Insight News ::: 11.10.14

Aesthetically It! MORE ON PAGE 10

Insight News November 10 - November 16, 2014

Governor Mark Dayton

Vol. 41 No. 47 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Senator Al Franken

Representative Keith Ellison

Justice Wilhelmina Wright

Minnesotans buck trend as Dayton, Franken win easily; nationally huge victories for Republicans

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer In a historic midterm election, Republicans regained control

of the U.S. Senate and widened its presence in the House while capturing several gubernatorial seats.

But in Minnesota, Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton

easily won reelection as did Sen. Al Franken. Dayton bested his Republican challenger, Jeff Johnson, by more than 100,000 votes. Franken earned a second term beating his Republican

challenger, Mike McFadden by more than 10 percentage points. As expected, Rep. Keith Ellison easily held on to his seat representing Minnesota’s 5th District, though he campaigned

as if he were in a dogfight.

Also, Justice Wilhelmina Wright was elected for the first time to serve on the Minnesota Supreme

ELECTIONS TURN TO 5 Photo: Harry Colbert, Jr.

Jeffrey Hassan

Attorney Jeffrey Hassan named executive director of African American Leadership Forum

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer Twin Cities attorney Jeffrey Hassan has assumed the reigns of the African American Leadership Forum (AALF).

Hassan became the organization’s executive director Nov. 1 following the August departure of former director, Chris Stewart. Hassan said he will continue to direct the AALF towards its mission of

building wealth in the African American community, closing the achievement gap for AfricanAmerican students, affecting legislative policy and promoting healthy living.

Hassan comes to the AALF after a 38-year career primarily as a trial attorney, 31 years in the Twin Cities and 7 years in Washington, D.C. The last 10 years of his career, Hassan focused on issues surrounding education. Hassan

PROFILE IN EXCELLENCE David Jones, Lupient Automotive

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer For anyone who has purchased a new or used car from a dealership, it’s understandable to want to run and hop in a hot shower … it can be a pretty dirty

experience.

There’s the dirty process of negotiating … the back and forth and still feeling like you’re being taken to the cleaners on the deal, and after that, for many there’s the tenuous wait to see if the financing went through.

Buying a car … or trying to buy a car … can be a

humbling experience.

Following the economic turmoil of 2008, many people found themselves out of a job, foreclosed and bankrupt.

People with once stellar credit were finding it hard to get financing for major purchases

JONES TURN TO 3

A coalition of local organizations under the leadership of the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media held a rally against the offensive team name and mascot of the Washington football team on Nov. 2, at the TCF Bank Stadium.

Rep. Betty McCollum (MN 4th Dist.) spoke out against the team name of the Washington, D.C. NFL franchise saying it has no place in the English language, let alone as one of the top franchises in all of sports.

The issue took center stage as the Vikings hosted the team from D.C. “We are raising our voices together in support of respect and dignity for all people. We are here to tell the NFL there is no honor in a racial slur. It is time to change the mascot,” demanded McCollum.

The congresswoman pointed to the atrocities upon NativeAmericans in this state as reason enough to denounce the team name of the Washington franchise.

“Here in Minnesota we have 11 proud tribal nations, but only 150 years ago, their ancestors, men and women, elders and children, were hunted and murdered for profit,” said McCollum. “This was a government-funded policy of genocide. The pain of this brutal and shameful history is still with us.”

McCollum called out the team’s owner and NFL commissioner by name in her remarks.

“Instead of joining us in seeking reconciliation and healing, Dan Snyder (owner of the Washington franchise), Roger Goodell (Commissioner), and the NFL team owners are exploiting for profit this racial slur. The same racial slur used by those who murdered Dakota and Ojibwe people, and Native people all across this country,” said McCollum. “If there is any decency in the NFL the time is now – change the mascot.”

McCollum said the issue of

Insight 2 Health

Earth Talk

Sports

Dinner

Improving school lunches

The Wolves and the Western Conference 2014-15

16th Annual FIU Eric Williams Lecture makes the case

PAGE 3

Rally protests football team name, mascot

RALLY TURN TO 6

HASSAN TURN TO 6

Slave trade reparations

Representative Betty McCollum

PAGE 4

PAGE 5

PAGE 8

Page 2 • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Insight News

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Insight News • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Page 3

16th Annual FIU Eric Williams Lecture makes the case for slave trade reparations To a packed audience of more than 200, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Hon. Kenny Anthony, delivered the thoughtprovoking 16th Annual Eric E. Williams Memorial Lecture at Florida International University on October 17, 2014.

“Reparations and 21st Century Development: The Silence Is Broken and We Speak to the World” ably addressed CARICOM’S political stance on slave trade reparations, made possible by Eric Williams’ 1944 groundbreaking study on the abolition and emancipation of British West Indian slavery, Capitalism and Slavery. The book re-framed the historiography of the British trans-Atlantic slave trade and its concomitant European incarnations. Popularly referred to as The Williams Thesis, this landmark text - translated into eight languages including Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish and this year, Korean - established the contribution of Caribbean slavery to the development of both Britain and America. It continues to inform today’s ongoing debate and remains “years ahead of its time…this profound critique is still the foundation for studies of imperialism and economic development,” according to the New York Times.

In a determined and measured fashion, entirely consistent with his legal background, Prime Minister

Anthony discussed recent precedents of reparatory justice made by Great Britain to the Mau Mau freedom fighters of Kenya - to the tune of 20 million pounds sterling; and the payment of some 455 million dollars to an indigenous community in the US. The most well known case of compensation for historical wrongs, of course, remains that of the Jewish Holocaust for which, as late as 2013, Germany had agreed to pay survivors almost 800 million euros. “These awards suggest,” stated the Prime Minister, “that the world has begun to understand and accept the idea of compensation…[for the] ‘value extraction’ … wealth, labour, liberty, dignity, and everything else [wrested by] one section of the community, the free section …from the enslaved community.” The most egregious example of reverse reparatory justice can be found in Haiti, which won a war of national liberation and was declared a free nation in 1804.

In its independence constitution of 1805, the world’s first black republic promptly abolished slavery and slave trading and declared them crimes. In 1825, after 21 years of nationhood, Haiti was forced by the French led pro-slavery international community, to agree to pay reparations of 150 million gold francs (later reduced to 90 million) to former slavers in France – for the loss of

their ‘property.’ Haiti’s ‘debt’ was not satisfied until 1947, almost a century and a half later, leaving the small island nation seemingly intractably

Jones

people who were sent out of the dealership because they couldn’t get financing, that’s when they got a hold of the guy who has the reputation of being the best in the business at this,” said David Jones, special finance manager for all eight metro Lupient dealerships.

