Call for writers
Insight is looking for an online producer and freelance writers. The online producer is a contract position (15hrs/ week) perfect for someone who can produce one or two short-form stories and who can also update the webpage
daily with content. We are also looking for freelance writers who can bring inspiring stories to Insight readers. We’re interested in people who can report on the intersection of arts, politics and social justice. Interested writers
must possess fluency with social media. For detailed descriptions of these positions, please e-mail Patricia Weaver at patricia@insightnews.com. No walk-ins, please.
Insight News
May 16 - May 22, 2016
Vol. 43 No. 20 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
L-R: Nicole Knuckles, Diverse Segments Manager, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; Gigi Dixon, Wells Fargo Director of Strategic Partnerships; Al McFarlane, Insight News, Editor-In-Chief; and Kimberly Smith-Moore, Vice President of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Community Outreach Manager (below).
Wells Fargo pumps $5 million into home buyer opportunity By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer Wells Fargo announced a $5 million program to help homebuyers get into a home in either Minneapolis or St. Paul. While the official announcement didn’t take place until 11 a.m. on Tuesday (May 10), the news of the NeighborhoodLIFT program broke during a broadcast of KFAI’s “Conversations with Al McFarlane” show. During the show guests of the program from Wells Fargo and NeighborhoodWorks Home Partners discussed the $5 million commitment and how they feel the program will assist approximately 450 eligible Minnesota homebuyers in obtaining matching down payment assistance grants of up
Eric Mahmoud, Founder and President/ CEO, Mastery School
Margie Soran, Mastery School Board Chair
Paula Bump, Mastery School Principal
The Mastery School celebrates grand opening of new building Kimberly Smith-Moore to $7,500 to purchase a home in Minneapolis or St. Paul. The NeighborhoodLIFT program focuses on the area’s two major cities – cities they say were most affected by the housing crisis of eight years ago.
HOMES TURN TO 5
The Mastery School, a highperforming K-4 public charter school in North Minneapolis, held the grand opening of its new building on May 11 at 4021 Thomas Ave. N. Mastery is part of the Harvest Network of Schools, a charter management organization seeking to transform North Minneapolis by using education as a lever for change. Other Harvest
Network schools include Best Academy (K-8) and Harvest Preparatory School (K-4). Mastery is currently located at 1300 Olson Memorial Highway and will be relocating to its new building in August 2016. The move represents a major step forward in Harvest’s growth plans in North Minneapolis. By 2025, the network will add two elementary schools and a middle school and hopes to
reach a goal of 3,800 students – up from its current enrollment of 1,300. A second campus was opened in 2014 for Best Academy’s middle school grades. The new Mastery School campus is the third campus, and the only one north of Lowry Avenue. The current Mastery staff and faculty as well as the current scholars will all move
to the new Mastery building. In addition to classrooms, it will feature spaces for art, media/ library, technology, a gym and more. Eventually it will serve 450 students. The grand opening featured remarks by Harvest Network Founder and President/CEO Eric Mahmoud and Board Chair Margie Soran. Local
HARVEST TURN TO 9
FBI, lawsuits could not stop effort to create largest migration in American History By Erick Johnson (From The Chicago Crusader, NNPA Member)
Two Black workers fold hides at Chicago Union’s Stockyards.
Twins diversity champion Miguel Ramos joins MN Partners board
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Chicago History Museum
There were over six hundred Black families applying for 53 apartment units in just one day in Chicago in 1917. In two years, more than 100 storefront churches would dot the South Side. By 1930 the number would climb to 338. During that time, the Black populations of Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and other major northern and western cities would explode as thousands arrived by train almost on a daily basis. In these cities a Black middle class was established and the largest migration of Blacks in American history swept the nation. Today, on the 100th Anniversary of the Great Migration, many Blacks in the Midwest and Northeast have parents and grandparents who migrated from the South.
Because of direct train routes, Blacks in Chicago are more likely to have parents or relatives from Mississippi. Blacks in New York and Philadelphia are likely to grandparents from South Carolina. The correlation exists also for other northern states that were accessible by direct routes that served their southern states. Many left the South during the Great Migration, two periods in American history where the Black population dramatically shifted north and helped transform major cities in the Midwest, Northeast, and West. It’s also a period that gave birth to “Bronzeville” as a Black Metropolis, where thriving businesses, prominent writers and artists flourished during the Harlem Renaissance. The force behind this movement was the Black Press. And behind the Black Press was the FBI and city officials who aimed to keep Blacks in their place.
MIGRATION 9 TURN TO
Education
Working families
Lifestyle
Science Museum of Minnesota selected by NASA to lead
Provisions in Senate tax bill make everyday Minnesotans the priority
Changing your course to get to your destination of happiness
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Twins diversity champion Miguel Ramos joins MN Partners board Minnesota Philanthropy Partners announced Miguel Ramos has been elected to its board of directors. Ramos is director of diversity marketing for the Minnesota Twins and a longtime community champion for inclusion and diversity. The Minnesota Philanthropy Partners board of directors guides the work of The Saint Paul Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation and a network of more than 2,000 community affiliates.
“We are pleased to have Miguel join our board. His important work as a change agent for diversity and inclusion in our community lend valuable expertise as our board leads brings to fruition our organizational mission and vision,” said Dr. Eric Jolly, president and CEO of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners. Ramos drives a number of diversity initiatives for the Minnesota Twins, including Diversity Week at Target Field
Miguel Ramos
and the Jackie Robinson Be an All-Star reading program. He has served on Gov. Mark Dayton’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, the board of the Greater Twin Cities United way, the Science Museum of Minnesota and Casa de Esperanza, a national organization dedicated to preventing domestic violence. “It is a great honor for me be part of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners as a board member and use my personal and professional experience to
continue helping to build a healthy and united community for all,” said Ramos. Minnesota Philanthropy Partners are The Saint Paul Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Mardag Foundation and more than 2,000 charitable organizations and donor funds. Together they provide charitable and financial support, connections and services to help people and communities in Minnesota.
Minneapolis City Council supports United Black Legislative Agenda The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to support the United Black Legislative Agenda. The vote came as the legislature enters final deliberations for the 2016 session.
“We are proud to say that the United Black Legislative Agenda is our agenda for the city of Minneapolis,” said Council Vice President Elizabeth Glidden, who chairs the Intergovernmental Relations Committee. “We are
advocating for the same goals – we hope other cities join us in support as well.” The United Black Legislative Agenda, which an unprecedented coalition of Black-led community organizations unveiled at the
Capitol in early April, is a set of policy recommendations on economic justice, criminal justice and Black immigrant justice for the 2016 legislative session aimed at taking concrete steps toward ending Minnesota’s racial disparities.
“We thank the (Minneapolis) City Council for making the United Black Legislative Agenda a legislative priority for Minneapolis,” said Anthony Newby, executive director of Neighborhoods Organizing for Change.
“Minnesota’s racial disparities must be addressed at the city and state levels. We appreciate the city council’s commitment to addressing these important issues at multiple levels of government.”
Minneapolis resolution honors Prince’s legacy The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Betsy Hodges passed a resolution honoring Prince and his legacy to Minneapolis and music. Following the reading of the resolution, the council held a
moment of silence. The resolution recognizes that Prince Rogers Nelson was born in north Minneapolis, attended Bryant Junior High School and graduated from Central High
School in south Minneapolis. He performed at the Capri Theater and First Avenue, and recorded and performed in the Twin Cities for more than 40 years. Prince was an Academy Award, Golden Globe,
seven-time Grammy, and four-time MTV Video Music Award winning musician and artist. The resolution acknowledged Prince as a musician, filmmaker, philanthropist and entrepreneur.
It further recognized Prince as a visionary who was always at the forefront of change and advocacy who promoted Black empowerment and mentored new artists. The resolution
credited Prince with fostering the Minneapolis sound and cultivating a diverse music scene in Minneapolis, which he brought to national prominence with his film “Purple Rain.”
