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December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 35 No. 52 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Census undercount would hurt Black communities By Pharoh Martin NNPA National Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) –America’s foremost Black organizations recently held a meeting to discuss the 2010 census and strategies that will ensure the process does not undercount Black people, a fiasco that could cause communities to miss out on their fair share of trillions of dollars in public resources and political representatives in Black districts. The National Urban League, the National Action Network, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the NAACP, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association, all met with Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, his senior staff and Census Bureau representatives to express
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Applying online: How to navigate around the internet’s black holes
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Melanie Campbell, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; Ron Daniels, Institute of the Black World, 21st Century; Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network; Marc Morial, National Urban League; Ben Jealous, NAACP; and Gary Flowers, Black Leadership Forum.
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African American Caucus screens candidates for January endorsements Cameron’s
By Lydia Schwartz Contributing Writer On December 12, the MN Democratic-Farm-Labor (DFL) African American Caucus screened candidates who are seeking Party endorsement for governor. The Caucus wants to consider candidates who will promote cultural diversity and affirmative action at all levels of the DFL. The African American Caucus is an organization within the DFL that works to promote the participation of African American communities in the political and electoral process in the State of Minnesota. They support the ideals of the Democratic Party and its causes while focusing on critical issues pertaining to the African American community. There was a strong presence at the African American Caucus candidate screening as Caucus members took notes and asked their potential candidates questions. There was excellent participation as DFL caucuses prepare decisions on who to endorse for governor. The Caucus and the DFL Party will vote on their gubernatorial endorsements in January. Almost all of the candidates seeking DFL endorsement for the gubernatorial race appeared at the screening, one even by telephone conference. Attending were MN Sen. Tom M. Bakk (DFL-6); former US Sen. Mark B. Dayton; former MN Rep. Matt Entenza; Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner; former MN Sen. Steve Kelley; MN Speaker of the House, Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-60A); MN Sen. John J. Marty (DFL-54); the Mayor of Minneapolis R. T. Rybak; and MN Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL63A). The only candidate seeking DFL endorsement for governor that did not make an appearance at the African American Caucus screening, because of a scheduling
long-awaited sci-fi thriller beats expectations
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Pete Souza
Sen. Tom M. Bakk (DFL-6)
A White House nurse prepares to administer the H1N1 vaccine to President Barack Obama at the White House December 20, 2009.
President Obama gets H1N1 vaccination In an interview last week with American Urban Radio Networks in the Oval Office, the President made clear that the time for adults to get their H1N1 shots is now and that it is safe. From ABC News’ write-up of the interview: “People need to understand that this vaccine is safe,” Obama said. “Michelle and I just got the shots ourselves... we wanted to make sure nationwide that children were getting it before adults did. And now there’s enough vaccine so that adults should get it as well.”
Former US Sen. Mark B. Dayton
The President spoke about how his daughters received the vaccine in October, when it was first being made available to school-age children. He said that it’s important for parents to vaccinate their children. “That’s the most important population because this flu, unlike seasonal flu, disproportionately affects children and young people — healthy children and young people as well as people with underlying conditions like asthma or neurological diseases. So it is so important and, frankly, the
African American vaccination rate has been lower, substantially lower so far than the general population,” he said. “I think people just need to understand: If I had the two people that are most important in my life, my two daughters, get it right away — and they’ve been just fine with it and in fact haven’t gotten sick this entire flu season — then you need to know that you need to make sure your children get it as well.” Learn more about H1N1 and your family at Flu.gov.
Veteran music industry producer Andre Fischer to keynote BDPA event
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The curse of high expectations By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist Commentary
Former MN Rep. Matt Entenza conflict, was DFL Party member Ole S. Savior. The purpose of the MN DFL African American Caucus is to foster the involvement of Minnesota African Americans in the political process and promote their active participation in the DFL Party. They support the election of candidates to elected and appointed public party offices
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(NNPA) - I went to Copenhagen as part of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Commission to Engage African Americans in Climate Control. The Commission – led by Carolyn Green formerly of Sonoco included environmental justice guru Robert Bullard, Dillard University professor and environmental justice leader Beverly Wright, Frank Steward of the Association of Blacks in Energy, Leslie Fields of the Sierra Club, and me. We spent a week alternating between exhilaration and frustration, exhilaration at connections and opportunity, frustration at long lines (six hours
for me on Monday to get a credential that soon proved worthless), the marginalization of NGOs (nongovernmental organizations like the Joint Center), and further frustration at the way negotiations were progressing. All of us waited with bated breath to hear President Obama speak to the issues. We were heartened that he had come to present the United States’ position, and excited that he not only spoke, but was actively involved in negotiations for several hours. Part of the Joint Center group gathered at Klimaforum09, which is described as “the people’s climate summit.” It’s a large, sprawling space with dozens of meeting rooms, and on Friday, a big screen television where hundreds of people gathered to watch the Obama’s speech. The space has flava, too, as a group of
folk rehearsed for entertainment that they presented in the early afternoon, and another television screen shows a panel of leaders who are meeting even as President Obama speaks. We have gone to Klimaforum 2009 because we want to hear our President in the company of others. Some of our group are part of other groups and some have been asked to sign statements or letters condemning the United States’ position, even as we see a President who has gone further than anyone else has on this issue of climate change. He has not gone far enough for some, and I suppose this is the result of the high expectations that President Barack Obama has brought to the international stage. He is so much better than our leadership of the past. He is
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Fitzgerald, Jr. personifies classic quality
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Page 2 •December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Insight News
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BUSINESS Applying online: Making the most of Internet networking resources By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Jayden has been struggling with the world of online
applications and how to follow-up appropriately. He has applied for three positions, but has not made it past the online screening. Should he email a copy of his resume with
a cover letter in addition to applying on Monster or any other proprietary application program? Considering all the social networking options available today, Jayden might also ask if he should twitter, Link-in or send a Facebook message to follow-up on his Monster application. And the answer is… yes… and no. Applying for work now means navigating multiple communication avenues. Just as you follow a list of MapQuest directions to get around town, conduct your application process in a specific order so you can network efficiently and effectively toward your next position. Say you’ve found an extraordinary opportunity on Monster. First, read through the job description suspiciously. Is this truthfully a job you can walk into and hit the ground running? So many experts are looking for work now, hiring managers know they can get experienced people in the door. If this is a job you “could learn” skip it and move on to something closer to the role you left behind. Later, you can move around within a company, but until the economy improves,
just find a job. If this position is perfect for you, excellent. Do not apply yet. Not to pick on Monster (much), but your experience applying for work through that platform has not given you much in the way of results. HR people typically search internal corporate websites for applicants before turning to Monster. Therefore, you search the company’s web site. Is the job you want posted there? Apply online if it is. You may be directed back to Monster, so follow that route if you must. Some companies streamline their application process by funneling everything through one application site. Next, proceed to LinkedIn and Facebook. Search the company name and find out who you know, in any department, within that company. Send these contacts a message (don’t call) asking if they know about the position, why it is open, was anyone in it before. Ask them if they know who you should talk to for more information about the position or about the company. Most people with even a marginal connection will provide you a name. Using LinkedIn or
Facebook, reach out to their person, being respectful of the connection and grateful. People want to be helpful, but they do not want to be dragged down by your search. Send a very brief note to your new contact asking one question about either the company or the position or the industry. Continue to develop this new relationship professionally, regardless of which platform you use and consider asking for an informational interview if the position you want is already filled.
