WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
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March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 11• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
ANCIENT GREETING PROTOCOL: HONORABLE + HEALTHY COVID-19 PREVENTION Story on page 5
Page 2 • March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020 • Insight News
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WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
Insight News March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 11• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
$21 million investment to the public health response contingency account will help state respond to potential coronavirus outbreak
Bill funds COVID-19 response Gov.Tim Walz signed into law a bill authorizing nearly $21 million in state investment for a public health response to the coronavirus outbreak. The funds will be added to the existing $4.6 million in Minnesota’s public health response contingency account for a total of approximately $25 million to support disease investigation, monitor the outbreak, provide public information, coordinate statewide response activities, and conduct laboratory analysis. “Preparing our state for the coronavirus has become our top priority,” said Walz. “Here in Minnesota, we know this pressing public health crisis must transcend partisanship. That is why we worked in a bipartisan manner to pass this law, prepare for a potential outbreak, and protect the health of Minnesotans.” “While we know that there are only two confirmed, travel-related cases of the coronavirus in Minnesota, we need to be prepared for a potential spread of the virus in our state,” said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcom. “The Department of Health has estimated that the state will need at least $25 million to respond to a potential outbreak, and I am grateful to our elected leaders for making this a priority.”
Ebony Adedayo
Ebony Adedayo telling Northside stories through the Northside Oral History Project Minnesota’s response to COVID-19 will be aided by a $21 million infusion authorized by Gov. Tim Walz. “Minnesota is fortunate to have a strong public health sector,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Minnesotans can be assured that our public health officials are working around the clock to prepare for and to slow the spread of COVID-19. I’m pleased we were able to move quickly to provide the Minnesota Department of Health with additional resources.” The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how
flu spreads, or when people touch surfaces that have been contaminated by an infected person, and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that the most important thing Minnesotans can do right now to protect themselves, their families and their communities is to take everyday steps to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. Those include staying home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms and avoiding close contact with people who are
sick, covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into your sleeve, and then throwing the tissue in the trash, washing hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol and avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. More information about coronavirus can be found on MDH’s Coronavirus website.
Challenge addresses veteran suicide deaths Minnesota has been selected to participate in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families to eliminate veteran death by suicide, a collaborative effort with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Death by suicide has claimed more than 100 Minnesota veteran lives per year during the past five years. “As a member of the Army National Guard for 24 years, suicide in our veteran community is a tragedy that I take personally,” said Gov. Tim Walz. “Those who raise their hand to serve our country
deserve the best care and services our nation and state can provide. We must work together to provide veterans with immediate access to quality, culturally competent mental healthcare and make bipartisan progress toward eliminating Veteran suicide entirely. Minnesota can – and will – lead on veteran issues.” To support the success of this initiative, Walz has directed multiple state agencies – including the Minnesota Departments of Veterans Affairs, Military Affairs, Higher Education, Human Services, Health and Agriculture – to prioritize this effort and work collaboratively along with other state, federal and local partners. The Minnesota
SUICIDE 3
Gov. Tim Walz
Transformation: Northside housing plan Commentary by Randall Bradley Architect The Minneapolis City Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department presented its plan to build permanent affordable housing predominantly in North Minneapolis. The housing plan, outlined Feb. 26 at the Minneapolis Urban League, focuses on those of lower incomes as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. The latest Census Bureau maps indicate the largest, poorest neighborhoods are in North Minneapolis, as identified by the Camden and
Near North neighborhoods. There is also poverty located in the Phillips neighborhood. These neighborhoods are the focus of this housing plan by the city that has evolved out of the 2040 Plan for modifying the current city zoning. The presentation was thorough, deliberate and complete. CPED and its consultant, Grounded Solutions Network, worked on a variety of issues. They reviewed the U. S. Census Bureau data. They conducted a citywide versus northside analysis. They reviewed developer and subsidy participation. They researched housing types such as single-family, duplex, and triplex configurations as well
Why should the housing for poor communities become permanently poor?
