W I N N E R : 2 017 N N PA M E R I T AW A R D S : 2 N D P L A C E B E S T S P E C I A L E D I T I O N
Insight News August 7 - August 13, 2017
Vol. 44 No. 32• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Our streets TURN TO PAGE 2
Harry Colbert Jr.
Page 2 • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Insight News
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Leading with art:
Our streets By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor
FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN IN OUR HOMETOWN Greater Twin Cities United Way is proud to partner with Phyllis Wheatley Community Center to help all children reach their full potential.
Learn more at gtcuw.org
Speak up for the one place that embraces all students:
Public Schools With growing threats at the national and state level, our public schools need your help securing and protecting the resources to brighten every Minnesotan’s future.
Add your name in support at BelieveInWeMN.com
The air was filled with the inviting aroma of burgers and hotdogs on the grill. The click-clack of rope hitting the pavement could be heard as the young and the young-at-heart jumped doubledutch. Music piped from two large speakers. But louder than the hip-hop and R&B were the sounds of laughter and joy … sounds authored by the more than 100 people who occupied 44th Avenue North just west of Humboldt Avenue North in Minneapolis. Without saying it, it was proclaimed … these are our streets. As a part of National Night Out (Aug. 1), entrepreneur Houston White – owner of H. White Men’s Room, 1500 44th Ave. N., and founder of Black Excellence Clothing – organized Black Excellence Night Out. The event served as a gathering space, performance venue and pop-up shop for local vendors. More importantly, it served as declaration that the streets of North Minneapolis belong to the people. Gangs don’t control them; cops don’t control them … the people control the streets. And while cops were on-hand, there were there not to harass and arrest; they were there to connect and engage. The cross-section of humanity (with a tail-wagging dog or two running about) offered the most beautiful scenery for any artist to capture. As a photographer (a label from which I often run, but am learning to embrace), I couldn’t have asked for better subject material. There was little posing or waiting for the right shot. It was simply a matter of point and click. I took 100 photos. All of them were perfect. Perfect not because of the camera … certainly not because of the person behind the lens … but perfect because of the love that
The young-at-heart jumping double-dutch during Black Excellence Night Out.
Zeia Alexander (center), 4, playing with Lupus, a neighbor’s friendly dog. was emitted in abundance and captured frame-by-frame. Of the 100 photos I took, the one that best captured the evening was that of 11-yearold Kaniya Norman, which is featured on this week’s cover. Norman happened to be standing next to a chalk recreation of the
now iconic Black Excellence logo. It was Norman, along with her uncle, Wesley Whitfield, who drew the chalk recreation. Beaming with pride and exuding the most beautiful spirit, Norman is the personification of the words, and of the evening … Black Excellence.
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Insight News • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Page 3
aesthetically speaking
Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities
MORE ON PAGE 10
W I N N E R : 2 017 N N PA M E R I T AWA R D S : 2 N D P L AC E B E S T S P E C I A L E D I T I O N
Insight News August 7 - August 13, 2017
Vol. 44 No. 32• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Exclusive interview
Can Arradondo change police culture? By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor The name on the window at Room 130 in Minneapolis City Hall has changed; and with that change many are hoping for a shift in culture. Room 130 houses the office of the police chief of Minneapolis. The new name on the window is Chief Medaria Arradondo. It’s Arradondo’s job to maintain the loyalty of his officers, but most importantly, to restore public trust in a department that had been described as out of control and trigger happy. With citizen anger still brewing from the November 2015 killing of unarmed Jamar Clark by two Minneapolis police officers, it was the July 15 killing of Justine Damond – killed by police after she called to report a suspected sexual assault – that ultimately
led to the career demise of former chief, Janeé Harteau and the appointment by Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges of Arradondo. A 28-year veteran of the force, Arradondo is the first African-American to serve as chief. Already, just days after his appointment, the new chief ushered in new policy in regard to body cameras, mandating they be turned on the moment an officer responds to a call. There was public outrage when it was learned that neither officer in the Damond killing had activated their body cameras. But change in policy does not equate to a change in culture. For that, Arradondo said in a one-on-one interview with Insight News it will take time. “I have a blueprint in terms of what I’m looking at
ARRADONDO 7
Bianca Rhodes
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo during an exclusive interview with Insight News.
Trump OKs police brutality Commentary by Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor
Topsy.one
I’m afraid for my life. I’ve experienced racism. I know what oppression feels like. But I never feared it. I was angered by it, but never was I fearful … until now. I am honestly fearful. I’m afraid that my life will end at the hands of either a jittery (or downright racist) cop or some rightwing nut job. While that may have been a probability all along, when the President of the United States advocates for the brutality of its citizens, and Michele Bachmann, a woman in his inner circle, spouts racist rhetoric to her GOP base and she has a legitimate chance at becoming Minnesota’s next governor (she was already a U.S. Representative), well the probability has increased to a likelihood. The headline was so sensational I knew it had to be that infamous “fake news.” The headline that popped across my Facebook timeline Friday afternoon (July 28) was “Donald Trump Endorses Police Brutality in Speech to Cops.” No way was this true. I checked the source … Huffington Post … a legitimate and trusted news source. It’s not April 1, so I didn’t get the sense that this was a sick April Fool’s joke. Reluctantly I clicked the link … and became nauseated in the most literal sense. I’m still experiencing an elevation in heart rate and blood pressure. Donald Trump … the President of the United States … said “please don’t be too nice” in arresting individuals – “thugs” as he called them – and throwing them into a paddy wagon. “Please don’t be too nice.” Tears immediately welled as the image of Freddie Gray popped in my head … as the repressed memory of me being
An aerial view of the construction underway for Thor Companies new headquarters at the corner of Penn and Plymouth Avenues North in Minneapolis.
