film?

TS: People will see that change is not always bad; you can find many things in change including happiness.

KW: What was it like to see yourself up on the big screen for the first time?

TS: It was amazing to see myself on the big screen. I was so

NeNe Leakes becomes Bravo’s highest paid ‘Housewife’

excited, I remember thinking what will I look like, and hoping I did a good job and that people would like my character. The one thing I was shocked about was everything I worked on was not in the movie. I learned about the editing of movies at my first screening of Admission.

During the movie I said, “Mom, what happened to this scene? I worked really hard on that and it was taken out.”

KW: Besides acting, you sing, dance, play guitar and even box.

Which is your favorite?

TS: I’m involved in a lot of activities and I enjoy them all, but if I could pick a favorite it would be acting.

KW: What do you like to do to unwind?

TS: On a busy day for me, once I finish work, I like to play video games or listen to music.

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

TS: I always have good laughs daily.

I’m a happy kid. For example, I’m a member at Gleason’s boxing gym, and my nickname there is Happy.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

TS: The last book I read was “The Red Pyramid” by Rick

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

TS: I would be a lion. They’re strong creatures and they rule the jungle.

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

TS: I remember when I moved to New York City when I was in the first grade. I remember being excited but also sad that I was leaving behind my friends and family in Rochester where I was born.

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

TS: If I had a superpower, it would be to be able to help anyone in need.

KW: The Michael Ealy question: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

TS: It would be Martin Luther King, because he never gave up on his dream.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Travaris, and best of luck with Admission and with your career.

TS: No problem. Thanks for taking the time out to interview me.

To see a trailer for Admission, visit: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=x6fp8KswbCE

EARTH IS A MEMORY WORTH FIGHTING FOR

By Alysha “AP” Price NeNe Leakes secured a $1 Million contract, which made her the highest paid cast member of the popular reality tv series “Real Housewives of Atlanta.”

Keeping it real pays for Leakes, as viewers have grown to love her no-nonsense attitude, finger snapping and ever so popular “NeNe-isms.” The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” (RHOA) brake-out star signed yet another contract with Bravo, ushering in season six of the RHOA show.

Leakes received a hefty raise plus bonuses so there is no question that the last standing original “Housewife of Atlanta” will once again be the focal point of the show.

Reports have confirmed that the other ladies have signed their contracts and are ready for season six; however, the cast hasn’t overlooked the salary jump for Leakes. The notion has surfaced that Leakes wouldn’t be nearly as popular if she didn’t have the other ladies to argue with. Interestingly her tune has changed a lot compared to previous seasons; with the absence of Kim ZolciakBiermann, Leakes has calmed her nerves tremendously.

Reality television doesn’t

Lipstick From 5 Derwin Turner said what’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. “Just because it looks good on one doesn’t mean it will look good on everyone,” said Turner.

Lawrence Smith thinks most women would benefit from a beauty consultant when choosing lipstick shades.

“I’m usually not a fan of lipstick because most women, in my opinion, choose the wrong shade,” said Smith “I’m actually getting used to it, regardless of the skin

Nene Leakes always include catfights. In recent shows, Leakes has become more supportive of her castmates while focusing on her own acting career. The reality star can be seen on “The New Normal” as Rocky, the outspoken assistant to Bryan Buckley (Andrew Rannells).

Season five of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” recently wrapped with a memorable reunion where Leakes and her nemesis, Zolciak-Biermann,

surprised viewers by embracing one another. Could this mean that Zolciak-Biermann will return to the show now that Leakes is playing nice? The verdict is still out on that, but one thing is certain: the outspoken Leakes has let her ex-husband of 14 years, Gregg Leakes, back in and he quickly won her heart over for the second time. She now has a blossoming career and a love that is stronger than before. Mrs. Leakes has arrived.

color. At one point I had the urge to ask how much,” said Chris Hervey. Not sure where he was going with that one, but OK. Mr. Floyd, who declined to give his first name, isn’t a fan of red on any shade of woman.

“Overall, softer colors allow me to see her for who she is,” said, Floyd.

Devin Gilchrist said he doesn’t have an issue with women wearing red lipstick, but, “Red is cool; let’s talk about this nasty blue lipstick though.”

Keyson Crump said he associates red lipstick with loose women.

“Growing up, the young women in my house weren’t

allowed to wear red lipstick.

My grandmother used to say whores wore red lipstick,” said Crump.

The take away here is men are definitely paying attention, whether their opinions or preferences matter to women wearing the luxurious lip color is yet to be determined.

However, ladies your lips tell a story even when you’re silent.

Alysha “AP” Price is a certified motivational interviewer, entertainment journalist, blogger and writer. Her work can also be found in YoRaps!

Magazine (www.yoraps.com) and on her blog Hell Yeah F’N Write.

