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June 7 - June 13, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 23 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Thomas launches bid for state Senate Longtime Eastside resident and political organizer Trayshana Thomas recently announced her bid for Senator Mee Moua’s vacated District 67 Senate seat. Thomas, a 16-year resident of St. Paul, who currently resides in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood with her daughter Amirah, has already gained the support of ranking DFL leaders who value her extensive policy experience and her serviceoriented presence in the community. Thomas promises to continue her legacy of service by embracing a campaign platform focused on strengthening the district through job creation, affordable housing solutions and maintaining safe and vibrant neighborhoods. “I am no stranger to the hard work of politics,” Thomas stated. “For the past 12 years I have worked shoulder to shoulder with legislators at every level of government in order to advance progressive

studiotobechi

Trayshana Thomas

policies, to support our communities and to invest in our shared future. My firsthand experience has given me insight into the interconnected relationship between state

SD67 TURN TO 7

Transformed: From receptionist to dynamic political powerhouse

Thomas aims high By US Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05)

DeMonica Flye

Drew M. Lewis

DeMonica Flye

Eloquent and profound By Alaina Lewis The late great rapper Tupac Shakur spoke of a beautiful anomaly; a welcomed obstruction in the confines of cold brick… “A rose that grew from concrete.” Here in Minneapolis, that tale of a red lustrous bulb rising up from a crack in hard sand, goes by

the name DeMonica Flye; a true bouquet of vocal eloquence. To say the least, this talented woman is a rare phenomenon reaching up from the hardened ash of the Twin Cities ever changing music industry. Any artist trying to be a stand out star should know that the first rule of thumb is to embrace the sweat that comes with continually

knocking on each doorway. For Flye, persistence isn’t a stranger. Relying on faith and her profound instrument, her voice, keeps her from second guessing her moment in the spotlight. Flye, whose musical wingspan stretches over three decades, is the fortunate recipient of the blessings that arrive at hard work and continual dedication. She’s at the

top of her game and is backed by a phenomenal band, Hi-Definition. “The people in Minnesota keep me going. This is my life. I love to do it. If I can make somebody dance or happy when I’m singing, or if they can relate to the things I’ve gone through, then I know I’ve done something

FLYE TURN TO 3

When Trayshana Thomas stood to receive her award as a “Rising Star” at the DFL Women’s Hall of Fame luncheon recently, my eyes got a little misty. My mind drifted back to the day Tray walked into my law office, looking for a job as a receptionist. She was a 19-year-old mom, looking for a chance, but she carried a quiet confidence. Her resume was thin, but my partners and I hired her anyway. We sensed her power, her determination. The truth is that we hit the jackpot with Tray. She went from receptionist to secretary to legal assistant. By time Tray left my law office to work as Senator Linda Higgins’ Legislative Assistant, Tray was preparing legal documents, scheduling hearings, preparing billings, conducting legal research, and comforting nervous clients. She was doing everything she was legally allowed to do. A lot of Minnesotans can thank Tray for their expungement – a legal process to clean up a criminal record. She basically did everything except for things

reserved for a lawyer to do. Tray always did her job with a smile and cheerful spirit. If you know her, you also know her infectious and distinctive laugh. Tray mastered her craft as a legal assistant while a single parent. Her daughter, Amirah, who happens to be my daughter’s best buddy (also named Amirah) is evidence of Tray’s sense of priority. Amirah, 13, is first in her life and it shows because ‘little Amirah’ is well-mannered, polite, respectful – a credit to Tray’s parenting. But Tray is also one of the finest daughters I have ever had the pleasure to know. She comforted her terminallyill mother with great tenderness. When her mother passed away, she was steady - a rock for everyone around her. The DFL “Rising Star” award is a big deal. The leaders honored at the DFL Women’s Hall of Fame luncheon are chosen by a statewide nominations process, and some very accomplished people have received the award. Only 34 Rising Stars have been named. It is quite an honor. And so for one who has risen from receptionist to respected political

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Comcast’s diversity record earns Black support By Pharoh Martin NNPA National Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Big business mergers have rarely garnered the support of the Black community and its leaders but, despite some protests, some leading Black organizations have come out in support of Comcast’s $30 billion deal to acquire NBCUniversal. The merger, currently under review by the Federal Communications Commission, has had a significant number of Black organizations and interest groups publicly supporting it despite protests from others, according to letters filed in the FCC case docket. “Our membership is often skeptical of horizontal mergers,”

wrote the Rev. Al Sharpton, president and founder of the National Action Network. “However, given Comcast’s track record on diversity matters, the fact that this joint venture is nearly wholly vertical, and the prospective benefits for consumers generated by the joint venture, I support this joint venture and hope that the FCC will approve it without delay.” With ownership as a major driver of the Black economy, at least one group, the National Coalition of African American Owned Media, headed by Stanley Washington – as reported last week by the NNPA News Service - has launched a crusade against Comcast and their proposed merger with NBC/Universal, largely because of Comcast’s lack of African American owned channels on its national platform.

Rev. Al Sharpton But, for many Black civil rights advocates and business leaders, Comcast has earned a long earned-reputation of staunchly promoting diversity through their various employment and business practices and being a committed community partner in the various markets they serve.

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Sharpton wrote that the Philadelphia-based cable provider has been an industry leader on diversity in appointing African Americans to high leadership positions and commitment to Black-focused programming starting with the early carriage of the once African American-

owned Black Entertainment Television (BET) in the 1980s to its joint venture with Black media company Radio One to launch BET rival TV One. “Given the potential benefits of the deal and Comcast’s strong record of commitment to diversity, I am thus favorably inclined toward its approval,” Sharpton wrote. “I believe that this venture can offer useful benefits for African American media and Internet entrepreneurs as well as the general public.” Comcast and Sharpton have worked together on a variety of educational and diversity programs. “When we started NAN’s Madison Ave. Initiative they were one of the first companies to come to the table with us,” Sharpton said in a statement.

The merger has also garnered the support of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the country’s largest federation of Black-owned businesses. “We have a long history with Comcast,” said National Black Chamber of Commerce president and founder Harry Alford in an interview with NNPA. “And they have been very good to our members who do cable installation, wire work, and that kind of stuff. Comcast has been hiring those local businesses that do that kind of work. I’ve never heard of Comcast doing something that would not include African Americans.” In his letter to the FCC, Alford lauded Comcast’s record in promoting diversity and its support for Black charities and community

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Page 2 • June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Insight News

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Jamaican drug trade and the United States By Katherine Haas COHA Research Associate Part 2 The Jamaican drug trade does not exist in isolation, as is demonstrated by the fact that Coke has been charged with multiple crimes in the U.S. Actions taken by the United States have important effects on the Jamaican drug trade and that of the Caribbean in general. Aside from generating the demand that creates a market for marijuana and cocaine coming out of places like Jamaica, the United States has inadvertently channeled the drug trade toward the Caribbean through its actions along the U.S.-Mexico border. As the border has become more militarized and smuggling illegal products through it has become increasingly difficult, drug lords have been forced to use an alternate route to transport their products: through the Caribbean, into the U.S. Furthermore, there is a notable difference between U.S. involvement in drug-related issues in Jamaica, and its usual format in other Latin American nations, such as Mexico and Colombia. In Jamaica, the United States has avoided any large scale, high profile initiatives to fight drug-related

power and violence. Reasons for this include the nature of the almost non-existent Jamaican economy, and Washington’s fear of a surge in illegal migrants escaping from an island that has the potential to be transformed into a narco-state. About 20% of Jamaica’s GDP presently comes from tourism revenues, and an open drug war is sure to damage those revenues. Jamaica’s economy is already ailing, with an unemployment rate of 14.5% in 2009. Further unemployment would undoubtedly lead more desperate Jamaicans to seek illicit employment in the drug trade, or at the very least leave them more willing to accept the favors of drug lords like Coke, who gain loyal followers by helping

the poor when the government cannot. The vast amounts of money available to powerful drug lords also mean plenty of funds for bribes and corruption of police and state officials, making an obvious clampdown even less likely to be effective, or even attempted. For these reasons, an intervention by the United States meant to advance the fight against the drug trade in Jamaica would be counter-productive, and highly damaging to Washington’s standing in the rest of the hemisphere. Assistance in efforts to retake Kingston from Coke’s gang would be one thing, but an extended stay with the intention of fixing broader problems would be quite another, and might even risk

civil conflict. Thus far the U.S. has steered clear of such measures, and it should continue to do so. The violence in Kingston must be brought under control, and a more general solution to Jamaica’s drug problems must be sought. But, this time, the usual methods of the United States are not the answer. The key seems to be the Jamaican economy. With less unemployment would come less poverty, and with less poverty there would be fewer brought under the sway of drug lords by economic assistance. Without their cadres of loyal followers, men like Coke would lose community protection, and thus, much power. Although repairing the Jamaican economy

will certainly be no easy task for Golding’s administration, it may be the only viable solution to a problem that extends far beyond this week’s violence, and which has seen the present Jamaican prime minister’s bona fides diminished to the point that they hardly exist. The current situation in Jamaica began long before the Obama administration took office, and in no way can be blamed on it. However, the administration has not been a source of inspiration for Kingston, either. Essentially, U.S. policy has been a source of benign neglect, with the continuation of a drug policy that does not emphasize the demand factor, despite words to the contrary. Certainly, the White

House has no intention of taking on any new, big ticket programs. There is no evidence that the Department of State possesses the means or the vision for a new policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean that will dare to think the unthinkable. This might include a public debate over the decriminalization of some categories of drug usage, and greater patience in dealing with other nations that are following through on their own conceptions of economic and social outreach. For after-hour information on developments in Jamaica, call COHA at (202)215-3473. This analysis was prepared by COHA Research Associate Katherine Haas.

