When women women of color see themselves see reflected in leader ship, re ected in leadership, it redefines what is rede nes possible It reshapes possible. It the trajector y of who the trajectory of who we can be and where we can we can go we can go.
Esq.
The room buzzed with energy as voices, laughter, and purpose filled the air. Women of color— powerful leaders, trailblazers, and community activists—had gathered from every corner of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metroplex, united by one goal: to support Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. This wasn’t just another campaign event. It was a moment of reckoning and resurgence, where the power of our presence echoed the urgent need for transformative leadership in our nation.
As I watched Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a powerhouse in her own right, speak to a packed room, I couldn’t help but think about what a Harris-Walz victory would truly mean. It wasn’t just about flipping seats or winning campaigns—it was about shattering ceilings and shifting narratives for women of color everywhere. The change wouldn’t just happen at the top. It would cascade, creating new opportunities for leaders across the country to step into roles they’ve long been shut out of and building a government that finally reflects the people it serves. This is the promise of a Harris-Walz victory: representation that moves beyond symbolism and into action, where leadership is rooted in lived experiences and a commitment to communities that have been overlooked for far too long. In states like Minnesota, this impact could be felt almost immediately. With Governor Walz joining
the Harris administration, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan would likely ascend to the governorship, making history as the first Native American woman to lead a state and the first woman governor in Minnesota’s 164-year history.
For many young women of color, especially those in Minnesota, this would not just be a milestone. It would be a turning point—one that tells them there is a place for them in the highest offices of government. It’s a powerful reminder that with one election, America can move a step closer to fulfilling its promise of being a true representative democracy.
Imagine what it would mean for a young Latina girl in North Minneapolis to see a woman who looks like her holding the highest office in the land. Or what it could mean for a Native American girl growing up on a reservation to know that someone who shares her heritage is leading her state. These are not just symbolic gestures—they are powerful statements of what’s possible when government truly reflects the diversity and resilience of the people it serves.
For generations, women of color have carried the weight of our communities, often behind the scenes and without recognition. A HarrisWalz administration could change that by creating an explosion of diverse talent and voices shaping the policy agenda—not just in the White House, but at every level of government. From a more inclusive cabinet to diverse appointees throughout the federal bureaucracy, this victory could signal the beginning of a new chapter in American leadership— one that fully embraces the intersectionality of race, gender, and lived experience.
When those voices are in the room, the
conversation changes. We talk about education reform differently when the people most impacted are not only at the table but setting the agenda. We address healthcare differently when there are leaders who know firsthand the systemic barriers facing women of color. We tackle economic inequality differently when policymakers have lived the realities of paycheckto-paycheck existence.
This is not about tokenism—it’s about tapping into the wisdom and resilience of communities that have navigated injustice and still found ways to build and thrive. When those voices are empowered, the decisions made are more comprehensive, equitable, and just.
The brunch I attended was a powerful reminder of this
truth. As Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Lauren Underwood talked about the crucial role of women of color in shaping political outcomes, I could see the shift already taking place. This wasn’t just about supporting Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. It was about building a future where the voices of women of color aren’t just heard—they are heeded. Where our ideas aren’t just welcomed— they are woven into the fabric of policy-making and governance. A Harris-Walz administration would send a message that a new day is dawning in America. That our democracy is expanding to include more voices, more perspectives, and more stories that reflect the people it serves. Imagine a cabinet that draws not just from boardrooms, but from community centers, tribal
councils, and local school boards. Imagine a judiciary that looks more like the people it serves. Imagine a policy agenda that includes the voices of teachers, union organizers, social workers, and activists, not just corporate executives. This is the kind of leadership that can transform our country—not just for today, but for generations to come. Because representation is not just about who stands on the stage, but about what it allows us to believe about our own potential. When women of color see themselves reflected in leadership, it redefines what is possible. It reshapes the trajectory of who we can be and where we can go. America is still wrestling with its promise of equality and justice for all. But with one election, we could take
Kamala Harris in the White House and Peggy Flanagan leading Minnesota would not be the culmination of that
ght—it would be the next chapter. It would show a new generation of women, especially women of color, that change is not just possible, it’s happening now. So, as we
Columnist
By Haley Taylor Schlitz,
Photos courtesy of Hailey Taylor Schlitz
Left to right: Haley Taylor Schlitz and Congresswomen Ilhan Omar.
Minnesota men convicted of gang charges connected to federal crackdown
A Minnesota jury convicted three alleged members of a Minneapolis street gang on Tuesday of charges stemming from what prosecutors said was a yearslong pattern of violence and murder.
Ally and Thurgood Marshall College Fund gathered 50 students to compete for over $200k in scholarships and prizes.
Two teams
The charges are part of a federal gang crackdown authorities announced in 2023 that ensnared dozens of members or associates of two major Minneapolis gangs. Tuesday’s guilty verdict marks the first conviction in the federal operation with the rare use of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. The anti-corruption law is used to target organized crime, and prosecutors compared the defendants’ actions to the mafia.
superseded all criminal laws and social tenets, such as respect for human life or concern for public safety.”
“The Minneapolis Bloods gang is a violent criminal enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “As the evidence proved, the defendants convicted today were members of that enterprise, and they carried out violence and murder on its behalf. As Bloods members, the rules these defendants lived by
Jurors convicted Desean Solomon, 34, of RICO conspiracy and using a firearm in furtherance of murder. They also convicted Michael Burrell, 44, and Leontawan Holt, 26, of federal gun charges. Attorneys for the three men argued they acted in self-defense during violent encounters and that the men were members of a loosely affiliated group, not a formal gang. Prosecutors said the trio have been members and associates of the Minneapolis Bloods street gang since at least 2020. That same year, court records show the men went to a Minneapolis nightclub where they got into an altercation with a rival gang member. A gunfight ensured outside the club. Solomon and Burrell both fired their weapons multiple times, resulting in the murder of a rival
How Hurricane Milton exploded into an ‘extraordinary’ storm
By Matt Simon, Grist MinnPost
through the Southeastern United States, killing more than 200 people and causing perhaps hundreds of billions of dollars in property and economic damage, Hurricane Milton has spun up in the Gulf of Mexico and taken aim at Florida. On Monday, Milton reached Category 5 status with winds reaching as high as 180 mph, and it’s expected to cause widespread flooding with torrential rainfall and a towering storm surge when it makes landfall, likely around Tampa Bay on Wednesday. How Milton got to this point is even more remarkable. A hurricane undergoes “rapid intensification” if its sustained wind speeds jump by at least 35 miles per hour within 24 hours. Helene did that before making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida’s west coast. But Milton’s intensification has been nothing short of explosive: Wind speeds skyrocketed by 90 mph in 24 hours — at one point managing a 70mph leap in just 13 hours — leaving meteorologists and researchers stunned. It’s one of the fastest intensification events scientists have ever observed in the Atlantic. Even sophisticated hurricane models didn’t see it coming. “This is definitely extraordinary,” said Karthik Balaguru, a climate scientist who studies hurricanes at the Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory. “The storm barely formed on Oct. 5, and on Oct. 7, it is a Cat 5 hurricane. That is very impressive.” Like Helene before it, Milton formed under the perfect conditions for rapid intensification. A hurricane’s fuel is high ocean temperatures, and the Gulf of Mexico has been a warm bath in recent months, with temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, well above average figures. “Sea surface temperatures
in this area are near record, if not record-breaking,” said Daniel Gilford, who studies hurricanes at Climate Central, a nonprofit research organization. “It’s a little bit difficult to say, actually.”
