Insight News ::: 08.22.16

2016 Minnesota State Fair: Charlie Wilson

aesthetically speaking

MORE ON PAGE 10 WINNER: 2016 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 1ST PLACE COMMUNIT Y SERVICE, 3RD PLACE BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Insight News August 22 - August 28, 2016

Vol. 43 No. 34• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Photo courtesy of Resmaa Menakem

Resmaa Menakem

Self-care and self-soothing:

Acts of resilience

By Abeni Hill “I want to make sure people understand that they are not defective.”

That is the message of Resmaa Menakem, a licensed

social worker, community activist and author who seeks to heal the Black community through discussions and explorations of trauma and conflict resolution.

MENAKEM TURN TO 6

David Bradley

Lynn Whitfield

Lynn Whitfield makes the case for Hillary Clinton Lynn Whitfield supports the idea of Trunp’s Wall…. with a little twist.

She said Donald Trump should move to one of the islands he supposedly owns, and build whatever wall he wants – around his island—

satisfying his craving for building a wall, and at the same time keeping America safe from Trump.

Whitfield laughed deeply at the proposition of meeting ridiculousness with ridiculousness. But she was

seriously intent as she listed all the reasons Black people must show up to vote for Hillary Clinton. “What’s at stake right now, and for the next three months, is that we focus on making sure that Hillary Clinton is the

next President of the United States,” Whitfield said in an interview at the home of Minnesota State Sen. Bobby Joe Champion.

WHITFIELD TURN TO 9

PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE

Tasha Byers; recruiting and retaining people of color

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor What is the definition of “home?”

And maybe a more important question – at least around these parts – is can the Twin Cities truly be home for professionals of color, particularly AfricanAmericans? One person helping to answer that question in the affirmative is an area woman who had to answer the question for herself, and in doing so, decided if this is home, “it’s going to be the best possible home for people

White racism v. Black prejudice

Language matters

of color.”

Tasha Byers, manager of workforce initiatives for the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce (SPCC) said living in Philadelphia helped her realize the Twin Cities is where she belonged.

“In 2014 I moved to Philadelphia. I was running away,” said Byers. “I came back and I realized I wanted to build a place to stay for other people.

It’s helped me to feel that I, too, belong here.”

Americans and other people of color.

Commentary

By Irma McClaurin, PhD Culture and Education Editor

BYERS TURN TO 3

Tasha Byers

This commentary is part two of a four part series on racism and the over-policing of African-

Photo courtesy of Tasha Byers

Racism is not a genetic disorder; Racism is not a virus.

Racism is not innate.

Racism is learned behavior that is supported by laws and systems.

Racism is the systematic exclusion of one group of people by another group of people from access to strategic resources and

RACE TURN TO 3

Dr. Henry Smith honored for nearly 50 years of service to the community

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Dr. Henry Smith (left) is presented with a certificate of recognition from Dr. Scott Davies during a retirement ceremony held in Smith’s honor.

Dr. Henry Smith was honored by his peers and colleagues during a recent retirement ceremony at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC).

Smith, a doctor of internal medicine, who came to HCMC in 1967, also served patients at Pilot City Health Center (now Northpoint Health & Wellness Center) and Park Nicollet Medical Center. The graduate of Howard University and the University of Rochester Medical School also served as a military physician during the Vietnam Era. Smith was one of – if not the – first AfricanAmerican residents at HCMC. During his recent retirement ceremony (Aug. 10) at HCMC, Smith was honored for his tireless work in patient care – particularly his work and research dealing with hypertension and diabetes among African-Americans.

Minneapolis City Clerk Office

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and Bosaso Mayor Yasin Mire Mohamud

Sister city signing Bosaso, Somalia, became Minneapolis’ newest Sister City, Friday, Aug. 12, during a public signing ceremony with

representatives from the two cities.

CITIES TURN TO 9

Education

Business

Health

Lifestyle

Fun ways to help ease kids back into the classroom

You’ve raised the money, now how do you keep it?

Estrogen patch may reduce Alzheimer’s risk

Back to school rules

PAGE 4

PAGE 6

PAGE 7

PAGE 8

Page 2 • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

insightnews.com

Race From 1 the rights of citizenship rooted in the erroneous belief that skin color and “race” (and today you can add national origins, religion, gender, or sexual orientation) makes us (Blacks, Latinos, Muslims, Asians, Native Americans) inferior.

The power of racism is in its institutionalization, which allows individual prejudice to gain power over others (individuals and groups) through structural power and privilege. Structural power determines who gets access to quality education; who gets hired for jobs; who gets the highest pay—and who doesn’t for doing the exact same job; who gets on-the-job training; who has job descriptions rewritten to fit them; who gets mentored; etc.

Let’s me set the record straight once and for all: Black people are NOT Racist! Why not? We can’t be, because we have no institutionalized power.

Black people do not have the wealth and privilege required for

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe 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 Melvin Carter, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Gloria Freeman Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Rebecca Rabb Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

Insight News • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Page 3 racism to exist.

Black people can be prejudiced and act as individuals on their prejudices like the Dallas killer of policemen. And, most recently, Baton Rouge. But these are individual acts by people with no access to systemic or institutionalized power. They were acting out of their individual prejudiced view of police in reaction to all the incidents of Blacks killed by police. There reactions were individual without any group to support them, though the police and media seemed determined to link them to some group, and have targeted #BlackLivesMatter. The media has even mentioned the Nation of Islam. But NO connections have been found, and wishing for such connections do not make them real. Were these individuals prejudiced? Yes, to an extreme.

Were they Racist? NO! With deliberateness, and too often unintentionally, whites act in racist ways when they use institutional structures to operationalize their prejudices against individuals who are members of a group deemed to

With deliberateness, and too often unintentionally, whites act in racist ways when they use institutional structures to operationalize their prejudices against individuals who are members of a group deemed to be inferior or different. be inferior or different.

America needs a healing, America needs a healing, if we wish to reclaim our humanity.

The Power of White Privilege White privilege has given whites the false belief that they are automatically entitled—simply because they are white--to jobs, education, etc. It is this deeply rooted (and often unconscious) presumption of white entitlement

(white privilege) that has fuelled the cases that dismantled Affirmative Action, and increasingly challenge any racebased positive action to achieve diversity and equal access for Black and Brown people in education, employment, health care and wealth building resources such as business loans and house mortgages. The data speaks for itself. In every aspect of quality of life—education, employment, health care and

wealth building, Black and Brown people seem to be no further ahead in closing these gaps in 2016 than they we were in the 1960s, the start of the Civil Rights movement.

America needs a healing, America needs a healing, to reclaim our humanity.

The profound belief in white privilege and white entitlement was the basis of the 1978 Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case that dismantled Affirmative Action quotas— the closest we have ever come in the country to some form of Reparations (for what people of color have endured in America: slavery, colonization, genocide, lynching, segregation, racism and white supremacy).

And most recently, it was white privilege that motivated Abigail Fischer to file her case in Fisher v. UTAustin. Fischer fundamentally believed that some Black person had taken her seat at University of Texas Austin, to which she believed herself to be entitled because she was white. She never entertained the possibility that “her seat” might

have been taken by an athlete, or an alumni legacy admit (who were most likely white) with lesser grades. The Supreme Court supported UTAustin and in its ruling “reaffirmed that the value of creating a diverse student body allows university officials to consider race in making admission decisions, upholding a University of Texas plan that has been the subject of years of legal battles,” accordingly to a Washington Post article (6/23/2016).

Abigail Fischer, like Bakke before her, truly believed that her right to admission had been taken away by Blacks who were admitted. Grade point average (gpa) is not the only criteria that universities used in admissions, and I know of many white students who have been admitted at many institutions of higher education with lesser grades for a variety of reasons. That Fischer would only target people of color as her adversaries is not only wrong, and proof of her belief in her entitlement as a white person.

It is also ironic since historically white women were the ones who disproportionately benefitted from Affirmative Action since the 1970s. And yet, feminists and white women scholars were virtually silent in challenging Abigail Fischer’s assertions.

America needs a healing, to reclaim our humanity.

Irma McClaurin is an award winning columnist, who 2015 received the Black Press of America’s Emory O. Jackson Column Writing Award from the NNPA. She is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News, a consultant, an activist anthropologist, writer, motivational speaker and founder of the Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive at University of Massachusetts Amherst. More about the author can be found at www.irmamcclaurin.com.

