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Minnesota legends, The Steeles spread holiday cheer in upcoming shows.
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Insight News December 4 - December 10, 2017
Vol. 44 No. 49• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
To hire key administration positions, Mayor-elect Carter launches effort to recruit new voices and leadership for St. Paul city government
Mayor-Elect Carter begins push to reimagine St. Paul government with inclusive, community-driven hiring effort director-level positions within the Carter Administration. Carter said this open, transparent process marks a significant break from the insider decisionmaking process that too often formed transition processes in past decades and this approach to hiring will ensure a diverse, community-centered group of voices lead in the selection of these crucial positions to guide the future of St. Paul. “St. Paul residents and businesses deserve a city government that is responsive and accountable,” said Deputy Mayor-Designate Jaime 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.” Toni Newborn, St. Paul’s Diversity and Consulting Services manager, will work with Tincher to implement the hiring process. As chief of staff to Gov.
Mayor-elect Melvin Carter launched a new community hiring effort to attract diverse talent to St. Paul city government. Carter said this effort will bring together city leaders community members from across St. Paul to fill key administration positions, following through on his campaign promise to change the way city government functions to ensure every voice is heard. “To build a St. Paul that works for all of us, City Hall must reflect and respond to everyone who calls our city home,” said Carter. “This new community hiring effort delivers on the change that St. Paul residents are seeking. I encourage all interested candidates to submit their resumes for consideration as we begin building a city that works better for all of us.” This new community hiring effort will engage 10 separate panels of community members, policy experts, and civic leaders to review candidates for
Saint Paul Mayor-elect Melvin Carter
CARTER 5
TRANSFORMATION: A new building
Dr. Jay Williams appointed as MCTC’s chief diversity officer
By Randall Bradley Architect Estes Funeral Chapel has begun construction on its new facility on the southwest corner of the intersection of Plymouth and Penn Avenues North. This site was formerly a surface parking lot for the employees of North Point Health and Wellness Center at 1315 Penn Ave. North. This is a unique project for both Estes, and the community. Estes is currently in business serving this community at 2200 Plymouth Ave. North – across the street from the new construction. This new construction will allow them to remain in operation with
Harry Colbert, Jr.
Once a parking lot, work is underway to transform what will be the new home for Estes Funeral Chapel at the corner of Penn and Plymouth Avenues North in Minneapolis. no disruption in service while we all get to observe the new building come into existence. This facility will be the second new construction project at this
intersection. This is significant activity for an inner-city urban
TRANSFORMATION 5
Dr. Jay Williams
Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) has appointed Dr. Jay Williams as its Chief Diversity Officer. MCTC President Sharon Pierce appointed Williams effective Nov. 17 following an interim period. “I can’t imagine anyone more prepared to lead this important work for our College,” said Pierce. “We would be hard-pressed to find anyone with Jay’s passion for equity and inclusion or his strong commitment to MCTC.” As interim in this role, Williams led a cross-
functional group in developing and implementing MCTC’s Equity and Inclusion Plan to guide the college’s efforts to embed equity consciousness into its practices, procedures, policies and planning Williams joined MCTC in January 2014 teaching anthropology. Pierce said Williams’ work is transforming the college’s approach to equity work and helping increase access to higher education for at-risk youth. In 1993, his community work earned him the New Jersey Governor’s Award for Youth Outreach.
Rags to riches story made publisher Walter “Ball” Smith Jr. a light for many
Black Press mourns a New York beacon From Crusader Staff Report Crusader Newspaper Group/NNPA Member The Black Press lost one of its most devoted freedom warriors. Walter “Ball” Smith, the publisher of New York’s Beacon and the Philadelphia Observer died Nov. 10. He was 83. “The Black Press has lost a true giant in Black America,” said Dorothy Leavell, chairwoman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and publisher of the Chicago and Gary Crusader newspapers. “Walter Smith made a difference
in so many lives of Black readers and Black publishers in the Northeast, and America, in general.” As CEO of the Smith Haj Group, Smith published weeklies, New York’s Beacon and the Philadelphia Observer. Like Black newspapers across the country, both publications catered to a loyal readership that made Smith a prominent figure in the Black community. For 26 years, he led the Beacon, an edgy publication that shared America’s largest media market with several Black newspapers that included the venerable New York Amsterdam News. NNPA members, colleagues, friends and family are mourning the loss of a
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Payday Despitelenders Unequal continue attack Treatment, Black on consumer Women Will Rise protections
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publisher who never forgot his humble beginnings. Smith was the seventh of 10 children born to Walter Smith, Sr. and his wife Belle Smith. He was raised in Badlin, N.C. where his father, a prominent civic leader, worked for Alcoa, an aluminum company. When he was 18, Smith was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in Korea. Upon his return, Smith completed a degree in business from the University of North Carolina. He landed a job in New York as a founding employee with ADP (Automatic Data Processing), a newly created company known for processing employee payrolls for companies across the country. Today, the
Walter “Ball” Smith Jr. ADP has $10 billion in revenue and serves 570,000 clients. During a 2013 interview with the Stanly News & Press in Albemarle, N.C., Smith said he had been working for ADP for less than a year, making $75 per week, sometimes $100 with
overtime, when he suddenly noticed something about his pay. “I looked at my paycheck one week, and $15 a week was coming out for stock options. I said, ‘I can’t afford this,’” Smith told the newspaper. His boss replied, “It’s stock.