as the attendant sales prices. The speakers showed lots of graphs and charts. They described the participation of The City of Lakes Land Trust
News
What Americans think about who deserves tuition-free college
PAGE 4
and Habitat for Humanity. The presentation sought to identify the mechanism for achieving
TRANSFORMATION 3
By Davion Moore The Northside Oral History Project is giving North Minneapolis residents a platform to share their stories. The voices of community elders are being heard, as they speak on issues that they’ve encountered firsthand or indirectly as a spectator. The project was helped in being brought to life by 4000 More Creative through a ReCast Minneapolis grant. Ebony Adedayo is the program manager of ReCast. When speaking with Adedayo, she discussed things such as the Northside Oral History Project, the impact of the project, redlining/foreclosure and more. Adedayo emphasizes that she is not a Northsider (she works for the city) and does not speak for North Minneapolis, but through the things she has learned or heard through its residents, she has a perspective and transfers these things to how she works on this project. Adedayo got her
start with ReCast by working for the city in November 2016. Prior she worked for a nonprofit based in the Twin Cities called the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, and was there Communications and Capacity Building manager. She also managed grants for a project in North Minneapolis called the Northside Greenway. “While preparing for my doctorate I was looking at different programs and thought public health would be a good option and decided to see what else is out there and see if I like the public health field,” said Adedayo. “So, I applied for this job that in itself is very public health-oriented.” Adedayo also pointed out something special about ReCast in Minneapolis that allows them to take on a project such as the Northside Oral History Project. “The special thing about ReCast in Minneapolis is that we get to address the systemic and structural level of things that are causing harm,”
ADEDAYO 4
New report highlights African immigrants economic impact New American Economy (NAE), a bipartisan immigration research and advocacy organization released a new report, “The Power of the Purse: The Contributions of Black Immigrants in the United States,” that looks at how Black immigrants in the United States are making their mark. Compared to larger immigrant groups like Hispanics or Asians, there has been little research on Black immigrants’ socioeconomic characteristics. In fact, a previous NAE report that only looked at immigrants from subSaharan Africa also fell short in this respect. This year, the report was expanded in scope to look at Black immigrants from all over the world to better reflect the wide diversity of these new Americans, regardless of their country of birth. What the numbers reveal is that the influence of Black immigrants is increasing rapidly. Some of this is due to the growth of their population in the United States. Between 2010 and 2018, the number of Black immigrants grew from 3.3 million people to more than 4.3 million—an increase of 30 percent. And despite politicking stating otherwise, findings show that Black immigrants punch well above their weight in many respects. The report found
Black immigrants have higher than average rates of naturalization and English language proficiency among immigrants. They also serve in critical roles in the healthcare industry—an industry facing labor shortages. It also found African immigrants, many of those who come through the diversity visa lottery or as refugees, actually have much higher levels of educational attainment than the overall U.S. average. In 2018, they earned more than $133 billion, paid almost $36 billion in taxes, and had a spending power of nearly $98 billion. Other key findings from “The Power of the Purse: The Contributions of Black Immigrants in the United States” include Texas has seen its Black immigrant population increase significantly. From 2010 to 2018, the number of Black immigrants increased by almost 81 percent, from 161,500 to 292,100. It has the largest population of immigrants from Africa (221,700) in the United States. According to the report, nationwide there are more than 2.3 million eligible Black immigrant voters. With significant numbers of voters in New York (553,800), Florida (413,700), New Jersey (140,800), Maryland (140,000), and Texas (121,000).
I2H
Understanding coronavirus
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Suicide From 2 Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) will serve as the coordinator of the efforts. MDVA is identifying additional Governor’s Challenge participants from other state agencies as well as other federal and local partners. “We are confident that using a collaborative approach – like our work to end Veteran homelessness – will position us to make a similarly positive impact in the area of preventing Veteran suicide,” said Larry Herke, MDVA commissioner. “Eliminating
Transformation From 2 this permanence of housing. Should the lots be sold quickly, or over time? What degree of developer involvement should continue? How much subsidy should be involved? As this plan moves ahead, these questions will yield applicable answers. Historically, low-income, low-cost and affordable, has been and is now the nomenclature used to describe housing for poor people. So, a bigger question becomes, why should the housing for poor communities become permanently poor? And located in North Minneapolis? While this Plan solves one problem, it creates another even larger one – future poverty. This solution assigns poverty to future generations, to those not even born yet. Is there any equity in this approach to urban neighborhoods? Poverty is not a natural phenomenon. It comes about as a result of human activity, both deliberate and accidental. Poverty is measured on an economic scale. Economics is a science. It is a science applied to
Insight News • March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020 • Page 3 veteran suicide is a goal all Minnesotans should embrace,” said Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We need the right behavioral health services across the state – from crisis to clinics to chemical dependency – so that veterans get the help they need.” The Minnesota Department of Health has led suicide prevention and education initiatives among all Minnesota populations for many years, and the Department of Agriculture has more recently provided suicide awareness and prevention training in rural communities in response to an increase in suicide among farmers.
