Insight News ::: 8.8.11

INSIGHT NEWS August 8 - August 14, 2011 • MN Metro Vol. 37 No. 32 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

PHOTOS PHOT OS TURN TO 3 Kai Holm Photography

The Minnesota Sinfonia Thursday, July 28th presented the Northside Music and Arts Festival—A free family concert at North Commons Park in Minneapolis.

The concert celebrated North Minneapolis community resilience and positivity in the aftermath of the tragic tornado earlier this summer. Above: A scene from Peter and the Wolf.

Building the power of Minnesota’s communities

By Lydia Schwartz Contributing Writer With the Minnesota Legislature often hopelessly dead-locked, nonprofits are finding new ways to ensure that communities continue to strengthen.

Sarah Catherine Walker,

of the MN Second Chance Coalition, admits that we have to change the methods in how we change minds. She says that they have been working at the city and county levels to reform felony rehabilitation, in hopes of taking their successes to allies at state agencies and to local representatives.

Second Chance provides educational and employment resources to ex-convicts, a lack of which is often the reason why so many unfortunately end up back in prison. Restorative justice practices allow released criminals to rebuild and surpass the damage they have done to society. Walker argues that we should allow those

who have committed crimes to redeem themselves, be able to fully support their families, and contribute to their communities to their full potential “We’ve found a lot of unexpected allies to testify at State Committee Hearings,” Walker says. “Legislators are often scared to address public

safety issues because they might be seen as ‘soft on crime’.

So we’ve had to reframe the language that we use in our policy efforts to get away from sounding like we’re just creating business regulations, and explain to legislators and businesses what we actually want. If we want people to talk about it, we’ve got

to show up.”

Government and community organizations have been working with employers to provide access to green training, and jobs that can provide support for all Minnesotans.

NON-PROFITS 7 TURN TO

Jimmy Jackson: A great man James Otho Jackson, known to many as “Jimmy” Jackson, of Minneapolis, died on June 8, 2011 at the age of 75.

James Jackson was a strong spirit, a student of the life and a social servant of the world, a wise conscious philosopher who was passionate about music and art. He touched many people from all walks of life bridging cultural and

social class barriers, as well as generational gaps in the diverse communities of people who had the privilege of crossing paths with him throughout his life.

He was a great man.

He taught fitness and exercise classes and contributed to the community’s richness through supporting his children’s sports and music activities. A disciple student of

master Voung Thong in Vo Lam Original Kung Fu, he acquired a 3rd Degree Black Belt. He helped establish a Kung Fu school at the U of M; and trained students in self-defense at his home, and community spaces such as Powderhorn Philips Cultural Wellness Center.

After retiring from sales, Jackson returned to working with youth through substitute

teaching at charter schools.

Born November 18, 1935 to LeRoy Jackson and Frances Roberts Jackson, James was raised on Minneapolis’ south side, with siblings LeRoy Jr., Leola and Shirley. He was a bright child, active in the Church of God in Christ, and enjoyed sports and music.

JACKSON TURN TO 7

David Brewster

James Otho Jackson

Iceberg Business Photography gets first Business Recovery Loan

By Ivan B. Phifer Staff Writer

Joseph Moore, Iceberg Business Photography and Iric Nathanson, Metropolitan Consortium of Developers

Award

Rep. Moran awarded fellowship to Midwestern leadership institute

PAGE 2

Suluki Fardan

Book review Black Woman Redefined

PAGE 5

Iceberg Business Photography, 2341 Penn Ave N, Minneapolis, last week got the first loan awarded by the new North Minneapolis Business Recovery Loan Fund. The Fund provides financing to Minneapolis based businesses directly impacted by the May 22 tornado that swept through North Minneapolis.

The modest loan spelled relief for budding business owner, Joseph Moore, owner of Iceberg Business Photography.

“We just opened and put quite a bit of money in it,”

Moore said. “The tornado was surreal, something you don’t expect. This provides some relief,” he said.

Moore said the tornado affected sales. “With the shop being closed, our grand opening was derailed. We have been doing work from our homes.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined on two separate occasions that North Minneapolis did not qualify for assistance because of the ability of state and local governments, along with local volunteer organizations, to handle the recovery.

Minneapolis’ Community

Earth Talk

The Green Cafe Network

PAGE 6

Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department in partnership with the Minnesota Agricultural and Economic Development Board (MAEDB) and the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) created the Business Recovery Loan Program to be the city’s front line initiative to provide some help to small businesses.

The Fund is expected to assist 50 area businesses.

Businesses can apply for funding to cover operating costs during the days they lost power, or to make building repairs,

BUSINESS TURN TO 2

Lifestyle

Dating and finding a mate that fits you

PAGE 8

Page 2 • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Insight News

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Representative Rena Moran awarded fellowship to Midwestern leadership institute State Representative Rena Moran (DFL – St. Paul) was among 37 select lawmakers chosen to participate in a training program that annually identifies and assists promising state leaders in the Midwest.

Representative Moran will meet with fellow lawmakers from Minnesota and 10 other Midwestern states and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan on August 1216, in Madison, Wis., for The Council of State Governments’ 17th annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD).

“The Bowhay Institute is one of the premier leadership training programs in the nation,” says Illinois Rep. Elaine Nekritz, who serves as co-chair of the institute’s steering committee. “The legislatures in the region have benefited greatly from the skills their members have gained through this unique educational experience. Many of the graduates now hold leadership positions in their states.”

“I’m honored to have been selected to participate in this program,” Rep. Moran said.

“I look forward to bringing

lessons learned during this experience back to Minnesota in an effort to serve my constituents even more effectively.”

Rep. Moran just recently completed her first session in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Rep. Moran had legislation passed that allows school boards to adopt a “full-service school zone for a school in an area with higher than average crime or other socioeconomic challenges that provides education, health, human services, and other parental support in collaboration with city, county, state, or nonprofit agencies. Most importantly, the legislation allows the district to provide student with transportation to attend the school.

Dayton’s Bluff Elementary in St. Paul is a school that provides services in collaboration with other entities to students and their families, and they’re getting great student achievement results. Unfortunately, some families chose not to attend the school because their kids would have had to walk through an area that they considered perhaps unsafe.

The legislation will make

Business

does not remain in operation longer than the two years beyond the loan origination date, the remaining balance will need to be repaid, said Fund managers.

Business owners will need to submit a completed loan application and provide required financial documentation to the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) or the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC).

Minneapolis city staff will review the application, determine financial viability, and process the loan requests.

MCCD will originate loans and provide loan servicing.

A $25 loan origination fee will be collected from the borrower at loan closing. If a business is moving to a new location, loan funds can only be

From 1 or to replace inventory, when such costs are not covered by insurance.

North Minneapolis businesses impacted by the May 22 tornado are eligible to apply for low interest loans to help cover the costs of tornado related damages of up to $5,000 at a 4% interest rate for a term not to exceed 3 years.

Principal and interest payments will be deferred for six months. If the business remains in operation for two years beyond the loan origination date, half of the principal balance, or $2,500, will be forgiven. If the business moves out of Minneapolis, or

State Representative Rena Moran (65-A)

used to cover moving costs.

Businesses that are still closed as a result of the May 22 tornado, you are eligible to receive a loan if the business owns the building where business is operated.

Eligible uses of the Business Recovery Loan Program funds

devolution and, in many states, term limits. These two emerging forces highlight the shortage of training available for legislators, a void that BILLD aims to fill.

A program of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office, BILLD is held in partnership with the University of Wisconsin’s Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs. Courses and seminars are conducted by La Follette faculty, Midwestern legislative leaders and professional development experts. In addition to courses designed to develop leadership skills, the program analyzes a variety of public policy issues, including the economy, economic development and corrections.

Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments has national headquarters in Lexington, Ky., and regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago (Lombard, Ill.), New York City and Sacramento. The goal of the national, nonpartisan organization is to assist and advance state government by providing research assistance, professional development opportunities, interstate consulting services and suggested state legislation.

MCCD executive director, Iric Nathanson said that the loan process is streamlined in order to move funds to tornadoimpacted businesses as soon as possible.

“North Side businesses will find that this is a user-friendly program with a minimum

of red tape. The loans are being allocated on a firstcome first serve basis so we are encouraging businesses to apply as soon as possible. We are likely to commit all of our available funds by the end of August,” he said.

For Moore, the loan is a step towards recovery. “We are excited about the future. We business owners who reside in this community who want to provide services to the people of this community,” Moore said.

To find out additional information regarding the Business Recovery Loan Program and qualifications for eligibility, contact Iric Nathanson at 612 789-7337 x 14 or inathanson@mccdmn.org.