Byers From 1 It is that sense of belonging – or rather that lack of sense of belonging – that makes Byers work so meaningful … so needed. In a subject that has been examined for quite some time, there seems to be a greater emphasis and sense of urgency in recruiting and retaining professionals of color. As part of the Make it MSP initiative, several groups, including the Bush Foundation, Greater MSP and SPCC have joined forces to address the brain drain as it pertains to African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and others of color. While for Byers it’s personal, she said others have realized retaining a diverse workforce is vital to their bottom line.

“Simply put, it’s best for business (to have a diverse workforce),” said Byers. “This is about the economic growth and competitiveness as a region.”

No surprise to most, according to Byers, studies conducted by the Make it MSP team found that while companies in the region have done a very good job of recruiting and retaining white workers, they have been abysmal at attracting and retaining African-American talent. She said what they have found is what many already know – lack of social options and a lack of connectedness to community have many AfricanAmerican professionals planning their exit almost as soon as they get settled in their northern place of residence.

In the professional role she’s been in since November, Byers has been working with area promoters and professional groups to design events and coordinate calendars in efforts to provide social opportunities for people of color. Early in August Byers and the Make it MSP team hosted a networking happy hour inside the St. Paul headquarters of Ecolab that attracted more than a couple hundred professionals of color.

“It’s about communicating and letting people know what’s out there,” said Byers.

As mentioned before, attracting professionals of color to the Twin Cities is personal to Byers. While Byers – a threetime state basketball champion from North Community High School (Minneapolis) – has a definite connection to the Twin Cities, she does not have definite ties. Though a native of the area, the only family she has here are her parents and she said they have talked about moving.

“I don’t have any other family here so I had to decide what’s keeping me here,” said Byers. “I can’t live where I don’t feel deeply rooted. My work here is what keeps me rooted.”

Page 4 • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

EDUCATION EDUCATION

Fun ways to help ease kids back into the classroom (StatePoint) After a summer of fun, getting back into the swing of the classroom can be difficult for students of all ages and family backgrounds. But parents can help, say experts.

“It’s easy for parents to feel like there isn’t enough time to add more activities to an already packed schedule.

But, there are many easy ways you can set the tone of making learning fun, ease the back-to-school transition, and foster literacy skills at home,” says Jon Reigelman, creative director of the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL).

Reigelman suggests seeking out free resources, such as Camp Wonderopolis, a virtual camp and online learning tool available to all families, libraries, schools, and community organizations. It can be a great weekend or afterschool activity for busy families that can be completed at any pace. The site features “Maker” projects that can be created with items found around the house, and virtual, collectible Wonder Cards that can be earned by interacting with the site.

Getting kids into an outof-classroom learning habit now will set them up for future success. (Looking ahead to winter break or next summer, the program is also a great tool for combatting the learning loss common during vacations!)

To register, visit camp. wonderopolis.org.

For younger kids, NCFL offers these great back-to-

school tips for families.

• Choose a letter of the day.

Look for the chosen letter in any printed materials you see -- the newspaper, street signs, billboards, or advertisements.

Make up a silly sentence using only words beginning with the letter of the day. (For example: Cats can cuddle. Dogs don’t drive. Amy always acts awake.)

• Singing songs can be a literacy activity. Try this twist: Sing short songs like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” several times, leaving off the last word each time until there are no words left. This activity always produces giggles from children and parents alike.

• Play “Guess Who.” Describe a cartoon character, celebrity or historical figure.

Allow a guess after each detail is disclosed. Expand your child’s vocabulary by using unusual words, and then explain their meanings. Take turns. Listen carefully to your child’s descriptions, especially his or her choice of vocabulary.

Encourage your child to paint a picture of the character with his or her words. At the end of the game, compliment your child on any unusual or new words used.

• Talk to your child about his or her day. Pretend to be a television reporter. Try questions like “what was the most surprising (curious, funny, eventful) thing that happened today?” You are giving your child opportunities to increase vocabulary, recall and reflect,

and you are receiving a more detailed version of the time you spent apart. Be prepared

to answer the same questions.

You and your child will begin looking for events to report to

each other.

The beginning of the school year can be hectic for everyone.

Help kids get a leg up on their lessons by boosting literacy skills at home.

Six Minnesota state colleges among the “Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges of 2016 Six Minnesota state colleges have been recognized on a list of the nation’s “Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges of 2016” published by Value Colleges.

Normandale Community College ranked fifth with AnokaRamsey Community College also in the top 10 at nine. Lake Superior College and St. Cloud

Technical and Community College were back-to-back at 12 and 13. Inver Hills Community College rounded out the top 25 at 25 and Dakota County Technical College ranked 44.

Using data from College Measures, a Gates Foundationsupported database, Value Colleges surveyed the 1,717

community colleges in the United States that offer two-year associate degrees and filtered them to find schools that met criteria that it deemed to be most relevant in identifying the nation’s best value community colleges. Criteria included graduation rates, cost, enrollment, and membership

in the American Association of Community Colleges.

“I am very pleased that our colleges have been recognized as the outstanding educational investments they are,” said Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of Minnesota State. “All of our colleges and universities are committed to providing students

with access to an education that is both extraordinary and affordable. That Value Colleges recognized so many of our colleges is a testament to the outstanding work that faculty and staff do every single day.”

Tuition at Minnesota State colleges decreased by one percent this academic year after

having been frozen for three consecutive years, making this year’s average annual tuition at a Minnesota State college $5,364, approximately one-third the cost of private trade schools. After financial aid, the average student tuition cost for recipients of the Minnesota State Grant is $898.

BBB offers Student of Integrity scholarships Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Minnesota and North Dakota is offering Student of Integrity scholarships for Minnesota and North Dakota high school students entering their senior year.

This year, $13,000 in scholarship funds will be awarded. These scholarships – which are presented jointly with BBB Torch Awards for Ethics honoring upstanding businesses –

recognize and promote ethics and integrity among young people.

They are awarded to students who have demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of ethics in their personal choices and actions.

“College costs continue to rise on a yearly basis,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota. “Which is why we’re

so pleased to be able to offer these scholarships. By doing so, we encourage ethics-minded students to tell their stories.”

There are five scholarships available this year – one for $4,500, three for $2,500 and one for $1,000. Scholarship recipients will be honored at BBB’s annual Torch Awards Ceremony, which recognizes the best in ethical and trustworthy business. This year’s Torch Awards for Ethics

Ceremony takes place on Thursday, Oct. 27.

To apply for these scholarships, students are asked to select one or two of the 20 principles found in the document, “UncommonSense.”

Applicants will then either write an essay or create a video that provides specific examples of ways they were challenged by a difficult situation and how they overcame that situation through

the application of character and personal ethics. Essays must be at least 1,000 words and videos must be at least 30 seconds long, but no longer than three minutes.

In addition, applications must include the scholarship entry form, one letter of recommendation, a copy of the student’s transcript, as well as a list of extracurricular activities and post-secondary plans.

Entries will be reviewed by an

independent panel of judges, with a focus given on the quality of the essay or video. All entries must be received by 4:30 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 22.

Visit thefirstbbb.org/scholarship for further information on BBB’s Student of Integrity scholarships. Parents or students with questions can also contact Mackenzie Kelley at (651) 6952482 or at mackenzie.kelley@ thefirstbbb.org.

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Page 5

COMMENTARY Shirley Chisholm and the fight for equal rights for all women Opinion

By Julianne Malveaux With a woman heading the ticket of the Democratic Party, it may be challenging for us to remember that women have had the right to vote for less than a century (and Black folks less than that).

But the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920, just 96 years ago. At former Rep. Bella Abzug’s (D-NY) insistence, in 1971Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day. The first part of the joint resolution of Congress reads: “Whereas the women of the United States have been treated as second class citizens and have not been entitled to the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or intentional, which are available to male citizens.”

Reading the words reminds me how far women have come, how far we still have to go, and how little the status of women of color is included when we speak of the status of women.

How far have we come? Few would have predicted that an African-American would win an election and effectively lead the United States for eight years. So too, few would have predicted that a women would have more than a fighting chance of winning the United States presidency.

And yet the very campaign that signals progress is also one that illustrates how much more work needs to be done before women’s equality is attained.

