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Insight News

March 15, 2021 - March 21, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 11• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

THE HAMILTONES THE HAMILTONES COME TO CONVERSATIONS WITH AL MCFARLANE, 1PM TUESDAY ON KFAI, 90.3 FM AND ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND TWITTER. HAMILTONES MUSIC CENTERS IN BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS, THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE AND BLACK LOVE.

BIO 2E, J. VITO AND TONY LELO ARE A TRIO OF NORTH CAROLINA NATIVES KNOWN AS THE HAMILTONES. THE GROUP STARTED AS BACKGROUND VOCALISTS FOR GRAMMY WINNING SOUL SINGER ANTHONY HAMILTON. WHEN THEIR BEHIND THE SCENES CLIPS OF QUARTET-STYLED COVER SONGS WERE UPLOADED TO THE INTERNET, IT CAUGHT FIRE! SINCE THEN, THE HAMILTONES HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON THE BREAKFAST CLUB, STEVE HARVEY MORNING SHOW, SOLD OUT THE APOLLO, AND HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON FOUR GRAMMY NOMINATED ALBUMS; INCLUDING ANTHONY HAMILTON, PJ MORTON, JOHNATHAN MCREYNOLDS AND TORI KELLY.

Photo courtesy of The Hamiltones

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Insight News • March 15, 2021 - March 21, 2021 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News March 15, 2021 - March 21, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 11• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Hennepin County District 2 Commissioner Irene Fernando: Working hard for the people By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist

Minnesota State

Chancellor Dr. Devinder Malhotra

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor, Dr. Devinder Malhotra

A broader mission: maintain education integrity, cultural sensitivity, relevance By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource. John F. Kennedy Workers will have to re-think where their careers are headed and possibly entertain retraining or gaining credentials that can give them a new shot at opportunity. Life as we have known it from a year ago, will no longer be the same. Chancellor Dr. Devinder Malhotra leads Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (MNSCU)

and invites interested parties willing to face the difficult challenges of an uncertain world to visit any of campuses in the system and explore possibilities. He says Minnesotans who arm themselves with new knowledge and engage the caring support of highly qualified personnel in his expansive higher education conglomerate, will discover extraordinary feats can be achieved. Minnesota State, as MNSCU is called, delivers results that reflect students’ and staff’s diligence, confidence, positivity and faith. “Those of us who spend our days in academic circles have a broader mission now. We must be honest and ask, how will our students

learn and what is important to learn? How will we teach them; what will we teach them; and how will teacher preparation certiﬁcation programs be redesigned to ﬁnd solutions in closing the destructive achievement gap? How will our instructional delivery maintain the integrity of cultural sensitivity and relevance related to their ultimate career goals?” He said there will be many technology and knowledge-based requisites to compete in our global job market. Natural human and physical boundaries have become quite porous, shifting from Eurocentric to multicultural populations. Malhotra said a trans-

Melvin Carter

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

Andrea Jenkins

migratory culture will create the hybridization of relationships, social and family organizations, and even the foods we eat. Education, at all levels, cannot remain ‘unchanged’, he said. “Our universities and colleges serve 47 diﬀerent communities in the state on 54 campuses, with a total of 330,000 students,” Malhotra said in a recent interview for Conversations with Al McFarlane. “We are the largest and most diverse higher education system in the state. 240,000 students are in credential-bearing programs. 65,000 of them are people of color or of native origin.

“When we don’t explicitly focus on equity, we implicitly increase economic and racial disparities.” Commish As I begin to assemble my notes on this jammed packed interview with Commissioner Irene Fernando on “Conversations with Al McFarlane”, I thought it best to first describe the workings of Hennepin County, which she represents. There are 87 counties in Minnesota. Hennepin County is the most populated with 1.2 million people, 1/4 of the state’s residents. Fortyfive cities in Hennepin County are organized into 7 Districts. Each District elects one County Commissioner. In 2018, Fernando became the youngest and one of the two first women of color in the county’s 170year history elected to the County Commission. District 2, comprised of Golden Valley, Medicine Lake, Northeast Minneapolis, Southeast Plymouth, and St. Anthony, elected 32-year-old “Commish” Irene Fernando. She is impressive, and passionate. She listens, observes, and when she speaks,

