PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MINNEAPOLIS MN PERMIT NO. 32468
Conversations with Al McFarlane live from downtown St. Paul at the FLINT HILLS 2009 INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL on May 26 at 11:00 am on KFAI 90.3 FM Photo: Lois Greenfield
May 18 - May 24, 2009 • MN Metro Vol. 35 No. 20 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Urban League: A Legacy of leadership Elders welcome MUL President Scott Gray By Al McFarlane & B.P. Ford, The Editors
Carter wins essay contest, honored at State Capitol
Community elders Tuesday welcomed newly-hired Minneapolis Urban League president and CEO Scott Gray during the “Conversations with Al McFarlane” Public Policy Forum at the Glover-Sudduth Center for Economic Development and Urban Affairs Former Urban League board members, Bill English, the Rev. Randolph Staten, and the Rev. Ian Bethel joined the legacy leadership organization’s staff, current board members and community leadership in congratulating Gray on his appointment. Gray begins the new job June 1. He presently is director of the Madison, WI Urban League.
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The Urban League Movement: a history from www.mul.org
Part 1 in a series of 4 At the end of the Civil War, four million former slaves were suddenly on their own — four million people with no political or legal status in America. There
were no customs or traditions to determine their place. Race relations depended primarily on individual behavior. Only one thing was certain: Neither the South nor the North believed that Negroes would ever be considered the equal of whites. Even humanitarians and reformists did not foresee social equality. Thirty years passed before the status of former slaves was addressed. The position of Negroes in America was then clearly defined by law: separate
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Suluki Fardan
(L to R) The Rev. Efrem Smith, Bill English, Scott Gray, The Rev. Randy Staten, and The Rev. Ian Bethel and unequal. The law was enforced through rigid segregation and through discrimination in every sphere of daily living. These restrictions were referred to as Jim Crow laws in reference to a particularly offensive stereotype of the day. The laws on the books, however, represented only a fraction of the discrimination that was actually practiced. There were vocal dissenters both white and black - to the repression of the Jim Crow laws. The dissenters fell into two
intellectual traditions. The first approach favored a social science model to bring about economic equality. The roots of the social science model were firmly anchored in individual economic betterment. Black intellectuals, social theorists, and white philanthropists led this group. Social theory gave rise to the Social Work approach i.e. the immediate elimination of suffering. Social Work, as a discipline, sought to deal with the effects of the system rather than change the system. The
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immediate goal was to improve the status of individuals through improving working conditions in industry, increasing wages, obtaining better housing and gaining health care. The Urban League grew out of this social work model. The second approach was based on a philosophy of selfhelp and racial solidarity. Negroes alone would determine their future. This model favored using the law to effect social change
Charlie Wilson talks about prostate cancer prevention
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Champion’s bill signed into law
Suluki Fardan
Alessandra Williams, HIRE Minnesota Coordinator
$130 million protest Louis King and students at Summit Academy Opportunity Industrialization Center (SAOIC) Tuesday took steps to highlight the failure of Minneapolis city government to take responsibility for monitoring hiring and contractor compliance on multi-million dollars construction projects within earshot of City Hall. Dozens of men and women who are trained, or in training for, construction jobs walked the route
of the Marq 2 project, a federally and Metropolitan Council and city funded transportation construction project aimed at reducing congestion on Marquette and 2nd Avenues in downtown and in other critical traffic areas in Minneapolis. The project is funded by $130 million in Metro and federal funds, matched by about $50 million in city funds. The downtown portion
State Rep. Bobby Champion’s bill addressing employment barriers to people who have criminal records was signed into law last week Monday, May 11 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The public safety policy omnibus bill, House File 1301, features two provisions that begin to address the growing problem of individuals with criminal records finding employment. One provision requires all Minnesota public employers to wait until a job applicant has been selected for an interview before asking about criminal records or conducting a criminal record check, except
for positions that already require a background check. Passage of this legislation makes Minnesota the first state to adopt a statewide “Ban the Box” law since the initiative was started by a group called All of Us or None in California several years ago. The other provision limits the admission of evidence of an employee’s criminal record against an employer if: (1) the duties of the position did not expose others to a greater degree of risk than that created by the employee interacting with the public outside of the
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West Broadway groundbreaking ceremony
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Rep. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-58B
Festival of Nations
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inspires global connectedness
Solution side of juvenile
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detention and justice By Al McFarlane & B.P Ford The Editors Part 3 of 3 Why is it difficult for Hennepin County managers to engage community resources and leadership in the solution side of juvenile detention, prevention and justice? Judge Tanya Bransford said the county had been moving in that direction. “I was co-chair as the presiding juvenile court judge, along with Fred LeFleur, who was the director of community corrections of collaboration between the Bench and the Community Corrections. The Bench does not control the purse
Khalid Naji-Allah
The Rev. Al Sharpton, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R), and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (L)
Photos: Suluki Fardan
Judge Tanya Bransford
strings, but we have been trying to push to institutional change. “Part of it is saying how we are going to work with communities. We had a part steering team that included Mad Dads and other community
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Sharpton tells why he is attending White House meetings with ultra conservative Newt Gingrich By Hazel Trice Edney NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON (NNPA) Republican Newt Gingrich is the former Speaker of the House who once outlined a 10-pointplan called the “Contract With America.” Civil rights leaders
fiercely attacked this plan as a “Contract on America.” He also once encouraged the Republican Party to disregard authentic Black leaders, saying, “It is in the interest of the Republican Party and Ronald Reagan to invent new Black leaders, so to speak.” Gingrich’s leadership style
has been described by political commentators such as Dr. Ron Walters, as “aggressively narrow, mean-spirited and even hateful”. Why then would quintessential Black activist and civil rights leader the Rev. Al
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Can you really get enough Lebron James?
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Page 2 • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Insight News
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Insight News • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Page 3
EDUCATION Shavaughnta Carter wins essay contest, honored at State Capitol The fact that his family’s house burned down last year hasn’t stopped 6th grade Shavaughnta Carter from continuing to be a strong student at Concordia Creative Learning Center in St. Paul. He was honored for his persistence, and an outstanding essay on Wednesday, May 6, on the Minnesota State Capitol Steps, as part of Minnesota’s 5th Annual Charter School Writing Contest. More than 1,100 students, grades k-12 submitted essays. Carter wrote that the house fire “took everything from me.” But Carter continues working hard in school, where his persistence was recognized and praised. In his essay, Shavaughnta (pronounced Sha-van-tee) wrote, “I’ve had a good life behind and in front of me. I have never failed in school and never been suspended and I will never be involved in a gang.”
