Insight News ::: 11.27.17

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Insight News November 27 - December 3, 2017

Vol. 44 No. 48• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Homecoming

Stokley Williams plays the Ordway Dec. 10 TURN TO PAGE 2

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Page 2 •November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Insight News

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Leading with art:

Homecoming: Stokley Williams to perform at the Ordway Dec. 10 By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor @HarryColbertJr Can it be considered a homecoming when one has never truly left? Now that’s not to say Stokley Williams couldn’t have left. As the old folks say, he could have left every day and twice on Sunday. While many recording artists choose to uproot their lives to be in or near the more traditional recording and entertainment capitals of New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, Williams – like several of his Mint Condition bandmates – chose to live his life as he always has … as a Minnesotan. More specifically, a St. Paul native. And though Williams has performed to sold out crowds in Minneapolis at such locations as the iconic First Avenue, Fine Line Music Café, Dakota Jazz Club and others, performances in St. Paul have been a bit rarer. That changes come Dec. 10 as Williams is set to perform at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, in support of his first solo album, “Introducing Stokley.” Dubbed the “Sonic Healer Tour,” Williams has been playing to packed houses in Chicago, Washington D.C., New York and more. But Williams said the Ordway show is special to him. “There’s something about performing at home;

Photos by Joshua Stewart

Stokley Williams

it’s the people, it’s the energy you get. Plus, with this show people get to see the evolution of me,” said Williams. “This show is about my journey as a person and as an artist. This show is an ode to all the people whose shoulders I stand upon. It’s a snapshot of how I came to be. I’ve been looking to do something like this for some years.” Williams said the show will be a multi-genre performance with a mix of R&B, the blues, rock and music from the African diaspora. In addition to getting to see Williams perform, the audience will get to delight in the sounds of another area artist who has broken out on the national stage. “The Voice” finalist, Jesse Larson, sings and plays guitar as a member of Williams’ band. Larson has been a long-time collaborator with Williams, as his group, #MPLS, often opened for Mint Condition and Williams was known to sit in on occasion with #MPLS. #MPLS drummer, Brandon Commodore, is also the tour drummer for Mint Condition and serves in the same capacity for Williams. Adding to the hometown flavor … and keeping it in the family, #MPLS keyboardist, David Billingsley has joined on as a member of Williams’ band. Tickets for the Dec. 10 performance at the Ordway are $37 - $88 (VIP meet and greet) and are on sale online at www.ordway.org or by calling (651) 224-4222. The concert is an all-ages show.

TRANSFORMATION: Backfilling By Randall Bradley Architect

As of this writing (Nov. 13), construction continues on the Thor Companies project at the corners of Penn and Plymouth Avenues in North Minneapolis. The building begins its initial steps towards enclosure. The foundation walls have been installed on the southernmost façade, next to the duplex at 1229 Oliver Ave. North, at the eastern façade facing the Urban Research and OutreachEngagement Center (UROC) parking lot and along the northern façade, while stepping up to match the grade and elevation changes below the retail shops along Plymouth Avenue. These walls have had one-inch thick rigid insulation installed over the previously applied waterproofing material. These walls will continue their installation until completion, surrounding the perimeter of the entire building at the lower levels. Progress towards the “look” of the building can be seen adjacent to the duplex on Oliver Avenue. Backfilling has begun, and the earth retention scaffolding system has been removed. Soil has been installed and compacted, from the footing up to near street level along this façade. Final grading shall be installed in the spring of 2018. As the soil was installed, it was also compacted. Compaction of the soil removes air-pockets and spaces between the material that would otherwise allow water to penetrate and collect near the footing/foundation walls. Water penetrating any surface of a building is not good, particularly when it is unseen, such as below grade. Compacted backfilling prevents this. Soil grading at the surface will allow for plantings and landscaping. Temporary heating

On Nov. 7 the building began installing fiberglass reinforced poly (plastic) starting at the first floor. This poly sheeting will allow the building to be heated below the formwork for the secondfloor concrete pour. This wrapping and the temporary heaters will create a warm and dry construction area. While this will prevent a cessation of construction activities due to inclement weather conditions, its primary purpose is to heat the poly enclosed space to approximately 90 degrees. This in turn, will heat the formwork and allow the concrete to be poured on a heated surface. As there are subfreezing temperatures during this pour, immediately after the concrete finishers level the surfaces, insulated blankets are placed on top of the concrete. The poly sheeting will

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Despite temperatures dipping into the 20s, work is heating up on the Thor Companies headquarters project at the corners of Penn and Plymouth Avenues in North Minneapolis. follow the vertical climb of the building and the concrete slab pours. While this

sheeting will visually obscure the construction activities, this building will rise as

scheduled, nonetheless. These interior spaces will be dry, as provided by the temporary heaters and may allow for workers to operate in shirt sleeves. The plastic sheeting, while translucent, will diminish the daylighting to the interior spaces but will allow temporary lighting to be installed as needed. Though the building is wrapped, interior construction continues. The concrete installation continues. Concrete is poured all year long. In cold climates, such as ours, after the slab pours, concrete is covered by insulated blankets so that it dries before it freezes. The drying of concrete is a chemical process technically referred to as “curing.” There is water in the concrete mix. Water, with the appropriate application of temperature, can exist as a solid (ice), a liquid, or in a gaseous state

(steam/condensation). Water must be allowed to leave the concrete and not freeze. If concrete freezes, it has no strength and must be removed and replaced. The insulated blankets allow for the condensation to proceed with curing gradually as intended. All of this poly wrapping, temporary heating, formwork warming, insulated blanket procedures and methodologies shall continue throughout these fall and winter months. Fresh concrete was poured on the second floor on Nov. 10. The concrete is now curing appropriately. Architect Randall Bradley is writing a multi-part series on the construction of the new Thor Companies headquarters at the corners of Penn Avenue North and Plymouth Avenue North in Minneapolis.

is partnering with Medtronic to fill 20-30 medical assembly positions • Medtro onic, a global medicaal tech hnologyy, ƐĞƌǀŝŝĐĞƐ ĂĂŶĚ ƐƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ĐĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͕ ŝŝƐ ŚŝƌŝŶ ŶŐ mediical asssem mblers from North Minneapolis and the Ce edar Riverside neighborhood • ϮϬͲϯϬ Ϭ ŵ ŵĞĚŝŝĐĂĂů ĂĂƐƐĞŵďůLJ Ɖ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞĞ at Brooklyn Center facility • WĞŽƉůĞ Ž ŽĨ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ Ě ĚĞƐĐĞŶƚ ĂƌĞ ĞĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ ƚƚŽ ĂƉƉ ƉůLJ