“North Side businesses will find that this is a userfriendly program with a minimum of red tape.”

Upper and lower left: Jackie Robinson as a Dodger. Right: Jackie Robinson, Rachel Robinson, and their three children (David, Sharon, and Jackie, Jr.) at home in Stamford, Connecticut. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein, 1956.

“On April 15, 1947, my father, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, stepped out of the Brooklyn Dodgers dugout, crossed first base, and assumed his position as first baseman. He paused, hands resting on bent knees, toes pointed in, then stood, lifted his cap, and saluted the cheering fans. It was a defining moment for baseball ... and for America.”

Join us as Sharon Robinson, shares her story of her father Jackie Robinson.

Told from the unique perspective of Robinson’s only daughter!

Monday, August 8, 2011, 5:30 pm Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Free and open to the public Presented by They Played for the Love of the Game, Adding to the Legacy of Minnesota Black Baseball exhibit

include insurance deductibles, building and equipment repair, and inventory replacement.

Program funds can also be used to assist with business interruption expenses, limited to a maximum of $2,000.

Loan funds cannot be used to fund advertising.

Dayton’s Bluff an option for more students and other districts can use this option if they desire.

“Improving our public school system and helping close the achievement gap are among my top priorities as a state legislator,” Rep. Moran said. “A ‘full-service school zone’ is a commonsense reform that will help our schools and our students.”

“I’m looking forward to building on this achievement, gaining legislative leadership skills in this training program and enacting more smart reforms for my constituents in the future.”

Since 1995, 550 lawmakers have graduated from the Bowhay Institute.

State legislators from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin are chosen to participate through a competitive, nonpartisan selection process.

Members of the Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan legislative assemblies are selected by their caucuses to take part in the program.

BILLD was founded in 1995 to help new legislators meet the demands of program

Hosted by Hallie Q. Brown Community Center 270 Kent St., St. Paul, MN 55102 651-224-4601 www.hallieqbrown.org

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Insight News • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Page 3

BUSINESS The art of sharing a spreadsheet Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com You stayed awake half the night pounding calculations into

your keyboard. You birthed a spreadsheet that tells it all, in a wide range of colors, fonts and border styles. But when you proudly unveil your masterpiece to the people who will benefit most from its ingenious tables and graphs, all you hear is, Thud.

That’s the sound of a pin dropping, which you can hear because your colleagues are staring at your spreadsheet, silent and confused.

Getting people’s buy-in on a

spreadsheet takes forethought and finesse. First, it has to be useful and unique. Then it has to be their spreadsheet, too. And finally, it has to be current.

“Too many spreadsheets!” one executive exclaimed. The number of grids floating around is often in direct proportion to the size of a project. Yet, the bigger the project, the more critical it becomes to streamline processes and resources. Before opening

a blank worksheet, ask, “Is it unique?” Or is there some way to pull the information you need from an existing file?

If a new, entirely unique document is warranted, then creating it must be a group effort. Get cooperation early on from others who will be using the information or who might be contributing data. Worksheets can easily be passed, allowing others to add data, columns or formatting.

As soon as someone gets involved in creating a spreadsheet, their ownership attitude goes way up, which means my interest in utilizing the information goes up, too.

The best worksheets are kept current. Upload relevant data regularly. Reviewing the same spreadsheet as it evolves over time increases familiarity and a willingness to use the file.

Those who use them find a

quality spreadsheet is like a rare painting: the more I look at it, the more involved with it I become, and the more meaning it has for me personally. One doesn’t need a guilded frame to recognize when people appreciate something that makes their work life better.

Julie Desmond is a recruiter with Specialized Recruiting Group in Minneapolis. Write to Julie@ insightnews.com.

Northside Music and Arts Festival Photos From 1

Vocalists From the Sounds of Blackness

Unlimited Drill and Dance Performing Arts Group

The Junior Djembefolas with Baba Onayemi

Photos: Kai Holm Photography

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EDUCATION MPS students return to classroom August 29th Building Creative Capital

By Bernadeia H. Johnson MPS Superintendent The Minneapolis Public Schools will welcome students in grades 1-12 back to school on August 29 and our new kindergarten students on August 31. It is important that all of our students arrive at school on the first day ready to learn.

Not only are we preparing for the upcoming school year, but we are also working to prepare students for future success.

Students are at the heart

of what we do and everyone plays a role in helping them succeed. MPS staff, community members and families support our efforts each day. Whether you serve students in a school building, support them in your neighborhood or care for them in your own home as a parent, your support is essential for student success.

Families often ask me what they can do to help their children do their very best.

You play a critical role in your child’s academic progress and can help your child prepare to learn each day.

Help your child get ready in the morning so he or she arrives at school on time and prepared for learning.

Ask your child what he or she learns in school each day.

Set aside time each night to help your child with homework.

Visit the open house at your child’s school before the first day. Your child will come to school confident and eager to succeed.

Community members can help, too. Consider volunteering in your neighborhood school, and encourage the children that you see each day to do well in school and pursue their dreams. From the first morning bus ride until the last activity of the night, countless efforts combine to educate and support Minneapolis students every day.

We are working hard to make every school a great school.

That means every classroom has an effective teacher, every school has a strong principal

and every staff member shares the same high expectations for all students. What students are taught, how they are taught and how they are measured is the foundation of a system of great schools. All three of these elements are being consistently implemented at schools districtwide. That means that no matter which Minneapolis Public School your child attends, you will encounter a predictable and consistent curriculum.

That means academic rigor regardless of where you live and where you choose to send your child to school.

To accomplish this, I am making sure that our schools and our staff members are well equipped to provide our students and their families with the support that they need. MPS

staff members inspire success in their colleagues and students.

Last year, we began to recognize our staff members and hold them up as models for what MPS strives to accomplish.

This year, we will continue to recognize our dedicated staff members who turn their everyday accomplishments into student achievement. The support of our community members, families and partners is crucial. Together, we are MPS. I hope you will take some time early this fall, as soon as school starts, to get to know your school’s principal and your child’s teachers. Ask questions to better understand the expectations of your child.

School supply lists and back to school open house schedules

will be available on the MPS website. Keep in touch with us as the first day of school inches closer. We will update our website, Facebook and Twitter pages with back to school information regularly. Equip your child with the tools that he or she will need to complete schoolwork.

Open lines of communication between families, teachers, school staff and community members make for a better education. This is a chance to celebrate successes of our city’s children and to identify and correct small issues before they become big ones.

We look forward to making 2011-2012 a great school year.

When we all work together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Does campus living earn a passing grade?

By Vanessa Loy (BPRW)

Every fall season, families across the country load up possessions in cars and vans to

move their college student into a new home. That is, a new home for the next four months,

and then winter break comes around. While dormitory living is the traditional experience for students who leave home to attend a college or university, some parents see merit in allocating their resources for their child to live in an apartment. In some cases it is out of necessity, such as with large schools that only provide housing for first-year students.

Both options bring advantages and disadvantages.

An important factor to contemplate is price. Since most residence halls are only open during the school semester, parents only pay for nine months of room and board instead of twelve months with a regular apartment. This is not counting the cost of meals and utilities. Dorms at public universities in large cities are often more affordable than off-campus housing when

BPRW

compared month-to-month.

However, the reverse may be true for private schools.

Living on campus may save money in other ways.

Having all amenities within walking distance – such as the bookstore, classrooms, cafeteria and library – cuts down on driving and saves gas money. Parents may even decide their child does not need to bring a car to school in such a situation, at least not for the first year. On the other

hand, parents who purchase their child off-campus housing in a desirable area can use the property as an investment, and gain future benefits.

There is also the issue of responsible socialization.

Campus living provides easier access to social activities and making new friends. However, it can provide distractions from studying, and parents are concerned about reckless college partying as portrayed in the media. In reality, each campus has its own unique culture and standards of behavior. Thoroughly explore a potential school and its student conduct policies, and get feedback from current students. Most colleges and universities want to create an environment conducive to learning, which is the goal of higher education no matter where a student lives.

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Insight News • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Page 5

AESTHETICS 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 Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlane Bobby Rankin Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis 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.

Book review: Black Woman Redefined Book Review

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com “Dear Mrs. Obama, Do you have any idea what you mean to us? By us, I mean the strong, independent, accomplished Black women of America. I suspect that on some level you do… but please allow me this small indulgence as I share with you how special you are to us.

What I am about to say may seem a bit much, but it is important that you know—that everyone know—how much you have changed and are changing everything for present and future generations of Black women in this nation...