Your vote matters in August, November elections By Brett Buckner Minnesota BaseNetwork I love Ludacris’ song, “Stand Up!” The hook is straight forward. “When I move, you move…just like that?” For this article, let’s adjust the hook a little… “When I vote, you vote! Just like that! This year’s election cycle will be the most important for you and your family for quite

sometime. Health Care, Public Safety, Immigration, Education, Transportation, the list goes go and on. Time to “Stand Up”! If Minnesota’s African / African American, Latino, Asian, and Native American community stood up collectively, we would not only shape Minneapolis’ and St. Paul’s political future, but the course of Minnesota’s political direction for some time. Why? Did you know our collective voting bloc makes up 12%

of the voting population in Minnesota? This voting bloc is critical to any candidate’s success statewide and in most communities across Minnesota. That’s right, we will elect the next governor of the state of Minnesota, reshape the state legislature, county boards and school board that represent us. Simply put, Stand Up! Why this year? Ask yourself; are you better off now than 8 years ago? For a hand-full, the answer would be

yes. However for the strong and very silent majority, the past 8 years in Minnesota has been a major disappointment for our communities. Not just because of Governor Pawlenty’s politics of “NO”, but our collective lack of response to the tantrum. Its time to stand up and change the tune family, our votes in August and November (YES, vote in both elections!) will be the difference. Stand up! Our representatives from the federal level to the local

level need our support! We can start by learning about the issues, talking bout those issues with your family and friends, challenging all candidates who are asking for your vote and supporting those who you believe can deliver on your behalf. We need to vote in record numbers for an “off-year” election (“off-year” elections are elections that happen opposite the presidential cycle). If we do, we will see a change in our community. Stand up!

Here is the challenge. Let’s vote together on August 10th and November 2nd in record numbers. When we stand up and march to the polls, the whole state will follow. You want better government, Stand Up! You want better service, Stand Up! You want a better future community… STAND UP! When I vote, you vote! Just like that! Hey DJ! Bring that back!

Court eliminates life sentences in non-homocide juvenile crimes Last month, the United States Supreme Court declared that children convicted of nonhomicide offenses cannot be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Court concluded that because adolescents are, by nature, less culpable than adults and because life without parole is an extreme sentence which is rarely imposed on teenagers, it is cruel and unusual punishment to sentence a child who has not

killed to life without possibility of parole. The Court explained that “[a] life without parole sentence improperly denies the juvenile offender a chance to demonstrate growth and maturity. Incapacitation cannot override all other considerations, lest the Eighth Amendment’s rule against disproportionate sentences be a nullity.” “... the Supreme Court recognized that children convicted of non-homicide crimes have the

potential to become contributing members of society and that certain life sentences run afoul of the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment,” said John Payton, LDF’s President and Director-Counsel. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), along with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice (CHHIRJ) filed a friend of

the court brief challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole sentences. In declaring these sentences unconstitutional, Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority of the Court, noted that LDF’s brief properly identified the “special difficulties encountered by counsel in juvenile representation” and that “the features that distinguish juveniles from adults ... put them at a significant disadvantage

in criminal proceedings. [Specifically,] [j]uveniles mistrust adults and have limited understandings of the criminal justice system and the roles of the institutional actors within it. They are less likely than adults to work effectively with their lawyers to aid in their defense.” LDF’s brief also noted the stark racial disparities in juvenile life without parole sentencing -- African-Americans constitute 60% of the youth

serving such sentences. The United States is the only country in the world that permits adolescents to be sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Currently there are more than 2,500 teenagers serving life without parole sentences for crimes they committed under the age of 18. One-hundred-and-twentynine of those young people were convicted of crimes that did not result in death.

Thomas

lost to my friend Greg Gray, and even though I knew Greg would serve our community well, losing still stung. But, as usual, Tray was there with an encouraging word and busy hand. Neither one of us knew much about electoral politics, but we learned together. Tray was upbeat and supportive in my defeat, even when I was feeling beat-up and like a loser. The next time we ran, Tray was back again,

but this time we were both a little smarter. In 2002, we won. Tray was the deputy field director in 2006 for the Ellison for Congress campaign. She organized and cultivated volunteers and generally held everyone together during that difficult primary and general election. After we won the general election, Trayshana ran all over Washington D.C. setting up my office. I have no idea what I

would have done without her – always working hard, always on the job. I invited her to work in my D.C. office as scheduler and executive assistant, but Tray insisted on staying in Minneapolis to serve the folks at home. I remember she said, “no one in Washington can vote for you. I want to be where the people are. Where it really matters.”

Nowadays, Tray is a go-to person for many political aspirants including Representatives Bobby Joe Champion and Jeff Hayden; and Jeremiah Ellis, the DFLendorsed candidate who is running for election in the Minnesota House District 65A race. Tray might be called on by anyone who is looking to try a hand at politics and needs some good advice. So if ever some kid with a

thin resume walks into your office looking for a chance, look past the stuff folks normally look at, and look into the person standing in front of you. That person might just be like Trayshana Thomas, “a Rising Star”. Keith Ellison is the U.S. Congressman for the Fifth Congressional District of Minnesota.

Society of Black Engineers. Alford pointed out that Comcast drove $84 million dollars of business to African American vendors in 2009 and that the cable giant was listed on Diversity Business’ “America’s Top 50 Corporations for Multicultural Business Opportunities” list for five consecutive years for their record of seeking out Black-owned suppliers. The FCC case docket also includes letters of support from local chapters of various Black national organizations. The National Urban League’s local chapters of Washington, DC, Memphis, Tacoma, WA, Hartford, CT and Broward County, FL all praised Comcast and NBC local

affiliates’ continuous support as community partners. “We would be remiss if we did not mention that Comcast is also a long-time partner of the [the National Urban League],” wrote Maudine Cooper, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Washington Urban League. “Comcast serves on the League’s Board of Directors and the company has provided generous resources in support of our programs in education, employment and training, housing and community development and our efforts that led to our securing a new headquarters and program facility.” Some support letters implied that Comcast’s record

of involvement in the Black community balances out any complaints. “The benefits that good corporate citizenship brings to the community are invaluable, and I am confident that Comcast will continue to follow its own example in its new venture with NBC,” wrote the Rev. Horace Sheffield, executive director of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations. The NAACP’s Memphis branch, the Seattle chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the International Detroit Black Expo, and the 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C. are all Black organizations that have also written in their support for the Comcast

deal. Still, the deal is not without its detractors. In her letter to the FCC, US Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) wrote, “I have been tracking the Comcast-NBC merger for several months, and I am very concerned about the implications this merger has on diversity, localism, and competition in today’s media market.” The congresswoman points out that all of the nation’s major broadcast networks and 90 percent of the top 50 cable networks are owned by only five companies. The same five media corporations also produce three-quarters of all prime-time programming and control 70 percent of the prime time television market. Therefore, Waters is worried about further media consolidation. At least seven members of Congress have filed letters opposing the deal. The Congress members called the direction of the American media “one of the most, if not the most, critical issues we face today.” They pointed to a severe decline in the number of minorityowned broadcast stations. In 2007, minorities owned just 3.2 percent of the nation’s televisions despite making up more than 34 percent of the U.S. population. “If Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal is allowed to proceed, the company would control content production and content distribution at an unprecedented level,” the Congress members’ opposition letter argued. “A Comcast-NBC conglomerate would own the nation’s largest cable system, one of the nation’s largest networks, 27 broadcast television stations, 14 national

cable channels, seven production studios, and several of the fast growing Internet properties.” The Supreme Court, which holds a precedence of ruling against such media nearmonopolies, declared in 1945: “the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources is essential to the welfare of the public.” Although a quarter of Comcast’s workforce is Black, the record of diversity at the cable provider’s upper rungs is not as inclusive. During a congressional hearing in March, Comcast Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts admitted to a judiciary panel that his company’s board of directors includes only one woman and one African American. In the same hearing, NBC’s chief executive Jeff Zucker admitted to the panel members that his network has zero Black programming. Other ethnic organizations, such as the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles and pan-Asian group Mabuhay Alliance, charge that Comcast has horrible record of outreach to their respective ethnic groups’ communities and these communities will not benefit from the deal. Still, numerous other notable Latino groups have filed letters in support. Alford holds that the criticism against Comcast is unfounded and the media company’s record for diversity and to the Black community speaks for itself. He said, “If anyone wants to go after some bad boys go after Google, which has a deplorable hiring record of AfricanAmericans.”

From 1 leader, Trayshana Thomas is truly a rising star. Tray is now a sought-after political advisor. She has helped me in every single election I ever ran in. I remember my first run at the DFL endorsement in 1998. I

Comcast From 1 groups. He wrote that Comcast’s record “has provided ample evidence of this company’s good works and the positive impact it will have on diversity and equality at NBC Universal.” Nearly a quarter of Comcast’s workforce is African American, he wrote. The company has been aggressive in identifying and recruiting minority talent by partnering with numerous Black professional and civil rights organizations such as the NAACP, the National Black MBA Association and the National

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Insight News • June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Page 3

BUSINESS Congratulations new graduates: What’s next? Plan Your Career By Marcia Humphrey julie@insightnews.com Graduation: years of sweat, frustration, excitement, exploration and insight crossing

the stage in a cap and gown. Every graduate has reason to be proud. You have set a goal for yourself and reached it. You have overcome obstacles of all kinds, and finished what you started. Congratulations! Now what? Are you working yet? High school and college graduates are coming into the working world just as the economy improves. Companies who laid off workers last year are

ready to rebuild, but not ready to commit big budgets to new employees. This makes new graduates a handsome bunch to hire. Frankly, you cost less than someone with more experience. You might even work for free. And you should, if you can gain learning and experience in return for an internship with a good manager. Graduation is only the beginning of your education. People respect new graduates

not for what you know, but for what you are willing to learn. You have mastered technologies and tools that were science fiction only a few years ago. Be eager to learn and willing to change, so you can adapt and keep working through tough economic times. Accept diversity. You are going to work among four very different generations of employees, with profound potential for

miscommunication. When a day at work becomes more like a dysfunctional family reunion, pay attention to the value each player brings to the table. Ask more questions, and be willing to listen to disparate views. Diversity brings bench strength; learn from it. As you travel through your career, remember, build on your strengths and the money will follow. Do you ever get so involved in something that

you lose track of time? When people work at something they love, something they enjoy and were designed to do well, they forget they are working at all. Work more of those times into every workday and success will be yours. Julie Desmond leads career planning and job search workshops for Help Wanted! Workshop in Minneapolis. Write to julie@insightnews. com.

