Insight News ::: 08.18.14 by Insight News, Inc

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Insight News August 18 - August 24, 2014

Vol. 41 No. 35 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Kahn withstands Noor bid

Stevens, Chamblis advance to general election By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer During a relatively quite primary season, several key races were decided on a day of light voter turnout.

Last Tuesday’s primary election dashed the hopes of Mohamud Noor, who fell just short of unseating Rep. Phyllis Kahn in the DFL primary for the 60B House seat. Noor was

PRIMARY TURN TO 4

Mohamud Noor

Reva Chamblis

Joy Marsh Stevens

County invites community to Northside center By Lydia Schwartz Contributing Writer Hennepin County celebrated the opening of its third regional human services center, located at 1001 Plymouth Ave., N. in Minneapolis. The previously vacant industrial building that once housed a print shop has been transformed into an attractive space with large windows and features an intricate bicycle rack designed by Juxtaposition Arts. The local artists are currently working on an additional sculpture planned for the site. “It’s a beautiful building,” said Minneapolis City Councilman Blong Yang (Ward 5), who represents the area. “This is going to provide a wonderful

CENTER TURN TO 7

Jesse Jackson calls Michael Brown shooting ‘crime of injustice’ By Chris King The St. Louis American

Hennepin County

Vivian Jenkins-Nelsen, co-founder, Inter-Race; Rex Holzemer, assistant Hennepin County administrator for human services; Jamil Ford, co-owner of Mobilize Design & Architecture; Ishmael Israel, executive director of Northside Residents Redevelopment Council; U.S. Rep Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges; Hennepin County Commissioner Linda Higgins; Minnesota Sen. Bobby Joe Champion; JoAnna Hicks, director of development for the Ackerberg Group, Minneapolis City Council Member Blong Yang, Sharlene Shelton, Hennepin County area director for community-based services development.

ST. LOUIS — Jesse Jackson told The American he hopes that the U.S. Department of Justice sees the Ferguson Police shooting of Michael Brown on Saturday and resulting community violence as “systematic of a national crisis.”

BROWN TURN TO 5

Coach McKenzie weighs in on discussion of police brutality Commentary by Ryan T. Scott It can be difficult to explain to youth why the police might assault an unarmed citizen, especially in the citizen’s own home. As the investigation continues for the charge of police brutality against community organizer Al Flowers, Insight News takes a look at the culture of solutions through the eyes of various community leaders. “We have to be the change we wish to see,” said Larry McKenzie, Charter School Liaison for Pillsbury United Communities and celebrated Boy’s Basketball Coach for Minneapolis North High School. “The youth don’t know the people serving the community. They fear (both) the perpetrators, and those serving them in leadership. Then they read all the stuff going

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

Somalia President Mohamud visit draws protest Larry McKenzie on everywhere and think it’s the usual. It doesn’t leave (the youth) in a position of comfort,” he said. With decades of powerfully successful service in training Twin Cities’ youth, McKenzie is

very clear about the instruction to steer clear of violence and compromising situations. “I make sure kids understand that you have to be careful how you carry yourself, and to not put

yourself in situations where you find yourself, by yourself. You have to take the necessary

POLICE TURN TO 5

By Lydia Schwartz Contributing Writer Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been battling mounting political

and social challenges in a country engulfed by decades of war, anarchy, and famine. On August 9, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside of the University of

HASSAN TURN TO 5

Insight2Health

Health

Commentary

Education

Testimonial: Eric Goodlow

Tobacco use and the African American community

National spotlight exposes culture of racism, harassment and brutality

North Minneapolis schools struggle to find tutors

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Page 2 • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Insight News

TESTIMONIAL

ERIC GOODLOW The Insight2Health Fitness Challenge has been the jump-start I needed towards a healthier life and a weight loss total (since August 2013) of 30 pounds. My boy since grade school, Tyrone Minor (aka Chizel, Inc.), his lovely wife Jamie Minor, Adam Stein, Rachel Schutz and Dan Bandy are the engines that get the train moving. But I get just as much energy and motivation from all my brothers and sisters (Jeff Jefferson, Jelanna Donaby, Al McFarlane aka “Mac,” Aneesha Kelly, Adero Riser, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Cummings, Preston Cunningham, Charlene Bradley and her mos who gets it in just to name a few. The focus never stops and there is no value you can place on extending your life and feeling more healthy, especially as you get older. Thanks again and like that energizer bunny, lets keep going and going and going.

Alaina Lewis

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Insight News • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Page 3

HEALTH Tobacco use and the African American community

l-r: Davant Moore, Elannah Wright, Ashantae Braxton, Kiaree Jackson, Tadaijah Bass, Deja Woods, and Shuan Washington.

l-r: Ashantae Braxton, Davant Moore, Tadajah Bass, & Kiaree Jackson

Commentary by Ashantae Braxton, Shuan Washington, Kiaree Jackson, Elannah Wright, Davant Moore & Deja Woods

We are youth leaders for WE WIN Institute, which is an organization that is dedicated to the academic and social success of all children. We have been so excited to learn about tobacco usage in Minnesota and how it affects African-Americans, especially

kids. WE WIN works with Tobacco Free Minneapolis to educate individuals on how tobacco use is affecting youth and African-Americans. Before we started this project in June, we had no idea of all the crazy things that tobacco companies do to get young people to smoke. Did you know that tobacco companies try to make cigars look like candy to get kids to buy them? They put chemicals in cigars so that they taste like Jolly Ranchers, and Kool-Aid. These cigars are called cigarillos and are packaged in colorful packs with fruits on them. Many times, kids can’t tell the difference between the candy and the tobacco. Tobacco companies spend a lot of time advertising in the Black community. They even try to sell us tobacco when we go out and have fun. They also do underhanded things like make ads that use the image of great Black leaders like Malcolm X to make young people think that he promoted smoking, when he didn’t. One tobacco company has a campaign called, “Stir the Sense,” which promotes hip-hop culture as a way to attract young people to smoke. They even have something called the Kool Jazz Philosophy Tour that takes something cool like jazz music, and tries to use it to get us to smoke cigarettes and cigars. The tobacco companies are killing our people. Forty-seven thousand African-Americans die every year from smoking

Photos: WE WIN Institute

related diseases. More than five million African-American adults smoke cigarettes. Most African-Americans smoke menthol cigarettes, which have more harmful chemicals in the cigarette and creates a greater cigarette dependency. As youth leaders, we have been going to corner stores talking with the storeowners and clerks. Most kids and teenagers buy tobacco products from the small groceries and gas stations. We gave the stores information about asking to see the identification of people who are under 30 years old, and to make sure there are no tobacco products on their counters and

Davant Moore that all tobacco products are in cases. We also talked to them about not selling “loosies,” which are single cigarettes that some stores sell for as much as $1. It is illegal to sell loosies. We would really like to see tobacco only sold at tobacco shops so that young people can have less access to tobacco. The storeowners were very friendly to us. They took information that we had for them about the dangers of tobacco use. They placed the materials on their counters. Ahmed, from the Pennwood Grocery on Plymouth

Avenue and Glenwood Avenue North, listened to us, took pictures with us, and even told us that he was given an award from the City of Minneapolis for his tobacco prevention efforts. We also went on KMOJ radio and talked about the harms of tobacco to our community. We have had a lot of fun learning about and teaching our community about the harm of tobacco use. We pledge that we will never use tobacco and we will make sure our friends don’t either.

You belong. The health plan with you in mind.

At Medica, you’re not just part of a health plan. You’re part of a community that believes in better health for all. Learn more at medica.com/PublicPrograms

Page 4 • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Insight News

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BUSINESS How can we get any work done? Plan Your Career By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com The evening news is on again: more shootings, more suicides, more fighting, more loss. Why go to work every morning if you might get shot on the way? Why

come home at night when your neighbors’ homes are blighted and trash lines the streets? How can anyone think about looking for a job when the world is such a bleak and hopeless place? Here’s why and how: It’s not. A stroll through a recent edition of Insight News shows the broader view, the hopeful and hardworking people who know that education and work are the tickets through hard times. Improvement is only a book, a newspaper, or a paycheck away.

