Insight News ::: 2.16.09

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February 16 - February 22, 2009 • MN Metro Vol. 34 No. 7 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Samuels: Foreclosure crisis improves neighborhood safety

By Al McFarlane Editor-In-Chief al@insightnews.com Don Samuels is portraying the loss of homes to foreclosure by 5th Ward residents as one way to get rid of problem people. Samuels is quoted in a February 3, 2009 MinnPost feature article saying North Minneapolis, “the foreclosure crisis has improved the safety situation.”

In the face of the foreclosures, the article says, “many problem property owners and their seedy renters are gone.”

New partnerships with community councils, revitalization efforts from developers and the opportunity to reform problem areas are also being touted as positive

outcomes of the foreclosure crisis by Jeff Skrenes, housing director of Hawthorne Area Community Council, (HACC), according to the report by writers Karlee Weinmann and Andy Mannix.

But such sentiments represent “racism and classism at its worst,” said the Rev. Randolph Staten, cochair of the Coalition of Black Churches and African American Leadership Summit. “It is outrageous and serious,” he said in a February 12, 2009 commentary to Insight News.

“They see the pain of foreclosure as a blessing,” Staten charged.

Staten said he is communicating with Mayor R.T. Rybak, the

ANALYSIS TURN TO 4

Sen. Klobuchar backs plan to limit CEO pay

PAGE Kenya McKnight

Elliot Stewart-Franzen

Stimulus approved

Foreclosure

blight a

blessing?

By Batala-Ra McFarlane

By Rev. Randolph Staten

Americans are ready to get back to work and desperately looking to the Obama Administration and Congress to revive the country's ailing economy.

Enthusiasm for the Obama Administration $800 billion stimulus package is not waning.

Recent comments by 5th Ward Council Member Don Samuels and Hawthorn Area Community Council (HACC) housing director Jeff Skrenes concerning victims of housing foreclosure represent racism and classism at its worst. The comments are outrageous and serious: each individual should face serious discipline, including termination.

Publisher of Insight News batalara@insightnews.com

Suluki Fardan

Rev. Randolph Staten

At a when people are suffering their greatest pain…the loss of their home and property… they are being blamed for crime increases and lack of safety, and being made the cause of a

BLESSING TURN TO 4

Undomesticated

Boogeyman

By Don Samuels 5th Ward City Council Following is my reaction to the reports of conflict in which I was involved. There is not much to be gained in self defense or giving yet another version of events.

There is a bigger issue here. I have simply used this opportunity to address this theme of discord that plays out endlessly in meetings in the Northside Community. We must struggle to understand this phenomenon and develop the resiliency to resist it. We owe it to those who want to become engaged but are standing fearfully in the margins, unwilling to get

How is this economic crisis affecting you and your family?

Insight News wants to hear from our readers. Send us your stories to batalara@insightnews.com It is important to communicate your personal experiences of unemployment, lack of health care or lack of basic public services. Testimonies are powerful.

While some major media outlets are reporting that Americans are skeptical about the package, a February 11 Gallop Poll reported that support for the package is high. According to the report, during the first week of February, 70% of Democrats were in favor of Congress passing the economic stimulus package and that figure reached 82% by last week.

Also according to the report,

Alpha Kappa Alpha

Stories may also be shared at http://mybarackobama.com/s harestories.

US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)

After the Recovery Act has been signed by the President, track how your tax dollars are being spent at www.recovery.gov. In an unprecedented effort to ensure transparency and responsibility and "root out waste and inefficiency" and oversight board will routinely update the sight.

"over the same period, support for the stimulus package held steady among independents, with a slight majority in favor of it. The percentage of Republicans favoring the package rose slightly from 24% to 28%, but remains below the 34% support received in early January, before Congress began its formal consideration of the package."

STIMULUS TURN TO 11

NAACP demands Blacks share in stimulus revenues Suluki Fardan

Don Samuels, 5th Ward

BOOGEYMAN TURN TO 4 involved.

Today, we elected a president who called us to a higher

DFL precinct caucusus determine vote choices Minneapolis residents meet Tuesday, March 3, for precinct caucuses throughout the city.

This marks the start of the DFL Party's endorsing process for all city council and park board seats and for mayor.

African and African American residents will likely pay special attention to the process by virtue of their successful participation, many for the first time, in the national elections that selected Barack

5

Monica Mayberry

Obama for U.S. President.

Historically, turn out for precinct caucuses are relatively light. Many residents and many first-time participants don't feel particularly knowledgeable about the electoral process and sometimes express being overwhelmed by the political maneuvering that goes on.

But, Natonia Johnson, DFL chair of Senate District 58 said this year extra effort is being CAUCUSES TURN TO 11

By Hazel Trice Edney NNPA Columnist WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Upon its 100th anniversary this week, the NAACP under the leadership of Benjamin Todd Jealous, set aside euphoria over the historic inauguration of the first Black president and challenged the Obama Administration on where the president stands on human and civil rights issues as they pertain to people of color. ‘’We’re not simply interested in a bail out for Main Street, it’s a good goal. It’s a good starting point. But, we want a fix for back street,’’ said Jealous in a telephone press conference leading up to the February 12 birthday of the nation’s oldest civil rights organization. ‘’At the end of the day, we are not an organization who’s here merely to celebrate any milestone too much.

On January 20, we celebrated Obama as the nation’s first Black president and first president of color.

On January 21, we were well aware that he simply became the 44th president of the United States and all

pressures that have worked the agenda of the presidents before him came to bear on him.”

He continued: “So, now, we’re out there with everybody else trying to make sure that his agenda is our agenda, that his agenda is one of civil rights and inclusion and opportunity for all. And right now there are two things that we’re concerned are not getting sufficient attention.”

The first issue that he listed was the need for federal enforcement of Black participation in jobs and contracts coming out of the $827 billion economic stimulus act, that has passed the House and is being negotiated in the U. S. Senate [last] week.

“White unemployment [stats], since they’ve been calculated since 1940, have never gotten into double digits. Yet somehow this country finds it tolerable and somewhat normal to have Black unemployment in the double digits,” Jealous said.

The second issue is the need for law enforcement accountability - federal oversight and enforcement of police profiling and misconduct, which President Bush promised, but never delivered in 2001.

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NNPA

NAACP President Ben Jealous says it’s time for bail outs on “Back Street”

“We’re lifting this up and placing it squarely in front of the administration and we’ll be pushing harder now that we know who the attorney general is,” Jealous said, referring to Eric Holder, also Black.

“We have a decade of repressed aspirations since 1999 when candidate Bush promised to end racial profiling and driving while Black and it hasn’t happened yet.

But, we also need to see the Law

NAACP TURN TO 2

A Rod I always knew he was a cheater

PAGE 12

Page 2 • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Insight News

NAACP From 1 Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act passed. We also need to see real reforms in police officer use of force and training.

Referring to protests in the wake of the in-the-back police shooting of a restrained unarmed man in an Oakland subway, Jealous said, “We’ve had a riot in Oakland in the winter. We’ve had a riot in an American city in the winter because of the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) police killing.”

Jealous said the NAACP has local affiliates dealing with high profile police killings in at least a half dozen states.

Jealous said he would release specific policy proposals in a “White Paper” the day before the 100th Anniversary celebration of the organization founded in 1909. A White Paper is an authoritative report or guide that outlines problems and suggests ways to solve them from expert perspective.

Jealous said proposals in the White Paper would include: • That the Department of Labor “beef-up” staffing in their solicitors

office that handle discrimination.

Also that they beef up staffing in the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs so that as the stimulus dollars flow through, there won’t be the same tattered infrastructure left by the Bush administration “and we won’t see a repeat of the sloppiness that we saw in Iraq and that we saw in New Orleans.”

• That the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division be rebuilt to enforce a wide spectrum of civil rights laws.

• That every stimulus-created job that is awarded to a general contractor or to sub-contractors be

http://insightnews.com contracted through the federal employment service so that federal authorities will monitor who gets the jobs. “We need to send a clear message that tax payer dollars should create jobs for everybody. We don’t want people discriminated against based on age, gender, race or anything else,” Jealous said.

• Greater oversight for banks, brokers and a major investment in public education “because we’re tired of Black people with good credit and assets being fleeced. We want them protected.”

The White paper will include the NAACP’s Agenda pertaining to the Obama Administration for the first

year. He said the goals of the NAACP for the next 25 years of the 21st century will be released at its 100th Annual Convention in July in New York.

Issuing the White Paper to the Obama Administration is only one major action taken by the civil rights organization amidst the economic havoc in the Black community.

The organization is moving ahead with a federal lawsuit to force 15 major financial institutions to cease alleged racial discrimination and rogue sub-prime home mortgage lending.