That’s because of an unfortunate irony: Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, North Carolina, where the National Centers for Environmental Information
In our time of deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Emily “Cissy” Houston, who transitioned today, Monday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m. ET, at her home in Newark, New Jersey, while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. Houston, who recently turned 91 years old on September 30, 2024, was surrounded by her family.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” says Pat Houston, the daughter-in-law of Cissy Houston. “Mother
Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly
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MOGULS 4
Philander Smith and Southern University win the 6th annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneurial pitch competition
Credit:
MN MEN GANG 4
Shari L. Gross/Star Tribune via AP, File
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, left, and Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger announce charges against fourteen Minneapolis gang members with possession of machine guns, fentanyl trafficking and firearms violations at a press conference inside the federal courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn., on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.
McDonald’s has some beef with today’s largest meat packers.
The fast food giant is suing the U.S. meat industry’s “Big Four” — Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef Packing Company — and their subsidiaries, alleging a price fixing scheme for beef specifically. In a federal complaint, filed Friday in New York, McDonald’s accused the companies of anticompetitive measures such as collectively limiting supply to boost prices and charge “illegally inflated” amounts.
This collusion caused the beef market to become “a monopoly in which direct purchasers were forced to buy at prices dictated by (the meat packers),” McDonald’s suit reads — later noting that the injury it has sustained as one of those buyers is what “antitrust laws were designed to prevent.” McDonald’s alleges that the meat packers’ conspiracy dates back nearly a decade, at least as early as
January 2015, and continues today. Its suit argues these companies’ actions violate the Sherman Act, a federal antitrust law. Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. But these
companies have faced federal probes and allegations of price fixing before. Lawsuits filed by grocery stores, ranchers, restaurants and wholesalers have piled up over the years. Some litigation is still pending, although meat packers and
processers have opened their wallets in the past. In 2022, for example, JBS agreed to a $52.5 million settlement in a similar beef price-fixing lawsuit. And Tyson agreed to pay $221.5 million back in 2021, after facing class-action claims that alleged
purposely inflated chicken prices. Such settlements did not include admissions of wrongdoing, however. Meat processors have previously maintained that larger supply and demand factors out of their control, not anticompetitive
behavior, has caused prices to go up. Meat processing plants were occassionally closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, and the industry has also faced labor shortages that were worsened by the pandemic.
Still, lawsuits like the one from McDonald’s point to increased profit margins during the alleged time of conspiracy — and argue that overall concentration of the market helps facilitate collusion. “Conspiracies are easier to organize and sustain when only a few firms control a large share of
In what appears a swift resolution to the first work stoppage in nearly half a century, the Local International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has reportedly reached a deal to end its three-day strike, which had disrupted port operations across the East and Gulf Coasts. While specific details of the agreement remain under wraps, numerous media outlets are reporting that multiple union sources confirmed that both sides have agreed to extend the recently expired contract until January 15, allowing workers to return to their posts while the final terms are negotiated and ratified.
The ILA’s first strike since 1977 brought major
shipping routes to a standstill, halting the flow of essential goods, such as containerized imports and exports, critical to the holiday season supply chain. The 50,000 union members from ports stretching from Maine to Texas had walked off the job early Tuesday morning, citing the expiration of their six-year contract on October 1. Ships were left stranded at sea, unable to dock and unload cargo, affecting industries ranging from produce to automotive.
Labor experts have quickly clarified that the strike’s timing—just weeks ahead of the November election—was purely coincidental, dictated by the long-standing contract expiration date, not political pressures. However, the strike coincided with an already tense political landscape, adding a layer of urgency to its resolution. While the tentative deal is a positive step forward,
chain, which did not immediately respond to a request for further comment Tuesday, has more than 39,000 locations across over 100 countries worldwide, including about 13,000 in the U.S. The vast majority are franchised.
it still requires ratification by the union’s rank-and-file members, a process that could alter the course of events. If the workers reject the deal, the strike may resume, a scenario not unheard of in recent labor disputes. Just last month, a
similar situation unfolded when machinists at Boeing rejected a tentative deal despite union leaders’ endorsement. Business leaders and political figures alike had expressed growing concerns over the potential economic
fallout had the strike continued. The work stoppage threatened the availability of key imports, from European luxury cars to food products, when inflationary pressures already weighed on the economy. The situation remains
gang member, prosecutors said. In a separate
done to revitalize Detroit DETROIT, Oct. 8, 2024 – Philander Smith University and Southern University students took top honors in the sixth annual
encounter in 2022, Solomon and Holt went to a bar to celebrate a birthday. Another fight with a rival gang member broke out. Holt and a juvenile allegedly shot at and killed a rival gang member. Prosecutors built their case
Moguls in the Making Entrepreneurial Pitch competition, where 50 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) developed innovative and impactful solutions to address economic mobility challenges in Detroit. The competition, held October 2-6, was hosted by Ally Financial (NYSE: ALLY) in collaboration with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the largest organization exclusively representing the Black college community. This year’s event took place in Detroit at The Icon building, home to the state’s only HBCU, and the nation’s only design-focused HBCU, Pensole Lewis College. The Jennifer Hudson Show had something special prepared for the students early in the week. Everyone is encouraged to tune in on October 25 to see the surprise. “These Moguls stand
out among their peers – they’re hungry for new experiences, to learn about potential career paths, and to make a big impact in the community,” said Reggie Willis, chief diversity officer at Ally. “They always bring insightful ideas and perspectives to showcase in their pitches, and it’s exciting to see their growth in just a few short days.” Fifty students – 10 teams with five students each – toured Detroit, Ally’s headquarters, to learn about the city’s rich heritage and community challenges with stops at Orchestra Hall, Motown Museum, and Detroit Pizza Bar. They were then assigned industries and asked to develop a concept to support economic mobility in Detroit, creating business plans to put those ideas into action. The five-day program included motivational messages from Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan,
workshops, fireside chats, and mentor engagement. On the final day, each team presented their business plan to a panel of judges who awarded prizes to the top four teams based on the pitch. Members of those top teams each received a scholarship for the 2025 school year, the guaranteed offers of a paid internship at Ally for summer 2025, and other prizes to support their education. The 2024 top four teams and their pitch concepts were: First Place Tie: Philander Smith University and Southern University, $20,000 scholarships for each student. Philander Smith University Their idea,
Photo/Gene J. Puskar,
numeracy, and science. The platform uses AI to create unique learning pathways that meet the needs of all students on an individual basis. Little Genius also includes gamified interactive assessments with voice recognition and offline functionality.
Kenna Agbugba, a junior computer science student from Abuja, Nigeria
Angel Balogun, a sophomore computer science student from Lagos, Nigeria
Zara Duruji, a sophomore computer science student from Abuja, Nigeria
Jennifer Obinwanne, a sophomore computer science student from Lagos, Nigeria
James Owolabi, a senior computer science student from Abuja, Nigeria
Southern University and A&M College Their Electric Meets Opportunity app revolutionizes transportation for low-income communities by providing affordable, ecofriendly access to clean energy vehicles. Designed for seamless convenience, it empowers drivers and passengers to reach essential destinations like work and healthcare, all while tapping into the future of smart, sustainable mobility.