Part 3 in the series
Transformation:
The Hole
Randall Bradley Architect
Huffington Post
During a July 28 speech in front of police officers in New York, President Donald Trump told officers it was OK to “be rough” with arrestees. thrown into the back of a paddy wagon in 1990 – held at gunpoint, arrested for being a Black teen in the wrong neighborhood. No longer repressed, the memory is at the forefront of my thoughts … seeing guns drawn … being in the wagon with my three fellow “thugs” (all who were in college at the time, and with no criminal record), handcuffed behind our backs, hard metal benches, no seatbelts or restraints … hearing the laughter from the officer driving as he made the widest of turns that threw us about the cage. The imprint of the cuffs lasted two days. Had it not been for the Black commander cursing out his white arresting officers and demanded our release (after several hours in a cell … and still handcuffed) who knows what would have happened. I could have been Freddie
Business
Pathways grants incentivize entrepreneurs
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Gray. And that would have been just fine with Trump … and sadly the overwhelming majority of his 62,979,636 voters. Let’s “keep it 100” as the youth say. Anyone who voted for Trump is either racist at the core or is complicit is allowing and ignoring racism … period. The most sickening part of the Trump video talking to police? The scariest part of the video? The laughter … and the cheering. Flanked by dozens of white officers, Trump advocates for violence and this group sworn to protect laughs, then cheers as Trump says, “Don’t protect the head” while placing a human being into a squad car. Those are the faces of men and women who would kill us at a moment’s notice and be more upset about having to be placed on desk duty for 30 days than
they would be about the human life they just took. Such was the case of an officer involved shooting in Chicago, caught on police body camera. Unfortunately, I finally understand the angst of my elders, fearful to sometimes even speak above a whisper when white people are near. I too now know such angst. But like Medgar Evers and so many others like him, I refuse to whisper. And I do so knowing the consequences I may face. I choose to yell rather than whisper. I’m not yelling for me. I’m yelling for my nieces and nephews. I’m yelling for the future son or daughter that may one day come. I’m yelling for the children I see every day at play, hoping they never have to grow up knowing this fear that lives inside of me.
Excavation of the new Thor Companies headquarters began on March 15. Several backhoes and dump trucks were utilized to begin removing the soil from the site at the corners of Penn and Plymouth Avenues in North Minneapolis. In order to accommodate the below-grade parking, the site was excavated to a depth of 30 feet below grade. This is equivalent to the roof peak of a 2½ story house. Just think, your whole house could fit in this hole and never be seen again. The piles driven into the perimeter of the site measured roughly 46 feet. Because they “stand up,” they are referred to as soldier piles. They extend eight feet above the original grade and eight feet below the final depth. The horizontal wooden boards are in fact, two feet by12 inches by eight feet timber lagging. Now here’s the counter-intuitive part. After the first board is installed at 12 inches below the original grade, all subsequent timbers are attached below the previous timber. The timber is attached as the soil is removed. This procedure is called the “earth
I2H
News
Journalism’s next generation
PAGE 5
Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge gears up for another session
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retention system.” Any excavation allows for two choices – sloped earth method or earth retention system. Sloped earth method, as titled, can create a 45 degree slope that is equal in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. So a 30-footdeep hole is also 30 feet wide in distance from the edge of construction to the nearest edge of flat land. Because this horizontal flat land distance may not be available on urban sites, the earth retention system is generally preferred. Equipment and material storage and staging are best accomplished by this excavation methodology. It was asked of me, by observation that a lot of dirt had been removed from the site and some dirt was also brought to the site. Why was this? A total of 41,000 cubic yards of material in 2,400 dump trucks was removed. A typical 2½ story house at 27’ x 36’ equals 810 cubic yards. This is enough dirt to fill the inside of 50 houses or roughly two and a half blocks of housing. A significant portion of the material removed was clay. Clay is unsuitable for the soil layer beneath a building because clay likes to move by expanding and contracting in
TRANSFORMATION 4
Lifestyle
Prosperity out of pain
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Page 4 • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Insight News
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Business
Pathways grants incentivize entrepreneurs The Pathway to Success Small Business Collaborative is looking for Twin Citiesbased small businesses that are making a lasting impact on their employees, customers and neighbors. Twin Cities entrepreneurs have an opportunity to win one of three grants (one $5,000 grant and two $2,500 grants) for their small business by applying through the Pathway to Success Small Business Grant Program sponsored by the Pathway to Success Small Business Collaborative. A panel of three judges, all economic development practitioners, will be selecting the final grantees. To be eligible, a business must be a for-profit small business located within the city limits of St. Paul or Minneapolis that has been in continuous
INSIGHT NEWS
operation selling a product or service for no less than one year and has an annual revenue of less than $200,000. Small business owners can fill out a form online at www.connect2capital. com/PathwayToSuccessGrant/ small-business-grant-form or download the grant application and submit the completed application to lance@crfusa. com. Forms must be submitted by Aug. 31. The evaluation period is Sept. 1 to Oct. 22. Grantees will be announced on Oct.23 and will be notified by the contact information provided within the application. Grantees will be invited to attend an event hosted by the Pathway to Success Collaborative in late 2017. Selection of grantees applications will be evaluated based on a clear, compelling, and engaging business story, the ability and focus of the business to create positive community impact and strategic use of grant proceeds. The funds for the program were made possible by the Wells Fargo Foundation.
stockvault.net
Twin Cities entrepreneurs have an opportunity to win one of three grants (one $5,000 grant and two $2,500 grants) for their small business.
www.insightnews.com
Transformation 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
From 3 all directions. Getting below the clay is imperative and was achieved at 27 feet below grade. At the 30-foot depth the soil now had a 4,000 per square inch weight bearing capacity. The soil that was brought onto the site is typically identified as engineered-fill. This is a mixture of soil types such as sand and clean black dirt, and other soils. For this site Class V (Roman numeral 5) material was utilized. Class V is crushed limestone, typically smaller than a pebble, but larger than a grain of sand. Approximately 1,100 cubic yards less than 3 percent of excavation was then installed at a depth of six inches and compacted as a suitable underlayment for the concrete footing and slab pours.
