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Insight News • February 5, 2024 - February 11, 2024 • Page 1

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February 5, 2024 - February 11, 2024

Vol. 51 No. 6• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Inventor Dr. Timothy Childs, Educator Eric Mahmoud

A culture of problem-solving

STEM SATURDAY AT HARVEST BEST ACADEMY Dr. Timothy Childs and his wife Lorraine Childs with Barack Obama.

Eric Mahmoud

Senate President Bobby Joe Champion is partnering with Insight News and other community institutions to promote this year’s Black History Month STEM Saturday event 11 am to 1:30 pm February 10th, at Harvest Best Academy, 1300 Olson Memorial Highway, in North Minneapolis. Alexis Varner, Legislative Aide to Senator Champion, who penned an excellent backgrounder article on the origin and power of the Black History Month observance for this edition of Insight News (page 3) discussed the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Saturday event last week on The Conversation with Al McFarlane on KFAI FM 90.3, a program that was streamed globally across McFarlane Media You Tube, Facebook, Twitter and Linked In social media platforms. Varner said students will get the chance to model physical anatomy using edible ingredients, investigate particles that make up the bloodstream, and learn to check pulses and identify main arteries involved. “This ties into what we’re doing with the Black inventors as well,” she said, “because some main contributions that aren’t really heard about from Black inventors include the blood plasma bag, which was invented by Charles Drew, or the traffic light invented by Garrett Morgan, and the elevator invented by Alexander Miles. This ties together everything that we’re doing with to promote the intersection of health science and the inventive genius of our people.” Hosting STEM Saturday is Eric Mahmoud, an educational expert and author with over 30 years of what many see as unparalleled experience in shaping the educational landscape. He is the CEO of Harvest Best Academy. He’s dedicated a career to providing innovative and effective education, particularly focusing on empowering Black children. He has a remarkable track record. 80% of the graduates of Harvest Best Academy transitioned to college, establishing Harvest Best Academy as one of the top schools in North Minneapolis for the past 13 years. Under its leadership, Harvest Best Academy has achieved a number of milestones. They created the first and only mobile innovation lab. They call it The BEAST. They created it during the COVID-19 pandemic to offer continued STEM education to scholars. In the KFAI interview, Mahmoud said ,“I really appreciate Senator Champion partnering with us on this project. Here’s a little bit of history of the STEM Saturday initiative. It actually started in the office of Louis King, who led Summit Academy OIC (Opportunity Industrialization Center). Probably about five years ago, I walked into his office; he had all these toys, what would be considered toys, on his desk, and he said, ‘I want to build a whole program around this.” He had robotics. He had all of these different fun educational STEM initiatives. And the idea was to spark interest in STEM. Actually, I have an engineering background, and that engineering background is based on the fact that when I was 13 years old, I was introduced to electronics. And that really got my interest in this whole idea of science, technology, engineering, and math. “We want to

create the exact same type of opportunity for our community, our students in our community. We want to spark their interests. We want to give them options. So on Saturday, as Sister Alexis laid out, we’re not only going to have STEM projects, we’re going to lift up Black inventors, current Black inventors, and past Black inventors. And the reason why that’s so important, if you don’t think that you’ve done anything, you can’t believe that you can do anything. So we want to show that we have a long history of inventions and producing things in this country. And so STEM is a continuation of a legacy for African and AfricanAmerican people. Dr. Timothy Childs earned his PhD in physics in 1989 from Stanford University. That’s where he was also a Bell Laboratory fellow. And from ‘89 to ‘91, he was a research scientist at Honeywell Incorporated, where he received numerous honors and awards, including first place in an international competition for next-generation semiconductor circuit technology. In ‘91, he formed his first private company TMPI, after negotiating key transfers of his patented millimeter wavelength, called “MMW “technology, from Honeywell. Thereafter, he was selected by the Pentagon’s Air Force Special Programs Oﬃce to collaborate with Lockheed Martin to implement leadingedge MMW applications. As a part of the Pentagon program, Lockheed Martin transferred equipment and MMW technology to TMPI. During the period up to 2012, TMPI executed many MMW-focused contracts for the US government, including Department of Defense, Special Services, NASA, National Science Foundation, and more. In 2012, Dr. Childs founded his second private company called, TLC Millimeter Wave Products Inc., which became his current firm, Guardian’s licensor to commercially exploit his vast body of knowledge regarding MMW technologies and their applications to multiple industries. So, over a period of 30 years, Dr. Childs has been awarded multiple patents and received accolades from President George H. Bush, President Bill Clinton, and President Barack Obama for his innovative technology contributions to the US government and his extraordinary breakthroughs in threat detection and incoming missile defense applications. In ‘99, Dr. Childs and his wife Lorraine created the TLC Education Foundation for their work with underprivileged youth, assisting them to realize their educational potential. Dr. Childs and Lorraine have dedicated significant time and resources to the community organizations involved in education, youth development, and social justice. Childs said, “The Pentagon took notice of us, and we began to work with Lockheed Martin and a few others. We developed breakthrough technology for our government to help with security of this country and of our allies. And in doing so, we developed technologies and patents that continue to grow. For our military and NASA, we developed special chips.” “Guardian School Security Systems came about when I got a call around 2014 from my daughter, who was attending Seattle Pacific University. And she was crying on the phone … crying and couldn’t stop. You could hardly understand it. And she had just left the student union where she

STEM SATURDAY

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February 5, 2024 - February 11, 2024

Vol. 51 No. 6• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Mayor Jacob Frey

Mayor Frey vetoes action, despite Council’s ability to override his veto

Dr. Carter G. Woodson, PhD.

Black history as American history Legislative Assistant for Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

Guest Commentary by Alexis Varner In the vibrant tapestry of Black History Month celebrations, it’s all too easy to overlook the trailblazers who laid the foundation for this month-long tribute. Rarely do we pause to unravel the intriguing origins of this commemoration. Yet, at the heart of this historical mosaic stands a figure of profound significance— Carter G. Woodson. A luminary in the realms of African American history, scholarship, education, and publishing, Woodson’s indelible mark is etched not only in the pages of his critically acclaimed works, “The Miseducation of the Negro” and “The Education of

the Negro,” but also in the very fabric of how we perceive and celebrate Black History Month today. His intellectual prowess and commitment to illuminating the overlooked aspects of Black history laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and nuanced appreciation of the African American experience. Carter G. Woodson’s legacy beckons us to delve deeper into the historical tapestry, its origins and evolution, a journey intricately woven by this visionary that gives rise to Black History Month. It prompts us to appreciate not only the celebratory aspects but also the arduous journey that led to the establishment of this commemorative period. History & importance of Black History Month The genesis of this commemorative month, now celebrated on a grand scale, can be traced back to Woodson’s coined term, “Negro History Week,” which made its debut in 1926. However, the roots of

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion this celebration extend further into the past, germinating in the summer of 1915 among a group of resilient African American men and women in Chicago. As an alumnus of the University of Chicago, Woodson found himself inspired during the 50th anniversary of emancipation, where a three-week event showcased Black history exhibitions. This transformative experience motivated him to

establish the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) in 1915. The organization, which later birthed the influential “Journal of Negro History” in 1916, aimed to elevate the findings of Black intellectuals and promote the scientific study of Black life and history. Woodson’s influence continued to proliferate and by 1924, spurred by the recommendations of organizations like Omega Psi Phi, he introduced “Negro History and Literature Week.” Evolving further, the event underwent name modifications, becoming “Negro Achievement Week” in 1925 and eventually crystallizing as “Negro History Week” in 1926. Woodson’s vision was to reconnect with a rich history that could inspire future generations of African Americans to achieve greater heights. February, the chosen month for this celebration,

BHM 5

Three U.S. Army Reservists killed in drone attack near Syrian border By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Three Black American reservists from the 926th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Moore, Georgia, lost their lives in a drone attack on a U.S. base near the JordanSyria border. Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh identified the fallen soldiers as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moﬀett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia. The tragedy occurred at the logistics support base at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network, where approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are stationed. That base plays a crucial role in providing support for the coalition’s eﬀorts against ISIS, according to Central Command. The attack marks the third drone strike on the outpost in the past six months, with the first two occurring in

Minneapolis City Council passes resolution on Israel-Palestine conflict In a resolution passed January 25th, Minneapolis City Council, in a 9-3 vote with one abstention, passed a resolution “Supporting peace and humanity in the Middle East.” The resolution said:  As a City Council, we must speak to unify our city, not divide it;  we are especially concerned for the health and welfare of our Palestinian, Israeli, Muslim, and Jewish inhabitants, who are deeply hurting;  we mourn the deaths of Israeli and Palestinian civilians killed – both during and since October 7th- and we recognize the great pain caused to these peoples through this ongoing war;  we recognize the right to self-determination and peaceful, safe futures for both Palestinian and Israeli people;  and we urge international leaders to promote a peaceful resolution of this conflict that results in both an Israeli state and a Palestinian state;  as local leaders are using our voice to stand firmly against the rise of and all acts of racially motivated violence and hate crimes perpetrated against our Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab constituents here in

Minneapolis and around the United States;  the City Council of Minneapolis has a longstanding history of sharing statements on issues happening throughout the world that impact our constituents here at home and in this moment we are advocating to our State and Federal leaders to use their power to call for peace  That the City Council supports our State and Federal delegations and the Biden Administration using their authority to: 1. Advance a full, immediate, and sustainable ceasefire, along with urgently needed humanitarian aid as a necessary step towards lasting peace. 2. Ensure the release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, and the release of any Palestinians unjustly held by Israel. 3. Support the investment of federal funds towards eﬀorts abroad and domestically to create the conditions for reconciliation, which are necessary for the self-determination and peaceful, safe futures for both Palestinians and Israelis. 4. Support a twostate solution, recognizing the sovereignty of both Israeli and Palestinian states.