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Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando

she’s not always opinionated. The Commish validates her declarations with facts and with her achievements. She works hard for the people. She saw her mother, a health care worker in L.A. County work double shifts while raising an active Filipino family, and she’s seen success happen against the odds. Ten days into Fernando’s freshman year at University of Minnesota, the future Bush Foundation Fellow co-founded ‘Students Today Leaders Forever’ (STLF), a thriving non-proﬁt organization where she ran over 600 programs with 22,718 students contributing 318,000 hours of community service across the country in the 11 years she was there. The organization promoted leadership through

FERNANDO 4

Commentary by Dr. By Aarohi Narain By Mecca Dana Randall Alexa Harry Maya 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

CHANCELLOR 4

Chauvin trial begins with jury selection Jury selection for the Derek Chauvin trial began on Monday, March 8. Though it began with delays, it continued on Tuesday, March 9 with three jurors selected, two men and one woman. Potential jurors are randomly selected from driver’s license, state identification (ID), and voter registration records. Jurors receive a summons that tells them to appear at the courthouse for jury service. The length of jury service depends on the county in which a juror lives, but service cannot exceed four months. The Chauvin trial is expected to start March 29 and last for about three-to-four weeks. On Monday, a modest crowd of community members gathered at Hennepin County Government Center where the trial is being held, to call for justice for George Floyd. The rally was organized by a coalition of organizations inlcuding There are three key issues looming in the background that could affect the trial’s progression: The prosecution petitioned to reinstate a thirddegree murder charge in addition to second-degree and manslaughter charges against Chauvin. Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter A. Cahill, who threw out the charge in the fall, was ordered by the Minnesota Court of Appeals to reconsider that decision. Chauvin’s attorneys have filed a petition with the appellate court that opposes a stay in the case as well as a

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Keith Ellison

Justice takes center stage as Derek Chauvin trial begins Commentary By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist

photo/Uche Iroegbu

petition to reinstate the thirddegree murder charge. The lead prosecutor, MN AG Keith Ellison, has requested that the trial begin in June 2021 due to the pandemic. Depending on the outcome of every petitioning, it is possible the case could be paused or delayed. As we follow the appeals and other news, here are some things to know about the trial. This is the Derek Chauvin case and not the George Floyd case. George Floyd is

not on trial. Chauvin, a former veteran Minneapolis police offer is facing trial for the murder of George Floyd, which took place on May 25, 2020. The other three former officers involved in the murder, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao will be tried in a separate case scheduled for trial in August 2020. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is the lead prosecutor as appointed by Governor Tim Walz. His office is seeking the third-degree murder

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Divided House committee OK’s $450m DFL plan targeted at ‘ending systemic racism’ in MN

PAGE 5

charge as well as a rescheduling of the trial to June. Ellison will be in the courtroom, but will not question witnesses. Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank will prosecute the case with Neal Kaytal and two additional attorneys, Jerry Blackwell and Steve Schleicher who are joining the prosecution pro bono. Listen to and follow Conversations with Al McFarlane for local commentary and continual updates as they develop.

Justice and power must be brought together so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just. Blaise Pascal About a month before I had the good fortune to write for Insight News, I was breaking bread with a couple dear friends here in Santa Fe, NM when the name Keith Ellison came up in a political conversation. The Minnesota Attorney General had really impressed one of them four years ago during the Democratic National Convention. After hearing Ellison speak during a Conversations with Al McFarlane broadcast recently, I understood. He was indeed impassioning. “We will need a Roosevelt-type presidency, taking bold, dramatic steps like never before. The cancellation of student debt; a massive rent subsidy; and money to get by until the economy gets better would be a good start. That’s what it’s going to take. Biden and the Democratic Party must be strong and more so the

wiser. If not, we will end up with someone far worse than Trump,” Ellison declared. With major concerns stretching his office in three different directions of responsibility, and with the world closely watching the process and outcome of one in particular, Ellison took the time to reflect on key issues impacting Minnesota residents. He said communities of color are experiences disparate impact from the COVID19 Pandemic; many overburdened households are getting slammed with exorbitant energy bills as a result of a bitter cold winter; and neighborhoods are understandably on edge, praying there will be peace and justice as the trial of Derek Chauvin, accused of murder in the death of George Floyd, begins. “It is important that those of us praying for justice commence to understand some of the components of the legal process and some of the bases of arguments for the defense. Juror selections will take approximately three weeks as each potential candidate will be questioned individually due to COVID restrictions. It won’t be easy finding citizens to come

