August Wilson’s ‘Jitney’ returns to Penumbra
aesthetically speaking
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Insight News September 12 - September 18, 2016
Vol. 43 No. 37• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Still no word on charges in killing of Philando Castile By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor More than two months after the broadcasted death of Philando Castile – killed by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez – community members are remaining vigilant in their calls for justice. This past week protesters took to multiple venues to voice their anger and frustration with the thus-far public inaction regarding Yanez’ status as an officer and having not yet been charged with a crime in the July 6 killing. As the calls for justice continue, authorities with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Ramsey County Attorney’s office say the investigation into the shooting is still ongoing with no timetable for a release of findings. This past Tuesday, (Sept. 6) more than 100 people gathered outside of the St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Court House to protest in support of Castile, killed in a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. According to Diamond Reynolds, the girlfriend and passenger of Castile, Castile was told he was pulled over for a broken taillight, but leaked audio suggest the St. Paul Public Schools worker was
Harry Colbert, Jr.
Outside of the St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Court building, protesters were calling for an indictment of Jeronimo Yanez in the July 6 killing of Philando Castile.
CASTILE TURN TO 9
Michelle Walker ready to lead at Generation Next By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor
Michelle Walker
When talking about combatting the issues of students of color woefully underperforming in the Twin Cities, credibility is key. Optics are important as well. After all, if the issue is an underperformance of students of color, those seeking
solutions, affecting policy and controlling purse strings should be people of color as well. When Generation Next – a nonprofit collective of business, political and educational leaders dedicated to eliminating the area achievement gap in formal education – announced with a splash its formation in 2012, the person tapped to lead was one of color in Michael Goar.
While the debate can be had as to Goar’s effectiveness in that and his subsequent post as superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools, there was no debate that the person at the top was a person of color. With Goar’s departure former Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak took the reins of Generation Next. And while few doubted Rybak’s sincerity, some bristled
at the notion that a white male was in charge of the organization’s efforts to solve the problem affecting children and families of color. The optics were off. With the recent announcement that Michelle Walker will take over as the new executive director of Generation
WALKER TURN TO 7
Minneapolis NAACP demands apology from Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for arrests The Minneapolis NAACP is demanding an apology following the arrest of four at the Sept. 7 Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board meeting. During the meeting, four women, including a teenager and an elderly woman were arrested and escorted out by Minneapolis
Park Police officers. The four arrested were among dozens who attended the meeting to express concerns and opposition to a proposed agreement with the Loppet Foundation to take on fulltime management of
PARKS TURN TO 9
MPRB
Theodore Wirth Park
Federal voting rights lawsuit filed challenging method of electing judges in Alabama MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP and four individual Black voters
alleging that the method of electing Alabama’s most powerful judges violates the Voting Rights Act. The suit maintains that Alabama’s statewide method of electing members of the
Alabama Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals and Court of Civil Appeals deprives the African-American community of the ability to elect any judges of their choice. Currently, all 19 of Alabama’s appellate judges are
white. “In 2016, Alabama’s appellate courts are no more diverse than they were when the Voting Rights Act was signed more than 50 years ago,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director
of the Lawyers’ Committee. “It is time for the highest courts in the state of Alabama to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. This lawsuit seeks to provide African-American voters an equal opportunity to elect
judges of their choice, achieve long overdue compliance with the Voting Rights Act and instill greater public confidence in the justice system of Alabama.”
ALABAMA TURN TO 6
Robles
Health
Business
Lifestyle
Celebrating Afro Latinos during Hispanic Heritage month
Minnesota sees significant drop in obesity rate
How to prepare for a board meeting
I am too blessed to be stressed with mess
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Celebrating Afro Latinos during Hispanic Heritage Month through iconic family photo Afro descen dientes
By Carmen Robles Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Frank White doesn’t fit the typical description of Afrodescendiente (Latinos of African descent). He is descendent from an interracial marriage between an African-American father and a Mexican mother. According to White, long before floods ravaged the West Side neighborhood, rupturing a dynamic Mexican neighborhood and long before the Interstate 94 ran through the heart of the Rondo Neighborhood displacing generations of African-American families; these two communities were distinct, culturally ethnic and deeply rooted in history. And these were the two childhood communities of White. White’s father Louis “Pud” White was one of the top catchers in the Twin Cities with deep roots in the AfricanAmerican Rondo Neighborhood
Frank White, author of “They Played for the Love of the Game: Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota” is coordinator the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program for the Minnesota Twins. area where White grew up with childhood friends, baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield and Steve Winfield. White’s mother, Fideila Rangel was Mexican from St. Paul’s West Side. The Rangel family’s roots run deep in the West Side community. His maternal grandfather, Franciso Rangel, assisted Mexicans living in Minnesota through his work as an aid to the Mexican consulate in Chicago during the 1940s and 1950s.
Left to right: Fidelia Rangel, Maria Rangel, Eugenia Rangel and Juanita Rangel. The musical sisters appear in this photo in a mural at a Wells Fargo branch in St. Paul. The White family didn’t spend too much time on the West Side but White has vivid memories of the Mexican pride and history instilled in his household. “Yo soy Mexicano” he bellows in his flawless Spanish-gringo accent. Even though he lived in two worlds, had two cultures, grew up in a household with two languages; White quickly learned how to maneuver through the
landmines of speech, racial perceptions and racism, learning at an early age how to depend on his other senses and honing in on his academic and athletic skills. It was White’s uncle, renowned musician Kiko Rangel, who brought up the subject of family pride. “Fidelia was part of a Mexican musical group with our sisters Maria (Rangel),
Juanita (Rangel) and Eugenia (Rangel),” said Kiko Rangel. “There’s a drawing of them at Wells Fargo Bank on Robert Street. We don’t know how it got there.” White confirmed he knew of the mural but did not know of its origin. “It remains a family mystery,” he said. The Minnesota Historical Society has a copy of the image
used in the mural but it revealed no clues as to how it ended up at the Wells Fargo branch. Only one thing left to do, go to the source … Wells Fargo Bank at 1710 S. Robert St. in St. Paul. The beautiful mural is vast, telling history through images. Janet LaBathe, bank manager at the branch provided a description of the mural, which is made up of photographic images depicting historical community activities on the West Side and was a 2006 Wells Fargo tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month. White’s desire to connect his bicultural worlds into the larger historical picture was brought on by the writing of his first book, “They Played for the Love of the Game: Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota.” He said he felt a personal sense of responsibility to honor the legacy instilled by his bicultural household and a passion to preserve the past for his descendents and future generations through accurate storytelling. “I feel the weight of the Rangel legacy squarely on my shoulders,” said White, recognizing he can add “family historian” to his list of achievements.