For example, check out Reva Chamblis’ work: a bid for Brooklyn Park City Council. Chamblis is described as “thoughtful, organized and a coalition builder by nature… brings a sense of tenacity and fearlessness…” Tenacity means holding fast, keeping a strong grip, sticking to it. Tenacity will get you through school, through tedious job applications and through tough interviews. Tenacity takes you through the setbacks until you can reach your goals. Fearlessness gets

you up every morning and out the door, regardless of what happened out there yesterday. Fearlessness can be learned; be fearless today and you’ll find it comes easier tomorrow. Insight’s Aesthetically Speaking column recently featured Chadwick Boseman’s work: channeling the spirit of Jackie Robinson in the musical “42.” Let yourself be entertained, and you will go away feeling inspired. Crank up the music, go to church, watch an old movie, let somebody

tell you a story. Taking time away from hard times is an investment in your mind and your soul, both. A small escape from the harshness of reality can give you the bandwidth to move forward in your career and in your life. What are kids today working on? Maybe the frontline news is hard to swallow, but look around you. The Minneapolis Urban League has on exhibit “True Northside”: photography by Northside youth aimed at sharing all the Northside has to

offer. This is why we find work and go there every day. Work is how we better ourselves and build our communities; it’s a way to get away from the distractions of the streets, to give back and get better. What are you working on? Julie Desmond is Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Send comments and question to Julie at jdesmond@georgekonik.com.

The First 72: Don’t kill your fundraising 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 Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Abeni Hill Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Toki Wright Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore

FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw Asking for a donation to your nonprofit is one component of fundraising. How that gift is processed once it is received is another. Both are important. Your actions can strengthen a donor relationship, or contribute to its demise. “The First 48” is a TV crime show that stresses the importance of the first 48 hours to the overall criminal investigation. Create guidelines for “The First 72” to keep fundraising on track. Letting gifts “pile up” and processing them once every week or two may appear efficient, but this process may require investigation! Here are questions to answer when creating your First 72. Is this a new donor or returning donor? If a new donor, ensure all contact information is entered or imported into database. If you know who solicited or referred the donor, record that information. If a returning donor, ensure contact information is up to date, name is spelled correctly, and you are not inadvertently creating duplicate donors. (Don’t laugh... Andrea Johnson, Andrea Tammy Johnson and Tammy Johnson may all be the same person!) Who should thank the donor? Is an email enough? When should you send a letter? Who should sign it? Should a telephone call be made? By whom? Figure these things out in advance, and be consistent.

Primary From 1

PhotoXpress

Is the gift an “unrestricted” or “restricted?” This refers to the wishes of the donor. This issue typically arises with larger gifts, when a donor requests that funds

be used for a specific program or purpose. Make sure you honor your donors’ requests. More on this topic in a future column. For now, be sure to document gift restrictions

and honor them. What information will this donor receive in the future? Will they receive all communications? General communications plus those related to a specific area of interest? Add them to appropriate lists. Make sure they receive appropriate, timely print and electronic information going forward. Does the donor have questions or concerns? Who will call or email the donor in order to respond? Don’t let these slip through the cracks! Related to this, was a premium promised? If yes, make sure it is sent out quickly. When a major gift is received make sure staff and leadership know the gift’s impact. Don’t keep good news a secret! Finally, run gift reports each week and share with leadership and

hoping to become the first Somali-American to be elected to the Minnesota House. Kahn edged out Noor 2,332 to 1,949. “I’m disappointed by the results of (the) election but I’d

like to say congratulations to Representative Phyllis Kahn and urge everyone in our district to support her this fall,” said Noor in a statement. “I began my campaign with a message of unity and I’d like to end it with a message of unity. Let’s put the bitterness and divisiveness of this campaign behind us and work together to get Senator (Al) Franken and Governor Dayton reelected, and to hold the House

DFL majority so we can continue to build a progressive legacy in Minnesota. I look forward to working with Representative Kahn and other leaders in our community to build a stronger district and a better state.” The Aug. 12 primary saw a couple of Brooklyn Park candidates move a bit closer to making history – though both have tough opposition to overcome if they are to emerge

The First 72 is critical to sustaining and growing your donor base.

Photography Michele Spaise David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

Come have lunch at the Dakota 11:30 - 2 Monday through Friday From Chef Derik Moran, ﬁnd daily specials, salads, sandwiches and more, and never forget dessert by Pastry Chef Katie Elsing. Prices starting at $8 View our complete menu at

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fundraising volunteers. This helps build fundraising momentum, and lets solicitors know who has made a gift so they can personally say “thank you.” Leadership can review these reports and make decisions regarding future cultivation and potentially increase a donor’s gift. The First 72 is critical to sustaining and growing your donor base. Treat donors well from the beginning to avoid a donor attrition investigation.

victorious in November. Joy Marsh Stevens is seeking to become Brooklyn Park’s first African-American Mayor and Reva Chamblis is hoping to become the first AfricanAmerican elected to the Brooklyn Park City Council. Both garnered enough votes to advance to the November general election, but both trailed their races’ leading vote getters by sizable margins. Incumbent mayor, Jeffrey Joneal Lunde landed 60 percent of the votes cast to Marsh Stevens’ 25 percent, leaving the challenger with a lot of work to do to overtake her opponent in November. The road is a bit easier – but not without challenges – for Chamblis who garnered 582 primary votes. The leading vote getter in the race for East Ward Council Member was Terry Parks who won 834 votes. The City Council race has become pretty nasty with Parks hurling sabotage accusations at Chamblis and her supporters. On Parks’ campaign Facebook page, the candidate accused someone of hacking the page. “This site (Facebook page) shuts down in a few days due to hacking from unwanted rodents,” said a post supposedly written by Parks. The statement continued, “My final thought is this Teenagers (sic) pull up your pants and tighten your belt, Government (sic) you can do the same. Once you are out of high shool (sic) turn the bill of your hat to the front and get a job.” When asked who the “rodents” were, Parks replied, “The rodents are her (Chamblis’) people.” In an earlier post on June 3 Parks urged people to, “Don’t vote by the color of their skin or the party they belong too it’s irrelevant for a City Council.” Parks is white, Chamblis is African-American. The two will face off on Nov. 4 in the general election.

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your campaign visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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Insight News • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Page 5

Your right to be represented by an attorney By Karen Mohrlant A person who has been charged with a crime has the right to be represented by an attorney. This includes the right to hire an attorney of your choice (if you can afford it), or to have a public defender appointed to represent you (if you are unable to afford to pay for an attorney). Unfortunately, the financial realities of obtaining defense counsel are much more complicated, and leave many people – especially people of modest or limited means – wondering whether hiring an attorney is worth it. Benefits of Representation A good criminal defense attorney

has specialized knowledge of the law and the court system. Your attorney can analyze the facts of your case, and may find issues you did not know were there. A good defense attorney also has experience, and can advise you of what to expect and what you can do to try to secure the best possible outcome for your case. Your attorney is also your advocate with the prosecutor, the judge, and probation. Your attorney can work for the outcome that is best for you, based on your needs and priorities. The more serious the charges, the more important it is to have legal representation. It is also important to recognize that any criminal charge can carry out of court consequences. For example, it

may impact your ability to get a new job or housing. It can affect your drivers license, your eligibility for a student loan or government benefits, and your right to possess a firearm. If you are a noncitizen, it can impact your right to be in or to return to this country. A good criminal defense attorney may be able to help you avoid some of these out-of-court consequences. The Challenges of Representation Many low- and moderateincome people do not qualify for a public defender, but would find it a significant hardship to come up with the money to hire a private attorney to represent them. Such people may – reasonably – wonder whether

hiring an attorney is worth the cost, especially for misdemeanor cases. Specifically, they wonder whether having an attorney will change the outcome, or change it enough to justify the expense. Some people may hire an attorney, and later wonder whether they chose the right attorney. Unfortunately, hiring a new attorney to take the case is even more expensive. While most public defenders are very good attorneys, some individuals find they do not like or trust their particular attorney. At the same time, they may question whether hiring a different attorney will change the result. Alternatives to Full Representation

Although this is not often done, it is possible to hire an attorney to review your case without representing you in court. Just like you might get a second opinion before undergoing a major medical procedure, before agreeing to major vehicle repairs, or before deciding whether to undertake home repairs on your own, you can get a second opinion or review of your criminal case. If you do not have an attorney, this review can help you determine whether it would be worth the costs in your particular case to hire one. If you decide not to get an attorney, it will put you in a better position to represent yourself. If you do have an attorney but are not satisfied with the representation you are getting, it can help you

decide whether to hire a different attorney. The right to representation by an attorney is guaranteed by the Constitution to anyone charged with a crime. Taking full advantage of that right can be difficult and expensive. It is important to understand all of your options, and if you have further questions, to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. Karen Mohrlant is an attorney practicing primarily criminal defense with the law firm F. Clayton Tyler, P.A (www.fctyler. com). F. Clayton Tyler, P.A. is now offering case review/second opinion services for criminal cases. They can be reached at 612-333-7309.

