Insight News ::: 7.19.10

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GRIEF INSIGHT NEWS July 19 - July 25, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 32 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Mourning Anthony Titus: Minneapolis homicide #26

By S. Himie Contributing Writer Last Saturday July 10, a standing room only crowd of mostly young people packed into the 1,500 seat capacity auditorium of Shiloh Temple on West Broadway-many wearing T-shirts with a photo image -paying homage to their dead friend Anthony Lanell Titus.

Titus became Minneapolis’ 26th homicide victim on July 4th after being gunned down just 14 days after his 16th birthday on the 2900 block of Freemont Avenue North.

According to his family, friends, coaches and mentors, Anthony Titus was a good kid who liked to hang out with friends, babysat for his mother, excelled at hockey and was preparing to start as a linebacker for the Roosevelt High School football team.

Anthony Titus Senior said that he is “devastated” by his son’s murder because his son

was one of the good kids you always hear about. “It is real sad that something like this always happens to the good,” he said.

Many who hung out with Anthony affectionately called him by his nick-names “Phat Phat” as well as “Prince Charming.” His funeral service was one fit for a prince as the city’s top officials including Mayor R.T. Rybak, 5th ward City Councilman Don Samuels, and State Rep. Bobby Joe Champion and Shiloh Temple’s Bishop Richard D. Howell Jr. offered eulogies.

Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, who attended the funeral with his mother, said everyone in the Minneapolis community should look upon Anthony as their own son. “Until we see that, this will not be the humanity that we need to have.”

First accounts of the shooting said Anthony had been shot “inadvertently” and that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. On Tuesday July 6, 2010

there was a drive–by shooting at the Titus home on Thomas Avenue North as friends gathered to support the family.

Reportedly last Thursday police arrested an 18-year old New Hope woman in connection with the drive-by shooting based on witnesses accounts, which included the vehicle description and license plate number.

Police are still trying to make a connection between Anthony’s murder and the drive by shooting.

The arrest has prompted police to treat both shootings as “gangrelated”.

“He was never in a gang or anything like that,” Titus Senior said of his son. “He was out in the streets only to go have fun with his friends. He was never out there being down and dirty and I feel he got the worse end of the stick.”

“Whoever the young man is that shot my son killed his brother,” Princess Titus said about her son’s murderer outside

of her home last Friday. “He doesn’t know that he killed his brother because he doesn’t know himself.”

Anthony was shot on the block adjacent to St. Olaf Lutheran Church at the 2900 block of Emerson Avenue North-a place that offered Titus and many in the community opportunities to steer clear of bad elements within the troubled neighborhood.

“He was a good kid with a bright future,” according to Pastor Dale Hulme of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Hulme coached Anthony and his brother Jessie in the New Direction hockey program sponsored by the church. He is a long-time friend of the Titus family and his children grew up and played with the Titus children on the Northside.

“He was a friendly kid who may have known gang members. Any teen in this area may know gang members.

TITUS TURN TO 4

Photos: Suluki Fardan

Princess Titus, Mother of Anthony Titus mourns

Hybrid gangs, no organization, no control

By Al McFarlane Editor-in-Chief The June monthly meeting of Willard Homewood Organization focused on the escalation of violence in North Minneapolis, specifically the Homewood Apartments murder at 1240 Thomas Avenue North, and the wounding of a motorist caught at a Golden Valley Road & Penn Avenue stop light during a shootout between rival groups.

Mike Martin, 4th Precinct Commander, told neighborhood residents and block club leaders that the victim of the Thomas Avenue shooting, unfortunately, had been hanging out with a

group of young men, some of whom had figured in violent incidents in the city over the past several months.

“One of the young men was pretty involved in a string of violent incidents,” Martin said.

This young man may have been in a fight in Brooklyn Center that could have been a factor in the Northside shooting, he said. “That young man was the intended victim. As happens all too often, he wasn’t struck by the gunfire; but another young man, Matthew Johnson, was struck and killed.”

Martin said there had been some complaints about youths congregating at the Homewood Apartments, twin buildings on the south side of Plymouth Avenue, one facing Thomas Avenue and one

Plan Your Career:

The most persistent and urgent get-ahead question

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Suluki Fardan

Spike Moss

facing Sheridan Avenue. The buildings share a courtyard between them.

Martin said there had been one incident of a youth confronting a neighborhood resident and that police

Judge Tanya Bransford:

A Minnesota she-ro

responded and addressed the issue. Neighbors also complained that the apartments either housed or provided cover for people dealing drugs on the streets in front of the buildings.

Martin said the Golden Valley Road at Penn Avenue area has become “problematic.

The kids are running into each other there. It is a crossroads between where they live and where they hang out. Changes on West Broadway make it more difficult for them to hang out on West Broadway.

That has forced them south to Golden Valley Road because they can’t hang out on West Broadway,” he said, referring to environmental design changes that make it less easy for crime to occur.

“With the tools we have, we

cannot solve the problems. We are reactionary. And sometimes we make the problem worse,” Martin said.

The Golden Valley Road store, where many kids congregate, is cooperating with police by installing cameras to monitor the premises and by hiring off-duty officers for security, Martin said. “We are working with other property owners in the area so kids don’t just sit around on vacant lots.”

Martin said this year Minneapolis is “paying for the luck we had last year with the low homicide rate.”

Homicide last year was at an unprecedented low at 19. The Thomas Avenue murder in June was this year’s 22nd. Murder of Anthony Titus (see story above) pushed the number to

First Lady Michelle Obama:

26 as of last week.

“This year, the hybrid gangs, and shifts in narcotics sales and use, are catching up to us.” Martin said. “Younger kids are more violent, less organized, and less controlled.

It’s unbelievable to see the number of guns we are recovering. We have stopped people leaving the scene of a shooting and recovered 14 guns at one time. We have removed over 116 weapons year to date.”

Tim Hammiet, Police Community Liaison and managers of the Homewood Apartments attributed part of the problem to people who visit residents of the apartments, or, in some cases, would just hang

WHO TURN TO 6

Sports Report: Perspective on the LeBron James fallout

Tells NAACP not to rest

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BUSINESS The most persistent and urgent get ahead question Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Ernest workers who hope to keep moving ahead in their lives and careers will carry a long list of questions into a career planner’s office: How do I network effectively outside of LinkedIn?

What unusual avenues do people use to find a job or get promoted?

How can I tap into ambiguous leads? How can I ensure that everyone I know knows what I want to do next? These are all variations on a single question: Where do I start?

Today, the best response to these questions, whether you are looking for work, hoping for a promotion, or just a little personal satisfaction, is the same. Start by asking: What am I doing for others?

Begin with a piece of paper and a list of ten names. These are

the people closest to you in your work: colleagues, customers, supervisors, friends.

Beside each name, jot a word or two describing something positive each person has done for you lately. You might have to reach for it, but think of something. For instance: Max showed you, again, how to recover a lost spreadsheet; Andre took coffee orders at the meeting; Jill clued you in that your biggest customer is building a new factory…

Finally, jot a word or two about what you have done

lately for each of these key connections. If you can’t think of anything, then it’s time to become more generous with your time and talents.

Many readers will call this sucking up. If you do it right, that is exactly what it is: (S) Simple, (U) Unique, and (C) Cheap.

Offer to connect someone with a new customer, pass along the bus pass you’re not going to use, forward a relevant email or interesting article from today’s paper.

Example: a former colleague now out of state twittered she

was having dress code issues within her organization. A recent newspaper article referred to this issue. I sent her the whole section, and she called me when she got it, ecstatic. She was grateful for the article, but also for the other local commentary she’d been missing while working out of town. Will she send me a business lead down the road? Maybe, maybe not.

But it opened the communication door and we will continue to talk and email going forward, which is really the point.

“Life’s most persistent and

urgent question is: What am I doing for others?” When Martin Luther King, Jr. said it, he was referring to issues far greater than career planning; his message illustrates the impact that simply giving can have on a community and a life.

Julie Desmond leads career planning and job search workshops in Minneapolis, MN. For more career planning resources, go to www. helpwantedworkshop.com or write to julie@insightnews.com.

Minority business organizations make 2011 the year for change The Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) and the Midwest Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) intend to make 2011 “the year for change” to improve the state’s business climate for minority-owned businesses.

