Insight News ::: 04.03.17

WINNER: 2016 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 1ST PLACE COMMUNIT Y SERVICE, 3RD PLACE BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Insight News April 3 - April 9, 2017

Vol. 44 No. 13• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Capturing history Celebrating the work of photographer Roy Lewis TURN TO PAGE 3

1966 march against slum housing in Chicago Roy Lewis

Page 2 • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Insight News

Speak up for the one place that embraces all students:

insightnews.com

Public Schools

With growing threats at the national and state level, our public schools need your help securing and protecting the resources to brighten every Minnesotan’s future.

Add your name in support at BelieveInWeMN.com

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Page 3

aesthetically speaking

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

MORE ON PAGE 10

WINNER: 2016 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 1ST PLACE COMMUNIT Y SERVICE, 3RD PLACE BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Insight News April 3 - April 9, 2017

Vol. 44 No. 13• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Black Press honors Roy Lewis

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor Young reverends and activists, the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Rev. Jesse Jackson marching with the people …

Rep. John Lewis, Coretta Scott King, Andrew Young, C. Delores Tucker, Rep. Walter Fauntroy – a then candidate for president – and others locked in arms in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. … a portrait of famed photographer and St. Paul native Gordon Parks.

They all have one thing in common – the man behind the lens that captured these iconic photos – Roy Lewis.

Lewis, a veteran photographer with Johnson Publishing (Ebony/Jet), the Washington Informer and photographer to the Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, personal photographer

to Amiri Baraka and Gwendolyn Brooks (to name a couple) and chronicler of the Civil Rights Movement, was recently honored for his nearly four decades-long career by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) during Black Press Week in Washington, D.C. The NNPA also honored the contributions of Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Donna Brazile, former DNC chair. All were presented NNPA’s Torch Award – Lewis for Outstanding Leadership and Achievement in Photography, Henderson for Outstanding Leadership and Achievement in Civil and Human Rights and Brazile for Outstanding Leadership and Achievement in Political Empowerment.

In the world of photography Lewis is a legend among legends.

He’s filmed John Coltrane, B.B. King … he garnered the trust and

gained access to photograph the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. When Nelson Mandela toured the U.S. in 1990 following his release from a South African jail, Lewis was there to document it. He covered the White House administrations of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He served as the manager of photographic services for Howard University (Washington, D.C.) and director of cinematography and production at Notre Dame University (Ind.).

Not bad for the child born in rural Natchez, Miss.

And Lewis shows no signs of slowing down. During Black Press Week, Lewis’ finger snapped away hundreds of times capturing the images of Washington dignitaries, publishers, NNPA guests and

LEWIS 4

Roy Lewis

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (center) and the Rev. Jesse Jackson marching in Chicago in 1966 during a campaign to end slum housing. Lewis captured this image while working with Johnson Publishing.

Women drive Black Press

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Contributor In 1827, with the publication of the “Freedom’s Journal,” John Russwurm and the Rev. Samuel Cornish established the Black Press and boldly declared their mission … to be the voice of the African-American community, standing up for victims of injustice, and championing the unsung.

Dedicated, resilient and strong Black women, who account for a significant number of the 211 African-American owned newspapers and media companies that are members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), stand at the forefront of that mission, today.

NNPA President and CEO the Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. said it’s important to recognize publishers like Rosetta Perry of The Tennessee Tribune,

Al Flowers during a press conference to announce his candidacy for Minneapolis mayor.

Al Flowers runs for Minneapolis mayor Photo by Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA

Denise Rolark Barnes is the publisher of The Washington Informer and chairwoman of the NNPA. This photo was taken as Rolark Barnes addressed participants at a session on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), during the NNPA’s 2017 Mid-Winter Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Elinor Tatum of the New York Amsterdam News, Janis Ware of The Atlanta Voice, Joy Bramble of The Baltimore Times, Brenda

Andrews of The New Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), Insight News’ Batala McFarlane and the many Black women that own

and operate media companies in the United States and around the

BLACK WOMEN 8

New developments coming to the Northside Two new developments are coming to West Broadway.

In what developers say will be a distinctive new addition to the fabric of the West Broadway commercial corridor, Satori 800 is nearing construction. Satori 800 will be a mixed-use commercial and residential building at the corners of West Broadway Avenue and Bryant Avenue North. If approved, it will house a 54 market rate apartments with approximately 15,000 square feet of retail-commercial space on the first floor.

According to architects of Lawal Scott Erickson, the massing of the building maintains the “street wall” on Broadway, but also steps back to widen the sidewalk for street cafe seating and other amenities. Parking is placed behind and below the

building, shielding it from view.

A roof garden offering views of the neighborhood, as well as the downtown skyline is also planned.

A few blocks down, St. Paul based Wellington Management plans to build a clinic, retail building, restaurant and parking ramp between the Capri Theater and Olympic Cafe on West Broadway.

Public hearings are planned for both projects. A hearing on the Wellington project takes place Monday (April 3) from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the McDonalds located at 916 W. Broadway Ave. A public meeting on the Satori 800 will take place Monday, April 10 at NEON, 1007 W. Broadway. That meeting is from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Business

Approaching corporate or philanthropic decision makers

PAGE 4

Artist rendering of a planned 54-unit mixed-use apartment building at 800 W. Broadway Ave.

Al Flowers, a longtime community activist, announced his candidacy for mayor of Minneapolis.

Flowers is planning on seeking the DFL endorsement,

The cost of a vote

PAGE 5

FLOWERS 8

Home Ownership: The key to wealth

By Ingrid Ferlo Owning a house is more than a status symbol, it is a mindful strategy that can create a revenue stream that can grow through generations.

In the Twin Cities, however, the figures show that communities of color are disenfranchised from the opportunities that would allow them to own homes.

Experts in the field, Carmen McAfee and Sean Spicer, realtors with ReMax, Nicole Knuckles, director of Wells Fargo Diversity and Charitable Giving and Minneapolis City Councilman representing the 5th Ward, Blong Yang were recent guests on “Conversations with

HOME 4

News

News

and is organizing his supporters for the April 4 precinct caucuses.