The lawyer as leader: How to plant people and grow justice Imagine if community members across the world began planting seeds of social change, justice, and freedom. Anyone could be the one who plants the seeds for the promotion of access to affordable housing, fair sentencing, educational equity, or racial justice. “The Lawyer as Leader: How to Plant People and Grow Justice” is an inspiring roadmap designed to help people become effective agents for social change. The social justice challenges of our time are enormous. About one in seven U.S. residents live in poverty and the disparity between the haves and have-nots is wider

Dr. Artika R. Tyner than at any point since the Great Depression. The poor are largely marginalized from the public policy process and often are unable to assert their

Hassan

with little resistance from the government. “[President Mohamud] is bringing us back to the way things were in 1991,” said Abdullahi Ahmed, a committee organizer for the protest. “He only favors his own clan and his own way.” The United Nations recently warned that over 350,000 displaced people in

From 1 Minnesota’s Northrup Hall on the East Bank to protest his visit and speech. Mohamud’s last visit to Minneapolis in January 2013, came four months after he became president. The United States had given formal recognition of a Somali government for the first time in more than two decades. The country had a stable government, a new prime minister, and a functioning parliament. The tone was different this visit, however. Between chants of “Down Hassan Down!” and “Step Down Hassan!” protesters danced to the music of Saado Ali Warsame, a member of the Somali Parliament and a former Minnesota resident, who was assassinated on July 23 in Mogadishu, Somalia. Al-Shabaab, which translates to “The Youth,” a Somalia-based cell of the militant Islamist group alQaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack. Warsame was one of only a few women in Somalia’s parliament, and the first female legislator killed by al-Shabaab. They have carried out attacks against numerous government officials, African Union peacekeepers, and United Nations staff in a deadly campaign of suicide bombings

Police From 1 precautions,” said McKenzie. “I tell them that if you’re in a situation where you get stopped (by the police), make sure you’re responding in an appropriate manner. And when all else fails, say a prayer.” The unification of Twin Cities’ community organizers following the Flowers incident provided an important moment to galvanize energy for solutions to all forms of community safety and progress. Petty bickering

Brown From 1 Jackson said, “It was a crime of injustice.” Jackson said. The injustice, he said, was two-fold: a police shooting of an unarmed black teen followed by black youth from highunemployment neighborhoods erupting in rage. “Black men should not be the objects of target practice,” Jackson said of the shooting. “It’s not a unique situation. It’s a prototypical American situation. Police departments do not reflect

Saado Ali Warsame and gun attacks. A well-known human rights advocate, Warsame was also famous as an actress, dancer, and songwriter. Despite being imprisoned several times in the 1980s, Warsame never stopped using her songs and voice to plant the seeds of peace and unity in Somalia and its communities in Minnesota. She used her early songs to confront government officials who spent public funds for personal gains while some citizens starved. The mother of three arrived in the United States back in 1991, after civil war broke out in Somalia, and lived in St. Cloud most of the time. Warsame had received many prestigious awards, represented Somalia at the Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture held in Nigeria in 1977, and even performed in a St. Cloud Somali independence celebration in 2010.

In 2012, as part of the wave of people from the Minnesota Somali community who have returned to Somalia for employment opportunities and to help rebuild their warravaged homeland, Warsame relocated to her homeland and was elected to the national parliament. Somalis in Minnesota have been key to rebuilding peace in the African country and have made significant investments and contributions to Somalia. Many Somalis now question whether President Mohamud will bring stability to the country bogged down by cycles of insecurity, poverty, and underdevelopment. They had counted on the new president to defeat alShabaab. Instead, the militant group intensified its attacks on government centers, increased suicide bombing on populated areas, and targeted killings of government officials—

and posturing often undermines valuable initiatives, though this is certainly not exclusive to the Twin Cities. Lamenting difficulties in organizing change McKenzie said, “We have to get past the crabs-in-a-barrel syndrome. It’s too tough to get ten people in a room to talk about solutions.” McKenzie is one, of the diverse group of leaders contributing to the Community Standards Initiative organized by Flowers in 2011. “CSI is a collaboration of people to restore our value systems. A lot of our community challenges are about forgetting history. We’ve gotten

away from things that have always held us together. I mean, we’ve lost the village when we don’t know our neighbors,” he said. In considering the difficulty of helping youth understand potentially unwarranted police aggression when it seems a citizen has done all the right things, McKenzie recalled the words of his former mentor, accomplished educator and businessman John K. Cameron. “J.C. used to say, ‘Nobody ever said life was going to be fair. There’s good and there’s bad in everything. All you can do is to do the right thing.’”

the population. It’s awful, but it’s not unique.” The resulting community violence on Sunday, following a non-violent candlelight vigil to commemorate Brown, should be seen in the context of a chronic urban crisis, he said. “Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction,” Jackson said. “Poverty is in the community, guns are in, drugs are in, jobs are out. Banks are bailed out without meaningful community reinvestment. Too many people have no stake in the culture.” Jackson said that chronic urban problems remain to be addressed after the shooting

of Michael Brown and the community’s outrage are resolved. “These kids need educations, skills, job training, jobs, scholarships to college,” Jackson said. “We need a national forum on urban policy, justice and repression. This is a national crisis that has manifested in Ferguson.” Asked for advice to organizers on the ground, Jackson said, “That’s tough. I saw a sign that said we need quietness. Quietness is not the answer. Quietness is the absence of noise. We need the presence of justice.”

legal rights in regard to basic necessities such as nutrition, health, shelter, income, education and protection from violent physical abuse. More broadly, the poor are perpetually victimized by systems that maintain and uphold discrimination, disparate outcomes and subordination based upon one’s social identity. Experienced educator and community advocate, Dr. Artika Tyner, shows how everyday people can make a difference in the world. The book is a beacon call for those who wish to join the fight for social and economic justice. Highlights include the three pillars of

new social justice lawyering – origins and theories of social justice lawyering, principles of servant and transformational leadership, and the lawyer as policy entrepreneur and coalition builder, how to build a leadership platform, how to create communities based on a shared vision of justice and how to plant seeds to empower future leaders. “The Lawyer as Leader” provides those who are passionate about social justice with the inspiration, ideas, and tools to build and lead coalitions to fight for social and economic justice.

the Somali capital are facing an acute hunger crisis. Recent reports also indicate that the systematic diversion of weapons to the terrorist group al-Shabaab, clan politics, and a lack of inclusiveness undermines any progress made in the region. Warsame had also been an organizer for the demonstration at Northrup Hall on August

9. Protesters wore tee shirts bearing her photo and pictures of other parliamentary members who have been assassinated by al-Shabaab. Shortly before her untimely death, she had said that “the community wants to send a strong message to the president about his failures in his office, and for not leading the country on the path to progress and stability.”

Page 6 • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Insight News

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COMMENTARY National spotlight exposes culture of racism, harassment and brutality Commentary by Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

Harry Colbert, Jr. “The death of Michael Brown is heartbreaking, and Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family and his community at this very difficult time. As Attorney General Holder has indicated, the Department of Justice is investigating the situation along with local officials, and they will continue to direct resources to the case as needed. I know the events of the past few days have prompted strong passions, but as details unfold, I urge everyone in Ferguson, Missouri, and across the country, to remember this young man through reflection and understanding. We should comfort each other and talk with one another in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds. Along with our prayers, that’s what Michael and his family, and our broader American community, deserve.” – President Barack Obama Parts of my hometown are on fire. Parts of St. Louis look like a bombed out war zone. And in reality, it is a war zone … St. Louis is a war zone. The combatants are typically young Black men, many just above

the age of puberty. They’re at war with each other and by and large, the community is at war with the police. Most did not sign up for the war. They were drafted. But even those who dodge the draft often get caught up in fighting and end up a part of the carnage. The latest victim is 18-yearold Michael Brown, killed in a hail of bullets fired from a Ferguson, Mo. police officer’s gun. Brown, a recent graduate of Normandy High School – a school that lost its state accreditation – was set to attend college. Aug. 11 was to be his first day in classes. It was to be the start of his new life. He didn’t make it to his new life. Shot multiple times, his previous life ended on Aug. 9. Buildings erupted in flames. But the gasoline had been doused all over Ferguson – and the Fergusons throughout the United States – long before young Michael was shot. Michael’s death at a cop’s bullet … excuse me, bullets; plural – was simply the match that ignited the blaze. And while the literal fires lit were uncomforting and disheartening, the figurative fires are well justified. They are justified because I lived in North County – a middle and working class section in St. Louis County where many (in several cases, most) of the municipalities’ residents are Black, but almost all of the power structure is white. I know first hand the daily harassment that goes on at the hands of officers in St. Louis County cities such as Ferguson, Florissant, Bel Ridge, Bel Nor, Jennings, Dellwood, Country Club Hills, Hazelwood, Normandy, St. John, St. Ann, Charlack and the list goes on. All these little fiefdoms exist within a small geographical area,. Almost all are predominantly African-

