Insight News ::: 09.17.18

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Insight News September 17 - September 23, 2018

Vol. 45 No. 38• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

A New Thing Is Springing Up in North Minneapolis See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Isaiah 43:19 NIV

The

Accelerators Uchechukwu Iroegbu NO R TTH NOR H 2

Page 2 • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Insight News

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Our health is our business

Entrepreneurs craft strategies for healing bodies, finances, and community economics

By Al McFarlane Editor-in-Chief Acceleration is exactly the right word.

It describes the spirit undergirding parallel initiatives that champion personal fitness and well-being, that teach financial well-being and literacy for individuals and families, and that spark economic well-being for our community through business growth.

The likelihood is that Gary Cunningham, CEO of Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Meda), David McGee, executive director of Build Wealth Minnesota, and Jeffrey Scott, owner of ME & I Fitness and Performance, will be joined at the hip in relentless pursuit of a newly imagined North Minneapolis springing forth from Thor’s Regional Acceleration Center (RAC) at Plymouth and Penn Avenues, where each business is located.

Uchechukwu Iroegbu

David McGee, Executive Director of Build Wealth Minnesota, Jeffrey Scott, owner of ME & I Fitness and Performance, and Gary Cunningham, CEO of Meda at Meda offices in Thor’s Regional Acceleration Center at Plymouth & Penn.

RAC opened in glorious fanfare last Friday (Sept. 14) with ribbon cutting ceremonies that included Gov. Mark Dayton, State Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (59) and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (5th Dist.), who represent North Minneapolis at the state and federal levels; Target CEO Bri-

an Connell and US Bank vice chairman, Consumer Banking Sales and Service, Tim Welsh, whose companies’ investments capitalized the grand vision of Thor founder and CEO Richard Copeland and Thor president and business guru, Ravi Norman.

Northside native Cunningham has lead Meda to win the coveted 2018 SBA award for being Minnesota’s leading Community Advantage Lender. The award recognizes Meda as the top agency serving

RAC 8

Thor’s Regional Acceleration Center envisions Northside as vibrant market

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com Richard Copeland grew up in the Sumner Field housing project – child of a single mother – near Penn and Plymouth Avenues in North Minneapolis; and by his own admission, he hasn’t gotten that far.

When saying he hasn’t gotten that far, he’s speaking in geographic terms.

Founder and chairman of Thor Companies, Copeland lives not far from where he grew up.

And with the Sept. 14 grand opening of Thor Companies’ headquarters and Regional Acceleration Center, 1256 Penn

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Thor CEO Richard Copeland, Thor President Ravi Norman, Governor Mark Dayton and Minneapolis Mayor Jocob Frey Ave. N., he now also works not far from his childhood home.

“I live about 100 yards from

where I grew up,” said Copeland, telling the rooftop audience at Thor how it was his dream to

THOR 7

Courtesy of Hennepin County

Documenting growth and change, a 1977 edition of Insight examines the community impact of Pilot City Regional Center, now NorthPoint Health & Wellness.

NorthPoint Health & Wellness celebrates 50 years of service, accomplishments As NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center marks its 50th anniversary, an exhibit in the Hennepin Gallery will reflect on the organization’s accomplishments and opportunities for growth.

NorthPoint is a multi-specialty medical, dental and men-

tal health center and human service agency located along Penn Avenue in North Minneapolis.

“NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center (Pilot City): 50 Years of Community Care” will be on display Sept. 10 – Sept.

NORTHPOINT 7

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Insight News • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Page 3

aesthetically speaking

Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities

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Insight News September 17 - September 23, 2018

Vol. 45 No. 38• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Smith rejects Kavanaugh on voting rights

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com Check Sen. Tina Smith in the solid “no” column when Brett Kavanaugh comes before the full Senate for possible confirmation to the United States Supreme Court.

While Kavanaugh’s confirmation prospects have taken a hit over the past weekend with allegations of a sexual assault that were said to have occurred when Kavanaugh was a teen, Smith’s no vote was already secured based upon the merit of the nominee. And though most Democratic senators oppose President Trump’s nominee citing fears of overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion

case legalizing abortion, and concerns about the judge’s views on if a sitting president can be indicted for crimes, Smith said it is Kavanaugh’s record on voting rights that has her “troubled.”

“This nominee has a record of coming down on the side of suppressing votes and making it harder for people to vote, especially people from historically disadvantaged communities,” said Smith while in North Minneapolis at the offices of Insight News.

Minnesota’s junior senator said the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would be in serious jeopardy if Kavanaugh is confirmed. She cited the judge’s written judicial opinions stating his opposition to parts of the hard-fought Voting Rights Act. Smith said Sen. Kamala Harris pressed Kavanaugh on his

Dante Davison

Sen. Tina Smith (right) tells Insight News editor-in-chief, Al McFarlane, she is “troubled” by Brett Kavanaugh’s position on voting rights. position on the Voting Rights Act during Judicial Committee hearings and Kavanaugh “pussyfooted” around the question and would not offer a direct answer as to if he was

in support or opposition to the legislation.

“Even Judge (John) Roberts in his confirmation hearings was willing to say he was in favor of the act – in particular Title Two of the Voting Rights Act –

and Judge Kavanaugh was not willing to do so,” said Smith, noting Roberts is considered one of the more conservative justices on the high court. “That to me is very troubling.”

Smith called Title Two of the

Voting Rights Act the “essential bones” of the act that “protects voting at its most basic form.”

According to the senator,

SMITH 4

Community Spotlight: Hawthorne Neighborhood Council

Bike Cops for Kids brings simplicity to complex issues

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com Sometimes seemingly complex issues require the simplest of solutions.

That’s how Minneapolis Police Officer Mike Kirchen approached the issue of youth violence when he started Bike Cops for Kids, a program that gives away cycling equipment to kids including helmets, lights, locks and even the occasional bike to youth in Minneapolis with a concentration in North Minneapolis.

What started as a part time summer initiative in 2008, Bike Cops for Kids has fully taken Kirchen out of a squad car, as he bikes throughout the area connecting with youth and attempting to foster better relations between police and community.

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Minneapolis Police Officer Mike Kirchen (center left) is hugged by Diana Hawkins, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council executive director, after being honored by the council for his work with Bike Cops for Kids.

“I hope to never have to get in a squad car again,” said Kirchen, who said he sees the payoff from his work. “I wish more officers on the department had the opportunity to bounce around and see other things. It gives you a fresh perspective.”

Kirchen said the idea for

Bike Cops for Kids came out of his work at Lucy Craft Laney Community School and has expanded to include regular trips to Red Wing to interact with incarcerated youth.

“Most of these young men (at Red Wing Correctional Facility) don’t have positive experiences with Minneapolis Police,” said

Kirchen, who said upon release, many of the individuals have remained in regular contact with him.

Kirchen was recently honored for his community efforts by the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council.

“When he (Kirchen) was at Lucy Laney and I lived on Oliver

Ian Smith’s novel reveals privileged, secretive world harry@insightnews.com Before Dr. Ian K. Smith was a renowned television personality and best-selling author, he was a student on the campus of

Harvard University.