“My campaign will focus

California fight with EPA will affect nation

PAGE 8

Carmen McAfee

Community

DeLaSalle grad, Chanel Villiarimo, drives Navy destroyer USS Dewey

PAGE 9

Page 4 • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Rep. Walter Fauntroy – a then candidate for president (center), flanked by Coretta Scott King (left of Fauntroy ),Rep. John Lewis (right of Fauntroy), Andrew Young (third from right), C. Delores Tucker (second from right) and others locked in arms in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Gloria Freeman Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Rebecca Rabb 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.

Courtesy of Roy Lewis

Roy Lewis (left) and Wade Henderson were both honored along with Donna Brazile with the NNPA Torch Award.

Lewis From 3 more. During the event in which he was honored, he acted less as an honoree and more as the dedicated journalist he is, capturing the moment.

About the cover

Home From 3 Al McFarlane.” Together they discussed the challenges and opportunities in the field of home ownership.

Although there’s been much talk about bridging the home ownership inequality gap, there is still much work to be done according to Yang.

Government initiatives, he says, often implement one size fits all programs that do not work properly for the different communities.

“Different groups have different problems with housing and government does not act fast enough to respond to their needs,” said Yang.

McAfee believes a major problem in inequitable home ownership is in people believing

This week’s cover photo is one taken by Lewis. In it at least two notable figures can be seen.

On the far left donning a straw hat, suitcoat and tie is the Rev. Jesse Jackson. At far right is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They, with others, were in Chicago marching during the turbulent 1966 fight to end slum housing.

“That’s a really powerful

photo. You can see the seriousness on Dr. King’s face,” said Lewis.

“That whole situation in Chicago really shook him up.”

King was assaulted with a brick in Chicago in August of that year.

The cover image was cropped to fit our vertical format.

The full image as Lewis captured it is on page 3.

that they cannot own a home.

“Many people are not able to buy because they disqualify themselves by thinking they won’t qualify. We defeat ourselves,” said McAfee.

Knuckles said the challenges are about access both to financing and to information.

She said during her career she has seen the disparity of information available to African Americans on programs and methods available to access financing. She said inequality in ownership makes her work harder to make information accessible to African-American communities.

“We have to help people understand that they can try, if it doesn’t work the first time, find the resources. We have to create these pathways for home ownership for AfricanAmericans to feel they can try,” said Knuckles.

The challenges are

compounded by issues of migratory communities joining the search for housing in the market. Yang said oftentimes African-American communities inadvertently feel displaced when neighborhoods are developed.

“Gentrification is happening and we have to see to what degree people will be displaced. We don’t want to displace anybody,” said Yang, emphasizing the need to ensure available credit for AfricanAmericans to be able to afford housing in the communities they have inhabited for decades.

Despite challenges, Spicer is optimistic about current opportunities in today’s surging market. He believes that creating a vital home-owning community will take a collective effort.

“We need to bring all the minds (to the table) to start talking about home ownership among the African-American

A portrait taken by Roy Lewis of famed photographer and St. Paul native, Gordon Parks.

community,” said Spicer.

He said realtors and stakeholders have to take it upon themselves to educate people even if it takes going door-to-door to advertise opportunities. The Minneapolis City Council is also working to ensure communities of color have more opportunities to own a home. According to Yang the assistance comes in financing for refurbishing houses, encouraging construction on abandoned lots, financing for green housing and bringing in more developers to create competition.

On Wells Fargo’s side, Knuckle said there has been progress. In 2015 a total of $15 million was allocated for mortgage financing and out of that 177,000 applicants were African-American according to Knuckles.

McAfee emphasizes a need for parents to pass on values that

help young people get rooted and plan for home ownership from an early age. She said $1.3 trillion is spent by AfricanAmericans in the United States every year and changes in spending habits can turn assets rather than liabilities. Above all she encouraged people to take immediate action to start planning to own a home.

“If you are in the position of thinking of home ownership, now is the time. Take the time, take the opportunity, seize the moment … the time is now,” said McAfee.

This episode of “Conversations with Al McFarlane” airs Tuesday (April 4) at 9 a.m. on KFAI Radio (90.3 FM and online at www. kfai.org) and on television on SPNN (Channel 19, St. Paul) at 9 p.m. on Tuesday and again on Thursday and MTN (Channel 16, Minneapolis) on Friday; also at 9 p.m.

ŽīĞƌƐ FREE dĂdž WƌĞƉ͊ • Get your MAXIMUM refund (pay nothingg for tax prep service!)

• Tax preparers are IRS CERTIFIED volunteers passionate about taxes • Financial coaches are availablle onssite to help you use your refund to reach LJŽƵƌ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŐŽĂůůƐ Call 612-230-5737 for details Clinic open Saturday mornings from Januaryy 28 8-A -Apr p il 15 at at::

EMERGE Career and Technology Cente er 1834 Emerson Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55411 Serviice c s byy appointment pp onlyyy. Must meet IRS guidel e in ness.

Service made available by a grant provided by the State of Minnesota Se EMERGE is an equal opportunity employer and service provider

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Page 5

The cost of a vote

By Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.)

Fifty-one years ago, on March 24, 1966, the United States Supreme Court struck down the last poll taxes in this country. It was a victory for the American people and for the case’s lead plaintiff, Annie A. Harper, an elderly AfricanAmerican woman who could not afford to pay Virginia’s poll tax to cast her ballot.

That spring, it looked like the United States was on its way towards a democracy where all voting-age Americans would have access to the polls. The Supreme Court’s 1966 decision to strike down the Virginia poll tax knocked down one of the last pillars of the Jim Crow era. And just the year before, in August of 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act (VRA), our nation’s most powerful tool for protecting the vote.