Megan Abraham, a senior marketing student from Baton Rouge, Taylor Curtis, a senior elementary education student from Houston Jazmon DeRousselle, a senior mass communications student from Houston Rashard Grace, a senior computer science student from Madison, Nalone Sumo, a senior finance student from Baton Rouge,
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stores data on ocean temperatures. “The sea surface temperature data that we rely on to make our day-to-day climate attribution calculations is actually unavailable to us,” said Gilford. “It’s been down for about 11 days now because of Hurricane Helene.”
Losing access to that data is making it harder to calculate how much climate change has contributed to Milton’s intensification.
Second Place: Hampton University, $10,000 scholarships for each student.
The team’s Gov On the Go project addresses the lack of access to public services and job opportunities in Detroit’s underserved communities by engaging directly with residents, creating personalized pathways, and tracking success to drive economic mobility and reduce poverty.
They plan to expand efforts through targeted outreach, adding resources like more vehicles and broader initiatives to maximize impact.
Chelsea Agyei, a junior biochemistry student from Virginia Beach, Kiana Bernard, a senior strategic communication student from Cincinnati, Ohio
Christin Fluellen, a junior journalism student from Detroit Breaden Lessane, a sophomore business administration student from Winston Salem, C. Ceri Mundrati, a sophomore journalism student from Charlotte, N.C.
Third Place: Spelman College, $5,000 scholarships for each student.
The D.O.P.E. Initiative is a mission-driven credit union that aims to provide access to capital for Detroit residents who have been historically underserved by financial institutions. While offering many of the traditional services offered by a credit union, the D.O.P.E. Initiative will focus primarily on under-serviced individuals in the housing market.
Awah Asangwe, a junior economics and political science student from Kansas City, Madison Corzine, a sophomore political science student from Worth, Texas Dominique Preston, sophomore comparative women’s studies student from Detroit
But Gilford can say with confidence that the sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico were made at least 100 times more likely because of climate change, and that’s a conservative estimate. Hurricanes also like high humidity, which Milton has plenty of. And low wind shear — winds moving at different speeds at various heights in the atmosphere — meant Milton could organize and spin up nicely. “There’s nothing to impede the storm from the atmospheric standpoint,” Balaguru said.
Milton’s extreme intensification has the
Wynter Stokes, a senior economics student from Detroit
Symone Thompson, a senior political science student from Tallahassee, All other students who competed received a $1,000 scholarship for their participation.
“The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is incredibly proud to extend our relationship with Ally for the sixth year,” said TMCF President & CEO Harry L. Williams. “Ally’s continued investment in the innovation and entrepreneurial talent at HBCUs highlights its commitment to empowering students to improve their socioeconomic standing— benefiting not only the students but also their communities and society as a whole.”
Since the program’s inception in 2019, more than 300 students have participated. Ally has employed 46 of the former Moguls as interns and hired 15 as full-time employees across a variety of functions, including technology, marketing, product design, and corporate services. To date, Ally has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and prizes through Moguls in the Making.
About the Competition
More than 600 students from 52 schools completed the application process for this year’s competition. Those chosen to compete hail from Elizabeth City State University, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Hampton University, Howard University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Philander Smith University, Southern University A&M College, Spelman College, and Texas Southern University.
Mentors and team coaches from the Detroit business community including Ally executives, past Moguls in the Making participants, and
fingerprints of climate change all over it. For one, as the atmosphere warms, so too do the oceans, providing vast pools of fuel for hurricanes. Scientists are also finding that changes in atmospheric patterns have been decreasing wind shear in coastal regions. A difference in temperature between the land and sea also creates circulation patterns that boost the amount of humidity in the atmosphere. So with higher humidity, warmer oceans, and weaker wind shear, hurricanes have everything they need to rapidly intensify into monsters. Indeed, scientists are finding
television series and films.
HBCU alumni donated their time to work with students, providing valuable perspective throughout the competition.
Learn more about the program at http:// www.ally.com/moguls
Additional Moguls in the Making quotes for use:
Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II
“As an entrepreneur by training, I know how important it is to support young dreamers, doers, and innovators with the resources they need to succeed,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II.
“I’m proud to participate in Moguls in the Making, a one-of-a-kind competition bringing young leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country to Detroit, the #1 emerging startup ecosystem where we are building the future and making a difference. Whether it is growing our economy by unleashing innovation or supporting entrepreneurs of color through the Michigan Economic Opportunity Fund, Governor Whitmer and I are standing tall for a Michigan where everyone can chase their dreams and succeed.”
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
“Ally and Thurgood Marshall College Fund embodies what Detroit is all about—innovation, resilience, and grit. Detroit has always been a city where big ideas take root and grow into realities and this program is allowing hardworking young folks to get a jump start at that. I am so grateful to Ally for hosting this event in Detroit and providing so many HBCU students with the opportunity to display their talents.”
Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship at Ally Natalie Brown
“Moguls in the Making is an ongoing
a dramatic increase in the number of rapid intensification events close to shore in recent years. That makes hurricanes all the more dangerous: A coastal community might be preparing to ride out a Category 1 storm only for an unsurvivable Category 5 to suddenly come ashore. In general, a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, so hurricanes have more moisture to wring out as rain. A recent study found that climate change caused Helene to dump 50% more rainfall in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas. Gilford expects climate change to
commitment to increase social capital among HBCU students while providing access, exposure, and opportunities to elevate their success. As of this year, we will have hosted more than 300 HBCU students during the span of this program, and each year the bar is raised higher. We’ve been amazed by each team’s ingenuity and creativity, time and again.”
About Ally Financial Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation’s largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business, driven by a mission to “Do It Right” and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company serves approximately 11 million customers through a full range of online banking services (including deposits, mortgages, and credit card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company also includes a robust corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middlemarket companies, as well as auto financing and insurance offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.ally. com. For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally. com/#disclosures. For further images and news on Ally, please visit http://media.ally.com.
About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF memberschools include the publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities.
Through scholarships, capacitybuilding and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the PK12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit http://www.tmcf.org
About “The Jennifer Hudson Show” “Choose Joy” as Season 3 of the hit Daytime Emmy-Award nominated talk series “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” hosted by multihyphenate Jennifer Hudson, premiered Monday, September 16. The one-hour national syndicated program features celebrity guests, viral sensations, music, and a destination to celebrate exceptional community heroes. Tune in for fun, laughter, and heartwarming moments as “The Jennifer Hudson Show” spreads inspiration through extraordinary stories, talents, and passions. Jennifer uses her powerful voice to bring fun, uplifting, and genuine conversations to the forefront. In a world that needs more joy and hope, our daily show is an entertainment destination for viewers to laugh, learn, and feel inspired.
Contacts:
Jorge Avellan
Ally Public Relations
Jorge.Avellan@ally.com
Cindy Kamerad
The Allen Lewis Agency cindy@ theallenlewisagency.com
Clara Ross Stamps TMCF clara.stamps@ tmcf.org
SOURCE Ally Financial
also boost the rainfall that Milton dumps on Florida. Like Helene did in Big Bend, Milton is expected to bulldoze ashore a storm surge of perhaps 15 feet along Florida’s west coast. That’s in part a consequence of the gentle slope from the coast out into the Gulf of Mexico: If the water were deeper, the storm surge could flow into the depths. But in this case, the storm surge has nowhere to go but inland. The surge in Tampa Bay could be especially dangerous, since it acts like an overflowing bowl. As a result, the National Weather Service is warning that Milton could be the worst storm to hit the Tampa area in more than a century. Milton might not just be an immediate emergency for Florida — it could well be a harbinger of the supercharged hurricanes to come. This article originally appeared in Grist at https:// grist.org/extreme-weather/ hurricane-milton-explodedintensification-storm/. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org
spanned over five decades, with his most iconic role being that of James Evans Sr., the nononsense, hard-working father on the groundbreaking CBS sitcom Good Times (1974–1979). The show, which was the first sitcom to center on an African American family, became a cultural touchstone, and Amos’ portrayal of James Evans Sr. made him a symbol of strength and dignity for countless viewers.
