economic spheres.”
Ending violence against Black women, girls
By Cynthia Moothart Managing Editor
rittany Clardy’s family knew something was wrong when she failed to return home on Feb. 11, 2013. Pleas to the police for help went nowhere, even as the family insisted it was out of character for the 18-yearold not to check in.
By Tonya Jackman Hampton
Contributing Writer
innesota is celebrated as one of the best places to live in the United States. With its high-performing schools, strong social services, and reputation for inclusivity, Minnesota seems to embody the American ideal. Earlier this year, a nationwide ranking system using thousands of data points to measure how well states perform compared to others called Minnesota the fourth-best state to live.
Beneath this veneer, however, lies a troubling reality known as the “Minnesota Paradox.”
The Minnesota Paradox “highlights the stark racial disparities that persist, particularly affecting the Black community,” says Samuel Myers, Jr., director of the Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. “While many residents enjoy opportunities for success and well-being, systemic issues continue to create significant challenges for Black Minnesotans in both educational and
In his groundbreaking research, Dr. Myers notes these discrepancies. Minnesota regularly produces some of the highest average student test scores. Housing prices are well below the national median. The state nurtures a large arts community and a robust regional transportation network. Employers like 3M, Best Buy, Cargill, General Mills, Target, and US Bank contribute to a vigorous corporate giving culture in which nonprofits flourish.
“Surprisingly, Minnesota is also putatively one of the worst places for blacks to live,” Dr. Myers writes. “Measured by racial gaps in unemployment rates, wage and salary incomes, incarceration rates, arrest rates, homeownership rates, mortgage lending rates, test scores, reported child maltreatment rates, school disciplinary and suspension rates, and even drowning rates, African Americans are worse off in Minnesota than they are in virtually every other state in the nation.”
“These issues are compounded by misconceptions surrounding the performance of Black residents.”
The crux of “The Minnesota Paradox” is the simultaneous existence of Minnesota as the best state to live in and the worst state for Blacks to live in.
Dr. Myers says understanding the Minnesota Paradox is essential for recognizing how deeply rooted historical and structural inequities shape residents’ lives. An examination
■ See PARADOX on page 5
ReConnect Rondo aims high
By Alexzia Shobe Staff Writer
The construction of Interstate 94 (I-94) pierced through the heart of the Rondo neighborhood, devastating the community. The impact was astronomical. More than 700 homes were demolished, numerous businesses were displaced, and a vibrant cultural district was torn apart. Now, more than half a century later, a community-led initiative, ReConnect Rondo, is working to restore what was lost with a bold and transfor-
mative proposal that will start with the Rondo Land Bridge.
ReConnect Rondo held a Rondo Plan Discussion and Dinner at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul on Nov. 4, detailing its vision for renewing the community. Their “Restorative Development Neighborhood Plan” has six key elements: Transportation: Rondo will be a place that provides safe and viable multimodal transportation options for all while applying innovative approaches to mobility and encouraging healthy living.
Parks and open space: Rondo will foster a neighborhood where people are connected to nature and their community.
Economic opportunity:
Rondo will be a healthy local economy that supports entrepreneurship and job opportunities, develops youth, builds intergenerational wealth, and is a hub of the African American community.
Housing opportunity: Rondo will be a place that provides equitable and affordable housing designed to rebuild the community in a manner that prevents displacement and builds generational wealth.
Environment and resilience: Rondo will become more resilient by intentionally cultivating its natural and social resources.
History, culture and arts: Rondo will sustain and grow its identity, build community, and spark economic vitality so that Rondo becomes the center of African American cultural institutions for the region. For many in Rondo, the destruction caused by I-94 was not just a matter of lost homes but the disruption of a thriving, self-sustaining community. “I94 destroyed the social, cultural, economic, civic and spiritual
fabric of the Rondo community,” said Keith Baker, executive director of ReConnect Rondo. “The freeway cut through the neighborhood, wreaking havoc on the lives of countless Black and brown families and businesses. The scars of that destruction are still felt today.”
ReConnect Rondo’s work is grounded in the belief that this community can be restored and revitalized. “How do you restore a community that has been so devastated? How do we bring economic opportunity to a community that has been impacted in the way Rondo has?” Baker asked. “What happened to Rondo is a story shared by hundreds of communities across the country. These questions need answers, not just for us here in St. Paul, but on a national scale.”
The project will involve building significant community assets, including housing, business incubation, educational opportunities, and the land bridge. ReConnect Rondo has spent years working with local, regional and state agencies to secure the necessary support and funding for the project.
During the discussion, ReConnect Rondo’s leadership team outlined plans to develop an Anti-Displacement Toolkit ■ See RONDO on page 5
“When my sister went missing, we called the police,” said Lakeisha Lee, now 35. “They said maybe she ran away with her boyfriend. We told them that was not something she would do.”
Clardy’s body was discovered hidden under a blanket in the backseat of her car 10 days later when it was towed to an impound lot. Despite having a loving family and community surrounding her, the teen was groomed by a sex trafficker and murdered by a man who solicited sexual services advertised on Backpage. com — a since-shuttered website whose founder was sentenced in August to five years in federal prison for promoting sex trafficking.
overall population.
A year after Clardy’s death, Brittany’s Place launched as Minnesota’s first and largest shelter and program for youth experiencing sex trafficking or at risk for sex trafficking.
The state is now reaching another milestone as the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Office hires staff to ramp up its work. Legislation to establish the office was introduced during the 2023 legislative session and signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, making Minnesota the first state to establish an office to end the systemic neglect and violence faced by Black women and girls.
The goal of the office is to honor the lives of those missing and murdered, elevate their stories, and prevent future tragedies through education, awareness, and transformative action.
The office will support and guide families during law enforcement investigations; facilitate communication between investigators, survivors, and family members; develop and distribute missing persons materials; connect victims to mental health services, support groups, and crime victim advocates; and educate youth, families and the community.
“We had no idea this was going on,” Lee added. “Brittany was exploited by her boyfriend and killed by someone her boyfriend set her up with.”
Clardy’s tragic story isn’t unique. According to data, 60% of Black women nationwide report being subjected to coercive sexual contact by the time they turn 18. In Minnesota, the statistics are equally grim: Black women are murdered at a rate 2.7 times higher than white women. In 2020, 40% of domestic violence homicide victims were Black, although they comprise less than 7% of Minnesota’s
In March, Kaleena Burkes was hired to lead the office. Burkes formerly worked with the State Guardian ad Litem Board. During her nearly seven years there, she served as a program and training analyst and later became the organizational development manager overseeing statewide strategic issues, contract management, compliance, and the training department. She also formerly served as a research associate at the University of Minnesota Law School’s Robina Institute.
As a first-in-the-nation office, there is no blueprint to use as a reference. “Minnesota is leading the charge, [and] it’s
■ See MISSING on page 5
First in a six-part series
The crux of the Minnesota Paradox is the simultaneous existence of Minnesota as the best state to live in and the worst state for Blacks to live in.
Damir Khabirov
Brittany Clardy
Kaleena Burkes
Keith Baker
A life of outstanding community service Tribute to Christoper Ellis Crutchfield
By Cynthia Moothart Managing Editor
Christopher Ellis Crutchfield, a tireless champion of racial equity and social justice, passed away on Nov. 4. He was 54.
Crutchfield was born in St. Paul to a distinguished family of doctors and lawyers as the son of Dr. Charles E. Crutchfield and the late Dr. Susan Ellis Crutchfield. He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1992, and the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1999.
“Although Chris had a unique path, it wasn’t a path unique in his family,” said Robert Mitsch, an attorney and Crutchfield’s step-father from age 6.
“[The Crutchfield family] all were very accomplished — and all had a very strong sense of giving back to the community, of finding ways to use their skills and talents to help others, so that wasn’t unusual. But Christopher had a deep, natural affinity for and deep empathy with people. That was his great gift.”
At the time of his death, Crutchfield was CEO of Ujamaa Place, a
nonprofit dedicated to empowering and supporting young Black men facing systemic barriers and challenges, a position he held for two years before his passing. But the entirety of his life was one of outstanding service to the community.
“Chris was a precious, precious community member,” said longtime friend and colleague Melvin Carter, Jr. “There’s a hole in our city today. St. Paul is a lesser place for his death. Chris was loved, admired and respected by everybody.”
Following college, Crutchfield returned to Minnesota with a deepseated passion for racial equity and held many roles with nonprofits, including as a member of the board of directors of Osprey Wilds and as an attorney for community land trust organizations.
“Chris was very, very skilled at working behind the scenes to help those who were marginalized. Many of the beneficiaries of his work didn’t know that it was his work. He did that year in and year out. He was tireless,” said Michael Belton, a colleague and friend of 25 years.
“I don’t know of a single African
American community-based organization that doesn’t know about Christopher Crutchfield and didn’t have Chris as their attorney at one time. If you needed legal help, he was there.
“Chris brought a lot of light and love. He was a funny man who loved to laugh with other people,” Belton added. “He had an incredible sense of humor and could find and express it in the most appropriate and inappropriate ways.”
As a Bush Fellow with the Bush Foundation in 2001, Crutchfield researched the Underground Railroad,
slavery, and their impacts — leading Underground Railroad re-enactments in Minnesota for two decades.
In 2006, Crutchfield became the deputy director of community relations for Ramsey County Community Corrections, where he provided strong leadership in juvenile justice reform, racial equity, legislative affairs, community partnerships, and groundbreaking initiatives. In 2023, Gov. Tim Walz appointed Crutchfield to the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission. For more than 10 years, he taught legal topics at St. Cloud State University and Inver Hills Community College.
“Chris was a precious, precious community member. There’s a hole in our city today.”
Andrea Jepson met Crutchfield when the two were 8-year-olds in a talented and gifted scholar program at their elementary school. “Every week for four years, we were together,” she said.
“Chris was not a saint; he was a real human. And he was better for that, more lovely for that. And we are better for that.
“What made Chris so special was that he was so accessible. He was just a regular guy who cared a lot about people and did his best to make things better for others.”
Crutchfield was an avid outdoorsman committed to providing outdoor cultural experiences for youth and the community. He relished taking others on their first fishing trips.
“Chris was fast friends with everyone he met,” Jepson said. “Everybody keeps calling me and saying, ‘I was Chris’ best friend.’ I keep saying, ‘Hey now! No one can have that many best friends.’ But that’s the way Chris was, the way everyone felt about him.”