I 2 H 2 Health Insight
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America’s Don’t complain, blind eye activate to the slave trading of Blacks in Libya
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Soulon War food opioids not thehurts sickle cell enemy, over-salting disease is patients
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I’m giving you an option to buy stock,” Smith remembered. “He said, ‘You keep that and pretty soon it will be worth some money.’” Smith’s boss was right. On
SMITH JR. 7
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Minneapolis The Chronicles music of Miss Freedom scene focus of Fighter, new Esquire: Ending mass book incarceration
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Business
Payday lenders continue attack on consumer protections Center for Responsible Lending
Commentary by Charlene Crowell “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is a wellknown adage. In recent weeks, it seems that phrase could also be an apt description of the unrelenting efforts of predatory payday lenders to sell their wares. Across the country, 15 states as well as
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in the District of Columbia, with varying geographies, economies and demographics have enacted strong rate cap limits. In each locale, these actions were taken to curb the harmful consequences of payday lenders’ 300 percent or higher interest rate loans. When voters or legislatures approve rate caps, these lenders seek loopholes to evade state requirements. Changing products from payday to car title-loans is one way. Others pose as “loan brokers” or “mortgage lenders” to avoid regulation of payday lending. Even at the federal level and on the heels of a stillnew rule by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), payday lenders and their supporters are now pressing for legislation to continue and expand tripledigit lending on small-dollar loans. The same deception that hides the real cost of predatory, consumer loans is reflected in the title of pending legislation in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate. The Protecting Consumers’ Access to Credit Act of 2017 (H.R. 3299 and S. 1624) would allow payday lenders, high-cost online lenders, and other predatory lenders to partner with banks to make
loans that surpass existing state interest rate limits. This legislative scheme would legalize payday lenders to charge triple-digit interest rates, despite state laws banning them. Some term this financial switch as innovation for “fintech,” a recently coined term that smacks of the 21st Century’s tech focus, but in everyday terms, these actions are a renewed effort for an old scheme known as “renta-bank.” If the bill is enacted, states that have annually saved an estimated $2.2 billion each year by banning triple-digit interest would have to face the return of past debt trap lending. Additionally, and in 34 states where a $2,000, two-year installment loan with interest higher than 36 percent is illegal today, would enable predatory lenders to charged unlimited rates on these longer-term loans. One more item to note – these measures are advancing with bipartisan support. Virginia’s Sen. Mark Warner (D), the lead sponsor of that chamber’s version has Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) as his co-sponsors. On the House side, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R) from North
Carolina, has the help of two Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members, New York’s Rep. Greg Meeks (D) and Wisconsin’s Rep. Gwen Moore (D). Right now, both New York and Pennsylvania have rate caps that prevent triple-digit rate lending. It is therefore curious why bill co-sponsors would strip their own state law protections. In other home states of these legislators, payday loan interest rates are some of the highest in the country. For example, in Wisconsin the average payday interest rate is 574 percent; in Michigan, the average interest is 369 percent. This bill would expand this type of predatory lending in their states, rather than reining it in. On Nov. 15, the House bill passed out of its assigned committee with a split among CBC members serving on the House Financial Services. While Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) and Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) opposed the bill while Rep. William Clay (D-Mo.) and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), joined Meeks and Moore in its support. It is noteworthy that in Missouri, the average payday loan interest rate is 443 percent.
For civil rights advocates, the committee vote was disturbing. “The potential costs and damage to consumers is significant, especially for borrowers of color, as research shows that payday lenders disproportionately target communities of color and trap consumers in unsustainable cycles of borrowing and reborrowing high-cost loans,” said Vanita Gupta, the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “Under these arrangements, banks effectively ‘rent’ their federal charter powers to non-banks lenders, in exchange for a fee associated with each loan.” Hilary Shelton, the director of the NAACP’s Washington bureau and the senior vice president for policy and advocacy, said that the swarm of payday lenders in our communities is blocking access to responsible credit and lending options; companies that are offering those options, can’t compete with the deep pockets and market penetration of the payday lenders. “Responsible banking policy would be acting to end these high-cost loans, not make them more common,” said Shelton. The concerns of civil
rights leaders are also shared by a nationwide coalition of 152 national and state organizations who together advised all of Congress of their collective opposition. Coalition members include church conferences and affiliates, consumer groups, housing, labor, legal advocates and others. Approximately 20 state attorneys general are also on record opposing the bill’s provision. “This bill represents the efforts of high-cost lenders to circumvent the most effective protection against predatory loans – state interest rate caps,” said Scott Estrada, the director of Federal Advocacy with the Center for Responsible Lending. “Rather than making it easier for predatory lenders to exploit financially distressed individuals, Congress should be establishing a federal rate cap of 36 percent that protects all Americans, just as it did in 2006 for members of the military at the urging of the Department of Defense.” Charlene Crowell is the communications deputy director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending. org.
Know your buyer and what you are selling FUNdraising Good Times
By Mel and Pearl Shaw
Senior advisor, Dr. Lewis Rambo, frequently surprises us with nuanced questions that get at the underlying assumptions that drive nonprofits and forprofit businesses. Recently, he shared his article, “What business are we in” with us. He encourages nonprofit leaders to define their customers – and their customer segments – to learn how to best meet their needs. Here is an excerpt from Rambo’s column. “What business are we in? What are we selling?” These are often the starting points for a business school case
study discussion. However, this may be a question that the board members of a nonprofit organization might not think to ask themselves. Just because your organization is designated as nonprofit does not mean that it is not in business. Inevitably, a serious examination of these questions can begin with an in-depth discussion of this question, “What is the customer actually buying from us?” As surprising as it might seem, nonprofit organizations are selling themselves to donors and potential donors, to their
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
Just because your organization is designated as nonprofit does not mean that it is not in business.
communities and to those who are targeted to receive (buy) what they offer. The board of directors of a nonprofit may have a hard time accepting that its organization has customers. Going a step further, determining exactly who the “customers” are, and then coming to an agreement on what their customers are “buying,” can be even more confounding. Ted Levitt, a distinguished professor at the Harvard Business School, developed the idea that to survive over time, business leaders must see themselves as satisfying a customer demand rather than producing a product. Ford, BMW, Toyota, and Tesla manufacture cars; but are their customers “buying cars?” Each one of these companies are communicating very different value messages, features and branding. In the auto industry, Ford is thought of as tough,
Toyota as dependable, BMW is synonymous with performance; Tesla, luxury and eco-friendly. The ultimate success of an organization very much depends on a deep understanding of what “business” it is in and what its “customers” truly believe they are buying. Once coming to agreement that the beneficiaries of your organization’s initiative(s) are customers, it is then more reasonable to view them as buying or refusing to buy what you are actually “selling.” Take the time to learn what is in your customer’s mind when she is “buying.” 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.
