Insight News ::: 09.29.14

The Steeles perform ‘The Colors of Gershwin’ MORE ON PAGE 10

Insight News September 29 - October 5, 2014

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

The real issue: Opportunity gap leaves Black youths without diplomas, skills

Was reporting biased?

By Sen. Jeff Hayden and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

Readers should judge

We were troubled by claims from Minneapolis public schools (MPS) officials last week that they were strong-armed into partnering with Northside community-based organizations — under duress from ourselves (“North Side school effort called failure,” Sept. 12).

We were even more taken aback by a claim from an unnamed official that we went so far as to threaten to withhold state aid in order to get our way.

Untrue. We were not involved with anything of the sort.

What we were involved with is an ongoing struggle to address

Insight obtained a copy of Minneapolis Public Schools responses to questions from a Star Tribune reporter. The transcript is available online at www.insightnews.com/extra/ mps_transcript.pdf The document details why the District did not accept initial proposals from Community Standards Initiative (CSI) which were presented in 2011, and explains why there were no competitive bids for the 2013 contract work. The transcript said lack of documentation on a smaller scale 2011 contract was impacted by “staff turnover” presumably at MPS.

SENATORS TURN TO 2

Sen. Jeff Hayden (MN-62)

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (MN-59)

EDITORIAL TURN TO 5

Hayden will support DHS efforts to fix agency Senator Jeff Hayden (DFLMinneapolis) released the following statement concerning the recent audit of Community Action Minneapolis: The Department of Human Services’ audit of Community Action Minneapolis details alarming spending irregularities and an inexcusable misuse

of public funds by the CEO, Bill Davis. If these findings are shown to be true, Mr. Davis should resign and allow Community Action to move forward under new leadership.

As an elected official with a seat on a 15 member board, I shared in the responsibility for providing oversight of

Community Action Minneapolis on behalf of the public. My wife, Terri Hayden, accepted an appointment to serve on the board as my designee.

Terri’s professional background working with people struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency brought an important perspective to

the mission of the board. She took her responsibilities on the board very seriously and was not aware of any of the questionable spending detailed in the audit.

Terri did attend the annual strategic planning retreats at Arrowwood Resort with the rest of the board, and while family members could come

along, it was strictly at their own expense. As my designee on the board, the only costs that were covered by Community Action were for Terri, and I paid my own way. To be clear, neither Terri nor I accepted compensation for any cruises, spas, vacations to the Bahamas, or any other inappropriate, non-

board activities.

Again, I am extremely disappointed in the audit findings. I will support the Department of Human Services as they reach decisions regarding the next steps for Community Action and plan to resign from the board.

The instruction: What we must do to build and protect our community Commentary by Al McFarlane Editor-In-Chief Understand the facts presented here. Learn the motives behind disinformation strategies that attempt to derail and marginalize our community.

Focus the conversation on what we must do to advance our community interests.

The problem, I have often said in speeches and presentations, is: “We get the misery. They get the money!”

But the late former Minneapolis Urban League CEO Gary Sudduth prescribed

the proper response. He said, “Follow the money!”

Freedom fighter Spike Moss’ call for a “Fair Share Campaign” is even more important today, as multibillion dollar development and infrastructure improvement deals flood into the local economy in ways that can leave our community high and dry,

still broke, still unemployed, still underdeveloped and still mis-educated, if we don’t speak up and demand our fair share.

Equity is the order of the day and we must demand it.

It will not be given. It must be seized! Senators Jeff Hayden and Bobby Champion are responding to insult being

heaped on injury.

The injury? More than half of our children are being failed

by Minneapolis Public Schools.

The atrocity: Lucy Laney School drops from 13% to 9% in meeting performance standards.

The injury? Our community suffers poor health access and outcomes.

The injury? Our homeownership and wealth evaporated during the economic meltdown.

The injury? Our community has one of the highest unemployment rates in the

INSTRUCTION 5 TURN TO

HARTEAU SNUBS BLACK COMMUNITY

Police Chief claimed members of community would be threat

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

Janeé Harteau

227 years and counting Reflections on the United States Constitution

PAGE 2

It appears that no one is safe in Minneapolis – not even the city’s chief of Police.

Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau was scheduled to be a part of a community listening session on Sept.

18 at Sabathani Community Center in south Minneapolis, but a couple of hours before the event was to take place, the chief pulled out citing “credible information” of a planned attack on her.

“The MPD (Minneapolis Police Department) received credible information from a long standing community leader, in addition to a number of other sources, about planned physical disruptions at a ‘community listening session’ that I was scheduled to attend,” said Harteau in a statement provided to media. “Based on these known threats, which were outright and open in social media forums, I decided it is in the best interest of community public safety to cancel my appearance. I am disappointed because I looked forward to hearing from the

residents of Minneapolis.”

The listening session was put together for the community to address a myriad of concerns – in particular, how Black citizens are treated by members of the Minneapolis Police Department. Those associated with the event, which drew about 200 citizens ranging in age from the youth to the elderly, said the chief’s decision to not attend the meeting was an insult – in particular to the Black community.

“It was a slap in the face,” said Nekima Levy-Pounds, a professor of law at the University of St. Thomas

Law School and the founding director of the Community Justice Project. Levy-Pounds moderated the event. “I was stunned that a police chief who has hundreds of officers and all types of weapons would say she was fearful of the community. It was actually insulting to say that members of the community would be a threat to her.”

Levy-Pounds said there was not threat to the chief and when pressed, the chief pointed to a person’s Facebook posting

HARTEAU TURN TO 5

Health

Commentary

Education

African Americans are critical to helping fight ALS

Building partnerships between police officers and the communities they serve

Klobuchar, Franken highlight efforts to close the skills gap and boost STEM education

PAGE 3

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Page 2 • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Insight News

insightnews.com

227 years and counting: Reflections on the United States Constitution

By Dr. Artika R. Tyner Assistant Professor, University of St. Thomas College of Education, Leadership, and Counseling Sept. 17 marked the 227th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution.

This is a cause for celebration.

But, what exactly is the Constitution and why should we celebrate? For many, the Constitution symbolizes an ancient text that a few old men wearing wigs signed after a heated debate in Philadelphia. This is evidenced by the fact that most Americans when tested receive a grade of C minus on Constitutional history.

The Constitution is usually read in high school civics class but may not be revisited again during one’s lifetime. However, the legacy of the Constitution has far greater significance than what meets the eye. The Constitution represents the foundation of American heritage and offers a reflection of our Nation’s past, present, and future.

The Constitution is the cornerstone of American law and policy. It is the “supreme law” of the land offering an overarching framework for governance and establishing citizen’s rights and responsibilities. It is based upon six general principles, which reflect the power of a republic and the engagement of a democracy. The first principle is America’s identity as a popular sovereignty, which reflects the

Senators From 1 the single most critical issue for the future of our community and state: closing the underlying opportunity gap that leaves a staggering number of black youths without a diploma and the skills they need.

The case in question revolves around two communitybased organizations — the Minneapolis Urban League 13th Grade Initiative and the Community Standards Initiative (CSI) — that came before the Legislature with two separate funding requests during last

voice of the people and promotes representativeness. Secondly, a limited government was created by which power given by the people could only be exercised. The third principle is separation of powers evidenced by three independent, co-equal branches. Fourth, a system of checks and balances was created. Fifth, judicial review was established which provided courts with the oversight function of evaluating constitutionality.

The sixth principle is federalism, which provides for power shared between states and the Federal government.

