The Steeles Soulful Gospel Vocals
November 21, 7:00 pm Ticketrs: $25 Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis 612-332-1010
INSIGHT NEWS November 19 - November 25, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 39 No. 47 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Protesters seek end to Bush tax cuts Demonstrators want to end Bush tax cuts for richest 2%, to protect working families A group of over forty Minnesotans representing the Americans for Tax Fairness coalition, and including representatives of SEIU, TakeAction Minnesota, Minnesotans for a Fair Economy, ISAIAH and CTUL, demonstrated in downtown Minneapolis last week calling for an end to the Bush Tax Cuts and tax breaks for big corporations. The demonstration coincided with the first week of the congressional lame-duck session where a budget showdown looms. Cliff Martin, a first-time voter and high school senior from Northfield, told the crowd that the time is now to make sure people
are protected, not wealthy CEOs and corporations. “On Tuesday, I voted for a fair economy,” he shouted. “It’s time the richest who’ve benefitted the most over the past decade start paying their fair share.” Martin supports a corporate tax reform plan that raises substantial revenue from those who have extracted billions from the American economy. Those rallying marched on Nicollet Mall and through the skyway system, urging Congress to end tax cuts for the richest 2%, those that make more than $250,000 per year. To chants of “They never pay the taxes
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Suluki Fardan
Protests
Hayden appointed New Miss Black Minnesota and Miss Black Teen Minnesota crowned Senate Majority Deputy Leader
By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer
Senate Majority Leaderdesignate Tom Bakk (DFLCook) announced on Nov. 14th the appointment of State Senator Jeffrey Hayden (DFLMinneapolis) as Deputy Leader of the Senate Majority Caucus for the 2013-2014 Legislative Session. As Deputy Leader, Senator Hayden will work in cooperation with Majority Leader-designate Bakk and Assistant Majority Leaderdesignate Katie Sieben (DFL-
Red was the color of the evening for the Miss Black Minnesota USA Pageant. The pageant began with eight young women in red dresses introducing themselves to the crowd; it ended with its red-dressed executive director accepting a marriage proposal. And the winner of the crown and title, Miss Black Minnesota USA 2013 was crowned wearing a stunning sequined gown. It’s color – red. Krystal Igbo-Obonna of St. Paul was crowned the winner of the pageant, which underwent a change in ownership and direction this past year. Columbia Heights resident Shamera Norman was awarded the title Miss Minnesota Talented Teen 2013. Both Miss and Teen contestants competed simultaneously but were judged separately. Both winners received a $500 scholarship and airfare and accommodations to their respective national competitions along with various other prizes. Igbo-Obonna amazed the crowd at the Eisenhower Theater in Hopkins with her beautiful piano performance during the talent portion of the show. Her recital was received by thunderous applause. The form-fitting red gown in which Igbo-Obonna was crowned featured decorative sequins
MN State Senator Jeff Hayden
HAYDEN TURN TO 3
Help for those hurt by mortgage crisis By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer
Miss Black Minnesota USA Pageant
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Krystal Igbo-Obonna crowned Miss Black Minnesota USA 2013
Business
Train your brain, train your body
PAGE 4
Aesthetics
Meet Seth Brundle, up and coming stylist for the stars
PAGE 7
The mortgage and credit crunch has hit many Minnesotans especially hard, but one group is working to put people in homes, while at the same time restoring their credit. SHOP (Sustainable Home Ownership Program) Home Mortgage, a non-profit based out of St. Paul, is working to get individuals who cannot qualify for traditional bank mortgages into homes using a buying strategy known as contract-fordeed. If the buyer is successful
Lifestyle
Four easy ways to support the troops for the holidays
PAGE 8
in the program, that person can transition out of the contract-fordeed into a traditional, fixed-rate bank mortgage. A contract-for-deed is a buying strategy where the seller – in this case SHOP – provides financing to buy the property for an agreed-upon purchase price and the buyer repays the loan in installments. Typical clients of SHOP remain under contract-for-deed for three to 10 years, at which time, SHOP works with the homeowner to transition into a bankowned mortgage.
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Full Circle
Four reasons why you should tithe
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Page 2 • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Insight News
insightnews.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Seeking a deficit solution that is fair to education, the economy, business and families On Nov. 7th I was elected to represent the people of my district in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Election night and the following morning were very exciting. Seeing the election returns in my district was made sweeter by defeating the two divisive constitutional amendments, as well as being a part of the DFL taking back both the
MN State Representative Raymond Dehn
Progressives want Deal for All in budget negotiations
U.S. Representative Keith Ellison President Obama this week heard from progressive legislative leaders as part of his strategy to build consensus for tax reforms that will avert the looming budget crises. Following the meeting, Keith Ellison D-MN5, Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said, “The American people voted for fairness last week. It’s time for Congress to listen. Progressives in and outside of Congress stand united: we will accept a deal with Republicans that preserves Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits for working families, calls on the wealthy to pay their fair share, requires the military to streamline its budget,
and invests in jobs. Over 40 Members of the Progressive Caucus have already proposed a Deal for All that stands for these principles.” The caucus’ Deal for All, resolution, H. Res 733 advocates four key policies that have built the middle class, expanded the nation’s economy and play, according to progressives, a significant role in any future budget negotiation: (1) No cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits; (2) Serious revenue increases, including closing corporate tax loopholes and increasing individual income tax rates for the highest earners; (3) Significantly reduce defense spending to focus the United States Armed Forces on combating 21st century risks; and (4) Promote economic growth and expand economic opportunity by including strong levels of job-creating Federal investments in areas such as infrastructure and education, and by promoting private investment.” “Congress is gearing
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State House and Senate. I am humbled and honored by this responsibility and pledge to always put the needs of the district and the state before politics and special interests. There is much work to be done prior to the start of the session on January 8, 2013, like finding my office and figuring out how to login to the computer system. Ultimately
the legislature has a significant budget deficit that we will need to address, and I will be working to address this deficit in a way that is fair and responsible to education, the economy and business, and families who have been struggling. There are so many people who helped over the past year, far too many to name
individually. Please know that I am thankful for each and every one of you and the work you did. There is one person that I do want to recognize; Joan I could not have done this without you. You were there throughout the highs and lows and made sure I kept my feet planted on the ground with my chin up. I am grateful to everyone
who supported the campaign and those who did not. All of you made me a better candidate and I will work hard every day to be the best Representative that I can be. Raymond Dehn Representative Elect Minnesota House District 59B
Pageant From 1 along the hem and down the middle of the back. During the question and answer portion, the eventual winner called on elected officials to do more hands on work with their community and constituents. “(Winning the title) means now I get to make a difference in the AfricanAmerican community and be a spokesperson for women of color and show that anything is possible if we put our minds to it,” said Igbo-Obonna, with tears still running down her cheeks. The newly-crowned Miss Black Minnesota USA was not the only woman in red with tears streaming. Tiffany Ramm, pageant executive director, let her emotions show as she was announced to the crowd. She said taking over the beleaguered pageant has been a true labor of love. “I have been coaching most of these girls for four to six months and I was so excited at how amazing they did,” said Ramm, who took the reins of the pageant in April. “The past two years, a lot of contestants and title holders were let down. I put in a lot of time and my own money to make sure everything was perfect for these young women,” she said. Ramm’s excitement with the
Miss Black Minnesota USA Pageant
Shamera Norman crowned Miss Talented Teen 2013 pageant briefly took a back seat when her boyfriend, Reginald Shaw, came on stage, kneelt to one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. Ramm happily accepted Shaw’s proposal to a standing ovation. Talented Teen, Norman performed a beautiful praise dance titled, “Take Me to the King.” Her movements were graceful and filled with a sense of purpose. For the Evening Gown portion of the show, Norman donned a beautiful, yet understated, gold gown minimally accented with gold jewelry. During the Q and A portion, Norman was asked what advice she would give others. Her reply was, “I’d tell (others) they should love themselves and love their neighbors and also know that anything is possible.” Other highlights of the competition were Talented Teen contestants Madelyn Smith’s graceful and nearly flawless point-ballet performance and Chakia Hall-Watley’s original spoken word piece, “A Story Untold,” about overcoming insecurities and looking past a person’s exterior and recognizing the inner beauty of one’s soul. 2005 Miss Black Minnesota USA and Miss Black USA, Celi Dean, said the pageant, and ones like it, do wonders for the young women involved. “It promotes education and reaffirms these women are intelligent, they are beautiful and they are needed in our society today,” said Dean “This pageant is about celebrating us as a whole woman.” Dean now holds a master’s degree and recently authored a self-help book, Recommitted; It’s Not Too Late. The husband and wife duo of Tau Xiong and Andrea Bennett-Xiong superbly emceed the event, playing off of one another wonderfully.
Miss Black Minnesota USA Pageant
Talented Teen contestant Madelyn Smith performing a ballet routine during the talent portion of the Miss Black Minnesota USA Pageant. Xiong, a stand-up comedian, was especially hilarious. During a scripted moment, he put on an all purple outfit and a perm wig, and outrageously sang James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” During an unscripted moment, after mispronouncing a contestant’s name, he joked, “English is not my first language.” Xiong is of Hmong
decent. His wife joked back, “Yeah, but you’ve lived here 30 years.” The winners of the Minnesota pageant will go on to compete in their respective national pageants in the summer of 2013. The teen pageant will take place in Raleigh, N.C. The location for the national Miss Black USA Pageant has yet to be determined.
insightnews.com
Ellison From 2 up for high-stakes tax and budget negotiations, and we’re standing with working families to make sure we build
Hayden From 1 Cottage Grove). “I’m honored to be a part of this team,” said Hayden. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and do the hard work of building consensus and finding the common ground that will move our state forward. We can’t fall back into the political stalemates
INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com
Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Miki Noland Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlane Bobby Rankin Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Insight Intern Abeni Hill Contributing Writers Cordie Aziz Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Oshana Himot Timothy Houston Alaina L. Lewis Lydia Schwartz Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
Insight News • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Page 3 a stronger and fairer economy,” Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Ellison and Rep. Grijalva said. “While both parties will need to make sacrifices, we cannot do so at the expense of economic growth or the middle class. A balanced approach like the Deal for All would end tax
breaks for the richest 2 percent, close tax loopholes for the wealthy and special interests, and ensure Americans don’t lose the benefits they’ve paid into for decades such as Social Security and Medicare. “Republicans have relied on excessive tax breaks for
the wealthy and corporations and cut the very programs that helped create a thriving middle class. At the same time, just this week, the Republican House majority is opposing commonsense budget cuts to protect a bloated defense budget and maintain a Cold War approach.
