Insight News ::: 10.11.10

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month

INSIGHT NEWS October 11 - October 17, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 41 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Suluki Fardan

Reverend Eli Thigpen told councilmember Don Samuels the corner store was the problem, not the bus stop.

Residents rally for bus access Transportation justice means transportation access, said North Minneapolis residents and business owners who held a protest rally at Golden Valley & Penn last Saturday.

At issue was Metro Transit’s

removal of bus service stops at that intersection. Metro Transit curtailed service to that corner at the requests of Minneapolis Police Department.

MPD asked Metro Transit to move bus stops two blocks to

the north or south in response to one store owner’s allegation that the bus stop provided cover for loiterers and drug dealers whose violent behavior posed a safety risk to area residents and passersby.

Hamza Samir, who manages

Wally’s, the corner store at Golden Valley & Penn said area youths would loiter at the bus stop and not catch the bus. He said the people who loiter there are just bad people.

Don Samuels, 5th Ward City

Council Member said he would ask Metro Transit to consider moving the bus stop from the Southeast corner to the northeast corner, in front of Wright Barber Shop. He questioned why youths chose to, and were allowed to

loiter in front of Wally’s corner store.

Is it because the store is selling tobacco products to underage youths without checking age

BUS TURN TO 8

Leading artistic and professional lives This is the second in a series of artist biographies aimed at illuminating the depth of talent, creative and productivity Minnesota artist bring to their craft and to our community and culture in the broadest sense.

This week we focus on three incredibly talented members of Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness.

Photos courtesy of the Artists

Victor Holt

Marchers listen to speakers at the One Nation March

Ashley Nicole Commodore Ashley Nicole Commodore was born into a truly musical family. Her mother, father and brother are all musicians.

After high school roles in “Fame” and “Godspell” and the lead role of Dorothy in

Ashley Nicole Commodore

Bridget Dawkins

Cynthia Johnson

“The Wiz” Ashley joined the cast of “Black Nativity” at the Penumbra Theatre, St. Paul MN and debuted as reindeer “Dasher” in the award winning Sounds of Blackness musical

“The Night Before Christmas”.

She was also featured in the “Twin Cities Tribute to Michael Jackson”.

Ashley Nicole Commodore has studied at the Children’s

Theater, Minneapolis MN and recently graduated from DePaul University, Chicago IL, receiving a BA in Psychology.

BIOS TURN TO 9

One Nation: Africa: Then, now and forever

Jobs Now

By James Wright Special to the NNPA from the Washington Informer Hundreds of thousands of people from across the country converged upon Washington, D.C., to participate in a rally to let Congress and the White House know that job creation and fixing the ailing economy should be the number one priority.

The One Nation Working

Together rally at the Lincoln Memorial was designed to counter the Tea Party movement’s rally in Washington in August and to caution Americans that a Republican-controlled Congress would turn back the hands of time. Members from various progressive organizations and unions traveled by bus, train, airplane, and on foot to let national leaders in Washington know that political squabbling will do little to heal people’s economic pain in

MARCH TURN TO 7

Education

Mike Favor values listening, truth, accountability

PAGE 5

By Philip Emeagwali Part 1 of 5 Walk with me in memory to one of the greatest celebrations, the end of the colonial era in Africa. The day: October 1, 1960. The place: British West Africa. The setting: a crowded stadium in the Atlantic coastal town of Sapele. School children are waving green and white flags in honor of the birth of modern Nigeria, no longer part of the British Empire.

I was six-years-old and was in that stadium. I do not remember what was said because the concept of colonialism was abstract to me. But I vividly remember an

Aesthetics

Kam Williams interviews Denzel Whitaker

PAGE 5

incident that made me cry all that day. I was waving my flag in excitement when a faceless bully snatched it away and disappeared into the crowd.

In far-away Lagos, the Union Jack was lowered. Nigeria’s Head of State, the Queen of England, was dethroned and Nnamdi Azikiwe became Nigeria’s first Black leader.

Fifty years earlier, the Union Jack had cast its shadow across every global time zone, giving rise to the saying, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” We had showed our pride in being part of the empire by celebrating Empire Day on May 24th, Queen Victoria’s birthday, with parades and sporting competitions.

Philip Emeagwali Later, Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day. As a country, Nigeria has existed for 96 years, but it has only been independent for 50 years, for

Health

More health care for the Whittier Community

PAGE 6

emeagwali.com

just over half that time. We must critically examine the 46 years

AFRICA TURN TO 9

Lifestyle

Children’s theatre company celebreates 45th anniversary

PAGE 8

Page 2 • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Insight News

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Mary David receives Arc Housing Award Mary David, who supports people with developmental disabilities living independently in South Minneapolis, received the Inclusive Housing Award from The Arc of Minnesota.

David received her award at The Arc of Minnesota Awards Banquet on Saturday, October

9, 2010 at Breezy Point Resort in Breezy Point, Minnesota.

The Inclusive Housing Award honors individuals, agencies, and organizations that provide outstanding support for persons with developmental disabilities so they can live in the community as independently as possible.

David, who works for Opportunity Partners, is being honored for her outstanding work of supporting people who live semi-independently. She assists individuals through the entire process of finding appropriate housing, facilitates the transition from their current living situations to their new

homes, anticipates challenges and creates solutions, and supports people once they are settled. She also advocates with policymakers at the Capitol to support housing for individuals with disabilities.

The Arc of Minnesota is a statewide, non-profit organization that promotes

and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. It has 5,400 members and 12 affiliated chapters statewide.

Color The Vote mobilizes for November election Representatives from Minnesota’s ALANA (African, Latino, Asian & Native American) communities came together in a strong show of solidarity to issue the call to action: ‘You Vote, We Win!’ launching the Color the Vote campaign from the State Office Building in St. Paul last week.

The Color the Vote campaign is sponsored by OneMN.org, a collaborative network of ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) communities, leaders, and individuals who agree to “eliminate racial barriers to success in Minnesota.”

“The margin of victory of the last three gubernatorial elections has been less than the collective voting strength of ALANA voters

in Minnesota says Ezell Jones, a member of One Minnesota’s leadership team. “Our collective vote is critical in the upcoming election November 2.”

Through its network of businesses, community agencies and media partnerships statewide, the ALANA network boasts a reach to over 800,000 ALANA community residents in Minnesota, 300,000 potential ALANA voters and a combined purchasing power topping $12 billion dollars.

“With a $5.8 billion dollar budget shortfall and critical policy issues to be discussed during the next legislative session, we need to have a voice at the table.

Our campaign to mobilize our

Photo courtesy Color The Vote

Georgia Lickness from the White Earth Tribe, give voice to eliminating racial barriers to success in Minnesota.

vote in November will be the voice representing over 800,000 Minnesota residents”, says Brett Buckner, Color the Vote’s campaign coordinator.

This grassroots campaign has gained momentum since its launch. The campaign has been adopted by organizations such as The Minneapolis Economic Development Agency (MEDA), Madasha Media, a media outlet serving East African Communities, La Voz, The Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce, Phyllis Wheatley Center, dozens of radio and media outlets statewide and more.

‘This is truly a non-partisan effort” stresses Buckner. “We’re not endorsing, nor are we

supported by any candidate, our goal is to simply educate & mobilize voters in our communities.”

As part of its outreach, the campaign has issued multilingual messaging to ensure that it is effectively reaching its diverse base. A rigorous viral and grassroots promotional efforts have earned the campaign tremendous support...and the attention of candidates.

The Color the Vote campaign will be revving up its outreach efforts in the weeks leading up to the election, November 2. For more information visit www.colorthevote.org or www. onemn.org or Color the Vote on Facebook.

Minnesota gets $56 million to help homeowners U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced HUD will provide nearly $56 million to help struggling homeowners in Minnesota through its Emergency Homeowners Loan Program (EHLP). The DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law by President Obama in July, authorizes HUD to administer a $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, to provide assistance – for up to 24 months -- to homeowners who have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition and are at-risk of foreclosure. HUD will assist borrowers in 32 states and Puerto Rico not otherwise funded

by Treasury’s Hardest Hit Housing Fund program, based

on the state’s relative share of unemployed homeowners. It is HUD’s intention for the program to begin taking applications from eligible homeowners by the end of the year.

“The Emergency Homeowner Loan Program will provide limited and targeted assistance to help working families get back on their feet and keep their home while they look for work,” said Secretary Donovan. “In crafting this new loan program, HUD built on the lessons learned from Treasury’s Hardest Hit initiative to design and implement a program to assist struggling unemployed homeowners avoid preventable foreclosures. Together these two initiatives represent a combined $8.6 billion investment to help struggling borrowers and in doing so further contribute to the Obama Administration’s efforts to stabilize housing markets

and communities across the country.”

“The loan program announced today is essential in rebuilding and revitalizing communities in Minnesota that are suffering from the devastating effects of foreclosure,” said Rep. Keith Ellison. “With the federal government’s help, potentially thousands of Minnesota families will be able to keep their homes.”

Who Will Be Helped The program will complement existing Administration efforts to assist struggling homeowners – including the Home Affordable Modification and Hardest Hit Fund initiative administered by the U.S. Treasury Department.

Under the EHLP: 1) the borrower must be at least three month delinquent in their payments and have a reasonable likelihood of being able to resume repayment of

their mortgage payments and related housing expenses within two years.

2) the property must be the principle residence of the borrower, and eligible borrowers may not own a second home 3) the borrower must have suffered at least a 15 percent reduction in income and have been able to afford their mortgage payments prior to the event that triggered the loss income.

How They Will Be Helped The HUD Emergency Homeowners Loan Program will offer a forgivable, deferred payment “bridge loan” (zero percent interest, non-recourse, subordinate loans) for up to $50,000 to assist eligible borrowers with their mortgage arrearages and payments on their for mortgage principal, interest, mortgage insurance premiums,

taxes and hazard insurance for up to 24 months.

There will be a dual delivery approach for program administration.

The first approach will delegate some of the program’s administrative functions to a designated third party.

The second approach will enable state housing finance agencies (HFAs) that operate substantially similar programs to engage in relief efforts on behalf of residents of their state: Delegated approach: HUD will delegate key program administration functions to NeighborWorks® America – an experienced and highly regarded national network of affiliated housing counseling agencies.