Mayor Frey vetoes Council Gaza resolution

Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia; and Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia. the latter half of the previous year being unsuccessful. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, said the murders of the three Black reservists cut deeply. The U.S. government has determined that Iran was responsible for the attack, prompting President Joe Biden to vow a response. “There will

be a response,” Biden declared. In her last conversation with her mother, Sanders reportedly expressed aspirations to elevate her military career upon returning home from the Middle East. She also revealed her intention to purchase a motorcycle. Sanders was actively involved in coaching soccer and basketball in her hometown of Waycross, Georgia, and

worked at a pharmacy. She was pursuing college courses to become an X-ray technician. Sanders’ parents shared that she volunteered for deployment to experience diﬀerent parts of the world. With a history of military service in the family, Sanders had previously deployed to

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3 U.S. ARMY 5

The unintended consequences of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board and a threat to specialized medications and minority communities

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Saying he supports a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey last week vetoed the City Council’s resolution related to the Israel-Hamas War and charged that the resolution was one-sided, failing to recognize the history of Israeli Jews. Over the past few weeks, Mayor Frey has been vocal about his concerns with the resolution language – and his concerns with antisemitism in Minneapolis. Frey met with Council Members and addressed the public sharing his concerns on the resolution’s language. He called the resolution a one-sided look a “multi-faceted, complex, and constantly evolving international situation.” In a press release Wednesday, Fry said, “As the

only elected Jew for the City, that is disheartening.” “The resolution City Council approved uplifts the history of Palestinians, and all but erases that of Israeli Jews,” he wrote. “Including some people’s history as valid, truthful, and righteous as it may be, while ignoring others, is neither progressive nor inclusive. That’s not in keeping with the Minneapolis I know and love. At a time when antisemitic incidents and Islamophobic complaints have risen nearly 400% and 216% respectively nationwide, we have an obligation to, at the very least, not make things worse. I remain open to signing a truly unifying ceasefire resolution and hope we can all do this work together.”

Children’s Theatre Company: The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories

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Business Multicultural integrated marketing communications firm earns top honors in its 32nd year in business

Flowers Communications Group continues its Award-Winning momentum with 22 new industry accolades Flowers Communications Group finished 2023 with an impressive list of top honors received from highly coveted industry award programs. The agency added 22 awards to its trophy case in 2023. After being named PRNEWS Medium Sized Agency of the Year, FCG started 2023 strong with new wins. Throughout the year, the firm was recognized for its outstanding work not just in multicultural marketing, but in a number of other categories, including media relations, social media, experiential marketing, video/content development and government relations. The accolades signify Flowers Communications Group’s continued excellence across industries and audience sectors. “We pride ourselves on delivering innovative work for and alongside our client partners. These accolades are a testament to our firm’s longevity and ongoing success in reaching diverse audiences through culturally competent communications. We have forged impactful collaborations through forward-thinking strategies and new depths of creativity that resonate with

consumers,” said Michelle Flowers Welch, Founder and Chairman of Flowers Communications Group. “Our people and partners are truly what make us great, and we could not be more honored to have our work recognized across the industry.” Standout campaigns from 2023 include Famous Amos Ingredients for Success, which was recognized by industry organizations in five categories including ‘Corporate Social Responsibility,’ ‘Multicultural Campaigns’ and ‘Multicultural Marketing.’ The agency’s Democratic National Convention video collaboration led to four acknowledgements in ‘General Government Relations’ and ‘Best Use of Broadcast/Film/Video’ categories, among others. FCG’s strong pulse on the culture shone through additional industry wins in new media and community relations projects. The firm bested as gold winner twice in ‘Best Use of Social Media’ for American Honda Battle of Bands (HBOB), an annual exhibition showcasing Black collegiate talent. HBCU programs like HBOB are near and dear to

FCG’s agency leaders who are HBCU alumni. Flowers Welch is a graduate of WinstonSalem State University; Flowers Mazyck graduated from Spelman College; and Brinton Flowers is a graduate of Florida A&M University. Two silver awards for ‘Community Relations’ and ‘Best Visual Storytelling Campaign’ were won for FCG’s work with the Black McDonald’s Operators Association. Awards for excellence in media relations were won for the Illinois Lottery, ComEd and the Poetry Foundation. As the agency begins its 33rd year, multicultural storytelling continues to be the focal point of FCG’s expertise and growing client portfolio. In addition to the industry awards, the agency has added several new national clients with work in consumer goods and services, health, B2B, corporate social responsibility and experiential campaigns. For more information on Flowers Communications Group and the award-winning work the firm produces, please visit explorefcg.com or connect via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Flowers Communications Group Founder and CEO Michelle Flowers Welch (middle), Director of Marketing of Business Development Brinton Flowers (left) and Managing Director Jasmine Flowers Mazyck celebrate the firm’s 22 accolades for work in integrated marketing and communications in 2023. About Flowers Communications Group Flowers Communications Group is an award-winning integrated marketing communications firm with more than three decades of experience creating connections between some of the world’s most iconic brands and multicultural consumers. Founded in 1991

by Michelle Flowers Welch, FCG’s mission is to provide innovative public relations, social media, experiential and integrated marketing services that reach and respect ethnic audiences and align with client partners’ business objectives. FCG has partnered with more than 100 companies and brands over the years, including AT&T,

Brown-Forman, Cook County Department of Public Health, Ferrero North America, Foot Locker, Honda, Illinois Lottery, Lawry’s, Mary Kay Cosmetics, McDonald’s, MillerCoors, Nielsen, Nike, Walgreens, Wells Fargo, and other blue-chip clients.

involved in the next or present stage and economic transition, we need to be in these fields. The talent and capabilities of our youth is phenomenal. And so, case in point, I used to also tutor or help some of our fellow football players and also some of the athletes at Stanford, but in a simple game that we play in our community called basketball. And to stand out beyond the three-point line and shoot a basketball into a small rim, you know how small it is. The amount of physics that goes into that is amazing, and they do it like that without second thought. And so, understanding how that’s done, then they realize the capabilities and the knowledge that they can attain, Childs said. “And just to bring this home, a lot of other people and people in high places realized the talent that is in our community.

Case in point, I was one of 50 of the scientists selected for Biden’s hundred-billion-dollar commercialization initiative. And I thought it was my job and responsibility to make sure as we structured that hundred billion dollars to be spent, that it went into our community, down to our high schools and to our people,” Childs said. “For us to compete nationally or internationally, I should say, we can’t leave out one of the most highly gifted and provocative, and innovative thinkers in the world, our community. But we also have to let our community realize the capability and the potential that we have. I love teaching math and I love teaching physics,” he said. Eric Mahmoud built on Dr. Child’s prescription. “It is clearly showing what is possible for our children, and so I just think that’s very important. We have to be producers, not consumers. And so I think that that’s another part of this whole STEM initiative. We want to be producers, not consumers of technology. We have the iPhones, we have the iPads, the Apple watches, but we want to produce the iPhones. We want to produce the watches. We want to produce technology. Dr. Childs talked about his daughter dealing with a problem. He produced a solution. That’s what STEM people do. They’re producers; they produce solutions. And so we want our children in that mindset. So the future, what we want to get our children accustomed to thinking about being producers and STEM is all about... I take my STEM and engineering, and I solve educational problems” “Because it’s a discipline, right?” Mahmoud said, “It’s about problemsolving. It’s not just about the technology, it’s about problem solving. I was trained to be a problem solver. That’s what an engineer is: a problem solver. Too many times, we’re dependent on other people to solve our problems. We want to be producers so we can solve our own problems, and we got many problems to solve.”

Letter to the editor:

On the Afghan War If “Republicans are the American version of the worst of the Taliban,” (January 22,) then America, just like Afghanistan, needs to be bombed for 20 years to get the Republicans to behave in a civilized manner. What are you doing Insight News? Why are you running articles that support the scapegoat 9-11 Afghan War? After 9-11, Washington had to wage war upon someone. Afghans and the Taliban were

a perfect scapegoat target. The U.S. would be at war with people that have no military, so they couldn’t do any real harm to the U.S. military – perfect target, perfect enemy. Let’s look at the facts to see who is really the worst. For 20 years, Washington terrorized Afghans with war violence, dropping thousands of bombs on Afghanistan. Brown University’s “Cost of War Project” has that war killing only 2,400 Americans,

but 140,000 Afghans – who is worse? 140,000 Afghans lost their lives in the Afghan war. Does your newspaper support U.S. actions in Afghanistan, scapegoating Afghans for 9-11? The article and the accompanying photo of the Taliban fighters in the Presidential Palace is racist. The foundation of the Afghan war was the white supremacist view point that violent Afghans would only listen to violence. This is

rather amusing, since it was the U.S. that would only listen to violence. After 20 years it was violence that got the U.S. to leave Afghanistan. What is your newspaper’s stance when it comes to the Afghan war? I look forward to seeing your response. Frank Erickson, Minneapolis

Stem Saturday

some of our allies, to use that technology to bring some safety and security to our community and to our schools. And so from that, we have developed and patented systems that can detect weapons and threats before they get to the school. That also has led to another company called

Viratech, where we can detect pathogens of various types instantly. And we also have a patent on how to deactivate pathogens,” he said. “I was fortunate to have brothers and sisters, seven brothers and sisters. Five girls and two brothers who spent time with me and learning. I was doing long division and even using a slide ruler before I started school.” “They gave me a drive and a love for science and technology. There have been many others who have helped me, teachers and professors, and so forth. And even while at Stanford, one of the things I actually had volunteered to do was recruit African-Americans from around the country to come to get their PhD. By the time I graduated, I got an award from Washington, because we had graduated the most Black