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is partnering with Medtronic to fill 20-30 medical assembly positions • Med dtronic, a global medical tech hnologyy, ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ŽůƵƟŽ ŽŶƐ ĐĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͕ ŝƐ ŚŝƌŝŶŐ mediccall assemb blers from North h Minneapolis and the Cedar Riverside e neighb borhoo od • ϮϬͲϯϬ ŵĞĚŝĐĂů ĂĂƐƐĞŵďůLJLJ ƉŽ ŽƐŝƟŽ ŽŶƐ ĂĂǀĂŝůĂĂďůĞ at Brookklyn Center faacility • WĞĞŽƉůĞ Ž ŽĨ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ĚĞƐĐĞŶƚ ĂƌĞ ĞĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ Ě ƚƚŽ ĂƉ ƉƉůLJ
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America’s blind eye to the slave trading of Blacks in Libya A View from Campus By Latisha Townsend Columnist Black Motivated Women (BMW) is actively working and researching to see what we can do to contribute and bring increased awareness of what is going on right now in Libya. As the media attention increases, we feel it is necessary to spread this information throughout Minneapolis and to students here at Minnesota State University.
For the past few years, the auctioning off of African migrants in Libya has gone completely unnoticed. The mass beatings and killings of Africans in Libya is not a new phenomenon. In 2000, the Libyan government accused African migrants of causing rises in crime and drug trafficking. In response, young Libyans killed hundreds of migrants from Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan, Chad, Nigeria and many other countries across Africa. How can we speak adamantly in opposition of the genocide and enslavement of our ancestors when it is still happening to our people right here in 2017? Africans are being sold for as little as $500. Is this the cost of a Black life? The shocking and disappointing truth to this story is that they are not
being bought by non-Blacks or white people. This time African people are being bought and sold by other Africans. Footage surfaced to Facebook and other social media sites showing Africans of all ages tied up, piled on top of each other, and badly beaten. Some of the victims were tied up and photographed in torturous and inhumane bodily positions. The president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, is one of the few leaders who has spoken out against these heinous acts. Rwanda has agreed to resettle 30,000 of the Africans in Libya. A majority of these migrant workers come to Libya with the intention of merely traveling through in search of work while on their way to European territories. Instead, they are being held in
Libya under harsh conditions for weeks, and for some workers, years. It is unfortunate that so much of the media has been taken over with coverage on unnecessary twitter rants, golf trips, and accusations of “fake news.” It is causing many people to stop tuning into the news and in turn we are missing the important issues. Our people are dying, and they need help. Most of us probably would have never believed something like this could happen in our lifetime, but BMW is conscious and aware of the fact that history can absolutely repeat itself. We are currently taking the steps to create an event that will raise awareness of this human trafficking. The first step is to create awareness here on our
campus. From here, we can extend the fight to Minneapolis and other large cities in Minnesota. The final step is to create such a large public outcry about the issue that the media and the government have no choice but to intervene. It is unfortunate that we have a way of dividing ourselves up and only dealing with issues that directly affect America. We are all affected by this. Pain endured by one person of African descent should be painful for all of us. We are only “Americans” on paper. If it can happen today in Libya, who is to say it can’t happen again here in this country? It is important for us to take charge of what is going on with our people even when it is at the hands of our people. This is an unpopular opinion, but Black on
Black crime is becoming an issue on an international scale. If we say Black lives matter, we need to get involved with all Black lives and end unjust treatment. It is the only way we will elevate as a people. In the next couple of weeks, BMW will be working tirelessly to contribute to finding a solution to the genocide and slave trade occurring in Libya. Latisha Townsend is a senior at Minnesota State University, Mankato majoring in communications. She is the president of the student organization, Black Motivated Women. She can be contacted at Latisha.Townsend@mnsu.edu.
Grit is more than a grain Post Grad Chronicles
By Abeni Hill I am going to be completely honest with you, not that I haven’t been in the past. This past month, writing for me has been a struggle. I don’t
Carter From 3 Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, Tincher drove similar processes to increase diversity
Transformation From 3 community. It is almost a competition of backhoes. The asphalt parking lot surface removal began on Sept. 23. Immediately following this demolition, the soil correction commenced Nov. 1. Soil borings indicated this site had two separate issues. One was hydrocarbon contamination due to the old Pure-Oil Gasoline Station that was once located on the site and the likely leakage from its underground storage tanks, which have been long removed. The second issue was soil with inadequate bearing capacity (i.e. an inability to bear the weight of a building). Soil removal and replacement i.e. soil correction, solved and corrected both of these issues. Soil was
know if it is the recent Minnesota weather or the quarter life crisis was hitting me extra hard since my last installment in October … but I am back now. I started this column as a means of documenting my trials and tribulations as a 20-something year old. I recently turned 25 and I am starting to experience lots of emotions about the direction of my life, whether they be career or personal relationships. This writing delves into my struggles with staying consistent. Like I mentioned earlier, I had problems completing my commentary for
this month. As I get older, I realize that I have these ideas that I think are great, but I never act on them or when I act on them I don’t put in the necessary amount of effort to get the job done. For example, November was National Novel Writing Month. Every year since I found out about this event, I try to get involved. I brainstorm what my story is going to be. I read all of the articles of various authors giving pep talks and listen to/watch virtual writeins hosted on YouTube, but I always fall short somehow.
