Insight News ::: 09.28.15

Rising star Helena Brown makes her Minnesota Opera debut MORE ON PAGE 10

aesthetically speaking

Insight News September 28 - October 4, 2015

Vol. 42 No. 39 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Minnesota delegation at Congressional Black caucus Our agenda

By Jeffrey A. Hassan, Executive Director African American Leadership Forum

Baylen Thomas (Atticus Finch), J.C. Cutler (Court Clerk), Ansa Akyea (Tom Robinson), Peter Thomson (Judge Taylor) and the cast in the Guthrie Theater’s production of “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Photos: Joan Marcus

NOW PLAYING AT GUTHRIE THEATER

“Mockingbird” reveals evil, shame

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer I still remember being in my sophomore English class of about 30 students (only three of us African-American) reading aloud the American classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

We had just finished “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and to be quite honest, I’d had my fill of white people saying the n-word. At 15 years of age, I wasn’t getting the message that Jim was actually a hero, all I knew was I was ashamed of the broken English and near a boiling point hearing white kids laughing at Jim’s dialect and saying the n-word seemingly in every sentence read. And now here we were again with Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” … the n-word being spewed prominently.

But early on, I realized

something was different. “To Kill a Mockingbird” was speaking to me. It resonated with me. The shame of the n-word wasn’t with me, but now with the 20-something white kids in the class. They were seeing the evil in the word … but more importantly in the actions that were perpetrated by those who flung the word so freely.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is the story of race and class in the American South as seen through the innocent eyes of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, a six- to eight-year-old white girl living in rural Alabama.

The backdrop centers on the trial and subsequent conviction of a Black man, Tom Robinson, wrongfully accused of raping a white woman.

Once we finished reading the book, we watched the movie version. Great movie;

MOCKINGBIRD 6 TURN TO

Baylen Thomas (Atticus Finch), Regina Marie Williams (Calpurnia), Noah Deets (Jem Finch), Mary Bair (Scout Finch) and Isaac Leer (Charles Baker “Dill” Harris).

By Freddie Allen NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent

Freddie Allen/NNPA News Wire/FILE PHOTO

President Barack Obama delivered the keynote address during the 45th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Black Press

Health

NNPA honors luminaries

3rd Annual Baraza promotes women’s health, resiliency

PAGE 2

AALF TURN TO 6

Treasury, Commerce amendments ease Cuba sanctions

Obama praises Black women WASHINGTON (NNPA) – During his speech at the 45th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) Phoenix Awards Dinner, President Barack Obama celebrated the critical role that Black women have played in “every great movement in American history” and pledged to address challenges they face in the workplace and in the criminal

On September 16, 2015, the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) took a delegation of 14 local African American leaders to Washington, D.C. for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Annual Legislative Conference. Leaders in attendance included Minnesota State Senator Jeff Hayden and Representative Rena Moran, AALF Board Co-Chair Dr. Sylvia Bartley, Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey, NorthPoint Health & Wellness CEO, Stella WhitneyWest, Northside Job Creation Team (NJCT) Consultant Bill English, AALF board members Dr. Nkem Chirpich and Cheryl

PAGE 4

justice system.

The Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation focuses on issues affecting the Black community, domestically and abroad, and included policy forums on health, education, economic empowerment, Blacks in media and the criminal justice system.

In his speech, Obama touted national economic success following the Great Recession in the United States and the millions of people who gained access to health care through the Affordable Care Act. He also noted that none

of it would have been possible without, “CBC taking tough votes when it mattered most.”

Obama explained, “Whatever I’ve accomplished, the CBC has been there.”

During this year’s ALC Phoenix Awards Dinner, the foundation honored Fred Gray, the first civil rights attorney for Rosa Parks; Rev. William Barber, II, the president of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP; Juanita Abernathy, civil rights activist and wife of the late Ralph Abernathy and the late Amelia

WOMEN TURN TO 3

Women Leading Change Promoting restorative justice and building strong communities

PAGE 5

WASHINGTON The Department of the Treasury and the Department of Commerce this month announced additional revisions to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), building off the changes put into place

by Treasury and Commerce on January 16, 2015 and further delivering on the new direction toward U.S. relations with Cuba that President Obama laid out last December. The changes, consistent with the President’s December announcement, took effect on Monday, September 21, 2015.

Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew said the, “...announcement underscores the Administration’s commitment to promote

CUBA TURN TO 3

Community Students address violence in hip-hop song

PAGE 9

Page 2 • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Insight News

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NNPA honors luminaries

By Jazelle Hunt NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – At a reception during the 45th Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference, the National Newspaper Publishers Association honored five Black luminaries with its Leadership Awards.

The awards are given to those who have demonstrated leadership in the Black community and support of the Black Press. Held at the Washington Marriott Marquis, which is partially Black-owned, the reception drew a large crowd of conference attendees and Black Press supporters.

Misty Copland, Roland Martin, Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.), Rahiel Tesfamariam, and A. Shuanise Washington were the awardees for 2015, the NNPA’s 75th anniversary year. Denise Rolark Barnes, chair of the NNPA and publisher of The Washington Informer, along with Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., president and CEO of the NNPA, emceed the event.

Roland Martin was recognized for his work in broadcast media and dedication to Black news, and was the first honoree of the night to address the audience.

“For folks who don’t know, I’ve actually run three Black papers. I’ve always made it clear that the first dollar I earned in media was from a Black newspaper. My first television dollar was from a company that was Black-owned,” he said.

“When I’m sitting in the White House with the president, I’m sitting representing Black media, not mainstream media.

I have never allowed White media to validate my skill set.”

Each of the honorees thanked the NNPA for its support and its dedication to keeping Black communities empowered and

Photos: Roy Lewis/Washington Informer

NNPA president and CEO, Benjamin F. Chavis (left) and NNPA chair Denise Rolark Barnes (right) present Roland Martin with a 2015 NNPA Leadership Award.

At the 2015 NNPA Leadership Awards reception, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake thanks the Black Press for its fair coverage of the Baltimore protests. informed.

“When I came into Congress, I said we were going to do something different. I

said that we were going to make our paper of record our Black newspapers,” said Congresswoman Edwards.

“When we reach out in my office…we reach out to our papers of record. When I decided I was going to embark

on this journey to the U.S. Senate, our paper of record on that decision was The Afro and The Washington Informer.”

Rahiel Tesfamariam, writer, activist, speaker, and founder of digital media platform, Urban Cusp, spoke on the Black press’ role in social justice movements.

“The Black Press is a tool of liberation, is it not?” she asked the audience after accepting her award. “Before I sit down, I want to ensure that we understand the power that we hold as Black press. Because at the end of the day, the power of words is the power of life and death, and that is the power of the Black Press.”

A. Shuanise Washington, president and CEO of the CBCF Inc., and Misty Copeland were unable to attend the reception. CBCF vice president of communications and marketing, Shrita SterlinHernandez accepted the award on Washington’s behalf, and Copeland sent her gratitude via video.

Several notables were also in attendance, including Congressmen Al Green (D-Texas) and Bobby Scott (DVa.), Newport News, Va. Mayor McKinley Price, Sir Hillary McDonald Beckles, vicechancellor of the University of the West Indies in Jamaica; Diane Watson former U.S. ambassador and former Congressional representative, and many more. Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake were also present and took a few moments to address and thank the crowd.

“I am here really to echo the comments that Roland [Martin] made, and to thank Black media for how you treated Baltimore during the unrest,” RawlingsBlake said. “I can say that Black media was particularly supportive in so many ways to make sure that…the riots wasn’t the whole story of Baltimore.

Thank you for making sure the whole story continues to be told in our communities.”

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Insight News • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Page 3

BUSINESS

Walking a mile in her shoes FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw “What size shoes do you wear?”

That was what we heard. We saw a well dressed woman casually take off her sneakers and give them to a woman who appeared to be homeless. Both were getting cream and sugar for their

Women From 1 Boynton Robinson, who has been hailed as the “Rosa Parks” of the Selma, Ala. voting movement.

President Obama praised the leadership of Black women displayed during the Civil Rights Movement, even though their contributions were often marginalized.

“Women were the foot soldiers.

Women strategized boycotts.

Women organized marches. Even if they weren’t allowed to run the civil rights organizations on paper, behind the scenes they were the thinkers and the doers making things happen each and every day doing the work that nobody else wanted to do,” President Obama said. “They couldn’t prophesize

Cuba From 1 constructive change for the Cuban people. These regulatory changes build on the revisions implemented earlier this year and will further ease sanctions related to travel, telecommunications and internet-based services, business operations in Cuba, and remittances. A stronger, more open U.S.-Cuba relationship has the potential to create economic opportunities for both Americans and Cubans alike. By further easing these sanctions, the United States is helping to support the Cuban people in their effort to achieve the political and economic freedom necessary to build a democratic, prosperous, and stable Cuba.”

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said, “The regulations published today are designed to support the emerging Cuban private sector and bring us one step closer to achieving President Obama’s historic policy goals. These actions build upon previous Commerce regulatory changes, and will ease travel restrictions, enhance the safety of Americans visiting the country, and promote more business opportunities between U.S. and Cuban companies.

In addition to expanding our commercial engagement with the Cuban people, these additional adjustments have the potential to stimulate long overdue economic reform across the country.”

These measures will further facilitate travel to Cuba for authorized purposes; expand the telecommunications and internetbased services general licenses,

coffees at Starbucks. One walked out with designer sneakers on her feet while the other got into her car wearing socks.

We looked at each other.