The culmination of these principles formed the framework for the vision of a nation built upon a dual identity both a republic (government by the people) and a democracy (government for the people). Yet, this blueprint was incomplete since one principle was still yet looming.

The (seventh) principle, which is equal citizenship, emerged through the enactment of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. Equal citizenship would weave together the rich tapestry of the United States. It represented building a collective national identity that would embrace each individual regardless of his or her race or gender. Equal citizenship was not freely given but won through a process of struggle.

The Constitution reflects a history of struggle, an eternal struggle to ensure that “a more perfect union” would become a reality. High school civics classes focus on the struggle of our founders to become free from the tyranny of the British,

biennium’s budget debate. We were proud sponsors of both.

Both bills moved through the customary, transparent committee process in the Minnesota House and Senate, each being endorsed for inclusion in the larger education budget bill. Ultimately, the 13th Grade Initiative, which focuses on identifying and assisting young adults who are unemployed and not on a path to college or a career, was appropriated only $600,000 of its $1 million request.

The second funding request, for CSI, a community group designed to engage atrisk students during and after school, was moving in a similar

Artika Tyner

The Constitution reflects a history of struggle, an eternal struggle to ensure that “a more perfect union” would become a reality.

the notorious battle of the Boston Tea Party, and the victory during the Revolutionary War. This is embodied in Patrick Henry’s statement of “give me liberty or give me death.” This victory was won however at the time of the Constitution’s inception liberty was not realized for many.

African-Americans, in particular, were excluded from enjoying the full rights of citizenship as outlined in

the Constitution due the racial caste system that relegated them to the chains of bondage and enslavement. Therefore, the fight for liberty continued. This clearly illustrates that the Constitution reflects words on paper but people breathe life into the words. One such notable example was the enactment of the 13th Amendment in 1865 that abolished slavery.

Abolitionists, like Frederick Douglass took a courageous stand

direction until MPS officials offered an alternative. Rather than administer funds for community-based programs at the state level, MPS officials argued they would be a better arbiter for establishing and financing these partnerships.

After the usual discussions and negotiations among all the stakeholders, we landed on a compromise. In their next budget, MPS agreed to create a $500,000 funding stream devoted to community-based organizations aimed at closing the achievement gap, provided they had accountability measures and success metrics in place.

Because both the 13th Grade Initiative and CSI had already

won broad legislative support, they would both be considered for — not guaranteed — funding through this grant.

With the process now out of the Legislature’s hands, we played no role as MPS negotiated a $375,000 contract with CSI over the course of a year, which the school board approved unanimously on its consent agenda last May. We were similarly not involved in MPS’s recent decision to end its contract with CSI. Nonetheless, we are disappointed by this latest news and are deeply concerned over what we fear is a signal that MPS is unwilling to pursue good faith partnerships with community-

to move slaves from second-class citizenship to the full realization of their rights. He challenged America to live out its creed as outlined in the Preamble of the Constitution of “we the people,” which is a message of a collective identity. He warned, “The relation between the white and colored people of this country is the great, paramount, imperative, and allcommanding question for this age and nation to solve.” This moral question was challenged during the Civil War and debated on the floor of Congress. The end result was the enactment of the 13th Amendment, which created a pathway to equal citizenship by eradicating the distinction between being born a slave and being born free.

The 14th Amendment is yet another example of the struggle for justice where “we the people” took a stand to make the Constitution’s values of liberty, inclusion and equality to life become a lived reality. Over the passage of time, it is the most cited amendment in court cases. The 14th Amendment was at the crux of the Civil Rights Movement along with the 15th Amendment, which provided equal access to political engagement. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brought the words of the Constitution to remembrance during his “I Have a Dream” speech. King challenged, “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was

a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the ‘unalienable rights’ of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’”

However, this promissory note was marked insufficient funds despite the fact that the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments had been enacted. During the Civil Rights Movement, people from across the America challenged the moral conscience of our nation in order to uphold the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is evidenced by the adoption of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. These examples illustrate that through the Constitution, a nation was born and “we the people” were given a birthright of liberty.

Two hundred and twentyseven years and still counting and, “The Constitution is one of the most important documents,” according to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

We celebrate the Constitution since it is the blueprint for our national identity and represents our values of justice and freedom.

With the celebration of each year, we are still yet reminded that the struggle to make this vision a reality still continues. This is also a reminder of our individual responsibility to ensure that “we the people” are represented in our government by voting and remaining engaged in the political process.

based organizations in support of their underperforming schools.

Year after year, we lament the status quo, as far too many of our children continue to fall through the same cracks and gaps, beginning adult life without a diploma and unable to get a job or support themselves.

The contributing factors are well known: low reading proficiency, high absenteeism, low parental involvement, behavior problems and excessive suspensions.

As a result, Minneapolis public schools graduated only 43.6 percent of black students last year.

When you think about how many children of color over the course of the last 10 years

have been failed by our current approach, you can see how the impact of this academic achievement gap extends beyond a few Minneapolis neighborhoods. When you stop and reflect on the changing demographics in our state and our nation, you begin to understand how it will impact everyone’s future prosperity.

Considering all of this, as we wrestle with policy remedies for the chronic disparity in academic achievement among students of color in Minneapolis, we are confronted with what experience has taught us — meaningful, lasting change

Dr. Artika R. Tyner is an assistant professor at the University of St. Thomas College of Education, Leadership, and Counseling.

SENATORS TURN TO 5

Healthy Recipes Recipe: Breakfast burrito

By Mayo Clinic Staff Dietitian’s tip: By using egg substitutes instead of whole eggs and substituting vegetables for sausage and cheese, you cut out much of the fat and cholesterol in this breakfast burrito.

Serves 1 Ingredients 1/2 cup chopped tomato 2 tablespoons chopped onion 1/4 cup frozen corn 1/4 cup egg substitute 1 whole-wheat tortilla, 6 inches in diameter 2 tablespoons salsa Directions In a small skillet, add the chopped tomato, onion and corn. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are soft and moisture has evaporated. Add the egg substitute and scramble with the vegetables until cooked through, about 3 minutes.

To serve, spread the egg mixture in the center of the tortilla and top with salsa. Fold in both sides of the tortilla up over the filling, then roll to close. Serve immediately.

Nutritional analysis per serving Serving size :1 burrito Total carbohydrate 40 g Dietary fiber 11 g Sodium 629 mg Saturated fat 1 g Total fat 4 g Trans fat 0 g Cholesterol 1 mg Protein 15 g

Monounsaturated fat 1 g Calories 256 Sugars 0 g DASH Eating Plan Servings Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid Servings Diabetes Meal Plan Exchanges

insightnews.com

Insight News • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Page 3

HEALTH African Americans are critical to helping fight ALS ALS. Donating DNA is quick and simple. It can be a blood donation. If you are scared of needles, you can donate saliva.

If you are not suffering from ALS, educate yourself about the disease so that you can disseminate the information to help others make informed decisions about study enrollment.

Volunteer with non-profit organizations on outreach initiatives.

The last several months have shown that the spread of information and action can allow us to bond as human beings and have a profound impact on others. The ALS community is grateful to have

By Janel Johnson, Ph.D. Laboratory of Neurogenetics National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health By now, we have all probably seen the Ice Bucket Challenge.

It is wonderful that people from all walks of life come together to use social media for such good. The unity and generosity of hundreds of thousands of participants from different backgrounds has done even more than lead to donations of tens of millions of dollars to non-profit organizations in the name of ALS, it has raised awareness of this devastating condition.

