Insight News ::: 04.17.17

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

Insight News April 17 - April 23, 2017

Vol. 44 No. 15• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

One year later Celebrating the life and legacy of Prince

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Photo collage created by Sunny Yang

Page 2 • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Insight News

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One year later: Remembering Prince

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor It’s hard to believe it’s been a year … it’s hard to believe it happened at all … it’s hard to believe he’s gone.

A year later and the music world is still in mourning over the loss of Prince Rogers Nelson. That loss is most felt in his hometown of Minneapolis and its surrounding communities.

Around the world people miss the music. Here we miss the man. Here the loss was personal.

The connections are endless. At the Minneapolis Urban League there’s Linda Anderson, executive secretary to the Office of the President, who was a longtime friend and early bandmate of Prince, playing keyboards and drums.

There’s Paul Peterson who you can catch from timeto-time performing at the Dakota Jazz Club who was a member of Prince’s The Family band. There’s Bro. Jules over at KMOJ. Jules was the exclusive DJ for

Prince for quite some time.

More importantly, he was his friend. Of course there’s Jellybean Johnson of The Time and Morris Day and The Time. Some of the Minnesota musical acts that have a direct lineage to Prince include The Time, Mint Condition, King, Mazarati, Alexander O’Neal, #MPLS (and Jesse Larson, currently on “The Voice”), Sounds of Blackness, Dr. Mambo’s Combo (Michael Bland), DJs Dudley D and Fundraiser and so many more.

Beyond those in the industry, people such as Sharon Smith-Akinsanya, founder, People of Color Career Fair and former regional development director of the United Negro College Fund and Anthony Newby, executive director of Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC) once knew Prince by the title of boss. There seems to be an infinite number of former schoolmates who attended Minneapolis Central High School with his royal badness.

Soon after that rainy Thursday of April 21 in 2016 the benevolence of Prince came to light with person after person sharing stories of Prince’s charity. He didn’t want it publicized … he just wanted to spread good will.

Beyond the celebrity, that’s who Prince really was. He was kind. He was funny. He was warm. He was a brilliant.

He was as regal and as royal as his name suggested.

And he is missed … oh so missed.

Yes, Michael Jackson was king, and James Brown was the godfather … but Prince was the greatest. And he will forever be missed.

Events commemorating the anniversary of Prince Several events are taking place around town to commemorate the oneyear anniversary of Prince’s death. The family of Prince is hosting a multi-day concert, Celebration 2017, at Paisley Park in Chanhassen. The event takes place Thursday through Sunday and features The Revolution, Morris Day and The Time, New Power Generation, Liv Warfield,

Shelby J and 3rdEyeGirl.

Tickets are $549 for the only remaining set of shows.

First Avenue is hosting dance parties on Friday and Saturday with Friday’s 18plus event taking place inside the Mainroom at 9 p.m. and Saturday’s event – an all ages outdoor affair – taking place from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Tickets for Friday’s event are $10 and $15. Saturday’s event is sold out.

Thee Urbane Life is hosting Thee Beautiful Ones on Saturday at Five Event Center, 2917 Bryant Ave. S. in Uptown, featuring DJ Chuck Chizzle and DJ Fundraiser (who spun for Prince) spinning Prince and Prince inspired music.

Admission is $15 and $20 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Billingsley School of Music and Art (BSOMA).

Sunday G Sharp and the Bizne$$ presents the Purple Party at Lee’s Liquor Lounge, 101 Glenwood Ave., Minneapolis. The band will be playing songs either written or performed by Prince.

Prince Rogers Nelson

Sponsors of hate must be held accountable

By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President and CEO, NNPA

On April 4 people paused in solemn remembrance of the 49th anniversary of the tragic assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On that tragic day in 1968 I was a young college student and staff member of Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in North Carolina.

Many in North Carolina may recall my beginnings in activism when, as a 13-yearold, I fought to integrate the public library in Oxford, N.C.,

Join us for a free fraud fighting event Wednesday, April 26, 2017 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Earle Brown Heritage Center 6155 Earle Brown Drive Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 Con artists don’t care how hard you worked. They steal billions from Americans like you every year. Learn to protect yourself and loved ones from fraud, identity theft, cybercrime and even theft by people you trust, including family members.

Visit representatives of local community organizations in our mini exhibit hall starting at 8:00 a.m. and during program breaks.

For more information visit https://aarp.cvent.com/ TCScamJam17 or call 877-926-8300 to register.

and was the first AfricanAmerican to successfully struggle to get a library card there. Later, I worked for the SCLC, CORE, NAACP, and the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice. Today, I proudly serve the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) as

Fight Back Against Fraud!

President and CEO. There is no question that it has been a long and difficult road for our communities, during the past half century, as we continue to fight for equal rights and to eliminate racial hatred, discrimination and bigotry. Over the years, our work has taken different shapes and has required many different approaches and levels of intensity to ensure we continually push our leaders and fellow citizens further down the path of freedom, justice and equality.

Under the Obama Administration, we were fortunate to have friends in the White House, the Department of Justice and all across the Administration, who recognized the historic opportunities and worked with us to maximize them.

We saw many advances for our communities and the priorities were rightly on addressing criminal justice reforms, labor, income, education, poverty and access to health care. We did not arrive fully there, but we were well on our way to making more progress for all people in America.

With the rise of the so called alt-right movement and its anti-immigration agenda that many believe helped to elect President Trump, we find ourselves working to maintain the status quo in civil rights rather than advancing this fight. And we have every right to be concerned and frustrated.

Yet, as Dr. King believed, we should work to get each president of the United States, including President Trump, to denounce bigotry and hatred, as well as to champion racial equality.

We must tap into that energy to push our agenda and ensure that our nation’s leaders do not support bigotry of any kind and that means identifying individuals and groups that are sponsoring this hate and holding them accountable.

Unfortunately, here in my home state of North Carolina, the Foundation for the Carolinas has spent tens of millions of dollars over the years supporting groups that sponsor hate and advance this antiimmigration and population control agenda that threatens our communities.

All immigrants should be treated fairly and equally without discrimination.

Behind a veil of anonymity created by the Foundation, donors who support this organization are able to indirectly fund extremist groups without any

Dr. Benjamin Chavis public accountability. The Foundation prides itself on – and even advertises – donor anonymity as a reason to contribute to the foundation.

Large donors are assured that Foundation for the Carolinas has “fewer reporting requirements” than private foundations that they might otherwise choose as a vehicle for their giving.

This condition, afforded to some of our state’s wealthiest individuals, has enabled patrons of the organization to operate unchecked – making this lack of transparency as a significant liability for your organization.

According to the Los Angeles Times and others, one individual in particular, Fred Stanback, has used the Foundation to direct his money to extreme causes.

Behind the cloak of the Foundation, Stanback has become a leading supporter, funneling tens of millions of dollars, to fringe antiimmigrant groups including the Federation for American Immigration Reform (labeled an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center). It is my understanding that Stanback is behind several donor advised funds at the Foundation, which afford him this anonymity.