The two organizations are collaborating for the first time to host a gubernatorial candidate business forum to address issues specific to minority business owners and to learn which of the candidates will make fostering minority-owned business growth a priority.

The MBCC and MMSDC invite business owners, individuals and community members to the two-hour Gubernatorial Candidate Business Forum, Monday, July 26 from 9 – 11 am in the Cowles Auditorium at the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs, 301 19th Avenue S., Minneapolis.

U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison will offer the keynote address. The forum is free and open to the public.

“If minority-owned businesses are to survive in Minnesota and have opportunities to advance our technologies, attract and nurture talent and compete

in the marketplace, we need effective leadership and policymaking from a governor who understands the challenges minority-owned businesses face,” said Leah Hargett, MBCC president.

Key issues for members of the MBCC and the MMSDC include: Establishing and enforcing an all-inclusive, effective process to award contracts to minority business enterprises (MBEs) and women-owned businesses; Increasing the access to capital for minority-owned businesses so we can expand and enhance technology Leveling playing field to ensure minority-owned businesses have an opportunity to compete in the marketplace; Reducing the excessive tax burdens such as health insurance premiums and payroll taxes that can cripple a small business Gubernatorial candidates slated to attend the event include: Bob Carney (Republican Party), Ole Savior (Republican Party), Matt Entenza (DemocraticFarmer-Labor Party), Mark Dayton (DemocraticFarmer-Labor Party), Rob Hahn (Independence Party),

and Tom Horner (Independence Party) “It’s time we act as a collective group -- African, African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American communities and business owners -- stand together and make our voices heard in our August and November elections,” said Steve Venable,

president of the MMSDC, whose organization has a membership base that includes ethnic and minority business owners.

For more information about the forum, please contact the MBCC at (651) 777-9119.

To learn more about each organization and the benefits of a membership, visit the MBCC at www.minnesotambcc.org, or

the MMSDC at www.mmsdc. org.

The MBCC, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established in 2005 and is affiliated with the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

MBCC is a vibrant business association representing the African American business community.

The vision of

the chamber is to promote and improve the general welfare, prosperity, and interconnectedness of the community for individuals of African descent. The MBCC serves as a clearinghouse for business information and opportunity, as a business advocate, and as a referral and development resource.

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EDUCATION Judge Tanya Bransford: A Minnesota she-ro Often times when African Americans teach their children about their incredible history and culture and the tremendous contribution that people of African descent have made to the United States and the world, they forget to teach their children about the giant heroes and she-roes that are right here in Minnesota.

For the last several years, WE WIN Institute, Inc has been teaching Black children, ages 5-18, about the enormous impact that African Americans

in Minnesota have made.

Living in a state that has a Black population of less than 5 percent, it is essential that African American children have a thorough understanding of the contributions of people who look like them.

Students in WE WIN’s summer program studied the life of Judge Tanya Bransford.

Reading materials about the judge were developed for the five-year-olds and the 15-yearolds. They discussed her life, answered questions and drew

her pictures.

Coming to WE WIN in her work robe, with gavel in hand, Judge Bransford talked about her life and the law; she entertained questions from sixty children.

Judge Bransford was impressed when an 8-year-old asked her the question: “Is it true that Governor Arne Carlson is the one who appointed you judge?”

She affirmed his statement and praised WE WIN for preparing their students about her work before her visit.

Three students in WE WIN’s summer program wrote about Judge Tanya Bransford: Tanya M. Bransford has served in the Hennepin County District Court since 1999. Judge Bransford is a graduate of Hamline University School of Law and a cum laude graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College.

Judge Bransford began her judicial career as a Worker’s Compensation Judge in the office of Administrative hearings.

Judge Bransford is the recipient of several honors and awards including the distinguished alumni award from North St. Paul High School. Judge Bransford currently presides over civil and criminal court as well as juvenile cases. From all her experience, it is clear that Judge Bransford is a great lawyer and judge.

Hearing Judge Tanya Bransford speak was very good for me. She was a good speaker and is a great role model for

Titus From 1 There is a possibility that Anthony attracted the attention of threatening people,” Hulme explained. “Someone may have been dissed (disrespected) or just jealous of Anthony. Normal teen interactions may have caused someone to react extremely and

Kyalah, Judge Tanya, Ananda & Abucar. me. She showed me that Black women can do anything. I can see myself being the first African American female president of the United States. (Kyalah Allbritten-13-years-old) Judge Tanya Bransford is very smart. She received “A’s” in all her classes. She is married and has a teenage son. From meeting Judge Tanya, she is a strong minded African woman. She has never had a nightmare about her decision to be a judge or any sentences that she gave to any of her defendants. She brought her gavel when she came to speak to students at WE WIN. She told us caused a death. We have mixed feeling because we don’t want it to be random, but we don’t want the press or police saying it was gang-related.”

During Saturday’s funeral service Princess Titus offered many of the same sentiments to the youth she offered outside her home the previous afternoon. She focused on the unexpressed pain that many youth in the community harbor including the young man who shot her son.

“The young man who did this to my son is in pain… and I love him,” Princess Titus said. “That young man has a pain inside of him and he’s not able to tell anybody.”

Titus recounted her family’s history of struggling through the pain of addiction, prison sentences and abuse until finally moving to Minneapolis, from Chicago, to escape the pain and find herself.

“I am here and I am good and the reason I am good is because I have God,” Princess said. She said she felt Anthony was good because he too had Jesus in him.

“And if you want some of my strength I can tell you where you can get it.”

Later, Princess urged the crowd to make her son’s life meaningful for themselves.

“You can all do what you want to do,” she said. “My son’s gone from here, but if you really want to make his life worth something to you- because it was worth it all

that she doesn’t use it very much in court. We got to see her use it as she spoke to us. Her family gave her the gavel when she was sworn in as a judge. They had her name engraved on it.

Judge Tanya Bransford helps me see that I can be anything I want if I really give my best.

WE WIN always talks about excellence; black excellence and educational excellence. After seeing Judge Tanya, she inspires me to always give my all to all that I do. (Ananda White, 11-years-old) Judge Tanya Bransford came to visit our summer program at WE to me-you will take some time to look inside yourself because what is inside you is him if you are sitting here.”

Princess urged the mostly teen audience to find and accept their own individuality. “The only one that has to accept you is you,” she added. “And if God is in you, then you are good.”

Following the funeral service many of the young people signed up to be part of an upcoming Youth March to end violence in North Minneapolis.

Rybak said he saw “an incredible amount of hope” in the faces of the people who gathered around the open casket of Titus following the service. “We just had to do the hardest thing you had to do which is to bury a child. We did it in a room filled with the next generation of North Minneapolis which has resolved to get peace.”

The mayor said the city will do a lot more to put more police in the streets and continue to stop the flow of guns but admits that alone is not going to solve the problem.

He said the community has to go out and do something with their grief and not to let another child die senselessly.

“The total solutions is in the hearts of these people in this room who will not let a death like this go in vain by doing this again,” Rybak added.

5th Ward City Councilman Don Samuels saw Anthony’s death as a reflection of our society

Courtesy WE WIN Institute

WIN Institute. One thing that I noticed when Judge Tanya came is that she looked tired. I cannot believe that she wakes up early, early in the morning to go to work. I have to say this about Judge Tanya; she must be a hard worker because she has been a judge for 16 years!

Judge Tanya Bransford inspired me to become more than a judge and even more than a governor. She has inspired me to become the president of the United States. We appreciate her coming and spending time with us. (Abucar Mohamed 11-years-old)

and nation. “The nation is sick,” he said. “We as adults have failed our young people.”

Samuels said he believed God is calling upon the youth of North Minneapolis to lead us into peace through a “grass-roots” movement supported by the elders. He said we should do a better job to take interest in young people to seek out how they are dealing with their day-to-day lives rather than just taking interest in them when they get into trouble.

“I believe God wants a young person to step forward… through that intense feeling of grief and loss and by embracing the tragedy-provide leadership for the rest of our community,” Samuels said. “I am willing to step aside and let the young people lead us into the future of peace. It is your turn.”

Samuels added that he will look into resources to support the youth leadership and will begin by asking the superintendent of schools and the mayor to providing much needed grief counseling for the North Side.

“The Titus funeral has been a little different,” said to Dr. Leonard Cain of Shiloh Temple.

