Insight News ::: 10.13.14

Havana Glamour at the Ordway MORE ON PAGE 10

Insight News October 13 - October 19, 2014

Vol. 41 No. 43 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Revel Spirits Minnesotans making a splash in the ultrapremium spirits market

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer hen the person voted 2014 Twin Cities Best Bartender sings your praises, you launch your product at the

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Revel principals (left to right) Micah McFarlane, Susan Clausen and Jacqui Thompson at the Minneapolis launch of Revel Avila.

exclusive Dakota Jazz Club and the owner of the area’s largest liquor distributor is on hand, you’re probably onto something pretty special.

That’s the case for the latest entry into the ultrapremium agave-based spirit,

Revel. Co-owned by former Twin Cities residents Micah McFarlane and Jacqui Thompson along with third principal, Susan Clausen,

REVEL SPIRITS 2 TURN TO

Don’t adopt oppressor’s language

Instead of systemic and structural challenges we blame children and parents Part 2 of a series by Al McFarlane, Editor, Insight News

Geoffrey Holder: Death of a Renaissance BUSINESS PROFILE Man

Nekima Levy-Pounds

Courtesy of TCDP

Recently, attorney, professor and civil rights advocate Nekima Levy-Pounds was a guest on KFAI’s “Conversations with Al McFarlane.” Here is a transcript of their conversation.

Al McFarlane Attorney Nekima Levy-Pounds is a professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School.

Professor Levy-Pounds I’m looking to connect the dots.

Our community feels a lack of justice. There is a perception of inequity, inequality, of imbalance

and shaming. I believe there is an assault on leadership in our community and is part of a continuum of oppression and suppression.

Are we looking at Minnesota’s Reconstruction Era? Will this be an era where after being poised for some gains, our community is demolished by the reversal of policy and practices that produce incremental improvements due to effective legislative leadership from our community?

Will Minnesota succumb to supremacist biases that denigrate and marginalize Black voters, terrorize Black residents and

LEVY-POUNDS 7 TURN TO

Entrepreneur leads Togolese community

By Herb Boyd Special to the NNPA NEW YORK (NNPA) – His voice arrived first, deep and sonorous, prefiguring a man of enormous life and vitality, and such was the often imposing but impressive visage and physique of Geoffrey Holder, who many remember mostly from his promotion of Seven-Up “Uncola” commercials.

But the multitalented Holder was much more than a pitchman. This artist with almost magical gifts died Sunday, Oct. 5 at this home in New York City. He was 84.

According to Charles M. Mirotznik, a spokesman for the family, Holder’s death was the

HOLDER TURN TO 5

By Emily Blodgett, Neighborhood Development Center Frank Dogbe gives most of his new employees from West Africa a one-year promise.

Dogbe, founder and owner of SOS Building Services, a business that cleans commercial and office buildings, hires immigrants fresh from Africa and gives them one year to show him that they’re well on their way to learning English or that they’re working toward their GED. “I want them to be inspired by my journey. I say to them, ‘I started out like you when

I came to this country, even worse. I didn’t have someone who spoke my language and was there to push me.’”

Dogbe is from Togo, a long, narrow country on the bottom side of western Africa. There are far fewer Togolese than Somalis or Ethiopians who have settled in Minnesota, but those who have surely have heard of Dogbe. In addition to hiring and mentoring new arrivals, he is the president of Togolese Community of Minnesota.

Dogbe arrived in the U.S. with a Green Card and a fervent desire to stay. His first

DOGBE TURN TO 5

Frank Dogbe and his daughters Joyce, Christa and Stella at their North Minneapolis home

Voting

Business

Lifestyle

Education

Restoring the vote for felon probationers

Why can’t we do better?

Evaluating your relationship season

Books for Africa launches Africabased advisory council

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NDC

Page 2 • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Insight News

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Not behind bars, but still barred from voting: Restoring the vote for felon probationers

By John Michaelson, Minnesota News Connection ST. PAUL, Minn. - As voters prepare to head to the polls next month, a campaign is underway to restore voting privileges for some 50,000 Minnesotans who have been in trouble with the law.

Currently, those convicted of a felony are unable to regain their ability to vote until they are no longer on probation or under supervision. But according to Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, felons should be able to cast a ballot once they’re out of jail or prison and back in the community.

“The criminal justice system should be more than just about

Steven Depolo/Flickr

The Restore the Vote coalition wants felons to be able to vote once they’ve been released from jail or prison, in order to give them a voice in the communities where they live and work while they’re on probation.

punishment,” says Adkins. “It should be about responsibility for sure and holding people accountable, but also about rehabilitation and restoration to the community. If we want people to be able to be restored to the community and exercise responsible citizenship, we need to help make them stakeholders again.”

The Minnesota Catholic Conference is one of about 50 organizations working to change the law through the Restore the Vote coalition, which also includes the Minnesota Corrections Association and the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.

According to Mark Haase, Restore the Vote coordinator, the broad support among coalition partners comes from their recognition of the need for disenfranchised voters to have a

voice, and to be engaged in the communities where they live and work - thereby making them less likely to re-offend.

Haase also notes the number of Minnesotans impacted has greatly increased in recent years - along with felony convictions and sentence lengths - especially for drug offenses.

“Minnesota has the eighth highest rate of people under correctional control in the country,” says Haase. “The percentage of people that are disenfranchised for felony conviction has increased over 300 percent in the last 30 years.”

Haase says 13 other states, including North Dakota, disenfranchise only those who are incarcerated under a felony conviction. Legislation to make that Minnesota’s model will again come before lawmakers in the 2015 session.

Sudden closing of Community Action of Minneapolis shifts energy assistance responsibility

By Cirien Saadeh, TC Daily Planet Minneapolis residents who received energy assistance from the nonprofit Community Action of Minneapolis were told this week that they will now be receiving their services through

Revel Spirits From 1 Revel launched with a splash last week during an afternoon tasting at the Dakota. The audience of nearly 100 tasters was treated to a sampling of cocktails crafted by the likes of Marco Zappia, 2014 Twin Cities Best Bartender and owner of Eat Street Social, Colin Lace of the Dakota, fellow master mixologists Nick Kosevich, president of the Northstar

Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin.

According to an article from the Star Tribune this week, the office of Community Action of Minneapolis was raided by employees of the Department of Commerce and the Department of Human Services and its employees laid off. This followed a state audit that Bartenders Guild and owner of Bittercube, and the Award winning mixologist Jesse Held of the Parlor Bar. “The integrity of the product and the integrity of the process says a lot to me,” said Zappia, whose Eat Street Social is among the first Twin Cities establishments to carry the spirit that, though not technically a tequila, comes from the agave plant that is used to make tequila.

“The quality of Revel is so smooth,” said the Dakota’s Lace. “It’s really a superior

showed several discrepancies in the organization’s funding and governance practices, as well as expenses for things like spa trips, golf outings, and a car loan.

In the days following the raid, all of the organization’s contracts were distributed to the Community Action Partnership of Southern Hennepin

(CAPSH).

“The Energy Assistance Program provides a vital safety net to thousands of lowincome individuals and families and allows them to maintain affordable, continuous, and safe home energy” said CAPSH’s executive director Scott Zemke in a press release. “CAPSH is committed to providing

continuity of services to Minneapolis residents and ensuring that all Hennepin County residents have access to this essential program.”

In response to the shift in contract from Community Action of Minneapolis to CAPSH, CAPSH has begun increasing staff, technology, and equipment, according to

delivery paperwork shared by its Zemke. They are also attempting to find office space in Minneapolis.