Now, in 2017, more than 50 years later, the same racial and economic discrimination continues to haunt our elections. Old battles have become new again. As voting people of color and low-income Americans face new barriers to participating in our democracy, the anniversary of Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections is less of a celebration and more of a reminder that our fight for voting rights is far from over.

Since the Supreme Court gutted the VRA in its 2013 Shelby v.

Holder decision, states across the country have enacted a new set of discriminatory voting restrictions – voter ID laws. After decades of progress, it is open season for erecting new barriers to voting.

Voter protections in states with a history of discrimination have

Official Photo

Rep. Terri Sewell says that more than 50 years after Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, racial and economic discrimination continues to haunt our elections.

necessary for getting proper identification, and those documents cost money to acquire. For many voters, the hidden costs of obtaining a voter ID create modern barriers to voting.

No democracy should ask voters to make these sacrifices in order to be heard. The impact is to deprive certain Americans, often voters from ethnic communities and disabled voters, of a voice in our democracy. The strength of our democracy lies in the ability of all its citizens to vote. If one person’s vote is denied, it goes to the very integrity of our democracy.

In addition to fostering a more responsive, more diverse democracy, the right to vote and engage in our elections is a right that runs to

the core of who we are as a country. It is a right embedded in our Constitution. For me, the right to vote is a fundamental principle of our democracy, and one we have a sacred obligation to protect.

That’s why I was outraged when the Trump Administration announced recently that it would drop its support for a challenge to discriminatory voter ID laws in Texas. For six years, the federal government stood side by side with plaintiffs against Texas’ voter ID law because it targets AfricanAmerican and Latino voters. Federal courts have consistently ruled that the law is unconstitutional and petitioned Texas to fix it, a decision which the Justice Department’s new position now puts in jeopardy.

For those of us watching the attack on voting rights unfold, we have a responsibility to speak up and speak out. We stand on the shoulders of giants in the voting rights movement and we will never be able to repay the debt we owe to those individuals. However, we must each do our own work in protecting the precious gains those individuals fought, bled, and died for.

The price of freedom is not free, and every generation must do its part to protect the gains made

and to push forward in our effort to build a more perfect union. For Annie Harper and for every American denied a vote in our democratic process, I will be speaking out.

Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th District. Sewell is the lead sponsor of the Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill that restores and advances the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Ways and Means Committee.

been erased, and as states implement voter ID laws limiting access to the polls, the impact of these policy changes is eerily familiar.

When Harper brought her case to the Supreme Court in 1966, her lawsuit asked the court to rule on a $1.50 poll tax charged by the Virginia Board of Elections. For a low-income senior like Harper living on a fixed income, that fee was out of reach.

The price of today’s barriers to voting is just as debilitating and restricting as Annie Harper’s poll tax.

Consider the cost of today’s voter ID laws. In my home state of Alabama, some rural voters have to drive more than an hour to acquire a state-issued photo ID, which can often mean taking time off of work. There are also rural voters who don’t have birth certificates or the verifying documents

fresh • local • organic Your neighborhood source for local and organic foods and wellness products

2823 E. Franklin Ave. | Minneapolis & 317 E. 38th St. | Minneapolis w w w.seward.coop

Page 6 • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Insight News

insightnews.com

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Page 7

SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY The partners in the Unity Opportunity Collaborative have a long history of commitment to the community DV ZHOO DV VLJQL¿FDQW H[SHULHQFH GHOLYHULQJ SURJUDPV WKDW KHOS SHRSOH VXFFHHG

EARN YOUR GED: GED PREP SERVICES :RUN GLUHFWO\ ZLWK &HUWL¿HG $GXOW Basic Education Instructors No cost services for adults 18+ interested in earning their GED

GET CONNECTED EMERGE Community Development (PHUVRQ $YHQXH 1RUWK 0LQQHDSROLV 01 WK $YHQXH 6RXWK 0LQQHDSROLV 01 LQIR#HPHUJH PQ RUJ

Minneapolis Public Schools – Davis Center : %URDGZD\ $YHQXH 0LQQHDSROLV 01 DQWKRQ\ ZLOOLDPV#PSOV N PQ XV

Minneapolis Urban League 3O\PRXWK $YHQXH 1RUWK 0LQQHDSROLV 01 LQIR#PXO RUJ

Sabathani Community Center ( WK 6W 0LQQHDSROLV 01 LQIR#VDEDWKDQL RUJ

Prepare to earn your GED!

Stairstep Foundation WK $YH 1RUWK 0LQQHDSROLV 01 LQIR#VWDLUVWHS RUJ

Page 8 • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Insight News

insightnews.com

California fight with EPA will affect nation

By Rushawn Walters Howard University News Service WASHINGTON, D.C. – California is preparing for a huge fight over its climate with the Trump administration and its new EPA director – a battle that could have ramifications for residents across the nation, potentially affecting more than one of every three Americans.

In preparation for what elected officials expect to be a protracted brawl on auto emissions, the state has hired Eric Holder, attorney general under President Obama, to take on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new leader, Scott Pruitt.

California, home to 39 million Americans and an estimated 14.5 million cars, both the highest for any state, is fighting to maintain its higher automobile emissions restrictions, which its leaders say have rescued the state from high levels of air pollution.

The state wants to maintain restrictions it instituted in 1959 when the air was so polluted by smog – a word Californians coined to describe its combination of smoke and fog – that hundreds of thousands suffered from resultant respiratory problems and just seeing local surround-

ings was sometimes impossible.

Under the new law, automakers were forced to manufacture more fuel-efficient vehicles to be sold in California. Since 1959, California requested and received 100 exemptions by the EPA that allowed it to have higher standards than the rest of the nation.

The law, state officials said, has paid off.

Since 2015, Los Angeles’ “smog” days, those days in which air pollutants are higher than the federal regulation standards, have declined by nearly 50 percent compared to the numbers during the 1970s.

A study released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed certain levels of car-specific pollutants have dropped by 98 percent in Los Angeles since the 1960s, even though drivers use three times as much fuel today.