BIG’MIKE JR BROWN VIA FACEBOOK

Michael Brown American in residency. Yet whites control all. It’s been found time and again that many of the officers who patrol these municipalities applied for jobs with other, larger departments but were rejected for various reasons. So they land employment with a city such as Ferguson and get to take out their frustrations on the residents they encounter daily. Very rarely do these officers

live in the municipalities in which they “serve.” I live in Minneapolis now, but I know well the area where Michael was killed. I patronized the Quik Trip that was looted and burned. I know the area as a resident; I know it as a reporter and unfortunately several times as a “suspect” and “defendant.” I know what it was like to be 19 years old, fresh from playing a baseball game – still

in my baseball uniform – sitting in my Bel Nor driveway and to have an officer question me as to why I’m in my driveway and assert he’s “investigating a burglary claim” and I “fit the description.” Who did he think I was, the Derrick Jeter Bandit? I can just imagine that supposed call. “Yeah, there’s a guy in a baseball uniform out here breaking into homes. He’s about 5’7” he plays for the A’s, wears number 19 and his last name is Colbert … at least that’s the name on his uniform.” So much for being stealth. I was able to prove I lived there. I didn’t get shot. Michael Brown wasn’t as lucky. In North County just being Black is probable cause. Then again, that “suspect description” doesn’t just apply to suburban St. Louis – just ask Eric Garner of Staten Island. Oh wait, we can’t ask him … he’s dead. In Minneapolis, ask Al Flowers. He was “lucky” and escaped with staples to the head, stitches, a bloody eye and a concussion – but he lived. If only Michael Brown were so lucky. As I type, I’m recalling all my incidents of being stopped by police in one of varying “cities” in North County. In all, I’ve been pulled over more than 10 times. My “crimes” include driving with no front license plate, not having a city sticker (Jennings) even though I did not live in the city in question, a cracked front windshield (this must have been the most observant officer ever, because I was pulled over at night and the officer trailed me from behind not seeing my front windshield until he walked up to my car), running a red light that was manually controlled by a Bel Ridge officer to go from green to red with no yellow (no, I’m not making this up), to driving too slow …

yes, I really was pulled over for driving too slow. It was so bad that while working as a reporter and editor for the North County Journal I was getting pulled over so much in Jennings, I would call before I entered the city and ask them to not pull me over, I’m there to cover a story and I’d promise to leave as soon as I was done. I didn’t want to be there any longer than I had to be. But in all, my encounters were nothing compared to Michael’s. I’m alive. A well-known truth is that traffic stops result in a large portion of revenue for each of these wannabe cities, so harassment is part of the police culture. And who are these almost exclusively white cops stopping and harassing? Yep, Black people. Statistics don’t lie. In Ferguson, site of Michael’s execution, in 2013 86 percent of all stopped were Black. And while it’s true that 65 percent of the residents of Ferguson are Black, of the 57 officers in Ferguson, only three are African-American. The city’s mayor and police chief are white. Similar statistics ring true for all the other North County municipalities. So now Ferguson burns. It burns from the scorched shell of a building that used to be a Quik Trip. It burns from the tear gas that cops shoot off once darkness falls. It burns from the national spotlight that’s exposing the culture of racism, harassment and brutality. Play with fire long enough and eventually you will get burned. Let’s hope there’s enough water to quench the flames. But when it’s all said and done, a mother and father have to bury their 18-year-old son. That’s the real story here.

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Insight News • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Page 7

LIFESTYLE Greater Saint Paul Church celebrates 67 years of community service Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Every significant Black movement in this country has its roots in the African American church. From Civil Rights to Voter Rights, the Black church has been the catalyst for change. In 1947, Harry Truman was president, bread was 13 cents a loaf, gas was 15 cents a gallon, Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, Israel became a nation, and my home church, Greater Saint Paul Church of God in Christ (COGIC) opens its doors. Elder J.C. Wiggins and the congregation built this historic church from the ground up on

the corner of 40th and 4th Avenue South in Minneapolis. 67 years later, the church continues to be a pillar and light to the community. This month, as the church celebrates its 67th Church Anniversary, I want to highlight a few of its accomplishments. First, Greater Saint Paul COGIC has outstanding accomplishments in the community within the social services ministerial support. It is also recognized as a church of love with a solid foundation based on the word of God. The church is equipped with several ministries and has been meeting the needs of the total man, which includes Family Ministries, Bible Study/Worship Services, Women, Men, Children, and Prison Ministries, retreats, and mentoring and tutoring. Whatever the needs, Greater Saint Paul COGIC has been there for seven decades to help meet those needs. No community can be better without its members

Pastor Vernell Thomas (seated) and 1st Lady Loretta Thomas becoming better, and that which lifts one of us, lifts all of us. Greater Saint Paul Church has been committed to helping and uplifting people. Secondly, Greater Saint

Paul COGIC has provided consistent leadership. In 1966, during the height of the civil rights movement, Supt. Vernell Thomas became the pastor of Greater Saint Paul. This was the

year that James Meredith was shot in Mississippi, riots were breaking out throughout the country, and the Vietnam War was under way. No neighborhood was excluded from the impact of these significant events, and strong spiritual leadership was needed during those difficult days. Pastor Thomas answered the call, and he has been an influential pastor and leader for the past 48 years. With over 57 years of marriage to 1st Lady Loretta Thomas, they have been a godly model of family and marriage. South Minneapolis and the state as a whole are better because of their unwavering commitment to their community and to God. Finally, Greater Saint Paul has provided uncompromising spiritual support. Year in and year out, it has been committed to daily 5 AM prayer for the church and community. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”

James 5:16. Prayers offered in faith can restore a sin-sick soul, community, or nation. What ails our nation is spiritual as much is it is physical, and spiritual problems require spiritual solutions. Having a church keep its promise to spiritually uplift its people for over 67 years is not only noteworthy, but also a model for others to follow. Come join me, Pastor and 1st Lady Thomas, and the Greater Saint Paul Church family August 22-24, 2014, at 4001 4th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN for a celebration of family and community. Friday night will be a banquet, Saturday a community celebration and carnival on the church grounds, and Sunday will be a church reunion tent service followed by feeding the community. For more information, email gspcogic@msn.com or call the church @ 612-827-5267.

Take a chance, make your dreams and goals a priority Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson I met an individual the other day and she stated that she was having trouble sticking to her goals and finishing what

she started. She said that she has decided many times that today will be the day that she works to complete that goal. She even went on to say that she talks about it a lot with her family and friends and they also don’t believe her anymore. Her goal is to start her own catering business. She loves to cook and she is great at it, but no one believes that she will ever complete it. You see, this is something that she has been talking about for over fifteen

years. But every time she tries to start this catering business something else happens in her life which makes her have to put her goals on hold for a while. I truly believe that she wants to complete this goal and it seems to be very near and dear to her heart. But no one is going to take you serious until you start to take yourself serious! If you are constantly talking about what you are going to do, or what you are

working on, and there is no manifestation to back it up, then it can seem like you are just talking! Take a chance and make your dreams and your goals the priority. I understand that on your journey, sometimes there are obstacles that can get in the way. Keep your eyes on the price and never give up! Decide that you must keep moving to complete what’s important to you. If you set a goal to complete, you should be consistently

working to achieve that goal. Your actions will show others that you are serious. Walking into your greatness is serious business, and it takes hard work and determination to achieve any goal that you set for yourself. We can talk all day about what we plan to do, but a plan is nothing without a road map attached to it. It’s just a plan. You have to identify exactly how you are going to make this happen. As I’ve said before, nothing happens

over night, but if you believe in yourself and trust yourself, you CAN make your dreams a reality. And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving for greatness. Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www.thequeensproject. com or email at penny@ thequeensproject.com.