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Insight News • November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Page 3

aesthetically speaking

Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities

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Insight News November 27 - December 3, 2017

Vol. 44 No. 48• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

The mother of Philando Castile is determined to keep a positive light on her son’s legacy

A mother’s pain: Valarie Castile opens up about life without her son By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor @HarryColbertJr Most of us spent last week surrounded by the love of family and friends, recounting the many reasons for which we are thankful … most of us. Valerie Castile was among family and friends, but her son ... her first born … was not there. He will not be there for Christmas either. The holidays are tough on Castile. Each day can be a tough one for her. But despite the pain, she endures, trying to turn tragedy into triumph and ensuring the legacy of her son … Philando Castile … will endure far beyond the 32 years he existed on this plain. Since the July 6, 2016 killing of Philando Castile by then St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez, and the June 16

manslaughter acquittal of Yanez; Valarie Castile has been hard at work evaluating the name of Philando Castile … King. “I always called him King. He was always a king to me,” said Castile in an exclusive interview with Insight News. “I was 26-years-old when I got pregnant with King, and before that, doctors told me I couldn’t have kids. So, to have him here on earth, he was delivered to me by God.” He was taken away in a hail of bullets. The world witnessed his last breaths. “I have to give credit to Diamond. She was supposed to be there to show the world how wicked this system can be,” said Valarie Castile. The Diamond Valarie Castile speaks about is Diamond Reynolds, Philando Castile’s girlfriend, who livestreamed to Facebook the immediate aftermath of Philando Castile

being shot. “I’m telling you this; that video saved that girl’s life and her baby’s life,” said Valarie Castile. “I tell you it did. He (Yanez) stuck his gun in that car and shot with no regard for human life.” Reynolds and her 4-year-old daughter were both passengers of Philando Castile that fateful night when he was pulled over in Falcon Heights, just steps from the Minnesota State Fairgrounds … pulled over for a supposed broken taillight … pulled over for his “wide set nose” … pulled over for the 53rd time. “All the time he was getting pulled over, I was the one getting infuriated. He was always calm. He was the one like, ‘Mom, it will be OK.’ I can only imagine that when he got pulled over (by Yanez) that he was like, ‘hey, this is the routine. I give them my ID and I go about my way.’” Sadly, Philando Castile

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Valarie Castile struggles daily with the loss of her son, Philando Castile, and with the fact that the man responsible for killing him, Jeronimo Yanez, was not punished for the homicide.

State looking to increase supplier diversity

Rep. Fue Lee Assistant Commissioner Alice Roberts-Davis. regardless of size. The state already has a statutory commitment of 25 percent of state purchasing to be done with small businesses, regardless

Commissioner of Administration Matt Massman

STATE DIVERSITY 4

CASTILE 7

Rep. Fue Lee stands with Lucy Laney students against gun violence

New goals will provide an accountability benchmark for both state agencies and vendors

State purchasing goals implemented by the Minnesota Department of Administration (Admin) will provide more opportunities for businesses that have traditionally been underrepresented in state contracting. That is the word from Commissioner of Administration Matt Massman. According to Massman, at least eight percent of all state purchasing will be with certified minority, woman, economically disadvantaged and veteran-owned small businesses. In addition, the state has set a 12 percent goal of overall state purchasing to be with such businesses,

getting pulled over … targeted like many other Black men in America … was routine. Sadder is the reality that this time he didn’t get to go about his way. Yanez unloaded seven shots into the car, killing Philando Castile after Castile volunteered to Yanez that he was legally in possession of a firearm. There are said to be five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. During the Insight News interview, Valarie Castile floated between three of them. She is well aware that her son was taken from her, thus, she has moved past denial. Not once did she allude to any instance of bargaining. Anger? Absolutely … and rightfully so. Depression? Tears trickled down Valarie Castile’s cheeks at multiple times during the more than hour-

After an incident last week involving gun shots outside of Lucy Craft Laney Community School, State Rep. Fue Lee (DFL-59A) is standing with local residents in his North Minneapolis community to stop

the normalization of gun violence. “Our community is really frustrated that these shootings continue to persist, and we’re angry some people think that it’s OK to shoot guns near a school where young children are attending every day. It’s unacceptable and we can’t tolerate it,” said Lee. “I’m also disappointed that our local media isn’t shining a light on this issue impacting our community. We need to be drawing attention to the fact that this isn’t normal. We don’t stand for gunshots at school in North Minneapolis or anywhere else in Minnesota and we need to work together to address it.” In a Facebook post after the shooting, Lucy Craft Laney School Principal Mauri Friestleben wrote, “No

principal training can prep you for ‘They’re shooting.” Lee said he is continuing with legislative efforts to reduce the culture of gun violence, reduce the number of guns on Minneapolis streets and examine the public health risks posed by guns and the costs to communities caused by the trauma of surviving gun violence and living near it daily “It is essential that we reduce the number of guns in our neighborhoods,” said Lee “But this isn’t just about people not getting guns; it’s also about addressing the fact that many people need to heal from the mental and physical trauma of being impacted by gun violence We can’t let this trauma become normal, and we must stand together to stop it.”

Tincher brings a record of progressive policy successes as Chief of Staff to Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith

Mayor-elect Melvin Carter names Jaime Tincher as next deputy mayor of St. Paul St. Paul Mayor-elect Melvin Carter announced the selection of Jaime Tincher as deputy mayor of St. Paul. Tincher comes from the State of Minnesota, where she served as chief of staff to Gov. Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith since 2014. In a statement, Carter said as deputy mayor, Tincher will work to implement his vision of a St. Paul and will be responsible for re-imagining city government to address structural inequalities. “I am honored and grateful

that Jaime Tincher has agreed to bring her talents to serve the people of St. Paul as deputy mayor,” said Carter. “Jaime is a proven leader, and will be an invaluable partner as we build a Saint Paul that works for all of us.” “I thank Mayor-Elect Carter for this opportunity to serve the people of St. Paul,” said Tincher. “Together, we can reimagine the way the City works to make a real difference in the lives of all the people of St. Paul.”

Business

Staging a home for Despite Unequal aTreatment, quick saleBlack Women Will Rise

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As part of her new role, Tincher will lead Mayor-elect Carter’s transition team. Toni Newborn, who currently serves as the Diversity and Consulting Services Manager for St. Paul will also join the transition team to direct the hiring process for positions in the administration. As chief of staff for the governor, Tincher managed the daily operation of state government, an enterprise with more than 34,000 employees.

