Summer Zydeco Cowboy party features Wain McFarlane and Zydeco Blue Band
aesthetically speaking
MORE ON PAGE 10
Insight News June 22 - June 28, 2015
Vol. 42 No. 25 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
MELVIN CARTER II AT LARGE
Element Fitness puts St. Paul on boxing map By Melvin Carter II The sport of boxing dates back to ancient Rome, Greece and perhaps even to ancient Egypt. On June 6, two figures stood mid-ring, artistically bobbin’ weavin’ slippin’ slidin’ floatin’ stingin’ and sometimes toe-to-toe. It was a bright shinny day. The sun’s light, shining thought large glass picture windows lit up the enormous state-of-the-art, highly equipped gymnasium. The place is Element Fitness. The two men were Dalton Outlaw, and Tony “2 Sharpe” Lee. Both men seek their place in history, putting St. Paul back on the international boxing map. Thomas “Coach Ali” Williams, a most incredible, ingenious, trainer gently shouted out instructions. David Bradley
Dalton Outlaw (left) spars with Tony Lee
ELEMENT TURN TO 9
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
Saran Jenkins Crayton Women Leading Change Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges
By Dr. Artika Tyner
A neighborhood with promise
Everyone deserves the best defense. They fight for it. “Gideon’s Army” The landmark case of Gideon vs. Wainwright laid the foundation for protecting the rights of criminal defendants. For those who are charged with a felony level crime and cannot afford counsel, they can be appointed an attorney otherwise known as a “Public Defender.” Over 50 years later since the ruling in the Gideon case, progress has been made to provide equal access to representation; however this promise has not been fully realized. Today, the demand for legal services continues to rise when “an estimated 80% of felony defendants in large
By Mayor Betsy Hodges and Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05)
CRAYTON TURN TO 4
Saran Jenkins Crayton
Legislative Auditor: MUL received “Financial Clean Bill Of Health” By Steven Belton MUL Interim President On Saturday, June 13, the Star Tribune published an editorial acknowledging the Office of the Legislative Auditor issued
Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05)
the Minneapolis Urban League a “financial clean bill of health” related to allegations it improperly billed the state for two of its education programs. The editorial calls for continued support of MUL programs and initiatives. The OLA’s findings were first published on June 5
in an article by Star Tribune reporter Steve Brandt. This was a manufactured controversy, from our perspective, resulting from inaccurate and indolent reporting of Star Tribune writer Alexandra Matos who wrote several stories alleging improper
Insight 2 Health
Music education
Gardening for good health
Many school students don’t have access to music classes
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billing but was unavailable to report the news the Legislative Auditor had cleared MUL. For many contemporary media outlets, like the Star Tribune, the distinction between
MUL TURN TO 3
When city planners drew a Minneapolis map in 1935, North and Near-North neighborhoods were marked as “Negro” sections and SumnerGlenwood was given the title of “Negro Slum (Largest in City).” These distinctions led to a generation of discrimination and disinvestment. Ignored by local government, black residents were systematically denied access to financial assistance granted to their white neighbors. For example, Federal Housing Administration mortgages were only available to white families and communities until the Civil Rights era. Businesses paid black workers less than their white colleagues. The effects of pernicious segregation and decades of disinvestment persist in North Minneapolis today: 60% of residents in the 1935 citydesignated “Negro Slum” still
live in poverty — a rate three times higher than the rest of the city. Unemployment is 20% higher, graduation rates are 50% lower, and median family incomes in North Minneapolis are 5 times lower than their neighbors across the freeway. Our shared strategy for reversing these decades of disinvestment is long-term and organized investment in North Minneapolis. To this end, the City of Minneapolis worked collaboratively with 150 community leaders and stakeholders to apply for the federal government’s Promise Zone designation. After a concerted effort, on April 28, the Obama Administration selected a big part of North Minneapolis as one of only eight Promise Zones out of 123 applicants from across the country. The 10-year Promise Zone status provides major opportunities to refocus and expand our efforts to rebuild a community that has long-
PROMISE TURN TO 7
Commentary
Education
Celebrating the gifted James Baldwin
Closing achievement gaps requires more than education reform
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Page 2 • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Insight News
Gardening for good health By Vivien Williams Mayo Clinic News Network Headline The health benefits of gardening are plentiful. Whether you are tending to a vegetable patch or a bed of flowers, you’ll get a good physical workout by spending time with your hands in the soil. As Mayo Clinic stress management expert Dr. Amit Sood explains, disconnecting from high-tech screens and connecting with nature is good exercise for the mind, body and spirit. To a gardener, there’s nothing better than digging your hands in potting soil or pulling weeds from a planter. “Gardening is a complete exercise for body, mind and spirit,” says Amit Sood, M.D. Mayo Clinic Stress Management Expert. The truth is, gardening is really good for you. Dr. Amit Sood explains, “There’s something called
biofeelia. Whenever we are in nature, we get relaxed and we develop a positive mode. So people who garden regularly have a lower risk of depression, less stress, have less anxiety, they are calmer and hey may even have less risk of dementia. So they’re generally happier.” Dr. Sood says in addition to being good for your mental well being, gardening is also good for your body. In fact, researchers in Stockholm found for people over age 60, gardening can cut the risk of heart attack or strike by 30-percent. And gardening might also help you make healthier food choices, because you’re growing your own fresh fruits and veggies. “What studies have shown is if you garden for 30 minutes to an hour a day, it’s like doing moderate intensity activity. It decreases your risk of hypertension, heart attack, stroke, a few cancers, osteoporosis,” says Dr. Sood. So go ahead. Dig in for better health.
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Insight News • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Page 3
HEALTH U of M Medical Center named regional treatment center for Ebola The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has been awarded an approximately $3.25 million, five-year grant from the federal government to work with the University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC) to establish UMMC as a regional treatment center for patients with Ebola or other severe, highly infectious diseases. MDH and UMMC were among nine health departments and their partner hospitals announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to become regional centers. UMMC will serve Region Five, which consists of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. The regional centers will have the ability to accept patients from their region if local facilities are unable to provide sufficient care. Every state will continue to have local hospitals prepared to treat Ebola patients and Minnesota will continue to have four designated treatment centers. “We’re very excited to have this partnership with our federal partners and the University of Minnesota Medical Center,” said Minnesota Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger. “It demonstrates our commitment to excellence in health care and public health and our level of preparedness to treat people in our region for Ebola and any other highly infectious diseases.” UMMC’s regional treatment center designation means that the hospital
will be equipped to receive patients within eight hours of notification and have the capacity, including beds and staff, to treat at least two Ebola patients at one time. Awardees have agreed to care for patients with Ebola or another highlyinfectious disease from within their region, another region in the U.S. or those medically evacuated to the U.S. from overseas. The funding will be used to modify and retrofit UMMC’s containment unit to create capacity for two adult and/ or pediatric patients and eventually up to four patients at a time; to modify the ventilation system to expand negative air flow; increase patient care room capacity; to develop a fully functional satellite laboratory on the containment unit; and to provide continued and improved staff training to ensure readiness to receive and treat patients. “This recognizes the enormous expertise that went into developing UMMC and University of Minnesota Health’s response plan by a team of very dedicated, extremely talented health care professionals,” said Carolyn Wilson, R.N., co-president of University of Minnesota Health. “We are very proud to be in a position to be a regional center for the care of special diseases.” As part of the grant work plan, UMMC will collaborate closely with the other three Ebola Assessment and Treatment Facilities in Minnesota and from throughout
MUL
of the Legislative Auditor confirming its assertion that no improper billing had occurred. The audit director said monies were properly allocated between the two separately funded programs. It is good that the auditor review was expedited so that the agency can continue fundraising and community work — without a cloud of financial mix-ups over its head. For decades, the organization has been a leader in improving the lives of people of color. Its mission continues to link African descendants and other people of color to opportunities that result in “economic success and prosperity” and to advocate for ending racial disparities. Since the allegations surfaced, the league closed the Urban League Academy high school after a severaldecade partnership with the Minneapolis schools. The academy had been an alternative contract program for the district. Its last class graduated on June 1, and the remaining students will be placed in other public schools in the fall. Urban League leaders said the closing had nothing to do with the recent financial scrutiny. But funding from the district was not keeping pace with increasing costs. The league is out of the high school business for now, but with its deep roots and history of service, it continues other community-building initiatives that deserve ongoing support.
From 1 news and editorial content increasingly has become blurred. Nonetheless, we acknowledge and appreciate the Star Tribune editorial board’s decision to make the OLA’s findings known to its readership, and by extension, MUL’s constituents and supporters. Excerpt from Star Tribune Editorial published June 13th League cleared in finance report The Minneapolis Urban League did not improperly double-bill for two education programs it operated, according to a review by the state’s legislative auditor. That is welcome affirmation for the nearly 90-year-old agency and should encourage continued support for its successful programs. A financial clean bill of health for the two programs came seven weeks after a Star Tribune news report about state education and Minneapolis Public Schools officials who were looking into whether MUL was getting paid twice for the same work. Concerns were raised about whether a schooldistrict-funded alternative high school and a state-funded program called the 13th Grade were serving some of the same students. Late last week, the league released a letter from the Office
the eight Regional Healthcare Coalitions in the state in the development and execution of periodic drills and exercises. Additionally, UMMC and MDH will work closely with other states that UMMC will
now serve in this new role to coordinate patient movement when needed. Minnesota will receive $2.25 million in the first year of the grant and $250,000 in each of the subsequent four years.