Bicycle rack designed by the Juxtaposition Arts group

Newly refurbished building

Center From 1 opportunity for people who don’t always have access to reliable transportation. This is a good start, and just the first of many steps (we’ll be) working on to make the area more beautiful.” Hennepin County has entered into a long-term lease on the newly refurbished building with its owner, the Twin Cities-based Ackerberg Group. A community benefits agreement was made last year between the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council, the county, and the

building’s owner as part of the planning process for the human services offices, which included hiring goals for women and minorities. “This is an extraordinary thing to have right here in the neighborhood. It says a lot to the great things about the city and where we’re going,” said Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. After a community engagement process earlier this year, Hennepin County decided on additional weekly service center hours, when residents can apply for a variety of licenses and permits and receive a full range of financial, social and public health

services. County staff members have been working at the site since late June, acclimating to a new way of business that officials say allows clients to complete a broader needs assessment, apply for assistance, and get referrals to other services, including local community agencies and faith groups. “We heard from residents that they would like more services to be offered,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Linda Higgins (Dist. 2). “I am so proud of all the people working at Hennepin County who had the vision to bring public service offices to the people, instead of making people come to the

office.” The new location is only one piece of a larger plan to expand access to human services from a concentration of offices in downtown Minneapolis, to six sites across the county –closer to where residents live, work, and attend school. Hennepin County Human Services has two additional offices already in operation, one in Brooklyn Center and another in Bloomington. A west suburban office in Hopkins is expected to open later this year, and two more locations are currently being planned for

northeast and south Minneapolis. “This building is a great representation of the efforts made to decentralize public services and make them more available to people,” said Minnesota State Senator Bobby Joe Champion (Dist. 59). “The services provided here will also give people a stepping stone to getting themselves out of poverty.” Hennepin County officials said the county will continue to partner with established north Minneapolis nonprofits and community resources to offer residents a full spectrum of

services. Officials said rather than taking time from work and school to make the trip downtown, the transit-friendly site allows Hennepin County clients to integrate needed visits with their financial workers and other county staff into their everyday routines. “Government, at the end of the day, is how we figure out how to live together and prosper together,” said Rep. Keith Ellison (Dist. 5). “This is how we come together and demonstrate the compassion that we have for one another.”

Page 8 • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Insight News

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EDUCATION North Minneapolis schools struggle to find tutors By Lydia Schwartz Contributing Writer Preschools and elementary schools across the Twin Cities, most of them located in north Minneapolis, have an immediate need for more than 150 full- and part-time literacy tutors and math tutors for the 2014-15 school year. The Minnesota Reading and Math Corps, part of the AmeriCorps umbrella, is a network of more than 1,200 members able to help 34,000plus students statewide. Tutors commit to a year of service, during which they undergo training and earn a living allowance of up to $526 biweekly and an education award of up to $5,645 to help pay for furthering their own education. Full-time tutors are also eligible to receive health insurance. “Doing this is a way that people can be involved in the community and make a real difference,” said Anna Peters, the recruitment and outreach manager for the Minnesota Reading and Math Corps. “We’re looking for people who are dedicated to serving their community, and to working with kids who need that extra support.” Literacy and math tutors come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from high school graduates to retirees, mid-career individuals considering a

Sabrina Edwards, Literacy Tutor at the Minneapolis YWCA. professional change, and parents looking for a way to

support their child’s school. “We get people from all walks

Gary Young

of life and different career aspirations wanting to be

tutors,” said Peters. “It is a great way for aspiring teachers to get their foot in the door but a majority of them bring a variety of stories.” Peters said math and literacy tutors fill a critical role for students struggling with math and reading. The Minnesota Reading and Math Corps is a researchbased, statewide initiative that works to help every Minnesota student become a successful reader by the end of third grade, and proficient in math by the end of eighth grade. According to their studies, one out of three third-graders in the state are not reading at the expected grade level. In addition, 40 percent of Minnesota fourth through eighth-graders are not proficient in math. “You have to be able to read in order to learn,” said Peters. “And we’ve found that having a student’s algebra skills in place by eighth grade is a strong indication of college success.” Sabrina Edwards, who is starting her third year as a literacy tutor at the YWCA of Minneapolis, said she first got involved in her daughter’s education as a volunteer in the infant room at the Parents In Community Action’s McKnight location. As her daughter got older, Edwards wanted to stay involved in the school system. A friend, who was a literacy tutor for Minnesota Reading Corp at the time, told Edwards about

the benefits of the program and became eager to sign up. Along with the rigorous training in teaching strategies and skill building, tutors with the Minnesota Reading and Math Corps are assigned an internal coach who helps manage them to manage student caseloads, discuss goals, or address any issues. However, those involved with the program said relationships that tutors build with the students are often the most unexpected reward. “I thought it would be tough to work with these kids, but it’s so easy,” said Edwards enthusiastically. “It’s so rewarding. The kids love it and they love being in the program because it builds their confidence and improves their test scores. Plus, (the Reading Corp) gives us the tools that we need, that also makes it easier.” Edwards is taking advantage of the education grant provided through to the Reading Corp to begin taking sonography classes at Augsburg College this fall. “This program gave me the opportunity to stay involved in my daughter’s education, and to further my education as well. I don’t know where I’d be if it hadn’t been for the Reading Corp,” said Edwards. Additional information on the Minnesota Reading and Math Corps is available at www.ServeMNAction.org.

Jawanza Kunjufu: Educating girls By Jazelle Hunt NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – For the past 40 years, Jawanza Kunjufu has dedicated his life to uplifting African Americans through education and empowerment. His work as an educational consultant and author of 33 books has centered on the plight and triumphs of African American boys and men – until now. His latest book, Educating Black Girls, marks a dramatic shift. “Numerous people have asked me to write a book on Black females, but I didn’t feel that was my place – it wasn’t my expertise,” Kunjufu said. After a woman at an event for educators in Oakland, California challenged him and everyone present to pay attention to Black girls, Kunjufu decided to look into it. “I did a literature review and I did not like what I saw. These figures are unacceptable…if these things were happening to white girls, it would be a major national crisis.” Black girls are being suspended from school at rates second only to Black boys – except in Wisconsin, where Black girls are suspended more than anyone else, according to a U.S. Department of Education civil

rights study. The high school drop out rate among Black girls is 40 percent. “For too long, the plight of Black females has been treated as a stepchild to the plight of Black males and the agenda of white feminists,” the book’s introduction reads, adding that Black girls could benefit from an initiative such as President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper. “Young women of color have special challenges and needs, independent of their brothers that would greatly benefit from such national attention and coordination of federal resources.” The book offers 10 chapters on trends in education, STEM inclusivity, segregation in athletic programs, history curricula and Black women, and more. Kunjufu asserts that many teachers, especially white female teachers, have warped views of the Black girls in their care. He points to recent examples such as Salecia Johnson, Jmyha Rickman, and Ja’eisha Scott, who were all handcuffed and charged with crimes after throwing tantrums at school. The eldest was eight at the time of her incident. “Many teachers are afraid of our children. It’s very difficult to be an effective teacher when fear is involved,” Kunjufu explained. “They believe Black girls have too much attitude, are too sassy, too bossy. They’re uncomfortable with Black females being that

assertive.” In the third chapter of the book, “Black Females Speak,” it

is clear that Black girls are picking up on these signals. Quotes from girls around the country include:

“In this school you can get suspended over your attitude;” “Why don’t teachers like me?” “Some teachers act like they are afraid of us;” and “Most teachers don’t care about me and won’t be back next year.” The book also details the areas of education in which Black girls are routinely overlooked—STEM and sports. The dearth of women, particularly women of color, in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields is no secret. But the lack of representation and segregation in student sports gets less attention. In the athletics chapter, Kunjufu finds that 60 percent of Black high school girls do not participate in any sport. He also asserts that white feminists— who hail Title IX legislation that allowed women equal access to college offerings, especially sports—are oddly silent about the lack of Black girls outside of basketball and track. “We could increase the number of Black females in college if we exposed them to lacrosse, swimming, soccer, softball, volleyball, golf, tennis, ice skating, gymnastics, and the longer track events,” Kunjufu writes. “If they distinguish themselves in sports, an athletic scholarship could be their ticket to college.” Educating Black Girls seeks to give educators a tool for

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recognizing the shortcomings in their efforts to educate Black girls. It poses many questions as food for thought. It also offers solutions and suggestions for school administrators and teachers, including basing lessons and protocols in a concept called SETCLAE: “self-esteem through culture leads to academic excellence.” Kunjufu’s book also suggests single-gender classes where appropriate; replacing all outof-school suspensions with inschool suspensions based on empowerment lessons; more accurate and multicultural history lessons; and looping students with effective and relatable teachers. (Looping allows students and teachers to remain together across years or subject levels). The book is just over 126 pages and is currently available via African American Images (http://africanamericanimages. com/AAI/New%20Releases. htm). It will become available on Amazon next year. The book’s parental counterpart, Raising Black Girls, is slated for later this year. “At the collegiate level, Black girls do so well. People think this means there shouldn’t be a problem at the K through 12 level,” Kunjufu says. “But the K through 12 experience does not give Black girls the leverage to do well in college or life.”