News 2 Health Insight Mayo researchers Don’t complain, fiactivate nd pathways to treat for advanced prostate cancer

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Saint Paul Mayor-elect Melvin Carter

I2H News

Minnesota War on opioids program hurts sickle cell reaches more disease teens patients traffi cked for sex

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Jaime Tincher

Commentary News

African The Chronicles Ancestry, of Inc. Miss Freedom helping peopleFighter, find Esquire: their roots Ending mass incarceration

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Business Staging a home for a quick sale

Content provided by Deborah Finney Coldwell Banker Burnet Remember the last time you visited a new home development? How did you feel touring the model? Usually, pleasant memories come to mind about how well the home looked. That’s because it was “showcased” properly. Home showcasing is not about remodeling, fixing up or making your home look sterile. Instead, it focuses on simple steps to make your home show

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Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford

Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Abeni Hill Contributing Writers Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker 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.

Ask what buyers are looking for in your community. What are they saying about the homes they don’t buy? And what is it about the homes that are selling that make them so popular? By determining your ideal target buyer, you will better understand how to merchandise your home. Our experience in your specific neighborhood can help you answer all these questions and more.

Strip down and build up The first step is to clear the set. Take out extraneous furniture, decorations, pictures, etc. Take each room down to its most basic form, opening up the living space as much as possible. Then build it back up to the way you want it to look, as simple as possible, and without clutter. Make the strip-down process simpler by stowing packed boxes in a staging area like the garage, or by renting a storage space to hold extra furnishings while your home is on the market. In essence, pack up early.

Aroma therapy

Props When building the set, try to make each room tell a story. Help potential buyers see themselves in each room. A clever arrangement of props will make it easy for buyers to imagine writing a letter at the desk in the kitchen, clicking on the television and enjoying a bowl of popcorn, turning on the stove and preparing a holiday repast. Themes for a room can

Coldwell Banker Burnet

How a home is staged can be the difference between a quick sale or a home waiting on the market. help you narrow down how to display it. You can, of course, stage the room as you use it now, or choose a particular motif, i.e. Southwestern, country style, international, etc. Or you could pick an activity to illustrate on your stage, i.e., relaxed office or library, gourmet cooking, resort

or vacation living. What would you like to do in that room? Place the props needed for those activities throughout the room. Lighting Lots of lights open up a room and give it a larger

appearance. If you’ve been using 50-watt bulbs, move up to 100 watts. If a large living room has only one lamp, move in another. Open curtains and add mirrors. When it’s being shown, the home should be bright. It makes your home look like it’s in center stage.

Almost as important as how a home looks is how it smells. Ask a close friend to walk through your home – objectively – and take a whiff here and there. Are there any offensive odors? Too drab? Stale? Musty? Are there pet odors (which should be fixed; not covered up)? What can you do to impress potential buyers with aroma therapy? When it comes time to sell your home, you’ll want to work with a real estate professional who knows all aspects of the selling process – including showcasing. Call us today to talk about how we can help you display your home to sell for the best possible price.

The economic impact of HBCUs – $14.8 billion annually

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

Do your homework

like a model without spending a lot of money. The secret is setting the stage, which helps potential buyers imagine themselves and their families at home in your “home for sale.”

FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw For too long historically Black colleges and universities have been asked to answer for their very existence. “What is the value of an HBCU?” is an often-asked question. Is that a reasonable question? How many other educational institutions are asked to justify their very existence over and over again? “Why do we need HBCUs?” “Isn’t that about segregation?” The United Negro College Fund has stepped to the plate and answered the question with its new report, “HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of

Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” This report documents a collective $14.8 billion economic impact. It looks at the economic impact on local communities and regions, the country as a whole, and individual students. Here are a few excerpts from the report. In total, the nation’s HBCUs generate $14.8 billion in economic impact annually; that’s equivalent to a ranking in the top 200 on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations. This estimate includes direct spending by HBCUs on faculty, employees, academic programs and operations, and by students attending the institutions, as well as the follow-on effects of that spending. Every dollar in spending by an HBCU and its students produces positive economic benefits, generating $1.44 in initial and subsequent spending for its local and regional economies. Many HBCUs are

in regions of the country where overall economic activity has been lagging, making the colleges’ economic contributions

jobs provided by Oracle, the nation’s 48th largest private employer. Each $1 million initially spent by an HBCU and

Every dollar in spending by an HBCU and its students produces positive economic benefits, generating $1.44 in initial and subsequent spending for its local and regional economies.

to those communities all the more essential. The nation’s HBCUs generate 134,090 jobs in total for their local and regional economies— equivalent to the

State Diversity From 3 of

ownership make-up. “This is the first time the State of Minnesota has established a goal for contract spending dedicated to diverse businesses,” said Massman. “This action sets a clear standard against which the public can hold us accountable, as well as and establishes metrics that state agencies can use to measure supplier diversity. In looking at the data we saw an extreme deficiency in spending with African-American businesses.” In addition to new

its students creates 13 jobs. Today, there are 101 accredited HBCUs, public and private, concentrated in 19 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

purchasing goals, Admin is implementing a new reporting system in which majorityowned businesses will report on their contracting levels with diverse businesses. This Tier II reporting system, which is frequently used in the private sector to drive supplier diversity, will begin on September 1, 2017 for State contracts valued at or above $1 million. “It’s about using better data, but it’s also about changing the culture,” said Massman. “Tier II Reporting has been a proven success in private sector supplier diversity initiatives and is very important to the growth of the state’s program,” said Assistant Commissioner Alice Roberts-Davis. “This reporting

They enroll almost 300,000 students, approximately 80 percent of whom are AfricanAmerican, and 70 percent are from low-income families. The 50,000-plus HBCU graduates in 2014 can expect total earnings of $130 billion over their lifetimes. That’s 56 percent more than they could expect to earn without their college credentials. On an individual basis, an HBCU graduate working fulltime throughout his or her working life can expect to earn $927,000 in additional income due to a college credential. The full report is available online at www.uncf.org/hbcuimpact. Copyright 2017 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw are authors of four books on fundraising available on Amazon.com. For more information visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

will allow the state to emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion with all of our vendors.” Minnesota state law provides for strategies to eliminate historic disparities in state contracting, and promote state contracting with all small businesses. Under Gov. Mark Dayton’s Executive Order 16-01, Admin and its community and state agency partners have implemented a wide variety of improvements that have led to what Massman calls “real increases in diverse contracting.” In total, the state contracts out with some 17,000 businesses for everything from construction to IT services, to cleaning; even down to the purchasing of office supplies such as paper and pens.