Crutchfield made his home near
Lake Phalen in St. Paul with his wife
Thu-Mai Ho-Kim and the couple’s five children: Mahogany (William), Carmen, Coral, Christopher and Carina.
Cynthia Moothart welcomes reader responses to cmoothart@spokesmanrecorder.com.
Sankofa: inspiring change through discussion and reflection
The nonprofit In Black Ink provides publishing arts initiatives and opportunities to communities that have been economically distressed and disenfranchised. The organization seeks to repair economic and educational damage to populations caused by prejudice and discrimination through cultural literacy programming, training, and access to opportunities.
Among its work is hosting annual intergenerational Sankofa events, a West African word meaning “go back and get it.” This year’s event, on Nov. 9, featured keynote speaker Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly, an author and scholar-activist at Wayne State University in Detroit, and 15 youth facilitators representing a range of schools and experiences.
“Sankofa is about staying connected to history and heritage and allowing the past to instruct and keep you grounded as you move into the future,” said In Black Ink Executive Director Rekhet Si-Asair. “It’s a way of inspiring change through engaging discussion and reflection.”
The group provides opportunities for African heritage literary artists to publish work “by us and about us to advance equity in the predominantly Eurocentric publishing industry by educating, training, and hiring African/Black publishing arts professionals at every level.”
Large gatherings like Sankofa allow people to connect and celebrate.
(Left to Right) Ms. Queen Lenora and Rekhet Si-Asar (Executive Director of IBI)
(Left to Right) Rekhet Si-Asar and Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly (Keynote Speaker at Sankofa Event)
(Top row Left to Right) Anura Si-Asar (IBI Advisor/Volunteer), Avi Hankel (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Dr Charisse Burden-Stelly, Will Langason (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Rekhet Si-Asar, Tracey Williams-DIllard, Khetasar Menheer(2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Darius Smith (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Kiera Williamson (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator). (Bottom row Left to Right) Xavier Pittman (IBI Intern), Billisse Haji (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Mesheer Tat-Siaka (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Damarj Robinson (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator)
(Left to Right) God’s Queen and the GQ Band with Brother Asé
(Left to Right) Melvin Giles and Lissa Jones-Lofgren (MC of the Sankofa Event)
(Left to Right Standing) Rekhet Si-Asar, Tamir Hussein (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Zari Baker (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Chi Chi Okezie (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Beyene Ruftana (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Kiera Williamson, Avi Hankel, Darius Smith, Xavier Pittman, Damarj Robinson, Adia Hickman (2024 Sankofa Youth Facilitator), Hana Dinku (Sankofa Facilitator Coordinator) (Left to Right sitting) Mesheer Tat-Siaka, Billisse Haji, Khetasar Menheer, Elder Mahmoud El-Kati (Advisor and one of the founding members of the Sankofa Events and Series)
(Left to Right) Elder Vusimuzi Zulu, Lorraine Gurley, Dr Semerit Strachan
Left to Right) Rekhet Si-Asar, Dr Semerit Strachan, Sharman Barrett, Biibi Muse
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De-complicating Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement plans.
By Albert — UCare plan de-complicator
When you reach Medicare age, it can be a little overwhelming. It’s like a whole new puzzle of health plan coverage that needs to be solved. There are many who call me and ask, “Can you just put it together for me?”
At UCare, we can certainly do that. But we also really want members to understand what they are getting and why. The plan you select all depends on your life and what kind of coverage you need and don’t need.
Apart from Original Medicare, there are two plan types that people who are aging into Medicare gravitate toward: Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans. Let’s dive in.
Medicare Advantage plans
Think of a Medicare Advantage plan like a bundle of benefits. It combines your Original Medicare, Part A (hospital insurance) with Part B (medical insurance). UCare Medicare Advantage plans give you extra coverage and benefits like dental, prescription eyewear and hearing aids. Most plans also include prescription drug coverage (Part D), which can become increasingly important as you age.
UCare has been offering Medicare Advantage plans since 1998 — longer than any
other health plan provider in Minnesota. And today, they’re some of the most popular plans. We have a range of Medicare Advantage plans to choose from that include coverage while you travel and allowances for over-the-counter purchases.
One more thing: UCare Medicare Advantage plans work fantastically for local Minnesotans, due to their large network that includes 97% of Minnesota medical clinics and hospitals.* So if you have a clinic you’ve always used, your chances are good that it’s in-network. And with no referral needed to see a specialist, getting the care you need is easy.
Medicare Supplement plans
A Medicare Supplement plan is something you pair with your Original Medicare. In other words, it supplements your plan. Get it? These policies help pay for the out-ofpocket costs that are not covered by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
The main benefits of a UCare Medicare Supplement plan is protection and predictability. You will have low or no copays or coinsurance when you get care, so your costs are predictable. Your monthly premiums are your main costs — no more unexpected medical bills. Speaking of, UCare’s Medicare Supple -
ment plans offer some of the lowest Medicare Supplement premiums in Minnesota.
Another great benefit of a Medicare Supplement plan is the nationwide coverage. You can see any doctor who accepts Medicare patients, anywhere you go in all 50 states. This is especially useful whether you’re traveling, moving or living in a place where there are fewer providers nearby.
You also get extras like no-cost fitness memberships and discounts on hearing aids.
Why roll with UCare?
I’ve just gone over a couple categories of plans, but please know that we have a variety of plans for everyone, all across Minnesota! Each of them is designed to meet your health and lifestyle needs. The best way to know which one is right for you is to sit down with a broker, or someone like myself, to help find the plan that’s right for you.
Finally, I’ve been riding with UCare for nearly 10 years now, and I can honestly tell you — it’s the people who make our company go. That’s why we often say we’re “people powered” — never stopping until we know that you understand your plan and you’re comfortable with it. And if there’s ever a problem, we don’t send you up a phone tree. We work the problem individually until it’s solved. It might be why nearly 95% of UCare Medicare Advantage members choose to stay with UCare year after year.**
If you have any questions about anything I’ve covered, you should reach out to your local broker. They can help you decide which plan makes the most sense. Visit ucare.org/ma to find a broker near you.
You can also give UCare a call at 1-866-460-5093 or stop by the headquarters in NE Minneapolis or our Duluth office.
UCare headquarters
500 Stinson Blvd NE Minneapolis, MN 55414
Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm
UCare Duluth office
325 West Central Entrance Suite 200 Duluth, MN 55811
Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm
Based on 2023 CMS data
**Based on internal UCare enrollment data from 2022 compared to 2021
By Alexzia Shobe Staff Writer
The Twin Cities is home to a vibrant LGBTQ+ community, but there has long been a need for a space to gather, find support, and build meaningful connections outside the bar scene. Queermunity, a new hybrid social enterprise and resource center that opened on Nov. 9, is filling that gap.
Founded by business and life partners Hilary Otey and Kayla Barth, Queermunity is a community-driven initiative born out of the desire to create something that has often felt elusive in the Twin Cities: a dedicated, all-encompassing space where queer folks of all backgrounds and identities can feel safe, supported, and inspired. The space is not just another community center. It’s a unique blend of a social club and resource hub that aims to address the intersection of social isolation, economic
disparity, and community fragmentation that many LGBTQ+ individuals face.
Queermunity was in the works for more than four years and is the product of ceaseless community engagement. Otey and Barth were driven by their struggles to find authentic community connections outside nightlife spaces. As they dug deeper into the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, they realized that while many organizations exist in the city, there is a lack of cohesion among them. Existing spaces often were geared toward specific groups or activities, leaving people feeling disconnected.
“We saw the fragmentation in our community and wanted to create something that could unite all these different people together under one roof,” said Barth, a mixed-race queer woman and military veteran who knows firsthand the challenges of navigating multiple
layers of marginalization.
Otey, who has a background in food justice and advocacy for BIPOC farmers, echoed Barth’s sentiments.
“For us, this isn’t just about providing a space to exist; it’s about creating a space where we can thrive, heal, and grow together. We offer economic and social accessibility.”
Financial sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing many LGBTQ+ organizations. The nonprofit model
relies heavily on donations and grants, which can be unpredictable and, at times, insufficient. Queermunity’s founders know these limitations and have opted for a hybrid model combining revenue-generating services with their community-building mission.
Through its full-service café, memberships, rentable meeting rooms, and coworking spaces, Queermunity generates the income needed to stay open seven days a week without solely depending on charitable donations. This allows them to offer their programming, from creative workshops and social events to resource navigation and wellness initiatives, for free or at a low cost.
“While we are for-profit, we’re 100% community-funded. That’s the sustaining force of the space,” said Seth Anderson-Matz, Queermunity’s outreach and partnerships manager. “The membership model we integrated helps us fund our initiatives, but it’s not a transactional relationship. This is mutually beneficial, and we
are serious about pouring back into our community.”
At the heart of Queermunity’s mission is inclusivity and accessibility, designed with sensitivity to the needs of people from diverse backgrounds, identities, and abilities. From sensory rooms for those with neurodivergent needs to the on-demand American Sign Language translation services, the team ensures that the space caters to a wide range of needs.
“Access is always at the forefront,” said Kyra Crawford Calvert, the center’s events and programs curator. Queermunity is committed to fostering an environment of empathy and non-judgment. Staff received a large number of requests for a sober space, so despite having a liquor license, Thursdays are alcohol-free each week.
Queer and human. We are, and we deserve the freedom to be.” Crawford Calvert added:
“We will stubbornly push forward with the mission. We won’t be detracted or distracted. Our role in this is to be defiant and keep creating a safe space for those who need it.” Queermunity also serves as a hub for intersectional identity. It actively works with marginalized groups — particularly BIPOC and neurodivergent individuals — and strives to ensure that its offerings reflect the diverse needs of the community. Its “Makers Market” highlights the merchandise of local artists and entrepreneurs, many of whom are queer and people of color.
Queermunity is in the process of expanding partnerships with organizations that serve queer youth, elders, and those living with HIV. “There are so many different queer organizations and spaces, but they are all so disjointed from each other,” said Anderson-Matz.
Queermunity’s vision extends far beyond its physical space. As the LGBTQ+ community faces increasing challenges—especially in light of rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation nationwide—the need for collective action and solidarity has never been greater. Otey and Barth see Queermunity’s role as one of resilience in the face of adversity.
“We are queer and. One label does not define any person,” Barth said. We are queer and Black. Queer and veterans.
“Queermunity serves to be the connective tissue that offers all of those different organizations to come together with the collective missions of keeping queer folks from experiencing isolation, connecting folks to life-improving resources, and investing in each other economically.”
