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INSIGHT NEWS May 7 - May 13, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 38 No. 19 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Collaboration: Key to West Broadway growth Thursday, April 26th, dozens of North Minneapolis businesses and community members gathered at The Carpi Theater to eat, network and celebrate a year of continued accomplishments by the West Broadway Business & Area Coalition (WBC) and its 50+

membership of business and nonprofit organizations.

During a brief program, Jackie Cherryhomes, Chair of the WBC Board of Directors, highlighted the Coalition’s Façade Improvement Program, West Broadway Farmers Market, Web and Social Media

Promotion Project, Business Networking and Information Meetings, FLOW Arts Crawl, and Tornado Recovery work.

Al McFarlane, of Insight News and also a WBC board member, moderated a panel discussion on “Business District Revitalization

Progress & Partnerships.” Panelists included: Sarah Hernandez, McKnight Foundation, Kelly Hoffman, City of Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development, Joyce Wisdom, Lake Street Council, Jon Commers, Donjek Consulting & the

Metropolitan Council and Dudley Voigt, Artistic Director of FLOW Arts Crawl.

Dudley Voigt described about how the arts, including the Art Façade Improvement Program and

L-R: Dudley Voight, Jon Commers, Sarah Hernandez, Al McFarlane, Kelly Hoffman, and Joyce Wisdom

WBC TURN TO 14 Pat Carney

Leverage Vikings Stadium for our education, workforce and business development interests required

32%

workforce

Editorial by Al McFarlane hiring requirements of women Editor-in-Chief and minorities on state-funded The horse trading at the Legislature and the Governor’s office should include three things that mean growth and opportunity for our community. Our legislative delegations should support the Vikings Stadium Bill to support the development of our community and our future.

Recently, Minnesota has

projects. Since the Vikings are seeking public funds to build the $1 billion project it must meet the 32% requirement.

And with our community’s endorsement and support, Vikings developers could conceivably far exceed that workforce goal and associated Women and Minority-owned Business Enterprise (WMBE) goals.

Johnson runs for County Commissioner Tonia Johnson, candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner, Dist.

2 announced she will skip the DFL endorsing convention and run in the primary.

“I do respect the process however, with less than 150 delegates elected, it’s just too small of a number to decide the outcome of a race this significant,” said Johnson. “If you think about it, this is not true democracy at all.”

The current population based on the new county lines is a little over 164,000 residents. Dist. 2 encompasses all of north Minneapolis and more of northwest, west and south west areas of Plymouth.

All of New Hope and Crystal is now in Dist. 1, which is currently Commissioner Mike Opat’s district.

“Dist. 2 is very diverse and because I’ve worked alongside Commissioner Mark Stenglein, I know firsthand what it takes to manage the complexities of the District,” said Johnson.

JOHNSON TURN TO 3

The next generation of museums

PAGE 2

project could do the same, far exceeding the excellent participation rates experienced

by Twins Baseball showplace, Target Field, which came in at about 25% WMBE and workforce participation.

Taken together, workforce and business contract commitments could mean we are getting our fair share.

Eight members of Minneapolis City Council

VIKINGS TURN TO 14

Janeé Harteau: Mayor Rybak’s nominee for police chief

“It’s time for a new leader, offering a new vision, and one who can advocate for the issues that matter most to the residents of Dist. 2.”

Johnson said she is not concerned about the outcome of the convention, or whether or not there will even be an endorsement.

“The county seat is nonpartisan. I’m running into the primary so that all District residents have an opportunity to vote in this election,” she said.

“This is not politics as usual.

Also, from my experience with party endorsing conventions, particularly in local races, the candidate who is endorsed is sometimes not the candidate voters want. We simply can’t afford to make this mistake.”

The primary this year will be Tues., Aug.14. Johnson said she plans to connect with every voter and listen to the concerns they have about

Hands on science

Secondly, Minneapolis Public Schools new District headquarters on West Broadway, scheduled to open this summer, demonstrates that where there is a mandate and will, participation goals can be met and exceeded. The MPS reported that over 50% of the work done on the $30 million project went to women and minority workers, and over 40% went to women and minority-owned businesses.

That suggests a Vikings

Natonia Johnson

Aesthetics

Harlem provides gritty backdrop for survival saga

PAGE 6

Suluki Fardan

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak announced his intentions to nominate Janeé Harteau to serve as Minneapolis’ next Chief of Police beginning in 2013, once current chief Tim Dolan retires at the end of the year.

“I am pleased to announce without hesitation that I will nominate Assistant Chief Janeé Harteau to serve as Minneapolis’ next chief of police. For many years, I have seen Janeé Harteau make our city safer, including during some of our toughest crises,” said Rybak. “She is the logical next chief, and will be an exceptional one.”

The mayor will formally nominate Assistant Chief Harteau in January, after Chief Dolan’s retirement becomes effective. The City Council will then begin the process of

Interview

Sweet Honey in the Rock

PAGE 11

Official photo

Janeé Harteau

confirming the nomination.

“I am making this announcement now so that the transition is orderly and so that Assistant Chief Harteau will have several months to meet

HARTEAU TURN TO 4

Cookie Cart

Baking cookies, bright futures

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Page 2 • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Insight News

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Hands-on science: The next generation of museums Artspeak

By Irma McClaurin, PhD Culture and Education Editor Science permeates our lives.

Yet for most of us, it is still something “out there.” The opening of a new 80,000 square feet addition to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh changes the game and takes museums and science to a new level.

It is the size of the Science Museum of Minnesota’s entire exhibition space (70,000 sf) and temporary exhibition space (10,000 sf) combined. This newly opened Nature Resource Center (NRC) situates Raleigh, a bio-tech and technology mecca because of the Research

Triangle Park, as the site of one of the largest science museums in the country, and possibly the world.

Eleven years in the making from idea to planning and execution, and built at a cost of $56M equally distributed between the new facilities and exhibits, the recently launched NRC expands the scope of the NCMNS making it, without a doubt, first among the next generation of museums.

According to Betsy Bennett, the Museum’s Director and a sister anthropologist, with the new addition, “there is nothing like this museum in the country today, and we’ve had people from New York say this will put us …[among] the world’s best natural history museums. So we’re among those fabulous history museums. We’re already the largest natural science museum in the Southeast.”

Traditionally, museums have been static—built

Mark Turner / Creative Commons

The interior staircase of the Nature Research Center wing of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, NC. around collections: dinosaur and other skeletal remains, arrowheads, pottery, textiles, and stuffed remains of extinct animal species, for the most part. Yet, with the advent of technology, museums have had to create new visions and become interactive to remain relevant. They have become increasingly interactive, relying upon changing exhibits built to engage on topics like gold http://www. amnh.org/exhibitions/gold/), water (http://www.amnh.org/ exhibitions/water/), and even race (http://www.smm.org/ travelingexhibits/race).

Hands-on science is about engaging museum goers in the everyday life of museums, establishing them as the architects of their own experience by making them “science detectives,” miniature

physicists and astrophysicists, kid-size paleo-archaeologists, and, of course, future scientists.

Among the new Nature Resource Center’s highlights is the three-story globe of the SECU Daily Planet, albeit more high-tech than Clark Kent’s Daily Planet, with its multimedia cornucopia of local and international scientists, according to David Kroll, the Science Communications Director in his article “How Do We Know?” in the North Carolina Naturalist, the museum’s premier magazine.

“The NRC expands the Museum, physically and programmatically, by inviting visitors to experience and participate in the process of the scientific method: How do we know what we know?”