Too much of the rhetoric around Sec. Hillary Clinton’s candidacy is downright sexist. She should be judged by her positions and there should be absolutely no talk about her looks, hairstyle, attire or tone of voice. No man could stand the kind of scrutiny that she has had to endure.

The continuing saga of sexual harassment at Fox News is another example of the distance we must travel to reach women’s equality. The company’s former CEO, Roger

While commemorating the progress that has been made in nearly a century, we must also ask whether it will take another century to reach real equality for all women.

Ailes, is accused of multiple counts of sexual harassment, and this is a clear case of where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

One wonders how many other companies have similarly hostile work environments and how often women, simply attempting to earn a living, are placed in the position of having to manage unflattering comments, downright harassment, coerced sex and even rape. There are documented cases of women being raped in the military then being discharged because they

can’t work with their rapists.

And let’s not get started on what happens on some college campuses. That a Palo Alto judge sentenced a Stanford student to a scant six months in a rape witnessed by another student is amazing. That his father actually decried the sentence as too high a price to pay for a few minutes of “action” speaks to how much work we have to do to reach women’s equality.

And ain’t I a woman?

What about Black women’s equality? It chagrins me that

former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s (D-NY) historic run for president has been all but ignored in much of the media frenzy about candidate Clinton. However, it does not surprise me given the many ways African-American women’s contributions are sidelined, marginalized or simply ignored.

AfricanAmerican women earn less than their white counterparts do, but head more households and have more economic responsibility.

African-American women are far less likely than their white counterparts to be found in the “C” suite in corporate leadership, and far more likely to be further down the ladder in every aspect of life in our nation.

While people say they saw the glass ceiling shatter with Hillary Clinton’s nomination, others saw the millions standing at the sticky floor with few opportunities to climb up to that glass ceiling.

Those standing on the sticky floor are disproportionately women of color, especially those who earn low wages and have fewer opportunities than others.

Maybe Hillary Clinton will bridge the gap when she pursues

a progressive economic agenda that includes fair and equal pay, affordable childcare, and other benefits for working women.

There has been significant progress for women since the 19th Amendment was passed, significant progress since Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day. Yet women still don’t have even a third (not to mention half) of the seats in the House of Representatives or the Senate, nor in any state legislature in the nation. Women aren’t even 10 percent of our nation’s corporate leaders. Women still face hostile work environments.

While commemorating the progress that has been made in nearly a century, we must also ask whether it will take another century to reach real equality for all women.

Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist. Her latest book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available via amazon.com.

For more information visit juliannemalveaux.com.

Dental health gets second-class treatment

By Glenn Ellis George Curry Media Columnist The Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” has changed many lives for the better – mine included.

But its omission of dental coverage, a result of political compromise, is a dangerous development, as though teeth are apart from and less important than the rest of the body. In fact, cavities are a silent epidemic and according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, they’re the No. 1 chronic infectious disease in children.

Although many of the health problems associated with obesity are well-known, such as increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular problems, those linked with cavities don’t receive as much attention. Although tooth decay is almost completely preventable, according to the surgeon general, cavities are five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever and allergies.

A picture-perfect smile

falls just out of reach for many children living in poverty. The burden of poor dental care falls disproportionately on lowincome and minority children.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that one out of every five child between the ages of 2 and 5 have untreated dental problems including infection, cavities and tooth decay.

About 37 percent of poor children 2- to 9-years-old have one, or sometimes more, untreated decayed baby teeth, compared with 17.3 percent of higher-income children, according to the report for the surgeon general. Low-income children are less likely to receive regular dental care, and the cavities are more likely to go unfilled. The consequences of untreated decay include emergency room visits for dental pain and lost time at school and work. Those with untreated dental issues are then more likely to have the more-severe forms of the disease as they grow older.

Recently, it has been recognized that oral infection, especially periodontitis (gum

disease), may affect the course and progression of a number of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes mellitus and low birth weight. Research has even linked poor oral health with Alzheimer’s.

The socioeconomic forces that place these children at risk of food insecurity are the very same ones that increase their risk of developing early childhood caries (tooth decay).

This disparity in poor oral health adversely impacts these children’s ability to eat, speak and learn, further cementing

Letter to the editor Dear Editor: This is old, however, I feel compelled to comment on it. I was surprised and disappointed when the news came out about Bill Davis and the Minneapolis Community Action Agency’s mismanagement of funds and not one word was mentioned about it in either of two Black newspapers. The news was

not pleasant, albeit, however, it was news right on. I could not understand how one of the biggest stories in the Black community was omitted from out Black Press.

The Community Action Agency Board was remiss in their fiduciary responsibilities in overseeing staff actions as it related to the expenditures of

funds. The least the public should have received was a public apology. The legislative body that signed off on the agency in order for them to receive their funds (federal tax payer dollars), was also negligent and should be held accountable as well.

Sincerely, Liz Moore, Minneapolis

social inequities already stacked against this vulnerable population.

The lack of money for visiting a dentist is only the tip of the iceberg that fuels the unfortunate trend. Aside from not being able to afford dental care, the less affluent have unhealthy diets filled with sugar and fat (both are fodder for oral bacteria), may be unable to buy basic oral hygiene tools such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss and may not get the proper education needed for oral health.

America is a great melting

pot filled with people of all ethnicities and geographical origins. However, those who have routes tracing back to Mexico or Africa have higher levels of cavities and dental problems. Data collected from 2001-2004 and presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that for children 2- to 5-years-old, 24.2 percent of Black children and 29.2 percent of Hispanic children (of Mexican origin) had untreated tooth decay.

White children had significantly lower levels, measuring at 14.5 percent.

Parents and caregivers must intervene in order to curb the growing tooth-decay tragedy facing the nation. Teaching children the proper brushing techniques, providing them fresh water to drink instead of soft drinks, encouraging physical fitness and eating a balanced diet following the recommended government nutritional guidelines can go a long way toward improving dental health.

There is no doubt that tooth decay can be prevented, yet one in four children have had tooth

decay by age 5. For children of color, the rates of tooth decay are much higher.

Preventing tooth decay can help protect children from dental pain. It can also protect families and taxpayers from the costs of fillings, crowns or other treatments. The average cost of a dental filling is $171.

In addition, fillings usually need to be repaired or replaced. So what about the lifetime cost of a cavity? A more recent analysis of California dental data found lifetime costs for a single decayed molar can exceed $6,000. With already unsustainable health care costs in this country, how can we allow this trend to continue?

Good dental health is a smart investment … for our children, our economy and our future.

Remember, I’m not a doctor.

I just sound like one.

Glenn Ellis is a regular media contributor on health equity and medical ethics. He is the author of “Which Doctor?” and “Information is the Best Medicine.”

Page 6 • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

BUSINESS You’ve raised the money, now how do you keep it?

FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw Part one of a two part series: An interview with Leland Faust Financial management and investing is critical to the sustainability of nonprofits.

As a board member or trustee one has a fiduciary responsibility. But how does one fulfill that responsibility?

What needs to be known as it relates to financial management and investment?

To get some perspective we talked with Leland Faust, the founder of CSI Capital Management. In addition to

degrees from the University of California (economics) and Harvard Law School, Faust managed more than $1.5 billion in assets from 1978 through 2011. Barron’s has named him four times to its annual list of top 100 independent investment advisors in the country.

If that’s not enough, Faust also has a long history of engagement with nonprofits, having served on the boards of diverse organizations. These include Maccabi USA and Planet Hope. We met Faust years ago when all three of us were involved with another nonprofit, Alive and Free, then known as Omega Boys Club.

The first question we asked Faust was about the impact Wall Street can have on the financial health and viability of nonprofits. Here’s his response.

“Wall Street can have a significant impact on the

Here’s the take away – be sure to ask about the fees and risks associated with managing nonprofits assets.

financial health of nonprofits.

Charging higher fees than necessary obviously leaves less for the operations of the nonprofit. A quick example will illustrate this. If a nonprofit earned 7 percent per year on its endowment after necessary expenses, then $1 million of

principal would earn $70,000 per year to fund its projects. If it is charged an extra 1 percent, then the annual amount is reduced to $60,000. Obviously this is a loss of $100,000 over 10 years. Higher fees generally lead to lower returns and do not correlate with higher returns on

investment.

