Insight News ::: 06.19.17

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Insight News June 19 - June 25, 2017

Vol. 44 No. 25• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Celebrating Black Music Month TURN TO PAGE 2

Black music is the base (or in this case, the bass) of all music.

Kenneth Caldwell

Page 2 • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Insight News

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Leading with art:

Celebrating Black Music Month

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor Jazz. Funk. The blues. Gospel.

Soul. Swing. Hip-hop. Rock.

Opera. Even country.

Deeply rooted in nearly every genre of music are the rhythms, melodies and stories of Black people who have endured, rebelled, loved, pained and oftentimes triumphed in the face of the harshest adversity. The

music makes you dance. It makes you sing. It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. But most of all, it makes you feel.

That’s Black music.

Powerful in its expression and reach, Black music has the ability to sooth the soul and spark a revolution. Black music is the joyousness of Al Jarreau’s “Mornin’.” It’s the pain of Prince’s “Another Lonely Christmas.”

It’s the hope of Sounds of Blackness with “Optimistic.”

It’s Diane Williams telling you everything’s OK because “Jesus Can Work It Out.” It’s the humor of Bizmarkie’s “Just a Friend.”

It’s James Brown reminding you that “This is a Man’s World” but it wouldn’t mean nothing (nothing) without a woman or a girl.

Black music is Tupac telling the heartbreaking story of “Brenda’s Got a Baby,” yet

Blending the hip-hop stylings with the traditional, this upright bass player is adorned with a Minnesota Timberwolves cap.

reminding you to “Keep Ya Head Up.” Black music is Solange

Kenneth Caldwell’s rendition of a young Michael Jackson. perfectly capturing the rawest emotions of being Black in America within one album while asking for “A Seat at the Table.”

Black music is Marvin Gaye,

Michael Jackson, Otis Redding, Gil Scott Heron. Black music is New Edition, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, TLC, Mint Condition, Beyonce and Rihanna. Black music is N.W.A., Public Enemy, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, Notorious B.I.G., T.I. and Outkast. Black music is also Migos, Young M.A, Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert.

In celebrating Black Music Month, we turned to acclaimed artist Kenneth Caldwell to “paint the picture” of Black music.

Caldwell’s work that appears on this week’s cover captures the funk, fire and vitality of Black music. The work that appears on the cover and on page two can be viewed at Sammy’s Avenue Eatery, 1101 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis. To purchase Caldwell’s art, contact the artist at (612) 483-3343.

Marsha Pitts-Phillips, United Way’s Director of Public and Media Relations retires Aspiring to pursue what she describes as new adventures, former director of Public and Media Relations Marsha Pitts-Phillips announced her retirement from Greater Twin Cities United Way capping just over a decade of leadership in communications, public and media relations service with the nonprofit.

Her tenure included serving as a strategic communications advisor, and community and organizational counselor.

In front of colleagues, family and friends at her May 30 retirement party, she received a proclamation read by Twin Cities Black Journalists chapter president, Maria Reeve, that cited Pitts-Phillips’ many accomplishments. Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges proclaimed May 30, 2017 as Marsha PittsPhillips Day for her years of “professionalism in the industry, respected community leadership, grace, kindness and devotion to her family.”

Marsha Pitts-Phillips Pitts-Phillips’ United Way career highlights include securing large media coverage during the nonprofit’s Centennial year in

2015, leading implementation of the partnership between United Way, the Star Tribune and U.S. Bank for the annual essay contest for elementary schoolaged children, communications collaborations with several Twin Cities organizations and government entities in the aftermaths of the 2007 35W Bridge collapse and the 2011 North Minneapolis Tornado, the annual Minnesota Hunger Initiative’s Walk to End Hunger, the production of the TPTPBS documentary “Nourishing Lives, Ending Hunger” and several community relations initiatives.

“Marsha elevated Greater Twin Cities United Way’s profile during her 11 years by contributing insights, providing unwavering support of our organization, and her deep commitment to equity. She was a colleague and a mentor to many. Although her retirement is well-deserved, she will be greatly missed,” said Sarah

Caruso, president and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way. In addition to her work at United Way, Pitts-Phillips’ professional affiliations include the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Minnesota PRSA, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the local NABJ chapter Twin Cities Black Journalists, and the National Black Public Relations Society.

The retiring director said she plans to continue her service on the Martha Ripley Memorial Fund Advisory Board and as an associate minister at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Her new adventures include completing a journey she began many years ago – acquiring her master in theological and religious studies and securing an accreditation in public relations. She also plans to devote more time to her family and her favorite hobby – gardening.

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Insight News • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Page 3

aesthetically speaking

Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities

MORE ON PAGE 10

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Insight News June 19 - June 25, 2017

Vol. 44 No. 25• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Gang summit seeks lasting peace

By David McCoy Insight News Intern

Community leaders are calling for lasting peace among area rival gangs.

Over this past weekend the nationally organized Conference of Peace was held at the New Salem Missionary Baptists Church in North Minneapolis with the participation of civil rights leader and National Newspaper Publishers Assoc. president, Dr. Benjamin Chavis and musical innovator Stevie Wonder as well as panelists from a variety of area empowerment organizations. With workshops

and forums, this summit sought to “develop a positive platform that encourages effective conversations for peace, selfempowerment and personal and communal involvement.”

Last week on “Conversations with Al McFarlane,” leader and elder in the community, Spike Moss, spoke about the need for a healthy discussion on guns and gang violence in the Black community and the work they would be doing at the Conference of Peace. Moss was joined by Anthony Scott and Brother King in discussing the need for this summit.

“The last time this work was done was in ‘90s, but we’re going backwards. Every night is

gunshots,” said Moss. “A study came out saying Minnesota is the worst state for people of color.

That speaks to the poverty in our community. There are no more youth events, neighborhood dances, programs; all that’s left is the street. And you’re seeing that all over the country.”

Moss told listeners that 98 percent of Minnesota’s young Black men were unemployed, which only helps fuel the surge in gun violence and gang activity.

“You can walk around for a month looking for a job, or one day and find dope; or one day and find a 9 mm in a place (North Minneapolis) without a gun store.”

Creating an opportunity

to address this was the purpose of this Conference of Peace.

Previous summits were held in other cities and done through the tireless work of Moss and other leaders creating a positive space that with the help and respect of gang leadership saw thousands empowered to go back to school, brought families together, and according to Moss, ended conflicts.

Born in Chicago, Scott further described was the harsh effects of growing up without good role models, resources to help improve life and institutions that trap people in no-win situations.

SUMMIT 5

Sharlene Washington

Founder of Den Brothers, Andre McNeal (far left) and Sen. Jeff Hayden (far right) with Den Brothers youth.

Den Brothers provides mentorship, guidance to young men in North Minneapolis

Each one, reach one Am I my brother’s keeper?

If you asked Andre “Debonaire” McNeal, the answer would be a resounding yes.

Last year, he started Den Brothers North, a mentoring program for young AfricanAmerican males on the northside of Minneapolis. The program is presented by the Doorstep Foundation.

“Today’s generation have very few positive images and role models and people they can talk to and draw from positively, so my job is to create that,” said McNeal.

The goal is to bring about change in the community, develop leadership skills and

promote academic success.

Every first and third Wednesday of the month, a group of 20 boys, ages 10-17 years old, meet in the basement of the Northside Achievement Zone, 2123 W. Broadway Ave. June 7 was picture day. The group wore white shirts with black ties. They beamed with pride, as they smiled for the camera.

The young men were fed dinner as the meeting got underway. They start each session with self-reporting. The boys and teens took turns talking about the challenges and bright spots that occurred since their last meeting. The word “bad” is not allowed to be spoken when

talking about challenges.

“I didn’t pass a test,” said one young man.

“I don’t want them to think their situation is bad; their life is bad. The situation is challenging and challenges you can overcome,” said McNeal.