MDH will administer the grant, passing on the vast majority of the funds to UMMC for the work. The three other Minnesota hospitals designated as care facilities for Ebola patients
will continue to serve in that role, particularly focused on handling cases of patients within the state presenting with Ebola or other special diseases. -MDH-
3 TOURS. 2 PURPLE HEARTS. 1 EVICTION NOTICE.
SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO
When my landlord found out I had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), I received an eviction notice. That’s when I called HUD for help. If you feel that you’ve been discriminated against because of a mental or emotional injury or disability, report it to HUD or your local fair housing center.
Visit hud.gov/fairhousing or call the HUD Hotline 1-800-669-9777 (English/Español) FAIR HOUSING IS YOUR RIGHT. USE IT!
A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.
Page 4 • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Insight News
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BUSINESS Excuses: The scourge of nonprofit fundraising FUNdraising Good Times
By Mel and Pearl Shaw How do we stop using excuses as a conversation starter, or icebreaker when starting a meeting? We all know people who start conversations by making excuses for why they are late, unprepared, and haven’t completed what they committed to do. First comes the excuse; then comes a focus on the content of the excuse. A meeting to review
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Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Carmen Robles Lydia Schwartz Ryan T. Scott Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
fundraising progress can turn into a discussion of traffic, construction, family illnesses, the weather, and before you know it 15 minutes have passed. Excuses send the wrong message to people who are serious about meeting. They have come prepared and are ready to work. These could be staff, board members or volunteers. One thing is certain: they didn’t show up for excuses. The fact that your organization is a nonprofit doesn’t mean that excuses should be tolerated. Excuses cannot be a part of our culture. We have to rethink how we communicate. Here’s why: excuses turn people off. When you invite someone to work with you on your fundraising, they are giving their valuable time. They assume
If your team members lead with excuses, check in with them in advance to see if they need assistance and are progressing in a timely manner. As a manager and leader of volunteers you have to be focused, upbeat and set a positive tone. Be a motivator. Be creative. Have a plan B and a plan C. Be prepared: show the people you are working with that you value their time. Your leadership should be infectious and elevate your volunteers to the highest level. Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw
things didn’t get done. We are telling you the truth. Organizations large and small are always seeking talented people to join their fundraising campaigns. What many don’t know is that disorganization and excuses can
keep all but the most dedicated of people away from the table. They don’t have the time to waste. These words may sound harsh, but they are the truth that is not told. If you want to grow from one level of fundraising to another look at how you conduct meetings, how you hold each other accountable, and the extent to which excuses dominate the meeting. What do we mean by accountability? Doing what you say you’re going to do, and doing it by the time you committed. Oh, did we mention doing a good job? If you lead with excuses you can stop. Set realistic timeframes. Make commitments you can keep. Get support for developing better time management skills. Whatever it takes, stop leading with excuses. Make your word your bond.
rights but also the collateral consequences which flowed from making bad decisions. Through her efforts, she empowered young people to protect their rights and make positive choices for the future. According to Crayton, “I also had the pleasure of serving as a Public Defender in the two best Public Defender Offices in the country, (Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota and of course Cook County, Chicago, Illinois).” Within her role as a Public Defender, she is leading change. Change in the lives of everyday people- by guarding their legal rights. She describes this as an exercise of servant leadership. The foundation of servant leadership is one’s commitment to serve others and promote the betterment of society. “Do your little bit of good where you are. It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world,”
according to Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Crayton believes lawyers as leaders have a duty to ‘do good.’ Through this service, leaders can make a positive impact in the world and pass a more just world onto future generations. Her favorite leadership quote focuses on the very essence of service. The quote reads: “In order to lead, you must serve.” When she first heard this quote during her undergraduate years, she did not really understand the significance of the quote, nor the role it would come to play throughout her life. What she has learned over the years, is that great leaders, policy makers, and those who make an impact in the world have recognized that service is paramount. Crayton stated: “they identified the need in their communities, did not wait on someone else, but stepped up and fulfilled that need through
service.” This focus on service has inspired Mrs. Crayton’s career journey. Mrs. Crayton also serves as a mentor to other young female lawyers. When I was a law student and young lawyer, Crayton was my mentor. She not only shared lessons on servant leadership but also modeled how to effectively wage war against injustice. When asked, what advice would you give young female lawyers for developing their leadership skills? She stated: “I think developing ‘people skills’ first and foremost will go a long way in the profession, as it is a skill that transcends on almost every level, from connecting with your clients, negotiating with other attorneys, appearing before judges, and most importantly conveying your client’s story to the trier of fact.” She also recognizes that leaders are learners. She has built her leadership and advocacy skills by studying the power of influence, learning the art of storytelling, and participating in advocacy CLEs. She highly recommends young female lawyers to read Dale Carnegie’s How to win friends and influence people. According to Crayton, this book will provide them with essential tools to become effective leaders, build relationships, and increase their emotional intelligence. Crayton’s career journey demonstrates the transformative power of leadership. Leaders can change the world if they are willing to take a courageous stand. She draws upon the strength of Gideon who led a mighty army to victory. “But the spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet…” Judges 4: 34. Like Gideon, she is armed with her faith, love and compassion. She is blowing her trumpet each and every day by lifting her voice for the voiceless.
What do we mean by accountability? Doing what you say you’re going to do, and doing it by the time you committed. Oh, did we mention doing a good job? you are serious about fundraising and want to get things done. You will run people off is you spend 10 minutes trying to remember what people committed to at the last meeting, and another 10 minutes discussing why those
Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.
Americans find business travel a welcome escape (StatePoint) Each year Americans make more than 405 million long-distance business trips, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics. While business trips have not traditionally been associated with relaxation, more and more often, travelers are finding ways to treat themselves while on the road. In a city where no one knows your name, travelers have no shame in partaking in activities they usually shy away from at home, according to a new study. Three out of five business travelers admitted to going undercover, creating a new identity with a different name, profession and backstory; a quarter have unleashed their inner Mariah
Carey at karaoke and 16 percent have faked an elaborate accent. In fact, 63 percent of business travelers return to work feeling refreshed and productive, according to the study, which was conducted by SpringHill Suites by Marriott, a hotel brand helping to redefine business travel by providing features like separate living, working and sleeping spaces, along with small indulgences traditionally reserved for leisure travel. So the next time the boss signs you up for some travel, don’t sigh. Business trips can be a great escape from monotony and an opportunity to discover new destinations.
Crayton
team of justice crusaders who are fighting to protect the rights of indigent clients. Since graduating from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, Mrs. Crayton has been fortunate enough to work with marginalized populations and young people. She began her career serving as a Staff Attorney and Education Director at the Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis (Minnesota) where she was able to not only represent juvenile offenders, but educate young people as well. Knowledge is power, and she has armed students with the information necessary to reach their fullest potential. Crayton went into schools and the community to share knowledge about the legal system by advising young people not only of their
From 1 states are too poor to hire their own lawyers.” In many instances, public defender offices are overburdened and under-resourced. Some may identify these challenges facing poor clients as unfortunate circumstances or simply not their problem. Meanwhile there are others who recognize that this is a miscarriage of justice since “everyone deserves the best defense.” Public Defenders across the Nation serve as foot soldiers in Gideon’s Army as they seek to advance the cause of justice. Saran Jenkins Crayton is a distinguished member of Gideon’s army, a
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Insight News • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Page 5
1.3 million elementary school students don’t have access to music classes Experts say African American and Latino students do better in school, have higher graduation rates and a better chance of getting into college when exposed to music education on an ongoing basis in K1- 12. Yet budget cuts and program changes mean less access to music education for many students in minority and underserved communities. Across the country, 1.3 million elementary school students still don’t have access to a music class. New survey research also shows that parents and minority parents in particular favor more — not less music education as part of a well-rounded education program.
Survey shows teachers, parents place value on music education Parents and teachers believe music education in schools is vital—so vital that they’d rather cut Advanced Placement classes or gym than music, according to a new study released Tuesday. They also believe music should be a required class in middle school and that students should have a chance to learn an instrument as early as elementary school. The study, “Striking a Chord: The Public’s Hopes and Beliefs for K-12 Music Education in the United States 2015,” aimed to document the attitudes and beliefs of parents and teachers about music education. It surveyed 1,000 teachers and 800 parents. It’s worth noting that arts teachers comprised just 12 percent of the sample. The sample also included teachers of English, science, mathematics, and other subjects. The study was funded by the NAMM Foundation, a Carlsbad, California-based advocacy group for music education. It’s named for one of its supporting organizations, the National Association of Music Merchants. The survey was conducted by the Bethesda, Md., research and consulting firm Grunwald Associates LLC. Many of the findings come as no surprise. For example, the study found that parents and teachers think music is critical to a child’s social emotional education. They want more quality music programs in schools, more professional development for teachers, and more instruments for students. They also believe poor schools lag behind wealthier schools in the quality and quantity of music education programs, and that schools
Graph courtesy of Striking a Chord
hadn’t had a dedicated music class in 20 years.