“Through our work with farm suicide prevention, we’ve learned that asking questions and changing attitudes about discussing suicide are important steps in preventing it,” MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen said. “We’re glad to contribute to this important effort to give people tools they can use to help prevent suicides among our state’s veterans.” Minnesota will be one of seven states taking part in the 2020 Governor’s Challenge and working to implement statewide suicide prevention best practices for Service Members, Veterans and their families using a public health approach. SAMHSA will provide technical assistance for this initiative.
human beings. Other mammals, birds, reptiles and fish don’t use economics. So, economics become a social science. We use it to measure ourselves. We use it to measure being privileged versus being deprived. And make no mistake, all of us are on this scale. The playing field is not level. All of the poor are rolling to the northern corner of this city. A lot of people worked very hard on this project. They should be commended for their efforts. But targeting this amount of affordable (low-income) housing for North Minneapolis creates the conundrum of a “concentration of poverty.” Should we be reminded of the Holman Consent Decree? The federal government found that the Sumner Olson Public Housing Projects concentrated poverty and needed to be remedied. It was, through demolition. Heritage Park was erected in its place. Holman was dated as August 1995. As of this 2020 writing, Holman is less than a generation past. North Minneapolis already has 30 percent permanent section 8 single-family units. This plan will add more permanency than now exists. When will the city of Minneapolis change its daily behavior and stop impacting
low-income communities with low-income housing? So, how about we put forth a radical concept which is agonizingly simple. Let’s put the best critical thinkers (all four or five of them), into a room and create solutions that brings about the transformation of North Minneapolis into a desirable place to live by diminishing poverty and introducing economic-diversity that moves the community towards a middle-class economic measure. Let’s be clear, this will not be easy. This will not be done quickly. It will be hard. It will take all of us a very long time. It will likely be complicated. And it will likely create new paradigms that are currently unknown. So what? Almost everything that you know evolved this way. Does the northside continue to accept low-income (affordable) housing, or does it move away from poverty driven solutions? Transformation can be defined as change. All of us have been involved in change our entire lives. Let’s undertake this radical, simple, challenging, transformation. It may be time for poor people to stop being poor, and to be motivated by our own desire to do so.
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Page 4 • March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020 • Insight News
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What Americans think about who deserves tuition-free college By Elizabeth Bell Assistant Professor of Political Science, Miami University TheConversation.com Tuition-free college has gotten a lot of momentum of late. Front-runners in the Democratic presidential field have all come out in support of federally funded tuitionfree college. And it isn’t just Democrats. Nineteen states have passed tuition-free college policies, including Republican strongholds Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky. So have nearly 300 cities or counties. But there is still debate about who should be eligible. Should there be an income cap, for instance, so that only poor or middleincome families are eligible? Should there be a minimum high school GPA requirement? In my recently published survey, I found that Americans view tuition-free college more positively when it’s open to everyone – compared to
when it is reserved for families who make $50,000 or less. I also found that the public is more likely to support tuitionfree college when it includes a 2.0 minimum high school GPA requirement, or basically a C average. Affordability matters How the public views tuition-free college matters because colleges are widely seen as engines of upward economic mobility. Yet, college remains out of reach for many American families, especially for people of color and the working class. Policymakers and scholars often differ on the best way to design tuitionfree college. Some argue that fairness is the most important consideration. Others stress the need for government to be able pay for the program. I believe that my research, along with other recent polling, is the first to dig into what the American voters actually think about different versions of tuition-free college. And my project, in particular, is the first to speculate as to why.