The NRC builds upon the latest technology with support

from local and nationally renowned sponsors like SAS, Progress Energy, Rex Hospital, and NASA, to name a few.

There are interactive touch screens, smart tables, real time chat areas with “experts and lab staff,” ongoing video interviews with scientists from around the world, a medical robotics lab, an animal hospital, the WRAL Weather Center, and even a science version of the sports bar—the Science Café that will “feature eight big-screen TVs to display scientific developments locally and internationally.”

From top to bottom, the building is environmentally “green” (hoping to achieve minimally LEED Gold certification upon completion) with recycled materials from the previous buildings that were on the site, LED light

fixtures, and a green rooftop, with telescopes to boot.

This is certainly not our parents’ museum. The Nature Resource Center of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences lays the foundation for the next iteration of museums. It is at the forefront of a science frontier, daring to go where no museum has gone before. And for both children and adults, it offers innumerable opportunities for them to do hands-on science up close and personal, dialogue with local and international scientists in real time, and learn how to truly become global citizen scientists as part of their everyday lives.

To learn more, visit: http://naturalsciences.org/ http://www.smm.org/

SCIENCE TURN TO 3

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Insight News • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Page 3

Homeland security sets Somalia TPS designation WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has re-designated Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and has extended the existing TPS designation for Somalia from Sept. 18, 2012 through March 17, 2014, allowing eligible nationals of Somalia to register or re-register for TPS in accordance with the Federal Register notice.

Somali nationals with TPS who are seeking to reregister for TPS must file their application packages during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from May 1, 2012, through July 2, 2012. Somalis (or persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) in the United States who do not currently have TPS may apply under the redesignation during the sixmonth period that runs from May 1, 2012 through Oct. 29, 2012. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages eligible individuals to register as soon as possible.

During the past year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State have reviewed the conditions in Somalia. Based upon this review, Secretary Napolitano has determined that a redesignation and 18-month extension of TPS for Somalia is warranted.

The extension of the current Somalia TPS designation is due to the continued disruption of living conditions in the country based upon extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted the U.S. Attorney General’s re-designation of Somalia for TPS on Sept.

4, 2001. The Secretary’s re-designation is based on ongoing armed conflict and the worsening of the extraordinary and temporary conditions, including the effects of the recent severe drought in Somalia.

A Somali national may be eligible under the redesignation if she or he has continuously resided in the United States since May 1, 2012, and has been continuously physically present in the United States since Sept. 18, 2012.

DHS anticipates that there are approximately 250 individuals who will be eligible to re-register for TPS under the existing designation of Somalia and estimates that fewer than 1,000 additional individuals will be eligible for TPS under the re-designation.

Individuals applying for TPS for the first time must submit: A Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status; A Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, regardless of whether they want an Employment Authorization Document (EAD); The Form I-821 application fee; The biometrics services fee if they are age 14 or older; and The Form I-765 application fee, but only if they want an EAD and are 14 to 65 years old. Those under 14 or over 65 do not need to pay the I-765 fee with their initial TPS application.

Individuals re-registering

Johnson From 1 making Hennepin County a better place for all.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to serve the residents of Dist. 2,” said Johnson. “I will work hard to ensure that public dollars are not wasted on services and projects that do not enhance quality of life, promotes selfsufficiency and encourages diversity.”

Science From 2 h t t p : / / w w w . understandingrace.org/ ©2012 McClaurin Solutions Irma McClaurin, PhD is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News of Minneapolis. She is a biocultural anthropologist and writer living in Raleigh, NC, the Principal of McClaurin Solutions (a consulting business), and a former university president. (www. irmamcclaurin.com) (@ mcclaurintweets)

for TPS must submit: A Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status; A Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, regardless of whether they want an Employment Authorization Document (EAD); The biometric services fee if they are age 14 or older; and The Form I-765 application fee, but only if they want

an EAD. All individuals reregistering for TPS who want an EAD must pay the I-765 fee, regardless of age.

TPS applicants who are registering for the first time and applicants re-registering for TPS may request that USCIS waive any or all fees by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or by submitting a written request. Failure to submit the required filing fees

or a properly documented fee-waiver request will result in the rejection of the TPS application.

Applicants can download free TPS forms from the USCIS website at www.uscis. gov/forms or request free TPS forms by calling USCIS tollfree at 1-800-870-3676.

Additional information on TPS for Somalia, including guidance on the application

process, eligibility, and where to file, is available online at www.uscis.gov/tps.

Further details on this extension and re-designation of Somalia for TPS, including the application requirements and procedures, may be found in the Federal Register notice published today.

Applicants seeking information about the status of their individual cases can

check My Case Status Online, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800767-1833).

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

Source: USCIS

Page 4 • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Insight News

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FULL CIRCLE

The value of a wife Man Talk

By Timothy Houston He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.(Proverbs 18:22) True value begins with the individual and is transcended by those who are around them. Some people add to us, while others take away.

Some women attach themselves to men who constantly put them down, creating in themselves a reflection of a negative image.

Others, more fortunate, become close to men who see them as more than they are, making it easy for them to reflect this positive image. How a man sees a woman influences how she sees herself.

When a man sees value in a woman, he treats her differently and ultimately she becomes different. This is especially true in the husband/wife relationship. It is very important for husbands to see the value of their wives. If not, someone else may recognize and values what he fails to see.

Harteau From 1

All women should learn to speak through their spirit. Words spoken through the spirit are powerful. They are not based on how you feel. Feelings feed on someone else’s actions, but the spirit feeds on the word of God. When women speak God’s words they give power to their words.

This is a wife’s true value. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12a KJV).

When a man finds a wife, she comes to him as a favor from God. Because of this, all wives’ have the potential to add value to their relationships. God has declared the wife to be fearfully and wonderfully made, always more than what others are able to see. The value of a wife has not changed. If a husband leaves his wife, it does not mean that she was not worth keeping; he has simply failed to see the value of what he had.

Marriage is the highest level of commitment two people can make to one another. Because of this, a wife should be able to share her needs and desires with her husband. Her words will serve as his emotional compass, and she should use them to help keep him from drifting off course. A wife’s words are the caution lights and the flashing signals that alert her husband that he is wandering off the path. She in turns provides him the boundaries and limitations that bring balance and value to his life.

Unfortunately, some relationships have gotten lost in the “he said, she said” shuffle. These types of negative encounters have taken away from the true value a wife brings to the relationship.

The sad truth is that some men will never know how valuable their wives are until they have lost them. These are men those who have never learned to trust their inner judgment. They always need someone else to tell them the value of what they possess. This is true for their relationships as well.

These men often seem to value the relationship more once it is over.

They spend more time, energy, and money trying to get back into a relationship then they ever did when they were in it. They failed to see the wife’s value until it was

too late.

Other married men have a single man’s mindset, free of any confines or restrictions. These men, having lost their sense of commitment, struggle to find their way home. They have

replace quality time that which comes from the heart with that which comes from the hand.

They believe houses, cars, boats, jewelry, and credit cards will satisfy a woman’s desire for a committed relationship, and in

order to understand that this is not enough, they must be told. A wife’s heart felt words can bring a man back to his senses. Because the potential outcome of her words is so great, women should choose their words carefully.

with and listen to our many internal and external partners as she sets her leadership

priorities,” said Rybak.

“I’ve grown up in this department and I am humbled

by Mayor Rybak’s confidence in me to be the next police chief,” said Harteau. “It is a

tremendous opportunity and responsibility to lead such a talented and dedicated group of men and women. I have the utmost respect for Chief Dolan and am grateful for his mentorship of me and his leadership of our department, which is the foundation that I will build upon.”