Entrepreneurship is the trump card against racism By Farrah Gray NNPA Columnist “They tell me that one tenth of one percent of the population controls more than forty percent of the wealth. Oh America, how often have you taken necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes... You can work within the framework of democracy to bring about a better distribution of wealth.” —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL, November 4, 1956 Two popular sayings are: “Now or never!” and “Today is the first day

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of the rest of your life.” Getting on with your life’s work implies a career transition for an individual in which he exploits his achievements and experiences to date. This is often true of successful entrepreneurs. It is the rare entrepreneur who starts a business as his first job. The forces driving such transitions come from many sources. In the case of the former athletes featured here, it was the inevitability of the end of their football careers. Others start businesses because they believe in the opportunity represented by a product or an idea. For others, still, unemployment may be a factor. Is it time for you to “get on with your life’s work” and start a business? The following questions will help you determine the answer. 1. Are your reasons for wanting to start a business the right reasons? Right reasons are ones which motivate you towards a goal --you want to be your own boss, you want to see your ideas bear commercial fruit and have others acknowledge what you have achieved. Negative reasons, such as running away

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

Flye

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane

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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 Production Intern Andrew Notsch Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Elliot Stewart-Franzen Web Design & Content Associate Ben Williams Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Technology Reporter Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

right,” Flye said. “This is what I live for. I’ll probably be 90-yearsold and still singing.” She has a soulfully electronic style that leaves plenty of room for exploration by fusing the elements of different genres. “I like all kinds of music, but I mostly like the blues, rock, and jazz, so my music is like a combination of the three. I’m like a cross between Tina Marie and Pat Benatar meets Loleatta Holloway,” explained Flye. She said one of her biggest musical influences is her mentor, Barbara Leshoure, a celebrated Blues Singer, who like Flye relocated from Chicago to Minneapolis to bring different sound. Flye continues to stay true to her element, while many other local artists scramble to beat the reflections of themselves. Although she is not currently signed to a label, she’s taking the independent approach at her ascent towards mega stardom. Already, Flye is known nationally for her timeless vocal excellence, while many of her celebrated singles, “Raindrops,” “I’m Not The One,” and, “The Voice,” a duet with Chuck Love, are well received across the board from here to London and Paris. When reflecting on the beginning of her career that started at the tender age of 14, with a voice as big as her heart, Flye found instant success in the Chicago nightlife when she moved there in the early 80s. She’s opened for such acts as Atlantic Starr and Jeffrey Osborne and she’s performed alongside Daveon Overton, Farley Jack Master Funk and many others. But of all the pearls cascading through her past, there’s one single moment in history that will always stick out in her mind: the time she sang background for Stevie Wonder. “One of Stevie Wonder’s background singers was sick when they came to town, so they had a competition to replace her for the evening. I happened to win the spot. I love Stevie Wonder. I was happy to be able to get up there and sing background for him… That was a high like no other,” she recalled. Early on, as a child, Flye became the master of her own destiny. Adopted shortly after her birth, and becoming emancipated from her family at the age of 15, she left the discomforts of her home life, with a newborn baby, in pursuit of a happiness she knew was waiting within a melody. Some might choose to believe that Flye started out with a mild disadvantage, due to the identity of her birth parents being a shaded portion of her earliest memories. To acknowledge

from a job you don’t like, rarely breed success. 2. Do you have a viable idea for a business? Is it market driven? Will you solve problems for your customers? Will you eliminate their pain? 3. Do you have relevant experience? Do you know the industry in which your entrepreneurial venture will operate? Have you been in a small business environment and understand its unique needs? 4. Do you have a business plan that has been critiqued by

successful people in your chosen industry, business associates, and various other professionals? 5. No matter how you answer the preceding questions, do you have a “fire in your belly,” and are you determined to start your own business regardless of what others say? If so, that tenacity and drive will probably be more critical to your success than any words of wisdom offered to you... This is our time…our opportunity to do that which was forbidden to our mothers, fathers,

and ancestors down the line. We have the freedom to determine our future, and entrepreneurship (self-employment) is a great leveler of the proverbial playing field. CNN’s Wayne Drash recently reported the following historical account of Isadore Banks. A pillar in the African American community, Banks helped bring electricity to the town of Marion in the 1920s and became one of the wealthiest Black landowners in a region with a long history of racial violence. His murder had a profound effect. Many Blacks left the area and never returned. For those who remained, the message was clear: If you were Black and acquired wealth, you knew your place. Entrepreneurship is the trump card against racism. To prepare yourself for greatness, pay attention to these steps from “What I Did You Can Do Too”, REMOVE MIND CLUTTER: (Self Control Is Power) Focus! Be Positive

her unconditional heart for her original family, she chose to add them to her moniker, adding a “DE” to her middle name Monica, and book ending it with her birth mothers maiden name, “Flye.” DeMonica Flye is more than just a name, it’s a statement impacted with vocal meaning. Eventually, Flye reunited with her birth family. “I had been searching for my birth parents for years. I contacted Oprah and Montell Williams amongst other people. None could help me, but I’ve never been a quitter,” Flye said. “One day I went onto the T.D. Jakes prayer request line, and I said, ‘Lord please help me find out why I act the way I act, why I’m multi-cultural, why I do what I do. I don’t have to be close with her, but I need closure. I need to know who my mother is.’ Within two days, after a series of fortunate events, I was on the phone with my mother and a day later I flew down to meet her,” she explained. Flye has always been known to meet her challenges with a plan to defeat them. “Aside from being a mother, grandmother, and an adoptee, I’m also a survivor of domestic abuse. I always say that, because that’s another factor that keeps me strong,” Flye said. A statement thus proving that through her continued faith, every absence in her life has been countered by triumph. Every pitfall has been met by the strength to walk forward. When Flye isn’t promoting her music, she continues to remain conscious about the importance of giving back to her community. She’s participated in a bevy of local and national festivals and has lent a vocalized helping hand to both the AIDS Benefit as well as the Twin Cities Pride Festival, just to name a few. Currently, DeMonica Flye can be seen performing throughout the Twin Cities at various locations with her band. She also has her own production company called, D-Flye Productions, which she co-pilots with her longtime business partner KB. Amongst the many hats she wears, she also grooms and manages new talent, and hosts stepper sets across the Twin Cities, most notably at Arnella’s in St. Paul. “D-Flye Productions isn’t just about me, it’s about the other artists here in Minneapolis. I want to help artists get the exposure; go where I’ve been,” she said. “I want to give them the tools to understand what the music business is really like. I was in a seven-year contract, and I couldn’t go anywhere. The goal of my production company is to be able to coach talent, get them vocal lessons, get them used to performing, have them open up for national acts in places like Chicago, St. Louis

and LA; and give them an idea of what to look for within in the fine print of a contract.” As every year progresses, so does Flye’s will to continue making that climb to the top. “I had a very hard life, but that’s what makes me strong now,”

said Flye. “If someone tells you that you can’t do something, that’s a lie. I looked 38 years until I found my parents, and when it comes to my music I have the same dedication.” For a city surrounded by carbon copies of local and

Farrah Gray

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Master Ourselves Go for It! Visualize (Picture This?) Find Balance Acquire Humility (Goodbye to EGO – Edging God Out) AND remember the words of one of the Greatest… “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” —Muhammad Ali, Boxing Champion

national artists, Flye is in a league of her own, delivering a sound that is uniquely refined to her own vocal instrument. She’s truly one to keep an eye on… or rather a continued ear open for.

Farrah Gray is the author of The Truth Shall Make You Rich: The New Road Map to Radical Prosperity, Get Real, Get Rich: Conquer the 7 Lies Blocking You from Success and the international best-seller Reallionaire: Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from the Inside Out. He is chairman of the Farrah Gray Foundation. Gray can be reached via email at fg@ drfarrahgray.com or his website at http://www.drfarrahgray.com/.

Page 4 • June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Insight News

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EDUCATION Admission Possible celebrates graduates Nearly 1,000 low-income students celebrated this school year’s achievements at the ninth annual Admission PossibleGreater Twin Cities Year-End Graduation Celebration May 22 at the University of Minnesota’s Northrop Auditorium. The seniors at the celebration successfully completed a free two-year college prep program through Admission Possible. In the program, they worked with an AmeriCorps coach to cover 320 hours of comprehensive curriculum ranging from ACT practice tests to campus visits, with the final goal of gaining admission to college, securing financial aid and choosing a school that’s a good fit. Of the 667 Twin Cities-area seniors in the program, 96 percent have already been admitted to at least one college for next year. For the many Admission Possible students who will be the first in their families to attend college, this is an accomplishment well worth celebrating. “This annual event is truly remarkable,” said Jim McCorkell,

Courtesy Admission Possible

Minneapolis Roosevelt High School Admission Possible Class of 2010 founder and CEO of Admission Possible. “As seniors celebrate their college-going plans for the fall, our juniors – and recently accepted sophomores – witness

that success and can begin to imagine it for themselves. It is an inspiring day!” Though low-income students across the country enter college

at less than one-third the rate of their wealthier peers, the energy and excitement among the students in attendance Saturday challenged that statistic.

Students in the Admission Possible program are highly motivated to achieve their goals of gaining admission to college. “The best thing about Admission Possible is studying and practicing for the ACT because it boosted up my skills and ultimately my score,” said Mohamed Omar, Minneapolis Roosevelt High School and Admission Possible Class of 2011. Wes Alcenat, Admission Possible Class of 2006, gave the alumni keynote address. Alcenat lived the first 10 years of his life in Haiti, where he lost both parents to politically motivated violence. With the support of Admission Possible, he gained admission to Macalester College and graduated from the institution just a few weeks ago. “As you go onto college, I challenge you not to lose sight of why you are there in the first place. And as you conduct your studies, I encourage you to have the audacity to apply all that you learn to something that is bigger than yourself,” said Alcenat. “In

the smallest words possible, I am challenging you not to shy away from being a leader in the community.” In addition to celebrating the seniors’ plans, the day featured student skits and other live performances, many of them gestures of appreciation and glimpses of the hopes and concerns seniors have about their college careers ahead. The Year-End Graduation Celebration was also a time for students, AmeriCorps members, staff and community supporters to welcome the newly-admitted sophomores to Admission Possible, and to recognize the commitment that juniors made to ACT preparation and the score improvements they achieved throughout the year. This year’s Admission Possible Year-End Graduation Celebration was made possible by presenting sponsor Travelers, contributing sponsor Best Buy and host sponsor the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Office of Admissions.