This discredited approach of trickle-down economics, combined with the GOP’s refusal to govern during this session of Congress, has created the impending year-end fiscal cliff. We will not allow the GOP to push the middle class over that cliff.
“By pursuing a fair tax policy, effective job creation strategies, and sensible defense spending based on twenty-first threats, we will be able to steer the American people to a bright and prosperous future,” the legislators said.
of recent years.” Deputy Leader-designate Hayden will share duties with Senator Sieben, who was elected Assistant Majority Leader last
week. “I’m truly looking forward to working with Senator Hayden,” said Sieben. “He has shown a strong ability to work across
the aisle effectively on issues important to his constituents and to all Minnesotans. He brings a valuable perspective to our caucus.”
Senator Hayden was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2008 and was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2011.
The 2013 Legislative Session convenes on Tuesday, January 8, at which time the new leadership team in the Senate will officially assume office.
Page 4 • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Insight News
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BUSINESS
Train your brain, train your body Plan Your Career By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com In the old days, a broken record meant either you had accomplished something beyond what others had previously accomplished (think, four minute mile) or your vinyl record album was mishandled by a careless friend and now has a scratch which causes the same few lines of a song to be repeated endlessly. Fast forward to this century. These days, if you want to break any personal or worldrenowned success records, If you want to get ahead in your career and your life, you are going to have to train. You will have to repeat a few activities over and over again, like a broken record, until practice
every day. A walk? Chair yoga at your desk? A few lunges while lumbering from couch to fridge? Exercise and meditation clear your mind and leave you better able to perform at your job and in your relationships. Can’t hurt. Much. And the payoff is immediate. Train yourself. Some people go in for affirmations (tell yourself you can and you will) or coaching (if I tell you you can, you will) or something else. Ultimately, the selfdiscipline that keeps you on task when things get tough has to come from inside of you. When your success is squarely in your own hands, you can’t blame anyone for holding you back, but you can’t be held back, either.
makes perfect. This is not my training regimen. It is not your boss’ training program, either. This is a program you adopt as your own because it is easy to follow and it works. If you are someone who wants to stay where you are, and never advance or grow in your career or in your life, you can pass on reading this. But for the rest of you… if you want to break records, start working out now. Train your brain. Keep learning new skills and entertain new ideas. Read everything. Listen. Gather information. We all know the Vikings have lost a few games lately. If that interests you, go deeper. Review some plays and think about what you would do if you were a player or a coach or an owner. You might never go anywhere near a football field in your life, but you might have similar circumstances and can benefit by thinking through parallel problems. Train your body. We can’t all be runway models. But we can all do a little something
Julie Desmond is IT Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Send your comments and career planning questions to jdesmond@ georgekonik.com. PhotoXpress
Henry Hartford Brown: Role model
By William Reed, Business Exchange Black
Americans
need
to
know and respect our heritage. Know the contributions of your ancestors, and you will learn who you are. One of America’s greatest strengths
today is “diversity.” An African American who blazed the trail toward diversity, innovation, and marketing creativity across corridors in corporate America while concurrently opening doors previously closed to Blacks is corporate pioneer of note, Houston native Henry Hartford Brown. The career of Brown should be of highlighted because he is one of a select few Blacks hired by corporate American companies in upper-level sales positions to target and develop the African-American consumer market. Brown should be remembered for the successes he had in the development and implementation of effective community relations over the three decades he practiced his trade with Anheuser-Busch. As corporate liaison to its “special markets” Brown indelibly etched Anheuser-Busch and
Budweiser’s name among Black leaders and their communities. As part of a groundbreaking group of African-American market developers that evolved from the 1950s, Brown is a role model in multicultural public relations. Brown’s business and social talents enabled him to generate corporate market share and profits as he at the same time introduced diversity theories, techniques and implementation platforms that revolutionized strategies of niche marketing. Brown helped corporate heads and decision influencers to see and identify Blacks as an important customer segment. The “Black Market” Brown helped his company identify and “tap” is expected to reach a population of 42.6 million by 2016. Black’s current $957 billion annual spending expects to climb to $1.3 trillion by 2015. Black consumers spend $2.8
billion annually on alcoholic beverages. Brown’s innovativeness toward Black markets is epic. In 1975, he developed the legendary Budweiser’s Great Kings and Queens of Africa by commissioning a series of portraits among AfricanAmerican-artists. These 29 portraits became Budweiser’s Great Kings and Queens of Africa exhibits, an educational program and one of history’s most influential collections of art honoring African-American culture. Budweiser’s Great Kings and Queens of Africa have touched the lives of millions of people and etched in the minds of millions of Blacks a point of racial pride and identification. Those who attended the Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conferences [ALC] over the years know Brown and that Budweiser’s booths anchored ALCs’ Exhibit Halls for over 33 years. For four decades, Black Market specialists from tobacco, petroleum, food and beverage companies, such as AnheuserBusch, provided the ALCs’ financial underpinnings. Black
corporate executives were the impetus for forums promoting subjects of importance to the Black community. In his career, Brown worked to do what’s right by Blacks and their communities. He worked with civil rights leaders and politicians and was an original sponsor of the MLK Memorial project. Overall, Brown’s been a catalyst for positive and progressive changes among African Americans. His impact on AnheuserBusch has permanency. The company says, “It’s important to be in the community and of the community” and supports community-based organizations’ efforts to inform, advance and support the African Americans. Anheuser-Busch, is a wholly owned subsidiary of AnheuserBusch In Bev, the United States’ largest brewing company. Anheuser-Busch operates 12 breweries in the U.S. and nearly 20 in other countries. In 1994, Brown retired from Anheuser-Busch after launching major initiatives including: Budweiser’s Living Legends
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Insight News • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Page 5
Viola Davis and Cicely Tyson honored for efforts in raising awareness about labor protections for domestic workers Washington, DC—Last week, the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) hosted “Leading with Love,” a special gala and awards dinner celebrating more than 10,000 nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers who work as part of the NDWA every day, as well as the movement’s special champions Viola Davis and Cicely Tyson. Domestic worker advocates Guillermina Castellanos and Linda Oalican and domestic worker groups Casa Latina (Seattle, WA), Domestic Workers United (New York, NY), and Mujeres Unidas y Activas (Oakland, CA), who have been on the front lines of the ongoing fight to win dignity, respect, and labor protections for domestic workers in the United States, were also honored. Both Viola Davis and Cecily Tyson’s performances in the Academy Award-winning film “The Help” brought domestic workers into the public spotlight, sparking an unprecedented national conversation about the realities of today’s domestic workers. Both actresses are the daughters of domestic workers, giving them first-hand knowledge of the need for domestic worker rights in the US. Accepting NDWA’s inaugural Voice of Love Award, Viola Davis said, “I am the daughter of May Alice Davis, who was a maid, and the granddaughter of Mozelle Logan, who was a maid. So my very presence here is, for me, born from their hard work. And when
rights, and education issues throughout her 50-year long career. She was awarded NDWA’s first-ever Lifetime of Leadership Award. The two actresses are a source of inspiration to domestic workers and have helped raise public consciousness about the need for labor protections domestic workers. New York is the only state in the country that
Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images for National Domestic Workers Alliance
Viola Davis and Cicely Tyson pose for a photo during the National Domestic Workers Alliance Honors Viola Davis And Cicely Tyson In DC at National Museum of Women in the Arts on November 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. people ask me, ‘How can you play a maid, Viola, in 2012?’ I said “I’m not playing a maid—I’m playing Aibeleen Clark.”
Tyson broke a color barrier for African-American women on television, and has dedicated herself to human rights, civil
NAZ Ball
Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ)
More than 800 guests joined Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) for their November 11 ball at The Depot in Downtown Minneapolis. The Ball is a combination fundraiser and community event. The Soul Tight Committee was one of thee bands at the 2012 NAZ Ball. The event also featured the YN RichKids performing their YouTube hit Hot Cheetos and Takis. Guests from across the Twin Cities supported Northside children and families and danced until midnight.
has ended the 75-year-exclusion of domestic workers from workplace protections. At the end of the legislative term last month, Governor Jerry Brown of California vetoed the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (AB 889), denying basic labor protections to hundreds of thousands of domestic workers across California. The bill, which garnered the backing of hundreds of thousands of
workers and concerned employers and supports from around the country as well as high-profile endorsements from The New York Times and actress Amy Poehler, would have extended protections most American workers take for granted, like meal and rest breaks, overtime pay, and recourse for workplace abuse, to domestic workers.
Page 6 • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Insight News
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Weather-related claims, homeowners’ insurance premiums are linked By Bob Johnson, President, Insurance Federation of Minnesota Maple Grove, MN Many Minnesota homeowners have been surprised this year to see a significant premium increase when they open their homeowner’s insurance statement. While average auto insurance premiums have been trending down over the last few years thanks to safer cars, fewer miles driven and far fewer accidents, homeowners’ insurance rates have done the opposite. After decades of being a low cost state for property insurance, we’ve made a dramatic turn in the wrong direction. Thankfully, there are ways to reverse this trend through simple legislative changes that
Stock.xchng
most other states have already enacted. In 1997, Minnesota’s average homeowner’s insurance premium was $345 per year. Today it’s $919, a 265% increase! This year, for the first time that we’ve known, Minnesota’s statewide average premium is higher than the national average. There are two major reasons for this. While rising property repair costs since 1997 are one part of the increase, the other part may not come as a surprise to many weather watchers. Simply put, since 1998, Minnesota has become a major natural catastrophe state. In 1998, three major storms struck Minnesota. Insurers paid out more than $1.5-billion in storm losses that year, which was more than was paid in the previous 40 years combined! Since then, the trend has
continued. In 2007 and 2008, Minnesota had the second and third highest catastrophe losses, respectively, in the nation, alongside more predictable states like California, Louisiana and Texas. In 2010, Minnesota saw 144 tornado touchdowns – the most in the nation (we’re normally 10th). And in 2011 a tornado struck the most densely populated part of the state: North Minneapolis. But 1998 also saw dramatic changes in the home repair marketplace. After those destructive storms hit, Minnesota experienced the emergence of ‘storm chasers.’ These are mostly out-of-state contractors who swoop into an area right after a storm, promising fast repairs. They often make exaggerated claims and offer
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Wells Fargo supporting military service Wells Fargo & Company recently announced it is committing $35 million over the next three years as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting military service members and veterans. Real estate owned (REO) property donations and support valued at $30 million to qualifying nonprofits that serve military service members and veterans. The commitment includes: • Real estate owned (REO) property donations and support valued at $30 million to qualifying nonprofits that serve military service members and veterans • Hiring and mentoring initiatives, • Customized financial education efforts, and • Funds for philanthropic donations and sponsorships. In addition, November 1430, Wells Fargo is providing its customers an opportunity to make donations through the company’s
more than 12,000 ATMs in support of military service members and veterans. Prior to November 14, Wells Fargo gave customers an opportunity to give to the American Red Cross Disaster Release Fund through its ATMs for relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. “With this $35 million commitment it is Wells Fargo’s goal to have a role in our nation’s efforts to support military service members, veterans and their families,” said Jon Campbell, head of Wells Fargo Community and Government Relations. “We are pleased to extend these efforts by also making it easy for customers to support military members by donating at our ATMs.” The $35 million financial commitment is consistent with the three areas of support that Wells Fargo announced in September as its primary focus for supporting military service members and
veterans: helping active duty military service members and veterans achieve homeownership, helping veterans transition to civilian careers and providing customized financial education. Homeownership REO donations and support already have been an ongoing part of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage support of organizations such as Military Warriors Support Foundation and Operation Homefront. Here’s how the REO donation program works: Wells Fargo gives properties to the participating nonprofits. In turn, the nonprofits match the properties to veterans according to home requirements and needs. Wells Fargo is not involved with the selection of individual recipients. Those interested in applying to receive an REO property should apply through the participating nonprofits at www.