Legislators act to protect the legacy of artists Bills were introduced in the Minnesota Senate and House that would protect the name, image and likeness of the state’s residents from unauthorized use for commercial purposes, including after death. This Right of Publicity legislation would establish under Minnesota law that
people own the right to control the commercial use of their name, likeness, image and other elements of their identities, and that other people or associations may not use another person’s identity for commercial purpose without permission. This legislation would extend these protections to a decedent’s
heirs, allowing a transfer of the value of a person’s legacy through the state’s inheritance process. Twenty-four states have statutory laws defining a Right of Publicity, and seventeen states have extended this Right of Publicity beyond death by statute. While court cases may
establish that a Right of Publicity exists, state legislatures can define the breadth of the Right of Publicity for their residents, including whether it exists following death. Consequently, while common law and court cases suggest Minnesota has a Right of Publicity, the Right
of Publicity is not defined in statute, and it remains unclear how the right continues beyond death in Minnesota. The scope of the Right of Publicity is a question for intellectual property, inheritance and tax law. Proponents say the legislature should determine Minnesota’s Right of Publicity
under Minnesota law rather than wait for drawn-out and costly litigation to decide the issue. The bills were introduced because the Right of Publicity will be an important issue to the estate of Prince Rogers Nelson, who died on April 21. Prince died without a known will.
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EDUCATION Science Museum of Minnesota selected by NASA to lead the interpretation of Space and Earth Science for museums across the U.S. The Science Museum of Minnesota announced it has been selected to lead a national effort to engage the public in space and earth science from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The museum will spearhead the Space and Earth Informal STEM Education (SEISE) project along with partners from Arizona State University, Museum of Science of Boston and the University of California at Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science and Space Sciences Laboratory. The goal of the partnership is to help NASA connect its resources with
learners around the country in new and innovative ways. “We are excited to partner with NASA and our sister institutions to create a national learning resource,” said Alison Rempel Brown, president of the Science Museum of Minnesota. “NASA’s programs are exciting and critical to our nation’s future for space exploration and scientific learning. The Science Museum is a proven leader at making science concepts inspirational and easy-to-understand through programs and activities.” This new contract is one of the largest awarded by
Space Exhibition
Science Museum of Minnesota
NASA, totaling $14.5 million over five years. NASA has also provided funding to the Science Museum since 2009 for climate change education programs and for the “Space” exhibition, which premiered at the Science Museum in 2015 before embarking on a tour of science centers across the nation. “I am thrilled to see the Science Museum of Minnesota selected by NASA to help teach and inspire the next generation of scientists and space explorers,” said Gov. Mark Dayton. “This is tremendous news for the
Science Museum, for our state, and for millions of curious minds in Minnesota and across the nation. Congratulations on this well-earned honor.” The SEISE project will draw upon NASA’s experts, data, existing educational programs and online portals to translate its knowledge and ongoing research into a series of new learning experiences. The learning experiences will include interactive exhibits, earth and space toolkits with hands-on activities, videos, and media and professional development materials for museums and educators.
Crosswinds simulation examines life in poverty
Equity Alliance MN workshop
Crosswinds Arts and Science School hosted an Equity Alliance Minnesota workshop directed by Dr. Nadarajan (Raj) Sethuraju, a professor at Metropolitan State University, on May 3. For three hours, teachers and staff from Crosswinds and other schools participated in “A Day in the Life: Poverty Simulation.” Afterwards, a discussion was held on the realities and prevalence of poverty and homelessness throughout Minnesota and how to effectively work with students who are struggling with these issues. “The training was actually quite accurate in illustrating the challenges of living in poverty,” said Alicia Mena, an education assistant at Crosswinds. “From families being in jail, to people trying to rob you and looking to take advantage of you, to a system that kind of wants to help you, but not really. You have to go back and forth between different agencies and still not
even get what you need.” Crosswinds principal, Lynn DeLisi added, “The workshop provided our staff with a better understanding of what some of our students and families experience. I hope these exercises help better prepare us all to support the educational needs for students in poverty and scenarios where they are in survival mode.” Fifteen percent of Minnesotan children live in poverty, as of the most recent reports done by the Minnesota Department of Health in 2011. Between 2010 and 2014, 24.6 percent of children living in Ramsey County were in poverty, compared to 7 percent of children in Washington County. According to a Wilder Research Minnesota Homeless Study, in 2015, minors represented 38 percent of the homeless population in Minnesota. For information about Equity Alliance MN, visit www. equityalliancemn.org.
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Insight News • May 16 - May 22, 2016 • Page 5
Provisions in Senate tax bill make everyday Minnesotans the priority By Nan Madden The Minnesota Senate’s 2016 supplemental tax bill released recently includes provisions that would make strong strides toward more Minnesotans being able to reach economic security. Today’s blog looks at two of our priorities for the session that are included in this bill: expanding the Working Family Credit and the Tax Time Savings bill. The Senate 2016 tax bill includes the provisions from Senate File 2586, authored by Senator Ann Rest, to expand the Working Family Tax Credit. Tax policy is often perceived as being primarily for the benefit of special interests, but this proposal, in contrast, makes everyday Minnesotans the priority. It provides targeted tax reductions to families and individuals working their way toward financial stability by: • Increasing the size of the credit for most currently eligible households;
of the significant state and local taxes that modest-income Minnesotans pay. Governor Mark Dayton has also made the Working Family Credit a priority in his budget. The Working Family Credit is Minnesota’s version of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). A strong and growing body of research on the EITC and similar tax credits finds they are successful in supporting parents’ work efforts, and that children in families receiving these credits are healthier, do better in school, and are more likely to attend college and earn more as adults. Expanding the Working Family Credit can also help the state make progress on addressing racial disparities in economic well-being. About 30 percent of households eligible for the credit are people of color, and Voices for Racial Justice has included Working Family Credit expansion in their 2016 Racial Equity Agenda as one of their
• Making some additional families and individuals eligible by increasing the incomes that they can earn and still qualify for the credit; and • Reaching younger workers without dependent children by lowering the age requirement to qualify for the credit from 25 years old to 21. In all, about 386,000 Minnesota households would benefit from the Working Family Credit expansion, receiving a total of $49 million in tax reductions in FY 2017. The families and individuals who currently receive the Working Family Credit are split almost equally between Greater Minnesota and the 7-county metro area. In some counties, primarily in Greater Minnesota, 16 percent or more of all households who file income taxes receive the credit. The credit is only available to households with earnings from work, and it offsets a portion
recommended policies to make Minnesota work for everyone. The Senate tax bill also includes provisions so that Minnesotans receive the tax credits for which they qualify, and can use their tax refunds to build savings and build a stronger economic future. These provisions come from Senate File 2578 authored by Senator Lyle Koenen, and they provide additional funding for nonprofit organizations offering free tax preparation services (known by the acronym VITA) to serve more Minnesotans and to provide financial capability services at tax time, such as opening a savings account. There is not a lot of time for the tax conference committee to do its work before the session ends on May 23. But these are two provisions that clearly deserve a place in the final tax bill. Nan Madden is director of the Minnesota Budget Project.
Senate bill would phase-in $15 per hour minimum wage Sen. John Marty (DFLRoseville) is leading a charge for a higher minimum wage here in Minnesota. Marty says it is time for the Land of 10,000 Lakes to join the ranks of California, New York, and several cities across the country in boosting the minimum wage to $15 per hour. The provision is part of legislation that aims to improve the financial well-being of lowincome workers. Introduced last week, Marty’s Worker Justice Bill triples the working
family tax credit, makes child care affordable for low income workers, and phases in the higher minimum wage. “Bernie Sanders has engaged millions of Americans who are hungry for change, people who are saying loud and clear that workers deserve living wages, and that the growing income gap is crushing hard working people – and they are demanding change. This Worker Justice Bill is a response to that call for economic justice,” said Marty.