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Insight News â&#x20AC;˘ August 18 - August 24, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 9

COMMUNITY Barber Shop Rap: Vikings predictions 2014 Moments in Sports By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of new. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got new coaches, players, systems, playing facilities and so on. And while itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to know what all this new stuff is going to do, we can always bank on the barbershop pundits to wax poetic, comical, sometimes even biblical, about everything â&#x20AC;Ś including the Vikings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be good,â&#x20AC;? offered Julian Gray, owner of Fades of Gray barbershop. First round drafted quarterbacks are often the focal point of conversation for any team that has them. With a name like Teddy Bridgewater, well, fans from the Land of 10,000 Lakes can only hope that such an ideal name could be the deliverer of Minnesota Super Bowl glory. Yet while many excitable fans get fuzzy over Teddy, a grizzled veteran

quarterback named Matt Cassel is the clear starter to begin the 2014 season. Solid veteran quarterbacks can be a football teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best gift. The fundamental goals of a football team are to protect the ball on offense and to stop the ball on defense. In professional sports, the opposition is professional, and thus professional experience can best serve the goal of protecting the ball. That is to say, in order for the Vikings to win games, they likely need to play the sensible, not exciting choice for starting quarterback â&#x20AC;Ś Matt Cassel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to rush (Bridgewater). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be to the whole teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s benefit to let him develop,â&#x20AC;? explained Keith Dawson of Diamond Tip Enterprises. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let him learn the game and learn the defense.â&#x20AC;? Note; typically at the barbershop, one person refuses to allow the conversation to be tranquil and diplomatic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You heard the crowd. The crowd was yelling, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Te-ddy, Teddy, Te-ddy.â&#x20AC;? clamored barber Marcus Bennett. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be 3-3 by week six, and if not that, then Bridgewater (should start).â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;He fumbled the ball already,â&#x20AC;? retorted Gray,

Viking fans are getting fuzzy over Teddy. referring to Bridgewaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance in the first preseason game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just saying, they should give (Bridgewater) some clock if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re up 35-14,â&#x20AC;? followed Bennett.

Of course if the Vikings are up 35-14 in any game this season, many will consider them halfway to a season considered successful. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Bridgewater is ready yet. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to

Shane Stovall

rush him like Tarvaris Jackson,â&#x20AC;? said Gray. A model deemed ideal for quarterback situations like this was executed by the rival Green Bay Packers in 2005, as they allowed current Pro Bowl

quarterback Aaron Rodgers to prepare from the bench, while future Hall of Famer Brett Favre finished his last few seasons with the team. Rodgers assumed the starting position in 2008. Cassel is no Brett Favre, but in a purposeful game of â&#x20AC;&#x153;keepawayâ&#x20AC;?, Cassel has the general approach that can protect the ball better than more physically talented options such as Favre or Bridgewater. Green Bay with Rodgers is one of the most formidable division foes for the Vikings, but the Chicago Bears are the most favored to win the NFC North this year, touting one of the most impressive combinations of offensive talent. The Vikings have very often been predicted to finish last in the division. Bears fan Tommy McNeal offered his Viking prediction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to do the same thing they do every year,â&#x20AC;? said McNeal, referring to the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s under-performing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just gave some (Viking) tickets away.â&#x20AC;? If Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said it once, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said it a thousand times â&#x20AC;Ś the Vikings are the most entertaining team, on and off the field, in all of sports. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make up the stuff they do, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always entertaining â&#x20AC;Ś just like the barbershop.

Camp teaches speed, agility, quickness

Rayyan and Isa AbdurRazzaq (left and middle), Donteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Thomas, Thetis White (staff)

Photos courtesy of the Battle Cave

SAQ Athletes 2014 l-r: Johnny Allen (staff), Thetis White (staff), Jakeise Jaco (youth staff), Marc Brown (staff, not pictured), Rayyan and Isa AbdurRazzaq, Allan W. Lankfard Jr., Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sean Anderson, Theron Carter, Tylieann Carter, Dallas Lewis, Julia Neville, Gavin Reese, Anyiah Ries, Rashad Shabazz Jr., Donteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Thomas, Michael Young, Dewell Robinson, Isaiah Lee Allen Taye Carter, Mia Curtis, Bonita Franco, Brandon Hudachek, Avery New, Aidan Tegeler, Isaiah Flores, Blasius M. Pridgen, Jordan Anderson, LaTrell Christopher, and Quincy Suggs.

Classifieds Productions and Sponsorship Coordinator Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) seeks a new Production and Sponsorship Coordinator in the Community Productions department. SPNN has a strong footing of development work within the local foundation community and a growing individual donor base. SPNN is an equal opportunity employer. To apply: Please email cover letter and resume as a single pdf document to employment@spnn.org No phone calls, please. Deadline to apply is Friday,August 22nd. Visit www.spnn.org for the full posting and application information.

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Fax: 612.588.2031

Email: info@insightnews.com Church assistant and pianist/singer

Want a job that is rewarding and fulfilling? Want to work with a team of top notch folks who work to end child abuse and neglect? Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery is looking to hire Child Care Providers (CCP) and Lead CCPs. The CCPs provides the primary care for children newborn to 6 who are placed by parents at the Nursery. Responsibilities include providing a safe, healthy, loving environment, which fosters physical, emotional, social, personal, creative, and language development. High School Diploma or equivalent and 1 year working with children required; early childhood training and Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree preferred. Cross cultural experience, working in crisis situations and early childhood development preferred. College education may substitute. To apply, send cover letter (mention job title) to: hr@crisisnursery.org or mail to: Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, 4544 4th Ave So, Mpls, 55419 or fax 612-767-8491. For more info visit www.crisisnursery.org. We are an E/O/E who encourages and welcomes all applicants.

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Phone: 612.588.1313

Child Care Providers and Leads

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This summer, two days a week from June 17 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;July 24, The JK Movement hosted its 2nd annual Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) training. The event was free and open to student athletes in the metro area and was an opportunity for JK Movement student athletes to work out with a locally based program where they could have access on a regular basis. JK Movement youth also had a chance to improve their confidence and work on character building through SAQ. To learn more about The JK Movement, go to www. thejkmovement.com or contact Johnny Allen Jr., thejkmovement@gmail. com (612) 275-0804.

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Minnesota Council of Churches DATABASE AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT, 20 hours Maintain database and coordinate users. Assist in coordinating web, email, social media, and printed communications. OPEN UNTIL FILLED http://www.mnchurches.org/about/employment.html 612-230-3204

FOOD SERVICE

Volunteers of America, MN Line Supervisor for Senior Dining. Serve the noon meal to Seniors M thru F -3110 Blaisdell Ave S, Mpls Hours 8:30-1:30 Pay $11.79 Apply: clarew@voamn.org

Wanted! Church assistant and pianist/singer needed for Sunday morning worship at One Love Ministry, 750 N. Milton in Saint Paul. Please contact Pastor Love at 651-489-4350.

Vacancies Cokato Apts, Cokato, MN (a seniors complex 62 or over or handicapped) has vacancies on 2nd Floor for one BR apts. Waiting list open. Contact Don at 320-286-2758. E-Mail cokapts@embarqmail.com

Foreclosure Sale 36 Unit Apartment Complex Lamberton, MN 3URSHUW\ 9DOOH\ 9LHZ $SDUWPHQWV WK $YHQXH (DVW /DPEHUWRQ 01 7LPH DQG GDWH RI VDOH $XJXVW $ 0 /RFDO 7LPH

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Note: This advertisement is placed by HUD and does not constitute the legal notice of foreclosure sale.

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership presents the Minneapolis Minute Festival; One River: One Minute, Your Vision. Enter your One Minute-Long Film/DVD visual essay on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Create your vision that showcases an appreciation for â&#x201D;&#x20AC; or the future potential of â&#x201D;&#x20AC; the urban riverfront in Minneapolis. Inform, energize and inspire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all in 60 seconds! To inform, energize and inspire how and why the river enlivens our city. Films will be judged by a panel of experts; awards premiered and announced at the Partnershipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual event, the Minneapolis Riverfront Summit, on Monday, October 20, at the Mill City Museum. Call for Entries; Deadline September 4, 2014. â&#x20AC;˘ For the competition, the Mississippi River has been divided into four categories: â&#x20AC;˘ River Gorge: Ford Dam to Washington Ave Bridge â&#x20AC;˘ Downtown Riverfront: Washington Ave Bridge to Plymouth Bridge â&#x20AC;˘ River North: Plymouth Bridge to Lowry Bridge â&#x20AC;˘ Upper Harbor: Lowry Bridge to City Border Originality applauded. For full terms and conditions, file formats and â&#x20AC;&#x153;How to Submitâ&#x20AC;?, see www.mississippiminute.org; Facebook at facebook.com/ MississippiMinute; Twitter: twitter.com/msriverminute. All entries must be received by end of day, 9/4/14.