It was there where his eyes were opened to a privileged and secretive world … a world of much intrigue to which few outsiders have privy. It is that world he exposes in his latest

CONVERSATIONS 9

Business

Meda wins SBA best lender award for 3rd time

PAGE 4

Minneapolis Health Department and Minneapolis Public Schools putting together critical incident taskforce The Minneapolis Health Department in cooperation with Minneapolis Public Schools is establishing a critical incident taskforce. The taskforce is to assist children who have been victim of violent crime. The goal is

to provide young victims needed recourses and safe spaces. The focus of the initiative is North Minneapolis with designs on further expansion.

Neighbors benefit from Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge Hawthorne resident and Minneapolis Public Schools board member KerryJo Felder is singing the praises of the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge. Felder is a first-time participant and represents Hawthorne neighborhood in the Fitness Challenge.

“We’re going on our fourth week and people have lost inches in just four weeks,” said Felder.

“It’s inspiring and it’s fun.”

Hawkins said it was important to be a part of the fitness program.

“That’s (sponsoring residents) just one of our ways of giving back,” said Hawkins.

Discrimination fuels racial disparities in home ownership

TV celebrity physician

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor

(Avenue North) all the kids were like you’ve got to meet Officer Mike. When we needed coats, he came last year and brought about six for our coat drive,” said Diana Hawkins, Hawthorne executive director. “He gives his all to our youth … all of our kids in this neighborhood.”

Kirchen’s efforts may be paying off. Violent crime in Minneapolis’ Fourth Precinct is down 27 percent from where it was this time last year.

Dr. Ian Smith

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Decades of discriminatory lending practices and government policies have created barriers for African-Americans seeking to become homeowners, according to leading housing experts participating in a forum on fair housing, which was hosted by the National Association of Real

Insight 2 Health

News

Black church sends message to Trump White House in two-day ‘Call to Conscience’

PAGE 5

Couples that work out together stay together

PAGE 6

Estate Brokers (NAREB) at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Legislative Conference.

Fifty-years after the Fair Housing Act was enacted, panelists noted the continued disparity in homeownership

NAREB 8

SNAPSHOTS Block Party

PAGE 12

Page 4 • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Insight News

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Business

Meda wins SBA best lender award for 3rd time The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) honored 12 lenders throughout Minnesota for their commitment to helping small businesses succeed during the sixth Annual Lenders Conference at the Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park.

SBA’s Great Lakes regional administrator, Robert Scott, presented the awards in honor of the lenders with the highest participation in SBAguaranteed loan programs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

“The lending community is such an important part of the small business ecosystem,”

said Scott. “Thanks to your hard work, small businesses are able to obtain capital to expand markets, launch new products and invest in new equipment, leading to economic development and job creation here, and throughout the nation.”

The SBA’s ability to help small businesses access capital is tied to the country’s lending institutions and its partners’ ability and willingness to loan money. The SBA does not lend money directly to entrepreneurs to start or grow a business but sets the guidelines for loans made by its partners (lenders,

community development organizations and microlending institutions). The SBA guarantees these loans will be repaid, which eliminates some of the risk to the lending partners.

Data obtained for the sixth Annual Minnesota SBA Lender Awards was taken from the Small Business Administration’s Minnesota District Office loan volume dashboard. Loan information was collected from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 with awards based on the number of SBAguaranteed approved loans.

Smith From 3

(Left to right) Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Nancy Libersky stands with Randy Carlson and Dr. Joanna Ramirez Barrett of the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Meda) as they accept the 2018 SBA award for being the state’s leading Community Advantage Lender, also accompanied by SBA’s Rob Scott. The award recognizes Meda as the top agency serving small businesses in underserved areas, with a focus on ethnic minority businesses.

Trump’s pick for the Supreme Court should be further scrutinized due to the circumstances of his nomination. Trump seems to be in the crosshairs of Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel investigation into Russia’s attempts to interfere with the 2016 election and Trump has been named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the guilty

plea of Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who plead guilty in August to an illegal “hush money” campaign payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model, Karen McDougal. Both claimed to have had affairs with Trump prior to his running for office, but while he was married to his current wife, Melania Trump.

“Judge Kavanaugh was selected as a part of a list that came to the president from the deeply conservative Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation. But of all the people on that list, Judge Kavanaugh was the only one to say a sitting president should not be subject to a criminal investigation,” said Smith. “Well right now our president is subject to a criminal investigation.”

Smith acknowledged that in a Republican-controlled Senate the prospect of a Kavanaugh conformation is likely, but she said there’s still a fight to be had.

“It’s an uphill battle for Senate Democrats, but I assure you, it’s not a done deal that he will be confirmed.”

The senator’s interview with Insight News and representatives from the Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder and Latino Today is available online on the Facebook page of Insight News editor-inchief, Al McFarlane, at www. facebook.com/al.mcfarlane2.

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Insight News • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Page 5

Black church sends message to Trump White House in two-day ‘Call to Conscience’

By Hazel Trice Edney and Hamil Harris Washington, D.C. (TriceEdneyWire.com) – As America prepares to return to the polls for mid-term elections amidst racial tensions, continued economic inequities and a president that appears to embrace racism and shun truth, thousands of Black church leaders and parishioners answered a Call to Conscience/Day of Action, intended to send a message to the White House and beyond.

“Racism is not dead in America. As a matter of fact, it’s not even sick. It doesn’t even have a cold,” said the Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, chair of the Conference of National Black Churches, preaching at a worship service the night before a mass rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House Sept. 6. “We live in one of the most racist times in the history of this country. In spite of the fact that we’ve come through slavery. There’s nothing good about slavery. But slavery provided a forum wherein our oppressors were visible and we could see them. They were touchable. What makes the difficulties of this time is our oppressors are invisible.”

The worship service, intended to stir up those planning to attend the rally, was held at Reid Temple AME Church.

“At Lafayette Park, we not only want the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. – who is living in the house that Black hands built – we not only want him to see us we want him to hear us,” Bishop Reginald Jackson told the congregation.

Jackson, president of the Council of AME Bishops, is the man who called the Day of Action.

The two-day event drew hundreds to a day-long issues symposium before the worship service that drew more than a thousand. After the rally the next day, bishops and church

The Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, chair of the Conference of National Black Churches

Bishop Reginald T. Jackson

leaders traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with senators and representatives. The activities recalled a 1960s type movement, an awakening of sorts.

“There’s one thing that’s worse than slavery – that’s to adjust to it. A slave should be maladjusted,” said the Rev. Jesse Jackson at the worship service. “It was hard to wake us up until Trump came along. Trump is nothing but a wake-up call.”

Richardson, the keynote speaker at the worship service, agreed that Trump is only temporary. But he warned, “He speaks for the oppressors. He speaks for the haters. We need to be aware of the nature of our battle. We will eliminate 45, but there’ll be some young aspiring 45s. They will be inspired by his conduct who’ll want to grow up and be like him. We must watch for those who are on the horizon who must come this way.”

The Lafayette Park event featured leaders of the AME church and other national church leaders. They made it clear that they are organizing a massive get-out-to-vote campaign that they hope will oust those in Congress who simply have rubber stamped the president’s efforts to turn back the Civil Rights clock in many areas.