For more information, visit Queermunity’s website or follow them on social media.
Alexzia Shobe welcomes reader responses to ashobe@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Queermunity owners Hilary Otey and Kayla Barth
photo
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Continued from page 1
reveals disparities and misconceptions that skew public perception and overlook the systemic factors contributing to these inequities.
He adds that by exploring the complexities of this paradox, we can engage in meaningful discussions about equity and justice in Minnesota and ultimately work towards a more inclusive society.
Structural inequities
Historically, Minnesota faced challenges related to property tax equalization, with urban legislators advocating for changes to ensure fair funding for schools. This culminated in the “Minnesota Miracle” of 1978, a legislative initiative to redistribute educational funding from well-off urban areas to poorer rural areas.
Despite these efforts, significant racial disparities in educational and economic outcomes
MISSING
Continued from page 1
a slow build; there are certain roadblocks, mandates and timelines,” Burkes said. “The community needs help now, but we’re building an office that will be sustainable for years.”
In 2021, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to dedicate resources to investigate and consider measures to reduce and prevent violence against Black women and girls when it created the Missing and Murdered African American Women’s Task Force.
The task force was convened on Nov. 29, 2021, by the Department of Public Safety
RONDO
Continued from page 1
to keep residents in the neighborhood, establish a Right to Remain and Return for people living there now and displaced by the construction of I-94, create a Rondo Community Investment Trust to enable the Rondo community to benefit from future development around the land bridge, and institute a Rondo Community Reinvestment Fund to use revenues from the land bridge to support community assets.
Despite the promise of renewal, the city’s rapid growth and rising property values have already pushed some longtime residents out of the neighborhood.
ReConnect Rondo aims to prevent this by ensuring that the land bridge and accompanying developments benefit the existing community.
ReConnect Rondo is working to create not just a physical bridge but a catalyst for economic recovery, cultural revival, and community healing. The land bridge is central to their vision of reconnecting the neighborhood and addressing the legacy of displacement, Baker said.
“It just so happens that the focal point of our work is geographically Rondo, but this is about the impact of the highway system on Black communities in Minnesota. It’s critical to see that connection because this isn’t the first or last time we’ve been dispersed and made to feel disjointed.”
He added that the land bridge is about more than physically reconnecting the
remain. The migration of Black workers from the South in search of better opportunities contributed to the state’s demographic landscape, yet racial tensions and inequalities continue to exist, often overshadowed by Minnesota’s reputation as a progressive state. Inadequate data collection is at the core of this discrepancy between perception and reality. For example, the Current Population Survey lacks the necessary sample size to accurately represent the Black population, resulting in misleading interpretations of socioeconomic status. More
and Research in Action, a Black queer female-led, multi-racial, gender-diverse social benefit corporation created to reclaim the power of research by centering community expertise and driving actionable solutions for racial justice.
The role of the task force included:
• advising the Commissioner of Public Safety,
• reporting to the legislature on recommendations to reduce and end violence against African American women and girls in Minnesota, and • serving as a liaison between the commissioner and agencies and organizations that provide legal, social, and other community services to victims, victims’ families, and victims’ communities.
two halves of the neighborhood. It’s about restoring the cultural and economic vitality that existed before the interstate cut through. The land bridge would provide a space for the community to heal, rebuild and flourish.
The proposed land bridge would stretch across I-94, connecting the northern and southern parts of Rondo, which were historically one cohesive community. But the bridge is envisioned as more than just an infrastructure project. It is a centerpiece of an expansive effort to create a thriving cultural, economic, and social hub for
“This land bridge could be catalytic to reigniting an African American cultural enterprise district.”
the neighborhood.
Baker sees the project as a unique opportunity to address longstanding disparities in the African American community.
“This land bridge could be catalytic to reigniting an African American cultural enterprise district,” he noted.
By creating space for businesses, community gathering, and cultural institutions, ReConnect Rondo aims to restore not only the physical fabric of the neighborhood but also help it thrive economically and culturally again.
“There are three major components: designing and building the structure, development on top of that structure, and programmatic ele -
comprehensive datasets, such as those from the Internal Revenue Service, offer deeper insights but still struggle with issues like underreporting among Black workers.
Racial disparities in homeownership starkly illustrate the historical inequities that persist today. In many neighborhoods, white homeownership rates significantly exceed those of college-educated Black individuals, reflecting deep-rooted wealth gaps. The destruction of predominantly Black neighborhoods in the 1950s further exacerbated these disparities, hindering wealth accumulation and community stability.
“These issues are compounded by misconceptions surrounding the performance of Black residents,” Dr. Myers says.
“While some may attribute economic struggles to individual effort, it is critical to recognize the structural advantages enjoyed by white residents, which perpetuate these gaps. This understanding shifts the narrative from blaming individuals to ad-
The Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Office is a direct result of that work.
“A majority of the task force were not Black women; it was filled with experts. We
“The community needs help now, but we’re building an office that will be sustainable for years.”
let them go to create a mirror council to guide the task force — the first time that was done,” said Dr. Brittany Lewis, founder and CEO of Research in Action. “[The state] knew it had to be done differently, and I’m
ments that will help build up the community from there,” Baker said.
The group’s approach includes securing funding for affordable housing and business support for Black-owned businesses. Baker is adamant that economic development cannot come at the expense of the community’s longstanding residents: “It’s critical that we address housing instability and make sure that Rondo’s residents are the primary beneficiaries of this development.”
For Craig Vaughn, the founder of Transportation Collaborative & Consultants (TC2) and a member of the ReConnect Rondo team, the project is more than just a professional undertaking. It is deeply personal.
Vaughn grew up in Rondo, and the destruction of the neighborhood directly impacted his family. “My father moved to the Rondo community in 1951 and lived on Rondo Avenue and Grotto Street. He was negatively impacted by the destruction and displacement of Rondo. I am forever connected to Rondo,” he said.
Vaughn’s passion for the project is evident, and his professional expertise is key to the success of the neighborhood planning process. “As a young kid growing up in Rondo, I would’ve never thought that I would grow up to be a transportation and community planning professional who’s able to pour knowledge back into my community,” Vaughn said. “This is a passion project of mine from a professional perspective, but it’s also something near and dear to my heart.”
Vaughn hopes that the land bridge will allow the communi-
dressing the historical contexts that foster inequality.”
The Minnesota Paradox prompts a deeper examination than just systemic issues. Even in a state often regarded as progressive, systemic discrimination can occur without overtly racist individuals. Well-intentioned individuals may unknowingly contribute to practices that yield discriminatory outcomes, suggesting that racism can be embedded in societal norms rather than stemming solely from individual malice.
Dr. Myers emphasizes the importance of understanding systemic inequities through a historical lens. His research highlights the intersection of race, economic opportunity, and policy implications, advocating for a nuanced approach to tackling these disparities.
Discussions around racial disparities often focus on credit scores and access to loans. Historically, data related to credit scores has been excluded from significant legislation, limiting our understanding of these issues.
glad they knew that. A council of Black women survivors leading the research shifted the dynamics.”
The task force’s work was immediately impactful. In addition to establishing the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls office, the report received the Notable Document Award in the area of public safety last year from the National Conference of State Legislatures. And this month, the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice hosted an event in Washington to encourage a more robust and coordinated federal response to violence against Black women.
“It’s the first time a federal agency responded in any way,” Dr. Lewis said. “We’re honored
ty to see its own vision for the future come to life. “Many of us say that the Rondo we see today isn’t the Rondo we remember. I’m hopeful that the community is able to see the reflection of their ideas and aspirations in the work that we have done and will continue to do,” he said.
The full cost of the land bridge project is estimated to exceed $400 million, a significant investment in the future of Rondo. While the project is large in scale, Baker is confident that the return on investment will be well worth it.
While many Black individuals may have poor credit, this fact alone does not account for the racial disparities in borrowing outcomes. Many choose to avoid traditional banking systems due to historical mistrust and experiences of discrimination.
A way out
The Minnesota Paradox serves as a crucial reminder that while the state excels in many areas, it must confront the realities of racial disparities impacting its residents.
Understanding these nuances requires a multifaceted approach that considers historical context, systemic practices, and community contributions.
Dr. Myers underscores this, saying, “By reframing discussions around these issues and celebrating Black achievements, we can work toward meaningful solutions and create a more equitable future for all.”
Dr. Myers’ work reveals the urgent need for continued dialogue and action in addressing these complex challenges —
to be part of the work.” Lee, who earned her degree in Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, was among those with lived experiences who influenced the task force’s work.
She also was part of the Minnesota delegation to meet with the Justice Department on Nov. 12.
“People really valued our lived experiences. Listening to people and valuing their opinions and experiences was new, never done before,” she said. “It’s hard work, and you have to be comfortable being the first one. [But] the process was better for it.
“The office will make sure people are listening to family members and those with lived experiences to ensure we’re
“Minnesota spent around $350 million on the Viking Stadium and over $400 million on Target Field. It’s not a lot of money in terms of what the potential return is,” he said. “When we invested in the stadium and the field, they brought us passive benefits to the neighboring areas, but ReConnect Rondo is focused on directly benefiting the Rondo community.”
Baker views the land bridge as an opportunity to create lasting change. By investing in the community, St. Paul could see a
which is why the MSR is taking a deep dive into major disparity areas and launching a new series titled “Community Voices,” essays written by residents working to resolve the Minnesota Paradox. Upcoming stories will focus on disparities in wealth, homeownership, education, employment, and health and well-being.
“To effectively address these disparities, it is vital to celebrate the contributions of Black Minnesotans and support community organizations that connect people and disseminate important information,” he says. “By elevating the voices and achievements of Black individuals — such as educators, business leaders, and activists — communities can foster a more inclusive narrative that acknowledges their positive impact.”
Tonya Jackman Hampton holds a doctor of education, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor’s from Clark Atlanta University. She is a native Minnesotan.
not re-traumatizing women and families and then walking away.”
Cynthia Moothart welcomes reader responses to cmoothart@ spokesman-recorder.com.
This concludes the MSR series on murdered and missing Black women. Go to the website and search “missing women” to read the first two articles.
The Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Office falls within the Office of Justice Programs, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
significant return in terms of economic growth, higher property values, and increased tax revenue.
ReConnect Rondo is focused on restoring what was lost: the homes, businesses, cultural heritage, and sense of community that once defined Rondo. They expect to host a community review of the final draft plan in December and hope the city will adopt it in early 2025.