Cain has organized many of the funerals for teens murdered in Minneapolis. “Here we had a young man with a promising future doing something in the community.”

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AESTHETICS “The Last Airbender”: Mark of good cinema Rathbone saw profound success from another incomparable feature with the opening of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse; a franchise that he’s been with since the beginning, portraying the role of Jasper Cullen. The new installment has seen a gross of 458 million dollars worldwide since it hit theaters on June 30.

But with Last Airbender opening alongside another one of the most anticipated films of the summer, it’s still gaining incredible momentum as the

By Alaina Lewis Contributing Writer Like clockwork, every two years during the summer Indian born writer/director M. Night Shyamalan comes to the cinematic table with a film of intrigue and suspense that proposes to raise eyebrows and ignite questions from its audience.

But since the late summer release of his 1999 chilling mega hit “The Six Sense,” he’s often failed to pull in Hollywood’s beloved box office numbers.

These numbers don’t necessarily speak to one’s ingenuity, but they mark the difference between being known for the ability to draw viewers to the box office, versus suffering from the seething point of view of Hollywood’s finest film critics who can make or break the success of a film in one short review.

Yes, a Shyamalan feature hasn’t always been the upside of a conversation, rather a maze of wonderment surrounding the idea that maybe his films “The Six Sense” and “Unbreakable” were as good as it gets.

Well, that was until July 1st…

Shyamalan’s newest feature,“The Last Airbender,” Nickelodeon’s live action adaptation of their popular cartoon entitled “Avatar,” has more than impressed audiences with its high flying action, impressive stunt artistry and icy landscapes. To date, the

Courtesy Paramount Pictures

film has grossed more than $111 million.

The film tells the tale of a young boy named Aang, who with command over the four elements of the world --fire, water, earth, air – and is said to be the chosen Avatar; the sole person tasked with keeping order and maintaining peace among the Four Nations. Yes, this is a tall order for a 12-yearold whose life is put in danger by the Fire Nation who want to kill him so they can take over the Four Nations and enslave the world.

Out of the gate, the film had the veil of controversy on its shoulders due to some of Shyamalan’s Caucasian casting choices –there were questions as to why he didn’t cast the characters as they appear in the popular cartoon which is set in Asia. But, as Shymalan stated in an interview, this feature far

surpasses race. Maybe with the film’s popularity growing each day due to a properly executed storyline, the world is ready to trade colorlines for 3D glasses and two hours of pure fun and entertainment.

Recently, two of The Last Airbender’s cast members, the lovely Nicola Peltz (who plays Katara, a Waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe) and the incredible Jackson Rathbone (who plays her warrior brother Sokka) gave Insight News a few minutes of their time to give us a taste of what we can expect in this summer feature.

“We wanted to make it more realistic. We wanted to have the drama really hit and have those moments of levity lifted up,” said Rathbone of the difference between the slapstick nature of the cartoon in comparison with the live action film.

During the same week,

cast and crew go around the world premiering the feature to new and excited audiences everywhere.

“Everyone used a lot of greenscreen, because it allowed you to use your imagination, and I think that’s really important,” Peltz says of the CGI work in the film, “I’d never worked with greenscreen before, so it was an experience, but it was fun. But we really did go to Greenland, so in the trailer when you see all those icebergs, that’s real.”

The movie also stars taekwondo champion Noah Ringer as Aang, and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) as Prince Zuko. The entire cast is looking forward to the possibility of bringing the rest of the four-part series to theaters in the future.

The Last Airbender is a mark of good times in the world of cinema. With a pleasing plot, and a visually stunning canvas, it is well worth the time and money.

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HEALTH Obama administration releases National HIV/AIDS strategy

By Kandy Ferree President and CEO, National Aids Fund

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Technology Reporter Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

Last week’s release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) by the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) demonstrates the dedication and commitment of the Obama administration to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. The three pillars of the NHAS -- Reducing Incidence, Increasing Access to Care and Reducing Health Disparities – offer a blueprint for an effective response to the disease domestically, and an opportunity for all of us in the corporate, philanthropic and HIV communities to come together to establish clear goals and measurable outcomes to affect

real change.

For two decades, the National AIDS Fund has been mobilizing private sector investments to support community-driven responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and we are now playing a strategic role in discussions with ONAP about the importance of public-private partnerships in the implementation of the NHAS. In May, 2010 we were the only national HIV/AIDS organization to assist with the planning and to participate in a panel discussion on The Role of Public Private Partnerships in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), moderated by Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic

Policy Council.

The panel presented an important opportunity to showcase the 20+ year experience NAF has working with the public and private sectors as well as community to address HIV/AIDS in the United States. ONAP showcased NAF’s collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb in support of the “Increasing Access to Care” pillar of the NHAS. The new grantmaking partnership, “Positive Charge,” provides resources to five areas of the country highly impacted by HIV/AIDS to increase access to HIV care by identifying and minimizing the barriers

that people living with HIV/ AIDS experience as they navigate the social services and medical care systems. This collaboration represents an unprecedented strategic private sector investment in communitybased responses to accessing HIV/AIDS care and true bridge-building between the public/private sectors and the community.

To ensure that the NHAS is effective we must keep the momentum going. ONAP has made it clear that the successful implementation of NHAS will require the commitment of all parts of society; including people living with HIV/AIDS, state and

local governments, corporate America, faith communities, highly affected communities, philanthropy, and others. With the release of NHAS, we must be more diligent than ever in creating inventive cross-sector partnerships that capitalize on our strengths as individuals, organizations, government agencies and communities.

The National AIDS Fund was founded in 1988 to reduce the incidence and impact of HIV/ AIDS by promoting leadership and generating resources for effective community responses to the epidemic. For more info, www.aidsfund.org.

Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol syndrome awards grants The Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is giving $6,400 in grant money to Minnesota families living with FASD for summer family activities. Thirty-two families will receive a $200 mini grant to do something fun and creative with family and friends this summer. These mini grants are possible because of individual donations and funding from private foundations.

“For many of our families, summer can be an extra trying time,” says Executive Director, Sara Messelt. “It is challenging

to find both activities that are appropriate, and the money to do some of the things that many families take for granted.”

With the help of MOFAS, these families will be able to spend the day at a water park or go to Valley Fair, head to the zoo, go camping or simply purchase a season pass to their local pool. All are great activities that families can enjoy together and have the structure, supervision, and opportunity for expending energy that many kids with FASD desire.

One mom wrote in her application, “We blend in at water

WHO From 1 out on the property. Martins said trespassing ordinances are now posted and police are instructed to ensure that people who are at the property are the renters who live there, not just people hanging out. People not authorized to be there will be asked to leave and can be charged with trespassing, he said.

One resident questioned the policy of simply moving loiterers from problem spots.

“Move them to where?” he asked. “Simply moving people does not solve the problem.”

Hammiet agreed, but said the strategy is to take away excuses people make for loitering.

Martin said, “My guys order the movement. I tell kids to go to the park for programs.

A lot have legitimate reasons not to go. I am not going to tell kids from the 1-9 gang to go to Fairview, where the Taliban gang hangs out.”

Sherry Pugh Executive Director of Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC) said part of the problem is that our neighborhood does not get the same amenities as other neighborhoods.

“If that continues,” she said, “things will get worse. Make the bus shelter real. Make heated bus shelters. Plymouth didn’t have bus shelters or benches. Now we have some shelters and some benches. But there is an ongoing disparity. Too often, the resources go to Southwest Minneapolis, not to this community.”

Pugh said NRRC does have Neighborhood Revitalization Program funds for North Minneapolis. “So I encourage

Suluki Fardan

Sherry Pugh

people to use money for youth and businesses. The community should be thinking about how to use the money.”

She said $40,000 is available for youth transportation and entrepreneurship. And she said residents can apply for $800 block club grants.

Spike Moss, civil and human rights advocate agreed, remembering that years ago, “we used to have a walking bridge across Olson Memorial Highway that ensured children and pedestrians could safely cross the busy thoroughfare.

Not now.

“And our children have no where to go. We don’t have what other neighborhoods have. So our kids don’t come outside to go somewhere, they come outside to stand still. There is no Friday night dance. We used to take kids horseback riding. We had festivals and events at social service buildings. Not now,” said Moss.