A federal judge last month denied a joint motion filed by the

NNPA

President Barack Obama

institutions to stop the NAACP from moving ahead with the suit. The lenders are now required to release information and documents regarding their mortgage policies and practices, according to an NAACP news release.

The Mortgage lenders named in the lawsuit include: Accredited Home Lenders, Inc.; Ameriquest Mortgage Co.; Bear Sterns Residential Mortgage Corp.; Encore Credit; Chase Bank USA; Citimortgage; First Franklin Financial Corp.; First Tennessee Bank; First Horizon National Corp.; Fremont Investment & Loan; GMAC Mortgage Group, LLC; GMAC ResCap; J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.; Long Beach Mortgage; Option One Mortgage Corp.; SunTrust Mortgage; and WMC Mortgage, LLC. The NAACP Headquarters, based in Baltimore, has 1,700 units nationwide and will host celebrations and observances throughout the year ending on February 12, 2010.

At the organization’s starstudded Image Awards to be broadcasted from Los Angeles on Feb. 12, will be Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai and Former Vice President Al Gore.

Also, Halle Berry, Tyler Perry, Sean Didd Combs, Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Russell Simmons ad the legendary Stevie Wonder and Muhammad Ali. “As we set out at this moment, we have a lot to celebrate,” Jealous said. “What makes this organization different than virtually every other great organization in this country is that we’ve practiced one formula for a hundred years with great success and transformed this country again and again, not just for Black people or Brown people, but for all people.”

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 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 Paul Edward Hamilton Ryan T. Scott Julie Desmond Rashida McKenzie Marcia Humphrey Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Mpls., MN 55411 Ph.: (612)588-1313 Fax: (612)588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC) Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI) National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

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Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Page 3

Page 4 • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Insight News

Blessing?

From 1 problem that was, in fact, caused by powerful banking and financial institutions.

Samuels said that "in Minneapolis, certainly North Minneapolis, the foreclosure crisis has improved the safety situation."

Jeff Skrenes, HACC housing director, said that in the foreclosure crisis "many problem property owners and their seedy renters are gone."

Boogeyman From 1 engagement with each other and with reality. He called us to honest and ethical appraisal of our

Analysis From 1 Minneapolis City Council President, and other Council members asking them to publicly denounce Samuels' statements.

Staten said the comments call to

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Blaming the victim, they both see the pain of foreclosure as a "blessing".

In Zip Code 55411 in North Minneapolis we had more home foreclosures than any area of the state.

Documentation and evidence also conclude that this area of our city was the most exploited and abused by banking and financial institutions.

Exploited people who have worked hard to achieve the "American Dream" of home ownership and a better life for themselves and their children, now are the victims being blamed by Council Member

Samuels, Jeff Skrenes and others who instead, should accept responsibility for supporting failed public policy which is promoting getting rid of the poor as a solution to poverty.

This is the same attitude that led to a national outcry following the Katrina disaster. One of the worst domestic disasters in US history, Hurricane Katrina killed more than 1,800 people and forced the dislocation of some 200,000 people.

Republican Congressman Richard Baker said: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but

God did it."

William Oakland, a retired economist from Tulane University in New Orleans who has studied the city's economy for decades, put it this way: "The city's population was thus 'out of equilibrium…' It's not normal to have that level of nonparticipation in the labor force."

Following the disaster, the people who built the city, whose sweat and blood helped lay the foundation for this country become branded as parasites and criminals. A horrible disaster that kills 1,800 of them, and forces the

dislocation of 200,000 people is seen as a "blessing." The continuing suffering and dislocation of tens of thousands of people whose lives have been ruined is seen as part of "clearing the ground" in order to rebuild the city.

Is this the message of Don Samuels regarding those displaced by the foreclosure crisis in our town?

The danger is that these attitudes lead to efforts to keep African Americans from getting service and support they needed and deserved in New Orleans, until responsible citizens loudly

and soundly challenged and rejected this outrageous conduct and attitude.

The same attitude all across the country seeks to shape public policy and expenditure to the poor victims and formulate solutions to simply get rid of the poor, rather than plan to change their circumstances and conditions.

All of us must be outraged statements, attitudes and conduct of Council Member Don Samuels and Hawthorn housing director Jeff Skrenes. We cannot, must not, remain silent.

conditions and the earnest work to fix our problems. He calls us to dispense with rancor and destructive combat and to unite for the common good.

And yet, there remains, in our community a shaming trend that besmirches our public discourse

and dishonors generations of effort to build bridges. It seems to grow out of a seductive conclusion deduced from the dynamics of the Civil Rights era politics. The analysis goes like this: The reason the white power structure and White America

conceded to black demands of reasonable people like King, was the scary specter of the urban chaos which did play out, even in our city. Thus, over the years, many in the community have seen it useful to nurture a Boogeyman element in order to

strengthen the persuasiveness of an argument, proposal or demand.

The technique of the Boogeyman has become standardized across the nation.

His influence is wielded to gain sympathy, concessions or funding from benefactors and funders. The

power he or she has stems from the following elements: 1. The Boogeyman has little to lose. He routinely violates the norms of decorum in personal and social interactions. He is not

BOOGEYMAN TURN TO 8

mind inflammatory statements of Republican Louisiana Congressman Richard Baker who said, in reference to the catastrophe of misery and pain visited on New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, “We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn’t do it, but God did.”

The Louisiana lawmaker

backtracked following the national furor which questioned whether the 2005 comments suggested an appetite for ethnic cleansing…displacement of Blacks and the impoverished in New Orleans.

Samuels may have to backtrack as well to clean-up this and other published comments that denigrate and disparage the community and culture that put him in office.

Samuels called people who are boisterous at public meetings “terrorists” and part of a “shaming trend that besmirches our public discourse and dishonors generations of efforts to build bridges.”

Samuels said a “seductive conclusion deduced from the dynamics of the Civil Rights Era politics,” meant “the reason the white power structure and White America conceded to Black demands of reasonable people like King, was the scary specter of the urban chaos which did play out, even in our city. Thus, over the years, many in the community have seen it useful to nurture a Boogeyman element in order to strengthen the persuasiveness of an argument, proposal or demand.”

“The technique of the Boogeyman has become standardized across the nation,” Samuels wrote in commentary posted at the Willard-Homewood neighborhood email list service.

Samuels said “White people are scared of few things more than being publicly called a racist.” And he said, “African Americans are

afraid of few things more that being publicly identified as a sellout or Uncle Tom.” Samuels said “the undomesticated Bogeyman” transforms his victims into benefactors when they concede to his demands.

Samuels comments came on the heels of the confrontation at the January 17 press conference in Jordan community called by Jordan Area Community Council board members who announced they were taking control of the organization from the elected directors and executive board and said they were firing Jerry Moore, the organization’s executive director.

The press conference organizers called the Minneapolis Police to forcibly remove Al Flowers from the meeting.

Lawsuits challenging the legality of such actions were filed against Samuels and the directors by the current board executives include Chair E. B. Brown and Vice-chair, attorney Ben Myers.

Samuels also rankled Northside residents with similar disparaging gaffs early in his term of office when he said a solution to poor student performance would be to burn down North Community High School.

That comment followed his illconceived and ill-received analysis of the advantages “house” negroes have over “field” negroes, references to the relationships between enslaved Africans during formal, legal slavery in the Americas.

Kenya McKnight, who recently announced she is running to be the 5th Ward alderman, said she is running for the office because the ward deserves a council member who respects this community.

“It is time to have someone in office who is in touch with the community and in touch with the history of the community,” she said in an interview with Insight News last week. “We have a lack of housing. A lot of people lost their homes through foreclosure. We lost many of our families already. A large portion of them were renters,” she said, challenging Samuels’ reference to families who lost their homes as “problem people.”

Dan Johnson, a businessman who has waged one campaign for elective office is also giving serious consideration to a run for the 5th Ward City Council seat. Johnson sought the DFL endorsement for House of Representatives District 58B in the last General Election and withdrew to unify delegate support for Bobby Champion, who succeeded in defeating incumbent Willie Dominguez for the legislative seat.

Johnson said the next 5th Ward Council Member has to be ready to meet with homeowners and renters, with workers and people who are looking for work, and with the youth to work on “readiness” issues. “Let’s find what’s holding people back and help them remove the barriers to living successfully and productively in our community,” he said. “The council member has to make sure

African American businesses and agencies get their fair share of resources coming to our city. It’s not that difficult.”

McKnight and Johnson may be joined in seeking to replace Samuels by other Northside residents who have multi-generational family presence in North Minneapolis.

Hakim Propes, a hip-hop generation entrepreneur who owns a barber business and a lawn and snow removal business, and Kevin Lacy, whose family pioneered in the heating business with Lacy & Sons, and All-American Heating & Plumbing, both say they may test the political waters because they believe North Minneapolis is ready for a change.