Anyone needing energy assistance should contact CAPSH at 952-697-1313 or email them at eap@capsh.org. © 2014 Cirien Saadeh POINT(114.177987 22.321702) product.”

Zappia and Lace aren’t the only ones vouching for the upstart brand. Michael Johnson of Johnson Brothers Liquor Co., the area’s largest spirits distributor, was on hand for the launch. Johnson Brothers serves as the area distributor for Revel, which is now available at Eat Street Social, the Dakota, and Parlour. Revel offers three products, Revel Avila Blanco, Revel Avila Reposado and

Revel cocktails waiting to be consumed during a tasting at the Dakota Jazz Club.

REVEL SPIRITS 9 TURN TO

“You cannot find this education anywhere else.”

We are now accepting applications for the Spring 2O15 Workshop at Macy’s!

We invite all minority and women-owned businesses to apply for The Workshop at Macy’s! You’ll gain insight from seasoned Macy’s pros and Macy’s partners, and get the tools you need to succeed and sustain growth in the retail industry.

Apply today at macysinc.com/workshop

PICTURED: Amber Lee-Forrester, Kane & Couture. Past participant of The Workshop at Macy’s.

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Insight News • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Page 3

HEALTH Prostate and breast cancers:

More similar than you’d think

By Men’s Health Network (MHN) It’s rare to find the words prostate cancer and breast cancer in the same sentence.

After all, one (prostate cancer) affects only men. The other affects mostly women. But despite their differences, the two diseases actually have a lot in common; particularly in the way those diagnosed with either one evaluate their options and make decisions about treatment.

Jim Morning, of Dover, Del., got used to having regular physicals when he was in the U.S. Air Force, and after he retired, he continued doing so. For years, Morning’s physician monitored his PSA levels (a blood test that can indicate the presence of prostate cancer) and everything was fine. But when one of those tests came back high, the doctor referred him to a urologist who did a biopsy.

It was at the follow-up that

James Morning

Steven Patierno, PhD, BS

Judy Seals-Togbo

the doctor told Morning that he had prostate cancer.

According to Dr. Steven Patierno, deputy director of the Duke Cancer Institute, men like Morning are in the minority.

“Men are pretty resistant to healthcare,” Said Patierno. “I’ve had guys tell me that they’d have to be on their deathbed before they’d take a day off from work.”

For Morning – and most

people – getting diagnosed with cancer is something of a shock. “I don’t think I heard anything after the word ‘cancer,’” said Morning.

“I had no clue what to do. All I wanted to know is how long do I have.”

In the days and weeks that followed, Morning’s family mobilized and was able to get him into the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Two sisters and several cousins – all women – went with him.

“When you have sisters, us guys don’t have to make decisions,” joked Morning.

After going over each possible treatment with MD

Anderson’s doctors, Mornign and his family decided on a radical prostatectomy (a complete removal of the prostate).

After his surgery, Morning started talking with other men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. “A lot of these guys are ashamed and don’t want to talk about it,” said Morning.

“They have no idea what to do. I tell them about me, how I felt. And I try to get them to understand that they’re not out there by themselves.”

Duke’s Patierno said that too many men don’t pay attention to their body until their symptoms are severe.

“By then, it’s too late,” heeded Patierno.

Women, he says, tend to be far more educated about and involved in their own healthcare.

However, when it comes to breast cancer, being educated and involved does not always mean better outcomes.

“Many women behave just like men,” said Judy Seals-Togbo, a women’s health advocate in Memphis. “They put off getting screened, they skip follow-up appointments, and don’t get help until they develop symptoms.”

Women’s reasons for not getting screened or treated for breast cancer are similar to men’s reasons for not getting any kind of healthcare. Some are too busy taking care of everyone else and they don’t have time to focus on themselves. Some don’t have insurance. And many young women simply believe everything their doctor tells them. SealsTogbo, a breast-cancer survivor herself, knew several women in their early 30s who felt there was something wrong in a breast but their doctor said they were too young to have breast cancer and not to bother getting screened.

Two died of breast cancer before they turned 35.

“We need to train women to

be more assertive in telling their doctors their symptoms,” said Seals-Togbo. “And, if they aren’t satisfied with the answers, to go get a second opinion.”

In addition to her work with women, Seals-Togbo has seen how breast cancer stigma affects men as well.

“Getting diagnosed with any kind of cancer is confusing and scary. But guys with breast cancer are also embarrassed and ashamed. They’re worried that people will think they’re not ‘real men’ because they have a ‘woman’s disease.’” As a result, they frequently don’t get treated in time.

Once a man or woman receives the cancer diagnosis, the big question is how does it get treated? Morning had his family and a team of medical professionals to help him. And Seals-Togbo, who saw her gynecologist at the first sign of trouble, got treated early.

But not everyone is that lucky. Many men refuse to consider certain prostate cancer treatments because of the side effects (erectile dysfunction and incontinence are common), and they end up not getting rid of the

CANCER TURN TO 4

Toss the Sugar Now we’re getting serious!

By Julie McMahon, CHHC Sound Nutrition (612) 270–9344 Last week I wrote about getting hydrated!

Are you drinking your water? Remember the best time to grab a glass of water is right away when you wake up. Starting this habit will help you to realize when you are thirsty throughout the day!

So What’s Next?! Sugar!

The Average American now consumes 100 pounds of sugar and sweeteners per year! Yikes! Our bodies were not designed to handle this much sugar! This is why we are seeing a rise in diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses. Every

time we take in sugar, our body sends out a hormone called insulin to drive the sugar out of our blood. It does this by creating fat cells to put the excess sugar into. So bottom line...too much sugar = more insulin = more body fat.

Start looking at where sugar is getting into your world. This would include things like soda, energy drinks, cookies, muffins, treats as well as breads, pastas and alcohol. So what do you like to grab?

Start to notice and start to reduce.

Sugar is highly addictive! Artificial Sweeteners are even worse! If a label says “diet” or “low calorie” it probably has an artificial sweetener in it. Artificial sweeteners are proven to cause weight gain...avoid products such as “Equal” or “Splenda” or “High Fructose Corn Syrup”.

If a label says “low fat” it probably has

extra sugar in it to make up for the taste.

Avoid foods labeled “diet” and “low-fat”!

The Solution?

Look at the labels of products you are eating and notice how much sugar is on the label. Many foods have 10, 15, or even 30 grams of sugar! Ideally, look for products to be under 5 g of sugar. I’ll be doing a grocery store tour on July 12th (after the workout), sign up if you want to learn more about label reading and how to figure out the foods that will work better for YOU!!

Sound Nutrition LLC Julie McMahon, CHHC www.mysoundnutrition.com www.facebook.com/MySoundNutrition www.twitter.com/NutritionJulie

Page 4 • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Insight News

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BUSINESS

Why can’t we do better?

Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com My friend Kathy sent out an email to software engineers, programmers and other technical types about a technology that doesn’t really work, but everyone kind of puts up with it, developing workarounds and occasionally swearing under their breath. She asked, “Why can’t we do better?” and added, “Opportunity can be found in areas where everyone

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

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

else has just shrugged their shoulders and said, Oh well, that’s just the way it is.”

What a challenge. How many aspects of daily life, both at work and at home, do we just live with, when the opportunity to do better is right there?