“You didn’t know how to shoot a basketball at one point, but you learned, you worked hard at it, you overcame it. When they run up against something they haven’t seen before, instead of them losing it, and reacting, they can be proactive and use their growth mindset. That’s what we apply here, every time we meet.”

During the bright spot part of the meeting, the group

clapped and cheered after each boy spoke. McNeal said this has to do with creating positive self-esteem and celebrating each other.

Each meeting, a member of the community visits and speaks to the boys. The mentors tell their story and talk about how they’re living their lives as husbands, fathers and men in the community. On June 7 Sen. Jeff Hayden (DFL-62) was the guest speaker. He talked about balancing legislative work and family life. He made a point of telling the young men to lean on their families for support.

Spike Moss (foreground) and Anthony Scott

Patrick Henry alum to graduate dental school class of 2017

By Nadvia Davis Growing up in North Minneapolis, Shakeyla Barber was not unaccustomed to change. In fact, she embraced it as change and an almost overlooked letter led her on the path toward becoming a dentist.

Barber, originally born in Robbinsdale, by way of Brookhaven, Miss., graduated from Patrick Henry High

Author writes about Girls In Action(GIA) continues its mission to family empower and impact girls around the world abuse

By Abeni Hill Girls in Action(GIA) strives to inspire girls to achieve success in their lives and careers through positive affirmations and leading by example.

“They are empowering these girls through ‘I am’ affirmations,” said WCCO anchor, Angela Davis at the Fifth Annual I Am Breakfast in May. These affirmations are also known to the participants as their “birthright.” The girls are encouraged to place their hands over their hearts and recite the phrase, “I am” followed by a positive word such as valuable or lovable.

“We are taught that we are important and that we matter,” said GIA participant and 2017

NANCY CHAKRIN Photography

NANCY CHAKRIN Photography

GIA’s Girl of the Year Aja Burnside, 17. She said the program inspired her to dream and she aspires to be President of the United States one day.

The award winner also invited

the audience to recite the “I Am” affirmations with her.

For GIA founder and president, Dr. Verna Price, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing mentees like Burnside

Angela Davis

Business

Links bring the ‘Power of One Through Friendship and Service’

PAGE 4

Dr. Verna Price

People Incorporated to provide free mental health training

PAGE 5

School with hopes of attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). It wasn’t until she was filled out a college fee waiver and finding a piece of misplaced mail that she would make her college decision.

“My mother found a piece of mail behind the desk. We opened it and I remember it being a bunch of purple confetti and a letter saying, ‘Congratulations

HENRY 5

DEN BROTHERS 5

exercise her project’s mission.

“The beautiful part is to see it all circle back,” said Price.

She said there are five mentors, interns, and leaders who served as mentees in the program.

“When I started GIA it never occurred to me that the girls would never go away.”

Girls as young as grade six can enroll in the program and continue through high school and into college as a mentee.

When GIA sent its first group of participants off to college, Price said some of the feedback she received from the participants was the need for GIA to support its alumni.

“We have an alumni fund,” said Price. She explained some of the girls would fall into

GIA 6

By Nadvia Davis Soft spoken. Humble. Survivor.

These are just a few words that describe author and counselor Carmen Love. Of the three words, survivor speaks volumes as it has become a part of Love’s identity after she almost died trying to overcome an emotionally, verbally and physically abusive family. Much of the abuse stemmed from her mother, which was then passed on to her older brother.

“When I was 16 my brother had beaten me so badly; almost to death. I was bloody. He kicked me in my chest,” said Love.

With such memories that scared her going into her adult life, Love would try to escape the pain, but only found

\

Carmen Love herself married to a man that continued the abusive cycle.

“He (her ex-husband) use to beat me while I was pregnant,” said Love.

Life as Love knew it was on a downward spiral. Love managed to get away from the tumultuous marriage with her four children, one of which was a newborn at the time. With little money and no place to live, Love and her family became homeless for three months.

As a single parent, Love and her children relocated from California to Minnesota and ended up in a shelter.

It was here in Minnesota that she would finally get the positive breakthrough for which she had yearned.

“Life got so much

LOVE 4

Lifestyle

I2H

News

Dr. Shakeyla Barber

Pfizer’s Kevin Williams to pen health columns

PAGE 6

Graduating from college wasn’t easy, but I did it

PAGE 7

Page 4 • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Insight News

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Business

Part one of a two part series

Planned confusion FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw Does your board, committee, or team meet over and over again without gaining any traction, let alone achieving anything that

could be considered success or completion? If you answer “yes” you may be suffering from planned confusion.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

And, what’s worse, we don’t know it. Or even worse, we know exactly what we are doing … we set things up so it’s hard to point fingers and difficult to remedy the situation. As the name implies, planned confusion is planned. Sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously. It has symptoms and causes. Here are a few – are any of these familiar?

Symptoms We try to schedule meetings, but they keep getting postponed at

the last minute. The person who is supposed to take notes or minutes doesn’t distribute them, and when he does they don’t include action items or agreed upon next steps.

When we meet we have to start from the beginning because many people were unable to attend the last meeting and need to be “brought up to speed.” And, we don’t have an agenda, or we have one that lacks specificity. As a board, we lack a quorum, so when we meet we are not conducting official business. At meetings we constantly hear from people with no track record or integrity – they don’t do what they say they will do. We get frustrated by our inability to neutralize “meeting bullies” – those who talk loud,

flex their muscles and intimidate others from participating.

More symptoms We have a culture of excuses and the result is that people don’t do what they say they will do. When we make decisions, the follow up activities are not completed on time. We suspect that our team members or board members really don’t care – they are participating because they must. We lack the courage to look at the underlying issues that need to be addressed.

We present issues, ideas and thoughts that go against our stated goals and objectives, or proposed/ identified solutions. We don’t have defined goals, objectives and expectations. We don’t know what

we are trying to achieve and we don’t have a timeline. When we do move forward, people are unable to “stay in their lane” – they focus on the work and responsibilities of others, instead of their project. We don’t need anyone from the outside to undercut our momentum: we do it ourselves.

Causes Underneath these symptoms there are usually a few causes.

These include a lack of defined purpose or an outdated vision, the wrong people on the board or team, lack of leadership, poor communication and/or lack of consistent follow-up between meetings. Being honest is the first step in finding out what’s really

going on. If you are committed, then you need to speak up. Talk to your team/board members off line.

Learn their perspectives. Be sure to keep your word, and then begin the process of holding people accountable to their word.

Next week is part two … suggestions for how to combat planned confusion.Copyright 2017 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw are authors of four books on fundraising available on Amazon. com. For more information visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

INSIGHT Links bring the ‘Power of One Through Friendship and Service’ to Minneapolis NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips

The Central Area of The Links, Inc. demonstrated the “Power of One Through Friendship and Service” during the 2017 Central Area Conference at the Minneapolis Marriott Hotel City Center, June 7 – June 11.

The 40th Central Area Conference brought more than 800 Links members to the Twin Cities.

More than 100 Links volunteered at the Agape Child Development Center, reading with students, assisting in the community garden, providing valuable one-on onecoaching with staff and preparing dinner kits.

“The members of the Central Area of The Links, Inc. were excited to roll up their sleeves and leave their mark of service

Love From 3 better,” said Love, describing the adjustment period that she and her children experienced living in St. Paul.

As Love started regaining a stable lifestyle, she considered the thought of going back to school. This thought became a reality; and undoubtedly

here in Minneapolis,” said Glenda Masingale Manson, Central Area director from Bloomington, Ill. “Agape Child Development Center aligns to the work we focus on with children and families. Their foresight to create

Minnesota’s first 24-hour child care facility addresses the needs of the families served by this visionary organization as they are nurtured to move beyond crisis to restoration and then on to empowerment.”

The Central Area donated books, educational materials and presented a monetary donation.