Over a period of more than 10 years, the Foundation has donated more than $20 million dollars to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and to NumbersUSA, a similarly minded and wellknown extremist group.

These vehicles have

proactively disseminated hateful xenophobic sentiment throughout our region and country, ostracizing some of our most vulnerable citizens.

In addition, the Foundation For The Carolinas’ board of directors reserves “variance power,” which authorizes it “to modify any condition or restriction on the distribution of funds if in its sole judgement (without the approval of any trustee, custodian or agent), such restriction or condition becomes, in effect, unnecessary, in capable of fulfillment, or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the area served by the Foundation.”

Despite the board’s discretionary power, it chose to support organizations whose agendas were clearly at odds with the best interests of a diverse nation.

As a civil rights and social justice leader, my view is that we should not tolerate this kind of unjust targeting of our most vulnerable citizens by Foundation for the Carolinas’ anonymous patrons. Public accountability for all nonprofits is necessary.

It is our duty to fight for justice for all. It’s time for the Foundation for the Carolinas to come clean and stop sponsoring such hate groups.

Let’s move our nation forward and not backward.

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org.

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Insight News • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Page 3

aesthetically speaking

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

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Insight News April 17 - April 23, 2017

Vol. 44 No. 15• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Arnellia’s to shutter doors after 25 years Legendary bar launched the careers of many area artists, hosted national acts

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor It’s the end of an era for a storied and historic Twin Cites nightclub that launched the careers of many and; on several occasions counted Prince as one of its patrons.

After 25 years in business, Arnellia’s Bar and Restaurant is shutting its doors at 1183 University Ave. W. in St. Paul. The declining health of the club’s pioneering owner, Arnellia Allen, is cited as the reason for the closure, which is set for April 30. Allen is credited as the first and only AfricanAmerican female to hold a liquor license in the state of Minnesota.

For most of Arnellia’s 25 years in business she was the only African-American to hold a

liquor license.

News of Arnellia’s closing and of Allen’s declining health has hit the Twin Cities arts community hard, especially those of the R&B/soul/blues music scene.

“I’m truly sad to hear that the place is closing,” said Ricky Kinchen, member of the grammy-nominated group, Mint Condition. “I stop in there at least a few times a years just to say ‘hi’ and listen to some music.

I always made sure to stop in there. I’d talk to her (Allen) every time I was there and let her know that I appreciate her for all she’s accomplished.”

That sentiment was echoed

by Jeff Cryer, founder of the nationally touring Jeff Cryer’s Tribute to Motown.

“Arnellia’s is historic. It’s like B.B. King’s in Memphis.

All the national acts came through there … Zapp, Ronnie Laws, Cameo … Karen White.

She (Allen) is a legend. She’s irreplaceable. That place is irreplaceable. She’s done so much for this community,” said Cryer.

Cryer credits Allen with getting his touring show off the ground.

“She took a chance on me and gave me a place to try out my concept (for his Motown tribute show) when no one else would,” said Cryer.

“She gave us (musicians and fans of soul music) a place to go, to play … to eat,” said Kathleen Johnson, a musician and owner of Whole Soul Mobile Kitchen. Ms. Arnellia Photo taken from Arnellia’s Facebook page

ARNELLIA’S 5

After more than 25 of providing entertainment to the Twin Cities, Arnellia’s Bar and Restaurant is shutting its doors.

Initiative promotes state jobs expands business opportunity

Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA

In the wake of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s stunning defeat in the 2016 presidential election, a number of groups were launched to encourage greater political participation among young people, women and minorities.

By Nadvia Davis More than 70 people gathered at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center (UROC) in North Minneapolis to kick-off the third in the series of networking events.

Several Minnesota commissioners and state leaders teamed up with the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) to host a discussion about the access and availability of jobs with the state for people of color.

The purpose of the “Lead-In” networking events is to source potential talent and create business opportunities for underrepresented communities. Lead-In also provides a forum for building valuable relationships for government/community partnerships.

Executive director of AALF,

PAC inspires Black Women to seek office

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor

Nadvia Davis

Chief inclusion officer for Minnesota, James Burroughs (right) and Jeff Hassan, executive director of the African-American Leadership Forum address attendees at a networking event at University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center (UROC). The event was designed to introduce residents to employment opportunities with the state.

Jeff Hassan, and chief inclusion officer for the state of Minnesota, James Burroughs, opened the event by detailing how the

partnership could bring stability to Minnesota’s communities of color. Following the opening remarks, director of Strategic

officer in the 3rd Precinct. He’s held a variety of different positions including work as a school resource officer and a Northside beat officer. He also has internal affairs and property crime investigation experience, not to mention his higher profile work as the 1st Precinct inspector, and most recently, as deputy chief, chief of staff.

“While it’s not easy to leave this job, it is much easier knowing that Rondo will be the next assistant chief,” said retiring assistant chief, Kris Arneson. “I know he’ll bring unbelievable energy to the office and he’s a well-respected leader

AALF 5

Industry insiders say Blacks should pursue oil jobs

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Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA

Melanie Campbell, the president and CEO of the NCBCP said her group was deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to after school programs for poor children, to Meals on Wheels and to clean air and water protections for communities across the country.

This photo was taken during the 2016 Black Women’s Roundtable Women of Power National Summit in Washington, D.C.

Women “educate” Trump, congress on safety net cuts

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor Courtesy of the Minneapolis Police Department

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and

Medaria Arradondo

ARRADONDO 5

Business

BLACK VOTERS 5

Workforce Initiatives, Emma Corrie, took to the podium and

MPD promotes Arradondo Chief Janeé Harteau announced Medaria Arradondo will be the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) next assistant chief, effective April 30.

“Rondo – and everyone who knows him calls him Rondo – brings incredible leadership and community building skills to this position. This promotion is part of our very intentional and strategic succession plan, as we focus on institutionalizing MPD 2.0 and our work as a leader in 21st Century policing,” said Harteau. “As my chief of staff, Rondo has prepared for this next step in many ways, with an intense focus on our progressive initiatives.”

Arradondo joined the MPD in 1989 as a patrol

In the aftermath of formerSecretary of State Hillary Clinton’s defeat last November,

Health

News

Cut service, raise fares

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Grant funds swimming lessons for children

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the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) recently hosted the Sixth Annual BWR Women of Power National Summit in Washington, D.C. The Black Women’s Roundtable is the women and

BWR 4

Community Open letter to Minneapolis

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Page 4 • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Insight News

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Business

Industry insiders say Blacks should pursue oil jobs Blacks, Latinos missing out on lucrative jobs in the oil industry

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor There are great opportunities for African-Americans and Latinos in the oil, natural gas and petrochemical industries, according to industry insiders, who are calling on people of color to “get in the game.”