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Insight News • November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Page 5

A Federal Court has ordered R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Philip Morris USA, Altria, and Lorillard to make this statement about the health effects of smoking.

• Smoking kills, on average, 1,200 Americans. Every day. • More people die every year from smoking than from murder, AIDS, suicide, drugs, car crashes, and alcohol, combined. • Smoking causes heart disease, emphysema, acute myeloid leukemia, and cancer of the mouth, esophagus, larynx, lung, stomach, kidney, bladder, and pancreas. • Smoking also causes reduced fertility, low birth weight in newborns, and cancer of the cervix.


Page 6 •November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Insight News

Insight 2 Health

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Mayo researchers find pathways to individualized treatment for advanced prostate cancer By Susan Buckles Mayo Clinic ROCHESTER – Researchers at Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine have uncovered genetic clues to why tumors resist a specific therapy used for treating advanced prostate cancer. This discovery can guide health care providers to individualized treatments for castration-resistant prostate cancer, a deadly disease that does not respond to standard hormone therapy. Several U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved therapies are available for castration-resistant prostate cancer, but the treatments affect each patient differently. New research from Dr. Manish Kohli, principal investigator, and Dr. Liewei Wang, laboratory co-principal investigator, has found genetic markers that may predict resistance to the drug abiraterone acetate/prednisone, a treatment aimed at stopping progression of advanced, metastasized prostate cancer. Understanding the genetic markers of tumors and their drug resistance enables health care providers to match a therapy that is likely to succeed on the first try.

New research at the Mayo Clinic has found clues to why tumors resist certain therapy in individual patients. “Prostate cancer is different in every patient.» Said Kohli. «In this groundbreaking study, we explored thousands of genetic characteristics in each tumor, and identified specific genes – for example a set of genes called cell cycle proliferation genes – that now allow us to take an individualized

approach to treatment with this drug. Our observations enhance the development of predictive biomarkerbased strategies for patients with advanced castrationresistant prostate cancer.” The research comes from a study at Mayo Clinic between 2013 and 2015. Whole-exome

DNA sequencing, which looks at all the disease-causing genes, and RNA sequencing, which looks deeply into each individual gene, were performed on metastasized tumors of 92 study participants before treatment. Those same tests were performed again after 12 weeks. Investigators in Wang’s lab also attempted to

grow the patient’s cancer in mice from a piece of the patient’s cancer tissue. Experimental drugs were then tested on cancers that grew in mice. “The discovery of these genetic signals after such an elaborate and extensive evaluation of the patients’ genetic makeup has not been

previously performed,” said Kohli. “Such knowledge can empower physicians to better manage patients with advanced-stage, castrationresistant prostate cancer.” Prostate cancer affects approximately one in seven men in the U.S. – 10 to 20 percent of whom will develop castration-resistant prostate cancer. The average life expectancy at that advanced stage is less than 19 months. “This research is an example of how Mayo Clinic and the Center for Individualized Medicine are transforming patient care through advanced genetic tests to address the unmet needs of our patients with advanced prostate cancer. This discovery is an additional way to customize treatment plans based on a patient’s unique genetic makeup,” said Keith Stewart, Carlson and Nelson endowed director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine and the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak professor of Cancer Research Division of HematologyOncology, Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic researchers are recommending further study to determine which combination of drugs will best overcome drug resistance in patients with these genetic markers.

Mobile and online tools help make donating blood and platelets more convenient

Red Cross offers ways to make saving lives easier than ever The holidays are known for the giving spirit and a hectic pace. This holiday season, the American Red Cross is sharing three ways to give the gift of life in less time. At this time of year many regular blood and platelet donors delay giving due to busy schedules – but the need for blood remains. To help donors fit in a donation, the Red Cross offers three ways to make helping save lives faster and more convenient. Donors can complete their pre-donation reading and health history questions online using RapidPass to save about 15 minutes at their donation. In September, RapidPass became

Shutterstock

The Red Cross is making it easier to give blood with new online apps.

available on mobile devices, giving donors the ability to complete their RapidPass from a smartphone, tablet or computer. Through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, users can find local blood drives and donation centers, schedule an appointment, receive appointment reminders and keep track of total blood donations. Donors can schedule an appointment and find tips for a successful blood or platelet donation at w w w. r e d c r o s s b l o o d . o r g . “The Red Cross is thankful for the generosity of donors who help keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood

products, but we know that the holiday activities that we cherish most can make it difficult for many regular donors to find a moment to donate this time of year,” said Sue Thesenga, communications manager, North Central Blood Services Region. “We hope technologies like online appointment scheduling, the Blood Donor App and RapidPass will make it a little easier for donors to give more life for patients this holiday season.” All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply is available. Appointments can also be made by calling (800) 733-2767.

Healthy Recipes: Roasted salmon with maple glaze Mayo Clinic Staff Dietitian’s tip: This salmon fillet doesn’t need marinating and is ready to roast. The natural richness of salmon is wonderful with the simple maple syrup glaze. If you prefer, remove the skin of the salmon and grill 5 minutes on each side. Baste with the maple glaze as directed. Serves 6 Ingredients 

1/4 cup maple syrup

 1 minced

garlic

clove,

 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar  2 pounds salmon, cut into 6 equal-sized fillets  1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt  1/8 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper  Fresh mint parsley for garnish

or

 Directions Preheat the oven to 450 F. Lightly coat a baking

pan with cooking spray. In a small saucepan over low heat, mix together the maple syrup, garlic and balsamic vinegar. Heat just until hot and remove from heat. Pour half of the mixture into a small bowl to use for basting, and reserve the rest for later. Pat the salmon dry. Place skin-side down on the baking sheet. Brush the salmon with the maple syrup mixture. Bake about 10 minutes, brush again with maple syrup mixture, and bake for another five minutes. Continue to baste and bake until fish flakes easily, about 20 to 25 minutes total. Transfer the salmon fillets to plates. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper, and top with reserved maple syrup mixture. Garnish with fresh mint or parsley and serve immediately. Nutritional analysis per serving Serving size: one fillet Calories 250 Total fat 10 g Saturated fat 1 1/2 g Trans fat 0 g Monounsaturated fat 3 g Cholesterol 83 mg Sodium 150 mg Total carbohydrate 10 g Dietary fiber Trace Added sugars 9 g Protein 30 g

stockvault.net

Roasted salmon with maple glaze is a light, yet flavorful dish.