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) recently presented Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) with the Support Music Award. Here is the Congressman pictured with NAMM President Joe Lamond. with involved parents are more likely to have music programs. But some of the findings stand out. This survey included just 1,800 people. So it is unclear how representative it is of the total population of parents and teachers in the United States. (You can read more about the respondents on page 27 of the report.) It’s also worth noting that the survey asked about perceptions and beliefs but didn’t show how closely those perceptions reflect reality. For example, it didn’t actually count how many of the students in poor schools had musical instruments. Regardless, some of the findings were interesting. Picking music over sports In tough budgetary times, parents and teachers said they would rather cut Advanced Placement classes or even athletics programs than music. The sports aspect was particularly interesting because often communities see sports programs as a critical part of the public school experience, too. Respondents were asked to identify possible budget cuts in 15 different areas. They found 12 areas they would rather cut than music, including administration and standardized testing. Regional differences The report uncovered stark regional differences in
perceptions. When asked about access to music education, enrollment in music classes and minutes-per-week required for music education, teachers (and parents to a lesser degree) in the western part of the country rated their schools much lower than parents in the Northeast, Midwest or South. The study also found music teachers in the West are less likely to have a district curriculum to follow or a music requirement for graduation in their schools. In general, there’s less integration of music education with other subjects in the West as well, and parents in the West say their children are less involved in music programs outside of school. The response from respondents in the Northeast part of the country was, for the most part, a polar opposite of that in the West. In the Northeast, respondents reported higher enrollment in music courses, more programs, more integration and more fulltime music programs. Respondents in the southern part of the country mirrored those in the West to a lesser extent. The report did not offer further details about the regional differences nor did it offer any explanation. “Education Week” reporter Liana Heitin wrote earlier this year about a California district’s efforts to beef up its music program. The district
HUD awards over $380,000 in housing counseling grants The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded nearly $380,000 to seven Minnesota organizations to help families and individuals with their housing needs and to prevent future foreclosures. The grants are in addition to $36 million awarded in April. “Whether you’re a firsttime buyer or trying to keep the place you’ve always called home, knowledge is the key to financial empowerment,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “Whether you’re a first-time buyer or trying to keep the place you’ve always called home, knowledge is the key to financial empowerment,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “We’re proud to support our housing counseling partners as they help American families achieve stability and prosperity.” Antonio R. Riley, HUD Midwest Regional Administrator indicated, “housing counseling grants awarded in Minnesota will help educate consumers and increase much needed access to credit opportunities. Achieving and retaining the American dream will be within the reach of more individuals.” The funding is part of nearly $6 million awarded across the country to directly support the housing counseling services provided by 33 national and regional organizations, six multi-state organizations, 20 State Housing Finance Agencies (SHFAs) and 248 local housing
counseling agencies. National and regional agencies distribute much of HUD’s housing counseling grant funding to communitybased organizations that assist low- and moderate-income families to improve their housing conditions. In addition, these larger organizations help improve the quality of housing counseling services and enhance coordination among counseling providers. Grant recipients utilize funding to address the full range of families’ housing counseling needs. This includes helping homebuyers realistically evaluate their readiness for a home purchase, understand their financing and downpayment options, and navigate what can be an extremely confusing and difficult process. Grantees also help households find affordable rental housing and offer financial literacy training to individuals and families struggling to repair credit problems that restrict their housing options. In addition to providing counseling to homeowners and renters, these organizations assist homeless persons in finding the transitional housing they need to move toward a permanent place to live. Finally, grantees also assist senior citizens seeking reverse mortgages or (HECM). These agencies provide counseling for the rapidly growing number of elderly homeowners who seek to convert equity in their homes
into income that can be used to pay for home improvements, medical costs, and other living expenses. Housing counseling agencies support fair housing by assisting borrowers in reviewing their loan documentation, to avoid potential mortgage scams, unreasonably high interest rates, inflated appraisals, unaffordable repayment terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default, and even foreclosure. Likewise, foreclosure prevention counseling helps homeowners facing delinquency or default employ strategies, including expense reduction, negotiation with lenders and loan servicers, and loss mitigation, to avoid foreclosure. The Minnesota 2015 Comprehensive Housing Counseling Grantees are: Minneapolis: African Development Center of Minnesota Blaine: Anoka County Community Action Program, Inc. Saint Cloud: Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Cloud St Louis Park: Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin Minneapolis: Homeownership Preservation Foundation Saint Paul: Minnesota Homeownership Center Saint Paul: Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc.
Other findings: • About 1 in 3 parents (36 percent) said their child received one year or less of music education. One in 6 parents (16 percent) said their child had received no music education at their school. • Parents and teachers want music to be a required class in middle school. They also think it should be expanded to include contemporary and world music. I wrote earlier this month about some efforts toward that end. • African-American and Hispanic parents were more likely than Caucasian parents to enroll their children in school music programs. The push to revive arts education has been growing for years. Arts education has been listed as a “core academic subject” since the No Child Left Behind Act was passed in 2001 (and is included in the current reauthorization proposal). But NCLB also elevated other subjects like math and reading and tied them to high-stakes tests. Consequently, many schools began cutting back on arts programs despite research
suggesting potential academic benefits. By 2010, 40 percent of high schools no longer required that students take an arts courses to graduate, according to the report, citing U.S. Department of Education statistics. The authors of this week’s study said the survey results support what art advocates have believed for years: that parents and teachers believe music education truly is essential. “The data couldn’t be more clear,” said Peter Grunwald, the president of Grunwald Associates LLC, in a statement. “Teachers and parents told us repeatedly that music is an essential part of learning, not merely an ‘extracurricular activity’ that can be cut when times get tough.” The study also suggested 10 common-sense recommendations for parents, educators, and policymakers: • Adequately fund music and arts education for all children. • Require student participation in music education in middle and high school. • Increase awareness that federal law already designates the arts as a core academic subject. • Ensure that every student who wants to play music
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has access to an instrument of choice and can take it home to practice. Close the opportunity gap by reducing disparities in music education so that all schools, geographic regions, and demographic groups have equal access to quality music education. Provide professional development opportunities to all music educators— and consider integrating music into professional development for all educators. Increase the scope of all elementary school music programs to include instrument instruction, music theory, and composition. Increase awareness among administrators, teachers, and parents that Title I monies can be used for music education— increasing the number of programs that use these funds for music education. Join the SupportMusic Coalition and align with other teacher and parent groups to ensure all children have access to quality music education. Conduct additional research to understand perceptions of music education.
Page 6 • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Insight News
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COMMENTARY Celebrating the gifted James Baldwin Black Press of America By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, NNPA James Baldwin was a gifted author and freedom fighter who made a big difference with his pen in the struggle for freedom, justice and equality. During the past 12 months, notable academies and international literary organizations have paid tribute to the 90-year birthday observance of Baldwin. I knew James Baldwin as a trusted friend, but more importantly, he was a staunch supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Born in the heart of Harlem in 1924, Baldwin through the publication of his books and other writings was bold and courageous in his challenge to racial injustice and bigotry. I vividly remember in the 1960s James Baldwin said, “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.” The social consciousness of Black Americans today is certainly full of awareness that our long struggle for equality, justice and empowerment must continue to be waged with renewed vigor and determination. The “rage” that is now being expressed in Black communities across the nation in response to videotaped incidents of racially motivated police brutality is not new. What is new about the growing “Black Lives Matters” movement among younger Blacks is the effective use
James Baldwin of social media to increase their political and social consciousness concerning these protests and demands for justice. Thus, James Baldwin’s writings decades ago have still proven to be prophetic and visionary in this day and time. A coalition of literary and
cultural groups, including Harlem Stage, New York Live Arts, Columbia University School of the Arts, Harlem Book Fair along with other groups in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and in Atlanta have declared 2014 -2015 “The Year of James Baldwin.” This was
Library of Congress
proclaimed in acknowledgment of Baldwin’s literary genius as a poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, and freedom fighter. I am hoping that a new generation of Black writers will pick up Baldwin’s pen and penetrating spirit to publish more books and inspirational writings.