“We are here today because our cause is right, we are here today because we are sending a message, we are here today because we want to let this country know we aren’t going (to) let nobody turn us around,” said Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, prelate of the First Episcopal District, who opened the rally. “We are here today because we have gone through so much, we have prayed too long, we have walked too far.”

Bishop Reginald Jackson told the demonstrators that even though President Trump recently met with a small group of Black pastors he really hasn’t heard from the heart of Black America.

“President Trump has heard from the professional prophets but now he is going to hear from God’s prophets,” said Reginald Jackson.

Jesse Jackson said the best way to even the political playing field with Trump is at the ballot box.

“Nov. 6th, that’s our date and destiny … Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts; Ben Jealous, Maryland; Stacey Abrams, Georgia, Andrew Gillum, Florida; Mike Espy, Mississippi,” pointing out major races around the nation with key

Photos courtesy, Reid Temple AME Church

Reid Temple AME Choir.

African-American candidates.

During a press conference held at the Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C., Reginald Jackson and other church leaders talked about the importance of the election and how they plan to organize get out to vote rallies in local churches across the country.

“It is so important that the body of Christ, particularly the Black church, operates with some level of moral authority,” said Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor of Empowerment Temple in Baltimore. “In the face of depravity and corruption of morality in the White House we have got to speak truth to power, we cannot be silent in the church.”

The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Weaver, pastor of Greater Mount Nebo AME Church, said, “The event was keeping with the spirit and the legacy of the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Richard Allen, who spoke out against injustice, spoke out against racism. That was 220 years ago and here we are in 2018 having to have voices spoken loudly against racism, sexism, ageism and the nefarious policies of this current administration.”

During a press conference after the rally the Bishops talked

about formulating a nationwide campaign to get out the vote.

Bryant said they had received a call from the White House in which Jared Kushner wanted to

speak and set up a future meeting, but Reginald Jackson said the church is interested in real progress, not “photo ops.”

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Insight 2 Health Couples that work out together stay together

By Victor Martinez Contributing Writer When I was in my earlier 20s, I was fascinated with learning the secrets of a long and healthy marriage.

How can some couples last decades and never lose their playfulness and affection while others lose all passion within a couple for years of tying the knot? I was getting ready to soon meet the love of my life and wanted desperately to make it an amazing and fruitful adventure. I also understood that many of my peers avoided marriage because they already had the end in mind; they wanted an easy way out if things didn’t work out.

I remember when I was

20 years old working at the men’s department at the then Marshall Fields. There was an older lady that worked in the fragrance department.

She was quite dignified, I believe in her 60s, and carried herself very well, and may I say very attractive.

One day she wondered over to my department to help an older guest gentlemen. I approached them to offer my assistance (since he was in my department). I began to notice that she was being extra friendly with my guest. I was taken back for a second and I asked the gentlemen, “do you know each other?” He did not reply but instead grabbed the back of the head of the lady and gave her a huge kiss. I was shocked. When he pulled her by the hair he smiles at

me and said, “great customer service.” To which she replied with a smile, “He is my husband.” I got red in the face and walked away thinking, how do they maintain such passion at their age.

Every time I would see an older happy couple in my department, I would ask them what their secret was.

Repeatedly I would hear the same thing. “Never stop having fun,” they would say, “the women is always right,” which I think is still part of having fun. “I got the key,” I said to myself. Now fastforward 11 years, I am now seven years into my marriage and happier with it than ever before. The secret worked.

No matter how serious people want me to be (since I am a pastor and all) I still find

Victor Martinez

Sharing the love, pain and successes of working out together, husband and wife Victor Martinez (left) and Daysi Martinez. ways to have fun.

Four months ago my wife and I joined the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge and have used this time to have more fun with each other. I

would flirt with her between reps, trying to lighten up the mood. One funny moment came when some of the other women (not knowing Daysi was my wife) would give

me this look of, “what a flirt, leave her alone,” only to be shocked and embarrassed to find out she is my wife. And we would all have a laugh.

NIH launches initiative to accelerate genetic therapies to cure sickle cell disease (Black PR Wire) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the launch of a new initiative to help speed the development of a cure for sickle cell disease, a group of inherited blood disorders affecting at least 100,000 people in the United States and 20 million worldwide.

The Cure Sickle Cell Initia-

tive will take advantage of the latest genetic discoveries and technological advances to move the most promising geneticbased curative therapies safely into clinical trials within five to 10 years.

“Our scientific investments have brought us to a point where we have many tools available to correct or compensate for

the defective gene that causes sickle cell disease. We are now ready to use these tools to speed up our quest for a cure,” said Dr. Gary H. Gibbons, director of NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which is leading the effort.

Sickle cell disease results from a single genetic mutation that causes a person’s red

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blood cells to form an abnormal, sickle shape. These sickled cells can clog the blood vessels and deprive cells of oxygen. In turn, this lack of oxygen wreaks havoc on the body, damaging organs, causing severe pain and potentially leading to premature death.

Decades of basic research on sickle cell disease have laid the groundwork for novel genetic approaches to cures, such as the genetic editing of bone marrow cells, which have shown great promise in animal models and in some small scale human studies. In addition, the NHLBI Production Assistance for Cellular Therapies (PACT) program has been working with researchers to manufacture cellular therapeutic products, including genetically modified cells, that can be used safely in clinical trials with patients.

NIH spends approximately $100 million on sickle cell disease research each year.

Through this initiative, NHLBI

seeks to support the development of cell and genetic therapies resources, clinical trials, comparator analyses of different management strategies, data repositories and resources, and patient and advocate engagement activities related to curative therapies for this condition.

Already in 2018, NHLBI committed an additional $7 million to jumpstart the initiative’s research and engagement infrastructure.

NHLBI has named hematologist, Dr. Edward J. Benz Jr., president and CEO emeritus of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,

as the initiative’s executive director, and the Emmes Corporation, a contract research organization with specialized expertise in clinical trials, gene and cell therapy development in preclinical studies, as its coordinating center. The initiative and other research partners will establish a national data warehouse of genetic therapies for sickle cell disease and conduct comparative analyses of therapeutic approaches to assess both clinical and cost effectiveness.

They will also establish national networks to make it easier for patients and providers to learn and engage with the research, clinical trials, and other activities happening across the country.

“The engagement of patients will be a cornerstone of this effort,” said Benz. “Patients will work alongside researchers in developing and recruiting for clinical trials.”

Currently, the only cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow transplant, a procedure in which a sick patient receives bone marrow from a healthy, genetically-compatible sibling donor. However, transplants are too risky for many adults, and only about 18 percent of children with sickle cell disease have a healthy, matched sibling donor.

The Cure Sickle Cell Initiative seeks to develop cures for a far broader group of individuals with the disease, and it is initially focusing on gene therapies that modify the patient’s own hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which make red and other blood cells. These modified HSCs can then be given back to the patient via a bone marrow transplant, making a cure available to more patients who lack a matched donor.

“This initiative is giving patients, families, and communities a reason for hope. I’m particularly pleased that we are able to make this announcement during Sickle Cell Awareness Month, when we are shining a spotlight on the toll of this devastating disease,” said Dr. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Insight News • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Page 7

Transformation: Architecture brings new vernacular

By Randall Bradley Architect Part two: Mohammed Lawal and Richard Copeland have brought modern architecture to North Minneapolis.