Many people now know about ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a devastating condition in which patients develop progressive muscle weakness leading to paralysis and death by respiratory failure, typically within 2-3 years of the first symptoms. The urgency of finding a cure is nationally recognized.

How do researchers intend to cure ALS? One of the first steps is to figure out what genes are damaged and lead to the disease.

To find these genes, scientists

NIH

Dr. Janel Johnson are comparing the DNA of people with the disease to the DNA of people who do not have it. After genes are identified, the hope is that therapies will be developed to target what is damaged. In several diseases, it has already been shown that some people will respond better to one treatment over others because of the DNA they carry.

A troubling fact is that African Americans do not often volunteer for genetics research

studies. As an African American and an ALS researcher at the National Institutes of Health, I rarely receive and study DNA from African Americans.

Without African-American DNA in research studies, it is unclear how often we get ALS. That, frighteningly, has the potential to leave African Americans out of the equation when effective treatments for the disease are developed. It also hinders us scientists from

seen a range of people—from our sisters and brothers, to our neighbors, to athletes like Lebron James, entertainers such as Lady Gaga, and political leaders such as President George W. Bush, take up the Ice Bucket Challenge and take notice of ALS. I’m now challenging African Americans to help us continue on the path to a cure by doing what it takes to make sure we are included in genetics study of ALS. My research team is conducting a study. If you or a family member are affected with ALS or a related disorder, we hope to hear from you. You can e-mail us at cc100h@nih. gov to find out more.

learning everything about the disease regardless of ethnicity.

We need comprehensive information about DNA from all backgrounds to know more precisely how the disease works.

So, what can African Americans do to help take us toward a cure for ALS? Here are a few steps to consider: Enroll in a genetics research study if you are suffering from ALS or a disease like

Statewide briefing reveals earned sick time access rates vary widely based on county of residence TakeAction Minnesota and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research released a new report detailing access rates to earned sick time in Minnesota based on county of residence. The report, which can be found here, is a companion to data released earlier in the month, detailing statewide access rates to earned sick leave across the state, which affects over one million Minnesota workers.

State Representative John Lesch (St. Paul, 66B), chief author in the Minnesota House of a bill to guarantee earned sick and safe time for Minnesota workers, joined the call. “The figures in this report mirror what we saw back in 2007 when I first introduced earned sick time legislation.

And things aren’t getting better for Minnesota’s working families. The data shines a spotlight on some of the key reasons I’m authoring earned sick and safe time legislation.

Lack of access is unfair, it’s unsustainable for our state, and it’s bad for families and for business.�

The report shows that access to earned sick leave varies considerably by one’s county of residence. The more populous metro-based counties, including Scott, Carver, Washington, Dakota and Anoka, rank highest in terms of access to earned sick benefits. These counties perform better than the statewide average of 59.2% and can be attributed to a higher concentration of white-collar, management occupations and skilled professions as well as higher levels of access to fulltime, living-wage jobs.

Residents of the southeast portion of St. Louis county, including Duluth and Hermantown, are least likely to have access to sick leave in the state, with fewer than half of workers in these two cities having access. (Residents of the more northeastern portion of St. Louis county enjoy slightly higher access rates.) Liz Olson, TakeAction Minnesota’s Organizing & Policy Manager, said the findings match her experience in working with women and families in Duluth. “Too many workers, especially women raising kids and working in service-sector and hospitality jobs, face the impossible choice between caring for their kids or family members or losing a paycheck or their job altogether. Ensuring that all Minnesota workers have access to earned sick and safe time is smart public policy and will improve the economic security for people across our state.�

Virtually all Greater Minnesota counties have access rates below the state average of 59.2%, with two exceptions -- Olmsted and

Wright counties. In over thirty counties nearly half of workers, fewer than 55%, lack access to earned sick time. Based on county of residence, access to earned sick time varies from a high of 65.7% (Scott) to a low of 49.6% (the southeast portion of St. Louis county).

Lesch and Olson both believe these geographic inequities deserve legislative attention next year. While a detailed ranking of county access can be found here, those with the highest, and lowest, access rates include: Counties with the highest access rates, all above the state average of 59.2%: Scott, Carver, Washington, Olmsted, Dakota, Wright, Anoka, Hennepin Counties with the lowest access rates, far below the state average: St. Louis, Stearns, Itasca, Carlton, Cass and Aitkin Jessica Milli, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, also reviewed key findings from a broader statewide analysis released on September 12. That analysis found that 41% of Minnesota workers lack access to even a single day off to care for themselves, a sick child or loved one. Key findings of data broken down by occupation, gender, race/ethnicity, hours worked and earnings level

include: 41%, over 1.1 million Minnesota workers, lack access to earned sick time benefits including a full 40% of private-sector workers (only 18% of public-sector workers lack access); 60% of Latino workers in the state lack access to earned sick time benefits, significantly less likely than workers in any other racial/ethnic group, followed by 47% of AfricanAmerican workers who lack access; Access to earned sick time varies substantially by occupation, with 71% of those in full-time positions having access while only 26% of those working part-time having access to earned sick time benefits; Service workers in particular are least likely to have access to earned sick time benefits, with only 35% having access. This includes food service and hospitality workers who work in close contact with the public; 80% of full-time workers in the highest earnings brackets, making over $65,000 annually, have access while only 34% of full-time workers in the lowest earnings brackets, making $15,000 or less, have access to earned sick time benefits.

The county-by-county access report, developed by the Institute for Women’s Policy

Save the Dates!

October 7, 8, and 9th 2014

Research, details access rates for individuals 18 years and older, living in Minnesota regardless of their place of work. Data was culled from the 2010-2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the 2012 IPUMS American Community Survey (ACS).

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Page 4 • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Insight News

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BUSINESS Car review: 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD LT

By Frank S. Washington NNPA Columnist DETROIT – There’s no other way to say it, the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe was big. Our test vehicle had a 116-inch wheelbase, its overall length was 204 inches, it was 80.5 inches wide and it was 74.4 inches tall or 6’ 2.”

No matter what way you cut it, or looked at it, the new Chevrolet Tahoe, like the old one, is a serious sport-utility.

Outfit it with bench seats for all three rows and it could carry nine people, though it would be better if those in the third row were smaller.

Our test vehicle had bucket seats in the front so we could only carry five adults and two or three kids in the third row, depending on their size and how they got along. Because

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler

2015 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD LT we had a four-wheel-drive model, our test vehicle weighed 5,683 pounds. More than half that weight, 52 percent, was distributed in the front while 48 percent rested in the rear.

And even though the Tahoe had body on frame construction, Chevy engineers managed to lose some 1,600 pounds worth of characteristics. In other words, the Tahoe did not drive

like it weighed more than two and a half tons.

It had an independent coilover-shock; twin-tube shock absorbers; 36mm hollow stabilizer bar suspension in the

front and a solid axle with fivelink location and coil springs plus a 28mm hollow stabilizer bar in the rear suspension.

The only time we really felt the heft of our 2015 Chevrolet

Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham

FUNdraising Good Times

Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford

By Mel and Pearl Shaw

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White

Trying to receive financial aid for college? How do you feel when completing the ten page FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Student Aid) form? Could reducing it to two questions improve the process? Senators Alexander (TN) and Bennett (CO) believe more students could pursue a college education if the form

were simplified. They want to reduce FAFSA to a postcard that asks two questions: What is your family size? And, what was your household income two years ago? Using earlier tax data – and a simple “look up” table – would let students know how much financial aid they are eligible for when they start looking at colleges.