Page 10 • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Insight News

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MACY’S GLAMORAMA Adam Bettcher for Macy’s

Macy’s annual Glamorama fashion show once again proved to be one of the most anticipated fashion events in the Twin Cities. These photos show why the event is so eagerly anticipated each year.

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Insight News • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Page 11 be described as neo-jazz fusion, soul and a touch of opera.

Angela Davis

Guerrilla Panic

Wednesday, Aug. 20 Konkrete Jungle First Avenue Record Room 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 6 p.m. –9 p.m. 18-plus

Aretha Franklin

Electronic music has long been part of the Twin Cities underground. Konkrete Jungle is a bi-weekly drum and bass event in First Avenue’s Record Room.

August 18 - 24

Longshot and Desdamona

Thursday, Aug. 21

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com

Third Thursday: On-A-Stick Minneapolis Institute of Arts 2400 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis All ages Third Thursday: On-A-Stick is billed as preparation for the Great Minnesota Get-Together, also known as the Minnesota State Fair. Take part is some fair activities including Italian ice, live music, photo booths, sculptures and more.

Monday, Aug. 18

Friday, Aug. 22

Straight Line Stitch Fine Line Music Cafe 318 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 7 p.m. 18-plus

Aretha Franklin and The Four Tops Minnesota State Fair Grandstand 7:30 p.m. $59 and up

Metalcore from Knoxville, Tenn. headlines the Dog Days Of Summer Tour at the Fine Line. The bill also features Ded Volt, Cage 9, and Dead Horse Trauma.

Since the 1960s the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin has been amazing audiences across the world. She is best known for the classics “Respect” and “Rock Steady.” She is joined by the legendary Four Tops whose classics include “Can’t Help Myself ” and “Baby I Need Your Loving.” This is a show not to miss.

Tuesday, Aug. 19 Guerilla Panic & Friends Kitty Cat Klub 315 14th Ave. SE, Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. Twin Cities band Guerilla Panic starts a new residency at Kitty Cat Klub in Dinkytown. Each show will be along with a new special guest band. DJ SoSupreme will be on the turntables. This month’s special guest has a sound that can only

4th Fridays at the Movies: “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners” Capri Theater 2027 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis 6 p.m. All ages Free

Sankopheonix

4th Fridays at the Movies presents “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners,” a featurelength documentary about Angela Davis. Community pillar, Mahmoud El-Kati, hosts the 4th Friday’s at the Movies film series. This month see “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners” at the Capri Theater in north Minneapolis. Learn about the high stakes crime, political movement and trial that catapulted the 26-year-old newly appointed philosophy professor at the University of California at Los Angeles into a 1970s revolutionary political icon. Nearly 40 years later, and for the first time, Angela Davis speaks frankly about the actions that branded her as a terrorist and simultaneously spurred a worldwide political movement for her freedom. There will be a discussion afterwards. The event is organized by Solidarity and supported by the African American Leadership Forum and Golden Thyme Coffee & Café.

Saturday, Aug. 23

4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Desdamona and Longshot kick off their Midwest tour at Patrick’s Cabaret with a onenight collaboration uniting music, words and dance. The show features PaviElle French, MonaLisa, Tameka Colbert and Abe Awes.

In six cultural districts, six events have been planned along the Green Line Light Rail. Experience projects by local artists, shopping, entertainment and distinctive food, from feltmaking to African drumming and pop-up ping-pong. Enjoy all kinds of African art at this event including drumming, paintings, musical instruments and Ethiopian dance. Visit African restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores and other businesses in this district. Be sure to experience the authentic spices of African food like curried lamb stew or lentils cooked in Berbere sauce.

C4ward: Arts and Culture Along the Green Line “Little Africa” Snelling Avenue Station

Sunday, Aug. 24

Longshot and Desdamona: Movement Tour Kickoff Patrick’s Cabaret 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S., Minneapolis 7 p.m. $8 advance, $10 door

Toys of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s Minnesota History Center 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul All Ages - $6-11 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Through Jan. 4) Gumby, Barbie, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head, Wham-O, Spirograph, Hot Wheels. The names of popular toys from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s capture the craziness, the joy and sheer fun of being a kid. But beneath those nutty names are rich veins of nostalgia, memory and history. Hear the stories of the kids who played with these toys, the adults who bought them, the child-rearing experts who judged them and the people who invented. Also experience the toys and their stories through three imagined living rooms that bring the decades back to life.

Amy Sands, Erica Spitzer Rasmussen, Petronella J. Ytsma

Mixed Media: The Faculty Show

Mixed Media: The Faculty Show at MSU Gordon Parks Gallery Metropolitan State University Gordon Parks Gallery presents Mixed Media: The Faculty Show as the first exhibit of the school year. The exhibit opens with a reception on Friday, Sept. 12 from 5–7:30 p.m. and continues through Oct. 3. Gallery hours are Mondays– Thursdays, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; and Fridays–Saturdays, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The gallery is located in the Library and Learning Center, 645 East Seventh Street, at the university’s Saint Paul Campus. This exhibition features creative works produced by Metropolitan State’s fine arts instructors. From paintings and sculptures to photographs and films, this show highlights

the multi-disciplinary efforts of resident and community faculty. Participants include: James Byrne, Saint Paul, Joseph Flores, Minneapolis, David Means, Minneapolis, Amy Sands, Golden Valley, Areca Roe, Minneapolis, Erica Spitzer Rasmussen, White Bear Lake, Anne Sugnet, Minneapolis, Alonso Sierralta, Minneapolis, and Petronella Ystma, Saint Paul. Regarding the exhibition, Erica Rasmussen, resident faculty member and gallery director, said, “Although this exhibition is open to the entire university community, exposure to such a show can be an invaluable tool for students interested in taking art classes.

Close inspection of imagery and objects or multiple viewings of short films can reveal subtleties about the work that might otherwise be lost through limited contact or reproductions. Similarly, investigating the work on an intimate level will likely communicate a great deal about an instructor’s technical abilities, personal interests and conceptual concerns.” The reception includes a screening of James Byrne’s new film, “The Light of Each New Day.” The film will be looped in a room adjacent to the gallery. All shows and programs at The Gordon Parks Gallery are free and open to the public.

LEGENDARY PICTURES AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENT AEXECUTIVE LEGENDARY PICTURES/BROTHERS DOWDLE PRODUCTION “AS ABOVE/SO BELOW” PERDITA WEEKS MUSIC PRODUCED THOMAS TULL JON JASHNI DREW DOWDLE PATRICK AIELLO BEN FELDMAN EDWIN HODGE BY KEEFUSWRITTENCIANCIA PRODUCER ALEX HEDLUND BYDIRECTED BY JOHN ERICK DOWDLE & DREW DOWDLE BY JOHN ERICK DOWDLE A UNIVERSAL RELEASE © 2014 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 CHECK THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

Page 12 • August 18 - August 24, 2014 • Insight News

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Gentleman Jim Clyburn into additional energy. And I’m a big supporter of research. My wife, Emily, has had five bypass surgeries. She’s alive today because of nuclear medicine. You ought not be afraid of nuclear, but respectful of it. Yes, it has dangers, but it also has benefits. If not for nuclear, much of the medicine that’s saving lives today would not be in existence.

By Kam Williams James Enos Clyburn made history in 1993 when he became the first African-American to represent South Carolina in the House of Representatives since Reconstruction. Over the course of his tenure, he has served as Majority Whip and as Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is currently the third-ranking Democrat in the House as the Assistant Minority Leader. Representative Clyburn is an alumnus of the HBCU South Carolina State College, where he majored in history and was active in the civil rights movement. During his junior year, he was arrested and convicted as a member of the Orangeburg Seven, a group of student leaders who had organized a nonviolent demonstration against segregated lunch counters. Congressman Clyburn has been married to his wife, Emily, since 1961, and they have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. Here, he talks about his life and career, and about his autobiography, “Blessed Experiences: Genuinely Southern, Proudly Black.” Kam Williams: Congressman Clyburn, thanks for the interview. I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you. James Clyburn: Yes, sir. How are you, Kam? KW: Great! I loved your autobiography. It really gave me a chance to get to know you in so much more depth than your appearances on C-Span and other cable news networks. I really knew next to nothing about your rich civil rights background and lifelong commitment to the underprivileged.