If confirmed by the City Council, Harteau, who is of French Canadian and Native American background, will be the first woman to lead the Minneapolis Police Department.

Harteau joined the Minneapolis Police Department as an officer in 1987, at age 22.

She has worked on the streets in north, south and downtown Minneapolis, and has served in the narcotics, organized crime and license investigation units, among others. From 2006 to 2009, she served as inspector of the 1st Precinct in downtown Minneapolis, where she advanced public/ private partnerships that led to the formalization of the Downtown SafeZone Collaborative and the national recognition Downtown Courtwatch program As 1st Precinct inspector, she also implemented the position of Somali Liaison Officer and improved relations with the Somali community in CedarRiverside.

Chief Dolan named Harteau deputy chief of the Patrol Bureau in 2009 and assistant chief in 2011. She is a member of the Major City Chiefs Association, the Police

PhotoXpress

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

Executive Research Forum and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Her community service includes her current service on the boards of YouthLink, a nonprofit that serves homeless youth, and the Downtown Improvement District, and past service on the boards of Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Harteau holds a bachelor’s degree in police science and a master’s degree in public safety administration, both from St. Mary’s University. She is also a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. She is an instructor at both institutions.

“Janeé Harteau represents the best of the Minneapolis Police Department and the City of Minneapolis. She has risen through the ranks through her integrity and great ability, and she demonstrates our city’s commitment to obliterate all glass ceilings for exceptional people of color and women,” said Council Member Don Samuels, chair of the Public Safety, Civil Rights and Health Committee.

Council President Barbara Johnson added, “The fact that Janeé Harteau has been key part of Chief Tim Dolan’s strong management team is reassuring and a strong sign that she will build on his success in making Minneapolis significantly safer.”

insightnews.com

Insight News • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Page 5

EDUCATION College fair introduces youth to HBCUs

By Ivan B. Phifer Staff Writer St. Peters African Methodist Episcopal Church in partnership with AchieveMpls held the third annual Historically Black College and University (HBCU) College Fair.

Arnise Roberson, director of AchieveMpls Career and College Initiative, and member of St. Peters African Methodist Episcopal Church organized the college fair. The event was attended by more than

Larry Retzlaff

Arnise Roberson

600 prospective students and parents.

A nonprofit partner of the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), AchieveMpls serves as a bridge between MPS and the broader community including businesses, foundations, nonprofits, government agencies and individuals providing information and opportunities to engage as funders, volunteers, employers, advocates and advisers.

More than 20 representatives from HBCUs were on hand for the fair.

Young people from

Minneapolis and St. Paul attended the event, but Roberson said the biggest disappointment was the lack of attendance from the Minneapolis Public Schools. “One of my suspicions is the event was held on a day off, therefore transportation was an issue. If we had transportation that may have yielded more students,� Roberson said. “In order to access MPS students, we need to work collectively with the agencies who work directly with students.�

Roberson acknowledged more outreach is needed to

apprise area parents and students of educational opportunities via HBCUs. “It’s an area not too much exposed here because we do not have any HBCUs in Minnesota and very few (recruiters) come here,� she said.

There are 105 HBCUs, mostly located in the eastern and southern region, consisting of public and private two-year and four-year institutions. “One of outcomes from the fair was we started building relationships with representation from Johnson C. Smith (University) and

Wiley (College). They have scholarship money to give and want to build a partnership,�

Roberson said.

Roberson said the fair is unique for a couple of reasons. “(The fair) consists only of historically black colleges, and not only do we have representation from the actual admission office, but it is staffed by alumni who are residents of the community,� said Roberson.

For information on next year’s HBCU College Fair, contact Arnise Roberson 612.455.1566 or at aroberson@ achievempls.org

Journalism camp teaches importance of free speech

By Andrea Salazar For the past 10 years, high school students from across the Twin Cities have been coming to the University of St. Thomas to attend ThreeSixty Journalism’s summer camps.

The experience is a kind

Shanice Brown

of laboratory experiment for the students who participate.

It mixes the teenage youthful spirit with a dose of gender, age, ethnic and income diversity and a chance to work together as journalists with professionals in the field.

African immigrant, Asian, Latino, African-American and white teens in grades nine through 12 come together for two to four weeks with two things in common: a curiosity about the world and an interest in telling stories with words, video and photos. “I learned how to make a video, the basics of broadcast and web journalism, to accept other people for who they are and to focus on my goals and not let anything stop me,� says Shanice Brown, a 2010 Intermediate Camp participant.

At ThreeSixty Journalism’s camps, students learn about the importance of free speech, how to come up with a story angle, how to interview and ask good questions and how to write in journalistic style. Workshops are taught by professional journalists, St. Thomas

360 TURN TO 6

Photos: ThreeSixty Journalism

Yusra Mohamud from Minnetonka High School participated in the Intermediate Camp in 2011.

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Page 6 • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Insight News

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AESTHETICS Harlem provides gritty backdrop for super-realistic survival saga Film Review

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com

When Djbril (Sy Alassane) left his native Senegal for the U.S., he harbored high hopes of making it as a musician. But while pursuing his version of the elusive American Dream, the 21 year-old immigrant pays the rent by hustling bootlegged CDs and other assorted contraband on the street of

lower Manhattan.

Afterhours, he retreats via moped to a rough side of Harlem where the struggle for survival only intensifies.

Uptown, Djbril’s Achilles heel is exposed when he takes an interest in pretty Trini (Sky Grey), the proverbial prostitute with a heart of gold.

The knight in shining armor helps the wayward woman find a legitimate line of work as a hairdresser.

Unfortunately, losing a productive ‘ho doesn’t sit well with her pimp, Bekay (Tony Okungbowa).

Complicating matters is the fact that the exploitative creep also happens to be Djibril’s boss, which means it’s merely a matter of time before the situation triangulates into an ugly confrontation over the fetching femme fatale.

That, in a nutshell is the perilous plotline of Restless City, a super-realistic, sliceof-life saga marking the directorial debut of Andrew Dosunmu.

The Nigeriaborn filmmaker is already well-known for his awardwinning music video work with such icons as Common,

Clam Productions

Wyclef Jean, Maxwell, Tracy Chapman, Aaron Neville and the late Isaac Hayes.

Here, he makes a promising foray into fulllength features via a visuallycaptivating adventure which offers a penetrating peek inside a vibrant community comprised primarily of

African expatriates. Though sabotaged at times by moodsetting pauses and some stilted dialogue, Restless City is still sufficiently engaging to remain recommended for devotees of unsanitized dramatic fare bordering on cinema verite.

Forget pimps, it’s apparently just as hard out

there for a street peddler.

Very Good (2.5 stars) Rated R for drug use and brief sexuality.

In English, French, Wolof and Yoruba with subtitles.

Running time: 80 minutes Distributor: AFFRM

2011 Sports Reporting Camp participants at a Twins game

ThreeSixty Journalism

360 From 5

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCI° ATION WITH HASBRO A BLUEGRASS FILMS/FILM 44 PRODUCTION A PETER BERMUSICG FILM “BEXECUTIVE ATTLESHIP” TAYLOR KITSCH ALEXANDER SKARSGARD RIHANNA BROOKLYN DECKER TADANOBU ASANO AND LIAM NEESON BY STEVE JABLONSKY PRODUCED PRODUCERS JONATHAN MONE BRADEN AFTERGOOD BY BRIAN GOLDNER SCOTT STUBER PETER BERG SARAH AUBREY DUNCAN HENDERSON BENNET SCHNEIR VISUAL EFFECTS AND ANIMATION BY BASED WRITTEN DIRECTED ON HASBRO’S “BATTLESHIP” BY JON HOEBER & ERICH HOEBER BY PETER BERG INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC A UNIVERSAL PICTURE SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC AND VARÈSE SARABANDE

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professors and ThreeSixty Journalism staff.