Moss charged that politics truncated the work of effective youth serving programs and systematically moved to marginalize traditional Black community leadership. At the same time, Minneapolis police

parks. The kids can run, splash and play hard without sticking out as having too much energy and inappropriate young skills.”

Another mom talked about how water can be very soothing to her son, who has a sensory disorder as well as FASD. “This $200 may not change these families’ lives in a permanent way, but we hope that it demonstrates that MOFAS understands the special challenges that parents raising children with FASD face. We want them to know, that we will be here to help support them

in any way that we can,” said Sierra Asamoa Tutu, a Program Coordinator at MOFAS. “It was a great day to be able to call and tell them, ‘start planning your trip!’”

Individuals with FASD have permanent brain damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.

Many times this affects both the person’s thought process and behaviors.

Common symptoms include hyperactivity, short attention span, poor coordination, poor impulse control and difficulty with social boundaries.

MOFAS was founded in 1998 by former First Lady, Susan Carlson, and works around the state of Minnesota to educate and train about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and to provide intervention and support for those individuals and families already affected. For more information contact MOFAS at (651) 917-2370 or tollfree 1-866-90-MOFAS; 1885 University Avenue, Suite 395, St. Paul, MN 55104; www.mofas. org.

and City Council leaders discounted evidence that a serious gang problem was developing here.

“Now there are brand new gangs and no body had a hand on the leaders,” Moss said.

“A year ago on Irving and Golden Valley, a group of young Black men decided they would attack every Black man getting off the MTC bus who appeared to be over 40-yearsold. They did that for half a day claiming it was payback for having been abandoned

by Black men,” Moss said.

“We still are not nurturing our children. We are flooding them with drugs and guns.”

Another Willard Homewood resident described North Minneapolis as a poor community and said, “Poor communities get shortchanged, America paid for social peace in the 70s and 80s with programs that address problems in neglected communities. Now, again, there is no money and kids are not being shepherded,” he said.

“But that doesn’t excuse dysfunctional behavior,” he said. “The problem in part rests with the large number of single women with children. Young men show up courting. This is about sex for young men who may go from apartment to

apartment, and who bring their homies with them.

It is hard for single moms to raise boys. Boys have testosterone. And boys like guns,” he added.

“Some boys are into drugs, sex and abuse of power.

So they sit in front of the apartment building make noise and throwing trash into the street. These guys are not all innocent. Not all are victims,” he said.

The Willard Homewood Organization meets the third Thursday each month from 6-7 p.m. at NorthPoint Human Services Building, 1315 Penn Avenue North.

insightnews.com

Insight News • July 19 - July 25, 2010 • Page 7

First Lady Michelle Obama tells NAACP not to rest

By Hazel Trice Edney NNPA Editor-in-Chief (NNPA) - Those who struggled and many who died in battles for freedom, justice, and racial equality during the Civil Rights Movement left a legacy that must yet be fulfilled - even in caring for the health of Black children, First Lady Michelle Obama reminded thousands at the NAACP Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo., last week.

“I know that I stand here today, and I know that my husband stands where he is today, because of this organization - and because of the struggles and the sacrifices of all those who came before us,” Obama said in a passionate speech punctuated with applause.

“But I also know that their legacy isn’t an entitlement to be taken for granted. And I know it is not simply a gift to be enjoyed.

Instead, it is an obligation to be fulfilled.”

Remarkably, her speech on Monday nearly echoed earlier sentiments expressed by NAACP Chairman Roslyn Brock on Sunday evening, who also listed the sins of inequality that still plague African-Americans. This commonality of vision from the grassroots to the White House indicates both the distance that African-Americans have come and the distance that must still be endured.

“When so many of our children still attend crumbling schools, and a Black child is still far more likely to go to prison than a White child, I think the founders of this organization would agree that our work is not yet done,” Obama said.

She continued, “When African American communities are still hit harder than just about anywhere by this economic downturn, and so many families are just barely scraping by, I think the founders would tell us that now is not the time to rest on our laurels.

“When stubborn inequalities still persist - in education and health, in income and wealth - I think those founders would urge us to increase our intensity, and to increase our discipline and our focus and keep fighting for a better future for our children and

First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the NAACP our grandchildren.”

Obama, who grew up humbly on the South Side of Chicago, is especially sensitized to economic inequities and overcoming them.

Among her foremost issues as First Lady has been childhood obesity which often results from economic inequities.

“And that’s why I really wanted to come here today because I wanted to talk with you about an issue that I believe cries out for our attention - one that is of particular concern to me, not just as First Lady, but as a mother who believes that we owe it to our kids to prepare them for the challenges that we know lie ahead. And that issue is the epidemic of childhood obesity in America today,” she said.

Citing that one in three children is overweight or obese, Obama said the stats are even worse for Black children.

“Just like with so many other challenges that we face as a nation, the African American community is being hit even harder by this issue,” she said.

“African American children are significantly more likely to be

obese than are White children.

Nearly half of African American children will develop diabetes at some point in their lives. People, that’s half of our children.”

Even as illnesses that derive from obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, mental and emotional health and low self-esteem issues can result in economic crisis for many families, that crisis also costs the nation, Obama pointed out.

“And we’re already spending billions of dollars in this country a year to treat these conditions. And that number is only going to go up when these unhealthy children reach adulthood.”

Pleading for those in the audience to help reverse the trend, Obama framed childhood obesity as if it is another civil or human rights issue.

“So we need to take this issue seriously, as seriously as improving under-achieving schools, as seriously as eliminating youth violence or stopping the spread of HIV/ AIDS or any of the other issues that we know are devastating our communities,” she said.

She illustrated the problem with statistics that the audience easily recognized: “Studies have found that African-American children spend an average of nearly six hours a day watching TV - and that every extra hour of TV they watch is associated with the consumption of an additional 167 calories,” she said.

Referring to what is now known as food deserts – neighborhoods where nutritional foods cannot be found to purchase because of the absence of grocery stories – Obama pushed for parental action.

Drawing empathetic laughter from the audience as she pulled examples from her own life, she appealed for parents to put vegetables on every plate; limit treats like sodas, and cut back on sweets.

“Surely the men and women of the NAACP haven’t spent a century organizing and advocating and working day and night only to raise the first generation in history that might be on track to live shorter lives than their parents.”

Obama has planted a garden

NNPA

on the South Lawn of the White House and launched a “Let’s Move” campaign to promote exercise. She recommended that parents and children visit the new website, Letsmove.gov.

The movement must start with self-example, she said.

“Believe it or not, if you’re obese, there’s a 40 percent chance that your kids will be obese as well. And if you … and the child’s other parent are obese, that number jumps to 80 percent,” she said. “And this is more than just genetics at work. The fact is, we all know we are our children’s first and best teachers and role models. We teach them healthy habits not just by what we say but by how we live.”

Finally, Obama told the audience to look to others – even each other – for encouragement – the same way that they did and still do in the Civil Rights Movement.

“See, because back in 1958, folks right here in Kansas City saw what folks down in Montgomery had achieved with their bus boycott. So they were inspired by all those men and women who walked miles walked miles home each day on aching feet because they knew there was a principle at stake.”

Whether it was fighting for a better economic lifestyle or better health, it was all about wanting “something better for their children and for their grandchildren. That’s why they did it,” she concluded. “And in the end, that’s what has driven this organization since its founding.”

Letter to the editor I am writing about the article in the June 28-July 4th edition entitled Bicycle Apartheid Nice Ride (if you can get it).

First of all the title Bicycle Apartheid is a very strong title/ statement. Perhaps Insight News wanted to get readers’ attention. In the article you state that the bicycles are available in Downtown and Uptown.

We know people of color live in those communities and have easier access to use the bikes in the Nice Ride Program.

State Rep. Bobby Champion is quoted as saying “his constituents have been relegated to being an after thought-kicked to the margins while affluent communities get public and philanthropic

subsidy.” Does State Rep. Champion want us to feel sorry for his constituents? If he knows that happens then why not do something about it. Why not get your constituents “Fired Up.” It seems to me that if this were true than his constituents would have had to play a role.

Maybe we relegated ourselves to the margins.

I understand Champion’s argument. Communities of Color are creative, thinking, observant people and we recognize the health issues in our communities.