You humanize us. You soften us. You make us invisible no more. You made us approachable, feminine, sexy, warm, compassionate, smart, affirmed, accomplished, and fun-filled all at once. Your very nature most emphatically answers Sojourner Truth’s 160 year-old question: ‘Ain’t I a woman?’

Yes, we are women, too.”

-- Excerpted from the Prologue (pg. 1) Recently, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann lamented that the African-American family had been more stable during slavery than it is today.

Although the Republican presidential candidate was soon pressured by blowback to distance herself from that insensitive remark, one cannot help but be alarmed by both the suggestion that Blacks might have been better off in chains and by the verbal slap in the face of the millions of sisters doing their best to raise kids alone during this age of singleparent households.

Despite the fact that she is

Author Sophia A. Nelson also a Republican, and that she campaigned for both Bush I in 1992 and for Bush II in 2000 and 2004, Sophia A. Nelson, ironically, feels differently about herself ever since the election of a Democrat Barack Obama. She gushes at length about how much the President’s wife, Michelle, means to her in Black Woman Redefined.

Nelson’s heartfelt how-

to strikes this critic as much an appeal to Black female empowerment as a personal coming home party for a Prodigal Daughter possibly harboring regrets about her longstanding liaisons with arch-conservatives. For, she devotes the bulk of her book

Courtesy of the author

to debunking the sort of cruel stereotypes which the GOP has been fond of circulating for decades, like Ronald Regan’s stump speech assailing the proverbial Welfare Queen riding around in a Cadillac and Andrew Breitbart’s dissemination of a videotape

deliberately doctored to make Shirley Sherrod look like a racist.

The author’s aim, here, is to discourage anyone inclined to jump on the “sister-bashing bandwagon” which has enabled everyone from DJ Don Imus (“nappyheaded hos”) to misogynist rappers to distort their image.

“How is it that an entire race of women—so successful, so beautiful, so intelligent, and so powerful—can be so devalued, vilified, neglected, unwanted, disliked, misused, increasingly misunderstood, and blatantly abused?” she asks.

The answer is complicated, and is arrived at via a combination of anecdotal evidence plus a collage of illustrative contributions from such luminaries as CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and Roland Martin, documentary filmmaker Janks Morton, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, NPR’s Michel Martin, Democratic Congresswoman Terrie Sewell, Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., actresses Kimberly Elise and Taraji P. Henson, and The View’s Sherri Shepherd.

Besides writing what essentially amounts to a reverential thank you letter to Michelle, Nelson delineates what she calls the “five core goals” fundamental to blossoming as an accomplished Black woman, namely, (1) creating positive multidimensional relationships; (2) establishing a satisfying career; (3) having a balanced and emotionally-rewarding life; (4) maintaining good health; and (5) achieving a spirituality that doesn’t reject sexuality.

Ardent, inspirational, insightful and redemptive, Black Woman Redefined is likely the only positive book that’s going to be published by a prominent Republican about anyone named Obama between now and Election Day 2012.

Page 6 • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Insight News

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HEALTH

Earth Talk: The Green Cafe Network

By EarthTalk® E - The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I heard about something called the Green Café Network.

What is it and what are they trying to accomplish for the environment?

-- Jane Stevenson, Los Angeles, CA The Green Café Network (GCN), a project of the nonprofit Earth Island Institute, seeks to reduce Americans’ environmental impacts by greening the coffeehouse industry and harnessing cafe culture for community

environmental awareness. By educating and working with cafe owners and staff, GCN helps network members reduce waste, save energy, conserve water and increase community stewardship. GCN’s 30-plus cafes scattered across Northern California (as well as one in New York City and another in Keshena, Wisconsin) are committed to reducing their carbon footprints, promoting environmental responsibility and generally operating in as sustainable a manner as possible.

The approach of the GCN is to build on the influence of key institutions—neighborhood cafes and Americans’ infatuation with coffee—to try to raise environmental awareness and spur individual action. The idea

Steve Rhodes

The Green Café Network (GCN), a project of Earth Island Institute, seeks to green the coffeehouse industry and harness cafe culture for community environmental awareness. Pictured: San Francisco’s Border Lands Cafe, a GCN member. is that when people see their local café as a positive example of green business practices and community building, there is a ripple effect, and the community is strengthened accordingly.

For cafes interested in getting involved, GCN provides personalized consulting services to help owners reduce their ecological footprints, enhance and streamline their operations, and set a visible good example of

environmental responsibility for the community at large. Services can address specific areas in need of attention, such as energy and water conservation, waste reduction, toxics minimization and eco-friendly purchasing, and also overall efforts to green the business from top to bottom.

GCN can also consult on green building issues in the design, construction and remodel phases of a cafe’s lifecycle. With a

project tagline of “Love Our Planet a Latte,” how could one not love what GCN is doing?

Cafes and coffee shops can take steps to align environmental considerations with business operations even without membership in GCN. The Barista Exchange website, for one, offers a treasure trove of information and tips on greening up cafes and coffee shops through energy and waste reduction, eco-friendly procurement and the sourcing of organic fair trade coffee. U.S. coffee shops serve up about 25 million cups every day, so coffee shops can make a huge difference by being green.

For its part, the nation’s leading coffee retailer, Starbucks, has been a pioneer in greening the coffee industry, and the company considers environmental stewardship a priority. With dedicated programs for increasing recycling, conserving energy and water, sourcing greener beans, using sustainable building techniques and materials in new stores, and offsetting carbon emissions, Starbucks has worked hard to set a green example.

Of course, cafe owners and staff aren’t the only ones responsible for greening your coffee habit. You can play a role too. One obvious place to start is to bring in your own reusable mug to fill up on your favorite blend to cut down on paper cup waste. And requesting fair trade coffee will help ensure living wages for coffee workers out in the fields and send a message to café owners that you value doing the right thing.

CONTACTS: Green Cafe Network, www.earthisland. org/index.php/projects/grn; Barista Exchange, www. baristaexchange.com; Starbucks Environmental Stewardship, w w w. s t a r b u c k s . c o m / responsibility/environment.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@ emagazine.com.

Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe.

Free Trial Issue: www. emagazine.com/trial.

McDonald’s unveils plans for healthier menu Special to the NNPA from the AFROAmerican newspapers The fast food chain McDonald’s last month announced nutritional changes to its menu intended to provide healthier options.

“Right now, America is having important conversations about childhood obesity, well-being and healthy choices and I’m proud that McDonald’s is engaged in those conversations,” Jan Field, president of McDonald’s USA, said in a statement.

The fast food giant is

planning on offering fewer fries and more apples in its signature Happy Meals for kids, while offering a 15 percent decrease in sodium in its menu by 2015.

By 2020, the company plans reductions in sugars, saturated fat and calories.

The announcement was met with a positive reaction from first lady Michelle Obama.

“McDonald’s is making continued progress today by providing more fruit and reducing the calories in its Happy Meals,” Obama said in a statement. “I’ve always said that everyone has a role to play in making America healthier, and these are positive steps

toward the goal of solving the problem of childhood obesity.

McDonald’s has continued to evolve its menu, and I look forward to hearing about the progress of today’s commitments, as well as efforts in the years to come.”

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer group that filed suit against McDonald’s for using Happy Meal toys to attract children, is equally pleased with the announcement.

“McDonald’s is an industry leader and Happy Meals have been copied by so many restaurants,” CSPI policy director Margo Wootan told

Reuters. “Having them change the nutritional quality for the Happy Meal sets a standard for the industry.”

Happy Meal French Fry sizes will be reduced from 2.4 ounces to 1.1 and will feature fat-free chocolate milk, 1 percent white milk or soda, if requested by a parent.

The initiative will begin in September with the goal of introducing healthier options into all the restaurant’s locations by the first quarter of next year.

McDonald’s officials said the company will also provide funding for community-based nutritional education programs.

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Insight News • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Page 7

“Coming out” a political act for queer undocumented youth

By Raul Rodriguez, New America Media, News Report Editor’s Note: The newly established Freedom From Fear Award recognizes people who put aside their fear of immigration laws and made a significant impact on immigrants and refugees. This is the fourth of six articles profiling some of the awardees.

For a complete list of winners, visit the award’s website at freedomfromfearaward.com Immigrant rights activists are increasingly taking a page from the LGBT rights movement, encouraging more students to “come out” as undocumented.

Drawing inspiration from openly gay San Francisco politician Harvey Milk, who saw coming out as a political act, undocumented immigrants Tania Unzueta, 27, and Reyna Wences, 20, used their experiences coming out – both as queer and undocumented -- in their fight against the criminalization of undocumented youth.

Originally from Mexico City and now studying at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Unzueta and Wences met in 2007 at Chicago’s Radio Arte, a free broadcast journalism program for young people. Unzueta taught journalism there and Wences was a student who eventually became a producer.