The Financial Aid Simplification and Transparency (FAST) Act proposes to streamline federal grant and loan programs by combining two federal grant programs into one Pell grant program and reducing the six different federal loan programs into three: one undergraduate loan program, one graduate

Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi

Good-bye, short-term fixes.

Hello, long-term improvements.

Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Lydia Schwartz Ryan T. Scott Toki Wright Photography Michele Spaise David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

CAR TURN TO 5

Simplifying financial aid

Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane

Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed

Tahoe 4WD LT was going over expansion joints on some of the expressway overpasses here.

With a 5.3-liter V8 that made 355 horsepower and 383 pound feet of torque, the 2015 Tahoe was relatively nimble on the expressway.

Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a column mounted shifter, the Tahoe could tote 1,760 pounds and tow 8,400 pounds.

It had an automatic locking rear differential that could be manually set on four-wheel or two-wheel-drive. Our Tahoe got 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway and a combined 18 mpg.

We started to switch off the lane departure alert but decided to leave it on. The reasoning being we thought it wise to know when we drifted out of the lane. The rearview camera, with cross traffic alert as well as the blind side alert systems were all welcomed driving aides. The test vehicle also had a front collision alert system.

There was a lot of equipment geared towards making the driving experience easy and safe. Indeed, this 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe was chocked full of creature comforts. It had adjustable pedals, heated seats

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loan program, and one parent loan program.

The bill would also restore year-round Pell grant availability so students who want to accelerate their education by attending college during the summer can do so.

It seeks to discourage overborrowing by limiting the amount a student is able to borrow based on enrollment: a part-time student could only take out a part time loan. It also seeks to simplify repayment options by streamlining repayment programs and creating two plans, an income based plan and a 10-year repayment plan.

Financial aid by the numbers: There are approximately 22 million students enrolled in more than 6,000 institutions of higher education in the U.S. In 2013, taxpayers lent more than $102 billion in new federal student loans to 10 million college students. 9.2 million students received a Pell grant in 2012-2013 with an average award of $3,477 and total federal expenditures of $33 billion.

Here’s what we know: college education is critical to the economic success of individuals, families, and communities. Financial aid plays a key role in providing access to college. Completing FAFSA is complicated and time consuming: many people give up. With bipartisan sponsors this proposed legislation could remove a barrier to education and increase access. We also know policy changes can have unintended consequences.

When changes were made to the Parent PLUS loan program the consequences were devastating for students, their families and the colleges they attended. Many students could not complete their education because they were suddenly no longer eligible for these loans. Decreasing enrollment had a dramatic impact on colleges and universities with substantial numbers of first generation students. We don’t know what unintended impacts this legislation could have: we do know that when people come together we can find solutions.

To learn more contact Bob Moran, in Senator Alexander’s office - robert_moran@help. senate.gov or (202) 224-6770; or Juliana Herman in Senator Bennet’s office - Juliana_ herman@bennet.senate.gov or (202) 224-1334.

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success.

For help with your campaign visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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Instruction From 1 nation.

The injury? ... You know the

Harteau From 1 asking people to wear red shirts to the event. Levy-Pounds said she believed the red shirts were to symbolize the blood of victims of police brutality.

“This was a clear opportunity to show the community that the chief was serious about the concerns of police and community

Car From 4 in both the first and second rows. And the third row seats would fold flat and come back up with the push of a button, they were power.

Our test vehicle had 20-inch polished aluminum wheels;

Senators From 2 requires collaboration and buyin from all the stakeholders in the community.

By funding the Northside Achievement Zone, for example, we have seen the strides a neighborhood can make when a community-based organization takes a holistic approach, assisting families through their immediate poverty while putting their children on pathways to college and careers.

No less important, we won

Insight News • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Page 5 statistics already... It’s not just one disparity, one problem. It’s many, and they are all related.

The insult? Disinformation disguised as reporting that deflects attention from the real problem. The Minneapolis

Public Schools is a $750 million business with a 50% failure rate when it comes to our children.

The insult? Ignoring or attempting to explain away or rationalize the malaise of illwill and ill-intent, indifference,

ineffectiveness, and inefficiency which indict our state.

The instruction: Here is what we must do: 1. Rally to support politicians that are really focused on solving the problems for our community,

by knowing and understanding their work to address inequities, disparities and solution oriented opportunities that build capacity, jobs, and wealth in our community.

2. Vote and bring friends to

the polls 3. Question politicians that sit on the sideline and are not bringing home any resources.

Demand written plans and reports on what they produce for our community.

interaction, but instead she was missing in action,” said LevyPounds.

While Harteau was a no show, the forum went on as scheduled with city council members Alondra Cano, Cam Gordon and Elizabeth Glidden and Rep. Raymond Dehn all in attendance. Panelists who did show were Dr. Rose Brewer, Jennifer Singleton and Jason Sole. Along with Harteau, another no show was Minneapolis City Attorney Susan Segal. Segal gave no

reason for her not showing up.

In a later statement, Harteau said she still wants to dialogue with the community … but on her turf.

“I made a very difficult but necessary decision to cancel an appearance at a ‘community listening session.’

I want to be clear that I am more than interested in having this conversation, and many others, provided they are conducted in safe and productive environments,” said Harteau. “Community

engagement is paramount to the Minneapolis Police Department. It is the reason the Chief’s Advisory Council meets regularly, to talk about that very link between our officers and the communities we serve.”

Harteau said she has called for a special meeting of the advisory council to make up for her not appearing at the south Minneapolis event.

Levy-Pounds said the community deserves an apology from the chief.

“We want a public apology from Chief Harteau for not attending the scheduled community forum and for mischaracterizing the community with her racially coded language,” said LevyPounds, who said the chief several times referred to north Minneapolis sources as the reason for the so called threat. Levy-Pounds noted that north Minneapolis is often used at a synonym for African-Americans and she further pointed to the fact

that the meeting took place in south Minneapolis, saying again there was no need to reference north Minneapolis in her decision to pull out of the discussion.

“Her use of the term north Minneapolis was racial and it was deliberate,” said LevyPounds.

Insight News requested an interview with Harteau but through a spokesperson, she declined.

it had Chevrolet’s MyLink system with an eight-inch touch screen. There was a rear seat entertainment system, a navigation system, two 110volt sockets, a semi smart key, remote start, heated steering wheel, front and rear park assist, a sun roof and a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel.

A couple of USB jacks, an auxiliary jack, satellite radio, a slot for an SD card were

all part of an entertainment package that would play or let you listen to just about anything on a premium audio system.

And all of it was in a rugged sport-utility with real off road capability.

The Tahoe’s acceleration was good, it had nimble handling and even though it was bigger than most vehicles on the road, it didn’t feel that way. It cornered without a lot of body

sway. It ran quiet and of course at that size it smoothed out the pavement no matter the ruts or warbles or potholes.

The seats were comfortable.

Of course, sight lines were great. Our Chevrolet Tahoe was really quiet. About the only thing to quibble about was the lack of space behind the third row. There was some but not a lot. Still, since either side of the 40/60 third row seat could be

lowered with the push of button that really wasn’t an issue.

At $53,000, the base price of the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD LT didn’t seem out of line with the vehicle. Add a bunch of options that included what Chevrolet called a second row bench power release (the

seat back released and folded forward by pushing a button in the rear), and the total of $60,855 didn’t seem bad either.

bonding dollars to support Minneapolis Swims’ effort to renovate the Phillips pool so they can advance their mission to give swimming lessons to the neighborhood’s AfricanAmerican kids (who are up to 10 times more likely to drown in a swimming pool than are white kids).