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Insight News • November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Page 7

State calls on communities to combat sex trafficking

Minnesota program reaches more teens trafficked for sex An evaluation of the state’s Safe Harbor Program has found most at-risk and sexually exploited youth in the program reported feeling more hopeful and better prepared for the future. Wilder Research has completed its second evaluation of Minnesota’s Safe Harbor program, a statewide system for helping atrisk and sexually exploited youth that went into full effect in 2014. The Safe Harbor evaluation report found that from April 2015 to June 2017, Safe Harbor grantees provided services to 1,423 youth and young adults – a significant increase from the 359 youths and young adults served during the program’s first year of operation. About 60 percent of Safe Harbor participants are from Greater Minnesota. Throughout the state, the average age of participants was 16. In the first years of the initiative, the age cutoff for obtaining Safe Harbor services was 18. In July 2016, the age cutoff increased to 24. Most participants in the program are female (83 percent), but more than 150 male youth participated as well. White youth and young adults comprised 37 percent of the participants, followed by 26 percent African/ African-American, 14 percent multiracial, and 9 percent American Indian/Alaska Native. Program impacts include increased awareness of sex trafficking, increased housing options for youth and improved law enforcement response, and youth reporting improved feelings of hopefulness and satisfaction with the services they received. “Minnesota’s Safe Harbor

Castile From 3 long sit-down. Acceptance? That is a tricky one. How does one truly accept the loss of a child? Yes, she has accepted that her days will continue on with the memories of her son, but not hearing his voice … not seeing his smile … not feeling his touch. More to the point, how does one accept the fact that the person responsible for the death of a beloved son was not brought to justice? “That trial was a sham. It

exploited and/or trafficked.” At the request of the Minnesota Legislature, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office developed the Safe Harbor Protocol Guidelines in partnership with the Sexual Violence Justice Institute at the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Safe Harbor plans to roll out the protocols through community partners including Safe Harbor grantees. In September, MDH awarded eight grants to regional navigators. Regional navigators

throughout Minnesota are the main points of contact for sexually exploited youth and concerned agencies. Navigators connect youth with services, build regional capacity to respond to sexual exploitation and serve as regional experts for communities. They provide training and technical assistance and assist with developing protocols. Safe Harbor has also added five new supportive services grantees and now has 10 housing grantees across the state. The

Minnesota Department of Health works in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to help youth and ensure they are treated as victims and survivors, not criminals. Recent changes in state law allow youth to receive counseling, safe housing, legal protection, medical and mental health services, and substance abuse treatment. A hotline is available for those in need. That number is (866) 223-1111.

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Safe Harbor program hopes seeks to help victims of sex trafficking in Minnesota. law is a model for the nation and is helping more of our young people who are victims of sex trafficking,” said Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger. “We need to build on this program’s success by working in our communities to provide our youth better opportunities and a way forward that does not involve sexual exploitation.” To help communities prevent sex trafficking, the State of Minnesota and partners have created the Safe Harbor Protocol Guidelines – a 300-plus page document that provides communities a set of strategies for combatting sex trafficking. The Safe Harbor Protocol Guidelines include guidance about directly serving youth and also describe how to set up partnerships, systems and procedures for preventing and

dealing with sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. For example, the guidelines advise a community how to set up a response team including representatives from law enforcement, child protection, health care, prosecution, other county human services and community-based advocacy. “We are really proud of the collaborative effort we led, on behalf of our state, to engage hundreds of community-based stakeholders, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and other system professionals throughout Minnesota in creating these guidelines,” said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. “We hope this will be a helpful resource for local communities as they work to enhance their Safe Harbor protocols and local response to better identify and serve youth who have been sexually

was pitiful. When that jury came back not guilty I was victimized again that day,” said Valarie Castile, with a tone of both anger and sadness. “That trial was an illusion. It was strictly for show. That (Philando) was my seed … he was mine and no man had the right to take him from me.” In accepting what has been done, Valarie Castile is working every day to exalt the legacy of Philando Castile … a beloved figure in the St. Paul Public Schools. Valarie Castile has formed the Philando Castile Relief Foundation – a foundation established to help other victims of gun violence, and to help others in need. In addition to

her works, the Philando Feed Fund was established and has raised more than $80,000 to assist with providing meals to underprivileged students in the St. Paul School District. As a food services worker for the district, Philando Castile was known to come out of his own pocket to buy food for students who otherwise would have gone hungry. Valarie Castile says she has a duty to work on Philando Castile’s behalf. “Life is a journey, and everybody is here for a reason. We all have a destiny,” said a resolute Valarie Castile. “We all witnessed Philando’s destiny.”

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Page 8 •November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Insight News

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Insight News • November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Page 9

African Ancestry, Inc. helping people find their roots By Abeni Hill African Ancestry, Inc. strives to empower the AfricanAmerican community one genealogy test at a time. African Ancestry, Inc. is a Black-owned genealogy testing service founded to provide the AfricanAmerican community with a deeper sense of self. “We started the company to ďŹ ll an identity void for Black Americans that exists as a result of not knowing our genetic results beyond America,â€? said co-founder Dr. Gina Paige. The entrepreneur also said some traditional DNA tracing services tend to fall short when it comes to providing genetic information for AfricanAmericans. “Our competitors are extremely well funded corporations that have bastardized this importance of genetic ancestry tracing, speciďŹ cally for Black people,â€? said Paige. “They

have rewritten the narrative of what is important for us.â€? Paige said many of African Ancestry customers feel a sense of empowerment after receiving their results. “As a result of taking our test, the way people view themselves is transformed,â€? said Paige. “All of that is based on them knowing their tangible connection to Africa.â€? After providing customers, whom the company refers to as “family members,â€? with their results, the company also provides speciďŹ c information about their country of origin as well as sponsored trips. African Ancestry also has partnerships with certain African embassies. As a result of some “family members’ ďŹ ndings, Paige said some clients have been inspired to change their names. She said the company not only separates itself from its competitors through specializing in African genealogy and having the largest database of African DNA in the world, but also

Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder of African Ancestry, Inc.

through its employment practices. “We are the only company that has Black scientists and Black management,â€? said Paige. While services like Ancestry DNA and 23 and Me oer one type of test for every customer, African Ancestry provides two dierent types – maternal and paternal – as a way to provide more intricate and speciďŹ c details. “In order to get to country and ethnic group it requires looking at DNA that has been unchanged over generations and that DNA is speciďŹ c to either your mother or to your father,â€? said Paige. The company’s scientists also analyze a dierent part of the DNA. Paige said this type of analysis also allows for information to be shared by multiple generations instead of by siblings. “We don’t just sell a product,â€? said Paige. “We educate the community of the importance of knowing where you’re from.â€?