James Everette, a community organizer who created the Sub-Zero Collective to mobilize young people and young voters said he may be a candidate as well.

Traditional politicians may be counting on low participation by Black people in upcoming DFL precinct caucuses and endorsing conventions that lead to selection of the DFL candidate for the city council seat. Lack of interest and involvement by voters generally works to the advantage of the incumbent. But coming off the euphoria and successes of the Barack Obama presidential campaign, Northside’s Black voters may just still have “change you can count on” in their minds and turn out in unprecedented numbers to get the kind of representation they want at City Hall.

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Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Page 5

BUSINESS Klobuchar backs plan to limit CEO pay WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar last week expressed strong support for President Barack Obama’s plan to limit the compensation of executives whose companies receive federal assistance under the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).

“These Wall Street executives clearly didn’t get the memo: Party time is over,” said

Klobuchar. “If Wall Street wants our help, then they need to tighten their belts, just like everyone else who’s struggling on Main Street.”

Also last week, President Barack Obama announced new Treasury Department guidelines that will limit annual compensation to $500,000 for top executives at companies that receive any further government assistance to address the current

financial crisis. If the executives receive any additional compensation, it must come in the form of stock options that cannot be redeemed until the company’s federal aid is paid back.

Klobuchar noted that a study in late December found that the first 116 banks to get $188 billion in TARP funds paid their top executives an average of $2.6 million in annual salary, bonuses

Coleman hosts budget meetings Mayor Chris Coleman will hold two community conversations on the City budget that will outline to residents the severity of proposed cuts in state local government aid to Saint Paul and the options available to solve the projected $44 million deficit in the next two years.

In January, Governor Pawlenty released his recommendations for resolving the state's $4.8 billion budget deficit for next biennium, drastically cutting the money the state provides cities for property tax relief. The 12- and 31-percent cut in Saint Paul for 2010 and 2011, respectively, comes on top of the $5.7 million unallotment in December that impacted the City's current budget.

"While many people know LGA by its official title, in Saint Paul we know it as cops, firefighters, parks and libraries," Mayor Coleman said. "The

governor's proposed cuts will take Minnesota in a direction that, I believe, most of us don't want to go. However, we must prepare for the potential of his plan and the significant impact it will have on our city."

Community conversations will be held: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 17 in the auditorium at El Rio Vista Rec Center/Neighborhood House, 179 E. Robie Street; and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Bullard Rainforest Auditorium at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Visitor Center, 1225 Estabrook Drive.

In the last several weeks, Mayor Coleman has met with the City Council, department directors and the unions that represent city employees in an

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effort to generate innovative solutions and ways to alter service delivery and reduce expenses. The community conversations allow residents to have an open and honest discussion about the true cost of city services and the value they bring to the community.

"Saint Paul residents' understanding of the challenges we face and willingness to contribute their insights will enable us to move forward together and ensure Saint Paul remains a great city for generations to come," Mayor Coleman added.

and benefits the previous year.

The study calculated that these banks spent a total of $1.6 billion on compensation for their 600 top executives in 2007.

Klobuchar said she is also cosponsoring the CEO Pay Act (Cap Executive Officer Pay Act), which is being offered as an amendment to the Economic

Recovery and Reinvestment Act currently pending in the Senate.

The legislation would limit total annual compensation to $400,000 for any employee of a company that receives federal assistance under TARP. This is the same amount that the president earns each year. blogs.citypages.com/

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar

Page 6 • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Insight News

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FULL CIRCLE Being single gives us time to develop deeper bonds with friends and family

By Rashida McKenzie rashida@insightnews.com “All my Single Ladies” has become an anthem for, well, all the single ladies around the world thanks to Beyonce. While you are waiting for a man to put a ring on it, there are some things you can do in the meantime to celebrate being single, besides gettin’ your groove on to the song.

First of all, don’t think of single as being alone. This is a time when you can develop

deeper bonds with your friends and family, because you know how women get when there is someone in their lives, sometimes we make it all about him.

Sometimes your relationships with friends and family even fall by the wayside once you settle down with that significant other.

Developing a strong bond now ensures them that no matter who comes into your life, they will always be in it, too.

This is also the time to get to know yourself better. I encourage you to find out what truly motivates you. Focus on your

FOCUS ON YOUR DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS SO THAT WHEN YOU MEET THAT SPECIAL PERSON, YOU ARE ABLE TO KEEP THAT SENSE OF SELF. dreams and aspirations so that when you meet that special person, you are able to keep that sense of self. Getting to know yourself also means understanding what you like and dislike and what you will and will not tolerate.

Once you are in touch with your needs and wants you will look at dating for just what it is:

dating! Dating someone implies that you have interest in them, and with time they could possibly be your significant other; the key word here is possibly! If it is not working out after the first date, the second date or even after you have dated for three years, the beauty of dating mean that you have no obligation to stay in the relationship. Don’t force what

doesn’t fit. Trust me; you will save yourself a lot of valuable time.

Pray about the qualities you want in a man, not the quantity in his wallet or superficial things that come and go. You can ask for 6”3, brown skin, and six figures, but that doesn’t mean he won’t mistreat you. Pray for someone who is patient, someone who is kind, someone who will love you unconditionally, the type of things that define real love. Then make sure that whatever you are praying for, you are or willing to bring to the table yourself.

The truth is this: being single

can be just as good a time in your life as having someone in it.

Taking advantage of the time spent getting to know yourself, can only benefit you when you meet that special someone.

Remember that when you do meet Mr. Right, there is no such thing as perfect and the true test in love is excepting someone —flaws and all.

Follow this advice and you just might end up “Dangerously in Love.”

Dr. N. Cindy Trimm and The Rules of Engagement Prayer Tour to stop in MN Dr. N. Cindy Trimm, best known as the General in the art of Strategic Prayer and Spiritual Warfare, will bring her International Prayer Tour to Minnesota this week, February 18-19.

Considered a spiritual world leader, Trimm has partnered with heads of state, international leaders and business professionals for more than 30 years. Part of her mission is to equip and empower men and women with the tool to maximize their leadership potential in their communities, thus transforming the course of our global destiny.

The purpose of the Prayer

Tour is to recruit over onemillion prayer warriors by the end of 2009. Several Twin Cities churches have come together to host this great meeting.

Trimm and Lee Buckley, from the office of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, will host a Prayer Breakfast for Pastors on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m.

The Prayer Breakfast will be held at Mighty Fortress International Ministries in Brooklyn Park. She will conduct a Leadership Workshop on Friday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Miracle Empowerment Center in Brooklyn Center. Reservations for the breakfast and workshop

are requested.

Evening services will be hosted at 7 p.m. by Mighty Fortress International Ministries, (Wednesday February 18), Miracle Empowerment Center (Thursday February 19), Open Door Evangelistic World Ministries in Minneapolis (February 20) and Holding Forth the Word of Life Ministries in Minneapolis (February 21 at 4 p.m.).

A full schedule is available @ w w w. m n c i t y o f d a v i d . o r g (952) 239-7939.

Dr. N. Cindy Trimm

Racial justice advocate dies Northside resident Mona Harris died Monday February 9, 2009 of cancer. Harris and her husband Ron and family lived on Russell Avenue North since 1991 after moving a few blocks from their previous residence.

Harris was program director of

Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, (MMEP). She also worked nationally for racial justice and served on national and local boards with a focus on equity, housing, and education.

She was a parent educator and a circle keeper of restorative

justice circles.

Memorial services were last Thursday night at Brookdale Covenant Church, 5139 Brooklyn Blvd. Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

Mona Harris

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Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Page 7

AESTHETICS AKA Sorority program delivers global impact Inspired by its century of service and mission to empower communities worldwide, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is partnering with CARE to advance the movement to end global poverty. The nation’s largest and oldest sorority has made A Powerful Noise Live its official event for International Women’s Day. A POWERFUL NOISE Live, a one-night event simulcast in 450 movie theatres nationwide on Thursday, March 5, will give audiences a deeper

(from top) Dr. Helene Gayle, Nicholas Kristof, and Christy Turlington Burns

Hip Hop 101 Music & Arts Festival With a stellar lineup of Grammy winning artists on one stage, Hip Hop 101 Music & Arts Festival (www.hh101.com) will celebrate Black History Month with Ludacris, Common, and turntableist Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys on Saturday February 21 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena starting at 6:30 pm.

Also included on the bill are R&B singer and songwriter Keri Hilson and Grammy-nominated alternative Afro-Punk singer Janelle Monae.