Carter is the son of Elissa Wright. Mary Donaldson, director of Concordia Creative Learning Center, calls him “a young man of character and courage.” Carter was one of two students from the school who was taken to visit a Obama for President campaign office. Carter made some phone calls on behalf of then Senator Obama. In his essay, Carter wrote about that experience: “A lot of people said ‘yes’ because you were a Black person, some said ‘no’ because you were a Black person, I’m thinking you are a good person.” Winners also will be recognized in four divisions: Grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 68, and grades 9 – 12. First and second place winners will read their essays. Kao Kalia Yang, winner of two recent Minnesota Book Awards, will speak to the students. She will describe what
MUL
temporarily outweighed the issues of the protest movement. Urban racial reformers had to forego the crusade for political and civil rights in favor of jobs, housing, education, and sanitation. Although today, the Urban League Movement has a dual mission of providing social services and advocating for true racial equality, it had a single purpose when it began. The National Urban League was founded in New York in 1910 as a collaboration between the city’s most prominent professionals, businessmen and reform leaders of both races. They embraced three fundamental principles: • interracial cooperation • assimilation and integration of Negroes and immigrants • individual economic advancement through educational and vocational skill development. Although mutual aid societies have always existed within African American communities, the Urban League was different from other attempts in that it was designed as a nation-wide organization from the beginning. A national system was key to
From 1 and bring about social equality. Its proponents believed that the attainment of the legal right to education, job skills and property would automatically bring with it social and economic equality. The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) became the heir to this intellectual tradition. Throughout the early part of the century, the Niagra Movement, which preceded the NAACP, was viewed as radical and separatist while the social work organizations that preceded the Urban League were viewed as conservative. These theoretical discussions among intellectuals had not anticipated the reality of the massive migration of Negroes to Northern cities at the turn of the century. Three-quarters of the black population in the North lived in urban areas in 1910, a higher ratio than that of immigrants. This was an immediate concern that
writing has meant to her. This year’s contest is cosponsored by the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute, the TCF Foundation, and Charter School Partners. TCF Foundation will give cash awards to the contest winners, including $50 to Mr. Carter. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Capitol rotunda. Excerpts from essay: By Shavaughnta Carter Here at Concordia Creative Learning Academy, we learn and have fun…My 5th Block teacher, Mr. A took me and another good student to your campaign before you were elected. A lot of people said “yes” because you were a black person, some said “no” because you were a black person, I’m thinking you are a “good”
Alice Seagren and Shavaughnta Carter person… I just had a house fire last year and that took everything from me. I’ve had a good life behind
Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
U-Meet-Us, Black Senior Citizen Lounge, and Minneapolis Urban League, East Thirty-Eighth Street and Fourth Avenue, Minneapolis. Photograph Collection 6/23/1975; Location no. MH5.3 p41 meeting the challenge of the growing northern migration. The Urban League decided early on that it would not duplicate the work of the Niagra Movement, later the NAACP. It would forego the crusade for political and civil
rights to focus on the needs of individuals as seven hundred thousand blacks migrated North between 1910 and 1920 looking for work. From the white point of view, it was important to finance the
Courtesy of Center for School Change
and in front of me. I have never failed in school and never been suspended and I will never be involved in a gang. I love to play football and
basketball…. I forgot to tell you, can you stop the war? I will thank you a lot for that.
work of the Urban League to prevent “black problems” from spilling over into the white community. From the Black point of view, if you were going to train African Americans to work in a job, there had to be jobs available and employers ready to hire them. Cooperation offered a temporary, practical solution — a trade-off designed to combat poverty, joblessness and disease. With the outbreak of World War I in 1919, jobs suddenly became available. Due to the labor shortage caused by the war, white employers reluctantly employed black workers. But when the war ended, those workers found that their jobs were now reserved for returning white veterans. As the economy slowly improved, the demand for household help increased but jobs for men without skills decreased. The Urban League established an Industrial Relations Department to redistribute the concentration of black workers in northern cities and to directly encourage industry to hire black employees. It required considerable power of persuasion and conciliation to
maintain the organization at a time when racial issues were not a national priority. By 1928, there were 42 Urban Leagues including Minneapolis and St. Paul. In Minnesota, the Negro community was active and growing in the first two decades of the century. At least five civil rights organizations were founded before the Urban League. Wendell Jones, a postal clerk on Washington Avenue, was among the first to pay the fee to become a charter member of the Minneapolis-St. Paul affiliate in 1926. “At that time,” he said, “there was no office, no paid staff — just a meeting in a church.” Although there was no segregation by law in Minnesota, it was impossible for a black man to be served in a restaurant in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities Urban League was terminated in 1938 and Minneapolis and St. Paul became separate affiliates. Reports from early executives of the organization show that they were given unusual opportunities to address community groups on different aspects of race relations.
Page 4 • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Insight News
Protest From 1 of the transportation project costs about $32 million. Over the past several weeks, there was a startling lack of clarity regarding which governmental
Sharpton From 1 Sharpton plan a march and rally near the White House at which Gingrich was been invited to speak? And why did they attend a meeting together last week with President Barack Obama? Sharpton answered these questions during an interview with the NNPA News Service: “There is no agreement. He and I are not working together,” said Sharpton. “He’s coming to say, ‘Yes there is a race gap.’ But, he and I are not working
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agency was responsible for monitoring and enforcing minority and women hiring goals and subcontracting with minority and women owned firms. Minneapolis Civil Rights Department director, Michael Jordan said the project didn’t fall under his authority, and that the Metro Council had responsibility for the project. The
Metro Council replied to email inquiries from Insight News that it did not have jurisdiction to enforce hiring and contracting goals. During a broadcast of the “Conversations with Al McFarlane” program on KFAI, in which the questions of who has responsibility for the project was being discussed, Insight received a phone call from
the State Department of Human Rights claiming it had responsibility for ensuring hiring contracting and hiring goals were met. Shafer Contracting is reporting a 7 percent minority workforce, substantially short of the goal of 11 percent. The company said it’s crew was 5 percent female, while the goal is 6 percent.
But only 2 percent of the project is subcontracted to minority or female owned firms, a gaping distance from the 17 percent goal. Eighth Ward City Council Member, Elizabeth Glidden, interviewed on the radio broadcast said she was not satisfied with the lack clarity and lack of accountability surrounding the downtown construction project.
King and the Summit students appeared at City Council following their protest walk along the Marq 2 route to say they intended to heighten public scrutiny on federal stimulus spending projects that are intended to jumpstart our communities as well, not exclude us.
together.” It all started at Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) annual convention last month, Sharpton said. Gingrich attended the convention in order to debate Sharpton on issues. “Every year, I debate a right winger at my convention,” Sharpton said. He noted that he has also debated conservative talk show hosts Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly. “When I challenged Gingrich on racial inequality, he disagreed with me on vouchers, but he agreed with me that there was racial inequality. ‘I said you
ought to be at our march commemorating Brown vs. Board of Education. He said,’ I
Duncan and mayors of two of the nation’s largest cities, New York Mayor Michael
“asked us to frame something that the administration can deal with to close the race gap in education. Gingrich and I don’t agree on vouchers, we don’t agree on other things. I’m not supporting Bloomberg for mayor of New York. I’m supporting Bill Thompson. But, we have agreed to work with the president in framing an education policy that will deal with the racial inequality,” Sharpton said. The march, which Sharpton described as a “march at the White House; not a march on the White House,” commemorated the 55th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. The gathering is in commemoration of the 55th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education decision. Sharpton has called it a new “call to action” in the wake of separate
and unequal education that still remains. Sharpton said Gingrich could eventually play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between Republicans in Congress and the Obama Administration on legislation pertaining to the educational inequities and other issues. “We haven’t gotten it changed doing it the regular way. So why keep doing the same thing for 40 years? The one thing that I agree with Obama is that if we keep doing the same thing, we’re not going to get a different result,” he said. “Besides, if we are getting them to agree with things that will help us, I think we would be stupid not to do that. Gingrich came to my convention. I didn’t go to his.”