Dr. Willie Dean announces retirement as YouthCARE executive director YouthCARE Board of Directors, and the committee is actively seeking a candidate to serve as interim executive director. YouthCARE (Youth Cultural Appreciation and Racial Equality)

is a nonproďŹ t organization that serves Minneapolis and St. Paul youth, 6-18 years old, from diverse ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds.

Dr. Willie Dean YouthCARE’s Executive Director, Dr. Willie Dean, will be retiring from the organization at the end of the year. Dean said the retirement is to spend more time with his ailing father. He began his tenure with YouthCARE on March 1, 2015, becoming only its second executive director since the nonproďŹ t was founded in 1974. “Willie has provided steady and skillful leadership for YouthCARE,â€? said Lisa Fulton, chair of the YouthCARE Board of Directors. “His leadership has ensured that YouthCARE has stayed focused on its mission and delivered high-quality program services for Minneapolis and St. Paul youth. The board is grateful for Willie’s service, and we wish him well in his retirement.â€? “I have enjoyed my tenure with YouthCARE, an innovative agency that serves hundreds of multicultural youth each year,â€? said Dean. “Working with the board and sta has truly been enjoyable. However, the highlight of my experience was witnessing the growth of hundreds of youth who developed leadership skills, made friends across cultures, and learned to be productive members of our community.â€? Under Dean’s leadership YouthCARE acquired of a threeyear capacity-building grant from Greater Twin Cities United Way for Culturally SpeciďŹ c Organizations, redesigned of the agency’s website implemented of an annual support campaign to help underwrite youth programs saw and the growth and development of more than 500 youth annually who beneďŹ t from YouthCARE’s programs. “Seeing youth discover nature, develop leadership skills, and interact with mentors and caring adults is what it’s all about,â€? said Dean. Previously, Dean worked 35 years in senior YMCA positions around the United State. As national ďŹ eld executive for the YMCA of the USA, Dean supervised oďŹƒces in Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Dallas and Columbus, Ohio, and provided consulting to 700 YMCAs in 18 states. An executive director search committee has been formed by the

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Page 10 •November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Insight News

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Dua Brit

Monday, Nov. 27 HIP-HOP/CLUB NIGHT M O N D A Y $: All Rap Party Loring Bar & Restaurant 327 14th Ave. S.E., Minneapolis 9 p.m. 18-plus $5 A new weekly of hip-hop dance music starts at the nostalgic LPB with DJ TIIIIIIIIIIP, Keezy, Otto, and Espada.

Tuesday, Nov. 28 HEALTH/WELLNESS

Nov. 27 Dec. 10, 2017

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

Yoga for People of Color Imbue Yoga Studio 2223 E 35th St., Minneapolis 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. $7-$14 This new weekly is set up as a safe space for people of color practicing Yoga. There is a sliding scale fee of $7-$14.

Wednesday, November 29 HIP-HOP/JAZZ/SPOKEN WORD The Feels Icehouse 2825 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis 10 p.m. 21-plus $8 The monthly dedicated to healing through the arts is back

for the third season. Join DJ Miss Brit, Comedian Pierre Douglas, Dua, Seaberg, Mr. Mastermind and more.

Thursday, Nov. 30 HOLIDAY MUSIC Robert Robinson with Gwen Matthews The Dunsmore Room at Crooners 6161 Highway 65 N.E., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. 21-plus $35-$40 Gospel great Robert Robinson plays at Crooners with Gwen Matthews.

Friday, Dec. 1 SOCA/CLUB NIGHT Socaholix Dance Party Bunkers Music Bar & Grill 761 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus $7 Soak up the sounds of Trinidad at Bunkers in the Warehouse District.

Saturday, Dec. 2 HIP-HOP OSP Album Release Nomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m. 21-plus

Give the gift of thanks this season. Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not. Support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® at any Best Buy® store or at www.BestBuy.com/stjude.

$10

the United States.”

Friday, Dec. 8

“As a veteran of the Minneapolis Hip-Hop culture, Robert ‘OSP’ French understands and embraces the power of hip-hop and the change that can be created through the movement. ‘Say It Loud’ paints a picture of social strife and calls for voices to rise up for change throughout the record.” – Syrka Records

Tuesday, Dec. 5

NEO-SOUL/ AFROFUTURISM

Sunday, Dec. 3

ROCK/BLUES New Primitives Shaw’s Bar & Grill 1528 University Ave. N.E., Minneapolis 8:30 p.m. 21-plus Twin Cities regulars, New Primitives, play Shaw’s in Northeast Minneapolis.

STEPPERS SET HWMR Presents: StepWith2 H White Men’s Room 1500 44th Ave. N., Minneapolis 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. No cover Dwight and Joan Halliburton of StepWith2 will give an introduction to Chicago-style stepping.

Monday, Dec. 4

Wednesday, Dec. 6 THEATER “Narnia” Howard Conn Fine Arts Center 1900 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 10 a.m. $12-$15 Presented by a youth theater company, the C.S. Lewis classic, “Narnia,” plays now through Dec. 10.

THEATER The American History of Race - Slave Songs Excerpt & Discussion Lundstrum Performing Arts 1617 N. 2nd St., Minneapolis 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. All ages No cover Threads Dance Project’s presents its SAGE Award nominated work, “’The Secrets of Slave Songs – An Examination of Slavery, Its Abolition and Consequences in

Thursday, Dec. 7 DANCE PARTY Jay-Z Day Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. 2 a.m. 21-plus $10 Celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest of all time at Honey.

ZuluZuluu The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. 21-plus $10-$13 ZuluZuluu plays with Lady Midnight, BatMN and DJ Mickey Breeze.

Saturday, Dec. 9 FASHION Black Excellence – A Night of Urban Fashion H White Men’s Room 1500 44th Ave. N., Minneapolis 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Black Excellence, the brand, is a social platform that uses the art of style to promote a sense of pride among the diaspora. The evening is a night of “classic urban fashion.”

Sunday, Dec. 10 HIP-HOP Robb Bank$ The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 6 p.m. All ages $17-$50 Rapper Robb Bank$ plays a special set at The Cabooze.