Alexzia Shobe welcomes reader responses to ashobe@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Dr. Samuel Myers
Opioid addiction and mental health
By Jarrett Schaffer
Opioid addiction is a wellknown cause for concern across the country. Whether it’s unintended misuse of prescription drugs or illegal fentanyl, opioid use disorder can have devastating effects on individuals and their loved ones.
Alongside this substance use disorder, many people also experience mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. The two conditions intertwine, and finding treatment for both can be challenging.
By understanding the connection between opioid addiction and mental health, patients, loved ones, and providers can find the best opioid addiction resources and treatment options in their community.
We’re living through an opioid epidemic in the United States, but many people don’t know opioid addiction symptoms or how opioid addiction starts. Understanding this disorder is vital to understanding its relationship with mental health.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include everything from hydrocodone to fentanyl. They work primarily by intercepting the pain signals between your body and brain, then releasing dopamine and making you feel better. Doctors regularly prescribe opioids for use after surgery or other major medical procedures. While using opioids, you may feel euphoria, reduced pain, and a slower heart rate and breathing.
Over time, your brain gets
used to this new system and rewires its pain and pleasure connections. Your body might start producing less of its own dopamine, and you’ll find yourself needing higher and higher doses of opioids to get the same feelings. Addiction can happen rapidly, which is why following prescriptive orders exactly is so important. While symptoms may vary from person to person, the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition” (DSM-5) says the following are common ways opioid use turns into addiction.
• Opioids taken longer than planned or in higher doses.
• Unsuccessful efforts to decrease use and/or lack of desire to do so.
• Excessive time spent finding, using, and recovering from the opioids.
• Strong cravings and desires.
• Continued use, despite
known and experienced physical, mental, and emotional side effects.
• Continued use, despite seeing opioids contribute to social/interpersonal problems.
• High tolerance.
• Withdrawal symptoms when stopped.
Opioids and mental health
The link between opioid addiction and mental health is complex and multi-directional. In other words, there isn’t a straightforward way to connect the two. What’s clear from research, however, is that opioid addiction and mental health disorders often occur together in patients and can exacerbate the other’s symptoms. For example, 6% of adults with mental illness reported opioid misuse in the past year, compared with only 2.4% of adults with no mental illness. So why might this connection exist?
One path of connection
between opioid addiction and mental health disorders is by viewing opioid use as a potential treatment for mental health. Research shows that adults with severe depression are 14.66 times more likely to misuse opioids than adults with no depression.
Patients with depression and anxiety may be trying to self-medicate and alleviate their symptoms. Anxiety sufferers, for instance, may use opioids to calm panic attacks and slow their heart rate and breathing. Those with chronic depression may have tried other medications and then turned to stronger options to deal with the side effects of their mental illness.
From another angle, opioid use may cause mental health struggles. When an opioid user experiences withdrawal symptoms, for example, the result is similar to the body’s response to an anxiety attack: jitters, sleeplessness, and a
racing mind can all happen when the opioids leave a user’s system and the body floods itself with self-made feel-good chemicals.
Experiencing this kind of physical and mental anxiety repeatedly (as one would with repeated opioid use and withdrawal) can take a significant toll on mental health. Users might take even more opioids to counteract the process, creating a spiral of anxiety and addiction. Opioid users who recognize their addiction might, in turn, experience depression if they lack the resources to combat their condition.
Individuals struggling with mental health conditions alongside addiction have a dual diagnosis (or co-occurring disorders). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shares resources for providers regarding best practices in treatment: “In-
tegrating both screening and treatment for mental and substance use disorders leads to a better quality of care and health outcomes for those living with co-occurring disorders by treating the whole person.”
Rather than a sequential model (treat either the substance use or the mental health condition, then the other later), this simultaneous treatment model is evidence-backed as the most effective. The SAMHSA Treatment Improvement Protocol offers guidance for providers on screening, assessing and treating patients with a dual diagnosis.
The most important consideration for patients with co-occurring disorders is to limit the barriers to receiving treatment. These obstacles can be physical, financial or mental. Getting patients in the door and ready to accept help is the goal.
Clinics that require a patient to be sober before receiving therapy for depression may be turning away people who have difficulty seeking help and are unlikely to try again. Similarly, finding two different providers and coordinating care is a hurdle preventing patients from seeking treatment.
Minnesota opioid resources
Providers and patients in Minnesota can get information about opioid treatment resources from Hennepin County’s Opioid Epidemic campaign. Working with community organizations to create culturally responsive solutions is one of the ways that Hennepin County has responded to the growing opioid epidemic.
By addressing opioid use from prevention through treatment, the team has made it easier for community members to treat opioid addiction alongside mental health disorders.
Tinnakorn Jorruang
Black Business SPOTLIGHT
By Alexzia Shobe Staff Writer
Located in the historic Rondo neighborhood, Element Gym provides many a path toward a healthier lifestyle.
Founded by Dalton Outlaw in 2011, It began as a response to the closing of boxing gyms in the area, particularly in a neighborhood that had seen its fair share of gentrification and displacement.
Today, the gym is far more than just a boxing gym. It offers a range of fitness programs designed to serve people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Outlaw’s early boxing years were spent at BT Bombers Boxing Club, founded by Clem Tucker Sr. in 1989, where he first learned the importance of community in sports. Inspired by his former coach, Outlaw was driven to establish his own gym for his community.
“I opened Element Gym to make sure we didn’t lose boxing as a resource in St. Paul,” he said. In the years since, the gym has grown into a multifaceted fitness center.
Outlaw’s background as a boxer shapes his approach to training and community engagement. Yet, as his business expanded, Outlaw deliberately shifted away from focusing
solely on personal achievement.
“I stopped focusing on being the best in the world and directed all my energy into being the best for my community,” he said. This commitment to the people in St. Paul has been central to Element Gym’s success and appeal.
In addition to its fitness programs, Element Gym is deeply invested in promoting health equity. Through the Element Foundation, the gym provides scholarships for individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford the membership cost.
“I built an equity model that balances out costs among those in our community. I charge fairly for those who can afford it and offset costs for those who can’t,” Outlaw said. That model allows Element Gym to serve a diverse population while staying true to its mission of providing opportunities for everyone.
Since partnering with YWCA in 2023, Element Gym has expanded its resources to include a more accessible program, maintaining Outlaw’s focus on making fitness accessible to underserved communities. YWCA St. Paul is a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting justice for all.
“Collaborating with YWCA
Gym takes boxing way beyond the ring
enabled me to provide more to our community,” Outlaw said, noting that the partnership has amplified the gym’s ability to reach even more
Noncompete agreements:
Is banning them good for Black businesses?
By Taalib Saber
Historically, noncompete agreements have restricted employees from working in the same industry after leaving their former employer.
Though the intention is to protect businesses’ intellectual property, noncompetes have often negatively affected competition in product and service markets, especially with Black workers.
In what has since created shockwaves across the nation, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 to ban noncompete agreements. The rule goes into effect 120 days after it is officially published in the Federal Register. This decision will undoubtedly have a significant impact on employers and employees alike.
But what about Black entrepreneurs?
The FTC defines a noncom-
pete clause as “a term or condition of employment that prohibits a worker from, penalizes a worker for, or functions to prevent a worker from (1) seeking or accepting work in the United States with a different person where such work would begin after the conclusion of the employment that includes the term or condition; or (2) operating a business in the United States after the conclusion of the employment that includes the term or condition.”
If written properly, most noncompetes have outlined specific restrictions of a current or former worker — who can be their employer, where they can work for said employer, and for how long they aren’t allowed to work — which can be unduly burdensome. Imagine being told who to work for and who not to work for. That is a noncompete. Those who have signed noncompetes and wish to
increase their salaries must either accept where they are or change industries and locations. These unnecessary hassles restrict a competitive market and perpetuate wage suppression.
About 18% of the workforce, about 30 million people, is covered by noncompete agreements. In the Black community, there’s a saying that goes, “If a white person has a cold, then a Black person has pneumonia.” What this essentially means is that if the majority of Americans are suffering from a particular thing, that thing already has, currently is, or will be suffered much more by Black people.
Here, if many Americans are experiencing the effects of wage suppression and restrictions in the market, then the Black community feels it worse. Add in Black workers who want to start their journey to entrepreneurship, and
opportunities.
One of the key pillars of Element Gym is its inclusive, community-driven approach to fitness. Outlaw is adamant that boxing — and fitness in general — is for everyone. The gym offers programs for people of all ages, including children as young as 4. He offers a fundamental program for children named the School of Boxing.
Element Gym welcomes and accommodates individu-
“We always adapt our classes to be tailored to any skill level. You don’t have to be a professional to participate and get a good workout.”
als with various physical and cognitive abilities. The gym partners with organizations like Rock Steady Boxing to offer specialized programs for those with Parkinson’s disease and Down syndrome.
“We are certified to work with individuals with Parkinson’s. They can come to exercise, learn a new skill, and slow the progression of the disease.” Outlaw added, “It’s not a healing agent, but it’s a healthy support effort and an outlet.”
people. YWCA St. Paul serves as the Element Foundation’s philanthropic arm, helping funnel resources into community programs and scholarship
it becomes an almost impossible task.
FTC estimates that banning noncompetes could increase worker pay by $300 billion and lead to 8,500 more new businesses each year. For Black entrepreneurs, eliminating noncompetes can now open the door to new innovations, creativity, and fairer competition in the marketplace.
This ban can help business owners attract top talent, as there would be no restrictions on the mobility of skilled work-
ers, thus strengthening their businesses and enhancing their competitiveness.
Several legal challenges will arise as the FTC implements its noncompete ban. Within 24 hours of the vote being published, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business organization, and the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of America’s leading companies, filed suit against the federal agency.
In a statement announcing the lawsuit, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce declared: “The FTC contends that by using regulation they can simply declare common business practices to be ‘unfair methods of competition’ and thus illegal. This is even though noncompete agreements have
Outlaw’s work with local nonprofits, schools, and organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities reflects his commitment to giving back.
“Success for me is watching people come in, work hard, and leave with that same energy,” he said. “The transformation I’ve seen kids go through here is inspirational. My work ethic isn’t driven by profit.
“Boxing is for everybody,” Outlaw said. “It can help individuals through various phases of life. It’s a way to build confidence and strength while developing an understanding of how you can overcome any challenge if you put your mind to it.”
Element Gym is at 375 Selby Ave. in St. Paul, 888-415-6626.