Under the program, nonprofit housing counselors who are part of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program administered by NeighborWorks® America will

coordinate intake counseling, document preparation and outreach functions. HUD will also use it delegation authority to contract with an experienced entity to provide loan servicing and fiscal control functions such as collecting payments from homeowners, distributing payments to servicers, and managing loan balances.

Substantially similar state law approach: State HFAs that operate loan assistance programs that are determined

by HUD to be substantially similar to the EHLP will receive allocations to fund emergency loans for borrowers in their states as well as payments to cover the administrative costs of performing the intake and housing counseling and fiscal agent functions (described above) directly or indirectly through subcontracts with third parties.

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Insight News • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Page 3

BUSINESS Obama launches Skills for America’s Future President Obama recently launched Skills for America’s Future, a new, industry-led initiative to dramatically improve industry partnerships with community colleges and build a nation-wide network to maximize workforce development strategies, job training programs, and job placement.

President Obama said, “We want to make it easier to join students looking for jobs with businesses looking to hire.

We want to put community colleges and employers together to create programs that match curricula in the classroom with the needs of the boardroom.

Skills for America’s Future will help connect more employers, schools, and other job training providers, and help them share knowledge about what practices work best. The goal is to ensure there are strong partnerships between growing industries and community college or training programs in every state in the country.”

Building on the success and example of the “Educate to Innovate” campaign to increase science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning, Skills for America’s Future will facilitate industry partnerships with community colleges and other training

providers in support of the President’s goal of 5 million more community college graduates and certificates by 2020. Skills for America’s Future will build high-impact partnerships with industry, labor unions, community colleges and other training providers in all 50 states.

In addition, the President also announced the establishment of a federal Skills for America’s Future Task Force, co-chaired by top-level administration policymakers, to coordinate federal efforts and ensure the private sector is best poised to work with and leverage federal training and education efforts.

Skills for America’s Future already has the commitment of leaders, such as Penny Pritzker (Chairman/CEO, Pritzker Realty Group) and Walter Isaacson (CEO, Aspen Institute), to advance this effort. In addition, leading companies, including PG&E, Gap Inc, McDonald’s, United Technologies and Accenture, are ready to be part of Skills for America’s Future and expand their efforts.

On Tuesday, Dr. Jill Biden will host the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges, which will highlight the critical role that community colleges

play in developing America’s workforce and reaching our educational goals. On that day, leaders of Skills for America’s Future will lead a breakout session with industry leaders, community college representatives, organized labor and workforce training experts to highlight best practices and key factors of such robust, successful partnerships.

In an increasingly competitive global economy, America’s economic growth and competitiveness depends upon the education and skills of its workers. As part of his American Graduation Initiative, President Obama has called for an additional 5 million community college degrees and certificates by 2020, and to develop new steps to ensure that those credentials will help graduates get ahead in their careers.

The President’s leadership has already made a difference.

Under the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, over $2 billion in competitive funds will made available to community colleges over the next four years. The initiative, housed at the Department of Labor and implemented in close cooperation with the Department of Education, will build career pathways

with businesses, advance the teaching of basic skills, establish education partnerships with other institutions, and support new online, open-source courses so that community colleges across the country can offer more classes without building more classrooms.

As part of this effort, the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board conducted outreach to private sector employers, labor leaders, philanthropy organizations, and policy leaders within the Administration to solicit views on workforce development challenges, publicly-financed programs, and more effective public/private partnerships.

Employers identified public/ private partnerships as one of the most effective ways to improve the skills and credentials of American workers and students. At the conclusion of those meetings, it was clear that private sector employers are eager to work on a national action plan that would make American workers more competitive and meet employers’ needs for skilled workers. In response, the PERAB recommended the establishment of Skills for America’s Future to harness this interest and energy.

President Barack Obama

Official Whitehouse photo

Accomplish more by creating a better workspace Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Some say what is on a desk is a direct reflection of what is in the head of the person who uses it. Put the paper down and look around for just a minute.

What surrounds you? And what does that say about how you work? Creating a more favorable workspace is easy to do, and can actually improve a person’s ability to achieve great things.

Jared has one of those spaces that make people shake their heads. He seems disorganized, but he will be the first to tell you, “Everything is important.”

The head

shakers suspect Jared could be more efficient if he worked differently. But Jared is not disorganized; he just comes across that way. The word organize suggests file folders and ladies’ magazines. Let’s change organize to establish, and see what we can make happen in your space.

First, establish a place for everything. This rarely requires file folders and boxes.

Look at where items land as they are used. If the stapler gets dropped on the right hand corner of the desk, but the rules of organization say the stapler should be in the drawer, then your time and energy is wasted when you put the stapler away and take it out again. You will hunt for it in the drawer, and find it where you used it last.

Establish the upper right corner of your desk as the stapler’s rightful place, and leave it there, always.

Establish places for other

frequently used items: pens, post-its, flash drives. As you do this, keep the center of your desk free. You must have a place to actively work, and that place must be dedicated solely to what you are working on at the moment.

Visual types like open shelving; others prefer hiding things away in drawers.

Establish a style one way or another, so you don’t lose time trying to think like someone else about where things disappeared to. Either way, buy multiples of things you use in two places: for example, leave one phone charger at home and one at your desk.

Establish a one-touch system for mail. Deal with each new item or flag it with specific notes. Establish a recycling spot and be generous with it. If you have information on your calendar, recycle the flyer.

Establish a paper route: either file everything, or create

desktop bins for each project.

Knowing where it goes and routinely getting it there means you will know where to look for it later on. Request reports in electronic form and save the Earth while preserving desktop real estate for working.

Establish priorities.

Approach your work, first, according to urgency and, second, according to what you can make the most progress on in the shortest amount of time.

If you have ten minutes to kill, kill the ten-minute report you

have to file, even if it isn’t due yet. It’s now out of the way, leaving longer stretches of time for other tasks.

Manage distractions.

Establish a scrapbook for jotting random bits of inspiration. The dress designer who frequently jots dress ideas on envelopes and napkins might want a funky napkin holder on her desk. This is her scrapbook, and it’s always there when she needs an idea.

Most importantly, establish a Tomorrow Today routine. At

the end of today, jot to-do list for tomorrow. Leave it on that empty space in the center of your desk. Tomorrow, you will know exactly where you left off.

Julie Desmond is an experienced recruiter and career counselor.

She currently leads Job Search and Career Planning workshops in Minneapolis, MN. Please send your questions or comments to Julie@Insightnews.com.

Page 4 • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Insight News

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EDUCATION Mike Favor values listening, truth, accountability

By Titilayo Bediako Considered by many to be the best principal that North High School ever had, the Northside community of Minneapolis was shocked when Mike Favor announced that he was leaving to become principal of Cooper High School in the Robbinsdale School District.

Favor is credited for turning a plethora of North’s failures into successes.

With the beginning of his fourth year in Robbinsdale, Mike Favor has used his same magic at Cooper. At a school where many students lacked discipline and struggled academicslly, Favor came to demonstrate that all children could be successful in school.

Favor is a former offensive lineman, who has been called the greatest player in North Dakota State football (19851988). Mike Favor played in three national championship victories. He graduated from North Dakota State in 1989 with a degree in social work.

He also earned a Master’s degree in Education from Hamline University.

Favor was a teacher and administrator at St. Louis Park High School and then assistant principal at Minneapolis North High before being promoted to principal.

Favor goes the extra mile to assure that students at Cooper succeed.

During Favor’s tenure at Cooper, tremendous

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changes have taken place that benefit students.

A record number of students of color are graduating, the achievement gap is decreasing and all students know that the expectation of Cooper is academic excellence. Favor has also promoted males, including African Americans, to leadership positions, in a female dominated profession.

His motto is “Listen, tell the truth and hold people accountable.”

He allows nothing to get in the way of student success.

Insight: This is the beginning of your fourth year at Cooper High School. What were some of the challenges coming into Cooper?

Favor: I really missed North High School and I have missed the Northside.

Everyday I wonder if I made the right decision coming here.

Yet, when I saw children at Cooper underachieving, I knew I could help make a difference.

Helping to change the mindset of the learning community and helping them see that even our most difficult students can and will be successful, and showing them plenty of examples has been so rewarding.

Insight: What are you proud of at Cooper?

Favor: I am proud that we are getting better and better every year. We have become much more intentional, much more data focused and better at listening to the students. We have become better at setting the expectations and holding everyone accountable. I have high expectations for everyone in the building. My motto is, “If it’s not working, fix it. If it’s a water fountain or children not learning; fix it.”

Insight: How are things going at the school with the teachers and all the changes you have put in place?

Favor: I think it’s working. They all know how

Mike Favor to use assessments to improve learning. We have identified that once something needs to be fixed, we do it. Once we have improved a problem, I make sure it continues to work. If staff development isn’t helping us reach our expectations, if it doesn’t serve our school or our students, again we fix it.

I believe that No Child Left Behind has a purpose; it gives us a way to look at education with a common lens. When I see a large number of students behind and dropping out, and a large number of children of color in special education, it makes me question if the system is truly serving all children.

Accountability

Photo courtesy Titilayo Bediako

measurements are imperative; be it administrators or teachers, all of us who touch the lives of children must be accountable; this includes me. If I am ever underperforming I shouldn’t be in this job.

Insight: How many African American and children of color attend Cooper?

Favor: Almost fifty percent of our students are of color. Students come from Robbinsdale, Crystal, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, New Hope, Plymouth and Golden Valley. This doesn’t include the 200 Choice is Yours students, who are students throughout Minneapolis who have chosen Cooper because

they feel we can do a better job of educating their children than the schools where they came from. Our student numbers are at 1880 and students keep coming. We have what we call the “The Cooper Way.” We are very intentional, from our support staff to our discipline teachers; the conversation starts with academics. We keep the main focus on learning, and we are constantly looking for evidence of it. Education works here. All kids are working at a higher level but still, it has to get better. Students and teachers know that we are about education and learning.

All male administrators wear a shirt and tie. They model excellence. Staff needs to see it and parents need to see it; I think it’s important.

Insight: What have you been able to accomplish in the last three years?