I go days and weeks without writing. The goal for the end of the month was to have about 50,000 words and I barely scraped together 1,000. This happens to me every year, but every October I set myself up with this so-called “great” idea. So now I have to ask myself, where is the disconnect? Why do I always run out of steam after a week or two? I used to think it was because I lacked motivation, but I the real answer is I lack grit. For me, the definition of grit, is having mental (sometimes physical) endurance to complete a
task. In the past, the source of my grit came from school. I knew to get a good grade. I attended class, listened to the teacher, took notes, studied and passed the test/course. When I graduated college I began to realize there are no more tests to take and no grades to receive. I am realizing without the pressure of school my capacity for grit has depleted. So, what am I going to do now? I see grit as something that I have to work at and build … like a muscle. I must consistently work to make it stronger. Whether it means getting up an hour early or
not watching television or staying of social media or YouTube so I can get something done, I realize the necessary steps I have to take. I have to reach deep inside myself and realize that my goals are much more important than the satisfaction of being comfortable in the moment. Abeni Hill, a contributing writer with Insight News, began writing “Post Grad Chronicles” to document her trials and tribulations as a 20-something year old.
in executive level positions within the State of Minnesota. The office of the mayorelect is accepting applications for director of planning and economic development, director of financial services, director of the office of technology, director of public
works, director of safety and inspections, director of human resources, library director, parks and recreation director, city attorney and the director of emergency management. Applications will be accepted until Thursday, (Dec. 7), at 4:30 p.m. Additional
information on each position can be found online at https:// w w w. g o v e r n m e n t j o b s . com/careers/stpaul/. The community hiring panels will interview candidates for director-level positions Dec. 12 through Dec. 14. Once the community hiring
panels finish their review process, their recommendations and evaluations will be submitted to Carter for final consideration and selection, with the goal to hire all directorlevel positions before the administration begins on Jan. 2. The transition team is
seeking community leaders to serve on one of the hiring panels. Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest to Newborn at Toni.Newborn@ ci.stpaul.mn.us.
then placed and compacted throughout the site. This building will have no basement and will be described as a one-story slab-on-grade structure similar to the current facility. The footings that support the structure of this building, however, are installed on top of this newly compacted soil to a depth of four feet below the final grade. This puts the footing below the frost line. In Minnesota, the moisture in the soil can freeze to a depth of four feet. Since water expands as it freezes, the soil can push upwards beneath the concrete slabs or footings and “heave” the building upward. This can cause major structural damage and even render a building uninhabitable. Placing the footing below this level insures the structural performance of the building. The top of the footing is measured at four feet below grade.
The footing has 48” high reinforcing bars placed in the center of the footing approximately two feet apart. This allows for the concrete block to be installed (by lifting the block and allowing the rebar to thread through the web), and for the web-core to be poured full of concrete. This creates a vertical “column” of concrete, to strengthen the foundation wall. Once the footings were installed, the foundation walls, of concrete block, were erected. Concrete block is a suitable material for foundation walls, as is poured concrete. These walls may also be waterproofed and insulated prior to backfilling. This is a new building being constructed on a corner lot that has been vacant in excess of 20 years. Corner lots of high traffic intersections in urban areas typically are never vacant. This lot is vacant because the Northside has the
lowest per capita income of almost any community within the city of Minneapolis. This is one of the largest, poorest residential communities within the city of Minneapolis. The financial risks are greater in poor
urban communities because the return-on-investment may not be achieved no matter who covers the cost – the government or private individuals. The new construction of these corners and the buildings yet to come
indicates the Estes family, Thor Construction and Hennepin County are challenging the economic status quo with a new positive and committed energy for this community.
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.
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Soul food not the enemy, over-salting is By Tyler Brady Howard University News Service WASHINGTON, D.C. – As we enjoy the holiday season, Americans will be involved in two of their favorite seasonal activities– shopping and eating. It is the time to dine on many of those dishes primarily reserved for this time of the year, and for Black Americans, it is a chance to indulge in a cuisine born out of slavery and made delicious and famous by ingenious black mothers, grandmothers and even a few Black men – soul food. They will gather around the dinner table for such favorites as macaroni and cheese, collard greens, turnip greens, ox tails, neck bones, black-eyed peas, dressing and gravy, turkey, honeybaked ham, banana pudding, chitterlings, candied yams, cornbread and sweet potato pie. Some say it is called soul food because it’s good for the soul. Is it, however, good for the body? Not if you look at the number of people who wind up in hospitals annually after eating that holiday meal. Last Thanksgiving, 36,729 people visited the emergency room, including many with high blood pressure who had gorged themselves on highlysalted seasonal favorites, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The American College of Cardiology says sodiumrich foods are a major cause of high blood pressure, and many soul food items traditionally contain large amounts of sodium. Consequently, continuous consumption can contribute significantly to high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure can lead to a number of health issues, such as heart attack, stroke, heart disease and kidney disease. So, is soul food bad for you? Is it time to put it down? That question becomes particularly relevant considering the American College of Cardiology’s new standards for what constitutes high blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured with a systolic number first, followed by a diastolic number. The new guidelines dropped the numbers from 140 systolic/90 diastolic to 130/80. Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure inside your arteries
Howard University News Service
African-American’s soul food cuisine is delicious, but it can also be deadly, according to physicians, who say it accounts for much of the annual surge in hospital emergency room visits during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Under the new guidelines for what constitutes high blood pressure, 42 percent of Americans have hypertension.