Camp organizers assert the camp is all about hands on preparation where each student produces a published story and short video by the end of camp. Students also tour local newsrooms to see what a career in journalism looks like. By participating in the camps, students are able to compete for a full-tuition, four-year scholarship to study journalism at the University of St. Thomas.

Additionally, the students’ works are published online at www.threesixtyjournalism.org and in a print magazine sent to more than 200 schools.

This summer, ThreeSixty Journalism offers three camps.

A two-week intermediate camp from June 17 to 29 is for teens with experience on a school publication and want to expand upon their skills.

Students in this camp live in the St. Thomas dorms and have their articles published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press.

For those who want to learn the basics of journalism and explore what the field is all about, there is a four-week introductory camp from July9 to Aug. 2. A two-week camp from July 9 to July 20 offers teens interested in sports an opportunity to learn sports reporting.

ThreeSixty touts its successful alumni including Sisi Wei, who creates interactive graphics for the Washington Post, Dymanh Chhoun who was recently hired at KTTC-TV in Rochester, and Ibrahim Hirsi, who covers school board affairs in Meriden, Conn.

Students interested in attending a journalism camp can apply online at www. threesixtyjournalism.org/ summercamps2012. There’s a fee for each camp, but students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch are given full scholarships.

insightnews.com

Insight News • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Page 7

HEALTH MAD DADS policy rejects tobacco industry funding The Minneapolis chapter of MAD DADS adopted a tobaccofree funding policy stating they will refuse all donations and sponsorships from the tobacco industry.

The organization said it recognizes that ethical funding policies, which include tobacco funding, are important for positive change in the community adding

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Natalie Benz Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlane Bobby Rankin Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Cordie Aziz Maya Beecham Harry Colbert, Jr. Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Fred Easter S. Himie Oshana Himot Timothy Houston Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu 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.

that the tobacco industry targets the African-American community with excessive advertising and tobacco promotions.

“The adoption of a tobaccofree policy is a positive step that decreases the influence of the tobacco industry in the community,” stated Danyale Potts, youth coordinator with the Ramsey Tobacco Coalition.

MAD DADS was founded in Omaha Nebraska in 1989 and branched out across the Midwest.

The Minneapolis chapter was created in 1998. Its mission is to bring positive change to a

community where there are drugs, violence and a lack of influential male role models. MAD DADS goal is to promote a positive outlet for at-risk youth in the AfricanAmerican community.

“African-Americans often use tobacco because it is the social norm in the community,” said VJ Smith, National President of MAD DADS. “It is not viewed as a deadly drug such as cocaine, heroin or alcohol. It is important to realize that this is a harmful drug and the leading cause of preventable death. It’s one thing we can do something about.”

VJ Smith, National President of MAD DADS

studiotobechi

Two day Energy Assistance Clinic for Minneapolis senior citizens Community Action of Minneapolis Energy Services will sponsor a two day Energy Clinic for Senior Citizens who

reside in the city of Minneapolis on Tuesday, May, 22, 2012 and Wednesday May 23, 2012 from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm on both

days. A Community Action of Minneapolis Energy Clinic provides community members with an immediate link to assistance with crisis light and/ or gas bills and other related Energy Assistance concerns.

Minneapolis residents who attend the Energy Clinic will be able to: apply for Energy Assistance on site, discuss their Energy Assistance needs with an Energy Assistance professional, and talk to representatives from utility providers XCEL and Center Point Energy about additional Energy Assistance Program resources.

Participants will also be able to get information about how to reduce their household energy use and become more energy efficient. Information about Community Action of Minneapolis Programs and services will be available.

An exciting array of special springtime refreshments will be served. Fun giveaways and prizes for our seniors will make this event both resourceful and enjoyable.

The Community Action of

Minneapolis Energy Clinic for Minneapolis Senior Citizens will be held at Community Action of Minneapolis; located at 2104 Park Avenue South in Minneapolis. Again, this event takes place on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 and Wednesday, May 23, 2012.

The two day CAMPLS Energy Clinic for Minneapolis Senior Citizens is being held at this time in an effort to make sure that all income eligible senior citizens in Minneapolis

are able to apply for Energy Assistance before the program ends on May 31, 2012.

Energy Assistance applications will not be accepted again until after October 1,2012 when the next program cycle begins.

This event is free and open to income eligible residents in the city of Minneapolis. For more information about the Energy Assistance Program, call 612.335.5837 or visit our website at www.campls.org.

Page 8 • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Insight News

insightnews.com

COMMUNITY Prohibited items taken during court weapons screening The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office released information that describes prohibited items found during the first week of weapon screening at suburban court facilities.

Hennepin County installed weapons screening equipment and began interim weapon screening at three suburban court locations: Brookdale (Brooklyn Park), Southdale (Edina) and Ridgedale (Minnetonka) Courts on April 23.

In the first week more than 3,000 people passed through weapons screening checkpoints and approximately 70 items were

Calendar • Classifieds Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, natalie@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Natalie Benz. Free or low cost events preferred.

Events Tapestry FUNdamentals of Dance-African-based movement May 10, 17, 24, and 31 Tapestry Folkdance Center will be hosting FUNdamentals of Dance: African-based movement with Patricia Brown teaching. 7–8:30pm $8 general, $6 members, $5 students, free admission to kids under 13 (must be supervised by an adult). 3748 Minnehaha Ave Mpls, MN 55406 www.tapestryfolkdance. org 2012 East Side Wine Tasting May 10 Held at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, guests will have the opportunity to sample from a variety of 200 fine wines, microbrews, liquors and local cuisine. The event will also include a silent auction and live entertainment.

All proceeds support the programs at East Side Neighborhood Services. www.esns.org

of vendors, live band, spoken word artist, and presenters.

Tickets and more info at www. itsyouraffairevents.org or 612.460.0244. Tickets $60 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the D.I.V.I.N.E. Institute.

Literature and Art as Racial/Social Justice Tool Workshop May 12 Discuss specific projects from local and national artists, and engage in creative exercises as a group that explore intersections of oppression, identity, and creativity.

Workshop is Free. For more information or to sign-up contact Alicia Frosch: afrosch@ ywcampls.org or 612-215-4124.

Wanting to build your summer paddling, mountain biking and trail running skills? May – June Join the City of Lakes Tri-Club!

Using Minneapolis’ chain of lakes and one-of-a-kind trail network in Theodore Wirth Park, participants will learn from expert instructors the many ways to have fun during a Minneapolis summer. Stay active and expand your recreational horizons. Club meets Wed. 5/23-6/20, 6–8pm. http://www.loppet.org/adultprogramming/loppet-tri-club/

PYC Arts & Tech High School Third Annual “Walk for Success” May 11 Walk to raise awareness and break down stereotypes about youth in North Minneapolis.

Friday, May 11 at 3:15pm starting at Plymouth Christian Youth Center, 2210 Oliver Avenue North, and ending at Peavey Plaza, at Nicollet Mall and 11th St. Downtown Mpls.

