Insight ::: 06.14.21 by Insight News, Inc

WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News

June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 24• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Three times grammy award-winning Sounds of Blackness

Juneteenth: Time for Reparations Inspired by 400 years of systemic injustice, inequality and inhumanity, Sounds of Blackness Singers & Band express the perpetual pain and rage of Black People, who never received “40 Acres And A Mule” promised at the end of slavery, despite their centuries of free labor, exploitation, brutality and dehumanization. Sounds of Blackness artists Andrea Macklin and Yulanda are featured on Gary Hines “Time For Reparations”. The song, written and produced by Sounds Music Director Gary Hines, was recorded at Atomic K Studios and Winterland Studios Minneapolis, and, BabyHoney Studio, Kansas City, MO. “Time For Reparations” Is Part One of a 50th Anniversary Special Edition Justice Package and includes the hit songs “Royalty”, “Black Lives Matter”,”Sick & Tired”! The Justice Package paves the way for Sounds of Blackness new hit singles, “You’re Gonna Win” and, “Hold Up Your Light”!!! “TIME FOR REPARATIONS” launched on radio June 1, 2021 for Black Music Month. It will be available at all online outlets on JUNETEENTH! The Sounds of Blackness will again donate a portion of the proceeds to The George Floyd Scholarship Fund. For further information Contact: Gary Hines, Music Director/Producer: gdennismusic@aol. com

Page 2 • June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021 • Insight News

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“You can’t separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.”

Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery

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Insight News • June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 24• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

5th, 9th Ward council candidates discuss crime and policing By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist

Juneteenth episode

Disruptive film maker attacks racism Critically Acclaimed Series “CRACKA” Drops the Experimental Episode June 19th, or Juneteeth, Exclusively on Vyre Network. The controversial movie “CRACKA,” a ﬁlm by disruptive Director, Dale Resteghini, who proudly claims, his new series can help ‘solve racism’, will premier exclusively on Vyre Network on June 19th or Juneteenth. Resteghini has shaken up the industry and the world with his mind bending alternate history project, ever since it went viral within 24 hours of releasing the visually stunning trailer on YouTube. Inspired by his disgust of the rise in white supremacy the past few years, he decided someone needed to push back hard and this jaw dropping episode does just that. Many describe “CRACKA” as a visceral visual blend of Jordan Peele and Quentin Tarantino which features world class actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Hotel Rawanda, King Kong) as brutal black slave master, Dex Jackson,

Lorenzo Antonucci (Ballers, Paradise City) as defiant white supremacist, Mike Stone and rapper Saigon (Entourage), in a pivotal role and has garnered Resteghini major agency and network attention and the initial robust creative discussions with network executives about where Resteghini intends on taking this series and its characters slowly changed to ‘The public are not ready for this.’ Ultimately, ‘they’ felt the more traditional and ‘familiar’ racial tones needed to be applied as to not come off as too dangerous for ‘White America’. In true ‘maverick filmmaker’ style, Resteghini bucked at their dated and whitewashed suggestions and declined to sell out, essentially leaving him with one option and that was to find the right outlet who shared his vision and had the courage without the feat of backlash from ‘White America’, to take this project to the next level. It’s “Roots” meets “Outlander” with elements of “Lost” and “Game of Thrones”

all rolled into one. Humanity exploring what humanity means at the very core of its deﬁnition. Done on an indie budget and designed as a thrilling original new experimental episode, “CRACKA” is stunningly provocative, controversial and as Resteghini intended, uses sciﬁ as a Trojan horse that allows people to see racism through an entirely new lens. With “CRACKA”, industry insiders recognize Resteghini as a dominant new voice in modern day cinema. 5062 Lankershim Blvd #2011 North Hollywood, CA 91601 | www.watchvyre. com | www.vyrenetwork.com The dynamic range of characters that co-exist in “CRACKA” let us delve into the topic of the disease or racism, and spins it on its head in a way that no one has ever seen. With the ever-growing controversies and debates about social injustices, race inequality and racism overall, “CRACKA,”, co-written by Kevin D. Young,

Melvin Carter

By Irma McClaurin, PhD By Irma McClaurin, PhD https://corporate. target.com/article/2020/09/lakestreet-letter

Andrea Jenkins

Commentary by Dr. By Aarohi Narain By Mecca Dana Randall Harry Maya Alexa Starks Colbert, Beecham Spencer, Bos Bradley Jr. Josie Johnson By Global Latisha Information Townsend Contributing Architect Howard Mayo Managing Clinic University Editor Staff Writer Contributing Network (GIN)Writer News Service harry@insightnews.com

gives an absolutely brutally honest in-depth look and new meaning to life, love, liberty and justice for all. By using present-day situations, blending daily headlines and adding a historical twist by simply holding up a mirror for us to see what’s happening in America, “CRACKA” unapologetically asks us all, “What if this happened to you and your family?” Full of painfully rich, historical broad strokes of history, “CRACKA” drops us into the black and white mystique of slavery, with hopes to strengthen the outlook of pointless bigotry that is still haunting us today, 401 years later. “CRACKA” doesn’t just tackle racism; it confronts it in a way you can’t possibly imagine until you experience the visual. This powerfully unique experimental episode, forces White America to look past color, look past their fears of Black and Brown America