During the Civic Luncheon, the Central Area Links honored area residents for their civic, social, artistic, international, business, health and human services. The individuals honored are considered by the Links as change agents in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Robin Hickman, Soul Touch Productions, Sarah Bellamy and Lou Bellamy, Penumbra Theatre, former Minneapolis mayor, Sharon Sayles Belton, the Hon. LaJune Thomas Lange, International Leadership Institute and Dr. Henry Smith were honored following the keynote address

one of the best things that ever happened to her.

She enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s degree program in Human Services at Metro State University.

While pursuing her degree, Love said she felt such supported by the deans, faculty and staff.

“I was connected to people that really made me feel valued and loved. They bolstered my self-esteem,” said Love.

Torn by the thought of trying to raise a family, take

classes and start a new life, Love faced each new challenge with courage and faith.

“My faith was telling me, you deserve this,” said Love.

Upon completing her bachelor’s degree, Love described graduation day as surreal.

“I couldn’t believe it. Metro State inspired me. I had no idea that I would graduating at the top of my class,” said Love.

Obtaining her bachelor’s degree was truly an outlet that

lead Love to believe that she could break away from all the hurt and pain and finally start living a life filled with peace and joy.

Today, it’s been 18 years since Love was first interviewed

by Insight News. Since then she has established a career as a chemical dependency counselor and written a book, “They Loved with a Closed Fist … When Love Hurts: A True Story of Family Abuse and Survival.” From time to time, Love is reminded of how far she has come after

(Front row, left to right) Lou Bellamy, Robin Hickman, Links, Inc. president, Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris, former Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, Dr. Henry Smith, Sarah Bellamy and Lt. Col. Natalie H. Dixon with members of the Central Area Links, Inc.

from Links national president, Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris.

The luncheon culminated with honoring women in the military, a new Central Area initiative.

Honorees included Lt. Col. Natalie H. Dixon, U.S. Army assistant chief nurse, 452nd Combat Support Hospital, Ft. Snelling, Col. Angela Steward-Randle, director of Human Resources, Manpower and Personnel for U.S. Army Minnesota National Guard and Capt. Ayodele Jessica Famodu, U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate Corps.

Conference co-chairs D’Juana Ballard, Jayne Khalifa, Duchess Harris and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter coordinated local host activities.

living a life of turmoil. She no longer considers herself a victim, but instead a survivor. She hopes that someday her story will reach audiences worldwide.

“When I think about all the horrible things that have happened to me and I’ve survived those. If I could survive all of that, I can take a step forward,” said Love.

Love’s book is available on Amazon.com.

Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Gloria Freeman Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Rebecca Rabb 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.

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Insight News • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Page 5

Initiative aims to educate police on mental health first aid basics

People Incorporated to provide free mental health training for Minneapolis police officers In an effort to aid police officers in recognizing mental illnesses when responding to a police call or crisis events, People Incorporated – a community-based mental health services organization – is hosting a series of free mental health trainings for Minneapolis police officers this summer.

Throughout the summer, People Incorporated will educate officers on Mental Health First Aid, a national program on the signs of mental illness and substance abuse, as well as introduce officers to the National Alliance on Mental Illness

Minnesota, and host motivational interviewing trainings for officers.

This summer’s trainings are a continuation of work the organization has already been doing to impact community safety in the Twin Cities metro. Last summer, it conducted motivational interviewing training with the Minneapolis Police Department.

Motivational interviewing helps officers use a guiding approach when working with resistant individuals, and encourages officers to ask key questions and use strong listening skills to defuse a stressful situation.

People Incorporated has also conducted crisis intervention team (CIT) training with the St. Paul Police Department.

“The response to past training was very positive, and we started a productive dialogue with valuable partners in the community,” said Russ Turner, senior training manager at People Incorporated.

“We’re investing our time in this effort because we believe in the value and impact this training will have on the Minneapolis Police Department and our community.”

Columnist Deborah Locke advocates for nature

down a larger welcome mat for all to use. Why? We need to know that the next generation of Minnesotans knows about and uses their state parks.

You may wonder how the newspaper work ties into this job. This is how. Opinion writers are dependent on sources for background information. A source could be a school superintendent or a homeless man who lives by the river and contributes to a series on homelessness in Minnesota.

A source may be a student at Central High School in St. Paul, or it may be a new report from the state auditor. Opinion writers learn as much as they can about a topic, and then write a column or editorial arguing a point of view.

We are advocates. The strongest

pieces I have written were on topics about which I deeply cared.

Here I advocate for Minnesota’s environment. Our parks are beautiful … in case you’ve never seen one. The park staff provides great public programs that are reasonably priced or free. In my experience, there’s nothing like a walk down a beautiful trail to clear my head of distractions. Kids love the parks because they can learn how to shoot a bow and arrow or they learn bird calls or paddle boarding.

Toddlers enjoy learning about turtles; their parents enjoy star

gazing or a canoe ride.

In my case, advocating for the environment goes deeper than parks as entertainment or learning tools. I am Ojibwe, and have many family members at the Fond du Lac Reservation near Cloquet.

For traditional Ojibwe, the land base is of tremendous importance.

Hunters and gatherers from the woodland were very dependent on land for subsistence. Today fishing, hunting, the maple sugar harvest and the wild rice harvest remain important traditions to the Ojibwe. For three years I edited the Fond Du Lac newspaper, and

remember lots of men taking time from work when the maple sugar or ricing season occurred. Women participated, also. Traditional Ojibwe split chores equally and men and women worked well together to gather food and raise their children.

So, once in a while you may find a couple hundred words in here from me about whatever is on my mind. It is an honor to be here.

And it’s an honor to advocate for natural resources. If you need to reach me, please do so at deborah. locke@state.mn.us.

organizations to continue what he had seen both his parents doing. With some 10,000 subcultures in St. Paul, Scott said, “Ego and pride are being based on impressing the wrong people. A real friend is putting jobs and education in your hands, not a gun and dope.”

Scott said it took being incarcerated with rival gang

members who he was able to form a bond with to see the move towards peace.

The summit hopes to bring lasting peace.

“Get the community out to address violence, housing, employment,” said Brother King. “(We’ve) all been fighting for change, and need community support. The O.G.s (older

members of gang affiliation) need to step up and get the vibe to fight for the community. As a community (we) can overcome hate.”

While doing a oneyear term in Federal solitary confinement, King said he read to pass the time. One book opened his eyes and brought about the moment of change – a

psychology text that described Muzafer Sherif’s Robbers Cave Experiment. The experiment split 24 boy scouts into opposing groups for a summer camp, dressed one in red, the other in blue, treated one group better than the other and had both group compete against each other. The artificial rivalry fell apart when a common objective

such as fixing the only drinking fountain for the camp, or pulling a truck out of a rut that was carrying food for both groups.

“It’s psychology: a common objective makes or breaks the community,” summarized King.

that I came from, and went through the things that I’m going through, have overcome to be the head of companies and bosses and that just feels good,” said Jennings. “It makes me feel like one day, if I keep putting this work in, and really start achieving all of my goals, then that could be me one day.”

Jennings wants to be a NFL player or physical therapist. He says the mentors encourage him to pursue his dreams.

“You get a sense of confidence. The people he brings in, they’re the type of men that want to see you get out of (tough situations),” said Jennings. “They want to turn you into somebody great. They want to see you go far and do big things in life.”

Most of the Den Brothers live in single-parent households and don’t have a strong male figure in their life. Eleven-yearold Peyton Rogers hasn’t seen

his dad in several years.

“It’s fun, and we talk about things that happen at school … things I don’t want to talk about with my mom,” said Rogers.

Peyton’s mom, Jessica Rogers said Den Brothers has made a huge impact on the whole family.

“We were having some issues at home and I needed some tools, he needed some tools, so we started going to therapy. We did that until school started, and then he started Den Brothers and he didn’t want to go to therapy anymore. He says this has helped him more than therapy has.”

McNeal requires the scholars to unplug from cell phones and computers for at least an hour each day. The boys are encouraged to read a book during the down time. Next year, all the boys will sign up for library cards.