There is no need to follow up with additional application materials unless asked to do so. Inform people that you have already applied online and this will help them find your application in a format the company prefers.
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Senate approval. We live in a democracy, not a dictatorship. He wants to move the process of a climate change agreement along,
he doesn’t say how much the US will give, or exactly where the money will come from. The $100 billion falls short of numbers
received the Obama message differently. There was a mild applause, and there were boos. We from the Joint Center sat in the front row in a section, and immediately behind us there are three white activists from California booing. We ask them why, and one says that Obama is “no better than Bush”. Would Bush have been here, in Copenhagen, with no results guaranteed, but fighting for what is right? Hardly. The California group consists of two men and one woman, a
From 1 not, however, the progressive icon, nor should he be expected to be. My sense of the Obama speech is that our President is frustrated, maybe even angry. There is none of his lofty rhetoric in this speech. He is straight up, firm, almost biting. He says it is time to stop talking and move to action. He has gone out on a limb, but he can go no further without
i.ehow.com
My sense of the Obama speech is that our President is frustrated, maybe even angry. There is none of his lofty rhetoric in this speech. He is straight up, firm, almost biting. and so he makes promises that he can keep, and ignores the ones he cannot keep. He says that we will commit to help raise $100 billion a year to help developing countries with climate change, but
I’ve heard developing countries request – as much as $400 billion. This tepid agreement is an imperfect one, but it is a step forward. The group at Klimaforum09
Julie Desmond is Director of Career Planning Resources for Help Wanted! Workshop in Minneapolis. Write to julie@insightnews.com.
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Insight News • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Page 3
Local non-profit closes its doors after 18 years The MultiCultural Development Center (MCDC), founded by its Executive Director Dr. Ghafar Lakanwal, will close in December, after 18 years of service to local organizations and communities. MCDC’s Board of Directors made the decision to close the non-profit at the end of the year due to the economic downturn. From 1991 to 2009, MCDC educated thousands of people by promoting cultural understanding and inclusiveness to enhance workplace performance and community relationships. The organization was best known for its educational events, led by presenters such as Dr. Roosevelt Thomas, Tim Wise, Angela Bassett, Jane Elliott and Lee Mun Wah, as well as its trademarked Chronology of World Cultural Events poster calendar. MCDC received support from some of the biggest corporations and organizations in the Twin Cities, including Allianz Life, Ameriprise Financial, Best Buy, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bremer Financial Services, Cub Foods, Dunwoody College of Technology, General Mills, United Way, HealthPartners, Hennepin County Medical Center, Land O’Lakes, Medica, Medtronic, MAC, MN DOT, MN Judicial Branch, MN Private Colleges, MN State Colleges and Universities, Ramsey County, RBC Wealth Management, Regions Hospital, Emerson Process Management, Thomson Reuters, University of St. Thomas, Wells Fargo and Wilder Foundation “Many, many people have been part of MCDC’s journey and we hope to remember and celebrate our long history of
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 Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Elliot Stewart-Franzen Web Design & Content Associate Ben Williams Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor 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.
Sharing Diversity™,” stated Lakanwal. “I believe the true strength of MCDC was in its Board and its many volunteers,” stated Laurie Trousil, former MCDC Manager. “They were the driving force behind MCDC activities and their countless hours of dedication were the reason for MCDC’s success.” “Although MCDC activities
will conclude by the end of the year.I know that diversity and inclusion is a long-term process and our work is not done,” said Lakanwal. With the close of MCDC, Lakanwal has been encouraged by friends, supporters and board members to begin a new chapter in his personal journey by opening his own training and consulting firm. Called
Sharing Diversity: Bridging Cultures LLC, Lakanwal’s new, for-profit firm will seek to increase the intercultural effectiveness of employees, executives, managers, teams and organizations. The organization will also work with these companies to develop their skills to work and operate comfortably, effectively and productively
across various cultural systems. Plans for the new firm will be launched in January 2010 on SharingDiversity.com. Dr. Lakanwal will focus more on building schools in his native country Afghanistan through an organization he founded after September 11, 2001 called “Partnership for Education of Children in Afghanistan”.