Congressman James Clyburn and President Barack Obama JC: Oh, you’re so kind, Kam. KW: I’ll be mixing in my questions with some from readers. Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I am from Canada and thank you for taking the time to share your experience and knowledge in your autobiography. What is the main message you want people to take away from the book? JC: The memoir’s main lesson is grounded in that old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” I lost three times before I got elected. There’s no limit. Stay in pursuit of your dreams. That’s what this book is about. I hope young people get a lesson out of every chapter and are motivated by the notion that the next time might be “the” time that they succeed. KW: Patricia also says: Warren Buffett wrote about your book that you are the most significant African-American member of Congress who broke many barriers. What does it take for

a visible minority to shatter the glass ceiling and enjoy longevity in a career in politics? JC: First, get yourself prepared, not just in terms of education, but mentally. A question I often get is, “How do you maintain your sanity with so much happening all around you?” I think I developed a certain mental toughness that is required in this business. You have to have a thick skin and a brass bottom, because you’re going to kicked a lot. KW: It also seems that the higher you go, the more they come after you. JC: You’re exactly right. All you have to do is achieve a modicum of success. KW: Patricia finishes by saying: Older females are among the most vulnerable individuals in the economic crisis. They are twice as likely as elderly males to be living near or below the federal poverty threshold. What needs to be done to secure a

THIS IS MY GREEN JOB. Every day, I help turn Hennepin County’s postrecycled garbage into enough clean, renewable energy to power 25,000 Minneapolis homes. In addition to serving the community with sustainable waste disposal and clean, renewable energy, the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) provides well-paying, green jobs for area residents. For more information on HERC and its operations, visit covanta.com or hennepin.us/herc.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Recover Energy-from-Waste.

reasonable retirement for this segment of the population? JC: Patricia is correct that it’s a very vulnerable population. But I don’t know that anything additional needs to be done outside of sensitivity to the fact that these issues are unique for this demographic, and that we ought to be aware of that uniqueness. We need to make sure that they are aware of and are able to gain access to what’s available for them. That’s why I was so concerned about the Affordable Care Act. A big part of it is the expansion of Medicaid, which includes not only low-income people, but senior citizens in nursing homes, the disabled and children who are vulnerable. KW: Environmental activist Grace Sinden says: As a Democratic leader in the U.S House of Representatives, you must often feel frustrated by the destructive resistance of the House Republican majority to move forward on any of President Obama’s programs such as job creation, much-needed infrastructure improvements, including unsafe roads and bridges, and the impingement of voting rights in many states. How do you deal with the frustration that results from the blockage of necessary progress, since the opposition has made this their prime strategy in terms of the President’s programs? An appeal to reason does not seem to work, because this is a blanket strategy. JC: Sure, it’s frustrating at times, but you keep going at it. It took me seven years to create the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, which failed to pass for a long time. All of a sudden the break came, and I was ready to pounce, as soon as I saw that opening. It’s now law. And it turned out to be one of the most popular things I’ve ever done. Often it depends on your not being hung up on getting the credit, since the best way to get legislation that you’ve proposed passed sometimes is to let another Congressman put his or her name on the bill. So, I think stick-to-itiveness and a little humility can go a long way. KW: So, an ability to compromise is important, right? JC: Absolutely! That means stepping back and getting the ego out of the way in order to accomplish what you want to get done. KW: Grace also says: While you have a commendable voting record, you support nuclear power concluding that wind and solar power are too expensive. How do you respond to the legitimate fears of nuclear accidents, such as happened in Russia and Japan, and of acts of terrorism, as well as concerns about the safety and adequacy of the storage of highly radioactive spent fuel? JC: Well, I’m very concerned about the storage of nuclear waste, but I’m not worried about it. That’s one of the reasons why I’m so supportive of what we’re doing down at the Savannah River Plant. I think the technology’s there. All we need is the funding to turn the waste

KW: Publisher John Zippert says: There are many Black farmers who were still left out of the Pigford/USDA lawsuit settlement. Do you see Congress acting again to complete the process and make sure everyone who is eligible receives the settlement? JC: Well, I’m satisfied that we’ve done all that’s going to be done on that issue. That’s not to say that everyone who should’ve gotten in on the settlement got in on it. Remember, we’ve done not just one Pigford, but Pigford II because a lot of people, through no fault of their own, were left out. That’s why we went back and did Pigford II. I suspect that some people might still have been left out, but I’ve been working very closely with the advocates, John Boyd [Founder of the National Black Farmers Association] and others who seem to be satisfied that we have done as well as we can do on that issue. KW: Mr. Zippert also says that less money was appropriated under the Farm Bill for the Section 2501 Outreach Program for minority farmers in Fiscal Year 2014 than previously when “veteran” farmers, a whole new category was added to the program. JC: I think what he’s asking for is outreach to make sure that farmers who qualified did get contacted. Sure, there probably was less money this year than in the first round. But these are the sort of programs you phase out. You just don’t set aside the same amount of money as you did for 5,000 people, if there are only 2,000 left to be searched for. These moneys do get phased out, and they will eventually be phased out altogether. KW: What do you think about Attorney General Eric Holder’s recent statement that he believes there is a racial animus behind much of the criticism of him and President Obama? JC: I was glad to see him finally getting there. I’ve felt that way a long time. I’ve even said it publicly and been chastised for it, but I’ll say it again, a lot of it is racial animus. I ask anyone who disagrees with me to just read some of the hate mail that comes into my office. Or listen to some of the phone calls. I’ve had college student interns working for me who arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed hang up the phone crying after taking calls because people are so racist and cruel. So, don’t tell me that it’s got nothing to do with race. With some people, it’s got everything to do with race. KW: What do you think of the Republicans suing President Obama? JC: I think they’re playing to their base. These guys know full well that even if the lawsuit had any merit, which I don’t think it does, he’d be out of office before it worked its way through the courts. But this is their way of sending a signal to their base. There are a lot of people who have endorsed the narrative that there are certain things people of color aren’t supposed to be doing, and one of those things is running the United States of America as President. These are people who are going to work hard all day, every day, trying to make factual this narrative that there are certain areas of our society and of our economy that ought to be shut off from people of color. KW: Since you’re from South Carolina, I need to ask you about the 2010 Democratic primary for the U’S. Senate when this unknown black man named

Alvin Greene, ostensibly a Republican plant, miraculously won the nomination by a landslide over a credible candidate. I suspected computer tampering. What did you think? JC: I always felt that, too. KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would? JC: [Laughs] I can’t think of one, but that’s a good question. KW: What is your favorite dish to cook? JC: Grits. KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory? JC: Kindergarten. KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see? JC: A 74 year-old who is not disappointed with his life. KW: How frightening was it for you to be arrested and even convicted, when you were a college student activist, just for trying to integrate a lunch counter? JC: Those were very trying times with a great deal of apprehension, although I don’t think we ever operated out of fear. We knew that segregation was unfair, and that we were going to challenge it, and that’s just what we did. KW: Well, I salute you for service in the Civil Rights Movement, because you could’ve very easily been beaten, blacklisted, imprisoned or even slain. JC: Thank you. And some people were martyred, and some, like Congressman John Lewis, did get hurt. But we never thought about those things. KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend the time? JC: Reading and in contemplation. KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read? JC: “The Warmth of Other Suns” was the last one I read cover-tocover. That was a great book. KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: Let’s say you’re throwing your dream dinner party—who’s invited… and what would you serve? JC: I would love to sit at a table with Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Warren Buffett and Matthew Perry, the great civil rights attorney and judge mentioned in my book quite a bit. KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose? JC: Omniscience. KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? JC: Perseverance. KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps? JC: Like I said before, get yourself prepared, educationally and emotionally, and develop mental toughness. Don’t ever give up. KW: Lastly, what does family mean to you? JC: Oh, it means a whole lot. Not a day goes by when I don’t communicate with one or all of my daughters. My wife and I already exchanged several emails today. And I spoke to my brother John on the phone this morning, and to my brother Charles last night. We are a pretty closely-knit family. KW: Thanks again for this opportunity, Congressman Clyburn, I really appreciate your taking time from your extremely busy schedule to speak with me. JC: Thank you, Kam. I think it’s important for me to communicate with the public at-large, even on those occasions when I know it’s not going to be pleasant.