Thor’s headquarters and Regional Acceleration Center at 1256 Penn Ave. N. is a modern architectural design that can trace its’ lineage directly back to the Bauhaus school, in Weimar, Germany. Modern architecture, as we know it in the western world, was birthed there and spread throughout planet from these beginnings.

Starting with the vacant lots that once occupied this site, we can say that the plan of this building, maximizes the site.

That is to say that the building occupies all of the available land in accordance with the city’s lot designations and zoning code. The site plan includes the lots that faced Plymouth Avenue as well as the two lots that faced the Oliver Avenue right-of-way. These lots had no actual street frontage. As such, these lots could never be developed as residential properties.

Adding these two lots to the overall available land, created an ‘L’ shaped site plan. This is

the shape of the floor plan for this new building that we now have before us. There are approximately 51,0000 square feet in the floor plate of this building. Adding and multiplying all of the floors in their various configurations yields a total of 315,300 square feet over seven levels. Another perspective is to note that at an average of 2,000 square feet, this building is equivalent to 157 single family homes. Or enough houses to occupy five city blocks.

The predominate materials employed here are identified generically as “modern.” They are in the families of steel and glass, or in this case concrete, zinc panels, aluminum panels and glass. Prior to the Bauhuas these materials were not configured in the “smooth,” or “skyscraper,” motif we are now familiar with (even if they are low-rise, or mid-rise). A significant but unseen feature of this building is that it houses a 625-car parking ramp. While the perforated aluminum panels that surround the building on all four sides ventilates the parking ramp, the most notable indicator of parking is the entry/exit on Oliver Avenue, adjacent to the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) parking lot. The architecture of this building was

done to minimize the impact of this large parking ramp. This is a successful feature of the design.

The design of the building is simple, clear, straight-forward and direct. The windows of the exterior facades along Penn, Plymouth and Oliver Avenues are configured to maximize views from the interior spaces.

The fourth and fifth floor offices also have views over the roof on the east and south facade.

These views, unseen from the street below, face downtown.

The front facade at the corner of Plymouth and Penn has an “eyebrow” feature at the roof’s edge.

This eyebrow creates the vision of a glass cube floating over the main entry at street level. This cantilevered glass cube, encloses the Copland Art Gallery. The main entry repeats this motif of a glass cube. Both of these glass cubes are flanked by vertical zinc metal panels. The eyebrow gesture is repeated at the bottom of the glass cube over the main entry/lobby. This lower eyebrow flows in a downward angle

along the Penn Avenue to the blank pre-cast concrete panels facade. These panels have been erected here in preparation of the exterior artwork installation.

Silhouette artwork panels are scheduled to be installed here and along the Plymouth Avenue elevation, below the exterior corridor. Additionally, a “green wall” of plantings will grow up along the east elevation adjacent to the parking entry. This will add another aspect of detailing to this building. The building is still evolving in its own manner.

This building brings a new vernacular to this neighborhood; one that says “we have arrived. We belong to the 21st century.” Modern architecture often has this effect. It changes the narrative. The eyebrows, angles, exterior artwork, interior gallery, and green wall are specific details and characteristics of this design. These items are unique to this building and were given to this community by the designers as a gift. It is hoped that much enjoyment will be had.

Hennepin Gallery exhibit celebrates NorthPoint Health & Wellness NorthPoint From 2 26 in the Hennepin Gallery at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. 6th St., Minneapolis.

NorthPoint’s history and its future The organization began operating as Minneapolis Pilot City Health Center in 1968 and was located in Beth El synagogue along 13th and Penn Avenues.

It was one of 14 Neighborhood Service Programs established by President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of his “war on poverty” efforts. The early vision for community health centers was to provide not only access to health care for low income, but serve as centers for economic development, education and social justice.

NorthPoint is currently undergoing a major campus expansion that will consolidate all services under one roof, enhancing whole-person integrated care, community well-being and health equity.

“NorthPoint is tremendously grateful for the support we have received from the community over these many years and look forward to discovering what we can achieve during the next 50 years,” said Stella WhitneyWest, CEO of NorthPoint.

Courtesy of Hennepin County

The exhibit on the 50-year history of NorthPoint Health & Wellness (Pilot City) is on display through Sept. 26 in the Hennepin Gallery at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. 6th St., Minneapolis.

Thor From 2 bring his company “home.”

Copeland said it was his dream, but it was Thor CEO Ravi Norman’s vision that made it a reality.

“This is his brainchild,” said Copeland. “I provided the platform, but Ravi brought the vision.”

The vision is a five story, 92,000 square foot, $36 million building with a 625-stall parking ramp. The Regional Acceleration Center houses offices for Thor, Target Corporation, Hennepin County/NorthPoint Health & Wellness, Metropolitan Economic Development Corporation (Meda), Build Wealth Minnesota, ME & I Fitness and Sammy’s Avenue Eatery. The fourth-floor rooftop deck has an unobstructed view of the downtown Minneapolis skyline.

In coming “home” to Penn and Plymouth, Thor brings the 11th most profitable Black company in the nation to North Minneapolis. Including the tenants of the Regional Acceleration Center, five Black CEOs con-

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Holding scissors high, Thor Companies Chairman Richard Copeland relishes in the moment after cutting the ribbon to the Thor Companies’ Regional Acceleration Center. duct their daily business in the new Northside structure that is the anchor of development taking place at Penn and Plymouth.

“What Richard Copeland Ravi Norman have shown is North Minneapolis is packed with opportunity,”

and here jam said

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

“By moving your business from Fridley to North Minneapolis to provide jobs for the

people of this community and hope for this community (Thor is) not only talking the talk, you are walking the walk,” said Gov.

Mark Dayton.

Once economically depressed, now there is an optimism not seen before in the corridor that is home to Thor, divisions of Target, Hennepin County, Meda and more. Rep. Keith Ellison (5th Dist.) said the once bleak economic outlook for North Minneapolis was by design.

“The truth is back in 1935 (when the city’s Planning Area Designation map was released with North Minneapolis designated “Negro Slum”) something like this wasn’t in the plans.

That’s just the truth,” said Ellison. “This building offers promise that we can turn things around.”

Norman said it is time to reimagine North Minneapolis.

“Imagine North Minneapolis as a robust economy with thriving businesses. Imagine North Minneapolis as a safe and fun environment. Imagine North Minneapolis as an abundant source of talent with premier schools and a place to get quality healthcare.

Imagine North Minneapolis as a zone of opportunity,” said Norman. “This vision is a reality right here and right now.”

Page 8 • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Afrodescendientes Beginning to deceive myself; looking for love online more. Martinez now pastors a bilingual congregation at North Minneapolis’ New Generation Church. His book is available on Amazon.