National Bar Association launches competition for high school seniors MetLife, the nation’s leading provider of life insurance, employee benefits and financial services, will serve as the Platinum Sponsor for the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition. Students will have an opportunity to compete for scholarships to continue their education. Sponsored by the National Bar Association and supported by the National Bar Institute, the competition is an annual

advocacy program designed to motivate students of color to excel in education. The contest encourages high school seniors to express their views on a pre-selected topic, and judges the students on their ability to communicate orally and in writing. It also provides young people with experience in public speaking. “The NBA is pleased to offer this opportunity to high school seniors of color for the

10th year in a row. Over the years we have received hundreds of thought-provoking essays, and distributed more than $188,000 in scholarships,” said J. Robert Carr, executive director of the National Bar Association. “This year we’re particularly excited that MetLife is continuing its commitment to tomorrow’s leaders by serving as the competition’s Platinum Sponsor. Through our partnership with MetLife, we look forward to reaching more families and

increasing student participation.” Laurel Daring, assistant vice president of Marketing at MetLife said, “Research shows that higher levels of education result in benefits such as higher earnings, better health and improved opportunities for the next generation. This competition is a great way to help students hone skills they’ll need in college and beyond. It also raises awareness about the importance of planning for the rising costs of education.

MetLife is proud to be the Platinum Sponsor of a program that can make a difference in the lives of so many students.” High school seniors from across the country are invited to submit an essay for the 2010 competition. To be eligible, students must have applied to a college or university for the 2010 – 2011 school year. In no more than 2000 words, students should address the following questions: If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

were alive today, would he advise President Barack Obama to support or oppose equality for gay men and women as it relates to legalizing same-sex marriage? The winners of the regional competitions will advance to the national competition to be held on August 11, 2010, in New Orleans. To learn how to participate or for more information about the competition, please visit www. nationalbar.org/meetings/MLK/ shtml.

Minneapolis Principal’s Academy names 2010 members, graduates class Nineteen participants have been selected for the 20102011 Minneapolis Principals’ Academy.

The Minneapolis Principals’ Academy is designed to develop principal leaders who are effective in creating successful

schools that get results. It is a year-long intensive and rigorous professional development program using both national

and local experts in the field of educational leadership to prepare dedicated leaders for the principalship. Selected applicants are educators who aspire to obtain school principal positions after completion of the professional development program. MPS received 47 applications this year. Members of the 2010-2011 class are Yusuf Abdullah, Patrick Henry; Kim Adams, Special Education, MPS; Jay Alexander, Lake Harriet; Gary Beasley, South High; Anne DePerry,

Whittier; Steve Flucas, Linwood Monroe Arts Plus, St. Paul; Ryan Gibbs, Andersen United; Jennifer Hedberg, Lyndale; Lori Holmgren, Cityview; Carly Jarva, Park Center Sr. High, Brooklyn Park; Jayanthika Karai, Olson Upper; Jairo Moncada, Andersen; George Nolan, St. Cloud Public Schools Equity Coordinator; Sally Reynolds, Success Academy; Walter Schleisman, Crosswinds Arts and Science – East Metro Integration District; Laura Sullivan, Sheridan; Merry Tilleson, Ramsey; Mike Walker, Roosevelt and Libby White,

Lucy Laney. Twelve 2009-1010 Principal Academy members will be graduating this month: Todd Aber, Anishinabe; Roxanne Beasley, Waite Park; Susan Enerson, Loring; Amy Luehmann, Bethune; Paul Marietta, Bancroft; Rochelle McGinness, Sheridan; VaNita Miller, Anwatin; Cynthia Mueller, Anne Sullivan; Angela Osuji, Anwatin; Debbie Regnier, Nellie Stone Johnson; Lloyd Winfield, Northeast and Lucilla Yira, Windom.

The Saint Paul foundation receives $1.8 million grant to fight racism The Saint Paul Foundation’s Facing Race We’re All in This Together initiative received a grant of $1.8 million to expand its Saint Paul-focused antiracism work to the entire state of Minnesota. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded grants to 119 organizations as part of its America Healing initiative to support racial equity and healing.

“Our community has some very stark racial disparities, and racism has played a very real and insidious role in creating these imbalances,” said Carleen Rhodes, president and CEO of The Saint Paul Foundation. “Discomfort about racism prevents us from moving the conversation about racism forward. We are grateful to the Kellogg Foundation for the

generous funding that enables us to share the Facing Race dialogue program throughout Minnesota with individuals, organizations and communities that are committed to undoing racism.” In an unprecedented effort to address the devastating impact of racial inequities on communities across the country, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation launched recently a five-year, $75 million initiative – America Healing – that aims to improve life outcomes for vulnerable children and their families by promoting racial healing and eliminating barriers to opportunities. The goal of the America Healing initiative is to engage communities and support them in the hard work of racial healing and addressing the effects of historic and contemporary structural issues, such as residential segregation and concentrated poverty. During the first phase of America Healing, 119 organizations will receive grants totaling $14,613,709 specifically to support community-based organizations’ healing efforts among racial and ethnic groups that address historic burdens, disparities and barriers to opportunity. Their efforts will focus within local communities to increase opportunities for children in education, health and economic areas. Grantees represent 31 states and the District of Columbia and all racial and ethnic population groups. To highlight the desire of communities to work together on racial healing, the foundation created a signature video, capturing the spirit of the initiative. The video can be viewed at www.AmericaHealing. org. To learn more about America Healing, please visit http://www. americahealing.org.

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Insight News • June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Page 5

AESTHETICS Jennifer Holliday champions mental health By Alaina Lewis When it comes to mental health struggles, African Americans too often avoid conversation of a paralyzing issue such as depression. As natural as it for many of us to be plagued by the blues, for some it’s easier to try and ignore the fire, than it is to find a way out of the flames. For mega star Jennifer Holliday, famed for her Tony Award winning portrayal of Effie in the Broadway musical Dream Girls, depression was a 10-year reality that refused to simmer out softy under the planks of her career. “I suffered for many years from chronic depression,” Holliday shared with Insight News. “I was diagnosed with clinical depression after I tried to commit suicide in 1990. Many years before I was diagnosed, I had gone without help; suffering in silence, and mainly because back in the early 80s people in the entertainment industry didn’t talk about depression. It just wasn’t sexy to talk about mental health problems.” People sometimes assume that artists are superhuman or that their fame should supersede their problems when it comes to catching a case of the continual blues. “A lot of people attribute my suffering to the fact that I’m an artist or an entertainer, and that it should be expected that I’m moody,” she said. “You’re expected to get over it because the main thing is to get on that stage and sing no matter what it takes. I think it’s so much more excusable for people to be an alcoholic or a drug user because folks say, ‘That’s okay, you know they have so much pressure,’ than it is to battle the problem by getting help for depression.” Like a rainbow trapped in midnight, Holliday eventually found the light of day out of her battle with chronic unhappiness. Her story, which she’s been

Courtesy People Incorporated

Jennifer Holliday sharing with the world since she become a mental health advocate in 1995, delivers a timely message, spawning from her desire to fix a problem before the life within the ailment ceases to exist. “After the beautiful jazz singer Phyllis Hyman took her life in 1995 on her birthday, I’d had enough. I wanted to let people know that they don’t have to suffer alone. There’s help, and they should try and reach out and get it, no matter what is involved with the

stigma,” she delivers. Putting her voice where her heart is, On June 10, Holliday is teaming up with the Peoples Incorporated Mental Health Services here in the Twin Cities to host a luncheon. “Singing From the Heart,” will be an intimate afternoon with Holliday, filled with candid stories, inspiring music, and personal experiences that will serve as a platform to encourage individuals seeking and/or working towards overcoming

2010 Black music awards The Minneapolis Sound rocketed into music stardom with Prince and a secession of artists that created a unique style of rock and soul. The Minnesota Black Music Awards program returns July 16 with a salute to the 30th anniversary of the famed Minneapolis Sound 8 pm at the Pantages Theatre. Launched in 1982, the Minnesota Black Music Awards has been the stage that showcased the best of the

Minneapolis sound. Performing artists included: Prince, The Time, Mint Condition, Cherrelle, Alexander O’Neal, The Sounds of Blackness, Bobby Lyle, Lo Key, Next and other local and national artists. The 2010 MBMA returns with performances from Mint Condition, The Sounds of Blackness, Next, The Ladies of Jazz, Heiruspecs and The New Congress celebrating the legacy

and spotlighting the future of the Minneapolis sound. Seven Ultra lounge will host special 2010 MBMA music workshops and red carpet events to kick-off the celebration July 16th in Minneapolis. Visit The 2010 Minnesota Black Music Awards official website at www. mnblackmusicawards.com for information and conference specials.

their battle with depression, to get that needed help.

P.I.M.H.S. has been serving the Twin Cities for over 40 years, helping to reshape the voids in the lives of people in the community at large. Through their 41 different programs, they’re successfully able to aid families in crisis, provide necessary help for the homeless, and lead individuals suffering from various mental health problems in the right direction to attaining a fresh start. Holliday, who also suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, is at a point in her life where she can embrace the dark spots that have finally lead her towards an unconditional inner happiness. When she’s not fighting for Mental Health awareness, or working with various MS foundations, she’s mentoring young girls and women nationally and in her community, in an effort to counter the potential problems that come with the challenges of life. Challenges that if left untreated can lead to the depression, Holliday and many others have suffered. “I want to start early with girls understanding their selfworth, and learning how they can begin to feel good about themselves no matter what size they are. When I first lost weight, I found out that I still had the same problems. I was walking around at a size 8 and was still messed up. I still had the same issues, and the same problems because I never did any inner work. I almost wanted to run and put the weight back on, because that was my only

familiarity, that not only I knew, but the people around me knew,” she offers. “My thing is, I don’t want people to look at me for the outside, but rather the inside. That’s what I want to teach young women. We need to overcome being in a society that’s more comfortable teaching dysfunction, than being normal.” June 10th at the Midland Hills Country Club, will be an afternoon to remember and an event that will be a turning point in the lives of many who are present. The event is open to the public, and attendance is encouraged and welcomed by anyone who is ready to open their heart to hear an inspirational message from someone who has personally lived their cause. You don’t have to walk a mile in someone’s shoes, to understand the wealth that exists in their journey. Holliday’s tale is in an unforgettable one, and in finding that comfort in her triumphs and challenges, is what has brought her closer to the public, even apart from utilizing the musical notes that originally forged her into stardom. With a new studio album underway, and her current life engulfed in happiness and a heart for assisting world change, the beauty in her story continues, so you don’t want to miss the telling of the first half. For more information on this event, please visit www. Peopleincorporated.org Tickets are $30.