The brains behind Hip Hop 101 Music & Arts Festival are Investor/Event Presenter Derek Patterson (Champ Funds, Inc.), Executive Producer Ken Andrews (South Bay Music Awards), Arias Webster Berry (Entertainment Entertainment) and Producer/Production Manager Sid Zuber, (Creative Marketing Agency) whose vision is to provide a creative arena to express Hip Hop in multiple ways.

“Hip Hop 101 Music & Arts Festival is our way to acknowledge the achievements of every artist by creating a platform and embracing Hip Hop’s culture and unity through the expression of music, beats, graffiti, visual arts, performing arts and lyrics,” explained Andrews.

Besides the A-list lineup, show producers created an event that will showcase multiple facets of Hip Hop. Some include live graffiti artists, Visual Symphony with an old school Hip Hop history film and visual effects show as well as a dance competition by Millennium Dance Complex (past dancers include Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson). Winners of the competition will be given a scholarship by Hip Hop 101 Music & Arts Festival. To increase awareness to this monumental event, Power 106 (www.power106.fm) along with Metromix (www.metromix.com) has come on board. For tickets please visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.wantickets.com

understanding of the difference they can make in the world by empowering women. Executive produced by entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, the documentary “A Powerful Noise” tells the story of the unbending efforts of three women in Bosnia, Mali and Vietnam to create change in their communities.

Immediately after the film, a panel discussion with humanitarian experts and celebrities will be broadcast live via satellite from New York City to participating theatres.

Panelists include CARE President and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof; and CARE Advocate for Maternal Health and contributing editor for Marie Claire magazine Christy Turlington Burns.

“From our inception, Alpha Kappa Alpha has been committed to improving living standards and increasing opportunities for women,” said Barbara McKinzie, international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

“We are proud to partner with CARE to bring the issues and crises facing poor women to the forefront.” In addition to urging sorority sisters and community members to attend the event, AKA chapters will host forums and discussion groups addressing the issues in the film across the country.

According to Dr. Helene Gayle, “A POWERFUL NOISE Live is more than a night out at the movies. It’s a movement coming of age.

When the lights go on, you’ll be energized with a better understanding of what you can do to empower women and girls around the world.”

As a CARE partner, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has made a commitment to women

worldwide and challenges other sororities to do the same.

A POWERFUL NOISE Live is in select theatres nationwide for only one night Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT / 5:30 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. PT (tape

delayed). Tickets go on sale January 27th. For more information, including a complete list of participating theatres, how to purchase tickets and updates on panelists, please visit www.apowerfulnoise.org.

Page 8 • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Insight News

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Lawsuit seeks transparency, accountability regarding police brutality complaints Communities United Against Police Brutality is suing Minneapolis and its Civilian Police Review Authority (CRA) challenging the city's policy that the status of complaints against police officers is no longer public data.

In the past, the CRA routinely released information on complaints in response to requests under the Minnesota

Government Data Practices Act. CUAPB, members of the media and the general public were permitted to know of the existence of a complaint, the status of the complaint anywhere along the process, whether the complaint was sustained or not sustained, whether the complaint was referred to the chief of police for discipline and, once the complaint has reached final

disposition, any discipline imposed.

However, on May 2, 2007, the Minneapolis city attorney's office issued a memo directing the CRA staff and board to cease releasing status information on cases. The CRA immediately reclassified all cases, including sustained cases from years ago as "closed" with no indication as to how the case was actually

handled.

"People who make the effort to file complaints get the feeling their complaints have fallen into a black hole," stated Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality.

"The lack of information makes people feel their complaints are not being heard and deprives the public of any real accountability."

The city ordinance that created the CRA also allows the complainant the right to request reconsideration of non-sustained complaints. However, Gross points out, "If the complainant cannot know the status of his or her complaint, that right is meaningless."

"We must restore transparency in the CRA complaint process," stated

Gross. She continued, "An open process engenders accountability and trust, the cornerstones of good police-community relations. We hope our lawsuit will restore the openness that allows people to trust the process."

Boogeyman

identity come from deficiencies in personal development, but the resulting invulnerability becomes shaped into an effective threat in the conjured cage-brawls of politics.

2. The Boogeyman assumes the power to shame and embarrass his victims. He is not afraid to

reveal embarrassing personal details of his victims life. And because he is not white or powerful, he never has to turn the harsh glare of his ungraciousness on his own flaws. His targets are usually business executives, politicians, community leaders or institutions. They have a lot to lose. They live by their good name and the good name of their organizations. Chances are good that they will turn to the Boogeyman and say, what do I need to give you to make you go away?

3. The Boogeyman then snares the power to grant absolution to anyone who will bow to his tacit blackmail. When he says this or that person is okay, that person can breathe a sigh of relief on that particular issue for that moment in time.

4. In the last 35 years, the Boogeymans greatest power has come from his ability to brand you a racist if you are white, or a sellout if you are not.white people are scared of few things more than being publicly called a racist and people of color, especially African Americans, are afraid of few things more than being publicly identified as a sellout or Uncle Tom. Even as these accusations form on the lips of the undomesticated Boogeyman, any potential victim can be quickly transformed into a benefactor, conceding to the Boogeymans demands.

5. The Boogeyman does not stop there. He may unearth your sexual history, your professional failings or your youthful indiscretions. The more vulnerable one is in these or any other category, the more easily one can be flipped into a benefactor or funder.

6. The Boogeyman gains great legitimacy from his

relationship with the press.

Because the Boogeyman usually has the trappings of street credibility, the press becomes morally trapped into lapses of sympathy. After all, the press itself might find its reporting challenged as racist or classist.

The solution would be to deconstruct the Boogeyman but there is great public relations risk in Goliath defeating David, even an incorrigible David. And which press wants to be derailed by that accusation? On the other hand, a wink and a nod from the

fights fair. In contrast, his opponents must fight fair or lose their social standing. The boogeyman never has an equal exchange. He has no exchange.

He yells, interrupts, defies all limits and terminates negotiation on a whim.

If the victim/benefactor employs any one of these techniques, he or she loses face.

9. The Boogeyman is a challenge to curb because he will accuse any corrective force of oppression. The advantages of those who control resources are

together with compassion. We must not rely on the daring irresponsibility of the mean spirited Boogeyman who has nothing to lose. The Boogeyman sees no difference between telling a necessary truth and shaming. It is wrong to affirm a Boogeyman in this way. He has no loyalties.

Tomorrow his handler will be his victim.

12. Finally, the Boogeyman is the perfect tool for the dishonest, disingenuous destructive agents.

Their formidable symbiotic relationship casts terror in the hearts of their victim/benefactors. They extort with precision in endless cycles of good-cop-bad-cop teamwork.

For all these reasons, the Boogeyman has become a resilient member of our social ecosystem.

When anyone emerges who insists on respectful discourse or who refuses to capitulate in fear to abuse or the demands that quickly follow, that person becomes a threat. If such people are allowed to survive the terror of the Boogeyman, others might see that in reality the Boogeyman is a Wizard of Oz. He is a tiny man who amplifies himself through crude noise and the fear of his opponents.

It is time for the community to change the dank ecosystem that allows this poisonous mushroom to thrive. Let the light of courage in. Drive out the dark night of fear. Let us walk toward each other across the false divides of class, race and origin. Together we can work out our differences without brutal tools.

Yes We Can!

From 4 afraid of being perceived as marginal, manipulative or mentally ill. Clearly this void of natural, healthy boundaries and

THE BOOGEYMAN OFTEN TELLS THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD. boogeyman becomes an enviable guarantor of temporary endorsement.

7. The Boogeyman gains great legitimacy from people who are in search of a stamp of legitimacy and ethical purity.

While this is best earned through a life of honesty and acceptance of ones shortcomings, the Boogeymans blessing is a quick microwave stamp of virtue.

Immature leaders and vulnerable community members often crowd under the umbrella of the Boogeyman to protect themselves from the acid rain of his creation.

Sometimes they pretend that he is telling the truth or maybe a certain kind of truth. They excuse his misbehavior because he is disadvantaged, overwhelmed, and passionate or that his cause is so righteous that his unrighteous methods are justified.

8. The boogeyman gains the advantage because he never

presented as evidence of abuse.

10. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the Boogeyman is that he sometimes becomes a convenient tool for legitimate advocates who tire of honest and respectable negotiations. Just bringing the Boogeyman to a meeting is sometimes enough to turn a victim into a benefactor.

The Boogeymans presence is loaded with this message: If you don't want your meeting to get wrecked, your personal foibles on the streets or your values besmirched, concede now. The Boogeyman is the suicide bomber that keeps on ticking. He is a terrorist. His handlers blind themselves to the fact that they are involved in serious moral compromise.