The public is encouraged to attend. For more info visit www. pcyc-mpls.org

Opening: Photography Installation, Outdoors and Fully Public May 12 Photographer, Amanda Spencer’s, Seeing Phillips & Seeking Understanding, uncovers the daily lives, celebrations, and quiet diversity of an inner city neighborhood.6pm, Sat. May 12 at Phillips Garden 2646 Cedar Ave S. Suggested donation of $5–10. For more info contact Amanda at 651.788.6116 or amanda@akspencer.com. Artist statement and images at www. akspencer.com/eastphillips

It’s Your Affair presents The Big Hat Luncheon “Equally Yoked” May 12 Speaker, Anthony Rucker.

Program will include a variety

AchieveMpls Presents Our City, Our Schools Community Forum May 17 Free event Thur. May 17

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN

TCF National Bank,

DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Case Type: Contract

Court File No.: 27-CV-12-7310

Plaintiff, v.

SUMMONS

Christopher Lachmansingh,

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT: 1.

YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiff ’s Complaint against you is attached to this Summons. Do not throw these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this Summons.

2.

YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this Summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this Summons located at Koepke Law, Ltd., 3161 Fernbrook Lane North, Plymouth, Minnesota 55447.

3.

YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff ’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

4.

YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the Complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the Complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the Complaint.

5.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

6.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice.

You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.

The object of this action is to enforce Plaintiff ’s rights and remedies against Defendant.

KOEPKE LAW, LTD. Dated: January 20, 2012

By: Scott R. Manthei (#0389092) 3161 Fernbrook Lane North Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 Telephone: (763) 201-1207 Fax: (763) 201-1212 Email: smanthei@koepkelaw.com Attorneys for Plaintiff

Phone: 612.588.1313

Fax: 612.588.2031

from 6pm – 7:30pm at Brian Coyle Center meeting room, 420 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis. Open to the public, Discuss the City of Minneapolis Census Bureau research behind the missing 80%, and the 27% of MPS students who report not being connected with a caring adult outside their family. RSVP to Regan Smith at 612-455-1535 or rsmith@achievempls.org.

Regional Services Partnership May 17 Community Engagement Meeting to discuss the Hennepin County Regional Service Center will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in Room D1 and D2 on the 3rd floor of Sabathani Community Center.

Sabathani Community Engagement Meeting Regarding Hennepin County

Nonprofit legal organization seeks SharePoint/.Net Developer. Req. Masters in computer-related field + 2 yrs exp. or bachelor’s + 5 yrs exp.

Send a letter and resume to: Pam Cunningham, 430 First Ave. N., #300, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or by email to hiring@midmnlegal.org. Deadline: June 4, 2012. No calls please.

RENTALS Delton Manor is accepting applications for future 1, 2, & 3 Bedrm apartment openings. Delton Manor has 3 two-bedrm handicapped accessible units located in the building. Delton Manor promotes equal housing opportunities for all perspective residents regardless of race, color, creed, sex, sexual preference, religion, handicap, marital status, familial status, national origin or source of income. For applications and qualifications, contact NANCY at 218-759-2523.

AN EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

SharePoint/.Net Developer

Rush Oaks Rentals 1 bedroom apartments for rent in Rush City for Elderly & Disabled. Rents $460-$560/ month.

Call 320-358-4595 for more info.

Income Limits Apply

Education Liaison The Minnesota Office of Higher Education, a cabinet-level state agency, is seeking an individual to serve as an Education Liaison for its early college awareness program, Get Ready/GEAR UP. Candidates must possess, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree, a Minnesota teacher license, at least two years of classroom experience delivering curriculum/presentations (will teach 2 classes per day), and youth development experience with children ages 10 to 14. Job description and application instructions are available at www.ohe.state. mn.us/jobs or call (651) 259-3941.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Choir Director Living Spirit United Methodist Church, a multi-racial, urban congregation, seeks a part-time Choir Director. This position includes directing the choir, forming and leading ensembles of all ages, developing internal artists, and performing as a vocalist/instrumentalist. The ideal candidate will be experienced with multicultural music. We worship at 10:30 a.m., with vibrant, blended styles of music. Schedule is negotiable. To find out more, contact Pastor Donna Dempewolf at 612-721-5025 or email a resume to livingspiritumc@q.com. Our website is www.livingspiritumc.org.

removed from people entering the three court facilities. Confiscated items included knifes, box cutters, nail clippers, other sharp items and mace.

The Sheriff’s Office said the added safety measure is due to violent incidents and threats that have occurred statewide and nationwide in courthouses.

The Sheriff’s Office works in partnership with Hennepin County Property Services and agencies in the Fourth Judicial District Court system to maintain public safety in 96 courtrooms throughout Hennepin County.

Email: natalie@insightnews.com

Refreshments will be served. For more info www.sabathani.org.

High-energy performance “Wake Up” Final Community Performance May 17 & 18

A 45-minute, high-energy performance of spoken word, dance, poetry and hip-hop, as

CALENDAR TURN TO 12

insightnews.com

Insight News • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Page 9

Occupy Homes MN

Occupy Homes MN defies eviction order, defends family facing foreclosure About 70 supporters recently rallied at the home of a family facing foreclosure, defying a 24hour eviction notice.

The protesters promised not to leave until PNC Bank and

Freddie Mac renegotiated the loan of home owners Alejandra and David Cruz. Supporters sang, gave speeches, led chants (in English and Spanish) and physically barricaded

themselves in front of the house located at 4044 cedar Ave S. “We’re asking that Freddie Mac and PNC Bank come to the table to negotiate and that (Minneapolis) Mayor (R.T.) Rybak not send the police to do the bank’s dirty work,” explained Martha Ockenfels-Martinez, an organizer with Occupy Homes MN. “We’re not leaving until we see a good faith negotiation.”

The south Minneapolis home, where the couple has lived for seven years, entered foreclosure last year when, according to the Cruzes, the bank failed to withdraw the monthly online payment and

demanded two months payment as a result of its error.

“People aren’t losing homes because they’re lazy or stupid. People are losing their homes because the banks are committing fraud,” said Gerardo Cajamarca, another homeowner facing foreclosure.

“And committing fraud is a crime.”

“My family and I have been fighting for justice all our lives,” said Alejandra Cruz. “Now we stand together with other homeowners across Minnesota fighting unjust banking practices. Change is coming, and we’re going to make that change happen.”

Page 10 • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Insight News

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COMMENTARY An open letter to Director Richard Mammen, Minneapolis Board of Education On April 17, 2012, I attended the regular meeting of the Minneapolis School Board.

During the public comment session, I and many other speakers, addressed the board asking them not to approve the proposed contract with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT). Each of the speakers spoke with passion, but in respectful tones, and even complimented the board on progress that has been made in closing the achievement gap.

Later in that meeting and after the time allotted for public comment board members addressed the public.

Director Richard Mammen chose to personalize and direct his comments to Lynnell Mickelson, co-founder and President of Put Kids First

Minneapolis, and to me. I serve as the liaison to MPS from the Coalition of Black Churches and the Minnesota State Baptist Convention. Mr. Mammen apparently took exception to an op-ed coauthored by Ms. Mickelson and myself which appeared in that day’s Minneapolis Star Tribune.

After initial comments Director Mammen directed his remarks to me. Firstly, he made a comment about me residing in Plymouth as if it somehow matters where I currently own a home. This should not be an issue, especially because many MPS employees live outside of Minneapolis and they make positive and significant contributions to our students and the district. The point he

was attempting to make with that comment is elusive.