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HEALTH What you should know about HIV testing By Melody Mendiola HIV and AIDS have disproportionately affected the African American population. Of the estimated one million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. today, roughly half are Black. Yet, as a racial group, African Americans represent just 13 percent of the population. The lifetime risk of becoming infected with HIV is 1 in 16 for Black males, 1 in 30 for Black females

in the U.S., a far greater risk than for white males (1 in 104) and white females (1 in 588). On June 27th, the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and local organizations like the Positive Care Center at Hennepin County Medical Center, will sponsor National HIV Testing Day to promote early diagnosis and HIV testing. The effort further raises awareness for the health risks and challenges associated with HIV and AIDS. Each year, more than

1,100 Minnesotans receive expert assessment and treatment of HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C, HPV and other conditions at the Positive Care Center at Hennepin County Medical Center. It is one of the largest clinical and research centers in the Midwest, staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who provide comprehensive health and psychosocial services to those infected with HIV. The Positive Care Center also serves as a community and family resource to further contribute to the advancement of HIV-related knowledge. In observance of HIV Testing Day, here are a few frequently asked questions and critical reminders for protecting against HIV. What is HIV? HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is the germ that can enter the body and eventually cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV attacks the immune system, killing cells of the body that protect against disease. In advanced stages, a person with HIV may come down with serious diseases, such as a rare kind of pneumonia or some types of cancers. When a person with HIV has one of these diseases, the diagnosis is AIDS. Even if a person with HIV doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look or feel sick, he or she can pass the virus to other people by having unprotected sex or sharing needles for injecting drugs. Pregnant women can also pass HIV to their babies before

yeast infections in a year (when not related to antibiotics), or Abnormal pap test

they are born. How is HIV spread? These are the ways of getting HIV: Unprotected sex: You can get HIV by having sex with a person who has HIV. This includes vaginal, oral or anal sex. It can be with someone of the opposite sex or the same sex. Sharing needles: You also can get HIV by sharing infected needles for drug use, body piercing or tattooing. Blood transfusions before 1985. In rare instances, there have been HIV cases traced to blood transfusions before 1985. Vertical transmission: A pregnant woman with HIV can pass the infection to the baby, as the baby is exposed to momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood during the birthing process. HIV can also be passed through breastfeeding. Fortunately, with good medical care during pregnancy, there is a lot that we can do to prevent this from happening, so it is quite rare now. There are common myths associated with the spread of HIV/AIDS. You cannot get HIV from: Hugging, kissing or shaking hands with a person who has HIV, Toilet seats, doorknobs, tables or dishes, Insect bites. What are the symptoms of HIV? During the initial stages of HIV, symptoms may include: Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, Diarrhea, Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits and groin, Fever, Headache, Muscle aches and joint pain, Skin

Should I be tested for HIV? You should consider having a blood test for HIV if you have: Had vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom, Shared needles for drugs, piercing or tattoos, or Had a blood transfusion before 1985

gwumc.edu

rash, Sore throat, Weight loss, or Fatigue These initial symptoms can range from mild to severe. It often can feel like a flu-like illness. These symptoms usually disappear within a couple weeks. Nonetheless, the HIV virus can continue to multiply, further affecting the immune systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to fight the disease. In more advanced, chronic stages of HIV, several of the following symptoms are present: Severe fatigue, Diarrhea or bowel changes, Loss of appetite or severe weight loss, Fever, Dry cough or shortness of breath, Night sweats, Nail changes, Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits and groin, Confusion, difficulty concentrating or personality changes, Pain when swallowing, Tingling, numbness or weakness in the limbs, Repeated outbreaks of cold sores or genital herpes, Mouth sores or a yeast infection in the mouth (thrush), More than three

Where can I go to be tested for HIV? Hennepin County Medical Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Positive Care Center provides comprehensive HIV testing and counseling. Through Ryan White funding, the Center extends high-quality care to all HIV-infected patients, regardless of their financial status or ability to pay. Further, testing of partners is available at no charge through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. The Direct Care Clinic at Hennepin County Medical Center offers full service STD and HIV testing, and offers pre- and post-test counseling. You can also talk with your primary care provider to decide if you should be tested. To schedule an appointment at the Positive Care Center, please call 612-873-2700. Melody Mendiola, MD, is a board-certified general internal medicine doctor and medical director of Hennepin Care North, a clinic of Hennepin County Medical Center, located in Brooklyn Center, MN. Dr. Mendiola is accepting new patients at Hennepin Care North. To schedule an appointment, call (612) 873-8800.

Resources for confronting cancer By The National Cancer Institute, NNPA Special Commentary (NNPA) - Do you know someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; a family member,

a co-worker, a neighbor from down the street, or someone from your church â&#x20AC;&#x201C; someone who has just been diagnosed with cancer? Or are you interested in finding the latest about reducing your risk of cancer? Where can you turn to find solid, accurate information that could help you

or a loved one deal with cancer? One good place to turn to is the National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCI is a reliable, trusted source of free cancer information that you can access over the Internet, by telephone, or through easy-to-understand pamphlets and brochures.

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Members of minority groupsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;including AfricanAmericans â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are more likely to develop and die from certain kinds of cancer than the general population. NCI is working to reduce cancer health disparities by addressing the behavioral,

CANCER TURN TO 7

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Insight News • June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Page 7

SD67 From 1 and federal government, in education funding, environmental sustainability, healthcare, transportation and public safety. I hope to use this knowledge to the benefit of our district and Minnesota.” In addition to receiving many accolades from DFL activists and politicians, Thomas was also honored last month by the Minnesota DFL Women’s Hall of Fame with the 2010 Rising Star Award for her commitment to progressive politics and DFL values. The DFL Women’s Hall of Fame is a concrete way for the DFL to honor the contributions that women have made to the party and it is the only DFL awards ceremony

Trayshana Thomas

Cancer From 6 biological, treatment, prevention, and economic issues that contribute to them. To learn how cancer may affect you as a member of a minority group, visit http://www.cancer.gov/ cancertopics/factsheet/cancerhealth-disparities/disparities. As the principal federal agency for cancer research, NCI provides information on a wide variety of cancer topics— from prevention to screening, diagnosis, treatment and care, and life after cancer. To access NCI’s information, you can start by visiting the NCI Web site, www.cancer.gov, where you can browse through online articles, brochures, and other publications on a variety of cancer topics. You can also order or download free materials and publications. NCI also provides information about clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies in which patient participation helps researchers find ways to improve health and cancer care. For a description of the clinical trial process, to review clinical trial results, or to find a clinical trial that is

that is focused exclusively on women. The MN Women’s Summit Committee accepts nominations for the DFL Women’s Hall of Fame’s DFL Woman of Distinction and DFL Rising Star Awards on behalf of outstanding women from all across the state. The women they honor represent a broad range of activists statewide that make up the DFL party. Thomas was one of five women who were honored. She is often described as warm, enthusiastic, and as “someone who works just as hard each and every day. Thomas is one of the amazing DFL women who balances motherhood and activism with grace.” Her 13-year-old daughter has been by Thomas’ side for countless DFL activities and as a result is helping to raise a new generation of young leaders

who will help change politics for the better,” said Nique Shaff who introduced Thomas to those in attendance. Thomas has spent the majority of her career working in public policy. She has served as a legislative assistant for State Sen. Linda Higgins and as the executive assistant for U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05), who has eagerly endorsed her run. Thomas has also held leadership roles in Ellison’s state house and congressional campaigns and in State Rep. Bobby Joe Champion’s 2008 campaign. Of Thomas, Higgins said, “[Trayshana] is wonderful— she was a perfect fit for my office; the staffer that constituents want to talk to.” “Residents in Senate District 67 deserve a strong, passionate progressive in

the State Senate who will continue the work done by our great State Senator Mee Moua by being a passionate advocate on behalf of everyone in our community, from local businesses to the most disadvantaged among us,” Thomas said. “It would be an honor to be that voice in the State Senate and this is why I am asking for voter support in the August 10 primary.” Thomas has selected Jordan Deckenbach as her Campaign Director, Waneda Turner as Campaign Co-chair and Anna Bregier as Campaign Treasurer. Inquires on the campaign may be directed to Trayshana Thomas at (651) 771-7473 or Deckenbach at (612) 701-5858. Lydia Schwartz contributed to this article.

Suluki Fardan

appropriate for you or a loved one, visit www.cancer.gov/ clinicaltrials. Another valuable NCI information resource is the Cancer Information Service, which operates a toll-free number staffed by cancer information specialists who can answer your questions and direct you to further information. To speak with a cancer information specialist, call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800422-6237). You can also get information to help quit smoking or to learn about relevant NCIsponsored clinical trials. Calls are confidential and free. This service is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (EST). NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http:// www.cancer.gov or call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-4226237).

For over 80 years, Hallie Q. Brown has been the Lighthouse of the Community...

...this is why we shine so bright.