It happened in less than five minutes. A casual conversation between strangers that ended with an act of charity and kindness that made an immediate material difference in one woman’s life.

If we hadn’t been sitting right next to where the conversation took place we would never have known it happened.

Something inspired the more affluent woman to take action immediately. She saw a need and

she filled it. She didn’t wait for someone else to take action. She didn’t refer the other woman to a nonprofit, church, or government agency. She took the shoes off her feet and gave them to her.

It was a touchstone event for us. It reminded us that at the heart of nonprofits is passion, concern for others, a desire to make a difference. This beautiful, personal act of kindness reminded us of the goodness that surrounds us. We saw it as a reflection of the spirit, compassion, and love that is a driving force for so many nonprofits.

In this column we typically

share information and suggestions related to the art and science of fundraising. Yet at its heart fundraising – or philanthropy as it is referred to in some circles – is about a love for humanity.

It is that love which we need to keep front and center when we get tired, angry, disappointed, or frustrated. That is what draws so many of us to the nonprofit sector in the first place.

That love should be the cornerstone of building strong and vibrant organizations that address the immediate concerns of people in need. That love should be what sustains us in

long-term policy and advocacy work that addresses the underlying causes of poverty, inequality, and injustice. Love and compassion can temper our tongues when we want to lash out at others, or when we wish people would “just give” so we can get on with the important work of our organizations.

Love in action binds us together in a united vision. Love in action keeps us at the table as board members when we disagree on a specific matter. And love in action sustains us when the road seems long and our vision appears clouded.

Our suggestion: let’s try infusing love more fully into our consciousness and our actions, including fundraising. Let us lift up those who give and invest.

And let us give with an open heart.

from the pulpits, but they led the charge from the pews. They were no strangers to violence. They were on the front lines.

“Because all of us are beneficiaries of a long line of strong Black women who helped carry this country forward. Their work to expand civil rights opened the doors of opportunity, not just for African Americans but for all women, for all of us – Black and White, Latino and Asian, LGBT and straight, for our First Americans and our newest Americans,” Obama said. “And their contributions in every field – as scientists and entrepreneurs, educators, explorers – all made us stronger.”

Obama added: “The good news is, despite structural barriers of race and gender, women and girls of color have made real progress in recent years. The

number of Black women-owned businesses has skyrocketed. Teen pregnancy rates among girls of color are down, while high school and four-year college graduation rates are up.”

According to a 2014 report on women of color and entrepreneurship by the Center for American Progress, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, business ownership for Black women grew nearly 260 percent between 1997 and 2013.

Despite the success Black women have enjoyed in entrepreneurship and higher graduation rates in recent years, they still have a long way to go to achieve equity in the workplace.

President Obama lamented the pay disparities between men and women and lack of management opportunities for Black women.

“It is an affront to the very idea

of America when certain segments of our population don’t have access to the same opportunities as everybody else. It makes a mockery of our economy when Black women make 30 fewer cents for every dollar a White man earns,” said Obama. “That adds up to thousands of dollars in missed income that determines whether a family can pay for a home, or pay for college for their kids, or save for retirement, or give their kids a better life. And that’s not just a woman’s issue, that’s everybody’s issue.”

President Obama also said that he would continue to push for a higher minimum wage, to expand paid leave for employees of federal contractors and increase tax credits that help working families.

“It’s good for our economy.

It’s the right thing to do,” said

President Obama. “No family should have to choose between taking care of a sick child or losing their job.”

The president urged the audience not to forget the impact that the criminal justice system has on women, especially Black women who are incarcerated at twice the rate of their White counterparts.

“Many women in prison, you come to discover, have been victims of homelessness and domestic violence, and in some cases human trafficking,” Obama said. “And many have been sexually assaulted, both before they got to prison and then after they go to prison. And we don’t often talk about how society treats Black women and girls before they end up in prison. They’re suspended at higher rates than White boys and all other girls.”

President Obama said that he was confident that lawmakers could move forward to reform the criminal justice system and he pledged to work with the CBC and the rest of Congress on legislation that addresses “unjust sentencing laws,” encourages diversion and crime prevention programs, and supports returning citizens.

“We’ve got good people on both sides of the aisle that are working with law enforcement and local communities to find a better way forward,” President Obama said.

“And as always, change will not happen overnight. It won’t be easy.

“But if our history has taught us anything, it’s taught us that when we come together, when we’re working with a sense of purpose, when we are listening to one another, when we assume the best in each other rather than the worst, then change happens.”

including by authorizing certain persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction (which includes individuals and entities) to establish a business presence in Cuba, such as through subsidiaries or joint ventures; allow certain persons to establish a physical presence, such as an office or other facility, in Cuba to facilitate authorized transactions; allow certain persons to open and maintain bank accounts in Cuba to use for authorized purposes; authorize additional financial transactions, including those related to remittances; authorize all persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide goods and services to Cuban nationals located outside of Cuba; and allow a number of other activities, including those related to legal services, imports of gifts, and educational activities.

The changes facilitate authorized travel and commerce, increasing contact between Americans and Cubans, and supporting civil society in Cuba and allow: • Transportation by vessel of authorized travelers - between the United States and Cuba only and without stops in third countries - authorized by general license.

Certain related lodging services aboard vessels used for such travel will also be authorized.

• License Exception Aircraft, Vessels, and Spacecraft (AVS) temporary sojourns to Cuba of certain categories of vessels.

Eligible categories of vessels are cargo vessels for hire for use in the transportation of items; passenger vessels for hire for use in the transportation of passengers and/ or items; and recreational vessels that are used in connection with travel authorized by the Treasury.

• License Exception AVS

aircraft on temporary sojourn to remain in Cuba for up to 7 consecutive days and authorizes vessels on temporary sojourn to remain in Cuba for up to 14 consecutive days.

• Close relatives to visit or accompany authorized travelers for certain additional activities.

In the January changes, OFAC

permitted close relatives to join visits related to official government business and certain educational activities, and to visit additional family members residing in Cuba.

Close relatives now also will be allowed to visit or accompany authorized travelers for additional educational activities, journalistic activity, professional research,

and religious activities, as well as activities related to humanitarian projects and activities of private foundations or certain research or educational institutes. For purposes of this provision, a close relative is defined as someone related to a person by blood, marriage, or adoption - and who is no more than three generations

removed from that person or a common ancestor with that person.

• All authorized travelers to open and maintain bank accounts in Cuba in order to access funds for authorized transactions while in Cuba.

More information available online at www.insightnews.com

Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw With open hearts Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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Page 4 • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Insight News

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HEALTH 3rd Annual Baraza promotes women’s health, resiliency

Linda Goler Blount

The 3rd Annual Baraza: A Black Woman’s Health Gathering takes place 8am- 4pm Saturday, October 10, 2015, at Saint Paul College, 235 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Baraza Gathering focuses on physical, mental and emotional well-being of Black women. Since 2012, the event has been promoted by the African American Leadership Forum’s (AALF) Health Wellness Work Group. This conference has

attracted over 250 Black women, annually, who come together to focus on ways to improve their personal health and well-being.

“Baraza started with a simple premise: Make available to every woman the health resources she needs to live a healthy, active, and long life,” said Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter, Baraza Co-Chair. “At the same time, we wanted to educate each woman about the importance of preventative health measures.”

Featured keynote speaker Linda Goler Blount, President & CEO, Black Women’s Health Imperative, will discuss how Black women can achieve health equity, reproductive and social justice across their lifespan. A panel of medical doctors will lead a discussion on resiliency.

Lifestyle changes are the key to Baraza and it’s success.

This event is just one of many efforts AALF has in place within the community to help women

achieve their health goals. AALF convenes r a diverse, cross-sector network of community leaders working together to find solutions that promote a vibrant and sustainable community. The aim is to achieve a just and healthy society that works equally well for everyone.

For more information or to register go to www.baraza2015. eventbrite.com or visit our website at www.barazagatheringtc.org

Straight Black men sidelined in AIDS fight WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Heterosexual Black men were largely invisible at the 2015 United States Conference on AIDS last week, a long-term absence that will continue to impact the future of the AIDS epidemic in the Black community.

One in 16 Black men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 102 White men who will share the same fate.

Even though heterosexual Black women continue to outpace their White and Latino counterparts in the rate of HIV infections, little attention was paid to the role that straight Black men should play in combating the epidemic in the Black community.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Blacks account for 44 percent of all new HIV infections in the United States.

The CDC reported that

heterosexual males account for 13 percent of the new HIV infections among Blacks, while women make up 25 percent and men who have sex with men (MSM) account for 51 percent.

In 2010, the same percentages of undiagnosed HIV infections among men were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact (19 percent) and heterosexual contact (19 percent).

The CDC also reported that, “From 2000 to 2010, HIV infection was the 7th leading cause of death overall for black men, but was not a leading cause of death for other races/ ethnicities.”

Health care providers struggle to bring heterosexual Black men into the health care setting, other groups protest louder and garner desperately needed resources.

Dawn Smith, a clinician and researcher at the HIV/ AIDS prevention division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that Black men

Freddie Allen/NNPA News Wire

Justin Wooley, a consultant with the Black AIDS Institute, speaks during a session on raising awareness about PrEP among heterosexual Black males at the Institute’s annual PrEP summit in Washington, D.C. who have sex with men (MSM) have a group identity that straight Black men lack.

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“[Black MSM] want to get in a room together, because they have issues that they want to discuss,” said Smith. “Straight men don’t have that.”