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CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES AN ORIGINAL SERIES. MONDAYS 9/8C. PREMIERES APRIL 15 ON

Page 8 • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Aesthetically Speaking 1

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1) BoomBox bringing the funk during their headlining show at Icehouse. 2) Red light special: Alicia Steele at Icehouse. 3) Bree Turner belts out a tune during the BoomBox performance at Icehouse. 4) Lovely ladies (left to right) Nicole Rucker, Nicole Pacini, Desralynn Cole and Dana Hayes hanging out at Insert Coin(s) during the Afterwork Jumpoff. 5) BoomBox singer and guitar player Jesse Larson gettin’ it in during the group’s performance at Icehouse. 6) Mashwell Brothas DJ, Levy Jones and MaXXposure’s Esther Almeida sharing the love during the Afterwork Jumpoff at Insert Coin(s). 7) Twin Cities super-promoter Debonaire McNeal shows off his gaming skills during his Afterwork Jumpoff at Insert Coin(s). 8) Lauren Collins and Adrienne Tucker flash the pearly whites at Insert Coin(s) during the Afterwork Jumpoff.

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Page 9

FULL CIRCLE Give me my flowers while I yet live

By Robert McClain A number of people gathered on Saturday, April 13th, at the Kellogg Square ResidencesBoulevard Room to recognize one of St. Paul’s AfricanAmerican business pioneers, Mary Fletcher, and to celebrate her 80th birthday with a surprise party. Fletcher was the sole owner operator of Selby Avenue’s Tom Thumb Superette, once located at 1025 Selby Avenue, for over thirty

Mary Fletcher

Robert McClain

years, and remains a strong advocate of African-American economic development through business ownership. The love and appreciation gathering was attended by many people who were frequent patrons, friends and well-wishers of this great matriarch, who provided many years of service and goodwill to the Summit-University community.

This surprise celebration was an effort organized

by Fletcher’s children to provide an opportunity for the

community to bestow upon her symbolic flowers through their expressions of love, appreciation and recognition of her impact on the lives of individuals and the community in general. Fletcher provides some of these individuals, as young men and women, with their first job at her Tom Thumb Superette. Many now in their forties, fifties and sixties came to reminisce about the good, the testing, and the fun times they had working for her. If anyone would give you a chance, Mary

Fletcher would!

Mary Fletcher no longer resides in St. Paul, the town she loves so much, but will be here visiting for a few months.

She was certainly surprised and overjoyed with emotions while experiencing this beautiful outpouring of love by those in attendance.

Please accept the family’s apology if anyone was overlooked in the process of figuring out whom to issue invitations, due to outdated contact information.

The sum of our faith is greater Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Tragedy has once again struck our homeland, and once again we are tested in our resolve. The events at the Boston marathon are a clear indication that those who live in torment are seeking to use

violence to torment others. Their evil intentions are to accomplish their depraved agenda through the sum of our fears. But we as a people are not so easily manipulated, because we are people of faith.

Fear can never conqueror faith because it is the opposite of faith. Fear necessitates that you think and believe the worst is yet to come. It requires you to deny the very existence of faith by acting on what you see above what you believe. Fear is most effective when faith is not present. It lives in the realm that

what may happen is going to be worse than what already has. It tries to get you to live in terror of what might happen next. For us as believers, what happens next is that we call on our faith.

Faith conquerors fear. It is more powerful than fear because it exists in spite of fear. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). It overrides what you see with what you believe, and it assures you that what you believe is greater than what is to come. Faith is the assurance

Africa From 1 My work as a human development consultant and organizational solutionist has taken me to communities across the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe. For so many years however, even during my college days at the University of North CarolinaChapel Hill, I longed to conduct sustainable work in the Motherland. Over the years, I had written for a women’s journal in Nigeria, consulted with organizations in Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria via SKYPE and Oovoo; and given a school my girl’s curriculum to start a leadership program, but that was not enough, I had a desire to go there, to immerse myself in the arms of the people and the place.

They say speak what you desire, believe that it will manifest, and be prepared when it does. As destiny would have it, my steps were ordered to come to Minneapolis for this season to do some work, and here is where I met Reverend, soon to be Dr. Mfon Archibong, who is the President/ CEO of Grace Restoration International (GRI). GRI is a multi-dimensional human development organization that provides an array of programs and services to

Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe and Rev. Dr. Mfon Archibong facilitating the Micro-enterprise meeting. youth, adults and families across the African Diaspora.

In numerous conversations, Mfon Archibong shared his vision and spirit-work with me, and when he asked would I help him, my response was a resounding “My pleasure.”

Mother Africa Embraces Me Last December, as a collaborative partner with GRI and our host the Hon Dr. Ekaette Ebong, the Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom Legislature, I was invited to conduct a Microenterprise Learning Circle for women, and during my birthday week, my bucket list journey to Africa was realized. Indeed, a birthday gift to remember.

that although today may not be the way you want it, tomorrow it will be. Because we live by faith, there is no fear in us.

