JOHN HOPE BRYANT: A NOAH’S ARK A ARK MOMENT IN IN HIS TORY HISTORY

The mur der of Geor ge Floyd

The murder of George Floyd three years ago here in Twin Cities has created a ago here in Twin Cities has created a “Noah’s Ar k Moment”, says John Hope “Noah’s Ark says John Br yant, whose Operation HOPE seeks Bryant, whose HOPE seeks to move America fr om civil rights to to move America from civil to “silver rights” with the mission of making “silver with the mission of making free enter prise and capit alism wor k free enterprise and capitalism work f or ever yone by disrupting pover ty f or for everyone by disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income millions low and moderate-income youth and adults acr oss the nation. In and adults across the nation. In 2023, Operation HOPE directed more HOPE directed more than $4 billion in economic activity into than $4 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customer s into banking customers into customer s, renter s into homeowner s, customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamer s into small dreamers small business owner s, minimum wage business owners, minimum wage wor ker s into living wage consumer s, and workers into wage consumers, and uncer t ain disaster victims into financially uncertain empowered disaster sur vivor s. disaster survivors.

Twin

First Independence Bank partners with Operation HOPE for neighborhood credit score analysis to drive financial education and improvement

First Independence Bank (FIB) and Operation HOPE last week launched “a transformational partnership” with the goal of empowering people in Twin Cities and Detroit communities through financial coaching, debt counseling, financial education and awareness, and other community programs. The partnership launched with a June 7 “Hope Inside the Twin Cities” economic roundtable at the Neighborhood Development Center in St.

By Christopher T. Migliaccio Research Associate Professor in Toxicology, University of Montana

Smoke from more than 100 wildfires burning across Canada has been rolling into North American cities far from the flames. New York City and Detroit were both listed among the five most polluted cities in the world because of the fires on June 7, 2023. The smoke has triggered air quality alerts in several states in recent weeks.

We asked Chris Migliaccio, a toxicologist at the University of Montana who studies the impact of wildfire smoke on human health, about the health risks people can face when smoke blows in from distant wildfires.

What’s in wildfire smoke that’s a problem? When we talk about air quality, we often talk about PM2.5. That’s particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller – small enough that it can travel deep into the lungs. Exposure to PM2.5 from smoke or other air pollution, such as vehicle emissions, can exacerbate health conditions like asthma and reduce lung function in ways that can worsen existing respiratory problems and even heart disease.

But the term PM2.5 only tells you about size, not composition – what is burning can make a significant

Why we need diverse books in schools

By Maya Pottiger Word in Black

Ever since he was young, Marchánt Davis has always loved children’s media and the power it possesses.

Though his favorites were “Sesame Street” and “Reading Rainbow” — especially seeing himself represented on screen through LeVar Burton — he says he was “strangely” inspired by “Snow White.”

“It was always playing on TV,” says Davis, an actor, director, writer, and now author of “A Boy and His Mirror.” And it was this story that he wanted to repurpose for his own children’s book geared toward the current generation.

Thinking about the relationship kids have with their phones and what identity means, Davis wanted to create a story that spoke to people coming up in a world with Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.

Paul, and a June 9 “Hope Inside Detroit” welcome reception and fireside chat in Detroit.

“This initiative is a part of our ongoing commitment to positively impact the people and communities where we do business,” said Kenneth Kelly, chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank. “I couldn’t be more pleased to expand our partnership with Operation HOPE and provide new financial resources and education to people in the Twin

Cities and Detroit markets.”

The partnership with Operation HOPE will provide FIB with onsite financial coaches in both the Twin Cities and Detroit. It’s part of the bank’s community-based approach to financial wellness and provide additional education, insights, tools and resources that will improve people’s lives. Operation HOPE has similar partnerships with financial institutions in other markets.

“First Independence

Bank shares our passion and commitment to expand financial literacy in our communities and help consumers and businesses realize their dreams,” said John Hope Bryant, founder & CEO of Operation HOPE.

“When private institutions and community organizations work together to achieve common goals, everyone wins.”