Healthcare experts and Black elected officials say the fight is particularly important to African-Americans because statistics show African-American communities suffer disproportionately from high levels of air pollution.

Due to California’s success, 13 other states, Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, have

en.wikipedia.org

en.wikipedia.org

Eric Holder

Scott Pruitt

adopted its clean car standards.

Now, those states fear the EPA will no longer allow them the exemptions that it has done through every Republican and Democratic administration since the law was initiated.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Pruitt, who sued the EPA 14 times as Oklahoma attorney general and has called scientific evidence of a correlation between climate change and human activity “religious beliefs,” declined to to say whether the EPA under his direction will allow states to maintain higher emission control standards.

Newly-elected California Sen. Kamala Harris (D) repeat-

edly questioned Pruitt about the states’ concerns.

“I don’t know without going through the process to determine that,” responded Pruitt. “One would not want to presume the outcome.”

Harris, who opposed Pruitt’s confirmation, said she was troubled by Pruitt’s response.

“California is a recognized leader on clean energy development and global effort to combat climate change,” said Harris in an interview. “During his hearing, I asked multiple times if he would uphold California’s motor vehicle pollution standards, and each time he shied away from that guarantee.”

California’s ranking senator, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D), who also opposed Pruitt’s confirmation, said she and her constituency are also concerned about Pruitt’s environmental view.

“More than 75,000 Californian’s have contacted my office in opposition to Mr. Pruitt’s confirmation,” said Feinstein. “They are worried he won’t enforce our existing environmental laws and will refuse to address the real threat of climate change. I agree with them.”

California Rep. Karen Bass, a Democrat who represents Los Angeles, said if Pruitt doesn’t uphold the emissions controls rules, it could have a serious effect on the most vulnerable Americans.

“Something that seems to be far from his radar is the disproportionate effects climate change has on poorer communities,” said Bass in an e-mail to Howard University News Service. “Rolling back environmental protection is going to disproportionately impact communities of color already suffering from brownfields, toxic waste or the type of negligence that led to the Flint water crisis.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black children suffer the worse from respiratory illnesses. One out of every six has an illness while the national average is one out of every 10. Between 2001

and 2010, the report rate has risen 50 percent.

Pruitt has been at the forefront of efforts to thwart EPA policies.

In 2001, he sued the EPA to stop the “good neighbor rule,” which reduces hazardous soot and smog pollution that crosses state lines.In a different suit, he went to court to block policies to reduce toxic mercury, arsenic and acid gases from power plants.

President Trump, who has already signed executive orders to rollback EPA policies to protect the nation’s water, has said EPA is hurting the economy. Before Trump was elected, he called EPA a “disgrace.”

“Every week they come out with new regulations,” he told Fox News in 2015. “They’re making it impossible. We’ll be fine with the environment. We can leave it a little bit, but you can’t destroy businesses.”

Despite Trump’s claims, the auto industry is flourishing in California under the state’s tighter emissions controls. In 2015, the state nearly set a record when new car sales rose 11 percent. Californians bought more than two million cars that year.

According to Employment Development Department data, jobs in California’s automotive industry jobs have grown by 47,000 since 2011, nearly a 26 percent increase.

Ekponimo creates food distribution app Nigerian-born Oscar Ekponimo was 11 when his family was struck by misfortune.

His father had a partial stroke, causing him to lose his job, and with it, the family income.

“For the next three years we had little food in the house,” recalls Ekponimo. “If we had one small meal at the end of the day, it was a good day. I recall one instance when all I ate in a 48-hour period was a biscuit snack a friend shared with me at school.”

But that didn’t stop

Ekponimo.

“My mom used to remind us that the hunger was not forever,” said Ekponimo. “That always kept me going.”

His struggle with hunger would later drive him to create computer apps such as Blue Valentine that would find hot meals for indigent street kids, followed by SalvageHub, and finally Chowberry, a program that earned him the International Telecoms Union Award for Technology Innovation.

Chowberry is a cloud-

based software application that cuts food waste and redistributes vital nutrition to people in need. It uses the barcodes on food products to alert retailers when the end of shelf-life is approaching and helps redistribute these discounted products to food relief agencies.

An award from the Rolex watch company in 2016 is helping to perfect the program, with the initial goal of delivering safe, healthy nutrition to low-income Nigerian households.

Rolex funds will go towards hiring engineers to upgrade the software, ensuring the application is more robust, and scaling up the organization by adding more retail partners.

An alumnus of Stanford University’s Technology Ventures Program with a degree in computing from Nigeria’s University of Calabar, Ekponimo is passionate about IT and its prospects for developing solutions for private and public enterprises.

Now one of Time Magazine’s “Next Generation Leaders,” 30-year-old Ekponimo still dedicates his work to addressing the deprivation he knew in his own life.

Oscar Ekponimo “I had several job offers from big (technology) firms over the

past few years. But Chowberry is what I am passionate about.

I want to see it grow and continue to benefit people’s lives,” said Ekponimo. “When I think of the millions of people who are food-deprived, counting on me to give them some relief to help alleviate their suffering, I am driven to make Chowberry a success. I can never throw in the towel.

I saw an opportunity to provide affordable nutrition to millions of people while providing retailers with a sustainable system for managing the end of shelf-life. This is a win-win solution.”

Black Women From 3 world. Chavis said that it’s also important to acknowledge the role that women play as leaders of the NNPA. “Four out of five members of the NNPA executive committee are women and, in 2017, that shows that the NNPA, as a national trade organization, is out in front of all other organizations when it comes to putting women in the top positions,” said Chavis.

Denise Rolark Barnes, the publisher of The Washington Informer, serves as chair of the NNPA, Karen CarterRichards, publisher of the Houston Forward Times holds the position of first vice chair, Atlanta publisher Ware serves as treasurer and Shannon Williams and the president and general manager of the Indianapolis Recorder, serves as the organization’s secretary.