“IHS Markit projects that there will be nearly 1.9 million job opportunities over the next 20 years in our industry, and (people of color) are expected

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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.

to fill more than 575,000 of those positions,” said Deryck Spooner, ‎the senior director of external mobilization at American Petroleum Institute.

“These employment projections are based on current and expected trends in factors such as labor force participation rates, population growth rates, and educational attainment rates.”

IHS Markit is known as the leading source of information and insight into critical areas that shape today’s business landscape. Spooner noted that opportunities would be available in a wide variety of occupations across the country.

Of the 1.9 million new job opportunities, 57 percent are projected to be in blue-collar occupations and 32 percent are projected to be in management and professional fields, according to IHS Markit.

Martha Montoya, the chair of the National Association of Hispanic Publications, said it is important for Black and Latino families to have conversations about opportunities in the oil industry that are available for people who aspire to join the middle class. A recent report by IHS Markit noted that Hispanic and African-American workers are projected to account for close to 25 percent of new hires in management, business and

Erik Christensen/Wikimedia Commons

Jack Gerard, API president and CEO says that the oil and natural gas industry pays wages significantly higher than the national average and can provide tremendous career opportunities for women and minorities. financial jobs through 2035.

Also, of the women projected to be hired in the oil industry, more than half are expected to fill management and professional occupations.

The salaries in the oil and gas industry make the jobs very attractive. Currently, the average salary for a financial analyst in the industry is $55,620, while a petroleum engineer makes $82,000 annually. Oil and gas pipeline construction workers average about $76,000 per year and those who drill oil and gas wells typically rake in at least $98,000 per year, according to several databases.

“Experienced engineers are

being offered sky-high salaries and are taking regular calls from headhunters as the booming shale gas industry fights for scarce talent, snapping up engineers from other sectors,” reported Alanna Petroff of CNN Money. “There aren’t enough experienced engineers to go around, and global demand for engineers is growing, especially as the U.S. shale gas industry balloons.”

In order to take advantage of the oil and gas boom, Spooner said people of color must get in the game.

“Our polling of AfricanAmericans and Latinos showed that the vast majority of

individuals had never applied for a job in the industry, with 60 percent of those being driven by a basic lack of familiarity with the industry’s opportunities,” said Spooner.

As noted in the 2017 State of American Energy report, the American Petroleum Institute (API) continues to work with Hispanics in Energy and the American Association of Blacks in Energy to spread the word about that 707,000 positions are projected to be held by AfricanAmerican and Hispanic workers, said API spokesman Reid T. Porter.

“And, we’ve started a Veterans Energy Pipeline program to connect veterans with career opportunities that are compatible with their unique skill sets,” said Porter.

With above-average salaries and an abundance of career opportunities projected over the next two decades, the oil and natural gas industry offers solutions to wage stagnation and income inequality, which remain major concerns in our stillstruggling economy, said Porter.

“Capitalizing on energy job opportunities doesn’t require a government program or taxpayer funding,” said Porter. “All it takes are smart energy policies and increased awareness of job opportunities to ensure the

‘Great Crew Change’ is the game changer it can be for America’s workers.”

The industry is partnering with schools, labor organizations and the government to increase awareness of energy job opportunities and to promote greater participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. Still, many are surprised to learn that the industry has a great deal of job opportunities in blue collar occupations (57 percent), which require a high school diploma and some post-secondary training.

“These are jobs like welders, pipefitters, truck drivers, and construction workers,” said Spooner. “There are also hundreds of thousands of job opportunities projected in management and professional fields as scientists, engineers, architects, communication professionals, business managers and so much more.”

The oil and natural gas industry pays wages significantly higher than the national average and can provide tremendous career opportunities for women and people of color, said Jack Gerard, API president and CEO. “These careers can help shrink the income inequality gap without spending a dime of taxpayer money,” said Gerard.

AARP launches ‘Operation: Stop Scams’ with

document-shredding events and education sessions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The AARP Fraud Watch Network has launched “Operation: Stop Scams” – a month-long series of events intended on preventing fraud.

Events include papershredding, fraud education programs – “scam jams” – Fraud Watch Network background presentations, tele-town halls and phone bank sessions to warn consumers of the latest scams. In the Twin Cities AARP will host Scam Jam April 26 from 8 a.m.

– Noon at the Earle Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Dr., Brooklyn Center.

BWR From 3 girls empowerment arm of the NCBCP; BWR is at the forefront of championing just and equitable public policy on behalf of Black women. Several key events took place on Capitol Hill and at the summit’s hotel, the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Va. NCBCP is one of the most active civil rights organizations in the U.S. and Melanie Campbell, the president of the NCBCP, is one of the few Black women civil rights leaders invited to meetings

Courtesy AARP

Nancy LeaMond chief advocacy and engagement officer, AARP

at the White House along with the trio of NAACP, National Urban League and National Action Network presidents. Campbell has taken the reigns often held by the late legendary leader Dorothy Height, who passed away in April 2010.

NCBCP launched the BWR Summit this year, by releasing the 4th Annual BWR Report, “Black Women in the U.S. 2017: Moving Our Agenda Forward in a PostObama Era.” The BWR planned to share the report with members of the 115th Congress and the Trump Administration.

In a statement about the summit, Campbell said that the

“Many Americans clear out and discard their obsolete financial documents at the end of the tax-filing season in April. Our shredding events in dozens of communities provide a convenient and safe way for people to destroy this sensitive paperwork,” said Nancy LeaMond, chief advocacy and engagement officer, AARP. “April also brings the personal finance awareness activities of Money Smart Week, so we’re excited to do our part with events to teach consumers to be smart about avoiding fraud and scams.”

Examples of AARP

“Operation: Stop Scams” events range from a financial forum in Louisville to a “Scam Jam” in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to a Clinton Township, Mich., presentation by AARP Fraud Watch Network Ambassador Frank Abagnale.

Papershredding events total more than 100. Some 250 tons of sensitive documents were destroyed during a similar AARP National “Shred Fest” in 2016.

Money Smart Week, April 22 – April 29, is a collaborative between thousands of organizations across the United States that

offer financial education programs, classes and activities.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network (www.aarp.org/money/ scams-fraud/fraud-watchnetwork) launched in 2013 as a free resource for people of all ages. The website provides information about fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, an interactive scamtracking map and more. Users may sign up for “Watchdog Alert” emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at (877) 9083360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling.

group wanted to “educate and share (their) deep concerns about the proposed repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that cuts Medicare and Medicaid and federal budget cuts to safety net programs that impact the most vulnerable, such as after school programs for poor children, Meals on Wheels for our senior citizens, clean air and water protections in communities across the country and other issues.”

The five-day event focused on advocacy around issues such as affordable health care, federal budget cuts, criminal justice reform, voting rights and paid

family leave.

On the third day of the conference, Linda Brigham, the senior manager for public affairs and communications at the CocaCola Company, presented a check for $250,000 to Campbell to support future BWR events.