Dr. Ghafar Lakanwal
Page 4 • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Insight News
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EDUCATION U of M, community receive $2.9 million grant to help close digital divide in Twin Cities The University of Minnesota, in partnership with 12 community organizations, has received $2,862,333 in federal funds to develop and improve 11 computer labs throughout underserved neighborhoods in the Twin Cities as part of the federal stimulus law. The award was selected from among 2,200 proposals received by the
Department of Commerce. The grant was the only one given to a university and the largest grant given in its category. The university will work with its partners to improve 10 existing public computer labs and establish a new computer lab at a public housing site, Glendale Homes in Minneapolis. This will add 93
new workstations and replace 49 existing stations and is based upon a model developed by the Office for Business and Community Economic Development (BCED). The grant also will allow the labs to hire local residents as training and support staff and will provide software programs and culturally sensitive curriculum relevant to education, health and economic development. The project will be implemented by the Office for Business and Community Economic Development and the Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC), established in 2007. University of Minnesota Extension also will be involved. “We are deeply gratified that our application was approved, considering the strong competition throughout the country to make use of these essential funds,” said Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration Robert Jones, who led the effort to establish UROC. “We have been told our proposal was one of the most highly regarded by the reviewers due to its targeted nature and its genuine involvement of community partners. This work is of the highest strategic priority for us as we work in partnership to solve community-identified issues that affect urban residents.” “This is a powerful partnership — leveraging the strengths of the community and the university to work for a common goal right where the people are,” said Barbara Milon, director of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. The partners project that almost 400 nonprofits and women- and minority-owned
www4.uwm.edu
The university will work with its partners to improve 10 existing public computer labs and establish a new computer lab at a public housing site businesses serving vulnerable populations in the metro area will benefit from the computer labs. The project also will provide Internet computer training over the life of the project for 17,000 individuals who rely on public, communitybased computer centers. The partners estimate the project will create 36 new jobs and save 12 existing jobs. The community partners involved in
the development stage of the project include the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and Hennepin County. Existing community computer centers provided important data to complete the proposal. Existing lab sites are located in north and south Minneapolis and the Frogtown area of St. Paul. These labs will be standardized and upgraded, and training provided using materials designed in a culturally, linguistically and technologically appropriate manner. Broadband Apprenticeship Teams, designed to create both new jobs and training, will support each computer lab, provide training for the users, and upgrade the skill set of existing computer center staff. A public awareness and advertising campaign by MMMC, which is a group of newspapers, radio stations and online media serving primarily Twin Cities ethnic communities, will draw users to the sites. Populations with no or
restricted access to broadband and the Internet are concentrated in the urban cores of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Although these areas are fully served by multiple high-speed broadband providers, the reality is that few residents have access to broadband and the majority of the community remains underserved in 2009. These neighborhoods are largely populated by low-income African Americans, Hmong, Latino, Somali immigrants, public housing residents and seniors. Project partners are: Asian Community Technology Center, Centro, Church of St. Phillip/Nellie Stone Johnson School, Glendale TownhomesMinneapolis Public Housing, Hmong American Partnership, Lifetrack Resources, MMMC, Patchwork Quilt at Kwanzaa Freedom School, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Project for Pride in Living in its new Northside location, Sabathani Community Center and the YWCA’s Youth Achiever Program in Frogtown, St. Paul.
Learners to Leaders The University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business will host a professional development and networking event, “Learners to Leaders,” on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. The event kicks off an initiative to build engagement with African American college juniors, seniors, and recent graduates possessing demonstrated leadership ability and an interest in graduate education.
Educators, current students and young professionals from around the region are encouraged to submit their nominations, including self- nominations, for this exclusive leader development summit. Letters submitted should include the nominee’s name, undergraduate school affiliation, title, and contact information as well as a brief summary of his or her accomplishments. “It is common wisdom that graduate education broadens and deepens understanding in one or more specific areas of knowledge. This unique event will challenge participants to expect more from their graduate education. A relevant educational program for our young future leaders also develops their leadership skills and professional networks” said Bill Woodson, assistant dean of MBA Programs at St. Thomas. “This event initiates that development while illustrating the importance of these critical components within a world class professional graduate education.” Nominations, along with school affiliation and a short supporting rationale for each nomination should be submitted to Sandra Forsyth at ustmba@stthomas.edu. Information requests should be directed to Forsyth at the address above or to Dean Woodson at bwoodson@stthomas.edu.
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Insight News • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Page 5
AESTHETICS
James Cameron’s long-awaited sci-fi thriller beats expectations By Kam Williams Film review kam@insightnews.com James Cameron wrote the script for Avatar back in 1994, but was unable to turn his vision into a movie until now because he had to wait for technological innovations to catch up to his expectations of the 3-D spectacular. As it turns out, the delay was well worth the
wait, for this intergalactic sci-fi flick more than measures up to the hype, and not merely in terms of its introduction of the next generation of special effects. The eagerly-anticipated adventure revolves around a socially-relevant story so thoroughly compelling that its nearly three-hour running time flies by in a flash. Furthermore, this cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked military
might and corporate greed also features a tenderhearted crossspecies romance. The action unfolds in the year 2154 on the distant planet Pandora which is in the process of being invaded by SecFor (as in Security Force, get it?), a U.S. militaryindustrial complex/corporate conglomerate with designs on a rare mineral called unobtainium (as in not obtainable, get it?). The precious substance, worth $20
The action unfolds in the year 2154 on the distant planet Pandora
avatartrailer.com
million a kilo, is the only reason for the expedition, as it apparently is the critical element involved in bringing presently-polluted Earth back from the brink of ecological extinction. The picture’s unlikely protagonist is paraplegic Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), an exMarine who has greatness thrust upon him when he volunteers to serve as a last-light year replacement for his recentlydeceased twin brother in the Avatar program. Upon his arrival on Pandora, he is instructed by botanist Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) how to mindmeld with his genetically-matched avatar and thereby control its every move. The human-like hybrid physically resembles a member of the Na’vi (as in naïve, get it?), the 9’ tall, blue-skinned tribe of aborigines inhabiting the planet. Jake is given just three months by his superiors to manipulate the indigenous people into vacating their sacred lands voluntarily, since it sits atop untapped reserves of the coveted unobtainium. However, much to the chagrin of an avaricious, SecFor bureaucrat (Giovanni Ribisi) and an itchy, trigger-fingered Colonel (Stephen Lang), he goes renegade after falling in love with a young native beauty (Zoe Saldana). Jake switches sides because he recognizes that the muchmaligned Na’vi aren’t bloodthirsty savages as billed, but noble, spiritually-superior beings living in harmony with nature. So, like a latter-day Tarzan who can talk to the animals, the sensitive alien-whisperer must rally all the creatures of Pandora to come to the defense of their peaceable