militarywarriors.org or www. operationhomefront.net. Nonprofits with a history of providing housing for veterans that are interested in receiving homes from Wells Fargo can send inquiries to: REODonationProgram@ wellsfargo.com for more details. Career Transition Wells Fargo recently formed alliances with American Corporate Partners (ACP), 100,000 Jobs Mission and Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) to help mentor and hire veterans and military spouses. Organization details include: American Corporate Partners (ACP) American Corporate Partners provides a unique career development opportunity and mentorship program for veterans. The program is open to those
who have served on active duty since 2001, including National Guardsmen and Reservists. Those interested can learn more about ACP and where to apply at: www. acp-usa.org. 100,000 Jobs Mission The 100,000 Jobs Mission is a coalition of 83 companies committed to hiring at least 100,000 veterans by 2020. The coalition has hired more than 28,000 veterans since 2011. To learn more about the 100,000 Jobs Mission or to apply for jobs, please visit: www.100000jobsmission. com; and “Like” us on Facebook: Facebook. com/100000jobsmission. Military Spouse Employment Partnership Program Wells Fargo has joined the Military Spouse Employment Partnership program, which allows businesses to work together with the organization to provide jobs to military spouses.
To learn more about MSEP, please visit: https://msepjobs. militaryonesource.mil/ Wells Fargo also launched Military Crosswalk software, which helps veterans translate their Military Occupation Codes (MOC) into available job openings within the company ( http://wellsfargo-veterans.jobs/). Financial Education Wells Fargo is launching a customized version of its Hands on Banking (www. handsonbanking.org) financial education program. Philanthropic Donations and Sponsorships Philanthropic Donations and Sponsorships Wells Fargo is proud to support organizations working to strengthen communities. Organizations can learn more at Wells Fargo’s giving and where to apply at: www.wellsfargo.com/ about/charitable/
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Insight News • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Page 7
AESTHETICS Meet Seth Brundle, up and coming stylist for the stars By Chelsea Battle Special to the NNPA from the Los Angeles Sentinel If the name Seth Brundle rings a bell, you’re probably thinking about the popular 1980’s SciFi thriller, “The Fly”. Chris McMullen, who goes by the nickname Seth Brundle, is flying to new heights in the fashion industry as a celebrity wardrobe specialist. It is a typical blazing hot day in Los Angeles, and Brundle sits relaxed, unaffected by the heat. Stylishly falling somewhere between a rock star and a rapper, he sports a red and white graphic tee, a black fedora hat, two dangling gold chains, and a full beard. To say that he stands out would fall woefully short of describing his sartorial allure. The self-professed fly guy explains the origin of his name: “I posted this status on Facebook while I was doing my undergraduate studies at Morehouse,” Brundle explains. “It said, ‘I’m so fly, call me Seth Brundle’, and it kind of stuck because the people who knew about the movie just kept the name going.” Hailing from Carson, California, Brundle moved to Atlanta after graduating from King Drew Magnet High School to attend Morehouse College, where he majored in Marketing with a minor in Public Relations. He graduated Cum Laude. Unlike many graduates who come out
of college jobless, he quickly began working in consumer public relations and became an executive. This may sound like the perfect cookie cutter success story, except for one problem—he was miserable. “I hated it [Public Relations], Brundle confesses. “I enjoyed the people I worked with, but not the industry. I tried it out for a little while, thinking that’s what I was supposed to do, but I dreaded going to work every day. My dad is a deacon, so I’d call him every day and ask him to pray with me just so I could have the strength to go one more day.” Nearing his breaking point after three years in PR purgatory, Brundle found the fashion world to be a source of therapy. Having already developed a penchant for fashion blogging, his passion soon caught the attention of others in the styling industry. “When I was working in PR my blog really caught on. All these other different fashion blogs would do features on me, and I would do features on them. Then I started going to fashion weeks, and I found my outlet to deal with what I did during the day.” Brundle had an epiphany after a friend urged him to consider pursuing his passion full-time, and he soon resigned from his firm. Soon after his friend Monique “Kitti Fontain” Scott, a celebrity stylist who has worked with artists including Rihanna, Brandy, and Kendrick Lamar, posted an intriguing Facebook status. She was looking for an assistant for a pilot being produced by Idris Elba called “Milk and Honey”.
Photo by Ed Canas
The budding wardrobe specialist gives us a crash course in the world of celebrity styling. Jumping at the opportunity, he began working with Scott and continued to do so for months. Under Scott’s seasoned eye, he jumped feet first into the industry and was able to work with clients the likes of Faith Evans and Fonzworth Bentley. Feeling confident in his abilities after a relatively short period of time, Brundle branched out on his own. Today his résumé boasts such names as Grammy Award nominated producer/ songwriter Kevin McCall (artist on Chris Brown’s record label featured on songs “Deuces” and
“Strip”), LeToya Luckett, Teyana Taylor, Issa Rae, Jhene Aiko, and “Glee” actress Amber Riley. With only two and a half years under his belt, Seth Brundle is definitely making a big splash in the styling industry. While he works primarily on editorials, he also styles for commercials and music videos, and he has his eyes set on expansion. Watch out world—Seth Brundle is about to fly! The Interview: Seth Brundle reveals the day-to-day routine of a wardrobe specialist, and offers advice on how prospective
stylists can get their feet wet in the industry. How do you become a successful wardrobe specialist? Where do you begin in that industry? If you are a great stylist you cultivate relationships with designers in showrooms and brand managers. I have relationships with thousands of designers all across LA, New York, and abroad. I started forging those relationships while attending LA Fashion Week events. So I started my relationships there, and then Monique introduced me to that world even more. I didn’t know what a showroom was or what a pull was, but she taught me so much. Once you have those relationships, where do you go from there? Say you have an event— for example Monique works with Kendrick Lamar—she’s constantly working with him because he’s constantly busy, so [if he has an event]we both have a rolodex of designers we can pull, or rent clothes from. You pull what you need and then return them. In most cases if the client is big enough, or if the designer is a big fan of the client, they will let you keep the clothes. What are the costs associated with your line of work? The fees associated with my line of work are based on the project. I have a base fee that I charge and that price fluctuates depending on the project. The price often times goes up because a lot goes into it. Usually for any shoot I have to drive to 5 to 10
showrooms per day. They are usually in Hollywood, Downtown LA, or Beverly Hills. I then have to sort through the looks, often times photograph and send the looks to the client’s publicist, manager, or producer, and have a fitting with the client. Editorial is usually 3-6 hours, and music videos are a guaranteed 16-hour day. What are some fashion publications you read? Would you advise aspiring stylists to become more engaged in fashion media? The kinds of blogs and publications that I read are ones that I like; they don’t help me style. I read Women’s Wear Daily every day to keep up with the news of what’s going on in the fashion world, but I’m not necessarily the trend follower. People always ask me what are the latest trends and I always respond that I don’t know. The only reason I do that research is to make sure that I’m not doing that same thing. In making your mark as a stylist, you want to make sure you’re doing something original that nobody else is doing. What is some of the best advice you can give to someone who wants to work in the fashion industry? I always tell people with regards to chasing your dreams and pursuing your passion you really have to put it out there in the universe and let people know what you want to do. When I first began I put myself out there. It [his desire to style] was on Facebook, it was on my blog, it was everywhere!
Compassionate disability drama chronicles indomitability of the human spirit Film Review By Kam Williams
subject of Breathing Lessons, a biopic which won an Academy Award in 1997 in the Best Documentary category. Rather than resort to manipulative sentimentality, the production resists the temptation to follow a Hollywood formula
in favor of a realistic plot that Mark undoubtedly would have appreciated. As a journalist and longtime civil rights advocate, he never looked for pity but lobbied for legislation and equality on behalf of the handicapped. Co-stars John Hawkes
and Helen Hunt generate an endearing chemistry, here, turning in a couple of virtuoso performances deserving of serious consideration come Oscar season. A poignant, character-driven drama depicting the disabled as
kam@insightnews.com Mark O’Brien (John Hawkes) was left paralyzed from the neck down by the polio he’d contracted as a child. Consequently, he can only breathe with the assistance of an iron lung, although he can use a portable respirator for a few hours at a time. Nonetheless, the condition has never stopped him from fantasizing, especially about his attractive attendants like Amanda (Annika Marks) who quit when he expressed his desire for her. The sexually-frustrated, 38 year-old decides that the only way he’ll probably ever lose his virginity is by paying a woman to sleep with him. However, this proves easier said than done, between the physical challenges presented by quadriplegia and his having to wrestle with a major moral issue as a devout Catholic. Since his religion forbids fornication outside the sanctity of marriage, Mark consults his parish priest for special dispensation. Armed with the surprisinglysympathetic Father Brendan’s (William H. Macy) blessing, Mark retains the services of Cheryl (Helen Hunt), a professional sex surrogate with the bedside demeanor, or should I say bedroom demeanor, of a saint. Over the course of a halfdozen, romantic rendezvous, the sensitive therapist gradually helps her patient conquer problems with performance anxiety and premature ejaculation. En route to consummation, the pair simultaneously forge a friendship in spite her fears that he might develop an attachment to her. After all, she is married. But Mark emerges from the experience, a changed man, as he develops the confidence to flirt with other women and he even ultimately finds a wife (Robin Weigert). The Sessions’ subject-matter might strike some as salacious, given the film’s frequent, fullfrontal nudity. But the picture actually plays out more as a compassionate tale exploring a variety of themes, including faith, friendship, relationships and the indomitability of the human spirit. Written and directed by Ben Lewin, himself a polio victim, the movie is based on Mark O’Brien’s (1950-1999) life story as chronicled in his autobiography “How I Became a Human Being: A Disabled Man’s Quest for Independence.” The late author was already the
GO GREEN SATURDAY Nov. (*j^ '&Wc # ,fc
J^_i >eb_ZWo I[Wied" I^ef \eh W H[Wied$ Find the most unique gifts while shopping on the Green Line and support small businesses affected by light rail construction.