“The library can be an

escape when home life is not going well,” said McNeal. “The library can be a safe haven; an alternative to the streets.”

Den Brothers also work on various service projects. A few weeks ago, they bagged 161 meals at Feed My Starving Children. Now the group is working on gathering clothing and hygiene supplies for boys and young men in need.

Discipline, accountability, unity and responsibility are the building blocks of Den Brothers.

McNeal asked the boys, “how do you want your parents and teachers to view you? You should care about your character and how people see you.”

A 2016 study by the National Mentoring Resource Center, shows mentoring programs like Den Brothers are instrumental in the development of young Black boys.

McNeal said he is passionate about providing the tools necessary for the young men to succeed.

“I want them to develop their character and go onto higher learning, and emerge as men. I want them to be civicminded, responsible husbands and fathers and members of the community.”

McNeal also has another mentoring group, Den Brothers Olson, where 25 sixth graders meet every Wednesday, during the lunch hour at Olson Middle School.

as being her biggest motivator during her dental school career.

“Whether it was feeding me words of motivation or going over Bible verses, she was always getting me in the right mindset and empowering me,” said Barber.

When Barber was asked what were some of the biggest challenges she faced getting through dental school, Barber shared two things.

“Time management and trying not compare myself to others,” revealed Barber.

With few students of color in her class and a handful of dental professionals of color in Minnesota, Barber felt discouraged at times, but would not let those doubts stop her from finishing dental school.

One African-American dental professional that Barber felt she could trust was Dr..

Grace Warren of Nokomis Dental Center.

“She could tell that at one point I was considering dropping out. She was like, ‘What I want you do is get off this phone and practice writing your doctor signature,’” said Barber quoting Grace’s words.

With the support of God, family and friends, Barber proudly “crossed the stage” on May 12 during University of Minnesota Dental School commencement and received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

Barber’s advice to future African-American students wanting to pursue a dental career would be to “stay motivated and don’t get deterred. Make sure you have a group of people around you who can encourage you and keep you going.”

By Deborah Locke Hello Insight News readers.

Ah, a newspaper audience again. I feel right at home.

That’s because for 10 years I worked as an opinion writer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Today I do outreach work, social media writing and publications for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division. You’ll see me at events around town, glad-handing and handing out brochures. The department overall is throwing

Summit From 3 “Selling drugs, penitentiaries, police cars … that is my life story,” said Scott. When he moved to Minnesota he soon found Chicago-inspired

Den Brothers From 3 “Your friends might not always be there, but your family will always have your back,” Hayden told the group. He went on to say the community has an obligation to take care of each other.

“At a certain point, younger Black males need an older Black man to really help them manage their emotions, understand appropriateness, be able to set goals. They need to be able to see themselves successful,” replied Hayden.

16-year-old Chris Jennings said before joining Den Brothers, he hardly ever came in contact with men like Hayden.

“It’s telling me these same type of people look like me, came from some of the things

Henry From 3 you are awarded the Deans Scholarship,’” said Barber.

Despite her intent to attend a HBCU, Barber accepted the scholarship package from the University of St. Thomas Minnesota. Prior to enrolling at St. Thomas, Barber said she did not know she wanted to eventually attend dental school.

It was a “process of elimination” to even decide on a major in undergrad, said Barber.

After exploring several majors including accounting, international business and actuarial science, she declared neuroscience as her major, which sparked her interest in becoming a dentist.

Prior to her dental school interest, Barber set up a shadowing opportunity with a medical doctor in the emergency room unit at United Hospital.

During her time shadowing, the doctor shared some thought provoking advice with Barber.

“Don’t go to medical school. Become a dentist.

Everything depends on how you balance your life,” said Barber reciting the doctor’s advice.

Barber contemplated the doctor’s advice, spoke with a dental hygienist and decided to set up additional shadowing opportunities throughout the Twin Cities to decide if she wanted to become a dentist.

She decided to go for it. Barber began to prepare herself financially, mentally and physically for dental school following the completion of her bachelor’s degree.

“Everything just really fell into place,” said Barber.

Fast forward to 2014.

Barber applied and was accepted into the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

Over the course of the next four years, Barber would preserve through every lab, exam, presentation and handson dental procedure required to graduate. She spent countless hours studying and volunteering in the University of Minnesota’s dental clinic.

Barber credits her mom

Deborah Locke

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Page 6 • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Insight News

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Insight 2 Health Pfizer’s Kevin Williams to pen health columns for the Black Press

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor Dr. Kevin Williams, the chief medical officer of Pfizer’s rare disease unit, plans to help educate the masses about sickle cell disease in a new column for the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

Earlier this year, Pfizer Inc. and the NNPA, a trade association of more than 200 African-American-owned media companies, announced a collaboration to raise awareness of sickle cell disease (SCD), a lifelong and debilitating genetic disorder that affects red blood cells. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SCD occurs in 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births.

Williams said the column

Dr. Kevin Williams will contribute exclusive content about sickle cell disease to the NNPA and its member newspapers. is a part of the collaboration between Pfizer and the NNPA to raise awareness about SCD and the importance of clinical trial participation in the process for

developing new medications.

“We’ll be covering a number of topics including tips for living with sickle cell disease, common myths about the disease, and how to support a friend or family member with the disease,” said Williams. “We’ll also be discussing information about clinical trials, common myths, and how people can learn more or get involved.”

Individuals with rare diseases like SCD have unique and complex challenges, officials said, noting that the first initiative under the collaboration is a national poll, conducted in partnership with an interdisciplinary research team from Howard University in Washington, D.C. “This collaboration with Pfizer provides an opportunity for NNPA to inform and educate the readers of our 211-member Black-owned newspapers in more than 70 markets across the country on sickle cell disease, an often-

misunderstood disease that has a profound impact on the health and well-being of those affected,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA. “Together with Pfizer, we look forward to providing sickle cell disease education that can underscore the importance of improving quality of care in the community.”

SCD is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, affecting nearly 100,000 Americans. Although it affects many different ethnic groups, most people with SCD are of African descent. Access to care and delivery of innovative treatments prove to be among the most significant challenges faced by people living with SCD in America, medical experts say.

“As an African-American man, I am personally excited to be part of the sickle cell disease collaboration between Pfizer and the NNPA,” said Williams, who

joined Pfizer in January 2004 as a medical director on the HIV field-based medical team and has been in multiple roles across several therapeutic areas within the organization over the years.

Williams earned his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine in 1986 and, after completing an Internal Medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, he returned to UCLA where he did a two-year fellowship in Health Services Research through the Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research in the UCLA Department of Medicine.

During his fellowship, he also graduated from the UCLA School of Public Health with a master’s in public health.

“Sickle cell disease is a lifelong, devastating, and often misunderstood disease,” said Williams. “By raising awareness and increasing understanding of sickle cell disease and the

importance of clinical trial participation, we hope to be able to make a real difference in the lives of people living with sickle cell disease.”

A lack of African-American participation in clinical trials poses a significant hurdle to developing new treatments for those suffering with the disease, Williams added.

“In fact, despite comprising 12 percent of the U.S. population, African-Americans make up only 5 percent of clinical trial participants,” said Williams.

“There are still tremendous knowledge gaps and challenges ensuring access to healthcare for African-Americans. So, while there may be greater awareness within the African-American community and a stronger voice, this has not necessarily translated into better outcomes for this community.”

To end AIDS in the United States, stay true to the national HIV/AIDS strategy

By Judith Auerbach, Robert Bank, Chris Collins, JD Davids, Rebecca Haag, David Ernesto Munar, Dana van Gorder, Phill Wilson and A. Toni Young Ten years ago, hundreds of organizations and individuals signed a petition calling on all presidential candidates to create a national AIDS strategy.

We knew the approach to HIV in the U.S. had to change.