Black unemployment rate falls to 8.1 percent in August By Freddie Allen NNPA Newswire Managing Editor The unemployment rate for Black workers improved from 8.4 percent in July to 8.1 percent in August, according to the latest jobs report from the Labor Department. Even though the Black jobless rate has decreased more than a percentage point since last year (9.4 percent in August 2015), it is still nearly double the white unemployment rate (4.4 percent). Nationally, the
economy added 151,000 jobs in August, but the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.9 percent, the same mark set in July and June. The labor force participation rate, which measures the share of workers that are employed or looking for jobs, was 61.9 percent for Black workers in August, an increase from 61.2 percent in July and only a slight uptick from the Black labor force rate last year (61.7 percent in August 2015). The participation rate for white workers was 62.9 percent in August, July and June and has only edged up slightly
since last August (62.6 percent) The unemployment rate for Black men over 20 years old was 7.6 percent in August, an improvement from 8.2 percent in July. The jobless rate for Black women over 20 years old was 7.1 percent in August, which was a step forward from the 7.3 percent rate a month ago. Comparatively, that rate for white men over 20 years- old was 4.1 percent in August, the same as July. The participation rate, which was 72 percent in July showed no improvement.
UNEMPLOYMENT 6 TURN TO
Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) said ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to make a decent life for themselves and their families is the central challenge of our time. This photo was taken during a forum on criminal justice reform in Washington, D.C. in July 2015.
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Health Minnesota sees significant drop in obesity rate Minnesota’s adult obesity rate saw a statistically significant drop between 2014 and 2015, from 27.6 percent in 2014 to 26.1 percent in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Minnesota was the only state in the region, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa, to succeed in keeping its obesity rates below 30 percent. According to data released by CDC, neighboring states’ rates ranged from 30.7 to 32.1 percent. CDC released 2015 state and territory specific data on adult obesity prevalence using self-reported information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. All states had more than one in five adults (20 percent) with obesity. “Minnesota’s obesity rate is markedly lower than our surrounding states and we were still able to achieve a greater decrease in 2015 than our neighboring states,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Ed Ehlinger. “Achieving healthy weight for all Minnesotans is one of the key objectives for our Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) and its community and private sector partners. By working together we’ve been able to increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity for all Minnesotans in every corner of the state.” According to combined data from the CDC, the adult obesity
rate for African-Americans in Minnesota was 29.9 percent, which is lower than the national figure of 38.1 percent. Many factors play a role in obesity, making it a complex health issue to address. SHIP spends $17.5 million per year supporting grant funding to local community partners that is in all 87 counties and 10 tribal nations. SHIP grants support locally
controlled community health boards, which have linked with more than 2,570 active partner sites. These efforts support and leverage the work of a variety of partners such as community groups, schools, employers, farmers, chambers of commerce, hospitals and health care facilities, city planners, county boards, tribal officials and more.
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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.
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Learn more about our affordable plans at a FREE Medicare Workshop near you. Go to medica.com/MedicareWorkshops ©2015 Medica. Medica is a registered service mark of Medica Health Plans. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-906-5432, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, 7 days a week. TTY: 711. Medica is a Cost plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Medica depends on contract renewal. Y0088_4141 CMS Accepted
Page 4 • September 12 - September 18, 2016 • Insight News
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Business How to prepare for a board meeting FUNdraising Good Times
By Mel and Pearl Shaw An interview with Kim Moss – part two of a two part series The board of directors plays a critical role in the life of a nonprofit. While each board is unique, best practices can increase a board’s effectiveness. To learn
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
more we talked with Kim Moss, nonprofit consultant. His leadership helps boards increase their capacity for governing and fundraising. We asked Moss for recommendations regarding how often boards should meet, and why. He responded, “It is my experience that nonprofit boards are best served by meeting monthly. I have had experience with agency boards that only met quarterly and found that the majority of the problematic issues being faced by the organization(s) could have been avoided if the board had met monthly to keep up to date on the business of the organization. Monthly meetings allow members of the board to remain updated about the finances and all other important aspects of the agency. The board is the greatest asset that an executive director has, and keeping them engaged is always beneficial to everyone.”