The Black AIDS Institute, a national HIV/AIDS think tank focused on the Black community, hosted a summit on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) one day before the start of the 2015 United States Conference on AIDS that featured a breakout session designed to help health care providers introduce heterosexual Black men to PrEP. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 92 percent in people who take the medicine, compared to those who don’t take PrEP at all, according to AIDS. gov.

Kier Gaines, a college and career development counselor at Kingsman Academy Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., and co-facilitator for the

session on men, said that for Black men specifically, health is usually only a concern when symptoms develop, “but you can contract HIV and for all intents and purposes you can look and feel fine for months.”

Gaines said that getting straight Black men into the room to even talk about HIV prevention is a tall order.

Smith said straight Black men grapple with health care in ways that MSM and women don’t.

“A lot of men feel like being sick is being weak and so they don’t want to talk about health,” said Smith.

Gaines encounters the same resistance pushing men to get tested for HIV as he does encouraging Black men to get prostate exams.

“It’s the same thing with diabetes and it’s the same thing with hypertension, so HIV testing is no different,” said Gaines.

As a heterosexual man working as a health care advocate specializing in STD prevention and awareness, Justin Wooley, a consultant with the Black AIDS Institute, said that he constantly has to fight against the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and the misperception that HIV is simply a disease of gay men.

“There’s almost no room for me to be an advocate,” said Wooley. “If we were talking about saving puppies with three legs in Alaska nobody would ask me, ‘Are you heterosexual or homosexual?’ It would just be about saving puppies.”

Wooley added: “I always have to validate why I care about [the epidemic] as a heterosexual Black man.”

Some AIDS activists say that the lack of focus on the HIV infection rates of straight Black men is owed to how they have been labeled in the epidemic.

Heterosexual Black men diagnosed with HIV who are also intravenous drug users (IDUs) are often characterized by health care professionals as IDUs, a message that often alienates straight men who don’t inject drugs.

Yet, targeting Black IDUs is not completely unwarranted.

Black men account for 44 percent of HIV infections among intravenous drug users compared to White males who make up 23 percent of the HIV infections among men who inject drugs.

Even though new HIV infections among Black women fell 21 percent, when comparing data from 2008 and 2010, the HIV incidence rate for Black women was still 20 times the HIV incidence rate for White women.

According to the CDC, nearly 90 percent of new HIV infections among Black women are attributed to heterosexual contact.

After four days of plenaries, presentations and protests at the 2015 USCA, the absence of a vocal and targeted message for heterosexual Black men remained a blind spot in the fight against the AIDS epidemic in the Black community.

“We’re trying to pretend that all the men who are having sex with women are also having sex with men,” said Smith. “We have to break that up and we have to say that there are Black men who are only having sex with women and they need to be apart of the conversation, too.”

Smith continued: “Nothing in the epidemic has happened without people from the various groups standing up and saying, ‘What about me?’ [Straight Black men] have to stand up, and say, ‘How come you’re having a whole conference and there are no sessions about me?’”

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Insight News • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Page 5

10 leadership quotes on promoting restorative justice and building strong communities Women Leading Change

By Dr. Artika Tyner Leaders are called upon to build new bridges, promote the common good, and uplift others.

Restorative justice can serve as an indispensable tool for achieving these goals. Restorative justice focuses on the interrelatedness of the human experience and offers an alternative framework for resolving conflict and the

resulting harm. It seeks to address the question of how to “make things right.”

“Making things right” may focus on addressing a workplace conflict, resolving a family dispute, or overcoming a challenge in the community. For example in the criminal context, the process of “making things right” includes: identifying the harm suffered by the victim, holding the offender accountable for the harm, and restoring interpersonal relationships within the community. It offers all key stakeholders an opportunity to repair the harm suffered as a result of the criminal offense and creates a social contract to build a harmonious community and strengthen the social fabric of the community. This restorative process may occur in a victim impact panel, sentencing circle,

or community conference.

Restorative justice draws upon principles of communitybuilding, reconciliation, and peacemaking. Through the practical implementation of restorative practices, key stakeholders are drawn together to resolve a conflict collectively and address the future impact of the conflict. In my latest book, The Leader’s Journey: A Guide to Discovering the Leader Within, I share how leaders can leverage restorative practices as a key tool for facilitating dialogues, managing conflicts, and strengthening communities.

As you explore new strategies for community-building, these quotes will provide inspiration for your leadership journey: 1) I have a dream that we won’t have to talk about ‘restorative justice’ because

it will be understood that true justice is about restoration, and about transformation. I have a dream. Dr. Howard Zehr 2) In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be...

This is the inter-related structure of reality. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 3) An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.

Mohandas Gandhi 4) It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.

Irish proverb 5) Through non-

violence, courage displaces fear; love transforms hate. Acceptance dissipates prejudice; hope ends despair. Peace dominates war; faith reconciles doubt. Mutual regard cancels enmity. Justice for all overthrows injustice.

The redemptive community supersedes systems of gross social immorality. Rev. Dr. James Lawson, Jr. 6) We can say ‘Peace on Earth.’ We can sing about it, preach about it or pray about it, but if we have not internalized the mythology to make it happen inside is, then it will not be.

Betty Shabazz 7) Violence is unnecessary and costly. Peace is the only way. President Julius K. Nyerere 8) People respond in accordance to how you relate to them. If you approach them on

the basis of violence, that’s how they will react. But if you say, we want peace, we want stability, we can then do a lot of things that will contribute towards the progress of our society.

President Nelson Mandela 9) When people collectively come together and strategize and plan, working together and acting together, they create a power that they can effectively use in their situation to effect change. Rev. Dr. James Lawson, Jr. Each of these quotes draw upon the essence of a “village approach” where community members work together to create a vision for a more just world.

This will require collective action therefore I conclude with the challenge of “harambee.”

10) Harambee: Let’s pull together (Swahili)

INSIGHT NEWS Study finds life without parole sentences for juveniles www.insightnews.com

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increasingly rare, setting stage for Supreme Court review (Washington, D.C.) States are abandoning life without parole sentences for juveniles at a rapid pace, according to a report released today by The Phillips Black Project. Since the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated mandatory life without parole for juveniles (JLWOP) in 2012, nine states have abolished it, with six states acting within the past year.

In actual practice, the sentence has dropped precipitously since its sudden peak in the mid-1990s and is increasingly isolated to outlier counties and states.

For example, one county – Philadelphia, PA – accounts for almost 10 percent of all JLWOP sentences nationwide.

“Most of the nation’s abandonment of JLWOP, both in policy and in practice, demonstrates that sentencing children to die in prison, foreclosing all hope of redemption and rehabilitation, is anathema to who we are as a people. There is a growing consensus against the practice and the U.S. Supreme Court should hold juvenile life without parole unconstitutional in all cases,” said John Mills, the lead author of the study and Principal Attorney at the Phillips Black Project.

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Miller v. Alabama that mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles violated the Eighth Amendment.

On October 13, the Court will hold oral argument in Montgomery v. Louisiana, in which it will decide whether to apply the ban on mandatory JLWOP retroactively, i.e., on

offenders whose appeals were finished at the time Miller was decided. A number of advocates, including Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree, have urged the Court to rule that JLWOP is unconstitutional in all cases.

In the three years since the Court’s decision in Miller v. Alabama, nine states – Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming and Vermont – have abolished JLWOP, bringing the current number of states to completely outlaw the sentence to 15. California and Florida, which were previously the heaviest users of the sentence, have severely limited the circumstances where JWLOP can be imposed. North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington State eliminated JLWOP for

felony murder, second-degree murder, and persons less than 16 years of age, respectively.

In actual practice, only a few states and a handful of counties impose JLWOP sentences. Just nine states – California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania – account for 82 percent of all JLWOP sentences. Five counties account for more than one-fifth of all JLWOP sentences. Those counties are: Philadelphia County, PA; Los Angeles County, CA; Orleans Parish, LA; Cook County, IL; and St. Louis City, MO. From 1992 to 1999, 45 states passed laws expanding adult court jurisdiction over juveniles, exposing additional young offenders to life without parole sentences. Legislatures were sparked by the now discredited

theory that a generation of superpredators was on the horizon. The superpredators never arrived, but many individuals are languishing under sentences premised on superpredator-era policies with little prospect of demonstrating that they are very different from the juvenile they once were.

Since 1992, a black juvenile arrested for homicide has been twice as likely to be sentenced to life without parole than his white counterpart. Texas only has persons of color serving JLWOP sentences. Eighty percent of the people serving JLWOP in Pennsylvania are people of color. This disparate treatment of persons of color warrants further examination to determine whether JLWOP sentencing has

served any legitimate purpose.

The pace of abolition of JLWOP – a rate of three per year since 2012 – is faster than the rate at which states were repealing the death penalty for juveniles and people with intellectual disabilities in the years before the Court invalidated those punishments. To determine whether there is a national consensus against a given punishment, the Court typically assesses the number of states that allow the punishment, the direction and rate of legislative change, and the rarity with which the sentence is imposed in practice. All three metrics manifest a national consensus against JLWOP and, when faced with the opportunity, the Court should strike it down.

Justice Department launches effort to improve young people’s relations with police WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the Justice Department is launching a new initiative to bring young people together with the police officers in their community.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded $500,000 to a joint effort of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice to convene a youth and law enforcement roundtable and to develop an institute for disseminating best practices and sharing new approaches on issues of juvenile justice.

To achieve these objectives, IACP will compile best practices and innovative approaches, help law enforcement departments conduct self-assessments and develop action plans to improve relations with youth in their communities and create a training curriculum to support these efforts. In addition to hosting the law enforcement/youth roundtable this upcoming fiscal year, IACP will hold virtual meetings with roundtable participants to seek their recommendations to law enforcement for long-term strategies for improvement.