If you read about AIDS in the paper, then it was likely about the horrifying scale of the global epidemic; the epidemic at home had largely become invisible. The national HIV response we saw was a patchwork; uncoordinated, without clear goals, underinvested where the challenge was most acute, with interventions delivered well below the scale necessary for impact. And the science of HIV prevention was changing dramatically without sufficient efforts to put it into practice.

By the end of 2007, most presidential candidates, including Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Clinton had accepted the challenge to create a strategy.

In June 2010, President Obama issued the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States.

The strategy itself was full of smart analysis of the epidemic and laudable goals, but its real impact

GIA From 3

came in how it was used. With strong leadership by Jeff Crowley, head of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), and his deputy Greg Millett, a series of epidemiologically necessary but politically challenging policy innovations were undertaken, each justified by the new Strategy.

This included increased investment in HIV prevention for gay men, which had been seriously under-financed relative to that population’s share of the epidemic, a new, “high impact” approach to HIV prevention emphasizing evidence-based programming at scale, reallocation of funds to areas of the country most affected

by HIV and streamlining of data reporting to track progress more effectively.

A new emphasis was placed on federal agency coordination that has shown some success and remains a work in progress, as well on the most affected communities, which are now at the leading edge of progress in the U.S. response.

Changing the conversation is important, and it’s just the first step The Strategy helped put the domestic epidemic back on the radar and galvanized the AIDS services community around a new approach to tackling the epidemic focused on epidemiologic impact.

Beyond assuring the availability of services, the focus shifted to outcomes, and people asked how a policy would lead to accomplishing the Strategy’s prevention and treatment targets.

Conversely, observing that an approach would fail to advance the Strategy’s goals was now a tool to

financial trouble while pursuing higher education. “We are not going to let $350 or $800 stand in the way of your future.” This year, GIA awarded four college scholarships to its mentees.

It takes amazing science and the commitment to deliver its results to everyone The outcomes of HIV/AIDS research have been phenomenal, turning a deadly disease into a chronic, manageable condition in the space of a couple decades.

When we were working on the strategy effort, we had inklings of the potential efficacy of “treatment as prevention” and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent both transmission and acquisition of HIV. When rigorous, multi-

site clinical trials proved these approaches did work, it changed what was considered possible, and scientific and policy leaders in the U.S. and around the world now said we had the opportunity to “end AIDS.” Soon, in places such as New York and San Francisco, activists, scientists and public health officials took up the challenge to end the epidemic and “get to zero” with localized, evidence-based, multi-sectoral strategies – an effort that has now expanded across the country.

We recently received welcome news about an overall reduction in HIV incidence in the U.S. But, disparities embedded in that reduction are stark. Infection rates actually increased among gay men aged 25-34 and among Latino gay men of all ages. And, the severe, disproportionate burden on Black gay men and Black heterosexual women continues.

Without health systems that can reach everyone and greatly expanded efforts to equalize education, economic opportunity and combat racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia in our country, we will not end AIDS. Ten years after the strategy effort started, we celebrate our collective progress, but know we are at a precipice. Recent advances will be squandered if Congress and the administration retreat on the ACA and other policy achievements, making it harder for people living with or at risk of HIV to get the services they need to stay alive and healthy.

That is why we need federal policy that protects and fully implements the ACA, as well as investments in the CARE Act, HIV prevention at the Centers for

“When we say we do the work, we do the work,” said Price. “Girls in Action has grown immensely this year.”

She said the program grew from seven sites to 15 and 75 percent

of the participants go to college.

“My vision is to take this program everywhere,” said Price. GIA was founded in 2005 and the first site was North Community High School.

fight bad policy. Using the “care continuum” as a framework for assessing service delivery helped bring focus to the goal of greater equity.

All of these were advances, but they only took us so far. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) – which led to a marked increase in Medicaid coverage among people living with HIV – as well as increased investments in appropriate services expanded access to lifesaving and infectionpreventing measures.

We wanted the White House to own the National HIV/AIDS Strategy because we wanted the government to be responsible for follow-through. But it all started with the community.

And that meant that AIDS service organizations were ready to engage creatively with the government when the nation embarked on a more outcomesoriented approach full of hard choices. As the Strategy said, “The job ... does not fall to the Federal Government alone ... Success will require the commitment of all parts of society.”

Healthy snack tips

By Julie “Nutrition Julie” McMahon When it comes to snacks, the rule is keep them simple ... keep them healthy.

The trick is to have healthy alternatives all precut and ready to grab. Take some time to set yourself up for success by doing all the shopping and chopping ahead of time.

Crunchy snacks are apples, frozen grapes, rice cakes, popcorn popped in coconut oil, carrots, celery, or other veggies dipped in hummus, tabouli or dressing, nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

Sweet snacks that are also healthy are fresh whole fruit and berries, organic plain yogurt with fruit, apples and almond butter, smoothies or frozen treat made with frozen banana quick spun in

by stigma and discrimination. We must remain committed to that vision, for everyone. We need leadership at every level to do what the science tells us we can do … end AIDS in America.

The authors of this article are the original conveners of the Coalition for a National AIDS Strategy.

“The overall concern was in the violent behaviors by the girls that created a negative learning environment,” said Gabriel McNeal, curriculum coach for GIA. “Girls needed help

building their self-confidence.”

Since its implementation at North, McNeal said there was a 50 percent decrease in school violence and a significant increase in active school engagement.

Since its foundation, GIA has mentored more than 3,330 girls and has expanded to different cities and countries including Detroit, Kenya, and Guatemala. Price said women inspired her to branch the program out to these different parts of the world.

“My philosophy is I will go where I am celebrated and not where I am tolerated,” said the founder.

In 2009, after GIA leaders spent time in Guatemala, the founder said she was encouraged to take GIA to that country. She connected with Lucrecia de Godoy, founder of “Asociacion de Superacion Educativa” and began the international journey of GIA. In March 2010, both organizations founded a partnership that trained 20 local women leaders to fulfill GIA’s mission with 100 Guatemalan girls and their mothers.

In 2016, GIA founded another partnership to bring the project to Kenya with Light of Hope, a Minnesota organization dedicated to empowering Kenyan girls through Christian ideology.

Price said that a chapter in Beijing, China is in progress.

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a blender with nuts and fruit.

Snacks that cure the salt craving include olives, pickles, hummus, whole grain tortilla chips with guacamole and fresh salsa, edamame, or a small amount of organic cheese and crackers (there are so many healthier cracker options now).

Disease Control and Prevention, the Housing Opportunities for People Living with AIDS Act and the National Institutes for Health’s comprehensive HIV/ AIDS research program. We also need a strong ONAP to drive and coordinate these vital programs.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy brought us a vision of a time when HIV infection is rare and everyone living with HIV has access to lifesaving care unfettered

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Insight News • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Page 7

Lifestyle Tony Sanneh: Take care of your community and your community will take care of you Meet Opportunity

By Meredith Moore Crosby This is the first week of Meet Opportunity.

Each week I will interview local leaders starting with Tony Sanneh. Sanneh is founder and CEO of The Sanneh Foundation where he advocates for his hometown and a holistic community model for youth inside and outside of school.

Change for him looks like having every member of the neighborhood engaged and being inclusive and accountable for our community. We can help him by pitching in and putting

kids first. Generally soft spoken by nature, Sanneh lights up talking about access, education and soccer. He is the product of a neighborhood and he wants that for everyone, especially kids of color. He hopes to see an increase in success stories of kids by following the lessons St. Paul taught him … take care of your community and your community will take care of you.

Sanneh was born in St. Paul and developed his sense of responsibility and inclusiveness visiting with his father in Gambia. His international adolescence is evident in his holistic approach to the complex challenges facing Twin Cities students. Sanneh believes the community can heal us.

The community effect of The Sanneh Foundation’s model is broader than the metrics. The first time I went

Tony Sanneh to Conway Community Center on St. Paul’s eastside I was impressed with the order amidst the chaos. Each year, Conway Center provides 33,000 free nutritious meals alongside basketball courts and attracts neighboring 3M employees for lunchtime pickup games.