PhDs in the country, and it was in physics. So it just lets you know the capabilities that we can attain. To this day, I haven’t seen anyone who can’t learn math and physics. It’s how it’s taught. How its approached,” he said. “I really appreciate Eric Mahmoud because he had demonstrated time and time again how you take the time and the passion for teaching in a manner that the students can grasp. And then you see, once they get it, you see them take oﬀ, and it is remarkable. And a lot of times the students don’t realize what their potential is, but when they find out you have a tiger by the tail and it’s a beautiful sight to see,” he said. “It is a treasure that we have. We’re not nearly tapping into that treasure that we have in our community. And for our community to be

From 1 … we were working on missile avoidance for the Air Force and

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BHM From 3 held special significance for Woodson. He strategically aligned it with the birthdays of two prominent American leaders, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. During his era, Black communities traditionally commemorated these leaders, providing an opportune moment for Woodson to extend the public’s study of Black history. Woodson, however, harbored deeper aspirations than mere celebrations. He despised the superficial nature of existing commemorations, viewing them as indicative of society’s ignorance about the profound contributions of Black individuals. His vision emphasized a comprehensive study and celebration of Black history, encompassing all Black men and women who significantly contributed to the advancement of human civilization. As “Negro History Week” gained widespread visibility, during the 1920s, a decade characterized as the “New Negro,” the Association faced challenges in meeting the growing demands. Negro History Clubs emerged in high schools, mayors issued

3 U.S. Army From 3 Djibouti and later volunteered for Kuwait, including a stint in Jordan near the Syrian border. Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an interior electrician, according to the U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Aﬀairs Oﬃce. He served “with courage, honor, and a deep sense of duty, embodying the best of New Jersey and our nation,” said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). “His death is a profound loss to his family, friends, colleagues,

Insight News • February 5, 2024 - February 11, 2024 • Page 5 proclamations, and progressive communities joined in. Yet, like any idea resonating with its time, the celebration proved dynamic, slipping beyond Woodson’s control, and by the 1930s, Woodson complained about the “intellectuals” popping up everywhere seeking to take advantage of the public interest in Black history. This is because, in the United States, it’s a reality that anything gaining popularity inevitably falls prey to either commercialization, commodification, or trivialization. Fast-forwarding after Woodson’s passing, scholars endeavored to fulfill his vision, advocating for a shift from “Negro History Week” to something bigger. Woodson believed that Black history was too important to America and the world to be crammed into a limited time frame. Therefore, as early as the 1940’s, there were discussions on a shift from Negro History Week to Negro History Year; and the shift to Black History Month was already underway before his death in the 1950’s. Thus, the transition to Black History Month gained momentum, propelled by the transformative 1960s when young Black people, increasingly conscious of their Blackness, pushed for an extended celebration. The Association, urged by a new generation of intellectuals, adapted to the changing times.

Within the Association, younger intellectuals, part of the awakening, prodded Woodson’s organization to change with the times. Yet, it wasn’t until 1976, that President Ford issued a message on the observance of Black History Month, and Black History Month became what it is today; a month-long celebration acknowledged widely by society. Now, since the first proclamation in 1976 and Public Law 99-244 enshrining Black History Month in Congress, every United States President has continued to designate the observance of the entire month of February to honor and celebrate the contributions African Americans to our society. The once-nascent concept conceived by Carter G. Woodson has now evolved into a widely acknowledged and cherished tradition, highlighting the indelible impact of Black history on the American and global narrative -- from the individuals subjected to enslavement in the 17th century and extending to those who presently call the United States home.

and our entire country, and a reminder of the heavy debt we owe to our military families for their sacrifice.” U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who represents Willingboro, said in a statement that Rivers served this country and local community with great honor and bravery. “We are indebted to him and his loved ones for their service and sacrifice,” Kim stated. “We will never forget what Sergeant Rivers and his fellow fallen soldiers, Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moﬀett, gave for our nation. May their memory live on in our continued service to our military families.” Moﬀett reportedly

was no stranger to the military as both of her parents were veterans. “I was like no you should, but you know she went anyway, because of her dedication to her county, she really really honored her job,” Saryha Truell, one of Moﬀett’s lifelong friends, told WTOC-TV. “We are reminded that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, Commanding General of the 412th Theater Engineer Command. “Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten,” Daniels stated.

This encompasses not only the well-known figures but also the myriad of unsung heroes whose influence reverberates through time. While luminaries such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks are pivotal in this narrative, it is crucial to delve into the narratives of other significant African American figures who have left an indelible mark on history. The commemoration takes shape through various avenues, including thoughtprovoking museum exhibits and thoughtfully curated film screenings. Moreover, it advocates for the integration of

African American achievements into mainstream education, urging the study and recognition of these accomplishments year-round. Through these endeavors, Black History Month will continue to become a conduit for appreciating the rich tapestry of contributions made by Black Americans across disciplines and generations, thereby fostering a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of Black history, which is American history. Sources: https://asalh.org/about-us/ origins-of-black-history-month/

https://www.history.com/ topics/black-history/blackhistory-month - https://guides.loc.gov/blackhistory-month-legal-resources/ history-andoverview -https://kids. nationalgeographic.com/ history/article/blackhistory-monthhttps://kids. nationalgeographic.com/ history/article/black-historymonth

Importance of Black History Month Black History Month serves as a dynamic platform for fostering dialogue and awareness regarding the diverse array of Black experiences and accomplishments.

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Piedad Córdoba- La pasion y el amor afrodescediente en Las Americas Por Jesus Chucho Garcia Afrodescendientes

Spanish Text

Pasion y amor El pasado sábado 20 de enero en horas de mediodía paso al mundo de los espíritus la activista , senadora y militante afrocolombiana Pueda Cordoba, reconocida mundialmente por su vocación a la paz mundial, la defensa de la mujer y su permanente lucha cotidiana contra el racismo, la discriminación y la xenofobia. En los tiempos del expresidente colombiano (Uribe Velez 2002-2020), a través de una manipulación jurica, inhabilitó políticamente por 18 años, a Pieda Cordoba, para participar en cargos políticos. Esta injusticia política por parte del expresidente Uribe, lejos de aislar políticamente a la lidere Piedad Cordoba, mas

bien le permitió a esta mujer afrocolombiana, impulsar mas las luchas por su pueblo. Piedad Córdoba secuestrada por los paramilitares El asesinato selectivo de líderes colectivos afrocolombianos es una constante en ese país, en medio siglo han asesinado cerca de 250 mil personas. Muchas han sido las masacres a pueblos afro e indigenas. Piedad, como mujer afrocolombiana, lidereza y política, no ha podido escapo de los atentados contra su persona, que comenzaron cuando los paramilitares la secuestraron el 21 de mayo (Día de la Afrocolombianidad), en el sector El Poblado de Medellín en 1999. Freddy Rendón Herrera, alias ‘El Alemán’, fue quien ejecutó la orden del máximo líder de las Autodefensas Colombianas, el

paramilitar Carlos Castaño Gil. Para ese momento, los movimientos afrocolombianos comenzaron a exigir la liberación de ella y cuando estaba en cautiverio, los paracos le decían que había una “mancha negra” en la ciudad exigiendo su liberación, según comentó Piedad una vez cuando conversamos en Washington DC, en un foro afrodescendientes. Para ese momento vivía en el exilio en Montreal con sus cuatro hijos en un garaje y como servidora doméstica. Unos años después tuve la oportunidad de hablar con Piedad junto a dos asesores en Caracas, Jaime Gómez y Jimmy Viera. Gómez fue descuartizado \ GHVDSDUHFLGR OR FXDO VLJQL¿Fy un duro golpe para Piedad. Luego fue la desaparición de su hija Nathalia por largo tiempo.

Posteriormente el presidente de Venezuela, Hugo Chaves invita a Piedad a Venezuela y se va a convertir en una piedra fundamental en el diálogo de paz entre las Farc y el gobierno colombiano, poniendo en práctica la liberación de muchas personas que tenían secuestradas por mucho tiempo en sus campamentos en las intrincadas selvas colombianas. Piedad, Chavez Y Fidel En el 2010, Piedad viaja a Cuba y solicita una reunión con Fidel para tratar el tema de paz en Colombia, que ahora está a punto de concretarse y donde lamentablemente no se han incluido ni a los afrocolombianos ni a los indígenas, sabiendo que es en VXV WHUULWRULRV GRQGH HO FRQÀLFWR se ha agudizado más en las últimas décadas. Lo cierto es que al

terminar esa reunión, en el 2010, entre Fidel y Piedad, el comandante en Jefe escribe lo siguiente: “Hace tres días se publicó la noticia de que el Procurador General de Colombia, Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado, había destituido e inhabilitado por 18 años para ejercer cargos políticos a la prestigiosa senadora colombiana Piedad Córdoba, por supuesta promoción y colaboración con las FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia). Frente a una medida tan inusual y drástica contra la titular de un cargo electivo de la más alta institución legislativa del Estado, ésta no tuvo otra alternativa que recurrir ante el propio Procurador que engendró la medida”. Era lógico que tal arbitrariedad provocó un fuerte rechazo, expresado por las

más diversas personalidades políticas, entre ellas exprisioneros de las Farc y familiares de los que fueron liberados por gestiones de Piedad Cordoba. Piedad Córdoba fue persona inteligente y valiente, expositora brillante, de pensamiento bien articulado. En las pasadas elecciones en Colombia (2022), con su plataforma Poder Ciudadano logro un puesto como senadora desde donde continuo su agenda por el pueblo afrocolombiano, así como internacionalista afrodescendientes, opositora a cualquier tipo de guerra y en defensa de la humanidad. Entre cantos de alabaos (cantos tradicionales afrocolombianos) y un río de gente le rindieron homenaje ne la plaza Bolivar de Bogota y luego sus restos trasladados a Medellin.