Board members need a clear understanding of the agency’s financial, programmatic, contractual and fundraising activities, and enough information to provide meaningful oversight. We asked Moss what specific information an executive director should provide to the board. He focused on five areas – minutes, agenda, financial statements, executive director’s report and grants management report – noting that while the executive director may not be responsible for completing each of the tasks, he or she should
ensure they are completed. Moss said minutes should include minutes of the previous board meeting and minutes from board committees (fundraising, program, board development, audit, etc.) that met prior to the upcoming board meeting. The committees are responsible for taking minutes; the executive director should ensure all
minutes are distributed. He said the board chair should create and distribute the agenda for the upcoming board meeting. The executive director should assist if necessary. As it pertains to financial statements, Moss said the executive director should ensure the treasurer has the prior month’s financial statements before the finance committee meeting. The treasurer will present the financials to the committee for review and, upon committee approval, will send them to the entire board. The executive director’s report should provide an overview of the agency’s activities since the last board meeting, highlighting successes and challenges. Moss suggests the manager of each agency program submit a report that includes information about the number of people served, and an update on the program’s
As the Twin Cities struggle with how to address racial disparities in income, a new report offers evidence that labor unions provide an important path up the economic ladder for people of color. The first “State of Minnesota Unions” report was released Sept. 2, at the AFLCIO Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair. The report presents an overview of all sectors of unionized employment in the state and analyzes the effect unions have on wages and
benefits. It was authored by researchers from the Midwest Economic Policy Institute and the University of Minnesota Labor Education Service. In Minnesota, unions raise worker wages by 11 percent on average, the researchers found. But they have an even greater effect on the wages of people of color, boosting the hourly earnings of non-white workers by more than 17 percent. “Unions are therefore one of the most effective anti-poverty institutions in Minnesota,” the authors note
in the report, available at www. midwestepi.org. KerryJo Felder, member of the People of Color Union Members caucus, has witnessed this effect firsthand. Members of the Minneapolisbased caucus range from construction workers and truck drivers to teachers, postal employees and nurses. “When your wages and benefits are clearly spelled out through a union contract, that reduces the opportunity for discrimination,” said Felder. “Many contracts also
include procedures for getting promoted on the job, giving everyone equal access to higher-paying positions. This means that one of the most effective ways to reduce racial income inequality is for nonwhite workers to continue organizing.” The effect is also positive for women, said Julie Blaha, secretary-treasurer of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the statewide labor federation made up of more than 1,000 affiliate unions, representing more than 300,000 working
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Mel and Pearl Shaw are authors of the new book “FUNdraising Good Times Classics Vol. 1” now available on Amazon.com.
Unions play significant role in boosting income: State of Minnesota Unions report
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scope of services. The grants management report should document spending of grant funds on a monthly basis, the cumulative amount spent to date and the amount left to be spent in the contract period. It is easy for an organization to get off track with spending. Overspending can be detrimental to the agency’s financial health, and under spending on a contract signals to funders that funds are not really needed or are being poorly managed. The bottom line according to Moss is board members need a clear understanding of the agency’s financial, programmatic, contractual and fundraising activities, and enough information to provide meaningful oversight.
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people. “Women who are in unions earn 10 percent more than their counterparts who do not have the protection of a union contract,” said Blaha. “Unionization helps working women close the gender-based wage gap.” The union membership rate is 14 percent in Minnesota, 3 percentage points higher than the U.S. average, authors Jill Manzo and Monica Bielski Boris found. In 2015, about 362,000 Minnesota workers belonged to a labor union. The rate varies by type of job – with membership higher in the public sector than the private sector – and by area of the state.
NEON hosting events for entrepreneurs Northside business incubator Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) is hosting a series of events to assist budding and future entrepreneurs. The NEON Thinking about Business Workshop takes place this Saturday (Sept. 17) from 9 a.m. to noon and is for beginning entrepreneurs who are considering going into business. The workshop will touch on what to consider before going into business as well as assist attendees with building an action plan for preparing to transition into being business owners. There will be a similar workshop specific to food entrepreneurs held the following Saturday (Sept. 24). Google expert Ben Theis will conduct the Social Media - Overview and Strategy Workshop Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again on Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A small business legal series focusing on employment, including how to determine the difference between an employee and an independent contractor, wage laws and more will be held Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Rounding out the events is the Small Business Legal Series – Basics in Construction Contracting, Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This presentation will cover construction contracts, including identification of contract documents, payment provisions, scope of work, change orders, notice provisions, default provisions, and lien waivers. All the events take place at the NEON offices located at 1007 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis. For more information call (612) 3021505 or go online to www. neon-mn.org.
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Black-Girl-Magic.com turns hashtag into global empowerment for youth (BlackNews.com) – Inspired by the global phenomenon #blackgirlmagic, Black-GirlMagic.com has been launched to empower Black girls and boys around the world to achieve success. The hashtag discussion group recently started on Twitter and quickly gained
momentum as Black women achieved success in sports, entertainment, business and other industries. During the 2016 Summer Olympics, the hashtag dominated the celebratory tweets as numerous Black women achieved greatness, winning multiple medals in
Alabama
resort. Alabama’s intermediate appellate courts, the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Civil Appeals, each has five members. All 19 judges are elected statewide. Clark said because white Alabamians comprise the majority of the
From 1 The Supreme Court of Alabama has nine members and is the state’s court of last
this worldwide competition. It was after the Olympics that the inspiration to create Black-GirlMagic.com came to Allyson Ward Neal, the website’s founder. “I loved seeing all of those inspirational tweets about the achievements of so many Black women in the Olympics.
And, I have a six-year-old daughter, so I was inspired to create this site so that she and her peers can have a website where they can always see Black girls and boys achieving greatness. It’s important to their development,” said Ward Neal. The site will feature a regular blog as well as features
“Jurors are supposed to represent all of the adult population, yet the state uses a system of electing appellate judges that insures those judges come from only part of the population,” said Still. voting age population in the state, and because of racially polarized voting, Black candidates are consistently defeated in elections involving the highest levels of the state’s judiciary. She said such vote dilution is prohibited by the Voting Rights Act. The Lawyers’ Committee filed the Sept. 7 suit in partnership with James Blacksher and Edward Still, two long-time Alabama civil rights attorneys, Montgomerybased attorney J. Mitch McGuire, as well as with pro bono counsel Crowell & Moring LLP and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP. The suit was filed in the U.S.