kingdom in an eye-popping battle royal. Along the way Cameron pays homage to (although some might say shamelessly recycles) memorable motifs from some of his own films and from Star Wars, The Fugitive, King Kong, Superman, Pocahontas, Predator, Apocalypto and Transformers, as well. That being said, Avatar’s prevailing theme is identical to a certain classic Western for which Kevin Costner won a couple of
Academy Awards. Forget dancing with wolves. Howzabout doing the Funky Chicken with aliens? Excellent (4 stars) Rated PG-13 for sensuality, profanity, smoking and intense epic battle sequences. In English and Na’vian with subtitles. Running time: 162 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox
Page 6 • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Insight News
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HEALTH U of M establishes Minnesota Urban Area Health Education Center The University of Minnesota Academic Health Center has announced the newly established Minnesota Urban Area Health Education Center (AHEC), located in North Minneapolis. The Minnesota Urban AHEC is the state’s first and only urban AHEC and joins four existing rural AHECs. The center will
work in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center’s six health professions schools and in close partnership with Minneapolis urban communities to address health professional workforce needs. Efforts will focus on nurturing an interest in health careers among youth and
providing community-based and interprofessional education for health professions students. An important area of focus will be linking health professions students with the community in substantive ways to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of factors influencing health in urban settings. “I’m looking forward to extending AHEC’s network into Minneapolis’ diverse and vibrant neighborhoods,” said Barbara Brandt, Ph.D., assistant vice president for education and director of Minnesota AHEC. “We are excited to become a more engaged part of the North Minneapolis community and will work with our partners to build on
our programs already in the community such as medicine, pharmacy and dentistry, as well as develop new opportunities to collaborate on areas of health and wellness.” Pam Cosby, M.P.A., will serve as the founding executive director of the Minnesota Urban AHEC. “I am excited to be a part of the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) where my passion for the community and the goals of AHEC to prepare future health professionals from underserved communities intersect. I welcome the opportunity to provide the linkage between the community and the University’s health schools in meeting future needs surrounding health care careers,”
Cosby said. Cosby is a long-time resident of North Minneapolis and has a broad range of leadership experience in the area of community health and youth development. Most recently, Cosby served as program coordinator for the National Community Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center of Hennepin County. She has also served Hennepin County as a community liaison staff member for the North Minneapolis Health Advisory Committee and for the Racial Disparity Initiative for the Council on Crime and Justice. The Minnesota Urban AHEC is located at the University of
Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC) on the Northside of Minneapolis. The Minnesota Urban AHEC will partner with a number of community and University organizations in its collaborative work with North Minneapolis, Phillips, and other urban neighborhoods. Key partners include NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, the Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC), Broadway Family Medicine Clinic, and the University of Minnesota Program in Health Disparities Research.
Hennepin schedules H1N1 flu shot clinics in January Hennepin County will be offering H1N1 flu vaccine to anyone 6 months and older at seven public clinics in early January:
Thursday, Jan. 7, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Hennepin County Public Works, 1600 Prairie Drive, Medina.
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Hennepin County Public Library – Eden Prairie, 565 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie.
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove.
Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Hennepin County Service Center – Brookdale, 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center.
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sandburg Middle School, 2400 Sandburg Lane, Golden Valley
Thursday, Jan. 7, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park.
Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Wayzata Community Church, 125 Wayzata Blvd., E., Wayzata.
The vaccine will be offered in both the nasal spray and injected shot forms. Children in the 6 months through 9 years age group will need a second dose of the
vaccine about four weeks after their initial vaccination. Vaccine will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. A parent or guardian must accompany any child and sign a consent form in person at the dispensing site. The vaccinations are free, but families with insurance should bring their card so administrative costs may be billed to their insurance provider.
Safety alert: Avoid thin ice in Hennepin County Hennepin Sheriff Rich Stanek is reminding parents and guardians to keep children away from thin ice on rivers, ponds, creeks, and lakes. Now that children are enjoying winter break, they have more time to explore the outdoors. Please instruct your children to stay off of partially-frozen bodies of water. “Over the years, too many children have been severely injured or killed falling through
thin ice in Hennepin County,” said Stanek, “Please take precautions and teach your kids that no ice should ever be considered safe.” When your child is near the ice, you should be near your child. The early part of winter has traditionally been the time of year when children are at-risk for ice accidents because of their holiday schedule. This warning applies to young adults who are college-age.
College students may return home for the holiday break and expect area lakes to be frozen. The Sheriff’s Office warns that on bodies of water throughout Hennepin County, the ice thickness varies considerably due to recent warm temperatures. A dusting of snow or frost may give thin ice the appearance that it is safe when it is not. When ice is less than two inches thick, no one should attempt to walk on
it. Remember to keep your dog on a leash this time of year. The Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol responds to incidents involving pet owners who put themselves in jeopardy chasing a dog that wandered onto thin ice. For more information about ice safety, the DNR has tips online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ ice.
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Insight News • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Page 7
Veteran music industry producer Andre Fischer to keynote BDPA event The Black Data Processing Associates-Twin Cities (BDPA) will honors the Twin Cities’ top IT professionals at its fifth annual awards ceremony on Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. Music industry producer Andre Fischer, recognized for producing and arranging Natalie Cole’s Grammy award-winning album “Unforgettable,” will keynote the BDPA’s ceremony — “Challenges for Today, Strategies for Tomorrow.” Fischer is responsible for producing, performing and recording with many of the music industry’s most gifted pop, R&B, rock and jazz performers. In 2007, he was named the executive director of music industries at the Institute of Production and Recording (IPR) in Minneapolis. The emcee, Dawn Stevens, reporter and weekend news anchor for Fox 9 News, will create a most memorable evening as the BDPA recognizes an IT Black Professional, the IT Business Enterprise of the Year and the students who participated in the
2009 BDPA-Twin Cities Community Youth technology programs, which includes the BDPA National High School Computer Competition team, High School Technology Program and the Community IT Youth summer camp. The BDPA will pay special recognition to the Minnesota high school competition team, which won 4th Place at the National BDPA High School Competition in Raleigh, NC. Each student earned a $1000 Bemley College Scholarship. The event’s sponsors include 3M Co., Medtronic, Ajasa Technologies and Keystone Computer Solutions. The BDPA awards ceremony, open to the public, will be held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, 35 S 7th Street in downtown Minneapolis. The social hour begins at 6 pm; the dinner and awards ceremony begin at 7:30 pm. The cost is $55 for members and $65 for non-members. Register and pay by credit card at www.bdpatc.org, or
Andre Fischer http://bdpatcawardsregistration.ev entbrite.com. Registrations may be mailed to Twin Cities BDPA-
Dinner Reservation, 2399 Ariel Street, Suite A, St. Paul, MN 55109.
For more information about the Black Data Processing Associates –Twin Cities Chapter, visit
www.bdpatc.org; to learn about the national chapter at www.bdpa.org.