ELLISON 4

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How hands-on learners thrive as transportation techs (NewsUSA) - The arrival of the new year means new decisions for students planning their futures. Although the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has thrown many students’ career plans for a loop, the increased time at home allows students and parents to reﬂect and explore opportunities they might not have considered. One place to start is by discovering a student’s learning style. Everyone has a learning style. Some people are visual learners, some learn best by listening, and some are hands-on -- they learn by doing. For these hands-on learners, a career in a hands-on ﬁeld, such as the high-tech transportation industry, not only suits their

strengths, but also brings them satisfaction and security. As many parents spend more time observing their children’s learning in a virtual school environment, they are developing an appreciation for diﬀerent learning styles. Many hands-on learners struggle in traditional learning environments. However, these children and teens thrive when they engage in educational opportunities that support their strengths, and can put them on the road to successful careers. The TechForce Foundation, a nonproﬁt organization that promotes the potential of professional technician careers, provides resources and encourages

parents, teachers, and other influential figures to recognize and support technical careers that may be a good fit for handson learners. “For too long, we’ve accepted as truth that a college degree is the only way to get ahead and we’ve overlooked the gifts, talents and significant contributions of students who don’t fit the four-year mold,” says Jennifer Maher, CEO & Executive Director of the TechForce Foundation. “For students who are mechanically minded, and learn best when they’re in action, a quality technical or vocational education can be the path to success.” As part of its ongoing

“Be a Pathfinder” campaign, the TechForce Foundation offers a free online assessment to help students (and adults) identify their learning styles, and participants can receive a detailed report with educational and career advice based on their style -- visual, auditory, or kinetic. The campaign encourages students to be “pathfinders” by helping them discover and understand their unique strengths and use that knowledge to choose educational and career paths. Visit TechForce.org/ mypath for the learning styles assessment, as well as more resources for education and career planning.

nanotized CBD with melatonin is designed to help with sleep. Other products in the pipeline include a full line of nanotized water-soluble tinctures from 600 to 3,000 mg in ﬂavors of

peppermint, tropical, strawberry mojito, orange cream, blueberry, and vanilla. Visit purecraftcbd.com for more company details and product information.

Nanotechnology gives CBD products a boost (NewsUSA) - The market for cannabidiol (CBD) products continues to expand worldwide, but not all products are created equal. Nanotechnology, the science of subatomic particles, is revolutionizing many areas of health and medicine. Pure Craft CBD, a southern Californiabased company, has harnessed nanotechnology to make a purer line of CBD products with greater bioavailability. When it comes to supplements, more bioavailability is better because the ingredients in the supplement products can be more rapidly

Chancellor From 3 75,000 are of low-income status; 80,000 are 25 years and older, 47,000 are ﬁrst generation college educated, and 10,000 of our students are veterans. We have more students in each these categories than all other Minnesota academic institutions combined.” Dr. Malhotra said. “We provide quality higher education opportunities that serve the needs for economic, social, and cultural vibrancy,” he said. Malhotra said that within three weeks of the emergence of the Coronavirus Pandemic, 95% of classes were remote. Knowing some students did not have access to

absorbed by the body. Pure Craft CBD has demonstrated almost 90 percent absorbability because of the nanoparticles used in production, according to the company. Nanoparticles help keep CBD stable as it is consumed, so it is absorbed at a consistent concentration rate. “What sets Pure Craft CBD apart from other companies is its dedication to purity,” says founder and CEO Jason Navarrete. “Pure Craft products are 90 percent bioavailable, where most [similar] companies oﬀer products that are no more than