The Footing Look down at your feet. Without them you would not be able to stand up. Neither can a building. While there are some places on the planet that still use stone, modern day footings are calculated and designed with rebar (reinforcing bars) and concrete that can support all of the loads from the ground to the top of the building. Rebar is placed into the concrete formwork and wired together to create a cage or webbing and sit on metal or “plastic” chairs that allows the concrete to flow through and around. These two distinct materials bond to one another and together they become stronger than they can be separately. The short rebar seen sticking up out of the perimeter footing is covered with fistsized plastic balls called rebar caps. This allows the foundation walls to bond to the footings and create greater strength and
stability to the structure. Those caps are for personal protection for the workers in case of a trip or a fall. They are not part of the structure and are removed prior to the concrete wall pours. Foundation walls can be stone, masonry or poured concrete. None of these materials get built without the labor force that shows up with tools, knowledge and the ability to do the work. The men and women that undertake the construction represent great skills, knowledge and a desire to engage in a project that will bring pride to them and enjoyment to the community. This team has education, training, skill, knowledge, experience and even judgement to produce a firstclass project for this and future generations. We have now reached the bottom of “the hole,” and all excavation has ceased. This is like looking into an empty shoe box. The walls are straight, the corners are crisp and the “floor”
is flat. The tower crane has been installed and we are ready for new construction. The crane Construction cranes are needed on the job site for the primary purpose of lifting and moving heavy loads. There are many different types of cranes but truck cranes, mobile or tracked cranes and tower cranes are utilized on building construction sites. The tower crane was placed in the northeast corner of the site, on its own footing so that it will reach all corners of the project. The crane is 132 feet high and the boom (arm) has a 230-foot radius. Fees were paid and permits were granted to allow the boom to swing over the public rightof-way, as well as, the adjacent private properties. The crane functions with an operator and a rigger. The operator sits in a booth atop the crane while the rigger gives instructions from the
ground with both hand signals and a walkie-talkie radio. This team has a bond of trust and dependency, so as not to drop any loads. This is one of the most important relationships on the job site. Safety is paramount for this team. The crane was brought onsite by truck. It was assembled and shall remain onsite, and the building shall be built around it until approximately 95 percent completion. The crane will then be disassembled and trucked off the site leaving open the space it previously occupied. The construction will then be completed, floor by floor, until the roof encloses this final opening. Thor has placed a sign on the boom that is back-lit with LED fixtures to indicate its transformation of this empty lot into a much needed economic development project for this community.
Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Gloria Freeman Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Rebecca Rabb Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
is partnering with Medtronic to fill 20-30 medical assembly positions • Med dtronic, a global medical tech hnologyy, ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ŽůƵƟŽ ŽŶƐ ĐĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͕ ŝƐ ŚŝƌŝŶŐ mediccall assemb blers from North h Minneapolis and the Cedar Riverside e neighb borhoo od • ϮϬͲϯϬ ŵĞĚŝĐĂů ĂĂƐƐĞŵďůLJLJ ƉŽ ŽƐŝƟŽ ŽŶƐ ĂĂǀĂŝůĂĂďůĞ at Brookklyn Center faacility • WĞĞŽƉůĞ Ž ŽĨ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ĚĞƐĐĞŶƚ ĂƌĞ ĞĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ Ě ƚƚŽ ĂƉ ƉƉůLJ
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Insight News • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Page 5
ThreeSixty journalism camp
Journalism’s next generation David McCoy Insight News Intern Communication is the world. ThreeSixty Journalism’s broadcasting camp concluded the last week of July. Sponsored in part by Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Center for Prevention, the summer enrichment for high school students was offered to teach the principles of journalistic writing and reporting. Each camp session culminated in a final project showcasing the results of the camper’s hard work. Insight News spoke with two women who returned participate in ThreeSixty Journalism for summer. Amari Graham graduated Champlin Park High School this past spring and first joined the
camp last year. “This was a more advanced camp, really fast-paced. But it was a good experience,” said Graham. Previous ThreeSixty Journalism camps were tailored toward reporting stories through print production, with this year being about video reporting. “This year it was TV broadcasting, where we worked with an agency,” said Erianna Jiles. Having graduated in 2015 from Como Park Senior High School, Jiles has been returning to ThreeSixty for three years now. “Blue Cross Blue Shield presented possible stories and my partner and I chose the tobacco ordinance story that was targeted at African-Americans.” Jiles’ project dealt with the recent Minneapolis proposal to restrict the sale of menthol to smoke shops. Insight News
WCCO
Amari Graham
Erianna Jiles
covered this same issue some weeks back and was also a topic on KFAI’s “Conversations with Al McFarlane.” “It was different than the other ones (previous camps). We went to a press conference for
the ordinance. At first, I thought, this (ordinance) will create an inconvenience, but I heard the other side (at the conference),” said Jiles. “We got the gist of working in the news industry; especially with this timely
issue. If you had asked me about menthol before this I wouldn’t be able to tell you.” Other topics broached were ones such as Graham’s on highlighting the humanitarian work of Roots for the Home Team, a local gardening program that allows youth gardeners to turn produce into salads and sell them at Twins games inside Target Field. “I first got involved through College Possible. As part of that you have to have some summer enrichment and I saw Three Sixty Journalism. (Through the program) I learned about writing and print journalism,” said Graham. “There’s the stuff school teaches, but it’s different having to change from (academic) to journalistic writing, (and also) learned how to be professional, conduct interviews, network and really
2017
how to be inviting.” In addition to attending University of Minnesota – Duluth in the fall, Graham was also invited to be part of ThreeSixty Journalism’s Minnesota Public Radiosponsored radio summer camp. “We were hand selected to learn the basics of radio; seeing how it all works. I listen to radio, but usually entertainment, not news,” admitted Graham. Similarly, Jiles also has a background in radio, “I’ve done freelance for KFAI. I’ve written radio stories for their MinneCulture spot. I’m working on a second one,” said Jiles, who attends St. Paul College. Both students works, past and present, can be found on ThreeSixtyJournalism’s site, www.threesixtyjournalism.org.