I had keyboard issues recently. The clickpad on my new laptop is uncooperative, and with a busy day ahead, I created a few workarounds and plowed forward. My boss asked, How’s the new computer? Sucks, I told him. His response? Go get a wireless mouse… now. My attitude had been to complain under my breath; his approach was, Fix the problem. I did, and I’m happier for it.

A visit to the dentist last week introduced me to computer software that knows when my gums are completely numb.

Wow. Someone somewhere sat in a dentist’s chair and said, Could be better. And then programmed a medical device to satisfy a need. I’m happier for that, too.

Hardware and software designers are not the only

Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White

FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw The giving season is upon us.

For many nonprofits, hospitals, schools, and colleges the next three months are all about fundraising. You will no doubt see an increase in direct mail and

e-mail solicitations, Facebook campaigns, bill boards, print and TV commercials and personal asks made by of you by friends, family members and associates. Some of us have the ability to be most generous. For most, giving is more constrained, focused on a few organizations we believe in. Here’s something to think about: extend your gift by giving more than money.

Consider these five ideas: Serve as an advocate.

Volunteer to write an editorial

or a letter to your elected representative. Speak at a public event. Advocate through social media. Talk to people you know.

Become a fundraising solicitor.

For those organizations you donate to, consider volunteering to host a fundraising event; solicit friends, family and associates; or accompany a staff person or board member when he or she visits with donors and funders.

Recruit and/or train volunteers. Learn what types

of volunteers are needed and then work with staff – or on your own – to recruit and train people who can make a difference.

Donate products, services and property. So many organizations depend on product donations. These include food banks, medical clinics, and schools to name a few. Find out what types of products are needed and offer to donate and encourage others to join you in doing so. This is an ideal way for

Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed

Good-bye, short-term fixes.

Hello, long-term improvements.

Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Lydia Schwartz Ryan T. Scott Toki Wright

Julie Desmond is IT & Software Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Send a note about an opportunity to improve something to Julie Desmond at jdesmond@georgekonik.com.

businesses to give back. You can donate your airline miles, or your professional expertise.

Consider writing a grant, reviewing an organization’s finances, human resource policies or legal documents.

You can donate property, lease an office for no charge or below market rent. You can design a social media campaign or redesign a website. You can donate event planning services, printing or postage. Consider serving on a committee, or being a mentor. If you want to give back to your alma mater consider identifying students who could benefit from attending and help them through the application and financial aid processes.

Provide loaned personnel.

If you run a company you can loan your personnel to an organization you believe in.

Learn what their needs are and consider loaning an employee who can provide the expertise in need.

There’s to no limit to the ways you can give. Be sure to first talk with someone at the nonprofit to learn what their needs are. You don’t want to donate time, property or services in a way that makes work for the organization, or doesn’t meet their needs. Ask how you can be of service.

Don’t be offended if your services or products are not a fit: keep looking to find that organization who needs you.

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

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

Cancer

Photography Michele Spaise David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

locally?

As another example, Jan Senderek, co-founder of Popset, would improve nutritional education. She says, “People simply do not know how important good nutrition is… I don’t have a solution off the top of my head, but this needs to be fixed.” Nutritionists, educators, grocery clerks, parents… can you solve this one? Perhaps you’ll write a book or article, or teach a class or develop a new app for that (building web-based applications is actually something a regular person can do).

No one person can change the world. But one solution at a time can improve things for someone somewhere, and could be the career-defining project for that creative person who recognized a problem as an opportunity and ran with it.

Five alternative ways to give back

Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham

Can Stock Photo

innovators who stand to benefit from solving our mundane but gnawing problems. Many careers advance exponentially when someone acknowledges a problem that everyone is putting up with, and does something to make that problem disappear.

Think about while you are working today: How could this be better? And then ask, What can I do to change it? Look for the opportunities around you and then do something; let yourself capitalize on the opportunity.

If your daily work and home life are smooth and breezy, try a Google search to find out what other people believe needs to be improved. For example, on Mario Schulzke’s blog, IdeaMensch, is a list of 20 things people would change about the world. On the blog, Brian Gramm, Founder of Peppermint Energy, says, “Everyone on this planet should have access to electricity and the opportunities that come with this access.” Electrical Engineers out there, any ideas on how to expand access to electricity to all corners of the earth? Or to improve access

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cancer. Seals-Togbo worked with a woman whose doctor told her that she had breast cancer, and went directly to a local mortuary to plan her own funeral.

“She had no idea – and the doctor didn’t tell her – that there are a lot of things to try before planning a funeral,” said SealsTogbo.

Overall, there’s more good news than bad. “We’re getting really good at treating these two diseases,” said Patierno. “But there are 13.8 million cancer survivors in the U.S. and we haven’t done a very good job figuring out how we’re going to provide ongoing care for them.”

For Morning and SealsTogbo, ongoing care would be great. But what concerns them more right now is making sure that the men and women they work with get the screenings they need to catch their cancers while they’re still treatable, and the education they need to pick the option that will have the best outcome for them and their family.

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Dogbe From 1 job was on the cleaning team at the St. Louis Park Target in 1999. He knew hard work, an education, and English fluency were the best places to start on that goal. He joined the local chapter of Toastmasters International, where he learned to speak in front of people and got feedback on his grammar and syntax. Later, he got his

Insight News • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Page 5 bachelor’s degree in accounting from Metro State University.

“I had a goal. I wanted to own my business,” said Dogbe.

In the actual running of a business, things are rarely simple. Dogbe started SOS in 2009. Five years later, business was booming, but some of the new accounts were huge buildings – more than 100,000 square feet, and he needed to get a loan for bigger, more powerful equipment to keep up. Dogbe approached his local

Holder From 1 result of complications from pneumonia.

Standing 6 feet 6 inches, Holder commanded practically every room he entered, and the niches not covered by his giantlike presence were filled with his resonant voice and laughter, his flamboyant style and persona, something magisterial, je ne sais quoi.

If viewers were reminded of the Jolly Green Giant or Mr. Clean from the many films and Broadway productions, it was understandable inasmuch as he had that same powerful countenance but embellished by a graceful sense of movement and artistic savoir faire.

Even the swerving arc of his autograph provides some semblance of his absolutely total absorption in the theater, dance and art as writer and dance authority Jennifer Dunning captures so well her biography.

“Who is Geoffrey Holder?”

Dunning asks rhetorically in the preface to her book. “He paints and photographs, but he has never wanted to be called simply an ‘artist.’ He dances and choreographs, but he has no desire to be categorized as a ‘dancer and choreographer.’ He designs costumes and has directed shows on Broadway, but do not call him a ‘man of the theater.’”

Through these things he chose not to be called, we gather some idea of the complexity of his life, the expansiveness of his endeavors and successes.

“Life is strange and sweet and divine,” Holder told Dunning during one of her many interviews

with him as he folded his long frame into a delicate white chair in the garden corner carved out his wife, the actress and dancer Carmen de Lavallade, in their loft in Soho. She notes that Holder’s paintings are everywhere.

And Holder throughout his remarkably productive career seemed to be everywhere—on stage, on film, in the studio, galleries, and anywhere a convivial ensemble was ready a night of gaiety and cultural chit chat.

Whether surrounded by a gaggle of his admiring friends or strolling the streets of Manhattan that he dearly loved and became fond of many years ago when he arrived from his homeland in Trinidad, Holder was immediately recognized and onlookers were not sure if it was Punjab from the movie “Annie,” or Baron Samedi from the James Bond movie “Live and Let Die.” Or he could have been, for some of his older fans, the principal dancer in the Met’s production of “Aida.”