18 percent bioavailable. That’s why Pure Craft’s slogan is ‘Pure Till The Last Drop,’” he says. Pure Craft follows a “seed to sale,” model. The company’s business starts in partnership with informed and educated cannabis farmers, and includes warehouses for the high-tech cultivation of cannabis, as well as manufacturing sites, distribution facilities, and retail outlets. Pure Craft CBD is derived from a single strain of cannabis and all the oil is processed in a single facility

to help ensure consistent, predictable, effective products. Each batch of oil undergoes inhouse and third party testing to ensure purity. In addition, all Pure Craft products come with third-party lab COAs (Certificates of Analysis) so consumers know exactly what they are getting. Pure Craft products contain no binders, fillers, dyes, or unknown substances. The current product line features 16 items including nanotized watersoluble soft gels and nanotized CBD-infused vegan gummies. In addition, a water-soluble

the internet or have a personal computer, the campuses stayed open so students could safely use the technology. Free food was often provided. In the spring and summer, 26,000 graduated. Minnesota State was prepared to respond quickly to Pandemic-driven challenges because, the Chancellor said, because in 2018-2019, select staff took a year to examine how higher education fits into the scheme of today’s unprecedented societal and economic climate. Local and national experts were brought in to help dismantle some of the old curriculum and re-design innovative ways to add to students’ knowledge and skill-based courses. Dialogue centered around the critical questions: How can we as leaders and staff prepare to provide relevant and rigorous higher education for future

workforce market requirements; and how can we adapt ourselves to the needs of those who have historically had low participation in post graduate studies? How can we help our students overcome barriers? The Chancellor said the institution asked why there were barriers in the ﬁrst place. “It’s been that way for far too long, Higher education is not making a dent in the historic inequities in the educational system, but we can certainly begin to try,” he said. Minnesota State launched Equity 2030 as an ambitious and bold initiative to leverage a shared vision to create necessary changes along the academic spectrum. Malhotra said a major challenge has been that colleges and universities within the system have operated as silos, operating in isolation. Over a 10-year

plan, Equity 2030 addresses educational equity gaps across race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status. and geographic location. Its focus is cohesive and coordinated approaches to cultural change, innovation, and leadership inspired by equity-minded and anti-racist practices. During the yearlong COVID-19 Pandemic, the innovative and dedicated staﬀ on all campuses came together, holding themselves accountable for delivering the services and support they believed the students deserved and needed. Nearly half of the student body struggles with food and housing insecurities. Many work full time, have childcare needs, but want desperately to improve their personal situations so they can attend classes. “If our students weren’t giving up, we were going to try and ﬁnd a way

to help,” he said. “We reached out to partners who were also committed to addressing academic gaps between whites and students of color. We found ingenuous ways to connect our students with resources, and raised some funding from alumni, philanthropic institutions, and provided more scholarships based on both merit and economic need. including the Legislative Workforce Development Scholarship, an opportunity aligned resources we oﬀered students with high demand occupations such as health care, early childcare, agriculture, IT, manufacturing, and transportation. We are also seeking federal scholarships for those impacted by career displacement. We know almost 1/3 of the population will not have a job to return to after the Pandemic and economic downturn. And we know 75% of

new employment opportunities will require post grad study.” The Chancellor said, all thing being equal, there is no better or more cost eﬀective education investment for Minnesota residents. Annual tuition costs for the 2-year colleges is approximately $5,200, and for the universities, $8,000, he said. The life-long educator immigrated to America from India to complete his doctoral studies in economics. He said once he walked into his ﬁrst classroom, he was hooked. Forty years later, Dr. Malhotra is excited about the possibilities of being a contributor to the strategic research, planning, and implementation of systemic academic transformations. For further information: www.minnstate. edu

the persistent disadvantage and disparity experienced by Black residents was not a product of structural inequity and racecoded public policy. Fast forward to the present day. Fernando and her commissioner colleague, Angela Conley, a Black woman who represents District 4, last year introduced a resolution proclaiming racism as a public health crisis. The measure was eventually adopted by the County Board on a 7-1 vote, but not before push-back by some Commissioners who questioned what purpose the declaration would serve. Minnesota leads the country in livability indexes with high marks in quality education,

health outcomes, and general excellence and opportunity. The state and county have long delivered stellar results for white people but have consistently failed Black and Brown residents, as evidenced by abysmal disparities in health, education, wealth, housing and jobs. Fernando says now more than ever Hennepin County must begin having the difficult discussions. Policy decisions must reflect the interests of people who, their voices muffled, historically have been underserved, not included and currently in dire need. “When disparaging health care outcomes are linked and sometimes centered on the policies of the County, different

matrixes can be studied. If our contribution to healing and recovery is not tied into policy, it makes it harder for those implementing and directing the work to be able to do their work and tackle the residents’ concerns,” Fernando said. “If we truly believe our systems have created such harm to the vulnerable, no doubt we would be willing to ease some of their survival burdens and act with a lot more political courage.” Commissioner Fernando said society is at an inﬂection point. She said people must ask what do justice and equity look like, and how do we reinforce the values and hope in our children that we were raised with.