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EXCLUDES ALL: Deals of the Day, Doorbusters, Everyday Values (EDV), Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, specials, Super Buys, athletic clothing/shoes/accessories, baby gear, reg.-price china/crystal/silver, cosmetics/fragrances, designer handbags, designer jewelry/watches, designer sportswear, electrics/ electronics, furniture/mattresses, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, select licensed depts., previous purchases, restaurants, rugs, services, smart watches/jewelry, special orders, special purchases, select tech accessories, toys, 3Doodler, American Rug Craftsmen, Apple Products, Ashley Graham, Avec Les Filles clothing, Barbour, Brahmin, Breville, Brooks Brothers Red Fleece, COACH, Demeyere, Destination Maternity, Dyson, Eileen Fisher SYSTEM, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Karastan, kate spade new york, Kenneth Cole shoes, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, littleBits, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, select Michael Kors/Michael Michael Kors, Michele watches, Miyabi, Movado Bold, Natori, Nike swim, Original Penguin, Panache, Rimowa, Rudsak, Sam Edelman, Shun, Spanx, Staub, Stuart Weitzman, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, The North Face, Theory, Tommy John, Tory Burch, Tumi, UGG®, Vans, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford & Wüsthof; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA & Tommy Bahama. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/ coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Extra savings % applied to reduced prices.
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Page 6 • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Insight News
Insight 2 Health
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10-week session begins Sept. 9
Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge gears up for another session Associate Editor
By Carmen Robles Afrodescendientes “Nobody will save us for us, but us.” – Jesse Jackson The Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge (I2HFC) is a partnership of entrepreneurial genius. It is a perfect blending of social justice and economic development born within the African-American communities of North Minneapolis and St. Paul’s Rondo Neighborhood.
Tyrone Minor, champion athlete, is owner of the F.I.T. Lab located at 1583 Hamline Ave. in Falcon Heights. The state of the arts gym sits right at the border of St. Paul, close to Como Park and surrounded by like-minded neighbors interested in healthy bodies and healthy communities. Al McFarlane, editorin-chief and founder of Insight News has been delivering 40-plus years of ethical communications through his multi-cultural, multimedia platform. Insight News is the information address to the Black and multicultural immigrant communities in Minnesota.
We’ve got our hands full in trying to create competing ideas that combat the negativity from outside but in a sense, have the mission of creating a public mind that allows our people to see our way to a future that is bigger, that’s better, that’s glorious and that is productive, is financial, that is whole, that is wholesome and healthy.
Together, Minor and McFarlane represent two businesses and two
communities coming together; crossing the Mississippi River in the
The new NorthPoint clinic at 800 W. Broadway strives to provide a wide range of services to improve the well-being of our patients. Services offered include: t t t t
Medical Services Dental Services Behavioral Health Services Human Services Navigation Clinic Hours Daily Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Hennepin
800 W. Broadway Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55411 612-543-2500
name of health for their urban neighborhoods, harvesting talent from inside the community to help solve problems from inside the community. There are no borders when it comes to good health. No need to wait for the cavalry to come to our aid, to fix our problems. We’ve got experts. We know exactly what we need, what needs to be done. “We’ve got our hands full in trying to create competing ideas that combat the negativity from outside but in a sense, have the mission of creating a public mind that allows our people to see our way to a future that is bigger, that’s better, that’s glorious and that is productive, is financial, that is whole, that is wholesome and healthy,” explained Al McFarlane on the periodical’s website. The Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge is a perfect example of creating that pubic mindset. Minor is a teacher by
trade and fitness champion by divine destiny – the “Piped Piper” of fitness transformation, his magical tune inspiring the impossible. In my three rounds of the I2HFC I have not only lost weight, gained strength and balance; I’ve toned up and gone down three dress sizes. I have found my shoulders and now it’s my neck that’s holding up my head. My waist is melting a little bit every day, separating my hips from my chest. Is that an hour glass figure I’m seeing? My triple chin is now a double one and my arm flaps no longer cause massive wind storms when I wave goodbye. Most notable – and called ‘phenomenal’ by my oncologist – is the fact my bone density has increased 5 percent due to exercise. My life expectancy is increasing due to the vigilance of two businesses that are creating change; creating a platform for positive health. Can you guess who are my hero’s? Both McFarlane and Minor are grounded in faith, family and community. They are the perfect duo to help our communities connect nutrition, mental health and physical activity for a healthy transformation towards a quality life. Yes, we can save ourselves. Join us Sept. 9 for Round 11 of the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge. To register, call The F.I.T Lab at (651) 645-5242 or visit www.thefitlabinc. com.