Seals MN, Council on Crime and Justice, Rebuild Resources, Jacob Wetterling Foundation, RS Eden, Minnesota Council of Churches, NOLA Investigates – Criminal Defense Investigation, MN Catholic Conference, Minnesota Fathers & Families Network, Northside Policy Action Coalition, People Escaping Poverty Project, Project for Pride in Living, Children’s Defense Fund, Peace Foundation, Minneapolis Urban League, HIRED, LIFE in Recovery, NAMI MN, the Barbara Schneider Foundation, Elim Transitional Housing, Emerge Community Development, Greater Minneapolis Council on Churches, and Juel Fairbanks Chemical Dependency Services. The Minneapolis-based Council on Crime and Justice led direct lobbying efforts for the legislation. According to Council President and former Hennepin County Judge Pamela Alexander: “Over the last
several decades increases in criminalization combined with easier access to criminal records and heightened fear and scrutiny have created an entire class of people who are subject to permanent punishment and find it extremely difficult to become fully-contributing members of their communities through stable housing and gainful employment. It includes hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. Passage of this
WHEN I CHALLENGED GINGRICH ON RACIAL INEQUALITY, HE DISAGREED WITH ME ON VOUCHERS, BUT HE AGREED WITH ME THAT THERE WAS RACIAL INEQUALITY will’,” Sharpton said. That convention also featured a speech by Vice President Joe Biden while Obama was on his tour of Europe. When NAN reached out to the White House for a meeting on educational inequities, Sharpton said it was the Obama Administration that asked Sharpton to attend the meeting with Gingrich, along with Secretary of Education Arne
MN Governor Tim Pawlenty
Ban From 1 duties of the position or that might be created by being employed in general; (2) a court order sealed any record of the criminal case; or (3) the record
Bloomberg, also a Republican, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, also a Republican. Villaraigosa was not able to attend. “The White House said that since he came to my convention, they would invite him to this meeting so they could hear all sides,” Sharpton said. “We had a very frank and blunt meeting for 45 minutes. I thought it was good.” He said the President has
Former Judge Pamela Alexander did not result in a criminal conviction. The legislation was passed in large part due to the grassroots organizing efforts of the Second Chance Coalition, a diverse coalition of 24 community organizations, including: 180 Degrees, Inc., AMICUS, Goodwill/Easter
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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 Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Elliot Stewart-Franzen Web Design & Content Associate Ben Williams Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Marcia Humphrey Mehgaan Jones Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Mpls., 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.
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Insight News • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Page 5
AESTHETICS R&B legend Charlie Wilson talks candidly about prostate cancer prevention By Alaina L. Lewis The quiet walls of an ordinarily empty classroom on a Saturday afternoon at Harvest Preparatory Academy were filled with an intimate message of courage and responsibility when they were blanketed with the presence of a timely messenger of Hope. The Men of M.A.R.C.H. (Men Are Responsible for Cultivating Hope) and members of our diverse community were happy to welcome R&B singer Charlie Wilson and hear his Declaration of Awareness, prior to his musical performance Saturday, May 9 at Epic Night Club. He happily participated in a round table discussion designed to address a major issue seeking lives in our community; the growing rate of Prostate Cancer in African American males.
Wilson, a former member of the acclaimed musical ensemble The Gap Band, is continually hitting high notes with his solo career as an artist and has already garnered the number 1 spot on the R&B charts with the introduction of his latest album Uncle Charlie. But aside from singing his way back into the depths of our hearts with musical testimonies of love and redemption, his words off the stage amass the same significance and vulnerability yet reside on a different hill of heightened importance. As you know, the world is “masking up” to steer clear of endemics like H1N1 (Swine Flu), but apart from the pandemonium of this contagious disease lays another epidemic seeking the lives of our brothers. Remember, not every potential life-threatening illness is one that’s communicable or can be discerned through
symptoms. Sometimes the necessity is not in covering up to prevent a problem, but rather by “unmasking” ourselves to discover a hidden one. Having overcome an onslaught of self-made obstacles, like his prior drug abuse, which Wilson has long since recovered from, the last thing he expected in his life was to be stricken with prostate cancer. “Some [hurdles] have been higher than others, but I’ve been jumping like hell to get over them. This is what I’ve been doing since that last part of the 80s,” he shared, when asked about overcoming cancer and other obstacles in his life and career. Early detection was a saving grace for Wilson, but like many African American men, he too was stubborn when it came to his health and keeping on top of yearly checkups and doctor visits. “You know we don’t like to go to the doctor. My wife made me go to the doctor,” he recalled. “You have to do it. The numbers are just staggering: one in every three African American males will develop prostate cancer.” Never having had any symptoms aside from lower back pain, he naturally assumed he was healthy due to his active lifestyle and maintaining proper diet and exercise. At the advice of his wife, he still underwent his yearly routine checkups. After receiving high numbers as a result of a P.S.A. Test (Prostate Specific Antigen Test) and a rectal exam, his doctors diagnosed him with prostate cancer and began treating him for the disease. Catching it in enough time is what afforded him the ability to make a full recovery. “Prostate cancer basically is a slow growing cancer. They call it the good cancer. If you catch it, you can take care of it. The numbers can be really high and you can still take care of it because it’s very slow. However, there are aggressive strains as well that will just take off,” Wilson said. He encourages people to understand that Prostate Cancer is no longer an age discriminatory disease affecting merely the older generation. “I heard of a brother,
Courtesy of Drew M. Lewis
Back row L to R: Eugene Jackson, Alemou Foluke, Nawbaw Kalema (only top of head showing), Jeff Howard, Johnny Howard, Tyrone Terrill, Milford Johnson, Charlie Wilson, James Muhammad, Clarence Jones. Middle row L to R: Darryl Spence, Eli Jackson and Mahmoud El-Kati. Front row L to R: Donavee Chappelle, Sam Cook, and Muwata Ross who on his 40th birthday had already had six operations and there was nothing they could do for him. He just passed a few months back. Over the years it’s been coming down more and more. People always tell me, ‘I’ll worry about that when I’m 55.’ But no, it’s not just that [age]. I’m convinced that it’s not just a number,” he said. Wilson painted a vivid picture of the importance of early detection and getting on top of yearly exams and checkups. Joined by his wife Mahin, the two touched on the vulnerability and emotion’s men face when it comes to the diagnosis. They spoke on how the disease affects not only men, but also the family. Wilson, now an advocate for the Prostate Cancer Foundation, understands that a lot of men don’t gleam with excitement when it comes to taking a rectal exam, but a few minutes of possible discomfort can buy years, or rather decades, of a life worth living. “It’s not about me,” said Wilson. “This is a disease that’s attacking African Americans and a lot of us don’t know anything about this. They don’t know what the symptoms are or that this is
happening. I’m trying to spread the word. I’m here. If I have a platform, I’m here to talk to the brothers. You need to go get a check up. I know we don’t like to go to the doctors. People keep saying, ‘You’re telling all your business.’ It’s not my business anymore. I took care of me, now I’m trying to take care of you. If I can help tell you something, that’s why I’m here.” The Men of M.A.R.C.H. meeting, in existence for nearly 15 years, was the perfect forum for relaying the message of survival and self-reliance. Like Wilson, the brothers who make up this extraordinary group of “Hope Cultivators” share a similar purpose with the work they do in uplifting, restructuring and creating awareness on the issues that effect the African American community. The gentleman meet every Saturday at Harvest Preparatory Academy at 1 pm where they encourage brothers of all ages to stop by, be enlightened and be accepted into a circle of men who actively participate in resonating positive change, not only within themselves, but also the community at large. Before the session closed, one of the Men of M.A.R.C.H.
reflected: “We are still maintaining, but also sustaining. This, in part, has to do with coming into a safe environment where there are Black men who can disclose and open up without judgment. Everybody here feels safe enough to be their real self.” The comfort within in the enclosed circle is what made it easy for Wilson and other visitors to communicate this personal yet important message to all that were listening. Through him and the testimonies of the Men of M.A.R.C.H., it’s easy to discover the obvious conclusion; if you’re going to show up for life, then you might as well be healthy enough to live in it. Time is of the essence. Get your prostate checked today.