We were also eager to support the aptly named Everybody Wins MN program, which is reinforcing our underperforming schools by partnering employees from area businesses and organizations with more than 1,000 students for regular, one-on-one reading

sessions.

Of course there are no simple solutions to the achievement gap, but these success stories demonstrate how everybody working together in a superlocal, community-building initiative can improve outcomes for young people. Based on this model, we believe groups like CSI and the 13th Grade Initiative have the right idea.

Working in collaboration with students, teachers, parents and administrators is essential to achieving better family engagement, higher attendance, and more rapid intervention before it’s too late.

We always expect scrutiny of our effort to build partnerships with community groups and we welcome any extra attention paid to the stark racial disparities in Minneapolis schools. But we challenge critics to look at the model and the priorities of these community-based organizations — not the personalities — as they offer constructive solutions to resolving the achievement gap.

with Clarence Hightower as project manager with oversight of finances. The document said Senator Champion and Hayden “lobbied” the district to support contracting with CSI, but the transcript uses no such language as “strongarmed”, and responded to the reporter’s question with

the satement: “both felt strongly that community organizations needed to be a part (of) our work to improve parental engagement and help provide more mental health services to students.”

So the question becomes, do voters and constitutents expect their elected representatives to

advocate for resources that allow the community to participate in the solution side of the education equation, particularly in light of ongoing abysmal failure, as reflected in test scores and graduation rates of Black children? Voice your opinion at www.insightnews.com.

Jeff Hayden and Bobby Joe Champion, both DFLers, represent Minneapolis in the Minnesota Senate.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com

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Editorial From 1 The District made it clear that its contract was not with Al Flowers, as suggested in the StarTribune article, but with the organization,

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Page 6 • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Insight News

COMMENTARY Building partnerships between police officers and the communities they serve

By Ben Jealous What is community policing?

In the wake of increased shootings in Ferguson and around the country, there has been a renewed public interest in the role of police, the extent of police brutality, and the prevalence of racial bias.

These are not new issues, and in fact a number of organizations have been working for decades to increase trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Among these is the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), a nonprofit leadership program headquartered in Washington DC, whose leaders I spoke with recently.

Founded in 1984, NCBI focuses on eliminating prejudice and resolving intergroup conflict. They work in cities across the U.S. and overseas to build the capacity of local leaders in schools, college campuses, police departments, and environmental organizations to lead prevention-oriented workshops and to intervene in the face of tough inter group conflict. One of NCBI’s key programs, the Law Enforcement Community Citizen Project, focuses on building productive relationships between police and the communities they serve.

The NCBI Law Enforcement Community Citizen Project was initially funded in 2002 by a grant from the COPS office (the office of Community Policing at the US Department of Justice) to work in Bethlehem, PA and King County, WA. Since then the program has been implemented in Atlantic City, NJ as well as numerous communities throughout Pennsylvania,

Ben Jealous Missoula, MO, and Seattle, WA. NCBI is called on to bridge the divide between community members and police officers.

NCBI leads Train the Trainer programs, Welcoming Diversity and Inclusion Workshops, and Leadership Institutes for officers and community activists to educate them in skills to foster cooperative relationships.

Some communities have contacted NCBI when there have been specific difficulties between white police officers and people or neighborhoods of color that have been singled out by police. From their experience, NCBI has learned that it is best to offer communities a prevention-oriented, trust building approach. This way, NCBI builds the ongoing capacity of law enforcement and community activists to work in partnership to increase safety for all citizens in the community.

I spoke with Fabienne Brooks, who along with Guillermo Lopez is co-director of NCBI’s Law Enforcement Program. Brooks is a retired Chief of Detectives for the King County Police Department in Seattle, WA. She was the first

Black female officer in county history to be hired as a deputy, and throughout her career she made a point to immerse herself in the community that she served. The neighborhood she patrolled was the same neighborhood where she attended church and raised her family. After 26 years on the job, she retired and joined NCBI so she could continue her passion for community policing.

Ms. Brooks told me that “an important part of community policing occurs when an officer recognizes that they are part of a community, and the community understands the same about the officer. It includes forming empathetic relationships between law enforcement and community members, which results in increased officer safety and safety for all members of the community.”

The NCBI Law Enforcement Community Partnership project builds trust between law enforcement and community leaders by helping each side to understand the daily realities of the other. Each has a key story to tell. Each deserves respectful listening. By teaching listening skills and conflict resolution practices and by helping each side see the humanity and legitimate concerns of the other, trust and partnership increases. In addition, NCBI teaches specific skill sets that help each side to confront the biases they have learned about each other that get in the way of equitable treatment of the entire community-- particularly the equitable treatment of people from different racial groups.

NCBI believes in practices that will bring about institutional change not one-time trainings

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Insight News • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Page 7

LIFESTYLE A reminder to reset your emotional clock Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Every year about this time, I share my insight on the need to reset your emotional clock.

With the holidays approaching coupled with year-end and New Year resolutions, the need to be emotionally strong is essential.

What do you do when you get

overwhelmed? How do you deal with the stress and the pressure that each day brings? Every day, a little more pressure is added to your emotional reservoir. Every day it gets closer to capacity.

You must learn to reset your emotional clock and refresh your spiritual reservoir.

Your emotional clock must be reset. When I turn on my home computer in the morning, it goes through a series of bleeps and flashes which it does every time it starts up. It checks to make sure all of the drives and the cylinders are operating correctly. The computer then makes the minor adjustments

necessary to keep it running smoothly. It checks itself against itself. These adjustments are an essential part of the well-being and longevity of the computer.

If your home computer needs to check itself daily, you also need to check daily the computer that is in your brain. You are more complex and complicated than a computer. Daily self-evaluation and adjustments keep your life’s hard drive running smoothly.

The morning is the best time for self-evaluation. Many people skip this all-important function for a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning. Important selfchecks are not being performed.

As a result of this, their cylinders are skipping, their main memory is failing, and their system is headed for a crash. Quiet time leads to self-examination, and examination is necessary to remain healthy. We all must regularly check our mental and emotional condition.

Your spiritual clock must also be reset. Men and women need daily quiet time with God. The man often carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, and the woman often carriers the family calendar, schedule and details on hers. They are both complicated systems that are comprised of a spirit, soul and

body. This complexity is further complicated by the combination of their divine destiny, the things they have experienced in the past and the present consequences for their actions. Without God to sort through their emotional baggage, men and women will explode emotionally and physically, and the whole world will suffer. When this happens, our community as a whole will be at risk.

You are heading into the busy season. The need to calm down and slowdown is all around you. When you reset your internal clock, you reset your emotional clock as well. Inner

peace produces outer peace. You are able to face the world and the things in it without losing perspective on what is important.

Our families benefit from this peace. This peace is like a river that flows from the heart of God into the heart of men and women. As the weather cools off, emotions should cool off as well.

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.

What do you need to live stress free?

Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson Do you ever think about how you would feel if you could spend most of your time doing things that make you feel good about yourself? I often think about all

the things I have to do during the course of the day and what little time I have to do them. However, I never find myself thinking about what I could do during my long day that would help me to release some stress. Yes there is reward in completing goals and accomplishing your daily task, but I am talking about taking the time out to reflect on what it is you need to live stress free.