Two years later, they met Rigo Padilla, another student in the program, who was facing deportation.

Non-profits From 1 Public investments can jumpstart the ailing economy while rebuilding our infrastructure to include renewable energy. Creating a sustainable future is dependent on true democratic decisions, which must include the voices of those who are affected by the outcome.

Government representatives provide a crucial network for local leaders. In creating connections across the state, collaborative nonprofits are able to engage other interested volunteer, allies, and supporters. Volunteer advocacy organizations are able to create new opportunities for individual

Jackson From 1 After graduating from Central High School in 1953, Jackson began boxing at Phyllis Wheatley House, coached by boxing luminary, Harry Davis, Sr. After just a few months training, he won the 1954 Upper-MidWest Golden Glove Flyweight championship, earning him a spot at the National Tournament in Chicago. He proceeded to dedicate himself with great purpose to boxing.

the immigration building in downtown Chicago. Eight of us went up to the mic and shared our stories. We made a space to share our stories, to show ourselves as undocumented and unafraid,” said Wences.

“Coming out is not just empowering you and claiming a voice,” she said, “it’s also about claiming a voice, a space, and humanizing an issue that has been dehumanized.”

For Unzueta and Wences, the experience of being queer women gave them another perspective on being undocumented: Both populations were relegated to the shadows; both could use the act of “coming out” as a political tactic to bring attention to their communities.

The two also have experienced internal conflict battling over their queer and undocumented identities.

Growing up, Wences had trouble coming to terms with her undocumented identity.

“Ever since I got here my family told me that I couldn’t talk about it or else they [friends or neighbors] were going to call the migra,” said

Wences. “For a lot of years I would lie about it, and make up excuses why I couldn’t get a license or travel.”

After coming out as queer to her family and graduating high school in 2009, Wences started to have suicidal thoughts due to the limited options she had because of her immigration status.

“I had to turn down many colleges because I couldn’t accept any colleges because of the money,” said Wences.

At the end of 2009 Wences tried to commit suicide because she felt so alone.

It was during the fight against Padilla’s deportation that Wences became more involved in the undocumented youth movement.

“That’s when I finally realized that just because being undocumented brings limitations, it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it,” said Wences.

Like Wences, Unzueta realized how important it was to come out after struggling to embrace both queer and undocumented identities.

In 2003, at age 20, Unzueta came out as queer to her family.

“It was then that I started thinking about identity. It was at that moment that I realized that being undocumented was just (as much) a part of my identity as being queer,” said Unzueta.

But it was sometimes hard to balance both identities in their work in the LGBT and immigrant rights movements.

During her work for immigrant rights, Wences found herself hiding her queer identity because she “didn’t

want to hurt the campaign” by adding her queer identity to the immigrant rights movement.

It wasn’t until the National Coming Out of the Shadows Day that Wences felt she could share both identities.

Unzueta, who was involved in organizing the Chicago Dyke March for two years, noted that a lot of her gay friends didn’t know she was undocumented. “When I was doing Dyke March, I felt (that) talking about immigration was taking away from the cause,” said Unzueta.

According to Unzueta, it is only recently that LGBT organizations have gotten more involved in immigrant rights.

She is currently working parttime with the Association of Latino Men for Action (ALMA) on a project to build a stronger coalition of LGBT organizations interested in immigrant rights.

“This project is a huge deal because as far I know, it’s one of the first LGBT and immigrant rights coalitions,” Unzueta said.

understand that they are often on the frontlines to maintaining just policies and a democratic government. Avi Viswanathan, an organizer at HIRE MN, a nonprofit employment resource, argues that our tax dollars are going into the wrong hands. He says that they have begun to discuss their ideas with the relevant state agencies or by appealing directly to MN Gov. Mark Dayton.

“You know that they won’t hear you, if you don’t say anything,” Viswanathan says.

“Minnesota’s economic system is broken because the people who need money are not in the system.”

Pamela Twiss, organizing director TakeAction Minnesota program, works to increase access to health care and make the economy move forward

for everyone. She argues that the issue of continuously privatizing government programs often leads to tax dollar abuse. She is in favor of making public-programs actually publicly-run.

“We need to decide as a society whether we should turn to privatization or to solve problems within communities.

People often say what they don’t believe because they don’t think it is sellable to others… If we don’t change the philosophy of the dominant culture; we’re going to continue getting these types of policies.”

Marsha Cressy, the organizing director of MN STEP (Standing Together to End Poverty), an ‘Alliance of Low-Wealth Minnesotans,’ has been working within different

administrative processes to find and provide real support for ‘low-wealth’ Minnesotans.

They organize and empower the underprivileged to seek justice for themselves, to end the policies that promote poverty, and make sure that all voices are heard.

“People often use the metaphor that it is better to teach your neighbor to fish, instead of giving them fish, as an argument against public investments. People know how to fish; they need access to the pond! We have to figure out a way to channel the anger people feel against the government and turn it into some type of progress… Our goal is not a program, it is real power.”

We are in an important historic moment when we can

change ‘business as usual’ to ensure that all communities experience economic recovery equitably. This is an opportunity to leverage real change and rebuild a sustainable economy that works for everyone.

Change that moves us from the world we know today, closer to the more fair and just world we hope to live in tomorrow.

The Roundtable is an Alliance for Metropolitan Stability event. Organizer Roundtables are monthly events typically on the last Wednesday of the month. Everyone is welcome to attend. The next Organizer Roundtable topic is “Storytelling as a Strategy for Local Organizing” Wednesday, August 24th , Noon-1.30 p.m., St. Paul Central Library, 4th floor meeting room, 90 W 4th St., Saint Paul, MN 55102.

neighborhood youngsters in his backyard.

Jackson returned to training boxers again in the early 2000’s working with Sankara Frazier at the Circle of Discipline.

Jackson met and married Shirley, while attending the University of Minnesota, where he received a BA in Sociology in 1962. They began their family life together in north Minneapolis. He worked for several years as a social worker, first for Bar-None Ranch as a group organizer for troubled teen boys and in Duluth as a case worker for St. Louis County. He later worked as a counselor for Minneapolis Big Brothers.

Following the Plymouth Avenue Riots In the late 60’s, Jackson spearheaded a project funded by the Dayton Hudson Foundation opening Teen

Centers in South Minneapolis specifically targeting at-riskyouth who had dropped out of school. He mentored and fought to provide opportunities to young people in an effort to undo the negative stigmas of racism and institutionalized inequalities. He was influenced by the teachings of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. believing change does not come without a fight but peaceful relations across racial lines was attainable.

By 1970, Jackson’s growing family, now four daughters large, encouraged a move into sales.

He spent fifteen years working for the Xerox Corporation; and another fifteen with Everything For The Office/Corporate Express.

His passion for discipline and good health was his foundation

to a life as strict vegetarian and practitioner of meditation; the study of martial arts; and acquiring a wealth of knowledge on nutrition and alternative medicine.

He became a member of the Minneapolis Library Board in 1975; and his concern for equality in education deepened even further.

After the birth of their 6th child, and second son, Jim and Shirley moved to Mound.

Devoted husband and father, Jackson is survived by wife of

51 years, Shirley; their children: Melody, Robynn, Celeste, Heidi, Charan, and Aaron; daughterin-law Melody; grandchildren: Benjamin, Celina, Kaela, Lucas, Ysabel, Zoe, Nina; and greatgrandchild Aubrey.

A memorial service was held for Jackson on Saturday, August 6th 2011 at Rose Hill Alliance Church, 2105 Roselawn Avenue West, Roseville, MN 55113.

Condolences can be directed to: jimmyjacksonmemorial@ gmail.com

The three were honored with a Freedom From Fear Award for their courageous leadership roles fighting Padilla’s deportation order and organizing a national “coming out” day for undocumented immigrants.

The award recognizes individuals for their tremendous acts of courage despite personal risks, on behalf of immigrants and refugees.

Padilla, 23, had moved to Chicago in 1994 when he was six years old. When he was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and driving without a license in February 2009, Chicago police forwarded his information to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and he quickly found himself in deportation proceedings. He was scheduled to be sent back to his native Mexico on Dec. 16, 2009.

Unzueta and Wences decided to “make noise” – as Unzueta calls it -- and draw attention to Padilla’s case.

Wences and Unzueta, along with other organizers, flooded the Department of Homeland Security with thousands of faxes arguing that as a “sanctuary city,” Chicago police should not have turned Padilla over to federal immigration authorities.

Handwritten petitions were passed around schools. Online petitions were circulated on Facebook and other social media sites. Professors at UIC voiced their support for Padilla through e-mails emphasizing his academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement.