Life Lessons

By Victor Armando Martinez www.AllYouWantBook.com

Editor’s note: Victor Martinez, a Henry High School student leader a little over a decade ago, shares a lifechanging message of life lessons he learned as he searched for the love of his life. He reveals a framework for getting everything you want out of life and

My friend introduced me to a dating website that had many beautiful and exotic girls from Lima, Peru. That sounds crazy, right? I was shopping online for my dream girl, like a person shops for groceries at the store; this must be Gods plan for me, I said to myself. One of the attributes I desired and noted on my list was that my woman had to have a heavy foreign accent; this was it, I thought to

myself, because who better to have the accent I wanted than a woman from Peru? (Although, my list specifically stated she had to be a Mexican woman from around the Jalisco area) I set up my profile with every bit of honesty I could muster. I included every detail I could conceive and seemed important. I painted as accurate a picture as possible of myself. I even included that one of my favorite movies was Happy Feet. This particular fact on my profile was what caught the attention of Miss Cecilia Amanda Vasquez.

We averaged hundreds of emails every day for the next

couple of months, we were quite taken with each other, learning all that there was to learn about one another. Finally, I asked her if we could talk on the phone and she agreed. I called her as soon I got the chance.

Her voice and accent were so pleasing to my ears. I fell head over heels in love with her.

She was a mature Christian woman and was not afraid of a call to ministry. We talked and conversed for hours every Sunday. A couple months later she finally sent me a full body shot of herself. The picture quality was quite low and it was apparent from the get-go that she did not fit the

physical requirements I had set for my woman on my list.

Six months later I made the decision to pay her a visit in Peru. My family members and church brethren thought I was crazy. My mind was made up, I was going to do it no matter what everybody said; I refused to be discouraged and to instead push forward.

The craziness of it all did not hit me until I got on the airliner heading to Lima. I looked around me on the plane and told myself, “Are you crazy, what are you doing?”

I began to deceive myself into believing that she was the girl that God had for me. Of-

ten, the more educated or successful we become in life the more we begin to rely on our own knowledge, feelings and ability to do things. Little do people realize that we are replacing God’s place in our life with the idol called “yourself.”

God wants to give you the desires of your heart. He doesn’t want to hurt you, he wants you to trust Him and he will make it easier for you. Trust Him, even if it looks like it’s all falling apart.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

Comenzando a engañarme; en busca de amor en línea Mi amigo me mostró un sitio web que tenía muchas chicas hermosas y exóticas de Lima, Perú. Eso suena loco, ¿verdad? Estaba buscando en línea a la chica de mis sueños, como una persona que compra comestibles en la tienda; este debe ser el plan de Dios para mí, me dije. Uno de los atributos que anhelaba y anotaba en mi lista era que mi mujer debía tener un fuerte acento extranjero, y entonces pensé, ¿quién mejor para

tener ese tipo de acento que una mujer de Perú? (Aunque, mi lista indicaba específicamente que tenía que ser una mujer mexicana del área de Jalisco) Configuré mi perfil con toda la honestidad que pude reunir.

Incluí cada detalle que consideraba importante. Pinté la imagen más precisa posible de mí mismo. Incluso especifiqué que una de mis películas favoritas era Happy Feet. Porque este hecho particular en mi perfil fue lo que llamó la atención de la señorita Cecilia Amanda Vásquez Empezamos a enviarnos correos electrónicos; correo va, correo viene durante todo el día de trabajo. Enviábamos cientos de correos electrónicos todos los

días. Durante los siguientes dos meses, estábamos bastante entusiasmados, aprendiendo todo lo que se podía el uno del otro.

Finalmente, le pregunté si podíamos hablar por teléfono y ella estuvo de acuerdo. La llamé tan pronto tuve oportunidad. Su voz y acento fueron tan agradables para mis oídos. Ella era una mujer cristiana madura y no tenía miedo de un llamado al ministerio.

Un par de meses más tarde, finalmente me envió una foto completa de sí misma. La calidad de la imagen era bastante baja y desde el primer momento fue evidente que no se ajustaba a los requisitos físicos que había establecido

para mi mujer en mi lista.

Seis meses después tomé la decisión de visitarla en Perú. Los miembros de mi familia y hermanos de la iglesia pensaron que estaba loco. No podían entender cómo podía decidir viajar tantas millas para ver a alguien que realmente no conocía; alguien a quien nunca había visto antes.

Mis pensamientos me estaban volviendo loco en el avión a Lima; era como si todos los malos pensamientos hubieran esperado hasta que yo subiera a ese avión para empezar a agolparse en mi mente.

Yo mismo comience hacerme excusas de porque ella era la mujer que Dios tenia

para mi. A menudo, cuanto más educados o exitosos nos volvemos en la vida, más comenzamos a confiar en nuestro propio conocimiento, sentimientos y capacidad para hacer las cosas. Las personas poco nos damos cuenta de que estamos reemplazando el lugar de Dios en nuestra vida con el ídolo llamado “usted mismo”.

Dios quiere darle los anhelos de su corazón. Él no quiere lastimarlo, él quiere que usted confíe en Él y él lo hará todo más fácil. Confíe en Él, incluso así parezca que usted se está desmoronando.

Bendito el hombre que confía en el Señor y pone su confianza en él. Jeremías 17:7

ican Dream of Homeownership, and a pathway to prosperity that has been denied to many Black families. That must change.”

Hicks moderated the forum on remedies for housing discrimination. The panel included Lisa Rice, president and CEO National Fair Housing Alliance, James Carr, Coleman A. Young endowed chair and professor in Urban Affairs at Wayne State University, Mark Alston, visiting fellow with the Roosevelt Institute and owner, Skyway Realty and Alston & Associates Mortgage Co., Maurice Jourdain-Earl, chair, NAREB Public Affairs Committee and co-founder ComplianceTech and Alanna McCargo, vice president, Housing Finance Policy Urban Institute.

Richard Rothstein, who au-

thored, “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How our Government Segregated America,” said in his keynote address that segregated neighborhoods are not an accident, but “the result of laws and policies passed by local, state, and federal governments that promoted discriminatory patterns that continue to encourage housing segregation.”

There was a collective call for substantial housing finance reform, including charting a new course for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. NAREB announced at the forum three guiding principles to lead that reform including promoting homeownership as a high priority public policy with support for the mortgage interest tax deduction; creation of a tax-advantaged first-time

homebuyer down payment savings vehicle; and preservation of the affordable 30-year fixed rate mortgage, creating “loan level equality,” or the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions to prevent biases or privileges in the mortgage origination process and creating a federal accountability structure for the expanding non-depository lender market that will monitor their origination, pricing and lending practices to ensure practices are fair, equitable and non-discriminatory.

“We need reform that can help families overcome barriers to homeownership,” said Hicks, noting that NAREB commissioned two studies released today documenting the impact of discrimination and the need for

significant reform – “Fifty Years of Struggle” and the “2018 State of Housing in Black America.”

The “2018 State of Housing in Black America” takes aims at the flaws in the Fair Housing Act. “The Fair Housing Act, even with its many amendments over the years, has not adequately addressed discrimination in the housing market,” the study states.

“For this reason, the National Fair Housing Alliance continues each year to estimate the occurrence of 4 million instances of discrimination with only a handful ever being challenged.”

Moreover, the study says Federal regulators have reinforced the negative impacts of decades of discrimination “through inadequate enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and inadequate

oversight of lending practices to address the unique lending challenges experienced by Blacks due to decades of unequal and unfair access to mortgage credit and homeownership.”