Val Barnes Minneapolis

Page 8 • July 19 - July 25, 2010 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE Look and feel good for less at Aveda Institute Style on a Dime

By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com Right now, I am sitting in the reception area at Aveda Institute Minneapolis. My ten-year-old daughter, Arianna, is having her hair washed, blow-dried, and flat-ironed. No, I haven’t

abandoned the straightening comb(s); they are all stored safely under my kitchen sink (exactly where my mama used to keep hers). It’s just that sometimes this mama needs a break from doing all that hair, and at only $15 for the servicethe price is right (you know that it’s always about getting that deal and I figure this was a good one).

Not familiar with Aveda Institute? Briefly, it’s a highend beauty school that offers hair care, facials, and massage treatments, using their own

(really good) plant-based products. Yes, their low-cost offering of the full salon and spa experience has only one small-ish catch: the stylists/ students are practicing on you!

But wait; don’t let that tiny fact send you running in the other direction quite yet. You just may find that (at least a few of) the students know their stuff!

I pulled into the parking lot at about 8:30 am, and noticed a steady flow of cars arriving. I first thought it was the Aveda students, but later learned that other customers, who did

not make appointments, were arriving early to get in line; they are seen on a first-come first-served basis. The inside of the building is spacious and has plenty of seating in the waiting area. It also features a retail area where all the (pricey) products are sold. On the opposite side, cute little bistro sets were available for customers to read, use their laptops, or sip the complimentary tea (licoriceflavored, my least favorite-but a lovely touch).

Who Should Go? Now remember, I told you they are

avedainstitutemn.com

practicing on you, and that’s why it’s cheap. So if you have severely damaged and fragile hair, don’t leave your regular stylist to save a buck or two; I don’t want you sending me emails and blaming me that the rest of your hair fell out! If your hair is basically healthy, you will be fine. Instructors are on the floor monitoring the students and check their work before the customer leaves.

For me, it was a great place to take my daughter because I was curious if those high-end Aveda products would really make a difference in her usually dry hair. Guess what-it did!

At the end of Ari’s service, the student-stylist escorted her down to the waiting area where I was waiting.

She walked me over to the retail area, and showed me which three products she used on my

girl’s hair. She then explained what each did, and gently suggested that I purchase them.

I appreciated the explanation, and although I did not purchase any on the spot, I plan to next time.

Other drawbacks of the beauty school?

The young woman took around three hours to perform the service; it would have taken an experienced pro about one to two hours.

I suspect it would take less time if Ari saw her next time. In addition, you are not guaranteed the stylist of your choice, but if you find one you particularly like, you can make a request. I was given a few names of some top students and plan to try them all! Could Aveda Institute Minneapolis be a bargain for you? If you have more time than money, as I often do, then it might be! Enjoy!

Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.

insightnews.com

Insight News • July 19 - July 25, 2010 • Page 9

SPORTS Perspective on the LeBron James fallout Mr. T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Uh, Yes. Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert needs to shut up. I’ve never seen so much basketball on national and public media involving the pomp and circumstance leading into the Lebron James team choice, and the subsequent response on all sides. Before I could get into the morning news, a morning meeting partner told me that Gilbert called James “everything but a child of God” (Note: the important part is to project what Gilbert said behind closed doors, and what that really says). I’m not going to waste space going into specifically what Gilbert said.

Sports can always be a great lens for life, and outbursts such as Gilbert’s, and Kanye West’s “George Bush Doesn’t Like Black People!!” serve to

announce an issue that probably deserves some pondering and discussion, in order to resolve the issue or concern. Everybody deserves to be heard.

It is probably good to have that discussion, not just with the homies in the barbershop, but also with those who possibly don’t completely understand your view (“Don’t be sc’uured.”)

You can only hope that the person you’re talking to understands the difference between right and wrong. Fortunately most have “it” screwed on tight enough not to go that far in their idiotic lashing out at others. I certainly wouldn’t go anywhere near as far as to call Gilbert a racist, but I think folks have to constantly evaluate themselves to make sure they don’t think that they’re better than anyone else, accept the person in the mirror yesterday.

Mike Wilbon, of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” summed it up best in suggesting that Gilbert “wasn’t thinking those things (about Lebron) when he was offering Lebron $120 million!” I would only add that after Gilbert shuts-up, he should recite everything he said

LeBron James about Lebron in the mirror, many times over…and then apologize to Lebron. Yep. Apologize.

Keith Allison

As for the Rev. Jesse Jackson, I just think he needed to use better words - perhaps

“paternalism”, in order to describe Gilbert’s tirade over Lebron leaving Cleveland.

Slavery is not a term to be tread upon, and though I wouldn’t have used it, bad words have a tendency to shake people, and I can’t think of a worse word that “slavery.” Many African’s thought death was a better word than slavery, and I thank God I wasn’t posed with that “Decision” (next subject, because this Dead Prez is bumpin’ in the background and taking the sports lens too deep to end on that note) Anyway, have a talk with the office folks about “The Decision”, and the Confused.

It’s like taking bricks off the Berlin Wall, and the Race in America wall is not down, but to use a football metaphor: we might be in the Red Zone.

Now as for Lebron, he should have asked me to help with his carnival media campaign because all he had to do was produce a dad’gum, tear jerking, video farewell to Cleveland with a bunch of cute kids, the owners of his favorite eateries, and a parade of former Cleveland Cavlier

great players…and then get up and start dancing like he does and say, “But I’m goin’ to South Beach Baaaaaabb’ehhhh!!!” I’ll be real disappointed if Pat Riley, Miami Heat General Manager, and former great Los Angeles Lakers coach, let’s Lebron’s gametime-versions of “dance fever” to continue; though we are talking about Miami.

Speaking of The 2-time World Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

I’m sure Kobe Bryant enjoyed Miami’s PreChampionship pep rally. Last week I said that the youth of Ghana were drinking milk after the tainted ending to their countries’ World Cup Soccer bid. Well Ghana passed the proverbial milk to Kobe, because vanity isn’t Kobe’s strong suit, and Lebron just tainted Kobe’s summer sunshine quite grotesquely.

As for Lebron, I think he went from “King James”, to “Scottie Pippen 3000.” But that ain’t so bad either if that’s your thing, because Kobe has the Jordan impression sewed up.

Just perspectives. And as for Mel Gibson…!!

Interview: The gospel according to King James Interview

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com LeBron Raymone James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, OH, to Gloria James, a 16-year-old single-mom seduced and abandoned by Anthony McClleland, an ex-con with no interest in parenting. Gloria did the best she could to raise LeBron on her own, but that still meant moving frequently, living in the projects, and even temporarily surrendering custody of her son until she could get her finances straightened out.

Fortunately, LeBron found a sanctuary on the basketball court, where he would not only maximize his potential, but forge lasting friendships with four teammates he would play with from junior high through high school: Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis, Willie McGee and Sian Cotton. He was also very close to their coach, Dru’s dad, who would serve a critical role in shaping his character during his formative years as a father figure.

Of course, everyone knows that LeBron blossomed into a basketball phenom who skipped college and went straight to the NBA where in 2009 he became the youngest player ever to be named league MVP at the age of 24. But few are aware of how loyal, humble and unselfish a man he is as well.

To understand why LeBron has remained so grounded despite being nicknamed King James

and being surrounded by all the trappings of overnight success, check out More Than a Game, an uplifting documentary directed by Kristopher Belman. This moving bio-pic chronicles the seven-year sojourn of the Fab Five, recounting both their basketball exploits and the personal challenges each had to face while collectively pursuing their hoop dreams.

Here, LeBron talks about the film as he reflects on life and his professional career.

Kam Williams: Hi LeBron, thanks for the time. I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.

LeBron James: Oh man, thanks for having me.

KW: I loved More Than a Game.

Why did you decide to make this movie about you and your childhood teammates?

LJ: I thought it was time, and the footage that the director, Kris Belman, had shot was unbelievable. He followed us around our whole senior year for what was just supposed to be a tenminute school project. But after he saw what he had captured on tape, he knew it had the potential to be way more than that. And then when he came to me with the first little trailer that he made, I was like, “Wow! I’m on board. Let’s make something big out of this.”

KW: Well the finished product is very moving. Obviously, I was already well aware of your achievements on the basketball court, but this really related your personal story in a very powerful way. Congratulations!

LJ: Thank you very much. I appreciate that. My life has never been a bed of roses. I think now a lot of people are going to

understand where I come from and who I am today.

