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Insight News October 31 - November 6, 2016

Vol. 43 No. 44• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Unity Opportunity Collaborative announces historic collaboration The Unity Opportunity Collaborative (UOC) held a public forum to announce its formation and how it will collectively use the $4.2 million it received from the Minnesota Legislature to better serve African-Americans.

UOC is a collaboration of Emerge Community Development, the Minneapolis Urban League, Stairstep Foundation/His Works United, the Minneapolis Public Schools and Sabathani Community Center. During the Oct. 25 launch at Sabathani, 310 E. 38th St., Minneapolis, partners discussed new approaches for addressing

Unity Turn to 9

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Steve Belton (far right), Minneapolis Urban League president and CEO, talks to a crowd at Sabathani Community Center about the newly formed Unity Opportunity Collaborative. The Minneapolis Urban League is part of a collaborative that includes Sabathani and will share in $4.2 million from the state. The funds are to improve the condition of African-Americans within the metro area.

Black millennials close the economic and digital divide NEW YORK – Black millennials are 11.5 million strong and leading a viral vanguard that is driving African-Americans’ innovative use of mobile technology and closing the digital divide.

Nielsen highlights this group in a new report called “Young, Connected and Black: African-American Millennials Are Driving Social Change and Leading Digital Advancement.” With $162 billion in buying power and undisputed cultural influence, Black millennials are using their power to successfully raise awareness of issues facing the Black community and influence decisions. Media and brands are taking notice, creating campaigns and content that target this increasingly influential demographic with greater ad spends and more diverse programming.

Millenials Turn to 9

Dayton announces $80 million in new affordable housing investments Gov. Mark Dayton announced $80 million in funding to create and preserve 1,831 affordable housing units throughout the state.

According to the governor, these investments will leverage private and local resources to support $300 million in total development costs and support more than 2,800 jobs.

“This funding will stimulate jobs and economic development across our state, while providing housing for more Minnesotans in need,” said Dayton. “Unfortunately, without a bonding bill last session, the housing needs of 3,000 more Minnesota families will go unmet. I will continue fighting for more resources to meet Minnesota’s growing housing

Gov. Mark Dayton needs during the coming legislative session.”

This funding comes as housing costs continue to increase and vacancy rates

remain extremely low. Existing affordable housing is being purchased and converted to market-rate housing, displacing low- and moderate-income families.

“The housing built and preserved with these resources is a smart investment in Minnesota’s future and will be an important foundation for success for kids, families and workers across Minnesota,” said Mary Tingerthal, Minnesota Housing Commissioner. “We are battling housing costs that are rising faster than incomes. We must continue our commitment to provide more Minnesotans with access to affordable homes

Housing Turn to 2

‘Too much at stake for us to remain silent’

By The Rev. Cornell William Brooks, President and CEO of the NAACP Guest Commentary

canstock photos

For decades, the NAACP has used its mighty voice and its strength in numbers to force change. Change in our schools. Change in our police departments. Change at our state capitols and in Congress.

This year, the first presidential election in 50 years without the full protection of the Voting Rights Act, we will need to draw on the strength of our numbers again.

In the wake of the Shelby v.

Holder Supreme Court decision, more than 30 states, many with the worst legacies of racial hate and oppression, have adopted laws that create ID requirements and new obstacles to registering

The Rev. Cornell William Brooks and casting a vote on Election Day. Through massive and deliberate overhauls of election codes, many states have scaled back early voting, easy registration and other voting programs proven to increase turnout.

Just as poll taxes and literacy

naacp.org

tests were once used to turn away Black voters, the latest election laws have been twisted to make it more difficult for people of color, senior citizens and the young to exercise their right to vote. But we at the NAACP

Voting Turn to 11

YWCA

Keynote

Buy Black

Vote Yes for MPS

YWCA Minneapolis board taps Luz Maria Frias as new president and CEO

Tim Wise to keynote 32nd NAMC-UM Awards event

Buy Black is gaining momentum as a movement

Voters urged to approve tax measure to fund Minneapolis Public Schools

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Indianapolis’ Oaks Schools use student diversity to teach and learn

By Curtis Bunn Urban News Service INDIANAPOLIS — Diversity is a slogan in many places, but at The Oaks Academy’s campuses near downtown Indianapolis, on any given Wednesday, the hallways are lined with more than 100 students and parents — Black, white and otherwise, low-income, well-off and inbetween — who come together for a morning worship service.

At The Oaks Academy, a faith-based private school with three campuses in the outskirts of America’s 11th largest city, all of this is by design.

The Oaks’ two lower schools and a middle school intentionally educate a balanced mix of students based on income and race. Some students hail from low-income families, others from struggling middle class families and still others from comfortable, well-off ones.

The racial blend, by design, is 40 percent African-American, 40 percent white and 20 percent

other races. Non-Christians are also welcome to attend. At The Oaks about 25 percent of the teachers are African-American – a much higher percentage than in neighboring schools.

“How many places are this comfortably diverse?” asked Andrew Hart, The Oaks’ CEO. “Even church — 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning is the most segregated place you can find.

In every city, neighborhoods are divided. Here, we intentionally bring together the races to build a place where the students are in a relationship with people unlike themselves, whether it’s socioeconomically or racially. They grow up together. We all tend to go toward those who are like us.

But to gain a true understanding and connection to what we are unfamiliar with, we have to bring the races together.”

An uncommon acceptance policy is what allows these rare dynamics. Students are not selected on academic achievement or an ability to pay the $10,000 annual tuition.

“The criteria is that you, as

Diversity has not reduced the school’s test scores. The Oaks was first in Indiana according to the statewide ISTEP test.

a parent, must be in the child’s life, have a bed for him to sleep, feed and clothe him, have a place for him to live and can get him to school on time and will read to him 20 minutes a night,” said Hart. “That’s it.”

Some families pay $10 a week while others pay the full $10,000-a-year tuition. “We are really giving all students what they are rightfully entitled to – a premium education in an

environment where they can feel safe and learn about each other.”

Diversity has not reduced the school’s test scores. The Oaks was first in Indiana, according to the statewide ISTEP test.

Practically every teacher at The Oaks with school-aged children enrolls them right there.

Gabriel Moore, 22, understands why. He began teaching art history, the history of literature and the history of science just

three months after college.

“We study ‘Tom Sawyer,’ but also study the slave trade and the 1800s through Reconstruction,” said Gabriel, who is biracial.

“To have those discussions in a comfortable setting with students from various backgrounds is really important, especially with the racial divide today. We’re teaching this history to young children of diverse backgrounds in the hopes that they will be the light that helps bring about reconciliation among the races.”

Michelle Rausch helps her sixth-grade students analyze the music that bounces off the walls of her Rhythmic Complexity in Translation of African Music class. Several Black, white, Hispanic, and Asian students raise their hands to discuss the sounds.