Page 8 • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Insight News
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Stop, look, and listen while crossing into 2010 By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com With only days left before the beginning of 2010 you may have already been thinking about how your life will be different in the New Year. Is losing unwanted weight on your to-do list? How about finding a new job? Or moving to a new place? Do these types of thoughts about your future leave you feeling sort of anxious? If so, I have three simple words of advice for you to live by as you cross over into 2010: Stop, Look, and Listen!
Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner
DFL From 1 who are aware of, and are committed to, the DFL Party
Curse From 2 lawyer whose mouth is drawn into a taut line. She doesn’t even
and what will be different in the upcoming year. As for me, I am adopting these three simple words stop, look, and listen - as a quick reference guide to help me stay on course during my journey of 2010. Before you cross the street of 2009 and cruise over to 2010, will you take the time to stop, look, and listen?? My prayer for you, dear friends, is that in 2010 you prosper and enjoy good health, even as your soul prospers! 3 John 2 Enjoy!
Listen! One of the things that I am always telling my children is that God is always speaking to us, but at issue is whether we will listen. You just may be thinking, “I am a great
listener.” Then apparently you are ready for my next question, “How are you at obeying?” When you receive good advice, do you listen and take heed, or does your pride prevent you from benefitting from the wisdom of others? Because we are each God’s custom-made handiwork, He wants us to listen, with our spirit, to Him so that we can hear His unique instructions for our lives. God willing, at the end of this week I’ll celebrate my 29th birthday…again (at least I feel 29!) About this time each year, as my birthday draws near, I become reflective-considering what went well, what should have gone better,
MN Speaker of the House, Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-60A)
MN Sen. John J. Marty (DFL-54)
The Mayor of Minneapolis R. T. Rybak
MN Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-63A).
Principles and the concerns of the African American community. The Caucus works to recruit African Americans into the political process, provide training for prospective candidates, ensure
a more inclusive democratic process, and dismantle the discriminatory policies in Minnesota. At their meetings, the MN DFL African American Caucus discusses important topical
issues regarding the promotion and advancement of African Americans within the DFL. Membership is open to all Minnesotans who support the purposes and principles of the Caucus and who consider
themselves to be a Democrat and agree to abide by the principles of the MN DFL and its constitution. Anyone can join the caucus at any time.
the MN DFL African American Caucus co-chairs: Bill Davis, 6 1 2 - 9 4 0 - 9 8 3 8 , billdavisdfl@msn.com; or Dr. Josie Johnson, 612-874-8172, johns002@umn.edu.
bother to engage with our group, grabbing her backpack and rushing out, her two colleagues following and shaking their heads. As I walk out of the hall, I talk
with a British woman who shares that she had also booed. She says President Obama has not met her expectations. She thought he would flex his muscles and push G20 countries closer to what the developing world needs. We speak for an intense 10 minutes, and I explain that our President cannot override the Senate, which is why the agreement is nonbinding. She nods and says she understands, but she stands by
her booing. Daily, the Copenhagen Post distributed the COP15 Post, the Daily Climate Conference news. For the last three days of the conference, an ad appears from the Advocates from Environmental Human Rights in New Orleans ( w w w. e h u m a n r i g h t s . o r g ) . They urge our president to take 10 key steps to protect our human rights to live in a healthy
environment. Rooted in the reality of New Orleans dislocation, this is a message that supports President Obama and reminds why a climate change treaty is important. We know that President Obama knows how and why to do the right thing. And we know, all too well, that his ratings have plummeted because he is not superman. He can’t do everything, not given the political realities. He moves the agenda
Stop! If you want to move forward with your life in a positive direction, stop dwelling on the past. Despite the difficulties of 2009, the beauty is that you have been blessed to see a new year. Don’t sabotage it by retelling, rehearsing, or replaying, in your mind (or to others), the offenses and the losses of ‘09. Let it go! Stop blaming others for your difficulties - even if you feel another person’s actions were a factor in your current situation. You can only control your actions and reactions, so place your focus there. Finally, stop spending money that you don’t have. Financial chaos and distress is
extremely stressful and one of the top reasons for divorce. Spare yourself the agony of overspending!
Former MN Sen. Steve Kelley
Look! Take an honest look at the current spiritual, physical, and emotional path of your life. Look at your fitness level. Are you living a healthy life that promotes vitality and longevity? Have you thought about whether or not your habits will increase the likelihood of you living to see your children’s children? Look critically at the company you keep. Do your friends inspire you to reach your goals, both financial and otherwise,
or do they encourage you to squander your time and potential? Look at your lifestyle. Are you living above your means to fit in with the crowd or to pacify your discontentment? Look for ways to cut back on your spending and look for resources books, classes, or knowledgeable friends— that will help you develop a goal-setting strategy today.
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Insight News • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Page 9
It may not be fair, but that is the way of the world By Joseph C. Phillips Commentary My wife and I have big dreams for our children. We want nothing for them but health, happiness and success and we recognize that a good education can be a step towards realizing that goal. We also demand that our children perform up to their potential. The skills one learns in school – study habits, attention to detail, and meeting deadlines – are essential for success in the work world. In this we are like every other parent in America. However we are also Black parents of a certain generation and so the subtleties of race continue to speak to us and they are very real. Sometimes we are not sure if we are responding atavistically to the faint smell of something in the air or if what we are hearing are
Census From 1 this concern. Afterward, they held a press conference to warn millions about what’s at stake in the upcoming national head count that takes place every 10 years. “There are those that want to act like Blacks should just be satisfied with having a Black president and the fact that four Blacks in the White House is the only count we should care about,” said NAN President, the Rev. Al Sharpton. “We want every house counted.” Possibly undercounting the Black population is only one part of the concern. National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial suggests that there’s also the possibility of an over-count of the White population, exacerbating the importance of an accurate count in the current economic climate. “It’s doubly important at this time in this nation with high unemployment, at a time in this nation with the sub-prime housing crisis, when the distribution of many, many of the federal investments to stem the tide of joblessness are determined by the information contained in the census,” said Morial.