“Too often Wall Street encourages nonprofits to engage in more risky investing than is prudent. This exposes the nonprofit to greater risk of losing its principal and thereby jeopardizing its programs.

Calpers, the largest state pension fund in the country, provides a very recent example.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, it earned approximately 0.6 percent while a conservative mix of stocks and bonds for the same fiscal year would have earned about 4 percent.

This underperformance cost California at least $10 billion.”

We asked Faust for his thoughts regarding how a nonprofit evaluates risk.

“In the Calpers example they invested too much in speculative ventures like hedge funds and start-up companies.

It may be appropriate for a non-profit to invest a small

portion of its endowment in a wide range of risky assets, but the danger becomes unacceptable when the proportion is too high,” said Faust. He encourages board members to look closely at the asset allocation.

Here’s the take away – be sure to ask about the fees and risks associated with managing nonprofits assets.

Faust’s new forthcoming book “A Capitalist’s Lament: How Wall Street Is Fleecing You and Ruining America” offer more information. It publishes Oct. 11.

Next week we will present part two of our discussion, “Five guidelines for managing nonprofit funds.”

Mel and Pearl Shaw are the authors of “Prerequisites for Fundraising Success” available on Amazon.com.

MONEY

What every small business owner needs to know about hiring (StatePoint) Looking to staff up your small business? Don’t underestimate the importance of getting your hiring decisions right. The smaller your business is, the more important your choices become.

“While searching for employees does take you away from your primary duties of running a business, it’s crucial to pay close attention to the task,” says Meredith Hanrahan, SVP of Small Business Solutions at Monster, a global leader in connecting people to jobs. “The right or wrong hire can actually make or break your business.”

When adding employees to your business, here are a few important things to consider: • Hiring can be expensive. Thirty-one percent of small business owners spend over $300 to hire someone new, with 18 percent spending between $301 and $1,200 and another 12 percent spending over $1,200, according to Monster’s “Small Business, Big Hire Survey” conducted

by Braun Research. Don’t duplicate this expense with a wrong decision!

• You’re only as strong as your weakest link, and the wrong person on your team could be detrimental to your

Menakem From 1 Through his work, Menakem analyzes different traumatic situations and how the people who experience these situations cope and survive.

In the 1990s, the social worker organized with Rep. Keith Ellison to provide resources to gang-affiliated youth. While working with these youth, he realized poverty could be considered a traumatic event.

“Historical trauma of a people gets transmitted all the way down and then it looks like culture or personality,” said Menakem.

Menakem said that as time passes, a person who

entire operation. Among small business owners in the same study, the top reasons why hiring the wrong person puts their business at risk include the fact that it will negatively impact the company’s reputation (68 percent) and lead to decreased productivity (62 percent). Maintain your brand’s integrity by building the ideal team.

• Small business owners tend to have a packed schedule and a strict budget.

The process of finding great job candidates can put a strain on both of these scarce resources, if not managed wisely. To find and hire someone with the grit necessary to succeed in a small business, consider using services that help streamline this important task quickly and on-budget.

Several tools from sites like Monster, such as social recruiting and targeted emails to top candidates, as well as campaigns and alerts from potential candidates, can increase search results and ultimately save time and money.

You built your business from scratch by the power of your determination and unique vision. Don’t underestimate the importance of building a great team to go with it.

experienced a traumatic event might disassociate the event from the situation in which it occurred. When this happens, the traumatic retention has taken the appearance of the person’s personality or the culture of a people.

When talking about historical trauma, Menakem focused on the enslavement of Black people.

“If you look at it we (Black people) say ‘whooping’ (when disciplining a child) but it is actually from the term whipping (which slaves received),” said Menakem. “It is a traumatic retention from what has been done to the body for 400 years.”

Fast forward from 400 years ago to 2016 and the author explains how the Black community is still plagued with the struggle of ownership

NEW FOR 2016!

• Wi z a rd ’s S c h o o l Z i p L i n e • K i n g ’s K a r p o o l C o m p e t i t i o n • Renaissance Bingo • S h e r w o o d Fo r e s t • Dancing with the Royals

over their own bodies.

“It is new that the Black body has been able to do what it wants to do with its own body,” said Menakem. He added that witnessing police brutality through a television screen and social media is a “traumatic reminder that we are still in, not necessarily enslavement, but in danger.”

Menakem also said when these events occur, many people claim that Black people are beginning to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and how he thinks that is not the correct term.

“When it comes to Black people we don’t experience post-traumatic stress disorder because post has never happened to the Black body.

It is perpetual and persistent stress response,” said Menakem. “Post would say

• 250 Artisan Booths for Endless Shopping • O ve r 5 0 F R E E Fa m i l y A c t iv i t i e s • 16 Stages of Entertainment • Fo o d F i t f o r a K i n g • L ive A r m o re d Jo u s t i n g • M e r m a i d s, Fa i r i e s & m o re

O p e n We e k e n d s A u g u s t 2 0 - O c t o b e r 2 n d , 2 0 1 6 P l u s L a b o r D a y & F e s t i v a l F r i d a y, S e p t . 3 0 t h 9am to 7pm • Rain or Shine • (952) 445-7361

FREE Parking! RenaissanceFest.com Discount Tickets Available Online & At Participating

(c) Sergey Nivens - Fotolia.com

that it stopped. The attack on the Black body has not stopped.”

Menakem urges the Black community to educate themselves on the effects of historical trauma and find solutions to heal as a community.

“We’ve got to start having that discussion in the Black community because it affects how we relate to each other,” said Menakem. He elaborated that this kind of trauma not only affects person-toperson relations, but also how Black people relate to topics such as transgender and homosexuality.

Menakem said along with historical trauma, Black people have been given historical methods of resilience.

“There are things that our people did way back that they passed down to us,” said the

activist.

Menakem related experiences of his childhood such as sitting at his grandmother’s lap or when she would hum while she cooked in the kitchen to a scene in the movie “12 Years a Slave.” He sets up the scene of enslaved Africans working in the cotton field on a plantation.

“They’re in the field and in the background you see a wagon that comes past.

It’s new people coming to that particular plantation,” said Menakem, who said the enslaved African began to hum as the others were arriving to the field. “I watched it and it hit me.”

He explained the ritual of monks chanting “Om” as one and it relates to the vagus or “wandering nerve.” This cranial nerve is connected to various parts of the body such

as the heart, esophagus, and lungs.

“Science has shown that monks get into transcendental meditation (and) vibrate and soothe that vagus nerve.”

Menakem said when monks hum or chant as a group, it creates a sense of togetherness. He believes that is what the enslaved people were doing while they were in the fields and that is how they coped with the traumatizing effects of slavery.

“We did little settling things. We couldn’t stop it from happening, but just a little bit of settling allowed those groups of new people coming --they didn’t know what was happening-- to come in and be settled,” said Menakem.

“Those are communal things that I think we have to start thinking about.”

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Page 7

HEALTH Estrogen patch may reduce Alzheimer’s risk

By Susan Barber Lindquist, Mayo Clinic Network ROCHESTER, Minn.

— Can estrogen preserve brain function and decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease when given early in menopause?

Newly postmenopausal women who received estrogen via a skin patch had reduced beta-amyloid deposits, the sticky plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, a Mayo Clinic study published this month in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found.

Ultimately, these deposits harm neurons, leading to cognitive problems.

In the study, women with APOE e4 — one form of the most common gene associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease — had lower levels of amyloid deposits.

“This study showed, for the first time, that the brain amyloid deposition ─ a hallmark of Alzheimer ’s disease ─ is reduced in newly postmenopausal women who received 17beta-Estradiol patch form of hormone therapy,” said lead author Dr.

Kejal Kantarci, a Mayo Clinic radiologist. “Women with APOE e4, who have a greater genetic risk for Alzheimer ’s disease, particularly benefited from this therapy.”

Menopause is defined as occurring 12 months after a

woman’s last menstrual period and marks the end of menstrual cycles. In the U.S., the average age of menopause is 51. A rapid decline in estrogen with menopause may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease risk in

women.

The Women’s Health Initiative study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that menopausal hormone therapy started in women 65 or older increased the risk of dementia.

Taking a closer look at Black mental health

By Dr. Patricia Maryland NNPA News Wire Guest Columnist Good physical and mental health help drives success and enjoyment in our lives.