“I appreciate the school’s diversity,” said Rausch. “It was harder to challenge myself and the students,” in public schools. “Here, the concept of being intentional about mixing kids who wouldn’t normally be together is phenomenal. And it

works. That’s the whole point of diversity. You want to get people together, who wouldn’t normally know each other, to build relationships.”

“There is a tangible value in what’s happening here, and you see it in our students who graduate and come back to visit,” said Laura Grammer, the head of The Oaks middle school.

“They are confident. They have a capacity to engage. They have a strong sense of who they are.

And we know it all started here.”

The school operates primarily on donations — which account for 40 percent of the school’s capital. Hart collects about $3 million in donations per year, mainly from individuals.

And not all of the donors are wealthy.

“The beauty of being intentionally diverse is the students have greater depth of experiences,” said Hart. “So they can learn about each other and grow together.”

Tim Wise to keynote 32nd NAMC-UM Awards

Tim Wise

Wikipedia

Housing From 1 in communities of their choice.”

Between 2000 and 2015, the number of Minnesota households spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing increased 63 percent,

Noted author and pundit on civil rights and race relations in America, Tim Wise will keynote the National Association of Minority Contractors Upper-Midwest (NAMC-UM) chapter’s annual awards dinner.

Hosted by Insight News

founder and editor-in-chief, Al McFarlane, the Nov. 12 event to be held at U.S. Bank Stadium – a stadium built with more than 32 percent minority labor – will highlight achievements in construction of minority contractors and laborers.

NAMC-UM was established in 1984 and serves Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. While membership is open to people of all ethnic backgrounds, the organization focuses on construction industry concerns common to AfricanAmericans, Asian-Americans,

Hispanic-Americans and Native-Americans.

Wise, who is white, is one of the more active and outspoken voices for social justice and civil rights. He has appeared on several national news programs and is one of the more shared commentators on social media.

This year’s theme is Celebrating Touchdowns and a Renewed Vision. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a 5 p.m. VIP meet and greet. For more information call (612) 521-3366 or go to www. namc-um.org.

from 350,000 to 570,000.

“We are fortunate in Minnesota to have a public partner like Minnesota Housing, which is at the heart of a unique public-private partnership that creates and preserves affordable homes throughout the state and makes it possible for less fortunate Minnesotans to have a secure place to call

home and a better foundation for their family’s future,” said Warren Hanson, president and CEO of Greater Minnesota Housing Fund. “We are proud to partner with Minnesota Housing to jointly finance these much needed affordable homes for low-income families and individuals.”

This year Minnesota

Housing and its funding partners – the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and the Metropolitan Council – reviewed requests for more than $233 million in affordable housing projects. Each project was selected through a process where developers and administrators

can apply for a variety of financing sources through one common application. Financing sources include deferred loans, amortizing loans and tax credits.

The $80 million in funding awarded includes $4.7 million from funding partners. Proposals were reviewed to consider their support for rural, suburban, and urban communities, serving

prospective homebuyers, renters, and current homeowners.

Housing projects funded by the $80 million announced include new construction rental buildings in Coon Rapids, Ramsey, and Prior Lake.

The agency awarded $92 million in 2015 and $161.6 million in 2014.

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Insight News • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Page 3

YWCA Minneapolis board taps Frias as new president and CEO

Luz Maria Frias

Courtesy of YWCA

Luz Maria Frias has been appointed President and CEO of the YWCA Minneapolis.

Frias comes to YWCA Minneapolis from The Minneapolis Foundation, where she has served as the vice president for Community Impact since 2012. Frias holds master’s and law degrees from the University of Iowa.

Frias served as St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman’s external affairs director before she was appointed to serve as the inaugural director of the Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Department. She also worked at the Minnesota House of Representatives.

While at the Minnesota House of Representatives, Frias played a lead role in drafting the “Sexual Harassment Policy and Handbook” for the Minnesota Legislature.

“The mission of the YWCA Minneapolis aligns with who I am as an individual and feeds my soul to the very core,” said Frias. “I am honored to serve as the new president and CEO at YWCA Minneapolis, which has

provided exemplary leadership on social justice, racial justice and empowering women and girls for 125 years.”

“We are thrilled Luz Maria will be leading the YWCA Minneapolis,” said Irene Quarshie, board chair of YWCA Minneapolis, “She has a proven track record of leadership and a deep commitment to engaging all communities. Her personal experiences and passions align

well with our mission, strongly positioning her to guide the organization to even greater heights as we celebrate our 125th anniversary and for years to come.”

Frias will begin in her new role Dec. 5.

‘Black America since MLK: And Still I Rise,’ chronicling 50 years of the African-American Experience, to air on PBS “Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise,” a two-part, four-hour documentary series hosted, executive produced and written by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., will premiere Nov. 15 and Nov. 22 on PBS. In “Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise,” Gates looks at the last 50 years of African-American history — from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Barack Obama, from James Brown’s “I’m Black and I’m Proud” to Beyoncé’s “Formation” — charting the remarkable progress Black people have made, and raising hard questions about the obstacles that remain.

The creator of the series said it begins at the point where the story we Americans tell about ourselves becomes complicated.

Almost every schoolchild today learns about the civil rights movement — about how our nation moved itself forward, against the will of many, out of a shameful past. Yet what has happened since? Gates said the series steps out of the sanctified past and into the complex, raw,

conflicted present.

Today, President Obama sits in the White House and AfricanAmericans wield influence in every domain, from business to academia to the arts. At the same time, Black people are incarcerated at six times the rate of whites and face financial inequality, while whites now have 13 times the wealth of Blacks. Many of our nation’s schools and neighborhoods are more segregated than they were in 1965, and police killings of unarmed Black men in places like Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore and Baton Rouge recur with tragic frequency — inspiring radically different responses within Black and white communities. Gates explores how we ended up here, when half a century ago racial equality seemed imminent — even inevitable.

To find out, Gates offers a fresh examination of key events and turning points in American race relations and Black history over the last five decades — animated by viewpoints that have rarely been heard on television; ideas that are not often said out loud and questions

that many are afraid to ask.

“We are at a critical moment in the Black experience in America,” said Gates. “Over the past 50 years, following the remarkable strides made during the civil rights movement of Dr. King, African-Americans have achieved a level of cultural, political and economic influence that those early civil rights leaders could hardly have dreamed of. At the same time, poverty remains a stubbornly persistent way of life for far too many African-Americans, incarceration rates in our community are at an-all time high and people are crying out to have their basic human dignity recognized, leading some to wonder if things really have changed. This series looks at the rich history of how we arrived where we are today, through all the highs and lows, and poses provocative questions about how we keep up a momentum of progress.”

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Page 4 • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Insight News

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Business

‘Buy Black’ grabs international attention Atlanta (BlackNews.com) – The “Buy Black” movement, a form of economic protest among African-Americans, is gaining steam at home and drawing attention abroad.