praying for no one to think they are above the law; for everyone to be equal before the law; and for no one to be able to beat the law. We’re going to do the very best we can so justice is done; a fair trial for the defendant and the state. Minnesota has made 30 million dollars available to support Hennepin County and Minneapolis law enforcement needs and additional personnel. “Protest safely,” Ellison urges. “Raise your voices for justice. There’s never been social progress without protests. Just know that throwing a gas can through broken glass windows will never help the cause. Community leaders talking to the residents and keeping them informed with trusted information and data will deﬁnitely lessen anxiety and negative outcomes down the road.” Ellison said his oﬃce advocating for consumer

interests regarding public utilities. “The problem isn’t that there’s not enough natural gas. The problem is the utility companies must buy the gas as a commodity at a spot cash price or buy with a kind of future wager. A whole lot of people needed a lot of gas quickly. The spot price went straight through the roof and the utility company bought it. People had to stay warm especially with a virus and its mutations running rampant. The utility company has to defray its cost.” Several weeks ago, a hearing was held before the Public Utilities Commission. Basically, two questions were asked. What happened and how was it going to be fixed? Ellison said his office was on the lookout for price gouging consumers with unfair and discriminatory spiking prices. “My purpose for running for Attorney General was to help people afford their lives and to

live with dignity, safety, and respect. Give my office a call. Let us gather the facts from you and then decide how we can help. If we can’t, perhaps we can find resources willing to assist. We must remember that as cold as Minnesota gets in winter months, it gets just as hot in the summer. Please do not suffer in silence,” Ellison said. Ellison pivoted to update listeners on Coronavirus vaccinations. He said by midsummer, anyone who wants a vaccine would be able to get one. He advise residents to embrace the health science and get vaccinated. “Virology, the study of viruses of medical importance and the diseases they produce, has been around for a long time. This COVID-19 Pandemic is certainly not a conspiracy nor is the vaccine just for people of wealth and European descent,” he said, especially encouraging Black and Brown people to get vaccinated.

Fernando From 3

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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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Program host Al McFarlane recalled meeting with a former Hennepin County Board Chairman who was arrogantly insensitive and dismissive regarding America’s original sin: slavery. The elected oﬃcial said America’s legacy of slavery had nothing to do with him and was not his problem. And, McFarlane said, the County Board chair said he felt the County was pouring too much money into North Minneapolis, suggesting

Ellison From 3 forth ready, willing, and able to reach a just and fair outcome, but the state’s case would prepare for the worse, and hope for the best. Since the coroner could not say precisely why the victim took his last breath, the defense will use Floyd’s use of drugs and underlying health issues as possible death culprits.” But there has already been a degree of justice, Ellison said. “More people will have to answer to what happened to George Floyd. They are going to have to be held accountable and judged. There have been cases where people have been killed, hurt, or abused and no one said or did anything. We know the criminal justice system has seldom been fair. Still, I’m striving for and

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Insight News • March 15, 2021 - March 21, 2021 • Page 5