Alexzia Shobe welcomes reader responses to ashobe@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Element Gym’s “adaptive boxing” provides people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in exercise programs and boxing classes. “We always adapt our classes to be tailored to any skill level. You don’t have to be a professional to participate and get a good workout,” Outlaw said. Through its broad offerings, Element Gym has created a space where fitness is about more than just physical prowess; it includes building community, fostering personal growth, and overcoming life’s challenges.
been around longer than the 110-year-old FTC, and until now, no one has suggested that they are illegal.”
It goes on to state, “If the FTC can regulate noncompete agreements, then they can decide to regulate or even ban any other business practice. All without a vote from Congress.”
If any of the federal courts that hear the cases decide to grant a stay or a preliminary injunction on the ruling, the effective date could be postponed. Then, if the cases are appealed thereafter, the ruling would be delayed for many more months.
Taalib Saber is an activist and attorney whose law practice areas include: education law, personal injury and civil and human rights law.
Dalton Outlaw
Arts & Culture
Five must-read horror books by Black women
by Nadira Jamerson
Monsters. Gore. Fear. These things make up most horror films, TV shows, and books. But for Black women, the horror genre is about more than just blood-filled entertainment—it’s also often about exposing and moving beyond injustice.
“There are aspects of Black culture that just lend themselves to horror,” says Erin E. Adams, acclaimed author and lifelong horror fan. And with Black women dealing with daily fears from racism to the dismantling of reproductive justice and domestic violence, Adams believes it isn’t a “coincidence that you see a lot of Black women navigating and gravitating to horror.”
They are eager to share their voices and stories, but only 5.3% of all books published in 2023 were by Black authors—and even fewer were by Black women, according to a diversity in publishing survey by Lee & Low Books.
“We are up against this very, very old system engrained in white supremacy that is going to keep telling us that these stories aren’t interesting,” Adams says. Change will come only when more folks read and support the work of Black women in horror.
“I need readers to remember to buy our books—request them at the library—because
the numbers count,” she says. Celebrating Black women in horror doesn’t only benefit the authors—it’s also a win for readers who can learn more about overlooked histories and the vital experiences of others. As Adams explains, reading horror books by Black women provides an “incredible opportunity to have your total viewpoint of the world shifted, which for me is the most exciting thing about reading.”
Where should you start if you’re new to the horror genre? Here are five can’tmiss books by Black women in horror authors to add to your reading list.
1. “The Between” As climate change continues to ravage Black communities nationwide, Tananarive Due’s 1995 “The Between” remains more relevant than ever.
Sparked after the Tallahassee native witnessed Hurricane Andrew devastate Florida in 1992, the mind-bending story is her first novel. It opens with the unforgettably chilling line, “Hilton was seven when his grandmother died, and it was a bad time. But it was worse when she died again.”
2. “Jackal” From first-generation Haitian American writer Erin E. Adams comes this stellar debut novel that Publishers
Weekly dubbed one of the best horror books of 2022. Withmore than 97,000 Black women reported missing in 2022 alone, Adams uses supernatural threats to unveil one of the most pressing issues of our time as the main character, Liz Rocher, digs through the violent history of her hometown of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Will she be able to save one of the missing girls or will she be consumed by the darkness herself?
3. “Horror Noir” Blending history with fright, Professor Robin R. Means Coleman chronicles the existence and impact of Black people in American horror movies from the 1890s to the 21st century.
“Horror Noire” addresses a full range of Black horror films, including mainstream Hollywood flicks, art-house
films, Blaxploitation, and more. Published in 2019, this nonfiction work serves as the perfect guide for anyone “seeking to understand how fears and anxieties about race and race relations are made manifest, and often challenged, on the silver screen,” the back cover reads.
4. “The Black Girl Survives in This One” If you’re looking to add several Black women in horror names to your shelf with one purchase, “The Black Girl Survives in This One” is the perfect pick. This collection of 15 short stories edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea Fennell brings the resilience of Black girls front and center as they courageously confront and defeat both human and supernatural adversaries. Published earlier this year
and featuring the work of emerging voices and bestselling authors, this thrilling anthology spotlights a new generation of Black writers.
“There
New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry. From two Bram Stoker Award Winners, Linda A. Addison and Alessandro Manzetti, this collaborative project published in 2019 uses death, gods, and shadowy figures to explore how fragmented bodies, minds and souls endure.
Nadira Jamerson is the digital editor for Word In Black. She seeks to create space for Black individuals to express the complexities of their communities and identities through an honest and inspiring lens.
5. “The Place of Broken Things”
is no book of poetry quite like it,” heralded
The threat of truth decay
Why Trump and RFK Jr. are bad for our teeth — and so much more
By Jennifer Porter Gore
When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ended his longshot 2024 presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump, both men made it clear: They are a package deal.
Trump has said Kennedy — a libertarian environmentalist, conspiracy theorist, and vaccine skeptic — will have a place in his cabinet. Indeed, Trump has said he will let Kennedy “go wild” on public health policy.
Kennedy wants to use that power to enact a range of controversial moves that would be harmful to Black people, from removing fluoride from the public water supply to promoting anti-vaccination conspiracy theories, some of which have been aimed at the Black community.
Trump once theorized that COVID-19 could be treated with injections of bleach — and Kennedy believes the pandemic vaccine was created to attack the Black community — leaving public health experts to sound the alarm.
The issue burst into the national conversation when Kennedy dropped a social media post declaring that the second Trump administration “will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.” Fluoride, he wrote, “is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.”
Speaking with NBC News, Trump said the plan “sounds OK to me.”
Municipalities have added fluoride to public drinking wa-
ter systems since 1945. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described these public water fluoridation efforts, and vaccines, as among the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th Century.
Getting rid of fluoride could be a big problem for Americans in general and Black Americans in particular. Research has found Black Americans have worse oral health than their white peers, and they are more susceptible to diseases that are worsened by poor oral health.
“The ADA is aware there is widespread misinformation circulating online and in social media around community water fluoridation,” the organization said in September. The Association urges its members and the public to be cautious of “pseudo-scientific information.”
For decades Kennedy has promoted conspiracy theories claiming vaccines against childhood diseases cause autism. And in 2021, Kennedy produced a film called “Medical Racism: The New Apartheid” that exploited the history of medical racism in the United States to argue Covid-19 vaccines were intended to harm Black communities.
The Covid mortality rate for Black Americans is double that of whites and one-third higher than for Latinos. Research findings are that Covid caused more than 1.6 million excess deaths of Black Americans.
Medical experts and scientists widely dispute Kennedy’s views on vaccines, and rumors about a link between
No warnings of active shooter
I live two blocks from the [Davis Moturi] shooting site. Afterwards, with the gunman holed up in his house, nothing was done to secure the neighborhood or even inform citizens of the danger. Pedestrians, including kids going to the nearby school, walked by the house for three days.
After the arrest was made I passed by the house and asked the ranking officer about the danger. He said it was a neighbor-to-neighbor dispute, i.e., not threatening to the public.
I told him he didn’t know that with certainty, given the mental state of the shooter, and he agreed. I asked him why the area wasn’t secured, and he said there were two unmarked cars outside at all times. I had seen these cars; both were about 30 yards from the house, too far away to respond within seconds if something happened. He went on to say people often walk all over areas demarcated by crime scene tape.
I told him it wouldn’t have
cost them anything to put warning signs on either end of the block, directing pedestrians and motorists to other routes. He said that there were going to be discussions about how to do things better. I mean, come on, the city takes extensive measures to warn people about tree work or street construction or school crossings. But not for an active shooter.
Michael Turner, MD Minneapolis
Why we should all celebrate Head Start’s success
By Khari M. Garvin
the MMR vaccine and autism were based on fraudulent research. Public health experts note that vaccination has been a historically effective public health tool and has wiped out or reduced the prevalence of diseases, including smallpox, polio and measles.
RFK, Jr. was resigned to the fact that racism exists and proposed fuzzy solutions. “We’re never going to eliminate racism… We’re hardwired to look for differences in other people and then to essentially practice racism.
“I don’t think you can change that human nature, but what you can do is you can make kids resilient against it,” said Kennedy. “The way you do that is by giving them a great education so that they know that they have potential.”
Vaccines are required for children to attend public schools, and Black children are less likely to be fully vaccinated than white children.
Neither Trump nor Kennedy has specific proposals to expand health care access for Black Americans, who are less likely to have health insurance than whites. Trump also has put the Affordable Care Act in his crosshairs, even though it’s helped more lower-income and Black people get insurance.
The danger of the TrumpKennedy alliance “extends beyond politics to public health,” said physician Kavita Patel. “This rhetoric could erode trust in essential health measures, potentially leaving millions vulnerable if these ideas translate into policy.”
Jennifer Porter Gore is a writer living in the Washington, D.C., area.
Head Start is more than just preschool. The program can be a lifeline for children ages birth to 5 and their families, helping them thrive through education, health, and community support. It is also a place built on the strengths of children, families, staff and communities.
Inclusion and belonging aren’t just buzzwords — they’re the foundation of everything the Head Start program does. Staff are committed to creating spaces where everyone, regardless of their background, can succeed, whether it’s recognizing each child’s unique abilities and ideas, valuing parents as experts on their own children, and as program volunteers and leaders, or linking families with needed services.
Instead of using a one-sizefits-all approach, programs tailor their outreach to meet the unique needs of each community. This might mean offering materials in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for all, and building upon civil rights laws requiring translation when necessary to facilitate understanding and participation.
Programs are proactive in supporting families with disabilities, ensuring they have the necessary aids and services they need to participate in the program. The goal is to open doors and provide support for children and families furthest from opportunity and offer them a place to belong.
Head Start staff are trained to recognize and address implicit biases, so preconceived notions about their background unfairly limit no child. Through updated resources
like the ”Multicultural Principles for Early Childhood Leaders,” program staff are equipped to create environments where diversity is acknowledged and embraced.
For children with disabilities, Head Start programs provide tailored support like visual aids and personalized learning tools that help them thrive alongside their peers. They ensure children get the aid and services they are entitled to under disability rights laws.
The goal is to open doors and provide support for children and families furthest from opportunity and offer them a place to belong.
Health is a key part of a child’s ability to learn and grow, and Head Start programs make health services a central part of children’s experiences.
Head Start programs work to eliminate barriers families face, such as a lack of health insurance, language barriers, or limited access to doctors.
Head Start health staff partner with families to help them navigate these challenges, ensuring every child starts school healthily and ready to learn. Through nutrition programs, mental health services, preventive and follow-up care and more, each Head Start program works to close health services gaps and promote equitable outcomes for children.