The Hallie Q. Brown Early Learning Center is currently accepting applications for enrollment. We are a licensed daycare and preschool program with a 4 Star Parent Aware rating. We feature licensed and trained staff, Project Early Kindergarten (PEK) curriculum and a sliding fee scale. We gladly accept Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Contact us today for a tour and more information. Hallie Q. Brown Community Center 270 N. Kent Street St. Paul, MN 55102 651-224-4601 www.hallieqbrown.org

Page 8 • June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE The how-to guide to camouflaging flaws Style on a Dime By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com I remember when my husband and I had to buy our very first washing machine. We were living in the Milwaukee, WI area; it was our first big appliance purchase, and our

budget was extremely tight. As we went from store to store, comparing prices, a Sears employee told us about the nearby Sears Outlet and its great prices. That was all I needed to hear and I was off to find it. As we approached the location, it looked a little scary; it sat among some abandoned buildings in an industrial park, near the railroad tracks. Having heard about the deals that were waiting inside, I pushed past my apprehensions and went in. I was amazed by what I found;

brand new appliances and furniture discounted by 50% or more off regular store prices. “What was the catch?” you ask. Three words; Scratch-NDent. The washer we bought had a side dent-which did not affect its performance-but it did not bother me one bit. I was so thrilled about the savings that I started looking for scratchn-dents everywhere! Got questions about the scratch-ndent world? Keep reading and you’ll probably find a couple of the answers you are seeking. Where can I find area S-N-Ds? You will find the locations of the Sears Outlets in the Twin Cities by visiting www.searsoutlet.com. In addition, most furniture (and appliance) stores, like HOM, and Slumberland have a s-n-d area in each individual store. In addition, many stores have a certain location dedicated to mostly outlet items. Call or visit the website of your favorite store for details. How can I hide flaws? A table runner, tablecloth, placemat, or any pretty, coordinating fabric does the trick to disguise a dent in a table, dresser, or nightstand. Be warned, your friends just may try to copy your style.

Courtesy blogs.mysanantonio.com

How can I cover scratches? Using permanent markers work wonders to fill in shallow scratches on furniture; whether it is real or fake wood furniture an appropriately colored marker is your friend. While you could go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and buy a wood touch-up pen, why pay extra if you don’t need to? My collection of scratch-ndents has grown over the years and includes many items: like

a dining room table, a dresser, and a dryer. Here is one thing

that I learned; you could pay top dollar for perfection, or you could be satisfied with “good enough” and save big. As a society we are often used to chasing after our perception of the “perfect”, whether in furniture, housing, clothing, relationships, work, etc. By the time we get that perfect thing, it inevitably manages to disappoint us. It doesn’t meet our expectations, breaks, is damaged, gets rusty, or all of the above. Instead of putting so much energy into acquiring perfection, practice contentment and recognize when good enough is good enough (Plus it always costs much less). Enjoy! Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.

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Insight News â&#x20AC;˘ June 7 - June 13, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 9

COMMENTARY Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the situation in Haiti growing into?

By William Reed What has happened since the â&#x20AC;&#x153;poorest country in the Western Hemisphereâ&#x20AC;? experienced its debilitating January 2010 earthquake? A quarter of a million Haitians perished, and survivors have experienced widespread devastation and damage. The infrastructure necessary to respond to the disaster was severely damaged or destroyed; including hospitals and air, sea, land transport facilities and communication systems. Over 250,000 homes and 30,000 commercial buildings had to be demolished and half of Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schools and university systems were affected. As an independent Black nation Haiti has had a history of adversity. Earthquakes are common on Hispaniola, the island Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti has ranked low --149th of 182 countries on the Human Development Index-- for years. Haiti has long been considered economically vulnerable. But, maybe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more â&#x20AC;&#x153;foreign interventionâ&#x20AC;? than Haitian incompetence that has caused Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inability to feed itself. Thirty years ago, Haitians

Flickr (treesftf)

Haitian Farmers grew all the rice they needed. These days, half the population suffers from malnutrition, threequarters survive on less than $2 a day and 60 percent of their food is being imported. Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farmers suffer from cheap and free foreign food aid - especially from the United States. There is not enough to eat there because of: limited local access to good quality seeds, high levels of environmental degradation and poor soil quality that results from heavy deforestation and poor watershed management. Rehabilitation of the agricultural sector is a major priority for the Haitian government. It

has drawn up a $700 million investment plan which includes: request for 2,000 tons of seeds and rehabilitation of feeder roads and irrigation channels, reforestation and protection of watersheds. Some among Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;largess industryâ&#x20AC;? are aghast that agricultural sector leaders in Haiti are biting hands seeking to feed them. Since U.S. agriculture giant Monsanto Co. said it would donate $4 million worth of seeds, leaders among Haitian social movements have been actively opposing agribusinessesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; imports of seeds and food saying the practice â&#x20AC;&#x153;undermines local production

and local seed stocks.â&#x20AC;? They express special concern about importing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Peasant farmer leader Chavannes JeanBaptiste calls entry of Monsanto seeds â&#x20AC;&#x153;a very strong attack on small agriculture, on farmers, on biodiversity, on Creole seeds..., and on what is left of our environment.â&#x20AC;? Food is a growing and controversial issue for Haitians. The country does not have a regulatory system and Monsanto representatives said GMO seeds will not be included; so Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agriculture ministry approved Monsantoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s donation. Players in the scheme are: the U.S. Agency

for International Development program which distributes the seeds, and UPS and Switzerlandbased Kuehne and Nagel who are assisting with shipping and logistics. Monsanto is making farmers buy the seeds in order to â&#x20AC;&#x153;avoid flooding the local economy with free goodsâ&#x20AC;?. Monsanto also stipulates that the seeds have to be purchased and planted every year. Because of our own habits, many Americans may miss the Haiti farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; point because 70 percent of the processed foods we consume comes from genetically engineered seeds - genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Together with Syngenta, Dupont and Bayer, Monsanto controls more than half of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seeds. Therefore, it is reasonable to question this American â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;benevolenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and understand that the Haitiansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; concern is based on simple capitalistic principles. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just about the dangers of the chemicals and possibilities of

future GMO imports that cause the Haitian concern; it is that Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future depends on locals producing food for Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; consumption. Jean-Baptiste and his farmers are against Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;largess paradigmâ&#x20AC;? and say Monsanto represents a threat to their development: â&#x20AC;&#x153;People in the U.S. need to help us produce, not give us food and seeds. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ruining our chance to support ourselvesâ&#x20AC;?. Jean-Baptiste says â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fighting hybrid and GMO seeds is critical to save our diversity and our agriculture. We can make our lands produce enough to feed the whole population and even to export certain products. The policy and practices we need for this to happen is to grow first for the family and then for local market, to grow healthy food in a way which respects the environment.â&#x20AC;? (William Reed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; www. BlackPressInternational.com)

North Neighborhood influenced guys in ties of their community heard. Your efforts have not been in vain. The light rail alternative that goes through North is called the D2 alternative and your efforts to date have helped this alternative rise. The hard work is not done yet, there is another alternative, the D1 route, that would largely skirt North and in my opinion do little to serve the transportation needs of the North community. I am writing to urge you to get involved and stay involved. What can you do? Join the conversation, attend local meetings, call your local officials and tell them Light Rail should not be about making a pretty train ride for suburbanites to go downtown. It has the potential to be an economic engine in the North community; this means jobs, access to jobs and redevelopment and revitalization of the community. Your voices have already been heard. Keep it up.

Call or write in support of the D2 alternative to: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Counties Transit Improvement Boardâ&#x20AC;?, 477 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55102, (651) 222-722; Bottineau Boulevard Partnership, (612) 344-1400; and/or Metropolitan Council, 390 Robert St. N., St. Paul, MN 55101, (651) 602-1000 Get involved, stay involved, help shape the future of jobs and access in North Minneapolis. Say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes we want the D2 alternative.â&#x20AC;? - Renee Chrichlow

& $

know how to swim. Swimming is not just for suburban kids, nor should stay in movies like PRIDE with Terrence Howard!

! #!

-Conventry R. Cowens

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Foods vendors â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Jerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lemonade â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Health vendors â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Arts village â&#x2DC;&#x2026; History tent â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Non-profit vendors â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Senior pavilion â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Nature center â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Praise Dance Competion

â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Live Music â&#x2DC;&#x2026; KMOJ live broadcast â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Large Stage â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Pickles the Clown â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Face painting â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Water park â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Playground area â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Canoe training with the Wilderness Inquiry Group

EVENT SPONSORS: S:

53th Ave. N 49th Ave. N

â&#x153;&#x2DC;

EXIT 226

44th Ave. N Dowling Ave. N

Lyndale Ave. N.

I really enjoyed reading your recent issue (May 24 - May 30, 2010), especially the article by educator Mahmoud ElKati on Haiti, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forget the

wet hair...â&#x20AC;? article. Wish you would do more on the Black community learning to swim and saving their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives. Especially in the land of lakes and fishing more of us should

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Letter to the editor: Recent issue Letter to the editor:

) $ ' & '"

Humboldt Ave. N

I am writing to applaud the early efforts of the North Minneapolis community in participating in the Bottineau Light Rail Transport route decision making process. As many know, a new light rail project is in the works to connect the suburbs to downtown. I know thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not what the guys in ties would say about the project but that is what it has the potential to become if those who care about the Northside do not get involved and STAY involved in the process of choosing the route. A light rail route that goes through North could be more than a route for suburbanites to get to downtown, it could be route to a daily job for North Community residents providing access to jobs in Maple Grove, access to jobs downtown and in Bloomington and the development of jobs in the

North community itself. Northside, I am writing to tell you that your influence has already been felt. I recently attended a LRT presentation in Robbinsdale. Local folks were there in their casual attire and the guys in ties were making their presentations about the light rail route alternatives that are currently under consideration. I overheard one of the presenters saying that the proposed route thought North was third in the list of several alternatives and initially had not been under serious consideration, until â&#x20AC;&#x153;a bunch of people from the neighborhood started having meetingsâ&#x20AC;? and getting organized. My mother raised me not to eavesdrop and so for that I apologize but he was speaking rather loudly. Anyway, congratulations to the Northside residents that have been meeting, getting organized and getting their voice and the needs

Penn Ave. N

Dear Editor,

49th & 53rd St. Exit

Mississippi River

Park & Ride Park your Vehicle and ride to the North Mississippi Regional Park. We will also have shuttle bus services for the handicapped offered by PICA Head Start (Parents In Community Action, Inc) Park & Ride Locations â&#x2DC;&#x2026; North Point Health and Wellness Center

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West side parking lot, 1313 North Penn Ave North, Mpls., Mn 55411 â&#x2DC;&#x2026; North Commons Park and Recreation Center 801 James Avenue North, Mpls., Mn 55411 â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Jenny Lind Elementary School 5025 Bryant Ave North, Mpls., Mn. 55430 â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Broadway High School 1250 West Broadway Avenue, Mpls., Mn 55411