In my study, I surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,500 Americans in 2017 regarding tuition-free college. Overall, the majority of Republicans (65 percent) and Democrats/independents (74 percent) support the idea of tuition-free college. But when asked to consider different versions of tuition-free college, people’s views start to shift. For instance, when a family income limit is included, respondents were 3.3 percentage points less likely to view the policy as fair, compared to tuition-free college that is open to all students regardless of family income. However, if a 2.0 minimum high school GPA is required to be eligible for tuition-free college, respondents were 6.5 percentage points more likely to view the policy as fair, when compared to tuition-free college that is open to all students regardless of high school GPA. So why are there these differences in the level of support? I argue that people are evaluating the target population. Research shows that policymakers and the public are
Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images
Americans support free community college more when students are seen as ‘deserving,’ new research suggests. more likely to support benefits to groups that are powerful and considered deserving. Making tuition-free college available to everyone may be more politically beneficial to politicians catering to middle-class and high-income voters – two groups that are more likely to vote. But when tuitionfree college is made available for everyone, it is harder to pay for and less efficient because when tuition-free college is universal, it gives money to
families that could have afforded college anyway. For instance, in Oregon, more than 60 percent of the $10.9 million in 2016 for the Oregon Promise – the state’s free community college program – went to students in the highest two income brackets, while students in the lowest two income brackets only used about 17 percent of the funds. The middle-income bracket used about 23 percent of the funds. Merit-based policies may be more popular because
students who make at least a C average in high school are seen as as more deserving. However, by supporting a C average minimum threshold, these policies also shut out many students who need help the most. The critical challenge for policymakers, as I see it, is: How do you design a tuition-free college plan that is perceived as fair, that helps those who need it most and that government can actually afford?
Ghanaian women push for passage of affirmative action bill Global Information Network – Under the banner “EachforEqual,” women’s rights groups in Ghana turned out this year on March 8, urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to address gender inequalities and social injustices and promote women and girls’ rights in the country. “If we believe in the campaign theme #EachForEqual, which marks the International Women’s Day for 2020, then the time is now to accelerate efforts to promote the advancement of women and girls,” members of the rights group said. Dr. Rose MensahKutin, a Ghanaian gender advocate and journalist, is among the activists backing an Affirmative Action Bill.
GIN
The Golden Line is a consortium comprised of groups working for equal opportunities for Ghanaian women. “The need for increased equitable female political participation in Ghana
is a genuine concern to all key stakeholders dedicated to women’s rights promotion,” she
Letter to the Editor
Homelessness in Minnesota cannot be solved until and unless we address the racism that is its primary cause.
What we have right now is the perfect “farm system” to funnel African-Americans and Native-Americans into
long-term homelessness in Minnesota. Think about all the studies that have been done about early childhood
wrote in the Ghanaian Times. “ABANTU for Development with support from African
education availability, the achievement gap in our public schools, the lack of mental health professionals, the trauma, the unequal educational opportunity, the graduation rates, the divergent employment rates and pay gap, Black and Native rates of
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Women’s Development Fund have therefore embarked on a nationwide campaign to strengthen advocacy for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill in Ghana. Attempts to address the inequalities have been largely ignored by policymakers who must act to support women’s rights. Efforts in Ghana, including civic education, have not significantly changed the situation.” Despite the lofty words of the 1992 Constitution, women are underrepresented in many professional roles, she noted. Ghana ranks 141st in the world in terms of women’s representation in Parliament, with only 38 women out of the 275 Members of Parliament, representing a woeful 13.8 percent. The Golden Line
Program, working in the Western and Ashanti regions to improve working conditions of women, issued the following statement. “The role of women in artisanal and small-scale mining is significant as they represent up to half a million or 50 per cent of the workforce in these mines. However, “women commonly get the low-paid and low-skilled jobs in the mines, face severe health risks and are exposed to gender-based violence.” Therefore, “on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Golden Line is asking for attention for the situation of women working in gold mines and living in mining communities.”