Head Start staff are trained to meet families where they are — culturally, linguistically and personally. Whether they are helping families experiencing homelessness acquire stable housing or supporting families facing economic challenges, Head Start programs ensure everyone has a seat at the table
Through resources like the Family Economic Mobility Toolkit, programs help families build financial stability and create brighter futures for their children. By addressing not only the child’s needs but also the family’s, the Head Start program creates lasting, positive change for generations.
The Head Start mission has always been to break the cycle of generational poverty, providing children and families with a head start in life. The Head Start program is about so much more than academics. It’s about creating a world where every child — regardless of background, ability, or circumstance — feels confident and competent and knows they belong.
These children will persist as they continue to grow and learn even after they leave their Head Start programs.
Khari M. Garvin is director of the Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Fundamental to the program is the belief that children thrive when families are fully engaged. That’s why the Head Start approach to family engagement goes beyond parent-teacher conferences. It’s about building genuine, respectful partnerships with families from all walks of life.
Neglected civics lessons imperil our democracy
By Hanna Skandera and Michael Carney
In an era of political polarization and widespread civic illiteracy, an unlikely group is spearheading a movement to reinvigorate American democracy: middle school students. More than 6,000 students across the U.S. devoted countless hours to prepare for the National Civics Bee this year. The stark reality is that civic education in America has been neglected for decades. According to the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, only a third of adults would pass the civics exam required for U.S. citizenship. Even more alarming, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reports that nearly onefifth of Americans can’t name a single branch of government.
The outlook is equally grim for the younger generation.
The 2022 Nation’s Report Card revealed that a mere 22% of eighth-graders are proficient in civics.
We’re facing a civic cri-
This knowledge equips them for a lifetime of active citizenship.
“Before the National Civics Bee, I thought that maybe I could do a bit of volunteer work, but other than that, it
There’s a growing recognition across the country that we’re facing a civic crisis.
sis. The National Civics Bee, launched in 2022 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and its founding partner, the Daniels Fund, is one of the most innovative responses to this challenge.
The Civics Bee is nonpartisan, apolitical — and needed in these divisive times.
The Civics Bee’s impact extends beyond competition day.
was mainly the government’s job [to solve problems],” Washington state champion Benjamin Wu said. “But now I know that there’s a lot of things that I and other people like me can do to help our community.” Following another fraught election, the importance of civic literacy cannot be overstated. The success of the Na-
tional Civics Bee should serve as a call to action. We need to champion similar initiatives, advocate for robust civics programs in our schools, and commit to enhancing our civic knowledge. Our democracy faces numerous challenges, from misinformation to apathy. But if we follow the lead of these civic-minded youngsters, we might secure a brighter future for our republic. After all, an informed and engaged citizenry is the bedrock of a thriving democracy.
Skandera
and
and
Hanna
is the president
CEO of the Daniels Fund
former Secretary of Public Education of New Mexico. Michael Carney is the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
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Keeping homeless youth in school
By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing Writer
In 2023 more than 10,000 Minnesotans experienced homelessness. The youth included in these numbers not only have to navigate the challenge of shelter, they also face obstacles in maintaining a connection to the school they attend. Dr. Stephanie Burrage works to ensure that transportation is not a barrier to their education.
Burrage is the CEO of Collaborative Student Transportation (CST). They transport homeless and highly mobile students to school. Their goal: “To make sure that [students] are getting the education that they deserve to have,” says Burrage. “Their situation in that moment in time should not hinder that from happening.”
A few months ago, as chief equity officer for the State of Minnesota under Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannigan, Burrage says she had the best job of her life. Then her grandchild was faced with health challenges.
“I had to step away to help family,” she says. “And anyone that knows me [knows that] family is always my first place of support.”
Like many Americans, while
By Aziah Siid
Dr. Stephanie Burrage
helping with her grandchild, Burrage also had elderly parents who needed assistance. “I was just not able to handle the role of chief equity officer and manage the help at that time,” she explains. Her current position gives her flexibility and time to meet the needs of her family while maintaining her connection with students.
The Steward B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act was
signed into law by President Ronald Regan in July 1987. It was one of the first attempts at legislation to address homelessness for adults and children. It was renamed the Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act after the death of Minnesota Rep. Bruce Vento, a former St. Paul school teacher. Vento was a leading supporter of the bill that required school districts to address barriers
to school enrollment and attendance for students facing homelessness.
“We are not just Minnesota-based,” says Burrage, who notes CST also has locations in Florida, Nebraska, Tennessee and Michigan. “We are a national company, and our headquarters are based here in Minnesota.”
An October 2023 threeyear study from the Wilder Foundation found that 10,522 individuals experience homelessness in Minnesota on a single night. “An estimated 13,300 Minnesota youth on
If the student is displaced in a home outside the district where they were living and going to school, the two districts must work together to provide transportation. “[The student’s education] should not have to be disrupted [because they] have to go to another school based on the situation that their family may be in,” says Burrage.
CST is one of the companies a district may contract with as a service provider for students who qualify for transportation services. Though they have buses, they generally use vans
“The purpose is to ensure that the student’s education is not compromised because of their situation.”
their own experience homelessness over the course of a year.” Of those, there are “an estimated 5,800 minors age 17 and younger on their own.”
But Burrage says that homelessness doesn’t always present itself in ways people are likely to define it. “It could be that a student is living with a parent, and they have to go and live with grandma. They are then defined as homeless.”
as faster ways to transport five students or less.
Homeless students can include those who are living with extended family members or friends while their parents or guardians are going through stressful situations. They can also include students who are runaways. In the 2021-2022 school year, the National Center for Homeless Education reported
that 125 students defined as homeless and enrolled in a Minnesota school district were migrants, and 3,136 were “unaccompanied homeless youth.”
“There are multiple reasons why students end up in a situation of being displaced from their home,” says Burrage.
“The purpose is to ensure that the student’s education is not compromised because of their situation.”
Burrage says homelessness affects all communities; the larger the school district, generally the bigger effect it will have on the district. And like most social issues, “There is definitely a greater impact on communities of color.”
Burrage spent most of her career in education, so her current position allows her to maintain involvement in supporting students. The position “fits who I am as a person. I’m grateful to be able to serve in spaces that for me touch my heart.
“I’ve always believed in… making sure that we are helping the most neediest of our students,” says Burrage, “so that they are not losing their basic need to be educated.”
Vickie Evans-Nash welcomes reader responses to vnash@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Educators rally to protect Black students from Trump policies
Donald Trump has repeatedly said he plans to shutter the Department of Education. Dismantling it is central to Project 2025, the 900-page blueprint for his second term. Shifts to larger class sizes due to budget cuts and bans against teaching accurate U.S. history could be on deck. Educators serving Black students are preparing to fight back.
“We should be nervous about the way that — speaking from a Black person’s perspective — curriculum has rarely, if ever, actually been culturally responsive towards us,” says Jose Vilson, director of the national education nonprofit EduColor.
Conservative politicians and policymakers are likely to continue promoting controversial school choice options as the solution to boosting student achievement. But nearly 50 million children from prekindergarten to 12th grade are enrolled in public school, so school choice simply isn’t the universal solution its supporters make it out to be.
Trump can demolish the Department of Education or the Office for Civil Rights without massive pushback from communities and organizations. But Vilson says the DOE would become easier to obliterate once targets like the Office for Civil Rights are weakened and no longer an ally for those filing complaints for disability, race-based issues, gender issues, and more.
Hagopian, a veteran Seattle Public Schools high school teacher and co-editor of the books “Teaching For Black Lives” and “Black Lives Matter at School,” worries both professionally and as a father to a Black son who attends public schools.
Hagopian says regardless of what a second Trump administration has planned, building community and continuing to protect one another is necessary if the Black community wants to safeguard Black children and their schools.
“Four students who went into a drugstore and sat down at the lunch counter broke the segregation law and refused to move — that sparked a strug-
“I’m going to continue to help organize students across this country to build the same kind of youth uprising that brought down Jim Crow.
“There’s no system that’s going to be able to hold our children and educate them for six to eight hours a day while we’re trying to work,” says Zinn Education Project organizer Jesse Hagopian.
Some educators don’t think
gle throughout the South,” Hagopian says.
“You see an injustice, you name it, and then you act against it. You can change the world, and I think that building community is the most important thing right now.
Getting together with people who want to resist Trump’s overt fascism, his overt racism, transphobia, xenophobia, misogyny.”
Vilson says the best way to move forward is to continue rallying people behind the cause by ensuring they understand the importance of pushing back against right-wing ideologies in schools. Folks, he says, need to be ready to protect students’ lives by paying attention to what happens where decisions are made: local school site meetings and school board meetings.
“I’m going to try to continue to help organize students across this country to build the same kind of youth uprising that brought down Jim Crow,” Vilson says. “We’re going to be getting teachers and mentors together across the country to bring youth and educators together to strategize about how we build that uprising.”
Larger entities like the AFT have long fought attacks on public education, with its 1.8 million members rallying for
equitable school funding, safe school facilities, higher teacher pay, and adequate school staffing.
“We’ve been fighting a blueprint for Project 2025 in Florida for a couple of years now,” said Frederick Ingram,
secretary-treasurer for the American Federation of Teachers. “They’re trying to do an all-out assault on public education, defund our public schools, ban books, close libraries, make it difficult for teachers to teach honest and true history, oversized classrooms, an inundation of testing about your program that seeks to take students out of the public sector into private schools, parochial schools, and charter schools.”
Ingram says the courage of district-level leaders, state superintendents of education, and state governments is crucial to push back policies that will destroy public schools.
“We’re going to have to fight back if they are not good for kids,” Ingram says. “If they’re not good for teaching and the teaching profession.”
Aziah Siid writes for Word in Black.
Building community and continuing to protect one another is necessary if the Black community wants to safeguard Black children and their schools. Drazen Zigic
Employment & Legals
Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Medtronic, Inc., Fridley, MN.