when your heart is pumping; diastolic pressure is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is resting between beats. The new standards mean that 46 percent of the entire U.S. adult population will now be classified as having high blood pressure. Among AfricanAmericans, 41 percent of adults are currently diagnosed as having high blood pressure, compared with 27 percent of whites. Soul food was created during slavery, when slaves were given the worst parts of the animals – ears, nose, tails, feet, intestines – to cook and eat, some historians say. Slaves turned to heavily seasoning their food to make it more palatable. Cooking with heavy seasoning, particularly salt, became a tradition, as soul food became a staple of Black American kitchens. Does this mean that the flagship of AfricanAmerican cuisine is conducive to high blood pressure? Well, not necessarily. The bad part about soul food is not the collard greens, the mac and cheese, nor the ham. It is the large quantities of salt and the sodium in the butters that are used to season them that can lead to high blood pressure. The answer is using less salt and using other types of seasoning. The American Heart Association recommends consuming less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day, which is less than a teaspoon of salt. It will be a difficult transition for many Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American consumes 3,436 milligrams of sodium daily. There are a number of salt-free seasoning substitutes for sale in local grocery stores, including Mrs. Dash, Kirkland Signature No-Seasoning, Lawry’s Salt-Free 17 Seasons, The Spice Hunter and Morton’s Nature’s Seasons Seasoning. Cooks also suggest a variety of ways to add flavor without salt, such as using lemon pepper, onions and garlic, herbs and spices, lemon juice, citrus and citrus zest, vinegar, infused oils, beer, wine, salsa, chutney and chili peppers. So the answer is simple. No, it is not necessarily time to put down soul food, but it is time to cut back on the salt in all of your cuisine. Tyler Brady is a reporter for TruthBeTold.news, a factchecking website produced by the Howard University Department of Media, Journalism and Film.
The Black church and the future of Obamacare
Why Black faith leaders must lead the fight for healthcare access NNPA Newswire Columnist By Julianne Malveaux First of all, despite the Trump Administration’s efforts to kill (“repeal and replace”) the Affordable Care Act, it is still the law of the land, and because of the federal mandate everyone is required to have some form of health insurance. However, since “45” and his team have declared it all but dead, they have shortened the enrollment period from three months to a mere six weeks, from Nov. 1 – Dec. 15. Additionally, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has drastically cut the budget for outreach. This time last year, there were television and radio announcements, billboards on buses, and other reminders that people should enroll for healthcare, if they didn’t already have healthcare through their jobs.
The Trump Administration hopes that, without outreach, people will not enroll for healthcare, so that they can then crow that people “don’t want” healthcare. Some faith leaders, however, have pledged to use their pulpits to remind their congregations to get enrolled for healthcare. The Rev. Dr. Barbara Williams Skinner, the first executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus and an activist who melds faith with public policy, who is also a spiritual advisor to many Black leaders, has developed a toolkit for communities of faith to help them do the work that our government won’t … encouraging people to sign-up for affordable healthcare. You can follow the faith leaders’ conversations about open enrollment and healthcare on social media using the hashtags #SoulsToEnroll or #Souls2Enroll, and by liking the Facebook page, www.Facebook. com/FaithinPublicLife, where you can find the toolkit adopted from the government page, www.GetAmericaCovered.org. Back in the day, before social media, we used to talk about “the drum,” how we
shared information in the Black community; many of our radio stations, or public broadcast programs and newspapers were our drums. Now, faith leaders
our community has the ability to out organize the evil that is seeping out of Washington. “Woke” members of Congress are working with Skinner and
Helping people gain healthcare is not only a public service, it is also an act of resistance to “45.”
are taking the drum viral to ensure that people who don’t get the word, because of lack of government outreach, will get it through churches and through the Internet. We will rely on these methods of communicating more and more, as this administration attempts to contract, not expand, the information people need to get essential healthcare (and other services). The toolkit and other resources are proof that
others to get the word out. Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) had his PSA up before the enrollment period opened on November 1, and some members of Congress have PSAs posted on their webpages; but everyone won’t log on to a congressional website to get access to the PSA. That’s where the churches and community organizations come into play. Once upon a time, we were great at mobilizing. Without
any Internet, 250,000 people managed to get to Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington in 1963. Mimicking that effort, and using both word of mouth and the Internet, more than a million women made it to Washington D.C. this past January for the post-inaugural Women’s March. Now we have the opportunity to rally millions to participate in the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. There are consequences to not enrolling. If you don’t enroll by Dec. 15, you may have to wait a whole year before getting access to affordable healthcare and the subsidies available under the ACA, and you may have to pay a fine for not enrolling. Some (California, Washington, Minnesota, Colorado, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.) will allow enrollment until January, but most will close enrollment on Dec. 15. Even with a longer enrollment period, the best thing to do to ensure that the people who need health insurance get it is to encourage them to enroll early. Helping people enroll for ACA benefits is not only a public service, it is also an act of resistance to “45’s” pernicious
attempts to undermine President Obama’s signature piece of legislation. To be sure, the ACA is not perfect, but it is responsible for expanding the base of people who can get affordable health insurance. This example of “Faith in Action” may be a template for other ways to use the church to organize resistance. The novelist, Dr. Daniel Black, (author of “Perfect Peace: A Novel”) recently gave a talk in which he described our churches as the backbone of the Black community. Disagree with your pastor, or with the sermon if you will, he said, but still get to church for the sense of community that can only be found there. While the Black church is less impactful than it was in 1963, when most of us could be reached through church announcements, it is still a place where we gather and share information. Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author. Her latest book, “Are We Better Off: Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available via amazon.com. For more information, visit www. juliannemalveaux.com.