District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and is part of the Lawyers’ Committee’s national initiative to bring state courts into compliance with the Voting Rights Act and promote judicial diversity. Earlier this summer the Lawyers’ Committee and another set of partners filed a similar suit alleging that the statewide method of electing Texas’s most powerful judges violates the Voting Rights Act. In the history of Alabama, only two African-Americans have won an election to statewide office. Alabama’s
Unemployment
According to The Hamilton Project, an economic policy think tank at the Brookings Institution, the economy would need to add 204,000 jobs every month until May 2017 to reach pre-recession employment levels. In a statement about the August jobs report, Main Street Alliance, a national network of small business coalitions, noted that growth in the retail and restaurant sectors signaled “increased consumer confidence and spending heading into the holiday shopping season.” The Alliance also reported that the state of Washington led the nation in small business job growth and Seattle topped the list of metropolitan areas. “With job creation and small business success widely attributed to consumer confidence and spending, it is
From 2 The unemployment rate for white women was 3.9 percent in August slightly higher than the 3.7 percent mark set in July. The unemployment rate for Hispanic workers was 5.6 percent in August 2016 a step back from the 5.4 percent rate set in July.
on some of the most influential Black women and men who are achieving greatness in society. The site will also include information dedicated to education and provide tips and resources for minority children so that parents, guardians and caretakers can help Black children to succeed
academically. “Our mission is empowers girls and boys of color to achieve their dreams. Whether it’s in sports, entertainment, academics or having just plain fun, we want to give Black children the tools that they need to be successful,” said Ward Neal.
appellate judges have been allwhite for 15 years. “The Alabama NAACP continues to fight for equitable representation of all communities in our judicial system at all levels,” said Benard Simelton, president of the Alabama NAACP. “Alabama cannot continue to have a system that ignores segments of the community. We believe that a revised method of electing judges will lead to representation of all segments of the community.” “The fact that no AfricanAmericans are on the Alabama Supreme Court or any other office elected statewide sends a clear message that Black Alabamians remain subordinate to whites in state government, just as the 1901 (state) Constitution intended,” said Blacksher. “Jurors are supposed to represent all of the adult population, yet the state uses a system of electing appellate judges that insures those judges come from only part of the population,” said Still. Alabama has the sixth largest Black population in the country with African-Americans comprising almost 25 percent of the state’s voting age population. The courts at issue handle cases of all kinds, including important
criminal cases. Notably, nearly 63 percent of Alabama’s prison population is Black. And according to Clark, 65 percent of the state’s homicide victims are Black, but 80 percent of those on death row are there for killing whites. “We believe that African Americans must have an effective part in the election of appellate judgeships in Alabama. When judges are elected, equal justice under the law requires meaningful voting rights for all citizens, including Alabama’s African-American citizens,” said Keith Harrison, partner with Crowell & Moring. “The right to vote is the right from which all other rights flow,” said Michael Keats of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. “That right to vote takes on a special significance in electing the judges and justices who define our legal rights and obligations, who adjudicate our guilt and innocence. A judiciary elected through a raciallydiscriminatory system like Alabama’s, deprives AfricanAmericans of their own voice in the administration of justice. That is illegal and this lawsuit will end that discriminatory system.”
hard to ignore Seattle’s rising minimum wage and the role boosting the wages of the lowest-level earners played in earning them the top spot on the list,” said the Alliance statement. The Labor Department also reported upward trends in several service industries, including food services and drinking places. Bill Spriggs, the chief economist for the AFL-CIO, a national group of 56 unions that represents more than 12 million workers, noted gains in fast food jobs and in health care in a series of tweets. “Despite whining about minimum wage increases, fast food establishments gain 34,000 (jobs) last month, 312,000 over the year,” tweeted Spriggs. Spriggs suggested that the Black unemployment rate likely decreased, “for right reasons,”
because the employmentpopulation ratio, which is the share of the population that is currently employed, also improved from July (56.1 percent) to August (56.9 percent). In a statement recognizing the importance of Labor Day, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), said that although America has made significant strides toward an economic recovery in recent years, too many working people are still going without the basic necessities. “It does not have to be this way,” said Scott. “Ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to make a decent life for themselves and their families is the central challenge of our time. Whether we rise to meet that challenge will define us for generations to come.”
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Insight News • September 12 - September 18, 2016 • Page 7
Africa may become the next China By Jeremy Bamidele Tr a d i t i o n a l l y, Africans have remained offline and uninvolved in the digital world, which has made it virtually impossible for many companies to directly communicate with African markets. Consequently, companies have avoided the continent altogether. But with the proliferation of smartphones, Africans have suddenly become accessible via the Internet. With Facebook opening up its first office on the continent last year and Essence Magazine expanding its Essence Festival to South Africa; many companies are seeking to establish themselves in the new
frontier. While Africa has long inspired the entertainment worlds of movies, television, books and fashion, its clout has not greatly benefited the continent. With Africans now online, the continent’s ability to monetize its newfound accessibility remains to be seen. Africa, via apparel manufacturing, is particularly poised to take advantage of the opening of its markets. With a skilled workforce and money exchange values positioned in favor of foreign conglomerates, will Africa become the next China? Africa has a very skilled workforce and a long history in apparel production, especially regarding difficult to find skills including hand beading and creating structural pieces. It also has some of the lowest prices
Medical device manufacturer Biomerics expanding to Brooklyn Park Contract medical device manufacturer Biomerics LLC announced plans to invest $6.5 million and create 120 highpaying jobs at a new facility in Brooklyn Park. The company, which is based in Salt Lake City, said it will lease 50,221 square feet in a new facility and will relocate 45 current workers from an existing operation in Rogers. The new building, at Highways 169 and 610 in Brooklyn Park, will contain engineering offices, research and development labs and cleanroom manufacturing operations. The company plans to hire 120 people within three years at the new plant at an average hourly wage of $32.24. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic (DEED) is supporting the project with $460,000 from the Job Creation Fund. Biomerics will receive the funding once it has completed investment and job creation goals. “This new state-of-the-art building will be a welcome addition to Minnesota’s strong lineup of medical device facilities,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “With a $6.5 million investment and 120 new jobs, the company is making a major commitment that will add to Minnesota’s reputation as a national leader for innovation in the medical device industry.” Biomerics, which was founded in 1994 in Salt Lake
City, began as a custom contract injection molder with three employees and one customer. The company today is a full-service contract manufacturer for the medical device and biotech industries, specializing in implantable polymers, medical materials, extrusions, coatings, injection molding and advanced minimally invasive surgical devices. The Job Creation Fund, which was first proposed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2013, is a pay-for-performance program that provides funding to businesses after they meet certain criteria, including minimum requirements for job creation and private investments. Under the program, businesses must create at least 10 full-time jobs and invest at least $500,000 to be eligible for financial assistance. Since the Job Creation Fund was launched in January 2014, DEED has awarded $31 million for 66 business expansion projects in Minnesota. Companies have committed to creating 3,908 full-time jobs and investing $675.2 million to expand. DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development.