Piedad Córdoba- Passion and Afro-descendant love in Las Americas Special for Insight News

By Jesus Chucho Garcia Translated from Spanish by Yoji Senna

Passion and love Last Saturday, January 20, at noon, the AfroColombian activist, senator, and activist Pueda Cordoba recognized worldwide for her vocation to world peace, the defense of women, and her permanent daily struggle against racism, discrimination, and xenophobia joined the ancestors. In the time of the former Colombian president (Uribe Velez 2002-2020), through judicial manipulation, he

SROLWLFDOO\ GLVTXDOL¿HG 3LHGD Cordoba for 18 years, to participate in political positions. This political injustice on the part of former President Uribe, far from politically isolating the leader Piedad Cordoba, rather allowed this Afro-Colombian woman to promote more the struggles for her people. Piedad Córdoba kidnapped by the paramilitaries The selective murder of Afro-Colombian collective leaders is a constant in that country, in half a century about 250,000 people have been killed. There have been many massacres of Afro and indigenous peoples. Piedad, as an Afro-Colombian woman, leader, and politician, has not been able to escape the attacks against her person, which began when the paramilitaries kidnapped her on May 21 (Afro-Colombian Day), in the El Poblado sector of Medellín in

1999. Freddy Rendón Herrera, alias ‘El Alemán’, was the one who executed the order of the top leader of the Colombian Self-Defense, the paramilitary Carlos Castaño Gil. At that time, AfroColombian movements began to demand her release and when she was in captivity, the paracos told her that there was a “black spot” in the city demanding her release, according to Piedad once when we spoke in Washington DC, in an Afrodescendant forum. At that time she lived in exile in Montreal with her four children in a garage and worked as a domestic servant. A few years later I had the opportunity to talk to Piedad with two advisors in Caracas, Jaime Gómez and Jimmy Viera. Gómez was dismembered and disappeared, which meant a hard blow for Piedad. Then it was the disappearance of his

daughter Nathalia for a long time. Subsequently, the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chaves, invited Piedad to Venezuela and she became a cornerstone in the peace dialogue between the FARC and the Colombian government, implementing the release of many people who had been kidnapped for a long time in their camps in the intricate Colombian jungles. Piedad, Chavez And Fidel In 2010, Piedad traveled to Cuba and requested a meeting with Fidel to discuss the issue of peace in Colombia, which is now about to materialize and where unfortunately neither Afro-Colombians nor indigenous people have been included, knowing that it is in their territories where the FRQÀLFW KDV EHFRPH PRVW DFXWH in recent decades. The truth is that at the

end of that meeting, in 2010, between Fidel and Piedad, the commander-in-chief wrote the following: “Three days ago the news was published that the Attorney General of Colombia, Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado, KDG GLVPLVVHG DQG GLVTXDOL¿HG for 18 years to hold political positions to the prestigious Colombian senator Piedad Córdoba, for alleged promotion and collaboration with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). Faced with such an unusual and drastic measure against the holder of an elective position of the highest legislative institution of the State, she had no alternative but to appeal to the Prosecutor himself who engendered the measure.” It was logical that such arbitrariness caused a strong rejection, expressed by the most diverse political personalities,

including former prisoners of the FARC and relatives of whom they were released by the H൵RUWV RI 3LHGDG &RUGRED Piedad Córdoba was an intelligent and courageous person, a brilliant exhibitor, of well-articulated thinking. In the last elections in Colombia (2022), with her platform Poder Ciudadano, she achieved a position as a senator from where she continued her agenda for the Afro-Colombian people, as well as internationalist of African descent, an opponent of any type of war and in defense of humanity. Between songs of alabaos (traditional AfroColombian songs) and a river of people, they paid tribute to her in the Bolivar Square in Bogota, and then her remains were transferred to Medellin.

Piedad Córdoba- A paixão e o amor afrodescendente nas Américas Por Jesus Chucho Garcia Translation By Yoji Senna, Managing Editor, Afrodescendientes Traduzido do original em ingles por Yoji Senna

Portuguese Text

Paixão e amor No último sábado, 20 de janeiro, no meio-dia, passou para o mundo dos espíritos, a ativista, senadora e militante afro-colombiana Pueda Cordoba, reconhecida mundialmente por sua vocação à paz mundial, a defesa da mulher e sua permanente luta cotidiana contra o racismo, a

discriminação e a xenofobia. Nos tempos do expresidente colombiano (Uribe Velez 2002-2020), através de uma manipulação jurica, desabilitou politicamente por 18 anos, Pieda Cordoba, para participar de cargos políticos. Esta injustiça política por parte do ex-presidente Uribe, longe de isolar politicamente a líder Piedad Cordoba, permitiu que esta mulher afro-colombiana, impulsionasse mais as lutas por seu povo. Piedade Córdoba sequestrada pelos paramilitares

O assassinato seletivo de líderes coletivos afrocolombianos é uma constante naquele país, em meio século assassinaram cerca de 250 mil pessoas. Muitos foram os massacres de povos afro e indígenas. Piedad, como mulher afro-colombiana, liderança e política, não conseguiu escapar dos atentados contra sua pessoa, que começaram quando os paramilitares a sequestraram em 21 de maio (Dia da Afrocolombianidade), no setor El Poblado de Medellín em 1999. Freddy Rendón Herrera,

também conhecido como ‘El Alemán’, foi quem executou a ordem do líder máximo das Autodefesas Colombianas, o paramilitar Carlos Castaño Gil. Naquela época, os movimentos afro-colombianos começaram a exigir a libertação dela e quando ela estava em cativeiro, os paracos lhe diziam que havia uma «mancha negra» na cidade exigindo sua libertação, comentou Piedad uma vez quando conversamos em Washington DC, em um fórum de afrodescendentes. Nessa altura, vivia no

exílio em Montreal com os seus TXDWUR ¿OKRV QXPD JDUDJHP H como serva doméstica. Alguns anos depois tive a oportunidade de falar com Piedad ao lado de dois conselheiros em Caracas, Jaime Gómez e Jimmy Viera. Gómez foi desquartejado e GHVDSDUHFLGR R TXH VLJQL¿FRX um duro golpe para Piedad. Depois foi o desaparecimento GH VXD ¿OKD 1DWKDOLD SRU PXLWR tempo. Posteriormente, o presidente da Venezuela, Hugo Chaves, convida Piedad para a Venezuela e vai se tornar uma

pedra fundamental no diálogo de paz entre as FARC e o governo colombiano, colocando em prática a libertação de muitas pessoas que tinham sequestradas por muito tempo em seus acampamentos nas intrincadas selvas colombianas. Piedade, Chavez E Fidel Em 2010, Piedad viaja para Cuba e solicita uma reunião com Fidel para discutir a questão da paz na Colômbia, que agora está prestes a se concretizar e onde infelizmente nem os afrocolombianos nem os indígenas foram incluídos, sabendo que

insightnews.com é em seus territórios que o FRQÀLWR VH DJXGL]RX PDLV QDV últimas décadas. $ YHUGDGH p TXH QR ¿QDO dessa reunião, em 2010, entre Fidel e Piedad, o comandanteem-chefe escreve o seguinte: “Há três dias foi publicada a notícia de que o ProcuradorGeral da Colômbia, Alejandro

January 22, 2024- -February January 11, 28, 2024 • Page 7 Insight News • February 5, 2024 Ordóñez Maldonado, havia destituído e desabilitado por 18 anos para exercer cargos políticos à prestigiada senadora colombiana Piedad Córdoba, por suposta promoção e colaboração com as FARC (Forças Armadas Revolucionárias da Colômbia). Diante de uma medida tão incomum e drástica contra

a titular de um cargo eletivo da mais alta instituição legislativa do Estado, esta não teve outra alternativa senão recorrer ao próprio Procurador que gerou a medida”. Era lógico que tal arbitrariedade provocou uma forte rejeição, expressa pelas mais diversas personalidades

políticas, entre elas exprisioneiros das Farc e familiares dos quais foram libertados por gestões de Piedad Cordoba. Piedad Córdoba foi uma pessoa inteligente e corajosa, expositora brilhante, de pensamento bem articulado. Nas últimas eleições na Colômbia

(2022), com sua plataforma Poder Cidadão conseguiu um posto como senadora de onde continuou sua agenda pelo povo afro-colombiano, bem como internacionalista afrodescendentes, opositora a qualquer tipo de guerra e em defesa da humanidade. Entre cantos de alabaos (cantos

tradicionais afro-colombianos) e um rio de pessoas prestaramlhe homenagem na praça Bolivar de Bogotá e depois os seus restos transferidos para Medellin.

Piedad Córdoba – Passion et amour afro-descendant à Las Americas Par Jesus Chucho Garcia Translation by Macdonald Anyanwu Afrodescendientes Traduit de l’espagnol par Yoji Senna

French Text

Passion et amour Samedi 20 janvier dernier, à midi, la militante afro-colombienne, sénatrice et militante Pueda Cordoba, reconnue mondialement pour sa vocation à la paix mondiale, à la défense des femmes et à sa lutte quotidienne permanente contre le racisme, la discrimination et la xénophobie, a rejoint les ancêtres. . À l’époque de l’ancien président colombien (Uribe Velez 2002-2020), par manipulation judiciaire, il a GLVTXDOL¿p SROLWLTXHPHQW 3LHGD Cordoba pendant 18 ans, pour qu’elle puisse participer à des fonctions politiques. Cette injustice politique de la part

de l’ancien président Uribe, loin d’isoler politiquement la dirigeante Piedad Cordoba, a plutôt permis à cette femme afro-colombienne de promouvoir davantage les luttes pour son peuple. Piedad Córdoba kidnappée par les paramilitaires L’assassinat sélectif de dirigeants collectifs afrocolombiens est une constante dans ce pays, en un demi-siècle environ 250 000 personnes ont été tuées. Il y a eu de nombreux massacres de peuples afro et indigènes. Piedad, en tant que femme afro-colombienne, leader et femme politique, n’a pas pu échapper aux attaques contre sa personne, qui ont commencé lorsque les paramilitaires l’ont enlevée le 21 mai (Journée afrocolombienne), dans le secteur El Poblado de Medellín. en 1999. Freddy Rendón Herrera, alias « El Alemán », est celui qui a

exécuté l’ordre du chef suprême de l’autodéfense colombienne, le paramilitaire Carlos Castaño Gil. À cette époque, les mouvements afro-colombiens ont commencé à exiger sa libération et lorsqu’elle était en captivité, les paracos lui ont dit qu’il y avait un « point noir » dans la ville qui exigeait sa libération, a déclaré Piedad lors d’un entretien à Washington DC, dans un forum afro-descendant. À cette époque, elle vivait en exil à Montréal avec ses quatre enfants dans un garage et travaillait comme domestique. Quelques années plus tard, j’ai eu l’occasion de parler à Piedad avec deux conseillers à Caracas, Jaime Gómez et Jimmy Viera. Gómez a été démembré et a disparu, ce qui a représenté un coup dur pour Piedad. Puis FH IXW OD GLVSDULWLRQ GH VD ¿OOH Nathalia pour longtemps.