The “this” that Jones refers to is getting people with credit issues financed for new or used car purchases.

With his primary office at the Lupient Kia/Lupient Bargain Lot North, 7910 Lakeland Ave.

N., Brooklyn Park, Jones divides his time between talking with banks and lenders and talking with customers, for which he says he has a true affinity.

“I don’t work for the banks, I work for them (pointing to prospective car buyers),” said Jones. “These are good, hard working people, who have dealt with things like job loss, possible illness or other issues that caused them to take a hit to their credit. These aren’t bad people. I’m a firm believer that bad things happen to good

From 1 – cars in particular.

Auto dealers were eager to get people into vehicles, but the financing just wasn’t there. That was the case for the Lupient Automotive Group. Well, that was the case for Lupient until David Jones arrived.

“When they (Lupient dealerships) looked at the

impoverished and the national psyche irreparably wounded.

Established in 1999, FIU’s annual Eric Williams Lecture honors the distinguished

Caribbean statesman, consummate academic and historian, and author of several other books. Eric E. Williams was also the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and Head of Government for a quarter of a century until his death in 1981. He led the country to Independence from Britain in 1962 and onto Republicanism in 1976.

Among prior Eric Williams Memorial Lecture speakers have been: the late John Hope Franklin, one of America’s premier historians of the African-American experience; Kenneth Kaunda, former President of the Republic of Zambia; Cynthia Pratt, Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas; Mia Mottley, Attorney General of Barbados; Beverly AndersonManley, former First Lady of Jamaica; Portia Simpson Miller, now Prime Minister of Jamaica; the celebrated civil rights activist Angela Davis; and prize-winning Haitian author Edwige Danticat.

The Lecture, FIU’s first named and longest running, seeks to provide an intellectual forum for the examination of pertinent issues in Caribbean and African Diaspora history and politics. It is co-sponsored

by FIU’s: Department of English, Latin American and Caribbean Center, AADS Graduate Students Association, Caribbean Students Association, Council of Student

Organizations; Milton Adams/ Karen M. Linger; Lenor Ancilla Armstrong; Reginald Barker; Elliot & Sandra Bastien; Bilmor With Advertising Specialties, Inc.; Rendell Brewster; Dr. & Mrs. Bradford Brown; Anthony Bryan; Leslye Danglade; Hayden Davis; Dr. & Mrs. Dennis Dove; EC Worldwide Travel; Edwards & Partners; Leon & Eunice Francis; Diane Galloway’s Herbal Gardens, Inc.; Lew E. & Jill Garland; Joan Hinkson; Hometrust Mortgage Co.; Rev. Canon & Mrs. Winston Joseph; Joy’s Roti Delight; Leroy & Anne Lashley; Miami Dade College; Neki Mohan; Ronnie & Sumin QuanVie; Keith & June Richards; Lenny & Gemme Roach; Royal Funeral Service; Mervyn Solomon; Split N’s Salon; T&T Community at Christ the King; Radcliff Thomas; Trinidad and Tobago Independence Ball Committee, Inc.; Welch, Morris & Associates.

The Lecture is also supported

by The Eric Williams Memorial Collection Research Library, Archives and Museum at the University of the West Indies (Trinidad and Tobago campus), which was inaugurated by former U.S. Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell in 1998. It was named to UNESCO’s prestigious Memory of the World Register in 1999.

people and when you give them the opportunity, they tend to do good things. All people really want is an opportunity. Ninetysix percent of the people in this country pay their bills. Only four percent of the country says, ‘I’m not going to pay anybody.’”

Jones said the reason he works so hard to get people financed is because he was once on the other end of the spectrum.

“That was me,” said Jones in a very matter of fact tone. “I was the one with bad credit because I had lost my job, but I figured my

way out and there’s nothing so special about me. I said if I can do it for myself then anybody can do it with the right help. It just takes somebody that gives a (care).”

Jones said he truly does give a “care.”

“Man, I’ve got to live in this community,” said Jones, explaining why he wants people to walk away happy after completing a car purchase.

“I’m visible. When I’m out I want people to see me and say, ‘Hey, there’s David. He got me

my new car.’ I don’t want them coming up to me talking about how I messed them over on a deal with some ol’ messed up car. Honestly, I don’t know how some of these lots get away with it.”

Jones is never one to mince words. There’s a confidence about him that is quite noticeable. As he says, “If I can’t get you financed, then it can’t be done. I can put you in anything from a Kia to a Mercedes and anything in between.”

Hon. Kenny Anthony

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Page 4 • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Insight News

Dinner When it comes to making dinner, keep it simple! I love to make meals that cook up all in one pan or pot! Give this one a try!

insightnews.com

By Julie McMahon, CHHC Sound Nutrition (612) - 270 - 9344

Chicken and Pepper Fajitas 2 tablespoons coconut oil 8 ounces chicken cut into strips 1 teaspoon ground cumin kosher salt and black pepper 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 2 bell peppers, sliced 8 6-inch flour tortillas, warmed sour cream, salsa, sliced avocado, and lime wedges, for serving Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season

the chicken with the cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Add to the skillet with the garlic and cook, tossing occasionally, until cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in the skillet. Add the onion and bell peppers and cook, tossing occasionally, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the chicken and toss to combine. Serve in the tortillas with the sour cream, salsa, avocado, and lime wedges. Recipe from Real Simple Sound Nutrition LLC Julie McMahon, CHHC www.mysoundnutrition.com www.facebook.com/MySoundNutrition www.twitter.com/NutritionJulie

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Insight News • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Page 5

Improving school lunches EarthTalk® E - The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I hear that many school cafeterias have nutrition standards no better—even worse—than those of fast food chains.

What can be done about this?

-- Betsy Edison, Nashville, TN Americans have done a great job making sure that our kids have something to eat at school regardless of socioeconomic status, with the National School Lunch Program providing low-cost or free lunches to upwards of 31 million students at 92 percent of U.S. public and private schools.

But that doesn’t mean the food has been especially nutritious, and public health experts say it’s no wonder our kids are more obese than ever when we feed them trans fats, salts and sodas for lunch. Kids

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get half their daily calories at school, so what’s for lunch there has a big impact on health and lasting eating habits.

A 2008 analysis of school lunches by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that American kids consume very few fruits and vegetables in their cafeterias—with potatoes accounting for a third of all vegetables consumed.