They successfully lobbied the Chicago City Council to pass a resolution on Padilla’s behalf to halt his deportation.

They made enough noise to attract the attention of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., who introduced a private bill on behalf of Padilla, convincing DHS to stay his deportation.

In the midst of organizing, Padilla, Unzueta and Wences noticed the large presence of undocumented youth coming out in support of Padilla.

The three launched the Immigrant Youth Justice League in October 2009, a Chicago-based organization led by undocumented youth working toward immigrant rights.

Unzueta and Wences organized the first National Coming Out of the Shadows Day, the first day of a weeklong national “coming out” rally they helped create for undocumented youth to share their personal stories, as a strategy to shine light on a population that had long remained in the shadows.

“We marched from Union Park to the front of

leadership and help break down the barriers that people face every day. Financially contributing to provide training opportunities for emerging community leaders will lift people out of poverty, reduce racial disparities, and create healthier communities for all of us.

Newly-elected Rep. Rena Moran (DFL-St. Paul), for example, has been a crucial connection between MN’s state government and community organizers. She hopes that Minnesotans will remain optimistic and continue to utilize the state legislature as an agent of change.

“Legislators need education and support as your representative,” Moran says. “Relationships are so important, so stay connected!”

Minnesota nonprofits

He won the 1957 National Golden Gloves Flyweight Championship; and was one loss away from making the 1960 US Olympic team.

He fought several professional fights before retiring with an undefeated Bantamweight record of 3 wins by knockout, one draw, with no losses. He continued to contribute to the boxing community in the following years through coaching youth at Minneapolis’ Pillsbury House, where his team won the City Tournament; and more informally coaching

freedomfromfearaward.com

Tania Unzueta, Rigo Padilla and Reyna Wences

The first Freedom from Fear Awards honors “ordinary people who have committed extraordinary acts of courage on behalf of immigrants and refugees -- individuals who have taken a risk, set an example, and inspired others to awareness or action.” The Freedom from Fear Award was created by philanthropic leaders Geri Mannion and Taryn Higashi and administered and produced by Public Interest Projects.

Page 8 • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE Dating & finding a mate that fits you Murua (Swahili for ‘Respect’)

By Dr. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. Years ago, there was a song

by Smokey Robinson entitled: “You’d Better Shop Around.”

The lyrics of the song tell the story of a mother who is preparing her son to take his time in order to find true love. The mother says to her son: “Just as sure as the winds gonna blow, there is one thing I want you to know, women come and women go—before you tell em that you love em so…my momma told me, you’d better shop around.”

So naturally today when I work with individuals and couples around relationship issues, I often recall the lyrics of the song. In fact, I think of dating as being very similar to the process of shopping.

While grocery shopping is rarely exciting, I do get excited when its time to shop for shoes.

In fact, I love shopping for shoes and there is this great shoe store called DSW, which houses what appears to be thousands of pairs of shoes. This virtual “world of shoes” is populated by shoes of every quality, shape, color and size! I realized that it is “okay” for me to try on several pairs of high quality shoes--- I just don’t invest in them all or take them home with me! The problem is that many of us sisters (and brothers for that matter) have been shopping at “Pay Less” expecting high quality ….and end up wondering why things

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fall apart quickly.

When it comes to finding a mate in life, it may be useful to know that relationships, similar to shopping, have phases. In fact, I use a model that suggests that relationships go through seven stages/phases. The first stage of a relationship is called Initiation. The Initiation Stage begins with the initial meeting and ends with the decision to start relating. So, if you use my shopping analogy, this is

the phase when you walk down the aisle and “Oh la-la” there is an attractive pair of shoes that catches your eye. You feel a rush of adrenaline as you see that this type of shoe usually costs $225 and now it is on sale for only $50. You know immediately that you’ve just ‘got to’ have them.

In relationships, some call this the Eros Phase (named after the god Cupid, or Eros) because there is some initial attraction that seems compelling enough to encourage another meeting.

Partners become profoundly “stricken” by the potential of getting closer to each other.

One study suggested that during this phase, people even perceive

that their partners’ breath is sweeter!

The second stage is called the Exploration Stage. During the Exploration Stage, there are initial attempts to determine if there is a basis on which a relationship can be built. This is the stage in shopping during which you look at the boxes underneath the “model shoe” to see if the shoe is available in your size. Sometimes, we may get a pair of shoes that is not quite our size. For example, you know that you usually wear a size 8 ½ or a 9, but this shoe is only available in an 8. You may even try the shoes on and attempt to walk around in them to see how they fit under the pressure

and weight of movement.

When it comes to relationships, couples experience this process as they attempt to give and get an expanded view of who they are as individuals. This phase is a highly active phase in which couples engage in doing lots of activities together and exchange thoughts, feelings and information. This phase allows for the deepening of a relationship or provides the first critical juncture at which the relationship can terminate.

The third stage is called Establishment.

The Establishment Stage is characterized by the decision of the two people to call themselves a “couple.’ There is a clear decision to begin to have a durable relationship that

can be mutually rewarding.

During this phase issues of power and control, intimacy and communication begin to arise. In the shopping world, this is when you decide to buy the shoe and take it home with you.

The next phase is called the Discovery Stage.

The Discovery Stage is characterized by experiences that tend to bring out the more basic, underlying and stable aspects of the partners. If we continue to use our analogy of shoes, this is the stage when you realize that those beautiful shoes match perfectly with four of your favorite outfits. You also discover that you can only wear those beautiful new shoes about 30 minutes before they start to hurt your feet. You notice that your toes cramp, blisters form and your feet began to swell the longer you have them on.

In the Discovery stage of love relationships, each partner begins to discover more about themselves and their partner, and often discover aspects about themselves that they may not have been previously aware of (or not aware of in the same way). The needs of each partner changes as their relationship matures and as new aspects of each other’s personality emerge to present new challenges to the relationship. Basically, this phase of a relationship is the uncovering of each partner’s needs, beliefs, fears, and hopes... Suddenly, one may actually notice that her partner has had bad breath all along!

The next stage is called the Redefinition Stage. The Redefinition Stage brings an attempt to act on new discoveries in a way that would enhance the value of the relationship and strengthen the bond between both partners. In our shoe analogy, this phase is comparable to redefining the conditions under which you would wear your new shoes.

LIFESTYLE TURN TO 11

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Insight News • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Page 9

COMMENTARY

Lessons learned from the Ark Child Watch

By Marian Wright Edelman As we take stock of the current state of America’s children and the desperate need to change direction for the future, some ancient wisdom can give us a blueprint for setting sail and getting our children to safe harbor. Everything our nation and all of us need to know about life can be learned from Noah’s Ark according to an anonymous writer.

Lesson One: Don’t miss the boat. The United States is going to miss the boat to lead and compete in our globalizing world because we are not preparing the majority of our children for the future. The greatest threat

to America’s national security comes from no enemy without but from our failure to invest in and educate all of our nation’s children. Every 11 seconds of the school day a child drops out. A majority of children in all racial and income groups and almost 80 percent and more of Black and Hispanic children in public schools cannot read or do math at grade level in fourth, eighth, or 12th grade—if they have not already dropped out. Any nation that is failing to prepare all of its children for productive work and life needs to correct course— now. And all of us—parents, educators, community, religious and political leaders— need to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. God did not make two classes of children.

Every single child needs and deserves a quality education.

Lesson Two: We are all in the same boat. Many Americans may not like or think they have any self interest in assuring a fair playing field for other people’s

children—especially poor and minority children, but Black, Hispanic and other children of color will constitute a majority in 2019. Isn’t it better to have them supporting the Social Security and Medicare systems and making sure a productive workforce is in place, rather than for us to be supporting them in costly ineffective prisons? Our states are spending three times more on average per prisoner than per public school student. I can’t think of a dumber investment policy. We need a paradigm change from punishment to prevention and early intervention.

Lesson Three: Plan ahead.

It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark. Tomorrow is today and children have only one childhood. They need to be healthy now. They need quality early childhood experiences now. They need first-rate schools with first-rate teachers and stimulating high quality out of school time programs now. And

they need to know that there is a good-paying job after college in their future. We must resist our quick fix, quarterly profit driven culture and invest in the future.

Lesson Four: Don’t listen to the critics and naysayers. Just get on with the job that needs to be done to educate our children. If you don’t want to be criticized, don’t say anything, do anything, or be anything. Stand up and fight for children, all of them.

Lesson Five: For safety’s sake, travel in pairs. Better still, travel in groups able to make a ruckus loud enough to be heard.