Still, the pressure of operating a newspaper isn’t lost on publishers like CarterRichards of the 57-year-old Houston Forward Times. CarterRichards took over the Forward Times after the death of her mother, Lenora “Doll” Carter, whom she shadowed at the paper for more than 30 years.

“The business isn’t for the faint of heart and being a female publisher requires you to be even stronger,” said CarterRichards. “Because of what my mother taught me, Forward Times Publishing Company has grown to become a multimedia company and an award-winning national publication.”

Chida Warren-Darby,

Flowers From 3 on our Minneapolis local economy. The small businesses that we have, like this one, (are) an integral part of our great city,” said Flowers Before a crowd at Hamdi Somali Restaurant on Lake Street. “Opening more

From the New York Amsterdam News

New York Amsterdam News Publisher, Elinor Tatum

From the Forward-Times

Houston Forward Times Publisher, Karen Carter-Richards the managing editor and copublisher of the Voice & Viewpoint in San Diego, said that being a female publisher has proven to be an “amazing experience.” She also offered advice to the next generation of women. “(Women publishers) should always remain true to themselves and never conform. There’s a lot of authenticity missing in the world of journalism and the media industry as a whole,” said Warren-Darby. “I believe it’s slowly returning, but it will take

the next generation to maintain that authenticity. I would also encourage them to know that their voices and ideas matter, to never underestimate what they bring to the table, and to never feel like it’s too late.”

Others have spelled out what the Black Press has brought to the table.

“When I think about my leadership role in this business, I think about the intersections

small business will not only increase revenue in our city but help all people of Minneapolis live the American dream.”

Flowers said he believes none of the current candidates have an inclusive strategy to help all people of Minneapolis, especially when comes to affordable housing.

“Currently, there are people working in Minneapolis who can’t afford to live here

because housing has become so expensive. This is not being inclusive to all members of our city,” said Flowers. “We should be able to live close to where we work.”

A vocal activist, Flowers has been involved in issues concerning policing, education jobs and housing. He is also a radio commentator on KMOJ 89.9 FM.

BLACK WOMEN 9

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Page 9

DeLaSalle grad, Chanel Villiarimo, drives Navy destroyer USS Dewey SAN DIEGO – A 2011 DeLaSalle High School graduate and Minneapolis native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the guidedmissile destroyer, USS Dewey.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Chanel Villiarimo is a quartermaster aboard the Arleigh Burke class guidedmissile destroyer operating out of San Diego. A Navy quartermaster stands watch as assistants to officers of the deck and the navigator.

She serves as helmsman

Courtesy U.S. Navy

Chanel Villiarimo

and performs ship control, navigation and bridge watch duties.

“I love that I get to learn more about the ship,” said Villiarimo. “I like getting to help the commanding officer get the ship to where it needs to go.”

Commissioned in March of 2010, Dewey measures approximately 500 feet and is powered by four gas turbines that allow the destroyer to achieve over 30 mph in open seas. Dewey is named for George Dewey,

the only officer of the U.S. Navy ever to hold the rank of Admiral of the Navy.

Destroyers are tactical multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, as well as humanitarian assistance.

With a crew of more than 300 sailors, jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the destroyer running smoothly, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from washing dishes

and preparing meals to maintaining engines and handling weaponry.

“I like that my chain of command always has my best interest at heart,” said Villiarimo.

Challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Navy officials explained.

For Villiarimo, she said being in the Navy is a winwin.

“I love to serve my country and travel the world,” added Villiarimo.

Report: Policies lead to excessive suspensions, expulsions A group of Minnesota educators say their research shows the need to replace discipline policies that lead to excessive suspensions and expulsions in all Minnesota schools with a more effective, community-building approach known as restorative practices.

These educators presented their report last Thursday (March 30) at a news conference at the State Capitol. The educators worked through the Education Policy Innovation Center, or EPIC, which is Education Minnesota’s think tank for education policy.

“Zero tolerance policies and mass suspensions haven’t made schools safer and they haven’t raised student achievement, but they have led to glaringly inequitable outcomes by race,” said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota.

“Fortunately,

neuroscience has given us new insights into ‘toxic stress,’ which can influence why many students act out. Those findings inform how educators can react more productively, for both the student and the whole school.”

Specht said documented benefits of restorative practices

include dramatic reductions in suspensions and expulsions, reductions in behavior that is disruptive or violent, decreased absenteeism, significantly improved grades and graduation rates and increased rates of teacher retention.

Education Minnesota’s

hope is that state lawmakers will enact legislation that will offer just, uniformed practices of discipline that will limit the number of suspensions and expulsions and provide in-school alternatives that incorporate learning.

Black Women

capacity to run this business.

“Putting out a paper every week requires the work of a committed, hard-working team.

I am grateful for the people who work with us and they inspire me to do the best I can.

I encourage all of us women publishers, leaders of these great institutions, to continue to create spaces where young, talented women can develop into strong leaders.”

The New York Times noted that, well before the Civil War, publications and, more recently, radio and television stations owned and operated by AfricanAmericans have provided an important counterweight to mainstream media, simultaneously celebrating and

shaping Black culture.

It all starts with the Black Press and many of its talented and savvy female publishers.

“The Black Press has been the heartbeat of Black America since its inception,” said Tatum, publisher and editor-in-chief of the New York Amsterdam News, one of the most influential Blackowned and operated media businesses in the world, which ran its first edition in 1909.

“From the abolition movement to the Civil Rights Movement to the Women’s Rights Movement, the Black Press has been our voice, a voice not heralded anywhere else. It’s a voice so true to itself, that our community still heeds the call today. A voice in many cases owned by women,

run by women and nurtured by women.”

About 190 miles south of New York, Bramble founded The Baltimore Times on the premise that they’d publish only positive stories about Black people. After more than 30 years, Bramble said that Times, and its companion, The Annapolis Times, haven’t wavered.