Secondly, he challenged me to a race to end the achievement gap and stated that “he would win.” My response to that petulant and outrageous remark is very simple. I have been engaged in this race for more than 14 years and the records will support that. I will not use this commentary to list the many contributions the organizations I have been, or still am, a member of have made to close the achievement gap. I will outline those accomplishments at the proper place and time if Director Mammen is interested in doing more than grandstanding from the podium.

I will, however, invite him to join the work that the

Coalition, the Minnesota State Baptist Convention and other organizations like the AALF are doing and will continue to do. This race cannot end too soon and the victor will be our children, particularly those of color who are currently victimized by the gap. Quite frankly that was the point of the op-ed in both Insight News and The Minneapolis Star Tribune. The pieces asked the Board to not be satisfied with tinkering around the edge of change, but to take bold and substantial steps to end the notorious gap. This work is not about Bill English, but it is and will continue to be about the education of all children, particularly those who are not achieving.

The purpose of this open

communication is to inform Director Mammen that his attack will not distract the work I do on behalf of all students and specifically students of color. I am not intimidated by his personal attack and I will not cease in offering constructive criticism whenever or wherever I choose.

Since Director Mammen called me out and challenged me to a race to close the achievement gap, I accept his challenge and offer my own.

I challenge Director Mammen to a public debate (anywhere and anytime) over the need for substantial reform in k-12 education. I challenge him to a debate that will focus on the issues and not engage in personality differences or

attacks on the character or integrity of either of us. A debate would, however, be a marvelous demonstration for our students of how to discuss legitimate differences on issues in a respectful manner. At this time we could also discuss any issues that Director Mammen raised in his tirade against the op-ed, Ms. Mickelson and me.

Finally, I am quite proud of my association with Put Kids First Minneapolis and Ms. Mickelson. Her volunteer work and advocacy for all students is something that all citizens can admire and support regardless of the view on the issues.

William “Bill” English, Coalition of Black Churches

The auto industry’s comeback continues

By William Reed The Obama 2012 campaign slogan should be “Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive.”

President Barack Obama’s role in the death of bin Laden troubles some, but his decision early in his presidency to extend billions in loans to General Motors and Chrysler has paid off. More than two years ago, the American auto industry teetered on the brink of collapse. Now, it has rebounded and has started to make vehicles for America’s future. Plants are hiring more workers, manufacturers are returning to profitability, exports of U.S. vehicles are increasing and some of the most technologically advanced vehicles are now being

designed and produced in this country. The $80 billion bailout was President Obama’s “bet on the American worker” and there have been ample signs of success in the automotive industry since Obama’s bailout.

The news coming out of the U.S. automotive industry has been good for Black Americans. The automotive industry’s financial crisis was more devastating for African Americans than any other community and eroded a halfcentury’s economic gains by the Black middle class.

From Blacks who left behind subsistent jobs in the South for high-paying factory jobs in the North during the Great Migration, to entrepreneurs and contractors in automotive businesses, the automotive industry has been a major factor in the formation of the Black middle class. In 1945,

Blacks comprised 15 percent of the automobile industry workforce, by the late 1970s, “one of every 50 African Americans was working in the auto sector.” From 1979 to 2007, Black employment in the auto industry fell to one in 100.

Black Americans greeted President Obama’s 2012 Washington Auto Show announcement that “the U.S. auto industry is back” with great anticipation. After hitting a 30-year low in 2009, U.S. auto sales are poised for a second straight year of growth – the result of easier credit, low interest rates and pent-up demand for cars and trucks created by the recession.

Black groups and activist should move to forge increased employment, contracting and community partnerships with U.S.-based auto manufacturers as they crank up their factories

and add thousands of jobs. In addition to the expanded plant operations and employment opportunities occurring among Detroit’s Big Three, foreignowned auto companies such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen and BMW have invested $44 billion into their U.S. operations to account for 80,000 direct vehicle-manufacturing jobs and 500,000 dealer and supplier jobs.

Automotive manufacturing can help Blacks. The industry is adding jobs at a faster pace than airplane manufacturers, shipbuilders, health care providers and the federal government. Americans spent $40 billion more on new cars and trucks in 2011 than in 2009.

The momentum in auto sales is likely to continue because people need to replace aging cars, of which the average age

is 11 years old. A substantive number of Americans are feeling more comfortable about their employment outlook and where they’re going. Domestic vehicle sales are expected to reach 17 million around 2018 as 70 million “Millennials” – born between 1981 and 2000 – buy cars and set up modern households. These customer purchases will generate manufacturing activities that have the potential of reviving long distressed populations and industrial sectors. Increasing manufacturing can turn longsuffering Rust Belt cities like Anderson, Ind., Youngstown, Ohio, Lansing, Mich., and Kokomo and ElkhartGoshen, Ind., into revived and fast-growing cities. The industry’s growth enhances Black Americans’ jobs and contracting opportunities.

It’s time Blacks take

Obama’s bold “bailout move” to the next level. Innovation through education and research is vital to building a manufacturing economy.

Creating a qualified workforce of technicians and engineers is essential to ensuring future success of America’s automotive industries. Black leaders and teachers must make sure workers have the skills they need for jobs today and in the future. We need to train our people with skills that will lead to jobs for them.

Above politics, we each need to engage in development programs and policies that help people get and hold jobs.

William Reed is head of the Business Exchange Network and available for speaking/ seminar projects via the Bailey Group.org

insightnews.com

Insight News • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Page 11

Sweet Honey in the Rock

By Maya Beecham Contributing Writer An excerpt from a biblical scripture Psalm 81:16 reads, “… and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied

thee.”

This passage was the inspiration for the naming of vocal ensemble group Sweet Honey in the Rock, founded in 1973 by Berniece Johnson Reagon at the D.C. Black Repertory Company. The

internationally renowned group has toured the world with music ranging from the blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, hip hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation.

Recently, the group of six women graced the stage of the Minnesota Orchestra performing the world premiere of Affirmations, a new collaborative work composed

by William Banfield with lyrics by Sweet Honey in the Rock. The group was joined on stage by choral group VocalEssence and the

Courtesy of Sweet Honey in the Rock

Minnesota Orchestra, along with the National Symphony Orchestra and Harris Theater for Dance and Music.

Carol Malliard, a founding member of Sweet Honey in the Rock, took time to speak with Insight News to talk about the impact of performance throughout her life.

Insight News: “What

was your first introduction to music and the stage?”

Carol Malliard: “I think that people start out in life sometimes knowing what they want to do so they express it in different kinds of ways. I think that I always knew I wanted to be

ROCK TURN TO 12

Page 12 • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Insight News

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Fred Hammond leads Ties Never Broken Campaign Inspired by President Barack Obama’s 2010 Father’s Day address, Fathers Incorporated (FI) launched its Ties Never Broken campaign. Fathers Incorporated, a not-for-profit organization in New York is committed to eliminating fatherlessness and increasing the commitment of men to become

mentors. The Ties Never Broken campaign is symbolized by the social marketing icon of a “blue bow tie.”

New to the team in championing the mission of responsible fatherhood is Fred Hammond, multi-faceted Award-winning contemporary gospel artist, producer and

musical arranger. Hammond joins fellow co-spokesperson Chris Broussard, journalist and sports analyst for ESPN. “I am excited to serve in this honorable capacity of saving our children,” states Hammond. “I’ve spent my life striving to be a responsible father and man, and I find it unacceptable what’s happening

to our children because of the disengagement of fathers and able bodied men.”