Req. Master’s deg in Industrial, Mechanical, Biomedical or rel. eng. field & 2 yrs. exp. as a manufacturing or industrial engineer; or Bach.’ deg and 5 yrs. exp. Must possess at least 2 yrs. w/ each of the following: Design and manufacture of Class II and Class III medical devices; Working w/in FDA regulated environment, ISO-13485, ISO-14971, and ISO 9001; IQ/ OQ/PQ & Gage R&R; DRM using Solid works modeling software; Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, GMP, 6M, 5-Whys, and DMAIC; DFMEA, PFMEA, and Product Hazard Analysis; Coordinating studies for cost control, waste reduction, and inventory control; Production record systems using Agile MAP. Position works a hybrid model & will be onsite in Fridley, MN location – 4 days per week. Relocation assistance not available for this position. Apply at https://medtronic.wd1. myworkdayjobs.com/MedtronicCareers, Req. #R12132. No agencies or phone calls. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 14, 2024
Said sale shall commence at 8:00 a.m., December 2, 2024, and close on 11:59 pm December 10, 2024, online https://www.hennepin.us/residents/property/ tax-forfeited-land. The auction will be conducted by the Department of Administration, Fleet & Surplus Services Division.
hennepin.us/tfl
Any parcels for which no bid is received during the public sale can be rebid for purchase beginning the next business day, December 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. at the office of the Tax-Forfeit Land Section for not less than the Minimum Bid price set forth on List 2255-OA. For additional information, please phone us at (612)-348-3734, or personally visit the Land Information and Tax Services Department, at A-600 Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN.
Given under my hand and official seal this October 21, 2024.
Daniel Rogan, Hennepin County Auditor
By: DERRICK HODGE, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Land Information and Tax Services Department A-600 Government Center Minneapolis, MN 55487-0067 Telephone: (612) 348-3734
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 14, 2024
A/I Contract No. 25-117
From Ads Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
INVITATION TO BID
Sealed bids will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul at
PHONE: 612-827-4021
East Arch Street, St. Paul, MN 55130 for EDGERTON HI-RISE TUB ROOM ADDITION, Contract No. 25-117, until 3:00 PM Local Time, on DECEMBER 2 , 2024, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud via the Teams App. Bids may be submitted electronically, in a PDF format, to Northstar Imaging, www.northstarplanroom.com, or may be delivered as sealed bid to the address above.
FOR BILLING
INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS
A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 10:30 AM, local time, at EDGERTON Hi-Rise, 1000 EDGERTON, Saint Paul, MN 55102.
PLEASE CONTACT
ACCOUNTING DEPT
A complete set of bid documents is available by contacting Northstar Imaging at 651-6860477 or www.northstarplanroom.com, under public plan room, EDGERTON HI-RISE TUB ROOM ADDITION, Contract No. 25-117. Digital downloads are no charge. Contact Northstar for hard copy pricing. Bids must be accompanied by a 5% bid guarantee, non-collusive affidavit, EEO form and Minnesota Responsible Contractor Compliance Affidavit. The successful bidder will be required to furnish both a satisfactory performance bond and a separate payment bond. The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities in the bidding.
BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM
EMPLOYMENT DISPLAY
SIZE: 2 COL X 3.5 INCH
RATE $44.60 PER COL. INCH
TOTAL: $312.20
AN EQUAL STEVE AHNER
OPPORTUNITY AGENCY PROJECT LEADER (651) 292-6069
From Ads Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
STEVE.AHNER@STPHA.ORG Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 14, 2024 From Ads Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
PHONE: 612-827-4021
Please proof, respond with email confirmation to ad@ spokesman-recorder.com. For more exposure: We are also inviting our clients to advertise on our web site for 2 weeks for a flat fee of $150 per position with purchase of print ad.
The MSR handles billing digitally.
This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.
FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS
PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT
BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM
HENNEPIN COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES FLAT RATE: $110.00
Please proof, respond with email confirmation to ad@ spokesman-recorder.com. For more exposure: We are also inviting our clients to advertise on our web site for 2 weeks for a flat fee of $150 per position with purchase of print ad.
The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or to waive any informalities in the bidding process.
FILM
Continued from page 14
him that they do care.
The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.
AN EQUAL JOESPH FURST OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER INFORMATIONAL TECH MANAGER 651-292-6121 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 14, 2024
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
During a post-screening Q&A, Hostetler pointed out, “This is just the start of the story. It is part of a four-episode series that I’m working on. I felt that Minnesota is an underrated state [for basketball], and it’s a story that needed to be told.”
school scoring records, also attended Ohio State, and was a top WNBA draft pick. Younger sister Jade is a senior at St. Thomas.
2 COL X 4”
$18.10 PCI (1ST RUN)
Now a local businessman, “My dad had a vision for us,” added P.J. Hill. “Six of my siblings have played Division I basketball. We got a couple more coming. It’s not without hard work.”
Please Note: New email address for all future ads is ads@spokesman-recorder.com
From Ads Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
Sealed proposals will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul at 555 Wabasha Street North, Suite 400, St. Paul, MN 55102 for HCV HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE, Contract No. 25-122 until 4:30 PM, Local Time, on November 26, 2024. Proposals may be submitted electronically, in a pdf format, to Northstar Imaging, www. northstarplanroom.com , or may be delivered to the address above.
PHONE: 612-827-4021 FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS
P.J. Hill is prominently featured in “Basketball State” along with three of his sisters, and are the Jones brothers — current NBAers Tre and Tyus and older brother Jadee, who starred in high school and college before becoming a coach and basketball operations manager.
From Ads Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
Hostetler said he hopes to get “Basketball State” to as many viewers as possible, and streaming is the next step. “I can’t give an exact answer… My ultimate goal is to get this on a streaming platform… I just want this story to be on a platform.
The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy. A/I Contract No. 25-122
A Pre-Proposal Meeting will be held virtually on November 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM, on via Microsoft Teams. Contact Corina Serrano at corina.serrano@stpha.org ph. 651-292-6129 for details. All questions arising from this preproposal meeting will be addressed by addendum if necessary.
A complete set of proposal documents is available by contacting Northstar Imaging at www.northstarplanroom.com , HCV HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE, Contract No. 25-122. Digital downloads are available at no charge. Contact Northstar for hard copy pricing.
The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or to waive any informalities in the proposal process.
AN EQUAL CORINA SERRANO
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAMS DIRECTOR 651-292-6129 Corina.serrano@stpha.org
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 14, 2024
“We featured the Hill family and the Jones family, but there’s a ton of other families in this state where you can just see that love for the game passed down,” continued the filmmaker.
“I trained Gabe when he was a little kid, helping him build that love for basketball,” admitted Hill, who played at South High, then North High, and later played and graduated from Ohio State before playing overseas.
Please Note: New email address for all future ads is ads@spokesman-recorder.com The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.
PHONE: 612-827-4021 FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT @ BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM
“I’m gonna keep working until I figure that out,” he said. Hostetler reiterated, “I’m just thankful that the state and the community has been getting behind it. People like yourself that are seeing the story and appreciating it, the legacy that we’re trying to build with Minnesota.
“I think I just want people to be inspired by this, whether they’re a basketball player or not.”
LEGAL NOTICES SIZE: 2 COL X 3.5” RATE $18.10 PCI (1ST RUN) SUBTOTAL: $126.70
His sister Tayler set high
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Please Note: New email address for all future ads is ads@spokesman-recorder.com
The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.
Employment & Legals
Logan Michael Hedrick, SUMMONS
From Ads
1.
Summons. Do not throw these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this Summons.
2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 21 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 21 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at:
Swor & Gatto, P.A. 1177 West Seventh Street Saint Paul, MN 55102
3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiffs should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.
4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 21 days, you will lose this case.
You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the Complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the Complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the Complaint.
5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.
6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.
I hereby acknowledge that sanctions may be awarded pursuant to Minn. Stat. §549.211.
Dated: October 10, 2024 SWOR AND GATTO, P.A.
By: /s/John Paul J. Gatto John Paul J. Gatto (#0387730) Paul J. Gatto (#33741) ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS 1177 West Seventh Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 651-454-3600 jpg@sworgatto.com paulg@sworgatto.com
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 14, 21, 28, 2024
STATE OF MINNESOTA CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY COUNTY OF HENNEPIN DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court File No.: 27-CV-24-16547 Nhat Pham, Plaintiff, vs. SUMMONS
Brett Douglas Randolph, Defendant.
THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendant:
1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiff’s Complaint against you is attached to this Summons. Do not throw these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this Summons.
2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 21 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at: Megan Curtis Law, PLLC 332 Minnesota Street, Suite W1610 St. Paul, MN 55101
3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiffs should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.
4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the Complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the Complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the Complaint.
5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.
6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.
MEGAN CURTIS LAW, PLLC
STATE OF MINNESOTA CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY COUNTY OF HENNEPIN DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court File No: 27-CV-24-16792
From Ads Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
The Honorable: Thomas J. Conley Abduselam Ahmed Hirsi, SUMMONS Plaintiff, v. Howard Waller Davis, Defendant.
PHONE: 612-827-4021
FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS
PLEASE CONTACT
ACCOUNTING DEPT
THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendant:
Continued from page 14
Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
PHONE: 612-827-4021
festivals in the 22 years she’s held it in various places around the Cities.
pointed out. “We European Americans [like] myself, I can go back through ancestry.com and find all my Irish relatives and all my German relatives — I’m half and half.
FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS
BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM
1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiffs Complaint against you is attached to this summons. Do not throw these papers away.They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though itmay not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this summons.
SUMMONS 3 WEEK RUN FLAT RATE: $320
2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at: Brantingham Law Office 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404
“Me being a White woman from Minnesota,” Woehrle, a St. Louis Park native, told me after her film was screened, “I feel like I could be perceived as this oddball. But to be accepted to this festival, it just speaks so highly of the [festival] director.”
Please Note: New email address for all future ads is ads@spokesman-recorder.com
The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.
3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.
4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint.
5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.
6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.
Dated: 10/3/2024
By:
BRANTINGHAM
LAW OFFICE
Jeremy L. Brantingham, MN #0299558 2200 E. Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 14, 21, 28, 2024
Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 10/4/2024 12:15 PM
PLEASE CONTACT
ACCOUNTING DEPT
SUMMONS 3 WEEK RUN FLAT RATE: $320
Last week TCBFF announced that “A Binding Truth” won this year’s Best Documentary award. A year ago the film won Best Feature Documentary at the Twin Cities Film Festival.
651-412-5070 E: mc@megancurtislaw.com Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 14, 21, 28, 2024
STATE OF MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF HENNEPIN FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT PROBATE/MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION Court File No. 27-PA-PR-24-1214
From Ads Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
NOTICE AND ORDER FOR HEARING ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION OF INTESTACY, DETERMINATION OF HEIRS, AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
In re the Estate of:
Rick Edward Hand, Decedent.