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Insight News • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Page 7
Commentary Why it is never the job of a person of color to educate white people … until it is Commentary By Ngeri Nnachi It happens to so many of us, often and at times, with good intent. We have well-meaning white friends/colleagues who, in an attempt to produce better understanding, reach out to us with questions on race relations; more specifically, what the Black experience for us is like. We take the time out of our day to educate them and ensure that they get as accurate a picture as possible on what our experience is like. We do this hoping that we can work toward building the understanding necessary for us to live harmoniously as citizens under one Constitution. But what some do not realize at times is, as we are doing this, we are taking away from time that could be spent for us to better ourselves, especially considering the reality of us having to work twice as hard to be similarly situated. I can attest to this being my reality for a very long time, until I stumbled upon the revelation that I did not have to do this, and did not have to feel bad about
Arradondo From 3 doing that will have systemic or long-term culture change,” said Arradondo. “We need to look at a lot of things – everything from our hiring, everything from our phycological testing, everything from our de-escalation training, which we do a lot of; our communication. If we’re truly going to change culture we have to look at all of those things.”
taking such a stance. We must push for stronger correlations between the topics surrounding cultural competency and accuracy. The best way to do this is to ensure that adequate experts are sharing the information. More often than not, it takes someone of that particular lived experience to adequately share information and provide insights. For purposes of this piece, I will reference the reality of the notion of Blackness being “difficult to handle,” from our children being “hard to teach” to why our women are so “angry.” Professional development is a pillar of employment capacity, ensuring that your staff is on the same page with the parameters in the workplace. There are targeted programming initiatives dedicated to expanding the capacities of professionals in becoming more meaningfully engaged in their work. Many of us had those mini breaks in elementary, middle and high school that were marked on the school calendar as “Professional Development.” Those days were dedicated to teachers to plan for the rest of the semester as well as reflect on what has transpired in the past. Why can’t we do
the same in providing white people with these specialized experiences that are tailored to answering those burning questions that we as Blacks tend to be asked? The definition of consultant is a person who gives professional advice or services to companies for a fee. Isn’t that what transpires in the discussions we are referencing? Isn’t this an instance where someone who is well-versed in a particular field of study is offering advice? All of this is taking place, without that key component of there being a fee. This is problematic because again, we are creating an opportunity for Black people to provide a service, in this case, consulting, but for free. If you want to learn about a culture, what do you do? You immerse yourself in it to the best of your ability. For some, that is visiting these spaces. For others, it is interacting with people of that culture. As the saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans.” Wouldn’t you engage the Romans to understand how they “do”? The same can apply here. When it’s time to talk about cultural competency, have someone from the community come in
and give you the most accurate depiction. I have to be blunt here. Do not fall into that default of going after the polished, credentialed individual, because they can miss the mark at times as well. I have found that reality often. It is one thing to read books about something, and it is another to have actual lived experience. In the respectability politics of seeking out credentials that attempt to reflect professionalism, we can miss out on the opportunity to get the responses we need to hear, versus what is palatable for the politics that are present. Put together a conference. Provide stipends and workshops for those who are participating. Place the lived experience individuals in the role of professor since, in reality, that is the position you place them in when you ask your many questions. Be intentional and meaningful in your interactions. If there is one thing I have noticed in Minnesota is this ability to coast on surface level engagement, all the while ignoring the perils that people of color inherently face every single day. Provide fellowships for people to formalize their
Arradondo said there also needs to be a conversation centered on officer health and wellness. “As a product of Minneapolis, I recognize there is both historical trauma and current-day trauma in many of our communities, and I also recognize from being a peace officer for almost the past three decades that officers can also endure secondary trauma,” said the chief. “I want to make sure we have healthy officers out there. I think that’s a benefit to them and certainly to our
communities.” Restoring public trust will be an ongoing mission for Arradondo. He said in order to do that, some simple tasks need to be performed by his officers. “We need to make sure officers utilize opportunities to get out of their squad cars and interact and engage with the community … spend time at the community meetings, at the rec centers talking to youth,” said Arradondo, who said the most recent class of recruits was required to perform community service. He said
the soon-to-be officers spent time building the playground at Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis. “I want our hires … our new recruits … to understand the importance of giving back to the community.” It’s far too so to begin talk about the legacy that Arradondo will leave behind, but he said he knows the culture of policing in Minneapolis can shift. “I firmly believe the Minneapolis Police Department will be on the right side of history when the final chapter is written,” said Arradondo.
experiences in a format that assists you in accessing the information that you seek, in a format that is easy for you to engage. As I touched on earlier, we have this tendency to lean toward formalized education as the highest quality, as if other forms cannot offer us the same, if not greater, opportunity of understanding. Now these are just a few ideas on how to get this work done but the moral of my story is, it is never the job of a person
of color to educate while people, until it is his or her job. If you want to learn, that is great, your acknowledgement of a learning opportunity being necessary is step one. It is now up to you to ensure that it happens in the most meaningful way possible. Don’t be that person who gets an education for free off of someone else’s pain. Ensure that the education is paid for by creating opportunities for profit.