The bill would build on Minnesota’s success in raising the minimum wage in 2014. It would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour for large businesses and $13 per hour for small businesses by the year 2022, the same timeline as California and other states. To address financial strain on Minnesota families from childcare, the bill expands the state child care assistance program, eliminating the waiting list, giving parents a better choice of child care
providers, and providing better compensation to those providers. The Working Family Tax Credit would also be increased in the bill. For a single parent with one child who earns about $23,000 per year, this legislation would triple the tax credit, giving an additional $2,000 to help pay their bills. “This will make a huge difference in the quality of life for families with low income workers. This bill would be the strongest commitment
towards fulfilling the goal of Minnesota’s Commission to End Poverty by 2020,” said Marty. Although the 2016 legislature will not take up this proposal, Marty called for its passage early in 2017. “We’re seeing this movement across the country where people are saying enough is enough. Income inequality is a huge problem. People deserve more than political rhetoric; they deserve policies that will address the problem,”
said Marty. “This bill will give workers a living wage through the tax credit, $15 minimum wage, and investments in child care. The bottom line is that many hard working Minnesotans currently cannot make ends meet. All workers deserve the dignity of being able to put food on the table and take care of their families’ basic needs. This legislation is a response to the movement sweeping our country – and a commitment to helping all workers thrive.”
Lawyers’ committee welcomes ‘Beyond the Box’ to increase access to higher education for individuals with criminal histories The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) urged America’s colleges and universities to eliminate barriers to higher education for an estimated 70 million citizens with criminal records. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) agrees with the DOE’s resource guide, “Beyond the Box,” which offers alternatives to inquiring about criminal histories during college admissions. In January 2016, the Lawyers’ Committee launched the Fair Chance in Higher Education initiative, a national effort to eliminate barriers to educational opportunity for college applicants who may have been stopped, detained, or arrested by the police. “No one should be denied access to college or university merely because of contact with the criminal justice system,” said Kristen Clarke, president and
executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee. “The inclusion of criminal-history related questions on admissions forms has a disparate impact on AfricanAmericans and other minority applicants seeking access to higher educational opportunities. The U.S. Department of Education has taken an important first step and we urge expanded federal enforcement in this area to ensure that all schools across our nation lift one of the most significant hurdles faced by minority applicants today. The racial disparities in our criminal justice system and the collateral consequences faced by those brought into contact with the justice system makes this an issue that warrants greater attention.” The first phase of the Fair Chance in Higher Education initiative sought information from 17 colleges and universities in
seven states in the South, which require applicants to disclose contact with the criminal justice system, including arrests that did not lead to conviction. To date, four colleges have reached agreement with the Lawyers’ Committee to revise their admissions policies to eliminate questions related to arrest history. These include Auburn University, Auburn University - Montgomery, Clark Atlanta University and Emory & Henry University. The Lawyers’ Committee also issued a call for the “Common Application” to eliminate the disclosure of convictions and high school disciplinary violations. The “Common Application” is used by more than 600 colleges across the country. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, “demographic characteristics are now more strongly correlated
with sentencing outcomes than during previous periods.” Research suggests that minority defendants are treated differently at several stages of the criminal justice process. In addition, many colleges ask prospective students to disclose school discipline histories. Yet according to the Civil Rights Data Collection (CDRC), there are vast racial disparities in the use of suspensions and expulsions to address student behavior. “We are particularly concerned that many applicants may be deterred from pursuing higher education when colleges require the disclosure of arrest or conviction histories or school discipline histories on their application forms,” said Brenda Shum, director of the Educational Opportunities Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Homes
agent with Edina Realities. To date, Wells Fargo’s NeighborhoodLIFT program has completed 42 launches throughout the United States and this is the second time the program has invested in the Twin Cities. In 2012, Wells Fargo’s NeighborhoodLIFT program created 422 homeowners in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Knuckles said there are several myths that stop people from entering the home buying process
and the NeighborhoodLIFT program hopes to dispel those myths through the education component. She said people are often unaware of their credit score and said many people do not know that paying common bills such as a cable or utility bill can be used to show a person’s credit worthiness. The NeighborhoodLIFT program homebuyer event takes place June 10 and June 11 at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency, 1300
Nicollet Mall. During this event, prospective homebuyers will find out their eligibility and also speak with industry professionals. Prospective homebuyers are asked to register for the event at www. NeighborhoodLIFT.com or by calling (866) 858-2151. Attendees of this event will be offered homebuyer education sessions and preview featured homes available for sale in Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods.
From 1 “This program has helped many people become home owners, and being a resident of Minneapolis, this program is near and dear to me,” said Kim Smith-Moore, vice president and Wells Fargo community outreach manager. “The program is focused totally on low to moderate income individuals. That is the segment we felt was in most need of the assistance.” Smith-Moore said the program is not just for first time homebuyers but buyers reentering the market. The money comes in the form of a three year forgivable loan that would require buyers to maintain residence in the home for that three year duration. In addition, there will be a required homebuyer education. “We know homes are not getting cheaper right now so this gives people more purchasing power and more affordability,” said Nicole Knuckles, Wells Fargo, regional diverse segments consultant. “One of the best ways to stop the generational poverty issue is through home ownership,” said Jason Peterson, executive director, NeighborWorks Home Partners. NeighborWorks is the nonprofit partner of NeighborhoodLIFT along with Wells Fargo. Peterson said home ownership also helps to reduce crime and strengthen neighborhood schools. “This will really help the community because the down payment is the biggest issue I see in the whole home buying process,” said Justin Shepherd, a real estate
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Page 6 • May 16 - May 22, 2016 • Insight News
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COMMENTARY XI & Epsilon Rho Chapters: With Supreme Condolences to the “Nelson Family” Dr. Julian Stafford, Alexandria, VA & Eagan, MN Longtime readers probably will be astonished that XI Chapter (University of Minnesota) and Epsilon Rho Chapter (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. will forever be grateful to Mr. “Prince” Rogers Nelson for a selfless deed he did for both chapters forty years ago. More on this later. But first, both XI and Epsilon Rho Chapters, along with Omegas in the Twin Cities metropolitan area were saddened by the news that Prince had died. It is with a heavy heart and a real sense of loss that we extend our sincere sympathy to the Nelson family. Our love, thoughts and prayers are with Prince’s family, colleagues, friends and fans. We know there are no words that adequately express the magnitude of their loss; please know our love and support will always be with the Omegas for the Nelson family during this time and beyond. Both the brotherhood of XI and Epsilon Rho wants the family to know that Prince is held in high admiration for what he meant to us and Minnesota’s diverse communities throughout his proficient life. As a celebrated American genius, “Prince,” the singer, performer, songwriter, multiinstrumentalist, and actor, has been a major figure in popular music for more than three decades. He was an astute businessman as a “master of his
fate…” Prince will live forever in our hearts, and in the hearts and minds of those yet to be born through his musical legacy. Prince’s debut upon the Twin Cities musical scene in the early 1970s as a teenager was electrifying. He captivated audiences with his signature clothes, unique hair, and eclecticdance moves gave us what became known as the Minneapolis sound - a combination of R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, disco, psychedelia, jazz, and pop. The music was something that we had never witnessed before and it helped to promote Minneapolis club scene and both cities’ funky vibes. An earlier prophesy: In July 1975, XI Chapter (University of Minnesota) and Epsilon Rho Chapter (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) of the Omega Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc. of MinneapolisSt. Paul, MN could not find a band to perform at our social event to raise funds for the Omega Scholarship Fund. The Purple and Gold fraternity booked Prince and his band. At the youthful age of 17, Prince and the 94 East Band excitedly performed for the Omegas at the old Butler Square Building in downtown Minneapolis, leaving everybody “star-struck.” There was an indisputable consensus by all in attendance that Prince was destined for musical greatness. The Omegas at Prince’s performance forty years ago were filled with paternal and brotherly pride as they were to watch him grow as a musician to become world renowned. Brothers James Hewitt III (Municipal Judge – Cleveland,
Prince OH); Alan Brown (Viet-Nam War retiree & U.S. Postal Employee – Minneapolis, MN); Marty Warner (Philadelphia, PA – Financial Planner), and Julian Stafford (Retired Public School Superintendent – Alexandria, VA) booked Prince and the 94 East Band for the fundraiser. The Fraternity will be forever grateful to Prince for his eagerness to get both XI and Epsilon Rho Chapters out of really a difficult situation. Prince, with his band Revolution, performed throughout the world. For his many accomplishments and achievements he received recognition and numerous awards such as Academy Award (Oscar), seven Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, MTV Awards, NAACP Image Award and BET Award and enshrinement in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Similar to Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven, Prince’s
musical genius and legendary musical portfolio will live on as will the gift of sharing his talents with other musicians. He selflessly mentored, supported and developed hundreds of aspiring musicians (i.e., Janice Jackson, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson, etc.). For centuries yet to come, Prince will be recognized as the most elite rock & rock musician and song writer among his peers in the world. His acclaimed songs, Little Red Corvette, Purple Rain, Delirious, 1999, Let’s Go Crazy and When Doves Cry, will serve to mark milestones in the lives of generations of fans as they did for Prince. Moreover, similar to his graduation remarks made about the iconic Prince to the graduates at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 7, 2016, while in England two weeks earlier, President