The interaction demonstrates collaboration and creativity.

The Sanneh Foundation’s approach has provided 30,000 hours of academic intervention

in Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Cloud school systems targeting high school students of color.

Sanneh is a retired professional soccer player who chooses to invest his resources in leading solutions by asking questions such as, “Are we making kids a priority by taking action?”

Sanneh’s solution includes building systems and supporting the school districts.

From transportation to food choices, he sees the chance to advocate on behalf of what kids need to be successful.

When asked what’s different because you are from here (St. Paul’s eastside), Sanneh replied, “I’ve experienced the barriers but at the same time I’ve been given access. I am able to see and experience what it’s like to succeed when given support.

But I also have friends that

don’t have it. I was a kid with a ton of mentors and adults plus scholarship money. I had adults supporting me, even though I had to work, I had the support of not doing it alone.”

He’d like for more young people to have the support he experienced. The Eastside has changed since he was young.

He understands believing in change requires more than a vision. He has the historic perspective and understanding of what Minnesota represents.

He’s seen the transition of neighborhoods and he wants kids to have safe places to play.

Sanneh wants to provide the same variety of educational platforms and support he experienced. Community, for the Sanneh Foundation means bringing together athletics, school tutoring, relationship building with trusted adults and service learning with volunteers. Sanneh makes everyone he meets part of his neighborhood.

Graduating from college wasn’t easy, but I did it

By Carissa Ontiveros Obtaining a college degree can be challenging in many ways, but in the end, it is worth the hard work, long nights and even tears.

After graduating from Johnson Senior High School on the Eastside of St. Paul in 2011, I attended Hamline University.

I was actively involved in the Latino organization there (HALO), by first becoming a member and eventually president. By being involved in the organization it gave me a place where I felt I belonged, as I was struggling to find my place elsewhere as a first-generation college student.

As a student at Hamline I struggled academically,

Carissa Ontiveros emotionally and financially and felt that I did not have the support and tools that I needed to become successful. Financially I struggled to afford my education each semester while also trying to understand why and how I needed to depend on student loans to get by. Emotionally I did not feel like I belonged as a minority student on campus, as much of the support I was given

was from students and faculty of color and programs that focused on multiculturalism … not from the classroom. Eventually I struggled academically and left Hamline on academic probation.

By this time in my junior year I made the decision to transfer to Metropolitan State University. At Metro I became a part of the criminal justice program where I received tremendous support from my academic advisor and faculty peers. Classes were flexible and classrooms were diverse.

During my senior year I became a recipient of the Law Enforcement Opportunities (LEO) scholarship. Today, I’m a graduate with my bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice where I hope to pursue a career in corrections and continue to be involved in my Latino

community. As a first-generation college student, I’ve learned how important it is to invest in your education as it is something no one can take from you.

Most of all I could not have done it without the support of my family. I dedicate my degree to the two woman who have raised me and inspired me the most to keep going when things seemed so out of reach. My mom and my grandma were always there to support, inspire and show me love when I needed it the most. I’m blessed to have had my family through one of the best and most challenging times of my life and I’m proud to say that I represent them and myself in being the first in my family to obtain a college degree. Sí, se puede!

Congratulations to all 2017 graduates.

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Insight News • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Page 9

Dee Hunter

The “Voting Rights Project” Interview with Kam Williams Lawyer on a Mission to Preserve the Hard-Fought Right to Vote Dee Hunter is the Executive Director of The Civil Rights Center, a Washington, DC-based public advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the public interest in the areas of criminal justice reform and voting rights. The Civil Rights Center is a national leader in the fight to end the Crosscheck Program, a discriminatory, GOP project ostensibly-designed to purge masses of minority voters from the polls.

Dee has a long history of political advocacy and organizing. He has worked on numerous political campaigns and for several non-profit political organizations including Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Ralph Nader’s Appleseed Foundation, Americans for Democratic Action, The American Nurses Association and SEIU. And he is currently a Palast Foundation Fellow.

Dee studied political science at American University and is a graduate of Howard University School of Law. He is currently a Masters of Divinity candidate at Wesley Theological Seminary. here, he talks about launching the Voting Rights Project.

Kam Williams: Hi Dee, thanks for the interview.

Dee Hunter: Thank you, Kam, for covering this important issue.

KW: Why are you launching the Voting Rights Project in Georgia?

DH: The Voting Rights Project is a campaign to combat the GOP mass voter purge scheme called the Crosscheck Program. It is fundamentally flawed, racially and politically discriminatory. The Crosscheck Program is a list of people who have purportedly registered to vote in two different states.

The list contains approximately seven million names and is terribly flawed. It has resulted in the mass purging of millions of minority voters. Kansas Secretary of State, Kris Kobach, a pioneer of racial and partisan voter suppression, started Crosscheck.

We demand that Georgia end these illegal mass purges.

We want to bring attention to Crosscheck, and the widespread voter suppression and persecution of voting rights activists that is going on throughout Georgia. We want to be sure they don’t use Crosscheck to steal the 6th Congressional District like Trump stole the Presidential election. We are starting with Georgia and targeting the 20 most competitive Congressional Districts in states currently using the Crosscheck Program.

KW: What sort of voter suppression has transpired in the state?

DH: The systemic voter

millions of people committed voter fraud costing him the popular vote is just as valid as his assertion that the Russian interference in the election is “fake news.” Any Secretary of State involved with this commission is assisting the enemies of voting rights.

suppression and illegal persecution of voting rights activists in Georgia is more reminiscent of 1917 rather than 2017. Georgia officials have engaged in hostile racially and partisan motivated persecution of voting rights activists throughout the state. Its runs from the Governor and Secretary of State offices down to local, county voter registration boards. They first gerrymander the election districts illegally diluting our vote, then pass restrictive ID and registration laws. Next, they reduce the number of places where and the hours during which we can vote, and purge us by the hundreds of thousands using the Crosscheck Program. They also engage in a pattern of harassment and intimidation of voting rights activists. If you register people to vote in certain parts of Georgia you face the possibility of going to jail. People are afraid of retaliation for helping to register people to vote.

KW: How have they been getting away with this?

DH: Georgia has been a pioneer in voter suppression.

Gerrymandering of state legislative districts in 2000 was the beginning of the modern onslaught. In 2008, Georgia adopted the Crosscheck Program while other states were dis-enrolling because of its unreliability. But Georgia adopted one of the most stringent Voter ID laws and felony disenfranchisement laws in the country. Elected officials throughout the state have engaged various suppression tactics. Secretary of State Brian Kemp has led the efforts. Kemp’s tenure has been plagued with multiple illegal mass purges.

He has unlawfully refused to accept tens of thousands of voter registration applications because of small technical errors.

He has also shortened the period for early voting, reduced the polling places in minority neighborhoods. He has generally engaged in a pattern and practice of harassment and intimidation of voting and civil rights activists.

KW: How do you hope to prevent further violations in Georgia?

DH: I The strategy is threefold. It involves litigation, legislation, and mobilization.

We are bringing together some of the most successful voting rights activists and organizations in the state to discuss tactics and strategies to combat Crosscheck, voter suppression and persecution.

We are developing a Georgia Voting Rights Act that would stop the Crosscheck Program and other illegal mass purges.

It would also liberalize voter registration and make it easier for people to register and to vote. Considering the extent that the GOP controls the legislature and state government, we are in for a long battle. Civil rights and voting rights groups have been quick to turn to the courts to combat voter suppression in Georgia. The results have been mixed. Recent legal victories in redistricting are encouraging.

Even when courts have ruled in favor of voting rights activists the state has refused to follow court orders. Activists are begging to bring lawsuits against election officials and other state officials in their personal capacity when they persecute activists and abuse their power. We must increase awareness and engagement.

The same passion shown in the fight to save healthcare must be applied to voting rights. Trump won the state by 200,000 votes.