Despite what our enemies are saying about us, America is still one nation under God, and we still declare “in God we trust”.

We are strong because we have overcome adversity. We will not bow down to terrorism. The last enemy to be destroyed is death so will continue to speak life. For God is and always will be our solution. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and

not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11). The events in Boston have brought us to our knees, but it is there that we have found the strength to pray. Our head is bloodied but still unbowed.

Our faith as a nation is still strong. No terrorist bomb can ever destroy that. The bible declares that “no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me, declares the LORD” (Isaiah

57:17). We have God on our side. Those that have pleasure in forging their weapons will not prevail in the end. They cannot and will not break our faith or our resolve. The sum of our faith is greater than the sum of our fears.

All I can say is “What an amazing visit home.” I was treated royally, pampered like a long lost relative who has come back to the community after being absent for far too many years. Elected officials and community dignitaries all came to a surprise birthday party that Dr. Ekaette Ebong hosted for me; a woman who I had spoke to by phone on several occasions but had never met; a sister in service whose spirit connected with mine, as we both share a dedication for uplifting others, both of us committed to using our talents and expertise to transform people and places.

Over three hundred women

signed up to be part of my social enterprise project there, and more astounding was being named the first woman Chief in honor of my human development work by the ITAM Clan in Akwa Ibom. I was named First Daughter of the Light or Adiaha Unwana Itam. Memorable were the King’s comments, “This was already predestined, and we are merely crystallizing what was to be.”

This was certainly a full circle journey for me, as I grew up in a sleepy North Carolina town called Belmont.

In celebration of the city’s 100 year anniversary in 1995, a

book was written by my aunt and her colleague about people of color and their contributions to the community. The first settler as the scarce records note was my father’s great aunt, known as Aunt Betty, born on a slave ship, her family came from West Africa. This book, Footprints on the Rough Side of the Mountain was dedicated to her. My father, in 1970, became the first AfricanAmerican City Councilman in this textile town, and then in 2012, I was embraced in Africa.

Grace Restoration

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities.

To get copies of his books, or for questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.

AFRICA TURN TO 12

Page 10 • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Insight News

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COMMUNITY Calendar • Classifieds

EVENTS

Equal Pay for Equal Work

Rust College A’Cappella Choir Apr. 24 New Hope Baptist Church will host The World Renowned Rust College A’Cappella Choir performing on Wednesday, Apr. 24, 2013 7:00. pm. New Hope Baptist Church is located at 712 Burr Street, St. Paul, MN 55130.

The Rust College A’Cappella Choir features a broad repertoire of classical, semi-classical, spiritual, operatic, contemporary and traditional gospel. The Rust College A’Cappella Choir is led by Ms. Dorothy Lee Jones.

Donation: $10.

Wednesday, April 24, 7 p.m.

Highland Park Library, Village View Room, 1974 Ford Parkway Fifty years ago, the federal government passed the Equal Pay Act, requiring that women be paid the same as men if they’re doing the same job. Thirty years ago, Minnesota went further. The state implemented landmark legislation to erase the pay gap between men and women in the public sector.

It succeeded! Our panel

“The African Diaspora: Building a Collective Voice” Apr. 27 The American Action Coalition, The Center for Families, and Neighborhoods Organizing for Change host A Family Reunion “The African Diaspora: Language Arts Teacher Building a Concordia Creative Learning Academy in Collective St. Paul is looking for a full time licensed 6-8 Language Arts Teacher for the 2013Voice” on 2014 school year. This is a full time position S a t u r d a y, with benefits. If you are interested please April 27th send your resume to lori@cclaonline.org or from 11amyou may fax your resume to 651-793-6624.

Application deadline: Open until filled.

3pm at

3333 N. 4th Street, The Center for Families. The reunion will highlight foods that represent our different cultures, guest speakers from Panama, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Ghana, Brazil, United States, and Somali. Come participate in table discussions and group exercises. There will also be community and government groups present to share information about how to start your own business, purchasing a home, and how to meet your goals. Bring your money because vendors such as “Ethel Richards” Ghanaian Clothing designer extraordinaire will be on hand to sell their trades. For more information or to obtain a vendor table at the event please

due to their protest efforts, given criminal citations for a nonphysical dispute with an assistant principal and, according to LevyPounds, one was even handcuffed.

According to Levy-Pounds, the criminal charges stemmed from the students trying to retrieve their protest posters from the trash, where the assistant principal had placed the posters.

“The way (the AfricanAmerican students) were treated it felt like they were being retaliated against for standing up.

Rather than using the incident as a teachable moment, the school used it to criminalize these young African-American men,” said Levy-Pounds. “I applaud (the

two students) for not responding with violence and addressing the situation in the manner they did.”

Levy-Pounds said the school’s response is indicative of a pervasive school culture that seeks to indoctrinate African-Americans into the criminal justice system.

“It’s a part of a pattern; part of a system that continues to devalue young Black men,” said LevyPounds.