PHONE: 612-827-4021 FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT @ BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM
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IT IS ORDERED AND NOTICE IS GIVEN that pursuant to Minnesota Supreme Court Order ADM20-8001 a hearing will be heard remotely on December 9, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. by this Court for the formal adjudication of intestacy and determination of heirs of the Decedent, and for the appointment of Jackson Hand, whose address is 3984 Colorado Ave S, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 as Personal Representative of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. If proper and if no objections are filed, the Personal Representative will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate including the power to collect all assets, to pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and to do all necessary acts for the Estate.
If you wish to appear at the hearing, please contact the court by phone at (612) 348-6000 so that arrangements can be made for you to appear.
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If you object to the relief sought, you must file a written objection with the court by 4:30 p.m. on December 6, 2024. Written objections not filed by the ordered date and time will not be considered. Written objections may be filed with the required filing fee one of two ways: 1) Mailed to Hennepin County District Court – Probate/Mental Health Division, 300 South Sixth Street – C4 Govt. Ctr., Minneapolis, MN 55487-0340; or 2) Electronically filed using the electronic filing system
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that notice shall be given by: 1) publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in a legal newspaper in Hennepin County, the last publication of which is to be at least ten (10) days before the deadline for objections; and 2) mailing via U.S. Postal Service a copy of this Notice and Order postmarked at least fourteen (14) days prior to the deadline for objections to all interested persons as defined in Minnesota Statutes § 524.1-401 and persons who have filed a demand for notice pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 524.3-204. Any charitable beneficiary may request notice of the probate proceeding be given to the attorney general pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 501B.41, subdivision 5.
NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that (subject to Minnesota Statutes § 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the Personal Representative or to the court within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred.
Dated: October 4, 2024
BY THE COURT: Julia Dayton Klein Judge of District Court Attorney for
“But he can’t go through the journey that he’s been on for many, many years long before he meets De,” the director continued. “I think the other thing that really hit me about Jimmie’s story is that even though it was hard…he learned that he was very proud of his ancestors, and just there’s things in him that he can identify that was passed down through the DNA, and just how proud he was.”
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During a post-film Q&A, Woehrle told Morrow that she basically stumbled upon the story of the two Kirkpatrick’s: “It happened kind of by chance,” she admitted. Her cousins told her about it and suggested it should be her next film project. “We started [filming] in early 2020,” said Woehrle.
“A Binding Truth” serves as a catalyst for meaningful conversations about race, justice, and the truth of America’s history with slavery. And, of course, there’s sports as well.
Woehrle noted that she admired Jimmie Lee’s “genealogical exploration, because there were no records before the Civil War,” she
The film is getting rave reviews and PBS is planning to broadcast it sometime in 2025. Woehrle said she hopes it appears during Black History Month in February.
“A lot has happened,” said Woehrle. “We have done many screenings for universities, churches, anti-racism groups, and history centers all around the country. We’re very excited.
“I feel like I was a conduit for this story,” concluded Woehrle. “I wanted to capture the truth of their story, not spin it, in a way that’s wonderful and lovely. I wanted to share their story.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Continued from page 14
fellow Kentuckian.
“I followed Clem a lot. I know his whole background, and [I’m] just proud to be an African American and have an opportunity to be a head coach,” continued Crutchfield. “I just come up all the time and watch games right here in Williams Arena. I remember he had really good teams.”
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Omaha was the first of four visiting teams this season with Black head coaches on both sidelines. Also, last Saturday was the only time this season where both HCs once played at the same school they now coach—Johnson (20O3-04) at Minnesota and Crutchfield (1989-92) at UNO, where he played both football and basketball.
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a chance to attract a lot of student athletes, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to sell our knowledge and experience to try to represent and build this program to be a powerful major program.”
If you recall, Clem Haskins’ son Brett was on the Gophers coaching staff and is now a longtime NBA scout. New this season to his coaching staff is Josh Crutchfield as player personnel assistant coach. Josh is one of the Crutchfields’ three sons.
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Crutchfield was named Omaha’s men’s basketball head coach in March 2022. His earlier head coaching stint was 2020-21 at East Central in Ada, Oklahoma. His 20 years of coaching experience include associate head coach at Arkansas and Oklahoma, and assistant stints at Oral Roberts, TCU, New Mexico State and Oregon.
Just like Johnson, who returned to find his alma mater a changed campus, so did Crutchfield over two decades later to the school where he got his bachelor and master’s degrees. His wife is also an UNO graduate.
“A lot has changed. They got two campuses now, got a brand new state of the art arena that we didn’t play in.
The city has grown… It’s 1.2 million people now.
“Now we got a metropolitan university that has
“As far as working with my son,” noted the father, “it’s been interesting, because he comes to us from working in the NBA for the last two years. We got lucky enough to have a spot open. It’s been really fun just to have him around and watch him, and his mom was really happy because he’s back home.”
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As both Crutchfield and Johnson enter their third and fourth seasons respectively, both Black coaches are working hard to make it work at their respective schools where they once played as collegiates.
“No doubt there’s a lot more pride,” said the Omaha HC. “[When] you got an opportunity to come back and to be put in the position of leadership, like we both have, you really want to do well. It’s a real underlying pressure for you internally just to do well because it’s your school.”
Crutchfield’s advice for Gopher fans: “[Coach Johnson] is doing a great job. Support him and give him everything he needs, because he’s one of your own.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com. CWB
Sports
A sports week at the movies
‘Basketball State’ champions MN hoops history
By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist
innesota is mostly known for its crazy cold weather, 10,000 lakes, and hockey, not necessarily in that order.
Gabe Hostetler grew up in Minnesota, playing high school and college basketball before he set out west to be a filmmaker. Whenever asked, he often defended his home state when questioned about Minnesota hoops.
It took about three years, but Hostetler is back home with his new documentary “Basketball State: The Land of 10,000 Hoops.” It premiered October 20 at the Twin Cities Film Festival in St. Louis Park.
The 2017 Robbinsdale Armstrong graduate said he always wanted to make films from a very young age. His film pays tribute to many of the state’s trailblazers over the years, both boys and girls, men and women, Black and
“I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted it to be as good as it can be.”
white, AAU, high school and pros. Hostetler played against many of these groundbreakers during his growing-up years.
He used archival footage and on-screen interviews from players and coaches squeezed into about an hour and half. “If I could, I would include every hoopster in Minnesota, but then it would be a 100-hour documentary,” said Hostetler after the screening.
He told the MSR, “I’ve been working on this film for three years, and I think I’m a perfectionist, so I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted it to be as good as it can be. I was afraid if anyone is going to care about this.”
The audience’s raving reactions after seeing his film told
■ See FILM on page 12
‘Binding Truth’ a story of race, justice, history
his easily could have been a sports movie — a local Black high school football player left his segregated school and the teammates he grew up with in North Carolina and transferred to an affluent White school in his senior year. However, he was later denied a rightful spot on the state’s all-star game because of race, which later resulted in one of North Carolina’s most volatile civil rights cases.
A White classmate, Hugh “De” Kirkpatrick, who shared the Black player’s last name, wrote about what happened to Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick on his college essay application, which he later said helped him get accepted into Harvard.
“I feel like I was a conduit for this story.”
But decades later, Jimmie Lee and De shockingly discovered that they shared more than a last name, and their story is “A Binding Truth,” a film directed by Louise Woehrle. We saw her compelling film at the 2024 Twin Cities Black Film Festival (TCBFF) during an October weekend at the Capri Theatre in North Minneapolis. It was one of 26 films, 16 of them by local filmmakers.
I annually look forward to sitting with my popcorn and watching films and shorts mostly done by Blacks. Ac-
‘Force of Blue’ captures North High’s 2020 season
he Minneapolis North High School football team won a championship in a year around school closures due to the Covid pandemic, George Floyd’s murder, and the resulting civil unrest and protesting.
The Polars is a predominantly Black football team in a predominantly Black neighborhood in a city that historically has a strained relationship between the Black citizenry and the city police. And ironically, all the North football coaches are policemen.
Local filmmaker Jeffrey Williams is a Northsider who also teaches at a Northside school. A graduate of Colgate University and Howard University School of Communication, where he earned an MFA in film, Williams’ previous cinematic work includes “For Dinner,” “5ive Man Confession” and “Check It Up –To Whom It May Concern.”
His latest “Force of Blue” is Williams’ first documentary and feature film that he has directed. The film was part of the 26-film agenda at this
Coaching While Black
year’s Twin Cities Black Film Festival in October. It has made its rounds at several film festivals around the country.
Its website noted, “Force of Blue is a social analysis, from an athletic lens, of a very unique time period in our nation’s history. The North High Polars… tackled a season for the ages.”
The director’s goal was to show “just how compelling [is] a group of young men,” Williams told the TCBFF audience after “Force of Blue” was
shown. He spent the entire 2020 season following the North football team.
“We started in September [2020] right at the beginning of the fall season,” noted Williams.
“That year they didn’t know if they’re going to have a season in the fall because of Covid.
“We followed them all the way through [the season]. It took about four or five months to shoot it. I never really had any budget… It was wonderful having a front row seat through this prism, just how the coach and his staff were harnessing these young men,” explained Williams.
“It’s not about policing. It’s more about humanity.”
Any comparison to the fourpart “Boys in Blue” documentary about the North football team that aired on Showtime is purely coincidental. Williams’ doc is about the 2020 football season while Peter Berg’s focused on the 2021 campaign.
Furthermore, both films
uniquely examined the playercoach relationship in the postGeorge Floyd world between Black youth and their Black coaches whose day jobs were in law enforcement.
“I just followed them to see how they respond to playing with their head coach being a police officer, and then I didn’t realize they had as many police officers on [the staff]. They also have two or three guys who were working in the prison system.”
“I wanted to show a realistic viewpoint of how these kids were at North High School [and] how the coaches related [to the players],” said Williams. “They didn’t really pay attention to the camera.”
The football action culminated in a season-ending championship for North High. But more importantly, observed Williams on “Force of Blue”: “It’s not about policing. It’s more about humanity.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
cording to TCBFF Founder Natalie Morrow, I’ve probably attended all but one or two
Mitchell Palmer McDonald’s ‘Prep Scene’ will return next week.
VIEW
Courtesy of X
P.J. Hill (l) and Gabe Hostetler
Photo by Charles Hallman
Louise Woehrie Submitted photos
Jeffrey Williams Photo by Charles Hallman
Chris Crutchfield
Photo by Charles Hallman