the soft echoes of our own imaginations. It’s sometimes impossible to tell, which is why race and issues associated with race (to coin a phrase from the late Ralph Wiley) continue to make Black People want to shout. Last week I had what my parents generation used to call a “come to Jesus meeting” with my 7th grade son. His mid-term report card arrived in the mail. His mother and I were underwhelmed. The comments on my son’s report card indicated that he is under the mistaken impression that school is for socializing and his grades reflect a rather lackluster effort at best. I went “old school:” after a brief lecture he received some tactile encouragement to start taking care of TCB. There are many Black students at my sons’ middle
school, but he is 1 of only 3 in the highly-gifted magnet program within the school. The HGM is a program restricted to students that score 99.9% on an intellectual assessment test. One of three! That doesn’t leave much wiggle room to be the Black kid that can’t cut it, that clowns in class or that falls behind. One of Three. Last year I attended the honor roll ceremony and the vast majority of the students receiving certificates were Asian. I didn’t enter the auditorium prepared to count heads, but it was hard to miss the fact that every other child walking across the stage had an Asian surname. Nor was it difficult to miss the three Black faces sitting amongst the rows of eager and happy students. Conventional wisdom says that Black parents are less actively involved in their children’s education; that there exists an
anti-intellectualism in the Black community such that academic achievement is seen as acting white; that Black students do not read or write as well as their white and Asian counterparts and that the middle class achievement gap is due to racism as opposed to a gap in work habits. In addition, convention says Black boys are angry, prone to violence and better athletes than they are academics. And sometimes we Black folk do things that play into the mythology. My son told us about a Korean girl in his class whose opinions command influence among the other Asian girls in the school, or at least she thinks they do. According to him the students refer to her as the “queen of the Asians.” She is a straight A student. My sons’ little brother asked if there was a “Queen of the Blacks”
Commerce Secretary Locke acknowledges that undercounting Black people has been a historic problem. “African Americans and other minority communities have [been] consistently under-counted in past censuses. So we’re grateful to the respected leaders we met with for their commitment to achieving an accurate count,” said Locke in a statement issued after the December 16 meeting. “The ongoing conversation we continued today will be valuable as Census Day approaches and we progress toward our goal of ensuring that every U.S. resident is accurately counted.” What’s at stake is the allocation of more than $3 trillion in federal funding for local and state agencies and programs over the next decade. The count also determines the number of congressional seats a state has. In 2000, the national undercount was 0.1 percent, but the Black under-count was 2.8 percent, according to statistics cited by Morial. Fewer than 60 percent of African Americans returned their 2000 Census questionnaire compared to 77.5 percent of Whites, according to the Census Bureau. This time could be different. “We have the opportunity to have
the best census count that we’ve ever had. That’s the possibility,” said Ben Jealous, NAACP president and CEO. “If we can get the national undercount to 0.1 percent we can do the same thing in the Black community.” Starting April 1, as many as 145 million households will start receiving questionnaires mailed out by the Census Bureau. But several key factors will determine whether those questionnaires get returned, including the level of awareness of what the census is and why the counting is so crucial. A primary concern among Black leaders is that the Census Bureau is not giving Black organizations the needed level of support to get the word out about the upcoming count. For instance, the Bureau’s paid media advertising budget to get the word out about the impending count appears inadequate. Less than $3 million is planned to be allocated to the nation’s Black print media outlets, a budget amount that Black newspaper publisher Danny Bakewell said is “meager”. “I am very discouraged by the plan that is presently in place,” said Bakewell, publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel and chairman of the National Newspapers Publishers Association, a federation of more
than 200 Black-owned newspapers and media partners around the country. “We are asking for reciprocity,” Bakewell said. “We are not asking for a handout; nor a bailout. We are asking for an accurate count.” There is also a continuing concern about how America’s incarcerated citizens are counted due to the large number of African Americans in America’s prisons and jails. Prisoners are currently counted as residents in the area where the prison or jail is located instead of the community from which they came. “There’s nothing more illegal right now than citizens who are imprisoned losing their citizenship count because they are located where they can’t live outside of the walls,” said the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. “They are counted inside the walls.” The leaders vowed to keep pressure on for an accurate count as the census is only three months away. There’s just too much at stake, says Sharpton: “We cannot have some over-counted and our community under-counted and we are already minorities. It’s a double whammy that we must correct in 2010.”
at the school. “Well,” my son replied, “there is a king of the Blacks.” “Who is that?” his little brother asked. My son responded, “He is this boy that got held back last year.” I cringed. My wife cringed. No doubt there is more to the story but on its face it is damning. How is it that the “queen of the Asians” is a straight “A” student while the “king of the Blacks” is the kid that flunked 8th grade? This — however badly we wish it wasn’t so - is the paradigm concerned Black parents are battling. This is what distinguishes us as parents from the parents of our son’s non-Black friends. This is why his mother
and I feel a tremendous pressure that our son NOT be the Black kid that can’t make the grade; why we have no patience for shucking and jiving – why we are not satisfied with a B average. We cheat him if we do not push him to be better — if we do not demand that he achieve. If he does not reach his fullest potential he cheats us. “To those to whom much has been given...” My son has been tremendously blessed and he is now charged with carrying the banner of the people. It may not be fair, but that is the way of the world. Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like a White Boy”; available where ever books are sold.
Page 10 • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Insight News
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, ben@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Ben Williams. Free or low cost events preferred.