Hopkins Superintendent John Schultz said due to federal student privacy rights he could not discuss and disciplinary actions taken by the school, but said the actions of the ski team were not reflective of the overall environment at Hopkins High.

“There was no spirit week going on and there was no Ghetto Spirit Day,” said Schultz. “This was all student driven by some members of the cross country ski team, who said they were dressing like a rapper.”

Schultz said the members of the ski team were pulled aside by faculty the day of the incident and informed that their attire may be offensive to people of different cultures. However, according to Levy-Pounds, nothing more was done and days later the team went on to compete in the state championships.

Levy-Pounds said the ski team’s antics clearly violated the school’s written policy against racial harassment

and should have warranted disciplinary action.

Levy-Pounds said she has called on the district to bring in a third party investigator to look into the incident and make disciplinary recommendations.

Schultz said the district is bringing in a third party investigator, but that investigator has yet to be determined.

Civil rights attorney LevyPounds has also called for the district to expunge the suspensions from the affected AfricanAmerican students’ records and to have all criminal charges dropped.

“These students should be given a written apology from the district,” said Levy-Pounds.

be extremely disappointed if President Obama caves into the long standing Republican effort to cut Social Security and benefits for disabled veterans and their survivors through a so-called chained CPI,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Ver.) said in a statement.

The Obama proposal would change the way federal benefits are indexed from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to the “chained” CPI, a different way of indexing living costs that will result in reduced benefit payments to Social Security recipients.

In 2008, candidate Barack Obama told the American people that he would not cut Social Security. Having him go back on his word will only add to the rampant political cynicism that our country is experiencing today.”

In a statement, Sen. Nancy Pelosi showed support for the president’s move, saying, “The President has made it clear that this proposal is in furtherance of his efforts to achieve compromise with Republicans and

demonstrates that he is willing to make tough decisions to reduce the deficit.”

But, how do these decisions help or harm the African American community?

Faced with a staggering unemployment rate of 13.3 percent as of March 2013 and nearly 30 percent of Blacks living in poverty, the Black community that was hard hit by the Great Recession and has yet to make a substantial recovery.

What will the fiscal year 2014 budget do to help members of the Black community recover?

White House leadership sought to answer that question during a with select reporters last Thursday.

They argued that major investments in education, particularly early childhood, will have a major African Americans.

Innovations in K-12, a redesign of high school, an improvement on college affordability, and an improvement of higher education for minority students make up more than $1 billion of the president’s proposed

budget.

“The budget makes sure we make balanced cuts without hurting the most vulnerable Americans,” said Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president, on the call. “Although we’ve seen the African American unemployment rate drop from its peak in 2011, we all know we still have more to do to help families and provide opportunities for Americans who have been fighting to receive a job.”

Although many of the budget proposals that target the African American community are focused on education, there are a number that also help American workers including an $8 billion investment in a Community College to Career fund, a $12.5 billion Pathways to Work fund that helps worker gain skills for long-term employment, and a $4 billion reemployment program that funds strategies to help the long-term unemployed get jobs.

“The president is not going to be satisfied until every American who wants a job can get one,” Jarrett said on the call. “That’s

his North Star. That’s what he thinks about every morning and that’s what he challenges his staff to do every day.”

Jobs have been the focus of the Obama presidency since he first took office in 2009 when 2.5 million jobs were lost during his first four months in office. Four months into his second term, the economy is adding, on average, 169,000 jobs every month.

The budget also provides $40 million to the Department of Justice prison re-entry programs, including substance abuse treatment programs and alternatives to prison.

Another $90 million is set aside to provide employment services to youth ex-offenders, which are proposed to include job training, counseling, and drug treatment.

Another impact the budget could have on Black families is a significant investment in infrastructure and transportation—$90 billion in total—that will spur job creation and improve downtrodden communities.

Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, said the president is creating “ladders of opportunity” for those in neighborhoods who are striving to reach the middle class, referring to a phrase Obama used during his State of the Union address.

“We’re partnering with the hardest hit, highest poverty neighborhoods to be able to work with communities to help them grow,” Muñoz added.

The president’s budget has been met with criticism over his proposal change the way cost-ofliving adjustment are calculated for Social Security recipients. The new approach to inflation would not be applied to Pell Grant recipients, low-income veterans, nor would it be used in poverty level programs.

“It’s not something that was previously put in,” explained Gene Sperling, the director of the National Economic Council, who was also on the call. “This is not an ideal budget proposal, but it’s a part of the compromise to turn off sequester.”

their spending to put away money for retirement (compared to 36% of the national population), and two in five (40%) non-retired African-American investors have a retirement savings plan in place (similar to the national population, 42%). Among nonretired African-Americans, having a plan is most prevalent among those earning over $100,000 annually (68% earning more than $100,000 have a plan vs. 35% of those earning less than $100,000.).