Par la suite, le président du Venezuela, Hugo Chaves, a invité Piedad au Venezuela et elle est devenue une pierre angulaire du dialogue de paix entre les FARC et le gouvernement colombien, en obtenant la libération de nombreuses personnes kidnappées depuis longtemps dans leurs camps au Venezuela. jungles colombiennes complexes. Piedad, Chávez et Fidel En 2010, Piedad s’est rendu à Cuba et a demandé une rencontre avec Fidel pour discuter de la question de la paix en Colombie, qui est maintenant sur le point de se concrétiser et où malheureusement ni les AfroColombiens ni les indigènes n’ont été inclus, sachant que c’est sur leurs territoires que le FRQÀLW HVW GHYHQX SOXV DLJX DX cours des dernières décennies. /D YpULWp HVW TX¶j OD ¿Q GH

cette rencontre, en 2010, entre Fidel et Piedad, le commandant en chef a écrit ce qui suit : « Il y a trois jours, on a appris que le procureur général de Colombie, Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado, avait démis et GLVTXDOL¿p SHQGDQW DQV SRXU occuper des fonctions politiques auprès du prestigieux sénateur colombien Piedad Córdoba, pour prétendue promotion et collaboration avec les FARC (Forces armées révolutionnaires de Colombie). Face à une mesure aussi inhabituelle et drastique à l’encontre du titulaire d’un poste électif de la plus haute institution législative de l’Etat, elle n’a eu d’autre choix que de faire appel au procureur luimême qui a engendré la mesure. Il était logique qu’un tel arbitraire ait provoqué un fort rejet, exprimé par les personnalités politiques les plus

diverses, y compris les anciens prisonniers des FARC et les proches dont ils ont été libérés JUkFH DX[ H൵RUWV GH 3LHGDG Cordoba. Piedad Córdoba était une personne intelligente et courageuse, une brillante exposante, à la pensée bien articulée. Lors des dernières élections en Colombie (2022), avec sa plateforme PoderCiudadano, elle a obtenu le poste de sénatrice d’où elle a poursuivi son agenda pour le peuple afro-colombien, ainsi qu’internationaliste d’ascendance africaine, opposante à tout type de guerre. et pour la défense de l’humanité. Entre chants d’alabaos (chants traditionnels afro-colombiens) HW ÀRW GH SHUVRQQHV LOV OXL RQW rendu hommage sur la place Bolivar de Bogota, puis sa dépouille a été transférée à Medellin.

Piedad Cordoba- Jacaylka iyo jacaylka Afro-faraca ee Laas Ameerika By Jesus Chucho Garcia Translation by Macdonald Anyanwu, Afrodescendientes Waxaa laga soo turjumay Isbaanishka Yoji Senna

Somali Text

Jacayl iyo jacayl Sabtidii lasoo dhaafay, Janaayo 20, duhurnimadii, dhaqdhaqaaqa Afro-Colombian, senator, iyo dhaqdhaqaaqayaasha Pueda Cordoba ayaa adduunka oo dhan u aqoonsaday dadaalkeeda nabadda adduunka, difaaca haweenka, iyo halgankeeda joogtada ah ee maalinlaha ah ee ka dhanka ah midab-takoorka, takoorka, iyo nacaybka ajnabiga ayaa ku biiray awoowayaasha. . Waqtigii madaxweynihii hore ee Colombia (Uribe Velez 2002-2020), iyada oo loo marayo wax isdaba marin garsoor, wuxuu siyaasad ahaan u diiday Pieda Cordoba 18 sano, si uu uga qayb qaato jagooyinka siyaasadeed. Cadaalad darradan siyaasadeed ee ka timid

madaxweynihii hore ee Uribe, oo ka fog siyaasad ahaan go’doominta hogaamiyaha Piedad Cordoba, waxay u ogolaatay haweeneydan AfroColombian inay horumariso halgan badan oo dadkeeda ah. Piedad Cordoba oo ay afduubteen kooxaha hubaysan Dilalka xulafada ah ee hogaamiyayaasha wadareed ee Afro-Colombian waa mid joogto ah oo dalkaas ka dhaca, nus qarni gudaheed waxaa la dilay ilaa 250,000 oo qof. Waxaa dhacay xasuuqyo badan oo loo geystay Afro iyo dadka asal ahaan kasoo jeeda. Piedad, iyada oo ah haweeney AfroColombian ah, hoggaamiye, iyo siyaasi, ma aysan awoodin inay ka baxsadaan weerarrada ka dhanka ah qofteeda, kuwaas oo bilaabay markii ay dableyda qafaasheen May 21 (Maalinta Afro-Colombian), qaybta El Poblado ee Medellín. 1999. Freddy Rendon Herrera, oo loo yaqaan ‘El Alemán’, wuxuu

ahaa midkii fuliyay amarkii hoggaamiyaha ugu sarreeya ee Is-difaaca Colombia, Carlos Castaño Gil. Waqtigaas, dhaqdhaqaaqyada AfroColombian waxay bilaabeen inay dalbadaan in la sii daayo, markii ay xabsiga ku jirtay, paracos ayaa u sheegay in ay jirto “bar madow” magaalada oo dalbanaysa siideynteeda, sida uu sheegay Piedad mar aan ka hadalnay Washington DC. madasha Afro-faraca. Wakhtigaas waxa ay ku noolayd masaafuris magaalada Montreal iyada iyo afarteeda caruur ah oo ku jira garaash, waxaanay u shaqaynaysay shaqaale guri. Dhowr sano ka dib waxaan helay fursad aan kula hadlo Piedad laba lataliye oo jooga Caracas, Jaime Gómez iyo Jimmy Viera. Gómez waa la jarjaray oo waa la waayay, taasoo la micno ah dharbaaxo adag oo soo gaadhay Piedad. Kadib waxay

ahayd waayitaankii gabadhiisa Nathalia muddo dheer. Intaa ka dib, madaxweynaha Venezuela, Hugo Chaves, ayaa ku casuumay Piedad inuu ku yimaado Venezuela, waxayna laf-dhabar u noqotay wadahadalladii nabadeed ee FARC iyo dawladda Colombia, iyada oo hirgelisay sii deynta dad badan oo muddo dheer lagu afduubay xeryahooda kaymaha Colombian adag. Piedad, Chavez iyo Fidel 2010, Piedad wuxuu u safray Cuba wuxuuna codsaday inuu la kulmo Fidel si uu ugala hadlo arrinta nabadda Colombia, taas oo hadda qarka u saaran inay hirgasho, oo nasiib darro aan lagu darin Afro-Colombians iyo dadka asaliga ah, iyagoo og inay tahay dhulalkooda halka ay joogaan. colaadda ayaa noqotay mid aad u daran tobannaankii sano ee la soo dhaafay. Runtu waxay tahay in dhamaadkii kulankaas, 2010, ee

u dhexeeyay Fidel iyo Piedad, taliyaha guud uu qoray sidan soo socota: “Saddex maalmood ka hor waxaa la daabacay warka sheegaya in Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Colombia, Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado, uu xilka ka qaaday. waxaana laga joojiyay 18 sano inuu jagooyin siyaasadeed u qabto senetarka caanka ah ee Colombia Piedad Cordoba, oo lagu eedeeyay dalacsiin iyo wada shaqayn uu la lahaa FARC (Ciidanka Kacaanka Colombia). Iyadoo ay wajahayso tallaabo aan caadi ahayn oo adag oo ka dhan ah qofka haysta jagada doorashada ee hay’adda sharci-dejinta ugu sarreysa ee Qaranka, ma aysan haysan beddel kale oo aan ahayn in ay racfaan ka qaadato Xeer-ilaaliyaha laftiisa kaas oo keenay cabbirka.” Waxay ahayd wax macquul ah in gar-qaadka noocaas ahi uu sababay diidmo xooggan, oo ay muujiyeen

shakhsiyaad siyaasadeed oo kala duwan, oo ay ku jiraan maxaabiistii hore ee FARC iyo qaraabada kuwaas oo lagu sii daayay dadaalka Piedad Cordoba. Piedad Cordoba wuxuu ahaa qof caqli badan oo geesi ah, soo-bandhige xarrago OHK RR VL ¿LFDQ X IDNDUD\D Doorashadii ugu dambeysay ee Colombia (2022), iyada oo la socota barnaamijkeeda PoderCiudadano, waxay ku guulaysatay jagada senatorka halkaas oo ay sii waday ajandaheeda loogu talagalay dadka Afro-Colombian, iyo sidoo kale caalamiga ah ee asal ahaan Afrikaan ah, oo ka soo horjeeda nooc kasta oo dagaal ah. iyo difaaca aadanaha. Inta u dhaxaysa heesaha alabaos (heesaha dhaqameed ee AfroColombian) iyo webi dad ah, waxay ku maamuuseen iyada oo ku taal Bolivar Square ee Bogota, ka dibna hadhaaga waxaa loo wareejiyay Medellin.