In a recent news package, major French news outlet France 24 covered the Buy Black movement spreading across the U.S. for an international audience.

In an effort to show the different ways African-Americans are organizing in response to police violence, French reporters

interviewed rapper and activist Killer Mike, author Dr. Boyce Watkins, True Laundry Detergent creator Ali Muhammad, and founder of online retail start-up www.WeBuyBlack.com, Shareef Abdul-Malik.

“It just proves that what we are doing has a major impact,” said Abdul-Malik about the foreign news coverage. “Other communities have a history of supporting each other and using their own small businesses to stimulate their own economic

growth. In the Black community, a dollar only circulates for six hours. Compare that to some Asian communities, where the same dollar can circulate for up to a month. When you look at it that way, it’s no wonder why we’re not getting ahead like we should.”

At just 24, Abdul-Malik has created an online platform that sells everything from toilet paper to skin lotion – all produced by Black-owned companies. And while many of

INSIGHT NEWS

Wikipedia

Dr. Boyce Watkins is an advocate for the “Buy Black” movement. He was recently featured on French television talking about the movement, which is gaining traction.

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his contemporaries are putting energy into the Black Lives Matter movement, Abdul-Malik says his work will have a similar impact on future generations of

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

African-Americans.

“I really think it’s a natural complement to the Black Lives Matter movement. At We Buy Black we like to say Black

dollars matter, because when we can learn to use our resources strategically, we can make a bigger impact at home and out in the world.”

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford

Floyd Norman (left) and Leo Sullivan animators of the original animated “Soul Train” opening, “Fat Albert” characters and “Scooby-Doo” have published an interactive family oriented website, AfroKids.com.

Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles

Animators of the original ‘Soul Train,’ ‘Scooby Doo’ and ‘Fat Albert’ team up to bring life to AfroKids.com

Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe

Los Angeles (BlackNews.com) – It’s a rare thing, particularly

in the entertainment industry, to behold friendships that are

You don’t have to move to get that new-home feeling.

Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Gloria Freeman Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Rebecca Rabb 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.

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both long-lasting and fruitful.

Longtime animator/ filmmaker Leo Sullivan is launching a new entertainment venture, AfroKids.com, with stories and creative input from his longtime friend Floyd Norman. The project brings their combined 100 years of experience to the World Wide Web. AfroKids.com is a website a decade in the making. The goal of the site is to serve a currently underserved and vast audience – African American children and their families.

The site features a variety of interactive animations that seek to engage, educate and entertain young minds and hearts. AfroKids.com also hopes to empower families in building children’s self-esteem by combining educational and entertainment.

When Sullivan and Norman each began their animation careers more than 50 years ago, their ultimate goal was just to get a job in the animation industry, as there were few Blacks in the industry. Sullivan began as an errand runner and cell washer for legendary “Beany & Cecil” producer, Bob Clampett. From that inauspicious beginning, his path would bring him through a variety of animation studios over the next half century, including Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, DePatie-Freleng, Ruby-Spears, DIC and Marvel Productions, just to name a few. Among the many famous cartoons Sullivan has lent his pencil and directorial talents to include “The Flintstones,” “Scooby-Doo,” “Super Friends,” “Transformers,” “Tiny Toons” and more.

Norman traversed a similar path through many of the same studios, but he also enjoyed lengthy stints at both Disney Productions and its sister studio Pixar. Norman’s work can be seen in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Mulan” and Pixar’s “Toy Story 2.” He has been honored as a Disney Legend for his contributions to both studios and he is featured on Disney’s DVD release of the classic “Jungle Book,” on which he also worked.

The duo formed Vignette Films, Inc. (changed later to Vignette Multimedia) in 1966.

There the two created the original “Soul Train” animated logo.

AfroKids.com is the culmination of the duo’s earlier plans to create a continuing source of kid-friendly, family and ethnically centric educational entertainment.

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Insight News • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Page 5

Insight News

2016 Voters Guide So much is at stake in this upcoming Nov. 8 election.

After electing to two terms the first AfricanAmerican president of the United State, forces from all corners of the nation have aligned behind one of the most contemptable and vile candidates in our nation’s history to in their words and his, “make America great again.” Apparently, making America great again means stripping the rights of African-Americans, kicking out those of Mexican origin – even if they have been positive contributors to this nation – and building a wall to isolate us from our southern neighbors, subjecting Muslim-Americans to some sort of purity test to be sure they are “true Americans” and relegating women to the role of sexual concubines and nothing more. On the converse, many opposed to the philosophies of the “Alt-Right” (the new politically correct description for racists and harbingers of hate) are asking, when in our nation’s history were we truly great?

In addition to the race for president, there are other key down-ballot races that will determine the direction of this nation, our state, our counties and our cities. There has been a call for new leadership; new thinking. Black voters are once again, with renewed vigor, demanding their voiced be heard. The question is how we intend to use our collective voice. Black voters have the power to swing almost every race in this election with their vote.

The editorial staff at Insight News has diligently examined several of these key races, interviewing candidates from all parties to offer a guide for Twin Cities voters in the upcoming Nov. 8 general election. Our endorsements are based on the simple criteria of who will be best-suited to serve in the role of the position they seek and who will represent the needs of their constituents of color – particularly, African-Americans.

Black Voter Turnout is key in the general election

By Abeni Hill This election season appears to have discouraged many people of color from voting because of two controversial candidates in the race for president, but quite a few community leaders urge Black voters to focus on state and local elections.

“In our opinion, it is less about individual names and more about the issues,” said Anthony Newby, executive director of Neighborhood

Organizing for Change (NOC).

“It is important in every election that the Black community show up and voice its opinion.”

voters in Minnesota to not be discouraged by the rhetoric of either presidential candidate.

In a September speech to the Congressional Black Caucus, President Barack Obama asked the African-American community to honor his legacy by exercising their right to vote.

Even though he advocated for Hillary Clinton, he reminded his audience that there are other important issues on the ballot as well.

Newby called on Black

Jonne McAfee

“We know there are a lot of people in the community who have not been inspired by the presidential race,” said Newby, saying there are various issues such as environmental justice and racial equity that will be determined by local elections.

Joané McAfee, political director, Hillary for Minnesota, said Black voter turnout is essential in this election.

“We don’t have the privilege of sitting out on this election.

There is too much at stake for us and your vote does matter. Every vote matters,” said McAfee.

McAfee specified that the historical significance of voting for African-Americans and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s still speaks volumes today.

“If our vote didn’t matter why were our grandparents fighting so hard,” asked McAfee.

“They knew they needed to vote for a reason. They knew that was their voice.”

Anatole Jenkins, organizing director, Hillary for Minnesota, said without strong voter turnout

by African-Americans in 2008

we would not have realized our first Black president.

“Our vote matters and there is nothing that shows that more than 2008 (because) something unprecedented happened,” said Jenkins. “We elected a Black man whose name was Barack Hussein Obama.”