Praise Dance Celebration call: 612.238.3733 or visit: www.JuneteenthMinnesota.org text: tmr Juneteenth to: 70734

Enter your church today and compete for the David Dance Award. To get your application go to: www.TheUrbanFly.com/Eventz/UrbanStageNation Call 612.302.3100 x493, or e-mail: Denise@TheUrbanFly.com ÂŠ2010 Minnesota Juneteenth

Page 10 •June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Insight News

Book Review: Losing My Cool: How a Father’s Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture By Kam Williams “Since the dawn of the hip-hop era in the 1970s, Black people have become increasingly freer and freer as individuals, with a wider range of possibilities spread out before us now than at any time in our past. Yet the circumstances of our collective life have degenerated in direct contrast to this fact, with a more impoverished vision of what it means to be Black today than ever before. If these exciting new circumstances we now find ourselves in, of which our president is the apotheosis, are to mean anything of lasting value, the zeitgeist… is going to have to change, too—permanently… Will we, at long last, allow ourselves to abandon the instinct to self-sabotage and the narcissistic glorification of our own failure? Will the fact of daily exposure to a Black president in turn expose once and for all the lie that is and always has been keeping it real? -- Excerpted from the Epilogue (pgs. 213-214i)

From its title, Losing My Cool sounds like it might be about by a guy with a short temper. But that’s not the case. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, since Thomas Chatterton Williams is a rather erudite and introspective academic with a degree in philosophy from Georgetown University. What Losing My Cool actually refers to is the maturation process he went through while in college which enabled him to shed the anti-intellectual veneer he had embraced growing up in Northern New Jersey as a cardcarrying member of the HipHop Generation. Williams, whose mother is white and father is Black, credits his dad’s emphasis on education with ultimately enabling him to appreciate the value of a college degree as a ticket out of the hood, as opposed to music, sports or illegal activities. This would prove to be no mean feat, however, as a teenager the author found the materialist trappings and anti-social attitudes of the thug lifestyle ever so seductive. Thus, he cared little about grades and attending classes, while considering the

Thomas Chatterton Williams conspicuous consumption and general degeneracy celebrated in gangsta Thomas Chatterton Williams’ rap videos worthy of emulation. This very gifted writer recounts his perilous route from rebellion to redemption in Losing My Cool: How a Father’s Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture, a thought-provoking memoir which suggests we redefine exactly what it means to be Black. What ought to make the iconoclastic ideas shared in this engaging autobiography of

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, ben@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Ben Williams. Free or low cost events preferred.

Events West African Drumming with Fode Bangoura - Ongoing Learn traditional rhythms from Guinea West Africa. This is an open level class that will teach beginners basic technique and foundations of hand drumming while offering experienced drummers the opportunity to broaden their repertoire and learn challenging accompaniment. Every Tuesday 5:30-7pm Patrick’s Cabaret 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S. $17 per class, $150 - 10 class card, $5 Drum rental - Must call or email ahead if renting a drum (651-338-5409). Minnesota’s Waiting Children Free Information Sessions Ongoing Downey Side…families for youth invites community members to attend a FREE information session regarding adoption and Minnesota’s Waiting Children. Sessions are held every third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Downey Side’s St. Paul office located in the Bigelow Building at 450 No. Syndicate Street – Suite 380. Midtown begins Tuesday farmers market - Ongoing Starting on June 1, the Midtown Farmers Market will be open

Tuesdays from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 2225 East Lake, the very same location as our Saturday (8:00 to 1:00) market. Experience Midtown’s new mix of vendors and wares—you’ll find your week’s worth of seasonal produce, a selection of arts and crafts, and delicious dinner or late afternoon snacks (gelato, pizza, hotdogs, doughnuts)! Classic Black films at VOA Park Elder Center – Ongoing First and third Mondays of each month, 11 am - 12:15 pm. These films are free of charge and the public is invited. Popcorn, hotdogs and drinks are provided for a suggested donation of $1. VOA Park Elder Center, 1505 Park Ave. Mpls. 612-339-7581, parkcenter@voamn.org Take Charge of Your Health Care: Asking Questions, Getting Answers - June Free class that teaches consumers to empower themselves by using the Internet to learn about health issues and to ask questions of health care providers. After this program, participants will feel more empowered to ask questions of health care providers and more confident in finding health information on the Internet. The “Take Charge of Your Health Care” class will be presented on the following dates: •Sat., June 19, 2pm, Riverview Library, 1 E. George St. 651-2926626 •Mon., June 21, 6pm, Dayton’s Bluff Library, 645 E. 7th St. 651793-1699 •Sat., June 26, 11pm, St Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Ave. 651-642-0411 •Wed., July 7, 10:30am, Highland

Credit Smart- Ongoing FREE Credit Education Classes. Every Tuesday, 6-8pm. Minneapolis Urban League 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. Mpls. HYPERLINK “http://www. mul.org/”www.mul.org Contact Theresa (612) 827- 9268. Realizing the American Dream – Ongoing Home Buyer Program. First Thurs. of every month, 6-8pm. $25.00 per Family at Minneapolis Urban League 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. Mpls. HYPERLINK “http://www.mul.org/”www.mul. org Contact Theresa (612) 8279268. Young Writers -June – Aug. Young Writers is the place for youth! A gathering of aspiring young poets, novelists, fiction writers, essayists and more. We laugh, work, create, and grow together in a community workshop setting - come check it out! Open to ages 13-19. Second and Fourth Tuesday of every month 6PM - 8PM at Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S, Mpls. FREE! Workshop series on childhood trauma - June 26 Have you wondered about the effects of early trauma on your child - and wanted to know what you can do to help him or her form and maintain a sense of attachment that’s so vital to a healthy relationship? Trauma

PHONE:

Work Experience: 5 years of Child Care Center or related experience required. Other Requirements: • Dealing with confidential information. • Tight deadlines. • Dealing with unfavorable weather conditions. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. • Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager. • Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines. • Ability to relate to children from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and references to: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center ATTN: Human Resources 270 N. Kent Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-224-7074-Fax hr@hallieqbrown.org

& Attachment II: 9am-12:30pm Sat., June 26 at HOPE Adoption, 5850 Omaha Ave. N, Oak Park Heights, MN. $20 per person per workshop. Visit www. hopeadoptionservices.org or call HOPE at 651-439-2446 for registration. Career & Employment Transition Group for Women June 8 & 10 Tues. June 8, 9:30-11:30am and Thur. June 10 6-8pm at WomenVenture, Free. Set goals, brainstorm ideas, and gain networking contacts. Feeling a little tipsy? - June 10 Sabathani Coffee talk. Learn about the newest methods being used to detect the causes of dizziness and vertigo and what treatments are being used to restore equilibrium and health. Thurs., June 10 at Sabathani Community Center, 310 East 38th St. Mpls. Pre registration: 612-821-2306. Jevetta and Fred Steele are Live on the Drive! - June 10 The concert is free and will be held on Thur., June 10 from 6-8pm. on Victory Memorial Drive at 34th Ave. N. Mpls, one of the most beautiful concert settings in the city. Summer at Northrop: Free Outdoor Concerts Begin June 11 24 free, outdoor concerts located on the Northrop plaza, the majority from noon to 1pm beginning Friday, June 11, and new this year, five evening concerts from 7-8pm. Spanning across the months of June and July, the series begins with Romantica,

612.588.1313 FAX:

POSITION SUMMARY: This is a substitute position designed to fill in as needed on a short or long term basis for permanent teaching staff. Substitute Teacher participates in long and short range activities for students in accordance with curriculum objectives and engages students in developmentally appropriate activities. Assists with ensuring that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child.

Licensing and Certifications: CPR and Meet all applicable licensing regulations. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Minnesota Teachers’ License (preferred).

612.588.1313 612.588.2031

EMAIL: ONLINE:

ben@insightnews.com www.insightnews.com

Irish-Americana rocksters on June 14. For more information, visit http://northrop.umn.edu/ events/summer-northrop or call 612-625-2345. Senior Jazz Band of Minnesota - June 11 Accept our invitation to celebrate Minnesota jazz at Weyerhaeuser auditorium. Fri. June 11 - 7pm at Landmark Center, 75 5th St. W. St. Paul. $8 at door/Seniors & children $5. Stop the Violence Bring the Unity Community Resource Fair - June 12 Talk to agencies about: Housing, training, professional development, legal, mentoring, HIV/Aids, lead, blood pressure screening as well as health and wellness information. Resource agency booths will provide valuable information about their programs and services. Saturday, June 12th, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, West Broadway McDonald’s parking lot, 900 West Broadway Avenue, Mpls. Live remote broadcast by KMOJ 89.9 radio. Straight Talk - How can Sabathani best serve the community? - Jun 12 We want to hear from you! What should we be doing that we are not doing now? What should we stop doing? Sat., June 12, 2010. 12-2pm at Sabathani Banquet Center 2nd floor, 310 E. 38th St., Mpls. Jarret Krosoczka - Lunch Lady - June 13 Author and illustrator Jarret Krosoczka will present the graphic-novel series he created about the lunch lady at school and

her life outside of work. The Red Balloon Bookshop 891 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105. Just Jazz - June 13 2 p.m., Sunday, June 13 at Central Library, 90 West 4th St. T. Mychael Rambo and his ensemble will perform jazz music mixed with literature to create a performance with jazz and the written word. 2010 Movies in the Parks - June 14 thru Aug 28 The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has packed more than 80 movies into its third annual Movies in the Parks series. The mobile series, which travels to parks across the city throughout the summer, will run Monday through Saturday June 14-Aug. 28. Movies are free to the public and start 15 minutes after sunset. For more information, check out www.mplsmusicandmovies. com. Free Wall Introduction – June 14-30 & Jul 6-21 Are you interested in learning to work with spray paint as a tool to paint big, fast and precise? Come and learn from some of the Twin Cities best. No experience necessary. Open to youth 1421 years old. 9 am-noon, Mon, Tues, & Wed. June 14 - 30, 2010 (Session 1), July 6 - 21, 2010 (Session 2). Intermedia Arts Summer Kickoff: Let’s Get Summer Started! - June 19 You are invited to a BBQ Feast/ DJ-Dance Party/Art-Making/ Community Celebration. Sat., June 19, 4-7pm at Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S. Mpls.