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Page 8 • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Insight News
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Insight News • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Page 9
Lifestyle
Prosperity out of pain and insights. She said she misses their engagement in our organizations and is proud of the resurgence of entrepreneurs who share wisdom with our community. We need more connections, to learn about each other and to collaborate. We need to build relationships that go beyond our work. As a creative outlet, Hewitt and her husband operate their
Meet Opportunity
By Meredith Moore Crosby Jatoya Hewitt’s pain is her inspiration for leading others into prosperity. Hewitt is vice president of Diverse Segments for Wells Fargo Funding, supporting home ownership growth for lowmoderate income and minority borrowers. She grew up in Minneapolis and remembers the pain of losing a family home to foreclosure and decided at an early age to do something different. At 19, a mentor suggested she get a real estate license to understand the home buying process and help pay for college. Hewitt has never looked back. It wasn’t hard once she set her mind to learning the rules. Evening classes prepared her for the real estate exam covering the process of obtaining a home. The knowledge has been valuable in her own life and she is always eager to share a new insight or tip to navigate the financial system. She believes we all must know how to get value out of our investments. Hewitt’s purpose is to share her knowledge, tools and resources
own company. Flyrobotics helps Minnesota companies brand themselves for business and marketing success. The mix of graphic design and cultural competence offers added value to Hewitt corporate perspective. “We help clients figure it out,� said Hewitt. “We want to see them represent themselves and our community with excellence. We take our work very seriously.�
Hewitt believes we are the solution to many of our challenges. By starting with understanding the process, we can learn how to unlock success. Meredith Moore Crosby is an entrepreneur and writer working and living in the Twin Cities. Connect on Twitter @ MeredithMCrosby or email info@ LeveretteWeekes.com.
Jatoya Hewitt with as many people as she can. It’s not about her, it’s about the community. She understands what is at risk ‌ our homes. Hewitt is a bridge to understanding options in home lending, careers in the mortgage industry and how to encourage diversity. When she greets members of the community she asks, “How are you living?â€? She has experienced the trauma and redemption of home ownership. She understands how it can generate wealth having watched her own home grow in value and meet her family’s needs. It is important to support the community and we can help her by supporting each other.
Collective improvement is critical to our collective success and it starts with being open to learning from one another. Hewitt hopes we will continue to be open to all financial tools in the home buying process and seek to understand how to use them appropriately. Hewitt’s advice? If considering a home purchase, connect with insurance professionals, realtors and loan originators. Build a team of professionals who understand your goals. Our community has an opportunity for growth if we connect and teach one another. Raised in St. Peter’s AME church, Hewitt grew up admiring her elders for their rich wisdom
Jumping the broom Man Talk
By Timothy Houston It is less than one year before Cantrice Freeman and I will be joined together in holy matrimony. We plan to have a July destination wedding in New York’s Central Park with receptions in both Minneapolis and Chicago. I look forward with excitement and anticipation on the day we “jump the broom together.� Although I have heard and used the term “jumping the broom� as a synonym for getting married, I have never truly give it much thought where the term originated. Here is some food for thought as it relates to jumping the broom. The modern day marriage license requirement is relatively new. It came about postslavery in the early 1900s, primarily as a requirement to keep Blacks and whites from marrying. But the term jumping
the broom has been linked to various origins and has meant different things depending on the culture. To those who came through slavery, the custom was believed to determine who ran the household. It was said that whoever jumped highest over the broom was the decision maker of the household, or whoever landed on the ground first after jumping the broom was believed to be the decision maker in the marriage. Not all Blacks used the term jumping the broom the same way. Blacks in the South who were not a part of the Atlantic slave trade had a different view than those who were. To the southern Blacks, it was believed to represent the wife’s commitment or willingness to clean the courtyard of the new home she had joined. Other sources have stepping over a broom as a test of chastity, and still others believed that putting a broom out was a sign that the housewife’s place was vacant. The meaning of the termed transitioned from who was in charged to who was committed. It today’s terms, the phrase jumping the broom has evolved to symbolize sweeping the past behind you and starting fresh
ClassiÀeds
as a couple with a new life together. The couple that jumps the broom has moved beyond the actions of the past to a step or more importantly, a leap in the right directions. That imaginary barrier serves as a reminder to the marrying couple that forward is they only direction possible. For Cantrice and I, the term jumping the broom means knowing that we are one. As we blend two households together, we will be do so acknowledging that we are leaving some things behind, while going forward hand-in-hand towards the endless possibilities ahead of us. To all others who will jumping as well, whether you jump physically, figuratively or spiritually; leap high and land firmly. Let the traditions of your elders, wisdom your parents, and the love in your hearts guide you to a wonderful and prosperous life together. Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For copies of his books, questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.
Phone: 612.588.1313
Fax: 612.588.2031
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BasseĆŠ Creek Commons 10505 Eight Avenue North Plymouth, MN 55441 763-416-0369 NOTICE: OPENING 1 BEDROOM WAIT LIST Section 202 PRAC (62+) Rent based on income for qualiÂżed applicants Applications may be downloaded at www.commonbond.org or picked up at Bassett Creek Commons during ofÂżce hours beginning at 9AM May 1, 2017 until 12PM July 31, 2017. Completed applications may be mailed or dropped off to Bassett Creek Commons on or before August 14, 2016. All qualiÂżed Applicants will be placed on the waiting list in the order they are received. CommonBond Communities Equal Housing Opportunity
Red Rock Manor 1421 10th Avenue South Newport, MN 55055 651-459-2786 NOTICE: OPENING 1 BEDROOM WAIT LIST HUD Section 202/8 (Adults 62 and older or non-elderly and disabled as defined by HUD Rent based on income for qualified applicants Applications may be downloaded at www. commonbond.org beginning at 9AM June 19, 2017 until 12PM August 18, 2017. OR picked up in person at the Management Office during office hours. Completed applications must be received by mail or hand delivered on or before September 1, 2017. All qualified Applicants will be placed on the waiting list in the order they are received. CommonBond Communities Equal Housing Opportunity
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LIL’S ANGELS MEMORY LOSS SUPPORT GROUP Northeast Minneapolis: Monroe Village, 1900 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis; Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7:30 p.m. South Minneapolis: Lunds & Byerly’s Grocery,1450 West Lake St., Minneapolis; Meets the 2nd Friday of each month from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Brooklyn Center: Jehovah Jireh Church, 6120 Xerxes Ave. N., Brooklyn Center; Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
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insightnews.com Raquel Rodriguez liveforlivemusic.com
Toki Wright McNally Smith
Monday, Aug. 7
Thursday, Aug. 10
Sunday, Aug. 13
21-plus Free
Musical Mondays Hell’s Kitchen 80 S. 9th St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. 21-plus $5 suggested donation
Youth United 2017 Neighborhood House 179 Robie St. E., St. Paul 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ages 13-18 No charge
Twin Cities Natural Hair & Beauty Expo
DJ Adatrak spins at a new night in Minneapolis where he mixes music videos from hometown artists. Have a video you want included? Email DJadatrak@ gmail.com to get on the playlist.