Favor: Cooper has been one of the top 1,500 high schools in the United States for the last two years. More students of color are taking IB courses. I have developed a relationship with Anoka Technical College.

All juniors and seniors are allowed to take classes there, regardless of their grades. I want all students at Cooper to know that college is for them and that it is within reach.

Being on a college campus helps them see that. Kids feel that they belong at Cooper.

No student feels invisible to staff or to administrators.

My students know Mr. Favor loves them. They need to know it and they need to hear it. Sometimes its tough love; I may not always do what they want me to do, but students feel they are listened to by their principal.

Insight: Cooper High School has a lot of Black males working here, why?

Favor: A large part of my leadership is about training the next generation

of principals and leaders. I’m every student’s principal and the other African American males at Cooper are men that students can trust and look up to. All students feel this. Far too many stereotypes of Black males dominate our society.

Our children need to see Black males as educational leaders; this happens at Cooper. This institution is a training ground for male leaders. These men are helping to change the conversation at Cooper. We are asking students to be part of that change. Rather than talking about basketball, these men are asking students how their classes are going and where they are going to attend college. Having Black males as models has been tremendous for all students at Cooper.

Black males haven’t always been on the scene for our children, especially children of color.

Black male leadership at Cooper is not going to be invisible and we are going to be constant examples of excellence. Jerald Hickman is an example of this. He was a principal in Minneapolis and mentored me at North High and he is still mentoring me.

He is an example of African American men at our best. I am following Hickman’s example and mentoring other brothers to be positive examples for all of our students.

Insight: What do you want the readers to know?

Favor: I want to tell everyone thank you for trusting me with your children; whether you are at North or Cooper High School. It’s an amazing responsibility and I am trying to live up to your trust in me.

I have appreciated people trusting that I will do the right thing educationally with and for their children. Working with our children, being a principal has been one of my greatest honors.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford

For over 80 years, Hallie Q. Brown has been the Lighthouse of the Community...

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver

Photos by Suluki Fardan

Jennifer Lewis Watson, East Side Heritage Family Support Worker

Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Technology Reporters Shanice Brown Ivan B. Phifer Christopher Toliver Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor

...this is why we shine so bright.

Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu 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.

The Hallie Q. Brown Early Learning Center is currently accepting applications for enrollment.

We are a licensed daycare and preschool program with a 4 Star Parent Aware rating. We feature licensed and trained staff, Project Early Kindergarten (PEK) curriculum and a sliding fee scale. We gladly accept Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Contact us today for a tour and more information.

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center 270 N. Kent Street St. Paul, MN 55102 651-224-4601 www.hallieqbrown.org

Flaw-less Drill Team

Back 2 School Bash event for families Merrick Community Services’ East Side Heritage Project presented its first Back 2 School Bash for families on September 24, 2010 at Merrick Community Center in St. Paul.

The goal of this event was to promote an awareness of services, activities and community resources available for families on the East Side.

Vendors participating in this event were from schools, banks, and other community groups along with the St. Paul

Fire and Police Department.

These activities were organized

by Jennifer Watson.

Families were involved in games, a raffle, dance and a fashion show. There was even a hoop competition and the opportunity to learn some basketball fundamentals. Music for this event was provided by DJs from Mr. Tattoo Studio and Milkman Entertainment.

Several community leaders

SCHOOL TURN TO 9

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Insight News • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Page 5

AESTHETICS Denzel Whitaker: The My Soul to Take interview Interview

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com

Denzel Dominique Whitaker was born in Torrance, California on June 15, 1990 to Dale and Younalanda Whitaker. He made his acting debut at 11 in Training Day opposite his namesake, Denzel Washington, and he was subsequently directed by and costarred with Denzel in The Great Debaters. Whitaker has also been on the big screen in The Bad

Lieutenant and as the voice of Albert in The Ant Bully.

As for TV, Denzel has appeared on UPN’s One on One, and played recurring roles in Nickelodeon’s All That and FOX’s The War At Home. His other television credits include such hit shows as ER, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Furthermore, he was a series regular on the ABC pilot House Rules. Plus, this past year, he was cast in Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior, which is set for release in 2011. And he currently appears as a recurring character on ABC’s Brothers & Sisters and is developing several projects of his own.

In his spare time, Denzel enjoys writing screenplays, playing basketball and golf, hiphop, dancing, digital animation and independent filmmaking.

Taking a page from his stage mentors, Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker, he aspires to be an accomplished actor/director.

Here, the talented young thespian talks about his new movie, My Soul to Take, a 3-D horror flick directed by Wes Craven.

Kam Williams: Hey Denzel, how’s it going? It’s been three years since we last spoke. That was for The Great Debaters.

Denzel Whitaker: Oh, man, get outta here!

KW: What have you been up to?

DW: I have My Soul to Take coming out and a few other projects in post-production. I did a little animation in between… shot a music video… and a lot of other stuff.

KW: What interested you in making a horror film?

DW: It’s funny you should ask that, because I didn’t really watch horror films prior to doing My Soul to Take. What interested me was Wes Craven’s coming back

your approach to acting when a film is being shot in 3-D? DW: No, the film that we shot was post-converted to 3-D. So, we didn’t actually shoot it in 3-D. KW: What message do you think people will take away from the film?

DW: I guess the one message that you could take away from this film would be camaraderie, sticking together, whether in this life or in the afterlife. That’s one of the messages that hit home. But this movie is really just meant to be enjoyed for what it is by giving you the thrills that you’re looking for.

Denzel Whitaker to the platform of writing and directing films, which he hadn’t done in awhile, and my being cast as a blind character. Both of those aspects sort of fascinated me as an actor. I ended up having a great time filming, and I saw the film the other day and I really enjoyed it. It was amazing!

KW: One of my readers, editor/ legist Patricia Turnier was curious about what was the biggest challenge you faced in portraying this character.

DW: Number one was removing all sight, and learning how to act without using one of the five senses.

imdb.com

KW: Patricia also asks, how did you prepare for the role?

DW: As a practice exercise, I’d usually just wear blindfolds around the house to allow my other senses to take me wherever I would like to go.

KW: Were you ever scared on the set or have any nightmares while making this film?

DW: No, the beauty of being an actor in a horror film is that you know what to expect and what’s coming. I get jumpier watching other horror films, because I don’t know what to expect.

KW: One of the shopworn conventions of the horror genre is that the Black guy always dies first? Don’t tell me that happens in My Soul to Take.

DW: Wouldn’t that be giving away the film?

KW: The title of this film, My Soul to Take, comes from the popular bedtime prayer which begins, “Now I lay me down to sleep…”

Did you recite it as a child?

DW: Yes, my parents taught me the prayer. It makes sense that anybody with religious beliefs would pray that the Lord would

KW: I suppose so. This is a 3-D film. Is there any difference in

WHITAKER TURN TO 7

Page 6 • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Insight News

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HEALTH More health care for the Whittier community

By Chris Garner Hennepin County Medical Center’s Whittier Clinic is currently in the process of opening its brand new, stateof the-art medical facility which will provide access to multi-specialty care right in the neighborhood. The new clinic will replace the existing Family Medical Center, one of HCMC’s four neighborhood clinics.

The current clinic serves a 60 % Hispanic community, also providing help to African Americans and South East Asians. For 25 years Family Medical Center has served a number of patients in South Minneapolis. HCMC hopes the new clinic will better serve their already large patient base and potentially serve more of the immigrant populations in the area.

One of the big things the new clinic plans to provide is more space explained Jerry

Potts, MD, Chief of Family Medicine at HCMC. “We had outgrown our facility, and if we didn’t do something, we would have eventually had to stop seeing new patients.”

Besides providing more space, the 59,200 square foot building also provides energy.

Green and energy sufficient, many of its outside amenities recycle and help preserve energy, which helps give back to the community and cut back on cost.

HCMC worked with architects to build pleasant and healing environment centered on nature. “We paid close attention to the needs of our patients when we went to the drawing board for this new building. We asked them for input, and they gave us thoughtful advice on what was important to them,” explains HCMC Facilities Director Tom Bravo. “Patients contributed to the planning process, we really feel like Whittier Clinic is a reflection of this community.”

Courtesy of HCMC Whittier Clinic

Architectural rendering of the HCMC Whittier Clinic building The new building also has high ceilings, large glass windows and a theme of warm colors: blue, purple, orange, and green. The color themes can be seen in the carpet, furniture, and the symbols used to distinguish each form of care carried through out the building.

Colors not only serve as healers

but as reading tools for many of the patients the current Whittier clinic serve and plan on serving who do not speak English.

While Whittier Clinic will continue to provide primary care (family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology), patients will also have access to specialists in

orthopedics, cardiology, sports medicine, integrative health, physical therapy and surgery at the new facility.

The new building also plans to provide the neighborhood with education on the importance of having a primary care provider. “I want to make it welcoming for patients,”

said Potts, he wants patients to enjoy what can be an often uncomfortable visit to the doctor’s office.

“Patients now have access to more specialty care services right in their neighborhood, instead of having to travel downtown to see a specialist,” said Potts. The new building will offer patients free parking and easy excess from bus stops. The new facility has two entrances, one for cars and one located right in front of the 28th and Nicollet bus stop.

Community members will have a chance to visit the clinic located two blocks north of the original clinic at 2810 Nicollet Avenue when it celebrates its opening October 30th. From 2 to 5 p.m. visitors will be able to meet staff and enjoy refreshments, prizes, music and games. The new Whittier Clinic will officially open October 18th and begin serving patients.

Potts says “I want patients to find it a good experience and that we met their needs.”

Chiropractic: Delivering holistic healthcare without drugs or surgery

By Dr. Juneau Robbins We all start out with the potential to be healthy. Why do we sometimes get sick, experience pain, or have other health problems? Often the answers can be found in our lifestyle choices.

I am a Doctor of Chiropractic, delivering no drugs, no surgery, believing in the body’s ability to heal itself when negative interferences are removed. Over the course of my career I’ve been asked some interesting questions.

One question asked is: Q: I’ve been hearing a lot about chiropractors lately, both good and bad. I know they treat back pain and soft tissue injuries from car accidents, and sports injuries like sprained ankles, but what exactly is chiropractic and how does it work?