The Fire Next Time was one of James Baldwin’s most powerful books. In the chapter titled, “My Dungeon Shook,” James wrote an impassioned plea to his young nephew: “... [your grandfather] is dead, he never saw you, and he had a terrible life; he was defeated long before he died because, at the bottom of his heart, he really believed what white people said about him ... you can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger.” As a mentor to many various hip-hop artists during the past 30 years, I always refer them to passages from The Fire Next Time. The use of the “N-word” is still too casually used today by a generation of cultural artists who aspire to advance the cause of freedom and equality for all. With artistic freedom as a right also comes the responsibility to help lift people up to higher level of consciousness. When I was falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned in the 1970s as a member of the Wilmington Ten civil rights case in North Carolina, James Baldwin wrote an eloquent open letter from France in January of 1977 to President Jimmy Carter. The New York Times and numerous African American owned newspapers that were members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) published Baldwin’s missive to Carter. In a classic literary style of Baldwin, he chided President Carter about the injustices of the Wilmington Ten, the Charlotte Three and other U.S political prisoners. Baldwin wrote: “I have a thing to tell you, but with a heavy heart, for it is not a new thing. In North Carolina, as I write, nine black men and
one white woman are under a sentence of a total of 282 years in various prisons on various charges, including arson….. In Charlotte, three black men are on bail and facing sentences equally savage, on charges equally preposterous.” Near the end of his letter, Baldwin concluded. “I am not so much trying to bring to your mind the suffering of a despised people – a very comforting notion, after all, for most Americans – as the state and the fate of a nation of which you are the elected leader. The situations of the Wilmington 10, and the Charlotte 3, are very small symptoms of the monstrous and continuing wrong for which you, as the elected leader, are now responsible.” President Carter never responded to James Baldwin’s open letter. Ten years later, Baldwin passed away in Saint Paul de Venice, France. I am encouraged today to witness a small cadre of young authors who are keeping the style and spirit of the literary genius of James Baldwin alive. But we need more. Black America’s future will be further sustained to the extent to which we keep fighting for freedom with our pens, sermons, creative arts, innovative businesses and leadership development in all areas of human endeavor. We thank James Baldwin for his good work and example. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http:// drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc
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Insight News • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Page 7
EDUCATION Closing achievement gaps requires more than education reform dangerous levels of the metal in their blood. “Even very low levels of lead contribute to cognitive impairment, including reductions in IQ and verbal and reading ability, with no identifiable safe bottom threshold,” the report stated. “Childhood lead exposure also appears to be closely linked to young adult criminal behavior. Crime rates fell more rapidly in states where leaded gasoline was banned more quickly.” Black children from lowincome families absorb more lead from their environment, because they have less calcium in their diets, negatively affecting brain development. The report noted that
By Freddie Allen NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Education reform alone isn’t enough to close achievement gaps between Blacks and Whites, according to a new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). The study by EPI, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on the needs of lowand middle-income families, analyzed how key social and class factors work to diminish student achievement. Those characteristics include parenting practices, single parenthood, irregular work schedules, lack of access to primary and preventive health care and lead exposure. Leila Morsy, a lecturer from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, said that even though politicians understand that family and community characteristics affect student performance, they don’t understand how to address its impact. “Though not all lowersocial-class families have each of these characteristics, all have many of them,” Morsy said in a statement. “Pushing policies that address these social class characteristics might be a more powerful way to raise the achievement of disadvantaged children than school improvement strategies.” Educators should still be encouraged to support strategies such as improving access to early childhood care and education, school-based health centers and after-school and summer opportunities, the report suggested, but those programs must be pursued in conjunction with “macroeconomic policies like full employment, higher wages, and stable work schedules,” that also help to nurture children. Parental engagement and an educational home environment are critical to fostering student achievement. According to the Education Department’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (Kindergarten Class of 2010– 2011), Black parents reported an average of 44 books in the home, less than half the number given by White parents (112). Black parents also spend about
Promise From 1 struggled against poverty and racism. Specifically, it will provide non-profits and local agencies with a distinct competitive advantage and preferential access when applying for federal grants. Thirty-seven programs within 12 federal agencies are Promise Zone partners, including U.S Departments of Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Transportation. Minneapolis will also receive five AmeriCorps VISTA members and a federal liaison to navigate these federal programs. Our offices and the City of Minneapolis will be a resource for advocates,
40 percent less time reading to their young children compared to Whites and Black mothers are “two-thirds as likely as White mothers to read to toddlers daily,” according to the EPI report. Parental engagement and home environment can be lifechanging in those preschool years and research shows that poor families, independent of race, can take steps to make sure that their children don’t lose ground to their financially-stable peers. “Low-income parents of children in Head Start who spend more time reading to their children, visit the library more often, keep more children’s books in the home, and begin reading to their children at an earlier age have children with higher literacy skills,” the report said. “These children are more ready to read when they reach school age, have better vocabularies, are better able to identify words and letters, and know more story and print concepts – the title of a book, the author, reading from left to right, understanding characters’ feelings.” More than half of Black children under the age of 18 live in homes with absent fathers,
compared to just 18 percent of White children. The report said that single parents are more stressed and that single mothers who suffer from depression at higher rates are “more likely to abuse children, causing worse outcomes for children themselves.” That stress is compounded when parents have irregular or nighttime work schedules. “For example, for lowincome African American mothers of preschool children, each additional nighttime hour of work is associated with a decrease in cognitively stimulating mother–child activities,” the report said. Even though most poor children can get health care through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), they still face hurdles accessing primary and preventive care. Doctors are also in short supply in low-income communities. That means poor children, especially poor Black children, have to wait longer to get treated for common illnesses, including allergies, asthma and dental problems. Despite strides to eliminate lead in gasoline and in paint for about 40 years, Blacks are still twice as likely as Whites to have
stakeholders, and community leaders as they navigate federal grant opportunities and resources. The Promise Zone will not erase the effects of segregation and disinvestment in North Minneapolis overnight. The achievement gap between white and black students in Minneapolis is too high. Too many people of color have been denied access to high-quality schools, a robust job market, and financial opportunity because of the color of their skin or the zip code where they were born. The work to empower residents is already underway in North Minneapolis: the Northside Achievement Zone’s early-education programs, or job training programs through Summit Academy and EMERGE, to name only a few. With the Promise Zone
designation, we can amplify and focus investment in the work of community leaders to reduce poverty, create jobs, increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, and create meaningful safety. Much will depend on continued, intentional collaboration between the federal government, our offices, and community. The Promise Zone designation has the potential to make generational, transformational change in, for, and with North Minneapolis. But there’s something in the Promise Zone for everyone in Minneapolis — North or South, Northeast or Southeast or Downtown. When the people and neighborhoods in North Minneapolis can unleash their talent, there is no limit to how great our entire city can be.
discrimination in the criminal justice system leads to higher incarceration rates for young, Black men. Prison convictions make it harder for Black fathers to find gainful employment to support their families, which can also affect the academic success of their children. “Reforming drug laws, ending imprisonment of nonviolent offenders, and curtailing racial profiling in urban policing can result in fewer young African American men disqualified from employment because they report criminal records,” the EPI report suggested. The report also recommended curbing “justin-time” work schedules,
expanding full-service schoolbased health centers and protecting children from lead exposure can have a positive impact in the lives of children from low-income families. Richard Rothstein, a research associate with the Economic Policy Institute and co-author of the report, said that closing the education achievement gap is going to take social reform for lowincome families and their children. “Policymakers should focus on improving the living conditions of these children and their families,” said Rothstein. “That is likely to have a palpable impact on closing the achievement gap.”