JUNETEENTH 4

Center for Economic Inclusion elects new directors The Center for Economic Inclusion (Center) named four new members to its board of directors: Dionne Gumbs, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, GenEQTY; Karen Hudson, Chief Sales Officer, Grant Thornton LLP; Elliot Jaffee, Executive Vice President and Head of Strategy, Corporate & Commercial Banking, U.S. Bank; and Sam Yamoah, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Cambia Health Solutions. “The Center for Economic Inclusion is uniquely positioned to drive shared accountability for closing racial wealth gaps,” said Tawanna A. Black, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Center for Economic Inclusion. “Our board, who serve as ambassadors for racial and economic justice, equity, and freedom, position us to fulfill this mission. We are honored to welcome and work alongside such accomplished leaders who have embraced the work of dismantling systemic racism in their respective sectors as a principal driver to fuel inclusive and equitable economic growth. Dionne,

Elliot, Karen, and Sam each offer compelling and diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives that will elevate our efforts to equip public- and privatesector employers with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to create anti-racist and thriving organizations that build inclusive and equitable economies.” Is a visionary Chief Executive Officer, problem solver, and business-expansion leader with deep domain expertise in financial services and a passion for digital transformation and social impact. With two decades in banking and a track record of success across sales, product development, and strategy, Dionne Gumbs founded GenEQTY, a cloudbased financial technology platform delivering a smarter banking solution intentionally built to improve financial performance, business health, and capital access for owners and entrepreneurs. The product leverages artificial intelligence to eliminate bias and offer

Dionne Gumbs

Karen Hudson

Elliot Jaffee

Sam Yamoah

expedited access to ﬁnancing built on real-time data, fully digital business accounts, dynamic data visualization of key ﬁnancial ratios, sales and

cash ﬂow metrics, a proprietary business health score. Users save time and money and beneﬁt

News

Be that beacon for our children

PAGE 5

CENTER 4

Silence has a deep explanation in every situation. It’s either you truly don’t care anymore or you’re pretending to be unaﬀected, but deeply hurt. LiveLifeHappy Leadership Mondays with “Conversations with Al McFarlane” and co-hosted by Hawthorne Neighborhood Council, always manage to leave the guests, listeners, and viewers on Facebook, YouTube, and Black Press USA focused on the healing of families, communities, and the city after the negative impact of 2020. Tensions continue to rise in three or four of the 13 Minneapolis Wards, and COVID19 appears to have lost a place in the priority of some residents. Before this past weekend when a vaccination fair was held, only 28% of African Americans and 35% of Latinos compared to 70% white Minnesotans had taken the vaccine. Regretfully, one can only add this disparity to a

Teqen Zea-Aida

Mickey Moore list of so many others between Blacks and whites. Teqen Zea-Aida, a 7th Ward city council candidate and Mickey Moore, a candidate for the 9th Ward, joined the program along the Hawthorne partners

CONVERSATIONS 5

Tommy McNeal

Tommy McNeal promoted to new leadership role at Comcast The Comcast Twin Cities Region recently announced the promotion of long-time employee, Tommy McNeal to the position of Director, Customer Experience. McNeal and his team are responsible for ensuring an exceptional experience for all Twin Cities Comcast customers and work to ensure all employees are at the ready to respond immediately to any issues or concerns. McNeal brings over 14 years of Comcast experience to his new role, including leadership positions in the Twin Cities call center, multiple sales channels and, most recently, the Xﬁnity Communities customer relations team where he developed an eﬀective grass-roots approach to assisting customers living in complexes such as apartment buildings and condominiums. McNeal also piloted a new customer relationship initiative that resulted in the rollout of hundreds of companywide retail partnerships throughout the country. In addition to his role with Comcast, McNeal is a leader in the Twin Cities community. He currently serves on the board of directors of Positive Image,

helping to guide and shape the organization in ways that will best serve its constituents and the broader community. McNeal has also been actively engaged with various groups that promote leadership development and life skills coaching. A member of Comcast’s Black Employee Network resource group, McNeal also represents the Twin Cities Region on the company’s West Division Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council. “I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve in this new role with Comcast, where I can combine my personal passions and professional experience together,” said McNeal. “I’m honored to work for an organization that is fully committed to giving back and investing in the communities it serves and look forward to helping lead the kind of positive change we’re making in the Twin Cities.” Tommy is a longtime Minneapolis resident, where he lives with wife, Ursala of 19 years and 15-yearold daughter, Camryn. In his new role, McNeal will report directly to J.D. Keller, regional senior vice president, Comcast Twin Cities.