Appearing at the summit were Maureen Bunyan, former news anchor for Washington, D.C.’s WJLA-TV and one of the founders of the National Association of Black Journalists, Vanessa DeLuca, the editorin-chief of Essence magazine, Suzan Johnson Cook, the former U.S. ambassador at-large for International Religious Freedom

and Janaye Ingram, the director of logistics for the Women’s March on Washington.

Several members of Congress met with BWR members as well, including Reps.

Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.).

Lauren Victoria Burke is a political analyst who speaks on politics and African-American leadership. She is also a frequent contributor to the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA. com. Connect with Lauren by email at LBurke007@gmail.com.

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Insight News • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Page 5

Cut service, raise fares Legislative proposals harm transit users

The Minnesota Legislature recently crafted legislation that includes budget cuts that could reduce Metro Transit bus service by as much as 40 percent and could cause fares to increase by as much as fifty cents.

This is cause for alarm for many in the Twin Cities, especially in communities of color and among poorer people who depend on transit to get to and from work and to get around in general. The budget cuts were proposed despite the state’s $1.6 billion surplus.

The situation is so dire that Metropolitan Council, which oversees Metro Transit, called a press conference last month to denounce the cuts and

Black Voters From 3 a number of groups were launched to encourage greater political participation among young people, women and people of color.

Recently, the Milk River PAC (political action committee) hosted a dialogue on the impact of women in politics that featured Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and political commentator Ana Navarro. The goal of Milk River PAC is to inspire more African-American women to run for Congress. Along with The Collective, Democracy in Color, and Higher Heights, the Milk River PAC is another effort focused on galvanizing support behind people of color running for office.

Milk River PAC and Higher Heights are specifically focused on Black women. Black women voted at higher rates

Arradondo From 3 within the MPD. He’s also gained tremendous trust and credibility within the various neighborhoods and diverse communities that we serve.”

Arradondo will continue to lead the MPD in its national initiative and procedural

AALF From 3 spoke about the importance of recruiting people of color in government positions.

“There is a very intentional effort here to increase the number of people of color in state government and to increase the number of contracts that go out to our communities to folks that look like us as well as to increase civic engagement,” said Corrie.

Tracey Gipson, the state’s executive recruiter, helped shift the gears by having community members and state leaders break off into more intimate discussion circles to elaborate on current job openings and give community members the opportunity to share their opinions and pose questions directly to the commissioners. Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey and Mary Finnegan, deputy commissioner of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board, and were among those in attendance representing the state.

Bill English of the Northside Job Creation Team was quite vocal during one breakout discussion, stating there is a lack of coverage on ethnic focused issues by major news outlets. He said major news outlets could do a better job of leveraging their reputation to reach a broader ethnic population and help com-

Arnellia’s From 3 has been such a wonderful support to Black musicians. We were able to launch there. As a Black band, it’s not easy to find places to play. Arnellia’s was the only one really willing to give Black bands a shot. She risked big on us all because that’s how big her heart is.”

In addition to launching

urge the legislature to withdraw them and pursue a sustainable fix to transit funding in the Twin Cities metro region.

Bus, light rail and Metro Mobility services for the elderly and disabled in the Twin Cities will suffer significant service cutbacks and fare increases under House Transportation Omnibus Bill (HF 861), which would drastically cut funding for Metro Transit, the largest transit provider in the Twin Cities.

After accounting for a proposed fare increase, HF 861 balloons Metro Transit’s budget deficit to more than $125 million over the next two-year cycle.

The Senate transportation proposals are not much better.

“If Republicans in the legislature short-change transit, our only alternative will be

to shrink the Metro Transit service area and reduce the number of hours the system operates at

than any other demographic group in America during the 2008 presidential election cycle.

Harnessing that political power is one of the many challenges that the groups hope to address at a time when Republicans control the Congress, the White House and most state legislatures.

The specific goal of Higher Heights is to “identify, educate, and engage Black women across the socio-economic spectrum to elect Black women, influence elections and move public policy.”

During the discussion hosted by Milk River PAC with Rep. Clarke and Navarro, issues around the changing demographics in America and the impact of Black women in politics were the main focus.

According to demographic trends and national poll predictions, Clinton should have easily defeated President Donald Trump. Clinton won the popular vote by 2.8 million votes, but lost the Electoral College vote (227-304), sending Trump to the

White House.

In the post-Obama era, efforts to advance AfricanAmericans into elected office appear to be picking up steam.

On March 29, new Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez asked for all staffers currently at the DNC to hand in their resignations.

A massive re-organization is expected after Perez barely won the DNC chairmanship over progressive challenger Rep.

justice work. He will also be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department including overseeing Special Operations and Intelligence division and policecommunity relations initiatives.

More changes within the MPD’s executive command structure will be announced in the coming weeks.

municate the message that there is in fact a need for people of color in government positions.

“They (niche news outlets) can continue to do the job of being culturally specific for our community and bringing us news and information that the major media just simply won’t cover,” said English.

Burroughs interjected and responded to English’s comment.

“To that point, now we are working with Al (McFarlane and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium) to identify Latino, Hmong and AfricanAmerican papers (to communicate job openings). We want to intentionally spend our money on those publications, so that they become partners with large media outlets,” said Burroughs.

Lindsey said community members should “demand more from the legislature” when it comes to diversity and inclusion efforts in construction jobs with the state.

To close out the event, Burroughs said further discussion must take place around the issue of diversity hiring.

“We’ve got to engage with the community to make sure that we are doing the things we need to do and you (community members) need to know who we (state commissioners are hiring personnel) are,” said Burroughs.

Johnson’s music career, Allen said Arnellia’s also launched her cooking career.

“When I launched my mobile kitchen I went to Ms. Arnellia and asked could I go into her kitchen to launch and she gave her kitchen to us for four months for free,” said Johnson.

A celebration of the legendary venue was announced via Facebook and is slated to take place April 27 – April 30.

is grabbing local tax dollars that were raised for one purpose and then spending them for another,” said Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County commissioner and chair of the Counties Transit Improvement Board, which invests in metro area transit projects. “This action is gutting our ability to expand our transit system and meet the region’s needs.”

Transit advocates and business leaders say cuts on this level will have a ruinous impact on the region’s competitive advantage and quality of life.

Ridership surveys by

school and personal activities will pay the biggest price as we reduce service hours, routes and

destinations,” said Adam Duininck, chair of the Metropolitan Council, which operates Metro Transit. “To make up a deficit of that size, we will be forced to cut service by 40 percent. The service cut will be bigger if we don’t pass a fare increase this year.”

The House proposal cuts general fund appropriations to regional transit by $120 million, and completely eliminates state general fund contributions by 2021. It also divests the state from its previous agreement to pay part of the operating cost of the metro’s two light rail lines, shifting that funding burden to metro counties.

“The state legislature

Keith Ellison (D-Minn.).