Compared to the US overall, African American investors are less likely to consider themselves financially comfortable (38% vs.

51% overall). More than a third (36%) of non-retired African American investors surveyed report that their biggest financial concern is paying their monthly bills; saving for retirement

ranks second at 22%, followed by healthcare costs at 15%.

Three in five African American investors are more focused on debt reduction (59%) than saving for retirement. And just over half (52%) of those surveyed are concerned they won’t have enough saved for retirement (similar to all adults). AfricanAmerican investors less than 50 years old are particularly concerned (64%, vs. 39% of those ages 50 and over).

Just over a third (36%) of African American investors are confident in knowing where to invest in today’s market (similar to the national population, 31%).

“All investors – regardless of age or level of savings – should be focused on planning for retirement, and turning plans into actual saving and investing,” said Cosby. “Many African American

investors, much like the general population of overall investors, find investing in today’s economy daunting. It’s important to seek advice from a trusted professional to help navigate the ups and downs of the market, with an eye on long-term financial goals.

It can be scary, but with all the resources and tools available, it can be done.”

Living in multi-generational households also has a significant impact on African American investors’ savings, as a number of respondents are caring for their own children, as well as aging parents or grandparents. One in five (20%) African American investors surveyed report living in three-generational households.

Three in four (77%) African American adults surveyed who live in three-generational households are concerned they

will not save enough to support themselves in retirement, compared to just 46% of those outside of multi-generational households.

Almost three quarters of African American investors (73%) are optimistic about the political direction of the country, significantly higher than the general population (43%), while four in five (83%) feel the U.S. economy will improve in the next two years (compared to 47% of the general population). Seventytwo percent of those surveyed expect their local economy to improve in the next two years (compared to 45% of the overall adult population), and nearly three in four see improvements in their local housing market (71%, vs. 54% nationally).

As part of Wells Fargo’s proactive outreach to the

segment, the company is focused on providing financial education for African American consumers to empower them to achieve financial success. Wells Fargo has developed a comprehensive financial education platform that offers guidance on financial topics that resonate with the segment. Through relationships with national and community organizations and media outlets nationwide, Wells Fargo uses print, digital and workshop formats to deliver financial solutions to a broad range of audiences. An additional Wells Fargo resource is My Financial Guide, an online resource consisting of articles, videos and tools aimed at helping consumers become more confident and knowledgeable in money management.

Please contact Jenny Gardner for additional information or assistance.

From 1 that crack down on waste and fraud to strengthen Medicare for years to come and • Job creation through investment in education, manufacturing, clean energy, small business, and infrastructure.

The budget has been met with resistance from both sides of the aisle, with Republican leaders such as Sen. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) calling the budget a missed opportunity that “merely ratifies the status quo.”

Democratic members of Congress have been angered

by Obama’s approach to Social Security, a change that he says could result in $230 billion in deficit reduction.

“Millions of working people, seniors, disabled veterans, those who have lost a loved one in combat, and women will

Investors From 3 how they are approaching saving and planning for retirement. It is important for financial advisors to help investors think through longterm strategies for investment planning, while also providing guidance on common concerns like how to balance paying off debt while continuing to save for retirement.”

While African American investors have made progress in retirement planning and preparation, most are concerned about having enough money to retire. African American investors are taking necessary steps toward preparing for retirement, as 45% of those surveyed have cut back on

Relations when the law was implemented; Bonnie Watkins, of the Pay Equity Coalition of Minnesota; and Peter Benner, of AFSCME,

about showing cultural tolerance, even choosing to perform in t-shirts that call for the legalization of gay marriage. A very detailed image search of Macklemore could not find the rapper dressed in any of the attire the Hopkins students donned, minus the fur coat, which he wears in his video for “Thrift Shop.”

What has Levy-Pounds and others so outraged is the notion that, to date, no disciplinary action has been taken against members of the ski team for violating the school’s policy of racial harassment and bullying, but two African-American students who posted signs in protest of the “spirit” activities were suspended

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Budget

talks about how it happened, and why it hasn’t happened more often. Featuring Nina Rothchild, head of the state Department of Employee

the message at the Sunday afternoon service. New Bethel is located at 1115 30th Avenue North in Minneapolis. The community is welcome to attend.

Highway 610 & Noble Parkway Park and Ride REBID Brooklyn Park, MN Bid Date: May 1, 2013 @ 2:00 pm

School of Law. “They called it ‘Ghetto Spirit Day’ and when I looked at the pictures and video of them it was evident their intent was to mock African-Americans.

What they claim is laughable, just laughable.”

Levy-Pounds said the Macklemore claim is just a convenient out for the members of the ski team.

In Macklemore’s hit song, “Thrift Shop” he tells a tale against designer consumerism.