The Harlem Chamber Players announce Pity These Ashes: Tulsa 1921-2021

PAGE 7

Page 4 • June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021 • Insight News

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Maximize the Harvest with Proper Care By Melinda Myers Grow an abundant harvest with some timely garden care. Arm yourself with a few basic tools, a bit of time and regular visits to the garden throughout the growing season to keep plants healthy and more productive. You don’t need to invest in every garden tool on the market. A shovel, trowel, weeding tool, gloves and kneeling pad are the basics. If your budget is tight, ask gardening friends and family if they have extras to spare or lend. Now you are ready to get started. Weed control is an ongoing task. Working in a few minutes of weeding time as your schedule allows makes this a much less overwhelming task. Keep a bucket with your favorite weeding tool, gloves, and kneeling pad by the door. Anytime you have a few minutes between other activities pull a few weeds. If tools are handy, you spend less time looking for them and more time accomplishing the task. Consider keeping all your tools conveniently stored and ready for the garden in a mobile tool storage caddy (gardeners.com). It has room for short and long handled tools, a bucket for gathering weeds plus wheels and a handle for easy maneuvering.

Juneteenth From 3 and allows them to see them as equal people through the much-

Center From 3 from predictive analytics, push notiﬁcations, and data-driven insights that tells them how they are doing while also revealing potential pitfalls. Gumbs’ work has been highlighted in Wharton Magazine, The Business Journal, Bank Beat Magazine, George W. Bush Institute’s The Catalyst magazine, Yum Brands International. She is featured on

Spread a layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles or other organic matter over the soil surface surrounding your vegetable plants. This layer of organic matter helps conserve moisture so you will need to water less often. It also helps suppress weeds and improves the soil as it decomposes. As your seeds sprout and begin to grow, you will need to do a bit of thinning. Remove extra plants, leaving enough space for those remaining seedlings to reach full size. The seed packet recommends the proper spacing for the vegetables you planted. Good news, some seedlings like radishes, beets and spinach are edible so think of this as harvesting instead. Once you make your first harvest, leaving space in the garden, fill it with another planting. Succession, also called relay planting, allows you to grow several different vegetables in the same space. Just make sure the second planting has time to reach maturity and produce before the end of the season. Seed packets and plant tags contain information on the number of days from planting to harvest. Compare this to the number of days until the average first fall frost. Keep plants healthy with proper watering and fertilization. Water new

plantings often enough to keep the top few inches of soil slightly moist. Wait until the top few inches of soil are crumbly and moist to deeply water established plants. Deep watering, moistening the top six inches of soil, encourages plants to develop a more drought resistant root system. Frequent shallow watering keeps roots near the soil surface where they dry out quickly. Insuﬃcient water means fewer and smaller vegetables. Follow soil test recommendations for fertilizing your plants. If these are not available, consider using a fertilizer recommended for vegetable gardens. Apply it according to the label directions. Providing plants with space to grow and keeping them healthy means fewer insect and disease problems. That means a bigger harvest for you and your family to enjoy all season long. Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.

needed lens of love. “CRACKA” will premier exclusively on Vyre Network on June 19th. Private Screening Link of the Episode: http://bit.ly/CrackaPrescreening ABOUT THE CREATOR DALE RESTEGHINI Dale Resteghini,

also known as ‘Rage’ in the realm of music videos, has directed more music videos than anyone else in the industry achieving nominations from both MTV and BET over years and achieving nearly 10 billion views from his creative works

with such artists and icons as Ice Cube, DMX, Guns N Roses, Dipset, Busta Rhymes, Three 6 Maﬁa, Teyana Taylor, Lil Baby, Hitmaka, Keke Palmer, Lil Kim, Yo Gotti, TI, Snoop, DJ Khaled, John Legend, DJ Drama, Lil Jon, Jada Kiss, Trina, Sizzla,

Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Quavo, Tory Lanez, The Game, Chris Brown, Pitbull, Nicky Minaj, Soulja Boy, Lil Kim, Rick Ross, Method Man, Akon, Keyshia Cole, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Fall Out Boy, Tyga, Ty Dolla, RZA, Flo Rida and hundreds of others.