Lynch announced the award last week during a White House Champions of Change event cohosted by the Office of Justice Programs and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office. The event honored law enforcement officers and

young people who are leading efforts to improve interactions

between law enforcement and youth in their communities.

Save the Dates!

October 6, 7, and 8th 2015

FREE

Cervical and Breast Cancer Screenings for women ages 40 to 64 who are uninsured or underinsured* What:

FREE Cancer Screenings* and Community Health Education

When:

Oct. 6th, 7th, 8th Tuesday Oct. 6th English Speakers Wednesday Oct 7th Spanish Speakers Thursday Oct. 8th Hmong Speakers Registration Check-in: 8:00 AM Screening: 8:00 AM–2:30 PM Health Education: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

Where: 1313 Penn Ave. North To register call 612-767-9197 or visit www.northpointhealth.org

Page 6 • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Insight News

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Black homeownership matters Black Press of America

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, NNPA What is important to 45 million Black Americans today should be important to all Americans.

Yet, as the economy in the United States continues to gradually recover from very a difficult and complex set of economic woes, the recovery of economic well-being of Black America continues to lag behind.

One critical measurement of economic viability and stability is the status of homeownership.

Sustainable wealth in the U.S. is often measured in part by homeownership.

Over the past five years, I have been engaging in a dialogue with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB)

AALF From 1 Mayberry, AALF members Michael Chaney, Catherine Fleming, Maher Abduselam, Dr. Rochelle Avent-Hassan, and AALF Executive Director Jeffrey Hassan and Executive Assistant Jackie Cooper. One of the purposes of the trip was to meet with our Minnesota metro-area Congressional representatives, let them know who we are, let them know that we want to be made aware of resources coming into our community before they get here, and to be a part of the decision-making on how those resources are distributed.

On Thursday, Congressman Keith Ellison, from Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, hosted a continental breakfast for the delegation in his D.C. office in the Rayburn House Office Building. Congressman

about homeownership in Black America.

NAREB, founded in 1947, is our nation’s oldest and largest minority real estate association.

It was established precisely to secure the right to equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed or color. We all are aware, however, that there still remains a present-day reality of systematic racial discrimination in America when it comes to equal and fair housing issues.

There is more need for a professional trade organization such as NAREB today than in the 1940s. Black wealth in the U.S. in losing ground at a time when there should be advances and increases in Black American homeownership.

According to Nielsen’s latest research on consumerism within Black America, we spend in excess of $1.2 trillion annually.

With that kind of spending power, why should there be a decline in Black American homeownership?

The issue is not about having the money to purchase a home. The real issue here is a

persistent and deliberate pattern of racial discrimination in the housing marketplace. Since the enactment of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, it has been illegal to discriminate in the U.S. housing market on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or family status.

The National Fair Housing Alliance recently filed a federal complaint against one of the leading national real

Ellison graciously made his office and staff available for the AALF delegation, and gave us an update on legislative initiatives.

He said our group was one of the largest African American delegations from Minnesota to visit our Congressional leaders in Washington, and made a strong statement for our community.

Later that afternoon, the delegation experienced the only lowlight of the trip, with Minnesota 4th District Congresswoman Betty McCollum and one of her staff members.

Despite the fact that the delegation had an appointment scheduled to meet with the Congresswoman, she did not make herself available. The response from her office receptionist was rude and inhospitable, with her rolling her eyes when the AALF delegation came into the office and asked to meet with the Congresswoman for our scheduled appointment.

We were then ushered out of the office into the hallway,

where we met with one of the Congresswoman’s staffer.

Congresswoman McCollum emerged from her office 15 minutes later and attempted to rush past the delegation without even acknowledging our presence - stating that she had to go to vote - very disappointing, to say the least.

Congresswoman McCollum’s reception stood in stark contrast to the reception we received from Congressman Ellison, and Senators Klobuchar and Franken, whom we met with that same afternoon. The delegation took the unique underground rail system from the Rayburn House Office Building to the United States Capitol Building, and then again from the Capitol Building to the Hart Senate Office Building, where we met with Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Senator Klobuchar immediately recognized many of the leaders from our delegation, and invited us into

Black wealth in the U.S. in losing ground at a time when there should be advances and increases in Black American homeownership.

estate companies, RE/MAX Alliance/Lee Garland and Rita Jensen Team, located in Jackson, Miss. After months of investigations, the National Fair Housing Alliance documented racial discrimination against Black Americans seeking homeownership.

But that kind of racism was not limited to the deep South.

The National Fair Housing Alliance also found racial discrimination prevented Black

American homeownership in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas and in Illinois.

It is a national problem that requires a national solution.

According to Princeton University scholars Douglas Massey and Jonathan Tannen, racial discrimination in housing leads to the perpetuation of “hypersegregation” that sustains “high levels of social isolation from mainstream society, but also high concentration of poverty and disadvantage.” An effective strategy, therefore, to overcome poverty in Black America is to increase homeownership and to transform and to prevent racial hypersegregation.

In speaking to NAREB’s President Ron Cooper about a “solution” to help Black America to regain and to retain its wealth, it was important to know that NAREB announced at this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference that it is committed to a national goal of “Two million new Black American homeownerships over the next five years.” Attaining

this goal would go a long way toward increasing Black wealth and helping to overcome poverty in our communities.

Achieving NAREB’s goal of increasing Black American homeownership across the nation will require a dedicated effort and coalition building to ensure greater access to mortgage capital, down payment assistance, increased housing inventory, and investment inclusion. We all should strive to support this effort also by raising public awareness about this important national campaign: “Black Homeownership Matters.” Print and social media should use the hashtag: #BlackHomeownershipMatters.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: dr. bchavis@nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http:// drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/ drbfc

L-R: Nkem Chirpich, Representative Rena Moran, Senator Jeff Hayden, Cheryl Mayberry, Michael Chaney, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Jeffrey Hassan, Dr. Rochelle Avent Hassan, Stella Whitney West, Jackie Cooper, Bill English and Catherine Fleming. her office. Everyone introduced themselves, and the senator gave us a legislative update on the hot button issues in the Congress, including the impending budget debate and the attempt to repeal the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Senator Klobuchar graciously accepted an acknowledgement from delegation members Michael Chaney and Catherine Fleming of Project Sweetie Pie - an urban farming initiative taking place in Minneapolis - and posed for a group photo. She then showed us many of the mementos she had gathered from her trips throughout the world.

The meeting with Senator Al Franken was equally hospitable, as he sat on the front of his desk, and listened to presentations from NorthPoint CEO Stella WhitneyWest, NJCT Consultant Bill English, and AALF Education Chair Cheryl Mayberry. He then answered questions from various delegation members. He also posed for a group photo.

We were excited to find that delegation member Bill English’s daughter, Amber, was a staff member in Senator Franken’s office, as Bill beamed with pride as he introduced all of us to his daughter.

On Friday, the delegation attended a CBC workshop conducted by Congressman Ellison entitled From Ferguson to $15. Ferguson, of course, referred Ferguson, Missouri, where the fatal shooting of Michael Brown took place in 2014; and, the $15 referred to the attempt in many states and municipalities to establish a $15 an hour as the minimum livable wage for workers. We were proud to see one of our own leading a discussion on these leading national topics.

Friday afternoon, the delegation went on an incredible tour of the Frederick Douglass House in the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C. We watched a film depiction of his life journey, before taking a tour of the Frederick Douglass House, which is a part of the National Park Service. We learned that Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in the early 1800’s, before rising to national and international prominence in the mid to late 1800’s.

He fled from bondage to become the nation’s leading abolitionist - an advocate for the end of slavery. Douglass traveled to England to avoid capture after publication of his first autobiography in which he named his slave masters. He was greeted in England as a leading world statesman and garnered the support. Douglass did not become a so-called free man, until his first wife, Anna, who was a free woman, purchased his freedom. Douglass was an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln, although he did not always agree with Lincoln’s policies. He became one of the leading advocates of the women’s suffrage (voting) movement of the late 1800’s, when both African Americans and women were denied the right to vote. In the 1880’s, he was appointed a U.S. Marshall for the District of Columbia by President Rutherford B. Hayes. Douglass’s house was located on 15 acres, known as Cedar Hill, the highest point in the District of Columbia, and has a spectacular view, overlooking downtown Washington, D.C. On Saturday, the group attended the CBC annual Prayer Breakfast, and was treated to the

tremendous oratorical address by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III, of Trinity Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. Rev. Moss, a graduate of Morehouse College, told a story about the locusts’ journey to the river’s edge, where many of the first locust that arrived at the river died as they attempted to cross; but, in the process, they built a bridge across the river, so that locust that came after them could make it to the other side.

Using that metaphor, he then took the audience on a historical journey, retracing the efforts of our African American leaders, many of whom are nameless and faceless, who sacrificed their lives at the river’s edge, so that others of us could cross to the other side. He concluded, as the audience rose to a standing ovation, by taking us on a historical retrospective from Barack Obama, all the way back to the creation of the earth itself

by Almighty God himself!

Saturday and the weekend concluded with a cookout at the home of former Minneapolis prodigy Malik Edwards, and his wife Narda Newby, both of whom are attorneys in Washington, D.C. The cookout was catered

by Julien Hassan and his wife, Martha, with a gourmet selection of smoked meats, spaghetti, potato salad, collared greens, and blueberry cobbler - a fitting way to end an outstanding week of events and activities at the 2015 CBC. The CBC trip is a “seed planting effort,” as part of the effort to work with all African American community leaders in Crafting a United Urban Agenda to address priorities in our community. Now comes the work of tilling and watering the soil.