Musical Mondays at Hell’s Kitchen is a monthly cabaret series featuring musical theater performers in the Twin Cities, hosted on the first Monday of every month.
This day of conversation and learning helps youth develop skills for confronting community challenges and making a difference. Workshops include sessions on legal rights, mental health and community organizing.
Tuesday, Aug. 8 August 7 August 20 2017
International Reggae Allstars Bunker’s 761 N. Washington Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. 21-plus $6 The islands come to the great north during this weekly live reggae event featuring the International Reggae Allstars.
Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com
Wednesday, Aug. 9 Soul Bazaar Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. 21-plus $8 Soul Tools’ “Soul Bazaar” is a national touring party combining music, art, games and more for those labeled nonconformists, misfits, weirdos and those who love them. Curated by Toki Wright, performers include Big Cats, Blazz, NatanYael, Mamadu, and FreeQueenSee.
Friday, Aug. 11 Raquel Rodriguez Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus $10 advance, $12 door Los Angeles-based soul singer, Raquel Rodriguez, comes to the Icehouse as a follow up to her sold out show back in March of 2015. Joining her are local favorites, jazz/funk band, New Sound Underground, and J Thompson will be on the turntables.
Saturday, Aug. 12 Fit and Fabulous NEON 1007 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. No charge Come out and enjoy a little “me time” with a party designed to motivate you to conquer your health and wellness goals.
Ramada Plaza Minneapolis 1330 Industrial Blvd. N.E., Minneapolis 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. $10
Wednesday, Aug. 16 COMEDY
The Twin Cities Natural Hair & Beauty Expo is a oneday event designed to allow women across the cities to meet, network and exchange ideas with others of like interest. The Event features educators and vendors, along with live entertainment.
Shed G›s Comedy Birthday Bash The Parkway Theater 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. 21-plus $10-$25
Monday, Aug. 14
Celebrate comedian Shed G’s 40th birthday at the Parkway with Louisiana’s D’Lai.
BLUES/JAZZ Ruthie Foster Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $35-$45 Rolling Stone calls Ruthie Foster a “pure magic to watch and hear.” Check out the guitar playing songwriter Aug. 14 and Aug. 15 at the Dakota.
Tuesday, Aug. 15
Thursday, Aug. 17 DANCE
Pourhouse 10 5th St. S., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. All ages $10-$15 Neo-soul band Traiveon and Candi headline with Niibox.
Saturday, Aug. 19 FOOD/FESTIVAL Appetite for Change: Summer Block Party Appetite for Change 1200 W. Broadway Ave., # 180, Minneapolis 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. All ages Free Food trucks and music will be on the Northside for youth farming organization, Appetiite for Change. Performances include Finding Novyon, B Dot Croc, Eric Mayson and more.
Sunday, Aug. 20 GOSPEL
Rhythmically Speaking 2017 Illusion Theater 528 Hennepin Ave., 8th floor, Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. Twin Cities and national choreographers come together for a night of dance in this ninth year of Rhythmically Speaking, which runs through Aug. 19.
HIP-HOP
Friday, Aug. 18
YO! MNtv Raps Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m.
NEO-SOUL Pourhouse Live ft. Traiveon and Candi
«We Are Better Together” Concert Shiloh Temple International Ministries 1201 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. $50 2nd Chance Outreach and the Minnesota State Baptist Convention present this concert featuring Dottie Peoples, Alexis Spight, saxophonist Antonio Allen and the Minnesota State Baptist Convention Choir. The concert is hosted by Shed G.
Family Day Funk Fest
Sunday, August 13 11am–5pm Join us for an outdoor celebration of creativity of all kinds. With art-making activities, live music by PaviElle and other local performers, games, and fun! Free and open to all. Bring your family and friends! MAJOR SPONSOR:
2400 Third Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404 artsmia.org
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Insight News • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Page 11
‘Mother King’ takes opera to another level it’s amazing to hear her words set to music and it’s even more important to be able tell stories about women of color. “A lot of times, Black women’s stories, they’re marginalized, they get shuffled aside, they’re not lifted up and
By Sonya Goins Educational and exhilarating. Opera Works 52 production of “Mother King”, is a historical interpretation of Alberta Williams King, the mother of slain civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She was assassinated on June 30, 1974, when a gunman opened fire as she played the organ at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Poet Venessa Fuentes and award-winning composer Damien Strange are passionate about shining the light on Alberta King’s legacy. “If you think about Martin Luther King Jr., everyone knows who he is, he didn’t just spring up out of fairy dust. He was shaped by someone, and that someone was Alberta,” said Fuentes. For two years, Fuentes and Strange collaborated on their first opera, “Mother King.” After putting the final touches on the opera, they launched the production at Public Functionary in Minneapolis, which ran July 20 – July29. “When I first took on this project I was really scared to tell her story, because I didn’t think I was qualified,” explained
“Mother King” was a delight for audiences at Public Functionary in Minneapolis. Fuentes. The three-act opera included six vocalists. Liz Gre played the lead role of Alberta. While a 12-member orchestra rhythmically took the audience on a dramatic journey. “I’ve always had a fondness for opera. It’s the most complete, in my opinion, way of telling a
story. It encompasses so many different art forms within its form. It can have theater, it can have dance, music, it can have film. There’s something for everyone,” said Strange. “Mother King” was not your typical opera. Instead of dialogue, the libretto is told through a series of poems. Fuentes said
amplified the same way that Black men or just men in general are,” said Fuentes. Both Fuentes and Strange were committed to having an allBlack cast. “My part is relatively small, compared to Alberta, but this is
my first opera, ever, and I am having a lot of fun,” said Ava McFarlane, who plays Coretta Scott King. Going forward, Fuentes and Strange want to travel to the King Center to gather more historical data to further produce the opera.