Joining Executive Producers Antony Martini, Rob Garcia and Kim Resteghini are acclaimed author and activist Piper Monique Dellums, and singer/writer Tish Hyman who will also curate the music and soundtrack.

podcasts discussing leadership, inclusive ﬁnance, and equity. In 2021, she was recognized by Twin Cities Business as a Notable Leader in Finance. Gumbs earned her M.B.A. from Columbia University and her B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Division I varsity athlete. She later obtained a post-baccalaureate degree in Accounting from the Wharton School. A native New Yorker, Gumbs resides in the Twin Cities with her husband and two

children.

inclusion, revised Grant Thorton’s approach to hiring and onboarding — ensuring that recruiters seek out diverse candidates and all hiring managers know that diversity is a priority. She has led unconscious-bias small-group discussions across the entire sales team, to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at Grant Thornton and its clients, and within the broader community. Hudson lives in St Paul with her husband and has three young adult children. She also serves on the board of the Minnesota Technology Association and the board of Women Winning. “This region has an unprecedented opportunity to seize the moment and create real and lasting change for our community and for the generations to come. Creating change requires businesses of all sizes to work hand-in-hand with government entities and community organizations. Only then can we bridge the pervasive racial, wealth and opportunity gaps that have existed for many years,” said Hudson, aﬃrming her sense of the importance of the Center’s work. Elliot Jaﬀee, Executive Vice President and Head of Strategy, Corporate & Commercial Banking at U.S. Bank, leads the development and implementation of strategic priorities ensuring the business

can succeed while responding to changes in the banking industry and the economy. Jaffee has served as head of Commercial Banking leading a team of professionals that supported middle-market businesses across the entire U.S. Bank footprint. He has also served as Twin Cities Market President, leading the bank’s local business activities. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Jaffee held corporate banking positions at Bank of America in New York and Chicago. Jaffee serves on the boards of directors of the Economic Club of Minnesota, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Jaffee has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and his MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he graduated with honors. He said the Center cam address critical and urgent gaps in our social and economic systems. Sam Yamoah drives Cambia’s strategic framework to serve customers with groundbreaking health care solutions. Prior to Cambia, he worked for McKinsey and Company as an associate partner and leader in the health care and public sector providing counsel to clients on top-management

agenda topics focused on strategy, profitable growth, and large-scale performance transformations. Passionate about service and improving health disparities, Yamoah was the health care leader for McKinsey’s Institute for Black Economic Mobility, a research institute and think-tank dedicated to advancing racial equity and inclusive growth globally. Yamoah grew up in Liberia and Ghana, earned a bachelor’s degree from Luther College and an MBA from The University of Chicago. He is co-founder of Brain Builders, a nonprofit that distributes books to schools, libraries, and other learning centers in Ghana. Yamoah serves on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association Twin Cities and the alumni board of Luther College. He said he hopes the Center can accelerate the pace and scale impact of the Center. The Center for Economic Inclusion says it is committed to increasing the number of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian workers earning family-sustaining wages in the Twin Cities region by 10 percent over the next five years. Learn more at CenterforEconomicInclusion. org.

off streets for stunts and tricks and racing, is just another level of concern the slimed down police department has to deal with. Because of staffing shortages, fewer traffic stops are taking place, giving way to increased lawlessness in certain areas of the city. Street teams of ground navigators in the medical and mental health fields would lighten the load of police officers and may better deescalate mental health crisis situations.  Communities of color must be honest about the pictures they are painting. Let’s get serious about stepping up to the role of parenting, educating our youth by assisting with academics from inside the classroom and personal tutoring in the home, and finding activities that will keep them engaged, laughing, learning, and safe.  It is often about first impressions. Police officers have

zero opportunity or the ability to interact with community in nonemergency moments. 85% of the department’s calls are of a violent nature.  Police are often faced with a complicated series of conditions. Some are stressed and depressed and then they go home to their families. They are not getting the mental health therapy they need.  How do the oﬃcers work with crowds without being accused of brutality? Does it appear crowds are purposely allowed to get out of control so that other negative narratives can be explained? Is it clear what police oﬃcers can or cannot do?  Members of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council described good relationships with the police department and continued activities with the Hawthorne Huddle which gets a monthly recap on crime and safety issue

from the 4th Precinct Community Service Officer.  The city council has not been responsive. “It’s the mayor’s responsibility; it’s part of the elected city council members’ job description. Those in leadership must stop passing the buck. We have a serious state of affairs. Children are dying and residents are afraid to come out of their homes. Police officers sometimes don’t know the kind of situation they are walking into. Everyone is traumatized. Some haven’t admitted just how much the past year and a half has affected them. .  We don’t need a manifesto saying what is intended. A comprehensive plan including a set of strategies, each rolled out one at a time until the results are definitive. Accountability at all levels is imperative.