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Page 8 • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE
Car review: 2016 Volvo XC90 By Frank S. Washington NNPA Columnist SANTA MONICA, CALIF. – Now that Volvo has been left alone by its new Chinese owners, an opposite tack from its former corporate parent, the Swedish automaker can get back to being itself. That was evident here as Volvo unveiled its XC90 three row sport utility. The 2016 Volvo XC90 is a significant new vehicle on several levels. It signals Volvo’s climb into the ranks of luxury automakers. It also signals technological advancements. And it is the beginning of a product onslaught that will make the 2016 XC90 the oldest vehicle in Volvo’s lineup by 2018. First up is power. For the U.S. market, the XC will be propelled by 2.0-liter, four cylinder Drive E engines. There will be two versions: one for the 2016 Volvo XC90 T6, the second for the T8. But it is not what you think; both engines are identical technologically advanced 2.0-liter four cylinders. The T6 engine had a supercharger and turbocharger working together on the 2.0-liter, four cylinder that made 316 horsepower and 295 poundfeet of torque. The T8 XC90 had what Volvo is branding a twin engine. The same four-cylinder power plant, this time rated at 313 horsepower, is combined with an electric motor. Together they make 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The T8 is a plug-in hybrid; both engines were mated to eightspeed automatic transmissions. All 2016 XC90s sold here will be all-wheel-drive models. But for fuel economy their AWD system will be front-wheel-drive based capable of sending half of the vehicle’s torque to the rear wheels when needed. We test drove the T6 and the T8 and found neither lacking in power or agility. Handling was good, especially for a sizable sport utility with three rows of seats. And both of our testers had the top of the line air suspension. The T6 got 20 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined. The T8 got 59 MPG in the city. Highway numbers were not available at the time of the test drive. The T6 could get from, zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds while the T8 could do it in 5.3 seconds
and the pair have a top speed of 130 mph. Remember, both were hefty sporty utilities with curb weights of 4,627 pounds for the T6 and 5,059 for the T8. It was the low-end torque that moved them quickly from a standing start. Still, neither felt overweight and both were fairly agile and they were well balanced as we drove through the mountains and canyons here with their twisting, tightly curved two lane roads. What’s more, the blowers enabled the T6 and the T8 to get up and over and through the mountain roads without the straining that normally comes with four cylinder engines at altitude. In addition, both the T6 and the T8 can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Although an official said Sweden was not considered in the development of the new XC90, we don’t think so. Gasoline costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 per gallon in the Scandinavian country as well as the rest of Europe. That had to play a role in the company’s development of high-powered, small displacement fuel efficient Drive E engines. Blown power for the long hauls that come in the expansive United States combined with
the fuel efficiency of small four cylinder engines, makes for a globe-gripping vehicle. The Drive E engine family includes diesels but the oil burners will not be sold in this market; at least, not yet. However, no doubt Volvo used its American design studio in Camarillo, Calif., to imbue the 2016 XC90 with the sense of American luxury needed for it to take on the German and Japanese luxury competitors in this market. The interior of the XC was concept car quality. It was airy and loaded with matted walnut wood trim that looked almost natural. There was also a trim level that featured aluminum and chrome appointments. The T8 even featured a handmade crystal shift knob. Plus, the XC90 has a top of the line audio system that features 19 speakers and 1,400 watts of power. It includes an air-ventilated system in the wheel well that turns the entire interior into a giant subwoofer. The seats were exemplary. They had what Volvo called an ergonomic shape that resembled the human spine. The XC90 took four years to develop; the seats took seven. Not only did they look good, like a pillowed new age office chair, they took up less space because they were thinner. Thus, they created more
legroom for second and third row passengers. We didn’t try them, but Volvo said the last row of seats, which folded creating a flat cargo floor, could accommodate someone 5’6” tall. The second row featured three individual seats with an optional child booster seat in the middle. All three could recline as well as slide forward, creating more space for third row passengers. The seats could be outfitted with adjustable side bolsters, seat cushion extensions and they had massage capability. It was a digital interior. The 2016 XC90 had no knobs, save one, or buttons anywhere. There were steering wheel controls and what Volvo called the portrait screen. That screen controlled everything: climate, seats, media, navigation, phone – everything. Even the rear seat climate controls were digital. And the screen was based on infrared, thus, it detected what icon we were going to push when our finger got one milometer away. That means, Volvo said, that it could be operated while wearing gloves. To say that the premium audio system really thumped out sound is an understatement. It was something special. Safety has long been Volvo’s hallmark. Those same spinehugging seats had energy absorbing features to help
prevent spine injuries if the XC90 runs off the road during an accident and experiences a hard landing. The sport utility will automatically brake at intersections when it detects an oncoming vehicle while making a left turn. And the XC90 will automatically brake when it encounters cyclists or pedestrians in front it. Its adaptive cruise control will automatically follow the vehicle ahead in stop and go traffic. Acceleration, braking and steering are controlled automatically. The XC90 can park itself vertically or perpendicularly and four cameras will project a 360-degree view of the vehicle that includes elevation (you have to see it). The XC90 even has a rear collision warning system, in case somebody is going to hit you. About the only quibble we’ve got is that Volvo says the control system is intuitive. We don’t know, there’s an awful lot to learn. Some sort of instructive software might not be a bad idea. All that new technology is wrapped in appealing sheet metal. Volvo’s grille has been returned to align the iconic arrow with the diagonal slash across the taller grille. The DRLs form a “T” shape dubbed ‘Thor’s Hammer” that split the headlights. The XC90
has a clam shaped high hood. The beltline and shoulders were sharper and ran down the side connecting to more distinctive taillights. It was an understated elegance. The XC90 signals that Volvo is back with a vision and the product to match it. What’s more, or worse for competitors, is that the Swedish automaker says it has more of the same type ground breaking products in the pipeline. A special edition, 1,927 copies, signifying the year the company was founded is being delivered in June. The T6 goes on sale in July; the T8 follows in October. There are three trim lines for each model: Momentum, Inscription and R-Design. Base prices range from $48,900 to $71,600; neither includes a $995 freight charge. Quality, safety and technology is what you expect from Volvo. It has been a long wait for the automaker to start funneling new products to market but we don’t think anyone is going to be disappointed. The challenge now is will Volvo put forth the marketing muscle, meaning money, to reclaim its niche in American car the market. Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.
Learning something new is a life learning experience Motivational Moments
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
By Penny JonesRichardson
On Friday, July 17, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) will hold its First Annual Fundraising Dinner at the University of Minnesota, TCF Bank Stadium, at which it will welcome Dr. Fayneese Miller and recognize Ms. Kim Nelson.
Dr. Fayneese Miller, Keynote Speaker
Dr. Miller is the first African American president in the 135 year history of Hamline University, and arrives with a long and distinguished career at the University of Vermont and Brown University.
Ms. Nelson is Senior Vice President of External Affairs, for General Mills, Inc., headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, and is one of the founding members and leaders of the African American Leadership Forum. The mission of the African American Leadership Forum is to Create a Just and Healthy Society that Works Equally Well for Everyone. Kim Nelson, Community AALF extends an invitation to the public to attend this Ms. Award Honoree historic event, to welcome Dr. Miller to our Twin Cities community, and to congratulate and recognize the works of Ms. Nelson.
Service
For information about AALF, and to register for the event, go online to: www.aalf.us; or, contact Jeffrey A. Hassan, Executive Director of AALF, at 612-532-3694, or jahassan@aalftc.org
I recently learned some interesting things about myself. One of the things I learned was that I am the kind of person who is always excited about learning something new. This is exactly who I am! I look at every experience as a life learning one. Whether the lesson is good or bad it is still a lesson to be
learned somewhere along the way. I remember when I was young and my best friend’s mother was still in school taking college classes along with us. She stated that as long as her job would pay for them, she was going to take advantage of the classes and learn everything she could about any subject. I was so amazed at that time but now I find myself being the same way. I am always reading something or studying something that I feel will make me more knowledgeable about something. I also find myself doing more research than I ever have in my life. If I am interested, I will find the information to make it clear to me. This is all about bettering myself
and teaching myself to grow. Every day is another opportunity for you to grow and learn something new. Be it taking a class or just picking up a book and reading about something you’ve always had an interest in. There are also many short term classes that you could take to learn a trade if you like. If you have an interest in fixing up your house, there are classes to take for that. There are even free classes out there if you look hard enough. One thing I’ve found to be true of everyone no matter their social background, learning is something that most everyone enjoys doing when there is an interest in that subject. It’s wonderful to see a person who has just learned something new and is eager to share what they’ve learned. I think of some of the children that I use to work with and how excited they were each day to learn. They came in each day with an expectancy to learn and they expected me to teach it to them. This is how we all should start each day. We should expect to be wowed by something new and exciting! And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving for greatness. Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www.thequeensproject. com or email at penny@ thequeensproject.com.
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Insight News • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Page 9
COMMUNITY First Annual Solomon Hughes, Sr. Golf Classic honors local legend Golfers from the upper Midwest will gather at Emerald Greens Golf Course in Hastings, on June 27 and June 28 to tee off in the inaugural Solomon Hughes, Sr. Golf Classic. The two-day tournament is named in honor of the late Solomon Hughes, Sr. Hughes was a quiet trailblazer and elite Minnesota golfer who in the late 1940’s helped to end
segregation and restrictions of racial discrimination on the Professional Golf Association Tour. His persistent efforts to integrate PGA sponsored tournaments sped the eventual rescinding of the organization’s “white-only” tournament clause in 1961. The event is takes place in flights and includes an 18hole shotgun start each day. The competition includes four
men’s flights, three senior men’s flights (60-plus), and two women’s flights. The entry fee is $130 per golfer and includes two rounds of golf with cart, range balls, $10 snack voucher, the Friday night registration reception and Saturday post-play dinner and dance held at the Hilton Hotel – Mall of America. A portion of the tournement’s proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia
Solomon Hughes, Sr.
& Lymphoma Society – a nonprofit organization fighting the disease, multiple myeloma, which took the life of Hughes and his daughter, former Twin Cities weather reporter, Toni Hughes. To register to play in the Solomon Hughes Sr. Golf Classic go to web.golfsoftware. net/20524 or call the Solomon Hughes Tournament Hotline at (952) 544-4646.