For more information about 2016 elections and to receive a sample ballot, go to www.sos. state.mn.us.

Fears of voter supression are real

Donald Trump seems to have some unlikely allies in his claim that the general election might be rigged.

Leaders from several minority vote-watch and civil rights organizations are watching for rigging in the form of voter suppression and voter intimidation. Those concerned said the rhetoric of Trump – calling for his supporters to “watch the polls” in certain neighborhoods – and this being the first presidential election in more than 50 years without the full protection of the Voting

Rights Act are causes legitimate concern.

for

Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law said her organization has received more than 42,000 calls of people expressing either concerns or concrete examples of voter suppression and/or intimidation.

Clarke said her organization is seeking some 4,500 legal volunteers and an additional 2,500 grassroots volunteers to assist from now until the end of the election in addressing

suppression efforts.

While many are concerned about suppression efforts in southern states such as Texas, Mississippi, Florida and others, others warn that because of Trump’s rhetoric there could be suppression and intimidation efforts in several northern states as well. Samer Khalaf, president of the American-Arab AntiDiscrimination Committee, said because of Trump’s anti Muslim talk, states such as Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and others with larger populations of Arab-Americans may be targets

for those seeking to intimidate non-white voters. Nadia Aziz, government relations director at the Arab American Institute agreed and said there have been examples in Michigan of ArabAmerican voters being singled out and being asked by election judges to take a “citizenship oath” prior to voting.

Clarke, Khalaf and Aziz were part of a national press call voicing their concerns regarding possible voter suppression and intimidation. They, along with 85 other civil rights organizations, sent a letter to

election officials in every state citing their concerns.

“The loss of Section 5 (of the Voting Rights Act) and the most racially bigoted presidential campaign in generations has created a perfect storm for voter intimidation and voter discrimination,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

“State election officials must address these unprecedented threats head-on by creating and publicizing clear plans to prevent intimidation and

discrimination, and to make it unequivocally clear to the voters they serve that the elections they oversee will be safe, fair, and free from intimidation, violence, and discrimination.”

Clarke called on anyone who witnesses instances of suppression or intimidation to call the Lawyers’ Committee hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

African-American women voters age 50-plus influenced by economic anxiety WASHINGTON, D.C. – AARP’s Take a Stand campaign recently revealed new survey data highlighting economic anxieties and a multitude of other concerns of AfricanAmerican women voters age 50plus in key battleground states.

“The presidential candidates have yet to fully address important issues that will affect the boomer generation,” said Edna Kane-Williams, AARP senior vice president, Multicultural Markets. “With many African-American women in this demographic being caregivers and primary providers, it’s imperative that they feel both financially and economically secure as they begin to retire in the coming years.”

According to the survey, money issues and retirement security are the main causes of economic anxiety. Nearly two thirds (62 percent) worry that prices will rise faster than their incomes. Two thirds (67 percent) of modest-income women – and over half (55 percent) of women making over $50,000 – said they worry that prices will rise faster than their incomes. Almost half (45 percent) worry about their ability to take care of themselves as they age.

A strong majority (79 percent) of African-American women ages 50-plus want the next president and Congress to immediately address Social Security. More than one in three (36 percent) are not confident that Social Security will be

there for them and for future generations. More than eight in ten (84 percent) of AfricanAmerican women surveyed believe Hillary Clinton would do a better job at addressing Social Security and keeping it strong.

The survey of 1,500 likely women voters age 50-plus for the 2016 general election was conducted via landline and cellphone from Aug. 1 – Aug. 7

by Lake Research Partners and American Viewpoint for AARP. The survey included a sample of 570 African-Americans and reached across 15 key battleground states including Minnesota and Wisconsin. The full survey can be found at www. aarp.org/50plusvoters.

Photo Courtesy of Canstock

Page 6 • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Insight News

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Our Endorsements So much is at stake in this upcoming Nov. 8 election.

After electing to two terms the first African-American president of the United State, forces from all corners of the nation have aligned behind one of the most contemptable and vile candidates in our nation’s history to in their words and his, “make America great again.” Apparently, making America great again means stripping the rights of AfricanAmericans, kicking out those of Mexican origin – even if they have been positive contributors to this nation – and building a wall to isolate us from our southern neighbors, subjecting Muslim-Americans to some sort of purity test to be sure they are “true Americans” and relegating women to the role of sexual

collective voice. Black voters have the power to swing almost every race in this election with their vote.

The editorial staff at Insight News has diligently examined several of these key races, interviewing candidates from all parties to offer a guide for Twin Cities voters in the upcoming Nov. 8 general election. Our endorsements are based on the simple criteria of who will be best-suited to serve in the role of the position they seek and who will represent the needs of their constituents of color – particularly, African-Americans.

President of the United States – Hillary Clinton

“There has been a call for new leadership; new thinking. Black voters are once again, with renewed vigor, demanding their voiced be heard. The question is how we intend to use our collective.” voice. concubines and nothing more.

On the converse, many opposed to the philosophies of the “AltRight” (the new politically correct description for racists and harbingers of hate) are asking, when in our nation’s history were we truly great?

In addition to the race for president, there are other key down-ballot races that will determine the direction of this nation, our state, our counties and our cities. There has been a call for new leadership; new thinking.

Black voters are once again, with renewed vigor, demanding their voiced be heard. The question is how we intend to use our

our nation’s ethnic minorities, women and members of the LGBT community. With the specter of two or more U.S. Supreme Court Justices retiring within the next four years, this presidential election could alter the course of this nation for years and decades to come. And quite frankly, Clinton’s main opponent, Donald Trump, demonstrates time and again that he lacks the experience, temperament and integrity to be our nation’s Commander-and-Chief.

Some are saying they will vote for a third party candidate as a “statement vote.” While frustrations may be valid, we feel the stakes are far too high … and prospects too real, to cast a vote for anyone other than Hillary Clinton for president. One need look no further than 2000 when Ralph Nader siphoned off just enough votes to leave us with George W. Bush as the eventual victor. This year, the clear choice is Hillary Clinton.

bringing needed recourses to his district, Ellison has advocated for those beyond the borders of his district, serving as cochair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. A frontline representative, Ellison is in the state as much or more than he is in Washington – tucked away from the issues and concerns of his constituents. Ellison has been at the forefront of the Fight for $15 and was a valued voice in helping area janitors – many Hispanic – unionize. The 5th District … or any district … would be hardpressed to find a better, more effective representative.

Minnesota Supreme Court – Natalie Hudson

of Minnesota. We unanimously agree that Hudson’s presence on the state’s High Court is one of objectivity and fairness.

We found that Justice Hudson’s opponent, Michelle McDonald, lacked the experience needed to serve; and we believe McDonald would not be able to rule impartially, as she seems to be motivated by an agenda to rid the state of family courts – which she said are unconstitutional – saying she received a “spiritual calling to abolish family court.”