Mockingbird

adaptation of “Mockingbird,” as it seems to pick up midstream of the novel. Not more than five minutes in, the audience is hit with the n-word, and it’s a jolt coming from a child’s voice offstage and later repeated by young Mary Bair, who wonderfully plays Scout.

But it’s this abruptness that sets the tone for the rest of the play. This adaptation is very much an “in your face” look at race and racism in America, softened slightly through the lenses of a young child and her idealistic father, Atticus Finch, played by Baylen Thomas.

Both Bair and Thomas offer superb performances.

Another standout performance was given by Ansa Akyea, who plays Robinson. Akyea doesn’t really appear until the second act, but his performance as Robinson – a man on trial for his life – is truly gripping. The

fear that his voice conveyed while delivering his lines shows he genuinely reflected on how Black males in America have endured and continue to endure wrongful prosecution – and in some cases, on the spot mob executions – simply just for being.

While the Harper Lee version of “Mockingbird” heavily focuses on the reclusive neighbor, Arthur “Boo” Radley; in Sergel’s stage adaptation, directed by John Miller-Stephany, Sergel and Stephany rightfully focus on the injustice of Robinson being on trial and the larger issue of racism and oppression in America.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” opened to a packed house. It is my hope that people will make their way to the theater for this wonderfully told story. This is a play worth seeing.

From 1 but as with almost all movies adapted from books, it fell short of the paper version.

Since graduating high school, I took the opportunity to see a couple of stage adaptations of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel. While entertaining, they were just that and nothing more.

The same cannot be said for the Christopher Sergel adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” currently running through Oct. 18 at the Guthrie Theater, 818 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis. This adaptation was masterful in its execution and featured a few standout performances.

Much of the fluff and character development has been removed in Sergel’s

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Insight News • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Page 7

EDUCATION Schools should hand out diplomas, not disorders

By Alan Shusterman The school year is here. This fall, nearly 55 million kids will report to elementary or secondary school, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

But the journey from kindergarten to commencement is inflicting collateral damage on kids. More than eight in ten students report experiencing moderate to extreme stress. Teen suicide rates are three times what they were 50 years ago.

Schools must cultivate not just their students’ intellect but their physical and mental well-being. They can do so by taking a page from the medical profession -- and first “do no harm.” Then they must devote

more energy to teaching kids the social and emotional skills they need to become healthy, successful adults.

Students’ mental health takes a hit the moment they wake up.

Most secondary schools start at 8 a.m. or earlier. Yet studies have shown that’s too early for adolescent brains and bodies.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teens on average need nine hours of sleep nightly. Only 59 percent of middle school students and 87 percent of high school students are getting enough sleep.

Sleep-deprived kids exhibit diminished attention spans and concentration -- and have higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and obesity.

The pediatricians propose a radical solution to this problem

-- start school later.

Even an extra half-hour would do a world of good. The Academy of Pediatrics study sampled 9,000 students from schools that started at 8:30 a.m. or later. It found that late starts improved students’ standardized test scores and reduced car accidents involving students by as much as 70 percent.

Schools can also reduce harm by assigning less homework.

Seriously.

A recent Stanford study found that high school students had, on average, more than three hours of homework a night.

Yet research shows that excessive amounts of homework have little or limited learning value.

This is not surprising. After all, students generally must

Robbinsdale Cooper High School teacher Teresa Esnough spent part of her summer at the Space Academy for Educators at NASA’s Space Camp. She is pictured here in a multi-axis-trainer, which simulates the re-entry tumble of early spacecraft.

complete their homework in distracting locations -- their homes -- away from the people best able to answer their questions, their teachers. And they must do so after expending all their energy to get through the long school day.

Homework has been linked to stress and academic disengagement among both young children and teens. In many households, it’s the major cause of kids’ stress -- and stress between kids and parents.

All of this exacerbates teenage anxiety and depression, both of which are reaching epidemic levels.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 8 percent of teens have an anxiety disorder. Nine percent succumb to a major depressive

episode each year.

In sum, the American educational status quo is taking in ever-more students -- but breaking their psyches in the process.

There are better, less destructive ways to educate kids.

Paramount among them is social-emotional learning.

This approach blends traditional academic curricula with integrated methods for understanding and honing selfawareness, self-regulation, social awareness, relationshipbuilding, and effective decisionmaking.

According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Leaning, students who follow a socialemotional learning track display a greater desire and capacity to

learn -- and reduced levels of anxiety and stress -- than those who don’t. They also score better on academic achievement tests.

Our nation’s schools must do more than just turn out a new crop of graduates each year.

They must prepare children to lead happy, productive, healthy lives long after they’ve moved on.

Alan Shusterman is the Founder and Head of School for Tomorrow (www.sftedu. org). A graduate of Montgomery County, Maryland public schools, Alan attended the University of Pennsylvania (B.A., summa cum laude, double major in Economics and International Relations, 1987) and Harvard Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1991).

Esnough, pictured right, poses for the camera with another teacher while on a space shuttle simulation. The pair had just finished fixing heat tiles on the shuttle, and were about to re-enter the crew compartment.

Out of this world: Robbinsdale Area Schools teacher spends part of summer at Space Camp Robbinsdale Cooper High School Physical Earth and Science teacher Teresa Esnough attended NASA’s Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center this past summer. The event was sponsored by Honeywell, and more than 200 teachers from 38 states and 22 countries

participated.

Esnough was part of the Space Academy for Educators Program, which is designed for teachers who want to advance education in the STEM fields. She experienced astronaut simulators and took a virtual tour into space to save the International Space

Station. Participants also followed lesson plans based on NASA content (which is correlated to the National Science Education Standards) and received content and knowledge to pass on to their students in the classroom.

Educators who participated in the event earned 45 hours

Ramsey County restricts use of e-cigarettes in public places The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to include electronic cigarettes in its clean indoor air policy and prohibit use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes within 25 feet of building entrances.

By including e-cigarettes in the clean indoor air policy, county leaders have established use of e-cigarettes will not be allowed anywhere conventional cigarettes are not allowed, such as work places, bars and restaurants.

In 2005, Ramsey County passed one of the state’s first smoking bans for bars and restaurants. Two years later, the Minnesota legislature enacted the statewide Freedom to Breathe law, protecting all Minnesotans from the harms of secondhand smoke.

“Ramsey County has taken a stand to ensure our residents, workers and visitors aren’t needlessly exposed to tobacco and e-cigarette use when they are in indoor public spaces, or simply entering and leaving buildings,”

said Jim McDonough, chair of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners.

“Hopefully, the state will follow suit and recognize the need to protect all Minnesotans from the harms of secondhand smoke and e-cigarette emissions.”

In addition to McDonough, Commissioner Blake Huffman, Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire and Commissioner Rafael Ortega spoke up in support of the ordinance. Ortega addressed the adverse health impact of electronic cigarettes, which emit an aerosol laced with nicotine, harmful chemicals and metal particles.

“The bottom line is if there is any uncertainty about the impact it has on health, we’re doing the right thing,” Ortega said. “It’s better to move in the direction we’re moving. We need to keep enhancing the health of our community,” said Ortega.

Ramsey County joins nine other counties and 20 cities in Minnesota that have also prohibited the use of electronic

cigarettes wherever conventional smoking is not allowed, according to Katie Engman, program director for Ramsey Tobacco Coalition. State law prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in places such as schools, state colleges and universities, government buildings, hospitals and clinics, but state legislators stopped short of enacting a comprehensive usage ban.

“Kudos to Ramsey County leaders for protecting clean indoor air for all residents and visitors,” said Engman. “They’ve also gone one step further in protecting public health by not allowing conventional cigarettes or e-cigarettes within 25 feet of all building entrances. These actions show true public health leadership that should be commended.”

The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition (RTC) is a program of the Association for NonsmokersMinnesota. It is dedicated to reducing tobacco industry influences and the harms caused by tobacco in Ramsey County.

of continuing education credit and can potentially earn graduate credit through the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

“The best part was doing all the simulations – it was like being a student again,” Esnough said. “It was like being a kid and having all the

fun of the camp. I was excited we got to do that and not just the in-classroom education stuff. On my first day of class this year, I even showed the video of me in the (multi-axistrainer) spinning chair, and the students thought it was funny to see their teacher do stuff like that.”

Lessons inspired by the camp might be coming to Esnough’s classroom this year – she plans on doing rockets with capsules designed to protect their “astronaut” eggs, and students may learn about heat transfer with a heat shielding lab similar to what was at Space Camp.

Page 8 • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE 20th anniversary of the Million Man March Man Talk

By Timothy Houston As I prepare to in my heart and mind to attend the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March on October 10, 2015, it is hard to rap my mind around what has happen these last 20 years. My then 10 year old son Tim II will turn 30 on the day of the march, and he is a father of two sons, Tim III and Titus.

My son and I have both had several firsthand experiences of the abuse of power by the police, and we both wonder when this system of racial inequality will be replace with one of fairness and justice. This current system of justice cannot be allowed to continue.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. invoked the phrase “let justice roll down like water” in his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” in 1963, which was direct quote of the biblical prophet Amos whose demand for justice dates back to 750 BC. Justice is the birthright of every human being, and it is a prerequisite to life. Justice is one of the eternal principals

Justice is the birthright of every human being

that the God has decreed that every creature should have the freedom to be what He created them to be. Freedom, justice and equality are not conferred on us by the Constitution, but by God. We cannot live without justice

and where there is no justice there is no peace. Justice must prevail.