But when it comes to overcoming some of our society’s biggest health challenges – from HIV/ AIDS to cancer to diabetes to behavioral health issues – the African-American community unfortunately shoulders a disproportionate share of the burden. As our nation increasingly deals with violence, suicide and depression, it’s important to take a close look at the state of Black mental health in America.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that one of every five adults in the U.S. — some 43 million people — will experience mental illness this year.

African-Americans are far from immune. In fact, Blacks are more than 20 percent more likely than whites to report having serious psychological distress. For people of color living in poverty-stricken neighborhoods, where rates of homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse and violent crime are higher, the risk of mental illness is compounded.

One of the challenges African-Americans with mental health issues continue to face is an imbalance in health insurance coverage.

While the Affordable Care Act has caused the uninsured rate among Blacks to decline by close to 10 percentage points between 2013 and 2016, it remains almost twice as high as the uninsured rate for nonHispanic whites. There is also a lack of African-American mental health professionals who can deliver culturally

Dr. Patricia Maryland competent care for illnesses that are often deeply personal and can be the subject of stigmatization. According to a 2014 survey, less than 2 percent of American Psychological Association members are African-American.

These disparities are unacceptable. It is clear that we must make mental health equity a guiding principle and an utmost priority. As Ascension’s president and CEO Anthony Tersigni recently stated, “Insurance coverage for the treatment of these disorders has long been discriminatory compared with coverage for physical diseases. In 2008, the federal government essentially legislated that there be parity between mental health coverage and physical health coverage, but the intended changes have been problematic and slow in coming.” Ascension is one of the nation’s largest non-profit and largest Catholic health systems.

On the part of healthcare providers, addressing this challenge means promoting

and expanding access to affordable mental and behavioral healthcare — care that recognizes the stressors that African-Americans experience and provide solutions that are culturally competent. For our part, we have established behavioral/ mental health as a dedicated priority service line across our national healthcare system.

This work demands continued investment in community health centers, which are vital to serving highneed minority neighborhoods.

And it requires that we go beyond the traditional scope of care by addressing the socioeconomic needs that contribute to mental health, including access to affordable housing, food security and more.

Going beyond the traditional scope also means that our nation must address the care of our military veterans. Current statistics reveal that 18 to 22 veterans die by suicide each day in America because of their unique mental and behavioral health needs. That’s one reason for Ascension’s participation in the federal Veterans Choice Program, which was formed to improve the quality and access of care to veterans nationwide.

All of these programs and investments are important, but real gains in this fight will not come without the support and participation of the AfricanAmerican community overall.

We must stop viewing mental illness in America as if it were a personal failing rather than a serious health concern. And we must help our loved ones and neighbors to stop neglecting the care they need because of stigmas that surround mental health. These stigmas must be addressed and overcome.

While communities of color are having important

Help for caregivers...

• Long-term care planning Financial checkup, support network and respite care

• Elder law Health care directive, power of attorney and education

• Senior housing Family meetings, group education, dementia and Alzheimer’s

• Support groups

•

Adult day services, counseling, resources and referrals Health and spiritual connections

This activity is made possible by a grant from the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI) of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Center for Health Equity, through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature.

Call us 952-945-4173 | 952-945-4175

conversations about mental health, we can do more.

Breaking down these barriers will compel us not only to recognize the necessity of mental health care, but also to summon our support for family, friends and neighbors who are seeking the help and treatment they need. Together, we can build a healthier, stronger community, where getting support for mental health problems is not a sign of weakness, but one of strength.

Dr. Patricia A. Maryland, is the president of Healthcare Operations and chief operating officer for Ascension Health, the healthcare delivery subsidiary of Ascension, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit and largest Catholic health system.

In contrast, the multicenter Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study tested the hypothesis that healthy and younger women would respond to menopausal hormone therapy more favorably.

The Mayo Clinic study used data from the Kronos study to determine the effects of menopausal hormone therapy shortly after menopause, during the critical window of rapid estrogen depletion — five to 36 months past menopause. Researchers investigated the brain amyloid deposition in 68 women ages 42 to 59 who participated in the Kronos trial during this critical window. The researchers used positron emission tomography, also known as a PET scan, to look for the brain amyloid deposits three years after the trial ended.

Of the 68 women, 21 received estrogen via a skin patch, 17 received estrogen orally and 30 received a placebo. Amyloid deposition was lower in women who received the patch, compared to the placebo, and the effect was most apparent in women

with the APOE e4 genotype.

The oral treatment was not associated with lower amyloid deposition.

The authors are seeking funding to perform amyloid PET imaging at eight more Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention study sites around the U.S. “If our results are confirmed in the larger group of women, this finding has the potential to change the concepts for preventive interventions that drive the Alzheimer’s disease field today,” said Kantarci. “It also may have a significant impact on women making the decision to use hormone therapy in the early postmenopausal years.”

Study co-authors are Dr. Val Lowe, Timothy Lesnick, Nirubol Tosakulwong; Dr. Kent Bailey, Dr. Julie Fields, Dr. Lynne Shuster, Samantha Zuk, Matthew Senjem, Dr. Michelle Mielke, Dr. Clifford Jack, Jr., Dr. Walter Rocca and Dr. Virginia Miller, all of Mayo Clinic; and Dr. Carey Gleason of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Page 8 • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE

Back to school rules It is hard to believe that a new school year is upon us.

Parents will be scrambling to get all the remaining needed items to make their children’s school year a success. Beyond the clothes, books, paper, pencils and other learning tools, there are some behavior traits that are needed as well. To help you along the way, here are New Frontiers in Learning’s “Five Keys to a Successful School Year.”

descriptions is an important start to any school year. Some students find it helpful to have separate notebooks and folders for each class. In this case, all books and folders can be color coded and labeled for easy identification.

Another method of organization is to use a single binder with separate sections for each class.

Each section should be labeled and should contain loose-leaf paper for note taking. All papers and handouts for the class should also be added to the section on a daily basis. Whichever method is chosen, be sure to figure out which one works specifically for the student early on and encourage them to follow it consistently throughout the year.

Organizing all papers and notes daily allows students to be able to find class materials more easily.

Start off (and stay) organized Having a system for keeping track of all notes, papers, grades, homework and assignment

Budget and schedule time We all face difficulties managing our time, but students can set themselves up for success by

Man Talk

By Timothy Houston

using and maintaining a daily schedule. This schedule should include all class names, locations, and times, plus any other outside responsibilities that the student may have, such as work hours, sports practice and family obligations. By maintaining a weekly schedule, the student can keep track of not only unchanged repeated responsibilities, but also any one-time obligations for each week (concerts, special afterschool group study sessions, etc.). Furthermore, following a daily and weekly schedule makes it much easier to see where the student can build in time for homework and studying, as well as study breaks. Once a schedule is made, students should be encouraged to stick to it. Having a planner that has both weekly and monthly sections allows the student to clearly see and review short- and long-term expectations.

SCHOOL TURN TO 9

Your greatness is right where you are Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson What happens when you decide to complete your life’s journey in the very place that you thought you would leave forever?

What happens if you find yourself doing some of the things you said you never wanted to do – like staying still and waiting on the right moment to come to make a move? This may be hard for some, but the truth is no matter where you are on your journey to your greatness you still have the capacity to complete what you started no matter where you are.

When you decide that nothing or no one will ever stand in the way of you

achieving the goals you set for yourself, it doesn’t really matter where you live. If you are concentrating on achieving those goals you must stay focused at every stage of life. Your surroundings don’t determine if you will complete your goals, your surroundings determine if you will stay motivated and away from distractions.

I met a man recently who shared with me that his journey lead him all around the world and then right back to the place

of his birth. He once vowed that he would never live there again and couldn’t understand why God had allowed his life to return to the very place he claimed he hated. He stated that he struggled with his life but then finally it all came to him. He needed to return to complete what he started there.

He never really finished some things in his hometown and even though he hated to admit it, he always felt that there was something he needed to do in order to feel whole. His

answer to himself was to just appreciate his journey and say “Thank you.”

Believe it or not your greatness is right where you are. Your greatness is within you, and you need to be able to understand that. There are so many people running away trying to “find themselves” that they never really take the time to know what they really want.