homeownership, incarceration rates and sentencing disparities and the segregation in the Twin Cities. All this and more steers African-American girls and boys into homelessness sooner than later. It’s all there for us to see. My question to myself is why did it take me so long for me to see it? Was it lack of courage, white privilege, racial blindness, what? My work experience for the past 13 years should have been more than enough to open my eyes. I worked with the homeless at Catholic Charities for the past six years before I retired. Since retirement I’ve been seven years at the Dignity Center as a volunteer advocate. Over13 years I’ve interviewed more than 7,000 homeless people in the area. I’ve worked in shelters in Minneapolis and St. Paul. I’ve done transitioning work and been a homeless housing case manager. As a case manager and homeless
advocate I’ve had hundreds of clients. Almost all my homeless clients are Black. I’ve been communicating my concerns about the unfairness and abuse inherent in current Hennepin County homeless policy. I’ve even taken on Minnesota’s new expansion of Medicaid as it will impact the homeless. So how come I never saw that big picture before? I don’t know. What I do know is that now that I know; the effects of racism will be my number one issue to bring up in conversation with my clients and with “the system.” With my clients because they tend to blame themselves for all the difficulties they have in getting the services they need to move up and out of poverty permanently. With the system because it tends to blame the victims for their difficulties accessing services. – Bill Betzler
Adedayo From 2 said the doctoral candidate. “And, looking at the Northside Oral History Project, it’s only because we are in the coordinator’s office that we get to do this. People are telling their stories and sharing what they’re experiencing, and we can take a policy and push towards addressing that.” When asked about Phase 2 of the project, and the awardees of this phase, Adedayo called it amazing. “It’s been amazing to work with organizations who are artists. I typically spend a lot of time with organizations centered around mental and behavioral health, giving people an opportunity to offer capacity building and training. So, it is neat working with artists who are doing something creative with the work,” said Adedayo. Adedayo believes that the project has made an impact, and feels it starts with the storytelling.
“I think the storytelling and relationship building. The youth get to hear the stories from elders what the community is about and hear it firsthand rather than from a book that may or may not even contain our history,” said the program manager. She also wants city staff to hear these stories and get an idea of what’s going on in the community. These stories aren’t just for residents, they are of everyone who lives, works and plays in Minneapolis. “The residents who are the storytellers are the ones who carry the knowledge that all of us need to hear about what has happened within the area, and we get a chance to hear it firsthand.” When asked about the future of Minneapolis and what people should gain from the Northside Oral History Project, Adedayo said she thinks the determinant of that is the Northsiders themselves. “I think in the end, they are the ones who need to make a decision on what North Minneapolis looks like in the future,” said Adedayo.
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Insight News • March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020 • Page 5
Insight 2 Health
Understanding coronavirus Make no mistake, we are in the midst of a global health crisis. Schools and college campuses are closing, major sports teams and leagues are suspending the season and the stock market is in freefall with fears over the spread of a global pandemic and the response (or lack of) by the federal government. With coronavirus – and it’s more serious form, COVID-19 – rapidly affecting the nation and the globe it is important to be educated on the disease, its transmission and, most importantly, how to best protect one’s self amid the outbreak. The world was first alerted to coronavirus in December when individuals in Wuhan City, China began to fall ill. Although the Chinese government took measures to contain the outbreak, including canceling its New Year celebrations, the virus spread within and beyond its borders. According to WorldOMeter, in China nearly 80,800 were infected with the virus, and of that, 3,169 have died. In Italy, which is under national quarantine and the first case was confirmed on Jan. 31, cases are up to nearly 12,500 and already, 827 are dead. The United States has surpassed 1,200 cases with the epicenter in Washington state.
There 300-plus cases have been reported and the death toll is 26. Here in Minnesota, as of March 12 there are nine known cases of the virus, with one individual, a 30-year-old, in critical condition. The first case in Minnesota was reported on March 6. What is coronavirus? According to the Minnesota Department of Health, coronavirus is a large family of viruses estimated to cause about a third of all cases of the common cold. The most common forms can cause mild to moderate illness in people. COVID-19 on the other hand is “a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before” and is in the same viral family as the 2004 pandemic, SARS. COVID-19 is far more deadly. According to the World Health Organization, SARS killed 774 people, but an alarming 10 percent of people who contracted the disease. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. According to the Minnesota Department of Health (DOH), some patients have had other symptoms including muscle aches, headache, sore throat, or diarrhea. “Based on what has been seen previously as the
incubation period of other coronaviruses, CDC believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear two to 14 days after exposure,” reads the DOH webpage on the virus. “Symptoms are similar to other respiratory illnesses that are circulating, such as influenza, so experiencing these symptoms alone does not necessarily mean you need to be tested for COVID-19. Additional criteria will help your health care provider decide if you should be tested, such as if you have history of recent travel (within past 14 days) from an affected geographic area, if you had close contact with any person who is a lab-confirmed patient within the past 14 days of symptom onset or if you are hospitalized with something like acute respiratory illness or pneumonia without another explanation (e.g., influenza).” Coronavirus, a person-to-person virus, is spreading rapidly. According to the CDC it is spread between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet) and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. The CDC is