11. The Boogeyman often tells the uncomfortable truth that needs to be told. In those cases, the community must muster the courage to speak honestly

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Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Page 9

LIFESTYLE Money-saving basic car maintenance and safety tips Style on a dime

By Marcia Humphrey Recently, on a day that the thermometer read well below zero, and the roads were extremely slippery, I was forced to leave home, along with my three children, to take care of necessary business. After a few hours of being out, we took 494 and headed back home. Suddenly, just ahead I spotted an SUV swerving from one side of the four-lane highway to the other.

I immediately began to pray for safety for all, because there were several vehicles around, including an 18-wheeler. Amazingly, in all of her swerving and spinning, the SUV driver never hit one car, only the guardrail. When she finally came to a stop along the shoulder of the freeway, her rear window was completely gone, and her car was banged up. As I inched past,

with butterflies in my stomach, I could see that she was conscious and moving about. I called 911 and then carefully made my way home.

I was thinking how the woman sliding around the freeway could have been me. You see, I had just replaced the tires on my newly purchased, but used, minivan. My husband insisted that we replace them, but I thought that they were good enough. What he helped me to understand is that good tires, among other things, are a necessary part of maintaining a reliable vehicle. So to ensure that we all do our best to remain collision-free the rest of this winter, let’s review some basic car maintenance and safety tips. In times like these, keeping your vehicle in good repair is one of the smartest ways to keep more of your hard-earned money.

Tire Care Not only do you need to make sure that you are not rolling around on bald tires —ones that have lost their tread, or “roadhugging” ability— it’s also necessary to rotate and balance tires on a regular basis. This keeps the tires wearing evenly, which increases the tire’s life. We

always find the best deal on tires to be at one of the warehouse clubs, Costco or Sam’s Club.

They rotate the tires for free every few thousand miles and will also patch your tire at no charge if you have a slow leak. It’s well worth your time to have your tire’s air pressure checked. When your tires’ air pressure is correct, the car is more fuel efficient, saving you more money.

Oil Change For a long time, whenever I would go to get my oil changed, I would faithfully obey the instructions written on the sticker that was placed on my windshield. It reminded me to come back again after 3,000 miles. When I finally checked my car’s owner’s manual, I learned that I only needed to change my oil every 7,000 miles. Check your manual, because you could learn that your oil doesn’t need changing as often as that sticker says (along with other useful information about your ride)! Finally, make sure to check online for some great money-saving coupons at your favorite oil change shops.

General Maintenance It is always a good idea to get your

Inaugural voices, eyewitnesses Friday, Feb. 20 LUNCH @ 11:30 a.m., Room 41 Join Mayor Chris Coleman and Commissioners Jan Parker and Toni Carter for lunch and celebration. Faye's Homestyle Cooking Menu: fried chicken, mac & cheese, greens, yams, beans & rice, cornbread, beverage and dessert. $10 Come early!

Food limited to 100 meals.

Friday, Feb. 20 EVENT @ 12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m. Elected officials will share their experience of attending the inauguration of President Barack Obama Musical Performance: 4 Women for Obama Featuring Tonia Hughes Kendrick, Ginger Commodore, Yolande Bruce and Debbie Duncan at City Hall/County

(L to R) Debbie Duncan, Ginger Commodore, Greta Oglesby, and Tonia Hughes Courthouse Basement, Room 40 A & B.

Courthouse Basement, Room 42Brown Bag Lunch

Friday, Feb. 27 @ 12 noon B.K. Bruce to Barack Obama and Back Again Black History Makers in American Politics Professor Rose Brewer, University of MinnesotaMusical Performance: Gary Hines featuring Doris HinesCity Hall/County

Jearlyn and Billy Steele explore Black history through music and song. Sunday, Feb. 8 @ 2 p.m.

Rondo Community Outreach Library; Wednesday, Feb. 18 @ 7 p.m. Rice Street Library; Sunday, Feb. 22 @ 2 p.m. Central Library

PUZZLE ANSWERS from page 13

http://www.harishautos.com/car_repair.jpg

battery checked for the correct charge. With these unbearably cold temperatures, becoming stranded on the road with a dead battery is not only inconvenient, but potentially dangerous. There are also several minor moneysaving repairs that you could learn to make on your own. These include, replacing windshield wipers, air filters, and fuses. Auto parts stores like AutoZone, will actually come out to your car and help you if they aren’t real busy.

One more thing; I would definitely recommend some type of roadside assistance program.

It’s usually available for only a few extra bucks through your insurance company.

Sometimes we think that we can’t afford the expense of maintaining our vehicles. The truth is we can’t afford not to keep our cars running well. Our very life, and the life of our loved ones, could depend on it! So spend a little money now so you can save

the cost and drama of sliding into the back of someone else’s car on those old tires. Take care of your vehicle and you’ll be guaranteed to better ENJOY the ride!

Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at a low cost. A native of Michigan, she and her husband Lonnie have three children.

Vacancies on Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights (closes 02/27/2009)

Selection Process:

The Civil Rights Commission was created by ordinance Chapter 141, 12-30-75, s. 7 in 1975 to implement the City’s Civil Rights policies through public information and education; mediation and conciliation; and enforcement. The commission’s members serve on standing committees and hearing panels that hear allegations of citizens regarding violations of their civil rights.

Applications are forwarded from the City Clerk to the Mayor and Health, Energy and Environment Committee (HE&E). Applicants are then schedules to speak at a public hearing in front of HE&E. Then applications are reviewed by the Mayor, HE&E Chair, and Civil Rights Staff for recommendation to the full Council.

Board Contact: Monica Diaz, 612.673.2091 City Clerk Contact: Julie Meintsma, 612/673-3358

Monthly meetings generally take place on the third Monday of each month, at 6:00 pm in Room 241 of City Hall. Hearings and Reviews are conducted in the evening and on weekends.

Commission members are compensated $35.00 per monthly meeting and each date they participate in hearings.

Attorneys receive $50.00 per hearing, in which they are the presiding commissioner. The commission has 21 members appointed by the Mayor and Council in staggered years (year 1: Mayor appoints three, Council appoints four; year 2: Mayor appoints four, Council appoints three; year 3: Mayor appoints seven). A minimum of six and a

Deadline: Applications must be postmarked or received by 4:30 pm on February 27, 2009.

Vacancy: There are currently five (5) vacancies. One term is to start immediately expiring on 08/31/2009. This applicant shall be a Lawyer. Two terms are to start immediately expiring on 08/31/2011. The applicants for these terms shall be Lawyers.

Two terms are to start 08/31/2009 with terms expiring on 08/31/2012. These applicants are non-lawyers.

Requirements: Minneapolis residency is required. Commission members must be known to favor the principals of equal opportunity, non-discrimination and the objectives of the title. Nonattorney members must be willing to contribute 8-10 hours per month on commission related duties/meetings and attorney members 10 - 12 hours per month.

The commission’s members serve on standing committees and hearing panels that review/adjudicate investigative determinations regarding allegations of civil rights violations.

Application Process: Application forms are available: - in electronic form in MS Word, Adobe PDF, online at Current Boards and Commissions Openings or - from the Office of the City Clerk, 304 City Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55415, (612) 673-3358; Persons may apply on their own behalf, nominate others for consideration, or inform the Office of the City Clerk of persons to whom they wish application materials to be sent.

Note:

maximum of eight members must be lawyers.

This information is available in ASCII disk, cassette tape, Braille or large print upon request.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons may call 612-673-3220, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or the Minnesota Relay Service at TTY 612-673-2626.

Translations - For assistance in translating this information, contact: Hmong - Ceeb toom. Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais cov xov no rau koj dawb, hu 612-673-2800; Spanish - Atención. Si desea recibir asistencia gratuita para traducir esta información, llama 612-673-2700; Somali - Ogow. Haddii aad dooneyso in lagaa kaalmeeyo tarjamadda macluumaadkani oo lacag la’ aan wac 612-673-3500 For additional languages and translation information, please contact 311 (dial 3-1-1 within the 612 area code, or 612-673-3000 outside the 612 area code).

Page 10 • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Insight News

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COMMUNITY Rep. Bobby Champion sponsors offender reentry legislation State Rep. Bobby Champion (DFL - 58B) joined State Sen. Mee Moua last week to discuss the importance of second chances and offender reentry issues as part of "Second Chance Day on the Hill."

"From my perspective, public policy is about forgiveness," said Champion, who is working with other legislators to address reentry issues this session. "While it's important for people to face the consequences of criminal activity, we also need to strike a balance that allows individuals who have paid their debt to society to have a

fair chance to rejoin society."

"This is about redemption and about moving forward. It's about helping people who have paid for poor choices pursue the things that most of us take for granted - like renting an apartment, driving to work, obtaining a job and going to school.

We know reformed offenders are far less likely to commit new crimes if they have better housing, educational and work options," Champion said.