Events Jamaica Minnesota Organization Benefit Raffle All Proceeds Benefit JMO Scholarship Program. $5 Contribution per ticket. Increase your chances with multiple tickets. Contact JMO members for tickets or Mail contributions to JMO at
address: JAMAICA MINNESOTA ORGANIZATION, P.O. Box 580726, Minneapolis, MN 55458. For contributions by mail, JMO will mail out tickets. More info: 651-639-7687 Winter Break Nature Camps for Children 6 to 12 Powderhorn Park and Recreation Center, 3400 15th Ave S, Mpls. Dec. 28 - 31, 1 to 4 p.m. 2101 Franklin Ave W, Mpls. Dec. 21-23, 1 to 4 p.m. 4400 Dupont Ave N, Mpls. Dec. 28 - 31 9a.m. to 4p.m. (9-12:00 on Thurs). More information and registration at www.minneapolisparks.org
Job Announcement The Minneapolis Urban League is looking for visionary directors who are able to see the "Big Picture". These positions are for individuals who are looking for a great opportunity to be a part of launching the MUL "Gateway 2 Opportunity" strategic plan, and shaping and enhancing the mission of the Urban League. Health & Wellness Director - The Director is responsible for managing all Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) Health and Social Wellness Programs and expanding the current programs and services to other heath disparities to achieve results and meet annual goals. The Director will plan, develop, implement, and evaluate health education strategies, interventions and programs to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of diverse populations. This is a professional position working in the development and coordination of health education, health promotion, and community outreach activities. They accomplish their objectives by building collaborative relationships with staff, peers, leadership and the community. WorkForce Solutions Director - The Director is responsible for managing all Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) WorkForce Solutions Employment Programs and workforce development activities, including long-established programs as well as start-up activities. The Director will ensure that all contract requirements are met, and support WorkForce Solutions managers, supervisors, and staff with expansion of their programs and services. These positions require a Bachelor's degree in human services, business workforce development, health education, health promotion, or related field. Five to ten years of leadership or management experience in the non-profit sector. Three to Five years of leadership or management experience in employment and training services or in a social service agency, especially helping individuals with barriers to achieve independence. Social Engagement Manager - The Social Engagement Manager is a member of the Fund Development Team and creates, implements and manages the MUL Brand in ways that build support and increase revenue from individuals, corporate, events and campaigns. The Social Engagement Manager will research revenue sources, cultivate and manage relationships and solicit donation by writing grants and other fund raising related activities. The Social Engagement Manager will develop, execute and manage MUL events such as: Family Day, the Annual Dinner, special receptions, membership campaigns, and individual donors. A savvy social media expert who will be responsible for the development, implementation and management of MUL online networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, e-news services, and others to build membership. This position requires Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Public Relations, Communication, Journalism or English, or related field. Event development and management experience is required and securing sponsorships is preferred. Minimum of (2) years experience in grant research, grant writing, public relations/marketing, editing and writing publications, and meeting/special events planning, and experience with online marketing. To apply email cover letter and resume to sploveless@mul.org; fax to 612-521-1444 or mail to 2100 Plymouth Ave. No., Mpls, Mn 55411, Attn: HR - Preferred method is email. The deadline is December 29, 2009.
Mighty Fortress International Church New Year’s Eve Celebration - Dec. 31 6500 85th Ave N., Brooklyn Park, MN. Doors open at 9 pm. Celebration starts at 10 pm. After party 1 am until. FFI: (763) 5154800, ww.mfim.net 2009 IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park – Now through Dec. 31 Daily Nov. 24 through Dec. 31. Hours of Operation: 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm each day. Phalen Park in Saint Paul at 1615 Phalen Drive East. “Yolka”: Masked Ball for Kids and Adults - Jan. 9 Sat., Jan. 9, 3 pm at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1720 Minnehaha Parkway, Mpls. Registration: 612-978-6209 or email:elesha52@yahoo.com. www.rusculturemn.com Winter Trails at Fort Snelling Jan. 9 Sat., Jan. 9, 1pm – 4pm; Fort Snelling State Park Picnic Shelter A, Minneapolis, MN. Visit
ABA
Minnesota Blizzards Basketball The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The program will consist of five teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration. Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments. We are looking for college students majoring in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 interns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits. Interested Parties please send resume to: The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program 10125 Crosstown Circle #200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040 www.minnesotablizzards.com
www.wintertrails.org for more information or call 651-635-0211.
reservations, call 612-721-2535 or visit www.hobt.org.
Listening to the Past: Brownie Girl Scout Workshop – Jan 9 Jan. 9, 10:30 a.m. to Noon at the Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul. For more info and ticket information: www.minnesotahistorycenter.org, 651-259-3000. Reservations required.
History HiJinx Craft Program: I Have A Dream Luminaries Jan 18 Jan. 18, Noon to 4 p.m. at the Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul. For more info and ticket information: www.minnesotahistorycenter.org, 651-259-3000.
Jawaahir Dance Company 17th Annual Henna Party – Jan 10 Sun., Jan. 10, 2–5 P.M. at Jawaahir Dance Company, 1940 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. $10 single, $8 each for groups of five or more. 612-8726050, www.jawaahir.org
Saint Paul Winter Carnival January 21 - 31, 2010 For more information, visit www.winter-carnival.com
New Year’s Tea Brunch & Bible Fellowship – Jan 16 Saturday, January 16, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM at Dennis Ministries (located in the Dymanyk Electric Bldg), 1919 Broadway NE, Mpls. R.S.V.P by: January 12. 763-9512288, dennisministries@yahoo.com. The Puggles— A Platypus Adventure – Jan. 16, 17 Sat., Jan. 16, 7:00 pm. Sun., Jan. 17, 1:30 and 4:00 pm. Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1500 E. Lake Street, Mpls. 612.721.2535, www.hobt.org. For
Grants and Appeals Coordinator Summit Academy OIC is seeking a highly skilled and experienced grant and appeals writer to coordinate and develop long-term, expanded constituency for grants, and gifts for support of vocational education programs of the Summit Academy OIC. The ideal candidates must have a four-year college degree and at least four years proven grant writing experience and development work in the non-profit sector. Candidates must also possess expert level skills in word processing, spreadsheets and database management programs. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Valid Driver's license required. EEO/AA Employer. Position open until filled. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. Submit all resumes to cbennett@saoic.org. No phone inquiries, please.
‘Soap Boxing’ poetry slam – Ongoing Monday’s at the Artist’s Quarter, 408 St Peter Street, St. Paul. (Under Great Water’s Brewery) $5 cover (free if you compete in the Slam) 18+. Doors @ 7 pm. Slam @ 8:00. FFI: 612-207-7991, w w w. s o a p - b o x i n g . c o m , www.myspace.com/soapboxingslam Artists Quarter Open Mic – Ongoing Monday’s at the Artist’s Quarter 408 St. Peter Street, St. Paul. Live Jazz by “Green” from 7 pm till 9:30 pm, No cover – two drink minimum Willard-Homewood Block Club Leaders (and Residents) Meetings – Ongoing Every third Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm at Northpoint Health & Wellness Center, 1315 Penn Ave. N. (Human Services Building, not the clinic), Mpls., Room 108. See the block club page at www.willard-homewood.org. Wanted: Community-minded book lovers - Ongoing One in seven U.S. adults lack the literacy skills necessary to enjoy great books, help their children with homework, or understand medication labels. But you can change this by volunteering with the Minnesota Literacy Council. With only two or three hours a week, your love of reading can create a stronger community. Tutor an adult learner, assist in an adult classroom, or teach a basic English or GED class. We have locations throughout the Twin Cities area, flexible scheduling and training to help you get started. Contact Allison at volunteer@themlc.org or 651-6452277, Ext 219 or visit us on the web at www.themlc.org. Get to Know Guild – Ongoing Hear from individuals served, family members, and staff about the work Guild Incorporated is doing to help people move along their paths of recovery. To RSVP or for more information, call George Broostin at 651-925-8454. Visit www.guildincorporated.org/events .htm for more info. Neighborhood Development Center business workshops – Ongoing NDC is a non-profit that works to empower low-income Twin Cities communities through successful entrepreneurship. Visit www.ndcmn.org or call 651-291-2480 for
information. Workshops are free. Credit Smart – Ongoing FREE class explains how to manage credit. Tuesdays from 6–8 pm at the Minneapolis Urban League, Glover-Sudduth Center, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis. To RSVP call Theresa at 612-827-9268. Minneapolis Urban League CAC and UNP Meetings – Ongoing January 20th 2009, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center February 17th, 2010, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm, Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center March 17th 2010, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center April; 21st, 2010, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm, Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center May 19th, 2010, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness workshops – Ongoing To schedule a workshop, contact the Minneapolis Urban League at (612) 302-3100 and ask for our case management services program.