recommending common sense practices to halt the transmission of the virus. They suggest you wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Can contract
Black
people coronavirus? A common myth being propagated on social media is that Black people are less susceptible or immune to coronavirus. As evidenced by the announcement that the Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have both tested positive for the disease, Black people are not immune to coronavirus. While the cases are notably low in Africa, scientists theorize two possible reasons. One, the climate. It is not yet known how well the virus sustains itself in warm weather, but that could play a role. The other possible reason for the lack of transmission in Africa is the many nations of
Those most at risk from serious illness due to COVID-19 are the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. the continent were prepared to stave off the disease. As of March 12, there were just about 100 coronavirus cases in all of Africa – 200 less than Washington state alone. Fifty-nine are concentrated in Egypt, most among passengers and crew members aboard a Nile cruise ship coming from southern city of Aswan to Luxor, according to an Egyptian state-run news source. Having learned lessons from the Ebola outbreak of 2014, according to CNN, in Lagos, Nigeria, temperature screenings and use of hand sanitizers before entering public spaces such as banks, offices and restaurants are becoming mandatory to limit the spread of the disease. In the same report it is noted that hand washing stations have been set-up at bus terminals throughout Rwanda. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends if you are feeling
symptomatic to self quarantine. “Staying home when sick is a fundamental ‘stop the spread’ tip that can be particularly difficult to follow, either because people have no sick leave or they feel otherwise compelled to show up and tough it out,” said DOH on its coronavirus webpage. “During an outbreak, we strongly encourage employees to reconsider going to work when sick. Staying home when sick protects not only other individual employees but also the larger workforce of an organization. One sick employee staying home may be an inconvenience, but an entire team of sick employees can become a far greater problem for the entire organization or business.” For more information, please visit the Minnesota Department of Health at www. health.state.mn.us/diseases/ coronavirus.
Health officials confirm 14 cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) confirmed 14 positive cases of novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. The most serious case is the third reported, one of an Anoka County resident in his or her 30s who was likely exposed through contact with international travelers. The patient developed symptoms Feb. 28 and sought care March 9. Samples were collected from the person and sent to the MDH Public Health Laboratory for testing March 9. The test was found
positive. MDH is awaiting confirmatory testing from CDC, but health officials consider the presumptive results actionable. As of March 13 the patient was hospitalized in critical condition. As with other cases, MDH is working with public health officials and health care partners to identify and contact all those who may have come in contact with those infected. These people will be asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days from their exposure and will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms.
As of March 13 there were 14 known cases of COVID-19 in the state; one resulting in critical care hospitalization.
Health officials again stressed the importance of all Minnesotans continuing to do those things that can limit the spread of the coronavirus. MDH advises to stay home and away from others if you are sick, cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue, wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water and Avoid touching your face throughout the day. The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread primarily by respiratory droplets when
an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza is spread. It can also spread when people touch surfaces that have been contaminated by an infected person and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth. More information about coronavirus can be found on MDH’s Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) website. MDH has set up a COVID-19 public hotline that is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The hotline number is (651) 201-3920.
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Page 6 • March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020 • Insight News
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DeLaSalle teen embarks on philanthropy, entrepreneurship Kobi Gregory a junior at DeLaSalle High school is has been described as cheerful, nurturing, adventurous and funny. She can now add philanthropist to the list. On March 4, Gregory delivered 120 children’s books to the NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center in North Minneapolis – her bounty from a month long self-organized book drive. It was her love of books, and the requisite for service hours (a requirement for all DeLaSalle students) that ignited the idea of a book drive. “I’ve always been an avid reader” said Gregory. “So much that my bookshelf is stuffed with books I’ve had since I was a preschooler. It got to the
point where my mom couldn’t stand the sight of it so she made me start a donation pile.” Her pile was so large it made her think how many of her friends and family were also in the same boat. Her goal was to collect and donate 100 books. She was happy when she surpass that goal by 20. Her book drive couldn’t have come at a better time. The bookshelves at NorthPoint were empty except for three lingering books, but for good reason. The Doctors at NorthPoint give books to each of their preschool patients to encourage reading at an early age. Not only is Gregory an avid reader – she is also an entrepreneur. She recently
Kobi Gregory and her Kobi Co. luxury candle and mist products.
launched her candle business, Kobi Co. (www.lovekobico. com), to pay for the fee to attend the Progressive Baptist Church annual HBCU tour in the fall and to hopefully able to continue to provide support throughout her years in college. Kobi Co. debuted her signature luxury candle and mist scent, #GirlDad at Positive Image’s annual Father Daughter Dance. Gregory’s future plans include to slowly grow and expand the luxury offerings on her e-commerce store. “Who knows, maybe I’ll even get a truck so I can start a mobile boutique,” said Gregory. “But first I guess I better work on getting my driver’s license.”