“For years, FI has been working in the field of responsible fatherhood, with the goal of creating effective service models to serve men,” says Kenneth Braswell, executive director of Fathers Incorporated.

“Our biggest struggle in combating both father absence and the lack of viable mentors is our inability to raise the societal level of conciseness regarding the importance of responsible male involvement.”

“It is our hope to garner the support of other influential men in sports, entertainment,

business and in our faith-based communities to champion our efforts. Particularly those who have played impactful fatherhood roles in television and screen, as well as those who have a passion for elevating the image of responsible fatherhood and family values,” adds cospokesperson, Chris Broussard.

Rock

So, that was really when my energy started. It was very clear that is what I wanted to do in life. And if I could figure out a way to do it I did.”

IN: “Was there any particular person who gave you words of advice that carried you over the years?”

CM: “My (high school) violin teacher first looked at everybody physically and she kind of looked at my mouth and moved my mouth around and she said you have nice full lips you will be great on the French horn and I said no I want to play the violin. And I think that trajectory was pretty powerful and she always believed in me and left me sit in the first chair in my junior year. When she left the school she put me in position to be concert maestro for the student orchestra. And it all just kind of tumbled forth.

I went to Catholic University to play violin I got sidetracked and got involved in the theater department. I find out more

about different places I could be on stage and next thing I knew I was in the D.C. Black Repertory Company. I started doing theater at Catholic University and switched to theater and that’s it.”

IN: “Where do you get inspiration to create?”

CM: “It seems to come for different reasons. Sometimes you are pressed against the wall because and you basically have to come up with one song on the album. Or you have something you have written and an assignment comes along and you think I wrote those words let me see if I can work those words and see whether or not that will turn into a song.

So it’s all different. It can be an old melody, it can be a new melody, it can be a baseline, a rhythm or a feeling.”

IN: “How has the vision for Sweet Honey in the Rock evolved over the years?”

CM: “The group has worked extraordinarily hard

over the last eight years to try and facilitate the group serving the women that were in it as opposed to the women in it serving the concept.

The concept and the mission are still intact but when you think of the amazing array of cool styles of the soloists in the group they don’t always get represented in the group repertoire, and that is just a matter of circumstance because most of the music is a cappella.

So we are keeping some of the traditional sound and moving things in a more contemporary tone keeping the messages in the music. We are constantly reexamining.”

IN: “How does the group take care of each other spiritually so you all can maintain a unified front?”

CM: “We have a circle and we pray before we go onstage, we always do that, and then we have a circle and pray when the show is over. I think everybody in the group is supportive of

each other’s wellbeing on all levels and we don’t always know what is going on with each other. But if anything is happening a person can always feel free to say this is what is going on in their lives. That’s just the way we operate. We are very fortunate that we are compatible people and artistically compatible.”

IN: Describe your contribution to the world premiere Affirmations?

CM: “My piece is called ‘I Dream’ and it actually comes from a sense of a fullness of a person’s life and constantly doing self-inquiry to understand why you are here and what is it exactly you are supposed to do and learn and what is your mission. When you get to a certain age and you haven’t achieved it or you haven’t come close or you are still reaching why is it anyone should tell you, you should slow down or stop. You have to keep reaching. You have

many amazing experiences that happen in a lifetime and god willing you will be able to keep moving forward with it and let love guide you and just always dream and know that life is full of possibilities that you can take advantage of.”

IN: “What is next?”

CM: “I can’t say what is next for me. I don’t know what is next for the group. I don’t know how things are going to turn out. I know we are moving toward our 40th anniversary and that should be a major milestone and we will see what happens when we get close to that. For me personally I would love to be in a play, complete a screen play and have someone take an interest in it. I would love to have an opportunity to sing by myself and do some kind of one woman show and perform it. I would love to do some of those things. But how it happens is from my voice to God’s ears and as it is revealed I guess I will move into it.”

addressing stress and despair commonly felt by today’s youth.

It is a call to reclaim education and build young leaders in the community. Central High School, 7:30 pm Tickets $5.00 For more info contact Jan Mandell at janice.mandell@ spps.org or 651.210.9635

FUTURE PRESENCE 5 Arta-Whirl 2012 Art show & Music Showcase May 18 – 20 Group-show featuring features work by established and internationally recognized talent alongside emerging and new works by local artists.

Music, refreshments and beverages will be provided.

FUTURE PRESENCE Gallery 1126 2nd Street NE. MPLS, MN 55413. Fri. May 18 6pm till Midnight, Sat. May 19 1pm till Midnight, Sun. May 20 Noon–5pm.

Mike Menasco May 18 A series of Music themed paintings. Opening Reception 5pm–10pm Fri. May 18 1618 Central Ave NE #115(Thorp Building right behind Diamonds Coffee shop).

38th Annual Concert “The Lord Reigneth” May 20 Concert will be held at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church located at 451 Central Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 5:30pm. For tickets and additional information please visit www.gospelchoirsunited. com or call 612.730.3215 or 651.291.7623.

From 11 an actress. That was something I remember saying when I was very small, ‘when I grow up I want to be an actress.’ I was always trying to sing, I took piano lessons, and I was in the glee club. I would create shows with friends at age eight, nine, ten years old, performing for people. When I would watch television I would see myself in it. As opposed to saying wow look at what they are doing, I would say look at what I am going to do. I went to rock and roll shows at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which was really just an amazing lesson in teaching and showcasing inspiration. Motown artists came, Stacks Recording Artists came, people came and actually did their craft when they first started off. It was marvelous.

Calendar From 8 well as a call to action by a group of St. Paul Students based on themes ranging from race and education to LBGT rights and global awareness, while

Opening for the Owner/

artwork

Reception of CoOperator,

Gospel Choirs United presents:

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Insight News • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Page 13

BUSINESS Show me my money!: Understanding payroll taxes Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Here’s a math problem for you: Reba works forty hours a week and earns $16 per hour.

Therefore, she earns $640 in a week. So why is it that the check she receives is so much less than six hundred forty? The answer is Taxes. Understanding how payroll deductions work can help Reba get a handle on how much money she actually takes home on payday.

As we all know, State and Federal laws require that payroll taxes be withheld from an employee’s paycheck.

Employers then pass the amount withheld over to various tax agencies. Payroll tax deductions include State and Federal income tax, Social Security tax and Medicare tax, as well as various local taxes such as city, county or school district taxes, for example.

If Reba and a coworker were to compare their paystubs, which they should never do, they would see that the total amount withheld from their paychecks is probably not the same. Some taxes, including Social Security and Medicare, are taxed at the same percentage rate for everyone. But Federal

and State withholding can vary, depending on how Reba filled out the Form W-4 when she was hired.

The W-4 asks about a

money she could have had in her pocket all year long.

Updating this form when she marries, divorces or adds a child to the family will ensure

“By taking time to read that paystub every time, Reba will gain powerful knowledge about the money she earns – all of the money she earns.” person’s marital status and number of dependents. Reba can change her answers on the W-4 at any time and as often as she wishes. The idea behind this is that come tax time in April, Reba doesn’t want to owe the government any money. But she doesn’t want to get a huge refund, either, because that’s

that Reba and the government stay even throughout the year.

The W-4 is most effective when it is completed accurately, but Reba can choose to claim fewer dependents than she actually has, if she wants extra money withheld. She can also designate an additional dollar amount withheld if she’s

W.M. MUNSON STUCCO STUCCO PLASTERING DRYWALL

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worried about owing money at the end of the year. The IRS has a calculator online to help people determine the right number of allowances to claim on the W-4 form. It’s at IRS. gov/individuals.