We have got to stop those who are rhetorically hijacking Dr. King’s and America’s dream but subverting his call to end the poverty, excessive militarism and excessive individualism that’s killing the dreams and hopes of millions of children.

How can we justify massive tax giveaways to the richest two percent and continue tax loopholes for wealthy corporations at a time when 15.5

million children are languishing in poverty?

Lesson Six: Remember that the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals. We must all use our citizen power, and vote to wrest our ship of state from that small group of experts and powerful corporate leaders who recklessly jeopardized all of our lives for personal gain.

Use your own power to make a difference.

Final Lesson: Build your future, build our children’s future and our nation’s future on high ground. Let’s leave our nation and world better than we found it—more just, more hopeful, more peaceful, more productive, and more unified.

This may be the first time in our history when our children and grandchildren will be worse off than their parents and grandparents. We must correct course with urgency and do whatever is necessary to get them to safe harbor.

We have pushed so many of

our children into the tumultuous sea of life in small and leaky boats without survival gear and compass. I hope God will forgive us and help our children to forgive us. I hope we will work together with urgency to build the transforming movement required to give all of our children the anchors of faith and love, the rudder of hope, the sails of health and education, and the paddles of family and community, to keep them safe and strong when life’s sea gets rough.

Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www. childrensdefense.org.

Undermining the right to vote Commentary

By Lee Saunders AFSCME Secretary Treasurer

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There is no right more precious in our nation than the right of citizens to cast a ballot on Election Day. That is why generations of Americans have sacrificed and even died in efforts to expand the right to vote. Yet across the country, powerful corporate interests and the right-wing politicians who do

their bidding are working hard to make it more difficult for citizens to vote. In more than two dozen states this year, bills have been introduced to restrict the right to vote; and in several states where Wall Street-backed Republicans control both houses of the legislature, governors have signed these fundamentally misguided measures into law.

As a result of these cynical attempts to turn back from the progress America has made in expanding voting rights, millions of voters are in for a surprise when they go to the polls. They will find new requirements that have never before existed, requirements that have been put in place to keep particular voters – students,

minorities and senior citizens – from having their voices heard in our democracy.

In Ohio, for example, Gov. John Kasich and the Republicancontrolled Legislature pushed through a measure that limits early voting and places new burdensome requirements on absentee ballots. “I think it is very calculated,” said State Sen. Nina Turner of Cleveland. The corporate-backed restrictions on voting are designed to reduce the ability of low-income and minority voters to cast a ballot, particularly by forcing boards of elections to close their doors

VOTE TURN TO 11

Page 10 • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Insight News

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North Minneapolis Neighborhood beat...

By Ivan Phifer, Staff Writer St. Anne’s Place With a generous $250 donation from its foundation, the Edina Realty Marketing Department purchased and planted flower borders and a beautiful garden at St. Anne’s Place. Boston Scientific donated seedlings and fresh vegetables for their heart-healthy garden.

Next Step Housing also received a makeover in June. Volunteers Ted and Cindy Kopacek and Patti Lisberg donated trees, shrubs, flowers and lawn furniture to its newest building.

At Ascension Place, Community Action of Minneapolis planted a vegetable and flower garden, which was tended and harvested by residents all summer. The Association of Universalist Women have dedicated

three weekends so far this summer to landscaping at Ascension Placegiving the building some real curb appeal.

St. Anne’s Place kids will be returning to school soon and need backpacks, pencils, notebooks, etc.

To donate, contact Sara Gomoll at 612.521.2128 or saragomoll@ stannesplace.org.

Back To School Community Gathering Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center (UROC) hosts a night of celebrating children going back to school 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Thursday, August 18 at 2100 Plymouth Av. N. Neighbors, representatives of community organizations working with youth and educators will talk about the upcoming school year. Free

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

Events Can’n & Jam’n Kids Camp - Aug 8-19 Participants harvest veggies from the garden and learn about good harvest practices and the value of good food for our bodies. Children will most likely make pickles, salsa, jam, salads, garden crafts and more (weather and harvest depending). A daily snack is included in the camp, but not lunch. The camp begins at the JD Rivers Children’s Garden and ends at the Pavilion. Classes are split into two sessions. Register at www.minneapolisparks.org. Cost is $35. If you register for both this camp and the Outdoor Adventure Camp, supervision will be provided during the lunch break. Kids must bring their own lunches. • Session I: Aug. 8-12, 9amNoon. Ages 11-15. • Session II: Aug. 15-19, 9:00am-Noon. Ages 6-12.

Outdoor Adventure Camp - Aug 8-19 Join us for an exploration of the wonderful variety of habitats at Theodore Wirth Park. Spend time at the lake, the creek, the woods, the prairie, the bog, and the open spaces in the park. Each afternoon will start with structured activities and transition into free nature play in each habitat.

Lunch is not provided. Classes are split into two sessions. Register at www. minneapolisparks.org. Cost is $35.

If you register for both this camp and Can’n and Jam’n, supervision will be provided during the lunch break. Kids must bring their own lunches. • Session I: Aug 8-12, 12:30-3:30. Ages 11-15.

• Session II: Aug. 15-19, 12:30-3:30.

Ages 6-12.

An Energy Equity Meeting for Our Neighborhood - Aug 9 If you live in the Midtown area of S.

ice cream, kids’ activities by 4-H, and Back-to-School prize drawings will be provided for those who attend.

Minnesota Housing Minnesota Housing is now offering financial assistance for Minneapolis homeowners affected by the May tornado who are not eligible for federal assistance or need additional assistance. Funding was approved by the Minnesota Housing Board in the amount of $1 million for the Quick Start Disaster Recovery Program through the agency’s Disaster Contingency Fund. Funding is available to Minneapolis residents with property located in the 55411, 55412 or 55430 ZIP Codes. In addition, the agency modified a previous Community Revitalization Fund award for Minneapolis of

PHONE: 612.588.1313

8th Annual Emotions In Motions 5K Run/Walk for Mental Health. - Aug 13 Sat., Aug. 13 9am - 8am registration at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. Proceeds raised will benefit SAVE - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, a national nonprofit agency based in Bloomington. To learn more about SAVE, visit www.save.org or call 952946-7998.

Deja Stowers On a Journey for Self: Dance Workshop: Aug 10-14 Activist artist Deja Stowers is teaching a four day dance workshop at Hennepin Center for the Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403, James Sewell Ballet (2nd floor) on Wed. Aug 10 - Fri. Aug 13, 2011, 6pm-8pm and Sat. Aug 14, 2011 12pm-2pm. Cost: $15 per class.*Please bring a notebook and pen for writing section.

On a Journey for Self: Benefit Show - Aug 13 Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 on Fri. Aug 13, 20011. Doors open @ 7:15. Show starts @ 8pm. Admission: Donation (Minimum $5).

can be obtained at the following link http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ public-works/cip/flood5/.

Jordan Area Community Council JACC will hold a Housing Community and Development meeting on Tuesday August 9 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at 2009 James Av. N. Harrison Neighborhood Association Harrison Neighborhood Association meetings: • 7pm Monday, August 8 HNA Board meeting at the HNA office 503 Irving Ave N. • 6pm Thursday, August 11 at , Housing Committee.

Send your neighborhood association or block club event to Ivan Phifer – ivan@insightnews.com.

EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com

Cooking from the Garden in Wirth Park - Aug 13 New in 2011, this camp joins gardeners and gastronomes, foodies and friends at the JD Rivers Children’s Garden for a morning of gathering garden produce then turning it into a summer mid-day delicacy. Class is for ages 10 and up and costs $5. Register at www. minneapolisparks.org. Aug. 13, 10am– 1pm.

Live on the Drive concerts - Aug 11 & 25 Pack a picnic, invite your friends and bring your neighbors to two Live on the Drive concerts in Aug. Café Accordion Orchestra - Thur., Aug. 11, 6-8pm - FREE. Rescheduled (original concert cancelled due to rain) La Gran Charanga - Thur., Aug. 25, 6-8pm FREE. @ 34th Ave. N. and Victory Memorial Pkwy.

Naomi Tutu speaks in support of our African Sisters at St. Catherine’s University—Aug 13 A very special benefit event is happening at St. Catherine’s University on Aug. 13, 4-6:30pm. The public is invited to hear Naomi Tutu, daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, speak about empowering women in African countries. She will share her experience of helping women in Africa to find innovative ways to address their many challenges and create opportunities for sustainable change.

Penn Ave Closing.