“Fifty Years of Struggle,” which depicts the impact of the Kerner Report and the Fair Housing Act, says, “The fact that the Black homeownership rate today is unchanged from its level in 1968 is testament to the power of convert acts of racial bias … the United States will never achieve its promise of a truly integrated and equitable society until the structural impediments to economic justice are torn down. That will require an honest, concerted, and consistent effort by Congress, the White House, and the courts.”

RAC

possible the move to new offices in Thor’s Regional Acceleration Center.

complete and repeat strength and cardio station work.

Scott says ME & I personal trainers deliver highest-quality instruction and motivation to help meet and surpass fitness goals.

“Our training sessions are designed to be challenging, but simple. We will meet you where you are, and help you get where you want to go,” said Scott.

ME & I takes a no-compromises approach to fitness.

The state-of-the-art facility features tons of cutting-edge cardio equipment from top manufacturers – all maintained to the highest standard of performance.

For students and elite athletes, ME & I Fitness and Performance goals support efforts to raise their game to the next level with sports performance training designed to help athletes and individuals at all levels improve functional movement, build strength, power and decrease risk of injury.

Like Meda and ME & I, Build Wealth Minnesota (BWM) is changing the narrative about personal and family financial literacy and wealth building. BWM starts with the idea the wealth and financial fitness are concepts, languages that we can and will master.

BWM began in 2004 as a financial literacy, credit awareness, homebuyer education, jobs and training resource organization. The mission; promote sustainable social and economic wealth creation our community.

Executive Director David McGee reports that more than 1,200 families are moving toward and attaining financial stability as a result of BWM homeownership seminars,

workshops and credit repair clinics and other education, consultation and referral to community resources.

BWM brings together nonprofit, social service providers, private and government organizations to accomplish promoting sustainable homeownership, credit enhancement and financial literacy for long-term success for families.

McGee helps families embrace a new approach to spending, saving, giving, banking, investing and creating generational wealth instead of generational poverty. He says families with low to moderate incomes residing in underserved communities contend with higher prices for almost everything including food, housing, gas, insurance and other necessities. Economic pressures are de-stabilizing our communities and families are falling further and further behind just meeting basic needs. When families are not financially stable, all aspects of life and community can be impacted, McGee says.

BWM directs families to down-payment assistance, closing cost programs, career development and social service resources. For BWM, the “our” is genuinely inclusive, evidenced by the fact that the agency is intentional in engaging Asian Hmong and Pacific Islanders, Europeans including Romanian and Russian families, Africans including Ethiopian, Liberian, Nigerian, Sudanese, Zimbabwean families, Latinos including Mexican and Panamanian families, East Indian, NativeAmerican, and families in other ethnic and cultural communities.

de la vida y mucho más obtener. Martinez ahora pastorea una congregación bilingüe en Nueva Generación Iglesia de North Minneapolis. El libro as disponible en Amazon.

Las Lecciones

Por Victor Armando Martinez www.AllYouWantBook.com

Nota del editor: Víctor Martínez, un dirigente estudiantil de secundaria Henry un poco más hace una década, comparte un mensaje de cambio de vida de las lecciones que aprendió como buscaba el amor de su vida. Revela un marco para todo lo que quieres

NAREB From 3 rates – 41.6 percent for Blacks, compared to 72.9 percent for whites – caused by legacy of discrimination. Blacks couldn’t fully enjoy benefits of the GI Bill, suffered redlining that prevented them from buying homes in white communities and were charged higher fees and rates on their mortgages.

“Blacks have experienced housing discrimination that has limited financial growth and fueled the wealth gap that exists today,” said NAREB President Jeffrey Hicks. “Far too many people of color missed out on the Amer-

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Culture and Education Editor Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Intern Kelvin Kuria

Contributing Writers Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Abeni Hill Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

From 2 small businesses in underserved areas, with a focus on ethnic minority businesses. It is the third consecutive year the U.S. Department of Commerce recognized Meda as the nation’s top performer among 40 Minority Business Development Agency Business Centers. The award is based on Meda’s successes in financing, contracts, exports secured for clients, job creation and overall performance.

Meda’s mission is to create real and positive change by supporting entrepreneurs in our community with tangible ways that help their businesses grow. Entrepreneurs create jobs and increase wages in our community, and have a significant impact on Minnesota’s thriving economy.

With Cunningham at its helm, Meda has distinguished itself as the leading organization for minority entrepreneurs in Minnesota by increasing the number of entrepreneurs it serves and by supporting these entrepreneurs throughout the business life cycle with strategic partnerships.

Last year Meda grew its loan fund to $16 million and made or renewed 117 loans.

Meda clients secured $18.2 million in financing in 2017 and with Meda’s help, secured in excess of $100 million in corporate and government contracts for goods and services.

Meda lifts up supporters who have championed progress for minority businesses, especially Target Corporation and Thor Construction, for making

At a glance Meda’s loan fund provides financing to qualified minority businesses. Financing services come with a strategic evaluation of the business, which includes financial analysis, industry benchmarking, loan packaging and introductions to area bankers.

Meda business consultants provide one-on-one comprehensive consulting, applying their expertise and experience to solving complex problems that face entrepreneurs and small businesses. Meda provides integrated services that help all entrepreneurs identify and pursue government and corporate contracts and government funding opportunities.

What Meda does to create business vitality and success, ME & I Fitness and Performance interprets on the personal level. ME & I, like Meda, is taking our community to the next level in awareness, access and accomplishment in the pursuit of individual personal fitness. By its presence as an entrepreneurial venture at RAC, ME & I declares change is at hand for our community.

Located on the street retail level of RAC, 1256 Penn Ave. N., ME & I leverages the science and benefits of professional trainer-led conditioning and muscle sculpting, and delivers effective, efficient and intense training and that lets you benefit from the afterburn … the effect of the body continuing to burn fat after the workout ME & I personal trainers use circuit training to turbo charge

insightnews.com

Insight News • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Page 9

Obituary

Otha Smith remembered for kind soul, witty humor Otha Smith, Jr. (aectionately known as “Oâ€?) transitioned on Sept. 8.

He entered life on Nov. 18, 1974 to his beloved mother, Patricia Smith, and father, Otha Smith, Sr. A native of Chicago, Smith attended the University of Chicago Laboratory School and graduated from Hales Franciscan High School in 1992. He furthered his educa-

tion at the University of Illinois, where he earned a bachelor’s in broadcast journalism and marketing.

In summer of 2000, Smith traveled to Minnesota to visit friends. Quickly developing a network of new friends in the area, Smith relocated to the Twin Cities in 2002, eventually settling in Eden Prairie. In 2008 Smith with diagnosed with renal kidney

failure and was placed on dialysis. In 2014 he was blessed to become a kidney transplant recipient. It was his journey with kidney disease that led him on a quest to live each moment fully and joyfully. He also became a strong advocate for organ donation.

For 21 years Smith worked with American Back-Haulers, later acquired by CH Robinson Worldwide, where he held

Otha Smith

a leadership position in the company’s international headquarters.

A devoted son to his mother, who transitioned due to breast cancer, Smith became a regular participant in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Smith was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and traveled to multiple stadiums to watch the Cubs play. He would also travel the country to destinations

such as Atlanta, New Orleans and others to see musical concerts, including seeing the BeyoncĂŠ and Jay-Z “On the Runâ€? and “On the Run IIâ€? concerts.