Sen. Mee Moua (DFL) District 67
Sen. Ron Latz (DFL) District 44
Rep. Sheldon Johnson (D-67B)
more diverse applicant pool, increases employment opportunities for otherwisequalified applicants, and does not limit “private” employer discretion, but provides them with a best practice model. The civil liability, or “Safe Hiring” law, gives employers some tools in knowing when criminal records are relevant and which types of records need not be considered at all. Employers
will need to be trained on how this law can help them increase employment opportunities for individuals with criminal records. Along with Rep. Bobby Champion (D-58B), the bills’ chief authors were Sen. Mee Moua (DFL) District 67 and Sen. Ron Latz (DFL) District 44 and Rep. Sheldon Johnson (D67B).
Ban From 4 legislation is an important first step towards alleviating this situation, making our communities more safe, economically stable, and just.” According to the Council’s Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Mark Haase, the “Ban the Box” law reduces discrimination and confusion based only upon initial application, does not limit access to the criminal record, saves public employers time and money and gives them a
For more information on Prostate Cancer, the causes, symptoms and testing, please contact your local doctor or visit www.prostatecancerfoundation.org For more information on the Men of M.A.R.C.H. organization and how you can participate email Tyrone Terrill at w h t t 8 3 0 @ a o l . c o m
Page 6 • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE Your hair: An original masterpiece designed by God Style on a dime
By Marcia Humphrey I can still vividly recall the hairplaiting ritual which marked every evening during my childhood. I would sit on the floor between mama’s legs while she sat perched on the edge of her favorite chair (usually) gently, (always) slowly arranging my (virgin) hair into six plaits. Upon completion of her task, while I was rising from the floor, without fail, she would call “More hair,” and I would respond, “Grow Hair.” (Her call was actually more
like “Mo hair,” which of course rhymes with “Grow hair.”) At least monthly, rather than sitting on the floor in front of mama’s favorite chair, there was another chair that held vivid, slightly haunting, memories. It was the straightening-chair —the place I would go and sit after my hair was freshly washed and dried. This chair was placed directly in front of the stove, upon which sat a hot, smoking straightening comb, an old towel, and jar of hair dressing, called Hair-Rep. It was there I endured lots of old-school detangling: pulling hard, until the comb no longer got stuck. After that the entire head of hair was pressed straight-twice. Next, came the smoothing of the edges of the hairline, called the “kitchens.” At least twice during every hair-straightening session, mama’s hand would slip and she’d touch my ear, neck, or scalp with that hot comb. “Ouch!” I would scream,
and she always replied, “Baby, mama’s sorry!” Sometimes she would fib, “Mama didn’t burn you, that was the hot grease touching your scalp.” Either way, it was painful! Now as a mother of two girls with lots of hair, I find myself turning into my mama, and reliving those same experiences, but from the other end. My goal is to keep my girls’ hair chemical-free for as long as possible. I am always researching and experimenting with new ways to manage their hair in a healthy manner. The beauty of natural hair is that it offers almost endless styling options: curly, straight, twists, or braids, and it’s fun to rock them all. What I realize is that some of the long held beliefs about natural hair are just not accurate. Based on my own experiences and what I had been taught, these are some of the hair myths that I used to believe. Myth #1: If you do not have a relaxer, your pressed hair will only be straight if it is full of oil or grease. Mythbuster: With the right techniques and hair stylist, all hair
can be silky and full of body and movement. To celebrate her 13th birthday, I took my daughter Alanna to H Design Salon, in the uptown area of Minneapolis, to see Sylvia. I had heard that this lady could work serious magic on virgin (never-beenrelaxed) hair of any texture. I don’t know quite how, but Sylvia had my baby’s hair flowing like a river. It had such body, and it looked no different than relaxed hair. Her press lasted longer than normal and the body remained. We were both thoroughly amazed. If you don’t believe me, go see Sylvia for yourself. Myth #2: Black hair can’t really grow long. Mythbuster: With proper care and feeding, Black hair can grow strong and long. Proper moisture is key-dry hair breaks continually. I have found that two of the best products for moisture and daily hair dressing come right out of the baking section of the grocery store: olive oil and coconut oil. Both are outstanding moisturizers and excellent options as
hot oil treatments and as additions to your favorite conditioners. Many expensive hair products contain these ingredients, so why not buy them for a fraction of the cost? Daily I use a small amount of coconut oil on my girls’hair and my own prior to wrapping it with a satiny scarf. Failure to wrap hair nightly or use a satin pillowcase often leads to further breakage. Caution: When using oils as a daily hair dressing, avoid the stiff, greasy look by using an amount about the size of a dime and working it throughout the hair. Myth #3: If your ends are trimmed, it will never grow long Mythbuster: Many women hate cutting any amount of their hair. Truth is, a cut may be just what is needed to get your hair growing. Go to a good stylist and let him/her trim your hair and remove split ends. Once your hair is trimmed or cut, doit-yourself-styling is easier, and trips to the salon can be less frequent, therefore less costly. A great hair information resource is www.longhaircareforum.com. For a
$6.50 annual membership, you get to swap ideas and information with a community of women of color, who value strong, healthy, and manageable hair. I have been teaching my girls how to care for their hair and how to love their hair-in its natural state. I think they are getting the message. When God created Eve, I am certain that He knew how much pleasure and pain her hair would bring. He knew she would want to change it often, make it curly one day and straight the next. One of the ways He decided to give us our own distinctive mark is through varying our hair textures. Our Creator is all about letting us know how special and unique we are. Rather than complaining and cursing it, learn to love your hair and learn what makes it happy. After all, your hair, like you, is an original masterpiecedesigned by God. Enjoy! Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at a low cost. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.