KW: Part of what is so impressive about you is your loyalty to your childhood friends and your continued connection to your roots, which is something you don’t find with a lot of other pro athletes.

LJ: Well, thank you. I’m very humbled by the things I’m able to do on and off the court. I’m grateful to be in this position, and being able to give back really means a lot to me.

KW: What would you say has kept you so grounded?

LJ: My mother, Gloria James, and my upbringing have kept me grounded. When you’re a kid growing up in a single-parent household, it sometimes forces you to mature a lot faster than you might want. In my case, I had to become the man of the house very early. My childhood was never great. We moved from place to place a lot. There were times when we had no definite place to stay.

So, a basic level of security was not always there. Therefore, when you finally make it out, and you become who I am today, you’re humbled by the memories of those situations. You’re kept grounded by those reminders that you didn’t always have it all.

KW: What has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?

LJ: My childhood… my childhood was my biggest obstacle.

KW: The Rev. Florine Thomspon asks, do you see yourself as a mentor today?

LJ: Absolutely!

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

LJ: Honestly, no. I’m very open about myself. And between the movie and my autobiography, I’m putting everything I’ve been through in these 25 years of my life out there. So, there’s really nothing that hasn’t been said.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

LJ: Am I ever afraid? Of course. I think everyone experiences those moments.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

LJ: Definitely! I’m very happy.

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

LJ: About two minutes before I started speaking with you.

[Laughs] KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

LJ: Shooting Stars.

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What music are you listening to?

LJ: “The Blueprint” 3 by Jay-Z. KW: The Laz Alonso question: How can your fans help you?

LJ: By just continuing to respect and to embrace the way I play the game of basketball. And I’m going to continue to respect them.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

LJ: A great father, a great friend, a loyal person and someone who’s always trying to make a difference.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

LJ: When I cook, my favorite thing to make is grilled cheese sandwiches. [Chuckles] KW: The Flex Alexander question: How do you get through the tough times?

LJ: By remembering my upbringing. That was as tough as it could get for me. There’s nothing that could happen in my life right now that could be as hard.

KW: Reverend Thompson also asks, what is your greatest source of motivation?

LJ: My family; my two sons are my greatest inspiration.

KW: Some readers sent in basketball questions. Laz: Lyles wants to know if you would have liked to see Iverson come to Cleveland.

LJ: Allen Iverson is also a future Hall of Famer. Any Hall of Famer who wants to play alongside is always welcome.

KW: 54 year-old, Jewish, pickup basketball player Peter Brav asks, who is the best 54 year-old Jewish basketball player you know?

LJ: [LOL] I don’t know. I have a lot of Jewish friends, but I’ve never seen them on the basketball court.

and to thank God for how far you’ve come?

LJ: I wouldn’t be anywhere without the Man above. I appreciate and try to take full advantage of my God-given talents. So, yes, absolutely!

KW: Karla also asks, are there any goals you have not yet achieved thus far?

LJ: Yes, winning the NBA Championship.

KW: Mike Ehrenberg says he saw you play in Trenton during your senior year of high school.

It was your first game back after you were reinstated following your suspension for accepting a couple of jerseys from a clothing store. What are your memories of that day?

LJ: I was very excited and very emotional, because I just couldn’t wait to get back on the basketball court.

KW: How do you want to be remembered?

LJ: As a very, very great basketball player, but more important than that, as just a great person who dedicated himself to kids and to giving back.

KW: Yale Grad Tommy Russell has a question for you about politics. What do you think about the Obama administration’s acquiescence to the proposed missile defense system in Eastern Europe? How do you think that will affect our diplomatic relations with Russia?

LJ: Well, I think Obama’s doing what’s best for the country. He’s an unbelievable guy. Very intelligent, very calm and very humble. So, I ‘m very confident that he’s always going to do what’s best.

KW: In the movie, you describe your junior high and high school playing days this way: “It was basketball, but it was more like friendship than anything.” What did you mean by that?

LJ: It was wonderful to make lasting friendships with a great group of guys, and also to have a great coach who was willing to serve as a father figure. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I still have those guys around me to this day.

In fact, I spoke to all four of them just this morning, as well as to my coach. I feel fortunate and blessed to still have that kind of access, because you don’t see that very often in life.

KW: Karla Thompson would like to know, whether you make time to reflect on all your achievements

KW: Well, thanks again LeBron, and best of luck this season.

LJ: Thank you.

Page 10 •July 19 - July 25, 2010 • Insight News

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COMMUNITY Businesses and artists celebrate North Minneapolis Since 2006, FLOW has become the premier art event in North Minneapolis.

Highlighting the uniqueness of North Minneapolis, this free, family event is a unique collaboration between the business and arts communities that showcases artists of all ages who live and/ or work in North Minneapolis.

FLOW is a self-guided art event featuring visual and performing artists at businesses, studios and organizations along West Broadway in North Minneapolis.

Start your crawl at the Penn & Broadway cluster, where the new 5 Points building will be open to the public. Now home to KMOJ, this building has already installed façades by Souliyahn Keobounpheng, and work has begun for a kinetic sculpture and bus shelter. Three floors of visual art, art-making activities, photo-booth and the 5 Points Lounge with food, beer & wine and a stage will bring new life to this historic building on West Broadway.

Two shining stars in North Minneapolis artistic crown, The Capri Theater and Homewood Studios, team up for an exhibit of work by North Minneapolis youth; one piece of art, for one month, by one artist. Homewood Studios maintains a space — called Gallery 1x1xOne — to offer the work of our young people (up to age 18) to the community. In the beautifully remodeled theater space, Minnesota Fringe Festival artists showcase excerpts of their shows and the Capri Big Band conducted by Faye Washington.

Help celebrate the return of KMOJ, The Peoples’ Station, to North Minneapolis by visiting the KMOJ stage at 1200 W. Broadway. Listen to live performances by local musicians, record and decorate your very own CD, enjoy food

by El Amin’s Fish House and

FLOW

the forthcoming Gullah Grub, visit our artists’ booths and see art-work exhibited inside the stunning 1200 building. Watch for Open Eye Figure Theatre’s shiny tandem bicycle with the “2-Wheel Tour” pulling the city’s smallest theatre throughout the Emerson Cluster presenting a “Parade of Oddities” impromptu 5-minute performances.

Also at the Emerson Cluster is Juxtaposition Arts. As part of their 15-year anniversary celebration they will have multiple programming in the Main Studio, Textile Design Lab and Sculpture Garden. An annual exhibition and sale of student and instructors work from this year’s afterschool and partnership programs, including posters about recycling and 2-d sculptures made by students

from North High during Green [r]evolution an environmental art and design education program offered by Juxtaposition Arts started in 2006. T-shirts designed and printed by apprentices in this summer’s Textile Design Lab workshop, drawings and paintings by youth from our Studio Arts Visual Arts’ Literacy program, real time youth and artists printing and selling t-shirts -- both Juxta and FLOW shirts for sale. Outside on the sidewalk Juxtaposition Artists will be creating a mural in real time and in the new Sculpture Garden next to Urban Homeworks attendants can decorate planter boxes.

Once again, the Cub Foods stage will host the Let It FLOW, Youth Talent Show Finals in conjunction with Northside

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Events

Hazelden Offers Free Educational Opportunity Ongoing Concerned about someone’s alcohol or drug use? Addressing Concerns Together (ACT), Hazelden’s new outreach program, can help. Join us for a free event to learn more about addiction, intervention, assessment, and treatment. Hazelden’s St. Paul campus, 680 Stewart Ave., St. Paul.

2nd and 4th Mon. of each month at 6pm. This is an open event and there is no need to register. If you have questions, please contact Hazelden at 800-257-7800.

Classic Black films at VOA Park Elder Center – Ongoing First and third Mondays of each month, 11 am - 12:15 pm. These films are free of charge and the public is invited. Popcorn, hotdogs

and drinks are provided for a suggested donation of $1. VOA Park Elder Center, 1505 Park Ave. Mpls. 612-339-7581, parkcenter@ voamn.org Research Events For Old Highland Neighborhood - July You may be wondering “How does my home contribute to the story of historic Old Highland?” Join Old Highland Research assistant Tammy Lindberg in researching the history of your home and others in the neighborhood. The findings will be posted to placeography.org.