If left to him, he was Geoffrey Holder, born August 1, 1930 to parents who had migrated from Barbados to Port of Spain,

US Bank, but his poor credit rating made a loan impossible.

Though their hands were tied, the banker knew Dogbe was a credible candidate and so made a call to Neighborhood Development Center’s (NDC) director of lending, Brian Singer.

In partnership with the Black Chamber of Commerce, NDC was able to offer Dogbe a loan to purchase equipment, and later another loan for working capital and payroll.

His NDC loan officer, Perla Mayo, said Dogbe is ahead of schedule on his payments and his credit score has improved considerably.

Dogbe and SOS Building Services were the perfect candidates to receive assistance from NDC’s newly launched Business Expansion Program – an initiative to expand its business assistance services, including and loan capital offerings to better meet the particular needs of existing

Trinidad and Tobago. He attended Queen’s Royal College and at very early age began demonstrating his prowess as a dancer in his brother Boscoe’s company. It was from this older brother that he got his first lessons in choreography and design.

Given his height and agility he easily stood out in a troupe and got the eye of dance maven Agnes de Mille in the early 1950s during a performance in the Virgin Islands.

She invited Holder to New York City and subsequently he was hired to teach at the famed Katherine Dunham School of Dance. After a brief stint as the lead dancer at the Met, he made his Broadway debut in “House of Flowers” with book and lyrics by Truman Capote and music by Harold Arlen. Here, he met another dancer, Carmen de Lavallade, who became his lifelong companion. Their only child was Leo. With excellent reviews from his performances on Broadway, he appeared in a series of films, beginning with All Night Long, a British film in 1962; five years later, he was featured in Doctor Dolittle; then he was the sorcerer in Woody Allen’s Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex; and there was his voodoo turn in the Bond movie mentioned above in which he was also the choreographer.

For the most part Holder appeared to be caught between two very jealous muses: dance and painting. And they both were somewhat pacified when he was the choreographer, set and costume designer as he did on many occasions, but with particular panache in 1968 with The Prodigal Prince for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. According to Kina Poon, an assistant editor at Dance Magazine, this was his

love letter to Haiti. “I wanted to do the same with Haitian folklore as we with Greek mythology,” he told her. “I revere Haitian art and I treat it with the same sense of grandeur and respect.”

Grandeur is certainly a word that is evoked when visiting a gallery of his paintings. Most impressive are his study of the human form and his nudes, male and female, are full of the freedom and abandon that characterized Holder’s restless spirit.

To list even a portion of his awards is daunting, but it’s hard to ignore the stunning work he in The Wiz, which earned Tony’s for direction and design. In both categories were first for a Black man.

One of his most spectacular productions was Timbuktu, which choreographed and directed, featuring Eartha Kitt.

Here again, the full arsenal of his artistic genius unfolds.

“Geoffrey is someone who speaks with movements and with images more than some other people might,” said Clifton Taylor, a lighting designer who worked with Holder in several productions, including a revival of The Prodigal Prince four years ago.

“Another choreographer might say ‘This is what I want the lights to look like.’ Geoffrey is really about giving images to people, both the dancers and the designers. He’ll say, ‘We’re in a village at night. It’s stars and it’s gorgeous.’ He’ll go on in kind of rhapsodic prose. ‘Dahling,’ right?

And then we go with it.”

Then, to express his appreciation, might come that drawn out but melodious “maarvelous,” in a voice as inimitable as his life and legacy.

businesses poised for growth.

Business has been very good. Working mostly in Minneapolis’ Uptown area, glowing word of mouth references have kept him busy and allowed him to hire more employees. NDC’s Business Lab is in the process of providing him with a new logo and website and advice on how to attract and manage more business opportunities.

Sitting behind his desk, monitoring three computers at

his home in north Minneapolis, Dogbe manages the SOS payroll, pays invoices and oversees his 24 employees.

But when a hire is just starting out, or there’s a new building to clean, Dogbe is there – collecting trash, vacuuming, cleaning toilets – alongside his staff … and speaking English.

“I work to motivate them.

By working hard and doing it right, we have a job. If we don’t do it right, we don’t work. It’s simple,” said Dogbe.

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Page 6 • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Insight News

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COMMENTARY Jordan Davis’ killer to be jailed for life Opinion

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Interim President, NNPA Justice for 17-year-old Jordan Davis, who was murdered by Michael Dunn in Jacksonville, Fla. on Nov. 23, 2012 in a dispute over loud music has not come without a struggle. A jury in the Duval County Court recently found Michael Dunn guilty of first-degree murder in the tragic, fatal shooting of Davis.

Of course, millions of people welcomed the news of Dunn’s conviction in what was a retrial on the first-degree murder charge.

Yet, we join with Lucia McBath and Ron Davis, the parents of Jordan Davis, in the call for continue vigilance and activism to ensure the living memory of Jordan Davis. Advancing the ongoing movement for freedom, justice and equality for Black Americans and all people is a necessary step to solidify the legacy of Jordan Davis and all those who have been unjustly killed by the soiled brutal hands of racial injustice.

Dunn, 47, now faces a life sentence in prison without possibility of parole. But an enduring justice in this case means more than the perpetrator being sent to prison for life.

Racial profiling and raciallymotivated violence are on a steady rise across America. We need to continue to demand an end to so-called “Stand Your Ground” permissive gun use laws as well as and end to all

forms of racial profiling.

Jordan’s mother, Lucia McBath, stated, “We’re very grateful that justice has been served, not only for Jordan, but justice for Trayvon and justice for all the nameless faces and children and people who will never have a voice.” The parents of Jordan Davis, like the parents of Trayvon Martin and the parents of Michael Brown, have shown great courage and steadfastness of faith in their persistent activism and leadership in the national and global demands for equal justice.

Ron Davis emphasized, “”I wanted Jacksonville to be a shining example that you can have a jury made up of mostly White people, White men, and to be an example to the rest of the world to stop the discriminatory practices, stop discriminating, stop looking where we have to look at juries and say what the makeup of juries are.” In this instance, Ron Davis’ prayers were answered forcefully. Hopefully, this will set a precedent for other juries throughout the United States in clear cases of racial violence against Black Americans.

Immediately after the verdict was announced, Al Sharpton stated, “The conviction of Michael Dunn of first degree murder vindicates the committed work of the parents of Jordan Davis and all of us, who despite setbacks still tried to get the courts to deal with issues like this…..Verdicts like this tell us even though the road is long and rough we cannot be deterred.”

We agree and we will not rest until justice is done in all of the cases where equal justice is demanded.

Since jurors of selected

from a list of registered voters, there is a direct link between voting and obtaining justice.

We need to increase voter registration and turnout in Duval County, throughout the state of Florida and everywhere in the nation. The demand for equal justice requires equal participation in the politics, economics and social structures and institutions of society.

Rep Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) from Jacksonville continues to be a freedom-fighting champion for the protection of the “Voting Rights Act,” particularly in Florida and in other states that have a history of voter suppression. One form of injustice feeds other forms of injustice. Thus, the activism around the case of Jordan Davis should continue at the voting booth and in all places where decisions are made about the quality of life in our communities.

Jordan’s parents concluded, “We know that Jordan’s life and legacy will live on for others.

We will live for justice. We will fight for freedom. Yes, like we will never forget Emmett Till, we never forget Trayvon Martin nor will we forget Jordan Davis. Our long struggle for equality, justice and freedom will continue in their names and in their spirits.”