The Million Man March is necessary and believes that justice should never look at your color. Justice should

never look at your position or posture. Justice should have on one side of the scale the weight of facts and on the other side our actions in accord with those facts. When you have liberty but not justice then there is no joy in being free because the only reason that people are joyous in liberty is that there is justice coming to them in society. That is why we have courts. The purpose of the court system is that we may go to a court of law and express our grievance before an impartial jury; a jury of our peers, so that when a decision is rendered, justice prevails.

The absence of peace is evident. The widespread death, rising racism, mob attacks and police brutality on Blacks coupled with economic deprivation and stark poverty, requires that something must

be immediately done to address and correct the condition. As Black men in our community, we are taking actions! A million men will march onto Washington Monument in Washington D.C. to end the violence and stop the killings and present ourselves as a united front before the Government of the United States of America.

Fredrick Douglas said “Power concedes nothing except by a demand” Our demand of government must be backed by the power of our unity and love of the brotherhood.

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

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

Being excited about what’s next Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson Are you excited about what’s next for you on your journey of self-growth? Are you looking forward to a brighter future?

Does the thought of new adventures make you smile? If any of these are true for you, then you are in good company!

I know so many people who are living this exact life. They are

individuals who are working on goals and achieving them.

I think about the next level for myself all the time. I think about what goals I will complete and what it will take to accomplish them. I also think about what my life will look like when those goals are complete.

This is so important to do. After you identify what you want to complete and what goals you want to set, then you have to imagine what your life will look like when you achieve those goals. If you can see a different life, then you are more likely to work toward it.

Many people must first see how wonderful and complete their lives could be before they

work on a goal. This is where I believe dreams come from.

Our self-conscience mind sometimes will give us a vision of what our lives could look like if we believe in ourselves. The power of believing in yourself is amazing! When you believe that things are happening even when you can’t see them is how you achieve goals.

I often think of this young girl who I worked with who would identify goals, but never complete them. She once said that she couldn’t complete those goals because she couldn’t see herself really doing any of those things. She wanted to return to college, but she couldn’t see herself passing a class that she had struggled so much with.

She couldn’t see herself as an achiever so most of her goals seem too large to ever reach.

The main reason lots of people feel this way, is because they don’t know how to break their goals up into steps. No one learns to walk without crawling first! First you must see yourself as the achiever, then if you have to break it down to get to the finish line, then that’s completely fine.

Remember everyone has their own journey and the road one takes to complete it is strictly dependent on how far you are willing to climb!

And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving for greatness.

Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www. thequeensproject.com or email at penny@thequeensproject.com.

Seniors bring lifetime of skills to workplace

By Deb Taylor At a Labor Day gathering, I was talking to a business professional who related his experience in hiring older adults. He was very direct: “They show up on time, they have a solid work ethic, and they bring customer service skills with them so they need minimal training.” That’s a strong testimonial, and one worthy of a generation of older adults who understand the importance of hard work. Many seniors grew up during the Depression or World War II and experienced deprivation and struggle. They quickly learned that the secret to keeping a job is showing up and giving your best.

Seniors bring a lifetime of skills and experience to the workplace, and they’re selfmotivated with little need for constant supervision. As our society increasingly grows older, due to the massive baby boom generation, organizations will

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increasingly see more seniors seeking employment As employers, we can certainly benefit from their maturity and experience, even if a little accommodation is necessary. We need to be flexible and respect their desire to limit hours of employment. We should accommodate their medical visits and requests for time off to attend a grandchild’s school event or recital. Doing so can boost employee loyalty and retention among older adults.

We recognize some seniors may have physical limitations and less stamina, so a reexamination of working conditions may be helpful. If an older adult must stand for long periods of time, a rubber floor mat or placement of a chair or stool at their work location can help them to stay energized for their shift. For computer staff, consider adaptive technology if needed. Screen magnifiers or larger mouse cursors can be very helpful for seniors with aging eyes.

Seniors can become great examples and mentors for younger workers. And be sure to include older adult workers in employee-recognition programs; everyone loves to be showcased and applauded for their job performance.

Sadly, many seniors think they are unwanted by employers, and feel marginalized by the workplace. We employers need to include language in advertising messages indicating a willingness and desire to hire workers of all ages. Facilitate an atmosphere of respect by enforcing and communicating a policy requiring all employees to treat their fellow workers with courtesy and respect.

This can have a strong impact on increasing productivity and job satisfaction, while reducing turnover.

We should make work assignments based on skills, abilities and the needs of the organization, without regard to the age of employees. Carefully measure job performance of workers so you can identify areas where more training could boost productivity.

SENIORS TURN TO 9

insightnews.com

Insight News • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Page 9

COMMUNITY Students address violence in hip-hop song WE WIN Institute youth have penned a hip-hop song “Stop the Violence, Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” to address police violence against African-Americans.

Under the direction of Chad Heslup, known also as MC Longshot, youth researched, brainstormed, and narrowed down their subjects until they collectively agreed to write a song addressing the issue. The song was written by Maalik Miller, Ashantae Braxton and Shuan Washington.

Lyrics to “Stop the Violence, Hands Up, Don’t Shoot”

By WE WIN Institute Scholars: Maalik Miller, Ashantae Braxton & Shuan Washington WE WIN going hard Playing in the yard Got more bars Than the boy Bruno Mars Keep doing what ya doing Never stop grooving Improve our neighborhood Police are trying to ruin Follow me in the store Never show any compassion Oh here we go again

Maalik Miller “Hands Up” They profiling my actions Raise my hand in class Cuz I gotta ask a question Raise my hands for cops And I still got shot for nothing Last we checked What’s a cracked window Compared to my cracked spine My kind get more time over petty crimes Sitting in cells Falling behind Losing our minds Stop the violence,

Chad working with Tymareon Brown Hands up don’t shoot, Stop the violence, Hands up, don’t shoot.”

An overview of hip-hop and rap

By Chad Heslup (MC Longshot) Hip-hop music and culture began in the 1970s when block parties were becoming popular in New York City, particularly in the Bronx.

Hip-hop culture is centered

Chad Heslup working with youth

Ashantae Braxton & Shuan Washington

on four key elements – DJing, graffiti, break dancing and emceeing/rapping.

A fifth element often attributed to the culture is knowledge (of self and of Black culture).

In the early years of hip-hop music, the DJ was the star of the show, playing beat breaks from popular songs of the day.

Graffiti and break dancing were also more popular in the primal years of the culture.

Rapping was the least popular element in the beginning, but gained popularity as the culture

evolved and began to spread.

The roots of rapping can be found in African culture, especially from West African Griots. Rap music also has influences in American jazz, blues and soul music.

Hip-hop culture has been seen as a way for AfricanAmerican youth to express themselves. Whether spray painting on trains and subways, or doing backspin in a break dance cipher, to how people talk and wear their clothes, hip-hop has allowed

disenfranchised youth to be the masters of their universe.

Rapping especially has given a voice to those telling the story of African-Americans.

The role of the MC has evolved and grown since the early days of rap music. Lyrical content has become more important as the culture grows and becomes more popular outside of the United States. As all of the elements continue to expand around the world, rap is constantly gaining its own momentum as the leading element of the culture. Strong themes of Afrocentrism, social justice, and political militancy have begun to become staple concepts in many artists’ works.

Rappers such as Rakim, Common, Public Enemy, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco and more make rap music that reflects the deep economic and sociological plights that are being faced

by African-Americans, and that are not being addressed anywhere else in public. Rap is a major voice of the African American experience. At its best, rap music preserves our history as a people and serves as a positive reminder of our African greatness.

11 victims of domestic violence homicide in two months The number of domestic violence homicide victims in Minnesota in 2015 has risen to 22, with the murders of Mona Turner and Grace Ann VanNorman.

On September 17, 54 yearold Ramona “Mona” Turner, was shot and killed by 56 year-old John “Jack” Gordon Weisner Jr., her partner of over 40 years, in their St. Paul home. Weisner then stabbed himself several times in an attempt to commit suicide.

According to family, Mona had been attempting to leave the relationship for the last five years.

Weisner assaulted Mona in 2009 which resulted in a misdemeanor domestic assault conviction.

She reported the abuse to law enforcement and her family, and received an Order for Protection against him at that time. There were several instances of John controlling Mona and perpetrating abuse against her. Mona, who had two sons with Weisner, was killed in the presence of one of her sons and his girlfriend.

“One of the most dangerous times for a survivor of domestic violence is when they are leaving

the relationship,” said Liz Richards, executive director of the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women. “Due to the risk for increased violence, it is important for survivors to connect with local domestic violence programs to help create a safety plan.”

On September 8, 36 yearold Grace Ann VanNorman was suffocated by her 27 yearold boyfriend Lauren Mason Grove Lynch at their apartment in Forest Lake. According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement responded to

a report of a foul smell by a neighbor and found Grace dead in her living room. The Medical Examiner ruled that Grace died due to homicidal violence, with the primary cause of death being asphyxiation. Lynch confessed to punching Grace, strangling her, suffocating her with a pillow, and stabbing her with a kitchen knife several times. Lynch lived in the house with her body for three days until police arrived at the apartment. Lynch did not have any documented history of domestic violence. He has been

charged with 2nd degree murder for killing Grace.

“There is not one solution to ending the plague of domestic violence on our communities,” Richards said. “Rather, there are many different steps we need to take collectively to end domestic violence homicide in Minnesota.