Barack H. Obama, along with First Lady Michelle R. Obama, adorned in a Purple violet Oscar De La Renta dress, acknowledged Prince’s worldly significance: Today, the world lost a creative icon. Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince. Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of the popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent. As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time; Prince did it all. ‘A strong spirit transcends,’ Prince once said – and nobody’s spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his band and all who loved him. As a devout religious and private person, unbeknownst to many people, Prince gave millions of dollars to various charities, organizations and to a plethora of causes to better humanity, even more so in the Twin Cities. He cherished working and lending his fortunes and providing philanthropic efforts to worthy causes. Like a gentle cool breeze on a smoldering hot day he was a welcome relief for those in need. Few examples, Prince funded the green-solar panel initiative in Oakland, CA that facilitated skill acquisition for African-American youths, while contributing to the 2010 Haitian Earthquake Relief efforts. He gave two free musical concerts after the riots as a result of Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore, MD in April 2015 and later in New Orleans, Chicago and Atlanta, thereby
embracing the Black Lives Matter Movement. He funded the YesWeCode Charity technology writing-code initiative in Atlanta, GA in 2014; funded AfricanAmerican Youth Dance Studios in both Minneapolis and Harlem, NY; fiscally supported the United Negro College Annual Fund raising campaigns, etc. A reminder: Prince is being profiled in the 2016 MN AfricanAmerican Heritage Calendar for the month of June 2016. Prince had a sweet and inspiring soul. His persona was transitional and intolerant of injustices here in America and around the world. Prince never left his much-loved Minnesota, which was home. Omegas will always remember him as an honest and cheerful individual and good neighbor. In the months to come, the Omegas will cherish even more all the happy memories he brought us. Unquestionably, we are mindful that he has “Gone Too Soon.” We will soulfully miss Prince. The Both XI and Epsilon Rho Brotherhood will continue to love and care about the entire Nelson family. May the graceful “Prince” rest in a well-deserved eternal peace, along with a few of his American musical intergenerational contemporaries: Sam Cooke (1964), Jimi Hendrix (1970), Elvis Presley (1977), Jackie Wilson (1984), Marvin Gaye (1984), Ray Charles (2004), Luther Vandross (2005), James Brown (2006), Michael Jackson (2009), Whitney Houston (2012) and B.B. King (2015). Rest sweet Prince, (a.k.a.) “The Purple One!”
High-performing schools are the best gateway to success By Brian L. Pauling As the school year winds down, one can’t help but think of graduations and where and how students will embark upon the next phase of their lives. Unfortunately, the opportunities for far too many will be limited because of disparities in graduation rates and in opportunities for students at high-performing schools compared with their counterparts at low-performing schools. Although U.S. high school graduation rates have significantly improved, U.S. Department of Education statistics show that African-American and Hispanic/ Latino students are still graduating 5 to 10 points behind the national average. Further, students from low-income families are graduating at a rate that’s 14.4 percentage points below that of their peers from wealthier backgrounds. For students to be competitive in post-secondary education and career, they have to be properly prepared. Whether competing for admission to college or entering a career, the student graduating from the high-performing school invariably has the advantage over the one from the low-performing school. And although each may have a diploma in hand, the student from a low-performing school will more times than not require remedial courses and start behind the curve when trying to achieve long-term success. 100 Black Men of America,
Brian Pauling Inc. strongly believes the remedy to this situation is advocating for and demanding high-performing schools for all students – and particularly African-American and poor students. We feel that high-performing public schools, whether traditional or charter, are the best gateway to higher education. Coupled with strong parental involvement, quality education options – ones that ensure every child has access to the high-performing school best suited for him or her – will help them achieve long-term career success. Sadly, many of the nation’s low-performing schools are in minority and low-income neighborhoods. Far too many of these public schools have inadequate resources and their classrooms are overcrowded. They often lack the things higher-performing schools take for granted – experienced teachers, counselors, special education services, currentedition textbooks, and access to technology, to name a few –
and their students suffer. When those conditions are allowed to continue, students’ paths can deviate from higher education and career to paths of overwhelming struggle, economic challenge and potentially prison. This is why we must implore our school administrators on the neighborhood, district, city, state and national levels to do their level best to make public education more equitable in every school. In a Washington Post article, former Education Secretary Arne Duncan called on cities and states to rethink their current incarceration practices and proposed funneling an estimated $15 billion in savings from incarcerations to substantially raise teacher pay in high-poverty schools. He reasoned that higher salaries could attract better teachers to low-performing schools where the help is most needed. “With a move like this, we’d not just make a bet on education over incarceration, we’d signal the beginning of a long-range effort to pay our nation’s teachers what they are worth,” Duncan said. “That sort of investment wouldn’t just make teachers and struggling communities feel more valued. It would have ripple effects on our economy and on our civic life.” He gets it. We want to make sure everybody else gets it as well. High-performing schools are the best gateway to success. When our children have access to high-performing schools, it exponentially increases their chances to achieve their full
potential. Brian L. Pauling is president and CEO of 100 Black Men of
America, Inc., a global nonprofit mentoring organization with more than 100 chapters reaching 125,000 youth in the United
States, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. Learn more at 100blackmen.org.
Malia Obama got into Harvard and Fox News fans called her a “little monkey” Opinion
By Julianne Malveaux Malia Obama deserves congratulations. Admitted to Harvard University, she has decided to take a gap year, a mature choice that many students make when they want a break between intense and competitive studies and college. This is a great time for her to take a gap year. After these eight years in the White House as a “First Daughter”, she now has a chance to enjoy life and pursue some of her nonacademic interests. She speaks
fluent Spanish, so perhaps she’ll take some time to travel to Mexico, Cuba, or Spain. She is interested in television and film, so perhaps she’ll work as a production assistant (or even a commentator) on a television program. She may be interested enough in politics to volunteer for some down-ticket candidate. Imagine the boost she could give to California Attorney General Kamala Harris in her Senate race this fall! It is going to be interesting to see how this young woman’s life unfolds. In reaction to Malia’s good news, the racists are out in full force. According to the website AddictingInfo.org, the Fox crew was so vitriolic that Fox had to close down a page due to the volume and negative comments regarding her announcement. The content of
the messages hardly deserves reprint, but it is no surprise that the beautiful young lady was called a “monkey,” not to mention the “N-word” and worse. She was admitted because of affirmative action, several wrote. Every stereotype one can imagine was heaped on this young woman. Come on people! Malia Obama won’t be 18 until July 4. She’s a kid. Dislike President Obama and his wife, Michelle, if you want to. Call them names – I am sure that by now, ugly name-calling affects them as much as water rolling off a duck’s back. But it is especially vile for racist haters to direct such ire to a young woman, who is really just a girl. Perhaps some feel she has no right to innocence
OBAMA TURN TO 8
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Insight News • May 16 - May 22, 2016 • Page 7
BUSINESS The power of time and volunteers ―Abraham Lincoln
FUNdraising Good Times
By Mel and Pearl Shaw “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com
Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Carmen Robles Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
“I wish someone would take care of all the details.” Such is the lament of fundraising staff who stagger under the weight of never ending activities and details. They try to keep it all together, to “dot the i’s and cross the t’s.” And yet it feels impossible. “What am I overlooking?” becomes a mantra and a fear. The clock keeps ticking, time is passing, work needs to be completed, and the pressure doesn’t seem to end. On the other hand, there are those who sing a different refrain. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it” is their song. A board member offers to help plan an event, and the executive director almost automatically responds “Don’t worry...” The development director has the same response when a volunteer asks about helping with solicitations or crafting new marketing language. No one wants to turn away help, but experience
Time is either your angel or your enemy. The earlier you begin to plan, the more opportunities you will have to implement alternatives if something goes awry. has shown it takes time to work with volunteers, and it is time many don’t want to “waste.” Neither of these scenarios are the ideal. You need to be involved with the details of fundraising – no one knows your constituency and programs like you do! And you need to be most effective in how you use your time. Yet
Native Governance Center established to advance sovereignty Wayne Ducheneaux, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, has been hired as the inaugural executive director of the Native Governance Center (NGC). With operations based in St. Paul, the organization works to assist tribal nations in strengthening their governance systems to exercise their sovereignty. As executive director of NGC, Ducheneaux will work with representatives from the 23 politically-distinct Native-American nations sharing territory within Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “As a new organization, one of our first steps will be carrying forward the work of the Bush Foundation’s nation building initiative,” said Ducheneaux. “This effort includes continuing the Bush Foundation’s well-known Native Nations Rebuilder’s leadership development program.” As part of Bush Foundation’s commitment, Jaime A. Pinkham, former Native Nations vice president at Bush, is serving as a senior advisor to NGC through a loaned executive agreement. “The Bush Foundation is committed to continuing its nation-building work in partnership with the Native Governance Center,” said Jen Ford Reedy, president of the Bush Foundation. “It’s reassuring to know that the Rebuilder’s Program is in good hands, and that the Native Governance Center is planning to substantially expand its reach and impact.”