In addition to her work on the court, we found Hudson to be a valued community pillar, nurturing and mentoring legal minds for generations to come.

services and improve conditions for African-Americans in the state. Champion, as co-chair of the Subcommittee on Equity, secured the ongoing investment.

An effective legislator, Champion authored or supported bills aimed at closing the achievement gap, affordable housing, jobs and economic development, paid family leave, Restore the Vote, Ban the Box, criminal justice and sentencing reform, and more. Bottom line, Champion delivered.

Minnesota State Senate, District 62 – Jeff Hayden

It’s hard to replace the likes of the Hon. Alan Page, but if anyone can, it’s Natalie Hudson.

Minnesota State Senate, District 59 – Bobby Joe

U.S. Representative, Minnesota 5th District – Keith Ellison Sen. Jeff Hayden Justice Natalie Hudson Hillary Clinton The Hon. Natalie Hudson has the experience (former attorney with the state attorney general’s office, 13-year appellate court judge), temperament, integrity and ability to best serve the citizens

Now is not the time to stand down.

President Barack Obama said if we want to honor his legacy, “vote.” And we, like the president, urge you to vote for Hillary Clinton. Clinton has admirably served this nation as a senator and the secretary of state and is best qualified to serve as our nation’s next president. In addition to Clinton’s superior qualifications over her opponent, she has demonstrated her want and willingness to be a voice of fairness and equality for

Rep. Keith Ellison

Rep. Keith Ellison has been a tireless advocate for Minnesota’s 5th District and a wonderful example of statesmanship representing his district on a national level. In addition to

“In addition to her work on the court, we found Hudson to be a valued community pillar, nurturing and mentoring legal minds for generations to come. “

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion Champion In a state legislature where a transportation bonding bill couldn’t get through – something essential to maintaining our state roads, bridges and mass transit – Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (along with Sen. Jeff Hayden) was able get $35 million for organizations and institutions to provide

Again, as with Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, Sen. Jeff Hayden has proven time and again that he can bring home the goods for the residents of District 62 and beyond. Thirty-five million dollars for organizations such as Sabathani Community Center, Minneapolis Public Schools, Emerge Community Development, the Minneapolis Urban League and Stairstep Foundation/His Works United is reason alone to praise the works of Hayden, but as Senate deputy majority leader, Hayden is an invaluable asset to the residents of District 62.

Endorsements 7 Turn to

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Endorsements From 6 Minnesota State Representative, District 65A – Rena Moran

Rep. Rena Moran When Gov. Mark Dayton proposed $100 million to reduce disparities in the state, Rep. Rena Moran knew where a chunk of it should be focused, thus she introduced a collection of bills called the Women of Color Opportunity Act. Moran is a testament to the human spirit, having overcome homelessness to ascend to the state legislature. Having faced adversity, Moran has proven to be a tireless and selfless advocate for the people and we need her voice as she is the only AfricanAmerican in the Minnesota House … but she’ll be getting some company come January.

Insight News • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Page 7 Ilhan Omar made history this past August in the primary election when she beat one of the longest serving representatives in the state, Rep. Phyllis Kahn. With the Republican opponent in the general election running in name only, Omar is poised to be the nation’s first Somali-American to serve in state government.

A great American success story, Omar was born in Somalia and lived four years in a Kenyan refugee camp before moving to Minnesota in 1997. More than capable, Omar, a product of Edison High School in Minneapolis, holds degrees in political science and international studies from North Dakota State University. An effective advocate, Omar was instrumental in getting the Minneapolis City Council to pass an ordinance that allowed businesses to extend their hours 35 days a year to honor, respect and accommodate Muslims celebrating Ramadan.

Omar will be a welcomed voice in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

“At just 25 years of age, Lee shocked the world of Minnesota politics when he beat longtime incumbent Rep. Joe Mullery.”.

Brooklyn Park City Council – Reva Chamblis

Reva Chamblis Reva Chamblis will make history if she is elected to the Brooklyn Park City Council on Nov. 8.

Chamblis, who was the primary’s leading vote getter, would become the city’s first AfricanAmerican elected official if she is again victorious in the general election.

Fue Lee Like Ilhan Omar, Fue Lee is also a former refugee, having been born in a refugee camp in Thailand.

At just 25 years of age, Lee shocked the world of Minnesota politics when he beat longtime incumbent Rep. Joe Mullery. A rising star in Minnesota politics,

and could become a destination municipality for middle class African-Americans.

Forward thinking, Chamblis is the best candidate to assist in the city’s growth.

Burnsville City Council – Robin Harris

and responsive to people of color in his diverse North Minneapolis district, saying he is determined to demand change for our community’s most vulnerable members.

Minnesota State Representative, District 59A – Fue Lee

Minnesota State Representative, District 60B – Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar

Lee is a graduate of Carleton College and worked as an aide to Rep. Keith Ellison, focusing primarily on issues of housing.

Lee said he plans to be receptive

Chamblis is beyond up for the task at hand in representing the citizens and businesses of Brooklyn Park, and in our candidate interview, Chamblis stood out as being well-versed on the issues – not just knowing what they are, but having exacting plans on how to address them.

Brooklyn Park is geographically situated to attract more business

Robin Harris Burnsville is another metro suburb that is becoming more diverse and needs leadership that reflects that growing diversity.

Robin Harris will be a voice for Burnsville’s residents of color and all of the city’s residents. Harris sees Burnsville as an area for small business growth. Harris has an impeccable resume. Holding a law degree and a master’s in Organizational Leadership, Harris is the director of human recourses for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. In addition to wanting to make Burnsville more attractive to small businesses, Harris said she wants to work closely with the area’s school district to ensure the needs of all the cities students are being met.

Minneapolis School Board, At Large – Kim Ellison

“Ellison recognizes the problem with achievement is not in how students are learning, but in how they are being taught … or sadly, how they are not being taught.”

A valued voice on the Minneapolis School Board since 2012, Kim Ellison recognized the old way of doing things just wasn’t working and has been a voice of change, and most importantly an advocate for the students.

A former alternative school instructor, Ellison recognizes the problem with achievement is not in how students are learning, but in how they are being taught … or sadly, how they are not being taught. Ellison is a proponent of providing wraparound services – those that go beyond just classroom learning – for students, saying about her alternative school students, “our students had other things going on in their lives, sometimes preventing them from focusing on classes.”

In a district that is woefully underrepresented by educators of color, Ellison’s opponent wants to shrink the pool of new hires, thus retaining the same group of teachers who have been failing for years to educate our students.

Minneapolis School Board, District 2 – Kerry Jo Felder

Kerry Jo Felder Kerry Jo Felder’s campaign slogan is “Because Children Get One Chance.” She believes the school system is not living up to the expectations and needs of the community.