“I am extremely proud to be a part of the long tradition of respected women publishers. My challenges as a publisher have not come from my gender, but rather my race,” said Bramble.

“Black newspapers must jump through ridiculous hoops to receive or even be considered for advertising and promotional dollars.”

Women are changing the world and represent an important audience that should not be taken for granted, said Natalie Cole, publisher and CEO of OurWeekly Los Angeles, which was formed in 2004 and boasts a readership of more than 200,000 weekly.

“The challenges that exist today are challenges to doing business successfully in our global marketplace,” said Cole.

“Yes, racism and, in many cases institutional racism is evident … some will never buy what we are selling. However, we must continue to educate our loyal readers as to major players or companies that support our communities as well as those that don’t support us with an

emphasis on companies to which African-Americans are their core customers.”

NNPA member newspapers and media companies continue to deliver news, information and commentary each week to more than 20 million readers and the NNPA has been lauded for consistently being the voice of the Black community, reporting on events that make history.

“Our papers are trusted, read from cover to cover and are a vital part of the community – 190 years and still going strong,” said Bramble. “I am sure that we will still be around for another 190 years, as we continue to be the standard bearer for all the good news that’s happening in our communities.”

From 8 of being Black, a woman, and at one point, very young.” said McFarlane. “My father named me publisher when I was 23-years-old. Some questioned his decision, and even I did.

There were many, many moments when I was unsure of my own abilities. But because of the encouraging conversations with powerhouse publishers such as Sonny Messiah-Jiles from the Houston Defender and Denise Rolark Barnes over the years, I have grown to have an abundance of confidence in my

Kappas award $1,000 to Nellie Stone Johnson School Courtesy of Ronald Payton

Classifieds

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

Students Bella Crowder (front right) and Russell Thomas (front left) assist Principal Amy Luehmann (center) of the Nellie Stone Johnson School in receiving a $1,000 check for a grant from the St. Paul Minneapolis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Elizabeth Lasley (second to left), liaison officer and teacher, Nealie Christopher (second right) were instrumental in obtaining the grant for the NSJ Literacy Project. Presenting them with the grant were Ronald Payton (left) and Rodney Anderson (right) of Kappa Alpha Psi. The grant will be used to purchase books for the school’s media center.

Bid Solicitation

Deputy Sheriff SouthWest Transit Constructors Granite Construction | Mortenson Construction | Lane Construction 700 Meadow Lane North Minneapolis, MN 55422 Phone (763) 522-2100 Fax (763) 522-3707 All Interested Subcontractors and Suppliers Project: Southwest Light Rail Transit Civil Construction Southwest Transit Constructors is submitting a bid for the new Southwest Light Rail Transit construction. This request for bids is based on the February 8, 2017 Construction Documents that have been prepared by AECOM and their consultants.

The Green Line Light Rail Transit Extension (Southwest Light Rail Transit Line) is approximately 14.5 miles of new double track proposed as an extension of the METRO Green Line (Central Corridor LRT). The Work extends from Target Field Station in Minneapolis to Southwest Transit Station in Eden Prairie.

The Work of this Project includes new bridges, pedestrian and LRT cut and cover tunnels, modifications to existing bridges, retaining walls, light rail track, park-and-ride surface lots and a parking ramp, light rail stations, the demolition of existing buildings, trail improvements, freight rail relocation, underground public utilities, underground communications, drainage, sidewalk and roadway pavements, street lighting, signal and traction power ducts, above and below-grade traffic signal facilities, and catenary pole foundations.

Plans and specifications are available for review by way of Mortenson’s iSqft Construction Office.

For the purposes of this contract, the Metropolitan Council has established a 16% goal for DBE participation. Disadvantaged businesses can be found on the Minnesota Unified Certification Program (MnUCP) Directory at the following website: www.MNUCP.org Requested Date for Bids: May 18, 2017 Please send any questions or bids by fax to (972) 353-6277 and by email to stclrt@gcinc.com On behalf of Southwest Transit Constructors, we sincerely appreciate the interest and effort your company is putting forth in preparing your bid. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office is seeking candidates for Deputy Sheriff.

If you are interested visit https://www.ramseycounty.us/jobs for more information.

St. Paul Central H.S. Class of 1967 50th Reunion

WED • APR 12 • 7PM St. Cloud–Halenbeck Hall

Sept. 8-10, 2017 Facebook - St. Paul Central Class of 1967 50th Reunion or email address to: geministar1149@comcast.net, Marie Braddock Williams, Committee

SAT • APR 15 • 1PM & 7PM

Childcare Aide/ Assistant Childcare Teacher

Tickets on sale now at HarlemGlobetrotters.com

La Crèche Early Childhood Centers, Inc. seeks to identify qualified candidates for the following positions across our three sites: - Childcare Aide - Assistant Childcare Teacher Candidates will undergo new MN DHS background check process which includes fingerprinting. Candidates must also be willing to obtain ongoing child development training as required to fulfill La Crèche teaching standards.

Interested individuals should call 612-377-1786 and apply at 1800 Olson Memorial Highway, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Please present with childcare experience

Save $7 on tickets with code: COURT

Regionally Presented by:

Page 10 • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Keith Sweat

Monday, April 3 ROCK/OPEN MIC McNally Smith Monday’s Open Jam Golden’s Lowertown 275 E. 4th St., 1st floor, St. Paul No cover Join this student-led weekly jam night at Golden’s Lowertown in downtown St. Paul.

Tuesday, April 4 VISUAL ART/ PERFORMANCE

April 3 April 16, 2017

The Brush is on Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status.

If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com

This creative exhibit will showcase several Twin Cities artists including Medaria Arradondo, Rochelle Lund, Alexis Politz, Kasey Robinson Art and Darrell Thomas.

Additional performances are

by Seaberg, Trey Taylor, Sylis Montez Isaac Vincent Washington, Kaja Vang, Poe Yoní and Rachael Dosen.

Wednesday, April 5

21-plus $8 advance, $10 door Twin Cities based modern dance crew, Dancebums, bring you a night at Icehouse.