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Insight News • December 4 - December 10, 2017 • Page 7
Food markets offer variety for consumers’ pallets The Un-Bougie Foodie By Wesley Wright
www.facebook.com/ theunbougiefoodie In 1917 Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles opened and served as a main place for companies along the business and entertainment corridor to obtain a meal from local vendors. It’s been more than 100 years and it still reflects the changes to the populations of the downtown area. This collaboration of vendors made up of florists, butchers, fishmongers, bakers, etc., are now what we call a food hall. Whether you choose to call it a market place, a bazaar, or social gathering spot, food halls have become an effective way for those in the food industry to work together to engage more with the communities they serve. Unlike any fad venture that is short-lived and novelty driven, businesses creating a market type
Smith Jr. From 3 paper Smith learned he was $2 million richer, later, when he was trying to buy a house on New York’s Long Island in 1964. “I’m struggling to get to work and back and was a millionaire and didn’t know it,” said Smith. “It was just a real Cinderella story.” It was the beginning of an auspicious career that took Smith from being an ordinary American to a successful businessman, who purchased a small Black newspaper and built a powerful Black media empire, becoming a beloved community institution in Black neighborhoods in two of America’s largest cities, New York and Philadelphia. In 1980, Smith met Bill Underwood, who was operating the Big Red, a numerology tip
Wesley Wright
The Pork Belly Benny at Lynhall collaborative maintain a longer life span, and only get stronger over time. Growing up in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, my parents would often take us downtown to shop for school clothes and things for the house. I remember as a kid, it seemed every building was a towering structure that I would strain my neck in an effort to see the top. There were vendors always selling postcards, clothing and other touristy trinkets. But I believe our excitement as children grew as we stopped in Grand Central Market after shopping the majority of the day.
The scent of fish, meats, and of different vegetables within the market place was fascinating. Yet nothing could compare to the food that was being prepared from ingredients being exchanged between vendors. There were Mexican, American, Chinese cuisines and more. I’m certain my parents weren’t familiar with some foods. But oftentimes we were there because particular spices or ingredients for a dish they were about to make, couldn’t be found at the grocery store and only found there. We were always glad when Mommy and Daddy were ready to leave though,
selling sheet that sold 100,000 copies per day. He later renamed it Big Red News and the advertisers started coming. Big Red News became one of the largest audited Black weeklies in the country. In 1981, Smith purchased the paper to gain full control of the operation. In 1983, the paper changed its name to The New York Beacon. The Beacon gives the news to readers in New York City’s five boroughs. In 2006, Smith acquired The Philadelphia Observer. To have a stronger voice in the region, Smith founded the Northeast Publishers Association, which united New York’s Black newspapers in their fight to boost advertising revenue in their publications. Smith was also one of the regional directors for the NNPA. “One thing that we can rest assured of is the news we gather and the news we present is just as relevant today as it was in the 80s,” Smith said in the Beacon.
Over the years, Smith received many awards and proclamations for doing what he loved best. “The NNPA mourns profoundly the passing of beloved publisher Walter Smith,” said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA. “At a time that we are celebrating the 190th year of the Black Press, we pause to salute the outstanding contributions of Walter Smith to the Black Press. We will keep Miatta Smith and the Smith Family in our sincere prayers, as we express our condolences.” In his spare time, Smith lived the American dream and enjoyed many hobbies. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed swimming, fishing, yachting, traveling and spending time with his wife, Miatta Smith, their children and grandchildren. Smith maintained homes in New York, Atlanta, Miami and North Carolina.
because it was our chance to get a taco, a doughnut or some ice cream. Being there made you feel like you were involved with the downtown vibe. There was always some new food to see or aroma that made you hungry. Even though its origin was not American based, the concept has truly taken hold. Vendors of these food collaborations are focusing not only on providing familiar and unique foods, but offering someplace where people are able to gather together in a social setting, building relationships and where
community and cultural events may be attended. We see the success in this concept with the establishing of Midtown Global Market in 2006, which has become a place that culinary flavors from across the globe can be found. Still, the interest for these types of collaborations is growing. The Lowertown neighborhood of St. Paul welcomed Market House Collaborative with vendors such as Peterson’s Meats (butcher), Salty Tart (pastries), and Octo Fish Bar (seafood). In the upcoming new year, watch for
the opening of new food halls like Keg and Case in the Schmidt’s Brewing building in St. Paul, and Malcom Yards Market in the Prospect Park neighborhood. Want to visit a casual place that has a collective of food professionals creating dishes for a market-inspired café? Check out the Lynhall (www.thelynhall. com) where you can get rotisserie meats, baked goods, coffee, or even learn to make a specific dish. Wesley Wright is the creator and show host of The Un-Bougie Foodie show which airs Saturdays at 10am on 104.7 FM WEQY-LP
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Insight News • December 4 - December 10, 2017 • Page 9
Minneapolis music scene focus of new book Columnist
By Violet Brown Instagram @violetesq In “Got to Be Something Here: The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound,� Andrea Swensson, an award-winning Minnesota-based music historian and journalist, provides a serious and wellresearched history of the music scene in Minneapolis/ St. Paul from the 1950s – when Prince was born – up to (and a little beyond) 1981, the year of Prince’s “Controversy� album. The author intelligently informs on the varied
cast of characters and eloquently explains her theme; the inuences of race, politics and social issues, in coloring the backdrop and setting the stage for the debut of Minneapolis’ musical movement. The book is ďŹ lled with detailed and important history. By way of example, Swensson provides an important record of St. Paul’s historic Rondo neighborhood as told by Herman Jones, who said at one point, “If you lived in St. Paul, Rondo just popped,â€? as he reminisced. Rondo still pops. Just last month I traveled from Texas to attend a fab Sunday jazz brunch with music, art and spoken word by local artists at the Rondo Clubhouse, future site of