FIB is Minnesota’s first Minority Deposit Institution (MDI) that provides

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But, mostly, Davis wrote the book hoping young Black boys would read it. Though he doesn’t believe any one thing will cure problems, he wants the book to be a step toward boys acknowledging their feelings and countering some of the toxic masculinity in the Black community.

Davis called back to what Sheryl Lee Ralph said in her acceptance speech at the Critics Choice Awards: “When you look in the mirror, you gotta love what you see,” Davis quoted. “And so, I wrote a book in an effort to help kids look in the mirror and love what they see.” Though he hopes the book empowers young Black boys, they aren’t the sole audience Davis has in mind. “It’s a book for anybody who feels ‘other’ by the way they look, or anybody who has self-doubt,” Davis says. “It’s a book that I want kids to read and feel empowered, feel like they have agency.” The problem is that, around the country, books like Davis’ are being removed from

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Over 8,600 high school athletes to participate at 2023 Clay Target Championships

High school athletes and teams representing schools from across the state scheduled to participate at 2023 Minnesota State High School Clay Target League Clay Target Championships in June. The League’s clay target sports program is one of the most popular high school activities in the state, having more participants than both Boy’s and Gir’s high school hockey combined, according to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL.)

The MNSHSCTL difference in the chemistry. In the northern Rockies, where I live, most fires are fueled by vegetation, but not all vegetation is the same. If the fire is in the wildland urban interface, manufactured fuels from homes and vehicles may also be burning, and that’s going to create its own toxic chemistry, as well. Chemists often talk about volatile organic compounds, (VOCs), carbon monoxide and PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced when biomass and other matter burns having the potential to harm human health.

Unlimited, the North Dakota State College Of Science, AMSOIL, the U.S. Army, Federal Ammunition, Mark Zauhar, Explore Alexandria, Bismarck State College, Minnesota Manufactured, and the Minnesota Air National Guard.

How does inhaling wildfire smoke harm human health?

If you have ever been around a campfire and got a blast of smoke in your face, you probably had some irritation. With exposure to wildfire smoke, you might get some irritation in the nose and throat and maybe some inflammation. If you’re healthy, your body for the most part will be able to handle it.

As with a lot of things, the dose makes the poison – almost anything can be harmful at a certain dose.

Generally, cells in the lungs called alveolar macrophages will pick up the particulates and clear them out – at reasonable doses. It’s when the system gets overwhelmed that you can have a problem. One concern is that smoke can suppress macrophage function, altering it enough that you become more susceptible to respiratory infection. A colleague who looked at lag time in the effect of wildfire smoke exposure found an increase in influenza cases after a bad fire season. Studies in developing countries have also found increases in respiratory infections with people who are

Trap Shooting Championships will be held at the Alexandria Shooting Park in June 12th20th. The event will feature 8,119 athletes from 333 high school teams. With over 8,000 participants, the Trap Shooting Championship is the largest clay target shooting competition in the world!

The Trap Shooting Championships are proudly presented by Alexandria Technical & Community College. Additional sponsors include: SCHEELS, Sportsman’s Guide, Walker’s, the Bass Pro/Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Do-All Outdoors, the Minnesota Army National Guard, Friends of NRA, Outdoor News, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Minnesota Deer Hunter’s Association, Ducks

The MNSHSCTL Skeet Shooting Championships will be held at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake June 21st and 22nd. The event will feature 321 athletes from 42 high school teams and is the largest skeet shooting competition in Minnesota.

The MNSHSCTL 5-Stand and Sporting Clays Championships will be held at Shooter’s Sporting Clays in Marshall, MN June 10th and 11th, respectively. 61 students from 8 teams will participate in the 5-Stand Championship, while 120 students from 15 teams will participate in Sporting Clays.

The Skeet, 5-Stand, and Sporting Clays Championships are proudly presented by SCHEELS. Additional sponsors include: Sportsman’s Guide, Walker’s, the Bass Pro/Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Do-All Outdoors, the Minnesota Army National

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