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

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Insight News • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Page 7

LIFESTYLE Evaluating your relationship season Man Talk

By Timothy Houston The season is changing right before our eyes. Leaves are falling, days are getting shorter, and temperatures are dropping.

Relationships have their season as well, and it is similar to what you would expect to see in nature.

Whether it is the fall, winter, spring or summer, they all require change and adjustments. The sooner you are able to determine the season you are in, the easier it is to make the right type of adjustment. Here are a few seasonal tips to live by.

First, winter is a season of

rest. Relationships in this season are self-sustaining at this point, but the winter of the relationship will test the resolve of the people involved. There are no new crops, and no new discoveries. Growth and development has ceased, and rigidness has settled in. The things that have been stored deep in the heart of the individuals are the substance the relationship will live on. They will be forced to embrace or freeze to death.

The best advice for this season is to rekindle the fire and cuddle as much as possible.

Secondly, fall is a season for change. In this relationship season, things may have cooled off, but there are clear a sign that winter is coming. The first sign is the falling away, followed by slow decaying of those things that were once so beautiful. This is the period in the relationship where the signs of trouble are obvious.

Both people in the relationship find themselves covering up, but the chill in the air is still apparent.

The best advice for this season is to practice self-love and let go of those people, places, and things that have naturally fallen away.

many of us are able to say that we are living a life filled with all the amazing things we thought we would be doing. I remember when I was young how I flipped through all types of careers that I thought I wanted to have. I once wanted to be a fashion designer, and after that I thought I wanted to be a teacher, then a nurse.

Finally, I found my true calling!

I remember always keeping a journal and writing about everything from the age of

thirteen and up. I have always felt most relaxed when I was writing. Writing has been my release and it has been something that I find myself doing most of the time. My passion for writing developed in the midst of my journey of finding other things to do.

Sometimes your true passion is something that you would do even if you could do it for fun. My passion for writing is something that I am so truly

an end-game of no Blacks in our legislature or in the Minneapolis and St. Paul City Councils?

Is that happening here in Minnesota right now or am I going too far with that?

Nekima Levy-Pounds

No, I would say in Minnesota we are living with what I would call the Jim Crowe North. And unfortunately we’re living in a situation as African-Americans where we’ve been “hoodwinked and bamboozled” as Malcolm

behaviours are all key activities.

The heart of both individuals must be tilled, removing all the residue of the previous season.

Once the relationship begins to grow, it must be supported by new experiences that are built on the previous day’s growth. These experiences become roots that are the foundation of a strong relationship. The best advice for this season is to dig deep, establish meaningful communication, and enjoy new discoveries.

Finally, summer is the season of strength. This relationship season is the most powerful time of the relationship. Every relationship should have its summer. The sun is shining.

Laughter, love, affection, favour, and fellowship are shared in abundance. Both the individuals are better together. Like the days of summer, love is long and strong. Visibility is clear. Because

of transparency, communication is at its best. Summer is fun. The best advice for this season is to bask in it. Enjoy every day as if it were your last.

Determine your season. This will help you to best determine your course of actions. All relationship seasons should begin with self-love. Winter, spring, summer, and fall all have one constant, you. It is in your selfevaluation that you are able to make self-improvements. May this season in your life be the most powerful and productive.

blessed to be able to share with so many readers every week.

This allows me to work my passion in a way that also allows me be exactly what I truly am. I am a writer!

I do realize that sometimes we can get so busy that what we are really called to do, we have to put on the back burner. The one thing that could change your life forever for the good has to be put on hold because there are so many

other things that must get done first. In other words, “life gets in the way.” When this happens you can find yourself unhappy working a job you hate, living in a place you dislike and doing all the things that are totally opposite of what you really want to do. This is when you have to step out on faith!

You will never know what it feels like to reach your goal of working your passion if you are afraid to “step off the porch!”

You have to take that first step toward your passion and focus on what you really want to do.

Now it’s your move!

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

X said in terms of thinking that this is a land of opportunity and a place where we will be able to get a job and provide for our families, have a decent quality of life. But when we look at the key indicators of the quality of

life in our statistics here, AfricanAmericans in Minnesota are doing far worse than African-Americans in other parts of the country, so something is terribly wrong. It just feels like we’ve been had. We’ve been hoodwinked. We’ve been

bamboozled. It feels like so many of us are drinking the Kool Aid. When I say drinking the Kool Aid, I’m talking about the propaganda that is put out day in and day

The best advice for this season is to rekindle the fire and cuddle as much as possible.

Thirdly, spring is a season of growth. This relationship season is the most fruitful, but it also requires the most amount of work.

Planting good emotions, watering them with gifts of affections, and pruning away the unproductive

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For copies of his books, questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.

Finding your true calling Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson Are you living your true passion?

Do you work a job that you feel you were called to do? Not

Levy-Pounds From 1 suppress civic engagement and voting in our community, with

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

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

LEVY-POUNDS 8 TURN TO

Page 8 • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Insight News

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EDUCATION Books for Africa launches Africa-based advisory council

By Joseph Tondo Masha, Mshale Correspondent KILIFI, Kenya – Books for Africa, the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent countries has vowed to expand its books donation program to end the book shortages in the region.

According to the organization’s Director of Diaspora Affairs, Mr Tom Gitaa, the United States based Books for Africa, which has been in existence for the last 25 years, has managed to donate 31 million books to 49 African countries.

Kenya is among the African countries that have been receiving the books including universities, primary and secondary schools.

Gitaa was speaking at Pwani University during the launch of a new Africa-based Advisory Council for the organization.

Ambassador Elkanah Odembo, the immediate former Kenyan envoy to the United States, got the opportunity to be endorsed as the first chairman of the Advisory Council for the organization in a ceremony which was chaired by the vice chancellor of Pwani University, Professor Mohamed Rajab.

Gitaa said through the

Levy-Pounds From 7 out through the media, through many of our so-called leaders within the community that say that everything is alright the way that it is. But we see the suffering in our community. People are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They’re feeling like they don’t have access to resources to even be able to provide for their families.

We have a lot of Minnesotans who not only own one home but also own a cabin up north.

But when you look at AfricanAmerican families, many people are just struggling to pay their rent. And those issues are compounded by something that one of my co-panelists (at a recent forum) talked about regarding to the disrespect that we face as African-Americans when we are trying to challenge systems of oppression. An example is what recently happened at the police forum in south Minneapolis. I was citied to be the moderator of that forum and found out a couple of hours before the police chief (of Minneapolis) to was to arrive, that she had pulled out of the forum. The allegations that she made, from my perspective, are absolutely absurd. Unlike my esteemed co-panelist, I did not give the chief the benefit of the doubt. Personally she needs to be held accountable for telling what I would call outright lies to the public about the so-called threats to public safety.

In the aftermath of that incident, I have had white men, even wealthy white men, who normally don’t engage in these issues, coming to me saying “but she’s the chief of police … how could she be afraid of the community and claim that there was a threat to public safety which excused her from coming and hearing the concerns of the community?” It’s just completely unacceptable.

And I am even more appalled by the Minneapolis city leaders who are responsible for the chief’s position and her actions and who have failed to publically hold her accountable. It’s a real slap in the face to the people of our community to realize that we are living in a so-called democracy but when we attempt to express ourselves, when we attempt to raise questions about the governance structure that we’re dealing with, when we raise questions about the inequitable and inhumane treatment that African-American men, women and children face on the streets every day, we are given the message that our voices don’t really matter.