Research Events: •Thur. July 22 10am-3pm Northwest Architecture Archives U of M (West Bank) 213 Andersen Library 222 21st Ave. S. Mpls, MN 55455 CROSSOVER Annual Student Park Avenue Youth & Family

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Substitute Teacher DEPT: Early Learning Center SUPERVISED BY: Youth Program Manager TITLES SUPERVISED: N/A FLSA: Non-Exempt SALARY GRADE: $10-13/hour POSITION SUMMARY: This is a substitute position designed to fill in as needed on a short or long term basis for permanent teaching staff. Substitute Teacher participates in long and short range activities for students in accordance with curriculum objectives and engages students in developmentally appropriate activities. Assists with ensuring that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities.

2.

Plans and supervises the arrangement of the classroom environment in accordance to program goals and philosophy.

3. Maintains a safe and healthy environment, including safely managing developmental activities for the participants.

4. Keeps all appropriate records such as records, attendance, time sheets and accident reports.

5.

Maintains open communication with parents/guardians of the program participants regarding the developmental needs of the participants.

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

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

Work Experience: 5 years of Child Care Center or related experience required.

Other Requirements: • Dealing with confidential information.

• Tight deadlines.

• Dealing with unfavorable weather conditions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager.

• Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines.

• Ability to relate to children from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and references to: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center ATTN: Human Resources 270 N. Kent Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-224-7074-Fax hr@hallieqbrown.org

Northside Marketing Task force

All photos by Brian Mogren except where noted

Youth Stand Up!, where prequalified teens from North Minneapolis compete for cash prizes in an Apollo Style event.

Keep The Knowledge FLOWing will recognize college-bound high school graduates from the Northside with gift bags filled with items for school. A group picture will be taken and will be seen on billboards around the city later this summer. Thrilling performances by Unlimited Next Level Drill Team, Voices

PHONE: FAX:

Services Holds Annual Golf Tournament - July 25 On July 25th, Park Avenue Youth & Family Services will hold their 3rd Annual golf tournament at Theodore Wirth Golf Course in Golden Valley, Minnesota. The tournament begins at 1 p.m., with an awards banquet immediately following. For more information contact Beth Jacobs, Tournament Coordinator for Park Avenue Youth & Family Services, at 612-8037467 or bjjacobs@cord.edu. Visit our website at http://www.payfs. org.

Lowertown Block Party - July 25 Make Tracks to Lowertown The Black Dog Cafe is pleased to announce the Fifth Annual Lowertown Block Party, to be held Sunday, July 25, from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the corner of Prince and Broadway Streets in downtown

of Culture, Phonetic One, Xross & KJ and as well as hoopdance and food vendors round out this energetic site.

Cross the highway and visit the Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts. Dance studios transform into art galleries, parking lots into picnics sites, and our youth into star performers on the Lundstrum Stage. Watch dancers and storytellers from the Asian Storytellers Alliance and Lao

612.588.1313 612.588.2031

Saint Paul. For more information contact: Larry Englund, 651290-497. Email: lenglund@isd. net or Robyn Beth Priestley, 651-292-0321. Email: robyn@ tripodservices.com Women Venture - Career and Personal Finance Classes - July 27 •Career & Employment Transition Group for Women 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM at WomenVenture, Free.

Walk-in group for women to set goals, brainstorm ideas, and gain networking to find a job.

Lutheran Social Service Seeks Adoptive Parents - July 27 Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota Adoption: Join us to learn about exciting opportunities and changes in adoption. Discover the tools and support for families who would like a flexible, proactive adoption process, and learn how

EMAIL: ONLINE:

Cultural Center, and a variety of Northside performers. See budding musical theater artists from the Lundstrum Center, music students from Camden School of Music, and Z Puppets Rosenschnoz joins students from Camden Music School in the adventures of Cap’n Fitz as he braves the wilds of Monkey Mind Pirates puppet yoga musical for families in search of calm.

ben@insightnews.com www.insightnews.com

LSS can partner with you to grow your family. The adoption information meeting will be held on Tues, July 27, from 6–8pm at the Center for Changing Lives (Room 182). 2400 Park Ave. Mpls. Call (612) 879-5230 to register. For more information, or to register online, visit www.minnesotaadoption.org.

Living Spirit UMC Barbecue July 31 A tradition slow cooked to perfection with a bold new zing!

Join Pastor Donna Dempewolf and the Living Spirit congregation for slow cooked BBQ, delectable desserts, and live jazz with a twist

by Elbow Room. BBQ dinners $10. Slabs of ribs $18. Come for the BBQ. Stay for the fun.

Everyone is welcome. Sat. July 31st 11am-4pm. 4501 Bloomington Ave. Mpls, MN 55407

Searching for African American descendants We are planning a historical trip to Fergus Falls, Mn. August 20-21, 2010. Trip will include visit with the Historical Society, Friday, August 20, to share how and when Blacks came to Fergus Falls, primarily from Kentucky; a trip to the cemetery and tour of where Blacks lived, went to school, worked, and worshiped, and a picnic Saturday, August 21 at Pebble Lake. Please contact Jeff Tate at 612-2811052, Jon Anderson at 612919-6735 or Sylvia Loveless Amos at 612-302-3102.

CLASSIFIEDS Bid Advertisement Project: MPHA #PH-10.24 - Elders Community Center and #PH-10.25 - Memory Care Facility Location: 901 4th Avenue North, Minneapolis MN 55405 Bid Date: Bid Date: SEALED BIDS are due to MPHA’s Office by Thursday, August 12, 2010 @ 2:00 pm. See bid documents for schedule of public openings.

Pre-Bid Meetings: See bid documents for schedule of pre-bid meetings.

Description: • The Elders Community Center consists of the construction of a 2-story Community Center building that includes a variety of communityuse functions, including dining, fitness facility, health clinic, adult day activity center, seniors’ activities, and underground parking garage.

The building will be of non-combustible construction with structural steel framing, precast concrete plank, steels studs and gypsum board partitions. Finishes will consist of masonry veneer, metal panels, and aluminum-framed storefronts.

• The Memory Care Facility consists of construction of a 4-story seniors’ memory care apartment building. The building will be of wood-frame construction above a pile supported, cast-in-place and precast concrete foundation and first floor deck. Exterior wall finishes of manufactured masonry veneer, fiber cement siding and panels, and vinyl windows.

Bid Packages: The project consists of the following four (4) bid packages: Sitework for both buildings, Mechanical/Electrical for both buildings, Community Center Building, Memory Care Facility Owner: Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), 1001 Washington Ave N, Mpls, MN 55401 Architect: Elness Swenson Graham (ESG) Architects, Inc., 500 Washington Ave S, Ste 1080, Mpls, MN Construction Manager: BOR-SON Building Corporation 2001 Killebrew Dr # 400 Mpls, MN 55425 952.854.8444 Plans & Specs: Bid set available on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at BOR-SON’s plan room (for viewing) as well as soft copies. Hard are also available from Engineering Repro Systems.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Equal Housing Opportunity

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

Development & Communications Specialist Family & Children’s Service seeks person to write and design collateral materials, assist with events, website management, etc. See www.everyfamilymatters.org for details. Deadline: 7/30/10. Resumes: Human Resources, 414 S. 8th St, Minneapolis, 55404; e-mail: mcw.jobs@mcwmn.org or fax: 612-341-153.

EEO M/F H DV.

Assumed Name 1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: MN Forward 2. State the address of the principal place of business: 3530 IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402 3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address. Attach additional sheet(s) if necessary: MN Forward, LLC, 3530 IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402 4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statutes section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath.

Signed by: Charlie Weaver Date Filed: 6/16/2010 Insight News 7/12/2010, 7/19/2010

Huntington Place Apartments The BEST 1 bedrooms in Brooklyn Park!

1 BRs starting at $595 • Huge bedrooms • Tons of closet space • Indoor & outdoor pool.

Call today! 763-560-0244 www.liveathp.com EHO

Thank you for your business

Townhomes Available Fieldcrest in Moorhead, MN Rent based on 30% of income 2 & 3 bdroms open MetroPlains Management 701-232-1887 w w w. m e t r o p l a i n s management.com

ABA Minnesota Blizzards Basketball The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The program will consist of five teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration.

Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments.