There are so many people that I know who have so much stress on their jobs and in their daily lives that I am surprised that they

make it to the next day. I know people personally who have told me that they would do anything to just have a day that is not filled with drama and worry. I can’t imagine how this must feel. Sure I have stress in my life sometimes, but I thank God that I am able to relax at the end of each day and reflect on how my day went. Not many people can do that.

If your day is full of stress maybe it’s time to do some things that could eliminate some of that stress. If you work a stressful job, maybe it’s time to reach out and

start working toward that goal of starting your own business or researching colleges to return to school. If you are in a stressful relationship, maybe it’s time to reevaluate the relationship. No one should be living in a state of depression that is stressing them out on a daily basis. Taking a look at why you are not taking care of yourself is where you could start.

We are usually stressed out when we are stretching ourselves too thin and not looking out for what’s most important. Find the time to do something once a day or maybe

even once or twice a week that would eliminate some of the stress in your life. You may be surprised at how your life changes and how you start to feel! TAKE CARE OF YOU! And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving

for greatness.

Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach.

She can be reached via her website at www.thequeensproject. com or email at penny@ thequeensproject.com.

Concert kicks off Church Anniversary Celebration Rapids, Iowa, from which she is a graduate. She is also vice chair of Johnson C. Smith University Board of Trustees, an HBCU; the Foundation for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and Graywolf Press,

CONCERT TURN TO 8 Rev. Nazim B. Fakir (l) and Nachito Herrera

Willie Dean

Shirley J. Hughes St. Peter’s AME Church kicked off a yearlong celebration of its 135th anniversary with a recent concert.

The event, which featured pianist Nachito Herrera and his orchestra, and the St. Peter’s AME church choir, attracted more than 200 concertgoers.

“Nachito Herrera is a blessing to St. Peter’s AME Church and this community,” said the Rev. Nazim B. Fakir, pastor of St. Peter’s AME Church. “Concertgoers enjoyed the best in Latin, jazz and gospel music performed by one of the Twin Cities’ finest musicians.”

Shirley Hughes will chair this year’s celebration.

“This concert was the first of many events that we will host over the next year to celebrate this important milestone,” said Hughes.

A native of Minneapolis, Hughes’ family ties to St. Peter’s extend back to 1943 when her parents became members. Hughes, a retired business executive, currently serves as a director on the boards of Coe College, Cedar

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Page 8 • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Insight News

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EDUCATION Klobuchar, Franken highlight efforts to close the skills gap and boost STEM education At an event at Uponor in Apple Valley, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken highlighted efforts to close the skills gap and boost STEM education in Minnesota high schools and community colleges.

Klobuchar and Franken were joined by students and faculty from Apple Valley High School, the recent recipient of a nearly $3 million federal grant to establish a STEM focus and create partnerships with colleges and local businesses.

Both senators have pressed legislation to close the nation’s “skills gap,” which has left more than 3 million jobs unfilled because employers can’t find employees with the right training.

“For Minnesota to succeed in the 21st century economy, we need a 21st century education system,” said Klobuchar.

“The STEM program at Apple Valley is a perfect example of students receiving training for the jobs of tomorrow that businesses are creating today. I will continue working to expand these opportunities to students so we can train the scientists, engineers, and inventors of tomorrow.”

“Our nation’s global competitiveness depends on how well we prepare our students in STEM fields, but right now, we’re lagging behind,” said Franken. “In Minnesota alone, we’re going to have to fill more than 180,000 STEM jobs by 2018. As I travel around our state, I hear from schools,

Senators Klobuchar and Franken meeting with Apple Valley students and business leaders about the importance of STEM education and closing the skills gap in Minnesota. businesses and communities that high-tech jobs are going unfilled because people don’t have the skills to fill them. I enjoyed seeing firsthand the great work that Apple Valley High School is doing to prepare students for those jobs, and I look forward to supporting programs like this

one and pushing to make them available to students all across Minnesota.”

Klobuchar’s legislation, the Innovate America Act, would fund 100 new STEM high schools and boost the number of computer science teachers in elementary and

secondary schools. The bill would also help increase the competitiveness of smalland medium-sized businesses by promoting and rewarding schools, technical colleges, and universities that focus on STEM programs and removing red tape and reducing production costs

for manufacturing businesses.

Franken has a bill, the STEM Master Teacher Corps Act, that would reward the best STEM teachers in Minnesota and across the country and give them the opportunity to serve as mentors to other STEM teachers. Franken has also

made workforce development a major priority, and successfully fought to include support for partnerships between businesses and two-year colleges in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was passed into law earlier this summer.

MPS signs pact with Hiawatha Academies Minneapolis Public Schools has signed a collaboration agreement with Hiawatha Academies. This is the first district-charter compact in the state of Minnesota.

“This is a big step,” said Dr. Bernadeia H. Johnson, superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. “We are committed to providing MPS students an education that prepares them for college and career. Offering our students

high-quality education options is important to us, and Hiawatha will be part of this effort.”

Eli Kramer, executive director of Hiawatha, agreed.

“We welcome the opportunity to formalize our partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools,” Kramer said. “We share many of the same goals, like closing the achievement gap, and we look forward to working in deeper partnership

with MPS to ensure every child in Minneapolis is successful.”

The collaboration aligns with MPS’ goal to close the achievement gap in the next five years. To reach that goal, MPS is looking to work differently and build meaningful partnerships that will ensure there is a quality school for every child in Minneapolis.

Discussions with Hiawatha began in 2010, with MPS

working to pass the districtcharter collaboration law into state statute in 2011.

The agreement offers both organizations an opportunity to share resources and knowledge. MPS sold two buildings to Hiawatha to house its academies. Hiawatha will participate in MPS student enrollment activities, and information on Hiawatha will be included on the MPS website.

MPS teachers will have access to professional development opportunities from Hiawatha Academies, including training on best practices Hiawatha has found helpful, such as the STEP reading assessment and parent engagement strategies.

In addition, Hiawatha Academies’ test scores will be included with those reported for MPS schools.

Police

of the Latino young people, called the police and the police, ignoring the pleas of the Latino parents for calm, called for increased back up.

A huge altercation between the parents and the police continued for months.

The NCBI trained police/ community activist team was able to bring the parents and police together, and using their NCBI skills, bring about increased trust and understanding.

In Ferguson, Former Chief Brooks sees an opportunity for an effective community-

policing program to emerge from the chaos and violence of the past few weeks. “Now, there is a chance for police and the community to hear each other,” she said. “The focus needs to be on how people are treated. If you can train officers how to treat ALL people with dignity and respect - that is a victory.”

Brook’s co-director Guillermo Lopez explained that community policing cannot be accomplished with the wave of a wand, “You don’t go in trying to change a whole department; you go in trying

to change a few people, who eventually come to change the whole department. We can start by focusing attention and financial resources on organizations like NCBI, so they can continue spreading the word that emphasize the ‘serve’ aspect of “Protect and Serve”.

“The establishment of a sustained value and practice for coalition building skills between Community and Law Enforcement is a pathway to conflict resolution and will create a climate which fosters violence prevention”. Joyce

Shabazz, Consulting Associate Senior Trainer / Director Of Affinity Caucus Programs As Brooks told me, “Police officers meet with the community, hear tough things, say tough things and confront their prejudices together - this

“We are pleased that Shirley J. Hughes, a member of our congregation and a respected member of our community will chair our 135th anniversary committee. Shirley brings vision and excitement

to this role as we celebrate the contributions of St. Peter’s to the African-American community and the Twin Cities for the past 135 years,” said Fakir.