If Reba wants to plan ahead, it’s helpful to know that her paycheck will look different in 2013, even if her pay rate doesn’t change. As part of the Tax Relief Act of 2010, Social Security withholding was cut to just 4.2 percent of income.

However, in 2013, the amount goes back up to 6.2 percent.

Sometime in the fall, lawmakers will get together and update the State and Federal withholding, too. Reba might be taking home less money come January if she doesn’t get a raise.

As she looks over her paystub, Reba might see some other deductions. She might

have agreed to have money withheld from her check for health insurance, a retirement plan contribution, meals, uniforms, union dues or other job related expenses.

It is the Employer’s responsibility to withhold the correct amounts from a paycheck. But it is Reba’s responsibility to notice and to speak up if she has a question about a deduction. By taking time to read that paystub every time, Reba will gain powerful knowledge about the money she earns – all of the money she earns.

Julie Desmond is a Certified Staffing Professional and Talent Manager for Lake Region Staffing. Send your career planning questions to julie@ lakeregionstaffing.com.

Page 14 • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Insight News

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WBC From 1 FLOW Northside Arts Crawl play a positive role in community and economic development and improving the pedestrian environment on West Broadway.

Sarah Hernandez spoke about some exciting local and national initiatives, including a wealth building worker/owner initiative out of Cleveland called Evergreen Cooperative which some Twin Cities organizations are looking to as a model for their own projects.

Jon Commers outlined the potential for a commercial land trust on commercial corridors as a good way to reduce the risks of neighborhood gentrification in neighborhoods undergoing revitalization.

Kelly Hoffman focused on all of the current projects underway on West Broadway, including the Rose Development Project, an Alliance Housing Project, the potential DEED Workforce Center, and the RFP the City of Minneapolis will be releasing for the old Broadway Rental

Jackie Cherryhomes, Chair, WBC Board of Directors

Carl Griffin, WBC Board Member

Vikings From 1 are calling for setting aside $1 million a year for 30 years from Vikings Stadium funding sources, to support training and access to workforce opportunity, an initiative proposed by HIRE MN and supported by Summit

Academy and Minneapolis Urban League, two legacy workforce developers serving our community.

Their proposal creates an ongoing and credible response to what Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak called “morally unacceptable disparity” in job opportunity experienced by communities of color.

Thirdly, the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) is calling for support

Photos: Pat Carney

site. “The West Broadway Coalition’s annual meeting was an occasion to celebrate not only the accomplishments of this organization but also strong partnerships and a spirit of collaboration when looking towards the future. Best of all, it was great to have some time to mingle and chat with all the amazing people in attendance,” said Kelly V. Hoffman of the City of Minneapolis.

Joyce Wisdom spoke about

the WBC’s partnership with several other commercial corridors across the Twin Cities, The Great Cities Collaborative and their collective research and work on bringing the Business Improvement Districts model to the Twin Cities.

To conclude the program, those present enjoyed a rendition of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Prelude in G Minor” performed by Carl Griffin, WBC Board Member and Director of

Communications for the Capri Theater. Food and refreshments were provided by Northside businesses Right in Thyme Catering, Merwin Liquors and Broadway Liquor Outlet.

Nat Jackson, Operations Manager for Headwinds Solutions and a WBC member, said of the meeting, “It was an excellent networking event. I met some very interesting people, I secured a new client and I was able to speak with Beth Grosen

from the City of Minneapolis about a community beautification project near our building. It was a very useful event…on top of all that, I liked the piano music!”

The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC) leads initiatives to bring business, non-profits organizations and neighbors together to create an inviting and vital West Broadway corridor that will transform the Northside into a thriving economic community.

for a proposed amendment to the Vikings funding bill by Rep. Nora Slawik that would link passage of the bill to support for allocating funds investing in the future workforce by supporting early childhood education. The AALF report, “A Crisis in Our Community Closing the Five Education Gaps,” documents the need to close the achievement gap from pre school – 12th grade.

According to the report, “The

gap for African American children starts even before they get to kindergarten and persists throughout their educational experience. According to the 2007 Minneapolis Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, African American children entered kindergarten 40 percentage points behind White students.

The 2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) testing data showed that, at every critical

benchmark, from 3rd grade through 11th grade, African American students were consistently between 20-30 percentage points behind the overall statewide standard in reading, math, and science.”

Slawik’s proposal is pegged to the expectation that the financing mechanism chosen to pay debt service on stadium bonds would be designed to generate enough excess revenue to keep interest

rates as low as possible. In the case of Target Field’s 0.15 percent sales tax in Hennepin County, enough has been collected above and beyond debt service needs to allot $2 million per year in recent years to Hennepin County Libraries. The 2006 Target Field legislation included that earmark for the excess at the urging of Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin.

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Insight News • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Page 15

Photos: Suluki Fardan

L-R: Pha Her, Kayloe Robinson and Joseph Brown

Cookie Cart: Baking cookies, building bright futures Business Leadership Profile

By Erin Jerabek, Executive Director West Broadway Business Area Coalition Walking down West Broadway Ave., it is almost impossible not to smell the sweet aroma coming from the Cookie Cart, 1119 West Broadway Ave.

As its name suggests, the only menu items are cookies – available in several varieties.

But, the Cookie Cart does a lot more than produce baked goods.

It is also a workforce training center for neighborhood teens.

The Cookie Cart was started in 1988 by Sister Jean Thuerauf to help neighborhood youth stay off the street and out of gangs. Today, Cookie Cart employs 140 youth ages 15-17 annually. For many, it is their first paid work experience. All those employed are required to be enrolled and doing well in school. In addition to learning

how to bake cookies, employees learn the skills essential to getting and maintaining a job: customer service, problem solving, team work and conflict and time management.

As employees of the Cookie Cart, students have opportunities to attend field trips to several Twin Cities Fortune 500 companies and meet a variety of people in high level positions.

“We don’t want to focus kids from high school into a menial job. The bakery is a good platform to teach students to become whatever they want,

Matt Halley, Executive Director of Cookie Cart

Sister Jean Thuerauf, Founder of Cookie Cart

including doctors or lawyers,” said Cookie Cart executive director, Matt Halley. “Beyond the bakery focused work, Cookie Cart also prepares its young employees to take the National Career Readiness Exam and ACT college admissions test.”

Due to limited internal

capacity, last year the Cookie Cart turned away 200 youth seeking employment.

“A lot of kids my age really do need the job, they need to do something else besides what they are doing,” said Emerie, a Cookie Cart youth employee.

“They are not spending their

time in a good way.”

The Cookie Cart recently started a capital campaign to double the amount of youth workers it can employ. With this campaign, the Cookie Cart is looking to triple its services and expand to St. Paul.

The campaign also includes major improvements to the organization’s existing building. The reconfiguration of the North Minneapolis space will include splitting the bakery into two separate spaces. Renovations will also add an elevator, repair the roof and leaky basement and improve the retail coffee shop space.

The Cookie Cart: 1119 West Broadway Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55411 (612) 521-0855, Retail Shop Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am6pm, Delivery Available

Many Faces. One Territory.

Taronda Richardson (left) and Leah Jasper

Twins Territory. A place where players, fans, vendors and even Mother Nature come together as one. A place to celebrate home runs.

To cheer for your home team. And a place to embrace all that makes us different. Join us each day as we celebrate our community and we celebrate diversity in Twins Territory.

Page 16 • May 7 - May 13, 2012 • Insight News

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