JDAI From 1 organizations,” Bransford said. “But we were making the mistake of having meetings that were convenient for the system. So the meetings would be in the Government Center. Finally we said that doesn’t make sense because everyone else has to pay to park and go through security. So now we started having our steering committee meetings in the community, so they’re in the parks. We’re meeting more now in the community, and hopefully at times where we can engage –we’ve asked other people, such as people from the Indian Health Board, and – the Division of
Jerry Moore and Rev. Greg Foster Indian Works, and AfricanAmerican Family Services. “We’ve asked other community people to help us engage in this effort, but what we’re trying to do is institutionalize the changes so
that it’s not just something that is a change or an initiative of Judge Bransford that, when she’s gone, we’ll just go back to the old way,” she said. “We’re trying to say this is going to be institutionalized and built-in. The Rev. Greg Foster’s program, Citadel of Hope, is a coaching resource that recruits, organizes and mobilizes community coaches to work with children that are not a danger to the public. “Let them go to
someone like Citadel of Hope, particularly in zip codes 55411, 55412, because that was the area that so many of our youth were coming from, and connect them with volunteers or people in the community who will get them to come to court, and make sure they’re going to school. The coaches make sure they’re doing their sentence to serve, whatever their court orders are. And they
JDAI TURN TO
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Insight News • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Page 7
COMMUNITY West Broadway groundbreaking ceremony North side neighbors, students, chefs, caterers, cooks, elected officials, business and spiritual leaders and development partners last month joined together at the 1200 West Broadway groundbreaking ceremony to generate excitement about West Broadway redevelopment in general, and to celebrate stakeholders’ commitment to make this building’s renovation possible. This fall, the 1200 West Broadway building will open a community event center, a commercial rental kitchen and retail and commercial businesses. It is being developed by Catalyst Community Partners, a social entrepreneurship enterprise that says it invests money, ideas, passion, and private-sector know-how to build momentum and achieve success. The business attempts to create longterm, measurable, sustainable social return for neighborhood communities and its partners by elevating integrity, respect, urgency, and intensity as core values that can produce extraordinary change. The firm purchases and redevelops vacant and underutilized buildings seeking to convert them into productive, sustainable properties. It recruits and supports retail businesses serving the neighborhood community and providing neighborhood jobs. It raises the funding to achieve its development goals and provides commercial real estate development support. Catalyst Community Partners is a wing of The Ackerberg Group, a property and project developer. Catalyst/Ackerberg collaborated with Mission Construction, Maple Crest Landscaping, Gertens, BKV Group, Bruce Stillman, The Pohlad Family Foundation, Jordan Area Community Council, Minneapolis
Park & Recreation Board, the City of Minneapolis and neighbors to reinvest in the Cottage Park area of the Jordan Neighborhood located at West Broadway and James Avenue North. The Cottage Park Development consists of two new single-family homes, a major re-landscaping of Cottage Park, the addition of stateof-the-art playground equipment, traffic-calming speed bumps and renovation of a historic community church. Construction of the houses and landscaping began in late 2006 and was completed in mid-2007. A main component of the Cottage Park Development was the renovation of Cottage Park itself. The park now has new landscaping, plantings, and public art. In June 2008, new playground equipment was added to Cottage Park with the help of community volunteers. Sculptor Bruce Stillman donated an interactive checkerboard sculpture, Gertens of Inver Grove Heights donated new plantings, and Maple Crest Landscaping donated landscaping boulders and labor to install the landscaping. The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board added new lighting to the park. Catalyst Community Partners served as real estate developer for the Cottage Park project. The architect, BKV Group, gave each of the houses its own design. Each 1,800 sq. ft. home has three bedrooms, one-anda-half bathrooms within two floors of living space. The homes come with central air, new appliances, a ready-to-finish basement and a two car detached garage. The contractor, Mission Construction, has 20 years of building experience with previous projects in the Northside community. More than 250 people attended a Cottage Park neighborhood
celebration hosted by the Pohlad Family Foundation in early summer 2008 that included food from local vendors and musical performances by students from the Lundstrum Center for Arts. In April of 2007, Catalyst Community Partners/The Ackerberg Group, in partnership with Welsh Construction, Collaborative Design Group and the Center for Communication Development / KMOJ-FM responded to a City of Minneapolis issued Request for Proposals (RFP) to renovate the former Delisi’s building located at the southeast corner of Penn Avenue North and West Broadway. When finished, Delisi’s will be known as the 5 Points Building. A reorientation of the existing building creates a new entrance toward the vibrant Broadway and Penn intersection and will include a pedestrian-scale outdoor plaza. The building will house KMOJ-FM radio. The plaza will have patio space for first floor restaurants and transit stops complete with pedestrian-friendly public art. Both the building and plaza will invite community-based gatherings and be the signature of the five-corner West Broadway and Penn Avenue North intersection, Catalyst says. The project includes the total renovation of the building and the creation of a 23-space asphalt parking lot from two adjacent parcels. The existing brick structure which was constructed in 1914 and most recently housed the Delisi Bar and Restaurant required a new roof, new floors, new mechanicals, elevator installation and extensive window and tuck-pointing work. Catalyst Community Partners says it hopes vibrant tenant-partners will bring energy, identity and sustainability to the neighborhood
Elders
Rev Jerry McAffee
derail and discredit the organization, the community and the staff. But, he said to Gray and to Alfred BabingtonJohnson, whose Stairstep Initiative has been the focal point of an Internet disinformation campaign directed against the Urban League, keep the high ground and keep on doing good work. Saeed Fahia, executive director of Confederation of Somali Communities in Minnesota, and Samuel Smith, a former Liberian legislator, echoed the sentiment, saying to Gray the job ahead of him would not be easy. They said new African communities have special needs and challenges, but also special gifts of resilience and leadership that
can help strengthen the Urban League service to our community. Nghi Huynh, editor of Asian American Press and president of Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium said he hope there would continue to be an ever expanding vision of leadership that allowed the Urban League to continue to serve the interests of African American and African residents, and at the same time bring value and benefit to all communities of color, since all are similarly disadvantaged by structural and institutional barriers. Dr. Peter Hayden, a current MUL board member and founder and president of Turning Point, the landmark
Nghi Huynh
Saeed Fahia
Saundra Crump
Samuel Smith
Sylvia Amos
Peter Hayden
From 1 The Rev. Jerry McAfee, pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, promised Gray that there would be plenty of naysayers and negative-minded people who would attempt to
Photos: Suluki Fardan
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Send community events to us by: email, ben@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: 612588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Ben Williams. Free or low cost events preferred. Visit www.insightnews.com for more events.
Canoe the Chain of Lakes – May 23 10 am to Noon at the N.E. corner of the Lake Calhoun at the Boat launch near the refectory. Ages 16 and up. There is a firm limit of 12 people so sign up early. Canoes, paddles, and lifejackets provided. Register at minneapolisparks.org or call 612313-7725.
Events NDC Free Business Workshop: Website Marketing – May 19 6:00 – 8:00 pm, North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Ave N. Mpls. Discover various low-cost options for attracting target audiences to your website. Space limited to computer capacity - register early. Preregister with Romaine at 651-379-8430
Growing Through Loss series – Now through May 26 Apr. 21 - May 26, Tuesday evenings at Church of St. Joseph, 171 Elm Street, Lino Lakes. Registration begins at 6:45 pm., followed by a professional speaker at 7 pm., and small group discussions at 8 pm. Free childcare is available upon request.
RetroRama - May 21 7 - 11 p.m. at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul. Reservations r e c o m m e n d e d : www.mnhs.org/retrorama or 651259-3015. Information: www.mnhs.org, 651-259-3000 or TTY 651-282-6073.