One of Felder’s goals as a Minneapolis Public School board member is to create fullservice community schools with rigorous core curriculum and after-school services with the efforts of community volunteers.

One of the chief advocates for keeping North Community High School from closing, Felder is responsible for the reemergence of Summa Tech, a STEM program, at North High. We feel she has the passion and vision to best serve the students of the Minneapolis Public Schools.

In Minnesota early voting is currently underway for pre-registered voters, and in Hennepin County officials are recording record turnout.

Voters who are already registered may cast ballots from now until Nov. 7.

Those wishing to vote early can go to their county’s election office to cast ballots. Many cities and counties have multiple early voting sites, one example being the Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis.

If an individual is not yet registered, he or she cannot participate in early voting, but can register and vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8. Non-registered voters may register at their polling place on Election Day. To check registration status, find a polling place or for a full list of candidates and ballot questions, go to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.mn.us/ elections-voting.

“We need systemic change,” said Felder. “You really immerse yourself in what needs to happen because you watch the babies go through the system and they are being failed.”

Vote Yes for Minneapolis Public Schools

Kim Ellison

Dear Editor, In the upcoming Nov. 8 election, Minneapolis residents will be asked to vote to renew the current Minneapolis Public Schools referendum.

The referendum is crucial to the success for every one of our 36,000 students in Minneapolis Public Schools. And, because it is a renewal, there is no increase in property taxes.

As a school board member

Minneapolis Public Schools

serving North Minneapolis, I know how critical funding from the referendum is for our schools. North High school will receive $461,222 from the referendum this year. Patrick Henry High School will receive $1,675,460. Franklin Middle School will receive $1,242,469.

Lucy Laney at Cleveland Park Community School will receive $658,889. That’s over $4 million for just four Northside schools.

Imagine if your local school were forced to cut nearly a million dollars from its budget.

It would be catastrophic.

In total, the referendum provides $74 million to the school district, which is nearly 13 percent of our budget. These dollars pay for 591 classroom teachers and over 150 support staff for the district. This helps the district manage class sizes, which will give our kids the best chance to succeed. It is only through manageable class sizes that our educators can develop connections with students. As a lifelong educator and mother of four, this social and emotional component to learning is something I believe in strongly and want us to continue to work towards.

I encourage you to join me and vote Yes for the Minneapolis Public Schools referendum on Election Day.

-Kim Ellison Minneapolis Board of Education

Page 8 • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Insight News

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Millenials From 1 The sixth in Nielsen’s Diverse Intelligence Series focused on Black consumers, “Young, Connected and Black” paints a picture of a Black diaspora that is tech-savvy, socially and civically engaged, growing in population (46.3 million or 14 percent of the U.S. population) and buying power (nearly $1.2 trillion in 2015) and optimistic about the future.

“We have entered a new era whereby technology has become a great equalizer,” said Cheryl Grace (née Pearson-McNeil),

Unity From 1 racial and economic disparities experienced in the AfricanAmerican community.

Insight News • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Page 9 senior vice president, U.S. Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement.

“Black millennials are leading the way in their use of technology to impact change and get their voices heard.”

The 83.1 million U.S. Millennials are considered a key voting bloc this November. Black millennials represent 14 percent of all Millennials and 25 percent of the total Black population.

Leading up to Nov. 8, the power of the Black electorate is a particular point of interest given the records set in 2012 when, bolstered by its millennial population, AfricanAmericans had the highest rate of voter registration and voter turnout of any demographic group

in the U.S. “African-American millennials are blazing trails to the center of the debate over matters that are paramount to their future success and safety – all as their influence over mainstream consumers grows,” said Deborah Gray-Young, managing partner, D. Gray-Young Inc., a multicultural marketing consulting firm and Nielsen External Advisory Council member.

The 2016 report delves into the spending and viewing habits of African-Americans overall and credits a voracious appetite for television content with the dramatic increase in diverse television programming.

Between 2011 and 2015,

broadcast network television ad spends focused on Black audiences (defined as ad dollars placed on programming with greater than 50 percent Black viewers) increased by 255 percent. The Top 10 shows among Black millennials 18–24 and Blacks 35-plus all had predominately Black casts or lead actors who are key to the storyline (e.g. “Empire,” “How to Get Away With Murder,” and “The Walking Dead”).

Some other key insights from the report found AfricanAmerican millennials are 25 percent more likely than all millennials to say they are among the first of their friends/ colleagues to try new technology

products and as smartphone owners, African-Americans (91 percent) are second only to AsianAmericans (94 percent). Fiftyfive percent of Black millennials report spending at least one hour a day on social networking sites, which is 6 percent higher than all millennials, while 29 percent say they spend at least three hours a day, 9 percent higher than all millennials.

The Nielsen report also found 89 percent of African-Americans ages 25–34 completed high school, compared to 77 percent of Black Americans ages 55 and older. Twenty-one percent of African-Americans ages 25–34 have an associate’s college degree or higher, versus 17

percent of those who are 55 and older.

According to the report, overall Black spending power is projected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2020 and from 2004 – 2014 the number of Black households with annual incomes of $50,000 – $75,000 increased 18 percent compared to 2 percent for the total U.S. For Black households earning $100,000-plus annually, the increase between 2004 and 2014 was 95 percent, compared with 66 percent for the total population.

The share of Black households with an income less than $25,000 declined from 43 percent in 2004 to 37 percent of the total AfricanAmerican population in 2014.

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, who was on hand for the announcement, was praised as being a chief reason the Legislature approved the funds.

“In this session it was a miracle they (Minnesota Legislature) couldn’t pass a bonding bill, but our legislators were able to pass

this initiative,” said the Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson, president and CEO of Stairstep Foundation/His Works United, who also praised Sen. Jeff Hayden and Rep. Rena Moran for their work in passing the funding.

Champion said the collaborative would be far more

effective working together rather than apart.

“Great things happen when a cross-section of people come together,” said Champion.

Steve Belton, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League said the coming together will greatly enhance the services

provided by all partners. He said groups set aside differences for the common good.

“We decided to put away geographical differences, organizational differences … all differences … to work together to benefit people of color,” said Belton.

“There’s a bigger picture about creating a whole community, a healthy community – a vibrant community,” said BabingtonJohnson.