“St. Peter’s AME Church is

an important institution in our community. I am honored to have been asked to chair this important committee and look forward to sharing our plans to celebrate throughout the next year,” said Hughes.

From 6 or quick fixes.

As just one example of the outcomes of the NCBI’s COPS and Community project, consider what happened in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 2005, a pool frequented by Latino young people had been closed for repairs and the young people went to another pool. Within minutes, the mainly white life guards felt threatened by the presence

Concert From 7 Inc., one of the nation’s leading nonprofit literary publishers.

Bernadeia H. Johnson is how we will move forward.”

To reach NCBI, visit www. ncbi.org or call (202) 7859400.

Jealous is a Partner at Kapor Capital and former President and CEO of the NAACP.

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Insight News • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Page 9

COMMUNITY

The Bridgewater Era begins Moments in Sports

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com The Minnesota Vikings were forced to deploy their next electric rookie phenom ahead of schedule.

An injury to the foot of starting quarterback Matt Cassell set rookie Teddy Bridgewater into motion, as he immediately began to warm-up on the sideline during the second quarter of the recent loss to the New Orleans Saints.

There were no wide eyes from Bridgewater in that moment, just the same smooth, even-keeled professionalism that has come to be his trademark.

For a disheartened Vikings’ following, the spark and rhythm

Bridgewater injected into the team’s offense was just the heart medication needed. His final statistics were both handsome (for a rookie) and pedestrian (for a starting quarterback), but his command of the team was without question. Bridgewater finished with 150 yards passing, 27 yards rushing, and most importantly, no interceptions.

Of my own concerns for identifying Bridgewater’s potential weaknesses, he squashed the notion of possibly having a “glass chin�, by quickly and confidently rising from being sacked (twice), hurried, or knocked down. Bridgewater’s slight frame (6’2� 210lbs) is an obvious concern in the injury prone sport of football. Rookies typically have a need to pick up some “man weight� in order to weather the rigors of a full NFL seasons (I recommend the prime rib at Nye’s).

In addition to his resilience,

positions makes for the type of band-aids needed to glue together the outlook for an offense shattered by the loss of running back Adrian Peterson.

Unfortunately, as if Bridgewater needed any more obstacles, all-pro caliber tight end Kyle Rudolph will be missed for several weeks recovering from surgery for a sports hernia.

A comfortable relationship passing to veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings is proving to be the most successful part of the offense thus far with Bridgewater at the helm. Budding superstar wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has delivered a few flashes of greatness running the ball, but his presence in the passing game will be critical to provide some dynamics, and the explosive plays Vikings fans have come to expect with Peterson in the game.

Most importantly, the presence of offensive coordinator

Bridgewater seems like the right man for the job.

Bridgewater showed the curiously difficult art of sliding smoothly to the turf when defenders close in to tackle him. This is perhaps one of the most comforting elements to his game, since the best way to protect a slight frame is to not get hit.

From the standpoint of actual

passing performance, Bridgewater was accurate, patient and decisive.

The greater strength of mobile quarterbacks comes be the way of their ability to throw accurately on the run. Just as in the pre-season, Bridgewater passed that test with patient flare. His ability to throw accurately from compromised

Norv Turner, likely a future Hall of Fame inductee as a coaching executive, is the best blanket the Vikings have to nurture its young quarterback to the level of a very good or great quarterback.

Certain calls by the offense at critical points in the seasons’ games have been refreshingly intelligent in comparison to recent years. Even the transition at running back, without Peterson, nor an established veteran back-up, hasn’t been a disaster or discontinued effort.

Turner is taking what pieces he has and managing to keep the ball moving down the field, though turnovers have thwarted several drives.

If Bridgewater can avoid injury, and the rash of interceptions that quickly plagued Cassell this year, then the Vikings may be able to make sugar out of (Adrian Peterson not playing).

Bridgewater seems like the right man for the job.

#42 Martice Clark, with a leaping catch

#33 Josh Cunningham, took a handoff into the end zone

Photos by Nolan Cramer

North High Polars remain undefeated

By Nolan Cramer North High is on a roll.

The Polars are undefeated so far starting off with a notso-regular game. By the end of the first half of game one, the

Polars lead St. Paul Como by a score of 14-0. And then, just as the official was signaling the start of the second half, the rains from the thunderstorm came. The game was halted and going by the books, the victory went to North.

During the second home game for North, the Polars overpowered Minneapolis Southwest by a score of 446. The same football excellence was demonstrated on the following a trouncing of the Washburn Millers, 41-0.

Clark, made a leaping catch from quarterback Tyler Johnson, giving North a 26 point lead before half time. On the last score of the game, Polar running back, Josh Cunningham, took a handoff from Johnson and powered his way into the end

Even a delayed start to the Polars game against Patrick Henry could not derail North as the team handed the Patriots of Henry a 41-6 blowout defeat to keep a perfect zero in the loss column for North. In the game against Henry, North’s Martice

zone without interference from Henry defenders.

The North High Polars travel to Edison where they will take on the Tommies in their sixth football game of the season, Friday afternoon, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m.

Rondo community meetings scheduled Rondo Avenue, Inc. (RAI) will hold the first of three Rondo Community Meetings intended to give concerned citizens an opportunity to provide important input on the planned development of the property located at 820 Concordia (Rondo) Ave.

The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8, from 4 p.m. to 5p.m., at the Martin Luther King Center Canteen, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul.

The City of St. Paul recently awarded RAI the property for the future site of a structure that will serve to remember and

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honor the Rondo community.

RAI officials say the structure will be a welcomed addition to the neighborhood – as most businesses along the former Rondo Avenue were lost when the freeway was constructed in 1966. “Knowing what the

community would like (to see on this site) will help RAI make better decisions,� said Marvin Roger Anderson, RAI co-founder and building project team leader.

RAI has invited a wide variety of interests to the Rondo Community Meeting –

Phone: 612.588.1313

community residents, retired persons, students, politicians, parents, teachers, school superintendents and real estate experts. Once attendees are surveyed, the data will be analyzed for planning the project.

Those interested can also

Fax: 612.588.2031

Vacancies

complete the survey by going to www.rondoavenueinc.com.

RAI is a community based 501(c) 3 that sponsors a number of community events, including the annual Rondo Days Parade & Festival, which celebrated its 31st year.

Email: info@insightnews.com

RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Housing Authority has rental units available in Cass County, MN. Please call 218-335-8280. Must meet certain qualifications.

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

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

INFORMATIONAL MEETING Woman-Owned, Minority-Owned, and VeteranOwned businesses are invited to an informational meeting regarding Technology sub-contracts for the Minnesota Multi-Purpose Stadium. Sponsored

by Parsons Technologies, the event will be held on Monday, October 6 at 3:30 pm at 479 Hayward Ave. N, Oakdale, MN. For additional information, call Karen Boosalis at 763-528-2270.

LOVE PEOPLE? The Wilder Foundation seeks Client Services Specialist for Twin Cities Mobile Market. FT with Benefits, $13-$16/hr, apply online at www.wilder.org Candidates of color encouraged to apply EOE/AA

Page 10 • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Insight News

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The Steeles perform ‘The Colors of Gershwin’ Gospel/soul group, The Steeles will grace the Redleaf stage at The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts Friday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 12 with their new show “The Colors of Gershwin.”