File photo

Dr. Juneau Robbins

A: With approximately 65,000 Doctors of Chiropractic in the United States, 6,000 in Canada, and more than 10,000 internationally, chiropractic is recognized as the fastestgrowing and second-largest primary health care profession in the world. Yet despite its rising popularity, many people remain confused about what exactly chiropractic is and how it works.

Chiropractic is a form of holistic healthcare focusing

around the belief that misalignments in the bones of the spine can cause irritation or abnormal function of the body’s nerve system. These misalignments can cause compromised function of specific body systems ultimately resulting in symptoms, illness or worse.

The body is filled with a vast network of nerve fibers running from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.

Nerves are everywhere. They are like telephone wires, carrying important messages to every muscle, organ, disc, bone, joint and other parts of your body.

The most important parts of your body’s nerve system are the brain and central spinal cord.

These are well-protected by the skull and 24 movable bones of your spine, but if the bones of

your spine become even slightly misaligned or jammed this can cause irritation of nerves in the area. Chiropractors call such misalignments, irritations or jamming of joints “subluxations”.

Subluxations (misalignments) can be caused by many different things, including poor posture, stress, accidents, sitting or working in the same position for long periods of time, poor nutrition, or playing sports.

Studies show that nearly everyone has subluxations in their spine, and they do not need to be painful to be present. In fact, symptoms are usually the last thing you will notice in any illness or disease. Chiropractors are experts in identifying and correcting abnormal alignments and function of the human spine.

Chiropractors correct misalignments (subluxations) by applying gentle and specific pressures on the bones

and joints surrounding the misalignment. The correction of these misalignments is called an “adjustment”. So, the traditional job of a chiropractor is to remove nerve interference to health by finding subluxations and correcting these subluxations using adjustments. No drugs or surgery are involved in this process.

While this has been the traditional task and function of a chiropractor, their job description is evolving. Highlyregulated and demanding chiropractic college curriculums filled with anatomy, pathology, biochemistry, and other science studies, are now producing health professionals trained to practice in a wider variety of specialized natural healthcare areas, not just the identification and correction of subluxations.

Other popular areas of natural and drug-free healthcare where

chiropractors excel include nutrition and vitamin support, sports physicians, weight loss, stress management and occupational health.

Chiropractic is a form of holistic healthcare delivering no drugs or surgery, believing in the body’s ability to heal itself, and simply helps the body move along the way to wellness by identifying and removing interferences to healing.

Dr. Juneau Robbins is a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic with offices in North Minneapolis and St. Louis Park, MN. He was named Chiropractor of the Year for the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA). Dr. Robbins may be contacted with questions or comments at 612-522-BACK (2225) or via e-mail at drj@ culturalchiropractic.com.

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Insight News • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Page 7

Alecia Carter named Mrs. St. Paul International 2011 Alecia Carter has been named Mrs. Saint Paul International 2011 at an event at the Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation’s Garden the end of August. Her official banner was presented by Mrs. Minnesota International State Director Allison Stravrakis, City of Saint Paul Environmental Policy Director Anne Hunt, Concordia College Executive Vice President, and Dean of Diversity Dr. Cheryl Chatman, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, and Ramsey County

Commissioner Toni Carter.

Carter will represent the community at the 2011 Mrs. Minnesota Pageant on March 12-13, 2011 in St. Cloud, MN and compete for a grand prize package and the opportunity to represent Minnesota at the 2011 Mrs. International Pageant.

Alecia Carter is the wife of Melvin Carter III, and is an Occupational Therapist with the Saint Paul Public School District. She is the mother of two daughters, Maylena and Naomi.

The Mrs. International Pageant System recognizes women for their commitment to family, profession, and community stewardship. Throughout her year, the new Mrs. Saint Paul International will not only compete for the state crown, but she will also be available to speak on her platform - Eco-Friendly Living and Sustainability: A Unifying Issue for Minnesotans, make appearances and assist with non-profit and civicoriented projects. To obtain more

Whitaker

comes naturally. What’s important is how you deal with fear. I face it head-on, but I’m not too proud to admit that I do get afraid sometimes.

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KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

DW: I’m very happy and grateful to be in the position I’m in.

KW: Maybe he wants to adapt it into a movie starring you. The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod? DW: I listen to a lot of different music. I love hip-hop. I’m a big underground rap fan. I listen to the likes of J. Cole. Lately, I’ve also been getting into techno house music. And I’ve been on an Eighties retro kick, and I’ve even been experimenting with some rock. http://www.amazon.com/gp/ product/B002OLTAXQ?ie=UTF 8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=a s2&camp=1789&creative=39095 7&creativeASIN=B002OLTAXQ

From 5 watch over them and protect them as they’re sleeping. We just want to send that little message out to the Lord, “Take care of us.”

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

DW: I’m sorry, I’m not sure what would be an interesting question.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

DW: Yes I am. Life lends itself to fear. I’m going to go off on a little bit of a tangent here. That’s the beauty of life, the uncertainty that we experience, literally, as we go about our day-to-day activities.

We’re not certain of anything, so fear comes up very often. Fear

March From 1 the aftermath of one of the longest recessions since World War II. “I came here to support the cause of the march,” Derrick Griffin, 43, said. “Our leaders here in D.C. should be about saving jobs and trying to put forth the change we voted for in 2008,” the Fort Washington, MD, resident said.

Event organizers estimated that 175,000 people gathered on a slightly breezy, but clear day to show a united front. They came from all walks of life and economic circumstances.

Participants included the employed and unemployed, union workers and environmentalists, civil rights leaders and civic leaders, war veterans and peace activists, student leaders and those from the gay, lesbian, transgender community.

Speakers at the event included the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow/Push Coalition, National Urban League President Marc Morial, NAACP President Benjamin Jealous the Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network – all of whom stressed the need for jobs and emphasized the urgency of the situation.

The crowd congregated on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and fanned out onto the grounds of the Washington Monument. There were throngs of people on both sides of the Reflecting Pool as well as those who hunkered

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

DW: Watching a Kenan Thompson sketch with Morgan Freeman on Saturday Night Live.

It just had me rolling. I was dying.

I love to laugh. I enjoy life.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

DW: Gone Fishin’ by Walter Mosley. It was recommended to me by [director] John Singleton.

down around the World War II Memorial.

Political and civil rights organizations set up tables that displayed their wares and various organizations passed out literature. Throughout the fourhour event, organizations joined in by marching around the grounds for their respective causes while others listened to the speakers.

Most of the marchers donned colored Tee-shirts that announced their cause or organization and sat together throughout the event.

For example, members of the Communications Workers of America donned red Tee-shirts with white printed messages on both the front and back of their shirts. The group congregated on the south side of the Reflecting Pool.

The marchers may have been from different parts of the country, but the common thread among all who attended focused on their financial pain and the lack of jobs. Jeffrey Dunkin, 53, traveled from New York City to attend the march and to show support for fellow New Yorkers who are suffering in his home town. “I want to help people that have lost their jobs,” said Dunkin, who lives in Brooklyn. “Things do not look good in New York City and I know a lot of unemployed people. I hope this march will help secure more jobs for the unemployed because things are not looking good.”

Deborah Maxwell, president of the New Hanover County, N.C. NAACP, said she and about 20 others from her branch, primarily residents of Wilmington, traveled to Washington to call

KW: What is your favorite dish

for more action from the federal government.

“It is important that we fight for jobs, justice, and education and that is why we decided to come from Wilmington to [Washington, D.C.],” said Maxwell, 54, and a resident of Wilmington. “Some of us have come at a sacrifice because [we] are still dealing with issues regarding the recent floods.

Still, others are in distress because of job loss,” said Maxwell, adding two of her members recently lost their jobs working for the local government and their job prospects are grim despite Wilmington’s strong tourism economy.

Maxwell isn’t alone.

Individuals from other states also feel the sting of the recession.

Harrisburg’s situation mirrors that of the District of Columbia in terms of firing teachers and school personnel. Harrisburg is the capital of the Keystone State and its 47,472 population is 54 percent Black. The Harrisburg school district consists of 8,401 students and approximately 1,200 faculty and staff.

Trea Buck, a high school science teacher in Harrisburg, said that 57 teachers have been laid off since the 20102011 school year started. “I am here for my fallen brethren. Our school system has had to undergo a lot of cuts,” said Buck, 39, and a resident of Harrisburg. “Teachers who were emergency certified were cut and many of us will have to be furloughed at some point. Plus, our school system administration was cut in half,” he said.

Buck joined a large group of

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information about appearances or the Mrs. International System,

contact the State office at (952) 432-6758.

to cook?

DW: I’m a big salmon guy. I even just cooked some salmon for breakfast today.

DW: Yeah, I feel that sometimes.

That’s why I avoid roles that might send me down a road where I might end up being typecast.

You see what being typecast can do to a career. That’s the number one reason for the death of young actors’ careers, people get so used to seeing them playing that one character that they can’t accept them as anyone else.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

DW: To bring back free, expressive, creative thinking.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

DW: I see me for who I am.

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

DW: Ooooh! Being scared out of my wits going to Chuck E. Cheese when I was 3 or 4. I definitely did not like Chuck E. Cheese when I was younger.

KW: Do you ever feel the pressure to not change creatively?

National Education Association members at the Reflecting Pool during the rally. Buck said that she traveled to Washington to advocate not only for her fellow colleagues, but for the next generation. “What are we going to do for the children,” she said, “How are these cuts going to support our future?”

A weak economy and a struggling school system have plagued Detroit for years. Members of the Metro Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta traveled to the District to voice their opinions during the rally.

“We came to show our support for President Obama and to stand up for jobs, justice, and education,” Mardi Woods, president of the chapter, said. “We also have a get out the vote effort to make sure our voices are heard on Nov. 2.”

Woods, 42, and a resident of Farmington Hills, Mich., outside of Detroit, said that the Motor City has been hit hard by a high rate of home foreclosures and job layoffs. She said that the layoffs, particularly in the school system, have adversely affected her members. “Many of our members are educators and Deltas are at the table when these things happen,” she said.

The Detroit Public School system laid-off nearly 1,000 school personnel last August due to budgetary problems.