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Culture and Education Editor Dr. Irma McClaurin, PhD. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Columnist Brenda Lyle-Gray Book Review Editor W.D. Foster-Graham Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley

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”The Twin Cities has found itself at the epicenter of social change in the last year and a half due to the horrific murder of George Floyd. We now have a unique opportunity to be evolutionary change agents for social, racial, and economic justice,” says Gumbs. “I am excited and honored to serve on the board with this committed group at the Center for Economic Inclusion. They and many other great organizations have been doing the hard work necessary to push us forward.” Karen Hudson is the Chief Sales Officer at Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Hudson leads the firm’s national business development team, which is responsible for building long-term client relationships, understanding client business strategy and challenges, and bringing the breadth of Grant Thornton’s expertise and services to provide client value. Her role includes sales recruiting, training, and enablement and sales compensation, as well as advising on broader growth strategies and initiatives. She serves on Grant Thornton’s Growth Committee and National Leadership Team. Hudson an advocate for diversity, equity, and

Conversations From 3 Diana Hawkins, Dee Phillips, and Andrew Bornhoft. Summary Highlights:  We have discussed the year 2020 until there’s really not much more to say. Now we have to ﬁght to save our communities and to save the children. The means through which this feat will be accomplished will not be decided behind closed doors.  The summer season is just getting started and surges of violence are happening all over the country, not just in the Twin Cities. We all have to understand the root of this division and begin to plan a silent revolution for healing and change.  Street racing, with notiﬁcations coming from social media directing the blocking

Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply Company

Keeping garden tools organized and conveniently stored will save time and energy throughout the growing season.

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By Lee H. Jordan Minneapolis Juneteenth Committee - 2018 National Juneteenth Film & Bicycling Commissions

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Insight News • June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021 • Page 5

The Healing Circle

Be that beacon for our children By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist

Brenda Lyle-Gray their role in confronting and combatting the rising surge of racism. I’d love to be a fly on a Southern home wall when Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell explain to their grandchildren why they have such destructive and vile disdain and fear for racial harmony, true democracy, and the actual survival of humanity. How will they explain to their sheltered white offspring that there has been historically, and there will be in the next generation, Black parents who will have to raise their Black children to confront racial injustices unlike any childhood most of them will never experience? Children are curious and resilient, and they will eventually ask questions and learn the truth from other sources. What kids hear from us is less important than what they see us do. Using cultural literacy that helps children explore a plethora of world cultures is truly a gift. It certainly would be a good beginning. I began writing stories with Black and Latino characters decades ago, but it just wasn’t time to use my gift. No one could ever explain. Now is the time. Now is the time to perhaps work diligently with a diverse neighborhood association, book club, or school and parent advisory board that can research grant opportunities and business support and be an advocate for the teachers and other staff members, as well. Find time just to get away in nature. When there’s a zoo trip, read with them about the animals

1/4 pg Guthrie bw

By LaurenofPoteat Courtesy University of Alejandra Oliveras By Dr. By North Brandpoint Dr. Nicole Rekha Memorial Winbush Mankad (BPT) Staff Ian Roth NNPA Minnesota Washington News Staff Afrodescendientes Mayo Clinic Correspondent By IanPhysician Roth Staff NorthPoint Health & Mayo Clinic Staff Wellness Center

Dr. Bravada Garrett-Akinsanya

they will see. Be active with your child and explore different interest possibilities utilizing community support groups and centers. Take frequent visits to the art galleries and museums to introduce history and art from different parts of the world. If moving is not feasible, find ways to contribute to making the neighborhood livable, safe, beautified, and friendly. For parents of color, we must be even more vigilant than others. African Americans are more likely to experience higher rates of conditions like asthma and cancer due to disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards like lead in the drinking water, highways and toxic dumping areas near their homes, and the lack of grocery outlets providing nutritional and affordable food choices. Regardless, we must decide to treat our minds and bodies better. No more denial. We can’t pretend things have not gone wrong. They have and our predicaments could get worse or we can decide to work to make them better. We can’t worry about that which we cannot control, but we must be prepared. “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget they are someone today.” Stacia Tauscher References: Embace Race and the National Center for Education Follow up articles:  Part II “To Thine Ownself Be True” - Parenting and Mental Health (Learning How to Keep Our Children Safe)

 Part III “The Meaning of Naomi Osaka’s Revelation: Tennis and Mental Health” Cultural Literacy (Inspirational Books for Children) Allen, Debbie and Kadir Nelson, “Dancing in the Wings”. An award-winning memoir based on Allen’s own experiences growing up as a dancer for children ages 4-8. (Allen was just awarded a “Kennedy Honor” - help your child explore more about the honor). Barnes, Derrick and Gordon C. James, “I Am Every Good Thing”. An upbeat, empowering picture book (Winner of the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award) where the conﬁdent Black narrator is proud of everything that makes him who he is. Gewitz, Dr. Abagail, “When the World is a Scary Place: Essential Conversations for Anxious Parents and Worried Kids”. Actual dialogue, talking points, prompts, and insightful asides that are each ageappropriate and centered around diﬀerent issues. Along the way are tips about staying calm in an anxious world and the way children react to stress. Levy, Adir, “What Should Danny Do?” (The Power to Choose Series) an innovative, interactive book that empowers kids with the understanding that their choices will shape their days, and ultimately their lives into what they will be. Neimark, Jill and Nicole Wong, “The Hugging