However, his time on the series was cut short after three seasons due to creative differences with the show’s producers. Amos famously clashed with the show’s direction, objecting to what he saw as the stereotypical portrayal of his on-screen son, J.J., played by Jimmie Walker.
“We had a number of differences,” Amos recalled in later interviews, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “I felt too much emphasis was
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about family, ministry, and community. Her more than
being put on J.J. in his chicken hat, saying ‘Dy-no-mite!’ every third page.” Amos’ insistence on portraying a more balanced, positive image of the Black family on television led to his departure from the show in 1976, when his character was written out in a dramatic two-part episode.
Born John Allen Amos Jr. on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, Amos began his professional life with dreams of playing football. He played the sport at Colorado State University and had brief stints with teams like the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. But after a series of injuries and cutbacks, Amos transitioned to entertainment, beginning his career as a writer and performer.
Amos got his first major acting break as Gordy Howard, the good-natured weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, appearing on the iconic series from 1970 to 1973. He would go on to write and perform sketches on The Leslie Uggams Show and later landed roles in various
seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts. Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled. We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so
In 1977, Amos received an Emmy nomination for his powerful portrayal of the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark ABC miniseries Roots, a role that solidified his status as one of television’s most respected actors. Amos’ performance in Roots, one of the most watched and culturally significant TV events of all time, remains one of his most enduring achievements.
In addition to his success on television, Amos made his mark in films. He appeared in Melvin Van Peebles’ groundbreaking blaxploitation film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971) and The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973). He was widely recognized for his role in Coming to America (1988), where he played Cleo McDowell, the owner of McDowell’s, a fast-food restaurant parody of McDonald’s. Amos reprised the role over three decades later in Coming to America 2 (2021).
His filmography also includes the Sidney
many years with us and we are thankful for all the many valuable life lessons that she taught us. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other cherished family members.”
Poitier and Bill Cosby classic Let’s Do It Again (1975), The Beastmaster (1982), Die Hard 2 (1990), Ricochet (1991), Mac (1992), For Better or Worse (1995), The Players Club (1998), Night Trap (1993), and Because of Charley (2021). Amos was also a familiar face on television throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, with recurring roles in shows like The West Wing as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Will Smith’s stepfather. He appeared in The District, Men in Trees All About the Andersons (as Anthony Anderson’s father), and the Netflix series The Ranch Beyond acting, Amos had a passion for writing and performing in theater. In the 1990s, when he found it challenging to secure roles in Hollywood, he wrote and starred in the one-person play Halley’s Comet, about an 87-year-old man waiting in the woods for the comet’s arrival. He toured with the production for over 20 years,
On behalf of The Houston Family, we are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief. We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.
performing in cities across the United States and abroad.
In addition to his onscreen and stage accomplishments, Amos coproduced the documentary America’s Dad, which explored his life and career. He was also involved in Broadway, appearing in Carl Reiner’s Tough to Get Help production in 1972. John Amos’ life and career were not without personal challenges. In recent years, he was embroiled in a public legal battle between his children, K.C. and Shannon, over accusations of elder abuse. This unfortunate chapter cast a shadow over his later years. However, his legacy as a beloved television father and one of Hollywood’s pioneering Black actors remains untarnished. Both K.C. and Shannon, children from his first marriage to artist Noel “Noni” Mickelson and his exwife, actress Lillian
Lehman, survive Amos. Amos
By Terry Tang Associated Press
As co-founder and executive director of the Hmong American Farmers Association in Minnesota, Janssen Hang has met Gov. Tim Walz several times. It’s usually been on farmland with Walz in his trademark red flannel shirt.
“I’ve seen that red flannel multiple times.” Hang said, laughing. “I think he will be a wonderful candidate because he speaks from the heart...He’s not a third-generation senator’s son or some big business guy.”
Hmong Minnesotans were among those who watched as Walz was catapulted onto the Democratic presidential ticket with Vice President Kamala Harris two months ago. They have watched him crisscross the country and last week debate Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
Hmong American state lawmakers and community activists say Walz has built a mostly positive reputation with Minnesota’s largest Asian ethnic group. They point to past legislation, a willingness to reach across the aisle and attendance at community events from festivals to funerals. Now, a lot of these supporters want to show how much influence the Hmong American population has by getting out the vote with fellow Hmong in battleground states.
Walz has his fair share of Hmong detractors who say he’s done little to protect small businesses, especially in the aftermath of demonstrations and civil unrest where George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis. Still, with Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders being one of the nation’s fastest-growing voting blocs, Walz’s relationship with eligible Hmong voters could
VOTE 2024 VOTE 2024
potentially send ripples in swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan. And there is definitely more excitement in the local community with Walz in the mix.
“The next vice president is potentially someone who actually knows Hmong and can actually pronounce Hmong correctly,” said KaYing Yang, who serves on President Joe Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans. “Even though we are spread throughout the United States, our community is still very tightly knit.”
By state, census data shows California has the most Hmong people with over 107,000. But Minnesota and Wisconsin have seen considerable growth with populations of over 97,000 and over 58,000, respectively. North Carolina and Michigan round out the top five.
Hmong roots in the U.S. date back to the 1970s. Historically, Hmong people were a persecuted minority in China so many fled to Southeast Asia. During the Vietnam War, the CIA recruited Lao and Hmong people for “Special Guerrilla Units” to fight the spread of communism in a “secret war” in Laos. Thousands died. Others settled as refugees in Minnesota, Wisconsin and central California. Today, census data indicates there are more than 300,000 Hmong in the U.S. In Minnesota, the Hmong population’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed by Walz and other officials. Hmong farmers contribute more than 50% of produce across 50 farmers markets in the metropolitan Twin Cities. In 2022, these farmers reached a “truly historical moment” when they received $2 million from the state to purchase the farmland they had been leasing, Hang recalled. Walz was
“instrumental” in encouraging and working with legislators to ensure the funds were wrapped into a bi-partisan state infrastructure bonding bill. Walz and others have also gone out of their way to recognize Hmong war veterans. State Rep. Fue Lee, one of Minnesota’s nine Hmong state lawmakers who are also all Democrats, worked with Walz in 2019 to get a bill proclaiming May 14 as Hmong SGU Remembrance Day. The date coincides with when U.S. forces withdrew from Laos in 1975, making Hmong and Lao guerrilla unit soldiers refugees.
“The governor takes his time to know you personally,” Lee says. “That’s the impact that he has with a lot of the Hmong community members that I have spoken with about his candidacy.”
May Lor Xiong, a Minnesota Republican running for Congress in a Democratic district, doubts Walz will have much influence on Hmong
people in other states. She says Walz comes up short helping small businesses. She also criticizes what she viewed as a lack of leadership during the pandemic shutdown and protests over Floyd’s death. Homelessness and public safety are also issues she says Walz has done little to address.
“It’s just all about, you know, photo ops and that’s all it is,” Xiong said of Walz. The Harris-Walz campaign has invested in reaching the Hmong community, along with other Asian populations, with more staffing, media and in-language materials.
“Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have fought for the issues that matter to Asian American communities -- from investing in the middle class and small businesses to keeping communities safe and safeguarding our freedoms,” Andrew Peng, the campaign spokesperson for Asian American, Native Hawaiian
and Pacific Islander voter engagement, said in a statement.
Trump-Vance campaign officials say Asian Americans achieved success during Trump’s first term.
“There has been no bigger advocate for the AAPI community than President Trump, as he created an environment where diversity, equal opportunity, and prosperity were afforded to everybody,” Steven Cheung, a campaign senior advisor, said in a statement.
Collectivist in nature, Hmong culture follows an 18clan structure. Hmong WalzHarris supporters are hoping to leverage connections with clan leaders into votes from older generations. Some clan leaders will be speaking to Hmong volunteers at a Harris campaign phone banking event later this month, said Gaochi Vang, a co-chair Hmong Americans for Harris based in Madison, Wisconsin.
Data shows a huge
in swing states
wealth gap between Hmong and other Asian American subgroups. So, one of the biggest obstacles is getting through to potential voters who are feeling defeated or not cared for, Vang said. However, she thinks Walz’s history with the Hmong community could factor in. But, the message has to come from the right person.
“It’s important for our elders to hear from someone that they see is also a respected leader in their community or like another elder in their community,” Vang said. “I think that is what will empower our Hmong people, is to be reminded that their voice is really powerful because we can literally be that fraction of voters that tips Wisconsin one way or the other.”
Xiong, the Republican, thinks more Hmong voters actually are conservative-leaning on issues like reproductive rights and gender-affirming care.
“They don’t want to come out and say that to people because they’re just scared that their view might be frowned upon,” Xiong says. “I see a lot of people coming over to me and saying, ‘We vote Republican. We see what’s happening in our state .. and things (haven’t) changed.”
Democratic state Rep. Kaohly Vang Her says in the Hmong American community, most people don’t identify strongly with a party line.
“We have to actually work really hard to earn the Hmong vote every single time,” Her said. “The Hmong community wants to know you’re not being performative. You do know our issues, you are going to show up and you are going to fight for us.” Terry Tang reported from Phoenix. She is a member of AP’s Race and Ethnicity team.
TikTok is designed to be addictive to kids and causes them harm, US states’ lawsuits say
By Haleluya Hadero and Barbara Ortutay
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More than a dozen states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits against TikTok on Tuesday, saying that the popular short-form video app is designed to be addictive to kids and harms their mental health.
The lawsuits stem from a national investigation into TikTok, which was launched in March 2022 by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from many states, including New York, California, Kentucky and New Jersey. All of the complaints were filed in state courts.
At the heart of each lawsuit is the TikTok algorithm, which powers what users see on the platform by populating the app’s main “For You” feed with content tailored to people’s interests. The lawsuits note TikTok design features that they say addict children to the platform, such as the ability to scroll endlessly through content, push notifications that come with built-in “buzzes” and face filters that create unattainable appearances for users.
“They’ve chosen profit over the health and safety, well-being and future of our children,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said at a news conference in San Francisco. “And that is not something we can accept. So we’ve sued.”
The latest lawsuits come nearly a year after dozens of states sued Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc. in state and federal courts for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing addictive features that keep kids hooked on their platforms.
Keeping people on the platform is “how they generate massive ad revenue,” District of Columbia Attorney General
Brian Schwalb said in an interview. “But unfortunately, that’s also how they generate adverse mental health impacts on the users.”
The legal challenges, which also include Google’s YouTube, are part of a growing reckoning against social media companies and their effects on young people’s lives. In some cases, the challenges have been coordinated in a way that resembles how states previously organized against the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries.
TikTok, though, is facing an even bigger obstacle, as its very existence in the U.S. is in question. Under a federal law that took effect earlier this year, TikTok could be banned from the U.S. by mid-January if its China-based parent company, ByteDance, doesn’t sell the platform by then. Both TikTok and ByteDance are challenging the law at an appeals court in Washington. A panel of three judges heard oral arguments in the case last month and are expected to issue a ruling, which could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In its filings Tuesday, the District of Columbia called the algorithm “dopamineinducing,” and said it was created to be intentionally addictive so the company could trap many young users into excessive use and keep them on its app for hours on end. TikTok does this despite knowing that these behaviors will lead to profound psychological and physiological harms, such as anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia and other longlasting problems, the district said.
TikTok is disappointed that the lawsuits were filed after the company had been working with the attorneys general for two years on addressing to the issues, a spokesman said.
“We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to
be inaccurate and misleading,” the TikTok spokesman. Alex Haurek, said. “We’re proud of and remain deeply committed to the work we’ve done to protect teens and we will continue to update and improve our product.”
The social media company does not allow children under 13 to sign up for its main service and restricts some content for everyone under 18. But Washington and several other states said in their filings that children can easily bypass those restrictions, allowing them to access the service adults use despite the company’s claims that its platform is safe for children.
The District of Columbia alleges TikTok is operating as an “unlicensed virtual economy” by allowing people to purchase TikTok Coins – a virtual currency within the platform – and send “Gifts” to streamers on TikTok
LIVE who can cash it out for real money. TikTok takes a 50%
commission on these financial transactions but hasn’t registered as a money transmitter with the U.S. Treasury Department or authorities in the district, according to the complaint. Officials say teens are frequently exploited for sexually explicit content through TikTok’s LIVE streaming feature, which has allowed the app to operate essentially as a “virtual strip club” without any age restrictions. They say the cut the company gets from the financial transactions allows it to profit from exploitation. The 14 attorneys general say the goal of their lawsuits is to stop TikTok from using these features, impose financial penalties for their alleged illegal practices and collect damages for users that have been harmed. The use of social media among teens is nearly universal in the U.S. and many other parts of the world. Almost all teens ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. report using a social media
platform, with about a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center. High school students who frequently use social media more commonly have persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, according to a new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted last year in which about 20,000 teenagers participated. Also on Tuesday, 22 other states including Alabama, Colorado, Florida and Michigan filed an amicus brief urging a Tennessee court to force TikTok to produce documents related to a multistate investigation that those attorney general offices say TikTok is withholding or destroying. When TikTok failed to produce the requested information last year, 46 states including Minnesota filed an amicus brief in support of Tennessee. The amicus brief they filed Tuesday supports
Tennessee’s continued efforts to compel TikTok’s compliance. Last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued TikTok, alleging the company was sharing and selling minors’ personal information in violation of a new state law that prohibits these practices. TikTok, which disputes the allegations, is also fighting against a similar dataoriented federal lawsuit filed in August by the Department of Justice.
Several Republicanled states, including Nebraska, Kansas, New Hampshire, Kansas, Iowa and Arkansas, also previously sued the company, some unsuccessfully, over allegations it is harming children’s mental health, exposing them to “inappropriate” content or allowing young people to be sexually exploited on its platform.
Associated Press writers from around the U.S. contributed to this story.
AP Photo/Minh Connors
California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a press conference announcing a bipartisan coalition of attorney generals
ling lawsuits against TikTok for violation of state consumer protection laws Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in San Francisco.
Hmong Minnesotans who support Tim Walz hope to sway fellow Hmong communities
AP Photo/Abbie Parr
People attend a viewing party for the 2024 Vice Presidential Debate between Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance at Unison Restaurant and Banquet Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Maplewood, Minn.