This production will feature a collection of George and Ira Gershwin songs re-imagined with new arrangements by the Steele family. The Steeles infuse jazz, gospel and soulful arrangements of Gershwin songs such as “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” “Foggy Day,” “Of Thee I Sing” and many other Gershwin classics. The arrangements feature the vibrant harmonies that the family is internationally known for and combines the element of colors in the lighting of the show to categorize the many moods and styles of the Gershwin songs.

The Steeles are a family group of brothers and sisters that consist of J.D., Fred, Jearlyn, Jevetta, and Billy Steele. They have been singing together

since they were young children growing up in Gary, Ind. They began to develop their style and soul in Minneapolis. The Steeles have recorded and performed with Prince, Donald Fagen, Morgan Freeman, George Clinton, Kim Carnes, The Blind Boys of Alabama, James Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson and many others throughout their long and storied career. The family has traveled around the world in the musical “The Gospel At Colonus” including a Broadway run at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre in 1988.

Tickets are $40 (fees included), and are available at www.thecowlescenter.org, or by calling the box office at (612) 206-3600.

The Oct. 10 show starts at 7:30 p.m. and the Oct. 12 show takes place at 2 p.m. The Cowles Center is located at 528 Hennepin Ave., downtown Minneapolis.

John Wagner

The Steeles

Mobile art gallery rolls into St. Louis Park Jean Stephen Galleries of St. Louis Park is set to present a unique mobile art studio/ exhibition from local artist Pamela Sukhum.

Sukhum’s works, which are exhibited in fine art galleries around the world are characterized by rich colors and textures, and warm, radiant energy. Fueled by spiritual and human connections forged during her journeys around the globe, from the monasteries of Tibet to the refugee camps of Eastern Chad, her mission is to bring beauty and light to the world through her paintings.

Borne out of her passion for art and desire to share her gift with others, artist Sukhum launched the Beautiful Project in early 2006 and has since worked to inspire and empower communities globally. Today, the Beautiful Project can be found working with the children in war refugee camps in Africa, impoverished communities in South America, and across the U.S. working with children with Down’s Syndrome, seniors, and inner city children.

Her latest venture, which she began last year, is titled Art Venture, a 30-foot art studio and gallery on wheels providing free art workshops, live painting performances and opportunities for visitors to tour her mobile studio gallery and talk in person about her work.

Mobile Art Venture Formerly a researcher in cardiovascular health and electrophysiology, Sukhum left the biomedical field in 2003 to pursue her true passion, painting. With barely enough

money in hand for the first month’s rent, she moved into her downtown Minneapolis studio space to begin her new journey. Years later, Sukhum’s paintings are featured in

prominent fine art galleries in North America, Canada and Dubai , Among other honors, Sukhum was awarded the prestigious Director’s Choice Award at ArtExpo New York.

Art Venture takes place on Saturday, Oct. 4 with a children’s event from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. followed later that evening by an artist’s reception from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

at the Jean Stephen Galleries, 4811 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park. To RSVP, or for more information on the showing, call (612) 338-4333 or visit www.jsgalleries.com.

insightnews.com

Insight News • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Page 11

Juxtaposition Arts Pop Up engagement parklet

West Broadway Pop Ups: West Broadway Coalition curates artist and entrepreneur-led fall pop up series community and I really want to give back. This is a great opportunity. I think it will be really fun,” said McDowell.

The West Broadway Pop Ups series activates outdoor public space to create a fun destination, build social capital, show off artistic talent, and engage community along West Broadway in North Minneapolis.

RADICAL

This project is made possible by the Northside Funders Group.

West Broadway Pop Ups Artists and Entrepreneurs • Anytime Fitness West Broadway • Angela Davis • Cookie Cart • Christopher-Aaron Deanes • Christopher Williams

(CAW Artist) TEK and Bedlam Theater Juxtaposition Arts Meena Mangalvedhekar of Minneapolis Art on Wheels (MAW) Naima Richmond Sammy McDowell, Avenue Eatery Voice of Culture Drum and Dance

• A-Z • •

• • •

PRESENCE W A L K E R

West Broadway Pop Up performance MEAT and Greet The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC) is partnering with 10 North Minneapolis artists and creative entrepreneurs to activate public spaces with over 35 “pop up” events now through November 1st.

At various outdoor locations along West Broadway from Lyndale Ave to Penn Ave N, West Broadway Pop Ups will include an assortment of activities, from afternoon dance performances and late night BBQ and live music to a weekend-long participatory outdoor projection event from Minneapolis Art on Wheels.

Nearly every day there will be an event/s ranging in size and scope but sharing common goals: activate outdoor public space, create a fun destination, build social capital, show off artistic talent and engage community.

Pop up activities began last week. Planning is ongoing, collaborative and responsive.

Visit westbroadway.org/ pop-ups for the schedule and updates on individual pop ups.

Background The WBC’s mission is to create an inviting and vital West Broadway corridor and to transform the Northside into a thriving economic community. The WBC is a constituent-based organization that engages West Broadway businesses, artists, residents and entrepreneurs as the producer of the West Broadway Farmers Market and FLOW Northside Arts Crawl, and as manager of

the West Broadway Arts Façade Improvement Program, among other programs.

West Broadway Pop Ups is a continuation of the WBC’s work on the successful UMAMI

by Travail pop up restaurant at 904 West Broadway and the West Broadway Holiday Pop Up Boutique at 201 West Broadway, both in late 2013. This past July, the WBC funded 20 artist-led pop up installations, engagement activities and events in connection with the 9th FLOW Northside Art Crawl and the Penn Avenue Community Works Project.

Erin Heelan, WBC Executive Director, said, “One of the greatest challenges we face as a corridor is a perception

of disinvestment- that the space is not welcoming. In actuality, there are a ton of talented people working and creating on the avenue every day, and this fall pop up series is another way to showcase that and invite people to have new experiences on West Broadway.”

Pop Up grantee Sammy McDowell, owner of West Broadway’s Avenue Eatery, is excited to create a dynamic gathering space at his recurring weekly event, “Sammy’s Lemonade Stand.” Nearby his cafe, McDowell will hand out free lemonade and cookies and engage with transit users, pedestrians and whoever stops by. “I’ve felt so supported as a business owner by this

A R T C E N T E R

Dread Scott, I Am Not a Man, Performance Still (220), 2009. Courtesy the artist.

Photo: Jenny Polak

BLACK PERFORMANCE IN CONTEMPORARY ART Radical Presence explores the development of black performance in contemporary art from the 1960s to the present. From groundbreaking works by influential artists such as Lorraine O’Grady, Pope.L, and David Hammons to essential new voices including Theaster Gates, Jacolby Satterwhite, and Xaviera Simmons, this dynamic exhibition brings together some 36 artists from across generations who push the boundaries of performance.

Related Performances:

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

THU OCT 9, 7 PM Benjamin Patterson, Pond FREE

THU NOV 6, 7 PM Coco Fusco, Observations of Predation in Humans: A lecture by Dr. Zira, Animal Psychologist $10 ($8 Walker members; $5 students)

THU DEC 11, 7 PM Trenton Doyle Hancock, Devotion FREE

Prices starting at $8 View our complete menu at

dakotacooks.com

Radical Presence: Black Performance in Contemporary Art is organized by the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

The exhibition is supported by generous grants from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the patrons, benefactors and donors to CAMH’s Major Exhibition Fund. The catalogue accompanying the exhibition is made possible by a grant from The Brown Foundation, Inc. The Walker Art Center’s presentation is made possible by generous support from Angela and Tom Wicka.

Page 12 • September 29 - October 5, 2014 • Insight News

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