CLASSIFIEDS

DEPT: Early Learning Center SUPERVISED BY: Youth Program Manager TITLES SUPERVISED: N/A FLSA: Non-Exempt SALARY GRADE: $10-13/hour

QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Associates degree or equivalent in early childhood development. B.S. in Early childhood Development preferred.

Losing My Cool: How a Father’s Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture By Thomas Chatterton Williams The Penguin Press Hardcover, $24.95 240 pages

PHONE: FAX:

Park Library, 1974 Ford Parkway St. Paul, 651-695-3700 For more information, please call or email: Nathan Maas @ 612298-7068 or nathanmaasmhlp@ gmail.com

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Substitute Teacher

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities. 2. Plans and supervises the arrangement of the classroom environment in accordance to program goals and philosophy. 3. Maintains a safe and healthy environment, including safely managing developmental activities for the participants. 4. Keeps all appropriate records such as records, attendance, time sheets and accident reports. 5. Maintains open communication with parents/guardians of the program participants regarding the developmental needs of the participants.

value to impressionable young minds is that the words are coming not out of the mouth of an older person who always hated rap music, but from a former diehard fan who has seen the error of his ways. After all, it takes an admirable maturity for one to admit that a self-defeating, ghetto fabulous culture had “exerted a seriously negative influence on my Black peers and me, and it did so in a way that we tended to approach hiphop seriously and earnestly, striving to ‘keep it real’ and viewing a lifestyle governed by hip-hop values as some kind of prerequisite to an authentically Black existence.” A sobering deconstruction of the harmful hip-hop mindset by a brother who very easily could’ve ended up a casualty of that dead-end path instead of a role model.

612.588.2031

EMAIL: sales@insightnews.com

EMPLOYMENT/HOUSING STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN

Court File No. ______________

Joseph F. Mikolic, v.

DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT CASE TYPE: CONTRACT

Huntington Place Apartments The BEST 1 bedrooms in Brooklyn Park! 1 BRs starting at $595 • Huge bedrooms • Tons of closet space • Indoor & outdoor pool. Call today! 763-560-0244 www.liveathp.com EHO

Plaintiff,

Brian K. Ahern, Defendant.

THE STATE OF DEFENDANT(S)

SUMMONS

MINNESOTA

THE

Assumed Name ABOVE

NAMED

You are hereby Summoned and Required to serve upon Plaintiff or his attorney an Answer to the Complaint which is hereby served upon you within 20 days after service of this Summons upon you, exclusive of the day of service. If you fail to do so judgment by default will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. Rule 114 of the General Rules of Practice provides for the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) in most cases. Notice of ADR processes will be provided by the Court Administrator after this action is filed. Dated: May 13, 2010 _________________________ Patrick M. McVary #0388083 Attorney for Plaintiff 200 Village Center Drive, Suite 800 North Oaks, MN 55127 651-255-9500 Fax 651-255-9504

1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Empowering Women Leaders 2. State the address of the principal place of business: 4725 17th Ave. So., Minneapolis, MN 55407 3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name: Sally Ann Ankerfelt, 4725 17th Ave. So., Minneapolis, MN 55407 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: Sally Ann Ankerfelt Date Filed: 5/13/2010 Insight News 5/31/2010, 6/7/2010

Updated 1-2 Bedroom Apartments in Whittier Clean, quiet, secure, Parking available near bus WHITTIER COMMUNITY APARTMENTS 612-870-RENT(7368) “Equal Housing Opportunity”

ABA Minnesota Blizzards Basketball The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The program will consist of five teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration. Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments. We are looking for college students majoring in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 interns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits. Interested Parties please send resume to: The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program 10125 Crosstown Circle #200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040 www.minnesotablizzards.com

insightnews.com

Insight News • June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Page 11

SPORTS Big summer sports events are now in gear Mr. T’s Sports Report By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Though the early parts of the baseball season are still underway, there are some other real cool worldwide sports going down on all parts of the globe, including Minnesota. This week we’ll brush over some tennis, next week some local golf, gotta pay respects to the real futbol (soccer) as the FIFA World Cup draws near in South Africa, and all the while building up some

greater interest and knowledge of baseball, because that’s definitely the hottest ticket of the summer. For now, the French Open sits on the center stage of the World sports audience, and of course that means The Venus and Serena Williams Show is in full effect. But as much as it seems as though the Williams sisters dominate all things tennis, they both actually have a pretty tough record in the French Open. Serena has one French Open championship to her name, which she achieved in 2002 by beating her sister Venus. Other than that year, neither of the sisters has been in the French Open Women’s Singles Championship, which is hard to imagine. Even more difficult

to imagine is that the two ladies have not mastered the doubles competition for the French Open. The Williams sisters won the French Open Women’s Doubles Championship in 1999 towards the beginning of their worldwide, decade-long, domination of the sport. The French Open courts are made of red clay, which makes for one of the most unique terrains for players to compete in a major championship (the other major tennis championships are the Australian Open which was won by Serena this year, Wimbledon which is coming up in a month or so, and the U.S. Open which is at the end of the summer). The clay loosens as the players shuffle back and forth in competition, and slowly

the competition becomes a dusty affair with players sliding back and forth across the court. This dynamic makes it hard for players to stop, and thus a very unique skill set is needed to achieve success. For Venus and Serena the red clay courts are not the most complimentary to their skill set. Simply put, the Williams sisters are big, and big ain’t where it’s at with the French Open. As much as the Williams sisters are strong, powerful, and nimble, there are some terrains better suited for the smaller quicker ladies and gentlemen. For Venus and Serena, it isn’t easy to stop those beautifully large bodies on loose clay, as opposed to the solid courts of the US Open, or the gripping

Yann Caradec

Venus Williams in the 2009 French Open grass of the Wimbledon courts in England, and thus they are historically more successful in those competitions. Despite the natural deficiencies of the Williams sisters on the French Open courts, we all know that they make a habit out of coming out winners in most things that they do, it seems. I mean, no matter who wins this year’s French Open, the story of the tournament is Venus Williams negligee inspired tennis outfit… complete with nude colored undergarments, Oh my! Venus had Paris on fire with that outfit, and fortunately her play in the early rounds says that she is

on her A-game with the tennis competition, too. Venus can always be counted on to go out on top, or in a blaze of glory, so the gorgeous ladies of Compton are set up well for the French Open. What about the other players you say? They’re not from Compton, so they get no play in this column (smile). Summer sports; It ain’t just baseball. Tell the kids to pick up a tennis racket, golf club, or a baseball glove, and “don’t come home ‘til you win, or the street lights come on.” Venus, Serena, and Tiger Woods need some young’ns to assume the mantle. Next.

Page 12 • June 7 - June 13, 2010 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Conversations h t i w

Al McFarlane Listen in for stimulating conversations with Al McFarlane and civic, business & cultural leaders about issues and events that shape community.

Every Tuesday, 11am on KFAI 90.3 FM and 106.7 FM For more information, call 612-588-1313 www.insightnews.com | www.kfai.org Tuesday, June 8 & 15

Tuesday, June 22

Disparities in Access to Health Care From The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland

Immigration Reform - From the Marcus Garvey House in Minneapolis

Kara Huang, Ofﬁce of US Rep. Mike Honda, Loan Huynh, Frederickson & Byron Law Firm Nghi Huynh, Asian American Press/MMMC Abillahi Nur, African Community Services Peter Idusogie, Gubernatorial Candidate

Danny Williams, The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland Dr. Charles Modlin, Cleveland Clinic Minority Men’s Health Evelyn Rivera-Mosquera, Ph.D., Ohio Latino Mental Health Network

Joseph J. Sudano, Jr., Ph.D., Center for Health Care Research and Policy

Joseph J. Sudano, Jr., Ph.D.

Loan Huynh

Tuesday, June 29

Tuesday, July 6

Immigration Reform - From the Marcus Garvey House in Minneapolis

Emerging Markets - From The Multicultural Marketing Summit

Rick Aguilar, Aguilar Productions Irma McClaurin , Ph.D., Urban Research and Outreach Center Seann Nelipanath, India Chamber of Commerce Sherry Pugh, Northside Residents Redevelopment Council

Bruce Corrie , Ph.D., Concordia University Rick Aguilar, Aguilar Productions Seann Nelipanath, India Chamber of Commerce David Morse, New American Dimensions

Irma McClaurin , Ph.D.

Bruce Corrie

Tuesday, July 13

Tuesday, July 20

Business and Wealth Creation - From the Marcus Garvey House in Minneapolis

Organizing for Wealth Creation - From the Marcus Garvey House in Minneapolis

Alfred Babington-Johnson, Stairstep Foundation Paul Bauknight, Bauknight & Associates Art Weddington, Selby Community Development Corp.

Lance Knuckles, Emerge! Andre Dukes, Northside Achievement Zone Wesley Walker, Northway Community Trust

Alfred Babington-Johnson

Lance Knuckles

Tuesday, July 27

Tuesday, Aug 3

Community Development Strategies From the Marcus Garvey House in Mpls.

Marketing & Branding - From the Multicultural Marketing Summit

Robert Porter, N. Mpls. Comm. Development Corp. Veronica Birts , Save Rondo Community Coalition

Joe Mudd, Muddco Baron Carr, The Carr Group Donald Bryant, Jr., The Alden Group, Inc. Dennis Hunn, National Newspaper Publishers Ass.

Veronica Birts

Don Samuels

Donald Bryant, Jr.

Tuesday, Aug 10

Tuesday, Aug 17

Public Policy and Economic Development From the Marcus Garvey House in Mpls.

Public Policy and Economic Development From the Marcus Garvey House in Minneapolis

Don Samuels, 5th Ward Minneapolis City Council Robert Lilligren, 6th Ward Minneapolis City Council Dr. John Williams, Dentist & Comm. Business Leader Nghi Huynh, MN Multicultural Media Consortium

US Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05) Louis King, Summit Academy OIC Angelique Brown, NorthPoint Health & Wellness

Loius King