Ecuadorian cuisine in the Northeast The Un-Bougie Foodie By Wesley Wright

www.facebook.com/ theunbougiefoodie

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St. Jude patient Jenny

©2017 Best Buy. All rights reserved. ©2017 ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (25586)

I’ve learned never judge a restaurant by its size, because to do so would mean you might miss out on great cuisine and learning a little about a culture of which you’re not familiar. A great example is Chimborazo (www. chimborazorestaurant.com). Though small in size, it offers a warm, cozy atmosphere and the staff is efficient and knowledgeable. They are focused on preparing traditional cuisines popular to Ecuador’s coastal areas and the Andean highlands of the South American country. Located in Northeast Minneapolis (2851 Central Ave. N.E.), the Ecuadorian restaurant is popular with a variety of friends with whom I’ve chatted. The cuisine in Ecuador is diverse depending on altitude and what type of agriculture can be grown in the area. In the highland regions, preparation of meats such as chicken, beef, or pork are popular. In the coastal areas, seafood tends to be the given staple. Having ceviche is key to the diets of inhabitants of the coastal region. With so many friends telling me that I need to go there, I picked a late Friday evening to go. I was pleasantly surprised that even at the late hour I chose, it was busy with at least 90 percent of the tables occupied. As I was alone, I didn’t mind being seated somewhat out of the way. I didn’t want anyone to notice the number of dishes I was getting anyway. The first thing on their menu was the shrimp ceviche, which immediately caught my

Wesley Wright

The shrimp ceviche at Chimborazo. attention. I wasn’t familiar with the item, patacones, so the server described it as flatten plantain chips that have been twice fried, as though it were a cracker to eat with the ceviche. I was totally in and excited when the ceviche came because it had four to five huge whole shrimp, enveloped in the cocktail sauce made up of red onions, tomato, lime and roasted corn (tostada). The patacones were steeped within the sauce, along the edges of the bowl. Make no mistake that was devoured. Next, I ordered an empanada de carne, or beef turnover. Stuffed with well flavored beef, and then fried until the outside of the pasty is golden and crunchy; it was a wonderful transition from having a coastal dish, and now eating cuisine from the highland region. I suggest asking for extra of a fantastic green salsa they serve along with it … aji criollo. I eventually asked for the recipe. My entrée was the seco de pollo, which was stewed chicken with peppers, onions, garlic and passionfruit. Served with white rice and fried plantain, the leg

and thigh chicken pieces were seasoned extremely well and didn’t rely on the sauce that it is was in to make it stand out. The added bonus was that more aji criollo was provided for this dish as well. Once I deboned the chicken pieces, mixing it into the rice and added the Ecuadorian green salsa (aji), I was on Cloud Nine. Probably a little too much as the couple next to me certainly gave me a surprising glance perhaps from the sounds of my elation. Since the temptress, my server, came by and stated, “Dinner isn’t ever complete without dessert” I ordered tres leches cake. With every fork indentation into that moist pound cake, soaked with sweetened milks, and garnished with whipped cream and strawberries, I knew that my fate was sealed and that my return to this hearty restaurant will involve a totally new experience of flavors. Wesley Wright is the creator and host of “The Un-Bougie Foodie,” which airs Saturdays at 10 a.m. on 104.7 FM, WEQYLP.


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Insight News • November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Page 11

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul presents ‘Moonlight’ at the Capri, Dec. 7 As a part of First Thursday Films, the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul and the Capri Theater present Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning “Moonlight,” followed by a discussion led by Penumbra Theater regular Kevin West. The screening begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis. Tickets to First Thursday Films are $5 and can be purchased in advance at www.mspfilm.org or at the door the night of the show. A story of human connection and selfdiscovery, “Moonlight” chronicles the life of a young Black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. Anchored by performances from an ensemble cast that includes Alex Hibbert, Ashton

Sanders, Trevante Rhodes, Oscar-nominee Naomie Harris and Supporting Actor Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, director Barry Jenkins’ staggering, singular vision is profoundly moving in its portrayal of the moments, people, and unknowable forces that shape our lives and make us who we are. Each First Thursday Films screening at the Capri is followed by a discussion of the movie. For “Moonlight” Penumbra regular, actor/ director/educator Kevin West, who recently directed “A Soldier’s Play,” “Fences” and “The Colored Museum” at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. West is also the artistic director of the Capri After School Theater (CAST) and a resident teaching artist at PYC Arts & Technology High School. For more information visit www.thecapritheater. org or www.mspfilm.org.

Mahershala Ali won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Moonlight, the 2017 Best Picture of the Year.

Cory Hardrict explores alternate realities in ‘Destined’ By Kam Williams Born and raised in Chicago, Cory Hardrict immersed himself in the arts at an early age. His passion and talent led to an enviable and enduring movie and television career. His big screen credits include “Gran Torino,” “Brotherly Love,” “American Sniper,” “Never Been Kissed” and “He’s Just Not That into You,” to name a few. Meanwhile, he’s appeared on such television shows as “Law & Order,” “ER,” “Boston Legal,” “Cold Case,” “The Shield,” “Saving Grace,” “Heroes,” “Dark Blue” and “CSI: NY.” Here he talks about playing both lead roles in his new film, “Destined,” a coming-of-age saga revolving around alternate possible paths followed by a youngster trying to make it out of the ghetto. KamWilliams: Hi Cory, thanks for the interview. Cory Hardrict: Thank you for having me, Kam. Let’s do it. KW: What interested you in “Destined?” CH: The material. Getting a chance to play

two characters in a film was something I couldn’t pass up on. Both worlds with two different meanings. Being able to show different sides to a story. KW: How would you describe the film in 25 words or less? CH: I would describe “Destined” as a groundbreaking, innovative slice-of-life adventure that reflect the times we live in now. KW: The movie has two lead characters, Sheed and Rasheed, and you play them both. Was it hard playing people with such different personalities? CH: The characters were shot like two separate films. But it still had its challenges grounding them. Living in such different worlds kept it simple and real. KW: What was it like being directed by Qasim Basir, whose movie, “Mooz-lum,” received such critical acclaim? CH: Working with Qasim was great. He’s a calm director who loves the arts and has a great vision of what he wants to accomplish. He has a very bright future. KW: How did you get along with Hill