;d`eo :_d_d]" <[ij_l_j_[i WdZ <kd \hec Bem[hjemd" IW_dj FWkb je M[ij 8Wda" C_dd[Wfeb_i Festivities run from 10 AM – 6 PM. Pick up a free tote at one of 10 businesses along the Green Line. Enter drawings in each business district to win one of 10 prizes!
Visit gogreensaturday.com for details. Also, check back often as the list of festivities and fun continues to grow!
onthegreenline.com www.facebook.com/GreenlineTC
complicated individuals with a full range of emotions. Excellent (4 stars) Rated R for graphic sexuality,
frontal nudity and frank dialogue Running time: 95 minutes Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Page 8 • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE Four easy ways to support the troops during the holidays (StatePoint) Supporting the troops is an important thing to do -- but sometimes it’s hard to figure out how. Here are four easy ways to thank those who keep us safe every single day -- even if you don’t personally know someone serving. And with the holidays coming up, it’s the perfect time of year to do it, as many of service men and women are away from family. Send A ‘Thank You’ Gift This holiday season, some retailers are making it easy to give a personal “thank you” directly to the men and women serving the country. For instance, national retailer, Things Remembered, is helping people -- even those
on a budget -- send unique, personalized gifts to deployed service members. Things Remembered shoppers purchasing gifts for deployed military personnel will receive 25 percent off and free shipping on any personalized gift sent to an APO/FPO address. The promotion will run through November 20, giving plenty of opportunity to personally thank those protecting our nation in time for the holidays. Even shoppers who don’t personally know any deployed servicemen or women can show their support. All Things Remembered stores will be featuring local deployed military members to receive gifts from their hometown neighbors.
Volunteer Your Time Former service members stateside should also be recognized. Show your appreciation for those who have helped protect our country by volunteering at your local Veterans Affairs hospital or nursing home this season, even if only for a few hours. You are sure to meet some fascinating men and women and you’ll be bringing holiday cheer to those who may not have many visitors. Give Blood Giving blood through an organization like the American Red Cross can actually help troops hundreds and thousands of miles away. Military units may depend on rush shipments of blood during times of need, and maintaining an ample supply of all blood types is crucial. Host a blood drive at your workplace or community center, encouraging others to give the gift of life this holiday season. To find a blood drive or donation location near you, visit www.redcrossblood.org. Be Vocal Encouraging others to remember our deployed troops is one of the most wide-reaching ways to support the active military during the holidays. By reminding neighbors that our men and women overseas may need a boost of holiday cheer, you could touch hundreds of service members’ lives this season. Talk to people, post on Facebook, send
StatePoint
out Tweets or include a reminder in your holiday cards. Although the holidays can be a difficult time for deployed
service members and their families, there are countless ways you can show your gratitude and appreciation this season. Whether
it’s a personalized gift, visit to a veteran, or blood donation, you can give back to those who give so much to our country.
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Insight News • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Page 9
HEALTH Face-washing tips for healthier-looking skin Washing your face is as simple as using soap and water, right? Not quite say dermatologists. How you wash your face can make a difference in your appearance. “It’s important for people to treat the face with care. Never scrub the skin or use harsh products as doing so irritates the skin, which makes skin look worse,” said Thomas E. Rohrer, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Chestnut Hill, Mass. For healthier-looking skin,
Dr. Rohrer recommends people follow these tips to keep their face looking healthy: Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol. Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser. Using a washcloth, mesh sponge or anything other than your fingertips can irritate your skin. Resist the temptation to scrub your skin as scrubbing irritates the skin.
Rinse with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a soft towel. Apply moisturizer if your skin is dry or itchy. Be gentle when applying any cream around your eyes so you do not pull too hard on this delicate skin. Limit washing to twice a day and after sweating. Wash your face once in the morning and once at night as well as after sweating heavily. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, irritates the skin. Wash
your skin as soon as possible after sweating. “A board-certified dermatologist can answer your questions about how to care for your skin, hair and nails,” said Dr. Rohrer. In recognition of November as National Healthy Skin Month, these steps are demonstrated in “Face Washing 101,” a video posted to the Academy website and the Academy’s YouTube channel. This video is part of the Dermatology A to Z: Video
Sharp rise in diabetic eye disease makes American Diabetes Month ever more important
Statement from National Eye Institute Director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among workingage adults in the United States. According to recent studies funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), diabetic retinopathy, one of the most common and debilitating complications of diabetes, increased by 3.7 million new cases over the last decade. Approximately 7.7 million Americans are now affected by diabetic retinopathy. Even more alarming, the rate is projected to climb to 11 million by 2030. People with diabetes are also at greater risk for cataracts, which is a clouding of the eye lens, and glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve. But diabetic retinopathy is by far the most common sight-threatening condition among people with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness in adults aged 20 to 74 years. In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms. The disease begins to damage the small blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensing layer of tissue in the back of the eye, causing them to leak fluid and blood. As the disease progresses, blood vessels become blocked and rupture or new vessels grow on the retina, leading to permanent and sometimes profound vision loss. Fortunately, there are effective treatments to help
National Eye Institute
prevent vision loss from diabetic eye disease, but early detection and timely treatment are critically important. During American Diabetes Month this November, the National Eye Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health, encourages people with diabetes to take steps to prevent complications of diabetes. In addition to controlling blood glucose and blood pressure through healthy eating, adequate exercise, and medication, people with diabetes should have annual dilated eye exams to identify early signs of diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic eye disease. Comprehensive dilated eye exams allow eye care professionals to monitor the eye, including the retina, for signs of disease. Ninety percent of diabetes-related blindness is preventable through early detection, timely treatment, and appropriate follow-up care. NEI currently dedicates about 40 million dollars in research funding each year to
better understand, prevent, and treat diabetic retinopathy. The NEI Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net) is a collaboration of more than 300 physicians at more than 100 clinical sites across the United States. Since 2002, DRCR. net has coordinated 18 clinical studies investigating treatments for various diabetes-related conditions, including a condition that causes central vision loss called macular edema. A 2010 DRCR.net study of people with diabetic macular edema, a consequence of diabetic retinopathy where fluid accumulates on the retina, showed that about 50 percent of participants treated with eye injections of the drug Lucentis combined with conventional laser treatment had dramatic improvements in vision, compared to about 30 percent of participants who received laser treatment alone. This is the first new treatment for diabetic eye
StatePoint
Holiday food safety tips (StatePoint) Great food is the centerpiece of any holiday celebration, and practicing safe food handling in the kitchen is an important part of holiday meal preparation. There are certain steps you can take to keep friends and family safe from food poisoning. “The kitchen can be chaotic and it can be challenging to keep food safety top of mind when dealing with a whole holiday meal, from turkey to trimmings,” cautions Shelley Feist, Executive Director of the non-profit Partnership for Food Safety Education. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six Americans will get sick from dangerous foodborne bacteria this year. But these crucial safety tips can
help you create a safe and tasty holiday celebration: Clean Prevent the spread of bacteria by keeping a clean kitchen and washing hands. Cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops should be washed with hot water and soap after preparing each food item, and before going on to the next. Keep plenty of clean cloth towels or paper towels handy for cleaning surfaces and drying hands. Enforce a strict hand washing policy for all holiday kitchen helpers. Use warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food. Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water just before eating or
preparing. Rub firm-skinned produce under running tap water or scrub with a clean vegetable brush while rinsing with running tap water. Separate Cross-contamination is how bacteria spread. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs and their juices away from ready-toeat foods, like salad ingredients. Using separate cutting boards is one way to reduce opportunities for cross-contamination. Cook Temperature matters! Bacteria can survive if foods aren’t cooked to a safe internal temperature. Even an experienced cook can’t
FOOD TURN TO 11
disease in 25 years. Based on these findings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lucentis for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. The Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Eye Study, sponsored in part by the NEI, showed that intensive control of blood glucose and blood lipids, including cholesterol, slows the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Through its National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP), NEI provides free English and Spanish language resources to educate and increase awareness about diabetic eye disease. During American Diabetes Month, NEHEP will expand its year-round efforts in educating people with diabetes about the importance of early detection, with special emphasis on populations at higher risk of vision loss including African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians, and Alaska Natives with diabetes.
VISION TURN TO 11
Series, which offers relatable videos that demonstrate tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair and nails. A new video in the series posts to the Academy website and the YouTube channel each month.
For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888462-DERM (3376) or www.aad. org. Follow the Academy on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology) or Twitter (@ AADskin).
Page 10 • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Insight News
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FULL CIRCLE Four reasons why you should tithe Man Talk
By Timothy Houston As people of faith, we should always seek out opportunities to better understand spiritual principles. This week, I would like to discuss the topic of tithing. The word tithe means a “tenth” of all of your increase (income).Tithing is a biblical principle that was instituted in the Old Testament by God and confirmed by Jesus in the New Testament. It’s primary purpose was twofold, to set apart (consecrate) a tenth of
your income to be used by God (church, temple), and to assist in providing for the material needs and necessities of ministry (outreach, evangelism). Its benefits are both natural and spiritual, and here are 4 spiritual reasons why everyone should tithe. Spiritual reason number one; tithing is a means of being blessed by God. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10). God has a storehouse of blessing and tithing is the key that provides access to them. A person who tithes is like a farmer happily
planting seeds into the ground knowing that he will receive a greater harvest. Although the farmer is not guaranteed a harvest, he yet plants by faith knowing that his labor will not be in vain. Tithing like planting seeds will produce a return greater than what was planted. Spiritual reason number two; tithing demonstrates your ability to manage worldly wealth. Tithing requires you to consider God first (your first fruits). People that spend everything they make, even if they made a million dollars will still not have enough to satisfy them. You demonstrate balance when you pause your spending. People tend to over eat when they don’t take time to allow their food to settle. They overindulge in the very thing that was designed to satisfy
them. The way a person handles what is in their possession will determine what else they can be trusted with. “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11). Tithing serves as a pause in your spending that allows you to weigh your actions against the return on your investment. Spiritual reason number three; tithing is a means of enlarging your territory. Enlarging your territory is a biblical term that means to increase your net worth. This is accomplished through giving. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38a). You set the standard of measurement for yourself by your giving. This is true
for putting money in a savings account or investing in a business opportunity. If you plant / invest in fertile ground, your net worth will increase. Tithing in God is a good investment because he pays high dividends. “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Luke 6:38b).” Spiritual reason number four; tithing is equable. Unlike our tax system where the super rich pay a lesser percentage than their secretaries, with tithing everyone gives the same percentage. This is God’s financial plan for blessing you and the church ministry No one person is asked to do more or less than the next, all give a tenth. Also, this percentage does not increase or decrease with pay increases. Because tithing is equable, you can give it faithfully..