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Classifieds RENTAL PROPERTIES

INH Properties manages Section 8, Section 42 and Rural Development projects in the following MN cities: Anoka – Bridge Square, 763-421-6772 Big Lake – Autumn Winds, 320-258-6000 Brainerd – Mississippi Terrace, 218-829-0274 Cold Spring – Cottage Court, 320-685-3888 Coon Rapids- Coon Creek, 763-767-7755 Eden Valley – Hillside, 320-453-5968 Fergus Falls – Kaddatz, 218-205-0644 Glenwood – Glenview, 320-634-3188 Hawley – Northside Terrace, 218-483-4524 Hutchinson – Clinton House, 320-587-5458 Isle – Isle View, 320-676-8624 Isle – Mille Lacs Manor, 320-676-8624 Mankato – Dublin Road, 507-345-3351 Minneapolis - Holmes Park, 612-378-8817 Morris – Crystal Lake, 320-589-3662 Onamia – Oakwood, 320-532-4321 Onamia – Onamia Shores, 320-532-4321 Pierz – Kamnic Lane, 320-468-2581 Rice – Benton Place, 320-630-1201 St Michael -Countryside Cottages, 763-497-4901 St Paul – Parkway Gardens, 651-771-0267 Virginia – Alice Nettell, 218-741-3650

Fax: 612.588.2031

Shields Plaza Apartments, North Branch is now accepting applications for wait list. Senior 62+, subsidized must meet income requirements. Call for appointment 651-674-7497.

JOB OPENINGS

The public-private partnership between the Loppet Foundation and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is being solidified with agreements to further the MPRB’s Master Plan for Theodore Wirth Regional Park by establishing a new Adventure and Welcome Center in the park.

The Loppet Foundation is hiring for the following job openings: • • • • •

Email: info@insightnews.com

Minnesota Council of Churches

ACCOUNTING CLERK, 20 hours/week. General accounting, AP, AR, financial reporting. Open until filled. Appl at http://www.mnchurches.org/about/employment.html.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR WAIT LIST

Residents must meet income guidelines.

Rent based on income at some locations.

INH Properties is an equal opportunity housing company

Phone: 612.588.1313

Adventure Center Director Adventure Center Maintenance Foreperson Marketing & Communications Manager Sponsorship Sales Manager Middle School Team Coaches

For the full job postings go to: www.loppet.org/jobs

Volunteer Opportunities Harvest Network of Schools

Community service is calling, no need for stalling!

The Harvest Network of Schools, a group of highperforming charter schools in north Minneapolis that includes Harvest Preparatory (K-4, coed), Best Academy (K-8, single gender), and Mastery School (K-4, single gender), is currently recruiting volunteers to work with our 3rd and 4th grade students. We have three opportunities available; Breakfast Buddies, Academic Intervention, and Classroom Support. Breakfast Buddies help with homework and reading to scholars. This option is available Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m.

-8:15 a.m. Academic Intervention volunteers help with students needing additional support in math and reading, available Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Classroom Support volunteers help teachers as needed, tasks will vary.

This opportunity is needed any time throughout the day 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are requesting volunteers commit to 1-2 hours a week for a minimum of six weeks. HNS will provide training, onsite support from volunteer manager, and recognition at the end of the year. Applicants must complete an application and criminal background check. If interested please contact Marquita Butler at mbutler@seed-harvest.org or 612-876-4033.

Page 10 • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Insight News

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Penumbra announces extension of ‘Jitney’ Due to a high demand for tickets, Penumbra Theatre will be extending its run of “Jitney” through Nov. 13.

Directed by Lou Bellamy, Penumbra Theatre’s production of the August Wilson play, “Jitney,” has been met with critical acclaim from both press

and audiences alike. “Jitney” takes place in 1977, and in the Hill District of Pittsburgh.

City officials threaten to level a makeshift taxi dispatch office where neighbors have gathered for years. At a time when safe and comfortable transit was not guaranteed for

series of plays focus on each decade of the 1900s.

Single and group tickets are on sale for the extended seven shows of the run. To purchase tickets, call (651) 224-3180 or go to www.penumbratheatre. org. Tickets are $40, $35 for seniors and $15 for

released from prison and wants to come home. As pressure mounts, lead character Becker is forced to reckon with powers beyond his control.

Wilson is considered one of the most poignant voices chronicling the AfricanAmerican experience. His

Black customers, Becker’s Car Service provided mobility and a modicum of respect for the community. Now the building has been identified as prime real estate for redevelopment, and the company might be forced out of business. Meanwhile, the owner’s estranged son has been

students. As part of its Access Wednesday program this season, Penumbra, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul, will be partnering with area non-profits to provide low cost tickets for Wednesday night performances.

8 p.m. – 11 p.m. $3 with college ID Win up to $300 in cash prizes at this Halloween party in Lowertown featuring Timisarocker, The Confused Brothers Band, Niiice and Jeffrey Kornfeld

Tuesday, Nov. 1

Oct. 1 - Nov. 6

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. 31 PARTY Bedlam’s Halloween Party and Costume Contest Bedlam Lowertown 213 4th St. E., St. Paul

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE Bars Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Chicago and Twin Cities hip-hop artists join forces for this night at Honey featuring Vagabond Maurice, Säge, The 64th Wonder, CrashPrez, FreekQueenSee, Rich Garvey, Free Lunch Crew and Shrimpnose.

Wednesday, Nov. 2

PANEL DISCUSSION United Against Islamophobia Panel Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church 2315 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Join a Twin Cities judge, imam, and pastor for this discussion on anti-Islamic sentiment.

Thursday, Nov. 3

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

Queen Drea - Underbelly Tufawon Minneseries Part 1 Nomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

21-plus $5 Indigenous hip-hop artist Tufawon blends music from his experiences in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Join him in the first installment of his residency at the Nomad with Tall Paul, Axel Foley, Scarr and Ganzobean.

Friday, Nov. 4

PLAY Underbelly Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Minneapolis

Ave.

S.,

7:30 p.m.

Intermedia Arts’ multidisciplinary, artistcentered performance series Underbelly is back with a new movement piece by Magnolia YSY; a multidisciplinary investigation of depression by Queen Drea.

Saturday, Nov. 5

FESTIVAL/ARTS Twin Cities Social Justice Arts Festival SpringHouse Center 610 W. 28th St., Minneapolis 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Free (sliding scale donation) The Twin Cities Social

St. Paul Slim

Justice Arts Festival will showcase local inspiration in the movement for equality with performances by St. Paul Slim, Truth Maze, Keno Evol, Blackout Improv and Second Wave Feminist. There will also be a film and an art showing in memory of Philando Castile.

Sunday, Nov. 6

SOUL PERFORMANCE

Truth Music for Child Hunger 2 Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. $5 Soul/funk artist Reverend

Ryan Koch

Doctor will be performing to promote “The Sheridan Story” raising awareness for hungry children in Minneapolis. For more information, go to www. thesheridanstory.com.

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Insight News • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Page 11

Hip Hop Nutcracker

ordway

‘The Hip-Hop Nutcracker’ returns to the Ordway with Kurtis Blow The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents a return engagement of “The HipHop Nutcracker,” Nov. 22 Nov. 23.

Directed and choreographed

by Jennifer Weber, “The HipHop Nutcracker” features a cast of a dozen all-star dancers, DJ and violinist. Special guest

Kurtis Blow, one of hip-hop’s founding fathers, will appear as the show’s emcee.