IOM also found that kids were eating many refined grains and too much saturated fat and sodium. A 2009 study by USA Today found that meat used by McDonald’s and Burger King was tested for bacteria and unsafe pathogens up to 10 times as much as meat bound for U.S. school cafeterias.

In response to these stark findings, along with vigorous advocacy by First Lady Michelle Obama, things are starting to improve. In 2010, Congress voted to revamp the nation’s school lunch program by enacting the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). The higher standards in the new law seek to align school meals with the federal 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by upping the availability and portion sizes of fruits, vegetables and whole grains (and requiring students

House of Representatives has included waivers for school lunch nutrition standards in its fiscal-year 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

“The provision would allow schools with a 6-month net loss of revenue to opt out of providing the healthier meals outlined by the HHFKA,” Dr. Jennifer Woo Baidal writes in the New England Journal of Medicine.

“A deficit of any amount from any cause could allow schools to return to the same meals that the IOM found in 2008 to be nutritionally lacking.”

Consumers interested in protecting the new nutritional standards should weigh in by calling, writing or e-mailing their Congressional representatives and speaking up for healthier kids.

U.S. Department of Education

to select a fruit or vegetable), establishing calorie ranges, removing trans fats and limiting sodium levels. The law also incentivizes schools to take part with generous meal reimbursement funds. The new standards went into effect in 2012 and have been working their way through school districts from coast-to-coast and getting rave reviews in the

process.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health who collected plate waste data among more than 1,000 students in four schools in urban, lowincome school districts both before and after HHFKA took effect found that fruit selection increased 23 percent following implementation: “Average per person fruit consumption was

unchanged,” said researchers, “but because more students selected fruit overall, more fruit was consumed postimplementation.” Also, per student vegetable consumption went up 16.2 percent.

But just because public health researchers think the program is going well doesn’t mean Congress will keep it going.

The Republican-dominated

CONTACTS: National School Lunch Program, www.fns. usda.gov/nslp/national-schoollunch-program-nslp; IOM, www.iom.edu; HHFKA, www. fns.usda.gov/initiative/hhfka.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@ emagazine.com.

Hold the salt: A simple step to a healthier Minnesota John Michaelson, Minnesota News Connection ST. PAUL, Minn. - The election season had Minnesota voters taking it all in “with a grain of salt,” but with the coming holidays they’re being urged to go the other way and “hold the salt.”

Those who have far too much sodium in their diets can be at an increased risk of health issues. Registered dietitian Lori Jones says while many have done a good job cutting back on salt in foods they prepare at home, most just don’t do as much of their own cooking these days.

“We don’t have a lot of control over what is in our food when we eat out, so we’re picking up a lot of sodium there,” she says. “We’re also

into convenience - so, we’re using a lot of prepackaged, processed foods.”

Jones says too much sodium can increase a person’s risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and other major health problems.

Jones adds, unfortunately, the consequences of a highsodium diet are no longer limited to adults.

“We’re starting to see high blood pressure in younger ages, like teenage years,” she says. “If you have a child that’s overweight, having a high-salt diet may push them toward high blood pressure at an earlier age.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 90 percent of U.S. children eat more sodium than recommended, and about one in six children has raised blood pressure.

Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Lydia Schwartz Ryan T. Scott Toki Wright Photography Michele Spaise David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

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It’s estimated about 17 percent of kids in the U.S. eat too much sodium, which can be a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Elections From 1 Court. Wright, the state’s first African-American woman to serve on the state’s high court, was appointed to her seat by Dayton in 2012.

It was not a clean sweep statewide for the DFL as the state Senate flipped to Republican control breaking up the DFL

monopoly of the House, Senate and governor’s seat.

In local and municipal races, it was less about party affiliation, but more about several candidates trying to break the color barrier and make history.

In Brooklyn Park, AfricanAmerican candidates Joy Marsh Stephens and Reva Chamblis lost out on their bids to become the city’s first African-American mayor and councilmember.

In Minneapolis, former city

councilman, Don Samuels, was elected as at-large member of the Minneapolis School Board. Samuels benefitted from large out of state contributions including donations from billionaire, Michael Bloomberg.

Nationally, history was made with the election of Tim Scott to the U.S. Senate.

Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, became the first African-American in the South to be elected to the Senate since Reconstruction. Scott also became the first AfricanAmerican to have been elected to both the House and the Senate.

The Republicans also added an African-American woman to the House in the election of Mia Love of Utah. Love made history in becoming the first Black female to be elected as a Republican to Congress and the first Haitian-American to be elected to Congress from either party.

With Republicans in control of the nation’s House and Senate chambers, it’s widely expected that Pres. Obama will have to pull out his veto pen as Republicans have vowed to bring legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act and other Obama successes.

Neither chamber has a supermajority, so Obama’s veto power would likely not be overridden, however, any future presidential appointees will have a tough go of things getting through a Senate confirmation.

Page 6 • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Insight News

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BUSINESS Nielsen 2014 holiday forecast shows multicultural consumers will drive increased spending this season New York, NY -- Multicultural consumers are expected to drive this year’s increase in holiday spending with AfricanAmericans making up the largest percentage of the increase, according to the 2014 Holiday Sales Forecast released today

by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and insights.

Trends such as rising consumer confidence in the economy, lowered inflation and falling gas prices indicate that consumers overall are eager to spend more this holiday season than last year. Multicultural households are projected to account for 43% of the increased spending this holiday season.

African-Americans are expected to be the heavier spenders this season, accounting for 17%, spending more than other multicultural groups.

Twenty-two percent of shoppers have already begun shopping compared to 65% of the general population who plan to delay their holiday shopping excursions. While African-

Americans, plan to spend more, 70% plan to shop later during

this holiday season.

So where are

African-

Americans shopping? With multicultural households driving

this year’s online growth, African-Americans plan to spend 20% more online compared to last year. African-Americans also plan to spend 15% more at electronics retailers and grocery stores this season.

African-Americans’ holiday lists are diverse as well. Electronics including smartphones, TVs and laptops will account for 17% more spending by African-Americans compared to 10% of total households. Other product areas where increased spending is planned include 17% more on food and 15% more on apparel.

African-Americans at 44 million strong and approximately 14.2% of the country’s population - make up a powerful group with a growing impact on American culture and business. This demographic is largely young - 53% are under the age of 35 - giving them an oversized influence on the latest trends, especially with music and pop culture. In addition, higher academic achievement has translated into increases in

household income - 44% of all African-American households now earn $50,000 or more and 23% earn above $75,000. And these higher household incomes, coupled with overall population growth, are driving the substantial purchasing power of the African-American consumer, which is expected to reach $1.3 trillion in a few short years.