Walker
effective are those that are beyond the control of local school districts. One example she gave is from her experience with St. Paul Public Schools. “Take early childhood screening; some of the heavy cognitive screenings. In St. Paul the bulk of that work is done by the district. We don’t see (the children) until they’re 5-years-old and by that time they’re already behind,” said Walker. “We want an emphasis to get students screened as early as 3-years-old. That’s where Generation Next can have an impact (by providing funding and other resources to conduct screenings).” The collaborative efforts in addressing the student achievement gap seem to be helping as graduation rates for area students of color, while still unacceptably low, have been steadily improving. As an example, according to the Minnesota Department of Education Minnesota Report Card, in 2015 Patrick Henry High School in North Minneapolis, which has a 92 percent person of color student body, graduated 87 percent of its senior class. Overall in the state, graduation rates for students of color has risen to above 67 percent in 2015 as compared to a frighteningly low number of just above 43 percent in 2003. “We have an amazing group around the table that is committed to the achievement of our students,” said Walker.
From 1 Next there is no longer the dual question of credibility and optics. Walker takes over at Generation Next Oct. 18. She comes with the credibility of being the CEO of St. Paul Public Schools for the past nine years and the familiarity of having been a part of the leadership council for Generation Next for the past three years. Being AfricanAmerican, Walker said the community can take solace in knowing the Leadership of Generation Next is reflective of those it seeks to assist. “It’s important that we have people who are of color at the table having their voices heard and to represent for students of color and indigenous students,” said Walker. She said she knows the challenges and solutions are coming; and will be borne of a collaborative relationship. “It’s challenging to know we have the gaps we have but I’m encouraged and excited to know we have the players around the table to crack this nut and help bring about student success,” said Walker. “We’ve got the talent here in the Twin Cities to solve this problem. Generation Next isn’t here to save a school district, but to partner with schools.” Walker said areas where Generation Next can be most
The irony becomes that much of “Made in Italy” garments are not produced from textiles created by the old artisans that people believe, but rather by those from Asia and Africa. on the most beautiful fabrics and prints in the world. Many large brands have opened up factories to import African fabrics to other countries where the pieces are sewn. Many consumers don’t even realize
that the fabrics that make up their “Made in Italy” gowns are actually from an entirely different continent. But why do brands have their pieces sewn elsewhere when the human capital needed
to generate the pieces is right where the resources are? The reason is partially perception related. Many consumers around the world have a preference for goods made in Italy and other European countries, especially western ones. This is largely due to a perception that high exchange rates are indicative of a more skilled workforce that can produce higher quality goods. Even the Chinese elite is hesitant to spend high amounts on made in China designer apparel. The irony becomes that much of “Made in Italy” garments are not produced from textiles created by the old artisans that people believe, but rather by those from Asia and Africa. These are some of the only people left with the skill to do hand beading and other difficult maneuvers with the
speed and finesse needed to produce a profit. Africa will become a production powerhouse, but like China, its reputation as third-world country will likely continue to leave consumers with the idea that their products are second-rate. Furthermore, “When we turn to places like Ethiopia where the wages are $21 a month, we’re not only taking advantage of that economy but we’re siphoning off the GDP of America,” said Gio Ferrigno, executive producer of “Fashion Week Los Angeles.” “It (the money) will never be put back into the economy.” Jeremy Bamidele is the editorin-chief of both Los Angeles Entertainment News and LA Privy Magazine.
Page 8 • September 12 - September 18, 2016 • Insight News
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Lifestyle I am too blessed to be stressed with mess Man Talk
By Timothy Houston Today, now more than ever, we have to be careful of the information we take in. With volumes of toxic, misleading and harmful
information on the rise, you have to be extremely vigilant. You are the one who will feed your brain the information that it needs to make your life successful. One of the sayings in computer lingo is “garbage in, garbage out.” This means if you only feed your brain junk, it can only produce junk. When you discipline yourself to feed your mind the most powerful, positive information available, it will produce the most positive, powerful outcomes. I know you are blessed, but here are some “computer basics”
to help keep you from being stressed with mess. Back to basics To keep from being stressed with mess, we must keep some basic computer principles in mind. Our brain is like a giant computer that runs on the programs we write every day. The world is the recipient of our programs whether they are good, bad or indifferent. “Hello world.” It is the first line of code that someone starting out in computer programing will write. It is a very simple program that allows the programmer to see that the things that were written behind the curtain are now available for the whole world to see. Keep it simple. Positive affirmations written on sticky notes attached to your mirror that you recite out loud daily will go a long way in keeping your brain focused on the positive and help keep the garbage out. . Write your life’s program Don’t program stress in your life. This means take control of your life by actively steering it in the direction that you want to go. When you determine what you want your output to be, you are able write your life’s plan to bring it to pass. Letting your life run on the default program that
WHAT KIND OF REBEL
is created from life’s mistakes, mishaps and shortcomings is never good. If you do not write your positive life’s story, the messy one will be the only one people read. Write the program. Establish a mission plan, write your personal vision statement and let your brain’s computer produce the outcome your desire. Change your life’s program Programming, like life, is not a single action event. Life’s programs constantly need changing. There are upgrades, new versions and corrections that are needed. The environment that we live in is not static, so your life’s program must continually evolve. Although life is full of stress and mess, no single event
should be allowed to be the determining factor in your life. Mistakes happen. Bad things happen. Change the program. Those who rewrite their life’s story, rewrite it to have a happy ending. We all have the power to change the negative program our life is running on to a better one. Reject the garbage of selfpity and despair and replace it with one of healing, hope and happiness. Stop the flow of garbage in. Your senses are your input keyboard. What you see, hear, taste and touch will be filed into your brain’s computer. Garbage in, garbage out. Your choices today will determine your output tomorrow. You have the power to rewrite your life’s story. Begin by
writing your first new affirmation based on Psalms 139:14 “I will praise you Lord because I am beautifully and wonderfully made.” Starting your day off with this affirmation will serve as a personal declaration of who you are, and it will remind you that you are special, unique and have no time for garbage. In other words, “I am too blessed to be stressed with mess.” Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. To get copies of his books, for questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.