Tree: A Story About Resilience”. a poetic and peaceful story that aims to teach children about hope and resilience. Rather than a lonely tree on a lonely cliff, the tree represents community and a place to get in touch with inner hopes and dreams. Includes a “Note to Parents” by Elizabeth McCallum, PhD. Ortega, Alicia, “Kindness is my Superpower”. A children’s book about empathy, kindness, and compassion (the series also includes breathing and acceptance). Ramee, Lisa Moore, “A Good Kind of Trouble”. Explores race issues, and race tensions but for a younger audience. Rodriguez, Ayesha, “I Am . . . Positive Affirmations for Brown Girls and Brown Boys “. The author uses rhyming verses followed by a positive affirmation to help build selfesteem and transform his or her sense of self. Willey, Kia and Anni Betts, “Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere”. A beautifully illustrated collection of mindfulness exercises designed to teach kids techniques for managing their bodies, breath, and emotions. Best of all, these 30 simple, short breathing practices and movements can be performed anytime, anywhere: in the car to the grocery store, during heavy homework nights at home, or even at a child’s desk at school.

Encerrarlos ...Lock them up

Proper Disposal of Prescription Medications

and wise administrator would meet with every parent whose child would be attending the alternative school where I was privileged to teach English and establish one of the country’s first student run restaurants in 2002, Maggie’s Café. If the parents weren’t available because of work commitments, she would meet them at the grocery store on Saturdays or after church on Sundays. Her message: I’m going to need your support to give your kid a chance. Parents must demand that school personnel treat their children with respect if they want to be respected in return and their time spent filled with rewards and educating children in a suitable, relevant, engaging, truth-telling, culturally sensitive manner while keeping their innocence in mind. As Dr. McClaurin stated, “many don’t see these Black and brown students as their children, certainly not in the incident I witnessed.” Our children’s lives deserve to be livable and sustainable . . . less traumatic with sounds of laughter and Coltrane and the aromas of nutritious meals being prepared. Each of us has a role to play in helping the young and innocent envision a more compassionate, inclusive, and safe place to build wonderful childhood memories and etch out meaning paths to happiness and prosperity, always in gratitude and remembering to pay-it-forward. According to Andrew and Melissa with Embrace Race (raising kids who are thoughtful, informed, and brave about race), and from Dr. B. and the AACWI mental health team, parents might begin to ‘cognitively re-frame’ parenting 101. Parents and educators reaching a consensus as to ‘how much is too much to discuss about our post COVID and our racially explosive, violent, and economically deprived state of affairs. Children pick up on various nuances present in their parents behavior and decisionmaking with expectations of their being ‘positive’ role models, trustworthy and enjoying the good moments. As a common adage goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It will take time, studying, learning, and being specific about the best ways to provide. Above all else, know there is help and schools (with the training and addition of psychologists, social workers, and resource availability) have to revise planning with a universal set of strategies. Parents and educators along with youth care providers for Black children might explore new ways to instill confidence and pride in youth while also explaining the racial inequity and barriers that continue today. Parents of non-Black children might find new ways to help their young children understand

Dr. Irma McClaurin

Eliminación Adecuada de Medicamentos Recetados

Here., too, was the guide, the beacon for such times as humanity might be in danger; here was the Guardian of Whom all humans knew — not an exterior force, nor an awesome Watcher in the sky, but a laughing thing with a human heart and a reverence for its human origins, smelling of sweat and new-turned earth rather than suffused with the pale odor of sanctity. Theodore Sturgeon I had never met Dr. Irma McClaurin personally, but when I got the chance while not writing I continued learning so much in reading her articles frequently published in “Insight News”. During last Friday’s “Healing Circle” convened on “Conversations with Al McFarlane” and co-hosted by Dr. Bravada Garrett-Akinsanya, founder and CEO of the African American Child Wellness Institute (AACWI), Insight Culture and Education editor, Dr. Irma McClaurin would tell the story of how she became a ‘beacon’ that spared the future of several Black students at an area charter school. There had been an altercation and their white teachers, standing before the principal, were adamant about reporting them to the colleges where they had already been accepted with additional punishments in mind and no notification of the parents. The disdain for these young Black men was painful to witness, Dr. McClaurin admitted, and we were all left thinking how many more lives have been ruined because some of 87% of the nation’s public school teachers are white, teaching some of 50% Black student population, with the same blinded power directed by fear and a lack of understanding of cultures and the albatrosses that accompany being Black and living in America. Could these pseudo educators explain what humanity really meant to them or were they among the “Blue Lives Matter” group that would prefer seeing their country destroyed and children’s lives misdirected in the system rather than listen to their heartbeats and explore their consciousness for the sake of peace, harmony, love, and prosperity for all? So, the question of the hour as introduced by Dr. B. would be one commonly asked by parents and clients, “how do we keep our children safe physically, emotionally, and mentally, based on two of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, Umoja (striving for and maintaining unity in the family, community, nation, and race) and Kujichagulia (selfdetermination in defining who we are; creating our new selves if necessary; and speaking for ourselves), and I would add, for our children too! Lillie Rankin, an intern for “Insight News” and a contributing youth voice for the Circle, suggested that parents and youth caretakers must first prioritizing taking care of themselves; their physical, emotional, and mental health so that they will be strong enough to take care of their grateful responsibility. Routinely using the words “I love you” is invaluable. The bottom line is that Black parents will need to consider a different, more honest, more courageous, more commonsense, more accountable, and more enjoyable way of parenting even if it’s a case of single parenting or coparenting. Dr. B. would refer to it as ‘cognitive re-framing’, understanding there are things you have control of and things you should no longer give energy. “Parents have to be proactive and positive advocates.” I recall my dear friend and mentor, Dr. Margaret Bynum Hill (Maggie), retired educator and 3-time board member for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, all while fighting a relentless disease for years. Before every school year, this powerful