City partners with Nextdoor, the private social network for neighborhoods The City of Minneapolis recently partnered with Nextdoor (www.nextdoor. com), the private social network for neighborhoods, to improve citywide and neighbor-toneighbor communications. This integration with Nextdoor will enable the City of Minneapolis, including the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minneapolis
Fire Department, and other City departments to use Nextdoor to build stronger, safer communities with the help of Minneapolis residents. Specifically, the Minneapolis Police Department and Nextdoor neighborhoods will be able to work together to increase safety and strengthen virtual neighborhood watch. Nextdoor has proven to
be an essential and welladopted tool for Minneapolis residents. Most Minneapolis neighborhoods already use Nextdoor, representing 95 percent of the City. With Nextdoor, Minneapolis residents can create private neighborhood websites to share information, including neighborhood public safety issues, community
events and activities, local services, and even lost pets. The City will be able to post information, such as important news, services, programs, free events, and safety notifications to Nextdoor websites within the city. Nextdoor is a free tool for residents and the City. Each Minneapolis neighborhood has its own private Nextdoor
neighborhood website, accessible only to residents of that neighborhood. Neighborhoods establish and self-manage their own Nextdoor website and the City will not be able to access residents’ websites, contact information, or content. All members must verify that they live within the neighborhood before joining Nextdoor.
Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by Google or other search engines. Those interested in joining their neighborhood’s Nextdoor website can visit www. nextdoor.com/minneapolis and enter their address. If residents have questions about their Nextdoor website, please visit help.nextdoor.com.
Open House community meetings scheduled in June and July for Riverview Corridor Pre-Project Development Study The Riverview Corridor Policy Advisory Committee will host three open house community meetings to seek comments on two elements of the PreProject Development Study. People attending the event are encouraged to learn about the draft Purpose and Need document and provide comments on the need for improved public transit in the Riverview
Corridor. Attendees will be able to comment on potential transit routes and vehicle types being considered in the draft Universe of Alternatives. The Riverview Corridor is a 12-mile transportation route extending from Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. The
Riverview Corridor connects neighborhoods, historical districts, businesses and thriving commercial districts. Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority is leading a transit study in this corridor, focused on identifying solutions that will improve mobility, access to jobs and support economic development as this area continues to grow and develop.
The open house community meetings will include a variety of activities such as maps, a presentation, a video and information boards. Riverview Corridor project team members will attend each event to provide information about the study, answer questions and record comments. Information about the open house community meetings and
study materials are available on the Riverview Corridor website riverviewcorridor.com. Open House Community Meeting Times and Locations: Tuesday, June 30, 5 – 7 p.m. Presentation at 5:30 p.m. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 700 South Snelling Avenue Saint Paul, MN
Tuesday, July 7, 4 – 6 p.m. Presentation at 4:30 p.m. Union Depot, Room 120 214 East 4th Street Saint Paul, MN Wednesday, July 8, 5 – 7 p.m. Presentation at 5:30 p.m. Sholom Home 740 Kay Avenue Saint Paul, MN
Element David Bradley
From 1 Suddenly a bell rang. All activity stopped. Williams called out, “hard work.” The entire gym echoed with the response, “Dedication.” After three calls and responses, the bell rang and aggressive activity resumed. But back to mid-ring, a local drama unfolded before people’s very eyes. At high noon two tall lean figures had entered, toting gym bags across their shoulders – Otis Gage, trainer, and world-class contender, Lee, ranked 23rd in the U.S. Lee, considered the most exciting fighting prospect north of the Pecos River, was in need of the high tech sophisticated sparing action that Element Boxing provides. His record of 10 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, underrepresents his great potential, because his last two opponents cancelled out at the last minute. Simply put, opponents seem to dodge him. But hold on … wait a minute. Outlaw, the other figure in the ring is undefeated with a professional record of four and zero. His trainer, two-time boxing champion, is another of St Paul’s own, Will “Steal-Will” Grigsby. Grigsby
Clockwise (l-r): Melvin Carter II, Dalton Outlaw, Tony Lee (right) with trainer Otis Gage, Tony Lee
expects Outlaw to become St Paul’s next world champion. But if that wasn’t enough, Outlaw and Lee engaged in three grueling rounds of classic, yet electrifying boxing. But just when the excitement appeared to be over, spectators were in for a most unexpected surprise. In came 19-year-old lightweight amateur, Yahya Abdullahi, a most refreshing, pleasant young man. With a
greased up boxing helmet, and gloved up hands, he stepped into the ring, taking Daltons’ place for an additional three rounds. At first, it seemed reasonable that Lee took it easy on the young talented up comer. But no, Abdullahi skillfully pressed Lee, and gave him no choice but to come on with it. The sparing was intense. The two honored one another’s talents and abilities with almost full throttled escalation.
Classifieds
Abdullahi displayed articulated technique, his execution impeccable, reminded one spectator of a young boxing exchampion, Howard Davis. The young warrior, bounced back magnificently, giving Lee the workout he needed. After a lingering silence, gym activity slowly resumed. Lee returned to his corner. Gage watered his fighter, wiped him down with a fresh dry towel and
Phone: 612.588.1313
joked what most were thinking: “Next time there will be an admittance fee just to watch these athletes spar,” said Gage. Lee, the 2015 junior welterweight North American Boxing Union Champion, possesses a rare duality of flashing hand speed along with stunning stopping power, reminiscent of both Sugars: Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard. But Lee, a bone
Fax: 612.588.2031
marrow transplant survivor, more than anything wants the world to know that boxing is a means of using God-given gifts to be the best he can be. Family comes first. “Boxing is what I do. Not who I am,” said Lee. His next bout will be held on June 27 at Mounds View’s Allegiance Fitness Center, 2240 Wooddale Drive.
Email: info@insightnews.com
5/1/13 260 IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS IN THE INTEREST OF Name Angelica Jasmine Roberts Year of Birth 03/20/2001 A Female
Case No. 11JC000017
NOTICE OF HEARING-Publication On the State’s Motion to Terminate Parental Rights Pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2237 TO:
MUCK-WA ROBERTS:
You are hereby notified that a motion has been filed in this court requesting termination of parental rights. The Court may find that the parents are unfit by reason or conduct or condition which renders the parents unable to care properly for a child, the conduct or condition is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, the parental rights of the parent should be terminated, and a permanent custodian should be appointed for the child. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for the 22nd day of June, 2015 at 3:30pm in Division 12. At the hearing the Court may issue orders relating to the care, custody and control of the child. The hearing will determine if the parents should be deprived of their parental rights and the right to custody of the child. The parent(s), and any other person having legal custody are required to appear before this Court on the date and time shown, or to file your written response to the petition with the Clerk of the District Court prior to that time. Failure to respond or to appear before the Court at the time shown will not prevent the Court from entering judgment as requested in the petition, finding that the child is a Child in Need of Care, removing the child from the custody of parent, parents or any other present legal custodian until further order of the Court, or finding the parents unfit, and entering an order permanently terminating the parents’ parental rights. An attorney has been appointed as guardian ad litem for the child: Rachel Hockenbarger. You have the right to appear before the Court and be heard personally, either with or without an attorney. The Court will appoint an attorney for any parent who desires an attorney but is financially unable to hire one. The Court may order one or both parents to pay child support. The father’s attorney is Wayne French. Date and time of hearing: June 22nd, 2015 at 3:30pm Place of hearing: Division 12, Courtroom #B6 of the Shawnee County Courthouse in the city of Topeka, Kansas.
(Waiting List) Now Accepting Housing Applications Birmingham Apartments is accepting housing applications for our waiting list for 2, 3, and 4 BR apartments with Section 8 rental assistance. The waiting list will open on 6/15/2015 and close on 7/15/2015. Income limits apply. For a housing application, please call 952-876-9203. EHO.
Judicial Assistant The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Judicial Assistant in our Minneapolis location. Salary range is $62,050 – $80,666. For more information, visit the court’s website www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment. An Equal Opportunity Employer
Operations Generalist The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Operations Generalist in our Minneapolis location. Salary range is $41,009 – $66,701. For more information, visit the court’s website www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment. An Equal Opportunity Employer
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Part-time Adventure Guide serving African-American youth
Community Partnerships and Child Care Services Director
Opportunity for a creative individual to deliver a youth “Adventure” program in Minneapolis & St. Paul. Once a week programs are run in afternoons or eves, with occasional field trips on weekends. For details, see http://www.northernstarbsa.org/Employment/jobs.aspx
St. Paul, MN $78,906 - $112,940 annually The purpose of the Community Partnerships & Child Care Services Division Director is to create the vision for, manage, and direct the use of resources needed to staff and operate the Community Partnerships & Child Care Services Division. The Division has 47 staff and consists of three program units each managed by a manager. Bachelor’s degree in human services administration or public administration or related field AND at least three years of related advanced professional experience in a public agency or non-profit setting. Two years’ experience as a manager or supervisor working in public administration. Master’s degree in human services administration or public administration related field from accredited higher education institution preferred. Full details at: www.mn.gov/careers posting 15DHS000507. Deadline to apply is July 2, 2015. DHS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action, veteran friendly employer.
Notice of U.S. Magistrate Judge Vacancy The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of one full-time United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The current salary of the full-time position is $185,012 per year and the position will be located in Minneapolis or St. Paul. The term of office for a fulltime magistrate judge is eight years; incumbents may be reappointed to successive terms. The full public notice, application instructions, and application form are available on the Court’s website at www.mnd.uscourts.gov. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Friday, July 31, 2015.