somewhere between these two extremes lies the balance that supports successful fundraising. When you know how to engage and manage volunteers, you can increase your chances of success and decrease your stress. No one person – or two, or three – can
manage all the details associated with fundraising. Whether it’s a special event, a phone-a-thon, or a capital campaign you can lighten the load by engaging people who want to help. Planning and time are the key variables that impact fundraising success and the ability to effectively engage volunteers. They interact with each other, building towards successful fundraising, or snowballing in the wrong direction. Take time to plan your fundraising. Document your plan. Share it with others. Ask people to assist with specific projects. Ask in advance, when they have enough time to do what you would like them to do, and enough time to implement ideas they believe will increase your impact. Time is either your angel or your enemy. The earlier you begin to plan, the more
opportunities you will have to implement alternatives if something goes awry. If you don’t leave enough time to plan your event, you might find your chances for serious errors increase. Build contingencies into your plan so you – and your team – are prepared if your first plan doesn’t work out. At the end of the day we are all human and subject to human frailties. You might get sick, a family member could be hospitalized, a staff member might quit. Having a team working on your event or campaign can mitigate against these and lighten the load. Copyright 2016 – Mel and Pearl Shaw For help growing your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.
WellSpring Second Chance Center Annual Fundraiser Gala & Silent Auction
Understanding My Second Chance May 21, 2016 6:00-10:00 p.m. Heritage Park 1015 4th Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55405 $50/person $90/couple Master of Ceremony: John Turnipseed, Urban Ventures Music by: Faith Ginger Commodore (former member of Sounds of Blackness & Moore by Four)
Bush Foundation, Native Nations Rebuilders
Wayne Ducheneaux II, Cheyenne River Sioux tribal council member
Beyond conducting the Rebuilder’s Program, the NGC staff and board of directors plan to focus on pursuing four key strategies in the months ahead including inspiring and celebrating Native nation building in the region, building human capital to help support tribes in their work, working with tribes to create and implement solution and providing a conduit for resources between tribes and funders. “NGC looks forward to building upon the outstanding efforts of the Bush Foundation as we look to support Native Nation building efforts among tribal leaders, tribal members and tribal communities,” said Ducheneaux.
You can enter the Second Chance Spoken Word Blast contest. ($10 entry fee) Spoken word artists Desdamona Ross, judge and hosted by Jamika Hayes.
Keynote Jemela Mwelu
po t, scrreen poe eenwri w terr, act actoor & auth uthor or
Contact: Deseria Galloway 612.296.2895 or Henry Galloway at 612.701.8085 for more information and to purchase tickets.
Page 8 • May 16 - May 22, 2016 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE Changing your course to get to your destination of happiness Motivational Moments
By Penny JonesRichardson Does it feel like no matter where you are or what you do, you never seem to be happy for long? Does it feel like you are never as happy as you’d like to be most of the time? What I believe is simple. I think that happiness is something that we have to look inside ourselves to achieve. Please allow me explain. I can remember a time on my own journey when
like if they were completely happy. Then after that, write down why they feel they’re not happy with where they are in life now. Their answers usually amaze me! So often people believe that their happiness lies in the actions of other people. Some individuals have even given their power of happiness to others. They are waiting on someone else to say that it’s okay for them to be happy. I remember naming all of the things that I thought needed to happen before my happiness would appear. I thought once these things start happening for me, then my life would be complete and full of happiness. But that’s not the way it goes. Where ever you go, you still have to deal with your issues and what it is about you that
no matter what I did, I just couldn’t seem to be happy for long periods of time. I would buy things, go places that I thought would make me happy, but in the end I always ended up feeling the same way. What I learned in my life, and I’m sure this information will be of value to you also, is that no matter where you go, you take “You” with you. This means that you won’t be happy until you realize what it is about yourself that you need to work on. Look at it this way, if nothing you do seems to satisfy you for very long, then maybe you need to re-evaluate your needs. Self-discovery is a great place to begin. What I tell most people is to write down what their life would look
has stopped you from feeling happy. You have to think about what you can change to get to your greatness! Remember, we all are on the same journey of fulfillment, so take the time to think about what you can do to change your course and finally get to your destination of happiness! And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving for greatness. Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www. thequeensproject.com or email at penny@thequeensproject. com.
Grieving fully is the best thing you can do The Orange Moon By Michelle Mitchum, MPH. HHP Grieving is a difficult feat, no matter how you slice it. To experience loss, is to experience two of the most painful human emotions: sadness and loneliness. An attempt to avoid grieving, is like attempting to avoid visions of Santa Clause in America at Christmas time- it simply cannot happen. Suppressing feelings of grief is a way of avoiding the expression of the emotion, and while this is somewhat
appropriate depending on your surroundings at the onset of emotion, inhibiting the free flow of emotional energies over the course of a lifetime causes serious damage to our bodies, minds, and spirits. It is important to understand that emotional suppression causes dysfunction within your body, and disease. When we suppress an emotion, the energy of that emotion does not go away. When we hold emotion deep inside, the energy of the emotion stays inside, too. A river is free-flowing and robust when it is clean and free of debris and toxic materials. When things are able to flow in and out of it freely- the water ecosystem is full of life. However, if the flow of the river is compromised, it becomes blocked, and if
the reason for the blockage is because of toxic waste, debris piles up and the river becomes polluted. When the river becomes polluted, the ecosystem becomes compromised and it is difficult for life to exist inside of it. The same principles apply to your body. When you do not release toxic emotions, like disappointment, loss, fear, sadness, anxiety- the energy of these emotions are stored in your body. If you are unable to release these emotions, in some way, your physical body will begin to suffer. Holding on to emotions results in shorter life spans, and mental health issues. So, if you find yourself in a cycle of grief, grieving fully is the absolute BEST thing you can do for health. If you have a
particularly hard time processing emotions, here are a few tips to help you thru the process: 1. Acknowledge the fact that you are grieving. It is important NOT to downplay what is happening, as doing so will stall the grieving process. 2. Whatever emotions you experience during this time, experience them fully. For example, if you want to cry, cry deeply, if you want to laugh, laugh loudly. If the process is especially sad- like you feel like you want to cry all the time, put a time limit on how long you will cry, or how long you will allow yourself to feel sadness. If these emotions are left to flow for too long, or to frequently, you may spiral
into a depression. 3. Spend time doing things that make you feel good (healthy things, of course, like dancing, listening to music, going to the movies, visiting with friends or loved onesetc. It is NOT a good idea to find comfort in food. In doing so, you will find that your waistline as well as the rest of your health will be affected. Feelings of joy operate on a high vibrational frequencyfeelings of grief, sadness, fear, and guilt operate on a low vibrational frequency. Check in with yourself often, and if you find that you are operating on a low frequency change the frequency by doing something that makes you feel good. 4. Find a support group. Having
a community of people that understand your grief offers support during the process. Michelle Mitchum MPH, HHP, is a graduate of Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD) and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, (New York, NY). She has a successful history in the healing sciences. She has been featured on Fox Business News, Essence Magazine and is a contributing writer to Heart and Soul Magazine as well as other notable publications. In 2013 Michelle founded The OrangeMoon Holistic Health and Wellness to empower people to make intelligent and informed decisions about their health and to introduce and educate clients on holistic lifestyle alternatives.