When you decide that you want to change your life and do the things to achieve your goals, remember that you may have

to stay right where you are and wait. You can work on any goal if you believe you have what it takes to complete it. Appreciate the journey for what it is and say, “thank you.”

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.

Homemade almond milk The Orange Moon

By Michelle Mitchum, MPH. HHP Stop.

Before you pick up that carton of almond milk, let’s a do a little research. While plant-based “milk” is a lot more beneficial to the body than animal produced milk, store-bought brands might not be the healthiest route.

Many makers of almond milk claim to harness the nutrition of the almond, nature’s almostperfect food, in their product.

However, a lot of unhealthy ingredients and preservatives

are added in that process. Take a quick glance at the label of your typical supermarket almond milk.

You might find sugar, gellan gum, tricalcium phosphate, xanthan gum or a list of other additives that decrease nutritional value.

Therefore it’s very important to read labels before throwing items into your shopping cart.

If you want to drink Almond Milk, make your own instead.

Making your own food and ingredients can alleviate (to an extent) the foreign additives and additional preservatives your body consumes from packaged goods. Have you ever noticed pure “homemade” almond milk is barely thicker than water?

That’s because almond milk is essentially the product of blended almonds and (yes, you guessed it) water. Richly packed with

protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, the almond is a great snack in and of itself.

How to Make Almond Milk at Home Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients • 1 cup raw almonds, preferably organic • 2 cups water, plus more for soaking • Sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup, to taste (optional) Equipment • Bowls • Strainer • Measuring cup • Blender or food processor • Fine-mesh nut bag or cheese cloth

Instructions 1. Soak the almonds overnight or up to two days. Place the almonds in a bowl and cover with about an inch of water. They will plump as they absorb water. Let stand, uncovered, overnight or up to two days. The longer the almonds soak, the creamier the almond milk.

2. Drain the almonds from their soaking water and rinse them thoroughly under cool running water. At this point, the almonds should feel a little squishy if you pinch them.

3. Combine the almonds and water in a blender. Place the almonds in the blender and cover with two cups of water.

4. Blend at the highest speed

for two minutes. Pulse the blender a few times to break up the almonds, then blend continuously for two minutes. The almonds should be broken down into a very fine meal and the water should be white and opaque. (If using a food processor, process for four minutes total, pausing to scrape down the sides halfway through.)

5. Strain the almonds. Line the strainer with either the opened nut bag or cheese cloth, and place over a measuring cup. Pour the almond mixture into the strainer.

6. Press all the almond milk from the almond meal.

Gather the nut bag or cheese cloth around the almond

meal and twist close.

Squeeze and press with clean hands to extract as much almond milk as possible.

You should get about two cups. Sweeten to taste. Taste the almond milk, and if a sweeter drink is desired, add sweetener to taste.

7. Refrigerate almond milk.

Store the almond milk in sealed containers in the fridge for up to two days.

Recipe notes The leftover almond meal can be added to oatmeal, smoothies and muffins as it is. You can also spread it out on a baking sheet and bake it in a low oven until completely dry (two to three hours). Dry almond meal can be kept frozen for several months and used in baked goods.

Choosing quality child care Child Focus

By Gloria Freeman One of the biggest decisions a parent will make is choosing quality child care for their infant, toddler or child.

According to Zero to Three, a parenting resource, a good caregiver is loving and responsive, respects the baby’s individuality and provides a stimulating and child-friendly environment.

Zero to Three reports other considerations in choosing quality child care which include looking at how caregivers talk to the children in their care, the caregiver’s ability to answer children’s questions, how children are allowed to eat and sleep

according to their individualized rhythms, the daily schedule of the child care provider, available toys and learning tools, disciplinary techniques administered, and the amount of respect given to the language and culture of the children.

However, in addition to the proper licensure and certifications of a child care provider, an important consideration that can often be overlooked by parents and child care providers is how

we keep our kids safe from household and industrial cleaners and chemicals.

At Olu’s Center, an intergenerational child care and senior center, we pride ourselves in keeping household and other toxic chemicals away from our children. At Olu’s Center, we provide a chemically toxic-free environment for the children in our stead.

The publication, Everyday Health, reports that common

cleaning products often used, unbeknownst to parents and child care providers, are actually toxic and should not be exposed to our children. Everyday Health reports that dangerous chemicals can include: household paint, batteries, antifreeze and motor oil, bleach, antibacterial kitchen and bathroom cleaners, laundry and dishwashing detergent, insecticides, pesticides, flea and tick control products, glass cleaner, nail polish, perfume and cologne, air freshening sprays, carpet shampoos, and the list goes on.

There was a time when we all drove and rode in vehicles which did not have seatbelts. Many of us came of age in eras when we thought nothing of our children riding bicycles without protective helmets, or blowing cigarette smoke over a child while we were breastfeeding. But those days are over. Today, we would no more have our children sitting in the middle of a cigarette smoke filled room than drive our young children down the street without being nestled safely in a car seat.

In the same way we make healthy provisions for our children at home, we need to take into consideration when choosingquality child care.

When we begin to keep our children out of harm’s way by shielding them from poisonous chemicals, we realize we are taking into consideration the level of love and responsiveness a child care is providing.

Zero to Three states, “Because the way children are treated by caregiving adults shapes their development in important ways, it is crucial to find a child care professional who both understands and nurtures children’s learning through the everyday moments they share.”

There is nothing more important in shaping the development of our children than keeping them out of harm’s way.

A primary way of achieving this is to be cognizant of what chemicals and cleaning products our children are being exposed to both at home and in child care centers and steering them toward dynamic and safe learning environments which are chemically free.

Gloria Freeman is President/ CEO of Olu’s Center, an intergenerational childcare and senior day program, and can be reached at gfreeman@ olushome.com.

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Page 9

COMMUNITY Carrie H. Wallace introduced youth to camping

Carrie H. Wallace Mrs. Carrie Hoffman Wallace passed away at the grand age

School From 8 Ask for help Many times, students have a difficult time recognizing when they need help, as well as identifying who and/or where to turn to receive help. Students need to review the help-seeking process in the beginning of each school year. If something is confusing, if they don’t know how to start or structure a project or assignment, or if they have any other questions about class requirements, students should be reminded to ask for help.

And they need to understand that

Whitfield From 1 Champion and a Who’s Who list of Black community leaders co-hosted the Hillary for Minnesota backyard barbeque as part of Whitfield’s weekend campaigning in Minnesota as a Clinton surrogate.

Whitfield addressed community members in St. Paul on Saturday at the Little Africa festival at Hamline University, and talked politics over cocktails Saturday night at Seven Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Minneapolis. On Sunday she held forth in the pulpits of Shiloh Ministries International Church and at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in North Minneapolis, before joining Minneapolis Urban League President Steve Belton on Al Flower’s popular public affairs broadcast on KMOJ, “Community Values Conversation.”

of 95, living to become a greatgreat-great-grandmother. She was survived by her son-in-law, Art Frazier, grandchildren Autumn Frazier (Mike Cotten), Shelleye Williamson (Tony Williamson), Arthur Frazier (Anita Frazier), Charles Wallace, Tony Tompkins and Tracy Anderson, nine greatgrandchildren and a host of great-great-grandchildren. She will be missed dearly by the Minneapolis community she nurtured.

Mrs. Wallace was born in

Fergus Falls, Minn. and was raised in Minneapolis by John and Hattie Hoffman. She was married to Robert Wallace (deceased) and they had one daughter, Meredythe Frazier (deceased) and one son, Larry Anderson (deceased).

For more than 35 years, Mrs. Wallace spent her career as an administrator at Phyllis Wheatley Community Center.

During the summer months as an employee of Phyllis Wheatley, she was the program director

for Camp Katherine Parsons.

Located in Watertown, Minn., Camp Katherine Parsons was the only African-American owned camp in the state of Minnesota.

Mrs. Wallace and Cozy Breedlove (director) taught many inner-city youth all aspects of camping, including canoeing, boating, identifying nature, campfire building, teamwork and more. Mrs. Wallace, as she was affectionately called by many, drove the bus from South Minneapolis to North

Minneapolis picking up kids that were interested in camping. This was not in her job description, but her love for children made sure that no child was left behind.