If we increase minority turnout by three percent, candidates that would support expanding voting rights would win statewide. It is literally going to take handto-hand combat, door-to-door grassroots organizing at the neighborhood level.

KW: What do you think of Trump’s Election Integrity Commission?

DH: It should be more appropriately called the Voter Suppression Commission. It is a very dangerous development.

Kobach is the chair of this commission and will use it to make it more difficult to register to vote and to vote. Trump is delusional. His claim that

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presidential election. We are going to fight to make sure they don’t steal another.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Dee, and best of luck with the Voting Rights Project.

DH: Thank you for taking the time to cover this important issue, Kam.

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KW What is the next stop for The Voting Rights Project?

DH: We are organizing in Virginia in June and in North Carolina in July. We are targeting the most competitive Congressional Districts in every state participating in Crosscheck. They stole the 2016

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CommonBond Communities Equal Housing Opportunity

Email: info@insightnews.com

Maple Terrace 1560 Howard Avenue Maple Plain, MN 55369 763-479-1131 NOTICE: OPENING THE 1 BEDROOM WAIT LIST Persons 62 years of age or older or with veri¿able disability, rent based on income for quali¿ed applicants.

Applications may be downloaded at www.commonbond.org from 9am May 8, 2017 until 4pm July 7, 2017.

Completed applications must be postmarked on or before July 28, 2017. All quali¿ed Applicants will be placed on the Waiting List in the order they are received.

CommonBond Communities Equal Housing Opportunity

ClearWay Minnesota Seeks Board Candidates ClearWay MinnesotaSM is an independent nonprofit organization that enhances life for all Minnesotans by reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. In 1998, we were entrusted by the Ramsey County District Court with administering, over a period of 25 years, $202 million of the settlement Minnesota received from tobacco companies.

At ClearWay Minnesota, we are working to change Minnesota in ways that have a lasting, tangible impact on the lives and health of Minnesotans by 2023, the end of our lifespan.

ClearWay MinnesotaSM is seeking candidates for our Board of Directors. ClearWay Minnesota is committed to expanding racial/ethnic and geographic diversity among its Board of Directors. Applicants from Minnesota’s diverse communities and/or from greater Minnesota are particularly welcome. The Board is also seeking candidates with previous Board experience and significant leadership experience. Board terms are three years. Board Members serve without compensation.

Qualified candidates must be clear of any conflicts of interest with ClearWay Minnesota vendors, grantees or contractors and must not have any affiliations with the tobacco industry or related trade associations within the last 10 years.

Please submit applications and resume to Amy Henderson at ClearWay Minnesota by August 11.

For an application visit our website www.clearwaymn.org/board-openings or email ahenderson@clearwaymn.org.

Seeking Truck Drivers Requirements are: Class A or B CDL Must be familiar with the Metropolitan Area Can Drive Manual Truck Good Work Ethics Please call 612.331.4381

Frequent Filer (Office Assistant)

Volunteer office assistants are needed in several areas. Multiple shifts available, Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Midway area and downtown St. Paul locations limited reimbursement for parking expense or bus fare is provided.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Contact Ramsey County— Volunteer Services at 651-266-4090 for additional information or e-mail to Volunteer@co.ramsey.mn.us.

STAFF ATTORNEY

Central Minnesota Legal Services seeks full-time attorney for its Minneapolis of¿ce. Fam. Law; with some work in housing/govt benes. Licensed in MN pref’d. New grads consrd. Post-law school pov. law exper., fam. law or clinical exper. pref’d. Spanish or Somali language a plus. Salary $47,000+D.O.E. Excellent benes. Resume with references and writing sample to Ginger Palmquist, CMLS, 430 First Ave. No., #359, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or email to: cmls@centralmnlegal.org Appl. deadline: 07/03/17 or until ¿lled. EOE

MANAGING ATTORNEY

Central Minnesota Legal Services seeks mng attorney for its Minneapolis of¿ce. Supervise staff; assit grant rpt. Some case work. Fam. Law; with some work in housing/govt benes.

Licensed in MN pref’d. Post-law school pov. law exper., fam. law or clinical exper. pref’d. Spanish or Somali language a plus. Salary D.O.E. Excellent benes. Resume with references and writing sample to Ginger Palmquist CMLS, 430 First Ave. No., #359, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or email to: cmls@ centralmnlegal.org Appl. deadline: 07/03/17 or until ¿lled. EOE.

Page 10 • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Insight News

insightnews.com K. Raydio

Asia Divine

Monday, June 19

select-presents-twin-cities#.

AFRO-CUBAN

Thursday, June 22

Jane Bunnett & Maqueque Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, 7 p.m. $35-$50

DANCE/SPOKEN WORD

Four-time Juno Award winner, Jane Bunnett, play the Dakota with her all woman band, Maquegue.

Tuesday, June 20 CLUB

June 19 July 2, 2017

Tap That Tuesdays Nomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. – 2 a.m.

21-plus $3-$5 Head to The Nomad Tuesdays for drinks, hip-hop DJs, and live performances.

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

Wednesday, June 21 DANCE/R&B Big Freedia, Cupcakke and Lex Allen The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m.

Big Freedia is joined by Milwaukee’s Lex Allen and Cupcakke for the Red Bull Sound Select party. You must RSVP online at www. redbullsoundselect.com/ events/2017/06/red-bull-sound-

SHEbeats The Parkway Theater 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis 7 p.m. $7-$30 (sliding scale) This showcase focuses on feminine energy with Hope Medford, K Raydio, Maxee, Hazel Howl, Laresa Avent, Energy Dance Collective, Crash Dance Productions and DJ Neekasodope.

Friday, June 23 HIP-HOP/SOUL/JAZZ The Feels Finale – A Night of Release at Jazzfest Amsterdam Bar and Hall 6 W. 6th St., St. Paul 8 p.m.

As part of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Soul Tools and KBEM Jazz 88 present a night of live music, dance and more at the Amsterdam.

Saturday, June 24 ECLECTIC Lady Midnight and Dream of the Wild with Seaberg 7th Street Entry 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

18-plus $10

Lady Midnight heads up a night of various styles in “The Entry” with Dream of the Wild and Seaberg.

Sunday, June 25 FESTIVAL Twin Cities Pride Festival Loring Park 1382 Willow St., Minneapolis 10 a.m.

The Twin Cities Gay Pride Festival takes place in downtown Minneapolis. Plenty of food and entertainment on deck.

Monday, June 26 HEALING CEREMONY Truth Telling and Community Healing UROC 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

This event focuses on “Celebrating our Living Stories.” The aim of this ceremony is to begin to realign the community to the ancient practices of seeing the elder as our peoples’ connection to the ancestors.

Tuesday, June 27 FILM/POP Kashimana and Twin Cities Black Film Festival Short Selections Father Hennepin Bluffs Park

420 Main St. S.E., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.

performances by iLLism, Color Me Kindly and Jay Hollywood.

Nigerian singer/songwriter, Kashimana, performs before the showing of selections from the Twin Cities Black Film Festival. Films include “The Remnants,” “Westbound,” “The Mermaid” and “The Big Chop.”

Friday, June 30

Wednesday, June 28 ELECTRONIC/HIP-HOP Soul Bazaar Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

21-plus $8 Soul Tools Entertainment presents a new eclectic touring night of music, art and dance curated by Toki Wright. This event features San Diego based jungle/hip-hop producer and MC, Orko Eloheim, the band 26 Bats!, producer Mamadu and songwriter/producer Devata Daun.

Thursday, June 29 HIP-HOP ILLism presents … Generation iLL The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m. $7-$10 Catch a live musician shed session and freestyle set with

REGGAE Ziggy Marley Music in the Zoo 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

SOLD OUT The eldest brother in the iconic music family Ziggy Marley returns to Minnesota to play Music in the Zoo.