Piedad Córdoba- Mapenzi na watu wa asili ya Afro huko Las Americas Na Jesus Chucho Garcia Translation by Macdonald Anyanwu, Afrodescendientes Ilitafsiriwa kutoka Kihispania na Yoji Senna

Swahili Text

Shauku na upendo Jumamosi iliyopita, Januari 20, saa sita mchana, mwanaharakati wa AfroColombia, seneta, na mwanaharakati Pueda Cordoba alitambuliwa duniani kote kwa wito wake wa amani ya dunia, utetezi wa wanawake, na mapambano yake ya kila siku dhidi ya ubaguzi wa rangi, ubaguzi, na chuki dhidi ya wageni alijiunga na mababu. . Wakati wa rais wa zamani wa Colombia (Uribe Velez 2002-2020), kupitia ghiliba za mahakama, aliiondoa kisiasa Pieda Cordoba kwa miaka 18, kushiriki katika nyadhifa za kisiasa. Udhalimu huu wa kisiasa kwa upande wa Rais wa zamani Uribe, mbali na kumtenga kisiasa kiongozi Piedad Cordoba, badala yake ulimruhusu mwanamke huyu wa Afro-Colombia kukuza zaidi mapambano kwa watu wake. Piedad Córdoba iliyotekwa nyara na wanamgambo Mauaji ya kuchagua ya viongozi wa pamoja wa Afro-Colombia ni ya mara kwa mara katika nchi hiyo, katika nusu karne karibu watu 250,000 wameuawa. Kumekuwa na mauaji mengi ya Afro na watu wa kiasili. Piedad, kama mwanamke wa Afro-Colombia, kiongozi na mwanasiasa, hajaweza kuepuka mashambulizi dhidi ya mtu

wake, ambayo yalianza wakati wanamgambo walipomteka nyara Mei 21 (Siku ya AfroColombia), katika sekta ya El Poblado ya Medellín. mnamo 1999. Freddy Rendon Herrera, almaarufu ‘El Alemán’, ndiye aliyetekeleza agizo la kiongozi mkuu wa Kujilinda wa Colombia, mwanajeshi Carlos Castaño Gil. Wakati huo, vuguvugu la Afro-Colombia lilianza kutaka aachiliwe na alipokuwa kifungoni, paracos walimwambia kwamba kulikuwa na “doa nyeusi” katika jiji linalotaka aachiliwe, kulingana na Piedad mara moja tulipozungumza huko Washington DC, katika kongamano la wazao wa Afro. Wakati huo aliishi uhamishoni huko Montreal na watoto wake wanne kwenye karakana na alifanya kazi kama mtumishi wa nyumbani. Miaka michache baadaye nilipata fursa ya kuzungumza na Piedad na washauri wawili huko Caracas, Jaime Gómez na Jimmy Viera. Gómez alikatwa vipande vipande na kutoweka, jambo ambalo lilimaanisha pigo kubwa kwa Piedad. Kisha ilikuwa kutoweka kwa binti yake Nathalia kwa muda mrefu. Baadaye, rais wa Venezuela, Hugo Chaves, alimwalika Piedad nchini Venezuela na akawa msingi katika mazungumzo ya amani kati ya FARC na serikali ya Colombia, kutekeleza kuachiliwa kwa watu wengi ambao walikuwa wametekwa nyara kwa muda mrefu katika kambi zao huko. misitu tata ya

Colombia. Piedad, Chavez na Fidel Mnamo 2010, Piedad DOLVD¿UL KDGL &XED QD NXRPED mkutano na Fidel ili kujadili suala la amani ya Colombia, ambayo sasa inakaribia kutimia na ambapo kwa bahati mbaya sio Waafrika-Kolombia wala watu wa asili waliojumuishwa, wakijua kuwa iko katika

maeneo yao. mzozo umekuwa mkali zaidi katika miongo ya hivi karibuni. Ukweli ni kwamba mwishoni mwa mkutano huo, mwaka 2010, kati ya Fidel na Piedad, kamanda mkuu aliandika yafuatayo: “Siku tatu zilizopita zilichapishwa habari kwamba Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Colombia, Alejandro Ordóñez

Maldonado, amemfukuza kazi. na kufutiliwa mbali kwa miaka 18 kushikilia nyadhifa za kisiasa kwa seneta maarufu wa Colombia Piedad Córdoba, kwa madai ya kupandishwa cheo na kushirikiana na FARC (Majeshi ya Wanamapinduzi ya Kolombia). Akiwa amekabiliwa na hatua hiyo isiyo ya kawaida

na kali dhidi ya mwenye nafasi ya kuchaguliwa katika taasisi ya juu zaidi ya kutunga sheria ya Serikali, hakuwa na njia nyingine ila kukata rufaa kwa Mwendesha Mashtaka mwenyewe aliyeanzisha hatua hiyo.” Ilikuwa ni busara kwamba jeuri kama hiyo ilisababisha kukataliwa kwa nguvu,

Comment porter votre masque de manière sécurisée

Étape 1 : Lavez ou désinfectez vos mains.

Étape 2 : Assurez-vous que le haut du masque couvre bien le nez et le bas se glisse sous votre menton.

Étape 3 : Placez le masque sur votre nez et votre bouche avant de placer les élastiques ou les lacets derrière vos oreilles ou votre tête.

Étape 4 : Manipulez le masque pour qu'il couvre complètement le nez, la bouche et le menton.

Étape 5 : Le haut de certains masques peut se plier. Pressez le haut du masque avec les doigts pour qu'il soit bien ajusté autour du nez.

Étape 6 : Ne touchez pas votre masque lorsque vous le portez. Réglez les élastiques ou lacets derrière vos oreilles ou votre tête si vous avez besoin d’ajuster votre masque.

Étape 7 : Retirez votre masque à l’aide des élastiques ou lacets derrière vos oreilles ou votre tête. Ne touchez pas l’avant du masque.

Étape 8 : La vez les masques en tissu entre deux utilisations. Jetez les masques jetables.

Étape 9 : Si vous portez à nouveau un masque N95 ou KN95, rangez-les dans un sac en papier. Ne les lavez pas.

Étape 10 : Lavez ou désinfectez à nouveau vos mains.

Minnesota Department of Health | health.mn.gov | 625 Robert Street North PO Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 | 651-201-5000 Contactez le département de la communication du Département de la santé à l’adresse health.communications@state.mn.us pour demander ces informations dans un format différent. (French) 2/25/2022

Page 8 • February 5, 2024 - February 11, 12, 2024 • Insight News iliyoonyeshwa na watu tofauti zaidi wa kisiasa, pamoja na wafungwa wa zamani wa FARC na jamaa ambao waliachiliwa kwa juhudi za Piedad Cordoba.

Piedad Córdoba alikuwa mtu mwenye akili na jasiri, PRQ\HVKDML PDKLUL ZD ¿NUD zilizoeleweka vyema. Katika chaguzi zilizopita nchini

Kolombia (2022), akiwa na jukwaa lake la PoderCiudadano, alipata wadhifa kama seneta kutoka ambapo aliendeleza ajenda yake kwa watu wa

insightnews.com Afro-Colombia, na vile vile mwana kimataifa wa asili ya Kiafrika, mpinzani wa aina yoyote ya vita. na katika kulinda ubinadamu. Kati ya nyimbo za

alabaos (nyimbo za kitamaduni za Afro-Colombia) na mto wa watu, walilipa ushuru kwake kwenye Mraba wa Bolivar huko Bogota, na kisha mabaki yake

yakahamishiwa Medellin

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Translation by Macdonald Anyanwu Afrodescendientes 12*Ʃ ) 1& "!" &- +&0& +&- 0Ź ,'& "++

Yoruba Text

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QLSDVҽ DZӑQ RORJXQ ÎSjQu\jQ j\jQIҽғ jZӑQ DৢiiM~ jMӑ $IUR &RORPELDQ Mҽғ uJEj JERJER Qt RUtOҽҒ qGq \ҽQ Qt uGDMu ӑҒU~QG~Q Q‫ۮ‬NDQ Et qQu\jQ QL D WL SD ӐSӑOӑSӑ DZӑQ LSDNXSD WL $IUR DWL DZӑQ HQL\DQ DELQLEL WL ZD 3LHGDG JҽJҽEL obinrin Afro-Colombian, adari, ati oloselu, ko ni anfani lati sa IXQ DZӑQ LNӑOX VL HQL\DQ Uҽ H\LWL R EҽUҽ QLJEDWL DZӑQ RORJXQ WL ML L QL 0D\ ӐMӑ $IUR Colombian), ni eka El Poblado ti Medellín. ni 1999. Freddy Rendon Herrera, ti a npè ni ‘El $OHPiQ¶ QL ҽQLWL R ৢH Dৢҽ Dৢҽ WL RORUL JLJD WL $DER $UD ҽQL WL Colombia, paramilitary Carlos Castaño Gil. 1L DNRNR \ҽQ DZӑQ DJEHND $IUR &RORPELDQ EҽUҽ ODWL EHHUH LWXVLOҽ Uҽ DWL QLJEDWL R ZD QL LJEHNXQ SDUDFRV Vӑ IXQ u pe “ibi dudu” kan wa ni ilu WL Q EHHUH LWXVLOҽ Uҽ QL LEDPX VL 3LHGDG QL ҽҽNDQ QLJEDWL D VӑUӑ ni Washington DC, ninu ohun Afro- iran forum. /iNzyNz \ҽQ y Ĕ JEp QtO ~ 0RQWUHDO SҽҒO~ jZӑQ ӑPӑ