And it feels like a slap in the face. And frankly I’m tired of it.

It’s hard living in this environment when you realize in some ways we’ve rolled the clock back. This morning I was actually on my way into the studio and I was just praying. I was saying, “you know God, this is a difficult place to live.” I’ve known that for a while but it’s more and more difficult to grapple with the Jim Crowe-like conditions that we deal with here and to have the concerns fall on deaf ears. And I happened to run

Joseph Tondo Masha/Mshale

From left during the launch of the Books for Africa Advisory Council at Pwani University are Prof.

Gabriel Katana, Chair of the Kilifi County Education Board; Prof. Mohamed Rajab, Vice Chancellor of Pwani University; Tom Gitaa, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Books for Africa; Ambassador Elkanah Odembo, the chairman of the new Advisory Council. partnership of Pwani University, the organization has recently managed to donate up to 300 books each to 30 primary and 13 secondary schools in Kilifi County. Headmasters from the recipient schools were also in attendance to witness the launch.

Professor Rajab thanked the

management of Books for Africa for choosing Pwani University to be its partner in the program of shipping and distribution of the donated books in the region. Rajab said the reading culture needed to be improved in the country’s education institutions.

The donation of books by education

friendly organizations like Books for Africa was a noble idea.

The vice chancellor said most education institutions in the coast, especially primary and secondary schools lacked both text and other library books and said the donation of the books will be of importance towards improving the reading

into a man named Terry Austin. I had never met him in person. He’s an African-American man who runs a father-daughter program.

He saw me pumping gas and he said he recognized me and immediately when he saw me he said, “You have to keep going.

You have to keep speaking the truth because they need to hear it.”

And that was what I needed to continue to stand strong and to stay focused because we’re in a crisis in Minnesota and we need to wake up, step up to the plate, speak truth to power and stop allowing ourselves to be treated as second and third class citizens.

Al McFarlane Well let me be the devil’s advocate this morning.

Nekima Levy-Pounds Well he doesn’t need an advocate Al, but I know what you’re saying.

Al McFarlane For the sake of this theater that we call radio, I’m going to be the devil’s advocate and on behalf of white supremacists say, “How dare you. You should be happy to live here and that if you are not successful and enjoying the quality of life, the clean air, the high quality education, the exceptional health care, and plentiful job opportunities, it’s because you people have not contributed, you have not rolled up your sleeves to do the hard work, and you have not been present when we meet to determine the progress of the community. Your people don’t show up.”

Nekima Levy-Pounds Well, I know that they wouldn’t be talking to me because personally I go wherever I can to advocate for justice, so do a lot of other advocates within our community.

I agree with something that was said earlier by you about us living under the doctrine of white

supremacy. That is the entire framework under which all of these issues are occurring, both in Minnesota as well as on a national level. Right now in the aftermath of Ferguson (Mo.), and the shooting death of another young, unarmed African-American man, we see high-tech lynching of AfricanAmerican men by portraying them as violent. They’re circling the wagons; coming after these men.

And what that ultimately does is reduce the level of empathy that American society has for the plight of African-American men, women and children.

Al McFarlane What do you mean by that? Break that down for me.

Nekima Levy-Pounds Well I used to work in family law, Al, before I started in civil rights. And I used to represent victims of domestic violence and child victims of domestic abuse.

What I try to let people know is that domestic abusers come in all shapes, sizes, colors and different socio-economic levels. You would not know that from the way the media is portraying the Ray Rice incident and honing in on one African-American man, who from my perspective definitely did not act in a manner that was appropriate in any way. However he’s not the only man in America who has engaged in that sort of conduct. We also need to leave room for people to have a chance to repent, for them to get treatment and for them to be restored. But we are making it so that people are being demonized, locked out of access to opportunity, locked out of access to the broader society and locked out of access to a livelihood, which is only going to acerbate many of their situations.

We don’t focus our attention on the institutions that perpetuate

the types of violence that we’re looking at.

With Adrian Peterson, I don’t know all the details of his situation; I want people to look back historically. We’re concerned about the treatment of children and kids in corporal punishment.

Well I say go back and read the slave narratives. Go back and look at the pictures where the backs of Black men, women and children were whipped to shreds by white slave masters and overseers. We cannot ignore that that is a part of the fabric of this country and that those lessons have been taught to our people and passed down from one generation to the next.

So if we’re going to talk about child abuse, we need to look at the entire context under which those issues actually arose in the first place. I don’t think we’ve done that. I think we’ve demonized one or two people, circled the wagons and then placed the blame on them.

White America is essentially given a pass when something egregious happens within the African-American community, and acts as though it confirms some of the negative images that have been put out by the media.

That makes it hard for equity and equality based policy decisions.

It makes it difficult when a Black man like Terrence Franklin is murdered in the basement and people feel comfortable with police and media explanations that made no logical sense. And it makes it easier to swallow the fact that the police chief can get away with refusing to listen to the concerns of the community and to not be held accountable.

Al McFarlane Nekima, how do we organize our community so that not only we offer a defense or a response that’s

culture among the children.

“I consider it a noble gesture for Books of Africa for having seen the need to donate text and library books to our education institutions specifically in the Coast region as that will improve the reading culture among the area’s children” said Rajab.

The vice chancellor further announced that the university was putting up a library complex at the institution, a library which will give an opportunity of school children and researchers to access reading materials near them.

“At Pwani University we are putting up a library complex at the institution and am very sure this library will give an opportunity to our learning people to access reading materials near them” said Rajab.

The chairman of Kilifi County Education Council professor Gabriel Katana lamented on the poor performance of area schools in national examinations and said stakeholders in the education sector need to come together and discuss ways of improving the standards.

“It is shocking to see that a very minimal number of our children who sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE) in

Kilifi county manage to secure university positions through the joint Admissions Board (JAB) and this is something which us as stakeholders in the education sector have to look at” said Katana.

Speaking on what the new Council’s mission will be, Gitaa said its primary role will be to advise Books for Africa on how to be effective with its book donation program in the continent, as well as on African governmental policy matters on the ground that might affect it.

The Council will operate out of Nairobi under the chairmanship of Ambassador Odembo and will include members from other African countries as well.

Ambassador Odembo, who is also the Vice President, Africa region, for the World Council of Credit Unions promised to work with the council board members and other scholars to improve the standards of education in Kenya. “Education is important and is the key to lifting our people out of poverty”, Odembo said.

Mshale Correspondent Joseph Tondo Masha is a 25 year media veteran based in the Kenyan resort city of Mombasa. He writes for such outlets as Citizen and the Standard Media Group.

principled, that’s not reactionary but is proactive?

And, how do we organize in a strategic examination of the failure of the institutions and people who are supposedly serving our interests … an examination of the diversion of resources and revenue, an examination of the unwillingness to actually implement policy and laws designed to protect and empower us?

Nekima Levy-Pounds Well I would say the first thing that we need to do is to challenge Mayor Betsy Hodges on what recently happened with the chief of police. She’s the boss of the chief of police. And what we’re asking for is a public apology. So I’ve asked people to go on Facebook, go on Betsy Hodges’ timeline and send her a note about the chief’s conduct being unacceptable and to demand a public apology. That’s the first step.

Al McFarlane What has the mayor said so far?

What’s been her response up to now?

Nekima Levy-Pounds So far there has not been a response specific to the chief’s absence at the forum, which I think is problematic. So that’s number one. On a macro level I think what we need to do is to rewrite the narrative. So often the narrative that is out there is a deficit-based narrative. We have to change the language that people use to describe the challenges that we face, that we know are based on white supremacy, like calling the academic issues that our young people face as an “achievement gap.” There’s no such thing as an achievement gap.