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By Gloria Freeman If former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wins the White House in November, there will be millions of children born after 2009 who will never have experienced a president of the United States who wasn’t a woman or person of color. This seems kind of mind boggling when you think about the millions of Americans throughout the centuries whose vital purpose was to either break the color barrier or shatter the glass ceiling. Many of us have viewed winning the U.S. presidency as the last frontier to be won in the pursuit of achieving equal rights in our nation. After all, the U.S. presidency is consistently referred to not just as the most powerful job in the nation, but as the most powerful job in the world.
This leads me to believe that the psyches of current and future children in the U.S. will be greatly impacted, both subconsciously and consciously, by knowing only American presidents who are – or have been – a person of color or a woman. We all know that the browning of America is in full swing, meaning the population of people of color as a whole in the U.S. is steadily rising. This will result in someday soon changing the status of those who have been historically referred to as racial minorities to gradually being considered in the racial majority. As our babies slowly begin to grow up in a nation where they’ve only experienced a president who is a person of color or a woman, or only known what it’s like to be in the racial majority, how will their outlook on life and its possibilities change? Already, children born in Minnesota during the past 10 years will never have known what it’s like to live in a state where women haven’t made up the majority of post-secondary education students or attained greater high school and college graduation rate than men. Our
children are now growing up in a world where a woman staying home solely as a homemaker is more and more foreign, with it being more commonplace for infants and toddlers who are coming up now to see mothers working two and three jobs to make ends meet. Whenever women or people of color break the color barrier or put more cracks in the proverbial glass ceiling, it is easy to see the “Oprah Effect” or “President Obama Effect” kick in, with people saying, “Well if Oprah can make it, why can’t you?” Or in the case of Barack Obama, “You guys got the White House, so you have no more excuses as to why you can’t do x or y.” It’s hard to scientifically quantify or qualify how much of an impact breaking color barriers or chipping the glass ceiling makes in the minds of our children. It’s difficult to say how much of these high-profile accomplishments is either window dressing or victories of great substance. Has the presidency of Barack Obama actually seared into the minds of African-American little boys that they too might grow up to be president of the United States … that the opportunities for them to achieve in America are limitless? And does the last part of the previous sentence even ring true? Has the achievement of the first woman to win a major political party nomination, and possibly now the presidency of the U.S., made a difference in the minds of our young girls? And how much stock can we really put in being a part of the racial or gender majority in a nation? We need to ask no further than the people who grew up in South Africa during the Twentieth Century. It’s interesting to watch infants, toddlers and children each day, knowing that the world they encounter is so different than the one in which I came of age. I look at each of our children and pray they see what is possible in the lives of each of us, not just what is available or attainable for those who achieve the highest positions in the land. I’m not sure what breaking color barriers or shattering glass ceilings means in the lives of our children, but I’m excited to live in a nation where the ultimate vision of professional success our children will hold in their hearts and mind’s eye constantly looks like them. Gloria Freeman is president and CEO of Olu’s Center, an intergenerational childcare and senior day program, and can be reached at gfreeman@olushome. com.
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Insight News • September 12 - September 18, 2016 • Page 9
Castile
From 1 pulled over because his “wide set nose” matched the description of a robbery suspect. Castile was legally armed at the time of the stop. The protesters briefly took to the streets before convening at a local park and later, back at the government building. The next day protesters and residents of Falcon Heights packed the Falcon Heights City Council meeting looking for answers. Those answers were not to be found. “It’s been two months and they haven’t answered any questions,” said Chayntyll Allen. “It looks like the okie doke. It’s the same situation as with Jamar Clark.” Clark, an unarmed 24-yearold, was killed last November by Minneapolis Police. His death sparked a month’s long protest outside of the Minneapolis Police Department’s 4th Precinct headquarters. The arresting officers, Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze, were cleared by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman of any wrongdoing, sparking another wave of outrage. Allen said she fears a similar outcome once the BCA and Ramsey County Attorney John Choi finish their investigations. “I’m really not confident that Yanez will be prosecuted,” said Allen. “I really don’t trust the system at all.” John Thompson, a friend and coworker of Castile, said his friend should still be alive. “In Philando we’re talking about a man who loved everybody, a man who played video games … a man who played chess,” said Thompson. “And he was murdered for nothing.” Thompson, who was at both Tuesday’s protest and Wednesday’s council meeting, said he left the side of his ailing mother to speak for Castile. “My mother is in the hospital but this is so important I had to come,” said Thompson. “I’m Philando.” Jill Oliveira, public information officer for the BCA, said there is no news to report in the investigation, stating it is still ongoing. Dennis Gerhardstein, public information officer for the Ramsey County Attorney, said it was initially anticipated that Choi’s office would have been presented with the BCA findings
Parks
From 1 Theodore Wirth Park in North Minneapolis. “Whenever people of color and their allies rise up against oppression, they’re met with a law enforcement presence,” said Jason Sole, chair of the Minneapolis NAACP Criminal Justice Reform Committee, in a statement. “At a time when people are demanding a livable wage, the park board chooses to silence our voices through arrests and trumped up charges. Our parks and recreational centers should be places of refuge but they continue to be places of oppression.” According to Anita Tabb, president of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the members escorted out and arrested continually disrupted the meeting and were repeatedly warned if they continued to do so it would result in ejection.