Aesthetically It
Lundstrum Performing Arts honors late north Minneapolis dance teacher
By Sheila Regan MinnPost
Two and a half years ago, a beloved dance teacher at a performing arts school in North Minneapolis had his life and future taken from him when he was killed late at night in his home. Teacher Patrick Moore had a vision to bring the brilliance of Katherine Dunham, a 20th century American dance pioneer, to the school and to the Twin Cities. The school is now taking steps to bring that vision to reality.
Tucked into an industrial area between Interstate 94 and the Mississippi River in the Near North neighborhood, Lundstrum Performing Arts is training the stage and screen stars of tomorrow. With an after-school conservatory program, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop dance classes, acting and singing training, and a host of community partnerships, alumni from the school have gone on to get breaks in New York and L.A. Some have also make careers as performing arts here in the Twin Cities.
Coming up, the school is offering a deep dive into the work of Dunham, a seminal figure of American dance. She was a trained anthropologist, dancer, choreographer, dance educator and activist, who, in 1992, underwent a 47-day hunger strike. The protest was calling attention to the plight of Haitian Americans who were being deported
during the George H.W. Bush administration. Dunham died in 2006.
Ashi Smythe, who is teaching the first week of classes and workshops at Lundstrum with live drummers, sees Dunham as a matriarchal figure of Black dance in America.
“She combined European ballet with Caribbean and African style movements,” he said. “She evolved jazz from the Bob Fosse era to what we have now.”
Meanwhile, Dunham’s aesthetic was bolstered by her work as an anthropologist, as she helped to bring dance of the African diaspora into American consciousness and influenced others like Alvin Ailey, Eartha Kitt and Marlon Brando.
Dunham’s technique has been so immersed into American dance, a lot of people don’t even realize they’re employing her vocabulary, Smythe said. “Everyone is doing it. No one knows that she is the inventor of all of it. It has been incorporated in all of dance to begin with.”
Smythe was influenced by Dunham from a young age — his mother trained with Dunham and danced with her company. “She always called me her godson, and I’ve always known her as Mama D,” he said. Smythe himself trained in the Dunham technique, and also trained at Alvin Ailey in New York, before dancing with the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble. He also performed in the original Broadway production of “The Lion King” and danced with MC
Hammer and Michael Jackson.
Last year, Smythe retired from teaching at the Arvada Center in Colorado, where he had been based since 2012. He got connected with Lundstrum Performing Arts through Moore, an instructor at the school until 2022. Moore was still teaching at the school when he was killed in his apartment that year in a case of unintentional murder.
Amy Casserly Ellis, executive director of Lundstrum, said Moore, who had taught at the school since it re-organized as a nonprofit in 2000 (before that, the school operated as a for-profit performing arts school since 1927), brought the Dunham technique into his modern dance classes.
“He always told us that Lundstrum was much like the Katherine Dunham Center in East St. Louis,” Casserly Ellis said. “He credited the Katherine Dunham school with changing his life completely.”
Last year, Smythe retired from teaching at the Arvada Center in Colorado, where he had been based since 2012. He got connected with Lundstrum Performing Arts through Moore, an instructor at the school until 2022. Moore was still teaching at the school when he was killed in his apartment that year in a case of unintentional murder.
Amy Casserly Ellis, executive director of Lundstrum, said Moore, who had taught at the school since it re-organized as a nonprofit in 2000 (before that, the school operated as
a for-profit performing arts school since 1927), brought the Dunham technique into his modern dance classes.
“He always told us that Lundstrum was much like the Katherine Dunham Center in East St. Louis,” Casserly Ellis said. “He credited the Katherine Dunham school with changing his life completely.”
Five years ago, Moore brought Theo Jamison, who at the time ran the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts) and Andrea Smythe (Ashi Smythe’s mother), to Lundstrum for a workshop. More recently, Lundstrum received a $35,000
grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to host the Katherine Dunham residency in 2024.
Smythe said he didn’t have a relationship with the school except through Moore. When they asked him to come teach, he said yes.
“From Lundstrum’s point of view, we’re honoring our great, late dear friend,” Casserly Ellis said. “Our residency here is kind of dedicated to him and the Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts, because that place ignited his love of the craft.”
Also teaching as part of the residency is Rodney Hamilton, a St. Louis native who studied modern dance with Dunham and danced as
a principal member of Ballet Hispánico.
Lundstrum’s Katherine Dunham residency runs Oct. 14 through Oct. 26, with classes for adults and children at both intermediateadvanced levels and open levels for all abilities. The school will also host a live student performance and reception from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 26. (Classes and performance are free with pay-what-you-can option to donate).
Sheila Regan Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at sregan@minnpost. com.
Ashi Smythe
Courtesy of Lundstrum Performing Arts
Teacher Patrick Moore had a vision to bring the brilliance of Katherine Dunham to Lundstrum Performing Arts and to the Twin Cities.
Katherine Dunham
Rodney Hamilton
Vikings’ Aaron Jones is week to week with hip injury, avoiding long-term absence
By Dave Campbell AP Sports Writer
After the Minnesota Lynx soundly defeated the Connecticut Sun in a winnertake-all game to advance to the WNBA Finals, Napheesa Collier carried her 2-year-old daughter with her to the podium for the postgame interview. The session was only
a few seconds old when Mila, who got to stay up late on this monumental night, grew restless and was whisked away by her dad, Collier’s husband, Alex Bazzell. Despite her toddler’s protest and repeated cries to return to mom’s arms, Collier remained cool and collected — just like she is on the court.
“What makes Phee special is the consistency and the way she shows up every
single day,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “Phee is always the same: her work ethic, her demeanor, her passion for improving. She’s improved every season. She’s just been incredible, and every game it’s more than scoring how she helps our team.”
Collier’s performance in Game 5 of the semifinals on Tuesday was simply vintage Collier. She had 27 points on 10-
for-16 shooting, 11 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and one steal in 37 minutes to lead the 88-77 victory that sent Minnesota to the finals for the first time since winning its fourth title in 2017. The Lynx will face the New York Liberty in Game 1 on Thursday.
“She’s a great player. She made plays on both sides of the ball. She led her team all night. She was aggressive,” said Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner, who was frequently matched up with Collier at the power forward spot. “She’s been having a great year all year, so I didn’t see that stopping this game. When she’s in rhythm, it’s tough to stop.”
Finishing fifth in the league in scoring and third in rebounding as Collier did during the regular season is a remarkable feat. Factor in her WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award, and this is a true generational player in an era of the league when the star power has never been higher. But what sets Collier apart is how humble and unassuming she is, traits she possessed long before she became a mom and took most of the 2022 season off She’s a renaissance woman off the court, an Olympian with Team USA who has partnered with her former college teammate and current Liberty star Breanna Stewart to found a 3-on-3 league,
Unrivaled, that is scheduled to begin competition in January and pay six-figure salaries with equity stakes for players. Still, Collier is often one of the WNBA’s more overlooked stars, having never been this far in the playoffs before and not playing for one of the league’s marquee teams.
“I’ve played with so many great players, and Phee is so different, it’s crazy,” Lynx point guard Courtney Williams said. “She is so coachable, from anybody. It does not matter. She just wants to be great. She shows up every day in her humility and the way she talks to people and the way she carries herself, it’s actually insane. Like this girl’s a bona fide superstar. They don’t act like that. A lot of superstars do not act like that, and the way she shows up and she cares, it’s different. When your leader and your superstar moves like that, it’s easy to trickle down.”
At times, Reeve and her staff have to prod Collier to be more aggressive to find her shot, rather than deferring too much to the outside shooters. There is, after all, no bigger fan of them than her.