Smith leaves behind his father (Coretta), stepbrother, Mark Davis, stepsister, Diana Davis, ďŹ ve aunts, four uncles, a host of cousins and countless friends in the Twin Cities, Chicago and from the University of Illinois.

Donna Gayle Bush remembered as loving mother, movie enthusiast It is with great sadness the family of Donna Gayle Bush announces her passing, which occurred on Aug. 31.

Bush was born in Eagan on Dec. 2, 1971 to the late Dr. Donald Marsh and Rose Marsh. She graduated from Breck School in 1989 where she played the ute and was an exceptional Spanish scholar. Bush also graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a B.A. in psychology.

Bush initially grew up at Zion Baptist Church where she sang in the youth choir.

She later became a member of Revelation Center Christian Center International and a member of the Daughters of Zion. Bush recently joined Liberty Community Church.

Bush is remembered as a kind and gentle soul who had a ďŹ erce love of her husband and children. She was the founding member of the

Donna Gayle Bush

Conversations From 3 book, a novel, “The Ancient Nine.� “The Ancient Nine� delves into the secret world of Harvard’s – and ultimately – the world’s elite. Smith gained access to this exclusive society when he was a sophomore basketball player at the university and an envelope was slipped under his dorm door inviting him to a cocktail party presented by the Delphic Club. Smith had been “punched.�

In being punched as they call it, Smith would enter a world very foreign to him. In doing so, he would begin the process for writing what would eventually become “The Ancient Nine.â€? “Believe it or not, I’ve been writing this book – at least in my head – for 25 years,â€? said Smith. “As a senior I knew my story was so unique that at some point I would want to share this story with the world.â€? “The Ancient Nineâ€? is a sharp departure from how most readers have come to know Smith. A best-selling author of 15 books on health and ďŹ tness and a television personality on the hit show “Celebrity Fit Club,â€? and who also served on President Barack Obama’s Council of on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, “Ancient Nineâ€? is Smith’s second work of ďŹ ction. “People know me for writing health books and diet books and ďŹ tness books, but one of my passions forever has been ďŹ ction, particularly thrillers and mysteries,â€? said Smith. “(‘The Ancient Nine’) is a novel, but it’s based on actual events.â€?

Smith told listeners to “Con-

ClassiÀeds

Twin Cities chapter of Mocha Moms, providing support for women of color as they journey through motherhood. Bush loved to bake, and her peach cobbler and pound cake and at the same time, she was advocating organic and natural foods before they became trendy and popular. Bush loved movies with complex plots where she had a quirky way of spending hours psycho-ana-

lyzing the plot and its characters. She also loved music of all kinds and genres.

Bush is preceded in death by her mother, father and fatherin-law, Dr. Roderick Bush.

Left to cherish her memories are her husband, Malik Bush, children, Angelo Bush (16), Orlando Bush (16) and Wisdom Bush (13), siblings David (Lucy) Marsh, Dianne (Braxton) Haulcy, nieces and nephews, Braxton (Bakari),

Tajalia, Mandela, Jedidiah, Wynton, in-laws: Penda Kane, Melanie Bush, Thembi (Jamal) Tillman, SaraďŹ na Bush, aunts, Carolyn (Earl) Jenkins and a galaxy of cousins and beloved friends.

A homecoming service for Bush was held on Sept. 15 at Liberty Community Church, 3700 Bryant Ave. N., Minneapolis.

versations with Al McFarlane,â€? which aired on KFAI 90.3 FM (www.kfai.org) this past Tuesday (Sept. 11), that although ďŹ ction, “99.9 percentâ€? of the book is rooted in fact. “FDR (President Franklin Delano Roosevelt), (President) Teddy Roosevelt, all the Kennedy brothers who went to Harvard were members of this club,â€? said Smith. “What was strange about this (being “punchedâ€?) is I was everything this club was not. I was African-American, I had no money, I had no connections, my family did not ‘winter’ in Florida ‌ we didn’t ‘summer’ at the lake and I couldn’t understand why these guys would want me in their club, which by the way are all male clubs. My club in particular, which is the Delta Club, was started in the 1700s ‌ my club was started by was actually founded by J. P Mor-

gan, Jr.�

J.P. Morgan is still today a household name, as most are familiar with JP Morgan Chase & Co., which boast more than $2.5 trillion on assets.

In writing a book about such a secretive society, it would be easy to see how some would frown upon one of its members writing such a detailed account of the organizations’ inner workings, but Smith said his fellow members have not dissuaded him from writing “The

Ancient Nine.� “It’s (the book) not an expose; I’m still friends with a lot of these guys,� said Smith. “The Ancient Nine� is available at most retail and online bookstores. “Conversations with Al McFarlane airs Tuesdays weekly at 1 p.m. on KFAI 90.3 FM. Archives of past “Conversations� are available online at www.kfai.org/conversationswithalmcfarlane.

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Page 10 • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Sona Jobarteh

U-God

J Cole

Bansang Jobarteh and Toumani Diabaté.

Tuesday, Sept. 18 HIP-HOP

Monday, Sept. 17– Sunday, Sept. 30

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. 17

U-God of Wu-Tang Clan Nomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

21-plus $15,$18 One of the Wu-Tang swordsmen hits Minneapolis alongside DJ D-Mil Niles, M.C. Rentz, Sun and La, Daytym and Ken-C

Wednesday, Sept. 19 HIP-HOP J. Cole: KOD Tour 2018 Target Center 600 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

All ages $45-$157

WORLD MUSIC Global Roots Festival 2018 Cedar Cultural Center 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

All ages No cover The 30th annual Global Roots Festival invites vocalist and instrumentalist Sona Jobarteh.

Jobarteh is the first female Kora virtuoso to come from a West African griot family that has produced renowned musicians such as Amadu

J Cole has been holding down hip-hop as a top tier lyricist and producer.

Join him for the K.O.D. Tour with Young Thug, Jaden Smith, Kill Edward and Earthgang.

Thursday, Sept. 20 THEATER “Hamilton” Orpheum Theatre 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

All ages $203-$479

The mega-hit, “Hamilton” is in Minneapolis at the Orpheum. Tickets are hard to come by … and pricey. But most say well worth it.

neapolis 7 p.m. $64-$144

7th St Entry 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis 7 p.m.

18-plus SOLD OUT

Friday, Sept. 21

Often referred to as the Travis Scott of Latin music, Bad Bunny hits downtown Minneapolis.

DANCE NIGHT

Monday, Sept. 24

Ohio Blues band Welshy Arms hits the 7th Street Entry at First Ave.

VIBE Ginger Hop 201 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

21-plus No cover

JAZZ

Thursday, Sept. 27

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall Guthrie Theater 818 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

All Ages $35-$60

THEATER

DJ Michel.be and Lady Em present a night to space to honor women and queer and trans people of color.

Saturday, Sept. 22 FASHION SHOW Runway Africa Fashion Show Moxy Minneapolis Uptown 1121 W. Lake St., Minneapolis 5 p.m.