For years, members of the Congressional Black Caucus and others have challenged the DNC on its lack of hiring of Black vendors and consultants as the party continued to use the same consultants and staff against a backdrop of historic losses over the last 10 years.

The Indivisible Movement, started by former congressional staffers, has risen to re-energize civic engagement in the wake

of Trump’s election, in the same way the Republican Tea Party rose to power following President Obama’s election in 2008. Town halls focused on healthcare and the direction Trump is taking policy have given rise to efforts to focus on the next major set of federal elections in 2018.

But there are also several test races coming up that should provide a clue as to whether the recent energy among Democrats

and others who oppose Trump’s agenda is real.

Lauren Victoria Burke is a political analyst who speaks on politics and African-American leadership. She is also a frequent contributor to the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA. com. Connect with Lauren by email at LBurke007@gmail. com.

the same time we dramatically increase fares. The people who rely on transit to get to work,

“The people who rely on transit to get to work, school and personal activities will pay the biggest price as we reduce service hours, routes and destinations.” - Adam Duininck, chair of the Metropolitan Council

BUDGET CUTS 6

Page 6 • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Insight News

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Insight 2 Health Grant funds swimming lessons for children COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – To help swim lesson providers nationwide offer lessons to children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford them, the USA Swimming Foundation has awarded more than $342,000 through its 2017 Make a Splash grant program.

Of that, several area programs will receive funding including Brooklyn Center Community Center, Brooklyn Park Recreation & Parks, YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, Downtown Minneapolis Branch, YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, North Community Youth Branch, YMCA of the

Greater Twin Cities, Ridgedale Branch, YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, Northwest New Hope Branch, Great Wolf Swim Club (Minneapolis) and Robbinsdale Area Schools Community Education.

Through Make a Splash funding this year, it is estimated that more than 25,000 children will be served through grants provided to 71 Make a Splash Local Partners across 25 states.

The 71 Make a Splash Partners marks the most ever number of providers in a single grant cycle.

According to the organization, over the past 10 years, 4.9 million children have received formalized swim instruction

through program.

“Our goal is that by the end of this year, one million children will be given the opportunity to learn to swim through the Make a Splash Local Partner network, and the grant money we award will help those who otherwise would not have the opportunity,” said Debbie Hesse, executive director of the USA Swimming Foundation. “We couldn’t provide these grants without the support of donors, sponsors and foundations who help support our efforts to provide free and reduced swim lessons for children around the country.”

This year, the foundation

received nearly 200 applications and awarded 71 grants totaling more than $342,000 to help fund learn-to-swim programs across the country.

There are approximately 850 Make a Splash Local Partners who promote water safety education in their communities and provide scholarships for children to participate in their swim lesson programs.

The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation. org.

Budget cuts From 5 Metro Transit find that 80 percent of rides taken on the transit system are by people commuting to work or school. Dramatic cuts to metro area transit could have a direct impact on local businesses that rely on workers to arrive on time, and students who need to get to classes.

“We have been urging legislators to enhance our transit system because it brings people to work and attracts talent to our region. This is a step in the wrong direction,” said Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jonathan Weinhagen. “This is going to harm hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses who rely on transit to get their employees to work on time and to bring customers to their businesses. Forty percent of the workers in downtown Minneapolis get to work on transit. Cut back on buses and employers will be forced to move out of our city just to en-

sure employees can find a place to park.”

The cuts will also fall on those who are transitdependent, as well as those who regularly use the Metro Mobility service for people with disabilities. Currently, 20,000 Minnesotans with disabilities use Metro Mobility. Federal and state laws require that the service provide rides to eligible individuals, regardless of growth in demand or cost.

Duininck, transit advocates, business groups and local elected officials urged the Legislature to pursue a fix to transit funding along the lines of the regional half-cent sales tax proposed by Governor Dayton, which would fully fund transit operations in the region, as well as expand transit service and hours of operation.

Transit advocates have called for a rally on Tuesday (April 18) at the Capitol stop (Rice Street stop near the corner of University and Park Avenues) on the Metro Transit Light Rail Green Line at 6 p.m. Gov. Mark Dayton, who supports transit funding has been invited to speak.

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

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Insight News • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Page 7

Page 8 • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Insight News

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Insight News • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Page 9

Make dreams, aspirations achievable for everyone Guest commentary by Al Flowers, Candidate for Mayor Minneapolis is a great place to live, and I am proud to count myself as a resident of this fantastic city.

There is so much about our community that works well – our economy is strong, unemployment is low, our children are educated and Minneapolis is ripe with opportunity for those who want a better life for themselves and their families. What we have and who we are as a city works very well for most of us who live here … unless you happen to be poor, or Black, or Latino or Native-America or an immigrant from another country.

The experiences and the stories of these families are very different.

They tell of a Minneapolis where discrimination prevents people from advancing, where opportunities are limited, and the where the future looks bleak. Far too many of our neighbors do not believe that the American dream is something to aspire to, nor do they expect

equitable access to the opportunities most of us take for granted.

I hope we can agree that this is not acceptable, and that we should strive to find a way to make dreams and aspirations achievable for everyone. This is a common task that we must unite behind if we are to become the just and equitable community we all want to be.

We face many problems that must be tackled together, and to be successful we need a vision for Minneapolis that includes two key goals.

First of all, and perhaps most importantly, we need strong, responsive and accountable public institutions that meet the needs of the community; we need institutions that meet the needs of everyone, regardless of who they are, where they live in the city, or what their background may be.

For far too long, key institutions in Minneapolis have provided two tiers of service. For those who have higher incomes and live in affluent neighborhoods, our institutions work well. Kids are educated, streets are maintained and neighborhoods are safe. But for those who face the daily struggle to

Al Flowers make ends meet, the story is quite different. Schools are not viewed as welcoming, police are feared rather than seen as protectors, and city government is understood as an enforcer of someone else’s rights.

We live in a state that has often been seen as an exemplar in education. Minnesota is consistently ranked near the top of the nation in most indicators of educational achievement, which is something we should be proud of. But in Minneapolis the story is very different if you happen

to be a student of color. Instead of sharing in the Minnesota Miracle that we are pleased to boast about, African-American, Latino, and Native-American students are failing at appalling rates. We cannot be satisfied with a school district that graduates fewer than half of its students of color. We cannot justify district policies that do not treat students with fairness and equity. We cannot allow resources to be used in ways that advance the educational achievement of some while leaving too many behind. All children deserve a quality education that prepares them for the future, and it is up to all of us to work together to make sure this happens.

In addition, we can no longer tolerate the painful divide that separates many neighborhoods from the police that are sworn to protect and serve them. We are supposed to call the police when we are in trouble, when we need to be protected and when we fear for our safety. The police are supposed to be trusted and believed. The police are supposed to work for fairness and justice for everyone. Unfortunately, this ideal relationship between police

and community has disappeared in many parts of the city. There have been far too many cases of police misconduct over the years, and city leadership has done little to repair the damage or promote an atmosphere of trust. We must not accept the fact that nearly half of the residents of Minneapolis question whether or not the police department has their best interests at heart. This has to change.