That’s an opportunity gap that we know is based on economics.

It’s the failure to develop a sound

infrastructure to educate children of African descent based upon what has happened historically.

When you have a school system where over 90 percent of the teachers are white and many of them are women and they are trying to educate children of color without having the proper context for the students’ experience or even knowing how to relate to them, you’re going to have challenges. And instead of us addressing those systemic and structural challenges we choose to blame the children and their parents in the rhetoric that’s put out there as well as the language we use. So I would say rewrite the narrative; begin to see what’s happening with new eyes. Don’t adopt the oppressor’s language.

Challenge that language.

Challenge the systems that we are constantly having to contend with on a daily basis and that are entrapping us.

I would also say anytime legislation is being passed there needs to be a racial impact statement that goes along with that legislation. As (Rep.) Rena Moran was talking about, the new child abuse legislation is going to disproportionately impact communities of color. That needs to be addressed.

We need a Black agenda, not other people’s agenda, and not what the non-profit industrial complex says that we need, where people are getting grants to go out and mobilize our community for their own gain. We need to set a Black agenda that’s grounded in our history, in our focus on civil rights and human rights and stick to that agenda. We might have to put out fires but if we have a plan in place, we can keep going to the end.

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Insight News • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Page 9

COMMUNITY Hopewell Music Cooperative North offers “music to all�

Farrington Starnes

Ellie Fregni and student, Princess performing at FLOW.

By Shaina Brassard, West Broadway Coalition Hopewell Music Cooperative North will present the 3rd annual Bach and Chocolate fundraising concert and gala on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The event, hosted by partner North United Methodist Church, will include a silent auction, a concert of Bach works by professional musician friends of Hopewell and a reception featuring chocolate, other treats and music performed by Hopewell’s talented students. The event is designed to be enjoyed by all ages.

Hopewell Music Cooperative is a non-profit founded in 2012 by professional musicians from north Minneapolis and throughout the Twin Cities to provide high quality, affordable and accessibly music education for the Northside community. The name Hopewell was chosen by founder, Dameun Strange, and draws inspiration from the

Courtesy of Hopewell Music Cooperative

Dameun Strange

Hopewell Native-Americans that once traveled and lived along the Mississippi River as well as Hopewell Hospital, which once served tuberculosis patients in the Northside’s Camden neighborhood.

Hopewell Music Cooperative offers private instruction in piano, drums, guitar and bass, violin, brass and voice. In order to be truly accessible, “We base our sliding

scale fees on the federal school lunch program ($20, $10, or free per half hour lesson), and offer a free instrument rental program,� explained Brianna Farah, executive director and a classical vocalist with a Masters in Vocal Performance from the University of Minnesota.

Ensemble participation is entirely free. Classes and rehearsals are offered at handicap-accessible locations spread across the Northside for convenience. Most of the current 150 students are under 18 year of age, but the Hopewell Community Choir is

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Revel Spirits From 2 Revel Avila Anejo.

So what makes Revel so unique? According to the principals of Revel, it’s all about the agave grower and the growing and aging processes of the various spirits. According to McFarlane and Thompson, Revel is grown from Weber blue agave in the Morelos region of Mexico, by a group of families who perfected the distillation processes until the handcrafting created a spirit that became known as avila.

made up of elderly singers.

Jaette Carpenter, one of the founders, gives weekly lessons to a whopping 37 piano, vocal, and guitar students. At first, all of the staff worked for free for more than a year following the school’s founding. Now Hopewell is looking for ways to maintain its staff and expand its reach. “We’ve had so many new students join in the last couple of months, even though we haven’t been doing a lot of recruiting,� said Andrea Myers, a flute instructor and director of operations.

Phone: 612.588.1313

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Hopewell students in 2013

“It takes us seven years to harvest the plants and another two years to process,� said Hector Ruiz, one of the farmers chosen to grow the agave for Revel. “We were approached

by Jose Cuervo and all the big producers, but we don’t believe in mass production; we believe in the quality of producing in small batches.�

For McFarlane and Thompson, getting into the spirits industry was somewhat of a natural progression for the two, who have operated a successful music company for years, working with clients including Prince, Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan and others. But the new business

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, District of MN, is accepting applications for full-time Probation Officers for the Minneapolis or St. Paul Offices. Salary range is $42,309 – $95,758.

For a complete job description please visit our website, http://www.mnp.uscourts.gov , Career Opportunities. EOE

South Haven Apartments 3400 Parklawn Avenue-Edina, MN 55435 952-831-3372 NOTICE: OPENING THE WAITING LIST (1 Bedroom) HUD Section 202/8 (62+, or non-elderly and disabled-as defined by HUD) Rent based on income for qualified Applicants Applications may be downloaded from www.cbwaitinglist.com or picked up at South Haven Apartments: October 7, 2014 - October 24, 2014 Completed applications must be mailed or dropped off to the South Haven Management office by noon October 31, 2014.

Qualified applicants will be placed on the Waiting List in the order they were accepted.

CommonBond Communities Equal Housing Opportunity

idea came from a chance encounter at a bar. “I was at a bar and I ordered a Patron and a guy sitting there asked me why I ordered Patron and I said, ‘well, isn’t it the best,� said McFarlane.

The two struck up a conversation and according to McFarlane, the person explained that Patron was more about perception and less about quality. Intrigued, McFarlane and a friend traveled to Mexico to learn more about the agave plant and the growing and harvesting of tequila. It was on that trip when he met Ruiz and as they say, the rest is history.

For Thompson, starting Revel was the right thing to do

“The word is getting out by word of mouth. People are learning that we do offer free lessons, and that it is affordable even at full price; I think at first they thought it was too good to be true,� said Farah.

Hopewell has a waiting list of 15 students. “Imagine what we could do if we actually recruited, how many students we could take on tomorrow, if we also had the funds,� mused Farah. In addition to fundraising opportunities, the institution is looking for new board members, space for an

Fax: 612.588.2031

administrative headquarters, instrument donations and businesses or organizations interested in hiring out their ensembles for events.

Bach and Chocolate Saturday, Oct.25, 7 p.m.

Tickets: $10/$15 students, $15/$20 adults, children under 6 free Pre-sale tickets available at w w w. h o p e w e l l m u s i c . c o m / bach--chocolate North United Methodist Church 4350 Fremont Ave. N., Minneapolis

Email: info@insightnews.com

Vacancies

Townhomes

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2 & 3 bdroms open MetroPlains Management

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at the right time. “Micah and I had a music management company and we wanted to have a brand instead of pitching brands,� said Thompson. “So we parlayed what we knew about marketing and branding and transferred it to spirits. Revel is about life, spirits and being happy.�

The ultra-premium avila is sold in .750 liter bottles and ranges in price from $70 to $130 per bottle. “We have an aggressive marketing campaign targeting the high-end consumer,� said Thompson.

Revel is available for purchase online at www. revelspirits.com.