UҽҒ PҽғUҽҒҽҒULQ QtQ~ ӑNӑҒ D\ӑғNҽғOҽғ NDQ y Vu Ĕ ৢLৢҽғ JҽғJҽғ Et uUiQৢҽғ LOp 1t ӑG~Q GtҽҒ Oҽғyìn náà, mo Oi‫ۮ‬IjjQt OiWL Ei 3LHGDG VӑҒUӑҒ SҽҒO~ jZӑQ DJEDQLQtPӑҒràn méjì ní Caracas, Jaime Gómez àti Jimmy Viera. Gómez ti ya kuro R VL VӑQX H\LWL R WXPӑ VL LNӑOX OLOH IXQ 3LHGDG /ҽKLQQD R Mҽ LSDUXQ WL ӑPӑELQULQ Uҽ 1DWKDOLD IXQ LJED SLSҽ /ҽKLQQD $ODNRVR Venezuela, Hugo Chaves, pe Piedad si Venezuela ati pe o di RNXWD LJXQ NDQ QLQX LMLURUR DOD¿D ODDULQ )$5& DWL LMӑED &RORPELD LPXVH LWXVLOҽ WL ӑSӑOӑSӑ DZӑQ HQL\DQ WL R WL ML IXQ LJED SLSҽ QL DZӑQ DJӑ ZӑQ QL DJEHJEH aruniloju Colombian igbo. Piedad, Chavez Ati Fidel 1L ӑGXQ 3LHGDG ULQ LULQ DMR Oӑ VL .XED R VL EHHUH IXQ LSDGH SҽOX )LGHO ODWL MLURUR ORUL ӑUӑ DODD¿D QL ,OX &ROXPELD H\LWL R IҽUҽ GL RKXQ HOR DWL QLELWL ODDQX NR VL DZӑQ $IUR &RORPELDQV WDEL DZӑQ HQL\DQ DELQLEL QL PLPӑ SH R ZD QL DZӑQ DJEHJEH ZӑQ QLELWL R ZD URJERGL\DQ WL GL SXSӑ MXOӑ QL DZӑQ HZDGXQ WR

ৢҽৢҽ 2WLWӑ QL SH QL RSLQ LSDGH \ҽQ QL ӑGXQ ODDULQ )LGHO ati Piedad, olori-ogun kowe DWҽOH QDD ³1L ӑMӑ PҽWD VҽKLQ LUR\LQ WL MDGH SH $JEҽMӑUR Gbogbogbo ti Kolombia, Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado, WL \ӑNXUR DWL SH NR QL ҽWӑ IXQ ӑGXQ ODWL GL DZӑQ LSR LৢHOX PX VL LOH LJELPӑ ,OX &ROXPELD olokiki Piedad Cordoba, fun ҽVXQ LJEHJD DWL LIRZRVRZRSR SҽOX )$5& 5RJERGL\DQ $ZӑQ ologun ti Columbia). 7L GRMXNӑ SҽOX LUX RKXQ

DLELNLWD DWL LZӑQ WR ODJEDUD VL ҽQLWL R GL LSR \L\DQ WL LOH LJELPӑ LVR¿Q WL R JD MXOӑ WL ,SLQOH NR QL \L\DQ PLLUDQ ELNRৢH ODWL EҽEҽ VL $JEҽMӑUR IXQUDUDUҽ WL R ৢH LZӑQ naa. ” Ï EӑғJEӑғn mu pé irú ìwà juGiD EҽғҽҒ ID uNӑҒVtOҽҒ lílágbára, tí jZӑQ qQu\jQ RQtৢqO~ Wt y \jWӑҒ VtUD ¿ KjQ SҽҒO~ jZӑQ ҽOҽғZӑҒn WҽғOҽҒ WL )$5& jWL jZӑQ uEiWDQ Wt ZӑғQ Gi VtOҽҒ QtSDVҽҒ ìsapá Piedad Cordoba. 3LHGDG &RUGRED Mҽғ olóye jWL RQtJER\j qQu\jQ RO ৢj¿KjQ GtGiQ M Oӑ Wt y Qt uUzQ~ Wt y

JEyQi MDQMDQ 1LQX DZӑQ LGLER WL R NҽKLQ QL ,OX &ROXPELD SҽOX 6\HHG Uҽ 3RGHU&LXGDGDQR R ৢDৢH\ӑUL LSR NDQ EL $ODJED ODWL LELWL R WL WҽVLZDMX HWR Uҽ IXQ DZӑQ HQL\DQ $IUR &RORPELDQ DWL DJED\H WL LGLOH $¿ULND alatako eyikeyi iru ogun. ati ni idaabobo eda eniyan. Laarin DZӑQ RULQ DODEDRV DZӑQ RULQ $IUR &RORPELDQ WL DৢD DWL RGR HQL\DQ ZӑQ VDQ RZR RUL IXQ X ni Bolivar Square ni Bogota, OҽKLQQD D JEH DZӑQ NX VL Medellin.

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Insight News • February 5, 2024 - February 11, 2024 • Page 9

Insight 2 Health Nonprofit hospitals have an obligation to help their communities, but the people who live nearby may see little benefit By Jonathan Wynn Department Chair and Professor of Sociology, UMass Amherst and Daniel Skinner Associate Professor of Health Policy, Ohio University Does living near a hospital make you more likely to get the health care you need? Even though the federal government requires nonprofit hospitals to regularly assess the health needs of their surrounding communities and publicly post a plan to address those concerns, many people living nearby struggle to get basic health care. We are a political scientist and an urban sociologist who study how hospitals interact with and shape the communities in which they are located. As we explain in our book, “The City and the Hospital,” most top-ranked hospitals in the U.S. aren’t doing enough in this regard. A paradox for local communities Despite living in the shadow of world-class medical facilities, people residing in these communities often have poor health. We call this the paradox of medically overserved communities. Many nonprofit hospitals amass revenues in the millions and even billions. This economic power, coupled with their stated missions to take care of their local community, positions most of them well to benefit the neighborhoods surrounding their campuses. Urban hospitals tend to be centrally located; residents of these city centers tend to be low income, and many of them are disproportionately Black and Latino. Using

census data, we found that the neighborhoods around our case sites were, overall, less white, had lower household incomes, lower property values and greater vacancy rates than the rest of their cities. They also had worse health. Worse oﬀ in terms of health To better understand how hospitals serve local populations, we and our colleague, medical sociologist Berkeley Franz, conducted over 200 interviews. We spoke with local residents, hospital administrators, business owners and health care advocates. Our conversations focused on three American hospitals: the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Hartford Hospital in Connecticut and the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. Like these three, about half of U.S. hospitals are nonprofits. In all three cities, these neighborhoods had lower rates of health insurance compared with citywide and national averages. And so, when looking at a map, these neighborhoods might appear to have greater access to health care than, for example, those living in rural communities. This is not the case. We found that Americans residing in a census tract next to those three hospitals were actually more likely to be in poorer health than their fellow city dwellers. We examined 12 key health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and mental illness. Local residents were faring worse than city averages 64% of the time and worse than national averages 80% of the time. Vague mandate Nonprofit hospitals get tax exemptions because the Internal Revenue Service recognizes that the promotion

of health is a charitable mission that serves the public good. Because for-profit hospitals pay all applicable taxes, they are not subject to these IRS requirements. Nonprofit hospitals save billions every year in federal, state and local taxes. But they are required to spend some of their money to provide what the government calls “community benefit.” How much should these hospitals spend? Until now, the authorities have not specified an amount or percentage of a hospital’s revenues or profits. The IRS test for community benefit is vague. It requires that hospitals make “investments” that are “broad enough to benefit the community” and must “serve a public rather than a private interest.” Although providing charity care isn’t the only contribution hospitals make to their communities, it’s an important one. And in 2020, when the question was last looked at closely, nonprofit hospitals’ charity care totaled US$16 billion – during a year when they got $28.1 billion in tax breaks. Some hospitals do little to nothing to meet this goal. The U.S. Government Accountability Oﬃce, a government watchdog, found 30 nonprofit hospitals that got tax breaks in 2016 despite reporting no spending on community benefits at all. And although hospitals are required to report their community benefit activities to the IRS every three years, the government agency “was unable to provide evidence that it did so because it did not have a well-documented process to ensure those activities were being reviewed,” the GAO said in 2023. Community benefit People living

‘Appetite for land’ Residents

the

John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Scholars interviewed people living near the University of Colorado Hospital to assess whether it’s a good neighbor. three neighborhoods where we conducted our research often noted their local hospital’s prominence. But they also said they felt unwelcome there, using words like “behemoth,” “intimidating” and “imposing” when describing them. They also told us they were upset when the hospitals purchased neighborhood homes and other buildings and razed them for new facilities. In Hartford, residents pointed to an example of how the hospital bought a family-run funeral home that had catered to the local Latino community and then turned it into a parking lot. The local community expressed similar concerns about the Cleveland Clinic’s “appetite for land,” which threatened the future of the neighborhood’s historic churches. We also heard concerns over unfair billing practices that echoed what The New York Times has found – that overcharging patients entitled to free care is perhaps more common than previously believed. In all three

communities, people told us they avoided their local, prominent hospitals because of fears of the financial burden a visit would yield. Many local residents said they saw less celebrated hospitals that were farther from home as safer options in terms of what they expected to pay. An unfulfilled promise When Congress passed the Aﬀordable Care Act in 2010, it reasserted the idea that nonprofit hospitals should provide substantial benefits to communities in exchange for their tax exemptions. That hasn’t happened. Scholars widely agree there’s no evidence that nonprofit hospitals have generally done more to benefit their local communities with the ACA than they did without it. Yet a lack of oversight has meant that hospitals have rarely faced penalties for noncompliance. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