The 2014 Holiday Sales Forecast insights were derived from two custom studies: a consumer survey of more than 25,000 U.S. households in September 2014 and sales forecasts from an analysis of 92 categories covering five departments representing more than $100 billion in sales.

To read more about this year’s holiday shopping findings, please visit www.nielsen.com.

For more insights on African-American consumers, please visit Nielsen’s microsite for African-American consumers at www.nielsen.com/ africanamericans.

1992 called… they want their resume back Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Tiana sent a worried message.

She asked,, “I just read that no one puts an objective at the top of the resume anymore. They said, ‘Dude, seriously, this isn’t 1992.’ I have one there. Why

would that be bad?”

Sorry, Tiana, resume trends change faster than the Keurig coffee flavors in the breakroom (if there is a breakroom). It can be tough to keep up. Nowadays, placing an Objective at the top of your resume is not bad. It’s just different. Everyone is in a hurry and wants to quickly find those key words and phrases that tell them you’re the right candidate for their open positions. Here’s how you can rapidly adapt to bring your resume up to speed: Last year, the Objective paragraph was preceded by a

heading that might have been called an Objective, a Profile or a Summary. Now, white space on a resume is valuable realestate. Remove the heading.

Last year, that Objective included soft skills. Because they’re more pragmatic and (frankly) rushed now, hiring managers no longer care to read about your passion, workethic and ability to juggle fire.

These facts will come out in an interview and will be validated through a reference check.

Remove the soft skills.

Last year, people cared about

what you were passionate about.

We are no longer so trusting. If you are truly passionate about Wind Energy, include a list at the end of your resume referencing your personal blog or links to projects you’ve been involved in. If you don’t have any such links, why not? Remove the passion statement.

Last year, your technical skills amounted to “Proficient in Word and Excel.” Now, even non-tech types are able to list a wide range of systems they have had access to at work.

For example, someone in retail, might have specific security technology knowledge that would be relevant in a new retail position. None of it belongs in

your opening remarks, however.

Move it into a section entitled: Technical Experience.

By now your Objective section is looking pretty sparse, right? You are left with factbased, experience-oriented verbage. Perfect. Next, erase the rest of the section. Ahhh.

Space…

At the top of your resume, you have your name, your address (this is changing, but for now, leave it on there), your phone number and email address (not negotiable). Below that, write the title of the position you are applying for: Software Engineer. Below that, move on to your Professional Experience section.

It’s not that Objective statements are bad. It’s just that they take up space: space on the page and time off the clock.

If Tiana is feeling attached to the Objective Statement, no worries; bell bottoms came back. Resumes styles will, too. The resume’s underlying objective is an interview. If her resume is clear, concise and communicative, Tiana will soon be climbing that career ladder 21st century style.

Julie Desmond is Recruiting Manager for IT & Software with George Konik Associates. Send your career planning questions to jdesmond@georgekonik.com.

Year end giving: It’s not too late FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw Crazy as it seems 2015 is knocking at the door. Yes, we still need to celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza and New Years Eve. But, really, 2015 is almost here. And the question is: how is your nonprofit fundraising? Whether you are an employee or a board member, here are a few steps you can take today to change your yearend financial outcomes.

Staff. Take the time to create a yearend appeal letter for distribution to those who have given to your organization in the past. Be sure to send to those you serve and those you met during the year. Always send to lapsed donors. Highlight the impact your organization has made in 2014 and most importantly share your vision for 2015. Ask for a specific amount. Include

Hassan From 1

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was born in north Minneapolis and lived in St. Paul before returning to the Northside. A graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Hassan obtained his law degree from the University of Minnesota.

He is also a former board member of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and national Urban Leagues.

According to the new executive director, atop his to do list is to meet with area African-

Rally From 1 the name of the Washington team is not one of being politically right, but morally right.

“To those who say this is

don’t give because they aren’t asked. Others give small gifts because they aren’t asked to make a larger gift. Or they receive a direct mail letter instead of an inperson ask, and their gift reflects the method of solicitation. Take the time to make a well prepared ask of a few people. Don’t be self conscious, there is no such thing as “making” people give.

Ask for a specific amount for a specific purpose, be quiet and wait for their response. Asking in person is always important, but social media and email is another way to engage potential donors, especially if you are part of an active network. You can share your nonprofit’s social media campaign, you can create your own appeal, directing people to your nonprofit’s giving page.

Don’t be afraid to ask. Your community depends on you.

a return envelope. Create an online appeal that ties to your appeal letter. Review and refine your e-communication list. Test to make sure your online giving page is easy to use and easy to find. Take the time to plot out how you will use social media to encourage giving. Create the tools that board members, friends and volunteers can use to encourage those they know to give. Include sample text for email messages, tweets, and Facebook posts; links to specific pages on your website or blog (don’t forget your “donate now” page); and most importantly share photos and SHORT engaging videos. We all love images!

Volunteers. Now is the time to be proactive. It is easy to wait for staff to give you all the information you need: that is often a plan for not making the ask. Instead, decide for yourself which actions you will take between now and the end of the year to help raise funds for your nonprofit. Are there two people you can talk with, sharing your nonprofit’s impact, vision and fundraising priorities? Will you ask each to consider a gift? Here’s encouragement: too many people

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

American clergy, elected officials and business leaders to make sure there is a united front on tackling the core concerns of the AALF. The new director said much work needs to be done.

“In the 1970s and 1980s we had what I like to call a brain drain from our community,” said Hassan. “Those who had the opportunity of education left our community, but it seems to me those who had an opportunity of education have an obligation to give back. That’s why we have the African American Leadership Forum. With the Forum, you have

a group of people with tremendous skills who are willing to work and have a positive effect on our community.”

As someone with ties to both Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hassan said he can be most effective in bringing a diverse group of leaders together.

“We need an all hands on deck approach to solving the issues facing our community,” said Hassan. “Ultimately, my goal is to put the African-American Leadership Forum out of business because the issues we have sought to address have been eradicated.”

about being politically correct, I say respect and human dignity is morally correct,” said the congresswoman. “It is at the core of our shared values as Americans. To those who say the NFL’s use of this racist mascot is a free speech issue, I say hate speech should never be free, it must be confronted, challenged,

and condemned.”