Protesters line Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul in support of an indictment of St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez. Yanez is the officer who shot and killed Philando Castile during a July 6 traffic stop.
Harry Colbert, Jr.
On stage this fall
A fresh adaptation of Austen’s treasured novel
Protesters took to Rice Park in St. Paul demanding justice in the police killing of Philando Castile. by now, but that is not the case. “At the beginning of August it was stated that the investigation would take about 30 days. That was our best guess,” said Gerhardstein, who said Choi’s office in engaged in ongoing conversation with the BCA regarding the matter. He said once the findings are presented Choi will consult with a five-member team including
outside attorney Don Lewis before announcing any decision in the matter. In the interim, Yanez is again on administrative leave, following a brief return to duty. Yanez’ return outraged many, and in a reaction to that outrage St. Anthony Police Chief Jon Mangseth removed Yanez from the duty roster.
“The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has a long history of protecting First Amendment rights, fostering safe protests and gatherings for expression of First Amendment rights, and providing the public with an opportunity to share comments and concerns with commissioners at the beginning of every board meeting during a designated open time,” said Tabb in a statement. She said there are wellestablished rules and processes related to open time and these rules have been shared with community members since May. “However, over the last several months community members have been vocally disrupting board meetings outside of the open time period, and several members have been increasingly verbally disrespectful of speakers that do not share their views,” said Tabb in her statement. “During the last 13 meetings, there has been a need to temporarily recess board meetings six times due to
these disruptions. At the Sept. 7 meeting, audience members received multiple warnings that those who engaged in disruptive behavior would be removed from the room and subject to arrest.” She said while the call for arrests is consistent with state and city law she had hoped to avoid taking that step. “I am very disheartened that it has come to this point,” said Tabb. Those arrested included Rosemary Nevils, Emily Flower, Davina Newman and Raeisha Williams. The Minneapolis NAACP is demanding an apology from MPRB for the arrests and asking that all trespassing charges against the NAACP members be immediately dropped. It is also calling for the resignation of MPRB Superintendent Jane Miller and cancellation of any agreement with the Loppet Foundation to privatize Theodore Wirth Park.
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Fax: 612.588.2031
Email: info@insightnews.com
RENTAL PROPERTIES INH Properties manages Section 8, Section 42 and Rural Development projects in the following MN cities: Anoka – Bridge Square, 763-421-6772 Big Lake – Autumn Winds, 320-258-6000 Brainerd – Mississippi Terrace, 218-829-0274 Cold Spring – Cottage Court, 320-685-3888 Coon Rapids- Coon Creek, 763-767-7755 Eden Valley – Hillside, 320-453-5968 Fergus Falls – Kaddatz, 218-205-0644 Glenwood – Glenview, 320-634-3188 Hawley – Northside Terrace, 218-483-4524 Hutchinson – Clinton House, 320-587-5458 Isle – Isle View, 320-676-8624 Isle – Mille Lacs Manor, 320-676-8624 Mankato – Dublin Road, 507-345-3351 Minneapolis - Holmes Park, 612-378-8817 Morris – Crystal Lake, 320-589-3662 Onamia – Oakwood, 320-532-4321 Onamia – Onamia Shores, 320-532-4321 Pierz – Kamnic Lane, 320-468-2581 Rice – Benton Place, 320-630-1201 St Michael -Countryside Cottages, 763-497-4901 St Paul – Parkway Gardens, 651-771-0267 Virginia – Alice Nettell, 218-741-3650
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.
JOB OPENINGS 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 Loppet Foundation is hiring for the following job openings: • • • • •
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Volunteer Opportunities Harvest Network of Schools Community service is calling, no need for stalling! The Harvest Network of Schools, a group of highperforming charter schools in north Minneapolis that includes Harvest Preparatory (K-4, coed), Best Academy (K-8, single gender), and Mastery School (K-4, single gender), is currently recruiting volunteers to work with our 3rd and 4th grade students. We have three opportunities available; Breakfast Buddies, Academic Intervention, and Classroom Support. Breakfast Buddies help with homework and reading to scholars. This option is available Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. -8:15 a.m. Academic Intervention volunteers help with students needing additional support in math and reading, available Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Classroom Support volunteers help teachers as needed, tasks will vary. This opportunity is needed any time throughout the day 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are requesting volunteers commit to 1-2 hours a week for a minimum of six weeks. HNS will provide training, onsite support from volunteer manager, and recognition at the end of the year. Applicants must complete an application and criminal background check. If interested please contact Marquita Butler at mbutler@seed-harvest.org or 612-876-4033.
Page 10 • September 12 - September 18, 2016 • Insight News
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August Wilson’s ‘Jitney’ returns to Penumbra Penumbra Theatre kicks off its 40th season, “Still We Rise” with August Wilson’s first major work, “Jitney.” The seventh installment in Wilson’s 10-play cycle on the Black experience in 20th century America, “Jitney” was last seen at Penumbra in 2000 after making its Minnesota debut on the same stage in 1985. Directed by Penumbra Theatre founder and co-artistic director, Lou Bellamy, “Jitney” opens Oct. 13 and runs through Nov. 6 at Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., St Paul. Revisiting themes of urban redevelopment and the physical and spiritual destruction of African-American communities, “Jitney” is set in 1970 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. Eager to gentrify the neighborhood, the city threatens to level a makeshift taxi dispatch office that has served the community for years. As he tries to stave off the city, the owner of the cab company faces his own inner struggle. Meanwhile, after a 20year stint in prison for murder, his son is returning home. “What a wonderful way to celebrate 40 years,” said Sarah Bellamy, Penumbra Theatre’s co-artistic director. “Penumbra is
known for this work, and we’re so excited to have this incredible cast under Lou’s direction on our stage for what we know will be a riveting night of theater.” Written in 1979 after August Wilson’s arrival in St. Paul and revised in 1996, “Jitney” was the first entry created in his 10-play cycle. A towering theatrical achievement by the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, the cycle became a decade-by-decade depiction of the dreams, disappointments, and determination of AfricanAmericans over the past hundred years. The cast for “Jitney” includes James T. Alfred, Terry Bellamy, James Craven, Abdul Salaam El Razzac, Jasmine Hughes, T. Mychael Rambo and others. Lou Bellamy directs “Jitney” after directing an acclaimed tour of August Wilson’s “Fences” at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Tickets for “Jitney range from $15 (student) to $40 and may be purchased online at www.penumbratheatre.org or by calling (651) 224-3180.