As we move into the season of giving, reevaluate your commitment to support your church or ministry. They need your help. No church, synagogue, temple, or ministry can operate without financial support. Members who give faithfully and equably are an essential part of them being able to carry out their mission and fulfill their vision. Please include them in our season of giving. Your life and your community will be better because of it. Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.
Black Women and the Black Church By Kam Williams “This book explores the Black Church as a black religious site that can offer not only hope and cultural flourishing for poor black women but can also participate in a project of economic justice toward their well-being… Their spirituality is both a catalyst for social interactions
and an interpretive lens used in formulating responses to their harsh political and economic conditions… While capitalist institutions and systems perpetuate impoverishment for so many black women and their children, poverty deeply affects their human personality… Hopelessness within poor black communities is often left unaddressed as poor blacks are blamed for their own
poverty… Poverty is produced and reproduced when the poor are locked out of America’s wealthproducing structures… My overall goal is to evaluate the social implications of black women’s poverty in this country and offer an understanding of thriving that can address their suffering and alienation.” -- Excerpted from the
Introduction (pgs. 3, 4, 8 & 10) In this age of mega-churches and prosperity theology, it is natural to wonder how many members of the black clergy even bother to minister to the needs of the least of the their brethren anymore. That question came to intrigue Professor Keri Day, Director of Black Church Studies at Brite Divinity School, after noting that Christianity is now
a very different experience for sisters, depending on their social class. While many black females have been fortunate enough to make the leap to the middle and upper-classes, the bulk remain poor with less and less hope for deliverance from their plight. In her book, Unfinished Business, Dr. Day outlines a plan to return to the times when poverty was a primary concern of the Black Church. Annotated and academic in tone, this informative opus struck this critic as written more for a college-educated crowd than a mass audience. That being said, the feminist author does approach her subject-matter with an admirable zeal, making a case on behalf of not only black females but of women of any ethnicity who find themselves on the outside looking-in when it comes to capitalism. For instance, she refers to
the Welfare System as the “New Jane Crow” because it fails to address structural inequities in the American economy. That’s why she calls upon the Church to address a culture that “stigmatizes poor black women as deviant.” Dr. Day’s fervent hope is that “By promoting sociallyconscious capitalism among black businesses and capitalists, black churches can develop a theology of holistic prosperity that considers the thriving of all members within society.” Sadly, that’s apt to prove easier said than done in the face of an economic system all too comfortable with exploiting the human condition. Unfinished Business: Black Women, the Black Church and the Struggle to Thrive in America by Keri Day Orbis Books Paperback, $28.00 190 pages ISBN: 978-1-57075-981-9
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Insight News • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Page 11
Byron Cage: Ministering God’s Word through music By Teria Rogers Special to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspaper On a recent Thursday, evening at Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Washington, music minister Byron Cage counted down the tasks he needed to complete in preparation for an evening service. On this particular night, he readied for a special men’s worship service featuring Bishop Walter Scott Thomas and his men’s choir from New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, Md. “This is the calm before the storm. In the next 15 minutes it’s going to get extremely busy,” Cage said rushing out of his office and heading for a nearby staircase. For 15 years, Cage has served
Byron Cage
NNPA
at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. He also continues to write and record music. “I direct two choirs there [Saint Paul’s] and two choirs here,” he said in an interview at Ebenezer. “Rehearsals are Monday at Ebenezer, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Richmond…I spend two Sundays here and two Sundays there.” His busy life, which includes rushing up and down I-95 between Richmond and suburban Maryland, requires organization and scheduling. As he spoke, he inspected the choir stand at Ebenezer to ensure that it was ready for the night’s visitors. “When I came to Ebenezer, I was able to develop a new sound because they were very traditional,” he said. “Now we do everything from praise and worship to hymns, anthems and spirituals.”
Besides his church work, Cage is a chart-topping gospel artist. He has released nine albums, the most recent, “Memoirs of a Worshipper,” in June. The current single, “Great and Mighty,” is currently number 10 on the gospel singles charts. He has been nominated and won several awards, including six Stellar Awards. The work as a church music minister is not as glamorous as his life as a top gospel artist. On this evening, he had the responsibility of opening the door to the choir room for Ebenezer’s King’s Men Choir and the adjoining room for the men’s choir of New Psalmist Baptist Church. He steamed clothes, inspected the choir performance area, checked dates for the men’s choir at Ebenezer, practiced a new arrangement of the hymn, the Lord’s Prayer, and updated details of an upcoming
church visit. “We are wearing our blue bowties on Sunday,” he informed the Ebenezer men’s choir members. “If you don’t have one please see Brother Jefferson.” Cage said his priorities include extending his work into radio and television. He has also been tapped to do the Sunday afternoon program on Praise 104.1 gospel radio in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Cage is working on a book, his first praise and worship conference and reality TV projects. “It’s been a great journey,” he said. “I am hosting my 50th birthday party next month and I’m just grateful to be around and as relevant as I have been in this industry. I’m certainly not complaining. I have three jobs when everybody is still looking for work. I just gotta take my adult naps when I can.”
at Ebenezer under the leadership of Rev. Grainger Browning Jr. and Rev. Jo Ann Browning, helping to drive membership of
the megachurch to more than 12,000. As if that didn’t keep him busy enough, Cage earlier this year accepted a similar post
in these tactics. Over the last several years, the Insurance Federation of Minnesota, which represents most property insurers operating in Minnesota, has worked hard to pass legislative changes that will crack down on these deceptive and fraudulent practices. Thanks to these new laws, contractors can no longer offer inducements like the socalled ‘free roof’ or yard sign allowances. And, consumers can now cancel a contract from a storm chaser within 72 hours for any reason (the old law didn’t
allow ANY cancellations). These changes benefit legitimate local contractors as well as consumers whose homeowners’ insurance rates are increasing because of fraudulent practices that used to be allowed. While these changes are helpful, our state needs to take more action to protect policyholders from higher than average premium increases and it can be done through a relatively simple legislative change. Right now Minnesota is the only state in the nation that forbids insurers from raising rates
or non-renewing coverage for policyholders that have multiple weather related claims. In every other state, these high-risk policyholders are able to be placed in an insurance mechanism where their much larger than average losses can be absorbed into a larger pool which can better manage the higher risk. In Minnesota, lowerrisk policyholders are subsidizing higher-risk policyholders (who have filed multiple weatherrelated claims) because of our unique laws. If we can bring this important underwriting tool to Minnesota,
we might be able to help prevent this unfair cost shifting. What happens in a state where a broken homeowner’s insurance market isn’t fixed? Florida is an excellent example. After years of substantial hurricane losses and a government unwilling to adopt common sense reforms, most insurers were forced to leave. Now, the State of Florida is the source of almost all the state’s homeowners’ insurance coverage and not surprisingly, politics plays a major role in rate setting. The state has vastly under-reserved for major losses by tens of billions of
dollars. And when the next major hurricane hits, Florida might easily plunge into deep financial trouble. Thankfully, Minnesota’s political leaders are more thoughtful than those in Florida. Our insurance situation, while not as dire as Florida’s, is more easily fixable. With a strong crackdown on fraud and a fairly simple underwriting change, we can remedy an unfair result and hopefully bring the cost trend more toward its historic average. This would be welcome news for Minnesota consumers.
Food
a temperature chart at www. holidayfoodsafety.org.
From 9
Chill The holiday celebration is great -- and even better if you have delicious leftovers. Just remember to enjoy them within four days. Bacteria spread fastest at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so
chill food promptly -- within two hours -- at a refrigerator temperature of 40 degrees or below. Appliance thermometers are inexpensive and can help you monitor your refrigerator’s temperature.
Learning how to cook a turkey safely may be one of the biggest holiday meal challenges. Never thaw your turkey on the counter. Turkeys are best thawed in the fridge. So allot plenty of real estate to your turkey before your celebration. If you’re going to stuff your turkey,
stuff safely. Cook stuffing to a minimum temperature of 165 degrees, whether inside or outside of the bird. Visit www. Holidayfoodsafety.org, for a complete guide to the safe handling, preparation, serving, and leftover storage of your holiday turkey. You’ll also find
guidelines on turkey size, how to thaw a turkey and cooking times. By taking precautions to prepare food safely, you can ensure that bacteria won’t be guests at your holiday celebration.
Insurance
From 6 unscrupulous inducements to homeowners who sign a repair contract (like the ‘free roof’ offer to pay a homeowner’s insurance deductible). These firms often try to do more work than necessary, charge at the highest end of the rate spectrum and are generally not around if something later goes wrong with the repair. Local contractors usually don’t engage
tell if food is cooked safely by how it looks, so use a food thermometer to ensure you’re cooking turkeys, ham, egg dishes and other foods to a safe internal temperature. Download
Business
From 4 and The Lou Rawls/UNCF Parade of Stars. Brown served as an adjunct professor at Howard University and in 1959 started as a wholesaler representative for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. In 1980, Brown was named vice president of Marketing Development and made responsible for community outreach and a corporate liaison to the various ethnic communities. He currently lives in Houston and
Vision From 9 In addition to using traditional and social media outlets to reach people with diabetes, NEHEP is also encouraging health professionals to refer patients with diabetes for annual dilated eye exams. NEHEP is providing community-based organizations and community health workers with culturally appropriate resources and teaching tools to educate people with diabetes about the lack of early warning
has received several honors and awards throughout his distinguished career, including the Presidential Award from the National Conference of AfricanAmerican Mayors in 1994; and the Alpha Psi Alpha Fraternity Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Budweiser’s Great Kings of Africa Mirrored Signs are available on e-Bay for $119.90. (William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and available for projects via the BaileyGroup. org)
signs associated with diabetic eye disease and how important it is to make annual eye exams a routine part of diabetes selfmanagement. To learn more about NEHEP resources and to obtain materials, visit http://www.nei. nih.gov/nehep. To help a friend or family member learn more about diabetic eye disease, get tips on finding an eye care professional or find organizations that may be able to provide financial assistance for eye care, visit h t t p : / / w w w. n e i . n i h . g o v / diabetes.