Saturday, July 1 AFRO POP/HIP-HOP Skylett White Live Capri Theater 2027 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis 6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. $10 advance, $15 door Liberian Afropop/hip-hop artist Skylett White headlines a night of music with Mazee Blanco, Rich Goone, O$T, Xten, ‘O’Boy Macco, kona, Jrealist, Trey and Jama Juices & Diamond and DJ Nkali.

Sunday, July 2nd SOUL/R&B Tribute to Motown Minnesota Music Café 499 Payne Ave., St. Paul This is the second night of a two-night tribute to the music of Motown (also July 1).

© 2016 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, JUNE 30 THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

insightnews.com

Insight News • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Page 11

Twins select SS Royce Lewis with the 1st overall pick in MLB draft The Minnesota Twins selected shortstop Royce Lewis from JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. with the first overall selection in the first round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

The 18-year-old high school senior was rated as a top prospect in the draft by MLB. com. A versatile position player, Lewis played third base and center field at the start of his high school career before playing solely shortstop as a senior. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Lewis was named the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year in California and Trinity League Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.

The right-handed hitting Lewis was also named the Los Angeles Times High School

Perfect Game All-American Classic MVP at Petco Park.

The Aliso Viejo, Calif. native was a member of the gold medal-winning USA Baseball 18U National Team in the fall of 2016 that defeated Cuba in October for the 2016 COPABE Pan American AAA Championship.

His father, William Lewis, played football at Fullerton College and Chino State, and his mother, Cindy Lewis, played softball at U.S. International and San Jose State.

This year marks the third time in Twins history they have the first overall player in the MLB draft, doing so in 2001 (Joe Mauer) and 1983 (Tim Belcher – did not sign). Lewis becomes the second consecutive high school position player

Royce Lewis Player of the Year as a junior in 2016, after hitting .429 with nine

doubles and four home runs. He was named MVP of the 2016

Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field and the

selected first overall in the draft, joining 2016 Phillies first overall selection Mickey Moniak.

This is the third time in the last four years that the Twins have selected a high school position player with their first round selection, selecting outfielder Alex Kirilloff in 2016 and infielder Nick Gordon in 2014.

Since the 2001 Draft, 14 of the Twins first round selections have reached the major leagues and six are on the Twins roster, including Byron Buxton (second overall in 2012), José Berríos (32nd overall in 2012), Kyle Gibson (22nd overall in 2009), Alex Wimmers (21st overall in 2010), Glen Perkins (22nd overall in 2004) and Joe Mauer (first overall in 2001).

Rising Star

The Making of Barack Obama series on Lyndon B. Johnson (3,180 pages and counting).

Now, another Pulitzer Prize-winner, David J. Garrow, has published an epic opus of 1,472 pages on the life of Barack Obama, “Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama,” focusing on the years prior to the presidency. And it’s a safe bet that Garrow just might eventually write a sequel about about POTUS 44’s time in the White House, too.

Any Obama fan is likely to find this in-depth portrait fascinating, as it is filled with plenty of little-known factoids and anecdotes about him.

For example, it chronicles a childhood spent mostly on Hawaii where he was basically raised by his maternal grandparents in the absence of both his mother and father.

Garrow also documents

By Kam Williams

“Barack Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention instantly catapulted him into the national spotlight and led to his election four years later as America’s first African-American president.”

– Excerpted from the book jacket of “Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama” For some reason, presidential biographies by Pulitzer Prize-winners tend to be rather lengthy. Consider David McCullough’s on John Adams (752 pages) and Harry Truman (1,120 pages), Doris Kearns Goodwin’s on Abe Lincoln (1,341 pages) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (760 pages) and Robert Caro’s continuing

Photo by David Rubin

David J. Garrow

“Barry’s” use of marijuana in high school and of cocaine in college, when Obama started preferring “Barack.” And the author reveals the identity of the woman Obama lived with for a couple of years during his stint in Chicago as a grassroots organizer.

We also learn that Obama not only worked with a lot of Bible-thumping sisters during his initial stint in the Windy City, but that he was already planning to become president of the United States way back then.

And there’s the blow-by-blow of his strained relationship with Genevieve Cook, the rudderless white woman he dated during his tenure in New York City.

Everything you always wanted to know about Barack Obama but were afraid to ask, and then some.

New series uses cutting edge tech to transform decades of black-and-white history

Smithsonian Channel brings to life the story of the U.S. in ‘America In Color’ From Prohibition and the Jazz Age to the moon landing and the birth of rock and roll, many of the greatest, most significant events of the 20th century have only been experienced in the black and white footage available at the time.

“America In Color,” a new five-part series from Smithsonian Channel, presents many of these iconic moments in U.S. history as never before seen – using artistry and technology to transform blackand-white films and photographs from the 1920s to the 1960s.

“America In Color” premieres on Smithsonian Channel on Sunday, July 2 at 7 p.m.

The series takes viewers on a journey through American history – including footage of illegal drinking in speakeasies during the 1920s, rare home movies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, scenes of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Elvis Presley’s television debut on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” and the Nixon-Kennedy debate.

“History was not lived in black and white. It was lived in color,” said David Royle, executive vice president of Programming and Production, Smithsonian Channel. “‘America In Color’ is a groundbreaking series that transforms a past that seemed gray and distant into a cinematic experience. We believe it is the most ambitious colorizing of factual images ever undertaken on American television, and it enables us to see America in a new light – through which iconic moments in 20th-century history become more compelling and tangible than ever.”

According to Royle, filmmakers spent almost 6,000 hours scouring obscure archives, dusting off forgotten family vaults, and tracking down private collectors to find the 27 miles of film they needed – much of it not seen for nearly a century. The black and white footage was then colored by a

612.377.2224 guthrietheater.org

Sunday in the Park with George music and lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM book by JAMES LAPINE directed by JOSEPH HAJ

Sponsored by

Now – August 20

Smithsonian Channel

A colorized image of a 1930s-era Pullman porter. team in France.

The series premiere, “America In Color: 1920s,” tells the story of an America that undergoes its greatest period of change and unprecedented growth. Rare footage of the 1920 Wall Street bombing, the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history up to that time, and the Greenwood massacre – one of the bloodiest racial massacres in American history – is shown for the first time. The filmmakers discovered footage of Henry Ford’s Model T, and the first successful solo cross-Atlantic airplane flight by Charles

Lindbergh, which catapults him into the international spotlight.

Home movie footage captures illegal drinking in speakeasies and bootlegging, the unintended consequences of Prohibition.

The decade also sees women securing the right to vote, the birth of the Flapper, the resurgence of the KKK, the growth of radio, Babe Ruth and boxer Jack Dempsey, and the rise of signature skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash devastates the economy, putting an end to a decade of revelry.

by KAREN ZACARÍAS directed by BLAKE ROBISON

July 15 – August 20

Page 12 • June 19 - June 25, 2017 • Insight News

It’s been nearly 21 years since one of the most beloved figures in music, Tupac Shakur, was taken from us in a Las Vegas shooting.

Gone is the life, but left behind are the sights, sounds and words of the man who was part poet, part thug (as

tattooed on his stomach), part humanitarian, part intellectual. Dead at just 25, had Shakur lived he would have turned 46 this past Friday (June 16).

With the Weekend release of his biopic, “All Eyes on Me,” which opened on the anniversary of his birth, June 16,

DJ Airman Heat

Ty Miller displaying some of his Tupac-themed art.

Charmar Castile (left) and Nick Hooks throwing up the “W.”

insightnews.com

events have been taking place across the globe to celebrate the life of the young genius. Here in Minneapolis fans celebrated the life and music of Shakur with Tupac Day on a recent Thursday at Honey. Here are some of the sights from the event.

Photos by Harry Colbert, Jr.

Television producer and photographer extraordinaire, Bianca Rhodes.

College buddies, Isaiah Potts (left) and Vincent Knox.

Artist Joy Williams with her powerful portrait of the late Tupac Shakur.

Sedra Granger (left) and LaBarbara Reed.

Leah Fernandez (left) hanging out with good friend Kenyatta McCarty.