“The fact that we have worked hard and we genuinely just love each other so much, it just makes it all the sweeter and it makes you want to win for them, too,” Collier said. “It’s not just like you want to get the accolade of winning a
championship, you want to do it for your teammates as well, and I think that makes the ride that much sweeter. You want to keep playing because you want to stay together, because you know that every year looks different. This team will never be the exact same again, so not only do we want to win a championship, but we don’t want to leave each other yet.”
The 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year has come a long way since her time at UConn, when she came to the league as a relatively undersized post player lacking exceptional ball skills. Now she can consistently score off the dribble, knock down 3-pointers and do everything else between rebounding and defending. Every season has brought improvement, including this one when she met Reeve’s challenge to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. “She doesn’t need us to tell her. She knows what she needs to get better,” Reeve said. “I still think she’s got more ways to improve, and that’s what MVPs do, great players do. They never feel like they’ve arrived. They just keep getting better and better, and
AP Photo/Abbie Parr
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, center, celebrates with teammates after the 88-77 win against the Connecticut Sun of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis.
AP Photo/Kin Cheung
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones speaks during an interview after NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
Boys Come First
By W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor
BOYS COME FIRST
By Aaron Foley
How many of you out there have a group of friends that has endured the test of time? They could be persons you grew up with as children, high school/college classmates, or a found family upon reaching adulthood. We grow, we change, we evolve as people, as do our friendships. The foundation, on the other hand, endures, as we discover in Aaron Foley’s novel of three 30-something friends, Boys Come First.
Ever have one of those days? Dominick Gibson had one. His life in New York was on track; a longtime boyfriend, a lovely residence and a career in advertising, hopefully a child in the future. In one day, he lost his job because the company folded and came home to find his boyfriend cheating on him. Gathering his things, he drove back to his hometown of Detroit
to pick up the pieces of his life and decide what to do.
Remy Patton was a rags-to-riches success story in the world of real estate. A Black gay man who worked hard to get where he was, he is now the CEO and founder of his own company, the 2501 Agency, and he has become a local celebrity. In his profession, he has been witnessing the gentrification of the city by white people with money: New Detroit vs. Old Detroit, and for his business, he wants to capitalize on it with a questionable business deal. His love life takes a back seat to his career, though he has two brothas he sees off and on unofficially. But is it enough?
Troy Clements is the son of a multimillionaire with an African American father and a Bangladeshi mother. After his mother died, and feeling the neglect of his father who was obsessed with the business, Troy pursues a career in teaching at a community charter school, which was owned by the University of Detroit Mercy. With the financial troubles the school was in, and a buyer anxious to swoop in and use the land for more gentrification, things look bleak. To add to the mix, his boyfriend is showing the effects of long-term cocaine
use and has been violent with Troy.
Will Dominick achieve his dream? Will Remy’s choices come back to bite him?
Will Troy come to terms with his father and his boyfriend? Will the bond between these three friends stand up to the test?
Foley brings the reader into the world of Dominic, Remy, and Troy as Black gay men, through the obstacle courses of dating, disparities in career opportunities, complicated relationships with family members, and the changing landscape of their hometown. He illustrates challenges Black gay couples have that white gay couples don’t and the longing for a man who values them as the men they are. Make no mistake, there is humor in the story as well (e.g., Dominick’s crashand-burn Grindr hookups).
He also brings a fourth main character into the story—the city itself. Having extended roots in Detroit myself, the pictures of the various places around the city he paints are vivid, and the challenges Detroit has faced over the years are real. At the end of the day, love, growth, and resilience prevail, and I
acknowledge Foley for bringing us characters who invest us in their story and their lives. Boys Come First is available through Amazon, Belt Publishing, Barnes & Noble, and his website (aaronkfoley. com). In addition to his career as a journalist, Foley is also the author of The Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook and How to Live in Detroit Without
Being a Jackass. Thank you, Aaron, for giving us another window into what friendship is all about. Representation matters!
Insight 2 Health
Harris proposes that Medicare cover more in-home health care, filling a large gap for older Americans and their caregivers
By Jane Tavares Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer of Gerontology, LeadingAge
Boston and Marc Cohen Professor of Gerontology, UMass Boston
Vice President Kamala Harris
has outlined a proposal to allow Medicare to expand its coverage of home health care for older Americans.
The Democratic presidential nominee announced this plan on the television talk show “The View.”
Harris explained that
she aimed to take the burden
off members of the “sandwich generation,” who are taking care of their kids and aging parents at the same time. She said the cost of this additional paid care could be paid for with the money the government will save by negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to reduce what Medicare pays for prescription drugs. Harris is also calling for Medicare to cover more hearing and vision care.
The Conversation
U.S. asked Jane Tavares and Marc Cohen, scholars of longterm care, to assess what’s known so far about the plan.
Why is long-term care significant?
Long-term services and supports are one of the most signi
ficant expenses for older adults. They range from nonmedical assistance with
food preparation, bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living to medical care in a skilled nursing facility.
Today’s 65-yearolds have a 70% chance of eventually needing some kind of long-term care as they age, and 20% will need long-term care for more than five years.
The costs associated with even one year of longterm care can prove to be unaffordable for most people. In 2023, the median yearly cost of a private room in a nursing home was US$116,796 and that of a home health care aide was $33 per hour. That’s $96,360 yearly for eight hours of daily in-home care.
The National Council on Aging has found that 80% of older adults would be unable to absorb a financial shock — such as the need for long-term care — without impoverishing themselves. The council noted that 20% of older adults had no assets at all, and another 60% would not be able to afford more than two years of either nursing home care or care in their own homes. The average length of a long-term care stay is just over three years.
Medicare currently does not cover any long-term care, but it does cover shortterm professional in-home care for recovery after a qualifying illness or injury for up to 21 days and a maximum of 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay.
Medicaid currently covers about 61% of the country’s total long-term care costs, over 70% of which are for home-based services. However,
Medicaid has strict income and asset eligibility requirements.
Although Medicaid eligibility and coverage vary by state, those who qualify for the program are at or near the federal poverty level and have less than $2,000 in individual assets, or $3,000 as a couple. Only 15% of Americans who were 65 and older were covered by Medicaid as of 2022. Adding to the challenge, there is a shortage of long-term care workers. In 2022, about 700,000 people were on Medicaid waitlists for home- and community-based services, and 10% of those with skilled medical needs were waiting in hospitals for spots to open in nursing homes.
What would be the impact of increasing the number of older people getting care?
qualify, the circumstances under which they could get these benefits, and how generous those benefits would be.
Harris has indicated that the new Medicare home care benefit she’s proposing would be paid for by the savings from reductions in Medicare drug costs. A relatively recent estimate for that savings in 2026 is $6.3 billion.
An estimated 77% of older Americans desire to stay in their homes as they age, but 1 in 5 need assistance with activities of daily living. With the high costs of long-term care and few coverage options, unpaid family caregivers typically provide this care.
Expanding Medicare coverage to include professional in-home longterm care, as Harris proposes, would make it easier for older adults to stay in their homes without impoverishing themselves. It could also help alleviate burdens born by unpaid family caregivers. Although it will depend on details that weren’t immediately available, expanding long-term care coverage beyond the people who are enrolled in Medicaid has the potential to help many vulnerable older adults. For example, getting professional assistance with eating or bathing could prevent health complications associated with malnutrition or poor hygiene. And this care would not be at the expense of a family caregiver who might otherwise have to leave their job or take on additional physical and mental stress to provide that care.