Bring on the Bird
Page 12 • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Insight News
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PUZZLES ANSWERS TURN TOO 12
Theme: Thanksgiving ACROSS 1. Necklace feature 6. *He moved Thanksgiving Day to extend holiday shopping season 9. Hurries or moves fast 13. Swahili, Zulu and other languages 14. Bard’s “before” 15. X-ray generator 16. The dish ran away with this
17. Swedish shag rug 18. Second most-populous country 19. *Presidential offering to a turkey 21. *He designated last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day 23. Creme de cassis plus wine 24. Every which way 25. Water tester 28. Relative of a gull 30. Sans clothes, as a social practice 35. Humming noises 37. Gives a helping hand 39. Lecterns 40. Left behind by a mosquito 41. Found under a bowl or dish 43. Done to an iPod 44. It’s good, according to Gordon Gekko 46. *Most put this up around Thanksgiving time 47. Kill, as in dragon 48. Paid close attention 50. Possesses 52. Fleur-de-___ 53. Any time now 55. Gymnast’s goal 57. *Seafood at first Thanksgiving 61. *It also celebrates Thanksgiving, but on different day than U.S. 64. Plural of #58 Down 65. Dance-around-the-pole month 67. Game outcome 69. Active or lively 70. Proof of age, pl. 71. Bay window 72. Egg yellow 73. Army bed 74. Kidney-related DOWN 1. *It airs Thanksgiving Day football and 60 Minutes 2. Nomadic people of northern
Scandinavia 3. Dwarf buffalo 4. Baby carrier? 5. Presidential debate analyst, e.g. 6. Little girl in “Charlotte’s Web” 7. Sometimes used to describe humor 8. Camelot to King Arthur, e.g. 9. Zn 10. ____-European language 11. Jack and Jill went to fetch this 12. Diagnostic test 15. Make a connection 20. Companion of Artemis 22. Charge carrier 24. Metal support for logs in fireplace 25. *Good place to check turkey temperature 26. Grossly unconventional 27. Roast host 29. Heavy Metal band Quiet ____ 31. Sleep in a convenient place 32. Tennyson’s poem, e.g. 33. Red Sea peninsula 34. *Thanksgiving Parade host 36. Lose one’s coat 38. Multitude 42. Woman who talks too much, Yiddish 45. “Cease and ______” 49. They said their “I ___” 51. Metal detector, e.g. 54. Relating to ohms 56. Mother-of-pearl 57. All-in-One Printer button 58. Three-layer cookie 59. Game show “Let’s Make a ____” 60. *Turkey is cut with a carving knife and ____ 61. Benign lump 62. Knock off or get rid of 63. Domain or field 66. Commotion or fuss 68. Architectural add-on
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Insight News • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Page 13
COMMENTARY Deliriously happy because Obama will be President Nobody Asked Me
By Fred Easter Nobody asked me but I am monumentally relieved and deliriously happy to have “four more years”. Deliriously happy because Obama will be President for the next four years, and relieved because Mitt Romney won’t. The thought of Romney and Ryan “running” the country made my blood run cold. And, as the more specific details of
the election are teased out, my delirium turns to euphoria. Even though Republican controlled Legislatures around the country successfully gerrymandered their way to control of the House, Democrats still control the Senate. Obama swept 7 of 8 “battleground states”. The Romney/Ryan plan to eviscerate Medicare and Social Security and open the door to “self-deportation” did not play well in Florida. Transvaginal Mesh patches and “children of rape as God’s will” did not play well with women. De-regulation and the privatization of Social Security, Medicare and every major revenue stream played well to billionaires and the lions
of industry. But, sadly, there aren’t enough of them; and their threats to employees about “Obama victory lay-offs” didn’t work. So, in my opinion, here we are, with at least two important tasks facing us, if we are to fully enjoy the fruits of our victory. We must get to work finding and supporting the congressional candidates who can successfully complete the sweep and bring us a Democratic House in 2014. The lesson of 2010 is that if we rest on our laurels, we get to watch Obama try to fight for us while handcuffed by Republicans in Congress. We have proven, even to the most skeptical Republican pollsters, that we can be a force at the polls.
Now we must target potentially vulnerable Congresspersons of both parties. Support one and attack the other. All the pride that Obama’s election brought us in ’08 evaporated with what appeared to be a signal of the electorate’s change of mind in ’10. Off year elections often swing back. Previous winners get complacent and smug while losers are stung into redoubling their efforts. We must also clamor, in the loudest possible way, for a resumption of the Clinton level tax rates for all those earning more than $250k annually. Obama ran on it and we voted our agreement. I’d actually argue that there ought to be an additional 5% tax hike for
folk making over 2 million a year. Think of all the money they gleefully spent trying to influence this campaign. Heck, if half of that is paid in taxes, they’ll have a better year than they just did and we’ll be that much closer to paying down the deficit. So, let’s all write our elected officials. Give them the mail muscle to stand firm in their negotiations. They’re always talking about what “The American People want”. Let’s tell them, in the clearest terms possible, that taxes need to go BACK up. We’re not raising taxes on the rich. We are letting a tax BREAK expire that THEY got some years ago, when GEORGE W had Clinton’s surplus to play with.
Another thing: If the war in Afghanistan were to end tomorrow, we’d have increased resources to devote to the deficit, education, infrastructure and alternative sources of energy. Truth is, the American people are not now, nor have they ever been clamoring for any particular result in Afghanistan other than bringing our sons and daughters home safe and sound. And, if we’d been asked, we’d have said that no result there, or in Iraq, was worth trillions of dollars and the broken bodies and wasted lives of thousands of our brave young people. Let’s build our own nation. We have the right leadership with which to undertake that task.
Moving forward for children Child Watch
By Marian Wright Edelman Americans committed to keep moving forward turned out in record numbers to vote in the battleground states. But we won’t be able to go forward until Congress sits down and makes the hard decisions to create a just budget that invests in children, our poorest group of Americans, and creates jobs for their struggling parents while making sure those who have benefited from huge tax cuts pull their weight. Exit polls have made clear that the majority of Americans— Democrats, Independents, and many Republicans alike—agree that the richest Americans and corporations need to pay their fair share. For all those who voted, our work and duty is not done. We need to make sure to tell the President and Congress to “be very careful what you cut” and make our voices heard now and for as long as necessary. Children, the poor and the middle class cannot afford more devastating cuts and instability as they continue
to struggle against hunger, homelessness, joblessness, and loss of summer school and regular school days as a result of this long economic downturn. To move forward, America’s security and prosperity depend on our children’s ability to drive the economy of the future. If a majority of them cannot read and compute at grade level in fourth, eighth and 12th grade, we will not have a strong economy. The leaders now facing crucial budget decisions must craft budget solutions that will protect the already porous safety nets on which so many children and families rely, and invest in the health, early childhood development and education of our children. To achieve long term growth for America, any solution must: (1) protect investments serving children and low income families; (2) invest in children which will create desperately needed jobs; and (3) ensure that the wealthiest Americans and corporations pay their fair share. The fundamental principle of protecting children and other vulnerable populations has been a cornerstone of deficit reduction since the bipartisan Balanced Budget Act of 1985. Every automatic budget cut mechanism of the past quarter century has exempted core low-
Cutting children in the budget now will cost us all more later. income assistance programs from any cuts triggered when budget targets or fiscal restraint rules were missed or violated. The American people still strongly support this principle. Recent polling conducted by the Pew Research Center showed almost 60 percent of Americans oppose cutting spending for anti-poverty programs. A Public Opinion Strategies poll showed even larger numbers of likely voters oppose cuts to Medicaid (73 percent) or education programs (75 percent). Cutting children in the budget now will cost us all more later. Eliminating the Earned Income Tax Credit now would increase child poverty 23 percent in the future. Since
A post-election mobilization agenda Opinion
By Julianne Malveaux After we savor the feeling of sweet success that comes from President Barack Obama’s election, there is work to do. Most of us got the outcome that we both worked and hoped for, but we have to resist the temptation to exhale and get on with our work. Before the president takes the oath of office for a second time, African Americans should mobilize around these issues: Sequestration. Unless the Democrats and Republicans can cut a deal during the lame-duck session of Congress, our budget will be cut automatically. While House Speaker John Boehner has softened his tone just a bit and indicated his willingness to compromise, he still has to herd his Tea Party colleagues into also agreeing on ways to avoid sequestration. The notion of cutting expenditures at a time of slow economic growth makes no sense. Neither does sequestration, a desperate move to avoid a compromise. What do we need to address the deficit? A long-term plan that takes economic cycles into account. Poverty. Tavis Smiley and Cornel West spent much of this fall on a poverty tour, rising up the 27 percent of African Americans who live in poverty. This contrasts with the Middle Class Tax Force that President Obama has asked Vice President Biden to lead. It would be great
if the president would form a task force to reduce or eradicate poverty, and he might do so if he were urged to. Meanwhile, as the holidays approach, keep the poor in your community in mind, and find a local charity to sponsor. State and local elections. Presidential elections seem to suck all of the air out of the political landscape, and rightly so. We elect a president only every four years, and his (maybe one day her) focus have longterm implications. But so do city council, school board and mayoral elections. Many are held in off years so that local candidates don’t get swallowed in the national hype. It’s a great time to get involved in these elections or even consider running yourself. Voting is literally the least you can do, not the most you can do. Failing to engage in full civic participation cedes your choices to others who are engaged. The housing crisis. Despite action at the national level, many banks are dragging their feet rather than offering modifications for under water mortgages. Just a fraction of those who qualify for these mortgages have been offered them by their banks. Congress probably can’t deal with this issue during a lame duck session, but it is certainly time for people to get together to reverse this trend. The problem: Too many of us are ashamed to talk about our financial status, thinking it’s a personal problem instead of a structural problem. The solution: Consider involving a state legislator or local leader in developing a workshop for those who are under water. Get bankers there to explain why so many have not been offered loan mortifications. Take the results to your congressperson and ask
them to act on it. Parent plus loans and other higher education issues. While the federal government provides an opportunity for students to have parents borrow for their tuition, the federal government has tightened requirements on the loan to the point that nearly half of those who qualified last year do not qualify any more. The result? Thousands of student, especially at HBCUs have the choice to pay up or get out. Or, the other choice is for colleges to “carry” these students. This is a bad idea when regulators judge colleges, especially historically Black colleges, by fiscal stability. Speaking of education, this is a challenging time for HBCUs to experience cuts in Title III and other federally-sponsored programs. In a second Obama term, issues affecting HBCUs should be high on the list of things our president must pay attention to. The African American community. African Americans have been President Obama’s most loyal supporters. When will we get the attention we deserve? We can’t meekly ask for it, we have to demand it. With high Black unemployment rates, challenged inner city employment possibilities, and high dropout rates, our community is in desperate need of attention. The location of one federally funded new state-of-the-art high school, with both honors programs and job-training programs, can make a real difference in inner cities. Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.