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Page 10 • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Insight News
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Summer Zydeco Cowboy party features Wain McFarlane and Zydeco Blue Band Wain McFarlane and Zydco Blue are coming to the Minnesota Music Café on Saturday, June 27. McFarlane has been a fixture of the Twin Cities music scene for 34 years, best known as the front man of reggae/rock band, Ipso Facto. A special treat, Zydeco Blue features guitarist, John “Markiss” Marcus. In 1972, by the time Marcus was 18-years-old and not old enough to legally patron a club, his guitar playing ability and keen musical sense led him onto stages in the vibrant local Chicago club scene. At the age of 20 Marcus was working in nightclubs along side many of Chicago’s now reputable Blues musicians. As a working tour artist, Marcus climbed the ranks of the blues scene touring with acts such as Al Green, the Spinners, Howlin’ Wolf and eventually Muddy Waters. Marcus also performed or toured with some of America’s best known national acts including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Sun Ra, The Wailers, Judy Mowatt, John Holt and Buddy Guy. Marcus’ first year in Minneapolis, his Markiss and the Shades of Color band won Minneapolis’ Black Music Award for Best New Artist. The band was nominated four years in a row for Best Blues/R&B Band by the Minnesota Music Awards. McFarlane and Zydeco Blue hit the stage at 9:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $5.00 and available online at www.minnesotamusiccafe.com. Minnesota Music Café is located at 499 Payne Ave. in St Paul.
Wain McFarlane
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Insight News • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Page 11 HIP-HOP/PARTY/ PERFRORMANCE
Trombone Shorty
Pride party featuring Da Brat Mill City Nights 111 5th St. N., Minneapolis 9 p.m. 21-plus Pioneering 1990s hip-hop superstar, Da Brat comes to Mill City Nights for a Pride performance. Concert goers are encouraged to wear white.
Da Brat
June 22 - 28
Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com
Monday, June 22 ART EXHIBITION/PARTY #CallMeAndrea The Third Bird 1612 Harmon Pl., Minneapolis $10 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Poet, performance and visual artist Andrea Jenkins
has been named the Grand Marshall for the Ashley Rukes Pride Parade. Celebrate with her solo art exhibition in the Made Here pop up at The Third Bird. Music is provided by DJ Sheli.
Tuesday, June 23
rock, soul, jazz and hip-hop. See him live on tour at the Cabooze.
Wednesday, June 24 R&B/HIP-HOP/ PERFORMANCE
BRASS BAND/HIP-HOP/ PERFORMANCE Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 612-338-6425 $32.50 – $35 Trombone Shorty is one of the few players that has been able to bridge the gap between New Orleans funk,
Eric Mayson Debut Solo Show Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. $7 5 for ’15 R&B/Soul finalist, Eric Mayson, will debut new music from his yet to be titled album. This will be his first full solo live performance with additional performances by Metasota, Homeless & Big Cats, and Dosh. The show is hosted by
Toki Wright and Freez.
Thursday, June 25 CONFERENCE 7th Annual Community Empowerment through Black Men Healing Conference Metropolitan State University 700 7th St. E., St. Paul 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. $10 The Community Empowerment through Black Men Healing Conference is an opportunity to create an environment for effective collaboration, wellness, compassionate accountability and community based solutions
in partnership with the community and services providers. This year’s focus is addressing historical trauma and gender issues in the African-American community. More information about the conference is available at www.brothershealing.com.
Friday, June 26 OPEN MIC The Free Black Table Illusion Theater 528 Hennepin Ave., 8th floor, Minneapolis 7 p.m. -10 p.mm Keno Evol presents a stage for artists of color. This open mic will also feature Donte Collins and DJ Keezy.
Sunday, June 28 SHOWCASE/ECLECTIC Emerging Artists Showcase Aster Cafe LaSalle Plaza, 825 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. Come check out the hottest up and coming talent in the Twin Cities while networking with industry executives at the Soul Tools Radio New Artist Showcase. Featured Artist, Kaleem the Dream, along with Sieed Brown, Destiny Roberts, Sankopheonix, Lucy Valentine, Pauline Johnson, Marcus Blexx, Arapmoi, Jay Mickenny, JaySo Creative and Shavunda Horsely. The showcase is hosted by Soul Tools Radio host, Miss Brit, with music provided by DJ Willie Shu.
Public Enemy’s Professor Griff: Surviving the killing fields “I talk to our young brothers and sisters about how to survive the ‘killing fields’ – I call it the killing fields because they (police) want to kill you,” said Griff. “Act accordingly (if encountering police). ‘Yes sir’ his (butt) to death. That’s not being a punk, that’s being smart. You want to leave with your life.” According to the outspoken hip-hop activist, most artists in hip-hop have very little power, thus they are less apt to be as enlightening as his group, Public Enemy. Griff said today’s hip-hop artists couldn’t speak consciousness if they wanted to, but most don’t want to. “Puffy, Jay (Z), 50 (Cent) are all bought and sold,” said Griff. Harry Colbert, Jr.
Professor Griff (right) and Nneka Morgan discuss everything from money to politics, music, police brutality and more during a recent event at Scratch Bar & Grill in downtown Minneapolis.
By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer They say people tend to mellow with age, but “they” must not have ever met Professor Griff. At 54, Griff, the minister of information for the iconic hip-hop group, Public Enemy, is as passionate and outspoken as ever. Griff ’s passion and outspokenness was on display for more than two hours during a recent Thursday (June 10) conversation at Scratch Bar & Grill in downtown Minneapolis. Griff ’s appearance was facilitated by Nneka Morgan, investing professional and host of Financial Fitness on KMOJ, 89.9 FM. During the discussion Griff talked everything from the music to race relations, to recent uprisings in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore, Md., to interpersonal relations among African-Americans. However, Griff bristles at the term African-American. “Every time I hear that term it makes my stomach hurt because most of us don’t know anything about being African,” said Griff to an audience of nearly 100. “The whole idea of being African is so far removed from us. We need better knowledge of self.” During the wide-ranging talk, Griff dedicated a significant portion to discuss community/police relations in light of the recent uprisings and protests following the killings
of several unarmed AfricanAmericans. “Rebel, that’s what we need to do,” said the outspoken author, radio host and third degree black belt. “Freddie Gray (killed in Baltimore) lost his life for running. He saw police and ran. Running is not a crime. Any Black man in this room could be Freddie Gray … Michael Brown … Eric Garner.” Griff was critical of a
popular saying that has been adopted by many of the Black Lives Matter movement. “Hands up, don’t shoot,” questioned Griff. “Where I’m from we bust back. We’ve become pathetic sounding people.” Conversely, Griff advised parents to have conversations on how to deal with police during encounters and encouraged conciliation.
Live at Orchestra Hall
The Temptations Sun Jul 12 7pm
They've been the soulful soundtrack for half a century, and led by founder Otis Williams, this group will take you on a joyful journey down memory lane. Who can forget My Girl, Just My Imagination or Papa Was A Rolling Stone? For a little Sunshine On A Cloudy Day, come to Orchestra Hall! Please note: The Minnesota Orchestra does not perform on this program.
minnesotaorchestra.org 612.371.5656 / Orchestra Hall Presented by:
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“And the record executives don’t respect them. You want to know who they respect? Master P. He didn’t answer to them. He didn’t need them.” In discussing hip-hop’s influence and more particularly, Public Enemy’s influence, Griff said the country’s first Black president has Public Enemy to thank. “When we were out there (touring) in the early days Black people didn’t show up, it was white people, so yeah, P.E. (Public Enemy) is partly responsible for Barack Obama getting in office because all these whites came up on P.E.,” said Griff. Not a rapper or a DJ, Griff had a unique role in the group
as its minister of information. “When we’re talking about ‘Don’t Believe the Hype,’ ‘911 is a Joke,’ ‘Profits of Rage’ … somebody had to do the research for those songs. That was your boy Griff,” said the group’s minister of information. Morgan, who presented the evening, and who earlier brought the equally outspoken Dr. Umar Johnson to Minneapolis, said her admiration for Griff was not as an artist, but as a principled man. “The reason I had Professor Griff here is because he’s not a puppet and I respect people who are willing to speak out and not be puppets,” said Morgan.
Page 12 • June 22 - June 28, 2015 • Insight News
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LUCY MCBATH
Mother of Jordan Davis reflects upon the loss of her son But I don’t dwell on that because Jordan had been raised to care about and champion the underdog’s freedoms and riots. And that’s exactly what he was doing. He gave his life caring about others. They weren’t doing anything other than exercising his rights. He was doing exactly what he’d been taught in terms of caring about others.