100 Strong Who Care: Building Bridges for the Next Generation – May 27, 28 11:30 am - 1:30 pm each day at Hmong International Academy, 2410 Girard Ave. N., Mpls. 612-6680019, cedrick.frazier@mpls.k12.mn.us.
Ordway Announces 2009 Flint Hills International Children’s Festival – May 26 - May 31 At the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. $5 tickets except for free Sidi Goma performances. For more info or to volunteer: www.ordway.org/festival GO! Northside 5K - May 30 10 am: GO! Squads line the race course 10:30AM: Race Start at North Commons Park, 1801 James Ave N 11 am to 1 pm: Finish Line Festival at the North Community YMCA, 1711 W. Broadway. http://gonorthside.org. Minneapolis MOSAIC Opening Night Kick-Off - June 6 The seventh annual Minneapolis MOSAIC, a celebration of the city’s diverse arts and cultures, kicks off on Saturday, June 6 with a free, artspacked evening between 8th and 9th streets and Hennepin and First Avenues in downtown Minneapolis. Info: www.minneapolismosaic.com.
1101 West Broadway building
www.catalystcommunitypartners.org
community. As anchor tenant of 5 Points, KMOJ-FM’s mission supports the development work of Catalyst Community Partners: “KMOJ exists to develop and support the empowerment of the Black community through the power of mass communication by 1) providing information and education not offered through mainstream media outlets, and 2) teaching members of the Black community responsible journalism and media skills that offer professional experiences and increase the numbers of Black people employed in the media industry.” The 1101 West Broadway Building has won three awards for excellence: the 2008 Neighborhood Preservation Award from the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission
and American Institute of Architects - Minnesota; the 2007 NAIOP Award of Excellence for the Repositioned/Renovated category; and the 2006 Best in Real Estate Award in the Redevelopment/Extensive Renovation category. Completed in April 2007, the southwest corner of West Broadway Avenue and Emerson Avenue North now flows with renewed life. After being vacant and boarded for more than 10 years, the 1101 West Broadway Building began a major renovation that was completed in only 7 months. The renovated building is now home to a credit union, a community building organization headquarters, and a coffee shop. Catalyst Community Partners/
The Ackerberg Group, Welsh Construction, Emerge Community Development (ECD), and City County Federal Credit Union (CCFSU) teamed together to respond to a City of Minneapolis RFP-to develop the building that the city acquired. The city awarded the opportunity to the team and construction began in October 2006. The $4 million renovation succeeded in allocating 27.5% of the project hours to a construction workforce of color. Catalyst Community Partners worked with the City of Minneapolis, Welsh Companies, and the community to hire contractors of color and contractors from within the community.
innovative chemical and mental health rehabilitation program, and Dr. Bravada Garrett Akinsanya, president of Brakins Institutions, said the community can and must move toward healing, recognizing that no voice is unimportant and that every voice is important
and welcome. Nurse educator Saundra Crump said effective service by the Urban League and other community service organizations should be guided by a commitment to transparency and accountability.
Sylvia Amos, MUL Chief Administrative Officer, spoke on behalf of the MUL staff, saying the agency workforce enthusiastically welcomed Gray with a commitment to continued effective service and advocacy.
Page 8 • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Insight News
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HEALTH Honored at Heart Walk for making healthy lifestyle changes The American Heart Association awarded Rev. Billy Russell of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis, with the 2009 Start! Lifestyle Change Award at its annual Twin Cities Start! Heart Walk on Saturday, April 25, at Harriet Island Park in St. Paul. Russell was chosen the winner among six finalists honored during a small presentation at the event. More than 50 people were nominated for the award.
The Lifestyle Change Award recognizes individuals who have made positive changes to improve their quality of life and health over the past year such as losing weight, becoming active, eating healthier and/or managing chronic diseases such as diabetes. Finalists were chosen based on criteria evaluating the significance of the change that was achieved; any obstacles that were surpassed in achieving the goal; and the power that positive lifestyle change had not only on
the individual achieving it but also those around him/her (i.e. family, friends, co-workers, community). The Twin Cities 2009 Lifestyle Change Award was sponsored by UnitedHealthcare. Russell, nominated by a church member, was told last year at his annual physical that if he did not lose weight he would not live another two years. So with the help of diet and exercise, Russell lost 90 pounds and his cholesterol and blood pressure are back to normal. But Russell took it a step further. He set out to convince his congregation to live healthier lives, too. He became a Power To End Stroke Ambassador for the American Heart/American Stroke
Association to teach his congregants and community about the risk factors for stroke since the African American population has twice the risk of stroke. He went on to establish a parish nurse ministry and received a grant to set up an exercise room at the church so his community members had the tools and education to take action to live healthier and lower their risks for heart disease and stroke. The other finalists included Mike Maguire, mayor of Eagan who lost over 50 pounds after surviving cancer; Melissa Conway, who quit smoking and lost 100 pounds to be a healthier mother; Jackie Miller, who started walking to counteract the effects of a desk
job and lost 100 pounds; Laura Rutz, who quit smoking and lost 100 pounds to manage the grief of losing her husband; and Carol White who lost 70 pounds to manage her family history of diabetes. The Twin Cities Start! Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premier community event that aims to bring people together to celebrate the importance of being physically active and living healthy and to raise funds for research and public education. The 2009 Twin Cities Start! Heart Walk brought over 30,000 people to Harriet Island on April 25 and raised over $1.6 million. Eric Eberhardt
Rev. Billy Russell
JDAI From 6 make sure that they just come to court. That’s a lot cheaper,” Bransford said. She said there is a need for evening reporting centers. “The mayor has said that we could possibly use some of the foreclosed homes, places where young people, rather than being locked up for violating probation, could go to in the community every day after school from three to nine o’clock at night. Managed by community people such neighborhood centers could make sure that they’re in the right groups and that they’re doing their homework, that they’re being positive, and that they’re not just being locked up,” she said. Winfred Payne is the director of Alternatives, a program for youth. He said, “We who work in the community in smaller organizations know that nobody at the County works for free. But when we ask about where the money is, or when it’ll come,
Winfred Payne we’re branded as always begging for the money or always worrying about the money.” “I have followed the money,” said the Rev. Greg Foster, explaining he has proposed an $8,000 pilot program. He concurred with Bransford, that Hennepin Corrections lack of responsiveness may be due to staff and leadership turnover. “I’ve seen several people come and go – Michael Belton, Brian Smith, Chris Owens. The reality is that it cost $324 and some change a day to incarcerate a youth. To not engage an $8000 pilot program that can reduce
Jerry Driesen incarceration, and the high cost of incarceration, is just absurd.” Jerry Moore said, executive director of the Jordan Area Community Council said there are many collaborations that are ready but have been stuck at this place of bureaucracy. “Give us some real timelines as to when this is going to happen. Let’s put some dates to this. Let’s not continue to push this back. Ramsey County committed $1.1 million to their community initiatives. Hennepin County needs to get off that pot,” Moore said.
Jim Payne, joining the program from New York, said what the community is seeking from Hennepin County should have occurred a long time ago. “But the problem is the communities don’t necessarily trust the government, and the government doesn’t necessarily trust the community. So when you put them all in the same room, they bring in years of mistrust with themselves. I understand the community’s frustration. It shouldn’t exist, but it does. And until they all come to the table, you’re not going to get this rectified,” he said.