poor children are more likely to drop out of high school, they are less likely to find steady work as adults. Paying for each year of high school dropouts costs us more than $125 billion over the course of their lifetimes. Eliminating early education investments now would
increase a little boy’s chance of going to prison later in life by 39 percent. Incarcerating that child will cost us nearly three times more a year than it would have cost to provide him a quality early learning experience. Cutting just $4,000 of Medicaid and food stamps from a girl in a low-income family negatively impacts her health and nutrition. This can lead to poor performance in school which increases her chances of getting pregnant as a teenager. And paying for teen pregnancies costs all of us $10 billion a year. While unwise cuts cost us more in the long run, economists agree that investing in children promotes economic growth. For example, investments in education that raise high school graduation rates have been shown to yield a public benefit of $209,000 per student in higher
government revenues and lower government spending, and an economic benefit to the public purse that is 2.5 times greater than the costs. With more than 16.1 million children in America – more than one in five of all children and more than one in three children of color – living in poverty, special efforts must be made to address the needs of these most vulnerable among us. Poor children lag behind their peers in many ways beyond income: they are less healthy, trail in emotional and intellectual development, are less likely to graduate from high school and to find steady work as adults, and are more likely to head poor families. Every year we keep these millions of children in poverty costs our nation at least half a trillion dollars in lost
CHILDREN TURN TO 15
Page 14 â&#x20AC;˘ November 19 - November 25, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ Insight News
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COMMUNITY Calendar â&#x20AC;˘ Classifieds Send Community Calendar information to us by email: info@insightnews.com, by fax: 612.588.2031, by phone: 612.588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411. Free or low cost events preferred. EVENTS The Council on Crime and Justice is moving temporarily! While the current location at 822 S. 3rd Street is under construction, The Council on Crime and Justice will be working at a new location in Golden Valley and expect to return in approximately 6 months. Effective October 26th, the mailing address is: Council on Crime and Justice, 1109 Zane Avenue North, Golden Valley, MN 55422. The phone numbers and email address will remain the same. If you have questions, please contact us at 612-3533000 or info@crimeandjustice. org Register for Winter Term at Camden Music School Registration opens Monday, November 12 for Camden Music Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Winter Term, January 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 15. All ages, abilities and experience levels welcome. CMS offers vocal and instrumental lessons, Musikgarten early childhood music classes (newborn to age 8), ensembles, music theory, songwriting and more! Scholarships and family discounts are available. Scholarship application deadline: 5pm Friday, December 28. Classes in Camden: Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 3751 Sheridan Ave. N., 55412. CMS in Northeast Minneapolis:
Write a better holiday letter Nov. 19 If family holiday letters are part of your year-end routine, join Twin Cities Daily Planet editor Mary Turck Monday, Nov 19, 6:30pm-8pm, 2600 Franklin Avenue E. Suite 2 Mpls., MN 55406 for a workshop and get a good start on this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with an emphasis on storytelling, but also tips and tricks for incorporating photos and designs. Whether you use traditional print-and-mail letters or want to go paper-free and online, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get you started. Tuition for this workshop is $10; scholarships are available upon request. Space is limited! Register now at The DataBank. Wind Ensemble: Blockbuster Evening with Frank Ticheli Nov. 20 Guest composer Frank Ticheli joins the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble as guest composer for regional premieres of two new works, Concerto for Clarinet featuring Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet, and Songs of Love and Life, featuring D.M.A. voice student Jennifer Olson. Also receiving its regional premiere will be Rioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Convergence by Justin Freer. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20 at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 4th St. S., Minneapolis. There will be an open preconcert talk beginning at 7 p.m. Sponsored by the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Music, the event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit events. umn.edu/021787 or contact Lisa Marshall at mus-ppr@umn.edu or (612) 626-1094.
Phone: 612.588.1313
2013 Local and Emerging Legend Awards Deadline Nov. 23 The nominations are now open for the 2013 Local and Emerging Legend Awards. Each year during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast, we honor three people who are actively involved in their communities, demonstrating Dr. Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to nonviolent social change. The Local Legend award honors those with a legacy of service. The Emerging Legend award was inaugurated in 2009 to honor a young person for his or her outstanding volunteer service. Both nomination forms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; due Nov. 23, 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are available online at http://www.mlkbreakfast.com/ LocalLegends/Default.aspx. BLACK FRIDAY @ MIA Nov. 23 Minneapolis Institute of Arts Inspiring Wonder through the Power of Art Friday, November 23. - Doors open at 6 a.m. Doorbuster specials and free exhibition admission from 6 to 7 a.m. SEE â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legacy http://www.artsmia.org/ terracotta-warriors,â&#x20AC;? presented by JPMorgan Chase, for free, and GRAB $2 doorbuster specialsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;valued at $20â&#x20AC;&#x201D;at the Museum Shop from 6 to 7 a.m. ENJOY free coffee. Minneapolis Institute of Arts (http://www. artsmia.org) 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404. For more information call (612) 870-3000. Food writers workshop with Jeremy Iggers Nov 27 Writing about food is a way of writing about a lot of thingsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; people, pleasure, culture, travel, adventure, ethics and yourself. Whatever your approach may be,
Fax: 612.588.2031
this workshop is an opportunity to talk and learn about the challenges of the craftâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from finding the right word to finding the right publisher. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll combine the conversation with a shared food experienceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a simple communal meal at Pagoda in Dinkytown Tuesday, Nov 27, 7pm-9pm, 1417 S.E. 4th St., Minneapolis, MN 55414. Participants will be encouraged to publish their writing in TCFoodies, the food section of the Twin Cities Daily Planet. If there is sufficient interest, this may become a monthly event, with the opportunity to share work between sessions. Cost is $25 per person, including dinner and course fee, but not including gratuity or beverages. Space is limited; register at The DataBank. Hennepin County budget (Truth in Taxation) meeting Nov. 27 Hennepin County will hold a public meeting on the proposed 2013 budget and property tax levy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; commonly called the Truth in Taxation meeting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27, in the County Board Room on the 24th Floor of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. Sixth St., in downtown Minneapolis. Hennepin is proposing a 2013 budget of $1.75 billionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;1.2 percent more than the 2012 budget â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and a .93-percent increase in the net property tax levy. The budgets and levies for the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority and Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority also will be discussed at the meeting. For more details, go online to www.hennepin.us/hcbudget. Contact the Hennepin County Clerkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office to sign up if you wish to speak: 612-348-4019.
Answers From 12
Email: info@insightnews.com
Free parking is provided for residents testifying at the meeting if they park in the Government Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s underground ramp after 4:30 p.m. The ramp entrance is on Third Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets. Meet the newly elected MPS School Board Members Nov. 28 Come find out what the newly elected Minneapolis Public School Board members hope to accomplish in their new term and what that will mean for you on Wednesday, November 28 / 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, Thomas Edison High School Media Center700 22nd Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN. Community members will have a chance to speak with each school board member to pose their questions, express their concerns, and relate the issues most important to them this school year. Come prepared to ask your specific questions about the membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plans for the new MPS school board term. To learn more, contact Marika Pfefferkorn at 612-455-1570 or mpfefferkorn@achievempls.org. November Social Media Clinic Nov. 29 Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Pinterestâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;wherever you are online, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a little confused, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not alone! Come to our monthly social media clinics at the Daily Planet office and get a hand from Twin Cities Daily Planet associate editor Jay Gablerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; in addition to connecting with other community members and sharing your own best practices. Our social media clinics are meant to help you successfully navigate your way through the online forest of information, and to reach the communities you want to reach for your nonprofit, small business, or personal interests. Thursday, Nov 29, 4pm-6pm, 2600 Franklin Avenue E. Suite 2 Mpls., MN 55406. Please pre-register at https:// www.thedatabank.com/dpg/262/ donate.asp?formid=TCMEvent&c=2301488. Bring your laptopâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;wi-fi is available. If you want to participate but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a laptop, inquire with us; we may be able to provide you with a computer for the session. MACYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 50TH ANNUAL SANTALANDÂŽ Nov. 17 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dec. 24 Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th Annual SantalandÂŽ will delight guests of all ages. Santa Claus will make his annual appearance November 17th through December 24th to gather the holiday wish lists of children across the land. As you make your way to meet Santa, experience the animated story of Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elves at the North Pole as they prepare for Christmas. Once you meet with Santa, be sure to ask his elves about the various photo packages available. Throw your coins and dollars into the Make-A-WishÂŽ Wishing Well and help childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wishes come true with donations going to the local chapter of the Make-AWish Foundation. After meeting Santa, guests will find Mrs. Clausâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; holiday bakery, which includes fresh gingerbread cookies and other holiday treats, as well as Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Toy Shop filled with family friendly gifts. Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Downtown Minneapolis, 8th Floor, Auditorium.