The second chance movement is made up of community members, advocacy

organizations, legislators and exoffenders to address Minnesota's collateral sanctions and to provide safe and effective avenues to full community membership for exoffenders. The movement is based on the growing realization that a criminal justice system that simply punishes is not right or effective.

Sanctions against ex-offenders in Minnesota restrict people from pursuing certain careers and obtaining professional licenses, limit housing options and access to education. Those who were arrested but who may have never

been convicted of a crime are also harmed by collateral sanctions and are being denied employment or housing based solely on an arrest or court appearance.

Additionally, unofficial sanctions from landlords and prospective employers are often more severe and longer-lasting than their criminal punishment.

Legislation to address some of Minnesota's collateral sanctions was introduced last week by Champion and Moua.

The legislation includes: safe hiring of individuals with criminal records, record sealing changes, a "Ban the

Box" bill requiring public employers to remove criminal records questions from applications, and a higher education criminal records notice.

"We all benefit when good people are able to find and keep work," said Moua. "I am hopeful that this legislation will begin to remove some of the unintended consequences of collateral sanctions and help people move beyond their past to become contributing members of society."

Representative Bobby Champion (DFL – Minneapolis)

T. Mychael Rambo sings for Unity East event Emmy Award-winner, T. Mychael Rambo is set to headline a Black History Month event at Unity East Church in Woodbury, MN, Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

Rambo, a Twin City’s favorite and

nationally known artist, says the one man show is a total tribute to the African American experience.

The event is entitled “My Heart Sings so that my Spirit May Fly; Music, Poems, and Songs of

African Americans.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $15 in advance and can be purchased online at www.unityeast.org other wise $20 at the door. The program will be

emceed by Media Personality Freddie Bell.

Unity East, led by Senior Minister Geoffrey Davis, says the event is a perfect way to close out Black History Month as it focuses

on the Christ in every person.

Unity East, a non-denominational church is located at 1890 Wooddale Drive, Suite 500 in Woodbury, MN. Call (651) 7315330 or visit www.unityeast.org

www.tmychael.com

T. Mychael Rambo

Green Jobs: Rx for a healthy economy & a healthy environment Award-winning activist and environmental advocate Van Jones will be the guest speaker on behalf of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing and its new interdisciplinary initiative called Whole Systems Healing next month March 5. Whole

Systems Healing teaches students to become agents of social change while exploring the social and environmental dimensions of healing. This presentation is 4 – 6 p.m. at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 4th Street S, in Minneapolis.

Jones is the founder and

president of Green for All (www.greenforall.org) and author of the recently released The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems. An award-winning activist, Jones is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress as well as co-

founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. In addition, Jones is a board member of 1Sky, the Apollo Alliance, and a fellow with the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

This is a free event. For more i n f o r m a t i o n : http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/

maps/MannConc/index.html Register: www.tickets.umn.edu, click on Center banner for events. Tickets need to be picked up in advance or for a $5 mailing fee may be send through the mail.

www.arnoldcreekproductions.com/Sustainability

Van Jones

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Send community events 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. Visit www.insightnews.com/community. asp for more events.

EVENTS Penumbra Exhibit at Hennepin Gallery Honoring the African American Experience – Through Feb. 25 February 2 - 25, Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 6pm, at Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South Sixth Street, A Level, Mpls.

FREE. Info: penumbratheatre.org.

Workshop: “Genocide: A Public Health Disaster” – Feb. 14 Saturday, Feb. 14, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. at 25 Mondale Hall, 229 19th Ave S., University of Minnesota West Bank. Free, Register at: http://chgs.umn.edu/news/pubheal th.html.

612-624-0256, www.chgs.umn.edu ‘Honoring the African American Experience’ in the Hennepin Gallery - February Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A Level, 300 S. Sixth St., Mpls. An authentic

representation of the hardships and triumphs of black American life from 1900 to 2000 – decade by decade – will be on display Feb. 2 – 25 in the Hennepin Gallery.

Black History Month at Sabathani – February Sabathani will highlight significant events from the annals of Black History every Thursday in February, when a film will be shown in the Sabathani Auditorium during the lunch hour.

On the last three Thursday evenings of February, a film will be shown at 7:00 PM. The documentary films mirror the joys and the sorrows occurring throughout American Black history. All movies are Free and open the public. Sabathani Community Center, Inc. 310 East 38th Street Minneapolis, MN 55409 612/821-2300.

“The Colored Museum” at Theater on the Park – FEBRUARY February 11, 12, 13, and 14 at 7:00pm in the Whitney Fine Arts Center (1424 Yale Place, Downtown Minneapolis – MCTC Campus). Additional Matinee performance at 1:00pm on Saturday, February 14th. Free admission.

Black History Month at Bethel University: Author Jewell Parker Rhodes – Feb. 16 Monday, February 16, 6P @ Bethel University. For more information go to w w w. b e t h e l . e d u / s p e c i a l events/black-history-month/ or contact Pamela Fields at 651-6351000. Activities will focus on the Black Diaspora in Literature and will include a small gathering of local African American writers, poets, etc. (including Givens Black Writers Collaborative Retreat participants and Givens Literary Artists), to sit and dialogue with Ms. Rhodes about writing, publishing, etc.

Jordan Area Community Council 26th Avenue Steering Committee – Feb. 16 Mon., Feb. 16, 6:30 pm, Plymouth Christian Youth Center (PCYC), 2210 Oliver Ave. N., Mpls., MN. Meeting facilitated by Robert Hodson.

Black History Month Program at Mitchell: National civil rights advocate Theodore Shaw examines NAACP at 100 – Feb. 17 Tuesday, Feb.17, 7 p.m., at William Mitchell College of Law Auditorium, 875 Summit Ave., St. Paul MN. Info: www.wmitchell.edu.

“Is Black History Month Still Necessary” – Feb. 18 Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 2-3pm, in Room L 1753 at Normandale Community College, 9700 France Avenue South, Bloomington.

Diversity Dialogue Café’s are organized by Multicultural Student Assistants. Info: (952) 487-8200, www.normandale.edu

Saint Paul. The free community event includes a dinner, information presentation, Girl Scout performance, and the opportunity to learn first-hand about the power of Girl Scouting through the words of current Girl Scouts. To attend, please RSVP to Cora Heras, cora.heras@girlscoutsrv.org, or call 1-800-845-0787. Info: 800845-0787, www.girlscoutsrv.org.

Lyn-Lake Small Area Plan Community Meeting – Feb. 19 Thurs., Feb. 19, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, 3101 Bryant Ave. S. (Bryant Square Park). The City of Minneapolis has worked with Lyn-Lake area neighborhoods and businesses to develop a small area plan and seeks feedback on the recommendations for the plan drive future development in the Lyn-Lake area.

A Poetry Café at North Commons Park – Feb. 20 Fri., Feb. 20, from 7-10 p.m. The event features an open mic, spoken word, music and dancing; light snacks will be provided.

North Commons Park is located at 1801 James Ave. N. Part of the Youthline Outreach Mentorship Program.

Jordan Area Community Council youth committee meeting – Feb. 19 Thurs., Feb. 19, 5:30 pm, Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club, 2410 Irving Ave. N., Mpls., MN. Committee chair is Steve Jackson.

Color My World event connects adults and girls of color through Girl Scouting – Feb. 20 Fri., Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Klas Center at Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave.

4th Annual African Heritage Month Observance – Feb 20 and 21 Fri., Sat. Feb. 20, 21. Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 2600 East 38th St. Mpls.

Continental breakfast at 9:00 am; Lunch at Noon. R.S.V.P required.

INFO: Please call the church at 612-827-7928.

Celebration of Black History Month at VOA Park Elder Center – Fridays in February The VOA Park Elder Center of

Minneapolis presents a program in Celebration of Black History Month every Friday in February from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon at The Park Elder Center is located at 1505 Park Ave So, Mpls. For more information or to RSVP your attendance please call 612339-7581. Admission is Free.

“From Every Voice” concert celebrates MLK, Jr. - Feb. 22 The concert will be held at 4 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 Fourth St. S., Minneapolis. The concert is free and open to the public; no advance tickets or reservations are required. Doors will open for the concert at 3 p.m. Info at: http://www.academic.umn.edu/eq uity/MLK2009.html or call the Office for Equity and Diversity at (612) 624-0594.

“From Every Voice” concert – Feb. 22 Celebrating the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The concert will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 Fourth St. S., Mpls. For more information, visit the concert web site at http://www.academic.umn.edu/eq uity/MLK2009.html or call the Office for Equity and Diversity at (612) 624-0594.

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Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Page 11

EDUCATION Optimist Club essay contest explores the power of youth The Optimist Club of St. Paul is encouraging area students to expound on the phrase “The Power of Youth” as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest for 2009.