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Insight News • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Page 9
FULL CIRCLE St. Paul’s Festival of Nations inspires spirit of global connectedness By David Neyman Sterling In 1945 Alice L. Sickels, then executive secretary of the International Institute of St. Paul, wrote a history of the first years of the Festival of Nations which she founded in 1932. This past April 30 - May 3 was the 77th Anniversary of that now famous and popular event. Her book title was, Around the World in St. Paul. Since its publication by the University of Minnesota Press many new immigrants have made their home in America in general and in Minnesota in particular. Quoting from the book’s dust jacket the purpose of the Festival was “…to bring together the community for a weekend of singing, dancing, and eating together, on the basic assumption that when Americans, old and new, become acquainted as individuals, prejudices that infect their thinking will drop away and the barriers that separate them will dwindle.” That dwindling has proven to be true for perhaps most of us. But with each new wave of immigrants there are often new prejudices to deal with and the age-old cycles repeat themselves. An annual three-day festival is never enough by itself unless a significant number of us are inspired to live some of the spirit of that festival the rest of the year round. The more diverse our communities become the more important it is to get to know our neighbors and to share and celebrate that diversity, to
Photos: David Neyman Sterling
Melat Woldegebriel and her Ethiopian art work depicting the story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, 2008 Festival of Nations. recognize and honor what is unique to each of our different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. At this now past 2009 Festival some 90 different ethnic groups were represented in the cultural exhibits, folk art demonstrations, an international bazaar, dance and music performances, and ethnic cafes. Among these were 18 different African identities: African American, Botswanan, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Ghanaian, Kenyan, Malawian, Malian, Moroccan, Mozambican, Nigerian, Oromo, Rwandan,
Somali, Tanzanian, Ugandan, Zambian and Zimbabwean. For the other 72 ethnic groups go to: www.festivalofnations.com. Perhaps for most Festival goers the music, dance and food cafes are the biggest draw but none of the other attractions are left with scarce attention. Meaningful and insightful visits with the cultural exhibit volunteers are most common. Former Minnesota Governor Harold E. Stassen wrote of the 1942 Festival, “The great Folk Festival planned and produced by
Alchea Richards, Phoenix Plaskett and Cameron Jones serving sweet potato pie to the writer/photographer from the African American Cafe. representatives of the cultural groups in Minnesota under the sponsorship of the International Institute is one sure means of creating understanding, dispelling fear and prejudice and setting a pattern, not only for our state and nation, but for the future world we hope will come with peace.” Those words still hold true these 67 years later. Reserve now the last weekend in April, 2010, for next year’s Festival and in the meanwhile go out of your way to make friends with folks of a culture very
different from your own. That advice or suggestion is for those who have not already done this. It’s called stepping out of your comfort zone. With honest openness to something new and different the rewards can be a lifelong blessing. Perhaps the time is right to update Alice Sickel’s 1945 Around the World in St. Paul with a Book II. Without waiting for that to be written a recommended read for African American’s is Held at a Distance: My Rediscovery of Ethiopia by
Rebecca Haile who grew up here in Minnesota at age ten (go to: www.rebeccahaile.com ) and a good read for recent African immigrants to America is Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor based on her family’s experience in America’s rural South during the 1930’s. Mildred herself was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia in the 1960’s. Happy reading and happy friendship making.
No Matter What author Lisa Nichols in Minneapolis Millions are trying to live by The Secret’s Law of Attraction, but the truth is it won’t work unless you flex your “bounce-back” muscles that give you the ability to successfully navigate life’s speed bumps, according to change guru, Lisa Nichols. Nichols’ new book outlines nine steps or “muscles,” which include confidence, faith in oneself, public and private honesty, and forgiveness. She says by developing and toning her own bounce-back muscles at critical points in her life, she found the power to become her authentic self and achieve everything she dared to hope for. Her book reveals the components of her dynamic plan in the context of her own remarkable story. It prescribes specific exercises and action steps to inspire readers to learn from their past and move forward. No Matter What: 9 Steps to Living the Life you Love is the focal point of Nichols’ national tour which comes to Minneapolis Convention Center, 6 – 8 pm Saturday, May 30, 2009. The Convention Center is located at 1301 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55403. In addition to the seminar Nichols will be hosting teen
www.lisa-nichols.com
events, book signings and events at local churches where individuals will learn the 9 Steps. Lisa Nichols helped launch two businesses: Motivating the Teen Spirit and Motivating the Masses. She has reached audiences both nationally and internationally with a message of empowerment, service, excellence and gratitude. Her participation in the selfdevelopment phenomenon, The Secret, catapulted her to appearances on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Extra,” “Larry King Live” and on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning show, “Starting Over.”
Page 10 • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Insight News
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Life vision: Scenic route does lead to long-term goals Plan your career By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com
“I’m right in the middle of where I’m supposed to be.” The person who told me this was working his way out of multiple financial, emotional and legal crisis, and seemed to me pretty far from anywhere anyone would want to be. The difference between his view and mine, however, was vision. I saw where he was
coming from; he saw where he was going. Our sorry economy has forced many people to compromise on housing, employment and, of course, spending. I shared a St. Paul opportunity with an Eden Prairie candidate, Pat, recently and he told me the commute would be over an hour, but hey,
it’s a Job. If you’re finding yourself in the same situation, you might wonder whether the sacrifice is worth it. After all, you were on track to meet certain lifelong goals. But that was before the layoff (or foreclosure or cancer diagnosis or whatever). Remember, a compromise does not
Assumed Name
Assumed Name
Assumed Name
1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: A Little Touch of Heaven Cleaning Service
1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Curry’s Publishing Company
1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: M i n n e s o t a Union Labor Guide
2. State the address of the principal place of business: 503 Lyndale Pl N., Minneapolis, MN 55405
2. State the address of the principal place of business: 701 4th Ave South, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55415
2. State the address of the principal place of business: 333 Washington Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name: Charles E. Evans III, 503 Lyndale Pl N., Minneapolis, MN 55405 January E. Evans, 503 Lyndale Pl N., Minneapolis, MN 55405
3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name: Revinia Curry, 701 4th Ave South, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55415 Walter Curry, Jr., 701 4th Ave South, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55415
3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name: Andrew Shaw, 6985 Dartmouth, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130
4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath.
4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath.