TI CK E TS ON SA L E
N OW!
Insight News freelance writer Nadvia Davis shares her thoughts about the new motion picture film, ‘Detroit’
Racial tension depicted in the new film, ‘Detroit’ By Nadvia Davis Revisiting incidents from America’s violent past can invoke many emotions. Whether it is confusion, sadness or frustration, we have felt it all. Director Kathryn Bigelow depicts a series of disturbing events as she retells the story of the 1967 Detroit uprisings in the new film, “Detroit.” The film begins taking shape with its brilliant cinematography that captures everything from the heated arguments between Detroit police and Black community members, burning buildings engulfed in flames and even zooming in on a single tear drop on the face of a dying man. All the footage is shot in high definition with smooth transitions from one scene to the next. In addition to the cinematography, the script is top notch. During the height of the movie the plot thickens as speculation of a gunman or sniper held-up at or near the Algiers motel on the Westside of Detroit during the uprising. Lead actor John Bodega (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) plays an African-American private security guard who gets wrangled in the middle of the motel raid. At first Bodega appears to be a mere bystander during the heat of the tensions, however, he later
Annapurna Pictures
John Bodega in a scene from “Detroit.” shows signs of trying to diffuse the situation between aggressive police and a group of AfricanAmerican men. As a result of Bodega being on the scene of the crime, he finds himself being interrogated by police not as a witness, but rather as a suspect. I believe Bigelow creates a twist in the plot with Bodega’s character to get viewers to decide if he gets a pass for being security guard carrying a pistol or if he doesn’t get a pass at all because he is Black. Some in the theater were seen covering their eyes during certain shooting scenes and gasping as police in the film exerted their power by beating and killing African-Americans during the
uprising. Toward the latter part of the film, all suspects including members of the Detroit Police Department and Bodega are put on trial for murder. A tough ruling from the jury left viewers feeling mixed emotions. “I just hope that 50 years from now, folks aren’t having the same frustration about things that happened in Minneapolis,” said Michael Adams of Brooklyn Park. The events shown in this film can certainly resonate with the police brutality currently seen throughout the U.S. I give the film four out of five stars. “Detroit” is in theaters on now.
FRI, AUG 11 651.224.4222 TTY651.282.3100
FRIDAYS 3PM-7PM FREEDOM SQUARE 2034 WEST BROADWAY AVE WEST BROADWAY & LOGAN
JUNE 9TH—OCTOBER 6TH
www.mn.gov/mymncapitol
Page 12 • August 7 - August 13, 2017 • Insight News
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MNHS.ORG
Each year Stephanie Webster remakes her outdoor garden highlighting plants and flowers that match a certain color scheme. Once a year
she invites guests to her Brooklyn Park home to take in the beauty of her garden – but there’s a catch. Attendees have to match the year’s
chosen color. This year the theme and the guests for her July 29 party were “Red Hot.�
Treaty of Traverse des Sioux by Francis Davis Millet, ca. 1905. MNHS collections.
MNHS: HISTORY FOR ALL Throughout the United States, people are having conversations about our relationship with the past. From Confederate statues to artwork in museums and public spaces, communities are struggling to reconcile a historical narrative that leaves so many stories untold.
and reection, the committee recommended that two paintings—Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and Father Hennepin Discovering the Falls of St. Anthony—be relocated from the Governor’s Reception Room to a space within the capitol that allowed for deeper interpretation.
In Minnesota, that conversation has centered on the historical relationship between the Native peoples who have lived here for more than 10,000 years and the more recent arrivals from Europe. At the Minnesota State Capitol, paintings created a century ago by European artists present Native Americans in ways that are not only insensitive, but historically inaccurate.
We invite you to the Grand Opening Celebration at the Minnesota State Capitol, Aug. 11-13, to see the paintings in their new exhibit space and to enjoy tours, family-friendly activities, and more. Please check the full schedule of events at mnhs.org/calendar.
In 2014, as part of the capitol’s restoration, Governor Mark Dayton formed a committee of legislators and citizens to examine the role and function of art in the capitol. After much discussion, public input,
Harry Colbert, Jr.
Host, Stephanie Webster, (left) with her grandson, Zion Morrow (center) “bae,� Kevin Jackson.
Ericka Collins strikes a pose.
MELANIE ADAMS Melanie Adams, PhD, is the senior director of Guest Experience and Educational Services at the Minnesota Historical Society. In this role she oversees MNHS programs, exhibits, and historic sites located throughout the state, which serve one million people per year.
Zion Morrow (front) enjoys the company of “red hot� women (left to right) Maya Haines, Bianca Webster, Champaigne Hale, Olivia Meadows, Savanna Thomas, DeShona Humphrey, Kiara Buford and Sophia Lundquist.
Nikki McComb in her accented red outfit.
“SCROOGE IN THE HOOD�
Talents: Dance – Singing – Performing Arts " $ $# !!#