How much will this cost the government?
Clearly, the costs associated with any new program depend on many factors. The most important in this case would be who would
To raise more money to pay for benefits, however, Harris plans on expanding Medicare drug negotiations, increasing the discounts drug manufacturers cover for certain brand-name drugs in Medicare and cracking down on pharmaceutical benefit managers – intermediaries that operate as middlemen between pharmacies, insurance companies, drugmakers and drug wholesalers.
Aggressive Medicare drug negotiations could save about $450 billion over 10 years, researchers have predicted. This would be enough to cover the Brookings Institution’s $40 billion estimated cost of an impactful Medicare in-home care benefit.
The Harris campaign also identified other potential savings by simplifying the prescription drug supply chain. Current efforts are estimated to save Medicare $16 billion over the next 10 years.
Harris’ proposed plan would also allow Medicare to provide routine vision and hearing coverage. This could reduce out-of-pocket medical costs for older adults with relatively little cost change to Medicare. Research also shows that stepping up vision and hearing care would indirectly reduce Medicare costs. That’s because it would help prevent falls and reduce depression and cognitive decline.
Why hasn’t Medicare covered in-home care until now?
When it was originally launched in 1966, the Medicare program was intended to cover acute medical care services. At that time, life expectancy was lower than it is today – meaning that fewer Americans over 65 were eligible for its benefits and would live long enough to require long-term care.
In the following six decades, no public insurance program like Medicare has emerged to help people pay for this care. But as far back as 1994, lawmakers were drafting proposals to cover long-term care. More recently, legislators have introduced bills that could fill this gap. However, many prior efforts have failed due to a lack of agreement on how to pay for these benefits and whether everyone should be eligible, or just low-income people. Because the federal government hasn’t stepped up, some states have introduced their own policies. Washington state is the furthest along in this effort. It has created a public long-term care insurance program where working Washington residents contribute a small percentage of their income into the fund and can then access earned benefits to pay for services. However, due to a ballot measure that Washington voters will weigh in on during the November 2024 elections, the program may become voluntary.
President Kamala Harris’ proposal would allow Medicare to expand its coverage of home health care aides for older Americans.
Education
Why more families are choosing online learning: The rise of virtual pre-k
By Niyoka McCoy, Ed.D.
If you catch a glimpse of 4and 5-year-olds in attendance of a virtual pre-k classroom, you may witness a chorus of enthusiastic voices singing “The Wheels on the Bus,” with hands energetically following the motions of their teacher. These young learners represent a rapidly growing trend of parents opting out of the traditional classroom setting in favor of online learning environments, where engaging teachers, family involvement, and interactive resources create a captivating learning experience.
While both online and traditional pre-k programs share similarities—such as statecertified teachers leading classes and opportunities for peer interaction—virtual learning offers unique advantages. Teachers are specially trained for online instruction and excel in “edutainment,” a high-energy, engaging teaching approach that captures the young students’ attention through the screen. Moreover, students benefit from frequent one-to-one instruction, including dedicated sessions focused on key literacy skills such as letter recognition and learning to form specific sounds through mouth movements.
Virtual programs also strike a balance between desk time and hands-on activities away from the screen. For example, a science lesson involves a project where
By Samantha Keppler Assistant Professor of Technology
and
Operations,
Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and Clare Snyder PhD Candidate in Business Administration, University of Michigan
Teachers can use generative AI in a variety of ways. They may use it to develop lesson plans and quizzes. Or teachers may rely on a generative AI tool, such as ChatGPT, for insight on how to teach a concept more effectively.
In our new research, only the teachers doing both of those things reported feeling that they were getting more done. They also told us that their teaching was more effective with AI.
Over the course of the 2023-2024 school year, we followed 24 teachers at K-12 schools throughout the United States as they wrestled with whether and how to use generative AI for their work.
We gave them a standard training session on generative AI in the fall of 2023. We then conducted multiple observations, interviews and surveys throughout the year.
We found that teachers felt more productive and effective with generative AI when they turned to it for advice. The standard methods to teach to state standards that work for one student, or in one school year, might not work as well in another. Teachers may get stuck and need to try a different approach. Generative AI, it turns out, can be a source of ideas for those alternative approaches.
While many focus on the productivity benefits of how generative AI can help teachers make quizzes or activities faster, our study points to something different. Teachers feel more productive and effective when their students are learning, and generative AI seems to help some teachers get new ideas about how to advance student learning.
Why it matters K-12 teaching requires creativity, particularly when it comes to tasks such as lesson plans or how to integrate technology into the classroom. Teachers are under pressure to
students and their families build birdhouses to create an ecosystem that protects birds. This activity, used as part of a K12-powered pre-k program often draws in older siblings, and families share that their children love watching the birds visit their creations, making it a true family favorite. We frequently hear that these hands-on activities bring entire families together, transforming learning into a shared experience at home.
During classroom sessions, teachers take frequent brain breaks—a strategy that incorporates interactive tools to help keep 4- and 5-year-olds focused and engaged. Take “Doggyland” for instance— this lively animated series gets kids moving through song and dance, with music that covers various educational topics like sharing, diversity, letter and number recognition, and self-confidence.
While pre-k is not mandatory in any state, studies show that children who attend a structured learning environment before kindergarten gain a significant academic advantage. Researchers point out that pre-k attendance builds foundational knowledge in subjects such as math and reading, as well as fine motor skills, which enhance long-term academic performance, including higher assessment scores and stronger math abilities, providing benefits that extend into adulthood.
Virtual pre-k programs offer a lifeline to families who want their children to experience the benefits of a structured pre-k program but face barriers to traditional programs. These obstacles can include lengthy waitlists, lottery systems, high tuition and fees, or long commutes. Moreover, families must navigate challenges like potty training requirements, lack of facilities designed for small children, and crippling separation anxiety that can make the daily dropoff traumatic and upsetting for the child and parent. No child should miss out on the benefits of pre-k due to lack of access. Virtual pre-k presents a modern solution to families, ensuring equitable access to a high-quality curriculum for all, regardless of location or income. The flexibility and accessibility of virtual pre-k allow all children the opportunity to thrive in a structured learning environment. I expect more families will continue to embrace virtual school options that prioritize their child’s development and growth.
work quickly, however, because they have so many things to do, such as prepare teaching materials, meet with parents and grade students’ schoolwork. Teachers do not have enough time each day to do all of the work that they need to.
We know that such pressure often makes creativity difficult. This can make teachers feel stuck. Some people, in particular AI experts, view generative AI as a solution to this problem; generative AI is always on call, it works quickly, and it never tires.
However, this view assumes that teachers will know how to use generative AI effectively to get the solutions they are seeking. Our research reveals that for many teachers, the time it takes to get a satisfactory output from the technology – and revise it to fit their needs – is no shorter than the time it would take to create the materials from scratch on their own. This is why using generative AI to create materials is not enough to get more done. By understanding how teachers can effectively use generative AI for advice, schools can make more informed decisions about how to invest in AI for their teachers and how to support teachers in using these new tools. Further, this feeds back to the scientists creating AI tools, who can make
Niyoka McCoy is the Chief Learning Officer at Stride. She leads the development and implementation of the company’s learning strategy, curriculum, and instruction, with an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and over 16 years of experience in the education sector.
better decisions about how to design these systems.
What still isn’t known Many teachers face roadblocks that prevent them from