We can support to local domestic violence programs with money and resources. We can spread public awareness in our communities, by participating in initiatives such as the Live Free Without Violence flag campaign,

and through conversations and social media posts.”

To honor the lives of Mona Turner and Grace Ann VanNorman, over 500 agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals from across the state will raise the Live Free Without Violence flag, a public awareness campaign spearheaded by the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women.

If you are a victim experiencing abuse, contact Day One at 866-223-1111 to connect with services.

Seniors

Finally, it makes sense to listen to older adult employees. They may have a larger ‘big picture’ on life that could bring insight and fresh ideas to your business goals.

Many studies show that creativity increases as we age.

Imagine the value of tapping into this brain-trust of older adults to benefit our entire community.

It’s a great way to fight ageism and Reimagine Aging, so we can proudly proclaim our organizations to be senior-friendly workplaces.

Deb Taylor is CEO of Senior Community Services (www. seniorcommunity.org) and its Reimagine Aging Institute, a nonprofit that advocates for

older adults and helps seniors and caregivers maintain their independence through free or lowcost services.

From 8

Classifieds Minneapolis Urban League President/Chief Executive Officer The Minneapolis Urban League Board of Directors launch nation-wide search to fill the position of President & CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League. The Urban League Board is seeking applicants with successful personnel, fiscal and fundraising management experience as well as excellent organizational and communications skills and government/community relations experience.

Phone: 612.588.1313

Qualifications: Required • Undergraduate degree in business administration, public administration, education, social work, human resource administration, finance or a related discipline.

• Minimum of five years experience in business management, personnel management, fund raising, strategic planning, fiscal management, program development and administration.

• Two years of experience working with a volunteer board or other demonstrated community leadership experience.

• Proven track record in successful personnel, fiscal and fundraising management.

• Significant experience with direct responsibility for financial budgeting and oversight of budgets of $2M+ organization.

• Strong relationship development and leadership capabilities.

• Ability to engage the media and sustain government and public support for the agency.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, sensitivity to cultural and personal diversity.

Preferred • Masters/PhD degree in a related field from an accredited college/university.

• Experience as a President/Chief Executive Officer of a non-profit organization.

• Knowledge of youth programs, leadership and empowerment, elimination of racism or a related mission is highly desired.

• Experience in research, public and community education, the development, implementation and evaluation of programs, and management of volunteers.

• Prior Urban League experience a plus How to apply: Interested candidates should submit cover letter, resume, and salary expectations to: Minneapolis Urban League, Search Committee Chair, c/o The Diversity Connection LLC/kp companies at the following email address: miquel@kpcompanies.com by October 15, 2015. All submissions shall be received in strictest confidence. Minneapolis Urban League is an equal opportunity employer.

Email: info@insightnews.com

DUMP TRUCK DRIVER

Whispering Pines Apartments

Wanted experienced dump truck driver. Only experienced need apply: Call Jesse Green (651) 815-7197 or email jessegreen625@yahoo.com

7 NE 5th Ave. Forest Lake, MN 651-464-4406 Public Housing Waiting List Closing October 31, 2015

Now Accepting Housing Applications

St. Stephen’s Human Services has several employment opportunities available in our single adult men’s shelters.

• Full Time Shelter Advocate • Temporary River of Life Shelter Advocate (Multiple Positions) • Custodian – Temporary River of Life Winter Shelter (Multiple Positions) Our mission is Ending Homelessness. To join our team, visit http://ststephensmpls.org/join for details.

HELP WANTED

Mission Oaks Townhomes is accepting housing applications for our waiting list for 2 and 3 BR apartments with Section 8 rental assistance. The waiting list will open on 9/7/2015 and close on 11/7/2015. Income limits apply. For a housing application, please call 952-876-9203. EHO.

North Memorial Needs Volunteers to Help Victims of Domestic Abuse

The Position: President/Chief Executive Officer The President/Chief Executive Officer provides leadership, vision, direction, and administration for the Minneapolis Urban League in fulfilling its mission. The President/Chief Executive Officer is the primary representative of the agency in the community and is directly responsible for its success. This is a fulltime, exempt position reporting to the Board of Directors.

Key Accountabilities: • Guides and leads board into effectively developing and executing strategic plans. Informs the board members and chair of programs, funding, and organizational changes. Prepares agenda and monthly reports for board.

• Oversees and directs the day-to-day operations, implements and administers MUL policies and procedures.

• Formulates plans for Board approval and administers major policies. Demonstrates leadership through strategic planning.

• Makes sound decisions.

• Directs Fiscal Management. Oversees financial planning and forecasting, prepares and implements an annual budget to ensure achievement of the Association’s goals, and ensures that funds are allocated properly to reflect current needs and future demands.

• Approves and monitors, with the Chief Financial Officer, all financial and accounting activities for the agency. Implements systems of internal controls to safeguard MUL funds; ensures fiscal accounting and reporting in accordance with standards of accounting for non-profit entities.

• Oversees Human Resource Administration. Ensures compliance with applicable laws, including State and City certifications.

• Cooperates with agency personnel to ensure that the highest quality of service is being rendered to clients and the community. Develops and oversees the quality assurance function of the agency. Ensures ongoing evaluation of service programs and involvement of service recipients in evaluation and program planning.

• Responsible for fund development, including fund raising and grant writing.

• Oversees community relations. Develops and maintains sound relationships with other community organizations, religious organizations, planning agencies, funding agencies, government agencies and officials and other groups/coalitions as appropriate.

• Ensures exceptional public relations. Serves as a spokesperson and representative for the organization to foster superior community relations with other agencies, clients, financial supporters, and the media. Assist board in the development and implementation of a public relations strategy designed to communicate the mission, programs, and services to the community.

Creates other effective outlets to represent the agency.

• Demonstrates effective problem solving.

• Maintains professional affiliations to enhance professional growth and development and to keep up with the latest trends in agency administration.

• Develops and/or seeks out programs that respond to identified community and constituent needs; ensures that programs are properly administered in a fiscally sound manner and audits program performance to ensure efficacy.

• Serves as community advocate for constituents. Participates in policy development and debate affecting constituents and stakeholders. Keeps abreast of legislation affecting MUL constituents.

• Oversee facilities. Ensure the effective use, management, security, and upkeep of association facilities, owned and rented.

Fax: 612.588.2031

Dedicated Runs Available. Frequent Home Time, Top Pay & Benefits; Monthly Bonuses & MORE! CDL-A, 1yr Exp. Req. EEOE/ AAP. LIMITED POSITIONS AVAILABLE. 866-370-4476 www.drive4marten.com

Administrative Assistant Brakins Consulting & Psychological Services Brakins Consulting& Psychological Services, LLC & the African American Child Wellness Institute seeks a highly motivated individual for a full-time position as an Administrative Assistant to work in a community-based private practice clinic that primarily serves African American children, adolescents and adult. We are seeking an energetic Administrative Assistant who can show initiative and leadership skills, has strong computer technical abilities, has their own transportation, has flexible hours and is willing to grow professionally with the company. The Administrative Assistant (AA) will be responsible for performing moderately complex to complex administrative tasks in support of the Executive/Clinic Director and the Mental Health Service Delivery Treatment team. Duties include extensive meeting scheduling, providing assistance to coordinate larger and complex meetings. Compiling information and preparing moderately complex documents, spreadsheets and reports using appropriate software; assisting, screening and/or selectively referring callers; handling complex and sensitive inquiries/calls from external/internal sources.

The AA is also responsible for confirming travel arrangements and managing payments for payroll and expense report reimbursement. The AA will also provide support within areas of reporting for business documentation and team/individual goals, personnel changes and department record keeping processes. The successful candidate proactively tracks procedures and deadlines. The candidate may work closely with both internal and external customers to meet service needs. The AA will also act as an onsite assistant for the Treatment team for miscellaneous duties such as equipment assistance, delivery support and supplies. Performing special projects as requested.

The successful candidate must have a minimum of 2 or 4 years of college plus 2 years experience as an administrative assistant; possess strong written and verbal communication skills and have experience with interacting with ethnically diverse mental health consumers.

Interested candidates should send a resume, interest letter and at least 3 references to: BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., LP, Clinic Director Brakins Consulting& Psychological Services, LLC & The African American Child Wellness Institute 4050 Olson Memorial Hwy # 195 Golden Valley, MN 55422 (Phone) 763-522-0100 (Fax) 763-588-0100 Email: bravadaakinsanya@hotmail.com

CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE

612.588.1313

ST. STEPHEN’S HUMAN SERVICES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

SafeJourney, a program serving North Memorial Medical Center and Maple Grove Hospital, helps patients and individuals in the community who are experiencing domestic abuse. Volunteer advocates are needed to provide a listening ear, support, safety planning, information and referral. You do not have to have previous knowledge or experience, but rather looking for people who are sensitive to the issue, caring, and non-judgmental. Advocates sign up for 2 on-call shifts per month. Flexible scheduling - daytime, overnights, and weekends. Training is provided.

Deadline to apply and schedule a short interview is January 26. Please call Suzy at 763-581-3942.

Page 10 • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Helena Brown

Rising star Helena Brown makes her Minnesota Opera debut

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer The Minnesota Opera kicked off its 2015 – 2016 season at the Ordway Music Theater this past weekend, with Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos,” staring Amber Wagner and featuring African-American opera singer, Helena Brown.

Wagner, acclaimed for her Ariadne at Chicago Lyric Opera, makes her Minnesota

Opera debut. Brown, who is also making her Minnesota Opera debut plays the role of Dryad.

“These fast-rising young American singers are destined for the world’s great stages.