We are looking for college students majoring in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 interns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits.

Interested Parties please send resume to: The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program 10125 Crosstown Circle #200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040 www.minnesotablizzards.com

insightnews.com

Insight News • July 19 - July 25, 2010 • Page 11

Photos: Suluki Fardan

“Another headline about another shooting in North Minneapolis...

How did we get to this point again?”

Commentary

By S. Himie Contributing Writer A very surprising thing happened to me on Tuesday, July 6, 2010. I woke from a deep sleep of sorts when I decided to scan the headlines of the local newspaper online. The headline from the Star Tribune online read “16-year-old becomes city’s 26th homicide victim.” I read about Anthony Titus who was shot on Freemont Avenue. It woke me up like a loud car alarm in the middle of the night or as if someone had doused me with ice-cold water after falling asleep. I was shook’ --as the slang goes. Not another headline about another shooting in North Minneapolis, I thought. How did we get to this point again?

Not too many things get me out of my comfortable South Minneapolis neighborhood.

I thought I could fence my family into our back yard and exist in bliss from the outside world. After reading the Titus murder story I realized the true meaning of “ignorance is bliss” and was compelled to come back “over North.”

For many years I have had mixed feelings about North Minneapolis. In my teens through my young adult years I spent a lot of summers and breaks visiting my cousins on Penn Avenue off Broadway.

In 1995 I moved from Illinois to Minneapolis in the spring to live with my mother who worked as a hairstylist on Lake and Chicago. That summer the city got the dubious distinction of the nickname “Murderapolis.” In 1998 I got my first professional writing job on Bryant Avenue North. The murder rate was lower for a few years but crime rate kept escalating.

In 2001-2002 when my wife and I started a family and were looking to buy a home in Minneapolis we had a choice. We chose not to live in North. Now we have three sons. The youngest are preschoolers and the oldest attends a Minneapolis public school.

Some families do not have the luxury of having the choices my wife and I had. I know this. I know some people choose to stay, live and raise a family in North.

I do not know the situation of Princess Titus and her family but I do know this: the Titus family did not deserve what happened on or after July 4, 2010.

No family deserves that. Everyone I talked to said Princess Titus and her family did all the right things for their children. Anthony Senior was involved with his son’s life. Princess attended classes, just like my wife, that help parents prepare their children for college scholarship opportunities by attending and graduating from a Minneapolis public school.

Years ago, I learned in a literature class that desire is the opposite of death. We must have the desire to live. This is the baseline of existence. I also learned that the two biggest motivating factors to humans are fear and love. Princess Titus went beyond the basic desire to live and she chose love to motivate. She says her source of love comes from Christ. Whether you believe in what she believes or not, it seemed like from the outpouring from the youth that crowded Shiloh Temple last Saturday she shared that powerful love with Anthony, her family and the community.

I use to wonder what a true leader was and I think I am finally getting it in my old age. A true leader is one who desires and makes positive changes, not just for themselves but for those around them. A leader is a mother; a father; a brother; an aunt or an uncle; a grandparent; a coach; a pastor; a politician; a singer; a dancer, a teammate; a publisher; a writer; a policeman; a teacher. We have all those in our community to influence the youth.

There could have been 2,000 plus leaders in the Shiloh temple two Saturdays ago because we all wanted to change something in our time of crisis.

Mayor Rybak saw it. Don Samuels saw it. Then while going over my notes I was reminded of what Pastor Hulme and I talked about. He said when he first began teaching, one of his mentors told him we teach them because they are children.

We are the adults here. We are the grown ups and

we need to stop competing against one another. We need to collaborate our efforts and try to make some headway in this crisis. Al Flowers said North side leaders should put aside their difference and have a summit. He is correct. We all need to come together and do more collaborating rather than competing.

With collaboration we throw out all the ideas that do not work and we work hard at the ones that do.

Maybe we can look to Princess Titus as a leader some day just as Minnesota and the world looks to Patty Wetterling. Wetterling became a leading advocate for children after the abduction of her son Jacob. Every year we remember October 22, 1989, the date of her son’s abduction.

Dr. Leonard Cain of Shiloh Temple said we must get back to the concept of the village and build up those inside the village. Let us get back to being a village and look after our own. Before we do any marching let us ask permission to gather around and build up the Titus family. Let us first feed them literally and figuratively with the love that a village has to offer. Let us gather around them and celebrate them for doing the right things and learn how they and other families managed to do the right things.

Then we can go around to the youth and apply those same skills and build them up to be future leaders who come back to North Minneapolis to build up the next generation.

The young are amazing because they can absorb quickly all we give them --negative or positive. The youth are watching us all the time. My older son accuses me of favoring his younger brothers and I catch him watching how I deal with them. I learned a lot from dealing with him when he was their age. My techniques are still trial and error. I tried certain ways with him and they did not work and now I know not to try certain things with his younger brothers. I try to replace yelling and “no” with a lot more silly humor mixed with choices and consequences. I have to be a parent but I have learned to treat them and motivate them like I would like to be treated and motivated.

Together as a village we can find ways to motivate our children when they don’t do their homework; when they don’t come home at night; when they sneak out and hang out on the corner; when they are not going to school and not doing right.

All who spoke at the Anthony Titus funeral were on point with what they said about stepping up involvement with the youth. Princess Titus and 5th ward City Councilman Don Samuels suggested sitting down and really get to know our youth without judging them and meeting their needs before we can start influencing them. There may be a challenge called a “generation gap” but over time I hope it gets easier.

Mayor R.T. Rybak was correct about looking upon Anthony Titus as if he were our own son.

All young men and women in Minneapolis should be seen as our children. Many hope that he can help solve the problems. But let us not be deluded because not all children in Minneapolis are dying violent deaths at high rates. The numbers show that the children dying are young and African American (Black). We are at or near a crisis point that comes close to how it was in 1995. This summer is not over yet. The mayor can only do so much.

Pastor Dale Hulme of St. Olaf Lutheran seems to understand the dilemma of helping with leadership in North Minneapolis. Sure, many may resent him if he tries to take the lead. Other ethnic groups have problems in their neighborhoods but they often rely on their own to lead in solving those problems.

Hulme has offered resources through his church and he is willing to offer more and fit in wherever necessary. Let’s motivate one another and grab every resource out there for our children.

Bishop Richard Howell Jr. made a great point about how the minority- a few in North Minneapolis-- are actually perpetrating the violence of the community and the majority of North want all the same things for their children as other parents in other communities. Parents in North desire and should demand good education and safe surroundings for their children. This should be the “given” or a baseline of any community or village.

Photo courtesy Pastor Dale Hulme

Titus From 4 In Cain’s opinion what makes it so senseless is that many times you look at a person’s lifestyle and see that if a person lived violently then they may die violently.

He said this was not the case with Anthony.

“I think we are dealing with a lot of mental illness in the inner city and no one is talking about it and it continues to be swept under the carpet,” he said.

Cain wondered if the church, community leaders and elders are doing enough to reach the young people. He feels the community needs to get back to the global village concept of community by and really taking care and building up those inside the village.

“We need to put aside the many differences to understand everybody is a part of the community and the senseless deaths are a part that affects the community,” Cain added.

Longtime Community Activist Al Flowers said he has known the Titus Family for over ten years and worked with Princess since her days with the Minneapolis Urban League.

Flowers blamed “politics” because the resources targeted for North Minneapolis

are not reaching North Minneapolis.

He explained that when the resources don’t get to the Northside, there is a direct impact on the kids: they have nowhere to go so they stay in the streets.

Flowers said politics are also at play because other community leaders and elders who usually reach out to the youth and the family during this time were notably absent from the funeral.

“We have to put the politics to the side,” Flowers explained. “We need a summit because there are many community leaders who do not get along with city leaders or don’t get along with religious leaders. We all must put everything to the side and fight together for our kids.”

“Some people say the devil is at work here because we are all divided along different ethnic and religious lines,” Hulme said. “My dream is that we see elders in the community come together and solve this. I am a Caucasian living in North Minneapolis and I know I cannot take the lead but I can offer all my support and help through the Lutheran church which has resources and connections for what the elders come up with.”

Donations to the Family can be sent to Anthony Titus Memorial Fund, c/o Northeast Bank 77 NE Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

Page 12 • July 19 - July 25, 2010 • Insight News

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