Macklemore is very out front

contact Tim Franklin at 612354-6807 or aaac.nw@gmail. com Liberian Nobelist Leymah Gbowee to Speak in Brooklyn Park Apr. 27 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Leymah Gbowee, an activist and social worker from Liberia, will offer a public talk on peace-building Sat., April 27, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park. She is in the Twin Cities as part of an annual two-day youth conference, PeaceJam, sponsored by the Minneapolis-based nonprofit youthrive. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.youthrive.net.

the 34th Church Anniversary with a musical on Saturday, April 27 at 6:30 pm and a 4:00 pm service on Sunday, April 28, 2013. The theme for this year’s anniversary is “We’ve Come This Far By Faith” Matthew 8:10. Rev. Runney Patterson Classified Sales Representative of New Hope Insight News is looking for a Classified Baptist church in Sales Representative to start immediately.

St. Paul will deliver This is a part-time position perfect for a col-

Knutson Construction will be submitting a bid on the following project and invites you to submit your subcontractor and supplier quotations to us.

From 1

Email: info@insightnews.com

“Latino Artists in Minnesota” exhibit on display in Hennepin Gallery Thru-Apr. 28 The artwork of local Latino artists will be on display in the Hennepin Gallery from April 1 through April 28. The exhibit will feature photographs, dance costumes, paintings, sculpture, lyrics and cartoons by artists who trace their origins to Spain, Mexico, Honduras, Argentina, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile and Colombia. Together the artist represent the wide variety of artistic talent found in our Latino metro community today.

This is a unique opportunity to sample their creativity in a public showcase. The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 6pm, at the Hennepin County Government Center, A Level, 300. S. Sixth St., Minneapolis.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Hennepin County Multicultural Arts Committee. The Gallery is a project of Hennepin County Public Affairs.

Attention DBE Subcontractors & Suppliers

Hopkins

Fax: 612.588.2031

DAVID NOBLE LECTURE SERIES

Send Community Calendar information to us by email: info@insightnews.com, by fax: 612.588.2031, by phone: 612.588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411. Free or low cost events preferred.

Knutson Construction Services, Inc. 5500 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Phone: 763-546-1400 / Fax: 763-546-2226

Phone: 612.588.1313

34th Church Anniversary Apr. 27 New Bethel Baptist Church will be celebrating

lege student or someone looking for supplemental income. Candidate must be a motivated self-starter with the desire to grow the business. Candidate must be focused, must have the ability to work under deadlines and to meet or exceed set sales goals. Responsibilities include calling and emailing new clients and following up with past clients for classified sales. Please e-mail cover letter and resume to batalara@insightnews.com.

Please: No walk-ins and NO phone calls.

which pushed the legislation, then made sure it worked.

Visit www.thefriends. org or call 651-222-3242 for more information.

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Insight News • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Page 11

HEALTH Cravings: Ways to get a handle on a ‘sweet’ tooth Our Health

By Nicole Winbush MD Many of us (including myself) have regular cravings for sweet foods. In limited quantities, sweets may be something that are a manageable and sustainable part of our daily food intake. However, because these foods can be so habit forming and are so widely available many of us find ourselves eating more of these foods then we would like.

There are many potentially negative health effects of eating a diet that contains moderate to high levels of processed sugars. Most of us are familiar with concerns about excess calories and weight gain.

However, there is increasing evidence, that sugar (and other processed sweeteners) can have negative impacts on our mood and may play a role in increased depression.

Sweeteners may also affect the balance of chemicals in our brain and impair our memory and may be a contributor to chronic joint pain and arthritis.

So, if you have ever gotten the sense that your sweet tooth is getting out of hand, I provide the following strategies for you to try.

Respect the craving. Your body is trying to tell you something.

Our body is a beautiful interconnected system that is constantly working to maintain our balance and health. When our body feels it needs something, there are many ways it will work to signal our mind of its needs. By really tuning in and listening we can decode these

messages and provide our body and mind what they most need to function their best. A craving for sweets may signal general hunger or low blood sugar. Perhaps your craving for a sweet snack is just your mind’s way of telling you that it is bored and that eating a snack might give it ‘something to do’, perhaps you are sad or lonely. So, the next time a craving comes up, just take one minute and ask yourself the following question: “Why do I want to eat this right now?” and wait for the answer. If you are hungry, there are better

and yams, squash, carrots, parsnips and beets and natural whole grains (like brown rice, barley etc).

Maybe what you need is a little more bitterness and watch the salt. The concept of balancing the flavors in our diet is something that is very common in traditional diets from around the world. Most traditional diets incorporate a balance of flavors throughout the day (foods that are sweet, bitter, sour etc). However, our western diet is often lacking in these other balancing

[...] there is increasing evidence, that sugar (and other processed sweeteners) can have negative impacts on our mood and may play a role in increased depression

choices you can make that would satisfy your hunger in a way that won’t leave you craving another candy bar in a couple of hours (e.g. nuts, an apple, a banana). If you are bored or sad, can you call a friend or get out of the house and go for a walk?

Make sure that you have lots of ‘good sweets’ in your diet.