Digital scenery transforms E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story of a

palace of sugarplums into a romance set in 1980s Brooklyn.

The dance work celebrates love, community and the magic of New Year’s Eve.

Tickets for “The Hip-Hop Nutcracker” start at $24 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at (651) 224-4222 or in-person at

the Ordway, 345 Washington St., Saint Paul. “The Hip-Hop Nutcracker” is produced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Voting

There is too much at stake for us to remain silent or stay home in this election year. The next appointees to the Supreme Court are at stake. The environmental health of communities of color across the country is at stake.

The restoration of the Voting Rights Act is at stake. The civil rights legacy of both our

forebears and young activists is at stake. The NAACP and its members are the best equipped to confront this crisis head on in this crucial election year. To achieve the results we want and need for our communities to thrive and grow, the volunteers of our 2,200 branches and conferences must become a

community united – multiracial, multigenerational and singularly focused on getting out the vote on Nov. 8.

We need you to join our partnership of community-based organizations in a coordinated campaign to register more than 500,000 voters and bring them to the polls by leveraging today’s

technology including social media and using the strategies and tactics we’ve learned and perfected over the years, including phone banking, doorto-door canvassing and working with communities and churches.

If we act, we can ensure our numbers and presence are not ignored.

Our voices and votes are among the most powerful tools we have to defeat bigotry and injustice. We must turn up the volume of our voices to turn out the votes this November. Stand your ground, claim our future, and ensure that our votes count.

From 1 have seen this before, and we know that only our actions can make our voices heard in the most fundamental way there is – through the ballot.

Honor the PAST

by being PRESENT

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is now open in Washington, DC. Visit our website for more information.

We extend special thanks to our GRAND OPENING SPONSORS.

nmaahc.si.edu

#APeoplesJourney

Page 12 • October 31 - November 6, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Paisley Park

paisleypark.com

Prince’s Paisley Park approved to open permanently for public tours Prince’s Paisley Park has permanently opened for public tours, following unanimous approval by the Chanhassen City Council.

The council previously halted the opening for regular tours voicing traffic and safety concerns. Throughout the tour, fans will have the opportunity to experience first-hand what it was like for Prince to create, produce and perform inside this private sanctuary and production complex. Visitors will see

artifacts from Prince’s personal archives, including iconic concert wardrobe, awards, musical instruments, artwork, rare music and video recordings and motorcycles. Officials say new enhancements to the tour will be added soon.

Prince sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the bestselling artists of all time. He won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for the film

“Purple Rain” – all of which are displayed at Paisley Park. Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year of his eligibility.

Tickets are now on sale for tour dates through December.

Tour dates for 2017 are expected to go on sale by midNovember. Available tickets for through December 2016 can be purchased at www.

OfficialPaisleyPark.com.

Paisley Park is located at 7801 Audubon Rd., Chanhassen.

ABOUT PAISLEY PARK Paisley Park, Prince’s private estate and production compound in Chanhassen offers fans of the late music icon the unprecedented opportunity to tour the legendary, 65,000-square-foot complex that served as the center of Prince’s creative universe. Operated by PPark Management, guided tours take visitors throughout the extensive main floor of Paisley Park, including recording and

mixing studios where Prince recorded, produced and mixed most of his biggest hits, exhibit spaces that chronicle films such as Purple Rain and Graffiti Bridge, Prince’s private NPG Music Club, and a massive soundstage and concert hall where Prince rehearsed for concert tours and held exclusive, private events and concerts. The tour also features thousands of artifacts from Prince’s personal archives, including iconic

concert wardrobe, awards, musical instruments and concert memorabilia. Paisley Park is located at 7801 Audubon Road, Chanhassen, Minnesota, approximately 20 minutes from Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport. For more information about Paisley Park, visit OfficialPaisleyPark.com.

By Lorraine Hansberry Directed by Warren C. Bowles

OCT 28 – NOV 20 Drama / Andy Boss Thrust Stage

The fiercely moving portrait of a family struggling with poverty, racism, and inner conflict as they strive for a better life. in photo: Darius Dotch* and Greta Oglesby*

“One of a handful of great American plays...” – Washington Post

*member, actors’ equity association

651.291.7005 | parksquaretheatre.org Historic Hamm Building, Downtown Saint Paul

Re-elect Bobby Joe

Vote November 8, 2016

Champion My Priorities:

Martin Luther Art and the Reformation

Working together for a better tomorrow Improving our education system Passing a comprehensive transportation funding package

Increased equity funding Taking criminal justice reform even farther Passing Restore the Vote legislation

October 30–January 15. Reserve tickets now.

Five hundred years ago, one man took a stand that shook Europe and changed the world. See that story brought to life through artworks and archaeological finds, traveling outside Germany for the first time ever. artsmia.org 612.870.3000 Lead Sponsors: John and Nancy Lindahl The Hognander Foundation K.A.H.R. Foundation

Community Partners: Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of South Minneapolis, Augsburg College, Concordia University Saint Paul, The Richard W. & Phyllis B. Duesenberg Foundation, and John and Shirley Nilsen.

Bradbury and Janet Anderson Family Foundation

Organized in cooperation with the Minneapolis Institute of Art; Luther Memorials Foundation of Saxony-Anhalt, Wittenberg; Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin; Foundation Schloss Friedenstein Gotha; under the Leadership of the State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale). Its realization has been made possible due to the support of the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany within the framework of the Luther Decade.

• DFL • Labor: SEIU, AFSCME, Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO • Congressman Keith Ellison • Sierra Club • Minnesota Professional Firefighters • African American DFL Caucus

• United Transportation Union • Planned Parenthood • Minnesota Carpenters Union • IBEW Local 292 • MN Conservation Federation • Teamsters Union 120 • Education MN

• TakeAction MN • Minnesota Nurses Association • Insight News • Star Tribune • Governor Mark Dayton • Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith • Minneapolis City Councilmembers

◆

Jim and Carmen Campbell

Major Sponsors:

Endorsements:

Media Partner:

Image: Cranach Workshop, Portrait of Martin Luther (detail), 1528, Luther Memorials Foundation of Saxony-Anhalt

FA Q •

Elected in 2012 to represent Senate District 59: North Minneapolis, North Loop, parts of Downtown Minneapolis, and Bryn Mawr

•

Serves on the following committees: Finance (Vice Chair), Capital Investment, Judiciary, Commerce, and Transportation & Public Safety

•

Co-Chair of Subcommittee on Equity, which secured $35 million during the 2016 Legislative Session to address economic disparities

•

Legislative focus: creating a more equitable Minnesota – in our economic development and jobs, housing and employment opportunities, schools, access to health care, transportation systems, criminal justice system, and more

•

Lives in North Minneapolis with his wife, Angela, and sons, Jaylen and Myles

For more information, visit www.Champion4Change.org

Email: Bobby@Champion4Change.org

Facebook: Bobby Joe Champion (follow)