By Kam Williams Lucy McBath is the mother of Jordan Davis, the unarmed teenager gunned down at a Florida gas station for refusing to turn down the radio which was playing loud rap music. Although Jordan’s murderer, Michael Dunn, has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the crime, Lucy has remained a very vocal advocate on behalf of all victims of such violence. Here, she reminisces about Jordan while discussing “3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets,” a documentary chronicling the trial of her son’s killer. She also discusses her commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement and to pressuring the criminal justice system to hold all violators of black civil rights accountable. Kam Williams: Hi Lucy, thanks for the interview. Lucy McBath: Thank you, Kam. I’m glad we’re able to connect. KW: “3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets” was a very powerful film. What did you think of it? LM: I’m extremely pleased because it’s truthful and it does the very thing we wanted, which is impact people. It’s been very, very well received, particularly among people who never spent much time thinking about the issues of racism and biases and guns and violence. They see how we’re all related dynamically to my story in some way, because it’s everybody’s story. KW: What interested you in participating in this documentary? LM: I’m a product of the Civil Rights Era. My father was a Civil Rights leader. So,
Lucy McBath I understood the power and authenticity of being able to move people for a cause. I felt that this would be one of the most effective ways to reach the largest possible audience and to prick their conscience and to get them to open their homes and communities to discussions about gun violence and race. This gives us a chance to reach more people than we’d ever be able to just in our own communities. KW: Editor Jaymie Cain notes that you went to grammar school in her hometown of Joliet, Illinois. LM: Yes, that’s where I was born and raised. And I still have cousins who reside there. KW: She’s wondering whether you filed a civil lawsuit against your son’s killer, Michael Dunn. LM: Yes, we did. KW: How would you describe Jordan in 25 words or less? LM: Fun-loving, intuitive, spiritual and humorous...
[Chuckles] He was always playing jokes, yet he was also really concerned about others, especially people who had less than he had, and people who didn’t have the opportunities that he had. KW: What was it like to not only lose your son, but to have to grieve in the national spotlight, and at a time you were also battling breast cancer? LM: It was extremely, extremely difficult. I had to deal with my son being murdered as well as my health, and have it all played out in the media. But I understood the inherent importance of what we were doing, and that I would have to put aside all of my ills and my “isms” because what God was doing was much greater than Jordan, and that Jordan’s life was serving as a catalyst for change. So, I had to put aside what was uncomfortable for me to do what I needed to do. KW: Have you bonded with any of the other parents of other
Before phishing, there was fishing. International Pop Walker Art Center
Roy Lichtenstein Look Mickey 1961 National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Gift of Roy and Dorothy Lichtenstein in honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990
“Serious Fun.” – Wall Street Journal walkerart.org International Pop is organized by the Walker Art Center. This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Major support for the exhibition is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation, the Prospect Creek Foundation, the Terra Foundation for American Art, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and the Margaret and Angus Wurtele Family Foundation. Additional support is generously provided by Walker trustees and donors.
unarmed young blacks killed by whites in recent years? LM: Absolutely! I’m good friends with Sybrina Fulton [Trayvon Martin’s mother]. Just recently, I spent some time with Michael Brown’s mother [Leslie McSpadden]. I’ve met Eric Garner’s mother [Gwen Carr] and Tamir Rice’s mother [Samaria Rice], too. Every year in Miami, Sybrina hosts what she calls “The Circle of Mothers.” Along the way, I’ve had a chance to meet quite a few other mothers who are grieving over the murders of their children, many of whose cases never garnered national attention. KW: Do you see a psychological difference in yourself from them, since you’re the only mother whose son’s killer was convicted of murder. LM: In that regard, I’m kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Just because we’ve received justice, doesn’t mean that we don’t care about everyone who hasn’t. It actually makes us even more passionate because we know that justice can be done. We wanted to set a precedent in the justice system to give a sense of hope to our people. We have to care about what’s happening in our community. We have to care about the other mothers and fathers who have never received justice for their loved ones. So, we feel very responsible to continue to stand and fight the system with our heads high for the rest of our lives, if necessary, until we create the changes necessary for everyone to receive justice. KW: Is there one widespread misconception about Jordan that you’d like to correct for the record? LM: Yeah, Jordan was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Because it happened in Florida, everybody thinks Jordan was from there. But he has a whole history in Georgia. His church friends... his home school group... the church school group... The whole essence of who Jordan is, is because of Atlanta. That’s what I want people to know. KW: Was there a meaningful spiritual component to Jordan’s childhood? LM: Very much so. He was very heavily involved in his youth group. He would go on the spiritual retreats our church would have for the children. And when he was very young, I was a flight attendant, and my church family and other singlemoms would come together and take care of him if I had to work, so he wouldn’t miss a beat. He was very enthusiastic about attending the children’s service. He would scream, “Come on mom, I don’t want to be late.” I was just so happy that, at an early age, he had found God for himself, and had his own personal relationship with God.
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KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: What message do you want people to take away from “3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets?” LM: I want people to think about more than just
themselves. I want them to think about what’s happening in the country, dynamically, in terms of racism and fear and guns and violence. And if you don’t condone what’s going on, I’d like you to ask yourself what you’re going to do about it. In what small way can you contribute to make sure everyone’s human and civil rights are respected. We all have a responsibility to be each other’s keepers. If we don’t, we’re going to begin to fall as a nation, and you’ll see us completely begin to dismantle ourselves. KW: Patricia also asks: What do you think should be done regarding gun control laws to make sure that weapons do not get into the hands of the wrong people? LM: Because of the Black Market, I realize we’re not going to be able to take all the guns off the street. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t work with our legislators to change the laws so that they’re not so expansive and allow people to use their guns any way they want to as vigilantes and self-appointed sheriffs. Having representatives meet the families of the victims of gun violence is extremely impactful, because our legislators need to be reminded that they are accountable to their constituents and must work to keep their communities safe. KW: Why do you think Michael Dunn was convicted while George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the death of Trayvon Martin? LM: I think the problem with Trayvon’s case was that he was demonized from the very beginning. And because he was dead, there was no one to refute what the shooter said. In our case, we had his friends and other witnesses who could testify. And if it weren’t for a stranger, Sean Atkins, who reported Michael Dunn’s license plate before he fled the scene, he might never have even been arrested. KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: I hope I am not invading your private grieving, but are you willing to address what changes you’d like to see in society so that Jordan would not have died in vain. LM: I’d believe how we look at race in this country, systemically, how people are allowed to use guns, and how police brutality plays into gun violence all need to be addressed. And all these issues are interconnected and interrelated. You cannot solve one without the others. KW: David Roth says: I’m so sorry for your loss, and I’m also sorry for our society. Without excusing Michael Dunn’s sociopathic overreaction, I wonder whether you ever find yourself wishing Jordan and his friends had simply turned down the radio when they were asked? Did the evidence in the case suggest that such a response would have avoided provoking an insane, deadly response? LM: If they had “obeyed” his wishes and turned downed down the music, yes, Jordan probably would be alive today.
KW: Editor Marilyn Marshall asks: What advice should parents of young black males give them about the dangers they face in society? LM: What we taught Jordan was: We do not want you to live in fear, however, you must protect yourself. You must be aware of your surroundings and who you spend time with, and you must understand that, as a young black male, people will make assumptions about you without even knowing you. I even had a big discussion with Jordan after the killing of Trayvon Martin, warning him that people no longer use reasonable convict resolution nowadays. That they will just take out their guns and shoot you. I remember saying to him, “Jordan, sweetie, you’ve got to be careful, because someone might shoot you rather than try to revolve a conflict peacefully.” He said, “No, mom, that’s not going to happen to me. I’m going to be okay.” It tears my heart apart whenever I reflect upon that conversation because I was foreshadowing my own child’s demise. KW: Marilyn has a follow-up: How would you like Jordan to be remembered? LM: I want him to be remembered as a young man who was very loving. He loved God; he loved his friends; and he was very inclusive, trying to bring all different types of people together. And he surrounded himself with kids who had a heart like his. I really believe that if Jordan had been allowed to live out his life here on Earth, he would have become a civil activist creating change out in the community. And now, I’ve become that very thing that I saw in my own son. KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see? LM: I see my father. I understand his work so much better now. He was the president of the Illinois branch of the NAACP for over 20 years. As a child, it had been hard for me to appreciate his commitment to justice for our people. Today, I finally understand his drive since that’s all I think about day and night, and with every fiber of my being, because I know it matters. KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for? LM: That we could live here in the United States, a nation of immigrants, as God intended us to live. KW: If you could have a chance to speak with Jordan what would you say? KB: [Long pause] I understand why you’re not here, sweetie... [While weeping] And I accept it, because I know that you were here for this short period of time for a greater purpose. Despite my selfish desire to have you here because you’re my son and because I love you, I understand that God had to call you home because you were needed for a larger purpose. I hope that I was the mother that you needed me to be. I want you to know that I am doing well and that I need you to continue to give me the strength to now be the mother to other sons. KW: My sincerest condolences on your loss, Lucy, and best of luck in your mission to make sure Jordan didn’t die in vain. LM: Thank you, Kam, for taking an interest and for helping us make a change. We really appreciate that.