Use un bolsa de Deterra ...Use a Deterra bag

O grano de café ...Or coffee grounds

O basura de gatitos ...Or kitty litter

https://www.facebook.com/CarmenRoblesLLC Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 1H79TI083343 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Page 6 • June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021 • Insight News

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Aesthetically It

Men of the House Sharing Our Stories

By: W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor By James Earl Hardy Indeed, Pride Month is here, and James Earl Hardy, like the late E. Lynn Harris, is a literary trailblazer in the arena of portraying Black LGBT characters and their lives and loves. Since his novel B-Boy Blues was launched in 1994, I have followed the series and

the lives of its main characters Raheim (Pooquie) Rivers, Jr. and his partner Mitchell (Little Bit) Crawford through their challenges and successes, the “jood” and the bad (FYI, “jood” is a term coined by Hardy meaning “better than good.”). His latest novel, Men of the House, centers around Raheim’s son, Raheim Errol Rivers, III (aka Errol, Li’l Brotha Man). At 15, Errol is coming into his own as the straight son in the modern blended family of his father Raheim Jr., Mitchell, and Mitchell’s ﬁve-year-old daughter Destiny. With his best friends Roe and Sid, and his older girlfriend Max, Errol is

in many respects a Renaissance Man in the milieu of New York City. Having skipped two grades, Errol is now a senior in high school, ready to embark on college. Whether it’s dealing with some homophobic relatives, shutting down Baloney Maloneys, ﬁnding ways to be a supportive friend, testing boundaries, or just down for some jood times, Errol can be wise beyond his years, yet at other times he is still a 15-yearold with so much to learn. Hardy takes us back to the New York City of the mid2000s, and through the lense of a teenager we examine the issues

of racism, sexism, homophobia, erasure, and The Talk that African American parents have with their sons, plus words of wisdom Errol receives throughout the story from his assorted elders, especially his two dads. He keeps you turning those pages, balancing the progress LGBT families have made with the work that still needs to be done. I take my hat oﬀ to James Earl Hardy for a most engaging read in the continuation of his B-Boy Blues series. If we don’t share our stories, who will? NBJC Ubuntu

James Earl Hardy

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity seeks volunteers for its Home Improvement Outlets

ReStore: volunteers needed as communities re-open Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore is seeking volunteers for their New Brighton and Minneapolis home improvement outlets now that the community is opening after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. March was the most successful month ever at ReStore (510 County Road D West in New Brighton and 2700 Minnehaha Ave. in Minneapolis). But now volunteer help is needed to help run the stores, take in donations, and assist shoppers. Regular volunteers are needed for three to four shifts per month, which typically last three to four hours each. More information on how to sign up: https:// r e s t o r e . t c h a b i t a t . o rg / b l o g / lend-a-hand-at-restore. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of ReStore,” said Jill Carmody, Restore Manager.

“We are excited to expand our volunteer team. Consistent volunteers help our stores because they can dive deeper into the workings of our stores, become self-directed, and learn what our greatest needs are at the moment. It is incredibly

helpful to have volunteers who can see what needs to be done on a busy day and get it done.” ReStore volunteers say: “It’s an opportunity to help others. I have an admiration for the humanitarian eﬀorts of Habitat for Humanity,” said one.