Personal responsibilities bring about public victories Man Talk
By Timothy Houston Who I am inwardly will always supersede who others believe me to be. To be successful outwardly while failing inwardly will not work. I must continually work to be better because the positive change that I make in my personal life will make my public life better. This is a personal responsibility.
Obama From 6
Some people mistakenly look for change to take place outside of them. They wish that others would be different. They believe that this will make their life better. The truth is that personal responsibilities enable us to live life to its fullest and it is the catalyst to our public victories. To begin with, take personal responsibilities for the way you see yourself. Begin by removing “you make me feel” from your vocabulary. Take ownership of your feelings. See yourself as greater than your feelings and your feelings as greater than your circumstances. This is a spiritual necessity. If your feelings and circumstances are your yardstick, you may see yourself
as small, unattractive, limited, or defeated. Real value starts with personal responsibility for how you feel and this will change the way you see yourself. When you see yourself inwardly as great, beautiful, unlimited, and full of potential, you will cause the whole world to bend in your direction and public victories become possible. Secondly, take personal responsibilities for the things you say about yourself. You say what you believe. As you establish positive belief in yourself, you will speak positive words and your actions will change. Words create actions. They are the catalyst for positive achievement. “...
if anyone says to the mountain, go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart, but believes what they say will happen, it will be done for them” (Mark 11:23). Your conversation is an outward sign of how you inwardly feel about yourself. What type of things are you saying? Your words are a reflection of who you are internally and will set the stage for what you will accomplish externally. Finally, take personal responsibilities for the actions you take. The devil did not make you do it, your thoughts, words and actions did. Your actions must be governed by a higher standard than yourself. You can
no longer be your own judge of what is right and wrong. When this happens, you will only make bad choices. These choices will lead to consequences that will take away from your quality of life. When you are selfgoverned, you will be become unbelievable, unreliable, and undependable. On the contrary, when you allow God to order your steps and guide your path, you will be at peace, and your life will be full of prosperity because you actions now line up with God’s word. Personal responsibility leads to public victories. Those who are living a positive life already know this. They take ownership and responsibility
for their life. They do not look to or blame anyone for they present condition. They own it. You can live this positive life as well. Make sure your heart, words and actions line up, and take personal responsibility for your thoughts words and action. By doing so, you will experience great success!
because she lives in the White House. But it’s heartbreaking to bear witness to the venom this young lady has attracted. While it is heart breaking
it is hardly surprising. Hatred seems to be the winning ticket in our nation. That Donald Trump is the presumptive
Republican nominee for President is frightening. He won by dominating a large and crowded field, winning
primaries and delegates when some thought he had little chance and even less organization. He’s thrown more than $30 million of his own money into this race, so far, and is likely to spend millions more even as he begins to stump for contributions. His winning platform has been to insult any and everyone, from Mexicans (“rapists”), Muslims (moratorium on entering the country), his opponents (Lying’ Ted, Little Marco, and more), Hillary Clinton (Crooked Hillary, “screeching” Hillary, playing the “woman card”), to all the women he has insulted (taking swipes on everything from their looks to their bodily functions). The “Stop Trump” movement was too little, too late. Apparently, the plurality (not majority) of primary voters want a blustering, bullying, braggart to lead our nation. And judging from the abhorrent comments Malia Obama’s success has garnered, there are many who would emulate Mr. Trump with his vile meanness. How has meanness and racial resentment become the order of the day? Whatever happened to civility? What happened to the adage that if you have nothing kind to say, say nothing? What happened with being glad for a young person who has been admitted to college? What happened to disagreeing about issues, but not about personalize. Why does the size of one’s genatalia become a debate point in a presidential election? People
are now talking about ways the Republican Party might heal. How does our nation heal? Republicans don’t own a monopoly on meanness. I was appalled that Secretary Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders went after each other like mortal enemies, shouting over each other, bandying hostile accusation, and generally behaving as if they were auditioning to lead the Republican party in style, if not content, when they last debated. They’ve both calmed down, perhaps realizing that they have much more in common than not. Indeed, Hillary Clinton owes Bernie Sanders a “thank you.” His candidacy has appropriately pushed her to the left, especially on issues of economic justice, and made her a much better candidate. I don’t ever, ever, ever want to hear the word “post-racial” again. Comments directed toward Malia Obama suggest that our nation is pre-civilized, not post anything. The hate directed at a young woman, and the hateful rhetoric that has characterized the Trump campaign are two sides of the same coin. Where do we go from here? Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist based in Washington D.C. Her latest book, “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available at Amazon.com and www. juliannemalveaux.com
Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For copies of his book, questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.
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Insight News • May 16 - May 22, 2016 • Page 9
COMMUNITY Cookie Cart celebrates graduations Cookie Cart located at 1119 W Broadway Ave in North Minneapolis celebrated the graduation of three alumni on May 3rd, 2016 at The Art Institutes International Minnesota. Pictured in photo Kiara, Shawnice, and Raven have jobs in which they use the skills they learned at Cookie Cart on a daily basis. “We are very proud of all they have accomplished, and look forward to staying connected with them as they continue on their paths to bright futures! Congratulations!” - Cookie Cart The Saint Paul Cookie Cart pilot program teens graduated from the classroom learning portion of the Cookie Cart youth program on April 4th. The Johnson High School teens celebrated the last day of the program at the Minneapolis Cookie Cart, where they scooped dough, learned bakery basics, and shared what they will take away from the program. While the Saint Paul location is being renovated, the teens will stay involved by working Saturday shifts in Minneapolis and at #CookieCartPopUps in Saint Paul.
Front row, starting second from the left: Kiara, Shawnice, and Raven
Johnson High School teens
Juneteenth 30th annual community festival The 30th annual Twin Cities Juneteenth celebration will host many new events this year including a Prince commemoration, a first responders’ showcase with the Minneapolis African American Firefighters Assoc., new musical acts, contests and
Migration From 1 Most Blacks who migrated from the South were poor Black men who temporarily left behind families while risking their lives for a future that was uncertain. Their wives and children would stay behind until the men would secure better paying jobs that would support their families. With little money and the long journey, many did survive the trip. Others were not allowed to board the vehicles by racist train managers. Blacks who did make the trip experienced a side of America that was once off limits to them. Cities that flourished with economic opportunities and better captured the imagination of some six million Blacks, who for the longest time, yearned for prosperity and freedom. They came from the South, a region whose economy was still struggling from the devastation caused by the Civil War and slavery. For thousands of Black families, jobs opportunities were few. The American dream remained distant and many could not read or write because of the lack of schools in segregated neighborhoods. When several Black newspapers landed in the hands of many Black southerners, eyes widened and hopes grew. Headlines and stories that detailed the lives newly planted Black migrants triggered seismic migration and established the Black Press as a significant institution, one that would come under heavy scrutiny as it fiercely advocated the civil rights of Blacks across the country.