Her hobbies were raising dogs and cats, gardening, listening to the Twins baseball games and enjoying a nightcap of brandy and Coke. Mrs. Wallace was a member of St. James A.M.E. Church, and was a member of the choir. She resided on 36th Street and Snelling

Avenue in Minneapolis for more than 78 years. Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) featured Mrs. Wallace on a special called “The Minneapolis Past,” which chronicled the Black families that lived on Snelling Avenue.

Mrs. Wallace was active in the Warblers singing group. In addition to her love for singing she loved gardening.

A celebration of her life was held at Minnehaha Falls on Aug. 20. Per Mrs. Wallace wishes, there was no funeral service held.

asking for help will not make them look bad; rather, it will actually show their teachers that they care about the class and want to be successful. Students should review the protocol in asking clarifying questions.

Some teachers reserve the beginning or end of the school day for students’ questions, while others encourage students to email them. Once students know what their individual teachers prefer, they should be encouraged to follow such systems as a resource to clear up any questions that may arise.

something down because you would remember it, only to struggle to remember what that very thing was just minutes later?

You’re not alone. It happens to everyone, especially students taking multiple classes with various responsibilities. To prevent students from forgetting key information in class, they should be encouraged to write everything down – even the things that they think they will remember later. Of course, writing everything down can be difficult for some students, so an alternative could be to record their classes or to use some form of assistive technology, such as a smart pen.

Set reminders Having a system in place to help remind students of important dates is essential. Sometimes teachers announce due dates infrequently during a course, or due dates for assignments and exams may be outlined far in advance and then not discussed again. In such cases, students may panic on the day an assignment is due or an exam is given because they aren’t prepared. To avoid such situations, students need to learn to set reminders in their daily planner or on their smart

phones, which they can use to set timers that will go off several times as the assignment deadlines and exam dates approach. These reminders can also help students remember when to start studying or when to begin an assignment, preventing the anxiety associated with cramming or unpreparedness.

The 2016 school year will be a great time for learning and social interactions. To make it a success in both areas, the student must adhere to the keys to success. Print out this article

and review these simple back to school rules with your student. A new school year is a wonderful time of the year, and I pray God’s blessing on all of the students.

May this year be one of great success.

Write it all down Have you ever told yourself that you didn’t need to write

The Sunday afternoon community barbeque had a special ring to it, both because of the seriousness of the issues at hand, and the Black’s community showing up and standing up for Black interests and American values, but also because of the special charisma in and around Whitfield.

Currently the star of the Oprah Winfrey Network blockbuster series, “Greenleaf,” Whitfield exudes the same gravity in person as she does on television and on the big screen as well. The Sunday barbecue seemed like the corrective consequence Cicely Tyson’s matriarchal character called for in the Tyler Perry film in which Whitfield also starred, “Madea’s Family Reunion.”

Just like the film depicted an awakening, and rising-up of Black families to our challenges, and responsibilities to each other, to history, and to the future, Whitfield’s stirring message centered on the inspiration she drew from President Barack Obama’s landmark address to the

Democratic National Convention in support of Hillary Clinton’s nomination and candidacy.

“Barack Obama brought our country from the depths of financial despair… a very, very low ebb in our country, and has brought us back to this point. It was so amazing to me when he turned over the torch, saying ‘I bring all that I have to offer to make Hillary Clinton the next President of the United States of America.” And then she came out on the stage.

It was a touching moment. It was amazing to see the true respect that they have for each other, the real, healthy regard that they have for each other’s belief systems, and what they were able to accomplish during his administration. It makes me feel safe. It makes me want to work to ensure that the next four years, the next eight years, continue this progress,” Whitfield said.

You can hear the entire interview on last week’s archive of Conversations With Al McFarlane at KFAI.org/ conversationswithalmcfarlane.

English and Somali.

Warsame, who represents the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, said the Sister City relationship strengthens and formalizes ties that already exist between the two communities and improves Somalia’s status in the United States and the rest of the world.

One of the benefits of the Sister City relationship is that the City of Minneapolis is donating used fire trucks, a booking van and crime lab equipment to Bosaso.

Warsame said the donation will help strengthen Minneapolis’ relationship with Bosaso.

“We as a nation are living through a period of time when

the politics of hate and division are being trumpeted by some who seek to lead our country,” Warsame said in an article in The Journal newspaper. “We, as a city, have the opportunity to defy this rhetoric. Already we have forged a first-in-the-nation relationship with Bosaso. This connection allows us to act on our values of openness and acceptance and strengthens the bonds that tie us all together.”

He said the donated equipment “will be put to use protecting our friends in Somalia.”

Bosaso Mayor Yasin Mire Mohamud thanked city leaders for their partnership.

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities.

For questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.

Cities From 1 The event was held in the Minneapolis City Hall Rotunda.

Bosaso Mayor Yasin Mire Mohamud joined Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges in signing a memorandum of understanding formalizing the Sister City relationship, which was originally endorsed by the Minneapolis City Council in October 2014.

Led by Council Member Abdi Warsame, the first SomaliAmerican elected to public office in Minneapolis, the initiative had broad support from Somali community business and cultural leaders and institutions. Bosaso, a coastal city on the northern end of the country, is Somalia’s third largest city and the commercial center of the state of Puntland. A large number of Somali Minnesota residents fled the region during years of civil war and strife.

The program included performances of the national anthems of the United States and Somalia, a formal presentation of the flags, and the formal signing of the document produced in both

Minneapolis City Clerk Office

Classifieds

Phone: 612.588.1313

JOB OPENINGS

Financial Technician

The public-private partnership between the Loppet Foundation and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is being solidified with agreements to further the MPRB’s Master Plan for Theodore Wirth Regional Park by establishing a new Adventure and Welcome Center in the park.

The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Financial Technician in Minneapolis, MN. Salary range is $41,551 – $67, 534. For more information visit the court’s website, www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

The Loppet Foundation is hiring for the following job openings:

KFAI Community Radio is hiring a volunteer coordinator. We are looking for a motivated, self-managing person with great communication skills. The hours are flexible, although some evenings and weekends will be required. No degree required, but you must be able to use Excel, Google Docs and be on top of social media. Find the job posting online at www.kfai. org or stop by our studio offices at 1808 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis. You may also email a resume and cover letter to gm@kfai.org. No phone calls please. KFAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• • • • •

Adventure Center Director Adventure Center Maintenance Foreperson Marketing & Communications Manager Sponsorship Sales Manager Middle School Team Coaches

For the full job postings go to: www.loppet.org/jobs

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Fax: 612.588.2031

Email: info@insightnews.com

Manager of Casework Services

Interfaith Outreach is hiring a Manager of Casework Services. This position is a leadership position supervising 7 case managers working with over 2000 families per year.

The Interfaith Outreach work environment is client centered, values driven, team orientated, fast paced, diverse and focused on learning and professional development.

We have a strong internal culture of collaboration and team support and a deep commitment across staff to mission. Apply here: http://iocp.org/about/open-positions.

STAFF ATTORNEY Central Minnesota Legal Services seeks full-time attorney for its St. Cloud office. Fam. Law including representation of non-custodial parents; some work in other poverty law. Licensed in MN pref’d. Post-law school pov. law exper., fam. law or clinical exper. pref’d. Spanish or Somali language a plus. Salary $47,000+D.O.E. Excellent benes. Resume with references and writing sample to CMLS, 110 6th Avenue S, #205, St. Cloud, MN 56301. Email to smerriman@centralmnlegalstc.org.

Appl. deadline: 8/26/16 or until filled. EOE.

Minnesota Council of Churches ACCOUNTING CLERK, 20 hours/week. General accounting, AP, AR, financial reporting. Open until filled. Appl at http://www.mnchurches.org/about/employment.html.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR WAIT LIST Shields Plaza Apartments, North Branch is now accepting applications for wait list. Senior 62+, subsidized must meet income requirements. Call for appointment 651-674-7497.

Mail Room Assistant

Help this large social service agency’s mail room operation by processing returned, incoming and out-going mail. Flexible daytime shifts available Monday through Friday. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Contact Ramsey County—Volunteer Services at 651266-4090 for additional information or e-mail to HumanServicesVolunteer@co.ramsey.mn.us.

Page 10 • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair

Charlie Wilson

2016 Minnesota State Fair: Charlie Wilson It must be nice for the world to know your voice because of how you introduce yourself.