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

Central Minnesota Housing Partnership

Is currently accepting applications for Residency or the waiting list at the following property locations Granite Ledge Townhomes Tower Terrace Townhomes Ridgeview Court Townhomes Timberland Townhomes Grand Oaks Townhomes Grand Oaks Court Townhomes Meadow View Townhomes Northcrest Townhomes Braham Heights Johnson Apartments Gilmanor Apartments Groundhouse Apartments Randall Apartments Waverly Community Homes Eden Place Apartments Highland Court Townhomes River View Townhomes West Birch Townhomes Sprucewood Townhomes Brickstone Apartments Shoreline Common’s Apartments

Cold Spring, MN Cambridge, MN Paynesville, MN Brainerd, MN Baxter, MN Baxter, MN Zimmerman, MN Mora, MN Braham, MN Pine City, MN Foley, MN Ogilvie, MN Randall, MN Waverly, MN Eden Valley, MN Little Falls, MN Sauk Centre, MN Princeton, MN Baxter, MN Avon, MN Howard Lake, MN

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Page 10 • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Brant Brogan

CONTRA-TIEMPO

Havana Glamour at the Ordway

By Carmen Robles The Ordway took its audience to Cuba on a recent Sunday night giving them a taste of the glamour and sophistication of the 1940s and 1950s era complete with a magnificent orchestra, dancers and singers.

From boleros to carnival music. the evening was a nonstop fiesta extravaganza.

A dance floor provided the rechtenvrij

HAVANA TURN TO 11

Nachito Herrera

Creole Choir of Cuba

Photo by David Bradley

Zasme Morgan

$19.50 – $39.50

Mastermind

DJ Lance

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! is going on the road this fall with a new show, “Music Is Awesome!”

Billed as “The coolest rock concert for kids (and parents),” the show is back to celebrate five years on the road.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 Big K.R.I.T.

Pam the Funkstress

ELECTRONIC/HIP-HOP/ PERFORMANCE

Peter Tosh

Spank Rock w/ Baauer (CANCELED) Mill City Nights 111 5th St., Minneapolis 18-plus $35 and up

Oct. 13 - 19

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking.

Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com

Monday, Oct. 13

Center 1530 E. Franklin Minneapolis 4p.m. –7 p.m.

Free

Ave.,

GATHERING Minneapolis Indigenous People’s Day Celebration Minneapolis American Indian

In April, Minneapolis became the first city in Minnesota to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day.

Head down to the American Indian Center for a community meal with indigenous foods, a film screening of “Women Are Sacred,” by BFRESHPRODUCTIONS and cultural performances.

Tuesday,

The return of Baltimore born club rapper Spank Rock to Minneapolis has been canceled.

Oct. 14 KIDS/PERFORMANCE YO! Gabba Gabba! Live State Theatre 805 Hennepin Minneapolis 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Ave.,

Thursday, Oct. 16 IT! TURN TO 11

insightnews.com

Insight News • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Page 11

IT!

DANCE

From 10

Dope A** Dance Party with DJ Pam the Funkstress Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 18-plus 9:30 p.m.

CONCERT REGGAE/CONCERT

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE Big K.R.I.T. Fine Line Music Café 18-plus 8p.m. $20 – $45 Mississippi’s Big K.R.I.T. has been riding the line between the underground and mainstream since the release of his classic “Return of 4Eva” mixtape. Back in Minneapolis again at the Fine Line, this show is a must see for hip-hop fans.

Havana From 10

Legendary DJ Pam the Funkstress of The Coup returns to Minneapolis after delivering some of the best DJ sets the city has seen. Wordsmith Manny Phesto opens with a production set from Dimitry Killstorm, J. Prodigy and B Dot Croc’s DJ, Keezy.

Friday, Oct. 17 platform for the audience to experience Cuba up front and personal. The rhythms of a multitude of instruments

Legalize It: A Birthday Tribute to the Life and Music of Peter Tosh The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave S., Minneapolis 8 p.m. $10 – $15 Join The Cabooze for its 40th Anniversary Concert Series for Legalize It: A Birthday Tribute to the Life & Music of Peter Tosh with the International Reggae All Stars.

Saturday, Oct.18 intertwined into a fusion of the harmonizing sounds of jazz, classical music, R&B, hip-hop and salsa; all coming together under the masterful technique and direction of Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera.

Herrera, a classically trained pianist entertained the audience with his humor, his artistry and love for the United States; Minnesota

#LegalizeItMN Benefit Concert - MN NORML Mill City Nights 111 N. 5th St., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. $10 advance/$15 door MN NORML and Free Black Dirt co-present the Legalize It, Minnesota benefit concert at Mill City Nights featuring Mike Mictlan of Doomtree, Mixed Blood Majority, ECID, Shiro Dame, Greg Grease, Manchita (of GRRRL PRTY), Guante Java Starr & Metasota, Mastermind, TruthMaze (spoken word), Voice of Culture Drum and Dance and Mamadu DJing all night. in particular since it was at the Ordway where he made his first U.S. debut.

His daughter, Mirdalys dressed in the elegance of an era long gone. Simple and elegant her emerald green gown flowed accenting her movements as she swayed to her songs.

She bellowed a bolero that captured the African sounds of the Caribbean and the

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

Prices starting at $8 View our complete menu at

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Tickets are available at www.axs. com/events/254638/legalize-ittickets?skin=millcity.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit MN NORML’s organizing and advocacy efforts to fully legalize cannabis and end the “failed, structurally racist War on Drugs” in Minnesota.

Thee Urbane Life presents Sunday Jazz Brunch with pianist Wenso Ashby and vocalist Zsame Morgan.

Sunday Jazz Brunch with Wenso Ashby & Zsame Morgan Louie’s Wine Dive

Less than six months old, Louie’s Wine Dive is the newest eatery to dot the Uptown landscape. Louie’s features a hearty and eclectic brunch menu and offers a specialty Finlandia bloody Mary bar and bottomless mimosas. Louie’s, a chic culinary establishment is also African-American owned. For reservations, go to www.louieswinedive.com/ minneapolis.

sultry tempo of the Latino passion.

Special guests included Ramon Fabian Veloz who crooned his sultry love longs, bringing the heat of the island to the dance floor in downtown St. Paul. The mesmerizing violin sounds of Alex Bravo Calderin, concertmaster of the orchestra, seeped deep into my psyche piercing my soul and bringing a tear to my eye just because of the sheer beauty of the sounds emitting from this string instrument.

The male dancers looking so suave and debonair in their white suits, white shoes, black shirts and white Panama hats with black trim, glided with their partners across the floor. Their “rooster” dance brought memories of my uncles dancing after a good game of dominoes and a few Budweisers.

The women dancers wore flowers in their hair, had dangling trim on their dresses similar to those of the Roaring 20s. The trim shimmied in so many directions while keeping time with the dancer’s feet as they were being led backwards across the dance floor while twirling and bending, never missing a beat, dresses

in constant motion.

The Carnival dance was the perfect ending to a perfect evening. The dancers in their colorful carnival costumes gyrated up and down the aisles of the beautiful Ordway Music Theater inviting the audience to join the dance line. The joy of dance, music and laughter emptied the seats and filled the aisles and the dance floor.

“Raices y Suenos: the Artistry of Cuba” is the work of Taking Our Place Centerstage, a multiyear initiative that demonstrates the Ordway’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, education and audience development.

Other public performances of “A Night in Havana with Nachito Herrera” and his Cuban orchestra are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Contact the Ordway at www. ordway.org to order tickets and to get information for other exciting performances.

A special gracias is extended to the Ordway and to the Ordway community advisors who helped to bring Cuba to St. Paul.

Sunday, Oct. 19 JAZZ/PERFORMANCE

ON STAGE THIS FALL

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PHOTO: TRAVIS ANDERSON

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Page 12 • October 13 - October 19, 2014 • Insight News

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