Penn Ave N from 37th will be closed to all traffic for 14 days. Detour routes available. Further information relating to the Minneapolis Sewer project

FAX: 612.588.2031

Mpls we invite you to take part in a community meeting regarding a plan to address the energy needs and challenges of our community. Tue., Aug. 9, 5-7pm. and will be held at Powderhorn Park (3400 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407). Free refreshments will be served. For more information about this event, please contact Our Power at 612.548.1333.

Up Against The Wall - Aug 12-Sept 17 Multi-media exhibit using traditional photography, installation and performance art, highlights a documentation project by K. Flo Razowsky using the US/Mexico border, Israel’s wall in Palestine, and the structures used to cut off Spanish Melilla from Morocco as focus. Opens Fri., Aug. 12 7-11pm. During the month of the show, local organizations will hold workshops, presentations and other events in the space furthering local involvement and access to the show. For a list of these organizations and dates: http://upagainstthewall2011. wordpress.com/

$750,000 to be used for tornado victims in these ZIP Codes to address pre-existing code violations.

Quick Start provides assistance as a last resort when private insurance and Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance are not adequate to return a damaged home to its predisaster condition. The program provides no-interest loans of up to $30,000 for home repair and is forgiven if the owner remains in the home for 10 years. For more information contact Brenda Yaritz at 612.335.5891 or email at byaritz@ mncee.org

Registration Opens for Fall Term at Camden Music School - Aug 15 Fall term classes run for 10 weeks, Sept. 12-Nov. 19 plus NEW bonus lesson days in December. Offerings include vocal and instrumental lessons, Musikgarten early childhood music classes (newborn to age 8), ensembles (hand drums, strings and rock ‘n roll for youth and adults, choir, string jammin’), music theory and more! Scholarships and family discounts are available.

Scholarship applications are due by 5pm, Tues., Sept. 6. Classes in Camden at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 3751 Sheridan Ave. N., 55412. CMS in Northeast Minneapolis at Grace Center for Community Life (formerly Holland School), 1500 6th St. NE, 55413. More information: 612-618-0219 or www. camdenmusicschool.com.

Dealing with the Tough Stuff: Adoptees and Resiliency - Aug 17 Deborah Jiang Stein is a national keynote speaker and writer who believes that we all have the capacity to transform ourselves, no matter how tough or traumatic our origins may be. Wed. Aug. 17 noon-1:30pm. $15/ person ($25/person includes webinar CD) Registration: Amy Fjellman, 612-

746-5133, afjellman@mnadopt.org Honoring Pastor Clarence and First Lady Beverly Hightower - Aug 17-21 Celebrating 7 years of service to the church and community. @ New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church - 1115 30th Ave. N. Mpls. Aug. 17-19 @ 7pm, Aug. 21 @ 4pm.

A Family With Problems That Heals - Aug. 19-20 Connected Singles Ministry presents a dramatic play about a family facing issues and circumstances that brings anger, hurt, disappointment, addiction and other traumatic emotions. But, they find out that there are solutions to everything. August 19-20 @ 7pm.

Capri Theatre - 2027 W. Broadway Mpls. Tickets: $20 - Reserve Tickets: 612-239-5439 STATUS UPDATE: CHAT’s 10th Annual Hmong Arts and Music Festival - Aug. 20 Center for Hmong Arts and Talent invites you to celebrate our 10th Annual Hmong Arts and Music Festival! Sat. Aug. 20 11am-7pm - Western Sculpture Park on Marion St. in St. Paul.

Tea Honoring First Lady Daniels Aug 20 The Center, Lutheran Social Service.

2400 Park Ave. S., Mpls, MN Time: 1:30-3:30pm - $10 Donation.

Run/Walk for Wheels - Aug 20 Kaposia, inc., a Twin Cities based nonprofit organization that provides job development and retirement services for individuals with disabilities, will host its 5th annual Run/Walk for Wheels, on Sat., Aug. 20 at Fort Snelling State Park. The gates open at 8am; the run starts at 9:15am as does the Walk; local musician Billy Johnson and a Pancake feed follow at 10am and we wrap up at 11:30am.

Member Appreciation with Rev. & Mrs. Daniels - Aug 28 501 W. Lawson Ave. St. Paul. Shiloh North Location, after 11am service.

Coffee Break S T A T E P O I N T 9. *”The ____ of CROSSWORD Dracula,” Marvel Comics THEME: THE 1970s 13. Greek bazaar 14. Romanian money ACROSS 15. Old photograph color 1. Trig. function 16. 4 x 4 race 6. Tide’s backward flow 17. Stock regulator

18. Twisted, as in clothes 19. *_______ suit 21. *Famous abductee 23. Id’s partner 24. *Sonny & Cher, e.g.

25. Rubber substitute 28. Insurance type 30. A winged babe 35. Type of rich soil 37. *Sitcom “____ Times” 39. Jagged 40. Republic of Ireland 41. White heron 43. Adjoin 44. “_____ came the spider...”

46. Wet nurse 47. Assigned spot 48. Modest or shy 50. Grad 52. *Rocky actor 53. Give off 55. Often precedes name of month or year 57. Besmear 60. *Popular transmitter 64. He traveled with Clark 65. Electric swimmer 67. Lack of muscular tension 68. Martin or Carell, e.g.

69. Park ___ in NYC

70. Hollow rock 71. Instead of truth?

72. Feline sound 73. Mistake

45. *Musical film hit 49. Flightless bird 51. Desert trick 54. Girder with “I” cross section DOWN 56. One who dates 1. Jung or Linnaeus, e.g. 57. 2nd letter of Greek 2. S-shaped molding alphabet 3. More than one solo 58. Pitcher 4.

Remove from 59. Dumpy establishment existence 5. Iroquoian language 6. Besides 7. Spelling contest 8. Medicinal herb 9. Territory, abbr.

10. Musical piece 11. Money maker 12. Paper or plastic?

15. Swaddle 20. Red in France 22. European union 24. Submissive one 25. Declare, as in court 26. Bridal veil fabric 27. Ricochet 29. *Popular party garb 31. Geological time periods 32. Spa covers 33. “Business as _____” 34. *A first lady 36. Carte du jour 38. “No big ____” 42. Famously opposable Answers on page 11

60. Ball of yarn 61. Don’t let it hit you on your way out 62. ____-European language 63. ____ and terminer 64. Psychedelic drug 66. The day before

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Lifestyle From 8 Maybe you would decide that the shoes can be worn only after you take them to a store and get them stretched. Or maybe you will decide that you will only wear them to church or to a drop-in reception.

Redefinition is an ongoing aspect of any relationship and is critical to its survival in a way that is beneficial to both partners. This is a stormy time because partners don’t usually show an equal desire to redefine the relationship.

Usually one partner feels he or she is asked to give more than his or her fair share. For a couple to survive this phase there must be a willingness to risk self-disclosure. Healthy relationships are actively involved in discovery and redefinition. Thus, couples are constantly challenged to adjust and readjust. If they do not redefine their relationships, their relationship goes to the next phase called Discouragement.

The Discouragement Stage is the point in a relationship when one or both partners feel that their needs are not being met in the relationship

Vote From 9 on the weekend before Election Day. Voters whose jobs, family responsibilities or disabilities make it difficult for them to stand in long lines, often for many hours, will now find it harder to exercise their fundamental right to vote.

Ohio is not alone in enacting voter suppression laws. In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott pushed through a vast set of new and burdensome regulations that are designed to restrict the ability of working middle-class voters to cast a ballot. The period for early voting shrinks dramatically, and voters who have moved to a new county or have married and changed their names in the months prior to an election will not have their ballots counted on Election Day. Since the 1960s, Florida voters have been able to change their address or name at their precinct during

Insight News • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Page 11 as it is. One or both partners may feel that they have three options. They can choose to settle for the relationship the way it is, allow discouragement to inspire an effort to redefine the relationship, or they can allow discouragement to lead to emotional withdrawal and detachment. Most relationships enter the discouragement phase at some point. Yet, it is the manner in which their discouragement gets resolved that determines whether a couple breaks up or stays together. In our shoe analogy, during this phase, you notice that when you wear the shoes, although you look nice, you are severely hampered in your ability to network at church or at drop-in social events. At this point, you may be asking yourself if it is worth keeping these shoes versus giving them away. In relationships, if couples do not adequately work through the Discouragement Stage, they inevitably reach the final relationship stage called Rejection.

One person finally calling it quits characterizes the Rejection Phase. In our shoe analogy, this is when you say to yourself: “I don’t care how good looking these shoes are, I’m never going to wear them

again and I can’t stand the pain.”

In romantic relationships, the person who initiates the ending of the relationship has withdrawn the emotional investment from the relationship and has probably been privately working on withdrawing for some time (unconsciously at first). During this time, affectionate feelings may or may not have developed toward someone else.