Companies owned by women of color account for 89 percent of all new women-owned businesses By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Crystal
Etienne
is
a
businesswoman, wife, and mother of two children. She’s also the founder of Ruby Love, a $10 million personal care company that she built in just four years. “My dream was to always work for myself,” Etienne, a New York native,
stated in an email to NNPA Newswire. “However, I did have thoughts about going to law school. Understanding the political side of things, certain laws, and the rights of those around me always excited me, especially if I felt someone was wronged. I ended up going a different route and landed a job in finance. Math, equations, and anything that had to do with business was something I was always good at. It was my strong suit, which is ironic because I disliked accounting and finance as a student.” But her dreams have come true, she said. “The end goal was to always work for myself,” Etienne said. “I am now in a position to make my own decisions and take control of my course in life.” Etienne’s success helps to underscore a growing trend highlighted in the most recent “State of WomenOwned Businesses Report,” which noted that women of color account for 89 percent (1,625) of the new businesses opened over the past year. The annual report, based on U.S. Census Bureau data adjusted by Gross Domestic Product data, found that women-owned businesses continue to trend above all others. Over the past five years, the number of women-owned businesses increased by 21
percent, while all enterprises increased by only 9 percent. Total employment by women-owned businesses rose 8 percent. At the same time, to all companies, the increase was far lower at 1.8 percent, and total revenue for women-owned businesses also rose slightly above all others; 21 percent compared to 20 percent, respectively. The “State of WomenOwned Businesses Report” also found that as work has trended toward side hustles and the gig economy, so had female entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, growth in the number of women “sidepreneurs” grew nearly twice as fast as the overall growth in female entrepreneurship (39 percent to 21 percent). Minority women are responsible for a large portion of that growth from 20142019, where “sidepreneurship” among minority women-owned businesses was two times higher than others (65 percent compared to 32 percent). When looking at specific minority groups over the past five years, growth in “sidepreneurship” is up 99 percent among AfricanAmerican women, compared to 70 percent for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, 63 percent for Asian-Americans,
iStock/NNPA
When looking at specific minority groups over the past five years, growth in “sidepreneurship” is up 99 percent among African-American women. 46 percent for Latina/Hispanic women, and 36 percent among Native-Americans/ Alaska Native businesswomen. The report concluded that women of color are starting businesses at 4.5 times the average rate, and, in nearly every category, women of color are leading the womenowned business charge. The rise in businesses owned by women of color could correlate to the power they’ve displayed at the ballot box. Since 2000, the number of eligible women of color voters has increased by 59 percent – a gain of more than 13 million potential voters, according to the Center for American Progress (CAP).
“In the past decade, the voter-eligible population of women of color increased six times faster than that of white women, yet candidates, journalists, and policymakers rarely acknowledge their ability to affect elections,” said Danyelle Solomon, the vice president of Race and Ethnicity Policy at the CAP. “Women of color are the canaries in the coal mine. When you center them in your policymaking agenda, outcomes for all Americans will improve. Continuing to ignore the policy priorities of this powerhouse of voters will only further undermine the health of our democracy and further exacerbate racial and gender inequalities.”