Thursday, April 6 LITERATURE/DISCUSSION Big Ideas: Can Literature Make a Damn Bit of Difference?

Guthrie Theater 818 S 2nd St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Join the Loft and Guthrie as they host Man Booker Prize winner Marlon James and executive director of the National Book Foundation, Lisa Lucas, for a conversation about how books affect culture.

CONCERT/R&B

Friday, April 7 Keith Sweat, K-Ci & JoJo, Ginuwine, 112 Target Center 600 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 8 p.m. $52-$125 Dubbed the Twin Cities Music Festival, this show offers an all-star lineup of 90s and early 2000’s R&B greats.

DANCE/PERFORMANCE Dancebums Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis 10 p.m.

Saturday, April 8

Tish Jones

1

710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 4 p.m. $31.50-$41.50

Eclectica Reverie Cafe & Bar 1931 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

World renowned Egyptian children’s singer/songwriter Raffi plays two shows at Pantages.

The Avant Garde presents a new open mic every Tuesday night.

Sunday, April 9

Wednesday, April 12

R&B/SOUL Vie Boheme Turf Club 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul 7 p.m. $15 Coming in from the East Coast and taking the metro area by storm, Vie Boheme is sure to be on each year’s top 10 list.

Check out her single release tonight with DJ Miss Brit.

THEATER “West Side Story” Ordway Center for the Performing Arts 345 Washington St., St. Paul 2 p.m.

Sold out Teatro del Pueblo and the Ordway team up for an adaptation of this classic play.

Thursday, April 13

Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

18-plus $12 Come hear some of the best in Minnesota music at the Cabooze with Skny, J Plaza, Mac Irv, Mista Maeham and much more.

Saturday, April 15 HIP-HOP The Endowment Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 9PM 21-plus $10 advance, $15 door Celebrate Tish Jones’ birthday with a full lineup of performances including I Self Divine.

Monday, April 10

PRODUCTION

Sunday, April 16

FILM FESTIVAL

Last of the Record Buyers Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m.

21-plus $5

HIP-HOP

The 9th Annual Hitchcock Film Festival Riverview Theater 3800 42nd Ave. S., Minneapolis 7 p.m.

Every Monday through May watch some of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic films at the Riverview.

THEATER

Tuesday, April 11

Raffi Pantages Theatre

OPEN MIC

Plug into the aux cord and play your own originals tonight at Honey.

Fanaka 7th Street Entry 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

18-plus $5 advance, $10 door Seaberg, Jysa, DJ Tiiiiiiiip and Chadwick Phillips join Fanaka at 7th Street Entry.

Friday, April 14 HIP-HOP Minnesota Maeham

MNHS.ORG

Explore art, race and a nation on stage through the prism of the African American experience.

NOW ON VIEW 345 W. Kellogg Kel ello logg gg Blvd., Blvd lvd St. St Paul P Paul, aul MN 5 55102 5102 51 02

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS AN ORIGINAL FILM/ONE RACE FILMS PRODUCTION AN F. GARY GRAY FILM VIN DIESEL DWAYNE JOHNSON JASON STATHAM “THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS” MICHELLE RODRI GUEZ TYRESE GIBSON MUSIC CHRIS ‘LUDACRIS’ BRIDGES WITH KURT RUSSELL AND CHARLIZE THERON

BY BRIAN TYLER EXECUTIVE BASED ON PRODUCERS AMANDA LEWIS SAMANTHA VINCENT CHRIS MORGAN CHARACTERS CREATED BY GARY SCOTT THOMPSON DIRECTED PRODUCED WRITTEN

BY NEAL H. MORITZ p.g.a. VIN DIESEL MICHAEL FOTTRELL

BY F. GARY GRAY

BY CHRIS MORGAN A UNIVERSAL PICTURE © 2016 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IMAX® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF IMAX CORPORATION.

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, APRIL 14 THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Page 11

Coach McKenzie makes history in repeat

North High repeats as state champions

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor For the second year in a row the North High Polars are Class 1A state champions in boys basketball.

The Polars (32-2) cruised through the competition in 1A, capping things off with a March 25 96-49 victory over North Woods High School (31-2) at the Target Center. In the team’s three tournament games it scored at least 90 points in each while holding its opponent to a high of just 56 points. In each game a running clock was deployed in the second half – a sort of “mercy rule” to prevent a further blowout. In capturing a second state title, North has established its dominance on the hardwood and at the same time elicited community pride in the school

that was just a few years ago designated for closure.

“I think this (championship) as a whole is for our community and for the kids to know that it’s never over until it’s over,” said North’s legendary coach, Larry McKenzie, talking about the program and school’s resurgence. “This group of kids came here (North) with a mission to restore North High.

They’re doing it on the court and in the classroom as well.”

Indeed, North has been restored. With two basketball titles and a football title within the past two years, North is dominating in sport. With an overall 82 percent graduation rate it’s dominating in the classroom as well.

With North’s resurgence enrollment is up, which has elevated North to 2A status for next year. Classification is based solely on enrollment. With that said, North has played a top-

Tim Davis

North High celebrated its second boys basketball state title in as many years with a 96-49 victory over North Woods High School in the March 25 Class 1A title game at the Target Center. tier schedule under McKenzie going 2-1 this year against other eventual state champions.

In just his fourth year at

North, McKenzie has guided the Polars – a team that was 3-26 the year prior to his coming on board – to an overall 98-23 record, four

Minneapolis City conference titles and now two state championships.

In doing so, McKenzie – already a Minneapolis Hall of Fame coach

– became the first boys coach to guide multiple teams to multiple titles. He guided Patrick Henry to three straight 3A titles from 20002003.

“For me it’s always about the kids,” said McKenzie when asked about his success. “My satisfaction comes in knowing I did it (winning state titles) with two Northside schools.”