However, the action was stopped when money was located due to retirements. The school system has 84,000 non-charter school students and about 15,000 administrators, faculty and staff.

KW: The Nancy Lovell Question: Why do you love doing what you do?

DW: Because I love expression and really connecting with people.

As actors, we like to tell stories because they can influence or even change people’s lives. It’s so cerebral, you never know who you can affect out there.

Carolina Reyes, Miss Minnesota International 2010 and Alecia with women that inspired Alecia on her platform of Living an Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyle. Anne Hunt - City Environmental Policy Director, Dr. Cheryl Chatman - Concordia College Executive Vice President and Dean of Diversity and Toni Carter - Ramsey County Commissioner.

DW: Fortunately, both my parents, especially my mom, have guided me, and been amazing at handling my career and my finances. They taught me not to buy what I don’t need, when I’m not working that much. I’ve stuck to that regimen while persevering to land that next role and to stay alive in this industry.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

DW: Create your own footsteps.

KW: The Tavis Smiley question, how do you want to be remembered?

DW: I just want to be remembered as a great actor.

KW: The Flex Alexander question: How do you get through the tough times?

KW: Well thanks again Denzel, and best of luck with the film.

DW: Thank you, it was good to speak to you.

The entire school system has a total of 138,000 students enrolled in both public and charter schools.

Robert Bobb, who served as the city administrator of Washington, D.C. from 20022006 and was an unsuccessful candidate for the presidency of the D.C. Board of Education, is the current emergency financial director for Detroit Public Schools. Bobb was appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, D-MI, in 2009 to manage the school system’s muddled finances. The massive layoffs were proposed

by Bobb last spring because of declining enrollment and the costs of running the system.

Woods said she supports Bobb “because he is trying to do the right thing for the children of Detroit.”

A number of youth groups also attended the rally. They contend that young people care about what is going on in the country. Leilani Irvin, a senior political science major at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., said that young people have been particularly hurt by the struggling economy.

“I know of many of my former school mates, who graduated in May, are still looking for jobs,” Irvin, 21, said. “This is a crisis with youth. I read where 27 percent of college graduates cannot find a job and I don’t think my employment prospects for the spring will be better.”

There is a belief that the retired are not affected by the economic downturn, but Kenneth Davis, a retired autoworker from Detroit disagrees. “I came to this march because too many people

are suffering,” Davis, 54, said.

“As a member of the United Auto Workers Union, those of us who receive retirement benefits had to give up our dental [coverage]. That is not right that we are giving up concessions to the auto companies while their profits are going up.”

Davis said that he received an e-mail recently that said Chrysler’s profits were up 65 percent from last year.

He said that he knows of fellow retirees who are experiencing economic difficulties, such as foreclosures. At one time, they could get help from the union “but that is not possible now because everyone needs help,” Davis said.

Many of the participants could not get close enough to the front of the Lincoln Memorial or even close enough to the four Jumbotrons to hear the speakers.

Martina Beauford of Baltimore, Md., saw the crowds huddled near the front of the Lincoln Memorial from her bench close by the Washington Monument and decided to stay put. While she could not hear what was going on, she felt the vibe that was coming from the event. “I am here to make a statement on everything that is going on with people’s pay, health benefits and lack of job security,” Beauford, 42, said. “This is my first march and I like it because it is exciting and different.”

Beauford, a Maryland Department of Corrections employee said she felt a connection with everyone at the rally. “We are all hurting,” she said. “This is why it is important for all of us to come together because everyone in all 50 states is hurting.”

Page 8 • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE Children’s Theater celebrates 45th anniversary Style on a Dime

By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com Last week I arrived at home around 3:30pm after a long, busy day. A message was on my voicemail from my friend, Harvey, telling me about a special one-day-only deal at the Children’s Theatre for the performance of Robin Hood.

My heart rate sped up (one-dayonly deals get me very excited) and I quickly called him to get the juicy details. Harvey explained

Bus From 1 identification, he asked. Is it because the store sells blunts, a mini-cigar product that drug

that he had just snagged tickets to Robin Hood for his family of four for only $28! What?! Normal ticket prices are $20-$40 each. He said that I should call right away, because when he called to make his purchase there was a long hold time, and the special was over at 4pm. Click! I don’t even think I said thank you or goodbye to my friend, because my whole focus was on securing this deal before it ended and I only had about 20 minutes! I raced to the computer, googled www.childrenstheatre. org , quickly found the phone number, and started dialing.

The man who answered the phone at the Children’s Theatre informed me that all the tickets from this Pay-What-You-Can program were sold out. I was

somewhat disappointed, but then he quickly added that there would be other opportunities like this throughout this year’s theater season. Since I always like to keep you “in the know” about these types of things, here’s the 411 on how you can plan for a great, budget-friendly family night out.

In addition, you may be curious to hear about other opportunities to experience the Children’s Theatre.

Pay-What-You-Can Program Intended primarily to target families in need, this program offers a limited number of tickets for shows during the 2010/2011 season for a minimum amount of $3/each. Any donated amount that’s above $3 is used to help sustain the program. Tickets can be purchased in-person or by

phone, starting at twelve noon on a designated day (see schedule below). I found out that the tickets for the Robin Hood show were gone within an hour, so you must be an early bird to catch this deal!

In addition, you may purchase up to six pay-what-you-can-tickets.

You won’t find information about this program on their website, so call the theater directly for more details.

Do you have a drama queen or king living at your house, do you know one, or are you one?

Consider putting that energy to good use by auditioning for an upcoming play at the Children’s Theatre. The final show of the season is Annie, and auditions will take place October 10th-12th. You’ll find more audition information on

users use to smoke marijuana, or because the store is selling single cigarettes illegally?

Samuels said the city has had the store owners on the carpet before and demanded that the store owners comply with regulations and laws. He said the city

regulators will do random stings, aimed and determining whether store employees are breaking the law by selling to minors or breaking other commerce practices rules.

Reverend Eli Thigpen, pastor of the New Community Baptist Church, next door to the corner store, said the store management

is responsible for the problems at the corner both for what is selling and because of how it treats some of the people who shop there.

Thigpen said store employees are abusive to people, often chasing people out of the store with guns drawn.

“If a person is stealing in the store, the store employees should

the website, including the details on the run dates of all shows.

Pay-What-You-Can Program Tickets sales are on the following Mondays, starting a twelve noon.

A Christmas Story November 22, 2010 Babe the Sheep Pig January 24, 2011 Bario Grrrl March 7, 2011 Annie April 18, 2011 Aside from the Pay-What-YouCan Program the Children’s Theatre, sells rush tickets- the remaining seats at discounted prices about an hour before the performance (For instance, you could get an unsold $40 seat for call the police. They should not chase these youngsters in the streets with guns. Somebody is going to get hurt,” Thigpen said.

Samir said store employees cannot call the police because the store owners get in trouble with Minneapolis Police Department for making too many calls for

only $15). To figure out when you are most likely to get a rush ticket, go online or call to check seating availability. During times when resources are tight for many families, it’s good to know that the Children’s Theatre recognizes their opportunity and responsibility to share their gifts and resources with the community. That type of generosity, by organizations and individuals, always has a boomerang effect. Enjoy!

Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.

police help.

“Absolutely not true,” Council Member Samuels retorted. “There is no limit to the number of calls you can make to report crime.” He said store employees should call as often as they need to deal with

BUS TURN TO 12

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Insight News • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Page 9

October is Get Going Living Green Month

By Alecia Carter As we prepare for fall, make sure you take time to add a bit of green to your routine. If you are up for the challenge, pick one thing that you will try or do this month. Here are some examples, and feel free to add your very own. I want to hear about what you are doing! If you email or Facebook me back, I will enter your name in a drawing to receive 1 of 10 eco-friendly gifts this month. So, what shade of green are you?

Invest in a water bottle. Over 100 million plastic bottles make it to US landfills EVERY DAY! Purchase a refillable bottle, and soak up the savings.

Buy a CFL light bulb (the spiral kind) and save up to $

60 a year on energy costs. My husband and I switched all of our light bulbs to CFL’s and within a year our energy bill was cut in half!

Donate and shop with a conscience. If you have been blessed with an overabundance of clothes or shoes donate them to your local thrift store, Goodwill or Salvation Army.

While you are there, stop in to check out the store. I buy a lot of my clothes from thrift stores and consignment shops. I love when I get compliments on my brand new $5 designer jeans!

You can also donate your clothes to another family or a shelter.

Give up the Styrofoam-it’s cheap but it does not make the eco-friendly cut! Opt for paper plates or pull out your dishes!

Recycle for the first time

Photos by Suluki Fardan

Dana Abrams and Aquanetta Anderson, St. Paul Public Schools

School From 4 and elders offered words of encouragement to parents

Bios From 1 While attending college she was a member of the DePaul Gospel Choir (DGC) for four years.

Bridget Dawkins Bridget Dawkins has held such titles as Miss Black Kansas, Miss Black America Finalist, Miss Black USA Finalist, Miss Wichita and Miss Wichita State (both as 1st Runner Up) and numerous other local & state titles. Upon graduating from Wichita State University as a Music Education major, , she traveled with her talented sister Vicki singing gospel and R&B throughout the Midwest.

Dawkins’s vocal ability has afforded her the opportunity to perform throughout the US as well as other countries. She was chosen from among over 500 students nationwide as the winner of the American Collegiate Talent Showcase, which took her on a USO tour of Germany, Norway, Iceland and Portugal. In Hollywood, she was a finalist in the Stairway to the Stars Talent Showcase

Africa

From 1 of colonial rule over Nigeria and the scramble for Africa that began with the Berlin Conference of 1884, if we are to get insights into how to chart our nation’s course for the next 50 years.

The Sankofa is a mythical bird of the Akan people of West Africa. If flies forward while looking backward, with an egg in its mouth to symbolize the future.

In order to understand its history, to reclaim its past, and to enable its people to move forward into the 21st century, Africa must look back, back to the Berlin Conference of 1884 and back to the Atlantic slave trade that spanned four continents and four centuries. This will allow us to understand how we came to be 54 nations instead of one.