Divided House committee OK’s $450m DFL plan targeted at ending systemic racism By Mike Cook Session Daily Edward McDonald coordinates the Minnesota Equal Opportunity Partnership. He poses a question and challenge about fairness. “Will the Legislature send a message that Minnesota will lead in ending systemic racism and racial injustice and invest in stabilizing Minnesota’s African American communities and families?” Rep. John Thompson (DFL-St. Paul) proffers a $457 million answer via HF784. “The bill targets state appropriations in the African American and African Immigrant community to stabilize and expand their capacity to address socioeconomic disparities created by the poor administrative application and enforcement of Minnesota’s primary equal opportunity laws which also fuels systemic racism and racial injustice, and all of which is exacerbated by the pandemic,” he said in a statement included in an information packet. It also aims, per Thompson, to “align African Americans and African Immigrants equitable participation in all realms of society to ensure capacity to eradicate socio-economic disparities and stabilize their families.” Approved, as amended, Thursday by the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee on a 7-5 party-line vote, the bill’s next stop is the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. A companion, SF800, sponsored by Sen. Omar Fateh (DFL-Mpls), awaits action by the Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee. “We understand this bill is very heavy, but everything … is very, very important to our communities,” said Valerie Castile, whose son, Philando, was killed by an officer during a July 2016 traffic stop. Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) said he sees it differently. “This bill is a racist bill,” he said, noting it directs money or awards jobs based on the color of someone’s skin. The proposed funding in fiscal year 2022 includes: $80 million to increase affordable housing and homeownership, and provide tenant and landlord mediation services; $70 million for the Minnesota Arts Board to establish an African American Advisory Committee to establish grants for African American cultural and arts organizations; $50 million to establish African American-controlled business developments in St. Paul, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, Duluth, Rochester and Mankato, and provide financial assistance to African American businesses throughout the state; $50 million to establish regional health clinics operated by African Americans that focus on services to African Americans; $50 million to “provide grants to African American organizations to provide recidivism reduction services for African American ex-inmates returning to their communities”; $40 million to create a school district breakfast and lunch debt forgiveness fund; $30 million to establish African American-run family and community service centers named for Philando Castile in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud, and Rochester to, in part, provide tutorial services, guidance counseling, family therapy and family advocacy; $20 million for African American organizations to operate STEM training programs targeted to African American students and expand access to technology in African American communities; $20 million to increase staffing levels at the Department of Human Rights and create regional offices throughout the state; $20 million to create guidance counseling and tutorial services for African American students using retired African American teachers and administrators; and $10 million

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The bill also aims to “align African Americans and African Immigrants equitable participation in all realms of society to ensure capacity to eradicate socio-economic disparities and stabilize their families.” for African American urban agriculture initiatives. Monies would need to be spent by June 30, 2024. Thompson said the bill wants are not all-or-nothing propositions, and scaled-down funding would be a start. Rep. Anne Neu Brindley (R-North Branch) said there is “a lot of good stuﬀ” in the bill — but also said she believes it has notable policy absences, such as where a student learns best. “We know that school choice with culturally appropriate charter schools and private schools have been the most successful places for Black children to be successful,” she said. Neu Brindley and Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia) questioned the bill’s sustainability because the requests are one-time funding and lack speciﬁcs. “This bill has no structure to it, no methodology on how the money would be used, where it would be used, of

whom it would be used,” Nash said. Nor has he heard if other ethnic groups support the bill. Noting the “tremendously poor time management,” Nash unsuccessfully moved to table the bill so answers could be forthcoming. It, too, failed along party lines. Testimony and discussion took less than an hour, with many members having no opportunity to opine or ask questions. And more testiﬁers wanted to speak. One of those who did was Dr. Tamiko Foster. She spoke to — and submitted a letter about — the positive health aspects of the bill. “Structural racism is a key determinant in driving health disparities,” she said. “Even when social determinants of health are addressed, African Americans continue to die and be more sick than other populations. Research has supported that patients who have access to physicians with shared racial, ethnic or cultural backgrounds have better health

outcomes.” Three policy provisions are part of the bill: MinnesotaManagement and Budget would provide oversight and enforcement to state agencies, departments and oﬃces in retention and terms of employment for employees in protected groups;

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By LaurenofPoteat Courtesy University of Alejandra By Dr. Commentary By North Brandpoint Dr. Nicole Rekha Kimya Memorial Winbush N. Mankad by (BPT) Sen. Staff Ian Roth NNPA Minnesota Washington News By Rhonda E.Oliveras Moore Staff Bobby Dennis, Joe Salem Champion College Afrodescendientes Mayo Clinic Staff Correspondent Incoming Board ChairBy IanPhysician Roth NorthPoint www.TheConversation.com Health & elect, WomenHeart Mayo Clinic Staff Wellness Center

the Administration Department would be required to “enhance a narrowly tailored race-based, business-conscious contract procurement program that emphasizes utilizing African American-owned businesses that is designed to ensure equal participation of all businesses based on the proportion of their

availability by race, gender, disability, and veteran status”; and the Public Safety Department would be charged with proposing legislation to require public safety oﬃcers undergo a psychological evaluation and written examination on cultural competency before serving as an oﬃcer.