Secondly, the time for relying on old solutions to old problems using the same providers of services that we have always turned to has passed. Our community has changed dramatically over the years, but our ability to respond to new challenges in creative and innovative ways has not kept pace. If we are to be a vibrant and thriving community, we need to tap into the creativity and passion for solving problems that can be found in every neighborhood and on every street. While there are certainly some challenges that require a big-picture approach, there are also solutions to be found in places we have never thought to look. While effective public institutions are important, what we

need even more are strong, capable communities that have the capacity to imagine new ways of solving their own problems. We need a city government that recognizes the value that is waiting to be set loose in the community, and has a commitment to supporting grassroots efforts that offer exciting opportunities for change.

The time has come to develop real partnerships in the city, rather than clinging to old patterns that merely make us clients or customers.

We can do better, and we must do better. We must do better because that is what a great city demands of its residents, its institutions, its government, and its leaders. We must not be satisfied with the progress we have made, or where we find ourselves standing at the present time. We must continue to press forward to become what we all want and what we all know Minneapolis can be. We must continue to work together until we become a single community that works well for everyone – one Minneapolis that includes us all.

Jammin’ in the park, outdoor fitness event A couple of motivated fitness gurus are hoping to motivate others to move to take in the sights of nature and at the same time move to the music.

Coach and fitness instructor Chaz Sandifer and Zumba instructor Valerie Turner, founders of Noir Elite Fitness,

are presenting Jammin’ in the Parks, a monthly exercise event at rotating parks in the Twin Cities featuring a live DJ. The event kicked off April 15 and the next is set for April 29 outside at Lakeview Elementary School, 4110 Lake Dr., Minneapolis. The 90-minute session will feature

30 minutes each of Zumba, strength and conditioning and kickboxing. A massage therapist will also be on site offering $1 per minute massages. The cost for the class is $10.

“Our focus is Black women. Black women are the most educated, yet have the

highest rate of heart disease and diabetes,” said Sandifer.

Jammin’ in the Parks is slated to run through September.

For more information call Turner at (612) 558-8998 or Sandifer at (651) 373-0543.

Rebecca Rabb

Zumba instructor Valerie Turner (left) and fitness instructor Chaz Sandifer

Start Anew assists women with legal barriers

Start Anew, a 24-month faithbased program, is offering a free weekly empowerment session geared towards women who face certain legal barriers.

The hope of the group is to offer opportunities and advice to women who face challenges in housing, employment and other avenues due to a past criminal history. The overall goal is to reduce recidivism among the vulnerable population.

“You made a mistake or several mistake, but you’re still a human being,” said Start Anew founder, Cecelia Viel.

The meetings take place from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. each Wednesday at 1401 Newton Ave. N. in Minneapolis. The meetings are at no cost and are open to the public. For more information call (612) 223-1305 or email startanew.seven@gmail.com.

Classifieds

Phone: 612.588.1313 ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS

Project:

MINNESOTA UNITED MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER STADIUM

Owner:

MUSC Holdings, Inc.

Construction Manager:

Mortenson Construction

Architect:

Populous/Loucks Associates

Fax: 612.588.2031

Email: info@insightnews.com

St. Paul Central H.S.

Support Specialist

Class of 1967 50th Reunion

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, District of MN, is accepting applications for a full-time Support Specialist for Minneapolis or Saint Paul. Salary range is $38,425 - $62,503. For a complete job description visit our website, http:// www.mnp.uscourts.gov , Career Opportunities.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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

Mortenson Construction (the Construction Manager at Risk) is soliciting proposals for Bid Package #2 for the Minnesota United Major League Soccer (MLS) Stadium project. Notice is hereby given that responses to this Request for Proposals (RFP) will be received by Mortenson for the provision of Construction Services on the Minnesota United MLS Stadium project for the following subcontract categories: Bid Package #02 x SC 2.01 – Earthwork & Site Utilities x SC 2.02 – Site Trees Procurement

Assumed Name 1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: All Around the World Ministry 2. State the address of the principal place of business: 3637 Newton Ave N, Minneapolis MN 55412

The current projected process and schedule for selecting the subcontractors is as follows: x 100% Construction Documents Issued – Earthwork & Utilities x RFP Proposal Manual Issued x Subcontractor Information Session x Pre-Bid Meeting x Bids Due

4/3/17 4/7/17 4/18/17 4/18/17 5/2/17

All dates are approximate and are provided as a courtesy to Proposers. Mortenson reserves the right, acting in its sole judgment, to modify this process or schedule.

Plans and specifications are available via www.isqft.com. For access to the plans and specifications on isqft.com, contact Jeremy Chouinard at jeremy.chouinard@mortenson.com (Phone: 763-287-5670).

Submit one (1) downloadable electronic copy of proposal via email to greg.huber@mortenson.com no later than 2:00 PM Central Time on May 2, 2017. x Proposals shall be valid for 90 days. x Prior to proposal submission, Subcontractor/Supplier shall submit information to be enrolled in the Mortenson Prequalification Program via Textura Corporation’s Pre-Qualification Management online system. Prequalification details to be provided in Proposal Manual.

3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address. Attach additional sheet(s) if necessary: Martha Lee, 3637 Newton Ave N, Minneapolis MN 55412 4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath.

Signed by: Martha Lee, Pastor Date Filed: 3/17/17

LIL’S ANGELS MEMORY LOSS SUPPORT GROUP Northeast Minneapolis: Monroe Village, 1900 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis; Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

South Minneapolis: Lunds & Byerly’s Grocery,1450 West Lake St., Minneapolis; Meets the 2nd Friday of each month from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

NEW LOCATION Brooklyn Center: Jehovah Jireh Church, 6120 Xerxes Ave. N., Brooklyn Center; Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

To RSVP, or for questions, please call Dorothea Harris at 952-945-4175 Volunteers of America MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN

Insight News 4/10/2017, 4/17/2017

Subcontracts will be held by M.A. Mortenson Company. The form of Subcontract Agreement and all associated attachments and exhibits will be provided in a published Proposal Manual. Proposal submission acknowledges acceptance of all provisions and requirements as outlined in the provided Subcontract Agreement and all associated attachments and exhibits.

The Owner has adopted a comprehensive Community Participation Program for the construction phase of the Project and consists of the following requirements: x Vendor Outreach Program Requirements o 10% construction spending with Small Business Enterprise (SBE) o 10% construction spending with Woman Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) o 5% construction spending with Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) x Workforce Inclusion Requirements o 32% construction hours performed by minority craft employees o 6% construction hours performed by women craft employees

%X\HU Salary Range: $18.66-$26.99/per hour; $38,962-$56,355/annually The Office of State Procurement seeks to fill a Buyer 1 position to provide leadership and service to government entities in the acquisition of products and services in a social and environmentally responsible fashion.