The Optimist Club will judge local students’ essays, based on the theme of “The Power of Youth,” and determine the winner. The deadline to

submit an essay is February 20, 2009.

The winner will receive $150 from the St. Paul Optimist Club along with a chance to win a $6,000 scholarship from Optimist International. The St. Paul Club will send the winning essay on to compete for a $650 District scholarship and $6,000 Optimist International

scholarship.

College scholarships are available for top winners at the district and international levels.

“Young students today have so many fresh ideas about the world and their future,” Club President John Orme said. “As Optimists, it is our goal to encourage them and do what we can to bring out the best in each

of them. This gives them a wonderful opportunity to tap into their creativity and pursue possible scholarships at the same time.” The winner of the St. Paul contest will be invited to present the essay at an Optimist Meeting at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul.

Students wishing to participate in the essay contest

can find out more about the contest by contacting the club by e-mail: kpomjo@aol.com or by phone: (651) 452-5295.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 120,000 adult and youth members in 3,800 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and

throughout the world. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.

Caucuses

importance of increasing Black voter participation in the political process. "We need to get as many people into the process as possible, so we as a community and as a district, can have options. We need to see who is in tune with the political landscape and who is willing to work hard to make sure our interests are pursued. We need to make sure no one just sits in an office thinking nobody will run against them," he said.

Precinct caucuses serve as

the official kick-off for getting involved in the Minneapolis DFL political process for 2009.

All 13 city council seats, all nine park board positions, two Board of Estimate and Taxation seats, and the mayor's office are up for election this November.

Caucuses, which will take place for all 131 of the city's precincts, begin at 7 p.m. at area schools, parks and other accessible neighborhood sites.

All those who live in the precinct, and who will be of

voting age by Election Day on November 3, 2009, are eligible to attend their neighborhood caucus and vie for delegate positions.

Delegates and alternates elected at the precinct caucuses will attend Ward Conventions, to be held from March 14 through April 28. A total of 4,770 delegates will be selected.

The 13 separate ward conventions will endorse DFL candidates for their respective

city council seats.

In addition, a second set of 1,244 delegates will be elected at the March 3 precinct caucuses to attend the City Convention on Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m. The purpose of that convention, to be held at Washburn High School (201 W. 49th St.), is to endorse DFL candidates for mayor, park board and Board of Estimate and Taxation.

A complete list of precinct caucus and ward convention

locations can be found at http://minneapolis.dflers.org.

Those unable to attend the March 3 precinct caucuses who still wish to be considered for a delegate position may provide a letter to their precinct caucus. A sample letter is available at http://minneapolis.dflers.org.

Caucus and convention business also includes seeking volunteers for Minneapolis DFL committees and party officer positions.

These are longer-term investments," he added.

In an interview, Ellison, who serves on the House Financial Services Committee, said activism and engagement are how "we move forward. We have to offer our opinions and be engaged. There is a tremendous amount of discretionary latitude with these funds after the package leaves congress. This is why it will be important for people to interact with their local officials as well.

Congress is saying the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will: · Create and save 3 to 4 million jobs, rebuilding America, making the country more globally competitive and energy independent, and transforming the economy for long-term growth. · Give 95 percent of Americans an immediate tax cut. · Invest over $100 billion in

roads, bridges, mass transit, flood control, clean water projects, and other infrastructure projects. · Invest quickly into the economy - 75 percent in the first 18 months.

2007 housing bubble driving today's economy "We haven't seen this type of job loss in years," said Ellison noting that 600,000 jobs were lost in January 2009.

This number is an effect of the 2007 housing bubble which is the root cause of today's financial crisis, he explained.

The mortgage meltdown was driven by imprudent lending, financial services deregulation and risky financial practices, he said.

"This was not caused by increased lending to minority and underserved communities as mandated by the Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act is designed to

encourage commercial banks and savings associations to meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including lowand moderate-income neighborhoods.

The Act requires the appropriate federal financial supervisory agencies to encourage regulated financial institutions to meet the credit needs of the local communities in which they are chartered, consistent with safe and sound operation.

"After the crisis really hit hard, the people who caused the crisis started lying saying the crisis was not connected to their failed polices," said Ellison.

CRA, he said, is a law that has no racial mandate.

"During a recession, poor people turn to their government for the services they need. But now, state governments' revenues are down. This is why the federal government needs to step up," said Ellison.

Under this new legislation, Minnesota stands to gain $3.3 billion, $1 billion of which will go to help balance the state's budget.

HR 1: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 In an effort to get America back on track, the HR 1 is legislation creates good-paying jobs, make investments in America's future and cut taxes for America's working families, its sponsors say.

Congress made the first steps in passing this legislation the first week of February when it passed the house along party lines; it had no support from House Republicans. The Senate took up the bill last week and passed its version Monday evening.

Senate Republicans objected heavily to the bill, arguing that it did not have enough tax cuts and was full of wasteful spending. However, Senate Democrats were able to

garner three critical Republican votes from Sens. Arlen Specter (PA), Olympia J. Snowe (ME) and Susan Collins (ME) to pass the bill through.

The bill then went to a conference committee Wednesday and by Thursday morning, both chambers had reached an agreement on the bill which now carries a $700 billion fiscal note. At press time, Congress was working to get the final bill on the president's desk for signing by his Presidents Day deadline.

Last Monday, in his first primetime press conference, the president said America will be able to tell the recovery package has worked when jobs are created and unemployment claims are down.

From 1 put into encouraging new and first-time voters to return to the precinct caucuses and to stay involved in the political process.

State Rep. Bobby Champion, DFL-58B, recently elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives echoed Johnson in describing the

Stimulus From 1 US Rep. Keith Ellison (DMN) said his Republican colleagues who have been vocal in their opposition to the package are "pulling against the man who is trying to find a job.

Anyone who wants the stimulus package to fail isn't thinking about their constituents. We need to put people first -before our parties."

Ellison's office hosted a town hall forum update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 last week Monday. "This legislation is the first critical step in sparking consumer demand. It's not just a stimulus package," he said to a large audience. "It's about making long-term investments in areas such as broadband, fixing America's crumbling roads and bridges.

Page 12 • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Insight News

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SPORTS

Of steroids, mice, and men Mr T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T Scott ryan@insightnews.com It's not that hard to tell when a human being is out of balance physically. If a person has an eating problem, whether gluttony or bulimia, it ain't hard to tell much of the time. When people smoke too much, their faces look weathered and they become Barry White sound-a-likes. And when people get muscularly swollen-up, and they haven't been to jail, you have to question how they

Rodriguez a.k.a. A-Rod would be exposed for his partaking of the "homerun juice." Rodriguez was certainly born with enough physical gifts to take him to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but of course the biggest problem with humans since the beginning of time is: It's never enough.

A-Rod has now come out and admitted that he, too, used steroids in the past. Finally! What took so long?

In his case I feel bad for him because he got called out only after trusting the government and giving an anonymous fluid sample so they could gauge roughly how many in baseball were part of the "juice party."

Because I've been heavily involved in sports as an athlete, it may be easier for me to recognize abnormal physical and performance growth, but I'm sure plenty of non-

JOHN HENRY, PAUL BUNYON, BIGFOOT, AND THE KOOL-AID MAN DON'T EXIST! managed to go from a normal example of pique human fitness, to: "DANG!" During this whole steroids era situation, I have honestly been waiting for the day that Alex

athletes can tell as well. As a young boy I remember waiting with bated breath for the 100-meter race between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis in the 1988 Olympics.

Between the perfect swollen muscle

frame, and the way the he left Lewis in the dust (in the worst way) after the first two steps of the race, something about Johnson just seemed a little too amazing. It wasn't until just now that I thought about how Johnson robbed 14-year-old me of the fantastic memory of seeing my favorite childhood icon victorious in his most vigorous racing challenge.

Recently I also found out that the most embarrassing moment of my track career was the result of my competitor being on steroids (though I still blame myself).

After everyone got done hammering on Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds (who is still getting hammered on, though thankfully baseball is reaping what they sow or picking on him), I sat twittling my thumbs waiting for ARod's name to surface. It was amazing to see the commissioner use Rodriguez as a poster boy for the supposed "post-steroid era".

"Ssscccrrrrrrrrrrttt!!!" (record stops) Ok, so I'm writing, and I get to this point in the article, but now I see that a pitcher named Roy Oswalt has come out and said that he believes ARod's (and the other "roid-rager's") records should be eliminated.

Ooooooooohh! Now that's what I'm talking about. Let's all thank God for

giving me something more fun and interesting to turn this into. The whole conversation about "who used steroids?" is old. We know of some, we'll find out more. Now what?

What do we do with the records that occurred under the influence of steroids? (After one millisecond of pondering) TOSS EM OUT!!