dignitaries. The celebration take’s place Saturday, June 18 at North Mississippi Regional Park, 5114 North Mississippi Drive, Minneapolis. The day begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Event festivities take place from 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. with free bus shuttles provided from Northpoint Health and Wellness Center, 1313 Penn Ave. N. and Jenny Lind Elementary School, 5025 Bryant Ave. N., both in Minneapolis. There will be activities for families and youth along with food,
entertainment and live music. Additionally, there will be informational and health and wellness booths. Twin Cities Juneteenth is a three-day artistic and cultural experience that celebrates African-American history and culture. It commemorates the
The Black Press was around long before the Great Migration, beginning with Freedom’s Journal in 1827. However, historians argue that the Great Migration was a major chapter in history that helped define the Black Press. In Chicago, many Black men secured jobs as Pullman Porters, which historians say established the city’s Black middle class. Before the mass migration 67 Blacks worked in Chicago’s Union Stockyards, where they slaughtered and process meat and cattle. After the first migration, the number hovered around 3,000. Most Black Pullman Porters and Stockyard workers were earning higher wages than the jobs they left in the South. On the South Side, the editor of the now defunct Chicago Bee, James Gentry, first coined the named “Bronzeville” because of the newly arrived Blacks from the South. The Chicago Crusader, which originated in the Ida B. Wells housing projects in 1940, published stories that advocated more job opportunities and housing as more Black migrants arrived. Other Black newspapers such as the Chicago Defender, Pittsburgh Courier, Philadelphia Tribune and New York Amsterdam News printed inspiring stories that sparked a migration explosion that began in 1916. Because of the Great Depression, the movement would cool before thousands more would move North between the 1950s and 1970s. One hundred years later, historians and residents today are marking the milestone with celebrations and seminars to educate a young generation whose parents and grandparents likely migrated
from the South. White newspapers during the Great Migration did not print stories about Blacks or their progress. The newspaper that has been widely credited for sparking the Great Migration is the Chicago Defender, a newspaper that was started with just 25 cents by Robert Sengstacke Abbott in 1905. Because of racism, Abbott, a native of Savannah Georgia, was unable to establish a law practice in Chicago and Gary, Ind. After he founded the paper in the kitchen of his landlord’s apartment, Abbott wrote scathing editorials against racism and ran stories that highlighted the success of Blacks migrants in Chicago. He urged readers to leave the South and posted job listings, train schedules, and photos of the best schools, parks and housing in the city, in comparison to the deplorable conditions in the South. Because of its coverage, the Defender gained a heavy readership. According to various news reports, the paper was read aloud during church services, in barbershops, homes and on the streets. With stories on Black culture, weddings and lifestyles, the Defender became a must read for Blacks. The paper’s readership went from 10,000 in 1916 to 230,000 in a week. During that time, as many as four readers reportedly shared a copy of the Defender. Some White newsstands refused to carry the paper. In Mississippi, one county banned the Defender, declaring it “German propaganda.” In Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the city sued to get an injunction to prohibit the circulation of the Defender. Eighteen Black leaders including two ministers were named
defendants in the lawsuit. In addition, the FBI began spying on the Defender six months before World War I, according to the Black Press Research Collective, a group of scholars who posted the report in March 2013. The report said the government kept a “vigilant watch” over the Defender and several Black newspapers, which were feared of having ties to the Communist Party. The Atlanta Independent, a defunct newspaper that ran from 1903 to 1928, was also prohibited from being circulated. Despite the challenges, the Defender still flourished. A shrewd businessman, Abbott by 1920, employed 563 newsboys to sell his paper on the street. In Southern states, Black Pullman Porters from Chicago smuggled the paper on the trains and dropped them off to a pickup person. Many did so while risking their jobs and lives. They were also carried in churches, barbershops and black businesses. In the early twentieth century, the Defender was the best selling Black newspaper in the country. Another banned Black newspaper, the Pittsburgh Courier (now the New Pittsburgh Courier), used the Black Pullman Porters to carry out its “Stop and Drop” campaign, where a bundle of papers were dropped before they were sold. The Courier’s readership also skyrocketed. With papers in fourteen major cities, the Courier’s weekly circulation peaked at 500,000, according to news reports. Today, the Black Press is faced with new challenges and opportunities. With race relations back in the nation’s spotlight, the
Care Consultant The Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota is hiring for the following position: Care Consultant. This position is primarily responsible for managing all aspects of the care consultation program in the nine county metro area and providing technical assistance to the MN Regional offices, as needed. The Care Consultant will also provide care consultation services by assessing the individual/caregiver/family, developing individualized treatment plans to address biopsychosocial needs and implementing the treatment plan accordingly. The treatment plan will be implemented through psychoeducation, skill development, and short-term family and individual counseling utilizing various approaches. This position will fulfill requirements of related grants including documentation and tracking referrals, and additional collaborative administrative projects. The position will also assist with delivery of centralized, high quality, evidencebased educational programs and outreach events for people with dementia, their families, and professionals in the community. This position will include provider services and outreach to individuals and families from diverse communities. The position is approximately 75% clinical, 15% administrative, and 10% education and outreach. Please apply with cover letter, references and resume to http://www. alz.org/mnnd/in_my_community_about.asp.
Classifieds Volunteer Opportunities Harvest Network of Schools Community service is calling, no need for stalling! The Harvest Network of Schools, a group of high-performing charter schools in north Minneapolis that includes Harvest Preparatory (K-4, coed), Best Academy (K-8, single gender), and Mastery School (K-4, single gender), is currently recruiting volunteers to work with our 3rd and 4th grade students. We have three opportunities available; Breakfast Buddies, Academic Intervention, and Classroom Support. Breakfast Buddies help with homework and reading to scholars. This option is available Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. -8:15 a.m. Academic Intervention volunteers help with students needing additional support in math and reading, available Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Classroom Support volunteers help teachers as needed, tasks will vary. This opportunity is needed any time throughout the day 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are requesting volunteers commit to 1-2 hours a week for a minimum of six weeks. HNS will provide training, onsite support from volunteer manager, and recognition at the end of the year. Applicants must complete an application and criminal background check. If interested please contact Marquita Butler at mbutler@seed-harvest.org or 612-876-4033.
historical events leading to the freedom and empowerment of African slaves in the United States. On the Friday before the festival we will be holding the Underground Railroad reenactment for youth. On Sunday, June 19 there will be a recognition of
fathers acknowledging the contributions of fathers. The largest AfricanAmerican cultural celebration in the region, Twin Cities Juneteenth hosts a variety of events, which highlight African-American history and achievement.
Eric Mahmoud thanking former Supt. Bernadeia Johnson for her many years of partnership in support of the Mastery School.
Harvest officials also attended, and students in the strings program, an enrichment partnership with MacPhail Center for Music, performed as guests arrived. Parents of current and prospective scholars and interested community members toured the new building. Harvest Network of Schools are among the highest
performing in the state for children of color and lowincome children. 97% of their scholars are Black and 82% are low-income. As public charter schools, they are open to all students and offer a wellrounded, culturally affirming, and rigorous education. Two of its teachers have been finalists for Teacher of the Year the past two years: Abdul Wright this year and Terrence Price in 2015. For more information about the Harvest Network: www. HarvestNetworkofSchools.org
Black Press is poised to bounce back after years of declining readership. There are also fading job opportunities in the North that are fueling what many are calling a reverse migration. Many Blacks whose parents and grandparents moved to the North are heading back south. According to the U.S. Census, between 2000 and 2010, an estimated 1,336,097 Blacks moved to Southern cities
alone, according to the Brookings Institute, which based the study on recent U.S. Census data. In 2011, Atlanta overtook Chicago as the city with the second largest Black population. Chicago is number three while New York maintains the top spot. The Chicago Crusader is a member publication of the NNPA. Learn more about becoming a member at NNPA.org.
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Phone: 612.588.1313 Fax: 612.588.2031 Email: info@insightnews.com Warehouse Help, PT/Temporary
Standard Heating in NE Mpls is hiring seasonal warehouse help on 1st shift. Duties include delivery/ removal/recycle equipment; maintain tools, facility grounds & warehouse. 25-30 hrs/week, pay up to $18/hour, mid-May through mid-November. Valid driver’s license & diploma/GED required. Please send resume to hiring@standardheating.com.
Foster Care
Volunteers of America, MN Would you like to gain 140 pounds after the Holidays? Not physically gain this weight, but weight in the sense of another person! Volunteers of America-MN is looking for skilled, dedicated parents to provide care for at-risk youth, ages ranging from infants to teenagers. We provide foster parents with lots of friendly training, 24-hour support, and a monthly stipend. For more information, please contact Brittani Walker at 952-945-4064 or visit our website http://www.voamnwi.org/foster-care
Organizer Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, 40 hours, full benefits, www.jrlc.org/job-opportunities, due 5/27/16.
RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS The University of Minnesota is looking for African American cigarette smokers who are interested in quitting smoking. This study requires 12 visits. Participants will receive up to $390.00. For more information, call 612-626-5981.
Mail Room Assistant
Help this large social service agency’s mail room operation by processing returned, incoming and out-going mail. Flexible daytime shifts available Monday through Friday. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Contact Ramsey County—Volunteer Services at 651266-4090 for additional information or e-mail to HumanServicesVolunteer@co.ramsey.mn.us.
Page 10 • May 16 - May 22, 2016 • Insight News
insightnews.com Bernard Allison
Lowertown Blues Festival expands Now the Lowertown Blues and Funk Festival For the third year, the Lowertown Blues Festival returns to Mears Park – now branded as the Lowertown Blues and Funk Festival. The festival now has a night of funk added on Friday, July 22, followed by a day/night of blues on Saturday, July 23. “Now that we have added Friday night funk, along with our stellar Saturday night lineup it will be twice the fun and even more funk,” said the event’s executive director, Mike Rogers. “Given that it’s the Year of Music here in St. Paul, it’s only appropriate that we add a little extra funk to the Lowertown Blues Festival,” said St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “I’m looking forward to all of the great music the festival has to offer – as well as all the excitement and energy it always brings to downtown St. Paul.” The Friday night lineup includes performances by the Family Stone, Otis Day
and the Knights, and The Good, The Bad and The Funky. Saturday’s blues lineup includes Booker T. Jones, Bernard Allison Group, Corey Stevens, Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials and the Butanes Soul Revue. A second stage will feature the sounds of Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, Joel Zoss and Hurricane Harold and Doug Otto. Another new addition is the VIP Blues Pit. Located in front of the main stage, ticket holders will gain access to artists, reserved seating and a cash bar. Entry is limited to 100 people with a maximum of six passes per customer. The Lowertown festival runs on Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 10:00 p.m. All ages are welcome to the free festival. For more information on the Lowertown Blues Festival, visit www. lowertownbluesfestival.com.
Booker T. Jones
The Good, The Bad, and The Funky
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Insight News • May 16 - May 22, 2016 • Page 11 Photo by Paris Berry
Eshay Brantley
May 16 - 22
Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com
Monday, May 16 SOUL/PERFORMANCE Jonny P Cedar Cultural Center 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. $22 advance, $25 door Jonny P is a soul artist and fashion designer born in New York City, now living in Nashville. Catch him with Bernhoft and the Shudderbugs at the Cedar. CHOIR/PERFORMANCE
Tuesday, May 17
Capri Glee! Choirs in Concert Capri Theater 2027 W. Broadway, Minneapolis
7 p.m. All ages
night of adult and youth choirs on Broadway.
J.D. Steele of The Steeles and Dennis Spears of Moore by Four direct this
Wednesday, May 18
A RACIALLY CHARGED PLAYWITHIN-A-PLAY
Jonny P
KARAOKE Hip-Hop Karaoke The Venue 315 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. Join DJ Enferno every Wednesday for Hip-Hop Karaoke at The Venue.
Thursday, May 19 POP/PERFORMANCE Nommo Author Series: Claudia Rankine Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs - Cowles Auditorium 301 19th Ave S, Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. The Givens Foundation presents its spring 2016 Nommo Author Series featuring writer, Jamaican born poet and author, Claudia Rankine. Rankine is the author of four collections of poetry including “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” (2004) and “Nothing in Nature is Private” (1995), which received the Cleveland State Poetry Prize.
by
ALICE
CHILDRESS
Friday, May 20 directed by
VALERIE
HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE
CURTIS-NEWTON
NOW – JUNE 5
612.377.2224
GUTHRIETHEATER.ORG
G.P. Jacob and Mamadu “The Longest Bridge” EP Release Public Functionary 1400 12th Ave N.E., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. 21-plus $5
SPONSORED BY
Kick off Art-A -Whirl weekend North by Northeast style at Public Functionary with the release of a new EP, “The Longest Bridge” written by G.P. Jacob and produced by Mamadu (Toki Wright). The event features DJ Keezy on the turntables and guest performances by Khem Clan
Claudia Rankine and Scoundrel Spence.
Saturday, May 21
Sunday, May 22 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE
ART Paint-it-Forward Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room 2500 University Ave. N.E., Minneapolis 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. No cover Paint-it-Forward N.E. will celebrate the arts with live music, a talent show, a participatory community mural, artwork by local artists and kids’ activities including a kids’ stage and instrument making.
Spring Cleaning: Youth Showcase Bedlam Lowertown 213 4th St. E., St. Paul 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. Wash Your Dome aims to provide a platform for young people to display their talents. In addition to an open mic there will be performances by DJ Mickey Breeze, Intrepids, Irreducible Grace Foundation, Osho Picasso, Chris Parker, Just Dre and Eshay Brantley.
Page 12 • May 16 - May 22, 2016 • Insight News
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Opening this week: May 20th By Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS The Angry Birds Movie (PG for action and rude humor) Animated adventure, inspired by the video game series of the same name, set on an island inhabited by a flock of flightless birds with anger management issues whose patience is suddenly tested by an overwhelming pig invasion. Voice cast includes Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Sean Penn, KeeganMichael Key, Peter Dinklage, Hannibal Buress and Bill Hader. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (R for crude sexuality, brief graphic nudity, pervasive profanity and drug use) Teensploitation sequel finds young marrieds Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) expecting their second child just as the out of control fraternity next door is replaced by a sorority full of party animals. With Zac Efron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Selena Gomez and Lisa Kudrow. The Nice Guys (R for violence, profanity, sexuality, nudity and brief drug use) Unlikelybuddies crime comedy, set in L.A. in ‘77, about a pair of private eyes (Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe) who grudgingly join forces to investigate a fading porn star’s apparent suicide. Support cast includes Kim Basinger, Keith David, Matt Bomer, Yaya DaCosta and Hannibal Buress.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
Columbia Pictures
The Angry Birds Movie Art Bastard (Unrated) Reverential biopic about maverick artist Robert Cenedella, an inveterate iconoclast who has managed to enjoy an enduring career without compromising his rebellious spirit. Hard Sell (Unrated) Dysfunctional family dramedy, set on Long Island, about a poor, prep school student (Skyler Gisondo) who comes to the aid of his unstable singlemom (Kristin Chenoweth) by fleecing spoiled-rotten rich kids with the help of a debutante classmate (Katrina Bowden)
With Kevin Kilner, Amy Rutberg and Hannah Marks. Holy Hell (Unrated) Mind control documentary revisiting The Buddhafield, an illfated, religious sect located in L.A. in the Eighties which was run by a charismatic cult leader called Michel. Ma Ma (R for some nudity and brief sexual references) Character-driven drama, set in the Canary Islands, revolving around a young mother (Penelope Cruz) recently diagnosed with cancer who forges a friendship with a soccer
scout (Luis Tovar) who just lost his wife and daughter in a car accident. With Asier Etxeandia, Teo Planell and Anna Jimenez. (In Spanish with subtitles). Maggie’s Plan (R for profanity and sexuality) Greta Gerwig plays the title character in this romantic comedy about a woman who has second thoughts about having a baby with a married professor (Ethan Hawke) three years after stealing him from his wife (Julianne Moore). Support cast includes Travis Fimmel, Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph.
A Moment of Silence (Unrated) “A Man of the People” documentary revisiting the 2005 election of Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first President of indigenous extraction. (In Spanish with subtitles) The Other Side (PG for mature subject matter and mild epithets) Political science documentary examining how the American people have become more Balkanized than ever before. Song of Lahore (PG for mature themes, smoking and violent images) Cross-cultural
documentary chronicling the musical collaborations of a Pakistani classical orchestra and Wynton Marsalis’ big band. (In Urdu with subtitles) Weiner (R for profanity and sexuality) Warts-and-all documentary chronicling disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner’s second fall from grace when caught sexting during the 2013 campaign for Mayor of New York. Featuring Weiner’s wife Huma Abedin, his spokesperson Barbara Morgan, and his text message recipient, aspiring porn star Sydney Leathers.