Prior to the game, and unrelated to any of the protests, the Washington team bus was involved in a minor crash on its way to the stadium. As for the game itself, the Vikings pulled out a 29 – 26 victory.

insightnews.com

Insight News • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Page 7

LIFESTYLE Improved quality and steady premiums

Medicare Open Enrollment begins

By Marilyn Tavenner, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Fall is a wonderful time of year.

Changing leaves. Cooler weather.

It’s also the season for people with Medicare to review their current Medicare coverage, as Medicare Open Enrollment begins.

As we prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment, which began on October 15 and ends on December 7, Medicare wants everyone to know that quality continues to improve both in Medicare Advantage and in the Part D Prescription Drug Program.

Each year, plan costs and coverage can change. During open enrollment, seniors and people with disabilities across the country have the opportunity to review their current Medicare coverage and see if they want to make any changes for the next year. It’s important for people

with Medicare to take the time to make sure their current situation still meets their health care needs best.

To help people choose a plan, Medicare calculates plan “star ratings” for Medicare health and prescription drug plans. Each plan gets a number of stars on a scale of 1 to 5—with 5 being the best— based on quality and performance.

These ratings are designed to help people with Medicare, their families, and caregivers compare plans, in addition to information on their premiums and benefits.

This year, people with Medicare who choose to enroll in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan will have access to more high-rated, four- and fivestar plans than ever before.

Approximately 60 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees are in a Medicare Advantage Plan earning four or more stars in 2015, compared to an estimated 17 percent back in 2009. Likewise, about 53 percent of Part D enrollees are currently enrolled

in stand-alone prescription drug plans with four or more stars for 2015, compared to just 16 percent in 2009. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, enrollment in Medicare Advantage will increase to 42 percent to an alltime high of over 16 million and Medicare Advantage premiums will have decreased by 6 percent.

For people with Medicare, this is good news in how they receive care. Plans that are higher rated deliver a high-level of care, such as improving the coordination of care, managing diabetes or other chronic conditions more efficiently, screening for and preventing illnesses, making sure people get much-needed prescription drugs, or getting appointments and care quickly. A high rating also means these plans give better customer service, with fewer complaints or long waits for care.

If you have Medicare and need assistance, you can visit Medicare. gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1800-633-4227), or contact your

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). You should have received the 2015 “Medicare & You” Handbook and important notices from your current plan, Medicare, or Social Security about changes to your coverage. If you’re satisfied with your current coverage, there’s nothing you need to do.

Better quality in Medicare health and prescription drug plans isn’t the only good news for people with Medicare. For most seniors who have Original Medicare, the 2015 Part B premium will stay unchanged for a second consecutive year at $104.90. This means more of seniors’ retirement income and any increase in Social

Security benefits will stay in their pockets. The Part B deductible will stay the same as well.

Medicare is working hard to make sure this good news continues so that seniors and people with disabilities will continue to get the health care coverage they deserve.

Girl interrupted Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Two week’s ago, I wrote about “Man interrupted.” This week I would like to talk about women interrupted. The soul of a woman is her emotional center. It is where her feelings, esteem, thoughts and most importantly her emotions reside. When the soul of a woman is wounded, her abilities are hampered, her creativity is stifled and potential is restricted to the extent of her pain. The events that caused her wound, scars her and freezes her emotionally to the point of impact. The woman that she should be is interrupted by the girl she never got to be.

The danger of a girl interrupted is that it can lead to more disruptions. Being in the place to be hurt again, one extends out the healing time. The wounded must be removed from any

environment that is causing harm.

A woman that is in a continual state of verbal, physical, sexual and emotional abuse can never heal. I also recommend spiritual counselling. Emotional healing is a by-product of spiritual healing.

Healing for the girl interrupted is an internal function. No one person can be healed for another.

Spiritual and emotional healing begins in the heart. The wounded must inundate her heart with the most positive information available. This is spiritual, so her connection to God must be healthy and intact. No one else can do this for her. As her spirit is strengthened, her heart is also strengthened, and her soul begins to heal. The hurt for her past is left in the past, and the light of her future is illuminated with possibilities.

Girl interrupted does not have to be woman interrupted. There is help for the hurting. No one is ever completely alone. Those who are in the circle of influence of the wounded must be involved in this process. Family and friends will need to step in and help out. Their hands and heart will be needed.

As the wounded soul progress through the stages of healing, family and friends will keep the wounded from regressing back to old behavior. The woman that she is today is strengthened by the positive people in her sphere.

You are not your yesterday.

Although the life that we live today is impacted by our childhood wounds, it is not controlled by them. We live and grow every day. This growth may not be visible to the naked eye, but it is there just the same.

When each of us faces our hurts and pains, we take the power from them and the person or event that caused them. This ends the cycle of setbacks and interruptions. That “.” in her life is now replaced with a “+” sign because the worst is over and the best is yet to come!

Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson Dealing with disappointments can take a huge toll on our lives.

I recently had the

The health plan with you in mind.

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

Dealing with disappointment pleasure of spending time with a very successful women, who helps individuals work through disappointments and then shows them how to turn their disappointments into learning lessons.

What she does in her practice is to help her clients not focus on the hurt or “let down.” But to examine the experience and discover the lesson that they learned from that experience.

You belong.

Can you imagine thinking about every time that you were let down that there was a lesson to be learned? I had to stop and think about this

RICHARDSON 8 TURN TO

At Medica, you’re not just part of a health plan.

You’re part of a community that believes in better health for all.

Learn more at medica.com/PublicPrograms

Page 8 • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Insight News

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SPORTS The Wolves and the Western Conference 2014-15 The San Antonio Spurs play disciplined, veteran basketball, and disciplined basketball wins championships. That is the bar that all the athletically, and offensively gifted teams in the Western Conference must surpass.

That list of exciting teams got momentarily shorter due to the loss of both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nonetheless there are plenty of teams positioned to take their place atop the conference.

Quietly interesting has been the quick rebuilding of the Dallas Mavericks who have started the season undefeated.

The franchise recently won its’ first championship in 2011, with a similar core group. Included in that group is former Timberwolves guard J.J. Barrea. His presence

Joe Bielawa / Creative Commons

Ricky Rubio

Moments in Sports

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Though there isn’t a lot of reason to believe the San Antonio Spurs won’t be able to repeat as NBA Champions, the toughest act can be following your own success; especially in a team game.

The Western Conference of the NBA is a gauntlet, was a gauntlet last year, and will remain so despite the fact that the Timberwolves are

Richardson From 7 for a moment. Wow! How powerful this was for me! This allowed me to think about my own disappointments and how each time there was something that I learned along the way. I have to admit it sometimes the lessons were life changing.