“My name is Charlie, last name Wilson,” emerges as an iconic phrase in the modern music soundscape. R & B/Soul singer Charlie Wilson declares his presence, intimately saying his name as he invites the world to know him, as if he is speaking to the special one that caught his eye.

Wilson performs in concert at Minnesota State Fair, 7:30pm Friday, August 26, 2016, a show that includes powerhouse torch-singer, Fantasia.

In a phone interview

Thursday, Wilson invited all Minnesotans to show up at his Grandstand concert wearing something Purple, signaling the special excitement around his Minnesota State Fair appearance. His performance will highlight the Fair’s Unite in Purple theme, from 5pm to close, celebrating the life of Prince.

Wilson celebrates women on records, he says, owing to the beautiful partner he has had in his life as friend and wife for 21 years. Recounting the story, Wilson said he destroyed his life with alcohol and cocaine, leading to a life of

living on the streets, sleeping in dumpsters, under cars and unimaginable places. He said he saw a cousin that he used to get high with, who looked at him and then started crying because he looked so bad.

That led to his checking into treatment, where he met a caregiver who helped him save his life and get back to the promise of his gift. In 1995, Wilson married Mahin Tat who was his social worker during his time in the drug rehabilitation program.

In 2008, Wilson was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was treated successfully

and is now cancer free. He has since worked with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, encouraging Black men to be tested for the disease.

Wilson said he knew he had a gift from when he sang in church as a child. “When I saw that I could make people shout (holy dance) I knew I had something.”

You can hear the full interview online: https:// fccdl.in/A6bResCzN Visitors to the fair on the night of Aug. 26 will experience: • Prince music, tributes and cover songs at stages throughout the

fairgrounds • A Fireworks Spectacular sponsored by Mazda featuring a Prince tribute • A sea of fair visitors in purple and Prince gear • A Prince Party in the Park with music and dancing led by GenerationNOW’s DJ Dudley D, Prince’s personal DJ, at Carousel Park • Lavender lighting on iconic fair buildings and carnival rides • A onenight-only Lasertainment’s Laser Hitz show featuring a Prince finale • Unite in Purple glow bracelets for the first 5,000 guests through the gates after 5 p.m. • Unite in Purple buttons for the first 7,500 visitors

through the gates after 5 p.m.

Following Charlie Wilson and Fantasia’s show at the Grandstand, the evening will conclude with the Minnesota State Fair Fireworks Spectacular set entirely to Prince music and featuring a special pyrotechnic Prince tribute.

Unite in Purple is produced by the Minnesota State Fair in partnership with event marketing consultants Sharon Smith-Akinsanya of the rae mackenzie group, inc. and Monique Linder of OMG Media Solutions.

‘Inside Out’ Catalyst Series

Min Enterprises Photography LLC

Anna Minn

Lois Greenfield Photography

Vie Boheme

Intermedia Arts’ 2016–17 Catalyst Series will premiere new and re-mixed work and collaborations, from Eric Avery’s site-specific, participatory theater.

The works are part of new movement collaborations

by Marcus Young and Ananya Chatterjea set to Rennie Harris and Michael Sakamoto’s mix of ‘butoh’ – a Japanese form of dance – and hip-hop. The season ranges from weekend-long presentations at Intermedia’s Lyn-Lake theater, 2822

Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis to exciting one-day radical experiments in the gallery and outside the building.

The Catalyst Series is a platform of socially engaged new work by artists from the Twin Cities and across the country.

“This season is intriguing because of the particular way the artists are approaching the creation of work for their different communities,” said Catalyst Series curator Shá Cage. “They are change makers who are invested in

art-making concepts that are innovative as well as visceral tools to connect people. We look forward to seeing how they will turn Intermedia ‘inside out.’”

The 2016–17 Catalyst Series includes Brown Cinema Cafe’s Sankofa Film Festival, featuring films from the African Diaspora, Eric Avery’s “The Life and Death of Eric F. Avery,” a jazz collaboration with NuSkein (J. Otis Powell, Davu Seru and Kate Pehrson), “Rosy Simas’ Skin(s),” an investigation into what we hold, reveal, and perceive through our skin, Rennie Harris and Michael Sakamoto’s “Flash,” a mix of butoh and hip-hop movement, a visual arts exhibition collaboration by Anna Min, Tina Cho, and Adja Gildersleve and a new movement collaboration

by Marcus Young and Ananya Chatterjea.

Other artists featured in the 2016–2017 Catalyst Series include Brianne Hill, Magnolia Yang-Sao Yia, Vie Boheme, Ellen Hinchcliffe, Queen Drea and more.

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Page 11 the sign-up sheet is exclusively reserved for Black or people of color identified artists.

Eric Roberson

Sunday, Aug. 28 COMMUNITY GATHERING/ BARBECUE Positive Image’s 5th Annual Community Barbecue and School Drive River Park 253 83rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

All ages Free

Aug. 22 - 28

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking.

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

Monday, Aug. 22 FITNESS Kettlebell Pinwheel Arts and Movement Studio E. 25th St. and 28th Ave. S., Minneapolis 9:30 a.m.

18+ $20 Take part in a beginner’s course for kettle bell resistance training. The class includes focusing on proper form and posture and understanding mobility and muscle conditioning.

Tuesday, Aug. 23

18-plus $15 advance, $18 door Liberian-American MC, Rich Garvey presents his album release at 7th St. Entry with Destiny Roberts, Free Lunch Crew, Unknown Creatures and live production by Phib, Sam Bliss (Blamsiss), DJs Vante (Wndrlnd) and Travis Gorman.

FILM Pledge Empire Records Australia Tour Documentary Screening Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 7 p.m. $5

Thursday, Aug. 25

In March Pledge Empire played Australia is are back with a showing that includes free popcorn. Performers include Ced Linus, Sti-Lo Reel and Airman Heat.

Wednesday, Aug. 24 HIP-HOP Rich Garvey “Man of the People” Album Release First Avenue & 7th St. Entry 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis 8 p.m.

REGGAE Morgan Heritage with Jemere Morgan Mill City Nights 111 5th St. N., Minneapolis 8 p.m.

18-plus $20 advance, $25 show Best known for their hit “Don’t Haffi Dread,” Morgan Heritage returns to Minneapolis at Mill City.

Friday, Aug. 26

In support of No Violence, No Guns, and No Bullying, Positive Image is hosting and end of summer barbecue and school supply drive. People are asked to bring school supplies and/or backpacks to be donated to children in need.

R&B/PERFORMANCE Eric Roberson Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. $40 Singer, songwriter and producer Eric Roberson plays two intimate shows at the Dakota.

R&B/FUNK Charlie Wilson feat. Fantasia Minnesota State Fair 1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul 7:30 p.m. $40 - $55 Former lead singer of The Gap Band who also had an “Outstanding” solo career, Charlie Wilson plays the fair along with R&B powerhouse, Fantasia.

Saturday, Aug. 27 POETRY/OPEN MIC The Free Black Table Illusion Theater 528 Hennepin Ave., 8th floor, Minneapolis 6 p.m.

All ages Free The Free Black Table is a free of charge all ages open mic, hosted by poet, educator and activist Keno Evol. The public is welcome to attend, though

Honoring Prince at the Great Minnesota Get-Together 8.26.16

Be part of the energy and excitement from 5 p.m. to close on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Minnesota State Fair as we bring the community together to remember the life of a legend. We encourage all to wear purple as a tribute to our famed native son.

Purple products, specials and surprises at food and merchandise vendors throughout the fairgrounds

ributes t , ic s u Prince m ver songs and co ges at sta out through unds gro the fair

Lavender lighting on iconic fair buildings and carnival rides

ia’s Fantas onclude d n a n lso ill c rlie Wi e evening w Spectacular a h C g in th s Follow randstand, air Firework ce music and G F t the tate o Prin te. show a Minnesota S et entirely t Prince tribu e ic as with th red by Mazd al pyrotechn i sponso uring a spec t fea

A Prince P arty music and in the Park with Generation dancing led by NO Prince’s pe W’s DJ Dudley D, Carousel P rsonal tour DJ, at ark from 8 -11:30 p.m .

Beginn ing Lasert at 9:15 p.m ., a Laser inment’s Hitz sh ow featu one-ni ring a gh Prince t-only finale

Unite. Come together. Wear purple.

Page 12 • August 22 - August 28, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com