August Wilson
Penumbra Theater
Nate Parker, Maxwell and the Mothers of The Movement on series premiere of ‘Ed Gordon’
Ed Gordon
ATLANTA (PRNewswire) – Award-winning journalist Ed Gordon returns to primetime television on Tuesday (Sept. 13) as Bounce TV world premieres “Ed Gordon” at 9 p.m. Gordon serves as executive producer and host of the new Bounce TV original series, sitting down for revealing interviews with top headline makers, entertainers and pop cultural figures. “Ed Gordon” will also include investigative pieces, celebrity profiles, current event segments and human-interest feature stories. The series premiere features Gordon’s exclusive interview from Ferguson, Mo. with five “Mothers of The Movement,” African-American women whose children have been shot – Sybrina Fulton (Trayvon Martin), Lucia McBath (Jordan Davis), Lezley McSpadden (Michael Brown), Wanda Johnson (Oscar Grant) and Marian Tolan (Robbie Tolan), in acts of violence by law enforcement or those offering a “stand your ground” defense.
Gordon also visits with Nate Parker and the cast of “The Birth of a Nation,” the much-anticipated motion picture dramatizing the life of Nat Turner, the slave who led a rebellion in Virginia in 1831. The segment also explores the controversy surrounding Parker’s past. In addition, Gordon sits down with popular singer-songwriter, record producer and actor Maxwell. The multiple Grammyaward winner opens up about his life, his music and his activism in a rare one-on-one interview. Gordon has been a contributing correspondent for “60 Minutes II,” “The Today Show” and “Dateline NBC,” the host of “News and Notes with Ed Gordon” on NPR, formerly the anchorman for “BET Tonight” and is a weekly contributor to the “Steve Harvey Radio Show.” He is also the recipient of an NAACP Image Award, as well as the prestigious Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.
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Insight News • September 12 - September 18, 2016 • Page 11 Andre Mariette
Sizzla
Sept. 12 - 18
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, Sept. 12 COMEDY/OPEN MIC Open Mic Night Acme Comedy Co. 708 N. 1st St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. Free Every Monday night Acme gives up-and-coming comedians a chance to try out their material.
Tuesday, Sept. 13 STORYTELLING Two Chairs Telling with David Daniels Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater 810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. $10 David Daniels, playwright and founder of the Reggae Theater Ensemble, sits down with poet Guante for an “evening of stories, poems and testimony of life on the streets.”
Wednesday, Sept. 14 PRODUCTION Last of the Record Buyers Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus $5 On this night dedicated to beat makers and music producers, music makers can sign up to get three minutes to play anything they want through an auxiliary cord.
Thursday, Sept. 15 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE Andre Mariette CD Release Show Honey 205 E. Hennepin, Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. $7 Andre Mariette’s “From a Seed” EP release features performances by Doks Robotiks, Unknown Creatures and Destiny Roberts. The show is hosted by P Murda and DJ Snuggles.
Friday, Sept. 16 REGGAE Sizzla Kalonji The Venue Minneapolis 315 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 10 p.m. $25 advance, $40 door One of Jamaica’s most celebrated artists, Sizzla Kalonji plays a rare show in Minneapolis. Expect to hear hits like “Thank You Mama” and “Dry Cry.”
Saturday, Sept. 17 SPOKEN WORD/HIP-HOP The Avant Garde Presents: Super Live Bedlam Lowertown 213 4th St. E., St. Paul 9 p.m. $10 Chadwick “Niles” Phillips, McClayton Randle (Adversity), Khem Clan, Thandisizwe Jackson-Nisan, Empire X and Joe Davis play this anniversary show hosted by Kenna Cottman, DJ Francisco and DJ SciPreme Beats.
Sunday, Sept. 18 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE
Smokepurpp Triple Rock Social Club 629 Cedar Ave. S., St. Paul 9 p.m. 18-plus $10
Join Smokepurpp, Gaines FM, Lil Pump, Cram and more for live hip-hop at the Triple Rock.
Page 12 • September 12 - September 18, 2016 • Insight News
Threads Dance Project presents ‘Progressions’ Nov. 4, Nov. 5
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Sage Dance Award Nominee Karen Charles with her company, Threads Dance Project, presents “Progressions,” in the Goodale Theater at The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts. “It has been humbling to look back at where Threads started five years ago and celebrate what we have accomplished,” said Charles. “Being able to share the growth, beauty and wonder of the many dances I have
created is a blessing. This is my way of saying thank you to all of the people who encouraged me to keep going, and helped me reach this auspicious benchmark.” “Progressions” is a celebration of Threads’ intention to connect with the community in as many ways as possible through dance. Threads will honor Twin Cities mothers who have lost children to violence or otherwise by inviting them to share the stage
with the Threads dancers in their moving signature work “Childless Mother.” Additionally, Threads will feature student dancers from five local high schools in a new work, “Abraham’s Seed.” “Progressions” runs Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 at Cowles, 528 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performances are $24 - $29 and are available by calling (612) 206-3600 or online at thecowlescenter.org. Courtesy of Threads Dance Project
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