All have made their Met debuts to great acclaim,” said artistic director. Dale Johnson. ‘“Ariadne auf Naxos’ has some of the finest music Richard Strauss ever wrote, but it’s also a fun and funny show. I’m thrilled to welcome this worldclass cast for what I know will

be four supremely entertaining performances.”

When the wealthiest man in town double-books a group of pretentious opera singers and a band of bawdy comedians as dinner entertainment at his chic loft, something’s gotta give.

The Prima Donna (Wagner) and her fellow singers, who’d planned to perform their serious opera (based on the legend of Ariadne), must now include the saucy comedy troupe’s antics in order to finish the show in time for the

evening’s fireworks display.

Acclaimed soprano Wagner makes her Minnesota Opera debut as Ariadne, one of her signature roles. A winner of the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Grand Finals, Wagner was chosen by Opera News as one of 25 artists believed “to break out and become major forces in the field in the coming decade.”

Brown made her European debut as Serena and Strawberry Woman in “Porgy and Bess” with New York Harlem

Productions, appearing in theaters such as Grand Théâtre de Genève, Chassé Theater and Amsterdam RAI. She also performed as Mrs. Herring in “Albert Herring” with the Bronx Opera.

Recently, she collaborated with Rebecca Erin Smith premiering the song, “Feast,” for Pierrot Ensemble at Manhattan School of Music, and sang Joseph Beckwith’s “Chandhok Poetry” in a world premiere at the New York Opera Exchange. Brown

also performed the role of Mother in Bellocq’s “Ophelia,” presented at the Kennedy Center.

Also staring with Wagner and Brown are Brian Jagde, who will be making his role debut as the god Bacchus.

Erin Morley makes her Minnesota Opera debut as the spitfire Zerbinetta. She has brought what The New York Times called the “silken clarity of her voice and the

OPERA TURN TO 11

insightnews.com

Insight News • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Page 11

Mikell Sapp

Joe Dowling

Guthrie Theater’s Joe Dowling receives 2015 Ivey Lifetime Achievement Award Joe Dowling, the Guthrie Theater’s recently retired artistic director, was honored at the 2015 Ivey Lifetime Achievement Award, the celebration of Twin Cities theater.

Critically-acclaimed actor Mikell Sapp received the Emerging Artist Award.

Dowling was the artistic director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for 20 years. Sapp performed with Pillsbury House Theatre (“Broke-ology,” “Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet”), Penumbra Theatre (“The Ballad of Emmett Till,” “Spunk”), Freshwater Theatre (Ivey Award-winning “The Beacon from Belle Isle”) and Mixed Blood Theatre (“P**** Valley”) and is a member of Blackout, an AfricanAmerican improv troupe based in the Twin Cities.

The 11th annual Ivey Awards attracted a sold out audience to the show designed to recognize and showcase the work of professional theater companies and artists over the past year. Based on evaluations completed by the more than 150 volunteer theater evaluators who saw more than 1,000 performances created by 78 professional theaters in the MinneapolisSt. Paul metropolitan area

from September 2014 through August 2015, three productions and eight individuals/ensembles were also recognized with 2015 Iveys.

Productions recognized were “Gabriel” (Walking Shadow Theatre Company) – Overall Excellence, “Nothing is Something” (Open Eye Figure Theatre) – Overall Excellence, and “Crime and Punishment” (Live Action Set) – Production Design.

Individual recognitions were given to Brian Sostek and Megan McClellan – choreographers and playwrights of “Trick Boxing” (Park Square Theatre), Peter Rothstein – director, “Romeo & Juliet” (Ten Thousand Things Theater Company), Claudia Wilkens and Barbara Kingsley – actors in “Gertrude Stein and A Companion” (Jungle Theater),Mathew

LeFebvre – costume designer for “The Mystery of Irma Vep” (Jungle Theater) and “A Christmas Carol 2014” (Guthrie Theater), Shá Cage – actor for “Grounded” (Frank Theatre), Joko Sutrisno – music director for “Prince Rama’s Journey” (Green T Productions) and Steve Tyler – music director for “The Pirates of Penzance” (Ordway Center for the Performing Arts). The ensemble cast of “Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet” (Pillsbury House Theatre) was also awarded.

The Iveys are unique among awards events in the country in that they are open to the public and that there are no nominees, set number of awards or predetermined award categories, with the exception of the Lifetime Achievement and the Emerging Artist Awards.

The artists and organizations

receiving special recognition are selected from evaluations completed by the general public and the volunteer theater evaluators. Each participating theater receives a vote to determine the Lifetime Achievement and Emerging Artist Awards.

ON STAGE

AT THE GUTHRIE NOW – OCTOBER 25

FREE PANEL DISCUSSION JUST ADDED!

An Evening

The Meaning in Mockingbird: Putting a Classic in the Continuum of Civil Rights, Race Relations and Social Justice

with

Jeffrey Osborne

Monday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Opera

CHRISTOPHER SERGEL based upon the novel by HARPER LEE directed by JOHN MILLER-STEPHANY adapted by

From 10 needlepoint precision” of her coloratura to the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna Staatsoper, Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper, the Opéra National de Paris, the Palau de les Arts in Valencia (Spain) and the Santa Fe Opera.

Rounding out the cast is Polish mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp, who has been described as a singer who “lights up the stage” (Opera Britannia). Hipp makes her company — as well as American — debut in the trouser role of The Composer.

Music Director Michael Christie returns for his fourth season to conduct the Minnesota Opera Orchestra.

“Ariadne auf Naxos” runs Oct. 1 – Oct. 4 at the Ordway, 345 Washington St., St. Paul.

Tickets are $25 – $200. For ticket information call the Minnesota Opera Ticket Office at (612) 333-6669.

Smooth Soulful Seductive September 29th | 7 PM September 30th | 7 & 9 PM

Sponsored by

The Guthrie WorldStage Series presents Actors Touring Company

SEPTEMBER 30 – NOVEMBER 1

production of

A powerful exploration of community and healing directed by

RAMIN

GRAY written by

DAVID

GREIG music by

JOHN

BROWNE

1010 Nicollet Mall, Downtown Minneapolis 612.332.5299 dakotacooks.com

612.377.2224 GUTHRIETHEATER.ORG

Page 12 • September 28 - October 4, 2015 • Insight News

insightnews.com Jeffrey Osborne

Vieux Farka Toure

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4

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. 28

Afoutayi Dance

FUNDRAISER Backpack fundraiser, Save the Kids/Education Behind the Walls Maplewood Pizza Ranch 1845 County Road D, E., Maplewood 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Volunteers from the organization, Save The Kids, will be serving food at Pizza Ranch to raise funds for their backpack and school supply program for young people coming out of juvenile detention.

Tuesday, Sept. 29

1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. $65 - $30

SOUL/FUNK

More information is available at www.savethekidsgroup.org.

Jeffrey Osborne Dakota Jazz Club

Legendary singer/songwriter Jeffery Osborne has released several gold and platinum albums and produced Top

40 hits such as LTD’s “Love Ballad,” “You Should Be Mine (the Woo Woo Song),” “Stay With Me Tonight” and “Love Power” with Dionne Warwick.

Hear him for two nights (Sept.

29 and Sept. 30) at the Dakota.

Wednesday, Sept. 30 PLAY/THEATRE “Freedom Daze” Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. $15 advance, $18 door Co-presented with Exposed Brick Theatre, “Freedom Daze” uses a multi-media approach to address the United States’ media “misrepresentation of the Middle East and persons

of Arab, Muslim or Middle Eastern backgrounds.”

“Freedom Daze” is written

by Aamera Siddiqui, directed

by Suzy Messerole and features performances by Leif Jurgenson, Ifrah Mansour, Eliza Rasheed, Katie Herron Robb, Aamera Siddiqui and Mohammed Yabdri.

Thursday, Oct. 1

storytelling tradition as practiced by African people in the Diaspora takes place over three days. Black Storytellers Alliance will bring together internationally recognized storytellers Thursday at Lundstrum, Friday at Ames Elks Lodge, and Saturday’s finale at Cowles Auditorium.

For more information go to www.blackstorytellers.com.

Friday, Oct. 2

FESTIVAL/STORYTELLING

DANCE/PERFORMANCE

24th Annual “Signifyin’ & Testifyin’” Master Storytelling Festival Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts 1617 N. 2nd St., Minneapolis Free with RSVP

Afoutayi Dance Walker West Music Academy 760 Selby Ave., St. Paul 7:30 p.m. $15 Suggested donation

This family-friendly exposition of the power of the oral

Afro-Cuban All Stars

Afoutayi Dance, Music & Arts Company promotes Haitian Folklore through teaching dance, music and culture to benefit and enrich the local community while simultaneously promoting cultural diversity, selfempowerment and leadership through the arts.

Saturday, Oct. 3 FESTIVAL/HIP-HOP/ROCK The Doomtree Zoo CHS Field 360 Broadway, St. Paul 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Doomtree presents its new independent music festival with Aesop Rock feat. Rob Sonic, Trash Talk, Shabazz Palaces, Open Mike Eagle, Serengeti, Aby Wolf, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, Anonymous Choir, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre.

Voice of Traditional Cuban Music Sunday, Oct. 4

"sweet as sugar, strong as rum” – Examiner

October 4th 7 & 9 PM 1010 Nicollet Mall, Downtown Minneapolis 612.332.5299 dakotacooks.com

WORLD/FOLK Vieux Farka Touré and Julia Easterlin Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 8 p.m. $35 Malian singer and guitarist Vieux Farka Touré plays alongside singer Julia Easterlin, touring their new album “Touristes.”