Page 6 • March 15, 2021 - March 21, 2021 • Insight News

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President Joe Biden

Biden’s $1.9 Trillion investment in underserved Americans The House of Representatives Wednesday gave ﬁnal approval to President Joe Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Pandemic Relief Bill and sent the Bill to the President’s desk for his signature. Biden’s Friday signing the Bill into law means millions of Americans will get direct stimulus payments and the $300 weekly unemployment beneﬁt will continue as well. The Bill provides a child tax credit that is expected to lift millions of children and

their families out of poverty. The measure will provide $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments; $10 billion for critical state infrastructure projects; $14 billion for the distribution of vaccines; and $130 billion to primary and secondary schools. The bill also includes $30 billion for transit agencies’ $45 billion in rental, utility and mortgage assistance; and billions more for small businesses and live performance venues.

It provides another round of direct payments to American taxpayers, sending checks of up to $1,400 to individuals making up to $80,000, single parents earning $120,000 or less and couples with household incomes of no more than $160,000. The House of Representatives Democrats passed the measure without a single vote from their Republican colleagues. The 220 to 211 vote, extends federal jobless

beneﬁts and provides billions of dollars to support COVID-19 vaccination and mitigation strategies, directing money to states, schools, small businesses and tribal governments impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic. “This legislation is about giving the backbone of this nation — the essential workers, the working people who built this country, the people who keep this country going — a ﬁghting chance,” Biden said in a statement.

The bill was the result of aggressive actions by the Biden administration and its allies in Congress to ﬁght back against the coronavirus pandemic with a massive legislative economic agenda. According to New York Times report, the bill will slash poverty by a third this year and potentially cut child poverty in half, with expansions of tax credits, food aid and rental and mortgage assistance. Biden this week

embarks on a national campaign to promote the stimulus package. He will explain and seek public support for tax credits for children and extending unemployment a beneﬁts through Labor Day “This is the most consequential legislation that many of us will ever be a party to,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said at a news conference after the bill’s passage.

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Insight News • March 15, 2021 - March 21, 2021 • Page 7

Women’s History Month

Beneta Amelia Edwards McHie

Women’s History Month Profile: Beneta Amelia Edwards McHie Beneta Amelia Edwards McHie was born on June 4, 1913. She was a Black social worker and librarian. From Saint Paul, Minnesota, Beneta Amelia Edwards was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Edwards and Lola Dodd Ford Edwards; and had one sister Leatrice Dodd. Her grandparents moved from Kentucky and Texas to Chicago through the Underground

Railroad and during the Great Migration separately. Her parents met after her father was mustered out of the Army and from there they moved to St. Paul. Edwards and her sister grew up in a home that had a tradition of involvement in the education of women and in racial justice issues. Their community was called Rondo, a predominantly Black

was especially interested in theater, and throughout her later life. She enrolled at Hamline University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935 in Sociology. She married John McHie, Jr., and the couple had two children: John McHie III, Benjamin McHie and adopted Marcel Laursen. She worked for the Hennepin County welfare department for many

community in the Twin Cities, destroyed by America’s urban renewal in the 1960s. In her youth, she participated in programs at the Hallie Q. Brown Center and took piano lessons from the MacPhail School of Music. Edwards attended McKinley Elementary and Mechanic Arts High School in Saint Paul. Edwards was engaged with the community both as a student, where she

years and moved on to do research and administration as a librarian for the Minneapolis Public Library. She also started her own secretarial service. Her community involvement as an adult spanned a wide range of groups, including the Adelphai Club, the Credjafawn Club, and the Twin City Forty Club. Political organizations, including the Governor’s Human Rights

Commission; and church groups included the Saint Agnes Guild of Saint Thomas Episcopal Church (Minneapolis), where she was organist for over 30 years. She was a longtime member of the National Association of College Women. Beneta Edwards McHie died on October 29, 1989. [Source: African American Registry]

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A tenderhearted favorite

Steel Magnolias Now – Dec 15

by ROBERT HARLING directed by LISA ROTHE