There are many foods that are naturally sweet and can go a long way to satisfy our sweet craving and also provide us with a wealth of vitamins and minerals that will allow our body and mind to function their best. Really great options to get natural sweets in your diet include: sweet potatoes

flavors and can lead to a state of imbalance where our body craves more and more of the sweet flavor.

In addition, eating a diet that is high in salt can also increase one’s craving for sweets. Bitter flavor does not mean bad tasting. One way in which many AfricanAmericans used to get more of the bitter flavor in their diet was more regular consumption of bitter greens like mustard and collard. Lettuces, celery and salads and vinegar can all provide more bitter flavor.

Limit your choices to better ones. One of the ways that we can set ourselves up for success is to plan ahead and limit our choices. If you know

that you are prone to late night cravings for ice cream, don’t buy it. If it is in the house it will be difficult not to eat it.

Provide yourself with a better choice (for instance Greek yogurt and fruit). When the late night craving strikes, scoop out some yogurt and stir in some fruit. If you put it in the blender for a few seconds and then the freezer, you will have a healthier substitute for ice cream, the next time a craving arises.

Be kind to yourself.

If you eat something you had not intended to, don’t beat yourself up. Generally reflect on: “Why did I eat that? Is there something that I can do differently next time?” and move on. That bad choice is in the past, at every point during our day and during our lives we can recommit ourselves to doing our best and making the best possible choice for our health at that moment.

I hope you find some of these strategies helpful.

If you do let me know. Are there other strategies that you have used to successfully break the holds of a sugar habit or some other craving or addiction? I would love to hear from you.

Dr. Winbush is a family physician practicing at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center. She has a strong interest in wellness and patient education to help individuals feel empowered to optimize their health and functioning.

She wants to hear from you! To respond to this article, request topics for future articles and for additional resources visit www. functionwellmedicine.com or LIKE Function Well Medicine on Facebook.

The information contained herein should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or

other health care provider.

The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered

as offering medical advice.

Please check with a healthcare provider if you suspect you are ill.

New human service hub coming to North Minneapolis

See our plan, share your voice Hennepin County ounty is bringing access to services like financial and child care assistance and senior supports closer to the neighborhoods— around the county— where our clients live and work.

The county and the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council are hosting three meetings where you can learn about a proposal for a human service hub in North Minneapolis, and tell us what you think.

Come to a community meeting English and Spanish

Tuesday, May 14 6–9 p.m.

Hmong

Wednesday, May 15 6–9 p.m.

English and Somali

Wednesday, May 22 6–9 p.m.

All meetings will be held at PICA Head Start 700 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612-377-7422 For more information check out our website, www.Hennepin.us/ northhub or call 612-348-4831

April is National Minority Health Month: Ophthalmologists urge African-American seniors to get routine eye exams To help curb vision loss among atrisk communities, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding African-Americans about race-related risk factors for eye disease during National Minority Health Month in April.

African-Americans are more than twice as likely to develop diabetic retinopathy compared to Caucasians and are four times more likely than Caucasians to go blind from glaucoma.

African-Americans also face a greater risk for cataracts.

Additionally, because most serious eye diseases are agerelated, African-American seniors are at especially high risk for eye diseases and blindness as they age. Because of these risk factors, ophthalmologists – medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases – encourage all seniors with race-related risk factors to get a comprehensive, dilated eye exam to detect

problems early and prevent vision loss.

Seniors of all ethnicities may qualify for care through EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. EyeCare America offers eye exams and up to one year of care at no out-of-pocket cost to qualifying seniors age 65 and older. Eligible patients are matched with an ophthalmologist in their area to provide this care.

“The first line of defense against eye disease is to get an eye exam and find out if there’s a problem,” said Richard P. Mills, M.D., chairman of EyeCare America. “It is our goal to ensure that the cost of medical care never stops someone from getting a sight-saving eye exam.”

Most eye diseases have no early symptoms, so the only way to detect them before vision

is permanently damaged is through a dilated eye exam. The exam may uncover early signs of eye disease, like abnormal blood vessel growth or pupil responses, damage to the retina or optic nerve, and vision loss.

The following symptoms may indicate that an eye disease has advanced: Vision loss Blank spots or dark areas in your vision Blurred vision Double vision Poor night vision Faded colors Sensitivity to light Eye pain If you or someone you know experience any of these symptoms, contact an ophthalmologist immediately.

To see if you or a loved one age 65 and older qualifies for care through EyeCare America, visit www.eyecareamerica.org.

YOUR

VOICE IS STILL BEING HEARD.

WE’VE

BEEN EXPECTING YOU.

At UCare, we know Boomers. So as you make your move to Medicare, consider the health plan that hits all the right notes.

UCare for SeniorsSM lets you choose from plans that cover prescription drugs, travel, eyewear, dental, fitness programs like SilverSneakers® and more.