Pinkberry Grand Opening Event at Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mall of America Nov. 19 November 19th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 to 8PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mall of America, 1st Floor, Pinkberry, the number one frozen yogurt brand, will open its first location in the state of Minnesota at Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mall of America. You are invited to a sneak peek of the new store on Monday, November 19! Guests will enjoy FREE yogurt, a live DJ, photo booth and more! Pinkberryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s yogurt flavors, paired with daily fresh-cut Minneapolis Public Schools is holding a fruit and premium Screening & Interview Fair on November 27, 2012 toppings offer an irresistible light and refreshing taste. 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. for the following Local fans who want up-to-the-minute Special Ed Opening/Licensure Areas: news and special offers should sign Â&#x2021; (%' /' '&' (&6( DQG '++ up to be a Pinkberry Â&#x2021; $87,60 Groupie at www. pinkberry.com/signup-form. 7R YLHZ WKH IXOO MRE GHVFULSWLRQ DQG DSSO\ IRU WKHVH SRVLWLRQV
please visit www.mpls.k12.mn.us 7R EH FRQVLGHUHG IRU WKLV RSSRUWXQLW\ SOHDVH FRQWDFW &LHUUD %XUQDXJK DW 6FKHGXOHG WLPHV RQO\ ZDON LQV ZLOO QRW EH DFFHSWHG
Investment to Impact: Aligning O u t c o m e s , Evidence and Evaluation Dec. 12 Greater Twin Cities United Way host
forum focused on measuring the impact of social work in our community. This forum will explore how the social sector is innovating to clearly connect investment with outcomes. Keynote speaker Jitinder Kohli, director of Deloitte Consulting LLP and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress; Kohli will share his perspective on the increasing importance of evidence of impact in nonprofit sectors. From a national perspective, he will discuss the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funding strategy, the U.K model used increasingly by the U.S., and how public investments are now being translated into impact. Wednesday, December 12, 2012, Registration and Breakfast 7:30 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:00 am - Program 8:00 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12:00 pm at the Continuing Education and Conference Center, 1890 Buford Avenue University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus St. Paul, MN 55108. Cost: FREE. United Way web site: http:// unitedfrontmn.org/ A FAMILY CHRISTMAS Dec. 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 15 The Thespian Ministry of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church will present its theatrical production of A Family Christmas, which runs Friday, December 14, 2012 and Saturday, December 15, 2012 at the Capri Theater. The showtimes are 7:00 p.m. each night. Admission is free; however, a freewill offering will be taken at each show. Under the artistic direction of Tamala Holmes Kendrick and Chet Goree, A Family Christmas candidly chronicles the Clinkingscales family when â&#x20AC;&#x153;life happensâ&#x20AC;? that challenges their faith in GOD. The Capri Theater is located at 2027 West Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411. 2012 Festival of Trees â&#x20AC;&#x153;Santa Workshopâ&#x20AC;? Nov. 30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dec. 31 Please register to let us know how you would like to participate in the 1st Annual 2012 Festival of Trees hosted by the African American Historical & Civil Rights Museum. Opportunities available: 4 ft. Tree, 6 ft. Tree, 7 ft. Tree, 8 ft. Tree, Centerpiece, Kwanzaa, Youth Choir(XMAS CAROLS), Youth Ushers, Committee Member, Set-Up, GreetersYouth, Publicity, Special Event Volunteer or Other. To register, please contact Leola Seals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; (612) 644-6100 or Sealee49@ hotmail.com Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Puppet Theater presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moose Crossingâ&#x20AC;? Nov. 22 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dec. 23 Join us as we present an exciting holiday tradition with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moose Crossing,â&#x20AC;? a trio of song-filled tales starring the voices of Julie Andrews, Mario Cantone, John Tartaglia and Walter Cronkite. Shows are Thursdays through Sundays until December 23rd. Tickets are $4 per person and available a half hour prior to each performance. Children under age 2 are free. For hours of Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Santaland or for more information, please call 612.375.2200. 8th Annual Holiday Sing-Along, Craft and Bake Sale Dec. 1 A FUNdraiser for Scholarships at Camden Music School 4pm, Sat., Dec. 1. CMS/Camden: Luther Memorial, 3751 Sheridan Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN. 55412 FREE. A simply delightful, neighborly way to celebrate the season! Proceeds from the craft and bake sale go to the CMS Scholarship Fund, a sponsored project of Our Neighborhood Works, www. ourneighborhoodworks.org. For more information: 612-618-0219 or www.camdenmusicschool. com. Enrollment opens for 2012 / 2013 Saint Paul Citizenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Police Academy Dec 19â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Feb 27 Classes begin Dec. 19 and continue through Feb. 27on Wed. evenings 6:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:30pm. 25 community members will participate in training modeled after the Police Academy program that police officers complete. No cost to CPA participants. The CPA is not intended to serve as accredited law enforcement courses but merely to provide insight to the internal workings of the police department. Applications due by Oct. 15 are available by calling CPA Coordinator Don Luna at 651. 266.5583.
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Insight News • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Page 15
Suluki Fardan
Protests
Protest From 1 they owe. The money always goes to the CEO!” marchers headed into U.S. Bancorp’s downtown headquarters, then over to Verizon and into Macy’s department store. A recent study by Americans
SHOP From 1 “The program was created back in 2008 right after the mortgage crisis started and it was an attempt to make funding available for people who could no longer afford their mortgages,” said Gary Beatty, vice president of SHOP. “When the mortgage crisis hit, a lot of people were left out in the cold when trying to find traditional financing. Sub-prime (loans) weren’t even available.” Beatty said SHOP focuses its resources on homes in North Minneapolis and in East St. Paul. “These are foreclosed properties that were boarded-up and vacant that we’re trying to get back into the hands of home owners,” said Beatty who said SHOP, with the assistance of licensed contractors, makes sure all homes under contract are up to code – and in many cases – updated with newer features. Some homes are valued at up to $250,000. SHOP is in partnership with the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corp. and Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services. Beatty said the program is a win-win for the home owners
Children From 13 productivity, poorer health, and increased crime. Rather than imposing strict austerity measures without regard for the human consequences, we must invest now in children to prepare them for the future and help create jobs. The Earned Income and Child Tax Credits, supplemental nutrition assistance, work supports like child care and health coverage, and income safety nets like job training are all essential if our children are to escape poverty and be prepared to shoulder America’s economy in the future. Universal high quality pre-kindergarten and kindergarten systems and out of school quality summer literacy and enrichment supports will keep children safe, enable parents to work, stop summer learning loss and better prepare them to succeed in school. Finally, unprecedented and growing income inequality is robbing our children of the equal opportunity that is their birthright and sullying
for Tax Fairness pointed out two corporate CEOs who have milked the federal tax system over the past few years, including Verizon’s Lowell McAdams and Macy’s Terry Lundgren. Verizon payed $0 in federal income taxes from 2008 – 2011, despite $19.8 billion in profits. Macy’s Lundgren saved $1.9 million in personal taxes in 2011 alone as a result of the Bush Tax Cuts. Monday’s marchers
made a point of stopping at both Verizon and Macy’s along their route. Val Rolstad, a special education paraprofessional from Columbia Heights, addressed the harsh impact across-theboard spending cuts would have on children and families if the Bush Tax Cuts were allowed to continue. “The choice is clear. It’s the richest 2% or the rest of us. If the Bush Tax
Cuts continue, we’re going to lose such services as Head Start for low-income children and families, funding for child immunizations and other critical programs that make a difference. I’m urging all members of Congress to do the right thing by the American people.” Ilo Madden a retired United Church of Christ minister from St. Louis Park spoke about the impact to the future of Social
Security if the Bush Tax Cuts are allowed to continue. “Programs such as Medicare and Social Security are vital to middle-class working families. We need a progressive system of taxation in this country, one that works for people not lining the bank accounts of the richest 2%.” Those demonstrating today say ending the Bush Tax Cuts for top-tier earners is not only the fair thing to do, but the best way
to reduce the deficit, protect jobs, educate kids and provide health care for seniors. Should the Bush Tax Cuts be allowed to expire, roughly $1.1 trillion in revenue would be raised over the next ten years to offset automatic budget cuts which would threaten working families by across-theboard spending cuts. Congress resumes negotiations this week as the lame-duck session picks up work post-election.
and the neighborhoods. “Vacant, these homes do nothing for the neighborhood,” said Beatty. “For the home owner, we’re lending to people who wouldn’t regularly qualify for home ownership. They were considered high risk. With our Bridge to Success, we reduce those risks and help to build a person’s credit.” Bridge to Success is a combination of education and counseling that aims to revitalize a person’s credit and increase that person’s ability to borrow when the time comes. Through the program, prospective homebuyers attend homebuyer education classes and work with financial counselors to understand and evaluate a person’s financial picture. Once a homebuyer’s readiness is established, SHOP and the homebuyer will begin the search for a home. Once found, the client will enter into the actual contract for-deed for the property. While in the home, the client will continue to work with a financial coach with the goal of strengthening that person’s finances and ultimately refinancing into a long-term loan. “Before, people were put into a home without an understanding if the home was affordable for the person’s lifestyle,” said
Marcus Manning, a SHOP loan officer. “That’s why we focus on educating the buyer on his or her finances and work with them to create a budget. We want to see the client succeed.” Manning said many of SHOP’s clients have the economic resources to buy a home, but their credit standing will not qualify them for a traditional home loan. “These people are forced to rent – sometimes at higher rates than a mortgage – when really they should be able to buy,” said Manning. Vellvet Jones was one such person. Jones recently went through a divorce and said her credit took a hit when her then husband had a property foreclosed upon. Jones’ name was also on the loan. “This program is helping to build my credit,” said Jones who closed on her contract-for-deed home in April. Jones is now in a three-bedroom 1,600 square foot home in North Minneapolis. Her monthly payments are just above $1,000 a month. “When I was renting I was paying $1,100 for a house I didn’t even want people to visit me at,” said Jones. Manning said the program is vital, especially for the children of clients. He said the stability of living in a home helps a child in school and in his or her social
development. To date, nearly 50 people have enrolled in SHOP. Of that, Beatty said about six have already transitioned into
traditional mortgages. He said that number would be higher, but they are waiting for home prices to rebound following last year’s tornado in North Minneapolis.
To learn more about SHOP, contract-for-deed and the Bridge to Success, visit www.shopmortgage.org.
our nation’s purported values of fair play. Something is awry when our nation’s 400 wealthiest citizens reported as much income in 2008 as the combined tax revenue of 22 states with almost 42 million people. It is time for the richest Americans and corporations to pay their fair share. They do not need another tax cut! In 2010, the lowest 60 percent of taxpayers took in about the same share of income as the highest one percent. That same year, General Electric (GE) earned $14.2 billion in profits and paid no taxes. GE’s combined federal tax breaks of more than $5 billion in 2010 could have funded Head Start for an additional 670,000 preschoolers, creating 67,000 new jobs. Allowing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans to expire on schedule is critical to meeting child needs and achieving a more just society. I urge all of our leaders to fight for justice for children and the poor with urgency and persistence and to be guided by basic principles of fairness in the negotiations ahead: Protect children and low income families from budget cuts that threaten their survival. Invest
in children’s health, early childhood development, and quality education, make work pay through refundable Earned Income and Child Tax Credits, and create jobs, jobs, jobs with decent pay to help end child poverty and enable families to better prepare children for the future. Demand that the richest Americans and corporations contribute fairly and tell Congress that poor children should not be asked to subsidize tax cuts for those who do not need them. Insist that Congress be careful – and just – about what they cut. Be careful what you cut. If our children are not ready for tomorrow, neither is America. Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www. childrensdefense.org. Mrs. Edelman’s Child Watch Column also appears each week on The Huffington Post.
Page 16 • November 19 - November 25, 2012 • Insight News
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