“It’s fun and helps other people. It’s an opportunity to get out of the house,” said another. ReStore outlets are reducing waste by encouraging people to donate used goods to the store;

by recycling, encouraging people to buy used goods and keeping tons of building materials and home furnishings out of landfills; and by repurposing by encouraging Do It Yourself projects. The two ReStore outlets have received 21,000 donations this fiscal year (ending June 30, 2021), a 35 percent increase over last year. Since 2015, the New Brighton store has had nearly 54,000 dropoff donations; the Minneapolis store has had 20,000 donations since opening in 2016. More than 50,000 customers have shopped at the two outlets this fiscal year. ReStore Home Improvement outlets are open to the public and sell new and likenew furniture, appliances and building materials at discounted prices. The inventory comes from donations from individuals

(free truck pickup) and local businesses. The materials are sold to the public at discounted prices. Every dollar raised from sales goes into building homes and supporting local families to buy their first home. About ReStore: restore.tchabitat.org About Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity: Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity brings people together to create, preserve, and promote affordable homeownership and advance racial equity in housing. Since 1985, more than 1,500 families have partnered with Twin Cities Habitat to unlock the transformational power of homeownership. Twin Cities Habitat is one of the highestregarded Habitat for Humanity affiliates nationwide. www. tchabitat.org.

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Insight News • June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021 • Page 7

The Harlem Chamber Players announce Pity These Ashes: Tulsa 1921-2021 The Harlem Chamber Players announce Pity These Ashes: Tulsa 1921-2021, a Juneteenth streamed concert commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, in partnership with The Greene Space at WQXR and WNYC, Harlem Stage, and the Harlem School of the Arts The digital event will feature the world premiere of Adolphus Hailstork’s Tulsa 1921 (Pity These Ashes, Pity This Dust), as well as compositions by Jessie Montgomery, Alice Coltrane, and Trevor Weston. The performance will include soloists mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, violinist Jessica (Lady Jess) McJunkins, WQXR host and author Terrance McKnight, harpist Ashley Jackson, and conductor Amadi Azikiwe leading the Harlem Chamber Players. (New York, NY) - May 3, 2021 - The Harlem Chamber Players announce Pity These Ashes: Tulsa 19212021, an online concert program on Juneteenth, to be held on June 19, 2021 at 7:00 PM, in partnership with The Greene Space at WQXR and WNYC, Harlem Stage, and the Harlem School of the Arts. The program will feature the world premiere of

TULSA 1921 (Pity These Ashes, Pity This Dust) by Dr. Adolphus Hailstork, commissioned in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, with a libretto by Dr. Herbert Woodward Martin. The concert will also include performances of Starburst by Jessie Montgomery, Prema by Alice Coltrane, and The People Could Fly by Trevor Weston. The event will be ﬁlmed and broadcast from The Greene Space at WQXR and WNYC and will feature mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, WQXR host and author Terrance McKnight, violinist Jessica (Lady Jess) McJunkins, conductor Amadi Azikiwe, harpist Ashley Jackson, as well as musicians from The Harlem Chamber Players. Liz Player, founder of the Harlem Chamber Players, said of the program: “Our wish for this program is to use music to confront our painful past that has been buried from us for too long. These brilliant works by Black composers underrepresented in the classical music canon - tell a story of endurance and resilience, and we hope it helps people to move forward and heal.” Pat Cruz, Harlem Stage Artistic Director and CEO,

looking live art, theater, and journalism that sparks change. It brings audiences to the intersection of art and politics by leading courageous conversations and curating performances of intense beauty that are deeply rooted locally but relevant to audiences globally.

added: “The intersection of art and social justice is at the very foundation of Harlem Stage. We are so pleased to partner on this critical work that shines a light on truth and injustice, and showcases the immense, diverse talent of artists of color.” About The Harlem Chamber Players The Harlem Chamber Players is an ethnically diverse collective of professional musicians dedicated to bringing high-caliber, aﬀordable and accessible live classical music to people in the Harlem community and beyond. In addition, The Harlem Chamber Players seek to build an audience for classical music in general through community and educational outreach, as well as through collaborations with Harlem’s other arts organizations, schools and cultural institutions, while creating opportunities for classically trained musicians of color.

About Harlem Stage Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem’s cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas. For nearly 40 years, Harlem Stage has stood at the intersection of art and social justice with a singular mission to perpetuate and celebrate the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. We provide opportunity, commissioning and support for artists of color, make performances easily accessible to all audiences and introduce children to the rich diversity, excitement, and inspiration of the performing arts.

About The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space The Greene Space is the street-level broadcast studio and performance venue of WNYC and WQXR, channeling the collective genius in New York City to create forward-

About Harlem School of the Arts, the Herb Alpert Center New York City’s premier community arts institution, the Harlem School

1/8 PAGE COLOR R CAPRW ENERGY ASSISTANCE

Make your holiday twice as nice 612.377.2224 / guthrietheater.org

A tenderhearted favorite

Steel Magnolias Now – Dec 15

by ROBERT HARLING directed by LISA ROTHE

A Christmas stmas Carol Nov 12 – Dec c 29 by CHARLES DICKENS adapted by CRISPIN WHITTELL directed by LAUREN KEATING