Volunteer Opportunities Minneapolis Urban League Alternative Elementary School needs reading helpers Mon., Tues, Weds., Thurs., or Fri. 4:30 to 6:00, or 5:00 to 5:30. 2220 16th Avenue N., Mpls. Four blocks from Penn and Plymouth (16th and Russell). Call 612-287-1290. MAP for Nonprofits now recruiting volunteers MAP for Nonprofits recruits volunteers with management skills to serve on nonprofit Boards of Directors. Enhance your leadership skills. Share your experience and abilities. Give back to the community. Training is available. To learn more: call Tina Gonzales at 651-632-7233, or visit our website, www.mapfornonprofits.org. Volunteers Needed: St. Stephen’s Shelter Employment Program Volunteers needed to help people create resumes, complete online applications, and learn basic computer skills in our job room. Contact Marissa at 612-879-7627 or mpherson@ststephensmpls.org for more information. Or learn more and apply online at http://www.ststephensmpls.org/def ault.cfm/PID=1.15. Volunteer training to help survivors of sexual assault Join over 60 dedicated people connected in a community against sexual violence by volunteering with the Sexual Violence Center, a sexual assault program serving Hennepin, Carver and Scott Counties. Registration for the training is required. Call (612) 8715100.
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Insight News • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Page 11
SPORTS Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. personifies classic quality Mr T’s Sports Report
By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Sports events pale in comparison to events like Hurricane Katrina and 9-11, but it’s no coincidence that there is a sense of relief when a football or baseball game comes on in the days and months following
tragic events such as those. Sometimes it gets annoying when Favre-mania and athlete sex scandals are allowed to crowd the real news of the day. But then the deaths of Steve McNair, Darrent Williams, Chris Henry, or Malik Sealy (who played for the Timberwolves) come to wake us up to the fragile state of life. And so we celebrate victory as much as we can, to help keep our minds off of that fragility; unfortunately what happens is that some in the media take it too far in their explorations of these sensitive matters (or rather their bosses force them to) and they end up celebrating
Larry Fitzgerald, Jr.
the tragedies that many athletes face. This decade seems worse that ever with scandalous promotions. The Vikings certainly paid their fee for bad publicity with their many “boom-boom room” affairs. And now, a message to professional athletes in Minnesota: Do not drive on First Avenue after the club lets out. Your car is too nice, and you are too abnormally big and muscular, which makes easy pickings for cops that want some type of autograph. And by all means, if an officer messes with you, don’t run them over like your boy Randy
www.clevelandleader.com
Moss did. And then when we get done chuckling over all of those indiscretions, we turn instead to sober up and think of Vikings great Korey Stringer who died in 2001 during Vikings training camp down in Mankato. You don’t hear of anyone speaking ill of any encounter with Stringer, and his memory shows the importance of remembering that the players we see on television are real, fragile people like you and I. Like you and I, these famous athletes we follow also give quite a bit to the community, albeit their wallets have a little more elasticity than most of us reading this paper. Kevin Garnett gave tremendously to the Twin Cities community, including the 4XL Tech Center at Washburn High School in 2005. Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson has done impactful work for Twin Cities youth through his E.J. Henderson Youth Foundation. The community should consistently reward those players with thanks, because as we know, they don’t have to help at all (but I’m sure they’re momma says they do). The Kid, Kevin Garnett, was the most beloved athlete of the Minnesota decade, and I almost feel bad that the Lakers had to quell the little uprising that Garnett, Sprewell, and Cassell kindled in the 2004 NBA Western Conference Finals. More recently I had to write an article titled “Damn” as my response to hearing about Sprewell’s home foreclosure and boat repossession. Yes, in the first decade of the 21st Century (that was fast) we have even managed to see a man who would turn down $21 million dollars because, as Sprewell said, it was not enough money to “feed his family”! Sprewell even said he was insulted! But
I suppose after seeing 9-11 (seems like yesterday), even Sprewell’s “new math” for household management may make a little sense. Fortunately, we always have the many championship Gopher athletic teams, along with championship stories from the many great small colleges in Minnesota. Thank God for high school athletes such as Al Nolen Jr., Lawrence McKenzie, and Taylor Hill, who provided us all hope and confidence that the next generation of headline athlete’s can contain their image a little better than many in this last group. Of course, I suppose, that the ones stirring up all the trouble aren’t from
Minnesota. Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. is the classic example of the quality athletes that are produced around here. So as for the Twin Cities and Minnesota at large: decade well done. Let’s all work together to build up the youth of the Twin Cities. I’ve been fortunate to see the talent of the youth up front and personal, and can comfortably say that a whole fleet of Larry Fitzgeralds are out there waiting on your good word. So as I metaphorically say for any and every day, “You better give love on Christmas Day.”
Page 12 • December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010 • Insight News
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$2.99
WHEN YOU BUY 5
We reserve the right to limit quantities and correct all printed errors. Not all varieties available at all locations. Prices subject to state and local taxes, if applicable. No sales to dealers. Purchase requirements exclude discounts, coupons, gift cards, lottery tickets and bus passes. Check out our website at: www.rainbowfoods.com *Free promotion will be applied to item of least value.