Procurement Specialist

All questions regarding this RFP shall be directed in writing to Greg Huber, Mortenson Construction Executive, via e-mail at greg.huber@ mortenson.com. Interpretations or clarifications considered necessary by Mortenson in response to such questions will be issued by Addenda to all parties recorded as having received the RFP documents. Questions received less than seven (7) days prior to the date for openings of the Proposals may not be answered. Only responses issued by formal written Addenda will be binding. Oral and other interpretations or clarifications will be without legal effect. Addenda may be issued to modify the Proposal Documents as deemed advisable by Mortenson.

To Apply: go to http://www.mn.gov/careers. Apply to the Job Posting #12744. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the job information line at 651.259.3637.

Mortenson is an EOE/Affirmative Action/Minority/Female/Veteran/Disabled Employer.

Contact: If you have questions about the position, contact Nella Austin at nella.austin@state.mn.us or 651.201.8005.

The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Procurement Specialist in Minneapolis, MN. Salary range is $46,759 $75,991 with promotion potential to a CL 27 after one year. For more information visit the court’s website, www. m n d . u s c o u r t s . g o v, Employment.

$1 (48$/ 23325781,7< (03/2<(5

An Equal Opportunity Employer

The Community Participation Program requirements apply to all subcontractors and suppliers of all tier levels. Primary subcontractors/suppliers are responsible for all tier subcontractor/supplier requirements and goals.

The approved directory for Bid Package 2 is: x CERT Directory - https://stpaul.diversitycompliance.com/

END OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in purchasing, developing/evaluating specifications, and issuing purchase orders/contracts; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

A sample of your purchasing work may be requested. Bachelor’s degree with an analytical, legal or communications focus.

Closing Data: 04/27/2017

Page 10 • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Insight News

insightnews.com Sassy Black

Al Taw’am - The Twins

Beanie Segal

Monday, April 17

on the topic at Rondo Library.

JAZZ/SOUL/FOLK

Thursday, April 20

Raul Midón Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $25-$30 Singer-songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón has earned renown as one of music’s most distinctive and searching voices.

Midón has collaborated with Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder, along with contributing to recordings by Jason Mraz, Queen Latifah and Snoop Dogg, and the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s “She Hate Me.” The New Mexico native, blind since birth, has released seven albums since 1999.

April 17 April 30, 2017

Tuesday, April 18 HIP-HOP Ced Linus “Summer Sessions” EP Release Party First Avenue 701 N 1st Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

18-plus $10

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

Pledge Empire MC, Ced Linus, celebrates the release of his new “Summer Sessions” EP with performances by Baby Shel, BdotCroc, Mike Dreams and Sweetz P. Sounds by DJ Airman Heat.

Wednesday, April 19 TOWN HALL Professional Insurance for Police Town Hall Forum Rondo Public Library 461 Dale St. N., Saint Paul 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The theory is that police brutality will decrease if officers have to carry their own insurance. Tonight join a forum

MUSICAL “Shrek the Musical” North High School 1500 James Ave. N., Minneapolis 7 p.m Check out the first ever North Community Theater Production of “Shrek the Musical” at North High.

Friday, April 21 FILM/DANCE Sistah Solo | Being Brothas Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 7 p.m. (Also Saturday) Collectively celebrate women of color and their solo work through film, dance, music, spoken word and more, featuring Al Taw’am, Destiny Anderson, Djenane Saint Juste, Jess Pierce, Lieutenant Sunnie, May Lee Yang, Mimi Solis, Queen Drea Voice-Loops N Effects and Tish Jones.

The unique voices of men of color are uplifted through movement, music and more.

Being Brothas features A+, David Stalter Jr., Ellemaj, Frankie Hebres, GodSent, Joe Davis, Jus Herb, Mike Queenz, Nate Kay, Radio Ahlee and Ray Dow.

Saturday, April 22 DANCE PARTY Thee Beautiful Ones – Twolevel Prince dance party Five Event Center 2917 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

21-plus $15 advance, $20 door (free valet) Thee Urbane Life brings you a celebration to honor the legacy of Prince with DJ Chuck Chizzle and DJ Fundraiser (who DJed for Prince at Paisley Park).

A portion of the proceeds are to benefit the Billingsley School of Music & Arts. Tickets are available at www.VitalCulture. com.

Tuesday, April 25 Friday, April 28 THEATRE

CONFERENCE

“The Bluest Eye” Guthrie Theatre 818 2nd St., Minneapolis 9 p.m. $26-$72

Art, Social Justice and Communities of Color Symposium Katherine E. Nash Gallery 405 21st Ave. S., Minneapolis 11 a.m. (also Saturday)

Toni Morrison’s debut novel, “The Bluest Eye,” takes life at the Guthrie.

Sunday, April 23

Wednesday, April 26

SHOE EXCHANGE

HIP-HOP/JAZZ/POETRY

Tcsax9: Twin Cities Sneaker Art Xchange The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis Noon – 6 p.m.

The Feels – A Night of Alignment ft. Sassy Black Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m.

21-plus $8

It’s that time of year again shoe enthusiasts. Studiiyo23 celebrates its seventh year in the community by hosting the ninth edition of the Twin Cities Sneaker Art Xchange.

THEATRE Legends @ the Capri The Capri Theater 2027 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis 7 p.m. $20-$25 Legends @ the Capri closes its ninth season with a tantalizing tribute to two multi-talented and fascinating entertainers, Judy Garland and Bette Midler.

Monday, April 24 FILM FESTIVAL Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival St. Anthony Main Theater 115 Main St. S.E., Minneapolis 7 p.m.

(Runs through April 29) Check out some of the best new independent films from around the world at this annual festival.

The Feels presented by Jazz 88 and Soul Tools Entertainment, is where hip-hop and jazz meet. It’s a night of live instrumentation featuring singers, poets, emcees, comedians and more. This month’s guests include national recording artist SassyBlack formerly of Seattle’s Theesatisfaction (Queens), K. Raydio, Joe Davis and DJ Miss Brit ending the night with a dance party.

Thursday, April 27 HIP-HOP Stalley and Beanie Sigel The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 8:30 p.m.

18-plus $20-$25 GainesFM and DJ D-Mil join the Broad Street Bully and the MMG member, Beanie Sigel, at Cabooze.

This symposium demonstrates how culture in general and art in particular can be used as a political tool to challenge and reimagine the place of queer communities of color in society.

Saturday, April 29 DANCE PARTY McKnight Reading with Kiese Laymon The Loft Literary Center 1011 Washington Ave S, Ste 200, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $10 ($5 for members) Award-winning author Kiese Laymon’s book “Long Division” was named one of the Best of 2013 by Buzzfeed, The Believer, Salon and more.

Check out a public reading at The Loft.

Sunday, April 30 DISCUSSION “Let’s Talk About it” Youth and Mental Health Discussion SPNN 550 Vandalia St., St. Paul 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

This will be a round table discussion along with an open discussion with all who attend.