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Cory Hardrict

Harper, Zulay Henao and the rest of the cast? CH: Hill Harper was awesome, and he’s such a positive guy. When he speaks, everyone listens, and you can take some key gems and apply them to your life. Zulay was cool to work with. She is passionate about her craft. The whole cast was wonderful, and I had great chemistry with Robert Christopher Riley who’s an amazing actor. KW: What message do you think people will take away from “Destined?” CH: The message I hope people will take away would be that choices and decisions can make or break you. They can alter the next 30 years of your life. KW: Harriet PakulaTeweles asks, with so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you›d like to star in? CH: I haven’t really given it much thought. But If I had to do one, it would be “Scarface,” set in Chicago, with me playing Tony Montana. KW: Was there a meaningful spiritual component to your childhood? CH: Yes, going to Catholic school, which

taught me at an early age the power of prayer. KW: What is your favorite dish to cook? CH: Mac and cheese. KW: Sherry Gillam would like to know what is the most important life lesson you’ve learned so far? CH: Just to help other. To be of service to people. I believe that’s why we are here on this Earth. KW: The Viola Davis question, “What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?” CH: There is no difference. I wear sweats and a T-shirt every day at home. On the carpet I just dress up. But same personality and all. At least with work, I get to tap into someone else for a bit. KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see? CH: A God-fearing man who would risk it all for family and his beliefs. KW: Thanks again for the time, Cory, and best of luck with “Destined.” CH: Thank you, Kam. I appreciate the interview. To see a trailer for Destined, visit w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=r6fzjsU7nqY.

12-year-old uses her crown to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s

Makarei Payne-Glass; America’s Little Miss Pre-Teen In April, Makarei PayneGlass, 12, was crowned Miss Midwest Pre-Teen in the America’s Little Miss Pageant held in Bloomington, and in July 9 she was crowned America’s Little

Miss at the national pageant held in Orlando, Fla. The judges also selected her most beautiful and best portfolio. Payne-Glass scored very well with her powerful introduction, question and

formal wear categories too. The Alzheimer’s Association is Payne-Glass’ platform and she conducted and organized a fundraiser at her church for this cause and raised more than$800.

Choosing to address Alzheimer’s was to honor her great grandmother, Grace Dollar, who passed away in November 2016. PayneGlass also paid homage to church members deceased

DEC 7-31 Makarei Payne-Glass

from the disease at her church, Wayman AME Church in Minneapolis. “Makarei’s Day to Slay Alzheimer’s Disease” was her theme. Payne-Glass was also selected to participate

B U Y

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Generous support for Ordway Originals is provided by Marcia L. Morris

on stage for the garden ceremony at the Walk to end Alzheimer’s at Target Field.

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Page 12 •November 27 - December 3, 2017 • Insight News

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Commodores legend talks reunion, new book By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor Thomas McClary, the legendary founder of the super group, the Commodores, has a new book that takes readers on a journey through Motown, the Civil Rights Movement and a backstage war for the ages. McClary, who cofounded the group with Lionel Richie, recently released “Rock and Soul,” a stirring autobiography where readers also learn about his activism. “I kept getting questions as to when are the original Commodores going to do reunion and, after hearing that for the ‘umpteenth’ time I realized that people wanted to know,” said McClary. “So, I started to think about it and started writing things down.” The book details McClary’s recruitment of Richie, one of the biggest selling artists in the history of Motown Records. “When I met Lionel, he was a very shy guy and I had to convince his grandmother and parents to allow him to play in the band,” said McClary. “I pushed him out to become the lead singer after our initial lead singer was drafted into the Vietnam War. I overheard Lionel singing in the shower one day and I said, ‘hey, you can sing.’” When the book begins, McClary is in a courtroom. One of the members

secretly trademarked the Commodores name, barring McClary’s use, while performing separately. “I think readers will be surprised at how perseverance played a role in our success and they will also be surprised to know that, even though we had a very united front, behind the scenes things weren’t so kosher,” said the group’s founder. “I’m the founder and all of us were equal as it relates to corporate ownership and the name. One of the guys decided he was going to take it on his own to trademark the name and I’m still handling it.” The singer, musician and songwriter is credited along with Richie for writing nearly all of the Commodores music; a bevy of hits that’s led to multiple Grammy nomination and induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In addition to his musical prowess, McClary counts as one of the Civil Rights Movement’s unsung heroes. The first African-American to integrate Lake County Public Schools in Eustis, Fla., amidst formidable racial tension, McClary walked with boldness when entering the doors of the all-White school. He also fought to open doors of opportunities for other African-Americans and he continues to work to help others overcome racial bigotry and other obstacles. McClary said it’s as

important today as ever before. “Man, I never thought I’d be appreciative of a president like George W. Bush,” he said. “To compare him to what we have in office today, I never thought I’d long for a George Bush.” McClary said fans have repeatedly asked about a possible reunion of the original Commodores, a group that turned out such iconic and time-tested hits as “Brick House,” “Easy,” and “Just to be Close to you.” “It’s going to happen. I’ve spent 30 years trying to make it happen and Lionel and I recently performed together in New Zealand and at the Superdome, so I’m optimistic that a reunion with the five living original members will happen,” said McClary, whose recollections about the great “Motown Sound” is recorded in the new book that has others taking notice. “It’s captivating and awe inspiring,” said singer Ray Parker Jr. Kool & the Gang founder, Robert Bell, wrote a moving review of “Rock and Soul” calling it “an emotion filled memoir of a cherished walk and a celebration of life, through the highs and lows of a natural born star. Thoroughly entertaining and moving.” Hall of Fame NBA star, Julius “Dr. J” Erving also praised McClary’s memoirs. “A resounding testament of the resilience

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Commodores Legend Thomas McClary wrote a new book about his time with the iconic band and his activism during the Civil Rights Movement. of the force that is Thomas McClary,” said Erving. “This book gave pure energy to my soul.” The 362-page book recounts the Civil Rights Movement, and McClary’s early days of leaving home to attend Tuskegee University where he met Richie. It highlights McClary’s rise from the concrete of societal imposed standards to musical genius. McClary relentlessly laid the

foundation to form a sound and a family of talent that the world had yet to witness. Countless hours with his guitar, and blood, sweat, and tears became synonymous with crafting a sound that intricately fused rhythm and blues, funk and rock, pop and jazz, and moved audiences to undeniable emotion with a language that knew no barriers. “Obviously I have a lot of respect for Berry

Gordy and what he did at Motown and for Black people,” said McClary. “Stevie Wonder has always been incredible, as has Smokey Robinson and Suzanne de Passe. We learned a lot from all of them, the likes of Norman Whitfield and Marvin Gaye – all of whom had an open door policy, where we could ask how they did what they did and what we could use to improve our situation.”


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