near

The unintended consequences of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board and a threat to specialized medications and minority communities By Lawrence Wright Guest Commentary Last year, state lawmakers established a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, aimed to increase the accessibility and affordability of healthcare. However, many patients are concerned about the possible unintended effects of this board’s decisions on their medications. There is a genuine risk that specialized drugs and treatments could become unavailable, as the board will determine their availability based on cost restrictions. This could have severe consequences for patients, especially those who depend on specialized medications. The concern about losing access to specialized medications raises a significant question: could efforts to reduce drug costs unintentionally restrict the availability of lifechanging treatments? While the goal of making medications more affordable for everyone is praiseworthy, it is crucial to carefully evaluate the chosen approach to avoid any unintended negative effects. Rare disease drugs and treatments greatly enhance the quality of life for almost 200,000 people in the United States who are affected by diseases. But despite millions of Americans suffering from a rare disease, only 5% of rare diseases have treatments (or cures) that have been approved. That’s because it is expensive to research and produce medications where the population pool is so small. But for those who benefit from some of these incredible breakthroughs including those diagnosed with certain cancers, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis sickle cell, etc—the impact is life-changing. While the costs of these drugs may appear high on paper, patients consider what they pay as affordable since insurance coverage and assistance programs help alleviate the financial burden

hospitals complained, as you might expect, about blaring sirens, helicopters and traﬃc. We also heard confusion over hospitals’ responsibilities toward their local community. Local residents often told us they expected more from hospitals than other neighborhood institutions. As Mansfield Frazier, a Cleveland community advocate, put it, the Cleveland Clinic is “not in the business of making widgets. They’re in the business of promoting health.” On the other hand, hospital administrators at the three hospitals we studied insist that they spend generously to improve their local communities. One Cleveland Clinic administrator, for example, lamented, “There are some people who think it is our job to repair potholes on their streets.” In terms of “how well hospitals invest in community health,” a health-focused think tank, the Lown Institute, graded our three hospitals as average: Hartford Hospital earned a B grade, and the University of Colorado Hospital and the vaunted Cleveland Clinic both earned a C. The American Hospital Association has responded to these assessments by criticizing Lown’s methods and data. Most notably, it accuses Lown of “cherry-picking,” insisting that delivering “life-saving treatments” and educating newly graduated physicians should be considered part of “community benefit.” Such activities are generally not considered part of hospitals’ broader nonprofit obligations because they are paid for the medical care they deliver and the physicians they train.

HNC Black History Month Day "New Year New You" HNC office 2944 Emerson Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411 February 17th, 2024 11:00am - 2:00pm

Courtesy of Lawrence Wright

Lawrence Wright and prevent excessively high out-of-pocket expenses. However, there are questions about whether the manufacturers may encounter difficulties in supplying these medications in certain states, such as Minnesota, where the Prescription Drug Affordability Board controls costs. If manufacturers find it economically unviable to offer certain medications at the prices regulated by the board, patients may be left without essential treatments, worsening existing health disparities. While the goal is to improve access to affordable drugs, a uniform approach could unintentionally create obstacles for those who require them, especially impacting minority communities. These potential consequences go beyond individual patients. Minority communities are particularly vulnerable to experiencing these unintended effects. Rare diseases have a greater impact on populations with lower socioeconomic status. Unfortunately, minority communities often find themselves in this category as black workers are overrepresented in lowerwage jobs and face higher rates of unemployment. The

combination of economic disparities, health disparities, and race creates a vulnerable situation for these communities. Therefore, we must acknowledge that the cost of medications is only one aspect to consider. Equally important is ensuring access to innovative and life-changing treatments. Losing access to such groundbreaking medications would not only impede individual health outcomes but also perpetuate existing health inequalities. The establishment of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board demonstrates a dedication to increasing the affordability of healthcare. However, it is important to consider the potential unintended consequences carefully. Limiting access to specialized medications poses a risk, particularly for minority communities that already experience health and economic disparities. Finding a balance between affordability and access is crucial to avoid worsening existing healthcare inequalities. The board should consider the diverse range of healthcare needs to ensure that its policies lead to positive and equitable outcomes for everyone.

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Page 10 • February 5, 2024 - February 11, 2024 • Insight News

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Cheryl Barton’s romance novels and the first installment in her Island Embers series, Hunger For You Sharing Our Stories

By: W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor HUNGER FOR YOU By Cheryl Barton Black History Month, of course, is dedicated for the month of February. February also includes Valentine’s Day, and it is my good pleasure to review another of Cheryl Barton’s romance novels and the first installment in her Island Embers series, Hunger For You. Marketing executive Cheyenne Reddick is torn between loyalty to her father Joseph “Captain Joe” Reddick and her love for Tellum Blackstone, CEO of a romantic luxury resort chain he and his brothers built. Captain Joe’s past shady dealings cost him a lucrative business deal with Tellum’s father Dennis. Blaming Dennis for his own shortcomings, and out of sheer spite, Captain Joe forces Cheyenne to break up with Tellum through control and manipulation. Having fallen in love for the first time, playboy Tellum is still hurting from their breakup six months later, but with a little push from his family, he extends an invite to her and her BFF Melodi to the company’s newest resort Secret Whisper in the Dominican Republic, where he secretly plans to woo her back for a forever love. Enter Reed Howard, a spoiled, entitled douchebag who has been determined to worm and wheedle his way into Cheyenne’s bed, and a little thing like her broken

heart wasn’t going to stop him. When he learns that Cheyenne is a guest at Secret Whisper, he wastes no time in scheming like a jackal to keep Cheyenne and Tellum apart. Will Tellum step up his game and fight for Cheyenne? Will Cheyenne realize she made the biggest mistake of her life with her decision? Barton is a masterful storyteller in romance. She gives the reader vivid pictures of the lives and lifestyles her characters lead, along with the kind of backgrounds they have which makes them complex. She seasons her story with the flavor of Detroit. Her trademark themes of sisterhood, friendship, and a strong close-knit family are all there, as well as the way she has her main characters resolve their issues by talking them out. Yes, there are despicable characters like Reed and Captain Joe in the mix; whether or not they are redeemable is something you as a reader will have to find out. Hunger For You is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and her website www.cherylbarton. net. Thank you, Cheryl, for this sexy, romantic Valentine’s Day treat. At the end of the day, it’s all about the love. Looking forward to more of the Blackstone brothers in this new series! *Correction: In last week’s review of Schia Hart’s Truth Be Written journal, the correct quotation from Saidi Mdala is the following: “The worst thing that can happen to you as a young person is to refuse to grow up. You refuse to grow up when you believe that someone else must take responsibility for your life and life circumstances.”

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Insight News • February 5, 2024 - February 11, 2024 • Page 11

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The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories

Children’s Theatre Company: The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories Children’s Theatre Company Announces Cast and Creative Team for The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories By Reiko Ho and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble Directed by Reiko Ho January 16-February 18, 2024 Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories by Reiko Ho and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble. Directed by Ms. Ho, The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories will run from January 16-February 18, 2024 at CTC’s Cargill Stage (2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404). Opening Night is Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. See a heroic carp climb up a waterfall (and so much more) in The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories, an energetic and interactive retelling of traditional fables from Japan and Okinawa. Through artful puppetry and three imaginative actors, you’ll also meet a grateful crane, a wonderfully generous mouse, and an industrious rabbit who teaches everyone to do the mochi dance! During this invigorating show from Hawaii, live music played on the koto, shakuhachi, and taiko drum will accompany young audiences as they dance, clap, and sing along. “We are thrilled to welcome The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories to our stage,” says CTC Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius. “This production

created by the Honolulu Theatre for Youth bring to vibrant life dynamic, comic and tender stories from Japan and Okinawa. You will be transported by the music, puppetry and wonderful audience interaction. You will learn words and phrases in Japanese and sing along with the talented cast. Get ready to go on magical journeys, laugh along with the characters and amazing animals and thrill to the warmth and creativity of the cast. I can’t wait to share these tales with you all.” “This show was a joy to create, and we are thrilled to be sharing it with audiences at CTC,” says Playwright/ Director Reiko Ho. “Celebrating our cultural stories is one of the most important things I do as a theatre maker. I’m delighted to adapt a few of my own favorite childhood stories for the stage and introduce some of the beautiful performance traditions and aesthetics of Japanese and Okinawan culture to a new generation of young people and families.” The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories will play from January 16-February 18, 2024 at CTC’s Cargill Stage (2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404). Opening Night is Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 7:00pm. Tickets may be purchased online at childrenstheatre.org/ carp or by calling the Ticket Oﬃce at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15 for kids and $25 for adults. The performers for The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories includes Serina Dunham, Mattea Mazzella, and Hermenigildo Tesoro, Jr. In addition to Reiko Ho and The HTY Ensemble,

the creative team for The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories includes Mattea Mazzella (Original Music), Iris Kim (Set and Costume Design), Chesley Cannon (Lighting Design), Eric West (Puppet and Prop Design/Technical Director), and Sarah Danvers and Hermenigildo Tesoro Jr. (Additional Props). Ticket Information Tickets to The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories may be purchased online at childrenstheatre.org/carp or by calling the Ticket Oﬃce at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15 for kids and $25 for adults. School groups interested in attending The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories can contact schools@childrenstheatre.org for more information. The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories has a run time of 50 minutes (no intermission). This production is the perfect first theatre experience for your younger theatre goers. Due to the capacity of the Cargill Stage, a limited number of lap passes for those 18 months and younger will be available for this production. The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories By Reiko Ho and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble Directed by Reiko Ho January 16-February 18, 2024 Cargill Stage The perfect first theatre experience for your youngest theatre-goers! AGE RECOMMENDATION: This

production is best enjoyed by everyone preschool aged and up. Due to the capacity of the Cargill Stage, a limited number of lap passes for those

18 months and younger will be available for this production. RUNNING TIME: 50 minutes (no intermission). TICKETS: Starting

at $15 and available at childrenstheatre.org/carp or by calling the Ticket Oﬃce at 612.874.0400.

Page 12 • February 5, 2024 - February 11, 2024 • Insight News

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