Hosts Sanni Brown, David Billingsley, Shay Glorius “Glo” Martin and DJ Mickey Breeze will lead the discussion and give insight about topics such as depression, low self-esteem, cyber bullying and other topics that are effecting our youth.

Too early to pencil in Twins for playoffs, but the signs are right

By Fred Easter Even this diehard fan never expected, in the second week of the season, to be writing about a Twins team with one of the best records in baseball.

As encouraging as their record is, there are some things about their play that encourage me even more.

Some not so encouraging things, as well. OK, now it’s time to say, it’s too early to draw any hard and fast conclusions.

Upside, Miguel Sano has hit balls to right field. The bullpen has been lights out.

“Light hitting” new catcher Jason Castro has hit well and walked often. Our bench has played well. Eduardo Escobar, Danny Santana and Chris Gimenez have made important contributions when mixed into the lineup. Outfield defense has been exemplary.

Infield defense has been solid, as well. Manager Paul Molitor has been effectively inventive using all his players.

Downside, the bullpen has pitched more innings than is sustainable over a long season. Sano will need to work on his defense to elevate it to average. I think he spends his time at third base thinking

about his next or last at bat, instead of “this pitch could be hit to me.” Our record has been earned against the division’s weaker teams.

Byron Buxton hasn’t started to hit … yet.

Much has been said and written about Byung Ho Park’s being assigned to the Twin’s AAA team in Rochester. Park was the leading homerun hitter during spring training. His signing in the winter of 2015 was much hyped, and cost millions. He came north with the team last year, but had trouble adjusting to mid-90s fastballs. He was demoted to Rochester last year, but seemed to have solved his issues this spring.

His experience is significant because it provides a window into the Twins pitching problems, the impact of Joe Mauer’s salary and Rule 5 and free agency rules.

Back in the middle of the last century, when a player signed a contract with a Major League organization; that organization owned the player, lock, stock and barrel. Curt Flood, an outfielder with the St Louis Cardinals challenged the system in court, and won.

This courageous brother changed the face of Major League Baseball. Teams can now only control a player’s

destiny for a proscribed number of years. A number of the Twins most successful recent relief pitchers are toiling effectively for other teams around the league because the team couldn’t, ( or wouldn’t) meet their salary demands when they were free to negotiate with other teams.

E.g. Anthony Swarzak, Brian Duensing, Pat Neshek and Matt Guerrier. Evidently, our relief corps is the least expensive part of the team.

If they were armed, no pun intended, they’d be rent-acops.

This past winter, in order to make room on the 40 man roster, the Twins released Park. This made him available to any team willing to take on his salary. There were no takers. He remained with the team, but lost his place on the 40 man roster. If he is brought to the big club, someone will have to be dropped from the 40 man roster and exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Explaining this is making my head hurt.

Going into the intricacies of Rule 5 will have to wait until the throbbing stops.

Flood took one for the players on all the teams.

He broke the shackles, but never reaped the rewards that modern day ball players enjoy.

insightnews.com

Insight News • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Page 11

Snapshots

Photos by Harry Colbert, Jr.

DJ Reggie McKeever spinning some Biggie during his monthly Saturday residency at Nightingale’s in Minneapolis.

Disney Foote (left) and Felicia Perry hanging out at the She So Sexy party at the Artists Loft in Minneapolis.

Normally the one taking the pictures, photographer and “Candy Fresh” creator Bianca Rhodes pauses for a photo at the Artists Loft.

Composer, saxophonist Steve Coleman to perform at the Walker Art Center Composer, bandleader, saxophonist Steve Coleman, hailed as “one of the most rigorously conceptual thinkers in improvised music” (New York Times), heads a new hybrid chamber-jazz ensemble that explores the foundations of group improvisation and spontaneous composition.

Expect an evening of borderless styles and musical fluidity from Coleman’s eightmember all-star ensemble.

Coleman’s performance takes place May 12 at 8 p.m. in the William and Nadine McGuire Theater at the Walker.

Growing up surrounded by dance music – funk, rock, soul and blues – on Chicago’s south side, Coleman learned violin in school, but abandoned it for the alto saxophone at the age of 15, playing in James Brown cover bands. At Illinois Wesleyan University he was the only Black

person in the music department, quite a shock for someone who says he did not know any white people until he was 17 years old.

Told to improvise in his jazz band, he checked out his record collection to find that his father – a “Bird” fanatic – had slipped in a Charlie Parker album. He learned the solos, just as he had Maceo Parker’s. Returning to Chicago he hooked up with Von Freeman, the legendary tenor player, learning the rudiments of be-bop on the bandstand. He moved to New York in 1978 to join the Mel Lewis/Thad Jones Big Band, later playing in the Cecil Taylor Orchestra and Sam Rivers’ Winds of Manhattan group.

Coleman and kindred spirits – including singer Cassandra Wilson – formed M-Base, a self-help organization for Black musicians, seeking to integrate all forms of Black music into a

Tracy Collins

Steve Collins performs May 12 at the Walker Art Center.

new ecumenical style.

Coleman has been hailed as the successor to Parker and attacked as a self-hyped mediocrity. Critics have favored his work with Dave Holland’s group, playing relatively straight ahead bop, but Coleman claims to play the same style in his group, Five Elements. He recorded prolifically during the 1990s and 2000s with his various ensembles, which include Renegade Way, the Mystic Rhythm Society, the Metrics and the big band Council of Balance, and became involved in musical exchanges with musicians from Cuba and Africa.

Tickets to Coleman’s “Natal Eclipse” are $32 ($25.60 Walker members) and are available at www.walkerart.org/ tickets or by calling (612) 3757600.

MNHS.ORG

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

NOW ON VIEW 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., Blvd St. St Paul Paul, MN 55102 adapted by LYDIA R. DIAMOND directed by LILEANA BLAIN-CRUZ

Now – May 21 612.377.2224 / guthrietheater.org

Page 12 • April 17 - April 23, 2017 • Insight News

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Artists pay tribute to The Artist In addition to inspiring musical artists, Prince also inspired visual artists as well.

Upon his passing several artists took to their canvases to pay tribute to the man who inspired millions through his music and his deeds.

As we look back a year later, here are a few examples of works from area artists inspired by Prince.

Charles Orange

Right: Charles Orange uses canvas and glass as the bases to create the multi-dimensional Prince profile as a part of his “Spaceship Project.”

Kenneth Caldwell

One of the more notable pieces to be shared following the passing of Prince is this piece created by artist Kenneth Caldwell. The piece is a colorful rendition of Prince’s 1978 album cover for “Prince.”

Nikki McComb

Titled “He’s on My Mind,” the title could also be flipped to mimic a Prince song, “She’s always in My Hair.” Artist Nikki McComb’s drawing uses Prince song titles to make up a flowing mane for the woman in her portrait.