Like the Sankofa bird, Africa must look to its past to predict its future. It must know how it evolved in order to understand how it can be recreated. Its people should know where their journey began in order to understand which direction to take to find their future.

The Berlin Conference is when Africa was divided into roughly 50 colonies, and 1884 was when the modern map of Africa was created. The Berlin Conference was the beginning of modern Africa. In 1884, Africa was the agenda, but no African was at the table.

This year, in 2010, 17 African nations are celebrating their 50th anniversary of sovereignty and post-colonial rule. Nigeria’s journey, like that of the other independent African nations, began at the Berlin Conference 126 years ago with no African in

or more often than usual.

Newspaper, cereal boxes, paper rolls and tubes, magazines, junk mail and computer paper make the top of the paper list. Don’t forget cans and aluminium foil (clean it first), and plastic bottles (if you just can’t give them up) and shampoo bottles.

Look for the arrow and the number 1 or 2 to be sure. Visit my local recyclers for tips www. eurekarecycling.org.

Recycle your old cell phones! if you throw them away, they end up in landfills(the mercury and lead do too), so check in with your cell phone company to see if they will buy them back from you, find a cell phone recycling station near you. Go to 911.org to find one near you.

BYOB-Bring Your Own Bag. Remember your reusable

shopping bag (Maylena does such a great job reminding me).

Don’t worry, if you forget, they are no more than $2 at the store.

If you have to use plastic bags, re-use them or recycle them.

Carpool or ride your bike to a place where you usually drive.

As I sat frustrated by the wait and long line of cars waiting to get in to the U of MN parking lot (the lot is dedicated to those who were more eco-conscious before 9am), I decided that I am going to carpool or take the bus for at least 5 more classes!

If you live in the TWIN CITIES, go to metrotransit.org for more information. If you live outside the cities, visit your local transit website.

Maylena’s addition: “Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and turn off the lights

Community elders Mary K. Boyd and Katie Sample

so you save energy.” I am so proud!

Save money and get an energy audit with the Neighborhood Energy Connection (if you live in Saint Paul). The staff is knowledgeable and friendly.

They will come to your home, talk to you about how you can save more money and energy ( especially with the MN winter fast approaching), and even change your light bulbs (CFL), and so much more. This was a great experience, and I learned so much. They even send you information about your energy use, so you can see the green you save! Go to www.thenec.org to find out more.

Shop and eat local! Stop by a farmer’s market or local shop. Two words: Mississippi Market! Our new favorite place

is The Flamingo, an East African restaurant in Saint Paul adjacent to Subway on University Ave! Delicious!

Shop for eco-friendly products. Biodegradable and naturally derived cleaning and body products are not only better of the environment, but they are better for you too. I love Method, Seventh Generation, Nature’s Gate, Carol’s Daughter and some Body Shop products.

I am now into Melaleuca products. They have everything from make-up to cleaners.

Email me to let me know at mrsstpaul2011@yahoo.com.

So, this list should get you started! Have fun, and remember to email me at alecia.carter@ gmail.com when you take ACTION.

Firefighters Anthony Nunn and Bernard Foster. Student Briara Foster.

emphasizing the need for them to be more involved with their children’s schools.

Merrick Community Services’ East Side Heritage Project is a program of academic enrichment, cultural

awareness, mentoring and support for African American youth ages 5 to 14 and their families on St. Paul’s East Side. To provide effective and relevant services, MCS collaborates and partners with

the African American Academy for Accelerated Learning, Cultural Wellness Center, Network for the Development of Children of African Descent and Past Athletes Concerned about Education.

The core elements are life skills, mentoring, tutoring and cultural awareness. Funding for the East Side Heritage Project is provided by the St. Paul Children’s Collaborative.

For further information about the East Side Heritage Project and upcoming events, please contact Merrick Community Services at (651) 771-9339.

hosted by Adam Wade and performed in such venues as Marla Gibbs’ Memory Lane in Los Angeles. She was also a finalist in the Twin Cities’ “Future Stars Parade”.

When several national artists performing in the Twin Cities have requested backup vocalists with excellent vocal ability and range, Dawkins’s name was referred to them and she was called to perform. As a result, she sang with Michael Bolton, Barry Manilow and most recently Grammy-Award Winning vocalist Larnelle Harris.

As a current member of the Grammy-Award Winning Sounds of Blackness, Dawkins performs nationally. Though a Star Tribune news review said that she “brings robust gospel joy” to her performance of Gladys Knight in the Sounds’ “Soul of the 60’s Revue”, many refer to her as “Tina” for her “Tina Turner-style vocal abilities. The local Kare 11 TV featured her as “Tina” as one of their “Extra” programs.

Bridget also performs as “The Dawkins Project”, which features the music of jazz & R&B divas.

As dedicated as she is to

music, Bridget Dawkins is also a supportive wife and First Lady to her wonderful husband Pastor Mark Dawkins of New Vision Christian Ministries in Rosemount, MN and sings every week in church as she has done since the age of 9. When the question arises about her singing of secular music, her response is “Just as Jesus did not minister to people who were only inside the church, I believe that God gave me my gift to share universally inside and outside of church. When you listen to the voices of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Al Green and others who sing both sacred and secular music, does their music not touch your spirit and soul?”

went on to record three albums with Lipps Inc during the early 80’s. The song continues to be re-released on a regular basis as part of retrospective albums and hit collections.

Her work is documented at the Minnesota History Museum in the “Minnesota Musicians” feature, which even included a hands-on Funky Town exhibit.

Johnson’s stage and theatrical credits are also notable. As a regular member of Hey City Theater’s “Beehive” Cast, she portrayed the Tina Turner character and received rave reviews. When Tina herself was unable to make a scheduled engagement for Target Corporation, Johnson was invited to perform in her

place!

Currently Cynthia Johnson is involved in creating, writing and recording her solo CD project “From Funkytown To Higher Ground”. She can be found performing with the Sounds Of Blackness, on the local Twin Cities jazz scene, and for private corporate functions.

attendance. If colonial Africa could be created in Berlin, then a future Africa could be created in Beijing.

Nations creating technological knowledge are reinventing the future and recreating Africa.

I believe that, by the end of this century, one in two Africans will live outside Africa. I was asked: “Why did you live in exile from Africa for 37 years?”

Put differently, “Why don’t you deliver Nigeria’s 50th anniversary lecture in Abuja, instead of in Paris?” I have never visited Abuja. But I am not at home in Washington, D.C., either.

I had an asymmetrical relationship with Africa and America, as well as with science and technology. I worked entirely outside the gates of science and as an outcast, with outsider status. I was honored, but will forever remain an outsider in America. I was honored for retelling the 330-year-old story of the Second Law of Motion: from the storyboard, to the blackboard, to the motherboard, by reprogramming 65,000 subcomputers to compute as a supercomputer, and to communicate as an internet.

I became my own ancestor in physics, my contemporary in mathematics, and descendant in internet science.

I experienced the usual in an unusual way. I was an ordinary person caught up in extraordinary circumstances. I decided to march forward, to come home to myself, not to someone else’s home. I stayed in exile in America, feeling at home in my alienation from the white community. My 37 years of solitude allowed me to gather myself and to find my power.

Philip Emeagwali has been called “a father of the Internet”

by CNN and TIME, and extolled as a “Digital Giant” by BBC and as “one of the great minds of the

Information Age” by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Cynthia Johnson Cynthia Johnson is no stranger to the music business. She is best known for the first single she recorded as part of Lipps Inc., Funkytown. An awardwinning smash hit, the song sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Cynthia’s unmistakable lead vocals sent Funkytown to #1 in 28 countries around the world. After the success of Funkytown, Cynthia

Philip Emeagwali emeagwali.com 1101 30th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, USA t: 800-673-6737 | f: 801-640-9971 e:info@emeagwali.com | w: emeagwali.com

Page 10 •October 11, 2010 - October 17, 2010 • Insight News

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COMMUNITY

Nellie Stone Johnson kids are ready for a repeat The boys from Nellie Stone School are getting ready to do it again.

Last year they were the state middle school champs and finished second in the country in the unrated (translate rookie) division of the United States Chess Federation national tournament . Two of the boys, Cheng Xiong and Ismael Mendez-Perez, finished fifth and sixth respectively in the country.

Everything was new to them last year. They had never played in a major tournament.

Then math teacher Leif Neilsen brought together a combination of resources from throughout the twin cities and built a team.

The YMCA, through their Beacons Program, provided transportation and a second coach. Minneapolis Chess, an area nonprofit, provided additional training and funding.

The Castle Chess Club in Northeast Minneapolis provided one-on-one mentoring.

Every Tuesday, the boys

met after school to practice as a team from 3 pm until 5:30 pm. They would have dinner together and they travelled by van to the Castle Chess Center.

At that time, they worked with eight individual chess mentors, men with good chess skills from throughout the Twin Cities.

They recorded their games, and played under strict time control, using chess clocks. After each game, they went over their games, move by move, looking for ways to improve.

Their studies paid off. In March, at the state tournament, they were the top middle school team in the state. At the national tournament, they beat everyone in their division except a team from Washington. This year, the team is returning four eighth graders, along with 6-10 fourth through seventh graders.

Competition for the top spots on the team will be tough.

Anyone, from age 4 to 94 is invited to stop by the North regional library every Saturday, on the corner of

Events Calendar

Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, andrew@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Andrew Notsch. Free or low cost events preferred.

Events

8th Annual Candlelight Vigil - Oct 12 — An evening to remember those whose lives have been lost. Each year at this time, we pause to remember the lives of thousands of women and girls who die each year at the hands of pimps and abusers. Tue., Oct. 12th at 5:30pm. Meet at 770 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104.

Strategies and Solutions to Prepare Black Male Students for Success - Oct 12 — Dr. Roy I. Jones, executive director of Clemson University’s Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models)) will keynote the St. Catherine University Diversity Council’s 2010 Social Justice Symposium. Jones’s keynote address is 7pm, Tue. Oct. 12, in Jeanne d’Arc auditorium inside Whitby Hall on the University’s St. Paul campus, 2004 Randolph Avenue. Free and open to the public.