The Lex & Taste of Rondo. Swensson shares that essential to the mix of ingredients comprising the recipe for the sound is the players, the multiethnic, multi-racial, multigender and multi-musical background bands. She provides detailed examples like The Amazers, (Purple) Haze, and Prophets of Peace. For more recent examples consider bands like, The Family, Vanity 6, Apollonia 6, The Revolution, and the various versions of the NPG. Note, even today, Dr. Mambo’s Combo, a like-comprised band, still performs at Bunker’s in Minneapolis. Many have traveled from across the U.S. to enjoy seeing them, myself included, a few times. We
have also recently traveled to Minneapolis to see other diverse bands put together by Michael Bland (longtime NPG drummer). Bland on drums with Steve Price of the Suburbs on bass, is truly something to see. Another recent and amazing example of the eclectic, live sound blew listeners away in St. Paul via St. Paul Peterson, Stokley Williams, Jarrod Lawson, and Jesse Larson in A Night of Classic Soul, a charity event for the Southdale YMCA, at the Dakota Jazz Club this past November. Swensson details the rich landscape where the sound was germinated, cultivated, and from whence it sprang forth. The amazing musicians still performing today remind us that the
Minneapolis Sound is still alive and well, and continues to grow, evolve, and inuence the music world. Though the book centers on history, i.e., origins and inuence, Swensson closes by sharing some of her own more recent personal experience with Prince, as he invited her to interview him at Paisley Park prior to the release of the “Plectrumelectrumâ€? album. One of the best lines from her description of engaging in the delicate dance that was interviewing the musical genius, especially regarding the past, follows. “I got the sense that I was finally glimpsing a part of Prince that I’d long wondered about ‒ that kid who grew up on the Northside, who treated
his band like a gang, and who wielded his guitar like a weapon. That kid whose only goal in life was to show every other musician in town that they weren’t (excrement). That kid who could rough you up on the basketball court just as fiercely as he could in the studio.� Swensson closes with a sentiment I wholeheartedly share regarding the renewed interested in some of the amazing artists and musicians who have played with Prince since his passing, and that is, “let’s keep it going.� Let’s, because for those of us still here on Earth, as Prince would often say, “It ain’t over.� “Got to Be Something Here� is available via University of Minnesota Press.
Making the most of the winter season Man Talk
By Timothy Houston Winter is upon us and it is a fact of life. As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, even the best of us can get a little down. The “winter blues� is a term used to describe the mild depression, lack of enthusiasm, and low getup-and-go that many people experience during this cold season. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to both prevent the blues from coming and make the most of this season. Here are my helpful steps in making the most out of this winter season.
to the snowfall, and I will have a positive reason to be out in it. Ice ďŹ shing, downhill skiing, ice skating, hockey, snowmobiling and snowboarding are also fun activities that will take the edge o of the winter blues. This is also a fun way to get out of the house and make new friends. Accomplish an indoor project that you can see We are visual people and projects that we can see help us feel valued. You can use the extra time indoor to stain a cabinet, ďŹ x that closet door, or paint that spare room. Accomplishing something you can see and a visual reminder that you have made good use of your
time. It is also a way for you to get the beneďŹ t from the improvements that you have made. These small victories can go a long way in keeping you motivated throughout the winter months. By taking cues from nature we can more securely negotiate the seasons of our lives. Nature instinctively slows us down allowing us time to look inwardly. In your winter, you can accomplish needed activities, and enjoy the peacefulness of good friends and family. Winter is a fact of life, so maybe you should adopt the philosophy “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,â€? and make the most of your winter season.
Timothy Houston is an author, minister and motivational speaker
committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities.
For more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.
PROGRESSIVE JAZZ SCIENTISTS
Enjoy friends and family Although the holiday season is often a reminder of our missed loved ones that have gone on, we should not forget to celebrate and enjoy the company of those who remain. Make a list of some of your friends and family that could use a little cheer. Invite them over, email, write, text, Skype, or call them based on their preferred communication. You may be the spark that is needed to warm their winter blues. In any case, you will feel better for doing it.
THE BAD PLUS
Complete a personal development project The slow pace of winter will allow you the needed time to complete an individual or family budget, personal mission statement, long-term ďŹ nancial plan, or a profession development activity. This is also a good time to start exercising. Join a gym or use the one at work, or simply use a jump rope at home. Don’t make it too complicated. The goal is to use this time of year to get moving toward selfimprovement.
DECEMBER 20, 21, 22, 23 7 AND 9 PM
Embrace a winter activity This year I plan to take up cross-county skiing. This way, I will look forward
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Page 10 •December 4 - December 10, 2017 • Insight News
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Threads Dance Project
ZuluZuluu
“MINNESOTA’S MASTER MALE VOCALIST”
— Minneapolis Star Tribune
ROBERT ROBINSON DECEMBER 25 • 7 PM
Dec. 4 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
Monday, Dec. 4
Northeast Minneapolis.
THEATER
Wednesday, Dec. 6
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
THEATER
Threads Dance Project’s presents its SAGE Award nominated work, “’The Secrets of Slave Songs – An Examination of Slavery, Its Abolition and Consequences in the United States.”
Tuesday, Dec. 5 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
“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.
Thursday, Dec. 7 DANCE PARTY Jay-Z Day Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. 2 a.m. 21-plus $10
NEO-SOUL/ AFROFUTURISM 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.
Celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest of all time at Honey.
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.”
Friday, Dec. 8
Sunday, Dec. 10 HOLIDAYS Soulful Santa Minneapolis Airport Marriott 2020 American Blvd. E., Bloomington 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. All ages $15 Join the men of Kappa Alpha Psi and the women of Delta Sigma Theta for an afternoon of Christmas crafts, karaoke, ornament making and photos with Santa. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. R&B/SOUL
A C H R I S T M A S C E L E BR AT ION WITH
the Steeles FRI & SAT, DEC 15 & 16, 2017 7:30 P.M. Presented By The Fitzgerald Theater ®
TICKETS AT FITZGERALDTHEATER.ORG OR 651-290-1200
Stokley Williams “Sonic Healer Tour” Ordway Center for the Performing Arts 345 Washington St., St. Paul 7:30 p.m. All ages $37-$88 Grammy-nominated vocalist, songwriter and producer, Stokley Williams is known best as the lead singer legendary R&B group Mint Condition. He performs at the Ordway as part of his first solo tour. An added treat, Jesse Larson, a finalist on “The Voice” sings and plays guitar as part of Stokley’s band.
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Insight News • December 4 - December 10, 2017 • Page 11
Leading with art:
‘A Christmas Celebration with The Steeles’ comes to the Fitzgerald The Steeles may be the second best known musical family to hail from Gary, Ind. They are certainly one of the best known musical families in the Twin Cities. Having recorded with Prince, George Clinton, Kim Carnes, Fine Young Cannibals and more, The Steeles have crossed genres and crossed continents sharing their vocal harmonies with millions of fans. Rooted in gospel and soul, siblings J.D. Steele, Fred Steele, Jearlyn Steele, Jevetta Steele and Billy Steele have gained acclaim as a group and individually with multiple Grammy nominations and an Academy Award nomination mixed in. Suffice it to say, when given the opportunity to hear The Steeles live, it’s pretty much a must. On Dec. 15 and Dec. 16 fans of The Steeles will have
that opportunity at the Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul, for “A Christmas Celebration with The Steeles.” Both show are familyoriented events, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the concerts are $28-$58 and are on sale
online at www.fitzgeraldtheater. publicradio.org or by calling the Fitzgerald box office at (651) 290-1200. Must be something in the water in Gary to have produced The Steeles and the Jacksons.
Presented by
Come for the movies. Stay for the conversation.
The Steeles
TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME WITH THE PHOTOS OF CHARLES CHAMBLIS Relive the vibrant nightlife and social scene of the Twin Cities in the 70s and 80s.
Discussion Leaders: Juan Jackson and Rev. DeWayne L. Davis Tickets $5 in advance at www.mspfilm.org or at the door night of show. Available at shop.mnhs.org h or your favorite bookstore.
$29.95 hardcover 160 pages
Be @ the Capri 2027 West Broadway, Minneapolis 55411 www.thecapritheater.org
MNHS.ORG
612.377.2224 guthrietheater.org
MNHS: HISTORY FOR ALL As a child growing up in New Jersey, my favorite part of the holidays was baking cookies with my mother. She spent at least a week baking a dozen types of cookies from Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book. I now own my mother’s book, an artifact that makes me happy every time I see it, so I was overjoyed to see the cookbook for sale in the Mill City Museum store, just waiting for other families to make it part of their holiday traditions, too. As you plan your winter activities, I hope you will consider attending an MNHS holiday program to celebrate the history of the season. You can purchase tickets for these (and many other events for all ages) at mnhs.org/calendar: • Bake Swedish cookies during a Family Baking Workshop at Mill City Museum • Enjoy the sights and sounds of A Victorian Christmas at Alexander Ramsey House • Hear costumed singers perform Christmas carols, Dec. 22 & 23, at the James J. Hill House • Join in activities, games, and art projects at WOW! Family Sunday: Holidays Then, Holidays Now, Dec. 31, at the Minnesota History Center
A Christmas Carol Now – Dec 30 by CHARLES DICKENS adapted by CRISPIN WHITTELL directed by LAUREN KEATING
Plan to visit the History Center to see The 1968 Exhibit, back by popular demand after a national tour, opening Dec. 23. Explore the question of how this pivotal year, which saw the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., continues to resonate 50 years later. As 2017 comes to an end, we at MNHS thank you for your support. We have great programs and exhibits planned for 2018 and look forward to continuing to serve the needs of our communities. MELANIE ADAMS Melanie Adams, PhD, is the senior director of Guest Experience and Educational Services at the Minnesota Historical Society. In this role she oversees MNHS programs, exhibits, and historic sites located throughout the state, which serve one million people per year.
Blithe Spirit Now – Jan 14
by NOËL COWARD directed by DAVID IVERS
Page 12 •December 4 - December 10, 2017 • Insight News
Toki Wright and DJ Miss Brit are providing a wonderful vibe with their monthly event, The Feels. The event is an eclectic mixture of soul, alt-soul, spoken word, jazz, hip-hop, comedy and more, featuring a diverse group of performers and bringing
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a diverse audience to the Icehouse in Minneapolis. The Feels offers a serene atmosphere that is perfect for the “I don’t do clubs” crowd. Insight News stopped by the Icehouse for the most recent installment of The Feels (Nov. 29) and captured a few of the sights … and hopefully, the vibe.
Harry Colbert, Jr.
Larry Mbayu (left) and Markevius Collier hanging out at the Icehouse for The Feels. Television producer and photographer, Bianca Rhodes.
Poet, Fazayah Rose Augusta.
Fidel Tutu enjoying the vibe.
DJ Miss Brit providing the sounds.