Four North players, Tayler Johnson, Isaac Johnson, JaQuan Sanders-Smith and ODell Wilson IV were named to the 2017 1A All-Tournament team.

The North boys basketball program is inviting the community to come and celebrate its accomplishment on Sunday (April 9) from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

The event will be held at the North High gymnasium, 1500 James Ave. N., Minneapolis. Admission is $10 and will benefit North Community High School.

OSP speaking truth through rhyme

By Ingrid Ferlo

Editor’s Note: This article originally ran in our Feb. 20 – Feb. 26 edition of Insight News. In that article a quote was incorrectly attributed to French. His management team was concerned that he was misrepresented as a gangster rapper and want Insight readers to know that he “is not and has never been a gangsta rapper and has never referred to himself as such in any medium.” We regret the misunderstanding.

Robert French is all about spreading a positive message.

French, better known by his professional name OSP (On

Something Personal), is proud to be a Minnesota-born musician who believes in the power of hip-hop to create healthier trends for young people of color.

OSP was a recent guest on “Conversations with Al McFarlane” which airs live every Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. on KFAI 90.3 FM and reaches global audiences on www.kfai. org.

OSP credits his mother, uncles and aunts – all musicians and Southern Baptists – as the motivation behind his early interest in music. When asked where his name came from he said that he wanted to find a name people would remember.

“Everything we do – how we feel about social issues we live – is something personal,”

1

Robert “OSP” French

said OSP. “It resonates to people and they can relate to it.”

The artist said he often writes from painful experiences that have helped him grow into the person he is. He also finds motivation from the likes of Gil Scott Haron, John Coltrane, James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, the D.O.C., Ice Cube and The Roots.

OSP started out rapping in the 1990s as young teenager when break dancing on street corners was common and improvised lyrics made the music original. The industry took a turn for the worst, says OSP, when music became about profiteering. He feels artists have replaced originality with mimicking and as a result, the recurrent themes in hip-hop have

become about gangs, drugs and the degradation of women.

The emcee considers himself as somewhat of an avant-garde artist who wants to bring back the music from where it is to where it came.

“I want to bring back hiphop to the place that made the genre beloved around the world,” said OSP. He said the music with messages of violence and drugs has been shaping urban youths’ way of life for years and that’s why it’s necessary for the messages to change.

To change the music, it is necessary to change the people, according to OSP. He said that is why he spends a large amount of time mentoring young people.

“I work with kids. I coach

basketball in community centers for the kids who are misunderstood; for the pipeline that stretched from education to the penitentiary,” said OSP, who said he gets inspired by the possibilities of achievement for young people in disadvantaged communities.

OSP also has strong political opinions. Especially in the current political climate that he said threatens the rights of many minority communities.

He believes it is an artist duty to speak up.

“If now is not the time to say something that means something, I don’t know when that time will be,” said OSP. “(Music can) tell the story that doesn’t get told.”

MNHS.ORG

WE CAN HELP YOU START – OR GROW – YOUR BUSINESS.

MNHS: HISTORY FOR ALL The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is proud to honor the 100th anniversary of America’s involvement in World War I with WW1 America, a new exhibit opening Sat., April 8, at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Through original artifacts (with more than 80 from MNHS collections), images, voices, music, interactives, and multimedia, WW1 America tells extraordinary stories of Americans during a transformational era in our history.

To help bring the story of the war into the 21st century, we will also display a 30 ft. mural, created by artist David Geister, depicting 100 key individuals who influenced post-WWI America, as decided by public vote over the last few months. Come see the artist at work starting on April 8, and come back in September to see the completed mural.

ANSWERS. ASSISTANCE. NO FEES. NO FUSS.

In the WW1 America exhibit, you can: • Explore themes and major movements in depth — from immigration, racial politics, women’s suffrage, the Great Migration, Prohibition, and the 1918 influenza pandemic, to daily life and popular culture.

• View dozens of original artifacts from museums around the country, including a WW1 machine gun, a deck chair from the RMS Lusitania, President Woodrow Wilson’s hat, and Houdini’s handcuffs.

• Learn stories of the legendary and unsung Americans who shaped our history, from pacifists to presidents.

• Discover how the war transformed our nation into a world leader — at a time when our country struggled with concepts such as citizenship, nationhood, and identity that are strikingly relevant now.

MELANIE ADAMS Melanie Adams, PhD, is the senior director of Guest Experience and Educational Services at the Minnesota Historical Society. In this role she oversees MNHS programs, exhibits, and historic sites located throughout the state, which serve one million people per year.

CONTACT US FIRST: MINNESOTABIZ.COM

Page 12 • April 3 - April 9, 2017 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Tre Jones, McKinley Wright IV share Player of the Year honor The newly founded high school basketball award, “Minnesota Basketball Player of the Year” goes to two metro area ballers.

Apple Valley’s Tre Jones, and Champlin Park’sMcKinley Wright IV share the distinction of being named Player of the Year.

Jones, a junior, led Apple Valley to the 4A state title, putting up remarkable numbers in the process. The point guard averaged 25.7 points during the tournament, including scoring 24 points, grabbing an astonishing 18 rebounds and dishing 5 assists in the title game, a 60-54 victory over a previously undefeated Champlin

Tre Jones, Apple Valley

Photo by Rebecca Rabb

Park.

Wright, who committed to play for Dayton University next year, was outstanding all season, leading Champlin Park to a 31-1 record. The senior averaged 21.7 during state tournament play.

The nominating committee for the Player of the Year award consists of 12 current Minnesota coaches from throughout the state who are actively coaching. Coaches will serve on the nominating committee for two to three years then pass the responsibility on to other coaches so more can be involved in selection process.

Photo by Rebecca Rabb

McKinley Wright IV, Champlin Park

162 DAYS PLAYING BASEBALL

365 DAYS CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

KID

Y DA

PENING SO

Sunday, April 23 • 1:10pm Detroit Tigers

twinsbaseball.com/kidsopening

twinsbaseball.com/diversity @TwinsDiversity