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Insight News • March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020 • Page 7
Malik Beasley is the Wolves missing piece By Davion Moore Malik Beasley continues to make his case as the possible puzzle piece to make the Timberwolves a playoff contending team next season. Since his arrival, Beasley looks like the ideal shooting guard for the T-Wolves. He is exceptionally skilled on the offensive end, and in a larger role, the 23-year-old has thrived. When Beasley played for the Denver Nuggets (with whom he played three and a half seasons), his role was limited. Before being traded, Beasley played 41 games for the Nuggets and did not start in a single game. He averaged 7.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 18.2 minutes. He also shot 38.9 percent from the field and 36 percent from the 3-point line. In his new role with the Timberwolves, his stats have improved drastically. In only 13 games, Beasley averages 21.9 points and 5.2 rebounds, while playing 33.1 minutes per game. His shooting percentages have also increased, as he shoots nearly 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc. Beasley has embraced being a starter, and since his arrival over a month ago, he has delivered. The Timberwolves suffered a couple of straight blowout losses, and in those losses, Beasley combined 50 points. He finished the games with 29 points and 21 points, respectively. Beasley has not scored less than 14 points with the Timberwolves, as his 14-point game on March 1 was his “worst” performance with the T-Wolves. He finished the game with 14 points and shot 33.3 percent from the field (his lowest percentage since the trade). Ironically, he shot 44.4 percent from deep, which is his fifth best 3-point shooting performance in his new role.
CBS Television/Wikimedia Commons
In 1965, pop music’s most celebrated and dynamic dynasty was born when five brothers from Gary, Indiana formed The Jackson 5. Publicity photo of the Jackson 5 from their 1972 television special.
The Jackson ‘Five-Five’
Malik Beasley Regardless, he bounced back in the next game and finished with 28 points and shot 80 percent from 3-point range. With it being a little over a month since the trade deadline, and it seems that acquiring Beasley has paid off for the Timberwolves. The T-Wolves have some decisions to make this summer, as Beasley can become a restricted free agent. However, the Timberwolves can extend a qualifying offer in hopes of retaining him. And, keeping him is their best bet. The Timberwolves are on the right track, as they have a player such as Beasley to go along with pieces such as Karl
Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell. They also have young players such as rookie Jarrett Culver and sophomore Josh Okogie. The Timberwolves have a good chance at receiving a high draft pick, as they are on the verge of another lottery season. If they find the right prospect to go along with the core they are building, the T-Wolves will become even better. A core such as this one should not be slept on, and if they continue to develop, they can become a legitimate threat. But Beasley’s future could play a significant role in their success. If he continues to play well, he’ll be a crucial piece in Minnesota’s rebuild.
Fifty-five years ago, music changed forever. In 1965, pop music’s most celebrated and dynamic dynasty was born when five brothers from Gary, Ind. formed The Jackson 5. With hits like “I’ll Be There,” “The Love You Save” and “I Want You Back,” the brothers Jackson took the world by storm. Their trailblazing act set the stage for music’s single most influential artist – the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. While the Jackson 5 never won a Grammy, Michael Jackson would eventually dominate all awards and shatter every record known to music. With hits too numerous to recite and including “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Bad,” and “Man in the Mirror,” Michael’s solo accomplishments remain unchallenged, for he was not only idolized by fans but considered a star among all other celebrities. To put in perspective, the praise heaped upon Michael, think Beyoncé and add 100 times or more to that. However, it should not be mistaken, whatever the
Jackson 5 – who were later rebranded as The Jacksons – lacked in awards, they more than made up for it in record sales and concert receipts. As far as talent, it wasn’t all Michael. On stage, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, and even Randy proved as talented as any pop star. That’s far from hyperbole. Anyone who shared the stage with Michael that often – and more than held their own – had to possess similar talent. The only thing better than a Michael Jackson concert was a show featuring Michael and his brothers. “Nobody worked harder than Michael,” family patriarch, the late Joseph Jackson, once told this reporter. “But nobody except my boys could run with him,” Jackson stated. Jermaine, perhaps the best-known group member not named Michael, also was ticketed for superstardom. It was no mistake that Jermaine was seen as the glue to hold the brothers together. He also possessed a string of hits including, “Let’s Get Serious,”
“Dynamite,” and “When the Rain Begins to Fall.” Tito would go on to front a blues band, while Jackie found success producing other artists. The Jackson Five earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, while Michael was inducted as a solo artist four years later. Michael Jackson died in 2009, but his music continues to top the charts routinely. Michael’s legacy has eclipsed Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and all other superstars. His estate continues to rake in hundreds of millions of dollars each year, and fans are as loyal as ever. The Jacksons have since resumed touring, wowing a new generation of fans, and remains a top concert draw. “There was always magic in Michael and something special in all of them,” Motown Records founder Berry Gordy said. “There will never be another Michael nor another Jackson Five,” said Motown Legend Stevie Wonder.
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Page 8 • March 16, 2020 - March 22, 2020 • Insight News
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