Signed by: Charles E. Evans III, owner Date Filed: 3/10/2009 Contact Person: Charles E. Evans III Daytime Phone Number: 612-205-5325 612-377-3196
Signed by: Walter Curry, Jr., owner Date Filed: 8/11/2008 Contact Person: Walter Curry, Jr. Daytime Phone Number:(P) 612-337-9067 (C) 767-244-9603
Insight News 5/11/2009, 5/18/2009
4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath. Signed by: Andrew Shaw, owner Date Filed: 5/13/2009 Contact Person: Andrew Shaw Daytime Phone Number: 314-546-0575 Insight News 5/18/2009, 5/25/2009
Insight News 5/11/2009, 5/18/2009
necessarily mean you’ve sold out or given up. It only means you are exploring options that you might never have considered before. The person you are doesn’t change when life throws you a curve ball. You’re still you. Keep an eye on the vision you have always had for yourself. Are the goals you had a year ago still valuable to you? If so, consider ways your current situation can lead you indirectly to where you want to be. Pat’s goal was to travel overseas with his family. Between losing his job and watching his investments dwindle away, that dream seemed to be far from his reach. Not to be beat, Pat decided to take my job and its endless commute. “It will give me time to listen to language CDs and improve my Spanish,” he told me. So his dream is on track after all, if only delayed for a while. Stepping back in responsibility or compensation can be a direct ego hit to some people until they consider the possibilities. The trade-off might be a chance to expand your skill set, learn a new
industry or make new connections. One step back could ultimately give you two steps forward. Use every opportunity to your advantage. If you no longer manage a staff, do you have more time to take a class, or teach a class? Sometimes growth goes out, and sometimes up. You can continue developing in your career even if the progression is not the path you first laid out for yourself. Do not lose sight of what you want out of life. Looking out five, ten or twenty years, you will realize 2009 is only a moment in time. Consider compromise the door into the unexpected. You can achieve your vision —it must might be reached from a different direction. Julie Desmond is Senior Talent Consultant with The Walstrom Group. Ask your career questions live, June 9th, 2009, at 11am when Julie joins the KFAI broadcast of “Conversations with Al McFarlane” at the Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis.
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Insight News • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Page 11
SPORTS
Can you really get enough Lebron James? By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Excuse me for this small Lebron break. We’ll do some local stuff starting with the St. Paul Schools conference track meet next week. In the meantime, do you see this dude Lebron?! I don’t
think that I have written it (though I constantly say it), but it is incredible to see that for Lebron James, a half-court shot, and maybe even a ¾-court shot, is a legitimate shot attempt. When he launches a shot from half-court you better set your beverage and popcorn down because there is a 50/50 chance that it’s going in.
On top of his playing prowess, I just listened to his halftime interview, and the 24year-old sounded like he could be the coach. The situation sort of reminds me of other Hall of Fame caliber players such as Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Those ultra-elite players have a tendency to glaze over what the coach says on the sideline and do it their own way when they get on the court (high school kids please don’t try that unless you think you are better than Lebron James). I mean, what is the coach going to say if Michael Jordan changes the play? He’s not going to say too much if he wants to keep that coaching gig, I know that. The greatest of the great NBA players seem to come along and change the whole conversation about what is possible for an NBA player. Though a larger group of players could be mentioned, Lebron makes me think of two players in specific: Wilt Chamberlain and Magic Johnson. In each case these players broke the mold in regard to the characteristics of size and ability, including mental ability. When Wilt Chamberlain came along he amazed everyone with his nimble agility combined with his 7’1” frame. Of course, in those days 7’1” was much more rare than it is today in the NBA. Wilt was great at scoring (I think scoring 100 points in a game qualifies), rebounding, and defense. Without taking anything away from Wilt, he definitely wasn’t a point guard though. I’m sure he dribbled down the court occasionally, but his talent was best suited for activities closer to the hoop. Enter point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Magic was only 6’9” compared to Wilt’s
Lebron James 7’1”, but historically most guards fall in the 6’3” and under category. With his size and mobility, Magic was probably the first great player to come along with the ability to play every position on the court, and he did just that in
way to his first championship ring. It would me most remiss not to mention that he was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers when he did that, and of course that is the most important thing (smile). Magic was big, and he could just about
AS FOR LEBRON JAMES, HE CAN DO IT ALL AND MAKE YOU SAY: “GOOD LAWD!!” WHILE HE’S DOING IT. game six of the 1980 NBA Finals after Kareem AbdulJabbar was hurt and Magic had to help fill in for the 7 footer. For the record, it would be remiss not to mention that it was Magic’s rookie season when he did that. It would also be remiss not to mention that he scored 42 points and gathered 15 rebounds in that game on his
do it all. As for Lebron James, he can do it all and make you say: “Good Lawd!!” while he’s doing it. There is so much that can be said about Lebron James with regard to his basketball playing ability, and mental acumen, that all I can really say is that you need to tune in and observe for yourself.
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Players like those mentioned make spectators feel like someone just hit the fast forward button with regard to human ability within the sport. Part of my mission with this column is to help non-sports people to enjoy watching sports. I don’t think that it is important that they watch sports all the time, but there are some folks in this world who are obviously doing what God put them on the Earth to do, and I think others can easily draw inspiration from watching them. Lebron James is 24-yearsold (Good Lawd!). Ultimate physical maturity in basketball seems to come at around 30years-old (Good Lawd!!). You might want to grab a crossword puzzle or a good book and keep the television on in the background for this one.
Take Advantage of the North Community YMCA! By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com The North Community YMCA has been revamped with the success and engagement of the North Minneapolis community youth in mind. For over 150 years, the YMCA has proven to be the savior for many wandering youth, and at the Grand Opening Celebration on May 2 one of those youth, Fred Friswold, had a YMCA building named after him for all that he has given back to the community. Friswold, the YMCA “Commitment to Community” Campaign Chair, led the cause of donors and organizers in rebuilding the North Community YMCA
because of what the YMCA did for him as a youth. “This is my city. I grew up on these streets. The YMCA helped make a difference in my life. I hope that this building can make a few children’s growing up experience a little more enjoyable and less painful,” he said. One of the youth speakers at the Grand Opening let the words “There’s not much to do around here” slip out as she innocently spoke. Whether that is true or not, this new YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center provides a quick and potent fix to the notion of there not being enough choices for Northside youth. The programs of the North Community YMCA Youth and
Teen Enrichment Center are geared to gain the attention of youth, no matter what their interests are. Naturally sportsfocused programming, including swimming, is heavily available, but programs also extend to media (television, radio, or print) training, photography, dance, acting, computers, cooking, and much more. “You can count on exciting programs, great services and a place in your neighborhood where you belong,” says Youth Program Director Nichole Mundis. One of the central highlights of the revamped YMCA site is the XRKADE Interactive Game Center. The XRKADE “is a cutting edge total environment and experience complete with
the most advanced active gaming and entertainment systems…” states the informational brochure. The combination of computerized games and physical activity is on the verge of widespread implementation as a means towards youth health engagement, and thus the XRKADE Interactive Game Center provides a major opportunity to help kids understand the changing digital world, while keeping in touch with general principles of physical health. In addition, kids learn about the games they are playing (baseball, tennis, boxing, fishing, dance, and more…) and likely will get an idea or two towards creating the games of the future. The staff of the new North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center is a strong multi-cultural group of leaders with Henry Crosby serving as Executive Director, DeAnna Smith as Aquatics, Health & Wellness Director, and Nichole Mundis as Youth Program Director. Serving above them is Harold Mezile, President and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis. “This is the dawn of a new day in the Northside. We want to make this building a beacon of hope, and will constantly keep looking for new ways to make a difference,” said Mezile. The Northside Community YMCA is rebuilt, and re-opened for business as a progressive Youth and Teen Enrichment Center. It would seem mandatory that all neighborhood parents (and all adults in general) learn more about their programming and leadership in order to protect the Northside youth from the curious, negative, media images that don’t truly represent the talent and promise that Northside youth possess. For further information on the North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center call (612) 588-9484 or see www.ymcayouthcenter.org
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Page 12 • May 18 - May 24, 2009 • Insight News
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