Depending on the degree to which both partners managed redefinition and discouragement, the couple can openly discuss dissolving the relationship.

If the discouragement and redefinition attempts have not be discussed prior to this phase, the partner receiving the news may experience emotional jarring and may relate that he or she was unaware that a problem existed in the relationship. During this phase, the person who initiates the break-up may decide to end the relationship because he or she previously felt rejected, discounted, or ignored earlier by the partner and no longer feels hopeful that a resolution may ensue.

The Rejection phase is not a necessary part of the life of a relationship. It only occurs when “Redefinition” is no longer possible and one partner is unable or unwilling to

invest in what is perceived as a painful relationship.

I’d like to close with these final points in my advice about shopping for shoes and love relationships. First, don’t force love--- and realize that love should not hurt. When I was younger, I used to “force shoes to fit”—no matter how much they hurt. It was kind of like some of us do in our current relationships; I’d force them to fit me because I simply wanted to have those particular shoes.

Secondly, all shoes are not for you and were not designed to fit your feet! As I got older, I soon discovered that had I simply put them back on the shelf and moved on (because those shoes were not for me), I would have quickly discovered that two aisles over there was a pair of shoes, equally beautiful, that fit me like a glove—and on sale!

Finally, Let go-- the Universe will provide the mate you are looking for as you follow your path. One day, I saw a shoe that was absolutely beautiful, but I couldn’t find the mate. I had the store clerk looking and she could not find it either. I became so discouraged because it seemed that no matter how hard I looked, I would not be able to find this “perfect shoe.”

I decided to let it go and move

early voting or on Election Day. But now they will only be given provisional ballots which may or may not be counted.

In Wisconsin this May, Gov. Scott Walker and his corporatebacked cronies in Madison enacted a law that will require every voter to show a governmentissued identification card before they are able to cast a vote.

Hundreds of thousands of Badger State voters will be denied their right to vote. A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee determined that this change in Wisconsin’s law will have a serious impact, particularly on students and minorities. More than 50 percent of the AfricanAmerican men and 49 percent of African-American women in the state do not have a driver’s license or passport. More than three out of every four young AfricanAmerican males in the state lack such state-issued identification.

That shouldn’t surprise us.

While most adult Americans have a driver’s license, it is not

necessarily true for large groups of Americans. Students, other young people and the working poor living in metropolitan areas often rely on mass transit, rather than own a car.

Senior citizens living in nursing homes or with their families often give up driving. The blind and others with physical disabilities don’t drive. All of them will be affected by these new restrictions.

Proponents claim that these changes are necessary to protect against voter fraud, but as a detailed study published by the Brennan Center for Justice notes: “By any measure, voter fraud is extraordinarily rare.”

Former Pres. Bill Clinton got to the heart of the matter in early July when he summed up the efforts made to restrict the right to vote: “There has never been in my lifetime – since we got rid of the poll tax and all the Jim Crow burdens on voting – the determined effort to limit the franchise that we see today.”

What these laws are really about is consolidating the power-

grab of the billionaires and Wall Street corporate barons. It is no coincidence that these restrictions on voting rights occur in many of the same states where the wealthy have attacked collective bargaining rights, privatized public services and cut programs that serve the working middle class to the bone. They have every reason to fear that the Main Street Movement created in the wake of their regressive policies would hold them accountable for their actions on Election Day. That is why they are attacking the right of seniors, minorities and workers to cast an unfettered vote.

That is why their actions are not only wrong, but a direct assault on our nation’s commitment to democracy. Voters have every right to be angry about these cynical efforts. We need to hold accountable the politicians who took these radical steps the next time we vote, before they eliminate our voice at the ballot box completely.

on to checking out. There were three check-out lanes, and as things go, I happened to be called to check-out at Lane Two. As I stood there with my other purchases, there right in front of me was the missing shoe!

BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, serves as President of Brakins Consulting and Psychological Services, and is the Executive Director of the African American Child Wellness Institute. The mission of the African American Child Wellness Institute is to

promote the psychological and spiritual liberation of children of African Descent by providing culturally specific mental health services and by developing culture-based, holistic wellness resources, research and practices. Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya warns that this column should in no way be construed as constituting a therapeutic relationship through counseling or advice.

To forward a comment about this article or to make an appointment, please contact Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya by email @ bravadaakinsanya@hotmail. com or by telephone at 612302-3140 or 763-522-0100.

Solutions From 10

THE 1970S

Page 12 • August 8 - August 14, 2011 • Insight News

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SPORTS The top five unwritten rules of baseball

By Brian Milne, founder of the BallHyped Sports News Service They’re called the “unwritten rules” of baseball.

And they’ve been a hot topic this season, particularly after one Sunday’s game

between the Tigers and Angels, when Erick Aybar bunted in an attempt to break up Justin Verlander’s no-hit bid in the eighth inning of a three-run game.

In that same game, Carlos Guillen homered off Jered Weaver, flipped the bat and stared down the Angels hurler nearly the entire way to first

base.

In response to Guillen’s showboat, Weaver threw above the head of the Tigers’ next batter, prompting his ejection, a war of words, and 24 hours of nauseating talk about the “unwritten rules” of baseball.

But why does everyone call these rules “unwritten.” Is it because most of this banter takes place on sports talk radio and TV, where people don’t know how to write? Or do they not know the game?

Well, let’s put an end to this right now. I wasn’t any good, but I played ball for 15 years as a middle infielder and pitcher before flaming out in college.

And I wrote about the game professionally for another 10 years (in print, where we write things down on paper) before joining the blogosphere full time a few years back. And here are my top five “unwritten rules of baseball,” written down, for all the hacks over the airwaves who couldn’t write or play the game.

1.0 Don’t throw at a batter’s earhole … unless of course you were shown up by not one, but two sluggers who lollygagged around the bases and did everything but make fun of your mamma along the way.

It’s OK to plunk a batter on the leg, or maybe an elbow if they’re crowding the plate. The head is off limits, particularly with a fastball. But all bets are off after a carnival act like Guillen’s trip down to first base, where he appeared to blow Weaver a kiss at one

Jered Weaver point. If Jim Leyland doesn’t kick his tail first, you can bet Guillen’s going to hear a little chin music the next time to two teams meet up. All of which leads to second part of our rule …

1.1 Don’t disrespect the pitcher aiming at your earhole, or his molehill, or the dirt cutout around his pearly white plate during warm-ups for that matter. If you do, the pitcher’s grandmother will tell you to “stick it,” that pitcher will go on to throw a perfect game, and his gramma will again drop some 1940s smack talk about you on national TV. 2.0 Don’t bunt to break up a no hitter, even in a 3-run game.

Or you’ll be called a “bushleague” player. (Definition: bush-league (boosh-leeg) adj., 1. Amateur in nature. 2.

Of unprofessional quality. 3.

Wikimedia Commons

Something seen only in the “bushes” or “sticks” where minor league baseball, and Dallas Braden, can usually be found.)

3.0 Don’t call out your horrendous fielders, by kicking the dirt, putting your hands on your hips, or shaking your head when they make an error or ill-advised play. If you do, your mamma will name you something terrible like, I don’t know, Gaylord.

4.0 Don’t spit on the umpire, or another player.

Spitting everywhere else in the park is encouraged. You can even spit on all the equipment, except the ball – unless your name is Gaylord. With a name like that, spitballs are allowed.

Well, Roberto Alomar was allowed to spit freely, too.

It’s not Robbie’s fault umpire John Hirschbeck’s face got

in the way a few years back.

That whole spitting incident was before Twitter anyway, so Alomar was welcomed into the Hall of Fame with open arms this summer.

5.0 Don’t be a d-bag on the bags. If you’re running the bases, there are a number of unwritten rules you should abide by. Don’t steal a base when you’re up big. Never take out a player unnecessarily, and think twice before taking out star catchers. Grammas and GMs take this sort of thing seriously in the Bay Area. And never, ever call out “I got it” as you run past a player preparing to glove a fly ball. Unless, of course, you’re A-Rod, and it’s a foregone conclusion you’re a d-bag.

Seem like a lot to remember?

It’s not if you’ve been playing the game the past 20-30 years of your life like many of these guys have. This stuff in engrained like the ash in their bats, so when an unwritten rule is broken, everyone in the dugout knows it, and there will be repercussions.

In the end, it boils down to the golden rule of the diamond: Don’t disrespect the game. If you respect the game, and the players and fans surrounding it, you’ll be OK 99% of the time.

The other 1% of the time, you’ll be considered a Gaylord, Bush Supporter, or an A-Rod, and people will be driving around with bumper stickers cursing your name … in written form of all things.

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