All ages $20 general admission, $50 VIP Black Fashion Week presents Runway Africa with designers Jummy’s Couture, Thea Couture, Ruva Africa and Te La Vie Kollection.

Sunday, Sept. 23

Jazz trumpeter great Herb Alpert is joined by Lani Hall in this Dakota Jazz Club produced event at the Guthrie.

Tuesday, Sept. 25 REGGAE One Love Movement Pimento Jamaican Kitchen 2524 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis 10 p.m.

21-plus No cover

“Centerplay” The Southern Theater 1420 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

13-plus $20-$24 “Centerplay” is an immersive twist on Vie Boheme’s signature theatrical dance experience that weaves song, dance, spoken word poetry, and monologues with dynamic and athletic dancing.

With an original score

by Eric Mayson and Vie Boheme, the performance happens in the round with seating encircling the centerstage.

Friday, Sept. 28 HIP-HOP

DJ Verb X will be in the house playing all your favorite reggae, 90s hiphop and R&B and more every 2nd and 4th Tuesday monthly.

Wednesday, Sept. 26

LATIN/TRAP

Go Show 13 with Wiz Khalifa The Armory 500 6th St. S., Minneapolis 8:30 p.m.

All ages $39-$49

BLUES/ROCK Bad Bunny State Theatre 805 Hennepin Ave., Min-

Welshly Arms with The Glorious Sons

GO 95.3 FM presents a live show with hiphop/pop superstar Wiz

Khalifa.

Saturday, Sept. 29 DANCE NIGHT Black and White Ball Minneapolis Marriott West 9960 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

21-plus $25 general admission, $75 VIP With more than 200 people in attendance last year the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. follow up with this year’s ball. The soulful group, MPLS is performing and DJ Chuck Chizzle is on the wheels.

Sunday, Sept. 30 JAZZ/SOUL A Celebration of and by T. Mychael Rambo Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $40 This party with a purpose benefits Save Our Sons and the Circle of Peace.

Celebrate the life of local legend, T. Mychael Rambo, with Debbie Duncan, Aimee K. Bryant, Robert Robinson, Keno Evol, PaviElle French, Ginger Commodore, Julius Collins, Thomasina Petrus, Brittany Delany, Tonia Hughes and Jamecia Bennett.

Central Selby Avenue ‘Janet Williams Impact Award’ given to Juliet Mitchell Selby Jazz Fest recognized entrepreneur Juliet Mitchell for her dedication, commitment, and support of the rapidly changing

and growing Central Selby Corridor.

At the 17th Annual Selby Jazz Fest, Sept. 8, Mitchell,

a.k.a. “Ms. J, the Life Etiquette Expert,” was recognized for her years of dedicated service to the community. Mitchell, first-time

recipient of the Central Selby Janet Williams Impact Award, was recognized for her “neverending work and dedication to serving social, spiritual, and professional needs of women, youth, and the incarcerated within the Central Selby Corridor of St. Paul and the Regional Twin Cities.”

“This award gives a ‘shoutout’ to the importance of civility and basic respect – the foundation for all healthy communities,” said Mitchell, “After all, manners are memorable.”

“Ms. J’s efforts have made the world a nicer and more wellmannered place,” said Mychael Wright, founder of the Selby Jazz Fest and co-owner of Golden Thyme Coffee and Café.

Mitchell is CEO of Eagles Wings, LLC, a personal and professional development company focusing on “life etiquette”.

Ms. J and her team of etiquette professionals help people to improve their social and interpersonal skills for more successful relationships. Eagle Wings’ seminars, workshops and training programs offer tips, strategies and techniques for personal growth and professional success.

Golden Thyme Coffee and Café is located at 927 Selby Ave. in St. Paul.

Mychael Wright, founder of the Selby Jazz Fest and co-owner of Golden Thyme Coffee and Café (left) and Juliet Mitchell, recipient of the Central Selby Janet Williams Impact Award.

insightnews.com

Insight News • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Page 11

New children’s book shines light on unsung scientist

Librarian pens children’s book biography of Ernest Everett Just Twin Cities author Mélina Mangal is out with a new picture book biography, “The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just.”

The book, published by Millbrook Press (Lerner), will be available Nov. 1.

“I›m excited that it just received a starred review

Author, Mélina Mangal

in School Library Journal and won the prestigious Dilys Evans Founders Award for illustrations by Luisa Uribe,” said Mangal.

Mangal said she wanting to highlight an unsung American hero.

“Ernest Everett Just was not like other scientists of his time,” said Mangal. “He saw the whole, where others saw only parts. He noticed details others failed to see. He persisted in his research despite the discrimination and limitations imposed on him as an African-American. His keen observations of sea creatures revealed new insights about egg cells and the origins of life. Through stunning illustrations and lyrical prose, this

picture book presents the life and accomplishments of this long overlooked scientific pioneer.”

In addition to writing, Mangal is an elementary school

librarian in Minneapolis who says she loves research and teaching the research process.

“I also feel it is so important to highlight nonfiction to our youngest readers, plant-

CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO feat. Buster Williams & Lenny White

ing the seeds of possibility early on,” said Mangal. “Although ‘The Vast Wonder’ is a picture book, it is still a biography, which took years to research and write. (With

this book I hope to) inspire future scientists.”

There will be a book launch at the Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Ave., St. Paul, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m.

A TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN WITH GINGER COMMODORE

“splendid and soulful” – Jazz Times

SEP 25-26 • 7 & 9PM 651. 291. 2715 • v ieux- car r e.com

SEP 23 • 7 PM P OW E R F U L JA Z Z & S O U L VO C A L S

612.332.5299 • dakotacooks.com

612.377.2224 guthrietheater.org

A riveting ethical argument

Frankenstein – Playing with Fire Sept 15 – Oct 27

by BARBARA FIELD (from the novel by MARY SHELLEY) directed by ROB MELROSE

Page 12 • September 17 - September 23, 2018 • Insight News

Music superstar Ella Mai was in the Twin Cities this past Friday (Sept. 14) and the location may be a bit of a shock to some. A platinum selling artist with the No. 1 R&B hit, “Boo’d Up,” likely spots would be the Target Center, Xcel Center, First Avenue or other prestigious venues, but the London sensation offered up a free performance during the grand opening celebration of Thor

Companies’ Regional Acceleration Center at the corner of Penn and Plymouth Avenues in North Minneapolis.

An abbreviated performance, the 23-year-old singer belted out her smash hit, “Boo’d Up” and the chartrising “Trip” before exiting the outdoor stage. Rumor has it the singer was slated to perform longer, but she was stung by a bee. Bees could be seen buzz-

insightnews.com

ing around the singer, but there has been no independent confirmation as to if she was indeed stung.

The fans – many of them young kids – didn’t seem to mind her short set at all, as they cheered loudly when she thanked the crowd and exited the stage. Other performers included Paris Bennett, The Lioness, Lawrence Miles, the Maxx Band and more.

Thor Companies CEO Ravi Norman cuts the ribbon to open the block party.

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion welcoming the crowd to the Thor Companies block party.

Photos Harry Colbert, Jr.

Soul/pop music star Ella Mai singing her No. 1 hit, “Boo’d Up.”

GO 95’s DJ Advance.

Block party host and gospel star, Jovonta Patton.