Let’s face it, we all have had disappointments that have really made us think.

Sometimes they may even be the reason why you are not working toward your goals.

Maybe disappointments have set you back and given you a negative self image. Maybe these disappointments have made you rethink your “self worth”. Sometimes we can feel

breaking-in a team of young minds, with young skills.

The season has begun as advertised for a rookie laden Wolves squad, but the recent contract extension for fourthyear point guard Ricky Rubio shows a commitment to develop the group of potential stars.

Rubio is an ideal point guard for a young team ready to run, and they have matched energy with their opening competitions. Yet while they are delivering soundly, the moral victories by way of tough losses, still add up in the loss column, which determines playoff qualifications. Or as Hall of Fame NFL head coach Bill Parcells says, “You are what your record says you are.”

It also may be too much to expect a rookie led team to get savvy in the tiring late stages of the season. The lessons of the season generally take the offseason to ingest.

Thus far, the exciting possibilities for the Wolves comes from veteran eightyear veteran forward Thaddeus Young, among the team leaders in points (17.7), though missing much of one game due to a concussion. Young’s assertiveness in this leadership opportunity is valuable, win or lose.

Young will need to have an all-star season to get the Wolves into the playoffs, but the team plays with great energy and athleticism, as advertised (in its season ticket commercials).

so “down and out” that even the smallest of setbacks can leave you feeling unworthy and confused about what to do next.

That is why I find my friend’s practice so impressive.

She helps to turn “let downs” into lessons and you will never look at them the same way again.

Everything you go through is leading you to your greatness! Everything that you experience has taught you how to be a survivor, a teacher, and a guide for someone else. Never let any experience get the best of you. I know things happen and those things can be hard to deal with sometimes. But from now on, take a moment and think about what it is you learned while you were dealing with your disappointments.

And remember life is full of lessons. You just have to be

open to receive them!

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

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

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

bodes well for the Mavericks, because the “leave Minnesota and win a championship” superstition is as rock solid as when your palm itches. I’m not a betting man, but I’m just saying to those that are …

Dallas. Plus, teams like Dallas win the championship in years when the great franchises don’t have their stuff together (see Lakers, Pistons and 76ers).

It’s difficult to imagine the Golden State Warriors winning a championship but no duo of players in the league is as potent as the “Splash Brothers.” Guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, are both NBA-fathered children, and scoring buckets comes as natural as breathing oxygen. But it’s difficult to imagine the Warriors ever playing championship level defense when the team is too

busy watching the same show everyone else is paying to see.

The Portland Trailblazers are the Portland Trailblazers.

They are an exceptionally talented team that performs as well as the best teams in the league, and then somewhere along the line the trail stops blazing, and the defense can’t wait to get back on offense. The Houston Rockets have Dwight Howard, who scored 11 points the other night (repeat as needed for understanding).

I see good returns for the Wolves as the team grows, especially because they have willing defensive effort, which is better than I can say about most of the exciting Western Conference teams, and which is why Dallas should win the trophy and champagne or apple cider bath that comes with it next June.

insightnews.com

Insight News • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Page 9

COMMUNITY Robbinsdale Area Schools’ voters approve two school funding questions: Operating levy renewal and new technology levy Robbinsdale Area Schools’ voters approved two school funding requests that were on the November 4 ballot: • Operating levy renewal, approved 69.17% yes(25052) to 30.83% no (11165): Provides approximately $20 million per year which helps maintain lower-than-average class sizes and funds daily school and district operations such as classroom supplies, staff salaries, building maintenance and transportation. Funding was renewed through 2026.

• Technology levy, approved 58.95% yes (21264) to 41.05% no (14805): Creates a new funding stream of approximately $3.5 million

Superintendent Aldo Sicoli

per year for 10 years to increase technology access for students and staff, support personalized learning and expand technology for teaching and learning. Prior to voter approval, Robbinsdale was one of the few Hennepin County school districts without a voter-approved levy for technology.

“We are incredibly grateful to voters for these results,” said Superintendent Aldo Sicoli. “We – like most Minnesota school districts – rely on our operating levy for daily operations, as it provides about 13% of our budget. The addition of a technology levy will provide a stable source of funding to

enable us to fully implement our comprehensive, research-based technology plan that will support student learning.”

Voter approval of the technology levy means that Robbinsdale students and staff will soon have increased access to up-to-date technology in 21stcentury classrooms, as district staff moves forward on a 10-year technology plan. Technology levy funds will: • Help teachers manage student learning • Provide instant feedback on assessments • Help students learn according to their learning style • Give students more learning options

• Provide access to information from anywhere, anytime • “Thanks to strong financial management by our capable staff, voter approval of these levies will have a minimal impact on property owners’ taxes,” said Board Chair Sherry Tyrrell. “While the combined tax impact of the two school funding requests is $7 per month on the average homeowner ($0 on Q1, $7 on Q2), our decision to lower the 2015 general levy will reduce the net tax increase to less than $3 per month. That’s what I call a good bang for the buck!”

More information about district finances and the comprehensive technology plan can be found at www.rdale.org.

Open house for plans near METRO Blue Line Extension stations A community open house in North Minneapolis on Wednesday, November 12 is the next major opportunity for the public to be involved with planning the areas around the stations for the proposed METRO Blue Line Extension, also known as Bottineau light rail transit (LRT). This 13-mile LRT line has 11 proposed stations connecting North Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park to downtown Minneapolis and the regional transit system, and is scheduled to open as soon as 2021.

The open house takes place from 5:30 to 8 pm at the University of Minnesota

Urban Research and OutreachEngagement Center, 2001 Plymouth Avenue North.

“These community open houses will help us maximize the benefits of LRT and promote our region’s economic vitality,” says Hennepin County Commissioner Linda Higgins. The November 12 open house, organized by the county along with Minneapolis, Golden Valley and several community organizations, focuses on planning efforts underway around the four proposed southernmost stations on the Bottineau LRT line: in Minneapolis along Highway 55 at Van White Boulevard and Penn Avenue, and in Golden Valley at Plymouth Avenue near

the Theodore Wirth Park Chalet and at Golden Valley Road.

Attendees will share ideas on topics such as bike, pedestrian and transit connections and development that can help neighborhoods near the stations thrive. Information will also be available about a related planning initiative for bus rapid transit along Penn Avenue, which will connect with the Penn Avenue LRT station.