The Kitchen Table - Oct 12 — As the nation’s poverty rate hits a 16-year high of 14.3%, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties is leading local conversations

Energy Resource Action Day at Sabathani Community Center - Oct 13 — Energy Resource Action Day is a special outreach event for low income community members who may have questions about Energy Assistance or they may need help navigating the Energy Assistance process. Wed., Oct. 13, 10am-2pm @ Sabathani Community Center 310 East 38th St. Mpls, MN. The Financial and Human Costs of War: A Spiritual Perspective!

- Oct 14 — Explore the growing disparity between U.S. military spending and our spending on infrastructure, schools, healthcare and numerous other domestic needs. Learn what trade-offs are being made in congressional districts 3 and 5 to cover your share of the costs of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thur., Oct. 14 7:00pm At: Parish Community of St. Joseph 8701 36th Ave. N, New Hope.

Community Health Fair - Oct 15 — Students from Summit Academy OIC are hosting a Community Health Fair to educate low-income community

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Substitute Teacher DEPT: Early Learning Center SUPERVISED BY: Youth Program Manager TITLES SUPERVISED: N/A FLSA: Non-Exempt SALARY GRADE: $10-13/hour POSITION SUMMARY: This is a substitute position designed to fill in as needed on a short or long term basis for permanent teaching staff. Substitute Teacher participates in long and short range activities for students in accordance with curriculum objectives and engages students in developmentally appropriate activities. Assists with ensuring that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities.

2.

Plans and supervises the arrangement of the classroom environment in accordance to program goals and philosophy.

3. Maintains a safe and healthy environment, including safely managing developmental activities for the participants.

4. Keeps all appropriate records such as records, attendance, time sheets and accident reports.

5.

Maintains open communication with parents/guardians of the program participants regarding the developmental needs of the participants.

Licensing and Certifications: CPR and Meet all applicable licensing regulations. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Minnesota Teachers’ License (preferred).

Work Experience: 5 years of Child Care Center or related experience required.

Other Requirements: • Dealing with confidential information.

• Tight deadlines.

• Dealing with unfavorable weather conditions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager.

• Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines.

• Ability to relate to children from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

2010 Second Place National Team in the Unrated division: Back Row (left to right) Coach Nathan Kennedy, Tristan Reep, Kao Vue, and Coach Leif Neilson.

Front Row (left to right) Santiago Sanchez, Cheng Xiong, Stephano Opdahl, Ismael Mendez-Perez, and Darnell Hooker.

PHONE: 612.588.1313

about how to reduce poverty.

Community Action’s first Kitchen Table forum will be held in Saint Paul on Tue. Oct. 12. from 5:307:30pm at Community Action at 450 Syndicate St. N. Saint Paul.

Registration will begin at 5 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served.

Space is limited. There is no charge to attend. Please RSVP to Kim Ellison at 651-603-5951 or kellison@caprw.org.

QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Associates degree or equivalent in early childhood development. B.S. in Early childhood Development preferred.

Lowry and Fremont Avenues N in Minneapolis from 12:30 until 3. Some of the Nellie Stone Johnson kids and one of their coaches will likely be there and they would like to engage you in a game of chess.

There is also open chess at the Castle Chess Club near the Northwest corner of Broadway and Central Avenues in Northeast Minneapolis, from 6:30 until 10 pm every Tuesday.

Just look for a reddish-orange building and use the Broadway Avenue entrance. All are welcome. Park your ego at the door, though. These kids are Good!!!

residents and minorities about a variety of health issues including diabetes, heart disease, low birth weight prevention, STD’s and obesity. Fri. Oct. 15, 1-3pm 953 Olson Memorial Highway, Mpls.

FREE. Vogue/Trash Costume Fashion Ball Benefit - Oct 16 — Come support the Cabaret at our first ever Costume Fashion Ball!

Artists from the Cabaret’s past and future will be strutting their wildest, craziest, and most innovative costumes on our runway. Sat., Oct. 16; Silent Auction -7pm; Showtime -8pm; $15 presale tickets; $20 tickets at the door.

Zion Baptist Church Pastor Anniversary - Oct 23 — The Zion Baptist Church is celebrating the 4th Anniversary of its pastor, the Reverend Brian Herron Sr. The celebration will kick off on Sat. Oct. 16th with a concert featuring the Zion Baptist Adult Choir. Continuing: Thur. Oct. 21 and Fri. Oct. 22 with services beginning at 7pm both nights.

On Sat. Oct. 23 there will be a Pastors Anniversary Roast and Dinner, which will be held at the Phyllis Wheatly Community Center at 1301 10th Ave. N. in Mpls. Dinner will be served at 5pm with the program slated to follow at 6pm. The appreciation services will culminate on Sun. Oct. 24 with services at 11am and 4pm. For more information on the Roast contact the church at 612-377-5436.

Minneapolis Performing & Visual Arts College Fair Oct 19 — College-bound high school students interested in pursuing undergraduate studies in the areas of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, graphic design, and other related disciplines are encouraged to attend. Tue., Oct. 19th 7-9pm. Twin Cities Coffman Memorial Union, U of M. Lutheran Social Service Seeks Adoptive Parents - Oct 19 — Join us to learn about exciting opportunities and changes in

Photo courtesy of Nellie Stone Johnson School

FAX: 612.588.2031 adoption. Discover the tools and support for families who would like a flexible, proactive adoption process, and learn how LSS can partner with you to grow your family. Tue., Oct. 19, from 6pm8pm at the Center for Changing Lives (Room 182), 2400 Park Ave. Mpls.

Gospel Concert and Health Fair to Raise Stroke Awareness - Oct 21 — The event is free and open to all. The health fair runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the concert will run 7-9 p.m. Free health screenings, information on stroke signs and risk factors, and give-aways will be part of the health fair. Oct. 21, at Mighty Fortress International Ministries in Brooklyn Park.

Pamoja/African Night - Oct 22 — Hamline University would like to invite the outside community to come, participate, and celebrate African culture. The annual Pamoja Night hosted by Hamline African Student Association will be on Fri., Oct. 22nd at 7pm. Food will be served at 6pm. The night will consist of Fashion, Poetry, Drumming group, and a play about Akhenaten, The Heretic Pharoah. Hamline University Bush Student Center 1536 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104. Free.

“Blue BBQ” - Senate District 60 DFL annual picnic - Oct 23 — In an effort to build excitement for the 2010 elections and celebrate successes in 2009 municipal elections, southwest Minneapolis Democrats will hold their sixth annual picnic, dubbed “Blue BBQ,” on Sat., Oct. 23 from noon to 3:00 p.m. At Painter Park, 34th St. and Lyndale Ave. S. www. sd60dfl.org First Annual Friends of the Webber Park Benefit Book Sale - Oct 23 — The Friends of the Webber Park Library is holding its first annual book sale during our 100th Anniversary year. The funds raised by the book sale will benefit the collections and programs at Webber Park Library.

Provider Enrollment Analyst WPS Health Insurance is one of the largest not-for-profit insurers in Wisconsin, offering health benefit plans and life insurance statewide, administering contracts with the United States government, and being a leader in innovative health plan solutions.

We currently have openings in our Bloomington, MN office for temporary full-time Provider Enrollment Analysts who will properly interpret and apply CMS instructions for enrolling health care providers in the Medicare program. Manages workload consisting of health care provider enrollment applications and related correspondence and telephone calls.

This position is temporary full-time with benefits and will not last more than 12 months.

Position Requires: • Ability to evaluate, validate, and make appropriate determinations on enrollment applications.

• Ability to identify, research, and resolve discrepancies in Medicare provider enrollment information.

• Ability to accurately enter information into a variety of Medicare databases.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to compose letters.

• One year of claims processing or equivalent experience preferred but not required.

WPS offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, tuition reimbursement, and business casual dress everyday. Visit our web site to apply on-line at www.wpsic.com.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and references to: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center ATTN: Human Resources 270 N. Kent Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-224-7074-Fax hr@hallieqbrown.org

EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com The book sale will be held on Sat. Oct. 23, from 10am-4pm at the Guilded Salvage Antiques warehouse located at 4430 Lyndale Ave. N. A Night of Shining Stars Gala Oct 23 — The African American Breast Cancer Alliance is celebrating its 20 year anniversary with a celebration of cancer survivors on Sat., Oct. 23, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 411 Minnesota Street, St Paul, MN. For more information: www.aabcainc.org 2nd Annual African American Family Scholarship Information Night - Oct 26 — 5–8:30pm at the North Community YMCA Youth & Teen Enrichment Center, located at 1711 West Broadway, Minneapolis, 55411.

Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light - Oct 28 — In this one-woman show, international meezzo soprano Linn Maxwell embodies the extraordinary life of 12th century German prophetess, healer, composer, and Benedictine Abbess, Hildegard of Bingen.

Tickets $20 @ St. Olaf Catholic Church 215 S. 8th St. Mpls, MN, 55402.

Thrive! 25 Years of Living Positive - Oct 28-Nov 7 — Thrive! is a free-range narrativemeant for everyone who has been touched by HIV/AIDS and for everyone who hasn’t - told by a consummate storyteller. Thu., Oct. 28-Sat., Oct. 30 @ 8pm; Sun., Oct. 31 @ 7pm; Fri., Nov. 5-Sat., Nov. 6 @ 8pm; Sun., Nov. 7 @ 7pm; At Patrick’s Cabaret 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S. Mpls, MN 55406 $20 tickets available at the door only.

Come and See Weekend - Nov. 6-7 — Explore life at an urban monastery with the Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis, MN. Spend time in prayer, relax with the Sisters, meet members of the North Minneapolis neighborhood in which the Sisters provide ministry, learn more about Salesian values, and talk about the discernment process with other women considering religious life. Women ages 18-45 are invited to join the Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis, MN for one of their Come and See Weekend Nov. 5 at 6pm - Nov. 6, at 7pm at 1527 Fremont Ave. N., Mpls. For further information contact: mullinkf@aol.com

ABA Minnesota Blizzards Basketball The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The program will consist of five teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration.

Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments.

We are looking for college students majoring in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 interns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits.