There are no co-pays for primary care visits with most plans. And you’ll get to talk to a real person 24/7 when you call customer service. It’s just what you’d expect from health care that starts with you.

Learn more about the benefits of UCare for Seniors in our new eGuide to Medicare at ucareplans.org/eguide. Or call (toll free) 1-877-523-1518 (TTY) 1-800-688-2534, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

UCare Minnesota and UCare Health, Inc. are health plans with Medicare contracts. ©2013, UCare H2459 H4270_101512 CMS Accepted (10202012)

Page 12 • April 22 - April 28, 2013 • Insight News

Dr. Josie Johnson

Corinth Matera

insightnews.com

Oluwaseyi Daniel Oyinloye

Ellen O’Neill

Hli Xyooj

Awards celebrate Racial Equity Leaders The Saint Paul Foundation on April 29, 2013 will honor five anti-racism advocates at the seventh annual Facing Race Ambassador Awards at 6:00 p.m. at the Prom Event Center, located at 484 Inwood Avenue North, Oakdale, MN. “We are proud to host this annual event that celebrates the leadership and courage of individuals working to end racism in Minnesota,” says Carleen Rhodes, president and CEO of The Saint Paul Foundation.

“We believe their work is vitally

important to helping to end Minnesota’s racial disparities and to ensure equal access and opportunity for all.”

The Ambassador Awards celebration, organized by the Facing Race We’re all in this together® initiative of The Saint Paul Foundation, was created to recognize antiracism leaders and promote the need for productive and open community-wide conversations about race.

“Racism plays a real role in creating and perpetuating

Africa

medical and educational outreach to Nigeria. Services includes: yearly de-worming of children, nutrition drive for children with poor nutrition, the provision of medicine and physical examinations, Donates school materials to students and works on renovating local schools in a selected village each year, Awarded scholarship to 3 high school students from Akwa State of Nigeria, Collaborates with Hope Ke-Abasi Foundation and Shell Petroleum to provide primary health care to local communities in Akwa Ibom state and Rivers State of

From 9 International (GRI) – Serving Others Most people here in the Twin Cities have not heard of GRI or Reverend Archibong.

With a passion for fostering social transformation, since 2006, with support from Shell Petroleum, Inc., he has been conducting education, employment, entrepreneurship and health programs in Africa.

Just a few of GRI projects include: Coordinates an annual

inequity,” says Rhodes. “And silence about racism prevents our community from making progress on this critical issue.”

The Ambassador Awards will honor two longtime racial justice advocates: Dr. Josie Johnson, University of Minnesota Regent Emeriti, and Ellen O’Neill, Executive Director of the YWCA of Duluth. “Dr. Johnson and Ms. O’Neill have demonstrated remarkable leadership, personal sacrifice and commitment to making every member of their

communities feel safe, valued and respected,” says Rhodes.

“We are honored to recognize their fight for racial equity.”

Along with Ambassador Award recipients Johnson and O’Neill, three additional individuals nominated will receive honorable mention recognition for their efforts to end racial disparity in Minnesota. They include: Corinth Matera, teacher at Minneapolis South High School; Oluwaseyi Daniel Oyinloye, independent

Dr. DeFoe being confined the Daughter of the Light or Adiaha Unwana Itam by His Highness Etebom Donald A. Uboh (JP)

filmmaker and African American Students Program coordinator at the University of Minnesota Duluth; and Hli Xyooj, staff attorney for Farmers’ Legal Action Group (FLAG).

The awards celebration will also feature a keynote address by Dr. Manuel Pastor, University of Southern California professor of American Studies and Ethnicity. Dr. Pastor will discuss the dramatic demographic shifts currently underway in the U.S., and the

gap between progress in racial attitudes and realities. He will offer a new set of strategies for both talking about race and achieving racial equity.

A reception with appetizers begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by a one-hour program and awards ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are free; RSVPs are required as seating is limited.

RSVP at FacingRace.org or call 651.325.4265. Free parking is available in the Prom Center’s parking lot. For more information visit FacingRace.org.

Nigeria. Areas includes: HIV/ AIDS, Diabetes awareness, dental health, wellness, eye exams, free eye glass distributions and medication drive, to include vitamins for children and prenatal support for mothers, Partners with Hope KeAbasi Foundation to fund micro-businesses for 30 women in two communities, and Create and conduct HIV awareness campaigns targeting secondary school youth.

When asked about his vision for creating GRI over seven years ago, Archibong said, “Simply to reduce

generational poverty through education, health, and social entrepreneurship.”

To learn more about GRI, visit www. g r a c e r e s i n t e r n a t i o n a l . o rg , or http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Og7u6cy68YU To find out how you can support the work of GRI email: marchibong.1@netzero.net This September, GRI will be hosting its African Heritage Event, where its African partners will be on hand, and the organization will formally launch its Circle of 99 Book Project and Afia Designs, a micro-enterprise project for women and girls.