In addition, staff from the Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit will have information on the Blue Line Extension alignment and next steps in project development, including preliminary engineering and completion of the environmental

review process.

What is station area planning?

A station area plan covers an area within a half-mile radius – or a 10 minute walk – around a proposed transit station. “This is the prime influence or opportunity area surrounding the LRT station,” says Andrew Gillett, a Hennepin County planner on the project.

The plan addresses a number of issues, from transportation and circulation for bikes, pedestrians, cars and buses to urban design and “placemaking” elements like lighting, benches, signage and art. It also considers opportunities for new businesses, housing, retail and other development. Getting ideas

and comments from community members early on is essential to developing a plan that meets community needs and accurately reflects its characteristics, desires and preferences. Adds Gillett, “Station area plans are a crucial tool for sustaining and enhancing surrounding neighborhoods while also accommodating access to highquality transit that people can use – and want to use.”

Short- and medium-range planning efforts Outreach in communities will follow the November 12 event to gather more feedback before a January 2015 meeting, where the public will examine and

help refine preferred station area plans. Final Minneapolis and Golden Valley station area plans should be completed by late April 2015. Meanwhile, planning for stations in Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park is also underway and will be completed

by March 2016.

For more information on station area planning, call 612-3484454 or email bottineau@ hennepin.us.

For information on the METRO Blue Line Extension (Bottineau LRT) project, visit BlueLineExt. org.

SPACC receives grant to provide emergency services to families in St. Paul community The Saint Paul Area Council of Churches (SPACC) is a recipient of a $10,000 Target grant to support the Department of Indian Work Emergency Services program. This program has served families for more than 50 years by providing a food shelf, clothing closet, emergency transportation, layettes for infants, funeral

assistance, student assistance, prescriptions, and more.

Last year, Emergency Services food shelf provided 62,730 pounds of food — an estimate of 72,000 meals — to 903 households. 550 food bags were distributed over the holidays and 641 people received clothing from the free clothing room.

Since 1946, Target has given five percent of their profit to the communities they serve. Target is proud to partner with SPACC to provide food and clothing to individuals and families at-risk in the local Twin Cities area.

According to Kathy Denman-Wilke, Department of Indian Work Director, “We are extremely grateful to receive

this funding from Target, which will enable us to continue to provide these valuable services for individuals and families in our community.”

For more information about the program, contact Kathy Denman-Wilke at 651-7893854 or visit www.spacc.org/ diw.

Kathy Denman-Wilke

How to help a loved one get through a tough time (StatePoint) Whether self-induced or unavoidable, there are a host of pitfalls that life can throw one’s way, and everyone faces a crisis at some point in his or her life.

When it happens to a friend or family member, knowing how to be supportive can be difficult.

“One of the grandest gifts we can extend to friends and family who are in trouble is the gift of our time,” says Beth Wiseman, author of the new novel “The Promise,” based on a friend’s experience being held captive in Pakistan.

Wiseman, who worked with government agencies to help extract her friend from a dangerous situation and then supported her upon her return to the States, is

PhotoXpress

Classifieds

Phone: 612.588.1313

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

offering tips to anyone looking for ways of being helpful to someone going through a tough time.

• Be present: When one is at the center of a crisis, it’s often hard to see the light for all of the darkness. Friends and family can help that person see past the “now” of a situation toward what the future can bring.

You can be a source of positive encouragement and a reminder that things won’t always be this way. Your troubled friend may simply need a sounding board.

Identify in what capacity you can be helpful and then fulfill that role.

• Give your time: So often, our time is limited and precious, which makes it worth more than

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YOUTH ORGANIZER

One year+ part-time position in St. Paul as youth organizer at District 1 Community Council. For detailed job posting visit district1council.blogspot.com. Nov 21 application deadline.

monetary offerings. Perhaps that is cooking a meal, running errands on his or behalf, or babysitting.

These favors can give someone a chance to just “be.”

• Don’t say “I told you so:” No one needs to hear advice on how he could have avoided a bad situation after the fact, particularly when he is suffering. You don’t need to agree with someone’s decisions or actions to find ways of being supportive. So skip the “I told you so.”

• Be patient: Often times, when people are going through a rough patch, they may need space more than help. Approach the situation delicately and thoughtfully so you are not adding to his or her stress.

Fax: 612.588.2031

Vacancies 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

West Falls Estates Rent based on 30% Of adjusted income Call Patricia Brown At 218-283-4967 TDD 800-627-3529

Email: info@insightnews.com

RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE

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

Operations Generalist Courtroom Deputy

International Falls, MN. 56649

• Have perspective: In the thick of it, don’t forget that trauma can be life changing and often has a silver lining. We are stronger than we think.

“It’s how we react, endure, and survive that will mold our future, not the actual event itself,” says Wiseman.

For more information about Wiseman’s new novel, “The Promise,” and the author, visit www.BethWiseman.com.

Being more than just a fair weather friend is not always easy, but it’s important. The next time a loved one is in need, tread lightly to discover the best way you can help him or her through it.

The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Courtroom Deputy. This position will be located in St. Paul.

Salary range is $44,713 - $79,899. For complete job description, visit the court’s website www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Operations Generalist in our St. Paul location.

Salary range is $40,617 - $66,019. For complete job description, visit the court’s website www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

STAFF ATTORNEYS

Operations Generalist / Criminal Duty Clerk

The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Operations Generalist/Criminal Duty Clerk in our St. Paul location. Salary range is $40,617 - $66,019.

For complete job description, visit the court’s website www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Central Minnesota Legal Services seeks full-time attorney for its Minneapolis office. Fam. Law including representation of non-custodial parents; some work in other poverty law. Licensed in MN pref’d.

Post-law school pov. law exper., fam. law or clinical exper. pref’d. Spanish or Somali language a plus.

Salary $45,000+D.O.E. Excellent benes. Resume with references and writing sample to Lynelle Wells, CMLS, 430 First Ave. No., #359, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Appl. deadline: 11/21/14 or until filled. EOE.

Townhomes

Available Fieldcrest in Moorhead, MN Rent based on 30% of income

2 & 3 bdroms open MetroPlains Management

701-232-1887 www.metroplainsmanagement.com

Page 10 • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Bill Bellamy

Kevin Gates

E-40

Ron Brown Sonja Parks

Turnt UP! Crew

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE B.o.B with Kevin Gates - No Genre Tour First Avenue Mainroom 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis $30 advance, $35 door

Nov. 10 - 16

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, Nov. 10

Grand Hustle (TI) rapper and instrumentalist B.o.B. went from underground recognition to superstardom with his hit “Airplanes.” Since then he’s been coasting on a string of back-to-back radio ready tracks. Opening act, XXL Freshman, Kevin Gates is the next rising star out of Louisiana.