McGwire, Sosa, Clemens, and whoever else got busted out, should have their records erased, or adjusted! TOSS EM OUT! That's what they do in track and field.

Though it would be painful for baseball to toss out the written history of the home run orgy that took place in the 90s and early this decade, it is the only way to bring strict resolution to this whole ridiculous episode. A-HA! Major League Baseball (MLB) doesn't want to throw out the records or bring an end to this episode. First of all, that would mean less media frenzy. You know what they say?

More media, more money.

Second of all, for MLB to throw out the records would mean that they would have to acknowledge full complicity in wrongdoing from the top down.

Bud Selig, the Commissioner of MLB, and the other ownership and executives, whistled, shuffled their feet, stared at the ground, and kept their hands in

hitdawall.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/a-rod.jpg

their pockets while the steroid era developed and flourished. Actually, I take that back. They kept one hand out so they could call the TV networks to help feed the frenzy.

My jaw hit the floor when Ben Johnson dusted off Carl Lewis in the Olympics, but it wasn't real. The memory lives on, but we waste no time trying to cover it up with an asterisk by the record (as baseball suggests they will do), because what

we know is that Johnson just wasn't that good. All of these steroid studs are not as good as the numbers reflect. And though many people long and wish to see real action figure superheroes come to life, it shouldn't make anyone cry to see the records of Bonds, McGwire, or any of the other Bigfoot impersonators, expunged from the record books.

The housing feast was not real, and it has come back to reality in tragic form. An asterisk won't help that situation. An asterisk won't help the budget shortfall in California, which threatens 10,000 government jobs.

A day out on the lake fishing is good enough. A day out for an afternoon baseball game with a loved one is good enough. Hank Aaron and Roger Maris were certainly good enough. And now that the "juiced up" chickens and bank loans are coming home to roost, perhaps we can all take a moment to reflect and get back in touch with what greatness is. Often times, and actually the vast majority of the time, greatness is just simply "good enough."

"Hey Kool-Aid!" Please yell that out, and if a pitcher (of any kind) comes busting through your wall, please take a picture with your camera phone and call Insight News immediately!

http://insightnews.com

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Legal Notice STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN

DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT FAMILY COURT DIVISION Court File No. 27 FA 09 823

In Re the Marriage of: Lorrain Shaw-Torbert, Petitioner

SUMMONS

Johnny Bee Torbert, Jr., Respondent.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE NAMED RESPONDENT: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED AND REQUIRED TO serve upon Petitioner an Answer to the Petition (which must be in writing) that is herewith served upon you, within thirty (30)days after service of this Summon, exclusive of the day of service.

If you fail to do so, judgment by default will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the Petition.

This dissolution includes real property located at 6012 - 68th Avenue North in the City of Brooklyn Park, County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota and legally discribed as: Northview Estates, Lot 009, Block 002.

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS UNDER MINNESOTA LAW, SERVICE OF THIS SUMMONS MAKES THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO BOTH PARTIES TO THIS ACTION UNLESS THEY ARE MODIFIED BY THE COURT OR THE PROCEEDING IS DISMISSED:

Top ten must-haves for resumes Plan your career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Those who are new to job seeking know the hardest part is getting started. They want to know, Do I need a resume? One page or two? What to include? What to leave out?

Who is looking at this thing, anyway? The answers are yes, one or two, not everything, not much, and anyone who wants to hire you.

Most job seekers do need a resume. If you are applying for positions that require only a company application, having a resume will speed up that process. To pull together a powerful document, follow a few simple guidelines.

1.

Start at the top. Put your name, address, phone number and email at the center top of a blank page. Do not omit any of this because, at best, someone will wonder what you are hiding; at worst, they will not be able to reach you to schedule an interview.

2.

Use only four headings: Objective, Experience, Education and Key Words. Adding hobbies, marital status and favorite foods to your resume robs valuable white space and distracts the reader from what's important: your skills and experience.

3.

Tell the truth. Don't fudge on dates or credentials because you'll get caught

(1.) NEITHER PARTY MAY DISPOSE OF ANY ASSETS EXCEPT (A.) FOR THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE OR FOR THE NECESSARY GENERATION OF INCOME OR PRESERVATION OF ASSETS, (B.) BY AN AGREEMENT IN WRITING, OR (C.) FOR RETAINING COUNSEL TO CARRY ON OR TO CONTEST THIS PROCEEDING; AND (2.) NEITHER PARTY MAY HARASS THE OTHER PARTY; AND (3.) ALL CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INSURANCE COVERAGE MUST BE MAINTAINED AND CONTINUED WITHOUT CHANGE IN COVERAGE OR BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION; AND (4.) PARTIES TO A MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION PROCEEDING ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEMPT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA LAW. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION INCLUDES MEDIATION, ARBITRATION, AND OTHER PROCESSES AS SET FORTH IN THE DISTRICT COURT RULES. YOU MAY CONTACT THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR ABOUT RESOURCES IN YOUR AREA. IF YOU CANNOT PAY FOR MEDIATION OR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, IN SOME COUNTIES, ASSISTANCE MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH A NONPROFIT PROVIDER OR A COURT PROGRAM. IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE OR THREATS OF ABUSE AS DEFINIED IN MINNESOTA STATUTES, CHAPTER 518B, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TRY MEDIATION AND YOU WILL NOT BE PENALIZED BY THE COURT IN LATER PROCEEDINGS; AND NOTICE OF PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (5.) UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION §518.157, IN A CONTESTED PROCEEDING INVOLVING CUSTODY OR PARAENTING TIME OF A MINOR CHILD, THE PARTIES MUST BEGIN PARTICIPATION IN A PARENT EDUCATION PRORGAM THAT MEETS MINIMUM STANDARDS PROMULGATED BY THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST FILING WITH THE COURT. IN SOME DISTRICTS, PARENTING EDUCATION MAY BE REQUIRED IN ALL COUSTODY OR PARENTING PROCEEDINGS. YOU MAY CONTACT THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS REQUIREMENT AND THE AVAILABILITY OF PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. Date: Feb. 5, 2009

SUDOKU

Signed by Petitioner: Lorraine Shaw-Torbert 6012 - 68th Avenue North Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55429

Puzzle answers on page 8

every time. If you never finished college, use words like, "courses in ABC." If you have gaps in your work history, just use the correct dates and leave it to the manager to ask you about it. Gaps may or may not be a deal breaker; lying always is.

4.

But not the whole truth. If your first three jobs were cashiering your way through high school, but you have since gained experience in your chosen field, you do not have to include those first jobs. As you advance in your career, the earliest positions fall off the resume. A VP of Operations might have started on the factory floor, but it is not necessary to include that on the resume.

5.

One is enough. One page, that is.

Two if you are advanced in your career. A resume is simply an introduction to your background. You can go into more detail during an interview.

6.

List your experience in reverse chronological order. Provide the name of the company you work (worked) for, comma, location (city, state) and dates of employment (month/year) on one line.

Below that, write your job title in boldface.

Use a maximum of three bullet points below that; two are for listing job duties, the third is for describing an accomplishment relevant to that position. If you have had more than one position with the same company, continue with the previous title, three bullets, title of the job before that, etc.

7.

Use the same format for every job you list on your resume. Make it easy for me to see what you've done.

8.

Key words are critical. You will not show up in electronic searches unless your resume aligns with the job you want.

Tweak your resume for specific positions, lifting key words and phrases from your job

descriptions. I am currently hiring a Supply Chain Manager and I am amazed at the number of qualified candidates who applied who omitted these key words in their resume somewhere - anywhere! The trend is toward adding a laundry list of technical knowledge and skills at the end of the resume. It isn't pretty, but if you want interviews, I recommend it.

9.

Keep track. Know where your resume is going. If you don't know where you have applied, you will sound pretty confused when someone calls to hire you.

Tweaking your resume can leave you with multiple versions. Keep track by saving each one with this format: Your name (first and last), job title and the company you're sending it to. For example, I might apply for the job of writing this column with a resume saved as: Julie Desmond Writer Insight News. It's long, but it's clear to you and to the company where you want to work. Later you can easily go back and review what you've already told them about yourself.

10. Stay strong, confident and positive in your language. Did you manage a staff of three? Or are you an energetic, motivated leader and mentor to staff of three? Be an advocate for yourself, so others will want to work with you.

Writing a resume doesn't have to be drudgery. Have fun with it and let your unique professional style come through. If you are the right person for the job, your resume will reflect that, and the interviews will happen. Interviews? That's another article.

Julie Desmond is Senior Recruiter for the Walstrom Group in Minneapolis. Write to Julie@insightnews.com.

Page 14 • February 16 - February 22, 2009 • Insight News

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