Interested Parties please send resume to: The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program 10125 Crosstown Circle #200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040 www.minnesotablizzards.com

Michael Colyar reads from East Side Krazy - Nov 3 — East Side Krazy is the true story of one man’s struggle to survive in the worst neighborhood of Chicago and his eventual rise out of the lifestyle which has claimed thousands of lives to drugs and gang violence. 7:30pm, Wed., Nov. 3, at Magers & Quinn Booksellers (3038 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis; 612/822-4611).

An Evening with Sami and Ikhlas - Nov 4 — Enjoy Iraqi music, greet Sami and Ikhlas, and talk with them about life in Iraq, what Iraqis think about their future, and what we can do to build peace. Nov 4. At 740 Mississippi River Blvd. S. St. Paul, MN. Joey Balistreri Benefit Nov 5 — On July 18, Joey Balistreri of Burnsville, 11, died when his family’s SUV was struck by a car driven by a woman officials say had been drinking.

Fri, Nov. 5, 6pm-12am @ Knights of Columbus 1114 American Blvd. W. Bloomington, MN. Words to Dead Lips - Nov 5-7 — Aniccha Arts immerses sinuous, percussive Indian-based dance in an atmosphere of captivating electronic soundscapes and hypnotic hand-drawn animations in this world premiere performance that ultimately questions the psychological dimensions of crowd control and the politics of sound. Fri-Sun, Nov. 5-7 8PM at Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls, MN 55408.

A Taste of Golden Valley - Nov 10 — Join us for an evening filled with music, conversation, and great food from a variety of Golden Valley restaurants.

A silent auction will feature theme baskets donated by local businesses. Wed. Nov. 10, 5:308pm. @ Metropolitan Ballroom 5418 Wayzata Blvd.

NRRC Board of Directors Elections - Nov 16 — Nov. 16 8am9pm at UROC - 2001 Plymouth Ave. N. NRRC is comprised of 13 districts that represent the residents of Willard-Hay and Near North Neighborhoods.

This year’s elections will be for odd numbered districts - 2 representatives for each district.

NRRC board positions are volunteer and require a minimum time commitment of 4-6 hours per month. Nominations are open until Nov. 9. If interested or for more info, contact: aramadan@ nrrc.org or call 612-335-5924.

1850s Holiday Party at the historic Ard Godfrey House - Dec 5 — The GODFREY HOUSE, located at Chute Square Park, is at the corner of University & Central Avenues SE in Mpls.

Visit the oldest remaining wood frame residence in Minneapolis, built in 1849. The house is decorated for the holidays in the modest style of the era. Sun., Dec. 5, 12:30-3:30pm.

Arise! Bookstore Hosts Festive Holiday Sale - Dec 19&20 Holiday sale and fundraiser for Arise! Bookstore. Sat., Dec. 19 and Sun., Dec. 20, 11am–9pm; baked goods go on sale at 11am and music starts at 5pm on the 19th @ 2441 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405.

insightnews.com

Insight News • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Page 11

SPORTS Accentuate the positive for Brewster and Childress Mr. T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com I’m not a fan of calling for a coaches’ heads. The coaching thing can be quite the tough gig.

In football, whether college or professional, the coaching job description reads: Must be able to deal with big, biff, hardheaded young men. Now unfortunately for the NFL coaches, their hardheaded players get paid millions of dollars – which I understand has a deteriorating affect on the players’ ability to

hear, or give a durn, what the coach is saying. As for the college football coaches, they have to simply deal with viral young men fresh out of their high school age nest. Either way, it ain’t easy on football coaches. And above the testosterone and money issues, is the fact that they have the largest teams (regarding # of players) in team sports.

I say all of this because there is plenty of criticism going around for Gophers head football coach Tim Brewster, as well as Viking head coach Brad Childress.

It’s probably best to start with Childress, because the Gophers need some padding to soften the blow thus far in the 2010 season.

To accentuate the positive, Brad Childress and his coaching regime have to be credited with the constant importation of some

No dogpiling on the Gophers real ballers. From Childress’ first draft in 2006, to the most recent, the young men brought from college football to NFL football by the Vikings have stepped in and played like they were almost all supposed to be here – funny that while researching the Vikings draft history, you could clearly tell where the fault lines were between coaches; the first pick in the 2005 draft was wide receiver Troy Williamson, whom is currently not in the league anymore; the first pick in the 2006 draft, Childress’ first, was Chad Greenway whom is the Vikings current starting linebacker. Since Greenway the hits have just kept on rolling. In 2007 the Vikings drafted some dude named Adrian Peterson with the first pick… good Lord. In 2009 the Vikings drafted Percy Harvin first. The 2008 pick was shipped to Kansas City in exchange for All-World defensive end Jared Allen. Thus, the Childress regime’s proclivity to rake in talent from all directions is about as bankable as betting on

a rapper wearing sunglasses.

My only problem during Childress’ time here in MN has been the play calling. It seems that the play calling, whether Childress or offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, carries the same engineering that their draft strategy does. Unfortunately, it seems to me that play calling requires a different sort of sudden, savvy nuance and seasoning.

I’ll leave it at this example so I can get to Brewster: If you are in the first quarter of a football game in the NFL, and your team is 1centimeter from scoring a touchdown, but it is 4th down, …KICK THE FIELD GOAL! TAKE THE POINTS! I don’t give a flying fruitdaddy what the statistics say about going for it on 4th down, nor do I care what the “tough guy” in you says about proving who’s boss; sometimes the simple common sense that 3 is better than 0 needs to be applied.

And sometimes simple Biblical wisdom needs to be applied as well: Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth

before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”. The Vikings could have used those 3 points a few weeks ago, but overall the team looks like they can tough through the season pretty well.

That is a good segue into the topic of Gopher head football coach Tim Brewster. Oh boy.

I gotta tell you that I like the dude. He’s positive, and I enjoy positive people. I do my darndest to support (mostly so the local kids don’t get negative about playing ball in their hometown), but then he had to come out and say that the team “should and could be [undefeated]”. Now why did he have to go and do that? I understand accentuating the positive, but I also understand that there is a fine line between positive and delusional. Proverbs 23:7 reads “as a man thinketh, … so is he”, but that doesn’t mean (I’m pretty sure) that what one thinketh needs to constantly come shooting out of one’s mouth. For example, the L.A. in me wants to say “Nice try pahtna (pahtna =

Shane

Los Angeles dialect for ‘partner’, or pal), but ya’ll weren’t about to beat anybody’s University of Southern California a couple weeks ago.” But instead I’ll say that Brewster really does a good job recruiting, and it just seems the young fellas need something to click. Hardheaded, testosterone laden young men sometimes – maybe often times – need to get barked at like Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi used to do. I suppose while I’m at it, Bible verse John 8:32 says “…the truth shall make you free” 1-4, but the team has enough talent, so all I can say is git’r’dun. And of course, if Brewster needs someone to come in and say “We’re 1-4 and got beat by a couple of scrubs,” I know just the dude for the job.

But no dogpiling on the Gophers, the stadium is too nice…of course maybe so is the coach sometimes.

The Gophers should bring in new Old Spice pitchman Ray Lewis for one of his classic pep talks to get the rodents lathered up.

Page 12 • October 11 - October 17, 2010 • Insight News

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Top left: Neighborhood youth join residents and business owners protesting Metro Transit’s reduction of bus service to the corner of Golden Valley and Penn. Top right: Rev. Eli Thigpen and Etta Christon in front led marchers. Bottom left: Wally’s corner store manager Hamza Samir said people loitered at the bus stop in front of his store creating a public nusiance. Bottom right: A resident who said her name was Lisa Marie disagreed with protesters and said the bus stop is not important, people can walk the two extra blocks to catch the bus.

Bus From 8 criminal activity. He also said he did not know the limits of store owners’ ability to use firearms in response to theft or threat when the suspects are no longer on the store’s property.

For Corrine Wright, owner of Wright Haircuts, on the north side of Golden Valley Road at Penn, the real issues are transportation access and transportation justice for the residents of the community, and, the animosity and hostility created by Wally’s conducts business in our neighborhood.

Insight reported that 4th

Precinct Commander Mike Martin, speaking to Willard Homewood Organization, said effective police work on West Broadway has mean “pushing” nuisance behavior to other locations. He said some of the bad actors that had created problems on West Broadway are now hanging out at Golden Valley & Penn. Or, he said, the intersection is a place where rivals from different neighborhoods cross paths, sometimes with hostility.

Recently, a motorist was injured as she waited in the northbound lane on Penn at Golden Valley and rivals shot across the street at each other.

There was at least one other incident at the intersection that

involved gunfire, observers said.

But those incidents, while too many, still are isolated and not reflective of the character of the neighborhood and its residents and businesses, said Wright. “When I see young people congregating I go out and talk to them. They respond to me respectfully. They will say ‘Yes Ma’am’ and move on if I ask them to,” she said.

Samuels seconded Wright’s observation by noticing that her business, which caters to African American men, does not have the problem of Black men loitering, so what is it about the corner store that invites loitering, he asked.

Community organizer Kenya McKnight called for clarity and separation of the issues that somehow got entangled, resulting in penalization of the entire community by reduction of access to transportation.

She said everyone in the community was concerned about public safety and everyone believed all impacted parties need to be at the table to discuss how to ensure and maintain public safety.

But everyone also believes residents have a right to public transportation that is accessible, McKnight said. Access to transportation services should not be sacrificed. People should work together to increase transportation options and work together to

increase public safety, she said.

Etta Christon, stylist at Wright Haircuts, who organized the community rally protesting the reduction of bus stop service to Golden Valley & Penn said the rally served to create public and community awareness about a process that is unfair to the community if it allows one business owner to hold sway over public transportation needs of the community, and if Metro Transit and Minneapolis Police acted to deprive residents of transportation access without fully consulting residents and transit rider.

“The travesty,” she said, “is they didn’t tell the community about the decision or about the process that led to this decision.

On top of that, they didn’t tell anybody that the decision would be permanent in 30 days.”

Willard Homewood Organization, the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) residents’ organization that includes the Golden Valley & Penn location, is inviting elected official, local businesses including Wright Haircuts and Wally’s and New Community Church, and block club leaders to discuss both the problem of transportation access and public safety at its regular 6-7pm Thursday, October 21 meeting, at NorthPoint Community Services Building, 1315 Penn Av. N.

Photos by Suluki Fardan