Tuesday, Nov. 11 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE/ LISTENING PARTY Ced Linus “Christ Like” Album Listening Party 7th Street Entry 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis Pledge Empire’s Ced Linus prepares to release his new album “Christ Like” with a listening party at 7th Street Entry inside of First Avenue nightclub. DJ Rich Lee will play the album between sets

by Linus, Sti-Lo Reel, Louie

P, Corporate, Karma and 55th.

Wednesday, Nov. 12 THEATRE/PERFORMANCE Seedfolks Children’s Theatre Company 2400 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis Recommended for 3rd – 8th graders (Runs through Nov. 16) Recently featured in Aesthetically Speaking, Sonja Parks stars in this one-woman production adapted from the book by award winning novelist Paul Fleishman. The play centers on Kim, a 9-year-old girl that desires a relationship with her deceased father who raised plants.

Thursday, Nov. 13 COMEDY Bill Bellamy and Talent Brooklyn Center Performing Arts 5801 John Martin Brooklyn Center 7:30 p.m. $25 – $45

for Dr.,

Best known for coining the term “Booty Call” and his role in the films “Love Jones,” “The Brothers,” and “How To Be A Player” comedian Bill Bellamy has been well received since the 1990s.

Comedian Talent Harris has been featured in film (“Sunset Park”) and was also a writer on Russell Simmon’s Def Comedy Jam. The show is hosted by Deboniare.

Tickets are available by calling (612) 360-5284.

Friday, Nov. 14

Turnt Up! Honey 205 E. Hennepin Minneapolis 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

21-plus $5

Ave.,

The Turnt Up! Dance Party has become a goto destination for anyone wanting to hear upbeat urban music in a comfortable environment outside of downtown Minneapolis. DJs Willie Shu, Gabe Garcia, and Noam The Drummer have built a strong audience with this monthly alongside host FranzDiego.

COMEDY

VISUAL ART

Saturday, Nov. 15 FASHION SHOW 3rd Annual Elements of Beauty Hair and Fashion Extravaganza Capri Theater 2027 W. Broadway, Minneapolis $7 advance, $10 door “Self Awareness, Self Esteem, and Self Love” is the tag line for the 3rd Annual Elements of Beauty Hair and Fashion Extravaganza. There will be door prizes and makeovers.

This event is hosted by S’sence with music and performances

by DJ Snuggles and Louisa.

AfroNauts Gallery Opening by artist Ron Brown Friedman Iverson 509 1st Ave. NE, Ste. 2, Minneapolis

W. Kamau Bell – Oh, Everything! Tour Turf Club 1601 University Ave. W., St Paul $15

Sunday, Nov. 16

The AfroNauts Gallery Opening is a night of art and music by Ron Brown. There will be drinks and appetizers.

For more details and to RSVP email 4seenmagazine@gmail. com with “AfroNauts” in the subject line.

Socio-political comedian W. Kamau Bell has emerged as the post-modern voice of comedy. Bell is best known for his critically acclaimed, but criminally short-lived FX comedy series, “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.”

E-40/Iamsu/G-Eazy First Avenue Mainroom 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 6pm, All Ages SOLD OUT

DANCE/CLUB

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

The From The Bay To The Universe Tour features California’s Bay Area legend E-40, alongside viral sensation G-Eazy, and Iamsu.

‘The Opening’: One small step for man, one shocking nightmare for ‘hue-mankind’ Imagine the clashing of worlds when a Black man of the planet Kebb, with a supreme knowledge of self, thinks the grass in greener on the other side of the galaxy and travels back in time with his family through a time/space portal called The Opening, only to find themselves in the United States during the time of slavery.

This premise begs the question; will they become the planet’s slave or savior?

“Drawing on the science fiction elements of ‘Octavia Butler’s, Parable of the Talents,’ as well as the time-travel approach of ‘Kindred,’ ‘The Opening’ is a new vision of the possible, which is the function of all creative expression, after all,”

said Shannon Gibney, writer and educator Rooted in deep fantasy and African-American history and culture, “The Opening” will take readers on an incredible ride from the wisdom of ancient Egypt and Nubia, to slavery in America and into modern day African society. Readers will read about tall lanky men called “planet hawks” whose eyes have

become dark adapted to view the night sky like telescopes.

There is a woman who uses the natural subliminal vibrations of “hue-mans” (people of color) to heal the sick, a protagonist who can move objects by using only the power of his mind, a dwarf who can fly, two conflicted mixed race slave pawns called “roons,” and the depraved slave compound owner, Leo

Bonaparte.

During a hiatus from the field of social services management, Minneapolis native J. Darnell Johnson intertwined his love for African-American history and culture with his imagination for science fiction/fantasy to give birth to “The Opening.”

Johnson is also the author of “Sit Com.”

insightnews.com

Insight News • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Page 11

YOUR

VOICE IS STILL BEING HEARD.

WE’VE

BEEN EXPECTING YOU.

At UCare, we know Boomers. So as you make your move to Medicare, consider the health plan that hits all the right notes.

UCare for SeniorsSM lets you choose from plans that cover prescription drugs, travel, eyewear, dental, fitness programs like SilverSneakers® and more.

There are no co-pays for primary care visits with most plans. And you’ll get to talk to a real person 24/7 when you call customer service. It’s just what you’d expect from health care that starts with you.

Learn more about the benefits of UCare for Seniors in our new eGuide to Medicare at ucareplans.org/eguide. Or call (toll free) 1-877-523-1518 (TTY) 1-800-688-2534, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

UCare Minnesota and UCare Health, Inc. are health plans with Medicare contracts. ©2013, UCare H2459 H4270_101512 CMS Accepted (10202012)

Page 12 • November 10 - November 16, 2014 • Insight News

Anna C. AT&T Employee and Mentor

insightnews.com

Arianna G. 9th Grader

Anna helped Arianna boost her grades – and her confidence.

Arianna always thought she was bad at math, until she met her AT&T mentor, Anna. Through online and in-person mentoring, Arianna’s grades are now at the top of her class. Best of all, she’s discovered a confidence she never knew she had. AT&T mentors have connected with more than 65,000 students like Arianna. Just one part of the AT&T Aspire Initiative. Helping students and communities across America.

Learn more at att.com/aspire.